"That's enough"

Winter must be taking its toll.... we've begun to dress up poor Jim as a sleepy time lumberjack!

 

Happy Harvest and No Heat Day

 Good Morning Jim.. 

The high today is 48 degrees... There's still no heat.  I've made pancakes, bacon and eggs for your birthday as requested.  

The boys made a new birthday celebrating hat.  This one stays in place a little better and has compartments on top to carry things so you can be hands free.  Oh and there is a small flag on the back with your name.... 

Oh you discovered the flap when you walked under the light fixture and it took your entire hat off, suspending the hat from the lights.  

Well that was fun.

I can't remember what you requested for your lunch on your birthday, but I spent as much time in the greenhouse as I could because it was warmer in there than in the house.  I brought in the "big" harvest.  Aren't the carrots the cutest?  Since it's your birthday you can have one of the 2 cherry tomatoes if you  like.

I think we'll have a veggie lunch to celebrate the harvest.. your birthday!

For supper you requested pork chops with applesauce and potatoes.  YUM.. So glad you requested a hot meal.  (Since we're all wearing our extra sweaters, fingerless gloves, long underwear AND coats to supper!  We should have given you heat for your birthday instead of all these freezing temperatures. 

Peach-blueberry crumble with homemade ice cream. 

It's as fabulous as it sounds.. Difficult to put candles in though.

Make a wish! 

(I hope you are wishing for heat!)

Thanks for having math candles.. I didn't have a number 7 candle... or 57 single ones.

Biker Gang

It began harmlessly enough.  The spring weather was beckoning and we'd been cooped up for a very long winter followed by isolation covid conditions.  We opted to go for a bike ride to get some fresh air and exercise.  After our first ride we discovered that we didn't have as much youthful energy as we thought. We were winded, spaghetti noodle legged, and plain tuckered out. 

A few days later we tried again.  It was better but we were still winded.  Jim claimed he would need a written invitation to go on another of those exhaustion rides.  

Whittaker found a blank card in the stationary box and wrote him an invitation.  So we went again.  We began riding once a week.  Only rain deterred us.  

We began to gain stamina and to feel more adventurous.  The little boys have been learning about setting goals.  They asked how long we thought the ride was.  Unsure, I loaded an app on the phone and we set off on another ride.  After we returned home, we consulted the app; 4 miles.  Not too shabby.  The boys decided this could be a goal.  They wanted to ride 5 miles.  Okay.

So we began to ride twice a week.  And low and behold we rode 5 miles.  They decided a new goal was needed... maybe something bigger!  We mulled for a bit and then we decided, a destination might be a good goal.

The big goal: We would ride to the post office!

We looked it up.  It was about 11 miles.  So we began taking more frequent rides.  We began trying new roads in the neighbourhood until we had ridden every road.  We were still only averaging a little over 5 miles per ride, but now we were conquering rougher terrain and hills.

Daddy joined us on Sunday rides.  Jim began doing little off-roading adventures when he got so far ahead of the boys and I.  Riding in the sagebrush did not appeal to me and the boys.

We did not ride on rainy days.  Our roads became mud.  We also didn't venture out on overly hazy days. (due to the wildfires we had a few days of smoky air that we didn't think we should be breathing in)

We took visitors on rides with us.  Caleb was vocal about his preference for shorter rides taken in cooler temperatures.  Derek only wanted to go on one ride with us.  Sarah had no qualms, but it tuckered out poor Boomer who ran the whole way.

There were a few injuries.  Emerson took a tumble in some fresh soft road dirt and skinned his knees and ate some dirt.  Whittaker took two tumbles.  Once just turning a corner and misjudging the angle around some rocks.  A second time, we were just riding along the road and he announced that he was going to fall.  Only moments later, Jim veered to far left and bumped his back tire causing him to fall into me sending me into the ditch on the side of the road.  Only Whittaker had scratches and a bad temper afterwards. But we all got back on the bike and kept riding. 

By August we discovered that there was a road we hadn't yet explored.  The adventure beckoned and off we went.  We discovered that this was the biggest hill yet and would maybe even be a 6 mile ride.  At one point as we were waiting at the top of a hill for the boys, I began to gather some rocks in my basket.  I have a plan for many rocks and decided I shouldn't waste a rock gathering opportunity.  

I should have wasted it.

(photo top left was the fateful hill) (This is the terrain we were riding in these days. I had no idea I was an off road mountain biker) (okay.. I tend to stick to trails.. bottom right photo is Jim out among the sagebrush)

It wasn't more than a few minutes later as were descending the new hill that we discovered that it was the steepest and rockiest terrain to date.  The rocks in my basket didn't help my balance and I went headfirst off my bike and landed on my nose.  I must have also landed on my left wrist and hip because as the day went on I discovered them to be very tender, but it was my cut and swelling nose that hurt the most.  My sunglasses had cut into the outer nose and there was definitely some damage inside.  A lady came out of her house to see how I was after she heard Whittaker yelling to Jim and Duncan, who were still riding ahead of us, to stop!  He had abandoned his bike and begun running after them.  Emerson had also abandoned his bike to come check on his mother sprawled on the rocky hillside.  We assured her that other than my dirty, bloody face I was okay.  We then turned around and rode home.  Only a 5 mile day.

