*Monday Memos*

*MONDAY MEMOS*

   

 (If pictures are too small, just click to enlarge) 
Weekly recap of my rather crazy, insane, but fun and rewarding life!

dear monday, I baked Taylor's cake (and a mini one for Carson) this morning.  Then I got out and hit the track. I wanted to run again but after I started I could tell it wasn't a good idea. So, I decided to try out the run/walk Galloway Method. I ran for 3 minutes and then walked for 1 minute.  That went well until the last mile or so and I could no longer run on my ankle. So discouraging!  BUT, I am not giving up!  I think it is what I need to do in order to get back to regular running. Well, it will be run/walking but who cares!  Dave picked a bunch of berries for me to take to my lunch at Cindy Parry's today. YUM!

I headed to Cindy's house for a luncheon with her and Sally B. Cindy went all out just as I knew she would!  She told us it was going to be simple and light and easy. Well, she made us the most incredible salad (a work of art itself) as well as chicken salad croissants (not easy) and then yummy cut up fruit, chips, and a dessert that was to die for. It was a lemony one. Simple? Easy? Light?  None of the above!  But it was fabulous!  She is amazing!  I want to be her when I grow up!  

THEN she had a craft for us to do!  Did I mention she is amazing? Who does that?  No one I know!  Hah  It was a cute craft too!  

We went out in her backyard to spray them and chatted awhile. I loved the whole thing. It was fun having conversation with friends finally. I really haven't had much of a social life the past going on five months. Sally is fun and also an amazing women. It was a great afternoon. We were there for over three hours!  Cindy is the most positive and upbeat person. She is truly one of the most amazing women I have ever met and I feel so blessed to call her friend.  I took her some jam and I felt like I should have taken her more.  We want to do it every three or four months. I am excited!  Sally will host next time. 

I'm not sure why I am leaning so forward in this pic.  I guess because it was my phone on the timer and I was trying to rush back to get in the photo. LOL  

She also loaded us up with other little things as well. She is truly one of a kind!

I had to hit Kent's for some frosting for Taylor's cake. He is obsessed with Funfetti and so I am filling his cake layers with that. I also hit Ace to get some bug spray. Cindy said they used it at her friend's house that was infested and it worked. I am desperate!  UGH!  They are really getting to me! 

I didn't allow myself enough time to finish the cakes.  I was scrambling to get them done when everyone showed up. I wish I could just decorate a cake fast and easily without running into any issues. I noticed I don't have the patience I used to have on them and I am not sure I even the skill I used to have. I feel like I have lost some of that. If I did have it I wouldn't have so many issues!  Mainly the issues are the frosting of the outside to be smooth. I think that is mainly a tool problem though and I need to invest in a great cake smoother as well as an acrylic top.  Maybe for my birthday.

 I think it turned out pretty well considering.

  I only literally five minutes to do Carson's!  People were here for the party! I didn't even smooth the sides I was in such a rush. Oh well, I am making him a three tiered Spiderman one for his bday party with his friends in a couple weeks so I didn't feel bad. Besides, it was a mini cake! He actually gasped when he saw it and was so excited. LOL 

 These two....

And these two...

 And these two...

 And these two...

 This ↓ little guy cracks me up...
That hat though...

Taylor got new golf clubs for his birthday!  He was pretty excited!

Sky testing out Taylor's new clubs!

dear tuesday, harp lesson was cancelled due to the Pioneer Day which isn't until Friday. Hmmm.... Not sure I get that but whatever.  I did however get up and practice early for a couple hours. I am working on Minuet 2. It's the hardest song in Book 2 and I want to learn it fast so I can get on to the next one.  The guys are heading to Alaska in the morning and I get to take them at 4 a.m.  Fun fun!  I went to the track pretty late this morning and got in 3 miles. It was hot!  

I do not really remember what happened today. Ugh. I'm catching up too late. The boys packed and got ready for their trip. I organized the medicine/etc cupboard. It doesn't really look that good, but it will be so much easier to get to the stuff and have easier access. I forgot to do a before picture.   

 I do remember Scott came by while they were trying to finish getting ready. 

dear wednesday, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TAYLOR!!!  

