I flew in on a jet plane

It seems I have been remiss in updating many persons. The answer is- Yes, I AM currently in Utah. I know, I know, it's only been two months and I should be working and finding a place of my own and all that jazz (believe me, I KNOW!). Well, I do start working...but not until next Monday. I was 'hired' more than a month ago, but the first orientation group they could squeeze me into wasn't until the end of this month.
This week turned out quite fortuitous for me visiting 'my' girls and assorted loved ones I've been missing like crazy. Kate finishes this semester, well, yesterday. She has 6 weeks off and is headed home this weekend. My dad planned a trip out here to coincide with driving Kate home, but mainly to wrap things up with my Aunt/Uncle re. my Grandma's will and remaining possessions that have yet to be divvied up. I only had to buy a one way ticket out and will get to help them drive the Budget truck and my grandparents Explorer back.
Oh, and did I mention that the title to my car has gone AWOL? The registration ran out the end of June, but I didn't renew in UT because I knew I would be registering it out east. So, instead, it's holed up at my parents' and I'm driving one of their vehicles. After getting the run around with the DMV and bank (apparently the bank didn't release the lien 2 YEARS AGO!), I'm not much closer to having a copy of the title yet. I just hope I can apply for it via mail. So, that's my life this while. At least this week has been eventful and not boring for a change! :)
Pictures of my week to come eventually...

And so it goes

The old outbuilding behind the house was threatening to fall down.

Tom and Sam replaced the screendoors for Mom.

I went to KC for a couple of weeks, both for jobhunting and comfort's sake. It rained....a LOT.

The strawberry crops were doing great while I was home.

For Fathers' Day, I made cheesecake, with a peach topping made from peaches frozen in last year's harvest. It was so hot that I spent the time that night in the kitchen, cooking, literally dripping with sweat.

Nature took its course, along with the rain, humidity and heat to topple the outbuilding. That and a little help from Sam and his friend. They took every opportunity to play basketball, and hanging from the hoop on the building.

Mom, Margo, and I hiked up the big hill to pick 'goomy'(sp?) berries. Once again, soooo hot. My feet were sloshing in my own sweat in my boots, but the alternative was risking walking through poison ivy unprotected.

Meet the newest members of our family. Duke and Daisy. They were wandering near my parents' place for about a week, somewhat emaciated. Once my parents and Sam started feeding them, they made themselves at home and have joined the gang. We have reason to believe Daisy may provide us with a litter of puppies sometime this summer.

Sam finds this activity "quite fun". What you can't see is that the lower branch is higher than Mom's head. (5'8")

Tom, Margo, Sam and I made a new Green Valley Farm sign for Fathers' Day. I worked up the lettering on PSE, printed it on cardstock, taped the pages together, cut the letters out with an 'Exacto' knife, and stenciled the letters with dark green paint. I found that oil paint+heat+humidity does not equal good things. The letters ran a bit and will need to be touched up with a fine brush. Tom and I thought it would be humorous to make the sign temporarily say "Green Valley Funny Farm"...at least until after Dad saw it.
So, that is the update, other than I ran away back to Kansas City (with several projects in tow), to escape back to airconditioning and dehumidifiers. I have until the 27th of this next month before I even begin orientation for my new job. Wish me luck on not going crazy with boredom!!!

Lumpiness

"Would you like one lump or two with that bed, ma'am?"
"Oh, I think I'll take two please."
"Any preferences?"
"Yes, I think I'd like one 'fraidy' cat lump and one copy cat lump, thanks!"

Love present

This week has been one of great stress and emotional upheaval for me. I can tell Heavenly Father knows this and He gave me a beautiful gift yesterday. This is my first rose of the year. Isn't is marvelous?!

BLUE

When looking through my pics from yesterday, Abby's eyes leapt out at me from this one. Just had to share! :)

{Forgive the typos! I didn't see them until I pulled this up full size!}

Choo Choo

Lacey spent the night last night. We spent a fun evening at the mall, putting together a cute monkey for Lacey at Build a Bear, and a bit of shopping here and there. I think I created a monster, Lacey loved shopping so much! So much fun!

