*Monday Memos* 8-17-2020

*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, today I got in a five mile walk. Walking five miles is so much tougher than running it because it never ends!  I would much rather run five miles than walk it. It gets so boring too. 

It is VERY obvious we are living during a pandemic!

I did find some coins though. Among other things. When I got done, I went and picked up Chayden and Carson and brought them over here. Sky and Sarah had to leave at 4 a.m to go to Lindon to do FIRST LOOK photos. I figured the boys would be alone and bored all day and so I brought them here. I made them Funfetti pancakes and Chayden made eggs. Carson painted a wooden car craft kit I had and Chayden played video games. It was pretty hot outside and so staying in was the best plan. Sky picked them up before lunch. They were good kids. I got one blog post published! I am so behind!  

dear tuesday, I got up early and practiced the harp. I got in almost four hours practicing today because I practiced for a long time after my lesson too. I am so excited I am learning Petite Etude!  I have wanted to play it forever but wasn't sure I would ever be at that level. I have made it!  Now to master it. Well, to learn it first!  hah  I put together treats for the Sunbeams.  I also made zucchini bread for my ministering sisters. Dave was off today but busy with the yard all day. I delivered the bread to all my sisters. Not one was home. Go figure.  I ran some errands and as for the rest of the day I have no clue.  Sarah added eyes to the cow potato. Hah

dear wednesday, I got in three miles this a.m.  I rushed home to get ready to deliver treats to our Sunbeams.  I got some mini gummy bears and printed out the Come Follow Me pages. I picked up Pat and we were able to see Liam, Felix, Ever, and Sawyer.  We missed Eden and Adalyne.  We also took one to the new little girl named Ona. She is adorable. It was fun seeing them. They are all getting big!  

My goal was to get a full week done today of this blog. I was able to finish one but it is a slow go!  Ugh I am about six weeks behind. And I can never seem to catch up. It's like the laundry. Even if you are caught up you are still behind because you are wearing clothes that need washing. Every day I am living another day and it needs recording!  hah  But hopefully I will find some time and be able to get it caught up within a couple weeks. Sigh.  Carson and Sky stopped by for a short visit. 

Guru Gary sent me this today.  He sent me another one on Friday but I will post them both here.  I am baffled he would go to all that trouble and time and effort to do this! I was laughing out loud reading what he wrote to go with the photos. It brought back such great memories of all the crazy things I have done!  Who does that?  He is the nicest person! 

*With the NEW Blogger I can't get this one to enlarge so you will have to click on it. The other one did.  Everything is SO SO SO messed up!!!!


I am trying to get a shower planned for Sarah but didn't get too far on it today. Ugh.  I am also stressing about the wedding cake!  By the time this gets posted the wedding will probably be over!  That is crazy!  

dear thursday, the internet guy showed up this morning to try and figure out why our internet is always going off. It's so frustrating! #firstworldprobs I had to stick around until he was done and so I got out on my walk later than I hoped. I almost bagged it but decided I would feel better if I did. I got in three miles. I ran a little ways, but not much. Saving up the ankle for my Saturday run. McKay is still really sick. Poor guy. Dave gave him a Rocephin shot. He is worried his tonsils are so huge they will shut off his airway. He is a tough kid and never complains. I have the best boys. I ran some errands and then got Dave's parents dinner ready. I chatted with McKay while I made a salad and biscuits etc. Dave got home in time to drop it off.  I have been watching Shark Week all week. I can't get enough!  LOL I usually fall asleep watching it once I am in bed. Not sure why I love it so much!

These guys made a visit today....

dear friday, I got out on a walk this morning.  The air had a chill in it. Fall is not far away. I got in three miles. I saw this woman pushing a wheelchair surrounded by this stuff and then she took off and left it. Not sure what she is doing. Weird.  

Haylie asked me to borrow some stuff for her party for Brinlee tonight. She said she was stressed and not sure how she was going to get it all done. I offered to help in anyway I could. I took some stuff over and her mom came after I was there a bit. Before I left, Haylie said Brinlee probably wasn't going to get a cake because she had so much to do. I said, "How about I bake the cake and you decorate it?"  She was up for that. It was a ghost cake (she wanted a spooky party!) and so I came home and baked it. It was a four layer 6" cake with each layer a different color (purple, black, green, orange). I figured it wouldn't be too difficult. I had to carve the top one to the shape of a ghost head. But of course one of the layers crumbled on the side when I removed it. I was mad I didn't Crisco and flour the pans.  Will I ever learn?  But I managed to repair it with icing. That is one thing I am a pro at. Repair work!  I have had lots of practice!  It ended up being great and so I took it over. She was still stressed but I left it to her to finish. 

