Happy New Year!

I've never been much for the whole New Year's resolution tradition, too much public risk and disappointment, which is weird because basically I am a pretty open book, but there you go. I guess it's kind of like breaking a promise to myself or something... don't wanna do that!

However. Things and circumstance always change and change is always good. So in light of the newfangled year and all it brings, here's a bit of a 'to do' list if you will:

Remove the furnishings, carpeting and all, from the "girls" room. Then do the same with the "studio" (heretofore the "boys" room).

Put down commercial grade Berber in both rooms, add new floor moldings.

In the new "guest room" add: a queen sized bed, the "family" dresser, and hang some photos. All this to make access to the bathroom easier and more convenient for guests, and to make a nice place for little people to play and nap closer to mom, dad, and or grandparents.

In the studio: Paint the closet doors chocolate brown. Configure the best way to align solid shelving along one wall, leave enough space for the gynormo (yet fabulous) business desk (soon to be an artist's desk!). Rehang the paper stack and glass shelves and generally make the room back in to a studio.

Put the food storage in the guest closet - finally.

Hang blinds in the front room.

Make a cornice box for the front room window.

Add bark cloth faux drapes to the inside of the cornice box.

Find and purchase a 5x7 rug for the front room.

Hang stuff (to be determined later) on the front room walls.

Rehang the wall arrangement in the hallway.

Repaint the master bedroom.

Repaint the two dressers and two side chests in the master bedroom and add grass cloth inserts, decide if I need/want a headboard of same after seeing the finished furniture.

Paint. Paint on canvas. One painting (at least) per month.

Clear out the "shed" and reorganize the boxes out there. Learn E-Bay and/or garage sale the items and begin to de-clutter on a huge scale.

Use up the crafting materials I have on hand.

Make specific items for sale in two major city open air markets, summer, fall, and winter. Meaning I will have a schedule for assembly line type of crafting to build up product.

Learn loom knitting, which seems pretty easy from what I can tell so far.

Take at least ten photos per day in an effort to become a better photographer.

With Thor, empty out the garage of clutter and sell off what we haven't used in years. Organize it so that more space can be used for the gym equipment we already have.

As far as personal goals are concerned, they will remain personal. However some old habits will be renewed and some forgotten. Continue to work on self reliance and emergency preparedness, adding to and rotating what we already have.

I'll let you know how well the other goals come along and hopefully post some photos as the projects progress.

So Happy New Year everyone! I hope all your goals and resolutions are fun and fulfilled!

whining.

Although it's been well over a week since we had our little snow drop the feeling of cold still lingers. The first few days were filled with slushy banks and drizzling icicles, sparkling grounds and black ice on the asphalt where you least expected it. Bumper cars closed highways, and slick curves chained most drivers to the valley. But thaw it did and the sun shines brightly!

My son came by today with his children and wife. While the two little ones napped the eldest of the grandkids went outside to watch his dad wash all the cars; and then wax them! All this enthusiasm and I am still cold.

I have decided that I may not reach warmth again until late spring! One of my daughter in laws gave me an electric blanket for Christmas. It has been plugged in for every one of my waking hours. Delightful!

I find myself looking through the photo files of beach trips, Hawaii, and a sand castle competition. Seagulls fighting over fisherman's bait, hot coloured umbrellas on bleached sand, I can smell the scent of nose-coat zinc and SPF-15 just by looking at the pictures. Summer! Photos of waves crashing seem to help a bit.

Here's hoping the weather warms up soon! This California girl can't take much more!

Do One Thing! -Project Noah 18

Week 18: Obtain bag or duffel for 72 hour kit.

Hint: Each family or individual should have portable container(s) with emergency supplies such as the following: water, food requiring no refrigeration or cooking (graham crackers, canned fruits, canned meats), medications and critical medical histories required by family members, change of clothing, including 2 pairs of stockings; sanitary supplies; first aid booklet and equipment; candles; matches; ax; shovel; can opener; and blanket. The container should be placed where it can be picked up at a moment's notice.

MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR - BETELEHEMU - NIGERIAN CAROL

Sissel - In The Bleak Mid-Winter

In the bleak midwinter, frost wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
but his mother only, in her maiden bliss,
worshiped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
yet what I can I give him: give my heart.

O Holy Night

Merriest of Christmas to one and all!

Do One Thing! -Project Noah 17

Week 17: Hydrogen peroxide and alcohol. (no, not that kind...well, who am I to judge! Do what you got to do!)

Hint: Learn First Aide and "Treating Bleeding". If you have already learned these skills, review them or renew your CPR certification, take a new class at the Red Cross, or perhaps go to the local Community College and get even more education!

an addendum...

You know it's interesting, this business of trying to be prepared for...whatever! This past week we here in the desert of southern California have experienced all kinds of weirdness. The thing that I brought away from it all is that I am uncomfortable. Wah. Someone call the Wambulance, S'mee is uncomfy. That said I know I am not as prepared for freak snow as I could be. Not enough insulating blankets, not enough warm sweaters, not enough housing closer to the equator.

People have been stuck in less than favourable circumstances: terminals across the country from where their transportation of choice cannot arrive or depart, or perhaps a friend' home because lack of utilities in entire states has been shut off -all because some snowflake got a power trip.

So as Thor and I spent the night apart (stupid snow!) I was glad that he had someplace to stay that was warm and welcoming. I was also glad that I knew how to take care of things here at home if that over night stay became more of a week a part. People in my neck of the woods are not prepared for snow like we experienced, no shovels, no city road equipment to appropriately clear roads (I could rant on that, but I won't), and the stores were depleted of things like Presto Fire Logs and ice scrapers; not to mention that if Thor couldn't get here, neither could the trucks that deliver little luxuries like food and fuel.

Time to think back on recent days and make a list that would help us if this happened again. hmmm, what would make my being stuck in an airport easier? (What could I actually pack in my carry on baggage? That's a tough one! Any ideas? Please share!) If I had to leave my home, or welcome others into it, what should I have on hand? Do I have anything that would help me stay home instead of evacuating when the power goes out?

Sometimes we can prepare and prepare and we still will get stuck. However, if we can grab a few things now that can make a difference later, why not do it?

If anyone has information or ideas, please share! Thanks!

Just call me Sam McSmee...

As a little girl I remember my dad reciting this entire poem from memory complete with dramatic gestures and wide eyes in all the appropriate places. Now, as I sit in a living room on a quiet afternoon I am drawn back to this memory and I sympathize with Sam...
The Cremation of Sam McGee


There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
I cremated Sam McGee.

Now Sam McGee was from Tennessee,
Where the cotton blooms and blows.
Why he left his home in the South to roam
'Round the Pole, God only knows.
He was always cold, but the land of gold
Seemed to hold him like a spell;
Though he'd often say in his homely way
That he'd "sooner live in hell".

On a Christmas Day we were mushing our way
Over the Dawson trail.
Talk of your cold! through the parka's fold
It stabbed like a driven nail.
If our eyes we'd close, then the lashes froze
Till sometimes we couldn't see;
It wasn't much fun, but the only one
To whimper was Sam McGee.

And that very night, as we lay packed tight
In our robes beneath the snow,
And the dogs were fed, and the stars o'erhead
Were dancing heel and toe,
He turned to me, and "Cap," says he,
"I'll cash in this trip, I guess;
And if I do, I'm asking that you
Won't refuse my last request."

Well, he seemed so low that I couldn't say no;
Then he says with a sort of moan:
"It's the cursed cold, and it's got right hold
Till I'm chilled clean through to the bone.
Yet 'tain't being dead -- it's my awful dread
Of the icy grave that pains;
So I want you to swear that, foul or fair,
You'll cremate my last remains."

