THE STORY OF THE CRAB BUCKET:

ONCE A MAN WALKING ALONG THE BEACH SAW ANOTHER MAN FISHING IN THE SURF WITH A BAIT BUCKET BESIDE HIM. AS HE DREW CLOSER, HE SAW THAT THE BAIT BUCKET HAD NO LID AND HAD LIVE CRABS INSIDE.
"WHY DON'T YOU COVER YOUR BAIT BUCKET SO THE CRABS WON'T ESCAPE?" HE ASKED.
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND," THE MAN REPLIED, "IF THERE IS ONE CRAB IN THE BUCKET IT WOULD SURELY CRAWL OUT VERY QUICKLY. HOWEVER, WHEN THERE ARE MANY CRABS IN THE BUCKET, IF ONE TRIES TO CRAWL UP THE SIDE, THE OTHERS GRAB HOLD OF IT AND PULL IT BACK DOWN SO THAT IT WILL SHARE THE SAME FATE AS THE REST OF THEM."
SO IT IS WITH PEOPLE. IF ONE TRIES TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, GET BETTER GRADES, IMPROVE HERSELF, ESCAPE HER ENVIRONMENT, OR DREAM BIG DREAMS, OTHER PEOPLE WILL TRY TO DRAG HER BACK DOWN TO SHARE THEIR FATE.
MORAL OF THE STORY: IGNORE THE CRABS. CHARGE AHEAD AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU. IT MAY NOT BE EASY AND YOU MAY NOT SUCCEED AS MUCH AS YOU LIKE, BUT YOU WILL NEVER SHARE THE SAME FATE AS THOSE WHO NEVER TRY.

I love this place that I am in, in my life. I'm adjusting to being an empty nester (so to speak). I'm finally learning to live with myself by myself. However, I couldn't do it without all of the wonderful creative people I'm around. People that spend most of their time adding softness and style to everything they touch. People that are willing to share who they are and what they think.
I hope that your lives are spared of the crabs that wish to bring you down, but are full, by the angels hoping to build you up.

Isn't the word Vintage lovely

I am putting these things on my blog because I need a little help in adding a little vintage to them. There is a store in Farmington that I love, called Just A Bed Of Roses. The owner has been a friend of mine for the better part of 38 years. We both married men from Wilson. As long as I've known Brenda she has been involved in everything vintage, only we use to call it Antic. Vintage sounds so lovely, don't you think? She is a master of making things ooze with charm and if you go into her store, she makes you feel so special. Anyway, I think if I can show her what I want to do, she will help me, choose from her store the magic I need to add the vintage charm.

Memorial Day with my Family

I can't think of a greater way to spend the evening then with my family eating and watching the kids play. We got together at my son Jareds house. Him and Hillary and their family live in Farmington. A beautiful peaceful place with a great historical feel to it. Good conversation and good fun with your family is something to cherish. I do think though, that we should do something more to show respect to those that are no longer with us. Something more then just getting together to celebrate. I think next year, we'll car pool down to Ogden to the cemetaries and let the children put flowers on their Aunt Casey's and their Great Grandma and Great Grandpas graves and their Great Great Grandma and Great Great Grandpas graves.

Then go play somewhere!

Sewing RoomOpen

I suppose my sewing room has been closed long enough. I was ask to make a quilt to raffle off at Liberty Days on July 4th. It's a honor for me to get to do it so I told them that I would be happy to do it. I've only got 4 weeks to get it done.

I'm going to use the new material I ordered on line, it's called Kyoco. It's soft oriental prints on Brown, Teal, and cream colors. Due to time, it will be very contemporary with straight lines and I will make it up as I go. My granddaughter Kacie is a very good iron er, she helped me yesterday. My friend Cindy Paulson is going to machine quilt it and I will bind it. This will be my donation to Liberty Days.

I will keep you informed!

Everything grows that she touches

I love the unigueness of people. Everyone has a place in my heart, everyone has a special gift to share. This beautiful hanging flower basket was given to me for Mother's day and it surely would have died had it stayed in my care these last two weeks. However, it didn't, as you can see, because my neighbor Connie cared for it along with her grow boxes, and gardens and bush removal. I am so grateful that she is my neighbor and my friend.

FRIENDS

Sometimes the most wonderful thing you can do for yourself is, simply to be with a friend. Friends can take you places that you never knew you needed. They can show you parts of their lives that let you see how good you've had it, or excite and motivate you to expand yourself and become a better person.
It's especially great spending time with a friend exploring their world. I went with a friend to Bear Lake to visit her family home. We of course had to do some exploring in some shops on the way. We began with a shop in Farmington called "Just a Bed of Roses". Shabby to Vintage! I love this shop. The next one was in Roy "Re-Creations". A women refurbishes old furniture in a very charming way and there are beautiful vintage bottles and dolls and everything. Next was lunch in Logan at Bajio. SO GOOD! Two more Antic shops - . Then into Bear Lake where we stoped at a shop that makes fudge and candy's in million's of different forms.

