At last!

Finally, I can post it. This is a big project that Audrey and I worked on all summer - we made one for each family (a total of 5). I don't know what possessed us to think this was a good idea. We worked so diligently at this that we ended up with neck cramps by the end of each day. We got very tired of looking at these quilts! But after having hidden the finished product in my drawer for 4 months, when I pulled them out this week, they looked great.

Last night we gave them to everyone, so they can enjoy them during the holidays. Merry Christmas everyone!
(Addendum: Audrey writes about this in a much more detailed and entertaining way in her blog - see the link to Audrey & Joseph on my sidebar)

Completion date: July or August 2008
Size: 22 X 36 inches
Pattern: 25 days 'til Christmas #423 by Little Country Quilts

I am thankful for:

My family - in particular my children and grandchildren - my friends, my many blessings in life.

We took just a few minutes from home to go take these family pictures today. The babies were good (well, Madeleine had a little bit of a hard time), and we finished in record time.

Here's the whole group:

back row, l-r: Ray, Audrey, Diane, Debra, Beth, Bruce

middle row, l-r: Joseph, Ray, Randy

lap row, l-r: Matthew, Austin, Madeleine

Here are the happy grandparents with their happy (mostly) grandchildren:

The Hanks' had a great picture:

The Petersens had a great picture too:

Poor Ray. No family of his own. Yet.

We have a tie-breaker!

Audrey is pregnant, and due in April. She just found out yesterday that she is having a girl. That will give us 2 boys and 3 girls in the grandchildren department.

Elizabeth Linford Hanks

Madeleine wants to walk

Debra has been here this week with Madeleine. The boys have been around a lot also, and I think Madeleine wants to keep up. She's started taking more and more steps on her own.

Eleven months old today!

Quilt!

I've got to perfect my quilt picture taking skills. It's hard to get a picture of the whole quilt without it being at a funny angle, or blurry. Oh well, you can get an idea of what the quilt looks like from the picture.
Quilt size: 49 inches X 65 inches

Completed: November 24, 2008

Pattern: Lincoln Logs from 11 Laps from Fats by Ellen Replogle

Fabric: hand dyed (not by me)

Too Early!

Yes, it's 2:53 a.m. No, there will not be a picture of me to prove it is this time in the morning. No one needs to see that, no matter what time it is. I think I was asleep by 8:30 last night. Promptly at 1:29 a.m. my eyes  popped open, and I have not been able to get back to sleep.

Why does sleep elude us when we want it, and overtake us when we wish to remain alert? 

I will go back to bed, and hopefully while pondering that question, will fall asleep. After all, I need to be up in a couple of hours. 

And so it goes.

Quantum of Solace

Sean Connery. George Lazenby. Roger Moore. Timothy Dalton. Pierce Brosnan. And now Daniel Craig. James Bonds, one and all. Fast cars. Hold on to your seat car chases. Cover your eyes except you might miss something fight scenes.  Plots that are just complicated enough to keep your interest, but not so complicated as to be confusing. Bad guys who are truly bad. Beautiful women.  I love James Bond movies, and this one was great. Go see it!

They're home!

Mom and Dad are home! We went to the airport this morning to pick them up - it was so fun. In fact, better than Christmas.  They've been serving in Sao Paulo Brazil. Dad's been the doctor at the CTM.  After 20 months, we are certainly happy to have them home.

Mom and Dad coming past security.

Mom and Dad with David and his children. 

The Color of Water- A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride

I just finished reading this book for the second time. I read it several years ago for a book group, and just re-read it for my current book group. I liked it a lot the first time, and it held up well to a second reading.

The book is autobiographical - James McBride was one of 12 children from a black father and white mother. His mother grew up in an orthodox Jewish home - she had a tough life as a young girl. The book is a tribute to her, and how she managed to bring up a family and have the color of their skin not be a factor in the family, and for much of their lives.

New Haircut

I was brave and changed my hairstyle. I try to do that once every five or ten years, just to keep myself on my toes. Madeleine was kind enough to keep me company during the picture taking.

Snow!

Our first snow of the season. Here's a quick shot of my backyard pond. Note the yellow leaves on the trees in the background. It's that tricky transition time between Fall and Winter.

