Thursday, March 26, 2009

Birthday Cake?


Who needs cake when you already have your favorite treat!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday girl showing us her new teeth.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

The Birthday Girl


Baby Henli is one year old today (26th).
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday baby Henli..Your Nana Loves you!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Love One Another


This morning I am pondering on why their are some people in this world who are just down right "mean" at times to others that they work with. I am grateful I am in a work environment that is almost always " A Happy Place". We truly strive to work together for the "team" and really do care about and love each other.
You simply cannot know what is going on in someone's life to really know the whys of their behavior. As I have grown older with experience, I know this to be true. Something said for "getting older"!!!!! My advice to this person is to pray for them. To pray for those who have hurt you. I have found prayer to be a profound comfort and it can work miracles when implemented. My thoughts and prayers are with you this day.

Monday, March 23, 2009

West Temple

My early morning view! Can you imagine waking to this every day? It's tough.........

I know ...I know.........
I am so blessed!!!

St. Patrick's Day in Zion Canyon


Here in the canyon St. Patrick's Day is a big to do...This past weekend the festivities began with a parade along with a green jello sculpting contest. People come from all over to join in the silly fun. There was plenty of corn beef and cabbage being served at every restaurant in town. Please enjoy the photos and then maybe next year you will join us too.

Zambella's


Massimo riding his cute little John Deere and mom Katrin enjoying the parade too.



Opening the parade is always the bagpipers.....or should I say bagpiper?

Green Jello Queens


It's All About the "Green"


Belly Dancing too!


Unimog!!!


The gang at Zion Adventure Company and their new toy.

Red Hat Club



Rockville City Drill Team


Drill Team


Do you see the drills? Get it? (giggles)

My Friend Kristi


Yes......she is always this happy!

Kristi's hubby Alan


Yes.......He is always happy too. Hum...........two happy people together!


There was so much candy and beads being thrown that it looked like Mardi Gras and Halloween! Of course... I grabbed a few treats!

Corvette Club



Bringing up the Rear


Local friend Bill is always the end of the parade. You can imagine what it says on the sign on the donkeys rear!

Stilt Man


This guy was a real hit... He had a long way to walk.

Zion Shuttle joining in on the Festivities


Buses are fueled by propane here in the Canyon.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Nana's Little Buddy

Yes.... this is my little buddy.

Lunch at the Park


This past weekend I traveled North to be with my daughter and her family for a few days. The weather was gorgeous and we took total advantage of it. Monday we shopped and ran errands and went to the park. You know how kids love the park... We just couldn't get over how nice the weather was. It has been a pretty long winter for a mom with three small children. Just being outside for her was heaven.
We grabbed McDonald's and spent the afternoon swinging, playing and just visiting. I love watching the kids play and interact with other children. On the way home Little Lukie was very upset that his mother had not gotten the phone number of his new "park" friend. This park was a half hour away and not one we would usually go to. How cute is he?
It is always a blessing being with my family.

Two Cutie Pies


Baby Henli and Mom

Layni Brooke


Washing down those yummy McNuggets and Fries.

It's all about the Fries


Who doesn't love McDonalds French Fries?

Happy Happy Henli


It was a first for our baby Henli. You know how we as mothers and grandmas all make such a big deal out of "firsts". She loved swinging. She smiled and giggled the whole time.

See Me Nana!


Our cute Layni Bug.
Always posing for her Nana!
Note the snow capped mountains.


A beautiful picture of the park and those beautiful Wasatch Mountains.

Wasatch Mountains


It was a beautiful day and there is still so much snow up in the mountains. They are suppose to get more snow this weekend.

Henli's Walking



Baby girl is walking!!!!

She has been walking only for a few days but will turn 1yr. on the 26th. I just don't know where time goes. She loves to push her baby Cabbage Patch.

Baby Henli


Baby Henli finally can wear the dress that her great grandma Claire got her. Speaking of Great Grandma, that would be my mother. Little Lukie bear wanted to know where my grandma was. I said, you mean Great Grandma Claire? He said yes and that he misses her. How cute!!!!!!!

Easter Outfits


Yes, the cute girls had to give their "Nana" a little Easter fashion show. Their mom found cute matching skirts for both girls.

Easter Outfits


Henli showing off her Easter outfit. Mama has made the cute hair flower.

It's Springtime in the Canyon


Well, spring is finally here in the canyon but it feels more like summer as the temperature reached 78 degrees yesterday. Oh how I love the winter spring and fall here... I really am trying to do better with the heat but July and August are almost unbearable for me. You simply cannot be outside after one o'clock.
I decided I better get to work on my yard as there was much to do and so I did some racking, weeding and mowing. Today my body is telling me that It will be quite some time before it will be use to doing summer chores again.............Ha Ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My reward: It's so beautiful to look at and that "is enough".

Springtime Quotes

In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt. ~Margaret Atwood

If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom. ~Audra Foveo

The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring. ~Bern Williams

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~Charles Dickens

I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden. ~Ruth Stout

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. ~Anne Bradstreet

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Irish Humor

Paddy was driving down the street in a sweat because he had an important meeting and couldn't find a parking place.

Looking up to heaven he said, 'Lord take pity on me. If you find me a parking place I will go to Mass every Sunday for the rest of me life and give up me Irish Whiskey!' Miraculously, a parking place appeared.

Paddy looked up again and said, 'Never mind, I found one.'

