From My House... to Your House
merry
Friday, December 19, 2014
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
ICY
...freezing cold icicles hanging from the roof. We didn't have rain gutters in the 1960's to catch the water from the snow as it melted off the roof. Winter icicles draped from the roof line of our house, in varying lengths, giving the appearance of a delicate crystal hem-line of a Princess skirt. I didn't need the movie Frozen to fuel my imagination!
Just like a drip from a faucet, every day when the sun came out, I'd watch an icicle grow, drip by drip, from a speck of water into a beautiful icicle. Sometimes it took days and sometimes weeks for an icicle to reach its full potential. The north side of the house always grew the largest icicles. Some were so long and big around that it became impossible to knock them down. They would grow until they met the large pile of snow mound next to the house making it nearly impossible to break through.
On warm winter afternoons, I'd often find myself out and about scouring the roof line for the best icicle to knock down for an afternoon treat. They were like long popsicles, just without the flavoring.
One day I had a childhood friend over to play. We were going around the house knocking down icicles, with large sticks, from the roof. We came to the north side and started to run our sticks along the roof line, when a bunch came crashing down, and like daggers pierced the head of my friend. Her head started to bleed profusely and it scared me. I thought my friend would surely have to go to the hospital for stitches. We rushed her into the house and mom placed washcloths on her head to stop the bleeding. After doctoring her up, she felt better and we took her home. I always felt bad about that incident, but that didn't deter me from winter's play in the snow and ice.
ICY...
horse hair chins. Out in the pasture, the horses often pawed through the ice in the water trough before we got to the daily chore of breaking the ice. We had some very cold mornings, well below freezing, and the water would often freeze instantly on the hairs of our horses chin. Freezing cold!!!
ICY...
skating rinks. And freezing rosy pink noses! Dressed up in winter coats, hats, and mittens, we have always been game for a late afternoon skate on an icy outdoor skating rink.
It was extremely cold in 1990. I was living in Logan, five kiddos in tow, going to school. There was plenty of opportunity for outdoor snow play. Our first Christmas away from home and family presented an opportunity to spend a lot of time together... just me and the kids. I bought some ice skates for the girls for Christmas and we spent most every day of Christmas break on the outdoor skating rink at the park around the corner and up a few blocks from our house. The old green shack sitting on the edge of the rink provided a place to sit down by a cozy wood burning stove, warm our fingers and toes, and drink hot chocolate. In the early evenings, the snow sculptures surrounding the rink were lit up by colored lights and twinkling stars. These were good memories.
Years later, the tradition of skating on an outdoor rink continues at family Christmas gatherings at the Homestead Inn in Midway. Below, a couple of granddaughters hold hands, take a few steps, and tumble to the ice... just to get up and try again, and again, and again. This has become one of our favorite family traditions. Even if it's icy and cold!
ICY...
waterfalls. There's a waterfall in Price Canyon that changes with the seasons. Winter is one of my favorite's. The water freezes as it descends from the top of the fall. With each winter day's temperature dropping... a single drip of water turns into hundreds and thousands and tens of thousands of drips, gradually forming into large icicles that span the width and length of the falls. On my trips home, I look forward to rounding the corner where the fall is located. The minerals in the water often turn the icicles into hues of pinks, greens, and blues. And with cold, icy blue skies above, it's such a lovely sight!
It's been an unusually warm late fall. We're anxiously waiting for snow, which is long overdue. So... Old Man Winter.... bring on the ICYness of the season! We're ready!
Just like a drip from a faucet, every day when the sun came out, I'd watch an icicle grow, drip by drip, from a speck of water into a beautiful icicle. Sometimes it took days and sometimes weeks for an icicle to reach its full potential. The north side of the house always grew the largest icicles. Some were so long and big around that it became impossible to knock them down. They would grow until they met the large pile of snow mound next to the house making it nearly impossible to break through.
On warm winter afternoons, I'd often find myself out and about scouring the roof line for the best icicle to knock down for an afternoon treat. They were like long popsicles, just without the flavoring.
One day I had a childhood friend over to play. We were going around the house knocking down icicles, with large sticks, from the roof. We came to the north side and started to run our sticks along the roof line, when a bunch came crashing down, and like daggers pierced the head of my friend. Her head started to bleed profusely and it scared me. I thought my friend would surely have to go to the hospital for stitches. We rushed her into the house and mom placed washcloths on her head to stop the bleeding. After doctoring her up, she felt better and we took her home. I always felt bad about that incident, but that didn't deter me from winter's play in the snow and ice.
ICY...
horse hair chins. Out in the pasture, the horses often pawed through the ice in the water trough before we got to the daily chore of breaking the ice. We had some very cold mornings, well below freezing, and the water would often freeze instantly on the hairs of our horses chin. Freezing cold!!!
ICY...
skating rinks. And freezing rosy pink noses! Dressed up in winter coats, hats, and mittens, we have always been game for a late afternoon skate on an icy outdoor skating rink.
