They Have Arrived

Grady

Tommie, Heather, Megan and Grady arrived today to spent Gracie's birthday with her. She is so excited to see everybody. I think her mommy is the one she is most excited to see.
They got here about 4ish and we had pulled pork snadwiches for dinner. It was fun to finally meet little Grady. What a cute kid he is. Megan is the best mom. She is always caring for Grady.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for family. It's good to have a great relationship with Tommie. I am blessed to be loved by so many.

Tommy Is Home

Thank Goodness Tommy has finally arrived home. I have missed him and I am pretty tired of trying to keep his green lawn green.
He had a good time playing in the golf tournaments with Dean. I am so glad he still wants to get up and go do things. For 78 years old he is going strong.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my Tommy. We have truly grown old together. He has always been a good husband and a wonderful help to me. I am so blessed to have his for my hubby.

Watering and more Watering

I pulled hoses around the yard today and turned on sprinklers and tried to get all the grass watered. I also watered my garden. I will be glad when the Mister gets home so he can take over.
I pretty much did a little of this and a little of that all day. But it was relaxing.
I picked up Gracie from Lolo's and we came home and made Baked Zita for dinner.
That's been my day described in 4 lines.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for the Gospel. I thought about it all day off and on and am in wonder of the goodness of it all. It gives me direction, hope and peace. I am blessed!

Gracie Is Home

My Color Palette for Gracie May Kit

I went to church today and taught my sweet little Sunbeams. I just love these little ones. They are smart and ornery and cute and a pain all at once. They always make me laugh.
This morning I posted my color palette for my kit on Scrap N Pieces gallery to have it checked by Lori. I hope it's alright so I can start my papers.
I came home and Janna and the gang were home from the Goat Show. Gracie gave me the biggest hugs ever and told me she loved Bamma. What a wonderful thing to come home to.
Gracie fell asleep in my chair watching Mickey Mouse. So we put her pj's on and put her on Papa side of the bed. She fell asleep again after about 30 min. and slept all night. She was one tired little girl.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my little Gracie. She is such a blessing to all of us.

Hanging Pictures

 Above My Bookcase

 Above My Couch

By The Front Door

I finished rearranging my furniture in my living room and hung my pages I had ready of my mom's old picutres. I really like how it turned out. Now I must make some more for more walls. I moved one of my bookcases into my family room. I have never liked it in my living room.

I watered trees and fed animals. I made Salmon and baked Sweet Potatoes fried with Olive Oil. It was yummy.

I went over all the stuff for my class. I am going to start on Tuesday. I will be two weeks behind in the class but I am going to try it. I bet I learn tons of stuff. 

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my scrapbooking ability. I love that I can create these things for my house and look at my childhood. I am so blessed with this talent.

Cleaning My Freezer

Freezer

I cleaned out my freezer in the garage. It took all night and half of today to get the ice melted. It feels good to have it all defrosted and cleaned out. Now it's time to fill it up again.

I started redoing my living room. I changed the furniture around. I also fed the animals and watered my garden and some flower beds.

I am enjoying my alone time. It's so nice to be able to do whatever I want. I don't have to pick up after anybody but me.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for the energy I have had and the things I have accomplished. I am blessed!

Page a Week Done

 

Gift Wrapping

Gracie at the Goat Show

I woke up with tons of energy. After reading my scriptures I went to the barn and fed all the animals. It was really chilly this morning. I had to fill the chickens water and that's the hardest thing to do. 

Then I started cleaning out my freezer in the house. I had tons of stuff in it and really didn't know what I had. But now it's neat and tidy.

I finished this page I have been working on. I just couldn't figure out the triangle of the elements and still being able to cut it in half. But it is what it is.

I signed up for a designer class with Scrap N Pieces and I get to be mentored by Lori. I will start in July or August. I want to continue to learn these things and not forget how to do them.

I made stir fry for my dinner and put all my freezer stuff from my big freezer in the garage to the freezer part of the fridge. I turned it off and put towels on the shelves so I won't have a big mess. Tomorrow that will be my project tomorrow.

I got this picture of Gracie and Clarabelle at the Goat Show. She came in 2nd place and go a blue ribbon. She is so cute leading her goat around the arena. Harley posted a bunch of pics on Facebook.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for the energy I have. It is a blessing to feel this good.

All Alone

 Gracie

 Loading Goats

 AJ the Goat Catcher

A Comfy Bed

Janna, AJ, Maddie, Harley and Gracie went to the Goat Show in Logan, Utah. As you can see it's quite the ordeal to get going. They had a truck load of goat to show. Gracie was so excited and Maddie too.
Tommy left also this morning to go to Dean's to play in golf tournaments. So all that's left is Austin, Bailee and me. It's a wonderful treat to be all alone in my house. I cleaned out my fridge, canned some Brown Rice and Pasta, made Brown Rice in my pressure cooker, pulled some weeds in my garden and signed up for a design class with Scrap N Pieces and worked on a page. Now that's a busy day. I went to Winco to get Brown Rice and Chocolate Chips.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for this wonderful family. I am blessed!

