The Last Day in February

Here I am with ears blocked up still. It is snowing outside, but it is warm and cozy inside. I guess the Dr. will be getting another call tomorrow to see if there is something else that may work better for my unfortunate ears. Grumpy and I have had a quiet, uneventful weekend. With his help I managed to get the rest of Christmas down and packed away. Yay! We rearranged the buffet and file cabinet to be a little more component friendly as I needed something to set the cable box, DVD player, etc. on. I hate cords hanging all over the place, so something had to be done. Next weekend brings the T.V. back home, so we got things ready for that happy event. We'll keep our fingers crossed that all the issues have been found and corrected. Did some washing, did some cleaning, made a new list of things to do this week as well as things to remember to bring up next time.

I'm getting a little more used to living here on the weekends. Getting accustomed to life here, and life there. Another few months and I'll have it down pat. Grumpy really looks forward to his weekends here in the mountains. He does some much needed un-winding and relaxing. I am looking forward to doing some traveling with him soon. That is as soon as his frequent flyer rewards people find out why he hasn't received any credit for his flights for the last four months. When that is all straightened out, I will have my companion pass once more and can go with him wherever he needs to go. That is one way I can see him a little more often.

I am looking forward to March. I have always liked the month of March. It makes me want to get things done. That is saying a lot these days. I have weekends with the grandkids in their turns coming up, and a fun girls weekend too. I get things done better when I have a deadline to meet. As I get the cabin ready for those events, it will seem more like home. I am needing a new crocheting project, a new book(s) to read and to finally to get my sewing room set up here. I am hoping to learn a thing or two about quilting in the months to come. I have several quilts started and would really like to finish them.

Grumpy is at church without me as my ears are still really not feeling well. When he comes home we will throw everything we need for the week in the truck and head back to the valley. I hope the snow stops long enough to let us through without incident. I really, really don't like driving in the snow. He puts up with a lot from me as there are lots of things I really, really don't like. He is a good man.

I thought I would be spared…

But no. I got the creeping crud any way. Gollum's curse, the gomboo, or whatever it is, it's terrible. I haven't felt good for almost 2 weeks, but never really got downright sick. Well, it finally hit me full force this weekend. Flu, cold and a wonderful ear infection. I feel better today, but the weekend list of things to do went by the wayside. I managed to get some of the Christmas stuff down. Yes, Christmas stuff and still only some of it. Maybe next weekend good health will be smiling and I can accomplish the rest. I really don't want to push it into March. I did that one year, and finally the young women of our ward made me a project and came over to help me get my huge tree down. That was the year we inherited a 12' tree from a friend. I put it up in our living room and then we had to move out because the tree took over the house. (now I know why they didn't want it anymore!) We cut it down a few feet the next year. I gave it away after a couple more seasons because it was one of those put it together branch by branch kind, and of course was not pre-wired. I am too lazy to do that much work for a tree when one can get such pretty ones already together (mostly) and already lit.

I just have the tree to take apart now, and then get everything packed away until Christmas comes again. Next week that is.

I'm going to go take a nap now.

Night of Mystery…

The second annual dinner hosted by Tawna and Nathan for all the adults in our family. It is their Christmas gift to us every year and is one of my personal favorites. Each year we get a memory to cherish as well as spend time with each other sans the kids which is rare indeed. This year they opted for a fun Dinner and a Murder. Tawna went online and found this Murder at Deadwood Saloon to entertain us with. She made cute paper sacks with the formal invitation and a Character description of who we would be for the evening inside. Everyone took it to heart and went about searching for something appropriate to wear. Some of us went to Goodwill to find just the thing to make our character. Some went to friends who had the perfect thing, and even others found the perfect thing right in their own closets. No one spent a lot of money and everyone looked fabulous.

None of us were to know anything about the other characters except their name and role. The various character traits were only for the eyes of the role player. Tawna and Nathan went to a lot of work to put this on and make it as authentic as possible on a budget and to keep it all a surprise. It was really fun to shop, forage and borrow the props to make this night as special as they wanted to for us. She has offered to let people borrow her purchased copy of the mystery to host a night of their own. It can be added to, and customized to fit any group. The grandkids were so sorry to miss out on this mystery dinner. We will have to go back online and find one that will work for them. The website is nightofmystery.com.

The following posts describe our night and the wonderful memory we will have of our gift. Thanks Tawna and Nathan for bringing some drama and mystery to our lives. You are the best.

