Sugar, Spice and Cookies = Teenaged Girls In My House

Tonight, 4 of my favorite teenaged friends came over and helped make the first sugar cookies of the season.  I made the dough this morning and they helped roll, cut out and decorate!  

Courtney, a senior in HS this year, was quite proficient by the time she left.

 See?  She rolled this dough and the black nail polish is hers, 

as well as those perfect trees and tiny bears!

What lovely girls, and wow, can they make cookies!

They all pitched in and came up with some very creative decorative ideas!  

I've never had candy corn on these, have you?

Rachel thought of that; and they're delicious, all warm and melty out of the oven!

Or gummy bears...YUM!  The tiny bear cookie cutter prompted the mention of gummy bears, 

which I have, so out they came to be enjoyed in more ways than one!

And I've never seen sprinkles used as individual decorations like on this, Rachel's star.

They frosted some of the trees with my green, pumpkin frosting,  

adding traditional sprinkles to those, as well as the ever-popular gummy bears.

On the TV, I had 1954's White Christmas movie playing.  The girls admired the dresses, 

style, music, dancing and humor, including Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby's rendering of the song "Sisters."  I told them I could absolutely see 

some of my teen-aged Korean boy students doing something goofy like that; 

and we all agreed that we'd love for there to be more men in the world as silly as Bing and Danny!

Sammi, wearing Korean socks, 

danced with Rachel during one of Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen's numbers.  

They want to learn ballroom dancing.  All the girls admire the clothes, 

talent and brains of Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen.

Having been raised with all boys, filling my home up with teenaged girls is a treat!  Thank you, Moms and Dads, who raised these lovely, talented, darling young women.   

Sorry these photos aren't as cute as the girls are.

Snow, Baking and Amazon

Monday I go back to working (and begging for help at BYU's HBLL) on getting my files correctly formatted to upload a children's book onto Amazon. Want to share a bit of what I've learned: when they say you need 1/8th of an inch for a bleed page, they really mean 3/8ths; so, I'm going to make the borders 1/2 inch this time. In other words, if you want the book size to be 8" X 10", 

send them an 8.5" X 10.5" page. Ahhhhhh....!!! I spent the bulk of last week on this and bothered 
more than my fair share of HBLL employees.

Have finally completely gone back through all of my illustrations, along with the text, 

(all hand-lettered on overhead projector sheets with sharpies) 

to make sure there's enough of a "bleed" margin on each page, 

as well as what Amazon refers to as "a safe margin for error"--their error.  

Luna's introductory page is very problematic, because I only left what I thought 

was the necessary 1/8th inch at the top.  I don't know why.  Now I know better, have redone that lettering, and will be more careful with future projects--there WILL be future publications, 

but first there's this one.

Meanwhile, tomorrow I have a date with some darling teenaged girls 

and an old friend, their mom, to make sugar cookies!  

Earlier, I purchased and set all the ingredients out on the counter.  

What exactly IS cream of tartar, anyway?  

I mean, there's tartar sauce--is it derived from the same basic ingredient?  

Is it bad for your teeth?

Hmmm, I "Googled" it, and learned a bit about how they differ.  

Someone actually asked if you could substitute tartar sauce for cream of tartar 

in making cookies.  Funny people are everywhere.

There are definitely somethings I really love about the internet.  

It's come a long way since I first tried using computers to find anything.

And it's been snowing outside again all day.  I love it when I'm inside looking out.  Stupidly, I wore heals to the temple this morning.  It wasn't snowing, much, when I went in...Happily, being fully aware of the precarious nature of my footwear, I managed not to slip and fall, and have enjoyed the gorgeous, early wintery weather, listening to Christmas carols on CDs in the car 

and gathering ingredients for sugar cookies.  

Tis the season for frosty white windowpanes and frosted sugar cookies. 

They'll be on the next blog, along with, I hope, the news of Twinkle and Luna on Amazon!

Have to advertise for Karli, she's the gorgeous brunette in red!
She, along with all these other wonderful actors, are doing a series of audition pieces as part of their senior year performance requirements.
you might want to pop by on
Wednesday, December 11, 2013  at BYU's HFAC, from 7-9 pm, if you're around.
Also there's this:

It's December 10th and 12th at 8:00 PM in the HFAC on BYU campus and, 
as you can see above, it's FREE!  What a wonderful time to be alive and in Utah!

Deck the House to End November, Welcome December!

Thanksgiving at my brother, Tom, and his wife, Marji's house was delightful!  

My niece, Maegan's baby, Alyssa, was the bell of the holiday gathering.  

"Aunt Emily," mommy Maegan's sister, and my beautiful niece, too, 

is a natural with Alyssa, but I stole a few moments of my own.  

We need the other grandchildren, Cora and Elijah, closer to pass around!

