team-up thursday - SPRING

The word SPRING gives me hope - hope that it could be just around the corner! My husband said it's suppose to snow for the next 3 to 4 days! That being said (haha), enjoy our diptych for this week. I do love how the colors in our photos compliment each other. The newness of the leaves are like a new baby - without blemish.



It amazes how much Corey and I think alike in choosing our photos - especially this week! If you look closely you can see a small wisp of spider web in the right hand corner of Corey's branch - adds interest to the photo! I guess when you live in areas where you have long winters, it just happens to be the first place you look - buds on trees, plants, anything that whispers winter is almost over. I catch myself gazing intently out the window for that first glimpse that says the world is waking up - isn't nature the most amazing thing - such wisdom - such perfection!

Don't forget to drop by Megan's place for more weekly themes AND fun!

happy bday LEO, preparations & unexpected r&r

TODAY IS LEO'S BIRTHDAY (aka: Leah, aka: granddaughter)!

It seemed like a good time to slip away and get some Easter shopping done - Whit and Bodin were still in bed, I had no lessons to teach, and it was early enough to get away. THEN, the storm hit! It rained (hard) the entire ride south and when I got there it started to sleet and snow harder and harder with each passing minute! I thought it would clear up by the time I finished shopping for all the Easter candy, plastic eggs and everything else - but it didn't! It was that kind of weather you want to curl up with a good book or DVD and just hang out. I kept looking for a good sized tree to park under as the rain was turning into some gnarly sized hail - but couldn't find one big enough and one that wasn't out in some field! It shortly changed back to snow and now I was looking for some place warm to let the storm pass!

I spotted it! Barnes and Noble! (Don't tell Barnes and Noble) I usually use this wonderful store to case some good books to read to see if I like them - you know, rather than be unpleasantly surprised when they come. I rarely buy anything there because (shhhhh, don't tell Barnes and Noble) they charge waaaaaay tooooo much - I then go on Amazon and purchase the book I want. Today was an exception! Okay, I didn't go into B&N totally innocent (without an agenda) - there was a book there I wanted to scope out as I've read some amazing reviews about it - comes highly recommended. The book is "Aspire" and as the weather outside was anything but ideal, I read the introduction and the first chapter of the book - a little unexpected R&R (take a visual here: music playing in the background, comfy corner the smell of beverage and sweet cakes in the air - ohhhhh yummmm) - BUT, I read - I didn't eat!!! Well, I bought the book! It was that good. It's 'one of those books' that you'll want to read and reread - there's so much to learn! Research for yourself and tell me what you think. So, tonight I'm looking for a quiet corner, curling up and reading under a nice warm blanket! Ahhhhhhhh.

****for your eyes only****

Took mom dinner tonight. Well, if you want to call a chicken breast dinner, then we took her dinner. It was a delicious chicken breast I might add. Someone from her ward brought the most delicious spinach, coleslaw, candied nut, strawberry, grape, blueberry salad with poppy seed dressing you've ever tasted. Heaven. I would eat that for breakfast - no kidding.

She seems much better today, however, she's nervous about her doctor appointment tomorrow morning. Tomorrow morning she is to take her catheter out at 6 a.m. and be in the office by 10:30 a.m. If she isn't in a lot of pain then the hole in her bladder has healed - if she is in a lot of pain then it won't be good news! That will mean that she'll have to have a catheter reinserted and then possibly more surgery to repair the hole. That would mean more surgery and she said, "No more surgery! Enough!" We'll see about that. It was very hard on her - I'm sure due to her age. Tonight she ate well, her spirits were up and all seemed good - she even had neighbors drop by and visit, home teachers who came by and a member of her ward! . . . what a popular lady! I did notice that her coloring wasn't that great - kind of an ashen color - is that a color?! It might improve by getting out and getting some exercise/activity. I'll keep you posted.

