Stuff Stories: Bird

Growing up this bird was always around our kitchen area, sometimes on a shelf or sometimes by a pile of paperwork.  Even though my parents live in a different home now this same object is found in very similar location, on a shelf by a pile of paperwork.

As a child I always wondered whether it was a real bird and how it got inside. I think my children wonder the same thing considering this home is full of real animal trophies. I have on occasion witnessed them quietly examining this little bird.

Here's the story: Grandpa gave it to Mom many years ago. She admitted she didn't like it because it was kind of creepy but since it was a gift from her father she couldn't part with it. It is now a kitchen icon. 

Capitol Reef

We are hoping to get the most out of Utah before we actually move. This weekend Capitol Reef National Park was the destination.

The weather was perfect, there were interesting canyons and hikes, rivers to wade through, historic pioneer buildings, junior geologist program, junior ranger program, petroglyphs and fruit orchards.

Weekend Highs:
-spotting 7 rainbows on the drive down
-75 degree weather
-earning another Junior Ranger patch
-attending church in a historic chapel in Loa, UT


Weekend Lows;
-Clara spreading gum in her hair and giving her an impromptu haircut with James' pocket knife in the car
-picnic gone bad when one child unknowingly smeared animal scat all over his shoe then in the process of cleaning it up spread it across the picnic table and bench
-Hiking with a screaming child for over 25 minutes (the older boys said it was okay because it would scare away any wild animals)

This park is definitely worth revisiting, by then the peaches may be ripe for picking.

Stuff Stories: Bell Lady

I frequently write about my aversion to stuff.   But living here at my parents I am surrounded by pictures, trinkets, and objects that invoke pleasant memories and emotions.  A lot of these items have been on display from before I can remember but I never knew where they came from nor did I ever give a second thought about their uniqueness.

My sister Suz is living in Mexico City right now and is contemplating a move that is even farther from home. I told her that her life was much more exciting and "bloggable" than mine. She then argued that a summer in Mom's basement is actually interesting when you look around at all the random and sentimental objects on display, it is almost like living in a museum of our past.

These "Stuff Stories" are for her, to keep her entertained with randomness and perhaps feed into any homesickness she may be feeling.

I suppose there is a place for sentimental objects in a home but I wonder what makes an object sentimental. Does there always have to be a "story" behind an object or is it just the familiarity that makes it sentimental. As I have interviewed Mom few of the items I've captured have a story beyond "...well I bought it ____________".

Here's what I can remember about the bell lady pictured above. She sat on the big bookshelf in the "old new room", the book shelf that my Dad built when they were living in Boston, the bookshelf that my brother Doug was found asleep on top of at age 2, the bookshelf where the huge Wangsgard's roots and branches book was stored.

She actually is a bell and my mom said she bought her when they were living in England because she liked bells.  That's it for the story but just looking at her makes me smile and chuckle too.   




 

Gifts for Fathers

Look what our Primary leaders made for all the Fathers.  I can't believe how great they turned out!  Can you tell who's who?

I'm hoping my good friend Nancy in the Primary will give me a tutorial sometime so I can make one for the two younger children.    

Summer Village Frocks

These are summer variations of the Sugar City Journal Village Frock.   This pattern was so fun and easy to sew that I can't resist sewing the long sleeve version for winter.

I finished them last week and at that time I believe I was still recovering from our move and the stomach flu.  James noticed I was spending a bit more time on the couch than usual and suggested "Mommy, maybe you shouldn't sew pink fabric because the color pink is suppose to cause weakness".  It is a beautiful linen but I think I did get tired of the pink.  The winter ones will be a neutral color paired with some pink tights.

"Just Enough and Not Too Much"

This is our new favorite library book, "Just Enough and Not Too Much", written and illustrated by Kaethe Zemach.

It is about a man who lives a happy yet simple life until he decides he may need more stuff. He keeps getting and getting and getting until life isn't as fun anymore. So he throws a huge party for his friends and gives most of it away.