Roasting a turkey is a compulsion, since I love leftovers and its wonderful aroma!
So, even though we ate a delicious Thanksgiving dinner at my brother's house,
I'm happy that my bird browned up nicely for sandwiches the following day.  

Karli and Jordan enjoyed my fireplace and lunch Friday afternoon;
and brought home, trimmed branches, set up and decorated the tree!
Hanging lights isn't on my list of favorite things to do, so I just fixed lunch and took pictures of the duo.  We had broiled whole wheat sandwiches with cheese, a smidgen of garlic, and turkey, with a baked yam, butter & sour cream.  These two definitely earned their lunch!

They insist they enjoyed putting on the lights and ornaments.

When I came home after seeing a movie with them, the tree looked so pretty--!
I've never had a lovelier tree in my home and it makes the room feel complete.

I found a few special ornaments the next day,
overlooked during the fun, busy and full previous afternoon.
Marji, made this one--she makes this lace by hand.
Her patience and skill baffle my mind!

Jordan, tried to attach the final star  (had to balance it in place later),
before we ate,  stopped at the local World Market, and then saw, well, a disappointing movie, Ender's Game.  Unlike the riveting novel it's based on,
the movie's only hope is that it might be a smash hit with adolescents. 

Last night, the newly weds held their own first Thanksgiving party in their apartment.
Judging by the Christmasy feel they brought to my home, it was a success! 

Having committed to having it out before Christmas,
my next goal, as Thanksgiving ends and the Christmas season begins,
 is to upload my little book, Twinkle and Luna, onto Amazon.

Here goes...can't wait until January to make this resolution.  New ones already claimed that month.
I'll post a link when I figure out how and it's available!
(The CD which belongs with it, will be done soon).  Wish me luck. ;-)

Logan, Transitioning and Thanksgiving

Spent this past week in Logan, Utah, cleaning, patching and painting my town home up there.  Views from Logan, along with the drive up from Brigham City 

among the most beautiful I know. 

So, I posted several photos last month of the Autumn views.  

Those mountain and farm views,

as well as a lack of factories and billboards, contributed to why

I purchased a property up there about 8 years ago 

(when my business was doing well--before the economy collapsed—

most of you know the drill)!  Welcome to my Logan Town home.

 Less than a month later, the mountain landscapes changed dramatically, as Mother Nature airbrushed the rocky angles with snow. 

When I first arrived a light dusting offset the shadows.

Through out the week however, fierce winds blew clouds in, carrying more powder and deepening every crevice and highlighting every tree.

I bought food, towels and a change of clothes

at nearby Walmart & Sam’s Club,

along with gallons of carpet cleaner, a small space heater and spackle;

and decided to stick around a little longer. I really do love the place and am deciding, while it’s empty and almost clean, if/when I’ll make it home.

When I first bought the place, mountains were visible from the front window; so, I painted this window and scene on the blank kitchen wall, reflecting what I saw.  Now there’s a retirement villa and church across the street. 

That’s totally ok—it insures peace and quite. 

We old folks don’t like noise!  The cool angles in the house, high ceilings, and huge attached garage won’t change either, and it suits me,

both artistically and pragmatically.

Logan is a quaint, old, small city, with a gorgeous temple

(I found this photo on the internet),

and tabernacle.  Years ago, I sat all alone inside, right next to that magnificent organ while it was being tuned.  The man tuning it played “Come Come Ye Saints” for me, gradually opening up each pipe until I was immersed in unearthly music, which melted away the veil of heaven.  I’ve loved that hymn ever since and have never heard the likes of that solitary concert before or since.  But, the Tabernacle hosts free concerts and lectures through out the year.

I adore old buildings and this tabernacle is a favorite.  Further,

buses take you wherever you want for free, if you reside in Logan.  But, the mountains are what have grown on me most, here in Utah.

Remnants of Autumn leaves and dried up fields, flanked by these snow-etched, exquisitely sublime, Rocky Mountains, consistently take my breath away. 

They dwarf every day scenes and put mortality into perspective.  Tree limbs, now shorn of their Autumnal elegance, transform into lace through which distant snowcapped peaks may be viewed.

When the light fades and angles blend into silhouettes, those bare branches celebrate the brilliance of both sunset and sunrise.  I had to pull over to try to capture a photo or 2 while driving home.  The intensity of color overpowered my little camera, but captured my sense of awe.

As the light faded slightly, a more accurate image resulted, and with that, I wish you the happiest of Thanksgivings.  

This year, I'll be with many of my family and am sitting by a fire typing. 

Many of those I love won't be able to join. 

“Through the years, we all may be together, if the fates allow.  Until then…

have yourself a merry little Thanksgiving NOW.”

What Falls also Rises, Happy Halloween!

Have you noticed how wonderful Fall leaves smell as they decay?  

Leaves not only look lovely, they fill the air 

with that wonderful Autumnal aroma we associate with the season of the harvest. 