I got all dressed up in my WITCH costume. I wore my new apron thing I bought at the Grand American last year at our Witch's Tea. It is so cute! I wore the torturous shoes too!   The outside pictures shows the true color of the apron. I love it!  I got the hat there too.

I gave Brinlee a tea party coupon for part of her bday gift with a cute teacup I found at the DI. 

Haylie requested no toys *unless educational and no clothes. So, I got her books, a towel, a sparkly purple backpack, bath bombs, treats, a teacup and saucer and a coupon for a tea party with me, cupcake kit, workbooks for school, etc. I am not sure she liked it too much.  Next time I think I will get her clothes. It was fun. I dressed up like a witch as did Haylie and her mom and Brinlee. It was cute.  Sarah showed up dressed like Maleficent. Carson was dressed like Carlos.  Sarah brought a crown for my mom.  It was a small party. Just us, my parents, Sarah and her boys, and Haylie's mom and brother and wife and kids. Liam was cute as always. Brinlee kept hugging me and it was so sweet.  Love that lil' thing to pieces.  Sarah made some super cute spooky treats. Her house was all decked out in Halloween decor. Brinlee requested her birthday party be spooky. Maybe I should put  mine up now too!  Haha  We had cake and chatted and Dave headed out and I stayed a bit later. 

Fabio!  haha  He does kind of look like him!  Only Bryce is better looking!

Bryce played baseball with Chayden for a long time. Liam can really throw the ball! He has an arm. Sarah took me home after Haylie and I looked at all of her First Look pix. Wow! They are amazing! SO amazing!

Sarah told me Carson woke up this morning in a grumpy mood and said, "The only thing that makes me happy is making potions!  And Jodi!"  Ahhh.... He is the sweetest!

dear saturday, today Chayden wanted to go with me on a walk but he changed his mind so I hit the high school and did the track and surrounding areas. I ran the whole time (well a few walk breaks) and got in three miles. I was pretty happy about that since I haven't run much lately. 

I even found a penny!  Hey to you too, Tyson!

I took some shark cookies to Chayden and Carson this afternoon from Crumbl. It is Shark Week and I have been watching lots of the new programs. I can't get enough!  I chatted with Sarah for quite a while. Sky was there at first but had to go to some appointments. They stopped by later tonight so we could tell Chayden goodbye since he leaves tomorrow morning. Carson spent the night so he didn't have to get up at 5 a.m to take Chayden.  He took a bath and we had to improvise for PJ's and underpants since he wasn't planning on spending the night. I found one of Tyson's silky shirts that Tyson loved to sleep in. And some oversized Grinch boxers!  LOL Tyson was watching down with a big smile on his face I am certain. We watched some show and then I had to hit the hay. I was so exhausted! Oh this boy makes me happy!

dear sunday, Carson and I snuggled this morning in bed for a while. He is the cutest thing ever. We made his Build a Bear panda this morning. He sewed it all himself. It was fun. 

Dave made us German pancakes that were to die for! They are my favorite breakfast food I think. We even had a fresh peach to go with it!  Mmm.... Peach season is coming fast! I can't wait! 

We had church again today. Only the second time in five months. Dave sat on the stand so it was just Carson, McKay and me. Dave spoke for about five minutes at the end. We had a lot more peeps there this time than last. It still is strange seeing everyone in masks. McKay wanted to get home and so I didn't get to visit with anyone.  When we got home Sky and Sarah were here. They stayed a bit and then went home with Carson. They came back a bit later for dinner. We had ribs and baked potatoes and a jello salad I made and some bread sticks I made super quick. They were so good. 

Aubrey, Mickey and Sam ran over for a bit. Aubrey gave me a book she made of the girl's cabin trip for my birthday!  I loved it.  That's my quote on the second photo.

Carson was very happy to see them!  hah

We were laughing so hard while we looked at the pix. I shared bread sticks with them. It was fun.  When Carson heard they were coming, he hurried and made Micky a present and wrapped it. It was artwork and a card. He is so thoughtful!

Carson and I went out back and sat in the swing for a bit. The baby deer came down. I got the best video of them. 

