Over the weekend, we had some good sleeping shots. While I was off in dreamland myself, Travis heard snoring in the toy room. He went in and discovered this little farmer had snoozed on the job.
Lego in his face and everything.
And this is a common sight: Miles folded over onto the arm of his carseat.
Last night I helped put on a Relief Society Autumn Supper. We served artichoke, feta and tomato pasta salad, Ruth Wilsons' butterhorn rolls and a dessert sampler plate.
Jen gave a short talk about making friends and appreciating the diversity within our congregation.
For the desserts, I gave several gals 40 little paper cups to fill with whatever type of dessert they wanted. I was so impressed by what they brought back: caramel oatmeal bars, scones, chocolate scotcheroos, roasted almond truffles, apple strudel and coconut balls.
I got a call last night just after I got the ruffians to bed. It was the familiar voice of my friend and neighbor who I haven't seen in weeks (she's been travelling). In a few minutes, she was at my door with a white plastic bag and inside it: cake. But it wasn't just any cake. It was a single piece of dense, moist chocolate cake, smothered in a fountain of chocolate lava-esque frosting. It made my night. I felt so special unwrapping the plastic wrap from the white styrofoam clamshell box, uncovering the large-ish container of thick sweetened whipped cream, and then slapping huge dallops over the warm molten cake. I could picture some white-aproned kitchen hand preparing the cake for take-out, neatly and carefully wrapping it up, then placing it tidily in the bag. For the scores of offhanded negative vibes and comments I had dished out that day, I was recompensed a neatly packaged, lovingly delivered gift, just for me, just what I wanted. How unfair! I am not sure how I will ever repay those who help me out when I can't even help myself. I was reminded of the experience when I read later that night, "Nevertheless, I will bring you up again out of the depths of the sea..." (Ether 2:24). It was just that. The catalyst for my emergence from a bitter place. How do I merit such a huge blessing?
I know, we all have problems and mine are insignificant compared to some. I'll leave it to Bono who so wisely said, "Some days are better than others."
Travis has enlarged his circle of flying buddies, going from flying solo to flying with a whole entourage of "pilots." It's fun.
We're going out again tonight to watch all the planes in their various flight paths.
There's always some action at the sidelines.
Who do you think is going to last longer: me or the youngin's?
Grandpa Bruneel crooning, "Ride, Sally, Ride." Word is he's selling his tractor and starting his own band.
Rockstar Lucy Schuller playing back-up.
De-80-fying Whitney's fireplace. That was only the beginning.
I have been putting off the craft nook for a long time now. After the table was finished, I figured I'd better get the rest of the room in ship shape. I'll take you through my method of organization. First, touch everything. Get rid of things you don't want or need or that don't belong in the space.
While you're making your way through your belongings, it's helpful to take everything out of their containers. This gives you a clean slate and allows you to put things back into containers that maybe fit better than their original home.
Third, put like items together. (I can tell you from experience that this is addicting. I've starting doing this with everything in my home. Even my fridge is starting to look somewhat pulled together).
And voila! You have created your own order from the chaos.
Ahhhh, I feel much better about having that job done. I feel like a weight has been lifted (I don't know if it's cause I can cross it off my to-do list now, or that all of my hobby-ish stuff is neatly contained, but it really eases some mental tension).
After going back and forth between the paint or au naturale debate (on my beloved deal of a chandelier) I decided to leave it unpainted and see how I liked it. Done deal. I don't think it needs to be painted. I like it just how it is. This is it hanging over our Sunday dinnerscape. Do you think it wishes it were human just to try the cider-glazed salmon or cream-braised cabbage?
Once in a blue moon, a yard sale will have JUST what I have been looking for. Yesterday was one of those. I went to the Funky Man's sale last year and came away with lots of cool vintage pottery. This year I found the little kelly green metal table of my dreams, a solid wood shelf for my craft room, another small shelf for my craft room and a $15 crystal chandelier. I couldn't believe I had a car full of cool stuff for so cheap. The two old men hosting the sale were also alot of fun to haggle with.
{side swoop bangs}