A pal's last need is a thing to heed,
So I swore I would not fail;
And we started on at the streak of dawn;
But God! he looked ghastly pale.
He crouched on the sleigh, and he raved all day
Of his home in Tennessee;
And before nightfall a corpse was all
That was left of Sam McGee.

There wasn't a breath in that land of death,
And I hurried, horror-driven,
With a corpse half hid that I couldn't get rid,
Because of a promise given;
It was lashed to the sleigh, and it seemed to say:
"You may tax your brawn and brains,
But you promised true, and it's up to you
To cremate those last remains."

Now a promise made is a debt unpaid,
And the trail has its own stern code.
In the days to come, though my lips were dumb,
In my heart how I cursed that load.
In the long, long night, by the lone firelight,
While the huskies, round in a ring,
Howled out their woes to the homeless snows --
O God! how I loathed the thing.

And every day that quiet clay
Seemed to heavy and heavier grow;
And on I went, though the dogs were spent
And the grub was getting low;
The trail was bad, and I felt half mad,
But I swore I would not give in;
And I'd often sing to the hateful thing,
And it hearkened with a grin.

Till I came to the marge of Lake Lebarge,
And a derelict there lay;
It was jammed in the ice, but I saw in a trice
It was called the "Alice May".
And I looked at it, and I thought a bit,
And I looked at my frozen chum;
Then "Here," said I, with a sudden cry,
"Is my cre-ma-tor-eum."

Some planks I tore from the cabin floor,
And I lit the boiler fire;
Some coal I found that was lying around,
And I heaped the fuel higher;
The flames just soared, and the furnace roared --
Such a blaze you seldom see;
And I burrowed a hole in the glowing coal,
And I stuffed in Sam McGee.

Then I made a hike, for I didn't like
To hear him sizzle so;
And the heavens scowled, and the huskies howled,
And the wind began to blow.
It was icy cold, but the hot sweat rolled
Down my cheeks, and I don't know why;
And the greasy smoke in an inky cloak
Went streaking down the sky.

I do not know how long in the snow
I wrestled with grisly fear;
But the stars came out and they danced about
Ere again I ventured near;
I was sick with dread, but I bravely said:
"I'll just take a peep inside.
I guess he's cooked, and it's time I looked"; . . .
Then the door I opened wide.

And there sat Sam, looking cool and calm,
In the heart of the furnace roar;
And he wore a smile you could see a mile,
And he said: "Please close that door.
It's fine in here, but I greatly fear
You'll let in the cold and storm --
Since I left Plumtree, down in Tennessee,
It's the first time I've been warm."

There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
I cremated Sam McGee.

Mary did you know?

This is a beautiful presentation of the song, enjoy!

It's what Christmas is all about...

Jewel - Winter Wonderland

Weather or not I like it...

So here it goes. Thor had to spend the night with his folks, he and his brother were both stuck behind a road closure. (read: any freeway that connects lower SoCAL to upper SoCAL is CLOSED!) But he got to spend some good visiting time with the parental units, so it's all good!

Here, the scenery is all white and sparkly, glittering and misty snow covered everything. The cars and trucks have begun to speed by on the highway across the street and I am waiting to hear some of them play bumper cars soon. Ahhh stupidity! But Dude! They look "cool" as they fly by kicking up snow dust! There is a slight breeze that keeps blowing the top flakes off the fence tips, which is like tiny faeries flying across the fields. Pretty. And for the first time ever we have icicles dripping of our roof, who knew it was possible?

My hair appointment was canceled this morning (her hubby also stuck behind a closure), so when you see me underneath the mistletoe this year, I'll be the one who looks like the abominable snowman.

Final snow count at S'mee's house? Just under 7 inches at 5:30 this morning.

Oh the weather outside it frightful!

O.k. Here's the thing: I'm not a snow bunny, never have been. I like my weather warm and near something sandy with crashing waves. So every third or so year when we get snow, I get, kind of ho hum about it.

That said, it does look very pretty. It started out about 9:00a.m. and then just kept coming. Large wet quarter sized flakes that didn't stick too much at first, but after an hour or so it got pretty thick.

