Which Pic?

Jacob took a picture of the bowl of chips on our table and thought that should be the pic used for this day. It's a good one - and it was such a treat to be out for dinner with Jacob and Maria; quite unexpectedly. They had traveled to the White Mountains and spent the day Saturday with Maria's family in Snowflake, Arizona - they were celebrating her dad's {40th? wink} birthday. They called and invited Mike & I to meet them in Show Low for dinner. Well, yeah. Thanks for the invite and thank you for dinner. :-)

I think this picture is far better suited for recalling the uniqueness of this wonderful day. What a cutie he is! We had loads of fun visiting with Davis during our time together.

What do you think? Which picture should be used for recalling this day?

Another Haircut

There was another haircut in the family this week. After her headstart class yesterday afternoon, TJei went in for a trim and visit with Brittney. TJei just loves being a pretty little princess.

Dog Tags

It was fun making this little set of tags with pictures of a friend's dogs. The dogs actually belong to one of her daughters but she enjoys their companionship during the long days in her home. I hope she likes this little gift.

Craft Class

Last night I drove over to RV and attended a craft class at 3 Scrappin' Sisters. It's always fun to spend an evening with craft ladies like these two. Jacquetta, the shop owner was worried about her face being red in the picture. She had just returned to shop after spending time with her family, and tearing up, as her husband received a blessing from the bishopric. Her husband is being deployed and their family will be having many changes. Love and best wishes Jacquetta!

Paper Crafts

These are the papers I chose to make a little display album. They are cute, colorful and nostalgic. I like these colors. :-)

This is a little card and tin case with mints/gum that I made for a friend and neighbor who is under the weather. I'm hoping she'll get to feeling better soon!

Double Date & I Go to Church

For some reason I've done a lot of this & that post titles recently. Each day has so many little things that reflect the day or this moment in time. Early this morning Mike and I decided to go to Iggy's for breakfast and of course, TJei had to go along. :-)

On the ride to the restaurant TJei was talking about little kids in her Headstart class and she is vocal about this one or that one being her "boyfriend" much to the dismay (and humor) of Grandma & Grandpa. During this particular ride TJei mentioned dating and we told her she is too young to date (only 4) anyone except Grandma & Grandpa - she could double date the two of us. We would be her date. TJei thought that would be a very good idea. We do too.

While at the restaurant we greeted the older Indian man sitting at the lunch counter. We were sitting in the booth directly adjacent the lunch counter so it was natural to engage the man in conversation and ask about the Zachary ball cap he was wearing. Zachary is a contractor at the power plant and they are hiring many workers for the outage and construction projects out there.

The man asked if there was a truck stop in the area. We told him the nearest would be up in Holbrook, about 60 miles away. Through his broken English it became apparent he wanted a truck stop for pay phones - he had tried several pay phones in town and none of them were working, or at least not working with his calling card. He wanted to call his wife and family in Tuba City area. I offered my cell phone to the man, he offered to pay but I of course told him that wouldn't be necessary. He could use my phone to make his call and I extended my hand and the phone to him.

TJei, Mike and I continued eating our meal. During his conversation I could gain a sense of his communication with his wife. I don't know if he was Navajo or Hopi, I think Hopi is more prevalent in the Tuba City area but their language does not have words words for "background check", "Zachary", and "cell phone" because those words were in English as the man explained he was using some stranger's cell phone to call and let her know he was waiting on a background check to be comepleted.

During that bit of time at the restaurant I also learned the man has two sons, both mid-30's and does not yet have any grandkids but his sister in Killian, Texas is a grandmother. :-) The man used to be a boiler-maker working in his trade as a welder. A job related accident sometime back cost him his left eye, several teeth and limited use of his entire left side. Both his sons served in the U.S. military and he is very proud of them. One of them is attending a university, another an automotive trade school.

As the man readied to leave the restaurant he again thanked me for use of the phone and added, "God bless. I go to church."

I don't know whether his simple statement was to be confirmation for him that his life is blessed for being a church-goer (I don't know what religion) or if it was confirmation for me, "Of one heart and one mind" (Moses 7:18). Either way, it was confirmation that the smile in my heart for helping someone make contact with their family was a good thing.