 Here is my FB post: 
♪♫•Ⓗⓐⓟⓟⓨ Ⓑⓘⓡⓣⓗⓓⓐⓨ!♪♫• to my work hard, play hard son Taylor Wilding who is rarely home to celebrate on this day and this year is no exception so we celebrated a bit early. He is in the air right now on his way to Alaska for another one of his many adventures living his life to the fullest as he always does. What an unexpected gift it has been for us to have him home from med school for the past several months while doing online classes due to Covid. We have so loved this time we otherwise would not have gotten and it has been such a blessing and so much fun! He is a total blast to be around as well as an amazing, talented, hard working kid and we couldn't be more proud of him! •★ * Feliz Aniversário!!! •★ *

Today I got up at 3:30 a.m. to take the guys to the airport for their Alaska trip. They made it there on time even with the Covid extra stuff and got on their flight. I felt bad Taylor had to be traveling on his birthday!

I came straight home and actually laid down for a bit. I was so tired. I then went out on a walk. It was hot.  I came home and organized the utility closet. It wasn't too bad, but anything I do makes it better.  

 I took Mr. Cat to his vet appointment for his annual shots. He was not happy. He gets scared. It's so sad. I feel so bad for him. I got another new doc which seems I always do every time I go in. This one had all kinds of suggestions and ideas for what might be wrong with him (his intestinal issues) but most were very expensive and didn't seem to make any sense to me. She thinks we should do all this blood work and the list was long of her other ideas. She also said he needs a dental cleaning because he has lost two teeth. I am still not sure how they know that because the new trainee, checked his mouth but did not even look inside. Hmm....  But no biggy, it's only $500!  Yep!  Because he needs xrays to be sure there is nothing else going on. Hmmm....I felt like she just wanted my money. I will go to a different place next time. She rubbed me the wrong way.  I got him back in the car and he relaxed a bit. He was so happy when we got home!  

He is not in his happy place... 

I had an ortho appointment this afternoon. It went well. I came home and did more cleaning. I worked on Dave's office and papers. It's a big job! I also did under the sink.

Sky asked if I would watch Carson while they went line dancing. I told him to just let him sleep over and I would take him to school tomorrow. He came and we had fun. He made potions and then he helped me shuck the peas. I think it's shuck the peas. Prob not, since that is corn. Well, whatever it is, he helped me!  LOL  

I made him dinner and then we watched a movie called Mega Mind or Brain or something. It was good but it got late and we had to turn it off. We didn't get to sleep until after 11!  He is so cute though. Just love that little guy. He makes my heart happy.

Vacuuming up the Elm Seed bugs that just won't leave!  

 The airline gave Taylor a picnic box full of food cause it was his bday. I text CJ and told him to tell the stewardess. I think Dave did too. That is the best present for him!  They made it safely to the cabin in Alaska!  They bought him a cake and had a steak dinner!

dear thursday, Carson woke up at 6:30 and I told him to sleep for another 15 min. but he ended up still asleep when he needed to get up so I had to wake him up. He took a bath and I fed him breakfast and then I ran him to school. He is so dang cute! I decided to go to The Container Store today since I won't be able to get some of the stuff I need for the linen closet until quite a while. It is clear in Murray and took me over an hour to get there. Wouldn't you know it?  The three things I went for, they were out of stock!  Ugh!  But I did get some other pretty cool things. I found these divided things that I love!  In my happy place!

Sky called me while I was shopping and I could not concentrate because I had to do calculations at that store. It takes brain power!  LOL  I then left and went to Bountiful to return some things to At Home and then I hit TJ Maxx and then went to Station Park and returned some things to Home Goods. I didn't buy hardly anything there. Shocker. LOL  I then went to Target in Layton to return some things and then to O town. I was going to hit Costco but decided to wait. I did go to Real Deals and got a top and then went to my parents to visit them even though it was already after 5.  But, I had no one home and so I felt totally free to take as long as I wanted. I was there until almost 7. I was pretty tired. 

dear friday, Happy Pioneer Day!  Today I met Robin and Sherrie in Mantua. I brought Sherrie a PB and honey sandwich because she forgot her fuel and she had already ran 13 miles before she met Robin and then another 5 after than and then another 5 once I joined them. She is a machine!  I am still nervous running down the canyon even though it was only about two miles. I was praying for our safety. It's a little unnerving when you see lots of hubcaps, tire shred, metal parts, and tons of other stuff that could easily fly off any car and hit you. Not to mention the car could hit you.  But we made it down safely.  I did well. Robin struggled a bit and needed to walk for a few minutes. We started back up and I was feeling great. We ended at their house with 4.30 and so Sherrie ran .70 with me so I could get in five miles total. I did it!  I actually ran five miles!  My ankle was feeling pretty good.  We took a bunch of photos with our new social distance medal. It also came with a neck gaiter and so we had to get some funny shots of that too. Sherrie's son took them. We even did a jumping pix!  We are silly but it was so fun. 