Garden Is Growing

 Green Beans

 Cucumbers

 Currants on my Currant Bush

Gracie is a Breeder for Fainting Goats

Today I got my hair cut. It is always good to get my hair cut when it's too long. I love that I just have to drive 5 minutes away. And Amber is so good.
I went out and checked my garden and found so many things coming up. I even found currants on my currant bush.
And Gracie got her certificate in the mail for breeding Fainting Goats. Who knew. Harley is up to something. She must be getting ready for the goat show.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my garden. It's a lot of work but makes me feel good that I can grow stuff. I am blessed!

Cooking All Day

 Shortcakes

 Sweet and Sour Chicken, Brown Rice and Peas

Homemade Bisquik Mix

I spent the day in my kitchen making things.
Roasted Cauliflower Soup. I roasted the Cauliflower in the oven and mixed it in with my milk, flour and onions that had been saute'd. It was delicious. I am putting it in Cook'n.
Then I needed to make some Shortbreads for the strawberries that Tommy had bought yesterday. I didn't have enough Bisquick so I made my own mix.
Then I made my Shortbreads for the strawberries. They are so good.
Then it was on to Sweet and Sour Chicken. It was the first time I had rolled chicken in corn starch and then in egg and fried them. I put them in a glass baking dish and poured the Sweet and Sour sauce over them and baked them for 1 hour stirring every 15 minutes.
I made Brown Rice in my pressure cooker and it was fabulous. Chef Brad told us if you pressure brown rice it is so good and he was absolutely right.
The dinner was good and I felt that my time (all day) spent in the kitchen was well worth it.
In between all that I picked up Gracie and cleaned a little house and did a little laundry.
Now it's time for bed dee bye!!
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful I am feeling stronger and better. What a blessing!

Sabbath Day And Page a Week Group

Christmas Eve

Went to church today and watched Sister Petersen teach our class. She is an excellent teacher. The other Sunbeam teachers were on their way from somewhere and didn't make it so they combined our classes. There were lots of kids missing so it wasn't so bad. I truly love these Sunbeams.

I came home exhausted, ate pancakes at Janna's and sat in my chair all evening. I posted my page to "Page A Week Group" on Facebook. I am so glad that I belong to this group or I wouldn't have made a page this week. 

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my Sunbeams. What a wonderful calling to have. Teaching these sweet little Spirits is the very best. I am blessed!

Making A Mess In The Kitchen

Snickerdoodles

 Gracie and her car.

Going for a ride.

I tried to make cinnamon rolls this morning. They did look good as they went into the oven. I took them out when the timer went off and let them set for a few minutes and then started to frost them. The middle ones were sinking and I knew that wasn't a good sign. Yep, underdone. And I had already put the frosting on so I couldn't cook them any longer. But I do know that my Wonder Mix will make my cinnamon roll dough. All that work and mess for nothing. Lesson learned: check for doneness!

I then made Snickerdoodles Cookies in my new mixer. They turned out perfect. I just have to get used to not mixing very much.

I went over to Janna and here was Gracie all dressed up in her hat and tutu riding her car all over the place. She kept hiding from the camera so I couldn't get her face. What a funny duck she is.

Janna had Austin go get Mexican food for dinner so I wouldn't have to cook.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my ability to bake and cook. I love it most of the time. Blessed!

Lasagna

 Miss Independent

So Cute

Gracie went to Lolo's today. It was so nice because I got lots of stuff done. I baked a frozen Lasagna I had in the freezer for the kids. Janna and AJ took Maddie and Gracie out to dinner.
After I picked Graice up from Lolo's she had to have a drink. She can reach anything and if she can't she will climb up on a chair. She loves water. She just takes such good care of herself.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful today for Summer weather. I love the sunshine and warmth. What a blessing to have a reprieve from winter. Blessings abound.

Winco, Pizza and Cookies

 Gracie and Clarabelle

Harley and Gracie

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

I went to Winco this morning early. It was good to get it done.
Today I tried out my new Mixer and made Chocolate Chip Cookies and Pizza Dough. The cookies were over mixed so they were flat and the pizza dough was so soft I could hardly handle it. Experimentation coming on.
I do love the size of it. It is a much smaller footprint than my Bosch.
I did have fun experimenting with it.
I put most of my groceries away, and hung out with Gracie. I just love this little munchkin.
Harley brought Clarabelle into the back yard to teach Gracie how to lead her around. It was quite the funny site to see the tug of war going on. Harley has so much patience with Gracie and her goats.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for all my many blessings. I can't begin to count them all. I am blessed to live where I do and be surrounded around people who love me. Blessed!!

