Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Wearing of the green

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Do you ever feel like you slept through a holiday?

That somehow it came and went without much fanfare?

I am usually at school on St. Patrick’s Day and my students always make a big deal out of whether or not one remembers to wear green.

Some come with green shirts, green pants, bright green socks, green shamrocks painted on their faces, and I’ve even had a few brave students with sprayed green hair.  There are usually some  who are more subtle and have a microscopic hint of green hidden underneath five layers of clothing-just so they can fool you.  I always have some little shamrocks ready for the unsuspecting ones who “forget” and come unprepared.

This year the day came on a Sunday and not one person tried to pinch me.

  Not even one!

Well,  I was at church. 

And I did have on a green sweater,

but nobody even mentioned the fact that it was St. Patrick’s Day.

* * *

My sister Linda helped decorate for a ward party, using the holiday theme to welcome members of a newly created ward to a soup party.  The pictures in the mosaic above show how fun and festive the tables in the gym looked.

She found the cute leprechaun on Pinterest and had some big ones made at a copy center.  A coaster plate was covered with gold coins and little shamrock cutouts.  Green pillows were put on benches to make things welcoming and cozy.

Green plants always give a nice touch to a gym-turned-party-setting, and a big rainbow and pot of gold (a covered plastic Halloween cauldron) was a fun stopping point for the sweet-toothed folks. 

The decorations were really easy to put together, not that expensive, and yet festive and fun.

* * *

I saw this idea on Pinterest.  Looks pretty refreshing for the holiday.

Sweet little treats for St. Patrick's Day.

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* * * 

Below are some pictures I took in Ireland a LONG time ago (and sadly, with a cheap camera).  I really love this place!

 

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Thank you to the beautiful country of Ireland for giving us a fun day to celebrate. 

(Even if I did almost miss it this year!)

JoAnn

Saturday, March 9, 2013

It’s a boy….and another boy… and a new house to boot!

As many of you know, the grand-girls in our family outnumber the grand-boys by 4 to 1.

While we love our little girls, we are excited to announce that we are expecting TWO little boys in July.

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Our daughter Heidi and her husband Ovidiu are expecting their first baby, and our daughter Liz and her husband Karl are expecting their fourth, both boys-just one week apart.

(Sorry, no current belly shot.)

We are thrilled!

And

Our son Andrew and his wife Irene just moved into their brand new home.

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Pretty exciting, wouldn’t you say!

JoAnn

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Life’s been a little busy…

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Ever have one of those weeks when you pretty much run from thing to thing?

It seems like there isn’t time to clean up one mess before the next one starts.

New deadlines hit before the thing you are working on is out of the way.

Half finished projects get buried under new ones.

Yup.

That has been my week.

I feel a little like Lucy and Ethel did as they tried working at the chocolate factory.  Just as I think I’m getting things under control-the conveyer belt gets cranked up a notch and the new stuff comes flying at me faster and faster.

Do you remember how they started putting the chocolates under their hats, down the necks of their dresses, in their pockets, and in their mouths to keep them from falling off the end of the conveyer belt? 

That’s what I’ve been doing.

I have piles of papers tucked under my desk at school (and a cart full that I brought home to correct).

Unfolded laundry is hiding in the guest bedroom.

Things that need to be attended to are covered by new things that need my attention right now.

I know things will slow down a little, but this wild ride is getting more and more common.

IS THERE A SOLUTION FOR HECTIC-LIFE-SYNDROME?

 

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I know I am my own worst enemy.

I can’t say “No”.

I’m slow and methodical.

I enjoy being involved.

I want to do all the things I’m doing.

Some things are out of my control (job requirements).

I guess I’ll just hang on and hope things settle back down a little.

In the meantime, there isn’t much to do but try and hold on and enjoy the ride.

Maybe I need to go find some sweet chocolates to keep in my pockets!

Have a great weekend!

JoAnn

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Family Rules…

 

Our house

Do you have family sayings,

or little phrases that get used a lot in your home?

Or even things that might be interpreted  a little differently by your family than by others?