My basket was dented and they threw all of my collected rocks away.

From a minute after the wreck to about a week later.  I really should have captured a photo when it was in its double black-eyed, swollen nosed glory.. but I had this dreadful headache. 

We took a break from riding.  It was almost ten days before we rode again.  The hazy days and my recuperating necessitated it.  But we set off again.  A few simple rides at first.  It wasn't long before we were tackling hills again.  On one of the simple rides, Jim set off into the sagebrush as he often did.  He had taken to trying to crash into some thistles.  (he claims he was helping to reseed them.)

This particular thistle crashing expedition did not end well though.  His bike hit the thistle and crashed Jim.  He went down.  From the road we saw him fall.  Then we saw him stand up and then fall over again.  Then we saw him stand up and fall over again.  He was like a cycling jack in the box among the sage brush.  After the third attempt to stand, we held back some of our laughing as we realized that the reason he kept falling back was he was injured.  His hip.  As soon as he stood he couldn't put weight on his leg.  He couldn't lift his leg to get back on his bike. He finally straddled the bike and lifted it up to him.  He was able to gingerly ride home again.  

Once again we took a recuperating break.  As the days were getting shorter and cooler, we agreed that the ride to the post office might have to happen next year.

And then the weather rebounded.  There were some nice days again.  So one Sunday we decided to return to the scene of my crash.  We hadn't attempted to ride there since my fall.  We were determined to make that ride because we thought it might connect to a road that would lead to an overlook of the green river.  We had seen the river from the other side and felt certain that there must be a way to see the river on our neighbourhood side. 

We set off.  No rush, we paced ourselves.  I was a bit nervous as we approached the fateful hill and took it much slower, and without any rocks in my basket.

We all made it safely to the bottom and so we continued on in our quest to find the river.  This was definitely our longest ride to date.  We discovered a rarely used access road that appeared to lead in the direction of the river so we turned and followed it up.. up.. up, but it began to veer away from where we knew the river to be.  We could see another road in the distance that seemed to be the one we needed to be on but we weren't sure how to access it.  Duncan went ahead trying to scout a path.. and then we opted to follow an antelope trail through the sagebrush that seemed to head toward this other road. 

We began by riding.  Riding through sagebrush isn't for the faint of heart.  Every few pedals you hit the bush and it starts to send your bike leaning too far over and then you hit a rock or another bush and you're propelled the other way.  Meanwhile the branches are scratching at your legs.  Antelope trails are not ideal bike trails.  Duncan and Jim forged on and soon were out of sight.  I was doing my best with Emerson until I realized why Duncan and Jim had so quickly disappeared out of sight.  The antelope trail we had been following  did NOT lead to the upper road, it just looped around and took us back to the road we had been on before.  We could now see that Duncan and Jim had headed back down the road in search of a fork that might lead to the upper road.  There are no trees to block the views but the turns and hills do make seeing challenging, but eventually we could tell that they had indeed found the access.  I sent Emerson to follow them and turned back to let Patrick and Whittaker know which way to head.  

But they were gone.  How could they disappear they should have been seconds behind me.  Patrick is too tall for me not to see him.  I was baffled.  I turned and headed back toward the awful antelope trail.  Then over the sound of the wind I heard some calling.  I looked up toward where we thought the trail would lead.  Apparently Whittaker had been struggling on the trail and Patrick finally gave up helping him every few feet and had instead hoisted both bikes up over his shoulders and they forged their own trail to the upper road.  

Patrick then returned and carried my bike over the sagebrush and I followed along.  We would be checking for ticks when we got home after all our adventuring.  Within moments of my ascension to the upper road, Jim, Duncan and Emerson appeared coming up the road.  We were a mere few hundred feet from the top.  We rode on.

Low and behold at the top we discovered the river.  We assumed it would be a cliff, but it wasn't it was a gradual descent down to the river's edge.  We didn't go down, because we didn't want to have to climb back up and it was getting later and chillier.  We sure felt accomplished though. A great end to our summer rides!

Except that it wasn't.  

A few days later we determined that if we could ride 7.6 miles up over treacherous terrain and hike through the sagebrush, we should be able to tackle the ride to the post office.  It was mostly a flat ride. We checked the weather.  Arranged with Patrick to call every day as he left the job site.  We figured if the conditions were good, we could leave when he called and meet him at the post office.  (We were prepared to ride to the post office... but not home again!)

Three days later everything was perfect.  So.. we took off. Indeed the terrain was mostly flat.  Dirt roads, gravel roads, good temperature and no wind.  

The vistas as we ride are of wide open spaces.  

Sometimes there's wildlife... (the buffalo on the ridge are actually metal).. but the goats and antelope were real.  The horses actually came running up to the road to greet us.  The sheep just watched as we sped along. 

For the first time all summer, we rode on pavement.  Almost 4 miles of smooth riding.  It was the first time we had to teach the boys to stay on the right edge and ride single file.  Every so often there was a car, but most of the time, the road flowed out before us.  One car that passed slowed and rolled it's window down and gave us a thumbs up and then there was some hollering as they passed Duncan... (friends of his) I'm sure they didn't expect to see cyclists, let alone one they knew.