Paul read this to me this morning before we headed out on a family garage saling expedition. And I know it doesn't really make sense to go garage saling just weeks after your own garage sale and especially when you are technically homeless. Nonetheless we needed to get out and Clara did need some new shoes (which we found, lavender leather Puddle Jumpers for $1). We also picked up a few books to enjoy over the summer. What we really didn't need and what we already have too much of are Beanie Babies, I gave in and now we have 5 more.

But the biggest temptation came earlier in the morning before we even left the house. Emily called me from a sale in Mapleton because there was a Huskylock serger for $15. I already have one but I thought I could keep one set up for a rolled hem, or just leave it set up with white thread. I told her to offer $10 but no more than $12. The seller did not accept so I said, "Okay, I hope someone else comes along who really needs it because that will make their day".

Garage saling is fun and can save you money on things like shoes, books and furniture but you've got to remind yourself "just enough and not too much" which in the end I'm glad I did because having another machine set up on my table would make my sewing more difficult.

2009 Summer List

Our summer fun really couldn't start until I got my two older boys back.  The morning after their return we gathered around and arranged this list, even our 2 year old contributed her ideas here.

It isn't fancy, just a marker and a piece of paper, but enough to keep us from getting too lazy here at my parents house. I've seen some other really great summer wall systems, check out this one and this one. Maybe next year we'll get fancy.

In case you can't read my sloppy marker script here's what it reads:

Things to Learn

-Chief Hiawatha

-Cats

-Division

-Monkeys

-Currency

-Goats

-Roosters

-Ancient Navigation

Stuff to Make

-Backpack for Henry

-Wood carvings

-Story books

-3-D collage

-Paper mache'

-Tie dyes

-Pink necklaces

-Movie

Places to Go

-Bear Lake

-Arches National Park

-Church History Museum

-BYU Bean Museum

-Xango Dinosaur Museum

-Discovery Museum

-Imax

More to Do

-Sleep in a tent on summer solstice

-Cabellas with Opa

-Library

-Game night

-Canyon cook out

-Look for wildlife

-Draw a picture with a blind fold

-Long bike ride

So there it is, our summer wish list.  I'm sure there will be additions and edits to this list but even more sure that this summer promises to be a great one. 

Squirt the Shirt by William

Something fun I did in Michigan was visit my Uncle Dave's Creative Arts Studio.  The day I visited they were having a street fair and there was an activity called "squirt the shirt".

There are five squirt guns and each one squirts a different color paint.  You hang your shirt up and just squirt it until it's all messy and colorful.  It felt like shooting at some sort of target like the ones at Cabellas.  This was a messy and exciting activity.  The shirt that I squirted smelled like paint but soon I got use to it.  It's fun wearing my new shirt but sometimes it feels like I'm wearing a dirty shirt.  Still I like it.

Inside the studio I painted a submarine plus a red race car.  James painted a purple wizard and a yellow fish (it was more maize than yellow).   It is a really fun place to go with Nanny and Poppy.    

Back from the Best Adventure by James

The boredom was overwhelming, packing up boxes, labeling, and taping them up.  It was work, work, work until our Nanny and Poppy rescued us.  We packed up our backpacks and headed off on our second annual trip on the California Zephyr.  We rode the train from Grand Junction, CO to Chicago, IL.  On the train we passed the time looking out the window and talking to Nanny and Poppy.  The most memorable moment was when we crossed the Mississippi river, it took about 75 seconds to cross.  

In Chicago we switched trains onto the Wolverine then arrived back to Nanny and Poppy's house where more fun awaited.

My mom said we could only go if we promised to write in our journal everyday.  I'm glad I did because now I can remember it for years and maybe even read it my own children and grandchildren someday.  Here are some quotes from my journal:

June 4th

"We stopped in Fruita, CO to go to a dinosaur journey museum but it was closed.  Then an employee said, 'you can visit for 30 minutes, admission free'. "

June 5th

"I had a tour of Great Uncle Larry's property.  I saw his garden, fish pond, and green house....I wish I had my camera with me then"

June 6th

"We boarded the California Zephyr.  It is the second longest Amtrak train only beaten by the Texas Eagle.  It was so scenic until we got to Denver.  We passed through a 10 minute long tunnel."

