GOING PRIVATE IN January

 My BLOG will be going

P.R.I.V.A.T.E.  

by the end of January.

"If" you would like to continue to follow,

please leave a comment with your email address and I will add you to the list.

I haven't been very consistent in the last little while

but have plans on changing that for 2013.  

Thanks to you all.

Hugs!

(2) PHOTO PROJECTS - UNDERWAY / PHOTOGRAPHY UPDATES

-8 below zero this morning / no school closures because (0) mph wind - "if" wind was blowing school would be cancelled. It must be -20 degrees for school to be cancelled!

Disclaimer:  The below post is in no way meant to 'brag' - but to document progress made for the year 2012 as I did not blog about them - I'm pretty shy about this and don't talk about it very often!

 

HEMMING VILLAGE:
Back in October 2012, Hemming Village contacted me about purchasing some photos to put in The Willows apartment complex. The owner, Alice Hemming (lives back east) contacted me personally after the college recommended me as a 'local' photographer.  I hooked her up with my Flickr account and she got back with me - she loved what I had and we have been negotiating ever since!  They put the project on 'hold' until after the holidays.  SO, yesterday the lab called me and said they were ready to get started  printing on canvas - 30x40!  They are printing up (3) photos and presenting them to Hemming Village to see if they're satisfactory to put in the living rooms of The Willows.  I didn't exactly agree with a few of her choices - but I'm not the boss (haha).

The guy who owns the lab/framing in Idaho Falls would like to be 'my' lab, frame the photos and carry them in their gallery.  He said they price the photos to help make the artist some money!  I was all for that idea as camera equipment is seriously expensive!

DESERET BOOK:
I was contacted by one of the buyers of Deseret Book back in October as well.  He's originally from Rexburg, Dallan Wright, and now buys art for Deseret Book.  We are 'friends' on Facebook and one day he wrote me and wanted me to get him thumb nails of ALL my photos!!!!!  He liked my work and wanted to buy (3) photos.  This is where the 'misunderstanding' began!  I thought he wanted to purchase them to hang in the store - like the college did when they purchased (40) photos!  After talking with the lab/framer, I found out that they wanted them to SELL in the store!  Yikes, such an honor.  The last time I heard, a friend who works for Deseret corporate offices said he saw them hanging in the corporate offices - where they decide how much to charge for them!  At first they wanted to get them out in time for Christmas - but now I think they will bring them in after the New Year - which means anytime now!  The only thing I can say about this experience is I won't get rich!  The exposure will be 'enough' and, like I said, will be an honor!

DESERET BOOK PHOTO CONTEST:
In the summer of 2012, I entered a photo contest for Deseret Book on Facebook.  With all my friends HELP, we were able to WIN!  In the fall, we received $60 in gift certificates to the store and (2) free calendars where the photo that won appeared as "September" in the Deseret Book calendar.  How FUN is that?

IDAHO FALLS MAGAZINE:
The publisher of an Idaho Falls Magazine invited me to submit some photos for their photo contest which I did.  It took a long, long time to find out but, I WON "Editor's Choice" for one photo and Honorable Mention for several others!  They will be displayed at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center this coming February in their gallery. 

MADISON COUNTY FAIR:
Entered (5) photos in the county fair and did really well!  They 'all' won something but (3) photos won money prizes - we went out for ice cream ! ! !  

    

NEW YEARS DAY - 2013

3.9 degrees as I write this / snowy / sunshine and ice crystals gently falling.

A FRESH start - a New Year!

Take a DEEP breath!  Now, doesn't that feel good?  Yeah, it's cold outside but just wanted you to feel how good it feels to be alive and moving toward the future - new experiences, new relationships, NEW EVERYTHING!  

I've been absent for some time - I've missed writing about my (our) life, family and such.  Lost interest when a family 'loss' derailed me and I just needed time to forget.  I like to be positive in everything I think and write and didn't want that experience to change me and sour me - so decided to keep things to myself for a little while!