 

  The same is true of flowers, fruits, grasses, and pretty much every type of vegetation.  Ordinary areas are transformed into glorious works of art.  We gather, frame and create crafts with them, 

and the most precious perfumes are founded from crushed flowers.  

Decomposing fields and forestation give off a delicious, homey and reassuring aroma as they die...

....unlike anything that moves around of its own volition.

Now, while I respect vegetarians, I still love the taste of poultry.  I buy a huge turkey to roast every year, to provide turkey meals for weeks, 

even months after Thanksgiving.  

But, while I think it's fun to cut up and carve faces in pumpkins, 

the mere idea of doing the same to a bird or beasty, no matter the breed, 

belongs in the worst kind of horror flicks.

The burger I had at Joe's in Provo, was the best I've ever eaten.  And, I avoid it for the sodium and fat content, but what doesn't taste better with bacon?  

Sorry, but it's true! But...

I'm a hypocrite.  I can't bear to watch an animal--any animal--die, 

much less kill it.  I don't like taxidermy and stuffed animal parts hanging on a 

wall are just creepy to me. 

I don't have a problem with hunters, I just have a problem with hunting.

 This is a topic which leaves lots of room for argument, but, 

who can argue that the odor of a dying animal is horrid

and grows more unbearable as it decays?  

Even dead bugs don't emit a scent we want to hold onto. 

Butterflies are used in displays, but I prefer photos, not real dead ones under glass; 

and the method of preserving them is rancid.  Ok, ok, what's my point?  

It's simply this: there's an order to life that's self-evident in the death.

Some things are meant to die and return at a later season.  Every phase of the life journey, from tiny seed, to sapling, flowering, harvest and beyond, 

each day and season is remarkably lovely and full of promise.

But, a flower, piece of fruit, or tree branch can't look back at you, produce and raise babies, or love.

I'm sad when a favorite tree, shrub or plant dies, but I don't miss it like I miss my Gideon.  

My son raised mice for a year, and we discovered that even mice, every single mouse, has a very different personality and dogs do show emotion.

So, the heck with scientific research, and various philosophical and theological creeds,

truth's revealed in life and death.  

Plants are meant to live and die, only to live again. 

However, everything that moves of its own accord, 

like the rest of us, is meant to and is going to live forever.   

That's what I believe.

Autumn to Fall

My favorite seasons fluctuate between Spring and Autumn, for obvious reasons: they're just so gorgeous!  Fall, is a season of fruition, coupled with an inherent sense of loss.  My mission in 日本 ended and my father passed away in mid-October, when the leaves are their most gorgeous. But, my son was subsequently baptized for Dad in the D.C. temple, a year later, on the same day. A dear niece, as well as a close friend's new baby share birthdays on the same day-October 11th, or 12th, 

depending on whether you're in Asia or the US.  

Autumn colors fade in Fall as leaves find their way to the ground.  The end of September is when the leaves look airbrushed with the most brilliant colors of the season, amidst surrounding rich greenery.

 It's a season of love and loss, gathering and letting go.  Some friends, with my son and his bride gathered in my home for a dinner party with curry stuffed into a cooked pumpkin this past Sunday!

My brother captured the gorgeous image below.  

Isn't it wonderful how some trees' leaves seem to unite in changing colors?

Varying shades of yellows, reds or oranges will transform the entire shrub or tree.  Jordan and Karli posed right here, before their wedding; what a gorgeous change in a few weeks!

While others transform and fall singly.  Autumn really does reflect the human condition of revelation as summer greens fade to reveal exquisite beauty or merely dismal browns.

Since October 14th was a holiday, I drove up to Logan.  I am deliberating over whether or not to move there eventually, in order to reduce debt.  Because I've loved the area since I first discovered it, I bought a town home in North Logan.  The drive up was breath-taking, as snow fell over the multi-colored trees and brush, like powdered sugar over mounds of candy-sprinkled sugar cookies!

But I don't have to go far to see gorgeous Autumn colors in Utah.  The trees all through out and right in front of my Midvale home put on a brilliant display to vie with the flowers every year!

Never-the-less, the mountain passage up to and returning from Logan is glorious in Autumn!  I've never experienced it before, and had to pull over several times to try to record some of the sights.

Actually, I've never really seen this season in Utah, because I was so preoccupied with college when I moved here to complete my degree.  All I saw was what was on campus at BYU, not that Provo isn't gorgeous too.  Here's another photo of Bridal Veil Falls, compliments of my brother, David again.

The combination of rock and Fall yellows is lovely--different from New England or Asia's Autumn displays, but equally stunning.  So, go out and take a walk, ride your bike or go jogging. 

Breath deeply and enjoy this season before the chill of winter sets in!

An old friend shared this quote with me, and it's so perfect; I had to add it:

"Autumn is a second spring, when every leaf becomes a flower." -Albert Camus