A Beautiful Day

We had one of those magical days yesterday, Sunday, where love and peace, and fun flowed liberally. There was Eli, Jenny, Mark, Mariah, Mariah's sister Summer, Dad and I. We had good food (if you must know everything, it was Teriyaki marinated rib eye steak, with corn on the cob, greek salad, rice, potatoes and grilled tomatoes and brownies), good talks, fun outside pruning the apple tree (that was my idea of fun - I called out, "everyone pick up 10 apples - that's 70 apples off the ground), we made more treats (macaroons) - because Mark, Mariah and Summer ate most of the brownies BEFORE supper:), and just had a warm, happy, love filled day. There is nothing that can take the place of love and harmony in your relationships - it means so much. I love my family dearly, and consider all these people my family! If only Jared, Sarra and Timmy, Jane, Charlie, Jacob, and Scarlet had been home to join us - that would have made the day entirely heavenly. Still, the day was the balm of Gilead to my soul.

Ode to Charlie

You would think, to look at these pictures, that Mano built the entire shed, but actually, Charlie, and I both helped. Charlie was here for the early stages, and showed real aptitude, and perseverance while helping baba work. He had 'stick-to-it-iveness' which is a trait that baba really appreciates. Your humble writer measured, designed, hammered, nail-gunned, and helped hang, the doors - that's all, just the doors. But really, Mano built a beautiful, well-built shed, that any shovel would be proud to dwell in.

It's actually not done yet, there are two windows that are to go either side of the barn like door. They are framed, but not cut yet. We'll see when that happens! You should see the garage right now - you know how one first must make a BIG mess before the clean up is complete? Well, I spared you the photo of the garage floor. It's just too awful, just like I have spared you the photo of the horrible bite I have on my leg...I am allergic to some creature in this yard - I've had 4 bites in 8 years, and each one is a scarred disaster. But I digress. The shed has been a slice - it was really nice to work outside, and it's fun to create something out of wood, I especially like wood.

Etsy, I Heart You

Where else would you be able to find this lamp shade???

www.etsy.com/shop/meggancolleen

Tarantula's, Oh my!

And....some Ukranian culture. A picture of my nephew, holding a tarantula on Canada Day at the County celebrations.I also, impulsively, stuck out my hand for a try, and did ok for a moment or two, and then bagan to panic. A swell of panic. The lady near me, a stranger, put her hand out to steady me, and calmed me enough for the fellow monitoring all of us to get the spider safely away from me.

We also visited a Ukranian community, in it's 1920 state, that was very interesting. We were quite fascinated by this one room mud hut, and wondered at the ingenuity of the space - it was quite cozy and functional. Where oh where would I put my dining room table though:)

BTW These photos were taken with my iPhone, so pardon the grainy indoor photo - the outdoor photos aren't too bad!

Sunday Talk

Our High Council speaker gave some words to think about on Sunday...he said that "through tragedy (trials) whether through personal failure or that of someone close to us, sickness, sin, accident, etc. that we learn critical lessons, that will in turn shape our character, and our destiny" (paraphrased).

This is where the rubber meets the road, and we become who we choose through our choices, and then our responses to those choices. Life is messy and complicated, but we can learn through all of it, and improve, and grow, and still come out moving towards our Heavenly Father.

Still Audun Obsessed

Natural Napkins

I have gotten it into my head that I would like to use cloth napkins...I would say instead of paper napkins and paper towels, but honestly we don't use either often; I think we must be quite neat, but still it seems a nice idea. Here are some of the more natural ones I have found:

This last item is a cotton sack meant to hold snacks, produce etc. instead of plastic bags - I would love to use these but the truth is that I would never have them with me; I have the reusable sacks for groceries in my car, where they stay, and I pay ¢5 for a plastic sack in the store. I don't know what it will take for me to remember to carry the reusable sacks into the store with me! And how in the world would I be able to hang onto these lovely little cloth sacks for produce and almonds??

Etsy stores: www.etsy.com/shop/evelynfields

www.etsy.com/shop/LoveForEarth

I picked up sweet napkins on eBay:

Now I need napkin rings:)

Happy 8th Anniversary Tim and Sarra

Congratulations giving the 7 year itch the slip:)

Fix You

For everyone that needs 'fixing'....(Mitchie, and Pasqualie) I love you!

Villeroy & Boch Audun China

I have blogged about these pretty dishes before; I have collected a couple of pieces over the last 7 years (a platter, a tray, and a teapot was given me as a gift by a very dear friend), but I had all but given up on getting the set for reasons of cost and the fact that the dishes I own right now will not die! They have been extremely reliable! Someone very special has bestowed upon me a set of four place settings, which has inspired me to go ahead and hunt down the rest of the set. I love them, and will remember the sweet gift, and the fact that they had remembered the pattern because I liked it so very well!

The beauty of these dishes is that they come ready to mismatch - a disheveled look that I adore. It looks kind of artless, but I don't think you could do it incorrectly - I have shown the bits and pieces here for your perusal.

So why so many posts all in a day? I am at home, in my jammies, having a sick day after a fun vacation and contact with at least 3 different summer colds:(

Pretty Summer Toes

Jane and Sarra:)

The Real Table & Chairs

There is quite a story to this table and chairs, but the long and short of it is that after looking for a month or so, I found this bit of French Country perfection, made by Lort's of Arizona, in the KSL classifieds in Alpine, UT and had it hauled up to Great Falls, where Mano picked us both up with a U-Haul, and took us both home. It is very happy in it's new home, and very much appreciated.