Here is my FB post:

2nd awesome Virtual Run🏃‍♀️ with these hilarious ladies this morning! 😆 We earned our "Social Distancing" medal🏅 (and mask) 😷 in honor of "all the un-run races" this year.🙁 I joined up with them the last part of their run and was able to actually run FIVE MILES! 5️⃣ I haven't been able to do that distance in over 19 months! #grateful We had a little too much fun after taking silly photos. 🤣These gals always put the 😁 fUN in rUN!🏃‍♀️

#socialdistancingrun #bandits #virtualrun2020 #pioneerday
#progress #injury #lovetorun

 Charlie's Angel bandits

Step by step how to do a jumping picture:

I came home and worked on my toes for a bit and then I sprayed the bugs all around the house outside. I even got on the roof!  Probably not the smartest but the ladder was already out there and I put it on the stairs to the mudroom and crawled up and sprayed the boy's bathroom window on the outside because they are horrible about getting in there. Hope it works.  I worked on Dave's office some more. I made dinner for Dave's parents. I made stuffed green peppers, biscuits, fresh raspberries and blackberries with cream, and chocolate chip cookies. No pix...

I took some packages to Sky's and asked Carson if he wanted to come with me to deliver dinner. He had a friend over, but she left and so he did come with me. He was anxious to get out of there though. I came home and my mom called and asked if I wanted to meet them at Maddox (drive in). It was later, but I still went even though I had already eaten. I had a bit of their chicken basket. We sat outside on the table and got blown away!  It was fun but I was so beat. I came home and hit the hay. 

Scary pix (the wind was blowing like crazy!):

dear saturday, I didn't sleep too well last night. That seems to be the norm when I am alone. But that's okay. I still enjoy my alone time. I headed out on a run this am even though I was super sore from yesterday's run.  I haven't ran that far in over 19 months and so I should have expected it. Plus a lot of it was downhill. Saw some love notes from heaven:

I have just felt so tired lately overall. Not sure why, but I have noticed a change.  I got in three miles and then came home.  I text Bryce to see if he would come help me take down the big kitchen wooden light. He never responded.  While I waited for him to respond I ran some errands, but he never did. Sky was working all day. SO....I decided to tackle the entry way coat closet.  I thought it would take me two hours tops. I have learned when it comes to organizing projects, they always take MUCH longer than you plan!  It ended up taking me a good four hours. Mainly because I got through EVERY thing.  I do enjoy doing it though. At least for the most part. When it comes to deciding where to put things and what containers to use, I always get a bit overwhelmed and frustrated but then it all comes together and I am always so excited. I got rid of a ton of coats and other things.  It feels so good to have order in that closet now. I forgot to take a BEFORE until I had already started, but here is the what I got:

 Here is the after:

Sarah and Carson stopped by while I was in the middle of it. We chatted for a bit and then after they left I finished. I ended up with a bad headache and wasn't really wanting to keep going, but I did and I finished it. I also re-did my running holding stash on the door.  Then I decided to do my running drawer. I forgot a before of it too.  Dang. You would think by now I would remember to do that. It's always so much better to see the before. 

I also did this a while ago:

I am now up to 19 completed organizing projects since the pandemic started.  Here is the list I have so far:

• Video tapes organized and transferred to DVD's
• Blog transferred to books
• Family Newsletter done (shouldn't count this but I am going to anyway!)
• 72 Hour Kits updated
• Entry way under the stairs
• Laundry room side cupboard
• Garage cupboards (two)
• Wrapping paper (under bed)
• PANTRY
• Baking Center
• Spice cupboard
• My closet
• Boys baskets in laundry room
• Clean garage (still in process......forever!)
• Entry way game/etc closet
• Medicine cabinet above microwave
• Utility closet
• Under kitchen sink
• Dave's office (papers)
• Entry way coat closet
• Running drawer