We reached the highway and turned.. not onto the highway but into the cattle drift that runs alongside the highway.  We planned to stay in the drift until we reached the post office.  The highway isn't designed for cyclists, as lovely as riding on the pavement was, safety was preferred.

91 minutes and 11.3 miles later we succeeded.  Reached the post office, reached our goal and boy did it feel good.  And remarkably, we weren't exhausted or too sore!  Duncan kept pace with us slowpokes but I think he could have done it in less than an hour.

We consider ourselves professional riders.. the official neighbourhood biker gang.  We even went for another Sunday gander at the river, this time following the canal road to a lower spot on the river, only to discover that the grassy area before the river is very marshy.  As long as the weather cooperates, we'll continue to ride.  We're talking about riding to the junction (gas station), or maybe to the fish hatchery.  Who knows maybe we'll ride to town some day.  

The boys need a new goal. And bike riding has taught them that they can do big things, that they can overcome obstacles and get back up when they fall, that looking at what is right in front of you is the key to ascending a big hill instead of focusing on how big that hill is and that when the down hill, seemingly easy parts come, caution should still be taken so you don't end up flying over the handlebars and setting yourself back a few days.  

Boring Birthday Sunday

Since we are still out to prove to Whittaker that Sundays are NOT boring.  We planned another picnic.  It also served as a lovely restful outing while Caleb was visiting.  The day before his birthday we called it a birthday outing.  It has been nice to get out and relax since our weeks have been extremely packed with WORK.  The construction is moving along but it's taking every spare minute.  We have also not really explored this place we live much and we know that millions visit here yearly so there must be great appeal.  And there are plenty of visitors even now in the summer of Covid.

It was noon and the weather was beautiful.  We had made our BLT's, and had grapes and watermelon.  We didn't intend to do anymore than find a quiet secluded spot near the lake to enjoy our picnic.  I grabbed a big blanket  in case we found a less than amenable seating area.

Duncan drove us to the lake area and we began looking for a suitable location to park and have our picnic.  We drove... and drove.. We saw lots of delightful locations near the lake, some with picnic tables even.. but they were all in use.  Some were even crowded.  We kept driving.  We came across the camping loops by the lake.  Each campsite had picnic tables so we thought we'd look for one with a view of the lake that was empty.  Easier planned than executed.  We had to explore three different campsite loops before we found our spot.  We had a lake glimpse from a higher vantage than we intended but it worked.  

We picnicked and then cleaned up.  The boys began a bit of exploring and soon we heard delighted cries of 'there's a trail'.  

We began to follow their voices and noticed that there was a private little beach way down below.  We wondered aloud how a person could enjoy such a delightful secluded beach. 

Then we saw...

Just keep following the path that zigzagged all the way down the steep slope and then.. 

SPLASH!

At first I wondered if someone had fallen in.

Not knowing the depth of the water, if there had been a steeper section of slope and they'd slid or who was in the water, I began to hurry along the trail.  I hadn't fully decided if I was going to hike with them or not but after the splashing noises I needed to know that all was well.  Passing the large bush I discovered that it wasn't just one splash.  The water wasn't deep near the shore and the large rock just beckoned to be jumped off of.  

Next I began to think of four wet boys having to hike back up and travel the 45 minutes home again.  Swimming hadn't been part of our intentions.  Then I discovered their cleverness.  Jim was still wearing his p.j. pants under his jeans, so he swam in p.j.'s and the boys proclaimed boxer briefs as acceptable swimming attire.  

Once down we didn't relish the idea of climbing back up so I sat in the shade and enjoyed watching the silliness and impromptu beach time unfold.  

The log poking out of the water that looked like an alligator.

The rocks stacked up like the beginnings of a stone 'snowman'.

Pat and Caleb having fun rock skipping.. and some plain rock splashing tosses.

A frog joined us and the little boys played with him quite a while even after I reminded Emerson that he'd just managed to be rid of his wart.  They all reminded me that he didn't get a wart from holding a frog.  Some canoers paddled by and we watched them.  Some swimming and then time to dress in the willow bush changing rooms.  Emerson didn't get the memo about wearing your pants and carrying the wet underwear, but he just smiled and shrugged his shoulders and started looking for the frog again. 

There were a few 'lovely' rocks found also.

I adamantly insisted that the frogs stayed!  Also, any rocks had to be carried so I strongly discouraged it.  Fortunately Daddy kindly carried the large wishing rock, complete with 5 white rings around it!, up the steep trail back to the car.  

Whittaker asked what are we doing next week??  Can we bring the kayak's back here??  Oh dear.  This week's picnic turned into much more.  

We stopped four times on the way home.  

• First, to take a photo of the enormous dandelion puffs.  (Grandma once asked for photos of everyone blowing them... not sure the significance.  
• Second, (no photo) to investigate a new picnic spot for another time... This one only 5 minutes from our house, secluded, grassy and delightful!
• Third, to photograph the large 'barrel thistle' that Jim has been raving about for the last few weeks.  When Patrick told him they were edible they sampled it.  He's encouraging a rhubarb, strawberry thistle pie....
• Fourth, to enjoy the lovely baby antelope on the road.  