Sky and Sarah were playing a game. It is cute how they always do that.  They headed home and I went up and watched the last night of Shark Week. Kind of sad it's over. 

dear random, this is a photo of my Grandma Helen (my Dad's mom) with some of the Raggedy Ann dolls she made!  Can you spot mine????  

Yep!  Mine is the only purple one!! I still have it!
She was such a cute and talented lady. I sure miss her.

I got my Homemaker's invite done!

My mom's famous Strawberry Danish Dessert Delight recipe!  I thought I better preserve it here!

Little Miss Kailani!  I miss her!

I’m Not Ignoring COVID

July 22, 2020

Mike. In a recent post, you said you’ve been to Tennessee and Georgia, giving speeches and filming for your new show. Before that, you were on the road shooting for Dirty Jobs. Is it really so important to film a television show in the midst of pandemic? Is it responsible of you to encourage this kind of behavior when infection rates are spiking? Don’t you watch the news? More and more cases every day – aren’t you concerned? Darlene Gabon

Hi Darlene

Of course, I’m concerned. I’m just not petrified.

On March 15th, the day after my part of the country was locked down, I posted a link to an interview with Dr. Michael Osterholm. I’m posting it again, because I believe you and everyone else in the country would benefit from listening carefully to what he has to say. https://youtu.be/E3URhJx0NSw

Dr. Osterholm is the Director of Infectious Disease Research and Policy. This is the same epidemiologist who ten years ago, predicted a coronavirus would come from China and turn our country upside down. In his book “Deadliest Enemies,” he described the utterly irresponsible way in which the media would report on the situation, the completely opportunistic and shamelessly political way our leaders would likely react, and the unprecedented chaos and confusion that would arise from all the mixed messages from the medical community. His resume is unexampled, and his analysis of the situation is the most logical and persuasive of any I’d heard so far. He’s also the only expert I know of who hasn’t walked back his numbers, reconsidered his position, or moved the goalposts with regard to what we must do, what we can do, and what he expects to happen next. I say all of this because Dr. Osterholm also predicted that we could easily see 100 million COVID cases in this country, with a very strong possibility of 480,000 fatalities – even if we successfully “flattened the curve.”

It took me a few weeks to accept this scenario, because 480,000 fatalities is a frightening number, and lot of other experts were saying lots of conflicting things. But eventually, I came to the conclusion that Dr. Osterholm was probably correct, and quickly navigated the four stages of grief that usually precede acceptance – denial, anger, bargaining, and depression. By late April, I had come to accept Dr. Osterholm’s predictions as a matter of fact. Since then, I’ve had three full months to come to terms with the fact that, a) I am probably going to get COVID-19 at some point, b), I am almost certainly going to survive it, and c), I might very well give it to someone else.

I hope that doesn’t sound blasé, or glib, or fatalistic, or selfish. Four-hundred eighty thousand deaths is an obvious tragedy, and I’m deeply sympathetic to all who have been impacted thus far. I’m also very concerned for my parents, and everyone else in a high risk category. But when Dr. Osterholm says that COVID can be slowed, but not stopped, I believe him. When he says a vaccine will not necessarily hasten herd immunity, I believe him. And when he says that “flattening the curve” and eliminating the virus have nothing to do with each other, I believe him.

Thus, for the last three months, I’ve been operating from the assumption that this is a year-round virus that’s eventually going to infect 100,000 million people and kill roughly 1/2 of one percent of those infected. I’ve gotten used to those numbers in much the same way I’ve gotten used to the fact that 40,000 people will likely die on the highways this year. That’s why I’m not panicked or surprised by tens of thousands of daily COVID cases; I’ve been expecting them. Unfortunately, many others have not. Every day, millions of people watch the same breathless coverage by the same breathless journalists, who seem determined to do all they can to foster uncertainty. And so, millions of people are still paralyzed by fear, because they haven’t been given a chance to digest the truth, (or, what I believe to be the truth.) Fact is, we can accept almost anything, if we’re given the facts, and enough time to get our heads around them. But if we don’t have an understanding of what’s really happening, we simply can’t get passed denial and bargaining, where so many seem to be stuck, understandably so.