We're 'weird' about New Years - maybe a better word is 'simple' - we love being together, staying home (for the most part), and enjoying family, food and fireplace!  For several years we've gone to see a good movie on New Years Eve but this year we kept it really simple and watched TV and the happenings in New York.  I made a phone call to mom to make sure she was okay - she wasn't feeling that great to come out and stay up late and she seemed fine with that.  I texted all the kids to wish them a Happy New Year - things were quiet and calm all night and 2013 slipped right in at the right time.

Watched Rose Parade on TV from Pasadena, California.  Loved it - we would go every year when I was a kid living in California.  My aunt lived right off the parade route and we would stay up all night to get a good place to see the floats roll past, bands play - excitement to the max.  It's very sentimental to me!  

I asked Bob what his New Year's resolution(s) were this year - and he said, "That's a good question!"  I'm not sure if he's ever made a resolution!  It made him think - he did say he had to read some books - but actually he needed to do that for school.  The ONLY one I thought I really needed to work on was to eliminate SUGAR from my life - forever!  Well, that lasted about 4 hours!  Haha!  I am serious about that - but it's going to take one step at a time and little by little over the year.  So, I guess that's my one and only resolution - too many resolutions are a drag.  But I am going to try and IMPROVE my life - do better at many things - they don't necessarily have to be resolutions but they will be in my planner and on my mind so I can make improvements.  Specifics?  I'm still planning and deciding on some but will list them to make them a reality for 2013.

i'm back

Needed to take time to breath and get away from the blogging-scene for a little while.  Our family was given one of those CWMALI experiences ("Come what may and love it") - we're still dealing with it - but it's almost over and all will be able to go on with their lives - much happier with the outcome.

I really missed writing some of my thoughts and sharing about my amazing family and friends.  Now that I sit down to the computer, I'm not quite sure what to say other than, summer is about over - school buses are rolling through the neighborhood picking up my little neighbor friends.  Mornings and afternoons around here are void of kids laughter however, birds are chirping loudly and it's still warm - thank goodness!


One fun part of having a big family is we're never without someone having a birthday!  Tomorrow, September 5th is baby Toren and Grandma-great's birthday.  We celebrated Toren's birthday yesterday (Labor Day) as Whit and Schuy have work and school Wednesday.  They traveled up for Toren's 2nd birthday and was he ever excited!  Heather and boys came to help celebrate too.  I'm taking Grandma tomorrow and spoil her with lunch, show and some shopping - she will be turning 89 years old and going strong!  There will be a birthday cake as well - no one should go without a cake on their birthday!  Next year there will be a blow-out with her 90th birthday, God willing.

Since I last wrote:

• I happily turned another year younger
• Enjoyed the most amazing and beautiful summer in Idaho
• Spent a summer with no lessons to teach (guitar) . . . ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, nice
• Had a super-fun July 4th - missed it last year when grandma was sick
• Taught a 4H photography class for two days - loved it
• Was set apart as the new secretary in Stake Primary Presidency - Rexburg East Stake
• Bob developed a serious blood clot in his lung - treated, but scary - he was a lucky guy to walk away from it
• Visited Steve Boice for the last time in Utah
• Attended Steve's funeral with family and family I haven't seen for years
• Visited our cutest-everest grandkids - Oli, R.O.B., Hennie and Theo
• Had a wonderful summer walking 4-5 times a week enjoying the summer smells of early morning - love
• Struggled with a foot that will eventually be operated on - sooner than later
• Enjoyed visits from Tyler, Cameron, Leah - love when they come
• Attended a VW car show with Tyler and Bob - love
• Entered 5 photos in our local fair - won first place, second, third - they all placed and won $65 - yeehaww
• Cheered Bob on in his Rush Triathlon just one short month after his blood clot scare
• Grif had a health-scare but all turned out in his favor
• Got out into the fields to photograph harvest - wheat and potato - took lots and lots of photos
• Enjoyed having Bob's brother spend a day with us
• Loved being a mom and grandma more than ever
• Loved spending more time with Bob - enjoyed our walks together

Summer is coming to an end and fall is very, very near - I won't let summer go without a fight (haha - guess who wins!).  It's been such a great and much-appreciated/needed summer.  I feel renewed and ready to head into the winter months.  I'm holding tight to my family, faith and friends to get us through the months and years that lay ahead and:

"Come what may and love it"

 

happy MOTHER'S DAY!