Boring Sundays

Recently Whittaker let us know that Sundays were boring.  Oddly enough we thought they were relaxing.  One day that no construction was occurring.  We sometimes played a game or sat on the porch to listen to frogs or birds.  However as the weather became nicer we decided to include Daddy in our bike rides one Sunday afternoon.  Not a long ride, but fun and hot.  After that we knew we needed to go earlier.. it was just getting too warm for biking in the afternoons. So the following Sunday we attached the basket to my bike and opted to pack water bottles and snacks and enjoy a family ride to a new view spot we'd discovered earlier in the week.  

This had the steepest hills we've attempted to date.  But some great fun going back down!  We stopped along the way to see a lizard Duncan spotted.  The view of the valley was vast and our odd assortment of snacks was satisfying. 

But once home and our regular Sunday activities filled our afternoon, we began to hear how boring Sundays were.  Good time memories don't last long.

Problems with a capital P

Pragmatism, Pride and Patrick... I don't think they all start with P as a coincidence. 

I have been referred to as pragmatic numerous times.  I think it is a compliment of sorts. As the steps to take after the car collision unfolded I was faced with procuring transportation while the situation was resolved.  The needs were to have a vehicle to go from point a to point b, with the capability of transporting multiple people at once. 

Fortunately we already owned such a vehicle that would suffice.  However it would require that we register it.  We had already been in the process of preparing it for registration anyway.  Patrick spent the next evening completing all the work on the trooper that would be required so all that was left was to go to the DMV and pay the fees.  A simple task... if you have a way to the DMV that doesn't require you to drive the unregistered vehicle. 

Our insurance provided a rental car.  I called and arranged for a car so I could toodle around and care for details.  It's a long weekend and the only car they had available this morning was not the car I would EVER have selected.  

Because it was the only car available they gave it to me for the rate the insurance was willing to cover.   I found it amusing they thought that was the only reason for hesitation. 

Oh no.  My reasons were many;
-I was too scared to drive it.  

-I didn't want to touch any of the MANY buttons.
-It would not fit my family.
-It would likely cause some tension among the other drivers in my household... since I was the only allowable driver on the contract. 
-It was the sort of vehicle that attracted attention.  I was not interested in attention.

-Because our insurance would pay for it for 30 days, but we didn't need it, I knew I would have a fight on my hands from my kids (including the biggest kid Patrick) when I returned it.
-I simply was not impressed by cars. Even this one.

After I sat down in the driver's seat I became even less excited.  How could I even admit to people that I didn't like it.  It wasn't very comfortable.   It felt like I was sitting on the ground.  I was glad I had walked all the way around it before getting in or I may not have realized how big a nose it had on it that I wasn't accustomed to. 

Oh well. It would do the task I needed it for.

I drove home to take Caleb to work and grab some paperwork.  I discovered some new reasons to dislike the car.

How is it that even my 1 year old seemed excited by this piece of machinery.  I practically had to pry my boys out of the car so I could run my errand.  Sarah pleaded with me to keep it until Monday so I could drive her to school.  I gave them each a ride (except Emerson) to the end of the road and back.   I think we'll have a discussion about pride (bragging... showing off... )  very soon.  

And to make matters worse..... Caleb's drive to work had to have the top down.  The temperature outside, according to the car, was only 50 degrees.  Granted it was a sunny day.  Still not really 'top down' type weather. 

A group of preteen girls saw us in the car and stopped in their tracks.  I heard them say, "you got a new car?", "wow... Is that a 'stang??!!"

As I passed my friends house she and her boys happened to be outside.  The boys were picking up their jaws and I think I may have seen so me drool.  My friend even said, "we should go cruising someplace tonight.   Just us ladies."

Why doesn't anyone else understand.  I want to return this car as soon as it has served it's purpose.  Or is there something I am missing?  I'm telling you there is something about this car that turns perfectly normal people into lunatics!

I drove the 30 minutes to the DMV (just slow back roads), waited over an hour to register the trooper then drove the 30 minutes home again. 

-This car is bright red.

-This car wants to speed.

-This car must be returned.

-This car is like a moving target.

-I got the most unusual looks from people as I drove.

-I have a cold.  I was wearing my big sweater and had my hair in a ponytail, and had box of tissues in the front seat with me.  I think people expected me to be wearing a little black dress.  Stereotypes are evil.

-People also don't tend to let me in their lane or merge... they expect me to speed up and cut them off instead.

Once home I simply waited for Patrick to come home so I could return the car.  I knew if I returned it before he saw it I would have an upset husband on my hands... on the other hand if I didn't return it before he came home I would have a pathetic husband on my hands....

Jim hasn't swung by to visit in about a month.  Why today?  I think he could smell the car.  He stopped by on his own new wheels and stayed to play a game of Yahtzee with the kids.  No one at all was on my side about the car going back.   Oh what to do?

......I have a pathetic husband.

The car will go back tomorrow.

No kids allowed

With so many teenagers at our disposal to babysit we sneaked away for a grown up luncheon with Jim and Lorrie. 

We were headed to a great all you can eat Chinese buffet.  Definitely a place NOT to take 5 teen and pre-teens.  They would be licking the platters clean and embarrassing us for sure!  No, it was much better to leave them home with the instructions to eat all the leftovers they'd like! 