Imagine for a moment you had no idea how many people would die in car accidents this year. Now, imagine that every single accident – over six million a year in the US alone – were reported on the same way that every new COVID case is reported today. Imagine every day you were told in hysterical tones, that another 16,000 accidents had occurred, resulting in another 90 deaths per day. What would that do to your willingness to drive? Six million accidents is a lot of accidents, and 40,000 annual fatalities is a lot of death – especially if you don’t know how high that number could get. But we DO know the dangers of driving, and we’ve accepted those numbers. Consequently, we’re able to make a grown-up decision about whether or not we want to assume the associated risk of operating a motor vehicle.

Again, don’t misunderstand. I’m not ignoring COVID, and I’m not pretending the risks at hand aren’t real. I don’t want to get this disease and give it to someone else, any more than I want to be in a car wreck and hurt someone else. So, I take precautions. I get tested often. If I can’t distance, I wear a mask – especially around higher risk people. I also wear a seatbelt, obey the speed limits, and check my mirrors before changing lanes. I’m aware that we’d all be a lot safer if we kept our cars in the garage. I’m also aware we’d be a lot safer if we all kept ourselves in the house. But that’s not why cars, or people, exist.

Anyway Darlene, that’s a long way of saying that I have accepted Dr. Osterholm’s numbers, and now, after three months of acceptance, I’ve made a decision on how I wish to live my life. Sooner or later, you will too. We all will.

Mike

PS. My foundation is selling masks to raise money for our next work-ethic scholarship program. They’re going fast…mikeroweWORKS.org/Shop
Mike’s Facebook Page

*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 got out on a run/walk but ended up just walking at the cemetery. I took the flowers off Tyson's grave and brought them home to plant (the lillies). I ran into Julie E and Tara and chatted for way longer than I had time for. Haven't been feeling super lately.  I still took on a project that has been bugging me for months. I store wrapping paper under my bed but it has gotten unorganized over the years and so I have been wanting to really get it back in shape. I had to move the box springs and mattress. He-woman here!  Then I took everything out (number one organizing rule) and sorted (number two rule) and then arranged things with like things (number three rule). It took about four hours. I thought it would be a two hour project but I got a little crazy and decided to unroll a ton of the rolls of paper to get rid of lots of the cardboard center rolls. It takes up a lot less space. I got my cmas paper all together and bags and bows etc. Then I did the other stuff. It looks so much better and will be so much easier to manage. I love having that done. It is a weight off my shoulders. I'm in search of more of the plastic containers I have for the Christmas paper. It will look much neater once I find a couple more of those.

I doubt ANYONE has as much wrapping paper as I do!  It's a sickness!  When I see it, I have to look at it and I always want to buy it if it's cute!  I have had to force myself to stop buying it. I guess you could say I collect it because I don't use it very often (aside from Christmas) because I use a lot of gift bags now instead of paper. But I still love it!  Does anyone else our there love it as much as I do?

LOOK WHAT I FOUND UNDER MY BED!  PRICELESS!  Bryce wrote this (I have no idea how old he was) and I saved it forever (as you can see by the dust!), nor do I have any idea what he was apologizing for.  He was always so tender hearted and I am sure it was something really silly. How sweet is this???

I had on the TV while I worked on the paper mess and I had on some documentaries. Easier to listen to while I worked. I had on a Pearl Harbor one and a marathon runner one and then a show called I Shouldn't Be Alive. Holy cow those were intense! Taylor and Dave got home and I made the Korean beef and broccoli etc for dinner. It was good. As soon as I was done eating I had some serious pain and I thought I was getting another migraine but it was in my sinus. I had to go upstairs and just chill. I took some meds and had a hard time sleeping. 

 This little guy makes my heart happy! 
ALL the time!

dear tuesday, Dave says I have a sinus infection. He started me on a Z pack. I took some Tylenol and that helped a lot. I had my harp lesson but was so nauseated I didn't even want to practice. Thankfully that eased up some. My lesson was short because we talked too much. Glissando is coming nicely and Happy Farmer is getting better. I went on a walk after. I decided to go get Carson and take him to see the chalk art downtown. It was fun. 

We then went to Wendy's and headed to the cemetery for a picnic.  He was so excited and hugged me and said, "Thank you Jodi! I love you!"  It meant a lot to him. I'm so glad he lives so close so I can do stuff like this with him all the time.

He needs to get out!  The poor kid has no siblings and no friends to play with nearby. The quarantine has been hard on him. We had fun. We walked around and we sat on a bench and talked and then he played in the canal. He loved it and didn't want to go back. 

 He had a Mum plant that he put in the canal and watched it float down. We used to take the boys and do it with paper boats they made. Dave used to actually float down it himself when he was a kid!

