Always with us…

It's one of my side bar titles with a picture of Nana. The picture above is one Papa took many years ago in their cotton field. I love it. It's sometimes really hard to live here where she was. Even though things are changed up and look different in some areas, it's still so very much her home. I know I have mentioned several times the need to clean out closets and rooms downstairs and get rid of stuff. Every time I thought about it and even actually started to do it, I just couldn't get through it. My thanks to Tracy, Lacy and Chelsey for coming over to help me do that. They really made some headway downstairs and made it not so sad. Those spaces hold such memories for me, especially the sewing room. It was full of boxes with all the things Nana loved to shop for. Funny little things that caught her eye for the many special things she did. Quilts, quiet books, wedding drapes, tablecloths, lace curtains for the house, folk art painting, craft projects and on and on. We spent lots of hours down there while she helped me with wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, formals for my girls and some of my nieces. Tracy has come over and made many things and helped me with stuff too. I know it's just a room, and the things in it are just things. Somehow it doesn't make it any easier to throw it out, put it in a garage sale, or take it to Goodwill. Second only to the kitchen, the sewing room is full of wonderful memories of Nana, most of the girls and Tracy. There were some treasures that of course are keepers and it is fun to see what the girls want to keep. It all goes out on tables in the atrium where her grandkids can come over and choose to keep whatever they want. The rest will go to the garage sale in November and whatever is left from that will go to Goodwill. We made a dent in the downstairs project, and maybe the rest won't be so hard. I freely admit what a baby I am about it and I will try to remember Chelsey's phrase…

“I feel so empowered!” Cleaning and purging are good things. I just need to remember that and know that nothing can take away the memories of so many, many hours of doing things together. Now on to the pantry, drape and fabric closet and the room with all the Christmas in it. I don't think the tears are over just yet.

Over the River and Through the Woods…

To Granny and Grumpy's we'll go. I hope! I know that's corny, but I've actually always liked that song. The pics below are some of the ones I remembered to take the weekend Taya and I went to paint the inside. I was so proud of myself that I took the camera, took some pics and then of course the battery in the camera died. I could've charged it, but we started painting and then all else was lost. I honestly could not have done it without Taya. She is such a trooper. I flaked out and she just kept painting away. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Taya. It looks so nice in the great room and hallway now.

The first two pics are what you see from the deck in the front of the cabin. It has deck on 3 sides and I love that.




These next few gives an idea of what the outside looks like.





Here are some shots of the inside (before we painted) complete with our first few things in garbage bags on the floor. We brought some bedding up and it was a good thing. It was so cold Friday night, we wore socks and warm flannel to bed.





You can barely see Taya on the stairs taping off the carpet. We taped forever. It looks really nice with it's fresh new coat of one of my favorite almost nothing colors. It's a Benjamin Moore color called Abingdon Putty. Not really tan, not really green, not really gray. It kind of goes with everything and is enough of a color to make the door and window trim stand out just a little. I will try and remember to take some more pics as we take most of the furniture up this weekend. I am really excited for this adventure. I hope I can say that again in a few months.

Tawna's Turn

These pumpkin cupcakes were so good. Jade did her (Nana's) cream cheese frosting again and I can't stay out of it!



A fridge full of cupcakes…and more in the other fridge. All in a night's work!



We are still pretending we are the cupcake Queens! Another marathon bake-off and wha-la…120 or so cupcakes for Tawna's PTA luncheon for the teachers of their school. She is the go to girl for their 5 teacher appreciation luncheons/breakfasts for the school year. She has learned a lot about doing the planning and follow-through for a large crowd. I have had lots of fun helping her and watching her get it all done. She does an excellent job and always gets rave reviews.

These pumpkin cupcakes were the sweet finale to a salad/potato bar with many and varied choices. Staff members could create just the right plate of tasty food to see them through their parent/teacher conferences. The food stays set up all afternoon, so those who stay late to meet with parents after work can go back for dinner if they choose. I wish I had pics of the room after it was set up, I hear it was very cute. Maybe Tawna will post her pics so I can see it.

Nice to see the catering side of Nana go through to the next generation. She taught us well. Good job Tawna and Jade. I love that you want to do this and I have a great time helping. I will post the recipes for the cupcakes and the yummy frosting on Nana's Blog.

The Cupcakers

We are. Jade's school was putting on a Hair Show for several of the Salons in the area featuring their students. They decided to theme it like a wedding. Jade offered to do the cake, and later decided to do it cupcakes for ease of serving etc. So much fun. She and I baked cupcakes in two ovens all morning until about lunchtime. As the last batch went in, she started mixing the frosting. That's the best part of all on any kind of cake. Tawna started frosting the cupcakes, I garnished and packed them into the handy little boxes Jade got at the bakery. We were crazy busy, but got about 160 cupcakes done in about 6 hours. They were so cute and oh my gosh tasty. I had to sample several to be sure. Tracy loaned us her beautiful iron Cake Plate and Jade said the Cupcake display kind of stole the show. Not very many girls participated in the show, so it wasn't as polished as it could have been had they had lots of girls to demonstrate their hair talents. Oh well, at least they ate well.

Jade later modeled the apron I made for our Relief Society all day meeting classes. She is much cuter in it than I am. It was fun to make and I can't wait to do some more. Thanks Tawna for helping with the Beauty School refreshments. Now we will move on to your Teacher Appreciation Luncheon this week. More cupcakes for that, only pumpkin. Can't wait.