THE SPIRIT CAME BY FOR A VISIT:

Isn't it amazing how you can feel like sleeping in on a Sunday when church starts at 9 a.m.? Today was one of those days - lack of clothing adds to the mix! "Oh, think I'll just stay home in my sweats and tshirt", so I thought! It was only a thought as I promptly started getting ready for my 9 a.m. deadline I was only 2 minutes late today - what a triumph! When it's only 'me' to get ready I have the hardest time showing up on time. I miss sitting next to my hubby as he's serving the students of our local collage.

I always FEEL GOOD being there among my friends and neighbors. I love that connection. Again, after sacrament I was tempted to leave for a few minutes and return when YW started - but I stayed. So glad I did stay as I was totally 'fed' and 'fed' well by the Spirit! I didn't deserve such nourishment as I've been such a rebel lately - snubbing my nose at the 'establishment' as if I were a teenager - just not wanting to conform - ticked off at 'stuff' would probably be the best description.

Brother Sellers was teaching today - and he truly is a master teacher - he served delicious 'spiritual food' to me and it was delicious - so delicious. The Spirit testified to me that everything he was teaching was true and good. I devoured it, like I had not eaten for so long. I even took notes because everything was hitting home with me - no dull moments - just having 'ahhhhha moment' after another. It was an emotional experience - had to turn my head so no one could see the 'emotion' streaming down my cheek! I don't want to loose that feeling - know what I mean?

Oh, and BTW - the delicious looking granola bar (pictured above) - I have the recipe if anyone is interested - very healthy.

on the go - journal notes

Long, wonderful day - I'll be back to fill you in.

macro-mess-around

I told a guy the other day that this time of year is the ugliest time of year - the snow is melting and often isn't that pretty! Can that be true - I mean really is there really such a thing? So, I needed to find something to 'light my fire' today - just to reinforce in my mind that little miracles are all around me - right next to me - and these are the things I found! Oh! And, by the way, it's going to be an amazing day!

r.e.l.a.x. - team up thursday

WHAT'S THAT? RELAX? I'm actually going to have to relearn this concept.

Corey has her feet propped up and reading a book (photo on left) - I really need to work on that one! I love Corey's chair, bare feet (cute toe ring) and peaceful, serene surroundings - perfect for reading and RELAXING!

I was talking to friends the other day and mentioned how I feel guilty sitting reading a book! We all concurred that it must be something that stems from raising kids and never having time for yourself. In my mind, I figure if I'm sitting, I must be wasting time! NOW, all you readers out there (Corey included), don't get mad at me - I know that thinking is skewed - but I'm working on it - I mean, after all, I read the Twilight series!!!

Water - give me water (ocean, lake, river, brook, canal, hot-tub - haha) - anywhere, any place, any time and I'm in heaven. I'm sure that stems from growing up on southern California beaches and having a swimming pool in my backyard. My photo reflects how I feel about the 'wet-stuff'.

Don't forget to drop by Megan's place for some "HAPPY"!!!

Journal Notes:

• BOB is the current principal at Hibbard Elementary and he's actually loving it. Not so in the beginning as the moral was way down for some reason. He goes out during recess and plays football with the kids, he's really good at cleaning up a school physically - goes around cleaning out closets, forgotten 'stuff' and gets rid of it! I think he's there for some time and the kids, teachers and parents are loving it! It's a good fit for him and we'll see over the next few months if it will become a permanent position for him. He's been a new man since getting out of the high school!
• GRANDMA seems to be holding her own. She seems to be suffering from lack of energy so I figured out her calories the other day and she was only getting 800+ for her days eating!!! Ahhhhhhh, calories are fuel, ma! So Heather, Whit and I are going to see if we can't get some food into her frig. then into her stomach! I think she's climbing the walls as she doesn't feel strong enough to drive so has been stuck at home for a little while! I've got some plans of getting her out of the house and doing some stuff soon. We went to the doc Monday and he just checked on her and said he would go back 'in' in 2-3 months and check to see if there are any problems.
• WHIT, SCHUY & BODIN-BOY are getting exited and antsy to be on their way down south - school and work. Schuy got a job and is commuting 1 hour (one way) to work and back each day! They're checking out housing and getting excited to get in their own place. Bodin has been sick the past few days - he's been pretty miserable but finally got to the doc yesterday and got some meds for ear infection. He's singing a happier song tonight - you should have heard him in the bath - sweet music to my ear as he's feeling much better.
• (Disclaimer: if the talk of politics bothers you - do not read the following) THE NEWS today said that tanning salons are going to be taxed by the government - our first encounter with big government running our lives under the new health care reform law. I totally believe that sun tanning is not good and is harmful to our health (I have burn marks all over my back from sun spot removal to prove it!) BUT, they should have the freedom to operate their business without interference from government! Don't go crazy people, this is totally my opinion - we're going to see our country change in ways we'd never imagine - basically, our country will never be the same as we knew it. This is not what the Founding Fathers had in mind! Ohhhhhh mannnnnnn!

