Thank You

... to the Delta Airlines employee in St. Louis who whisked my father-in-law onto an earlier flight and into first class for the final leg of his flight. He'd been flying about 40 hours already, helping a sick missionary return home. He had two flights left to get him to his final destination. This wonderful employee rushed him to an earlier flight which got him there in one flight instead, and in first class.

Five hours saved. After forty hours, you better believe that was a blessing.

Sisters 2010

We returned from Hawaii and two days later I took off for our Sisters Weekend. It is the yearly gathering of Linford sisters (Elna, Orva, Ann, Amy) and sisters-in-law (Diane, Audry, Jennifer, Sally). My mother-in-law usually joins us, but this year she is on an LDS mission in Hong Kong. We've been doing this since 1991, when Amy engineered the whole thing. We haven't missed a year since.

It traditionally takes place the second full weekend in March. We begin Thursday evening, and go until Monday morning. There is not a minute to be missed. Over the years we have gathered in San Jose California, Lake Cavanaugh Washington, Orem Utah, Salt Lake City Utah, and Wellesville Utah.

Sometimes we go out to eat. Sometimes we see a play (Jane Eyre, Forever in Plaid). One year we all went to Elna's piano performance in Fairfield, California--Grieg's Concerto in A Minor. We've had a private tour of the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. I'm sure there are many things I am forgetting to include.

Mostly, though, we stay in. We have only a few days to enjoy each other, and we don't want to miss out. We usually discuss a book. Perhaps our longest and most thorough discussion was These Is My Words by Nancy Turner. This year we talked a little bit about A Return to Modesty by Wendy Shalit. I'm sure it would have been a more detailed and lengthy discussion had anyone but me finished the book before we got together. Perhaps next year.

We often watch at least one movie together. This year I was introduced to North and South.

I'm hooked. I now have another epic movie to watch besides Pride and Prejudice. Sally says, and I think I have to agree, that it has the best cinematic kiss ever.

We gathered in Wellesville, at the home of Sally's parents. They are so generous to share their lovely, large home with us. We sleep upstairs, and play downstairs. (Her parents try to retain some peace in their own quarters on the main floor.) It's my favorite place that we go. It is far enough from home that we are not caught in the web of our families' needs. We are an insular group, living in a bubble for a few wonderful days.

In our Sunday best:

back row: Diane, Audry, Sally, Ann, Amy

front row: Jennifer, Elna, Orva

The first year we met, Amy gave us all a hostess gift. Since then we have each brought a gift for each of the others (same gift to all sisters). It's better than Christmas. Some gifts are large, some are small. Some are easier to get on a plane than others. One year I was going through the airport with a giant frisbee, about the size of a hula hoop. I got several questions, and startled looks.

Here we are each holding the gift we gave. We are all wearing the red aprons that Elna gave us, each with our own name and "Sisters 2010" embroidered on it. We are also all wearing at least one of our "glam gloves" that we got from Sally. We will all be stylin' as we do our housework now.

Back row: Amy, Sally, Audry, Diane

Front row: Jennifer, Elna, Ann, Orva

This year became the ultimate year of the project. Jennifer, Orva and I brought our sewing machines. Audry borrowed Sally's mom's machine. We sewed and sewed. I did some quilting, Audry made pajamas, Orva made several pillows for Amy's new sofa, mended, and did some modifications to various dresses - hers and her daughters', and Jennifer went to town making purses out of placemats. Elna and Ann helped us all by cutting, pressing, pinning, and unpicking our mistakes. We could not have accomplished so much without them.

Work stations: Amy and Ann are holding up some of the pillow covers in the back. Clockwise from left at the table are Jennifer, Diane, Sally, Orva, and Audry.

This time we are paying attention to the camera. We've added Elna to the picture, holding Orva's quilt made from a skirt she made when she was very young.

Pillows with Ann, Orva, and Amy. The pillow with the various colored flowers is my favorite, and I've been trying (in vain) to convince Amy that it would look much better at my house than hers. Sigh.

Jennifer is holding all the purses she made. She was a little factory.

Here are all the purses laid out on the floor. She let us each choose one as our gift from her. It was very hard to decide! I chose the red, yellow, and black striped one, second from the right in the middle row.

By the end of the weekend, these were most of my remainders (there were a few more that didn't get retrieved from the trash can):
All in all, it was a great weekend. I love these sisters, and all the time that I can get with them is a treasure to me.

Guilty Pleasure

True confession: I love this movie. It caught me from the moment Billy Crystal spit his grape seeds into the car window, and I was fully engaged to the very end.

The grandkids were gone for a couple of days, so I popped in the DVD to watch while I was sewing this morning. It has a few language problems, and of course the topic is not for toddlers; I took advantage of their absence to enjoy this film all over again.

