Valentine's Day weekend

I'm a romantic at heart. But not always by action. That's where Ray fills in the gaps - he is the thoughtful one in our relationship.

Heart carved from ebony - Ray gave it to me when we were dating. It is smooth as satin - I remember him sanding it for hours.

This weekend I decided to be proactive in the thoughtful department. I stopped by Pirate O's this morning (the closest thing I've found to Trader Joe's here in Utah) and picked up a few items to help in celebrating the weekend.

Ritter Sports, in remembrance of treats he sent me while he was on his mission.

A new treat I discovered at Pirate O's - made locally, it's delicious!

Cakes de Fleur - a discovery made since we've moved here to Utah. I like chocolate with buttercream frosting the best. This is coconut - for Ray

Valentine's Day. It's our thirty year anniversary this year. Thirty wonderful, love-filled years.

Thank you Ray, for making my life so perfect!

Not a chance I'm ruining a surprise here - he doesn't read my blog.

Thursday workday

Another productive Thursday. We got three more sections (of 12) done. We have three to go, then all the parts of putting it together and finishing it. So we're moving right along.

Section 5

Section 7

Section 9

All set? Maybe.

I read this post by Travelinoma, and my little brain began to spin...

I'm re-thinking my strategy.

I have a bag packed with a few items we might need in an emergency. What if we have to evacuate for a few days, or heaven forbid, lose our house to fire or some other disaster? Included in the bag are clothes for a few days. These are all clothes that Ray and I no longer wear - cast-offs that I put into the bag instead of donating to a worthy cause (Goodwill, Deseret Industries, Salvation Army, etc.).

What if something really happens? Do I want to be stuck with old clothes I no longer like, and/or are fairly worn out? What if those are the only clothes I have left after the disaster? Yikes! I don't want that at all.

I'm adding to my 2010 resolutions: repack the bag! I'm going to include clothes that I like. Comfortable clothes that will make me feel better in a bad situation. After all, if that's all I've got for an undetermined amount of time, I want it to be the best it can be under the circumstances.

The Tale of Hawthorn House by Susan Wittig Albert

My reading choices are often dictated by which books I've requested that have come in at the library - they move to the top of the pile because there is a due date.

I enjoyed this book as much as the others in the series. But now I'm ready to put that series away for a little while and come back to it later.

I have three more library books stacked by the side of my bed.

Stay tuned.

Consider the Lily by Elizabeth Buchan

Boy meets girl.

Boy falls in love with girl.

Boy marries girl's cousin (for money).

Reader becomes disengaged with story and quits reading.

It has all the elements I like in a story: love, English countryside, a little bit of London social life, history, gardening (I like to read about it, not do it), etc.

I just couldn't stay hooked. I read half of the book and finally gave up after trying repeatedly to get back "into" it. I even glanced ahead in several spots to see if there was enough there to capture my interest and make it worth finishing. Not so.

I liked Revenge of the Middle-aged Woman by Elizabeth Buchan. This one just didn't do it for me.

Two dud books in a row. I'm off to a new book, and hope for better adventures.

Walking the Perfect Square by Reed Farrel Coleman

A list of favorite books on an NPR program caught my ear. I agreed with many of her choices, so when she suggested a great mystery book I got right on it. After all, I love a good mystery.

Luckily I requested it from the library. 20 pages into the book I put it down. F-bombs everywhere, it is a virtual mine field of profanity. Too much for me.

There are too many well-written books that don't abound in four letter words. I'll read them instead.

Number 6 is here!

At 3:37 a.m. I received the call: we're on our way to the hospital!

I was so excited I had a hard time falling back to sleep. Immediately I began to plan how/when we would pick up Madeleine, how we would get out of helping at the Bishop's Storehouse (which we had volunteered for), did Debra remember to pack a Sunday dress for Madeleine?, etc. Finally at about 5:00 a.m. I fell asleep.

I woke up at 7:00, hopped in the shower, then unable to wait another minute I called Randy: what's happening?

We have a baby!

I ran downstairs and told Audrey and Ray (son). Then I told Ray (husband), I don't want to go to the storehouse. I want to see that baby, and get Madeleine. We compromised, barely. We went to the storehouse and did the initial stocking of shelves before it was open, then we took off. Ray, Ray and I went to get Madeleine. Beth had packed Madeleine's bag, and remembered everything but socks. Luckily we figured that out before we left. We went straight from there to the hospital.

She's beautiful.

Diane Stearns Peck

January 30, 2010

7 lbs. 9 oz., 20 inches

Debra, Randy, Diane, Madeleine

And I have to say: I really like her name! Diane for me, Stearns for Jeanie, her other, most fabulous Grammy.

Ray and Diane

Ray and Diane

Diane and Diane

Thursday workday

Trish and I had another workday today. We completed three more sections of our Hometown Christmas quilt.

Section 10

Section 3

Section 11

It helps me to feel like I'm making progress is some part of my life to document this. My January, which started out with a bang, ended very slow. Pneumonia and a week in Kirkland really set me back. January became virtually invisible. I'm still not back to full energy, so I'm trying to be realistic about my accomplishments. Most days I'm happy to be up, exercise, and accomplish one thing a day. By 7:00 pm I'm ready for bed, and too tired to read. (That's probably the best barometer for how I feel.) It is getting better, but I'm at the stage where I really want to be all better, now.