Friday, February 28, 2014

          It was a long full day, but great work happened in the temple!

          Today is my grandma Rebecca Ford Cook’s birthday.  She is my dad’s mother and the only grandmother I knew as a child.  She was born February 28, 1881, in Centerville, Utah.  She married Thomas Simpson Cook and they moved to a homestead near Idaho Falls—then it was Eagle Rock, I think—soon after 1900.   The road from Eagle Rock to their new two-room home was just a rut-filled wagon trail and the whole area was covered in sagebrush.  What a challenge. 

          My Grandma and Grandpa Cook (I never knew him since he died before I Was born) had 11 children, nine of whom they raised losing two as infants.  They raised their family in the same home that I was raised in, although it underwent a lot of remodeling and updating over the years.  The two original rooms of the house remain although they have been modernized.  After my dad married and purchased the home and family farm, Grandma moved to Idaho Falls with her two unmarried daughters and lived there until her passing.

          Grandma was such a cute and spunky lady with sparkly eyes and a kindly disposition.  I knew her only with white hair which was carefully coiffed with waves and combs.  When Shirleen and I stayed with her when we were little, she would fix us cream of chicken soup in a little white ceramic pan with red trim.  It was served with little oyster crackers—the only time we ever had them—and then she peeled an apple, starting at the center and doing the whole thing with one long peeled strip.  We were so impressed!  She slept in a wonderful comfy feather bed that had to be fluffed each morning and her room had a clock that ticked loudly when we were sent there to have a “rest.”  As a young girl, she played the piano and mandolin and was quite accomplished.

          My aunts and uncles used to gather at our house to have dinner and celebrate her birthday; and as little kids, my siblings and I loved these get-togethers.  The Cooks were a jovial, happy group and laughed until they nearly brought the house down.  We helped serve the birthday dinner and do clean-up and loved being able to eves-drop on the night’s activities!

          She passed away March 24, 1966, when I was a senior in high school.  It was during the biggest drill team event of the year, so I always remember when it was.  She was a great lady and her life spanned the years from pioneer days to the days of modern living—running water, electricity, cars, paved roads, etc.  I wonder what she would think of today’s world—48 years later. 

          To my children—you each have at least one copy of the life history for this great grandmother of yours provided through Jeff’s efforts.  It will supply the facts that I may have remembered not-quite-right.  I actually googled her name and she came right up with vital records and a photo, but no history.  That was fun!!   

Thursday, February 27, 2014

          Buses brought people to the temple for day trips and there were a dozen or more who were here for the first time with their friends and family.  It kept us busy and it was a great day.  While I was walking in the dark tonight, the people waiting for their buses to pick them up roamed the parking lot and gathered in clusters to visit in the warm evening.  It kept me in good company.  I gave Glade a haircut tonight so was late getting out to exercise.  He went to the fitness center this afternoon and loved his swim in the sun!

          The photo below is of the sweet North American nurses who come to the temple every week.  They serve the missionaries here in Tegucigalpa and probably have a broader perimeter than I know about.  They have a car out of necessity and have overcome the driving challenges—or rather they have just learned to “go with it” and hope for the best! 

I had a great visit with them outside as they were leaving and it was wonderful to have English-speaking sisters to actually talk to and communicate with.  They are both from Utah, so it was like talking to someone from home.  They have known each other for a long time and worked together in nursing before this mission.  They each lost their husbands about four years ago and decided last year to serve a mission together using their nursing skills.  They experience the same issues I do with the language and I felt in good company with them as we shared our challenges in trying to communicate.  It was encouraging to me to know that others are in the same boat and I am not rowing alone.

Great Ladies!!

I am happy for new friends!

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

          It was nearly dark before we starting walking tonight and it was fun to see the lights on the grounds come on and the lights of the city spread up the hills. 

A car came up the road and paused next to us in the parking lot with cheerful greetings coming from the rolled-down windows.  Two men from our ward were all decked out in basketball uniforms and ready for a night of fun on the court.  Of course, they wanted Glade to go play and he was so tempted!  The “boy” really comes out in the men when the promise of play gets the adrenaline going.  As they waited for Pres. Amado, Glade was brave (and smart) and had to decline.  He can’t play “just a little” you know—he goes all out and would have set his back way back.  So sad—he really wanted to shoot some hoops.  Aahhhh—mourning the loss of youth!

The guard in yesterday’s photo told Glade today, when he asked for his address, that the missionaries have met with him already.  Now, we’ll just wait to see where this road takes him.

This was taken at the beginning of our walk tonight.  

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

          We are back on the early schedule this week and like it although each time frame has its advantages. 

