Today's Daily Literary Quote

"Gardens are not made by singing 'Oh, how beautiful,' and sitting in the shade." --Rudyard Kipling

The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama

Another hit by Gail Tsukiyama. I first discovered her writing when I read The Samurai's Garden. Her writing is clear, yet subtle.

The Street of a Thousand Blossoms is the story of two brothers and their lives and families in Japan. The book begins in 1939, and ends in 1966. The story winds like a stream, gently flowing from year to year. It is marvelous to read such beautiful writing. Tsukiyama's stories are not high action, but the plot is intriguing, and the character development is quite good.

Happy Birthday Debra!

Once again, no picture. Once again, bummer. Oh well.

We had a fun day together for Debby's birthday. She and Madeleine and Beth and Rachel came up for the day. Audrey, Austin, Matthew, and Elizabeth joined us, and Ray was off work so I had all my children and grandchildren here. We played a couple rounds of hand & foot between rounds of taking care of children. We sat and visited. We looked at quilt patterns. Debra says for her birthday she wants us to make a quilt together - so fun! So we started looking at patterns. Next we'll go see if there are any fabrics that call our name. Then we will put both together and get going on a fun project.

Debra has loved my quilts from when I started making them. I used to have to check her luggage when she left home to make sure she wasn't taking any extra ones with her. I think there's only one I've made that she's really turned up her nose to (that's okay, I didn't like it either). Of course, we all like some quilts better than others. Coincidentally, I think my favorite two quilts I've ever made went to Debra - one for graduation from High School, one for graduation from BYU. They happen to be quilts where everything clicked - fabric, pattern and color.

Three random things I love about Debra (besides that she loves quilts):

1. She is my game playing pal: Scrabble, Yahtzee, Hand & Foot, you name it, we have fun playing it.

2. She is always looking for ways to help others, and that includes me!

3. She has a strong testimony of the gospel and lives it in every way.

A woman's prerogative

Who thought five bathrooms was a good idea?

I used to say if I had the money, I'd hire a cook, and do the cleaning myself. Ha! I've changed my mind.

Right now a condo looks good.

Or a studio apartment.

Little voices

I sit at my computer while the boys watch a movie (Audrey is at book club). They are on the couch. I hear little voices drifting:

Matthew to Austin: You're stinky
Austin: I not stinky
Matthew: You're stinky
Austin (giggling): I not stinky, G'ma is stinky.

I glance in their direction. They are not paying any attention to me. Suddenly four little blue eyes pop over the back of the couch and look at me. They smile and turn back around.

Matthew: G'ma not stinky. You're stinky.

Thank you, Matthew!

Happy Birthday Audrey!

No picture. Bummer. I take pictures of the kids, but not their beautiful moms! I need to rectify that soon.

Three random things I love about Audrey:
1. She has beautiful blue eyes and a darling dimple that she's had since the day she was born.

2. She is both creative and organized - often two traits that do not go together.

3. She is so good to me. (Color help with quilts, crosswords, hand & foot, family history, to name just a few things.)

I love you girlie!

West with the Night by Beryl Markham

I have not read such a beautifully written book in a very long time. I finished it, and have put off starting another book so that I can still savor this one for a little bit.

West with the Night is an autobiographical sketch of Beryl Markham's life in British East Africa (now Kenya) in the 1920's and 1930's. I felt almost as if I were right there in the thick of things as I read the book. Not only is the book well crafted, the story is interesting also.

I can't do it justice here. Read it. It's fabulous.

A few pictures

Knock, knock, knock. I hear sharp rapping on the front door. I go to see who's there, and this is what I see:
Austin knocks, then peers through the window to watch for me. It's one of my favorite sights as I round the corner to answer the door.

Rachel (below left) and Elizabeth (right) have already started on the gab sessions. We are a family of talkers, and their mothers wear the talking crowns in our family. Hopefully these two will carry on the tradition!

Mr. Cool, aka Matthew, has a little breakfast to start off his day:

We're hoping Matthew is just entertaining Elizabeth here, not pointing a pretend weapon in her direction...

Here are the three Hanks's. Matthew, Elizabeth, and Austin:

Where was Miss Madeleine when we took all these pictures? I will have to get some of her and post them.