A Mother's angst

Cleaning and scrubbing,
can wait 'til tomorrow.
For babies grow up, 
we've learned to our sorrow...


So quiet down cobwebs, 
dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby,
and babies don't keep.

-Wendy Lyn

 John -- and family in Victoria in 2009

 Jim -- and the girls, visit early 2010

Jill -- and crew at Christmas time 2009

Channa -- family photo time 2008

 Nova -- goofing with the kids, fall 2009

 Sparky 'Graton' -- at the Oquirrh Mountain 
Temple open house, June 2009

Paige -- and kids... hee hee.. and her animals.  (they DO NOT pose for photos in this family!) 2008

Eden -- celebrating life and her birthday this year, 2010

It's true that babies don't keep, but they grow and add more to life then ever thought imaginable!

Happy Mother's day to all the above mothers and of course to 'Mum'!!  We love you!

September brings

September brings

Birthdays to:

Martha on the 1st
Jim on the 10th
Lloyd on the 17th
James and Tina on the 21st
Duncan on the 26th

Anniversaries to:

Channa and John on the 9th
James and Tina on the 21st

Activities like:

Iowa testing at school, Women's broadcast, 2 fast sundays, this year it brings a plethera of Dr. and dental appointments, garden harvesting and plenty of canning.

It also brings back the cooler weather, a three day weekend with Daddy (yeah for Labour day!), routine to our daily life, apples and more apples, school traffic to the neighbourhood, hearty soups, and evening walks.

Welcome September and Enjoy!

Forties File Friday - Pets

Odd how growing up pets were not mine. They were family animals or decidedly one persons thing. We always had a cat that I can recall. There were some I know of but don't remember myself.

* Stadler, a decidedly Channa feline. Stadler was around a long time. Then she brought home Dremel.

* Sugar and Spice. We had sheep. I dont' remember the how or why we had them but we did... and we fought for them. I couldn't have been more than 8 or 9 and Sparky and I went to the city council to petition to be allowed to keep our sheep. I can remember watching them be sheered.

* Bringing home a dog for only a few days and it destroyed Eden's shoes... me the one who doesn't like dogs... Finding Sorry dog irresistible

* I did not like birds. We had an assortment for a few years. I was assured that they go to the tallest one in the room. I would crawl on the floor to avoid them landing on me... LIARS... they still landed on me! I also wasn't a turtle fan. Now Paige has some cool ones.. but technically those are tortoises... what we had were little aquarium stinky turtles.

* Jim, I heard that he had a pet chicken but I don't personally remember it, Taylor will always be remembered as the Granddog. Without grandchildren he was it! He got front seat privileges in Jim's car and was even ordered for in the drive thru! He made it into a family photo.

* Paige. Not sure if I can go here..... Fine line between pet and menagerie I guess... but love of animals was evident very young. Not of my love but hers! I can definitely remember NOT being impressed to hear that 'one of the white mice' was missing from the 'Rodent Hotel'! Cockateels, Guinea Pigs the stinky turtles were probably her doing too.. One I didn't mind too much was Norman the duck. I didn't even mind too much that given the chance he tried to swim in the pool! Norman lived with us (thankfully, outside), in Texas until one Thanksgiving week when he had vanished! That was most upsetting that someone would abscond with Norman!

* I've been corrected.. the birds were Edens' idea!

* I know we had a pony collection going. We were determined to save money for a pony... We got a gray one. A Hyundai pony, not quite the same thing.

The 2008 blogging awards!.

And the Winner is...

Valerie for most comments on my blog! 60 (that's almost as many blogs on her blogsite! I'm truly flattered)

Jim for best comment overall! click here to read...

Janet for being most inspirational! click here

Alyssa for most adorable niece to pitter patter through my home! click here

Channa for dealing with only half a face the longest and pretending to be interested in all my blogging.... I know it's just so you can be favoured a little more than Amber!

Mum for persevering and holding on to all those treasured memories! Forties File Fridays will continue in 2009... I'll ignore all protests and groaning!

John for meeting the most famous person this year Prince Charles!

Jill for staying the busiest and still choosing to find time to read my blog!

i cant speak for everyone, but here is my response.. the questions are great and fun, nothing wrong with them.. when i read them, i instantly have visions and memories that come to mind... but unfortuneatly i am usually in a hurry, dont have time to respond right then and there, and it is just so hard to get back to it, and take the time that a good question and vivid memories command.. it has a very busy time for me, and i cant even blame xmas..it isnt even a factor for me yet,, but i work mon-fri, i am single parenting dayton thru his hockey and school, trying to spell myself between town and the island, attend daytons game on the weekends, see doug at some point, my singing career, rehearsals, poster making, advertising, press release deadlines etc. the list goes on and on.. and to take the time to get back to the question at hand is often difficult at best... but rest assured that your requests are not the only things in my life that are suffering from back burner syndrome... i have not done a lick of anything for xmas, none of the usual, like baking, xmas partys, shopping, decorating.. none of it!! i cant remember the last time, i called someone , or sent an email, just to chat and catch up, i have not acknowledged a birthday for longer than i can remember,, including yours, the most recent.. and not because i forgot... that whole week of your birthday i thot of you, but did i take the time to call or write? no,, i have lists ofunfinished projects as long as my arm, and another arms length of projects i dream of an d have not yet begun,,
so it is the same with the 40's questions..
i'm afraid it is also similar to how i treat housework, and the attention i should be giving to my husband.... i'll get to it when i get to it... regrettably, auntie favorite...