The dialogue is witty, the soundtrack is exceptional and I love the cast. It is my favorite movie Billy Crystal has made. I remember laughing at the clothes and hair they depicted for the past when the movie was brand new. Today I giggled to note that what was current when the movie was made now seems just as outdated.

I love some of the lines from this movie. Here are just a few that I noted today:

Late night conversation between Harry and Sally, "That's the good thing about depression; you get your rest." (It's nice for me to find some humor about depression.)

Harry explaining to Sally that there are two kinds of women, low maintenance and high maintenance. "You're the worst kind: you think you're low maintenance, but really you're high maintenance."

Harry has just seen his ex-wife, and tells Sally he doesn't think his ex looks very good. "Her legs must be retaining water. Believe me, the woman saves everything."

Nora Ephron did a fine job with the script.

I also love the older couple interviews that are interspersed throughout the story. Some of them remind me of me and Ray - finishing each other's sentences, correcting small facts.

It's just the kind of movie I like to watch while sewing. I've seen it so many times that I can miss some of it and not be lost. By the same token, I know when to pause my machine to catch some of the best parts.

Thursday Workday

Today Trish and I finished our quilt tops. No picture reveal - I'm going to wait until it's all quilted.

Stay tuned.

Finally, It's Done

My mom gave me a new quilt book for Christmas. It looked intricate, but kind of fun. I had a new granddaughter due in a little over a month, so I picked out a pattern from the book, and the week right after Christmas bought the fabric. I have to say I love the fabric. I was all set--a month until the baby was due, lots of time to sew. I got right on it, and cut it all out.

Then I got pneumonia.

Still, I persevered, even though I was sick, trying to sew about an hour a day. Then, after I had done about three rows on each of the squares (which took days), I was ready to throw the whole thing out. It was indeed intricate, and it was no fun at all. I hated the process of making it.

But as I said earlier, I loved the fabric. What to do? After about three hours of trying to figure out how to salvage the quilt, I hit upon a plan. I crossed my fingers, and hoped it would work. I really had to do some scrambling to use what I had already cut in a completely new pattern. I trimmed up what I had done, added some different rows, and voila, it turned out all right after all.

Diane turns eight weeks on Saturday. She'll receive it on Sunday. She'll never know it was late. She'll also never know she almost never got this quilt!

Finished: March 24, 2010

Size: 37 inches X 44 inches

Pattern: Bundle of Joy (of which the making was not) from Positively Pineapple by Lynda Milligan and Nancy Smith (p. 14)

and

My own invention (a scramble to save the fabric)

The Land of the Free

The first presidential election I voted in was 1976: Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford. It was the first of many experiences of voting for the losing candidate. The legal voting age changed from 21 to 18 just as I was turning 18, so I didn't have to wait long to vote. It was a thrill to go to the polls and voice my choice, whether or not my particular candidate or issue won.

Last night was Caucus night here in the state of Utah. Although I have voted in every election - local, state, and federal - since the age of 18, I have not been active politically. I've never attended a caucus before, but I went last night. So did Ray, Audrey, and our son Ray.

In the past, they've met in precinct neighborhoods. This year there was a change. All the precincts in our district met together at a local junior high school. We had a brief opening - said the pledge, heard the Salt Lake County Republican preamble, received a few instructions on what we should accomplish in our individual precincts, then split into precincts.

Once we gathered in our precinct, we held elections. We elected a precinct chair, vice chair, secretary (me--how did I end up there??) and treasurer (also me). I didn't have to do much to be elected. Mainly just be there in the meeting. Ray was elected state delegate. He, on the other hand, had 3 minutes to "campaign", and 5 minutes to field questions.

In these times we've decided we need to take a more active interest, and take action where we can. So last night we took our first steps along that path.

Mystery Solved...

This post is a follow up to The Mystery of the Quilted Bag (click here to read it).

I went to church at Debra's ward today. That is where she spied the bag I made. The girl (woman) with the bag was there. I approached her (with my sister-in-law, who knows her), carrying Debra's bag, which is nearly identical to hers, and explained in what I hope was a very comfortable way, that I had made her bag. In the course of the conversation I told her I was dying to know where she'd gotten the bag, because for the life of me I could not remember who I'd given it to. She got it from her mother, who had been given it by her sister-in-law, Nicole. Aha! I know Nicole! Okay, here it is, perhaps a little less confusing:

1. Me to Nicole (in Kirkland, Washington)

2. Nicole to Nicole's mother-in-law (in Orem, Utah - my mother-in-law's ward, now my daughter's ward)

3. Mother-in-law to mother-in-law's daughter (same ward in Orem). So the girl who has the bag now is the sister to Nicole's husband (whom I also know).

Well, it's all perfectly clear to me now. Nicole's bag was the one on the left (brown handles). Nicole and I served together in YW camp for our Kirkland Stake, and I'm pretty sure I gave her the bag after that.