Lucky Charms

TJei, like our own kids when they were younger, loves Lucky Charms cereal. This box happens to be sitting in the trash, on top of the paper trash to be burned in a day or two. The entire box was finished off in one day, by TJei alone. She dumped the box of cereal on the couch so she could pick through and get the little marshmallow shapes! Ugh

Cards and Funnies

These are a couple cards I made for two neighbors going through daily radiation therapy for cancer treatment. They are so strong, so inspiring. I hope they like the cards.

Mia tried to give me a Wet Willie today (I think that's what the kids call it) only her little fingers fit far too well inside my ear! Yikes, if you see daylight through the hole in my ear you'll know why.

TJei came in here a bit ago and poked her belly out as far as she could and proclaimed, "I'm going to have a baby boy." Not just yet little one!

Jacob posted a comment on my Pay It Forward post and I nearly posted a reply to his comment. Ooops! I don't think the rules allow for me to be number three of three on my own offering. Maybe no one else is going to comment though. hmmm

The bishop's executive secretary just called me. The bishop wanted to remind me there is no correlation meeting tomorrow. Maybe someone told him about my Way Early post a few weeks ago. {wink}

Pay It Forward

Jacob and Maria have a link to a friend's blog site and this friend has a Pay It Forward post that was made 10 stinking days ago and still has only two comments on it! I was feeling especially saddened by there not being three comments so, good dooby that I am (ha!) was going to jump in there and make the third comment on her post. Now what do you think? Wouldn't it have been cool (and rather adventurous, at least for me) to post a comment on a total stranger's site and then receive something handmade by that blogger as a surprise in the mail? So what's up? Why wasn't there a third comment posted? I dunno but I do know why I didn't post my witty, cute, long comment on that blog post ... Sheesh! To require a person to use (and display) their account name and login, what the heck?

Oh well, I couldn't use my usual ~Karen, ~J9, ~Mom or other usual sig so I just cancelled the comment and slinked back to my own blog and posting messages and comments just for those who know me. :-( It would have been fun though. :-}



Okay, speaking of Paying It Forward ....

I did post the #3 comment on Kirsten's (Maria's sister) blog way back on February 5th (yeah I know) so I am so excited to see what little gem of handmade goodness she'll be sending my way. I need to do my part and post the rules and an invite ...

The Rules...

1. Be one of the first THREE bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me.

2. Winners, you must post this challenge on your blog, meaning that you will Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift for the first THREE bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway!

3. The gift that you send to your Three Friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: It’s the Spirit and the Thought That Counts!

4. When you receive your gift, please feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate Linky Love!

Now, on a serious note again ... there are only three people who read/visit my blog so it'll take all of you to make this happen. Hurry on up. I know just what I want to make and send. :-)

Okay, the Reveal

So, what do you think? Do you like the new do?

Of course, it looks completely different now because of the time Brittney took to straighten it with an iron. It won't be looking like this again for a long time to come! I'm not able to do the iron so it'll just be my usual fluff and go - only a whole lot shorter!

Scrappin' Some More

Everyone has been so sweet to let me snap pictures after I tell them about Project 365. This is Jacquetta's son over at 3 Sisters Scrapbooking in Springerville. I told his mom that this kid always manages to get me to delve into new projects and gets me enthused about scrapping. He knows his stuff and he is a sweetheart for letting me get a picture, too. :-)

If anyone reading this ends up with a little display album like the one shown here, forget you saw it here first.

Completely New Hairstyle

Revisiting my Bucket List:

Try a completely different new hairstyle.

Check

Sneak Peek:

The New Do

TJei took it upon herself to take a picture of Grandma in the stylists chair while I was getting a haircut. She loves to get hold of my camera and latching onto it while I was secured under the plastic cape seemed like a good idea to her.


LOL Hilarious, isn't it? Actually, I just get this silly wide grin anytime I look at this picture of our little imp. This is the expression she made when the hairdresser asked if she liked my new haircut. I guess that's a look of approval ... or something.



And this, this is Brittney and she is doing the "only her hairdresser knows" pose for me after I told her about Project 365 - documenting life with a picture a day for a year. Thanks for the new do Brittney!