Paige for being the most dedicated reader! (sometimes multiple times a day)

Sparky.... hmmmm I guess you can have the most focused individual... since you likely won't even read this blog for a month or better!

Eden for teaching Sadie to enjoy my blog from a young age and for multi-tasking so well in order to even read it!

Dad for checking my blog at work... he's got his priorities straight!

Patrick... for putting up with my newest addiction... and going out of town so you don't realize how much I really do blog! shh (he doesn't really read it much... )

Caleb, Sarah, Miles and Duncan for always giving me fodder for me to blog!

A few moments from our sponsor...

For those who I'm sure haven't heard from Jim in a while and wonder how he is doing, I'll share the following email conversation we had at midnight whilst he was at work...

JIM: IMFT NEW PRODUCT OFFERING.

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NOVA
WONDERFUL!! My brother is impossible to buy for this time of year!! I'll take ten!

JIM
If I am the bro you speak of strike this from your shopping list… I am on a free trial along with the Alpacha herd in Layton. They would probably just show up in your Jammies if you wish hard enough

jgathright@imftech.com

They would probably just show up in your Jammies if you wish hard enough ____...

01:05 (9 minutes ago)

jgathright@imftech.comLoading...

01:05 (10 minutes ago)

NOVA
FINE! it's back to the lump of coal for you!
Wait, the alpacas are going to wear my jammies??
It's amazing how with it you are and so up to date on all the latest and greatest developments!!

JIM
A lump of coal when combined with recently rendered earwax and Hi phosphorous content fertilizer can make an exciting tree top ornament I thank you for your thoughtfulness

NOVA
Do you work? and why aren't you in some more journalistic employment with such wit with the written word?

JIM
I have a very sensitive position here in new product development and value propositioning. The Alpacas are befitted with Walrus fin mukluks from our sister organization. And this is all I can tell you without risking your well being and functional anonymity

My musings rarely make it to the executive officers. One day I will be recognized and placed in a position that merits what I have to offer this organization

So make your own conclusions... he's either doing fine... or he's completely lost it... you choose! Either way I still don't know what he really does at work! I even visited there for a day and after all the junk food and carnival games... I left not knowing much about what he does!

Forties File Friday: My mother always said...

Next Weeks Question will be,
"Let it Snow, Let it Snow... " What are memories you have of having snow growing up?

Once again in the order in which they were received, the answer to the question,
"My mother always said..."
What stands out as phrases or sayings that make you think of Mum?

NOVA

• Don't put it down, put it away!
• Do the thing you fear to do and fear will disappear.
• Nothing on the floor anymore! (in a sing songy voice)
• That which you persist in doing becomes easier, not because the nature of the thing decreases but your power to do it increases.
• If your solution creates a problem for another then it is not a solution
• I'm so mad I could spit nickels!
• I'm hiding in a box
• (Grandma's) A whistling woman and a crowing hen are sure to come to a no good end.

CHANNA

• Less is More. (or was it Less is better?)
• Don't put it down, put it away.
• Do the thing you fear to do and fear will disappear.
• What 3 places have you looked?
• Look with your hands.
• A gum chewing girl and a cud chewing cow, there's a difference I'll allow, it's the intelligent look on the face of the cow.

PAIGE

Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine!

The notes posted all over the house.... I guess they aren't really memories since they still are... even in our new homes!! In the fridge, on the toilet, on the door, on the wall, washing machine, inside the cupboards, on the t.v.... I guess you could say Mum is still saying things....

DAD

My mother Roberta Mae would always respond when I would ask one of life’s imponderable questions. “ That is a wait and see!” That just about covered everything so I would just have to keep waiting to find out what I wanted to know.

JIM

This is one thing mother said in my teens perhaps even later teens...

"Even if I am Wrong I am right...I am your mother..."

As you know, mothers can get flustered when addressing teens and it would often come out,

"Even If I am Right I'm wrong... I'm your mother"

If either version was said you new it was in desperation.

JILL

There were two things that mum would say, (fairly often as I recall) and would use interchangeably, usually resulting in a child to stand still, staring off, head tilted with a dumbfounded look on their face... because it was unclear whether it was a compliment or an insult. In fact it was cleverly disguised as both at once, (which I figured out later in life) and I quote

"You re not as dumb as you look "

and

" You're smarter than you look"

This is when you did something conceived as being clever, or correct anyways.....

and of course the infamous.... " Layovers for medlers"

which was usually said in good humour ( as rosette would say)

usually in conjunction with a surprise, treat or present..

I recently pondered this age-old favorite saying of mums, ... to be specific..when I was stuck in an airport for a long while...

"Layovers for medlers" hmmm.. i thought to myself, I thought..that if I were a nosey, rude person that didn't mind their own business, and I was required to spend a lot of time in airports waiting for connecting flights.... that I could actually be experiencing a " Layovers for medlers".