 I thought he was going to go swimming for a minute!  

As we walk back he always says, "We can't forget to do our tradition!"  The "tradition" is knocking on his door and running.  Skyler usually answers and looks around and we run and hide!  Sometimes Skyler out smarts us and sneaks up on us and throws water on us.  He loves it!  I came home and then he showed up with Sky about 30 min later. Sky came to help with the bark. 

Sky and Taylor.

We read books and played with potions and went outside and he squirted my windows! He felt bad. I washed them again. I made meatloaf. We then rode our bikes to Robin's to pick up some stuff and stayed and visited with them a bit. We then rode the bikes to the park. We played on the playground and he took me to PURPLE LAND. haha  So fun. We had to get back for dinner. 

Then Sky had to go get his car that broke down in Layton yesterday and Sarah was still in SLC so he stayed with me. We played more and he rode the tractor for a bit. Sarah arrived about 8 or so and then she had to run keys to Sky in Ogden that he forgot. He was here until almost 10. Fun day

 I have a picture of Dave and Skyler and this exact pose when Sky was about two!  I remember he was in his pajamas and on Dave's lap and waving just like Carson. And, it's the very same tractor!  I need to go find it!

dear wednesday, today I did my Chocoholic Frolic virtual 5K run. YES, I said run!  I ran the entire 5K!  Yippee!  I ran around Pioneer Park because they have a perfect distance of one mile. I flip flopped directions each time. It wasn't too bad. But I wasn't fast. My ankle was hurting by the end which is not good. I ended up limping on it most of the day. 

 And I even found a penny!  THANKS TYS!

 Isn't that the cutest medal EVER!

And of course I had to reward myself with some chocolate!

 Haha!  THIS ↓ made me laugh! It's so true!!!

This ↑ is going to be my NEXT virtual race!  I am pretty excited for the shirt!!!

My FB post:

Happy Global Running Day!
Saved my virtual 5K CHOCOHOLIC FROLIC for today!
But I will run (walk...crawl) for chocolate ANY day!!! 🍫🍩🍪

#chocoholicfrolic #5K #willrunforchocolate #globalrunningday2020
#progress #slowbutsteady

I came home and showered and then headed to O town to try and find me a dress for Sky and Sarah's wedding. If I can't find one I need to get one ordered online ASAP so it has time to arrive and be altered if necessary. I searched every store I thought might have one. Just Girl Stuff, Dillards, Bliss, Ross, TJMaxx, etc. NOTHING!  Not even anything in the right color. Very frustrating!  Plus all the stores were dead!  The mall was dead. Ross looks like it's going out of business and I KNOW Burlington is even though they say they aren't. There was nothing in that store. Maybe 2% of what they had when I was there for that crazy sale and it's still 50% off. But no lines!  hah  
BUT!  I found MY PROM dress again today and got a better photo of it!  I really should just buy it! No idea where I would wear it (it would have to be made garment friendly), but it's soooooo gorgeous!  I absolutely love it! 

 So far, one of these is probably going to be my dress for the wedding. These are all online. The color would be the top left (light lilac). 

 I came home and ordered this one because it's from Amazon and I can return it if it doesn't fit or I don't like it. The other ones are from a company that I am not even sure it will get here in time.

I hit Target and At Home trying to find baskets for my closet I am going to organize soon. I got a couple but couldn't find what I really want. I was going to hang out and meet the boys at the surfing place, but they changed it to 8 pm and I didn't want to stall that long so I came home.  As I drove in to town, I saw this:

Yep!  Protesters in our little town!  This really has gotten out of hand!

I also saw this!  Pretty cool car!

I made dinner but no one ate any. The boys were gone and Dave had interviews over the phone. It was a hot one! 

dear thursday, went on a walk. My ankle is still hurting and I am still limping so I only walked two miles. BUT, I am STILL smiling!

I went to Kent's to get my Sunbeams some donuts that were on sale for 99 cents and stuff for dinner. Everything seemed way over priced today. No surprise. Everything in the world seems messed up right now. The protesting is still going on but at least here in Utah it's mostly peaceful now. No one is talking about Corona anymore which is odd because the cases are increasing at huge rates now the state has opened up some. Each day there are at least 200 new cases.  Even in our little county it's increased a ton. I came home and showered but should have practiced the harp. But instead I got busy making dinner for Dave's parents. After that I started on the macarons Sarah hired me to make for a Princess tea party here in town she is doing.  I had everything out and ready to go and Carson came be-bopping in. He is so cute. Sky and Sarah were here too.  

