Christmas Card from Shutterfly

Photo Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Photo of the Day

Heirloom Roses - Kaysville, Utah - June 2010

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.

~Anthony J. D'Angelo

Cake!

I've started a new blog about baking cakes. Check it out by clicking on the image below.

My Mamma on her Birthday with a little "Washington Cherry" cake I made for her.

November 11, 2006

The Most Important Things Are Not Things

Marjorie Pay Hinckley

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenk's lawn. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

Cheers

Mueller Park, Bountiful, Utah

"Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

-Ferris Bueller-

I really wanted to travel some place fun this Memorial Day Holiday weekend. I have three days off in a row and so many people seem to be going some place exciting or on some fun adventure. Today I slept in, then potted some plants and herbs I bought last week. I went hiking up Mueller Park this afternoon with a friend. About a 20 minute drive from my house. The mountains are still lush and green with wildflowers in full bloom and rivers teaming with spring runoff. It was a gorgeous sight, full of twittering birds and rustling creatures in the foliage. The air was warm and humid, with fresh aromas of blossoms and pine lighting across the breeze. Nature has woken up from the long, dreary slumber of winter and is bursting into life. Sometimes I forget that amazing things exist in my own back yard. I need to stop more and drink in the life that is around me.

A Day In Summer

A Day In Summer, Kaysville

LeConte Stewart - Oil on panel 1935

As a child I remember the sleepy days of summer in my hometown of Kaysville. On occasion, a kind old man could be found across the street from my house resting in the shade of the tall poplar trees. He could sometimes be seen having a bite to eat in his car or sketching in the open air. I remember having a conversation with him at some point in time, but any knowledge of topic has long since faded from recall. My juvenile mind did not realize the magnitude of this man and his talent but I was aware that he was an artist. I have always been a creative person and as I've grown older, have developed a love and appreciation of art, especially impressionism. I only wish I could have come to this realization when I had the chance to talk with him as he passed near my home.

The Utah landscapes of LeConte Stewart capture the essence of the quiet country life and remind me of my childhood neighborhood, before subdivisions and curb and gutter streets took over the local farms and pastures. The lovely little cottages and farms of the past are nearly extinct now but some continue to live in the images of the artist's creation. I wish I could close my eyes and leap into these pictures, like Burt's chalk drawings in Mary Poppins. Instead, I will have to settle for the dreams of the past that play through my memory from time to time.

To Life Lived

Provo Canyon, June 2007

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.

Edward Abbey

A Kindred Gathering

My grandpa on my father's side died in September of 2005. The memory of his funeral came to my mind the other day. Funerals can be a very sad time but I also believe events like this have a positive aspect that bring families together. I realized this the first time I moved away from home at twenty years old. I wasn't very far from home, but hadn't visited for a while and was still adjusting to my new surroundings. One particular day I was feeling quite sad and homesick. I was working for a catering company at the time and one gray, rainy afternoon, catered a large family lunch at the Greek Orthodox church in Salt Lake City, Utah. The guests came trickling in after attending a funeral and I was silently watching as family members greeted each other lovingly with warm embraces and in great joy for those they had not seen in a while. My heart swelled with a love for family as I longed to be with my own family members and enjoy their company, just like these people were doing among their own.

Grandpa was buried in Redmond, Utah, in a quiet, remote cemetery lined with trees. The burial took place on a sunny day in early autum when the air was still warm and clear. My father dedicated the grave and taps was played as the casket was lowered into the ground. The lonely sound of the trumpet was beautiful as each note was carried through the air from a distance. Then a few elderly gentlemen fired guns into the air next to the national and state flags, in memory of his service to our country. During this whole scene I was watching my family members interact and old friends embracing my grandmother as they payed their respects to my grandfather. The sun was glowing through the trees that afternoon and in between the shadows and light, I almost expected to catch a glimpse of my grandfather reveling in the company of his family and friends before his spirit moved on to another realm. I felt as if he was there though, longing to join us in our solemn, yet almost happy, kindred gathering. I glanced around numerous times but did not see my grandpa amongst us.

Although a different setting, the funeral was a similar scene to what I had seen about five years previous. Funerals to me are reunions of sorts. It can be very sad to see a loved one pass on, but sometimes I believe occasions such as these help to bring family and friends together again, creating a bond and in some cases, helps us to remember who and what is of most importance in life.

-Photos were taken by my Mother-

Lost

New York City Lights, January 2005

Lost

Wandering aimlessly through dark, uncertain paths,

A haunting void, 

Spinning thoughts,

Hesitant, in every direction.

 Calluna Vulgaris  July 4, 2001 

Making Friends

The Canyons, Park City, Utah

I decided I'm going to make friends with winter this year.  

Tucked Away

Ten years ago I was privileged to spend some time in England and Scotland.  I love these beautiful countries!  Especially the  Scottish Highlands with their emerald, lush mountains and trickling streams emptying into scattered lakes.  A misty rain transforms the landscape into an almost mystical land as the clouds envelop the mountain tops. This lovely vision will always remain imprinted in my mind. One night of our travels we didn't have lodging and we happened upon the Corriegour Lodge, Hotel.  The snug accommodations comfortably rest right across the street from Loch Lochy and not too far of a drive from Loch Ness.  I tried Kippers for breakfast, which were quite salty and tasty, even if the meal required much patience picking through the bones to get to the scanty amounts of meat.   I remember hearing the place was once an old hunting lodge, although their website does not have any information on it, and the idea seemed so romantic to me.  I've always thought it would be a nice little getaway for a honeymoon or something of the sort and have thought of the tucked away little cottage often since.  

