We all should be so dedicated. . .

So my YW partner calls me last week to tell me she won't be there this week and that the only member beehive we have will be out of town as well. So there "might" be the one non-member girl who occasionally shows up, but she has called her and informed her that she will be the only girl and it's a Beehive/Deacon activity with the deacons in charge (oh, help!). So I go tonight, thinking I'll only be there for the opening song and then leave. Well....she's there. OK, I'll muddle through a corny Deacon activity in the gym and go home early. What??? We're going to the local swamp to pick up trash??? It's 30 below zero out there and it's almost dark!!!! I talk like crazy in the car on the way to the swamp, telling the only Beehive that I will take her anywhere - do anything - rather than go to the swamp. Oh no, she really wants to go pick up trash. OK, I agree, but I'm staying in the car!!!! So I do and she does and we all go back and eat 3 donuts at the Church. It feels so good to be a dedicated Beehive Leader.

P.S. It's only partly a swamp. It does have walking trails in it and is semi habitable. They did find a "hobo" spot with Top Ramen wrappers. He had moved on.

The teacher of the year making applesauce with her class. I still haven't washed all the stuff. . .

Another camping trip?

Yes, it was off to the mountains again in our RV. We took Tater and Emmy to Cascade and had a blast. Lots of bike rides, roasting some stale marshmallows, a fox sighting, and lots of memories were all part of the trip.

Dreams Do Come True

This is my new longarm sewing machine. Isn't it just awesome!!! The table is almost 12 feet long, so I can do BIG quilts. Tonight I'm putting a quilt on so I can try it out!

Not Your Typical Family Pet

First, just let me say this is a true story.
I'm out garage saling with my friend and we drop by her daughter's house. She asks, "Do you want to see the pig?" "Sure!" I reply, thinking I'm going to see their stuffed animal collection. So they holler out the back door for Oscar to "come", and sure enough, here he comes. He proceeds to walk in a circle and sit on command and gets a pig treat afterwards. He is a pot-bellied pig (I thought he was pregnant) and is their family pet. I wonder if they're planning on using him for Easter dinner?

Latest Quilt

This is almost finished. The binding is being sewn on during TV time. This is one I actually chose the colors for myself.

Thankful

Last night for Young Womens, we went over to a ward family's house to clean. They have 5 kids and the 2 youngest are autistic. We had heard the mom was feeling overwhelmed and needed some help. The house did need some serious cleaning, but while we were there the oldest of the 2 autistic boys was there and needed constant attention. He pushed a screen out the window, threw things, was yelling and generally causing trouble. I could totally understand why this woman had no time to clean her house. This child needed constant attention! I think the other one had already gone to bed.

When I got home, I told Paul that I would much rather have the trials that I have had than have hers. I felt so bad for this poor woman and keep wondering what else we can do to help her. My plan is to make her dinner once in a while and take it over. Thank you Heavenly Father for giving me beautiful, healthy, teachable children and grandchildren!

Carrot Ice Cubes?

I know this may look like some nasty carrots, but actually, they are "peach ice cubes". Yes, I said peach ice cubes. I took some peaches and peeled them (you could possibly get away with not peeling them if you want that "fuzzy" feeling) and then put them in the blender with some Fruit Fresh. Then I poured the mixture in ice cube trays and voila! The perfect afternoon snack on a hot day. Or put a few in the crystal light pitcher to add some nutrition. Or add them to your morning smoothie (along with the cantaloupe Karen) to make it nice and cold. This wasn't actually my idea, but I'm not telling whose it really was (Liz) because I want all the credit.

A New Restaurant?

While trying to fall asleep one night, I came up with an idea for a new restaurant - Fredricka's All You Can Eat French Toast. Who doesn't love french toast??? The plan is this:

1. When customers first walk in, they see the French Toast Bar. The first thing they choose is what kind of bread (a myriad of choices would be available).

2. Then they choose what flavoring to add to the egg mixture it will be dipped in. I envision this as the same choices as milkshake flavors.

3. After the bread has been dipped in said flavored egg mixture, it goes through an oven similar to those in pizza restaurants, where it rolls slowly and is baked to perfection.

4. When it comes out the other side, you then choose your toppings - flavored syups, nuts, fruit, whipped cream, M&Ms, chocolate chips, nuts, chocolate syrup, raisins, cranberries, Hershey kisses, etc.

5. Then you advance to your table and enjoy.

Is this a great idea or what???? Who wants to be an investor?

Our second weekend camping in the motor home. We love it so much and are constantly comparing it to tent camping and saying how much more fun, how much easier, how much more convenient, how much more comfortable, how much warmer (we have a furnace!), how clean your fingernails stay, etc., etc. We spent one night at Bonneville Hot Springs near Stanley. The hot springs were REALLY hot, and we left just as the nude bathers appeared on the scene. We spent the next night at Tie Creek near Garden Valley with a stop at Kirkham Hot Springs in between. There was also a trip to the quilt store in Garden Valley where a minimum amount of money was spent. I'm afraid we're going to become addicted to this lifestyle!

So, have you ever noticed all the black spots in the parking lot when you walk into a store? We all know them as discarded gum that has been stepped on 8,563 times. My question is - will the entire parking lot be covered with gum at some point? I mean really, if we just keep spitting out gum, eventually will old gum take over? Soon, will we have to climb over mounds of old gum just to get into the store? Will it get stickier as time goes on? Will they come up with a use for recycled gum (personally, I think using gum chips as packaging material would be better for the environment)? Will greedy children try to chip out a piece to re-chew? Will it become a job for the orange-vested group? Could we re-pave the freeway with it? I think this is definitely something we should work on. The heck with health care - what's Obama's plan for used Trident?

Oh, the joys of having 2 peach trees in your back yard. I can't stand to see these peaches go to waste, so every night I go home and can like a mad woman. Who care if there are a few earwigs or rotten spots--just get those peaches in the jars as fast as you can. I can't wait to give them to my kids for their food storage.