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Happy St. Patrick's Day


How grateful I am for my Irish Ancestors who endured the hardships of coming to America for a better life. God Bless "The Garretts".

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Oh My Gosh !!!


Oh My Gosh !!!!
He's wearing my sunglasses!!!!


D-list decorator Bobby Trendy took his petite pooch for a stroll in downtown LA while wearing yet another scary ensemble consisting of a bedazzled hoodie, skintight trousers, and patent leather platform heels.

FYI: THESE ARE NOT MY WORDS.
This is from the yahoo omg site: http://omg.yahoo.com/photos/what-were-they-thinking/2729?nc#id=7

Friday, March 13, 2009

Happy Friday the 13th!


Street car number 13, Control stand, Zürich, Switzerland.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

4 Fun Facts About Friday The 13th.......

If Friday the 13th is unlucky, then 2009 is an unusually unlucky year.
This week’s Friday the 13th is one of the three to endure this year. Such a rare triple-threat occurs only once every 11 years.

1. Fear of Friday the 13th- one of the most popular myths in science - is called paraskavedekatriaphobia as well a friggatriskaidekaphobia. Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of number 13.

2. Many hospitals have no room 13, while some tall buildings skip the 13th floor and some airline terminals omit Gate 13.

3. President Franklin D. Roosevelt would not travel on the 13th day of any month and would never host 13 guests at a meal.

4. Mark Twain once was the 13th guest at a dinner party. A friend warned him not to go. "It was bad luck." Twain later told the friend. "They only had food for 12".

Me............I love Friday the 13th.... I like to think of it as a "my lucky day".

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

"Tiptoe Through The Tombstones"


In my "free" time I do a lot of gravestone photographing for others.

I am a volunteer for a website called findagrave.com. My cemeteries encompass
an area of about 300 miles. These family members contact me to go to the cemetery and find their ancestors grave and then photograph it for them. I have had a great love of cemeteries since my childhood. I grew up on a farm that was located up an old country lane by a small cemetery with only 130 residents. As a child I would play there. ...OK.....maybe weird for some.....I was always curious about who these people were? Who were their families and what legacy did they leave? I truly believe this is where my love of genealogy and family history began. I thought maybe along my travels I would post some of the stones that I love, that are unique and that tell a story.

The Symbol of the Dove


Seen in both Christian and Jewish cemeteries, the dove is a symbol of resurrection, innocence and peace.

Have you ever wandered through a cemetery and wondered about the meanings of the designs carved on old gravestones? Thousands of different religious and secular symbols and emblems have adorned tombstones through the ages, indicating attitudes towards death and the hereafter, membership in a fraternal or social organization, or an individual's trade, occupation or even ethnic identity. While many of these tombstone symbols have fairly simple interpretations, it is not always easy to determine their meaning and significance. We were not present when these symbols were carved into the stone and can't claim to know our ancestors' intentions. They may have included a particular symbol for no other reason than because they thought it was pretty.

Monday, March 9, 2009

FABULOUS !!!


Goofing off with my friend Reese!
Darn...... I knew I should have bought them!
This morning I am pondering on my goals for 2009 that I have written on a simple piece of paper and attached to the inside of my front door. I figure this way I am committed to ponder them daily.
So lets see how I’m doing.

1. Practice kindness.
2. Focus......on whatever I am doing at the time.
3. Be more loving and understanding of everyone.
4. Forgive others.
5. Read my scriptures at least once a day.
6. Pray more often
7. Stand tall........quit slouching and sit up straight! (Right mom?)
8. Exercise daily and eat only good foods.
9. Just Dance.............. no matter what!
10. Get involved with someone other than "the dead". I spend countless hours on my genealogy.
11. Work on my book......of course it’s on "finding your ancestors".
12. SAVE MY MONEY! MY HARD EARNED MONEY!!! SAVE.........SAVE!!!!!
13. Buy only needs and pass by the "wants"..............
and lastly.................."NO MORE EMOTIONAL EATING".....

So now we are into March and I must admit I have done pretty darn well. I don't think I have failed in any of the above with the exception of the Albertson's store cinnamon rolls with cream cheese icing. I would just like to know why they always have to put the bakery right at the entrance !!! If only I could enter through the back!

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Guess who is getting new trees?



Remember here awhile back when some of my trees were unlawfully cut down and some were stripped of their arms? Almost ruining my view of mother nature?
Well............Through much conversation and forgiveness on both parties we are slowly adding some new pines to "my family" of trees. Isn't she beautiful? The birds are already posing for me on it's branches and begging me to photograph them. I can hardly await the arrival of the first "Western Tanager".
Forgiveness...........is a blessing. It will set you free !!!

It's A Snow Day......Maybe my last for this winter.


Would you believe I woke up to snow yesterday morning? At 5:30 I heard this noise at my door and I knew right away what It was. I jumped out of bed (ok....maybe I didn't jump out of bed...not that I didn't try) and lo and behold it was a blizzard outside. It was a mixture of sleet and snow blanketing the earth before me. AWE INSPIRING........For heaven's sake it's March!!! It had been 60 degrees the day before. This may have been my last visit from Mr. Snow for at least another 7 or 8 months so I hurried and snapped some photos. Summer is not my friend and I will miss the coolness and the surroundings the winter months bring. I do not look forward to the Canyon's summer climate and all the creatures that it's heat brings to my house.