Jasmine's Surprise

This sweetheart was Jasmine's little surprise. She was born on Mike's birthday so she is one month old in this picture and only 14 ounces. She is just adorable and her coat keeps getting lighter and lighter. When she was born I thought she'd be red. Look at her now, not a hint of red on her.

The Cookie Monster

It didn't take TJei long to zoom in on the plateful of goodies my VT delivered. Terry J is always so sweet to remember special days throughout the month and do something to remind me that she's around. I love her so much! Oh, I love TJei, too ... even when she's munching cookies.

VT Hearts & Treats

Terry brought a plateful of treats for Valentine's Day.

Grandma's Purse

Baylee has discovered Grandma's purse and she is having a good time exploring around in it. Wait until you see the other pictures and what she was doing when her mommy realized what she was up to. :-)

Introducing Rosemary

My friend Rosemary is a charming and talented lady. She and hubby, Ralph, lived and raised their family here in Taylor, Arizona and that's when I met and became friends with them. Rosemary has a Pomeranian, too. Back when we first met she had three little gals but has only one, Tasha, now. Rosemary makes these adorable quilts - they are so soft and so warm. Each little blanket is themed. This one has tiny little dogs on it. They're terriers but that's okay, they're little!

Rosemary made blankets that I gave to each of my little grandchildren for Christmas. TJei already had one from when she was younger. It is a gorgeous pink and yellow paperdoll print. Davis received a blue and yellow print blanket. The "Let's Play" picture in this link shows the blanket really well. Baylee received a beautiful golden brown and raspberry print blanket with teddy bears and watermelons. Mia received an adorable aqua blue and brown print blanket.

Rosemary and Ralph now have a place in the valley ... an auction tale you have to hear in real life! Their home in QC is just two miles or so from our place in QC! This is so cool. Rosemary is a yardsale fanatic and has even managed to enthuse me on yardsales, somewhat. (Yes, believe it or not.) I can't wait to tell about some of my yardsale finds - the good ones, not just the dryer Rosemary found for $50.00 to make Quentin's life so much easier.

Back to the quilts ... hmmm I wonder who'll receive this little beauty?

My Little Guy

Isn't he just the cutest? Davis' little eyes are so, so blue. He's going to have eyes like his mommy's. That is Baylee in the background, sneaking up on the remote controls. :-)

I was able to spend some time with Davis and Baylee during my recent trip to QC. I'm looking forward to doing it again when I go back the first weekend of March.

There are lots of other pictures of Davis to come sometime soon. I'm not so sure about doing indoor pictures without flash but the subject is just adorable!

Looking Back

She is so stinkin cute! This picture of Baylee was taken one year ago 2/12 and she was just adorable - she still is too.


There are some other new pics of Baylee coming soon, too. :-)
Edited: Here you can enjoy a few views of Snacktime with Baylee. She is so animated, even when eating!

Oh, I love this girl!

Sis. Chieko Okazaki Visiting SJ

Sister Okazaki will be speaking in St. Johns! In person, not a broadcast!!! I am so excited, so looking forward to this special event in Relief Society. There will also be a Fireside on Sunday evening. For more details click Lyman Ward link at top right of this page. The weekend of 28, 29 would be a great time for all women with ties to St. Johns to come home for a visit ... what a wonderful opportunity to hear an important message.

Another Card

This is a card I made to accompany a gift for new parents. I love that quote by Boyd K. Packer. I love new babies ... can't wait for more little ones to join our family. (Are you listening back east?) {wink}

Old Dogs and New Tricks

Okay, go ahead and enlarge the picture for a better view if you'd like. If you know me, you know it has always been my mantra, "I don't eat my salad on my sandwich."

Subway has changed all that in me.

Yep, seriously. I really do eat that concoction up there in that picture and in fact, the Subway worker thought I was real weird when I asked him not to fold up and wrap the sandwich. I took it to a booth and got a picture first because I just knew no one would believe me without a picture!

In case you're wondering ... that is a Sweet Onion Teriyaki Chicken sandwich (not toasted) on Italian herb and cheese roll with avacoado, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, a bit of red onion, bell pepper and banana pepper. I do spinach when they have it, too.

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

Okay, I'll admit it - I still can't bear to look at the sandwich, even now in a picture. I've only gotten beyond the eating, not the looking.