It was extremely cold in 1990. I was living in Logan, five kiddos in tow, going to school. There was plenty of opportunity for outdoor snow play. Our first Christmas away from home and family presented an opportunity to spend a lot of time together... just me and the kids. I bought some ice skates for the girls for Christmas and we spent most every day of Christmas break on the outdoor skating rink at the park around the corner and up a few blocks from our house. The old green shack sitting on the edge of the rink provided a place to sit down by a cozy wood burning stove, warm our fingers and toes, and drink hot chocolate. In the early evenings, the snow sculptures surrounding the rink were lit up by colored lights and twinkling stars. These were good memories.
Years later, the tradition of skating on an outdoor rink continues at family Christmas gatherings at the Homestead Inn in Midway. Below, a couple of granddaughters hold hands, take a few steps, and tumble to the ice... just to get up and try again, and again, and again. This has become one of our favorite family traditions. Even if it's icy and cold!
ICY...
waterfalls. There's a waterfall in Price Canyon that changes with the seasons. Winter is one of my favorite's. The water freezes as it descends from the top of the fall. With each winter day's temperature dropping... a single drip of water turns into hundreds and thousands and tens of thousands of drips, gradually forming into large icicles that span the width and length of the falls. On my trips home, I look forward to rounding the corner where the fall is located. The minerals in the water often turn the icicles into hues of pinks, greens, and blues. And with cold, icy blue skies above, it's such a lovely sight!
It's been an unusually warm late fall. We're anxiously waiting for snow, which is long overdue. So... Old Man Winter.... bring on the ICYness of the season! We're ready!
Writing prompt #6: Write a blog post inspired by the word: icy
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Friday, December 12, 2014
Six Word Fridays: reason
There's a Reason to the Season
Welcome Family. Welcome Friends. Welcome Winter!
Make treats. Give treats. Eat treats.
Grandchildren counting the days to Christmas.
Remembering the birth of our Savior....
The real reason for the season.
reason
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Saturday Morning Pancakes!
Pancakes, or Hotcakes, whatever you want to call them... are a tradition at our house on Saturday mornings. Not just any pancake. But mom's pancakes! For as long as I can remember, mom made pancakes for breakfast every Saturday morning. I do too!
Mom made pancakes from Bisquick. After she whipped her batter of Bisquick, eggs, and milk, she poured in the bacon grease. I know... it might sound a little weird and fattening, but I'm convinced that it was the key to really good tasting pancakes. You know the kind that keeps you coming back for more. Mom's pancakes were small and the perfect thickness. Light, fluffy, and very delicious. I wish to think mine are just about as good, after years and years of making them.
To complement our pancakes, we had eggs cooked to our liking. Fried eggs... over easy, over hard. And scrambled. And that's how I like mine.
Toppings included powdered sugar, homemade jams, and maple syrup.
Our pancake breakfast also included bacon or sausage and Orange Juice or Tang.
What's Tang? An orange powder that you mixed into a glass of cold water to give you an orange taste. That is what we mostly drank growing up in the 60's and 70's.
My favorite thing to spread on hot pancakes is butter. Hot buttery pancakes with powdered sugar sprinkled on top tastes so good to me. And I love blueberries! I often add them to my batter like I did today. Maple syrup is a staple in my pantry and I've got have at least one pancake with syrup on it.
Saturday mornings and pancakes conjure up some of my favorite memories. Visits to mom and dad's house for a weekend trip. Sitting at the breakfast table, located in the large bay window overlooking the valley, eating pancakes and visiting with my two favorite people. On a clear morning you could see the county's landmark, Pinacle Peak (a hill, or mound, with a rock stack spiraling hundreds of feet into the air).
I loved the comforts of home. Of mom and dad and our visits down memory lane. The smell of bacon wafting delightfully through the house and hot buttery pancakes stacked on my plate.
My parents are gone, but I am thankful for the memories of Saturday mornings and hot pancakes for breakfast. The tradition continues and when the kids come to visit they know they will get hot pancakes for breakfast on Saturday morning, too. And hopefully some good old-fashioned memories to go with them.
There is nothing better than hot pancakes on a Saturday morning!
Mom made pancakes from Bisquick. After she whipped her batter of Bisquick, eggs, and milk, she poured in the bacon grease. I know... it might sound a little weird and fattening, but I'm convinced that it was the key to really good tasting pancakes. You know the kind that keeps you coming back for more. Mom's pancakes were small and the perfect thickness. Light, fluffy, and very delicious. I wish to think mine are just about as good, after years and years of making them.
To complement our pancakes, we had eggs cooked to our liking. Fried eggs... over easy, over hard. And scrambled. And that's how I like mine.
Toppings included powdered sugar, homemade jams, and maple syrup.
Our pancake breakfast also included bacon or sausage and Orange Juice or Tang.