          Glade walked to our grocery store this afternoon and it took him 35 minutes.  After filling the bags with goods, he hailed a taxi to bring him back up the hill to our apartment.  He said it was his exercise for the day and the walk was either downhill or flat.  Next time I will send the camera with him and maybe he can find new subjects for interesting photos of this part of the city.      

Monday, February 24, 2014

          It was such a beautiful day—wish it were possible to send some perfect weather to you who are still having bleak and chilly days.  Glade did his usual Monday trip to the fitness center and loved his swim in the sun.  It is just like recharging a battery for him and sets him up for a great week!

          I took a few photos this morning to share—nothing unusual, but a change from just text.

They are taking out the rest of the poinsettias and it makes me so sad.

They are still in pots, thank goodness, and will be placed here until they are
all removed.  Then they will be taken away--to a nursery, I hope--in a truck
and maybe replanted again next Christmas holiday.

They replaced the poinsettias in this bed with these plants.

These beautiful flowering bushes that line several areas of the grounds
are starting to bloom again!

Another view of the housing development across the way
that someone just keeps working on.,

This hill is directly across from the temple to the north.  It is
obviously the dry season and everything looks dead.
When it starts to rain, it somehow rejuvenates and turns green.

Tiered landscaping east from the guard station.

These bushes don't look so great in the photo, but the color is vivid and
I just love it when they are in full bloom.

This is  Kevin Zalaya who was the guard at the door to our building this morning.
He is the one Glade has been talking to most recently about the Church.  

This is one of the lounges for the guests who stay overnight.  There are several of them.

The rooms  for the overnight guests in our building have three sets of bunk beds,
a row of lockers, and bathroom facilities.

This is the other side of the room.

This is the lounge just for the missionaries and presidency where we have our FHE.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

           For three weeks, all of the people who serve in the temple in our ward have been practicing a hymn that they sang in Sacrament Meeting today.  It is one we haven’t heard before and translated means “Return your Heart.”  There were about 20 voices and I accompanied.   I also played the Sacrament hymn, the hymn to start the Sunday School class, which is quite common, prelude and both songs for Relief Society.  Playing is fine with me, but sometimes I wonder if there aren’t others who are missing out on an opportunity to participate.

          There was a two-hour training meeting in the temple this afternoon and Glade attended for both of us.  After three hours of Church in Spanish, I wasn’t up to two more when I wouldn’t get anything out of the presentation.  We have already attended 220 forty-minute training meetings that are held every day and it was mostly a review for those who are late or miss the meetings.  Glade said there was nothing new, so that eased my conscience a little for not attending.  I baked oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for him while he was gone—something I haven’t done for about four months or so.  He was grateful for something home-made.

          I spend lots of time reading the Ensigns and have to say the messages are great, so appropriate to our needs, encouraging, instructive, and motivating.  They are like a lifeline in our troubled world and I recommend them whole-heartedly!

Saturday, February 22, 2014

          Glade was intrigued by the designs on one of the buses in the parking lot this morning.  The photo below doesn’t do it justice, but the painting was awesome and the driver was pretty proud of his colorful bus.  It boasts several Tasmanians--one of which you can see on the back right if you enlarge and look closely.

          Exhaustion caught up with me last night and I was just too tired to walk today.  So I practiced the piano instead.  The sister missionaries were asked to sing a number in Sacrament Meeting and needed an accompanist.  It is not an easy number so practice is important!

          Thank you so much for all of your prayers.  The Lord’s tender mercies, I know, are direct answers to those prayers and help us know that Heavenly Father is aware of us and that we are watched over.  Two extensions of love and kindness in the temple today gave me such a lift and helped me keep going with a smile on my face and warmth in my heart.  Please tell your children thank you for all the prayers they offer for Grandma and Grandpa in Honduras and that they are being answered!  Love to everyone!! 

Glade said it looked like a psychedelic paint job from the sixties.  It was much brighter than the pictures shows and the back was pretty amazing.  There were too many people around for me to brave that view for a picture, though.

This critter commandeered the right of way on our walk yesterday in the courtyard stretch.  It was probably the size of a giant hobo and I wasn't going to put a finger or even a foot next to this one for perspective!
I couldn't find the "crop" tool to cut down the concrete and make the image bigger.  Some days my mind just doesn't navigate very well.  Oh, well--this is big enough.  I'm so glad we are on the second floor!!  

Friday, February 21, 2014

          A young man from Arizona came to the temple yesterday by himself and did a session.  We learned that he had served a mission in San Pedro Sula and had returned to Honduras to be with two families that he baptized a year ago, when they came to the temple for the first time today.  He was back early this morning to meet up with them after their bus ride and was able to be with them during their first experience in the temple.  It was thrilling for him to be there for their special event.