How cute is this???  These two have a cute bond.

We visited a bit and after they left I got busy with the macs. The guys went golfing. Unfortunately the macs did not turn out!  UGH!  They are so finicky!  My oven was either not hot enough (the feet spread) and then too hot (they browned!).  So frustrating. I will get up early tomorrow and give it another attempt. It's so great when they turn out...you hear trumpets blaring, but when they don't, you want to stab the little things!
I took some photos of the macaronage process. I forgot to take a photo when I mixed the purple batter of the ribbon swirling (last step) so I did it with the blue. LOL

 My macaron recipe.
Yes, it has been well used!

dear friday, I got up at 5:30 a.m. to work on the macarons because I didn't want them to steal my entire day. They ended up doing that anyway.  For some blasted reason they would NOT turn out! I mean they are the most finicky cookie on the planet, but I can usually get at least one batch to work but not today!  They feet spread, they were under-cooked and then over-browned. I even had a batch actually crack!  

That has never happened in all the times I have made them. The real problem is I have NO idea why!  I am blaming it on my oven this time because of the under cooking and over browning. I tried everything to fix that!  Double cookie sheets, cookie sheet above, lower temp, higher temp, convection, non convection, lower oven instead of top. I even tried parchment paper instead of slipmats. I switched my almond flours after the first two batches failed. NOTHING worked! I was discouraged!  To say the LEAST!  UGH!  These things try my patience like no other!  BUT, I did not want to give up! And I really didn't want to end on a fail.  So frustrating that my tried and true way they have always worked DID NOT even come close today!  I don't think you can have a tried and true way with these little devils! They have a mind of their own!

 FAIL!!!

The colors are too brown!

 And yet, they look SO PERFECT before they are baked!!!

Dang oven!

Thankfully Taylor suggested I lower the cookie sheet I placed on the top rack (to guard against over-browning) closer to the cookie sheet with the cookies on it and that helped!  NO over-browning! But I had to cook them FOREVER to get them done. It was a labor of love and frustration!  I must have said at least 10 times to McKay and Taylor to never let me agree to make them again!  LOL  I have said that in the past and here I am!  I was able to get the amount Sarah needed from the last batch and a few from the other batches to a total of 40 cookies. Crazy considering I probably made 100 or more once they are matched and filled.  Total single cookies, probably 220!  It was a long day!  LOL I was so done with them. But the crazy thing is I still love them!  And I know I will make them again someday!  I ran to Walmart to grab stuff to make cupcakes for the Princess Party the macarons were for because I wasn't sure the macs were good enough. When I got back Sky and crew were heading to Mantua to ride the wave runners.  

These two!  So cute!

While they were gone I was going to make the cupcakes but decided to fill the macs and see if I could actually get enough.  When I did I decided to wait and see what Sarah thought and if she approved I would bag making the cupcakes.  Happily, she said they were great and that I worry too much. I do admit I am a perfectionist and I want them to always be perfect (which is a joke because they rarely are), but when she said they were for six olds, I totally bagged making the cupcakes. Some of the macarons I have seen at weddings and other places are far from perfect. But, I still do have a sense of pride associated with them.  But I was relieved I didn't have to do cupcakes too after an all day ordeal!

 I think the blue ones look like Little Mermaid and since Ariel is one of the princesses for this tea party, it's perfect!

Pat and I delivered treats to our Sunbeams this afternoon and it was so HOT!  We drove them around because we were melting! It was about 95 degrees!  Just getting out of the car and talking to them had us sweating to death!  We were able to catch all of them except Eden. Sawyer came running out and hugged Pat and then looked at me and hugged me. Haha  Ever was so stinkin' cute. Adalyne was swimming and kind of busy but cute. Eden wasn't home. Felix was quiet but happy. Liam was shy but loved his treats and bubbles and we chatted with his parents for a while.

 
I was going to go up and see them on the wave runners but got cleaning instead and finishing the macarons.  We ordered pizza and called it a night.

 Look how gorgeous!!!

dear saturday, today it was super blustery!  It knocked down all my back deck plants and it was crazy. I waited a bit for my walk until it calmed down. 

Mr. Cat likes to wake me up at 3 a.m. and purr and rub his face on mine and make sure he wakes me up so I can pet him. Hmmm....