Finally to the house and the 4 wheelers. Lots of special treats. A special pancake breakfast. Oh my gosh, the house is so charming with such a wonderful feel of grandmas. Peace and Quiet! Ya know if you talk non stop to someone for 24 hours, with no interuptions, you'll get to know them pretty good. My friend is amazing, her family is amazing and I'm so glad that I am able to share in the life of such a remarkable women. You are a blessing to me.

10 Things I Love About My Mom - By JoDell

Well, it's Mother's Day and today I'm giving my mom the gift of a hijacked blog entry. It's almost impossible for me to sumarize my love for my mom into list of a mere 10 items, but these are truly my top 10.

10- I love the way she always fusses over things in an attempt to make them just right. Babies, table settings, party invitations, blog entries etc.

9- I love how she sings to my babies - in the rocking chair, on the porch swing, on the telephone, in the car.

8-I love how much thought, time and love she puts into EVERY quilt or blanket she stitches together. I love how those blankets make me feel when I comfort a crying baby, or tuck my big kids into bed at night or spread them on the lawn for a picnic with friends.

7- I love the way she makes sandwiches - no deli can compare!

6- I love the way she puts her whole heart and soul into serving others - both at home and around the world.

5- I love the way she finds ridiculous amounts of joy in the little things.

4- I love the way she keeps trying even when she gets frustrated or hurt.

3- I love the way she has supported my dad and me and my brothers, many times from the sidelines, as we have fumbled around figuring out who we are.

2- I love the way my mom so deeply loves the Savior and how she has passed that love onto me.

1- I love my mom for, at the tender age of 20, wanting me more than anything else and for the way she has dedicated her whole life to our family.

Happy Mother's Day Mom! I love you!

Koyko Material

Ok Ok, I know that the sewing room is closed but I couldn't help it. I found this material on line at "connecting thread.com" (in case you want to take a peek), I had to have it. I don't know what I'll make or when I'll make it, but it's a winner!!

Spring cleaning at it's best

When I moved into my home 4 years ago I wanted monochromatic colors. Brown and cream, tan walls and ceiling, white trim and doors. A tanish/goldish short shag carpet and tans and cream tile. I soon needed more color so I brought in fall colors in my living room and kitchen/dinning/family center, and foryer.

This year I'm wanting an accent color for my bedroom and bathroom. DA DA! Plum ------I could eat it up. New rugs and towels for the bath. Plum Lillie's in a Crystal vase, Plum candles on crystal candle sticks and a Crystal picture frame for my bedroom. I'm looking for the right Plum pillow for my bed. Anyone seen one? My daughter gave me a beautiful pair of Plum silk pajamas.

Spring cleaning can be so much fun!

Happy Happy Birthday Hannah Dear

Nine years ago a most wonderful thing happened to me. I became a grandmother. A most precious little girl joined my son's new family. They named her, Hannah Tyler, Tyler after the name of the city in Texas where Jared met Hannah's mother.

She's smart, she's talented, she's beautiful, and she knows no fear! What can I say, she's my granddaughter.

We spent the day together, it began shopping in a very cool shop in Farmington called, "Just a bed of Roses". It's hard to choose just one thing but she finally did. A necklace with a shinny and shimmery silver crown charm. Yup, that's Hannah.!
We went to lunch next. We went to Applebee's in the District in South Jordan. We started off with Queso and Chips -- then a Oriental chicken salad. The team from Applebee's sang happy birthday to her and gave her a keylime desert.

Of course we couldn't stop there, so we went to "Justice for Girls" where Hannah picked out a cute pink purse and a scarf.

From there we stoped at the Nursery and picked up some ground cover for the garden.

The evening just kept on going, "Ghost Whispers", dinner with grandpa and uncle Dallin, and of course, "MAMMA MIA". Then, we fell asleep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow's another day.

On top of things this year

I must be feeling pretty great this spring, I've really gotten a handle on things. The deck out back is almost restrained along with Dallin's Adirondack chair he built in high school. John and Dallin got the tramp put together. A summer tradition for the last 13 or so years. I've gotten new dishes and glasses for mothers day, so were all ready to par-ty Sunday, on mothers day!

I'll be cooking a couple of beef roasts, mashed potatoes and gravy, carrots, peas, rolls and butter and jam. My mother is bringing a fruit salad and some pudding.
I'm also making fennel cookies and a fastest cake in the west. I need to come up with a great drink to go into my new goblets. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

Wow, we've got to stain that fence this year.