"Be Good and have fun"

This one was actually Grandmas saying, and I don't know if mum ever said it, perhaps because they are kind of both ' givens', in that you hope and expect the child to be good, and you hope and expect them to try and have fun.

I have used this one on my kids, however, usually more elaborately detailed, being somewhat more specific than grandma's loose instructions. I would try and define my versions of " good" and " fun " ...in 5000 words or less.... as I was dropping them off somewhere, still talking a blue streak.. long after the car door has been shut, and I am fumbling for the electric window button, so at least my final words of infinite wisdom can be heard by anyone within earshot, ....and usually long after my child is out of sight....

'Ding Dong' - pretty self explanatory... mums version of swearing

What 3 places have you looked? again...pretty self explanatory

"Sit you doon"

now this one was not from growing up, it was more recent, like the past 10 yrs... perhaps, the longing for Scotland burned in her blood... she began to come up with these little scottish habits? not to be confused with her mush habit .

FHB aka Family Hold Back ... This one was the family code, discreetly slipped into dinnertime conversation, when we had missionaries, and lonely shut in seniors, (orphaned by their own families) . This was to inform us that the chef had miscalculated the number of guests and that there would not be enough food for all.... that is.. if we were to dish up the usual gathright sized mountains of mashed potatoes, and jim-size portions of creamed corn and roast beef and lakes of gravy, that we would inevitably like to dispense on to our plates. it was for those of us that were to young, to immature , too hungry ( or all of the above) to forsee the potential disasterous situation of the hostess... to run out of food !!!

For example... " Jim, can you please pass the peas and the FHB?"

"Dont put it down put it away!" ya.. ya..

"Do it well or not at all !" now this was contradictory, as i don't ever recall having the option of not doing the task...

Its better to be silent, and thought a fool, than to speak up and remove all doubt

This was actually Prez. Abe Lincolns saying i believe..

But I heard it from mum first, I dont know if she was referring to dad.. who was the silent type...

I am sure there are more, but I am out of time for reminicsing down childhood lane....

MUM

Hmmmmm, how do I approach this topic.. since its the repeat of my sayings or mini pontifications, maybe I wasn't even invited to participate!

I think my fun will be to hear the sayings that have been remembered ....and to see who remembers what...

There were probably sayings in the earlier days that may have been dropped and newer ones for the later kids that cropped up. . we'll soon see on the new blog version of an old attempt at a family newsletter and the revival of the forties file..

I remember sayings from 'my own' mother... that I don't think I used with you all, but that have come to me often over the years when I have needed them..

I'll send them in the blog comments.... in the mean time I'll wait to see what quotes have been immortalized...

EDEN

• happy day
• nothing on the floor anymore
  
• don't put it down put it away
  
• a layover for a meddler
• it's not that they're thoughtless its just they don't think
  
• in my day...
  
• my generation...
  
• I could spit nickles
  
• old head on young shoulders
  
• no whistling
  
• that which we persist in doing becomes easier not because the nature of the thing changes but our ability to do it increases
  
• continue to do what you've always done you'll continue to get what you've always got
  
• it's between you and the lord
  
• no gum till you're 8

Forties File Friday: Illnesses and injuries - Jim

JIM
Way back in the summer of "75" a Father and his two sons went to the movies. The Odeon theatre was bustling with movie goers that night and the line for tickets snaked out the front door, down Yates street, around the corner and half way down Blanshard street. The father and his two boys got in line right in front of the Tandy leather craft store. The mood was upbeat and the 12 and 13 year old spoke a mile a minute while watching traffic and glancing at their Dad for reassurance. The Dad was relaxed and had the posture and clothes of a much younger man. The boys stood straight bolstered by preteen courage and peaked with anticipation as the front of the line neared. Closer and closer the trio came to witnessing the horrors of the SEA that would rattle them for the next two hours.

It was hot and crowded in the theater and the boy's hearts beat faster as the Dad scurried to get a place in line at the Snack bar. Juggling popcorn drinks and candy the Gathright men scrambled to find the last three seats in the middle of the row; which was way to close to the front. The movie had not yet started... but the cartoons had. Two of the three men snarffed back popcorn by the handful while the third sat there wondering why each piece of popcorn exploded with pain as it settled in the bottom of his stomach. The 12 year old became distant and melancholy.

The music started dunt dont dunt dont and the word JAWS splashed across the screen. popcorn was forgotten drinks were set on the floor and the talking stopped. The three settled back in their seats pushing their necks back straining to see the screen in its Technicolor fullness. The movie was intense, the mix of realism, and a powerful story was a thriller that island dwellers could relate too. Each were on the edge of their seats.

The brother and the Dad further entertained themselves by increasing taunting the youngest boy who was holding his left side and staring at the floor. Your scarred..Don't be a baby. No I'm sick! I'm in pain! the 12 year old retorted. You're a wimp! and the healthy two poked and prodded the third Sit up! Watch the movie!!. The youngest boy soon tuned them out and doubled over lapsing in and out of consciousness. He knew he was dying.