Grumpy and I are trying to get the gear packed up to move north. Am I really doing this again? Oh well, things need to be gone through, thrown out, re-appropriated and re-gifted. What better time? Taya, her “small family of girls”, Jade and I went up on Friday to do some homework. I wanted to measure wall space etc. to decide what could go and what could not. I also wanted to get some pics of the cabin and just hang out with the girls on our little road trip. We had fun and got a good idea of what could fit where. I'm going back this Thursday to do some painting and since I didn't remember to actually take any pictures, maybe I can do that this time. I can't seem to get my brain to kick into gear lately. Hey, at least I remembered to take the dang camera!

New Adventure

North country. We are going to experience living in the pines - at least part time anyway. Grumpy and I decided to rent a cabin to live in and see if I can handle being a small distance from all my chickens. With his travel time he will for sure just have the weekends, but I might be able to get in 4 days a week on the average. I will be here the first part of the week to see kids, help Papa with whatever and do a little shopping. That's the theory anyway. We both love going up to the White Mountains and have fond memories of that area from our youth. The cabin in the pic above is not the one we will be living in. We had taken pictures of some that we really liked and some that we looked at, but alas, we don't have one yet of the one we will call home. Now begins the process of getting the “stuff” from here to there. We are only taking what furniture we will need and that will fit so it won't be a horrible move. I hope. Like many people, we think we might like to live there more full time someday, not that we will ever get to retire with the current state of affairs in the country. We can always dream, right? By renting for awhile, we can decide if it will be a good fit for us. So off we go, November 1st is our official date to begin a different chapter of our continuing saga. I am excited - it's almost like being newlyweds again…only better.

Wow, look at my face!

My cousin Vicki sent me this pic a couple of weeks ago. She had emailed me to let me know her ex-husband had passed away. Although not the best circumstances, it was nice to hear from her. She later sent this photo of her and I and I just had to laugh at our faces. We are pretty serious/upset/stressed about something. I wish I could remember what. Too funny. I love my little dress and her cute shirt and shorts. Somebody sure needed to mow and edge their lawn. That is some serious overgrown grass. I love pictures like this and I'm grateful to have it in my files now. Thanks Vicki.

What is Long, Skinny and Green?

No, not the witch on my header. Green Beans of course. Taya got some at the market and wanted to can them. We did. It got me all excited to do them instead of just talking about it, so I went and bought a bushel, (minus about 5 pounds) and Grumpy and I canned them on Saturday while we listened to General Conference. He said it is the first time in a long time he made it through both sessions without falling asleep. Busy hands are a great way to keep the eyes open to listen to all the great talks that were given. I always try and have a project or two planned for General Conference. It works out great.



We, meaning Jade, Jeff, me and Grumpy did 3 boxes of pears during the Sunday sessions. We were like a well oiled kitchen crew. Jeff and Jade were the “Edward Scissorhands” that did all the peeling. Ryker called it skinning the pears. He's been on a hunting trip or two. Grumpy and sometimes Jade did the coring and de-seeding. My job was to pack the jars and keep the canners going, the lids and the syrup hot and a wipe down for the sticky counters once in a while. We were awesome. 3 boxes in 6 hours. Not bad. Now I have to quit just talking about carrots, potatoes, corn and more meat and just get it done. Maybe right after the apple marathon that will start soon. Maybe.

MIA

September was a blur. It was colored in peach, tomato red and pear green/yellow tones. I remember glass jars, steam canners and lots of water. I enjoyed the canning craze that was September, but am glad for the break until apples. We spent some time in the cooler mountains with our friends at their cabin and that was nice indeed. My friend Leigh and I canned at the cabin too. It was really fun. Her first experience with peaches. They turned out beautiful and look so right on her cupboard shelves in the mountains. I am having a “down day” in which I am sort of dressed (if a yucky house dress qualifies) crazy almost combed hair and popping a few motrin now and then to sooth tired back muscles. I like a day like that now and then. It makes me really appreciate the days I'm productive and out and about. I have been truly awful at calling people, so I apologize for being pretty lame in the friend, sister, sister-in-law, Mom and yes, even wife department in the recent past. As this blog is the only way I journal, I guess I need to get back into getting my life and times posted more often again.

Tawna is mostly all moved. Her new house is great and I hope they enjoy being there. It seems like a good change for them. Robert is settled into his new apartment and trying to stay busy at work. I like his new digs and hope he does too. He is getting it fixed up with things he likes and that is a good thing. Grumpy and I are going to start downsizing everything that is left in the basement. The old adage of “if you haven't missed it in a year, you probably don't need it” is going to apply. There's nothing like getting rid of stuff to feel better. Jade and Jeff moved their kids to their school campus of last year and they are doing great. Aden especially likes his new teacher. Richard and Stacie's kids are in full athletic swing. T-ball for Rylan, Flag Football for Austin and Softball for Megan. (or was it soccer?) Sounds like lots of driving for the crazy harmon car. Taya and Kevin are maintaining and the kids are doing great. The school kids like their teachers and are glad to be back with friends and activities there. Lauren is attending Miss Tawna's preschool and loving that. Emmy is Emmy and we love watching her funny ways. Summer and Jamie are doing well with their Ace Automotive Repair Shop. Taylor and Jordyn are a year older and liking their school days too. Rylee is enjoying her new school this year and making new friends.

Sounds like a Christmas letter, Huh? That's probably the closest I'll get to one.

Okay, part of my “down day” includes a re-reading of “New Moon”. I want to get the story straight in my head so I can recognize all the changing the movie will do to the story. I hope they don't get too far off. I really like the story.