It's all perfectly clear except for this minor detail: I still can't remember to whom I gave the other two bags. It would have been at the same time, and likely for camp service together. Grrr, this is when I wish I kept a journal! Or even kept up on my quilt journal. Maybe the rest of the mystery will be solved someday. Meanwhile I am happy to know the outcome of this bag's mystery.

I love these "small world" events.

In Which a Stick is Not a Stick

A couple of weeks ago, Audrey and family went to visit Joseph's grandpa up in Idaho. They live on a farm with an orchard, and the boys revel in their time at "Grandpa's farm". Austin and Matthew brought home a couple of souvenirs.

Sometimes things are not what they seem. For instance, this is a sword:

Matthew

And this is a divining rod not used for finding water, but rather unsavory items in the back yard:

Austin

Austin came in the other day and informed me that there was dog poop in my yard. (Don't ask me how it happens, but it does. Our yard is completely fenced and the dogs still get in.) I didn't really respond. He continued his story, telling me that he had smashed his stick from Grandpa's farm (see above photo) into the poop, then he smelled the stick to confirm that it was indeed dog poop. What am I supposed to say to that??

He then tried to bring the stick inside. You can imagine what I said to that.

Announcing...

Sorry for the late notice. Randy's senior recital (piano) is tomorrow night--the 19th, 7:30 pm in the Madsen Recital Hall, Harris Fine Arts Building, BYU. It will be fabulous!

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

Finally, a truly delicious read. Delightful from beginning to end. I read it this afternoon - 96 pages of bliss.

If you love books and reading, witty correspondence and getting a peek into another life and times, this book is for you. It is the 20 year correspondence between Helene Hanff and her booksellers in England. Helene is a writer in America who has very decided opinions about her books. She buys them from Marks & Co. at 84, Charing Cross Road.

I needed a read like that. I've sure had some disappointments lately.

Travelin'Oma recommended the book, and she was right on target.

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

I looked at this book on Amazon, and there were more than 300 reviews, and Amazon gave it over 3.9 stars. I was dumbfounded. I wouldn't even give it one star.

I picked the book up in the bookstore, and read the first chapter. It looked good. I bought it. It was not good after the first chapter. The writing style was good, but the plot was non-existent. The book was all over the place, and I never could figure out where it was going.

The title character did not figure prominently in the book until the last half of the book, and even then only sort of. There were several people introduced, then after giving a glimpse of their life, they disappeared. I kept waiting for the great tie-in, and it never happened. Once a character disappeared they pretty much never reappeared.

I kept reading, thinking surely there will be a great coming together of characters and the mystery of why the book even exists would be cleared up. No such thing. I do not recommend it, and am sorry I spent any money or time on the book.

Last Day in Paradise

This is the view from our front door in Utah:

Ray just loves those mountains. I like them. I think they are stunning, and a wonderful view that we actually get from three sides of our house. But no matter how you look at it, Utah is a desert. Where we live is less desert-seeming, but desert nevertheless.

I was born and raised about a mile from the ocean. I'm a water girl. It's in my blood. I don't have to be in it, but I do need to be around it once in a while. Lakes and rivers will do the trick for me, but the ocean is the best.

I don't need heat - in fact I don't like hot weather. I do like warmth, and balmy, slightly breezy weather. This time of year in Hawaii is perfect; not too hot, not too rainy. Just what I need to rejuvinate my soul.

We fly home tonight. Tomorrow real life begins again. I'll be hustling the next few days to catch up and get ready for what's ahead.

But I'll head into it fully armed.

From this:


Aloha!

Secret Stash

You know you've lived in Hawaii a long time when....

This is what the ceiling of your garage has stashed: (surfboards in their covers). This isn't even all of them, nor does it include the kite surfing equipment.

Sorry, Mike. I just had to share.

Meandering Monday

We woke up to fairly blue skies - especially compared to yesterday, which was overcast with some rain. Soon the sun broke through all the way. We decided to go for a drive, and went down the coast toward Hanauma Bay (it's well known for snorkeling). It was a lovely drive, with a beautiful view of the coast most of the way. It is a little reminiscent of Highway One in California.

We stopped at a lookout point along the way. The ocean was an incredible shade of blue, which isn't captured in the picture as well as I'd hoped it would be. I was very brave (for me), and climbed over a short wall and out onto the ledge (!!)overlooking the water. (Brave on two counts - 1, climbing over a wall that is supposed to be a safety barrier, and 2, onto any sort of ledge). Don't be too impressed. Everyone was doing it. But still, for me, brave.

Diane and Ray

We drove a little further, and stopped at Sandy Park Beach. Every time I get out of the car I still marvel at the balmy weather. We took a walk along the beach, and ran into a crowd gazing at and taking pictures of a seal. At first we thought it was dead, and washed up on the beach, but then it lifted its head and looked around. No one was allowed near it. Then a man came and put up a bunch of signs surrounding the seal.