ooooooh mannnnn

health care reform = I'm not feeling well!

my town - where i hang out - mosaic monday

Several weeks ago I got a fun and amazing call on my phone:
"This is Steve from "Prospectus Magazine" - Harris Publishing. Donna, at the Chamber, told us you take photos AND we'd like to commission you to send us some of your work for our publication!" . . . or something like that!

So, I went about gathering some photos I have taken of 'my town' (of course it's not JUST MINE!!!) and blogged them here for him to see. I think it's pretty representative of our little town - makes me smile when I look at them because it's what I see everyday!

I think I'll use this as my ENTRY into Mosaic Monday hosted by Mary - she's the greatest!

must catch up

coming soon!

t.i.m.e. - team up thursday

Our theme for this week is T.I.M.E. Both Corey and I (Berta) know our theme a week in advance so we can 'go through the week' looking for some interesting subjects to photograph. This was a challenge for me, and for Corey! Neither of us wanted to do the same ol' "clock shot" - so it took some thinking.

I LOVE Corey's choice of subject - definitely "SPOT-ON" (as the British would say!!!) - the layers are definitely impressive and the colors are gorgeous - really a perfect shot of how nature lays down layer after layer of sediment, just like a tree with it's rings of history tucked away within it's trunk.



The photo I choose was not as 'staged' as it might look. Let me explain: I received an amazing book called WISDOM for a gift and within it's pages are high definition photos of famous people over the age of 60 AND the wisdom they've gleaned over the years. I had the book out the other day thumbing through the pages and reading. The aged face of this Amerian artist caught my eye immediately - suggesting the 'passage of time' we all go through. With hand cream on my hands (just finished the dishes) I threw my watch onto the book to enjoy my self-pampering! The watch suggests the theme as well. I looked over and saw my spice rack and the bottle THYME was 'starring' at me and that gave a little twist to the theme as well!!! haha! I laid the spice bottle onto the book and, there you have it . . . T.I.M.E / T.H.Y.M.E. ! ! ! ! ! Okay, now that was dumb!

If you'd like to see more "Team Up Thursday" photos from other women photographers, go by Megan's blog AND Hip Momma's blog - really fun!

thank you

We're SPOILED! No, I mean really! Whitney has the talent to cook up some tasty, nutritious meals in no time - and she does it for 'us'! This particular night, she was tired - but in her super-chic coat she cooked up a storm. The house smelled amazing as she sauteed veggies and fish fillets - oh yeah, and the rice in the rice cooker, such comfort food. Yes, she was tired this night but she did it anyway. She won't be with us much longer as she and her family will be moving on - bigger and better things await them - and I will miss the smells from the kitchen but even more, WHITNEY!

sunday drive with bodin-boy - mosaic monday

Bodin decided it was time for a sunday drive - the first time in a long while the sun was out! SO, he got his sunglasses out and was ready to rip! I kid-you-not (top picture/left) he holds out his hand and says, "Keys please!" He's two and just started talking within the last month!!!!! So funny!