The town just about five miles south of us got 18 inches by 4:00. By 5:00 we had 6 inches, although it just wouldn't show up in the photos. It has continued to snow since then, but frankly, I stopped checking the depth at that last 6 inches. Oy.




Oh, and on a side note... Thor made it through and down the freeway just before it closed. He had to stay at his parents house because once he went through they closed it for good. wah!

bad news, good news

Bad news: It's snowing. Sideways. I live in the desert people, THE desert. Known for it's arid climate and ridiculous heat in the summer. And unfortunately,occational snow in the stupid wintertime. Yup. Snow. grrrr.

Good news: If Thor can't get through a major highway, then he has to turn around and come home! Wahoooo for SNOW!

Do One Thing! -Project Noah 16

Week 16: Year supply of garden seeds rich in Vitamin A&C appropriate for area (no hybrid). Please rotate your seed! Most seeds are only viable for five years, so don't just store them - plant them!

Hint: Every yard/home has space for a garden. Part of the lawn, play area, or flower garden may be converted to a garden. Vegetables may be grown in window boxes or pots. Plant the garden where it will receive at least 4 - 6 hours of direct sunshine each day. The soil should drain well, and an adequate source of water should be available.

Bigger greener Hint: Avoid nasty GMO seed that may be "Round Up Ready"(meaning they have been genetically modified to produce one crop then die, and never reseed!) Please explore these sites for fabulous heirloom Non-GMO seeds that are full of flavour and nutrition as God intended it!


Bountiful Gardens (my favourite!)

Baker Creek

Heirloom Seeds

Heirloom Acres

Victory Seeds

Seed Savers

Vegetable Seeds (having a sale right now!)

Seed Fest U.K.

Magic Garden

John Denver - Muppets Christmas - The 12 Days Of Christmas

Seriously? This is one of my all time favourite Christmas songs...but only this version, all other versions of this song make me want to drill a hole in my head. I just love the Muppets. L.O.V.E. the Muppets.

I also very much enjoy the Muppet version of Little St. Nick, but I couldn't find a video of that for you, which made me sad. It's the bomb. Especially Animal, who takes my heart every time with his "run Run RUN!" in the chorus.

All in all you have a pretty hard time beating the good Christmas feeling you get from the whole "John Denver and The Muppets Christmas Album". Yup, one of the best.

Diaper Cake Complete Tutorial

Jewel - Go Tell It On The Mountain

Another one of my favourites. If you haven't heard Jewel's Christmas album you are missing out. She has something for everyone. Classical to yodeling, scat and jazz to Gospel soul... I love it.

nat king cole - the christmas song

O.k. I'm going out on a limb here and admitting that when I heard this song, particularly this version, I get all warm, fuzzy, and yes, even a tad weepy inside. Gushy gooshy, gushy! Can't help it, I'm a fan.

Enjoy!

We need a little Christmas

As a little kid I remember Christmas being a really exciting time, well even as an adult I still get all hepped up as I consider the possibilities that come this time of year.

President* David O. McKay (1873–1970) declared: “True happiness comes only by making others happy—the practical application of the Savior’s doctrine of losing one’s life to gain it. In short, the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit, that makes our hearts glow in brotherly love and friendship and prompts us to kind deeds of service.

“It is the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ, obedience to which will bring ‘peace on earth,’ because it means—good will toward all men.”

Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas spirit. Enemies are forgiven, friends remembered, and God obeyed. The spirit of Christmas illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world’s busy life and become more interested in people than things.

To catch the real meaning of the “spirit of Christmas,” we need only drop the last syllable, and it becomes the “Spirit of Christ.

