how can you not love arizona in the spring??

never a dull moment

80's day at the high school. It is amazing what you can find in one short trip to the thrift store. Their spirit week at school was a little creative - fake injury day, 80's exercise day, hillbilly day, little kid day. Melanie embraces it all. I asked her if she ever worried that she would be dressed up on the wrong day, or worried that no one else would be dressed up. She responded like that was the most ridiculous question - there would be just that much greater spotlight on her! Melanie had a cooking goal for her personal progress. Is it too much to ask for a mother to take one nice picture to document the work???

Never mind getting a decent photo. You did a good job, Mel. It was a nice treat to have you make us dinner! Creamed cauliflower soup, vegetable plate, biscuits and a pumpkin cake. Very delicious!

not much going on around here

Nothing exciting going on around here these days. I am on spring break from my seminary class. I was looking forward to a few fun projects, but instead ended up with a full week of boring old office work. I did get a chance to get outside and do some weeding in the flower garden after all the recent rains. I am happy to report that I've kept a corner full of foliage alive for 5 months straight. I'm a little bit amazed and impressed.

It was also my mom's birthday recently. There was a surprise party planned and she was surprised. I don't think she is generally the "surprise party" kind of gal, but it was a great afternoon with lots of family attending. This is my mom and my older brother. (Garry, I just realized you remind me of Grandpa Whipple -- all white shirt and tie on a Saturday afternoon!)

I went hiking with Suzanne and Lezlee for an hour or so this morning. I really enjoy being out in the desert. It is nice just to turn the phone off and get away from the noise of traffic and just hike around the hills for a bit. It was a good way to start the day. Since then I've written a note to Brady, did some business paperwork, copied some system design prints, made a run to the post office, wrapped a wedding gift, helped Dave load the trailer, stopped at the grocery store, did the morning dishes, ran a load of laundry, updated our business bank deposits, and now I need to go get some painting done up on the eaves while it's not raining today. Speaking of rain, my sister is planning a big outdoor wedding reception for her daughter tomorrow evening. She has been in a panic during this very wet and blustery week. It looks like clear skies for now. I hope it is beautiful. We are all anxious to attend. Both my sister and niece are extraordinarily creative and it will be a beautiful event, I'm sure.

There was a fantastic sunrise as I was driving to seminary a couple days ago. I'm not generally a fan of the sunrise. If it happened a little later in the day I probably would be.
After class, I've been out hiking this week. The desert is gorgeous right now - the temperature is perfect this time of year and the recent rains have greened up the hills so beautifully.

Hiking has been a good distraction this week. My nephew was in a tragic motorcycle accident Monday night. He is a good and handsome young man who is loved by people far and wide, most of all his new fiance. They have a marriage date set for May 1st. Here is a note from his sister's blog a couple days ago:

I know that Michael is a fighter...has been his whole life. If you know anything about Michael, you'd know he has this mentality that he's invincible. I'm sure that's doing him at least a little bit of good right now. The fact that he's still fighting after more than 24 hours is pretty miraculous. Mike is pretty much a superhero.

I also know that Michael has an amazing support system. I was worried about how little family we have in Utah. He has Lisa, of course. And my great aunt and uncle headed to the hospital immediately. My mom got there yesterday evening with another aunt. But the hospital waiting room has been consistently filled with friends and well-wishers. Apparently, he has quite a BIG family in Utah after all.

Social networking is amazing. There has been an outpouring of support from friends and strangers alike...not only for Mike, but for our family and Lisa (who is family in my book) as well. I know that prayers are being heard and answered...for that I am sincerely grateful. It's certainly doing some good.

I certainly wish there was something we could DO for him right now. It's no wonder the Relief Society prepares so many casseroles - it feels productive and useful. I would rush up to Utah if I felt I could help there. I wish there were more I could do for my sister, I wish there was more I could do to take away the uncertainty and the fear. We pray and we fast and we wait. and wait. and wait.

another unproductive day at the office

On the phone -

Hey, are you home? Can you fax something?