June 7th

"We crossed the Missouri river in the morning.  We loved seeing all the farms.  I spotted 3 water towers and one lightning bolt.  We then crossed the Mississippi river."

By June 8th we were already at Nanny and Poppy's house and there is too much to write about.  I hope this post will show people how fun it is to spend time with your grandparents.  I hope to take my own grandchildren on a train trip someday because riding the train was way more fun then taking the airplane back to UT.

Good Neighbors

There is a tradition here in Utah that when new neighbors move in you leave them all sorts of treats and goodies on their doorstep.  Pictured above is the entry way to our new home in my parents basement, I suppose it is our doorstep as well.

My mom heard we were home and called down to us announcing that my Dad had made us a loaf of sourdough bread. She then bounced it down the stairs until it landed right there on the second to last step. Those who know my mom will know how funny this is. This was not the first nor will this be the last of things that will be bounced down the steps in our direction.

Paul was cracking up when he came home, I left it there for him to see.

The other funny thing about this is no one makes better sourdough than my dad. I don't know how many years he has been nurturing his start but he's got a good strand going. Paul requested that I master it while we are here. But I say if my dad can bake then Paul could also. I may suggest a weekly man's baking night so my dad can pass on all his great kitchen skills.

This is sure to be a memorable summer with my parents.

Most Painful Move

It was painful but we survived.  Perhaps our moving muscles are just so out of shape because we have lived here longer than anywhere else.  It's been almost four years and in that time we have  doubled both in children and stuff.

Also complicating the situation point B is still to be determined. Right now our stuff is comfortably waiting in a storage unit while we are comfortably squeezing into my parent's basement apartment.  We decided after all the headache of trying to sell our home for so long it might be wise to "hold our cards" awhile, especially considering the dropping real estate values in MI. It will be fun and simple living down here with lots of time for outings, field trips, and hanging out with Oma and Opa.

I think the lowest point of moving week was the day the stomach flu hit. My mom was the hero that day and packed up what remained in the house. She came back and immediately helped clean up after all the sick children. All the while I was unmoved from the couch with my own bucket.

Paul's parents were also heroic in their timely visit. All week the kids were fed, cared for and entertained allowing me to focus fully on sorting, packing and boxing. The kids were having so much fun that I was able to pack up their surroundings without much protest.

But the biggest hero of them all was Paul. I can't remember seeing him work so hard. He just strapped on a back support belt and ungrudgingly carried away load after load. He suggested visualizing this move in units of labor and when all is settled in at point B there would be a total of 1,000 units of labor expended. Right now I suppose we are at about 400 units of labor, most of which was accomplished by Paul. I feel guilty because I know all that canning I did added to the labor. But Paul was uncomplaining and has instead been fantasizing and maybe only half joking about a career in manual labor.

But before all the work began and even before our house was under contract we had planned a road trip to CA.  As we loaded into the car Paul handed me a print out of President Monson's talk Finding Joy in the Journey.  I kind of chuckled at it since we were already 3 hours off from our estimated departure time and the kids were clambering for snacks even before we backed out of the drive way.  We determined the trip would be fun, we would find joy in the journey, even the hours of driving to our destination.  Before we reached our destination however, we received the fateful call from our realtor with news of an offer on our home.  

As we continued our driving journey we discussed the broader journey that awaited us.  I would be lying if I didn't add those miles were filled with tears, excitement and frustration.  Paul once again advised me to read the talk and I have continued to read it several times as I have struggled with the transition and uncertainty that awaits us.  But I have now determined to let go of the control freak inside of me and instead enjoy each day during this transition.  And as long as the stomach flu does not hit again I will from now on call it our great adventure.