My friend Carolyn has two traditions in her family. One is to find a family in need and then she spends the exact amount on that family as she does on her own. There is no difference to her. She also places beautifully wrapped gifts under her tree as they come into the house. There to be admired and wondered about as the weeks progress towards Christmas. Each gift has a tag with a name. The week before Christmas she has a family night, and at the end of the lesson, each person goes to the tree, chooses a gift, and gives it to the Salvation Army. The idea was, that because they had no idea what they were choosing to give away, they wouldn't miss it. Carolyn told me one year that even she winces a bit, because she does know what they are giving away, and sometimes it is the gift she wished to give them most. But she reminds me, someone else may need it much more than her family, who have warmth and food and shelter beyond what is considered "need". She is an amazing example to me.

Not too long ago, we hadn't had work for over two years and money was tight. Fewer presents would be under the tree, and the dinner, well it wasn't going to be gourmet, but we weren't eating "holiday hot dogs" as I had as a child!

Our family was young, our kids had always had what they needed but had never been indulged with every toy they wanted, so this particular year wouldn't be much of a change. Toys, a few, and maybe some needed clothes from Santa. We also had set a bit aside to help another "someone" who, we felt, needed our help. We hopped in the car full of anticipation and secrets and made our midnight run with a car full of little elves too young to leave on their own. Everyone was singing silly Christmas songs and searching the skies for Rudolph's red nose blinking in the dark until we arrived at our determined place and then, as stealthily as we could, we placed our meager offerings on the porch of our intended family and with a quick rap on the door - we left, unnoticed.

By the time we got home all the kids were completely asleep. We began to carry them into the house when, to our surprise, someone had played "Secret Santa" with our family! Both Thor and I were completely surprised! Who knew we were "the family" in need? The porch was filled with small cars for the boys, a couple of dolls for the girls, a bolt (yes a complete bolt) of fabric, a large plug in push button telephone (I am still wondering about that one, but hey, someone was being thoughtful!),a bottle of perfume that was about a third gone (someone was sacrificing their perfume so that I would have some! ) and a recycled tie for Thor, among other gifts that I have forgotten over the years. Our Christmas was added upon and we felt both humbled and blessed by the generous offerings.

As a little girl I remember being the kid who had less than the neighbors, yet always, always, mom made sure we found someone who had even less than we. I am grateful for that lesson. I look back on our runs to "Mars Family Discount" with the money we had earned from neighborhood chores, recycling pop bottles, or squirreling away over the year. We would choose small toys and items we wanted and knew they would be fun for the other kid we were trying to help. It was a yearly tradition that has lasted a life time.

This year, as we are fast approaching the day of days, the celebration of our Lord's birth, let us become as the Wise Men of old, let us bring our gifts to the Saviour and become His hands as we serve and give to those around us. May we find someone who needs our love, our hope, our forgiveness, and our substance.

* President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Do One Thing! -Project Noah 15

Week 15: First aid cream and tape, cotton balls and ace bandage.

Hint: An important emergency precaution is to have tetanus immunizations up to date - at least every 10 years.

Christmas Mice

Alrighty! Tis the season for all things sweet and loverly, and Christmas at S'mee's house just wouldn't go off right without a houseful of Christmas Mice. These super easy, super yummy cherry and chocolate treats are just the thing for getting you in good with the neighbors or, as in my case, my father in law...who can't get enough of them when he pops over Christmas Day.

Set aside about an hour and before you know it...you'll be in need of a people trap to keep certain folks from eating all your hard work before company can enjoy them!

Just FYI:

The electrician and his RN are expecting a BOY!


(coming to a nursery near you Mother's Day, 2009)

Gimme an "A"!

In my senior year of high school I was a cheerleader. I hate to admit it, but I was. I tried out as a favour to my best friend and actually made it - to pretty much every one's absolute surprise. I don't want to misinform anyone here, our school was not known for its competitive squad, athletic cheerleaders and/or "professionalism". I was o.k., I kept up, but certainly, as squads go, this group and particularly myself, weren't stellar. We didn't have an adult adviser or a coach; we just set aside our P.E. period and went through our drills and stunts and whoever shoved the others hardest was in charge. We went to 'cheer camp' and learned the new year's routines and a few stunts, pyramids and that kind of junk, chants, and how to run a pep rally.

