1. aftermath
The Mecham grandkiddos and I love to make cookies together. They help me pour the ingredients into the bowl and they really like watching the cookie dough spin around and around in the mixer. After the dough is ready to work, we roll it out on the floured table top and then the fun begins! Roll, cut, put on pan. Repeat. I love the aftermath of making cookies with the kiddos. It's one of my favorite sights! I know they had lots and lots of fun! Oh... the mess! But isn't that what it's all about!
2. old
I have some old blankets stacked in the closet. The top one is a beautiful crochet afghan that grandma Ida Bates made for Shaniel when she was a baby (1980).The middle quilt is a tied quilt I made for Shaniel when she was a toddler (1982). I made another one just like it for Amie. The bottom quilt was made by grandmother Edna Richardson. It was a beautiful pieced quilt presented to my mother and dad as a wedding gift (1952). I love these old treasures.
3. painted
Brayden is an aspiring young artist. He painted these pictures, as well as others. He and I take oil painting lessons from a local old western artist, Kelly Donovan. Brayden wants to sell his paintings. I picked these two pictures out and bought them for $50.00 each. I can't wait to hang them on my wall!
4. silly
My little Emma Goo! She is silly. It is not hard to tell what her personality is. She has always been such a happy baby and child. She is always smiling, happy, full of energy and optimism. She is pure joy in every sense of the word. I love my little Emmy!
5. favorite place
I love my bedroom. It is a favorite place in the house. It is so big, roomy, and cozy. A sunroom on the east of the bedroom allows the early morning light to filter in. A fireplace connecting the bedroom to the bathroom gives us warmth on chilly winter evenings. But what I like most is sitting in my armchair next to the bed reading a book. Or having the grandkiddos climb upon the bed and snuggle up, in a blanket, all together with grandma to watch a movie. Or, just watching the kids run and play and laugh and just do whatever makes them happy. It's a good place to visit with my children. My bedroom is such a wonderful place to be. It has a good spirit!
6. reflection
There's nothing better than sitting next to one of several reflection pools on Temple Square. I love to get lost in the calm and peace of the water and think about things that matter most in life.
7. in the past
I remember when I lived in Spring Glen, many years ago. Every year in July we would make the trek over the mountain to Utah County where fresh fruit was plentiful and in season. One of the first orchards we saw was at the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon. A little white shack and a cherry sign drew us in every time. Oh... what delicious cherries! The orchard finally gave way to progress, like so many others in Utah County. But... the little white shack and the cherry sign stayed. Over time they slowly deteriorated, giving way to the elements. I have lived in Box Elder County for many years and pass this place every time I make the trip to Carbon County. I stopped by to take a picture before it was gone for good. The cherry orchard is well in the past, but the fond memories of stopping by for cherries will forever stay with me.
8. tonight I am...
..sitting in my arm chair reading a book. A very good book. The message is clear and hopeful and inspiring. Following the light of Christ into His Presence.
9. upside down
Alia is showing me her skills of climbing a tree and hanging upside down. She is such a little monkey! Oh... to be a kid again!
10. it's ________ outside
a beautiful fall day! I wonder how many more days we can have of this beautiful fall weather. Luck is on our side!
11. movement
The Mecham family loves to hang out together in the driveway... riding bikes, pushing strollers (Emmy), skateboarding, running, and showing off their skills. Alia got on the skateboard without any help from daddy and pushed herself into motion! Awesome!
12. opposites
Even though Dave and I have a lot in common, we definitely have our differences. So I guess it is true... opposites do attract.
13. junk
Everyone has a junk drawer, right? I like where I have mine. It is in a drawer in the island in my kitchen. So easy to get to whenever I need something to hammer, tape, pin, or glue.
14. something new
I have two new Utah State University hoodies. I love them! This one is lighter in weight and color than the other one. Dave let me pick out a couple for my birthday. Such a perfect gift for me as I have been wanting one for a long time.
15. I wish....
I had my Shanielly back. I miss her so much. I still can't believe she is gone. I really can't. Sometimes I just want to pick up the phone and call her. To hear her voice, her laughter. To smell her and touch her. To feel her warmth up next to me. To feel her spirit. I'd give anything! I just want her back so bad sometimes. I wonder what it will be like in heaven when I see her again. I just want to hug her so tight and never let her go again. I wish... I wish...
16. colorful
Today is mom's birthday. She would have been 82 years old today. I love her and miss her every day. She was such a colorful person. You could see it in her character, her flower garden, her lipstick, her clothes. The flower bouquets at her funeral represented her colorful spirit. This one was made up in her sewing basket. When I brought it home, I put her angel pendent (we bought at the floral shop) in her basket of colorful flowers and set it on a table in my sunroom. It brought me great comfort for many many weeks. Mother, sending you birthday wishes to heaven today. I love you!
I've been listening to this wood pecker for months, wondering what in the world he's pecking on. I knew he was outside my bedroom window but I could never get him in action, until.... today! I carefully and ever so quietly opened up the door to the balcony and caught him in action. I was able to watch him for a second or two before he noticed me and flew away.
18. a landscape
Here's a landscape of the orchard, barns in the background... looking northwest. We have had a hard freeze; the leaves are brown and dead. Soon the trees will be lifeless and bare.
19. I feel...
Happy! That's my Ali Bear. Running up the hill. It makes me happy to watch the kiddos have fun playing. They are so full of energy!
Dave is back to work after an extended time in Germany. He got his old office back at the Brigham City Court House. He just finished setting up his computer. It won't be long until he feels back at home.
21. play
Ben and Emilee had preschool with grandma today. We made Thanksgiving turkeys our of paper lunch bags. They traced their hand prints on colored paper and glued them on for feathers. Then, we made Indian vests and headbands with feathers out of paper bags. Then, it was running around the house like wild little Indians. It's always fun to play at grandma's house.
22. my home
I filled the fruit bowls with oranges and fresh Utah grown apples. I'm getting ready for the Amie and the kids. They are coming up for Thanksgiving and a Christmas party. I love to share my home. Every inch of it!
23. a treat
Mint cookies are my favorite treat! I hide them from everyone. They are just for me!
My personal technology includes a Kindle Fire, a PC, and a flip phone I've had for several years. Nothing fancy. I only use my kindle and phone when I travel. But, I use my computer every single day. I would have a hard time living without it.
25. currently reading
A short Christmas book, "Carving Angels", is a good deed story about two elves. A granddaughter inspires her grandfather to start carving again, in spite of his blindness. It's a heart-warming story that has me in the Christmas spirit!
26. starts with "S"
Yes, that's SNOW! We have snow in November. Not a lot, but enough to stick to the ground.
That's Willard Bay in the distance. I love the view from the back deck. You can see for miles in every direction.
28. dark
Amie, Kelsey, Chad, Dave, I, and the kiddos went to a play at the Perry City Heritage Theater. It started at 7:30 p.m. It was dark. I took this picture of some of the family around the sign.
29. warmth
There's nothing better to warm the tummy than hot cocoa. And, I love my Cocoa Motion. It takes only minutes to warm the cocoa up.
30. I went...
This was the Christmas play at the Heritage Theater in Perry. Fun night!