MOSAIC MONDAY - go by for a visit, I know you won't be disappointed . . . that would be Mary's place!

happy birthday, cam!

rippin' it

(note: I edit my 'stuff' on a iMac (my screen is hu-mungus) so if you can't see the entire photo(s) - if it's cut off, please leave me a comment and let me know so I can start resizing my photos so you can see!!!)

Here's more of our SNOW PLAYDAY up at Brian & Heather's. Cortney climbed up on the cliff with the kids and got the 'up above' shots, I stayed 'down below' to catch the 'below' shots. Okay, does that make sense?

The snow was deep - as you can tell. I love these shots of Cortney 'workin' it:


I had to break up these shots of Carson so you could see his 'start to finish' jump - these are the first sequence (where's the helmet Mr.?):


And here he completes the jump:


I added this one of Kelton as I love the look on his face - pure joy for landing a great jump:

just a thot . . . home is where . . .

two year old vs. dog

we have a two year old in the house . . .

some FREE stickers came in the mail - the kind if you mail a certain group some money, they'll keep sending you stickers for the 'rest of your life' - well Bodin got a hold of them and the rest is captured in these photos! Kaina-boy LOST this battle!!! . . . he got a nice dog bone for being such a good sport!

f.o.o.d. - team up thursday

This week for "Team Up Thursday" Corey and I decided on the theme: FOOD! I do have to admit that my pallet was dead until Whitney and Schuyler moved in with us three months ago. It's has been an extraordinary journey of new smells, textures, tastes and spices with them living here. Our home smells like Julia Childs lives here - amazing stews and soups made with wine - just like Julia!!! Seriously, my cooking pretty much s.u.c.k.s. (sorry if I offend anyone with that word) - after living with those guys - other than I make a pretty good enchiladas. Whitney always has fresh everything when she cooks. The other night she made fresh wild sockeye salmon, sticky rice and sauteed veggies - everything fresh. It was a holy experience! ! ! There is a method to my 'madness' - maybe Whitney will be inspired to cook tomorrow - haha.

The photo I took, this week, is of my antique wooden fruit bowl with a collection of sweet potatoes, avocado (thank you Whit), garlic, oranges, apples and bananas always in view. I loved the colors and textures it had to offer - pretty mouth-watering, in my opinion!

Corey's photo is of her adorable daughter, Sugar Bear! Sugar Bear makes everything look wonderful and with Corey's talent of capturing things on camera, she is always inspiring. I loved the saying on the ice cream cone, "Eat It All" - believe me, I'd never have to be reminded to eat it all - nope, not me. So this week, my challenge to YOU is to look/smell around you at all the wonderful textures and smells of food - how comforting is that? Very.

If you'd like to see more "Team Up Thursday" photos from other women photographers, go by Megan's blog AND Hip Momma's blog - really fun!

for your eyes only - mom's operation

coming soon

pure JOY - more bubbles - Mosaic Monday

Have an AWESOME Sunday





MOSAIC MONDAY - go by for a visit, I know you won't be disappointed . . . that would be Mary's place!

haba's weekend

1st annual racquetball tournament - the ridge health club

Shawn & Kandee, our son and daughter-in-law, hosted their FIRST ANNUAL Racquetball Tournament at their health club - The Ridge Health Club. The response has been great with over 35 entries. Shawn and Cameron teamed up in doubles with success - so far!!! More games will come tomorrow.
LEFT PHOTO: Shawn & Cameron taking on two BYU-I students - read the journaling for the outcome!
MIDDLE PHOTO: Some of the 'old pros' checking out the action. You can see the place was packed with lots of people waiting for the games to begin!
RIGHT PHOTO: The club was filled with kids - they ALWAYS have fun running around and playing while the moms and dads watch.