Setting the Stage…

Our Hosts for the evening, Tawna as Miss Sally Starr (Saloon Girl) and Nathan as Highstakes Harry (Saloon Owner).



Kevin as Gambling Jack (Professional Gambler and possible Gold Digger?) and Taya as Anna Belle (Jack's wife and a Genteel Southern Lady of Means).



Summer as Minnie Money (Southern Belle and Daughter of Montgomery Money) and Jamie as Montgomery Money (Business Tycoon and a Gentleman)



Jade as Holly Hickock (Southern Belle who loves to gamble) and Stacie as Poker Sally (Dealer at the Deadwood Saloon)



Richard as Mitch Maverick (Stranger from back east) and doubling as Jesse Wales (Outlaw and ex-husband of Poker Sally). Jeff was called out of town and had to miss out on the party of the year. He would have made a great Jesse Wales.



Robert as Clay Coldwell (Has been gambling great).



Granny as Banker Bonnie (Town banker LOL) and Grumpy as Marshall Dalton (Federal Marshall assigned to keep things honest at the poker tournament).

Talking to the Marshall is Brett as Sheriff Sam (Town Sheriff).




Beyond the Noose is Lisa as Black Barbara (outlaw and girlfriend of Jesse Wales). Brett and Lisa loaned us their home to set the stage for our night of mystery. They are the very good friends of Tawna and Nathan as well as the rest of us.

The Plot Thickens…

Highstakes Harry welcomes us to his Saloon. Clay was already hitting the gambling tables and probably into the house for a considerable amount of money.



All of us getting into our roles and having fun seeing the costumes and the various characters we were. Appetizers were served and everyone relaxing and having fun with the mystery.

Chow Time…

Such a fine table for the guests at Deadwood Saloon. Sally Starr outdid herself to make this dinner a memorable one. Appetizers of Meat Balls, Cheese Dip with Chips etc. started everyone out as they arrived. Dinner was Baked Potatoes complete with a plethora of toppings including her famous Chili, a side of a very special creamed corn, rolls etc. She was an amazing hostess. Everyone enjoyed the spread and no one left hungry. As if.

Dinner conversation consisted of all the characters getting to know one another. Each of us had a set of characteristics and motives to further thicken the plot.





Oh No! Before dessert was served there was a gun shot and Mitch Maverick was DEAD on the floor. Who could have done such a thing? It could have been any one of us. We all had a reason to want someone dead. Poor Mitch was the unfortunate victim.

Marshall Dalton Investigates…

The object here is to try and determine who done it. The Marshall talked to everyone, we all talked to each other about the clues our character had. The conversations were hilarious. The accents were even better. Ranging from southern belles and southern gentlemen to texas drawls, red neck (sort of) and old western movies. Too funny.



Holly Hickock saying “Who me? Why nevah suh! I am not capable of such treachery.”



Miss Minnie answering the Marshall's questions. “Why Suh, I would have no reason to act in such a manner…I always get everythin I want! Gasp! The nerve to even insinuate!”



Holly and Clay comparing notes.



Holly giving Montgomery Money the fisheye. Poker Sally having doubts about Miss Minnie Money.



Mr. Money and Gambling Jack conversing.



Gambling Jack and the Marshall coming to terms. Is Gambling Jack attempting to bribe the Marshall?



Banker Bonnie thinking about her clues. Who could it be?



The Marshall with Sheriff Sam and High Stakes Harry. Harry had the most to lose. Is the Sheriff in on the plot?



You got some ’splanin’ to do Jack! Anna Belle has some serious questions about where Jack is spending some of his time!

After the investigation, ballots were passed out to vote for Who Done It, Best Dressed and Best Actor/Actress. The jury is out!

The Finale…

The Smoking Gun



The Smoking Gun award went to Stacie as Poker Alice. She was the only one who guessed the killer right. Her award was a game of Clue to play at home. I'm not saying who the killer was in case you may want to borrow Tawna's Murder at the Deadwood Saloon for your own night of mystery.


Drama Queen



Big surprise. Not. Summer was voted the Drama Queen for the evening. For those who knew her as a child, (quiet, hardly spoke but full of personality) she has grown into a full blown lady of a thousand moods. She was a great Minnie Money. I have her certificate, but didn't get a pic of it. Complete with a DVD of 3 old westerns as her prize.

Dressed to Kill




After much deliberation it was Taya as Anna Belle voted “Dressed to Kill”. She did look good as did everyone. It was great to see the effort everyone made to look their part. Her prize was a box of whoppers.

