Summer projects I want to try.....

Summer Plans:
(6 more days of school.....Yeah!)

I am looking forward to having some time for a few creative projects once school ends. Here are a few things I want to try:

#1- I came across a cute idea on a blog the other day (by Kate at Centsational Girl: DIY).
It even uses something that we happen to have a lot of around here.

Old paint cans!

Look at the cute planters she made using an empty paint can, tape, and paint
(and of course some cute plants).
If you like this idea (who wouldn't?) check out this site for details.
Thanks, Kate, for the clever idea.
(By the way, I am having trouble leaving comments on some blogs. I tried to thank her, but I can't figure out her system. If anyone knows the secret, I would appreciate the help!)

#2- My sister Linda got this cinnamon roll recipe from her sister-in-law Sharon who is a great cook.
(She sells them at a golf course.)
I have been craving them for a long time.


Linda and Sharon's recipe:
> 8-10 c flour
> 1 box white or yellow cake mix
> 4 tab yeast
> 2 t salt
> 4 c warm water
> 2 eggs slightly beaten
>
> I a large mixing bowl combine:
> 6 cups flour, cake mix, yeast and salt
> Mix well. Add:
> water and eggs. Mix together slowly until well incorporated. Slowly
> add remaining flour till dough comes away from sides of the bowl.
> Knead in the mixer 6-8 min.
> Divide dough into 2 pieces. Rollout dough and spread with 1/2 cube
> softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
> Roll dough jelly roll style. Cut into 12 pieces and place on greased
> cookie sheet.
> Repeat with other piece of dough.
> Let rolls raise about 15 -20 min or till double in size.
> bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 20-25 min.
> Frost with cream cheese frosting
>
> Frosting:
> 1 cube butter softened
> 1 pkg. cream cheese 1 tsp vanilla
> Approximately 1 lb powdered sugar (enough to make a soft frosting)
> milk to thin
> spread on each roll
>
> eat and enjoy

#3 Make some baby receiving blankets using


and some cute Did I mention that we are expecting a new grand-baby in the fall?

Wish me luck on my upcoming projects!
I'll probably need it!

Memorial Day

Memorial Day

A day to remember....

A day to honor.....

A day to reconnect......

A day to enjoy.....

Hope it was a good day for you, too!

(Thanks to Michelle for the family pictures!)


*********

P.S. I've upped the ante on my give-a-way!
My good husband is going to make a frame like this one:

It will be similar, but slightly different.
(And of course, it won't come with my pictures, but places for yours!)
It is about 9 inches by 19 inches.

Could it be the "Little Rascals"?....

(The original cast)

Remember a few posts ago when we went to visit our friend Danny?
(Click on Danny to see the post)
I told you we went back a long way,
but can you believe these pictures!
We look like we could be part of the "Little Rascals" television show.
(That makes me feel really old!)
Danny just posted these pictures on Facebook and now I'm copying them.
(Isn't technology wonderful?)
Thanks, Danny!

My sister Diane, Danny, his brother Skyler, and me

Part of the Old Fairview Gang!
(a.k.a. Alfalfa, Spanky, and Darla!)

(Petey, the real dog, in case you weren't sure!)

P.S.
Don't forget to sign up for my give-a-way!

100th Post Give-a-way prizes....

Yes, I am having a give-a-way in celebration of my
100th post.


This isn't the official cover, but I have a cookbook ordered from (I guess it is because I know I need to eat healthier and the recipes looked really delicious!)

And...

In an attempt at being creative
I am making an apron.
(Caution....it has been a few years since I even opened a sewing machine!)

Now all you need is some lively music to belt out while trying out the new recipes!

Just leave a comment on my blog and your name will be entered in the drawing.
The deadline will be on May 31st at midnight.
Thanks for dropping by.
JoAnn

100th post.....I'm having a "give-a-way"

I reached my 100th post!
I am planning a "give-a-way" to celebrate.
I will reveal my prizes tonight or tomorrow, as soon as I get the pictures ready,
but if you want to take a chance now, you can get your name on the list.
Just leave me a comment saying you want to enter the drawing,
then watch my blog for the announcement.




I also wanted to share this short video by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
It is called My Song in the Night.

It has beautiful music and a little message of kindness.
I really enjoyed it!!!

Remembering a great man....

Today is the birthday of a really great man,
our father Dennis.

He started off as the youngest child in a family of ten children.
He and his sister Mardene were always great friends.

He grew up handsome and athletic. He loved sports and was good at them, especially wrestling.