Madeleine loves her Uncle Ray

It's always fun to see Ray and Madeleine together. He holds her and plays with her all the time. Usually when they're together she's riding on his shoulders. 

They sure have a good time together.

I voted!

I am proud to be an American citizen, and feel blessed to be able to use my voice in the election of our leaders - local as well as general. The age to vote changed from 21 to 18 just in time for me to vote in 1976.  Jimmy Carter won that year. I don't remember much else, except that it was exciting to be able to vote.  It's still an exciting process for me,  and I'm thankful to be able to vote. 

The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick

This was a fun book. We're reading it for my juvenile lit group. It is definitely geared for girls.

The book is about a mother-daughter book club in Concord, MA. The book they discuss througout the year is Little Women. That alone could have the potential to make it enjoyable for me, but part of what made it so fun for me, is I was just there! They talked about places I've just been, and walked or driven around. Too fun. 

Boston in October

I love the Boston area. I could spend lots of time there. Ray and I went a few weeks ago, and I'm still relishing the trip. It was fabulous. I usually like to sit down and write about a trip right away, but I think I've been putting this off, hoping the trip would still be alive if it weren't committed to paper/computer.

We had some airplane tickets we had to use, and the airline mostly flies east from us. Ray said, "where do you want to go?" I think "Boston" flew out of my mouth before my brain knew I even had the thought!

Ray's cousin and family live in the Boston area (Hingham), and were gracious enough to host us. It was enough just to see them - add the rest of what we fit in, and I just couldn't think of more I would want to do. Something about the northeast really speaks to my soul. Lots of trees, lots of water (so far that is also like the northwest, which I also love), great architecture, but added to all that is lots of history. I just can't get enough of it.

My favorite type of vacation includes a great amount of relaxation and reading. Boston has been the exception to that rule. It is one place I am happy to go visit many locations, and soak up atmosphere.

Here's my little travelogue. Bear in mind that although I love the idea of lots of pictures, I kept getting caught up in what we were doing, and promptly forgot all about the camera. I did manage to get a few shots in.

Thursday, Oct 16

We arrived. Diane Nielsen picked us up from the airport. On the way home we gazed out the windows constantly, marveling in the foliage. I learned that the locals call it "leaf peeping".

Friday, Oct 17

Off and running. The plan was to head to Newport, Rhode Island to see the mansions. We had a slight change of plans and ended up at Steven's office instead. Steven is Ray's cousin, and ophthalmologist extraordinaire. We had to be there for a pre-surgery appointment for Ray (more on that later). We never ended up making it to Newport that week. I guess that means we need to plan another trip!

After the eye exam we headed to Concord. First stop, Orchard house, one of Louisa May Alcott's homes. I am a LMA fiend. I think I've read most everything she's written - many of them several times. We arrived just in time for a tour. The tour guide was very good. Entertaining, and knowledgable. Orchard House is an interesting historical sight. About 80% of what is in the house is actual furniture from when the Alcott's were there. There are drawings on the walls and window sashings that were done by LMA's sister - still there for all of us to see. The movie Little Women that Winona Rider was in used the actual Orchard House in much of its footage. I made a few purchases in the gift shop - including a chocolate bar that had a wrapper with a picture of a cover of Little Women. I just couldn't resist. (It's on the side bar of the blog)

Above: me and Ray in front of the school Bronson Alcott had. It is to the rear of Orchard House.

Below: a closer picture of me and Ray
After Orchard House, we did some drive-by sightings. We drove to Lexington and saw where "the shot heard round the world" occurred - the beginning of the revolutionary war. Then we drove back through Concord and saw Thoreau's shack where he lived at Walden's pond. The bonus of all this was still more beautiful foliage everywhere around us.

We stopped in Weymouth and had some great fish and chips at Caswells. It's a favorite for locals - always a good sign. I recommend it if you get to that area!

After our whirlwind sight seeing, we were back at Steven's office by 2:30. Time for Ray to have eye surgery. He had lasik surgery on one eye. This allows him to read with one eye, and see distance with the other. No more glasses perched on the top of his head. How will anyone recognize him? I was able to watch the surgery on a computer monitor. The entire surgery took about 30 seconds. We took Ray home, and put him to bed (thank you, Xanax!). He fell asleep promptly, and didn't wake up until the next morning. Meanwhile Diane and I ran to the Talbot's Outlet there in Hingham (Talbot's headquarters are in Hingham). We found a few good deals and went home to check on Ray. Sound asleep. So Diane, Steven, and I went to dinner at Panera. I wish they had those in Utah. Back home - Ray still asleep. I read for awhile, and got a great night's sleep.