I had to drop of the macarons to Sarah and so I grabbed Carson and his bike and we headed to Pioneer Park. I wanted him to see the baby ducks. We couldn't find them and then I saw a huge group of ducks gathered and realized it was them!  They were no longer babies!  Just two weeks ago they were tiny!  Now, they are teenager ducks almost as big as the mama!  Crazy!  

 This is his "trick".  LOL 

We also saw a honey beaver (Carson told me that was what it was) and three black swans and lots and lots of moss. You can no longer see through the clear water. We had fun though. We also wrote in the red sand. I wrote Boston as he wrote Carson. He wanted to know why I wrote Boston. I told him because it reminds me of my goal to get back there one day.  He thought that was cool. LOL 

We then went to Seagull Book and then to Walmart to buy him a helmet. He has one but it doesn't work.  It was so fun.  I told him I would buy him a craft while we were at the park and he jumped off his bike and ran over and hugged my legs and said, "THANK YOU JODI!"  He is so sweet!  Sure do love that kid!  I ended up getting him a shark lockbox that he wanted instead. I dropped him off to his house and came home and showered and cleaned and caught up a bit on this. 

Some pix from one of the tea party my macarons were served at:

The rest of the day I practiced the harp, cleaned, organized and honestly can't remember what else.  Dave made smoked ribs and tips for our meal before we began our fast. It was yummy. It poured and poured today! And the wind was brutal all day. Before I hit the hay, I watched an episode of I Shouldn't Be Alive. Not sure why I am so into that now, but I am!  Hah

My heart rock garden!

I saw this quote from C.S. Lewis, from 72 years ago, and thought... WOW! (Replace Atomic Bomb with Coronvirus)

"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) in Present Concerns: Journalistic Essays

dear sunday, it was really chilly when I woke up this a.m. and it was still raining. We haven't had much rain this spring and so it is good. I love the rain and never complain when it comes down hard (with one exception....the Boston Marathon or ANY marathon for that matter unless the temps are warm, then it's welcome!).  

I snuggled in my bed with my heated mattress pad on for a while and didn't really want to get out of warm bed.  I showered and got dressed and headed downstairs and hung out with the boys. We did the sacrament and then I practiced the harp for almost two hours. I practiced my hymns since I rarely get to them. Teach Me To Walk in the Light was like sight reading because it's been so long since I have played it. It seems so much easier than it did when I began learning it two years or so ago but it's still challenging in some places. 
I then went upstairs and tried to rest for a bit. Fasting takes my energy level to about nil and I struggle to do much. Carson showed up not too long after and he was full of energy!  He set the table for us and we had a yummy roast dinner. I then made peanut butter bars and played with Carson in the tent. It was fun and he was in heaven. He was so excited!  

We then headed to Dave's parent's house to play games with the Toone's.  Sadly, Barry had already left, but we still had a lot of fun. Dave's mom and dad came out and we chatted with them a bit. His dad isn't looking so great lately. He looks tired and worn out. We played some game Sam taught us and then a psych game and then Taboo. It was fun. I just love that family!  Oh McKay!  He has us laughing at all times!

It was pouring when we left.  I can't stop eating those PB bars!  So yum!

Here is the recipe:

Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 1/2 cups peanut butter, divided
• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt

Frosting:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 4 Tablespoons cocoa powder
• 3 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, cream together butter, sugar and brown sugar together.
3. Add vanilla, eggs, and 1 cup peanut butter; stir to combine.
4. Add oats, flour, baking soda and salt and mix until well combined.
5. Spray a baking sheet (half sheet jelly roll pan that is approximately 17.8 x 12.8 x 1 inch) with nonstick cooking spray and spread out dough in an even layer.
6. Bake for 15 minutes and remove from oven.
7. Drop remaining peanut butter by spoonfuls on top of warm bars (I don't use the full 1 1/2 cups but around 3/4 to 1 cup) and spread when peanut butter has begun to melt.
8. Let cool until peanut butter has set up.
9. While cooling, mix together frosting ingredients with a hand mixer until smooth and spread on top of bars.

dear random, these guys had their pictures professionally taken in the poppies!  Sarah told Sky she heard a rattle like a rattlesnake and he told there that there is nothing to worry about and it was nothing.  A few days later people were posting that they had found "SEVERAL" rattlesnakes in the poppies and for people to be careful!  Yikes!

dear random,