Wonder Mixer Has Arrived

Wonder Mill Mixer

Austin Helping Papa

I ordered my Wonder Mixer yesterday and it came today. Now that is service. I can't wait to try it out. I did manage to get it out of the box and identify all the accessories that came with it.

It is getting hot here so Austin helped Papa bring in the units and install them. It was so good to have cool air. Thank goodness for a strong kid to help.

I picked up Gracie from Lolo's and made dinner. That's my day!
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful I have the ability to buy this Wonder Mixer. I think of the people in Peru where Hannah is serving and feel a little guilty that I have so much and they have so little. I am blessed with prosperity.

Canning Beans Again

 New Outfit

 Backpack

Canning Beans Again

I accomplished a ton of stuff today. I canned 14 quarts of beans for my pantry and cleaned my kitchen as I went so it stayed clean. I put all my pages in the frames I bought while I babysat the canners. Next on the agenda was picking up Gracie. 

I peeled potatoes and made biscuits and gravy and scrambled some eggs. That's what we had for dinner. Because we have oodles of eggs.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my life. It's a good one. Full of blessings and joy!

Beautiful Sabbath Again

 Pots

 And More Pots

Gracie and her Sandbox

Planted some pots for the patio Janna had bought. It looks so cute. I love flowers.
Then it was time to get ready for church. I prepared tons of food samples for the kids to taste and smell. They love to eat so it went very well. I love my team teacher Sister Petersen. We do have a fun time.
Gracie loves to play with water and sand. She makes me Chocolate Ice Cream all the time.
I came home and fell in my chair and didn't move much. I did manage to bake some Shortcakes for Strawberry Short Cake. It was so delicious. I love real whipped cream. It just makes it taste so good.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for all the beautiful flowers that Heavenly Father made for me. What a blessing to enjoy.

Planting My Garden

Harley Running the Skidster

Gracie May

I hired Austin to plant my garden this morning. Tommy and I went into Idaho Falls and got a bunch of flowers to plant in the yard. Petunia's and Marigolds were what we bought.

Then Austin and I started planting. He was such a big help. I have to get zucchini seeds for one more mound and some spinach seeds for my spinach. Gracie helped me with watering and Harley helped her mom run the skidster. Hard working crew.

Then I made Shikabob's for dinner. AJ barbecued them to perfection. They were so good. Next time I must have corn on the cob and a salad to go with them.

I made a new recipe Harley wanted me to try from facebook. It was Peanut Butter Cup Banana Bread. Much too sweet. I won't be making it again. And my kitchen once more was a huge mess.

Now it's time for bed. I will have to finish my handouts for my lesson in the morning.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my garden. I feel blessed that it is finally planted.

Birthday Party

 MTC

 

Chaelo's Birthday Cake

Gracie woke up with a cough and goopy eyes. So we didn't send her to Lolo's. She helped Grandma all day. She's a pretty cute and funny kid.

I made Chocolate Lush for the birthday party at the Olsen's. I also made beans for dinner and cornbread. I kept trying to talk myself out of going to this party but I decided if someone would take the time to invite me I would go. Gracie was in 7th heaven. She loves playing with the kids and just played away and had a wonderful time. The food was delicious. Lyn can cook, that's for sure.

I finished this page of the MTC that I had been working on.

Now it's my bed time. So good night.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for Lyn. She is such a sweet lady. What a blessing to call her my friend.

Canning More Beans

Beans

I canned more beans today. I figured out that if I just pour boiling water over them after I measure them in the jars and let them sit for 30 minutes they swell up and are ready to can. It was much faster and I don't have to remember to soak them the night before which I always forget.

I also worked some more on my scrapbooking. I had to redo an entire double page because I had some pictures mixed in that didn't go. Thank goodness I caught it before it was printed. I really am having a fun time doing my pages. I just have to keep it up.

Janna went to the ER last night. She had pain in her stomach. She has Diverticulitis. I found a list of high fiber foods and printed it off for her. I hope it helps.

Gracie kept me busy all day so I didn't accomplish any thing else.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my daughter. And that Doctor's can find out what's wrong with her stomach. She is blessed and therefore I am blessed.

Dentist and Shopping

 Mother's Day Gift

Harley and Gracie Reading

I went to the Dentist today for my 6 month cleaning. Everything is fine. I just hate that dentist offices have to have cold water and cold air. When your teeth are synsitive it is pretty painful. But it's done for another 6 month's.

I went shopping to Target and got my Panini Maker I have been wanting with the gift certificate that Dean and Amie gave me for Mother's Day. I also got  a knife sharpener for my kitchen knives.

Then it was on to Walmart for my capri pants that I needed. Then on to Porter's. They had 12X12 frames in black on sale for 50% off. What a deal. So I got the 12 I needed for my pages I made of my childhood.

Came home and sat down for a minute and then went to Lolo's and got Gracie. 

What a day!

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for Dr Machen that takes such good care of my teeth. She is the best dentist I have ever had.I am blessed!!