Saturday, Oct 18

Ray woke up feeling great! We took off for more sightseeing, and this time Steven was able to join us. We made a quick stop at Steven's office for a post-surgical check on the eye. All was well, and off we went.

Here is a tree right next to Steven and Diane's - beautiful! We saw so much more like that everywhere we went.

First off we drove to Salem. We toured a place that was set up to show what the dungeons/prisons were like for the people during the time of the witch trials. There was also a skit depicting what the trials were like. Everywhere we walked were houses with little placards on them saying they were historical houses, and what year they were built. We saw some built as far back as the 1600's. I wish I'd taken a picture.

We ate lunch at the Boston Hotdog Company. Located only in Salem. Too bad, because the hotdogs were amazing, and I think they could do a rousing business anywhere in the U.S.

After Salem we headed into Boston proper. Our goal: to arrive at the Museum of Fine Arts by 4:00 p.m. (we made it, no sweat) . Before we left for Boston, I looked at things to see in the area. I found that a documentary about Louisa May Alcott was being shown at the MFA on Oct 18 at 4:00 p.m. I couldn't believe I would actually be there for it! It was only shown about 4 times, and the 18th was the last showing. It will be out on PBS in the fall of 2009. (Look for it; don't miss it!)
I could go on and on about the documentary, but I won't. It was one of the best 90 minutes spent on this trip. It was very well done.

We went to dinner in the north end of Boston - the Italian district. After waiting for about an hour and a half (during which time we walked over and saw the Old North Church - one if by land, two if by sea), we had an excellent dinner in a restaurant I neglected to get the name of. We stopped at a bakery on our way back to the car and got dessert to take home. I have to say the bakeries in the north end were amazing. Good thing I don't live there.

Sunday, Oct 19

Truly a day of rest. We went to church, then home for a long, long nap. Then dinner, and some great time to chat and visit with Steven and Diane.

I was reading Mornings on Horseback by McCullough while there. They saw my book and said, "We know his son and family!" I must admit to a great pang of jealousy.

Monday, Oct 20

Another pretty relaxed day. We went out to World's End - a natural reserve there in Hingham, and walked around. It was so beautiful. Right on the water, and beautiful foliage everywhere around.

Above: Ray and me

Below: Diane, Ray, and me
After that we ran a few errands, and had lunch at Caswell's again. Who knows when I'll be back to have it again? Ray made clam chowder for dinner that night, and it was a fitting end to our stay.

Tuesday, Oct 21

Back home to reality. Thank you Nielsen's! I can't wait to go back.

Randall S. Peck, piano

Randy gave his recital last night. Wow.

Here's what he played:

1. Piano Sonata No. 24 in F-sharp, op. 78, "For Therese" by Beethoven

Adagio cantabile: Allegro ma non troppo

Allegro vivace

2. Nocturne no. 17 in E Major, op. 62, no. 1 by Chopin

3. Preludes from Book II by Debussy

XIII. Ondine

XI. Les Tierces Alternees

4. Suite for Piano, op. 14 by Bartok

Allegretto

Scherzo

Allegro molto

Sostenuto

5. Piano Concerto No. 1 in F-sharp Minor by Rachmaninoff

The Rachmaninoff was a show-stopper, but my favorite was the Bartok.

Great job, Randy!

I couldn't resist adding a picture of the food served after the recital. Randy's mom, my good friend Jeanie, did all the food/set up for the reception. She does an incredible job at this kind of thing. Please note the piano key cookie.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

This book was okay. I think boys might like it. I can usually enjoy "boy" books as much as "girl" books, but this case, no. It's a best seller, and I imagine that's true for 4th to 7th graders. It didn't transend the generation gap for me.

Boy, I need a firecracker book!

A Calculated Risk by Katherine Neville

This book was just okay. I had hoped for more, because I liked The Eight so much. The story was fine, but parts of it were so dated that they were distracting. The main part of the plot deals with computers, and I'm sure when this book was written the computers in the book were state of the art. Not so now. Oh well.