No, I'm actually standing on the top of Squaw Peak Mountain.

Wow, really? So you can't fax something for me?

No, not exactly right now. Why? where are you?

I'm working on a house right at the base of Squaw Peak.

Hmm, I can't see you. You want to jog up here real quick and walk down with me? My legs are pretty shakey.

Nope, I've got to get materials unloaded from my truck.

Well if I topple down the hill that direction would you catch me?

Will do. Sure you can't get to a fax machine?

Nope.

Ok, well do you see me waving to you?

Nope, but I'm waving to you too. I'll call you if I make it back to the office.

random stuff going on around our house

There has been quite a commotion going on overhead as we (I use the word "we" as in, not really me but a lot of other people) have installed dormers on the front of our house. Dave traded the work with another company for some fire sprinkler installation. Dave normally does everything himself around here and I couldn't quite get a read on how he was feeling while another man cut a hole in our roof and started construction. It was a mixed blessing, not having to do it himself yet wanting to be involved and have control in the process. The man that did it for us was a very good craftsman and quite a perfectionist and the more they worked, the more we enjoyed the progress. After they were done with construction, Dave hopped up on the roof to dry it in with Melanie and I as his trusty assistants.

Grandpa is here to visit for about 3 weeks. It's nice to have him around. He has had a lot of adventures in his life and is quite the storyteller. Unfortunately, he has been repeating his stories with higher repetition as he has grown older (he's 87). He has been telling the same stories in the same patterns and the same influctions and the same gestures for years. But I actually got him to tell me some more details about a couple of his stories that I hadn't heard before, so I felt victorious today.

Dave made the most beautiful and delicious pie this week. The crust was perfectly flaky and had a hint of almond flavoring in it. He has always made good pies, but lately he has been moving into a new realm of perfection and deliciousness.
Roxanne had a school assignment for a college class that required her to do a little research out at the Botanical Gardens and she invited me along. I don't go out there much. There are certain places in this town that have been ruined for me after attending as a chaperone on 4th grade field trips. The zoo and the botanical gardens have fallen into that category. But now I have had a wonderfully pleasant morning, with my favorite daughter (Rachel and Melanie, you know you are my favorite too, right?) and the Botanical Gardens are now back on the list of nice places to visit in Phoenix. The weather was overcast and the rain waited until we were finished and heading for the car. Nice weather, a pleasant walk, perfect company, a great morning.

Dave and his dad are out at a tractor show in Glendale today. Tractor collectors from miles around gather and . . . . well, I don't actually know what they do all day. But I'm heading out there in a couple of hours so I guess I'll find out.

Our friends Joe and Madeline are here from Georgia and are working at the Gem and Mineral show in Tucson this week. We planned to go down to Tucson yesterday and enjoy the show for the afternoon and then go out to dinner with them and their entourage. Our day didn't quite go as planned and we couldn't get out of town until 5. We not only missed the show but we almost missed dinner. That was a long drive to go to Tucson for dessert and then turn around and come back. However we ended up eating and staying and visiting with them for a couple of hours. They are good friends and fun to hang around with. I wish we could have made the whole day work out better.

Melanie has a sewing project she is working on for one of your young women's goals. She is making a skirt to wear to church on Valentine's day tomorrow. We've got to fit that into our day today too. She's almost done. I don't know how I have failed to teach my daughters to sew more. I had my own sewing machine when I was 16 and have used it all my life. I made many outfits for myself when I was in high school (I guess that's pretty nerdy . . . no wonder I didn't date much in high school!)

Anyway, busy day ahead - sewing, tractor show, business taxes (why can't I ever take Saturdays off from this business?) grocery shopping, valentine surprises for the family, and some laundry. . . and here I sit at the computer. I've got to get going. Bye.

i have such a nice husband . . .

A singing Valentine at our door and a lovely rose. What a guy!!