The Simple Life

I often long for the simple times of long ago.  Technology and the bustling world it has created is wonderful and fascinating, but the thought of life lived in peaceful simplicity sounds delightful.  I used to make frequent trips to the library where I discovered books about Tasha Tudor, someone I look up to.  She made her life truly her own, country living with no electricity or modern finery.  She felt free to be herself, dressed in ways her heart felt most at home and was a talented artist with many other great talents and interests.  She had a beautiful soul. I hope to live half the life she lived.  

Here's some links to more info about her: Tasha Tudor and Family

                                                                              Books

                                                                              Obituary

Solitude

Catalina Island - May 2005

Sometimes it's nice to be alone.  Time on my own to reflect on life and just think can be a pleasure in this hectic world.  I've chosen to have a bit of "me" time this week. Sometimes I feel alone in a crowd.  I have plenty of wonderful friends and family to spend time with and share life's moments, yet a lonely, hollow void remains inside me, which (I feel) can only be filled by the union of two souls that lasts through time. On occasion I feel sad in my emptiness.  

Many times,  I am reminded there may be others worse off than me.  I was picking out juice at Wal-Mart this evening when a fellow shopper decided to strike up conversation and he went on pointing out which juices he liked best, introduced himself with a friendly handshake and wished me a happy Thanksgiving holiday. Later, he passed me as I was setting a block of swiss cheese in my cart.  He offered to smoke some turkey legs for me tomorrow and I smiled and told him I would be having chicken at my brother's house.  He replied, telling me many people are doing things different this year.  I glanced in his cart and saw a package or two of individual turkey legs among a few other assorted goods and wondered if he would be having a feast for one on this holiday of thankful gatherings.  I soon began to wonder how many other individuals might be having solitary festivities tomorrow and my heart sank.  I have felt the sorrow of feeling alone, but to be truly alone must surely magnify the pain.  I wanted to weep at the thought. Perhaps next time I am feeling the emptiness of self pity, I should look outside my self to fill another's void.  

Thoughts on Old Age

Utah State Fair 2008

From My Blog on Myspace. June 10, 2007: I work at a hair salon and every week I see elderly men bringing their wives in to get their hair done.  The women are so old and frail and their husbands sweetly guide them into the salon.  The men are not very mobile themselves and their hearing and sight is faded.  I look at these couples who have withstood the test of time and still remain lovingly faithful to their sweetheart.  I look at them and hope one day I will find someone who will stick around with me long enough to take my hand and help me to the salon when I'm old and decrepid.

This is the Place

This Is The Place Heritage Park, SLC, UT  2004

 

Youth is a perpetual intoxication; it is a fever of the mind.  ~François Duc de la Rochefoucauld

Dancing and Dreaming

I had the gracious opportunity to be present at this unique and wonderful Art Deco style club this past April.  The very weekend I planned to be in California, I found out one of my favorite bands, The Hot Club Quartet were performing here and I will be ever grateful to my friend Ben for taking me.  Their music transported me to another time I wish I knew.  There's a mezzanine with seating if you don't want to dine and a quaint ballroom floor for dancing and dreaming the night away. I loved that they require guests to wear cocktail attire or vintage clothing.  If only I lived closer so I could attend more often and soak up a small taste of the past.  Next time I won't leave my camera in the car!  Click HERE to enter the land of the Cicada.  Don't forget to check out Marie MacGillis as well! 

Succulents - Succulents - Succulents

Ensenada, Mexico

I just finished writing a paper about succulents, some of my favorite types of plants. Succulents are amazing little plants that are not only visually stimulating, but also store water in leaves, stems or roots in order to live through drought conditions for an extended time. They are night owls like me, but also love lots of sun. While the rest of the plant world is photosynthesizing and making plant food in the daylight hours, succulents are waiting for the CAM photosynthesis party after dark. They come in so many fun shapes, sizes and colors. How could anyone not love them.....Seriously! Here's some pictures I've taken over the years.

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA.

Pier 39, San Francisco

Ensenada, Mexico

Ensenada, Mexico

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA

Disneyland - Tomorrow Land



Christmas Cactus I once grew

Clothes make a statement. Costumes tell a story. ~Mason Cooley

Shadows of a thousand years rise again unseen,Voices whisper in the trees, "Tonight is Halloween!"~Dexter Kozen

An experimental photo shoot I did with my niece last Fall, 2007, in the cemetery. Quite fun!

And...here's a link to some fun Halloween music! http://www.halloweenorgan.com/home.html

Hooray for Halloween!

So, I'm supposed to be writing a paper right now. I'm good at finding any distraction possible from doing things I don't want to do. Well, here's a test run of a Costume idea. Some sort of scary, dead pioneer. I may not use it, but it was fun trying. :)

By Popular Request. A New Blog Entry. :)

I love time wasting entertainment. So much can be found online! I Yearbooked myself.....Way too much fun!!! I need to figure out how to pull off a hairdo like this for Halloween. Still figuring out what I want to be this year. Any suggestions?? http://www.yearbookyourself.com