We have a four day break from school (well, counting the weekend), and I am going to enjoy every minute of my time off. The weather is quite perfect- not too hot and not too cold. Flowers are thriving (now that the hot, dry heat is over).
Fall is in the air.
“Live your life as an exclamation, not
an explanation.”
by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
-Life’s Little Instruction Book #332
JoAnn
P.S. Look who is growing! Isn’t she sweet?
I took a little drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon today, hoping to catch a glimpse of some fall color before the next storm arrives and finishes it off. I’m pretty sure I missed the peak time, with all the reds and burnt orange, but is was still pretty. It was a little overcast and my camera lenses had a big fingerprint right in the middle (darn), but I enjoyed my drive. After a little cropping (or a lot of cropping), I salvaged a few prints, but I can’t say I love them. My camera just doesn’t do them justice!
The drive was beautiful. Apparently a lot of other people had the same idea. I saw so many people taking pictures.
Fall is such a beautiful season.
It makes me happy!
(You can click on the pictures and make them larger.)
JoAnn
“Let us relish life as we live it,
find joy in the journey,
and share our love with friends and family.”
-President Thomas S. Monson
Have a great weekend!
JoAnn
Thanks for the picture, Brooklyn and Liz!
(Liz made this cute costume! )☺
Dear Fall,
Please don’t leave for a while. You are my favorite season and I haven’t had time to enjoy you yet. Could you please hold on to your bright colorful leaves a little longer? I’m trying to find a day to ride through the mountains and enjoy your beauty. I want to savor your smells.
My fingers are itching to mix up my favorite apple dumplings and spudnuts. Some hot apple cider sounds so cozy. The pumpkin patches are still waiting for my visit and selection process. My autumn mums are just starting to bloom.
Thank you for making me so happy and reminding me that there is beauty at the end of summer’s much too short stay!
Love,
a huge fan,
JoAnn
P.S. It would also be nice if you could delay the cold weather and snow for a while. Please don’t let the stores start the Christmas rush yet.
Photo credit here.
It’s Saturday and I am cleaning my bedroom.
Why, you might ask, am I stopping in the middle of my project to do a blog post?
(I am easily distracted.?.)
Today is one of those cleaning times where one digs a little deeper and looks at some of the things that have been taking up storage space. The paper shredder has been busy eating up old insurance papers, really old paycheck stubs, and so on.
I’ve found a few lost socks way under the bed and a Wal-Mart gift card that I’m not even sure is of value any more.
Last year’s Christmas cards from friends are still in a box, waiting to be filed or discarded.
So many decisions to make.
What do I keep?
What do I toss?
(WILL I REALIZE NEXT WEEK THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I NEEDED?!!!)
I think the real reason people collect clutter is that it is so difficult to make decisions on whether to save it, chuck it, or even where to store it.
With that said, I am glad that I have saved photos and cards from my past. The picture below is from my college days and two of my roommates, Marcia and Joyce, and myself. We had great experiences and bonding time as we attended BYU together.
Marcia is now my sister-in-law, but I haven’t seen Joyce for many years. We keep in touch every Christmas with letters and pictures. We send wedding gifts to children that we have never met. We keep hoping that our paths will cross again soon.
So, that is my problem.
As I clean, I have to stop and relive good memories. The little files in my mind are also getting a nice workout. Let’s hope the process can go quickly enough that I can uncover my bed tonight.
Now…. if I could just make some decisions!
♥
JoAnn
P.S. Did you know the I am part of a cult?
Robert Jeffress, a senior pastor of the 10,000 member First Baptist Church of Dallas said that Mitt Romney who is running for President of the United States is a good person, but of a cult. His words were, “We understand Mormonism is not Christianity and thus the difference between somebody who’s moral and good like Mitt Romney and a true born-again follower of Christ.”
I’d just like to reply:
Dear Pastor Jeffress,
Our religion is CENTERED on Jesus Christ. The name of our church is
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of this world and we love, honor, and serve Him.
Whether or not Mitt Romney should be elected president of the United States should not be dependent on his religion, but on his strengths as a leader.
Yours truly,
A fellow Christian,
JoAnn Clegg
P.P.S. Do soapboxes and deep cleaning go together?
The above picture was NOT taken today, but it could have been.
It was actually taken on Memorial Day Weekend in Idaho.
JoAnn
P.S. Heidi’s first reports look good! Thanks for the prayers and support.
☺
Lately, I’ve been asked for some updates on the playhouse.
(OK, only two people really asked.)
We haven’t worked on it very much in the last month due to school starting and having to earn a living, but we have purchased a few pieces of furniture through KSL.com and it is still being used by the grandkids.
We can’t wait to paint this little set of kitchen furniture. Having the walls finished will help, too.
This little table and chairs should get a lot of use.
Right now the loft is storing Ken’s tools.
This picture was the original inspiration for our playhouse. Don’t you love the comfy chairs and sofa?
(I found this in a magazine years ago so I can’t give credit. Sorry!)
I can’t wait to get our little house finished, decorated, and “broken in” (but not too literally)!
Since I have been suffering a little “writer’s block” and my posts have been slow coming (sorry Sue) I am going to end with a few random thoughts and photos.
On a more serious note,
our daughter Heidi recently suffered a miscarriage. In a very rare medical condition, she is now having to undergo chemotherapy for cancer cells left behind by the pregnancy. Please remember her in your prayers!
I am going to enjoy every minute of this conference weekend as I try to listen to the messages on the television. I always love those messages that seem to be spoken just to me.
Have a great weekend!
JoAnn