One of our favourite stunts was a combination on a "Russian" (um, not me in the photo, some gal named "Katie" from stock photos. Go Katie!). While we were in the air doing our "Russian" it looked pretty awesome. But the real stunt - the crowd pleasing stunt- was the landing... flat on our knees... not our feet, our literal knees. It took a bit of practice to land on your knees and not have it kill you, but after a couple of days we all mastered it. It was a combination of "WOW!" and "OH MY HECK!" from the audience as they not only saw us land but heard the sound of our knees against the hard woods. Ka BAM!

We enjoyed performing this stunt during every game, several times, sometimes multiple times in the same routine. A rippled, BONK! BONK! BONK! BONK! BONK! BONK! or one extremely loud CLUNK! altogether. It got huge applause and gasps every single time.

So one year in my youth was spent doing our famous Russian Knee Drop over and over and over again. When I talk with other cheerleaders I realize that, although we were pretty lousy, we were nothing if not supportive. If there was a sport, we cheered it. Everything from football to track to baseball, basket ball, volleyball, wrestling, gymnastics, swim meets, you name it we went there and cheered like idiots...and each event had at least two or three Russian knee drops.

Fast forward to a few Tuesdays ago when while walking around Texas my left knee decided it was going on strike. NO. MORE. WALKING! After waiting two weeks to see an orthopedic doc the conclusion is that you get what you pay for...or rather, you pay for what you did in your youth.

Diagnosis: "You were dumb. Now you're old. Stinks to be you." The damage I did to my knees has caught up. My knee caps no longer align (which is not uncommon as we grow older), little bits of broken cartilage under the knee cap (big surprise), the muscles around my knees have no clue what "body building" means, and the kicker: I have a lot (read: more than normal for my age and circumstance) a lot of arthritis under my knee caps and a good amount around the knees in general. Fun!

So the dear doctor got out his needle and shot my knee and under my knee cap full of cortisone (which is really a delightful five minutes...everyone should try that! Or not.) Along with the cortisone he gave me a zillion doses of heavy duty Motrin to take to reduce the inflammation. He also gave me a brace to help push my knee cap in the groove, and two sets of muscle strengthening exercises that involve a ball, a chair, and a wall (actually pretty easy...who knew?) Contrary to popular belief ice really doesn't help anything, it works more as a placebo than anything real, so yippi on that note...I'm not a fan of cold knees.

Oh and if any of you are going to the gym and are using this machine (the one that uses your leg to pull up the rolled bar) the doc says this should be outlawed -it's that bad for your legs and or knees. Just FYI.

So now I limp a bit, much less than the last couple of weeks, but still, and the doc says this might be the walk of choice for me now. I am an old sweater, as he put it. (I'd explain, it's kind of long, but it made sense when he said it.) There ain't no fixin' an old sweater. You can patch it, but you can reweave the darned thing.

In the long run it could be worse, but for now, I am just hanging around, wishing it had come after Christmas was put up and then celebrated and then taken down. For now, this year, Christmas will go undressed.

oh Veeeeenus......

Jupiter, Venus, and the Moon over the boulders at Indian Cove, Joshua Tree National Park.

Drive by Shooting

Do One Thing: Week 14

Week 14: Bandages.

Hint: Make sure you have emergency provisions for pets.

Standard First Aid Supplies: adhesive tape, ammonia, antibiotic ointment, bicarbonate of soda, calamine lotion, diarrhea remedy, elastic bandages, gauze bandages, hot water bottle, hydrogen peroxide, ipecac syrup (induces vomiting), knife, matches, measuring cup, medicine dropper, needles, paper bags, razor blades, rubbing alcohol, safety pins, scissors, soap, thermometer, triangular bandages, tweezers, first aid book, prescription medications, consecrated oil. First aid kits and supplies should be checked and replenished regularly. All supplies should be labeled and organized for fast use.

Carlton's Log: A Capital Idea