The whole fam damily.

(Almost. Sans Jeff who was out of town, and all the kids of course. They were way jealous of our night out and can't wait to do one of their own.) Plus Lisa and Brett who were gracious to lend their home as scene of the crime.

Valentine Roses

We left the valley for the cabin on Saturday morning to spend a nice weekend in the mountains. To my great surprise when I opened the truck door to get in, there was a vase of roses and a sweet valentine card sitting on the center console. I have been so blessed to have a man who not only loves me, but is kind of romantic too. He does a much better job in that department than I do. He always takes the time to find just the right card. One that says what he wants to say to me. I on the other hand rarely go card shopping and when I do I get the funny, insulting or sexy/funny kind. I don't often buy him gifts for Valentines, but try to do something instead. Sometimes. I really think he's just glad I don't spend any money on anything. If the saying “opposites attract” is true, we are living proof. We often just smile a rueful smile when we realize how very different our personalities are. In spite of all that, we are happy. In church yesterday one of the talks was about “falling in love”. Also if it were possible to “fall out of love”. As the aspects of falling in love were categorized it sounded pretty easy to fall in love. When the possibility of falling out of love was discussed it was decided that it was a myth. After all the initial infatuation, if your love is to endure you must decide to stay in love. It is a choice, just as staying true in a marriage is a conscious choice. If we decide to put our own agendas second to our companion, selfishness will never erode the relationship. There is a balance that will naturally be reached if that is true of both of you. The marriages that make it through the years are way past the first love you feel when you become engaged and then married. It is made up of the sacrifice it takes to work on the decision to love always, through thick and thin and in righteousness. People don't fall out of love, they just decide it's not important anymore because the road got boring, and rough sometimes. They never make it past the exciting, new, “I can't live without you by my side” initial phase. They basically decide they are more important than you. The commitment to love through it all must be endured, refined and perfected through time. Fortunately we have eternity to work on that too. We'll need it.

Our Father in Heaven does not fall out of love with us. We are his children and receive his love unconditionally. Even if we don't deserve it. Even if we think we are so bad we are beyond it. No matter what we do. He never gives up on us. He stands ready and willing to bless us if we will just simply do our part. If the love I feel for my sweet husband is just a taste of the love that awaits eternally, it will be like nothing we can imagine here.

Now if we can just get that toothpaste tube and toilet paper roll under control, we are golden!

Valentine's Visitors

Gramma and Papa Harmon surprised us with a visit this weekend. Gramma came prepared with a ham dinner to make for us. It was so yummy, we had ham, sweet potatoes, corn, asparagus and rolls. Everything was perfect and crowned with pineapple upside down cake for dessert. Of course it had loads of whipped cream on it. We spent the weekend relaxing and even watched a little T.V. The olympics were starting and that is always a good pick to view.




Grumpy made waffles for breakfast complete with warm syrup. He even saved some batter for me as I slept in rather late. We made ham sandwiches for lunch before church today, and they were scrumptious.



We got to church and had a very good sacrament meeting. All about love since it was of course Valentine's Day. Enjoyed the talks and the funny stories told. I had someone take this pic of us in front of the ward building that Dawson built. Just a little history there.



We hope they will come back to see us, as well as any of the family that want to get in a little cold weather. We had a great weekend.

Weekend with Emersyn

If you know Emersyn at all, you know she loves her environment. She is happy to play, watch movies and drink her bottles at home where she knows her turf. To take her away from her digs for very long is to wish you hadn't! As Taya and Kevin finally at long last took the bigger kids to Disneyland, we volunteered to stay home with Emmy. Made sense for all concerned. I kept picturing Emersyn at Disneyland and it wasn't a pretty picture. I remember taking our kids when R.B. was just a few months old. Wow. It was a lot of work. So, home we stayed and she was no trouble at all to watch. No Lauren to terrorize her and take away all her toys. That was the best in her opinion. She was a model baby and we enjoyed our stay. I, however, have seen enough Toy Story 2, Tarzan, Happily Never After, El Dorado, and Ratatoulle (?) to last me for a very long time. Below is a pic of her and Grumpy enjoying a movie together.



The first day she thought I was hiding Taya in the bedroom behind the closed door. She would go to the door and pound on it for her Mommy. She never cried about it, just banged on the door. After that I was her best friend and she would even give me kisses. I left her in Grumpy's care on Sunday morning for a few hours and when I came downstairs I took the pic of them watching T.V. together. So cute. Emmy... you are too funny.