Hawaiian Monk Seal

I read the sign (I couldn't help myself--it was there). Pretty interesting information. We asked Mike about it later. He said it isn't that uncommon to have them up on the beach. Maybe that's true if you live in Hawaii, and go to the beach all the time. But it isn't common for someone from the mountainous region of Utah.

Pretty fun day. Later this afternoon we'll head down to the beach and watch Mike do some kite surfing.

Day 6: goal met

Murder Between the Covers by Elaine Viets

A dud. I abandoned it partway through.

Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews

A great beach read. Fun, and not too intricate.

Saturday in Paradise

Ray misses his garage sale days. Now that we live in Utah he doesn't go anymore - not enough great deals on great items. But, here in Hawaii, he usually heads out on Saturday morning to see what there is to see on the garage sale front. This morning he took Chris along, and they hit the sales. He did find a few pairs of shorts to buy, but the most interesting thing he saw was this bunker built into the mountain:

There was a garage sale inside of it. They didn't find anything worth buying there, but it was interesting to look at.

Chris out front

Chris checking out the goods

After the boys got home from garage sale hopping we headed to the beach. Mike was already there, kite surfing. Here he is taking off:

It is amazing to watch all the kites out there. Today wasn't as windy, so there weren't as many out there. Here's Mike, all done, bringing in the kite (not his only kite, by the way - he has several. After all, it is imperative to have just the right kite for the particular weather conditions of the day).

It's pretty fun to walk out on the grass and see all the kites waiting for their owners to either pack up and go home, or head out for another sail. A lovely woman I met said she calls them "beach butterflies."

So, there you have it, another day spent on the beach. It was perfect beach weather for me; cool and a little windy. The sun peeked in and out of the clouds all morning.

Day 4: goal met

Tweeter and Diane at the beach

North Shore

My sister and her husband lived on the North shore for about 10 years, so that was our first exposure to the island of Oahu, and it spoiled us. They lived right by Shark's Cove and Three Tables. We loved being able to walk right across the street to the beach.

They live in Kaneohe now, and we usually head over to Kailua Bay to go to the beach - it's wonderful. But when we come to visit we usually take a day and head up to the North shore for old times' sake. Today the kids were out of school, so we brought them along. We drove along the coast all the way up to Hale'iwa. We went right past Three Tables: (all photos taken on my phone, as I left the camera at home in my other bag.)

Then we stopped for burgers at Kua'Aina - arguably the best burgers on the island. If you order an avocado burger, they put an entire avocado on the burger. Let's just say we shared the avocado...

Diane and Ray at Kua'Aina

Diane, Jennifer, Christopher

Shave Ice for dessert. We only get shave ice at Matsumoto's. We're shave ice snobs.

Diane and Ray

We finished the afternoon at Waimea Bay, where Chris got in the water with his boogie board, and caught several waves.

Now, I ask you. Which vacation would you prefer, this:

Or this:

The Phillips' December 2009

I know which one I choose!

Day 3: goal met

A Return to Modesty Discovering the Lost Virtue by Wendy Shalit

A resounding Amen! to Shalit's thesis. This well-written call to counterrevolution of the sexual revolution is long overdue.

I sometimes marvel that I was able to grow up as innocent as I did in the general American culture I was surrounded by. Thanks to my parents, and their sound values; then later immersing myself into a religion and culture that honors virtue and modesty
I have been blessed to live in a wonderful, safe-feeling world.

My own children seem to have fared well. I pray hard for my grandchildren every day that they will survive this world they are growing up in. If Shalit's proposed return to modesty can succeed, I certainly hope to help it on its way.

Hawaii Day 2

Spent part of the afternoon on the (very windy) beach watching all the kite surfers, reveling in the salt air and sand stinging my skin from the wind.

Day 2: goal met

Aloha

There is nothing like walking off a plane in the Honolulu airport. The instantaneous feel and smell of ocean air is revitalizing to me.

We arrived yesterday afternoon. We stay Chez Phillips. The caretakers are wonderful, and happen to be related (my sister and family). They are the same guests we host every winter for skiing. (If you ask me, we get the far better end of the deal to be able to come here.) It's symbiosis in the best sense.

My goal for this week is to be at the beach every day. I don't have to swim--I just want to be near the ocean. If the weather cooperates and I can swim, so much the better. Meanwhile, I'll just bask in the warm air and ocean breezes.

It was windy today. We went for a walk along the beach. Mike warned us: it's cold, take a coat. Ha! 75 degrees and windy is not cold. Ray may beg to differ, but I stand firm.

Check out all the kite surfers in the background. I counted over 20 of them out there this afternoon. Some were doing flips, all were zipping along in the wind.

Diane and Ray

Day 1: goal met.