The night air brought the boy too as he stumble to the car...The boy had no recollection of how he got home but he recalls one of the older two saying maybe he really is sick...The next memory he had is being in the room of a Chaucer street home with a mom saying take him to emergency...Then a hospital bed and the familiar voice of Dr. Kardera saying it's his appendix. Admit him now!!

The appendix was out and 12 hours later the boy was emerging from the cloud of anesthesia with more pain than he started with... He soon recovered physically and made great friends with the nurses and marked on a piece of paper as each shot was administered, 17 in total. That boy is scared of the water and sharks to this day.... Mostly because he had to read the book to fill in the pieces of the movie that scared the appendix out of him.

Seein' Things

We were always memorizing a poem, story or a song for some play, roadshow or other such thing when I was growing up. Mum was always having us memorize something. The following poem was one I can remember being recited so often that although I wasn't the one who was to memorize it, to this day I can quote many of the lines by heart. This was Jim's poem if my memory serves me correctly.

Seein' Things

by Eugene Field

I ain't afeard uv snakes, or toads, or bugs, or worms, or mice,
An' things 'at girls are skeered uv I think are awful nice!
I'm pretty brave, I guess; an' yet I hate to go to bed,
For, when I'm tucked up warm an' snug an' when my prayers are said,
Mother tells me "Happy dreams!" and takes away the light,
An' leaves me lying all alone an' seein' things at night!

Sometimes they're in the corner, sometimes they're by the door,
Sometimes they're all a-standin' in the middle uv the floor;
Sometimes they are a-sittin' down, sometimes they're walkin' round
So softly an' so creepylike they never make a sound!
Sometimes they are as black as ink, an' other times they're white—
But the color ain't no difference when you see things at night!

Once, when I licked a feller 'at had just moved on our street,
An' father sent me up to bed without a bite to eat,
I woke up in the dark an' saw things standin' in a row,
A-lookin' at me cross-eyed an' p'intin' at me—so!
Oh, my! I was so skeered that time I never slep' a mite—
It's almost alluz when I'm bad I see things at night!

Lucky thing I ain't a girl, or I'd be skeered to death!
Bein' I'm a boy, I duck my head an' hold my breath;
An' I am, oh! so sorry I'm a naughty boy, an' then
I promise to be better an' I say my prayers again!
Gran'ma tells me that's the only way to make it right
When a feller has been wicked an' sees things at night!

An' so, when other naughty boys would coax me into sin,
I try to skwush the Tempter's voice 'at urges me within;
An' when they's pie for supper, or cakes 'at's big an' nice,
I want to—but I do not pass my plate f'r them things twice!
No, ruther let Starvation wipe me slowly out o' sight
Than I should keep a-livin' on an' seein' things at night!

Uncle Jim's fun house

So what should you do when as luck would have it errands went quickly and you arrive an hour early to pick up your Uncle Jim to go on a field trip with you?

Why have a round of croquet of course!

And for those who aren't too sure what the rules are?

Why, make up your own rules of course! They don't call it Uncle Jim's fun house for nothing!

45 years of Jim!

Well.. for some of us it's less because we haven't been around THAT long!

3 questions: Name what comes to mind when I say Uncle Jim. Tell me about his house. What is your favourite thing about having Uncle Jim nearby.

Caleb
-crazy, and fun and pterodactyl, Chess (but I win)
-his house is really different, it suits Jim's style very 70's.
-He makes you laugh every time and he's lots of fun...

Sarah
-he's funny, he is also fun to play games with, he gives us all piggy back rides, he brings Marina and Rhyanna over sometimes, he has good hiding spots when we play hide and go seek
-his house is fun, and he has a croquet game, he also has a cool Darth Vader thing, he has cool music, he writes things on his door.
-he usually comes by and we get to see him whenever.

Miles
-playing chess and stratego, pterodactyl sounds, the first time he came here it was my birthday
screeching with him,
-he has a Darth Vader bank, he has stuff on his door, he let us have a party at his house at Christmas, He brings us food like cherries sometimes. He helped us cook macaroni once it was good.
-he is available to come over sometimes early in the morning like me cause he works all night. I like when he talks to us, he asks me lots of questions.

Duncan
-he calls me ogre or pig or he squeals, like me, he is really silly, lots of squealing, he tries to knock me down on the couch, he sleeps on the couch at our house,
-his house is loud. He has a cool car and I like all that, he works at his house on his roof because Jim can work on the roof because he is a dad... his work didn't have any more gloves for me


The all mighty master, Jim is well known for nicknames.. both nice and not so nice... ones that don't last long like Maggie, and others that pop up from time to time... like rusty poo stains! Thanks to his first love in elementary school I was given a middle name of Beth... it definitely could have been worse!

It's been really fun getting to know Jim all over again as an adult ... He was already a teenager when I was born and then there were 15 years I didn't even live in the same country as Jim... so these last three years have been fun. The kids have loved getting to know a big kid who yes.. the pterodactyl screeching could be toned down... but they know Jim's here when they hear the sound!Many a good memory starts with a good pterodactyl screech... Caleb's trip with the girls to Yellowstone, a day at his work, plenty of good dinners, Christmases, Tennis games, MANY a Chess game, afternoon siestas and soo much more!!! Always a good time with Uncle Jim around!

We are looking forward to more fun Uncle Jim adventures in the future.