Today, we met up with the Ralphs, Johnsons, Grandma and Grandpa Tanner, and Zachary, at Union Station in Ogden. There was one of the few remaining steam engines in operation on show there and we could climb on several older trains that no longer run. The kids were thrilled and it was also so much fun!

I love weekends like this!

Musings

There are loads of bonuses that come along with warmer weather. Along with GREEN, baby animals, longer daylight hours and sunshine, there is one notable phenomena that brightens the days.
I mean the drastic slowing of the growth of extraneous body hair...at least on us females.
Somehow, when the cold creeps in, our bodies react instinctively as if we are in great need of a fur covering to keep warm. Luckily, this occurs during the months that we wouldn't care to bare our limbs to the extremes or to view.
When warmth creeps back into our lives and we wish to wear such items as shorts, swimsuits, t-shirts, and other limb baring attire, it is as if Mother Nature cranks back the hair growing power. Time needed between shaving, waxing, bleaching, and/or depillatory action grows longer, skin is smoother and the world is a brighter place.
So, here's for warm weather! Let's hope it lasts this time!!!

Recent life...scrapped

Crazy mountain spring!

Spring just can't seem to make up its mind to be here or not.
Last Thursday, it reached about 80F here. We spent the afternoon at the zoo. The lovely weather encouraged the animals to be active and the girls enjoyed it immensely. Jayne spent the night at my house that night. While I cooked dinner, she 'fished' off my deck with my jumprope. We put together puzzles and watched part of Pinocchio after dinner, until her bed time. The apartment was so warm that I had to turn on the A/C to cool it down enough to sleep.
This weather didn't last. By Friday night, the weather had cooled drastically and it was chilly and rainy the rest of the weekend. I even had to add another blanket to my bed last night so I could sleep. Ah, the contradictions of spring in the mountains!
Today was bright, sunny, and windy. Tammy, the girls, and I took advantage of the day and stepped out on the Jordan River Parkway. Tammy took off with the stroller and two younger girls the first half. Sara and I walked that half together. Her poor 6 year old legs had enough, and after a few minutes on a playground with Jayne (Abby had fallen asleep), the three of them piled into the stroller and Tammy and I took turns pushing it while alternatively fastwalking/jogging back. Great exercise!
Oh, I had a call this morning from a nursing recruiter at one of the hospitals I applied at. She called before I was up, and when I returned her call, I got her voicemail. Maybe she'll call back tomorrow?!
Well, that's all she wrote folks... Next installment another day!

Life Lessons Learned

1. Jobhunting SUCKS!
2. Make sure your driving instructions are clear and that your navigator makes sure to read the entire directions, not just the first half of one or more.
3. KC has TONS of highways, and exits!
4. There is NO HWY 360 in KC, there is a 35 and a 670, and combining them does not create a new highway.
5. When you are feeling totally lost, if you verbalize such, you'll shortly find your way.
6. When you say you think you probably know where you are, you're hopelessly lost.
7. Governmental paper processing processes are really confusing!
8. Trust the person with the map, do not argue, you will miss your turnoff.
9. Having a family with connections can save you tons of money and keep you well fed.
10. Feed the black hole of need.(the black hole is so cute and lovey)
11. Even when you are sicky sick with the stomach flu, being with your family can make the day good.
12. Art museums are way cool, just make sure you set aside the WHOLE day to visit them.
13. Take pictures. They last longer.
14. If someone hands you an application for a job, out of the blue, even if the job is totally unrelated to what you are looking for, fill it out anyhow.
15. BREATHE!
16. If you know for a fact what you are doing is what Heavenly Father wants you to do, it WILL work out. It may be scary as all get out, difficult, and heartwrenching, but you will grow and be blessed.