Gift for a Friend

A friend is being baptized this evening and this is a gift I made for her. It is so amazing to me that Savita has embraced the Lord and the teachings of the Church as her homeland of India doesn't have many Christians, it is a Hindu and Muslim nation. Savita is a beautiful, tiny little lady and it has been wonderful to try foods she prepares to share with everyone at various church activities. Okay, they're a bit spicy hot for me but who knows, I may take more of a liking to it in the future - old dogs and all. I have added tumeric to my spice cabinet and love, love, love adding a bit to fried cabbage! Yum. Just don't mix the spices in a little bowl or plastic bag then reach in with your fingers to sprinkle over the cabbage. Yucky yellowed fingers really aren't too cool.

I love you Sevita!

Looking Back

Wasn't she a cutey? She still is - she looks the same now as then just a bit less babyish. This picture was taken one year ago on 2/6.

I {heart} You

This cute little picture isn't in focus (Mike never claimed to be a photographer) but it still frames the sentiment ... and it is the best picture I have taken on this date! :-)

I was trying to take a picture with the theme "I {heart} You" to fit into the guidelines of an online scrapping class that I'm taking. (A Life Well Crafted at Big Picture Scrapbooking.) It seems I'm more into gaining inspiration from others rather than following a specific outline or pattern for doing things. It's been fun though - Kolette and Jason's personal story makes the class so worth it. Talk about inspiration!

Childhood Friends

Naylene (hope I've spelled her name right) and TJei have gotten to be good friends. They enjoy playing together, watching movies, being princesses (dress up) and just being buddies. Their friendship is especially cool because their moms, Jodie and Betty, were also friends as young children. I love living in a small town!

Mia had just woke up and she was surprised to see Naylene in the truck with us. :-)

Jammin'

TJei was jammin away on her Hannah Montana guitar that Uncle John and Aunt Kelly gave her for Christmas. You can see the intensity of her play on her face. I am so grateful to witness these moments and even more grateful for the technology that allows me to share the moment and also save it for the future. ♥

Wildlife in Area

Earlier today I drove over to Springerville (fav scrapbook shop and also Subway :) and was delighted to see a gorgeous bald eagle soaring in the area of the commercial truck weigh station - near Becker Lake. The picture isn't mine ... I couldn't click quick enough and, in fact, couldn't take my eyes off that beauty long enough to look for my camera!

It's been a long time since I've seen eagles in that area. Does anyone remember the pair that used to nest in a tall cottonwood tree there in that area a few years back? I think one of them was killed by a teen. :(

We've had occasion to see wildlife a couple times recently. There is a large herd of deer grazing and spending time just outside Show Low and we've seen them near the highway a couple times in the past few weeks.

The antelope can be seen at times just outside town. Some may think I'm really weird but I've also been spotting bluebirds recently. I know they're common in some areas - just not so common here in our area although there used to be large numbers of bluebirds out in the area between Show Low Pines and 11-Mile Hill. It isn't so common to see them anymore but I can recall times we drove through and there would be large numbers of the birds in that area.

We've also seen foxes a couple times recently - one in Show Low city limits even, right there by the creek near the stop light.

Even though the picture isn't mine, I wanted to remember that sighting ... made on this day. It is a special day.

Reminders

Okay, there was plenty of fuel but I need to really try to improve on checking the amount of fuel before I leave from a town instead of midway between two towns!

I made a couple cards today, too. One is a birthday card for a friend and the other is an I'm thinking of you type card for a friend who is going through some tough times.

Pistachios

Naturally trans fat free, naturally cholesterol free, low in saturated fat, good source of protein and dietary fiber ...mmm, mmm, good.

Way Early

I'm not sure I'll ever get Ward Correlation meetings figured out correctly. I arrived at the church for our 10:00 meeting only to discover no one else was there. On a typical Sunday, I get TJei ready to go before I leave for my meeting then I run back home to pick her up or have someone bring her to the meeting house. On this particular Sunday, not the 2nd or 4th, and not the 3rd Sunday, I had plenty of time to go back home and snap a picture of me and Little Miss Sunshine. Okay, let's see ... that's Correlation meeting on 2nd and 4th Sunday and Stewardship Interview on 3rd Sunday. Whew!