(click photos for a closer look!)

my memory shell

For the past 50+ years or so, (oh man, did I really say that?) I've been afraid this shell would get broken! I've hidden it away, set it in a drawers - just about anything to protect it. It now sits on top of my bedroom dresser occasionally collecting a penny, paperclip, earring - whatever happens it's way. I love this not-so-little shell - the colors are amazing and just like holding it to your ear to hear the ocean, I hold it close to my eyes to see amazing and wonderful colors. The outside of the shell is just as amazing - it's like coral with interesting texture. It's an abalone shell - an edible sea mollusk that lives in warm seas and is lined with mother-of-pearl and pierced with respiratory holes. Now, when I'm long-gone from this earth life and my possessions are being divided among the kids (haha!) and they come across this pretty not-so-little-shell they'll know where it came from and what it meant to me! Now, that's kind of nice - don't you think?

team-up thursday - "O.L.D. and N.E.W."

The theme for this week's "Team-up Thursday" was interesting! How can you have OLD and NEW in the same photo - but I think we captured it!!!

UPPER PHOTO: by Berta

I had an idea in my mind on how to capture this when I saw little Henry being held by his great grandmother, my mother. I love this photo as it captures a great grandmother's love and adoration for her off-spring in a tender and special way. My mother adores babies - she is so good with them and actually gives me a glimpse into how she must have held me when I was a baby. Attention to detail is her forte - so her care for babies is impeccable. On a somber note, my mother was diagnosed with a tumor several days ago and she will undergo surgery this coming Tuesday! Please remember her in your prayers. This photo has become one of favorites and will be for some time.

LOWER PHOTO: by Corey

Who doesn't remember "Dick and Jane"? Well, I'm sure many DO NOT! They were some of the first books I learned to read while growing up and I see, by Corey's photo, they've either made a come back OR she's come across one in pristine condition!!! Sugar Bear's blue eyes light up a room - and I'm sure she will have a fun time learning to read with some of these timeless stories! Corey captured this photo beautifully - as she always does.

Zip over to Megan's blog to view other "Self-Portraits" - it should be fun!

snow-play-day

IMAGE having ALL OF THIS in your BACKYARD . . . Bri and Hea-due don't have to IMAGE - it's a REALITY for them . . . this IS THEIR backyard!!!
(click photo for CLOSER look)













***These are only a FEW of the photos taken on this beautiful day*** MORE COMING SOON . . . BUT, DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH!

welcome, march

Wanted to say, "Hey there, March - welcome in!" This plays total havoc with my brain cells (what I have left) as my brain is computing that it's mid-November! Speaking of brain cells (or lack thereof) - I choose to write more tomorrow as my brain in going to sleep - as we speak!

You'll hear more about:

• Grandma's diagnosis of . . . . a tumor in her bladder! She goes in for surgery next Tuesday. She's in GREAT spirits. She's hardly EVER been sick in her life and never been through surgery - she's in for a real surprise! Keep her in your prayers . . . please!
• Where did all the company go . . . . Here 'one minute', gone the next! Everyone has gone home - it's quiet AND I don't like it!
• Why are you sneezing . . . no cold? Could it possibly be all these animals confined in one house at one time?
• Mr. Principal for the remaining school year . . . Bob is acting principal for an elementary school outside of town (west). He said one of the little kids walked up to him yesterday and said, "You're a lot more fun than our 'old' principal!!!"
• Blurb, blurb and more blurb . . . Ash brought and shared her NEW blurb book with everyone AND inspired us ALL to start working on ours.
• Grandma-great's bed n' breakfast . . . Grandma's FIRST hosting of families while visiting as our home had few vacancies due to Whit, Schuy and family residing on the premises!
• How many animals did you say were living here . . . during family visits we had {8} hairy, fury but adorable dogs and cat-children running around! Kennel license???
• Photos of our weekend and what a weekend it was . . . check the next blog entry coming.
• Minus {1} gallbladder and he's feeling . . . Brian still sore, but doing better.
• "Who" did you say got a concussion . . . Cameron and Leah were schedule to come for our mini-family-reunion BUT, called at the last minute saying they were in the hospital having CAT scans on Leah as she tried doing a flip off the jungle gym at school and landed on her head. I'm happy to report that Leah has a HARD HEAD and is going to be fine - just has to take it easy for awhile.
• and much M.O.R.E.