He married his high school sweetheart, Mildred, and then left for war
(World War Two).
He served in Washington state at Fort Lewis and thankfully, the war ended
before he had to go abroad.

He was a great father who loved his family (who also adored him)!
He ran a dairy farm which provided us with a good living,
but
unfortunately, he never had any sons to help on the farm.
(We helped a bit, but I'm sure it was frustrating working with silly girls and we were spoiled as far as helping with heavy duty farm work. He finally hired some local boys to help him.)

(Diane, Linda, Dennis, and JoAnn)
Our sister Julie was to come later and our mother was probably taking the picture.

He was always kind and generous. It was not unusual to see him take a big box of meat to someone needy, or a load of hay to a struggling neighbor. He offered people his car, his time, his money, and whatever they might be needing during a crisis in their lives.
His heart was as big as Texas.

He also knew how to have a great time!
He loved spending the day up in the canyon with friends and family, or traveling to Yellowstone with a caravan of neighbors. He often pulled a train of sledders behind his tractor around the country miles. Everyone loved him!

He served faithfully in the church and had a strong testimony of the gospel.

He loved his wife.
(Remembering a Great Lady)
(Click here)

Interestingly, he passed away one month before our mother.
Within a three month period they both got sick with cancer (different kinds)
and passed away quickly.

They were much too young!

We miss them!

***************************

Guess who gets to share his birthday?
Great-granddaughter Julia was born today
to Kelli and Jared.

How cool is that?

So you don't do windows?

Meet my new cleaning lady (girl?).

Maddie is learning to dust.

Now if she will just learn to pick up the toys!

It was another fun weekend!
(Yes, I took a few pictures off Liz's blog, but I was there when she took them
and I couldn't resist.)

On top of the world... (Does the 10th floor count?)

On Saturday I went to this beautiful building, the Joseph Smith Memorial Building,
in downtown Salt Lake City.

I admired this gorgeous flower arrangement in the lobby.

Rode the elevator up to the 10th floor.

Had lunch with my sweet mother-in-law
and

two of my sisters-in-law (Carolyn and Connie).

Took in the beauty of thousands of spring plants!

Counted my blessings ...

for living in such a beautiful world....

and for the mothers in our lives!
Happy Mother's Day!

Thank you to my own children and husband
who provided me with a delicious dinner and much appreciated (and needed)
gifts on Sunday. You all worked hard.
I loved it!

Happy Mother's Day!

Do you like my new purses?
My daughters Michelle and Katie decided to join my students in making cards for Mother's Day.
I hope everyone has a great day!

We love our Moms!

Pillows, pillows, and more pillows

Not too long ago I bought these cloth napkins, thinking I would make some bed pillows out of the material. (One of my when-school-ends-and-I-have-more-time-projects!)

Now I just have to decide what I want them to look like when they are finished.

(Pottery Barn catalog)


(Pottery Barn catalog)
(Pottery Ba rn catalog)

The following pillows are from local Parade of Homes house tours.

Any suggestions?

The easier the better!

It was a great day!

They say if you can't come to the party, the party will come to you.
Our friend Danny has Lou Gehrig's Disease
and he doesn't get around quite as much as he used to.
We decided to pay him a visit and catch up on all the news.
Since we all live in different places now
we planned an unusual sort of reunion-one where we could visit as we traveled.
We planned to meet at different "pit stops" along the way, picking up people as we went, ending up in Pocatello at Danny's house.

We have all been friends since we were born, (living in the best place on the earth).
We grew up on farms- outside a small town with one movie theater, two drive-in restaurants, one small bowling ally, and a lot of cows, so we learned early on how to have a good time with friends.

Barbara, Michael, JoAnn, Alex, and Danny (in front)

We had fun chatting about what is going on in our lives as we passed the beautiful scenery of Southern Idaho.
(Yes, those of us who boarded early got to hear things repeated a few times.)

We met Danny's really nice family and enjoyed our visit with him!

We looked for a tasty place to eat before we started our journey back home.
We planned on a seafood dinner at Red Lobster-but the wait time was too long.
We all agreed that Applebees would work- but found they were closed for remodeling due to a fire.
Ruby Tuesday also had too many people ahead of us in line.

Oh well,
when you are with good company it doesn't really matter where you eat.


We started our journey back home.

The sunset was beautiful!

My husband Ken was our official chaperon!

Alex even made it back to Brigham City in time for the tail end of a reception.

When can we do it again?