I call this photo, * * *  G l i m m e r  * * *
 

Have a BEAUTIFUL day!  I honor all mothers for your sacrifice and selflessness.

Journal notes -

I secretly wished I didn't have to get up early for church this morning. For the past three years, Bob headed to the college to serve in a student ward and I headed to church alone! For the past three years I served in Young Women's presidency so I was super busy and hardly detected I was alone - then I was released and now I feel alone - don't ask me why, I just do! Don't you totally feel sorry for me?! Not! Anyway, back to this morning. Shhhhhhhhh, I didn't go to church - I slept in. Don't get me wrong - I love church - but this morning I just wanted to stay in bed until 8 a.m.!  Mother's Day?  Sleep?  Okay, they usually call that justification and it seemed 'legal' to me!  So, what else do you do on Mother's Day BUT make breakfast for the family!  I broke two rules and the second was 'cooking on Mother's Day'!  At least it's my rule but no one else would cook, so I did - French toast with berries - oh, yum!  Spent a quiet and beautiful morning with Bob and Tyler and, of course, the dogs!  Tyler headed to a singles ward in town and Bob headed to the college!  As soon as everyone left I turned on General Conference on my iPad and did a few preps for dinner - yes, I cooked again!  Guess what, even though I loved sleeping in, I missed church! Haha, I detect a paradox going on here!

Bob spoiled me again this year - the man may not like cooking but he makes me feel special.  He brought a beautiful basket of goodies - hand creams, Mom's chocolates, took me to dinner (Olive Garden - my choice) and a show with Grandma (The Avengers) which he slept through half (!) and then we went shopping for some beautiful flowers for our barrels - and they are beautiful.

Most of the kids were coming home for Mother's Day today but early-on got a call from Whitney and Heather and both of their families had a touch of the stomach flu and they would not be coming to dinner.  Always disappointing when that happens but since they both got the flu from each other, I figured we would steer clear of them as well.  I got word that both Whitney and Heather were spoiled by their families and that does my heart good!

Grandma, Kandee, Shawn and family joined us for dinner and we had a nice time talking volleyball, softball, senior prom - Shade (looked SO HANDSOME in his tux) and Paige went, pictures coming soon.  Grandma brought (2) dozen roses in a vase - how sweet and special is that?

After everyone was gone, I nestled in for the last episode of Desperate Housewives and I was not disappointed!  What a great ending to seven years of craziness.  I was hooked the first episode and I don't think I missed a single  episode - what a ride!  I thought it had the perfect blend of crazy and comedy (mostly comedy).  They  said it was the perfect ending and it absolutely was!

As a mother, I'm happy to say I heard from all 7 of our magnificent children - my guilty pleasure - I'm in love with all of them and their fabulous spouses.  I feel so blessed as a mother as I watch all of our kids work hard, struggle at times, work through problems, find joy in their journey and continue to better themselves.  It warms my heart to know they are good (not perfect), honest people making their way through this really tough world.  We now have 12 kids and 15 grandkids -  I'm one RICH woman!

just a thought and life-lesson

“The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired. One of the great ironies of life is this: He or she who serves almost always benefits more than he or she who is served.” - President Gordon B. Hinckley

Photo: Photo taken at Westcott/Davis property (Rabbit Stix) - Henry's Fork of the Snake River lays just beyond the tree line. I named them:

• "Tranquil Grove"
• "Wild Child"
•  "Secret Fishin' Hole".

The best way of expressing my thoughts - taking photos lately has been well-needed therapy - that's about all I can say.  Cousin Cindy knows what I'm talking about.  This post is dedicated to HER for always being there!  Hugs.

is bliss normal?

“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he’s been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to just be people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old time rail journey…delays…sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling burst..."

-Gordon B. Hinckley