I don't have photos of all of them,  but here is some I actually took:

I think I might be forgetting a couple. I did under the sink in the boy's bathroom too but that was already mostly organized and I just mostly re-organized it. 
On my list, I still have over 21 MORE to go (not including the basement which will be it's own list!).  If I keep going while I have the momentum, I hope I can get it all done before Christmas.  Actually, before Halloween would be better because once November hits, I will be too swamped with Christmas and I will probably stop doing it and then the momentum will be lost. There is something to say about momentum!  I am gearing up next for the linen closet. It is organized now, but I want to do a completely overhaul and new system.  I wanted to get it done while the boys were in AK but my containers won't be here in time. I should have thought ahead on that one better so they would be. It's going to be a full day or two project.  And then the laundry room. I have a big laundry room. It's also a craft room and has all my paper files, books, office stuff, AMI stuff, scrapbook stuff, photos, sewing stuff (fabric, patterns, etc), craft stuff, etc. It's going to take a week I'm sure because I will have to go through each drawer and cupboard. My corner cupboard is going to be tough. I have been giving it a lot of thought and still haven't come up with a solution other than have Dave install a shelf or two in it. That would help immensely!  

I enjoy organizing. Skyler thinks I need to start my own professional organizer business or the very least Instagram account on ideas and projects. He thinks there is a great need for people with the skill and he says I would get tons of followers.  I told him that is all great and all, but then what?  If I made money from a lot of followers, that would be great, but I don't think I want that kind of commitment to just followers and free perks here and there. Maybe 20 years ago, I would have, but my time is too valuable now for something like that. As far as being a professional organizer and going into other's homes, I would like that, but there again I am not sure I want that kind of commitment and being tied down. I wouldn't mind doing it here and there, but I think it would become a huge job and not sure I am up to that when I am about to turn 59...knocking on 60 when most people are thinking of retiring not starting a new business. Hah.  Maybe even five years ago I would have but lately I just feel more tired and less energetic than I used to. Maybe it's just today. Who knows?  

Found out my brother is moving back to Utah!  So glad. He needs to be here at the Huntsman. They are the best. And that is why they are heading home.  SO excited. I didn't really get much else accomplished other than vacuuming bugs up a million times. They are getting less, but they are still getting in!  Ugh! 

dear sunday, it was very peaceful today. Other than I woke up with a headache and sore throat. I decided I better take my temp just in case. It was normal. Pretty sure that means I am Covid free. Let's hope. I still felt like crap though. I had big plans to get a big chunk of this caught up, but to no avail.  I do enjoy my alone time though. Immensely actually!  I need more!  hah
Sky and crew came over and Sky and Sarah cooked me dinner. How nice is that?  It was so yummy to!  I made a loaf of rustic bread to go with it and it turned out pretty tasty!

dear random, these were pix on Dave's phone that he just gave me. Totally out of date and order, but oh well. 

The boys golfing...

 The boys working in the yard.

The boys working at the cabin on the roof fixing the bat issues.

 Me at the physical therapy gym when Dave stopped by...

 Random pix of me baking etc. he took...

At Dave's parent's house when Julie and Sara were here.

Some oldies (from FB memories)

Carson and friends at a bday party.

Life cycle of a blackberry....

dear quotes,

David Jay Webber

JstnuuSpealhoyns orend11r

What might CS Lewis say of our new COVID situation? ... Here’s what he said in 1948 about the mental shift required by living with the threat of the atomic bomb:

In one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb. “How are we to live in an atomic age?” I am tempted to reply: “Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited London almost every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat any night; or indeed, as you are already living in an age of cancer, an age of syphilis, an age of paralysis, an age of air raids, an age of railway accidents, an age of motor accidents.”

In other words, do not let us begin by exaggerating the novelty of our situation. Believe me, dear sir or madam, you and all whom you love were already sentenced to death before the atomic bomb was invented: and quite a high percentage of us were going to die in unpleasant ways. We had, indeed, one very great advantage over our ancestors—anesthetics; but we have that still. It is perfectly ridiculous to go about whimpering and drawing long faces because the scientists have added one more chance of painful and premature death to a world which already bristled with such chances and in which death itself was not a chance at all, but a certainty.

This is the first point to be made: and the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.

— “On Living in an Atomic Age” (1948)