We held Girls Camp at my parents’ property in Spring Lake. I think the girls had a good experience. I know that I did.
Girls Camp 2015
Category: Extended family
Memorial Day
When I was writing my grandmother’s history a few years ago, I learned about two of her family members who were killed in WWII. Each was an only son of immigrants from Sweden. I want to remember them today. It is sad to me that they have no descendants to think of them on Memorial Day.
Pete Johnson’s son, Noble Johnson was killed on March 17, 1945 under the Remagen Bridge in Germany. He was a welder and working underwater to repair a part of the bridge when he was killed. He left behind his parents and a sister named Helen.
The other young man was Cerie’s cousin Harvey Nelson, who came home looking just fine after being wounded in the War. He died suddenly on May 7, 1949 from a piece of shrapnel that dislodged in his body. He was the only child of Judy, the widow of Waldemar Nelson.
It’s sobering to think of their sacrifice and their families’ grief. I can’t visit their graves, but I can write about them and honor their gift.
Look up!
Mark turns 9 years old today. We went to the Payson Temple open house this morning. It was a walking tour without a guide, but in one of the rooms, a volunteer reminded us to “look up.” The ceilings were glorious. Everything was special. It felt like home. I thought of my great-grandparents who had a farm one mile from the temple site. When I saw a painting of a woman with a basket of apples, I thought of my grandmothers who bottled fruit in this area during the Depression and beyond. I hope that Mark remembers some details of this magnificent temple and that it was part of his birthday celebration to be there. I hope that he and the kids remember to “look up” for approval, guidance, and perspective.
Spring Lake Easter Egg Hunt
Memories of General Conference, my parents’ mission reunion, and the Easter egg hunt at Spring Lake add some sparkle to my Monday morning thoughts. Mark told me that he wanted to give Easter gifts this year. He and I taught the cousins how to make their own wash cloth bunnies, complete with googly eyes and pom pom noses and tails. Oh, those crazy cousins. Mark didn’t want to to part with them after building forts and bunnies, playing in the Secret Garden, reading the funnies in the library, and having all the soda he could drink.
Hidden Renovations
I am thankful for this house and this neighborhood and to live in this state. But it doesn’t mean I don’t wish for more outlets, some ceiling fans, and hidden internet cables. Many of the renovations we have made on this house are not glamorous. There has been no high-style makeover and not even new carpet yet. But we (this is a loose term) work away at wiring, painting, repairing drywall, installing lights, building shelves in closets, fixing plumbing, and other things. We’re steady, but not very fast. We began in the basement and have completed most work there and this week we began the more difficult work on the main floor.
Richard and Rob spent a couple of days in the attic to wire for ceiling fans. This meant very messy work in tight spaces. I didn’t have the heart to take a picture of Rob, our treasured guest, just as dirty as Richard. It’s not something I want his wife Melinda to see. 😉
This summer the west-facing rooms will have ceiling fans with wall switches and this is a good step toward our goals for the rooms. Perhaps we will finish Paige’s room in time for her to move out!
My view from here
I think that Monday is my favorite day. The week still has possibilities at this point.
Monday is the day I pick up the weekend mess. We have neat and deliberate new holes in our walls from the new wiring in several rooms, thanks to Rob and Richard. There is a ceiling fan to buy and some furniture to move back into place. Most notably, there is no longer a network cable strung across the entry hall and hanging down the banister.
I think that Richard and Rob had a great weekend with skiing, home improvement projects, and a concert. I took a picture of Rob at a restaurant we visited. Our number just happened to be his new age.
The knee
Richard really hurt his knee while skiing a few weekends ago. Over the last two weeks he’s taken various days off from work to rest in bed and try to heal. His brother Rob is coming to town in a week and he wants to be healed so they can ski together. The reality is, Rob’s ski trip of epic proportion will probably not include Richard.
Richard yells out in pain now and then, even when it’s the middle of the night. Is it from physical pain or mental anguish? Maybe both.
On Saturday, my sister loaned him some crutches. Bionic Richard was then able to propel himself in great strides ahead of us. This made him lucky because we chose to visit BYU that day and it was one of the bleakest, coldest days we’ve had in a while. He could get between buildings long before any of us could.
The kids and I shopped the BYU bookstore until every aisle was exhausted in its possibilities for our happiness and entertainment. Richard languished in a corner of the store, found a chair, and then settled down for a nap. No one disturbed him because he looked so tired and was obviously physically challenged, his crutches propped against his chair. Sad, sad, sad.
The next day, church seemed to brighten Richard’s mood. The crutches were a source for conversation, opportunities for humor, and some sympathy. He came home and told me that he must have talked to every member of our congregation. That seemed to help him to perk up, even if he might have to go to a doctor.
He’s not had to use the crutches as much the past two days. His moaning has decreased, and he was active all day yesterday. We’ll hope that it’s the beginning of better days for Richard.
Birthday dinner
We met with Richard’s sisters and their families for dinner before the basketball tournament in Salt Lake. Simple gatherings like this are reason #852 that we are happy to live here.
Birthday Cake for Richard
Richard asked me to make this for his birthday today. We have this recipe from his mother. It is comforting, warm, old-fashioned, and full of butter and spice. Delicious.
Baked Apple Pudding
- 1/2 cube butter, softened (1/4 cup)
- 1 c sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 c unsifted flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 c grated, unpared apples
- raisins, nuts as desired (These are no-no’s at our house.)
Mix and bake in an 8-inch square pan for 35 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve with butter sauce. The result will be a dark brown, moist cake.
Butter Sauce
- 1/2 c butter
- 1 c sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 8-12 oz can of evaporated milk
- Sprinkle of nutmeg
Blend together in a saucepan. Warm but do not boil. Spoon butter sauce over cake and serve warm.
A few weeks ago, Richard came home unexpectedly early from work and I sang him this song. Minus the first few seconds, this song is awesome.
Pink Starry Starry Night
We have taken a couple of days off from our regular routines to reconnect with each other. I am related to each of these darling and amazing women.
Today I taught a little oil painting class to the group. I didn’t get a photo of one of the paintings, but here are most of them.
Then we painted these letters to hang in the craft room at Spring Lake. My mom pulled out her guitar and we sang songs as we painted. What a happy time.
Mine is the PINK Starry Starry Night “A.”