Whenever one of us says something not quite accurate or correct someone will always reply back with,

“Two twenty, two twenty-one.  Whatever it takes.”

The real quote from the movie “Mr. Mom” goes like this:


Jack Butler: No problem. Come on over here Ron. Let me show you what I'm doing, taking advantage of some of the time off. To, uh, add a whole new wing on here. Gonna rip these walls out and, uh, of course re-wire it.
Ron Richardson: Yeah, you gonna make it all 220?
Jack Butler: Yeah, 220, 221. Whatever it takes.

When I think about advice my parents always sent us off with I am reminded to “Wear clean underwear.”  (In case you get in an accident.)

“Always return home with the person you went with.”

“Carry a dime to call home in an emergency.”

(Yes, I am pre-cell phone age.)

“If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

“Honesty is the best policy.”

“Be kind.  Don’t leave anyone out.”

Many times I would send my kids off to bed with,

“Good Night.  Sleep tight.  Don’t let the bed bugs bite.”

(Not sure how that last part encouraged sound sleeping.)

How many of us have been told to eat our dinner.  “Just think of all the starving kids in China.”  (I think the country part changed over the years, but when I was young it was China.)

Well, last night I got a phone call from some of my daughters who were out shopping.  They had found a wall hanging they thought would be perfect for our family room.

Would I like them to buy it?

 

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How could I resist?

Now, when they come to visit I won’t have to preach,  nag, or offer any unwanted advice.

I’ll just tell them to go read the wall!

What sayings does your family use?

Have a great weekend!

JoAnn

P.S.  It is snowing here in Utah again!

 

Friday, February 15, 2013

I’m Loving It!

It seems that when I need a bit color in my life, if I do a little digging, I can usually find some.

Valentine’s Day brought this fun idea from one of my students..

 

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And another one made me this fun card.

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My husband bought these beauties for me.

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My geraniums at school are flourishing.

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It seems that my students are also appreciating my winter blahs.

This is our “I’ve Had IT With Winter” writing hanging on our bulletin board.

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“May I never miss a sunset or a rainbow

because I am looking down.” 

~Sara June Parker

Have a great weekend!

JoAnn

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Sigh…. “Forget me not.”

Flower arrangement in a vintage box

(Pinterest Link or you can go visit the original funkyjunkinteriors.net on the photo.  The blog has some fun ideas of creations made from good old junk.) Go visit and see for yourself.

It’s that time of year when I find myself needing a little color. 

I’ve enjoyed winter and we have received some much needed snow for summer’s moisture.

I am grateful for that.

However….

I’m tired of winter!

I am a spring lover.

Gardening, flowers, country gardens (and accents) all make me happy.

Even getting my hands dirty digging in the soil is therapeutic for me.

I actually enjoy pulling weeds!

Looking out my window right now  I’m reminded that winter has not finished her course yet- I must be patient for a little longer.

Did I mention that I’m not very patient?

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In a wonderful talk by Dieter F. Uchtdorf in the Women’s October General Conference, 2011, entitled “Forget ME Not”, he counsels us to

“…forget not to be happy now.”

(He uses the metaphor of the small, simple forget-me-not flower to remind us of five good things we need to not forget about in our lives.)

I do  know that I need to enjoy being where I am right now. 

Summer will come.

He reminds us that if we wish our life away we might miss some of life’s most sweet experiences.

If you look carefully at the photo above you will see little crystals shining in the sun.  It was quite stunning and almost magical, although the photo only captures a part of it. 

I am going to try really hard to enjoy the snow a little longer.

You can listen to this wonderful message here.

I promise you will be enriched!

JoAnn

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Sunday, February 3, 2013

The aliens are coming….the aliens are coming!

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to wish Irene a “Happy Birthday”!

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Also,

Happy Birthday to Andrew and Karl!

Hope you are all enjoying the end of the weekend

and the Super Bowl (if you are sports fans)!

Love,

JoAnn

P.S.  Look who is almost walking!

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P.P.S.  Thanks for the fun masks, Michelle!