More This and That...Canning, Cupcakes, Conference, and Cuties!!

CANNING:  Pears, pears and more pears.  For three years now I have been purchasing cases of fresh pears that arrive sometime in August.  The first year I bought 2 cases, they came just when my mother passed away and were almost too ripe to do anything with by the time I actually had time to can them.  I did get about 12 quarts done that first year and my dad loved them!!!  He took several home with him and shared them with his friends.  The next year, I ordered two cases again....then my dad passed away.  The pears went bad and I tossed them.  I didn't have the heart to work on canning anything.  I really missed my parents (still do).  This year I thought, not two cases because it seemed unlucky, so I only got one case...Lulu passed away.  I've taken care of her for 7 years.  I miss her everyday.  I got the pears canned but I can't help but wonder if I will always associate fresh pears with death.  It is an odd coincidence that I have lost someone I love every year at pear canning season.  Do I dare buy any next year?  I think I will.  You see, canning them reminds me not of my loved ones deaths, but of their lives and how much joy they brought to mine, and for a little while, while I am working hard to preserve something good, I can remember them and preserve that memory in my heart.

CUPCAKES:  Hannah is our master baker and boy, can she make some tasty treats.  In September there was a general broadcast for the women of the church and the Young Women were asked to bake cupcakes for the dinner we had prior to the broadcast.  Hannah took up the challenge with her friend Lindsay and together they made these scrumptious spice cupcakes with a yummy cream cheese frosting.  Some of the cupcakes were adorned with homemade ginger snaps. If Fall had a flavor, this would be it!!                   

CONFERENCE:  This year for October's general conference we were invited to the Brown's, Lyle's in-laws, to watch it on their big screen T.V.  The whole family showed up including Melissa, Bob, Joshua, and Kent.  In this picture you can see Kari is entertaining Kent and Amanda is doing conference bingo with Joshua.  Conference is always a time for me to have my 'lamp' filled.  The talks, and the spirit, and the testimonies shared, build me up and help me hold to the rod.  My own faith and testimony is strengthened.  I am always glad to be with my family and when we are together feasting on the word it is even better.

CUTIES:  Oh, how I love these cuties!!  I was sitting in my chair playing with my phone when both boys climbed up on their mom.  I couldn't resist the chance to snap a picture of them.  Josh is just like his mom when she was little and there was a camera around, ready with a big smile or a cute grin, but Kent reminds me of Hannah.  The harder we would try to get her to smile, the bigger her frown got.  Kent may not smile for the camera, but he melts my heart anyway.

This and That

I have always been less than perfect when it comes to writing in a journal and it would seem that keeping my blog updated is also a challenge.  I guess the challenge is that, while I enjoy my life, it really isn't too thrilling or noteworthy.  Recently I was talking to Hannah about Individual Worth and how some of the things we do can lead us to value our individual worth a bit more.  I don't seem to apply that principle to myself very well and thus, the lack of noteworthy material to enhance my blog, but I am shortchanging myself.  I lead a quiet life, but I try to do the right things, help people, love my family.  Are these not all noteworthy endeavors?  I think so, but then I don't want to brag...hmm?  I think I better up my game and write about even the small things in my life because I believe someday, my posterity may find it interesting that ggggggggreat grandma was a nice person.

So, to begin I am going to share some pictures and thoughts from the past several months.  My last post, previous to the Pumpkin Patch, was about Melanie leaving on her mission.  Now, just 7 months later, she is home because of an illness she contracted in the Philippines.  To say I am happy to see her is an understatement...I am overjoyed but I am also a little sad.  I don't want her to be sick and I know she really wanted to stay and serve where she had been called.  Here are some pictures of her homecoming.

Right after Melanie came home, Ray and I went to a concert in Lodi, California.  We went to hear Cecilio and Kapono.  They are a soft rock/folk music duo from Hawaii.  I first heard them when I was a senior in high school some 30 years ago.  They are just as good now as they were then.  I am lucky Ray likes their music as much as I do and we have gone to see them several times.  On this trip, we got to see some of the countryside near Lodi.  I had no idea that there were so many wineries around there.  Here is a picture of Ray near one of the grape vines and a picture of us at the concert.  We had a great time!!

 

Here is a clip from the concert.  Cecilio and Kapono are kind of hard to see but you can get a taste of their music.

Pumpkin Patch

I have to say, having grandkids is pure bliss!! I always loved, loved, loved being a mom and I didn't think it could get any better and then I was blessed with grandkids. One of the joys is being able to share in their fun and adventures. Monday we(Amanda and I) went to the pumpkin patch with Melissa, Bob, Joshua and Kent. Joshua absolutely loved the animatronic chickens who would sing and tell very corny chicken jokes. I captured a bit of Josh and Amanda dancing to one of the songs while Kent is waving at the chickens.