What's Tang? An orange powder that you mixed into a glass of cold water to give you an orange taste. That is what we mostly drank growing up in the 60's and 70's.
My favorite thing to spread on hot pancakes is butter. Hot buttery pancakes with powdered sugar sprinkled on top tastes so good to me. And I love blueberries! I often add them to my batter like I did today. Maple syrup is a staple in my pantry and I've got have at least one pancake with syrup on it.
Saturday mornings and pancakes conjure up some of my favorite memories. Visits to mom and dad's house for a weekend trip. Sitting at the breakfast table, located in the large bay window overlooking the valley, eating pancakes and visiting with my two favorite people. On a clear morning you could see the county's landmark, Pinacle Peak (a hill, or mound, with a rock stack spiraling hundreds of feet into the air).
I loved the comforts of home. Of mom and dad and our visits down memory lane. The smell of bacon wafting delightfully through the house and hot buttery pancakes stacked on my plate.
My parents are gone, but I am thankful for the memories of Saturday mornings and hot pancakes for breakfast. The tradition continues and when the kids come to visit they know they will get hot pancakes for breakfast on Saturday morning, too. And hopefully some good old-fashioned memories to go with them.
There is nothing better than hot pancakes on a Saturday morning!
Writing prompt #3: Saturday morning at your house
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Monday, December 8, 2014
The Errand of Angels
Just as
heavenly Angels joyfully proclaimed the birth of our Savior, we can be earthly
Angels and do the same. President Thomas S. Monson counseled us in October’s General Conference to
“walk as Jesus walked” by “emulating His
actions and following His example.”
Some examples of following Jesus' example is to give the gift of testimony of His divine birth and mission, give service, love, kindness, forgiveness, and gratitude. Not only during the Christmas season, but all through the year.
Our family has chosen to take upon us the “errand of Angels”
and do kind deeds to family members and those around us that need a helping hand, a cheerful
smile, and note of encouragement, a visit, a generous offering.
Will you?
Last week my youngest daughter's family and the hubby and I went to dinner at Pizza Pie Cafe. Afterwards, we did a RAK (Random Act of Kindness) and taped quarters to the bouncy ball and candy vending machines located near the entrance. It made quite the impact on our 6, 4 and 2 year old grandchildren. We'll be doing service all through the month and beyond. Hope you come, too!
Sunday, December 7, 2014
The First Gift of Christmas
So touching and beautiful! This short and inspiring video will bring the true spirit of Christmas into your homes and lives. Click HERE to view.
Christmas Devotional
The Christmas Devotional will be broadcast tonight, December 7, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. (MST). With today's technology there are a number of ways to view the event.
To access tonight's anticipated event, go to lds.org. --- then click on First Presidency's Christmas Devotional to link-up to various media sites for easy viewing.
I look forward to the timely messages and beautiful music by the Tabernacle Choir every year. So inspiring! And, it helps me get into the true spirit and meaning of Christmas. Hope it does the same for you, my friends!
Merry Christmas!
Friday, December 5, 2014
Six Word Fridays: season
'Tis the Season to be jolly!
Catching the spirit of the season.
Decorating trees. Lighting candles. Reading stories.
Making treats. Exchanging treats. Eating treats.
Santa's and Nutcrackers. Stockings and Advent.
Giving service. Random Acts of Kindness.
What I love most of all...
placing the baby Jesus in each
Nativity around the house. It's a
reminder to all those who visit...
the real reason for celebrating
the Christmas season. Christ! Our Lord.
season
season
Thursday, December 4, 2014
SILENCE
It's 6:30 a.m. and I hear SILENCE.
Like the sound of the first fallen snow.
The early morning quiet is music to my ears. It is my time to think, read, and ponder. My mind is as clear as a bell. I jot down appointments and activities in my awesome Mothers who Know planner. I write in my journal. The silence and quiet of the early morning is the most productive time for me to write, think, and read.
Then... comes the chime of the grandfather clock on the 3/4 past hour. The familiar tune reminds me of home. It is security. It is constant.
I turn on the computer and hear the quiet and constant hum of it while lightly tapping away on the keyboard. I listen for more sounds to start the day. Like running water and morning greetings from the wood pecker.
I love the sound of early morning hours!
Like the sound of the first fallen snow.
The early morning quiet is music to my ears. It is my time to think, read, and ponder. My mind is as clear as a bell. I jot down appointments and activities in my awesome Mothers who Know planner. I write in my journal. The silence and quiet of the early morning is the most productive time for me to write, think, and read.
Then... comes the chime of the grandfather clock on the 3/4 past hour. The familiar tune reminds me of home. It is security. It is constant.
I turn on the computer and hear the quiet and constant hum of it while lightly tapping away on the keyboard. I listen for more sounds to start the day. Like running water and morning greetings from the wood pecker.
I love the sound of early morning hours!
Writing prompt #4: Listen... Write about what you hear, right now.
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