          As I approached one of the sealing rooms this afternoon, I noticed a little girl about six years old standing outside the door holding the hand of a sister temple worker.  They were waiting for the right time to take her into the sealing room to be sealed to her parents.  Her long hair was all pulled up on top of her head with curls hanging down, and she looked beautiful in her long white dress.  She looked just like a princess.  I found out later that this little girl was being sealed to one of the couples from San Pedro whom the missionary had come to accompany.

          Our missionary friends that took us to Copan were in the temple today and what a treat it was to see them!  They brought a new missionary from their mission who had come to the field without going to the temple first!  He was Latin and had waited to attend until he reached the MTC.  However, the temple was closed while he was in the MTC, so he was sent out without ever having been to the temple for his own work.  His mission president sent him with Brother and Sister John to the temple immediately.  The Johns only have 39 days left of their two-year mission and they are getting excited about going home and seeing family including two new babies they have yet to meet!  Since they live in Fruit Heights, Utah, we will be able to visit them in the future.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

          This was a busy and demanding day, and tonight we are very tired and ready for sleep.  The stamina built from our exercise sustains us and we are grateful for that—even if some days I think it just wears me out!

          It was our ward temple night and it was fun to see the familiar faces of the members come and to help them throughout the evening.  They are great people filled with love and kindness, and we love them so much.

          10:00 p.m.; 77 degrees; and a calm, beautiful evening.  Good night!

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

          This morning when I was walking, an armored car pulled up in front of our building just ahead of me and four uniformed men with rifles climbed out.  One remained “at the ready” while the other three approached the building.  It was a little unnerving and made me wonder who they were after!  Then I realized that it was probably a money pick-up from the Distribution Center which is in the end of our building.  After about ten or fifteen minutes, they all gathered back in the truck and headed off.  I took only one picture and it was from a distance since it would have drawn attention to get close-ups of the guards in action.  Who knows what that may have incited!

          Well--the armored car photo (which wasn't very good anyway) didn't load to my dropbox, so I'm posting instead a picture of my beautiful Valentine Rose and Chocolates from my Sweetheart from Valentine's Day!  He is awesome!!   

          

Blog, 18 de febrero 2014--GLP

Sister Peterson and I led the last session today, which was full to capacity.  About 45 minutes after starting, a brother had a seizure and I needed to put in action the emergency system; the first time for this temple, I believe.  I wasn’t sure initially that it wasn’t a cardiac arrest; but after getting to him and checking him out, it appeared to be a gran mal seizure.  No one around him knew if he was epileptic.  We got him some space and after 10 minutes or so it ran the course.  We got him into a wheel chair and his branch president took him to family. 

When his senses came back he said he was epileptic, was on medication, and had experienced episodes previously.  His branch and district had arrived early this morning, after traveling most of the night on a school bus, and had been in the temple most of the day.  It was quite upsetting for the patrons in the session.  However, as we continued the session, a peace settled over them that all was well. 

Elder Peterson

Monday, February 17, 2014

          I didn’t realize that the post on Sunday didn’t show up on the blog, so I retyped it and reposted it here:

        “As we seek to determine whether we have become true Latter-day Saints—inwardly as well as outwardly—it soon becomes apparent that the critical element is progress, not longevity.  The question is not how much time we have logged, but how far we have progressed toward perfection.  As Elder Neal A. Maxwell has said, ‘life is not lineal, but experiential, not chronological, but developmental’ (Ensign, Dec. 1986, 230).  The issue is not what we have done but what we have become.  And what we have become is the result of more than our actions.  It is also the result of our attitudes, our motives, and our desires.”  (Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Pure in Heart, 138-39   

 Monday, February 17, 2014

          A sweet friend from our ward took us to get groceries today and we went to Wal-Mart instead of the usual La Colonia.  It is located in a mall so we walked around and enjoyed window shopping and lunch before getting the groceries.  We finally found a clothes-drying rack, and picked up a battery for our scales.  (Oh-oh—now the truth will come out since we have been without the scales for a couple of weeks!)  Then it was home to restock our shelves and do laundry. 

          There was an excursion planned for the missionaries this afternoon to visit three cathedrals.  Glade was quite worried about his back and not being able to find a place to sit when he needed it, etc., so we opted to miss this one and stay home.  He could not afford to have a setback at the beginning of the week.  We are rested and ready now to return to the temple—we are on afternoons/evenings for one more week.    

Sunday, February 16, 2014

          I read this great quote today and wanted to share it. 

“As we seek to determine whether we have become true Latter-day Saints—inwardly as well as outwardly—it soon becomes apparent that the critical element is progress, not longevity.  The question is not how much time we have logged, but how far we have progressed toward perfection.  As Elder Neal A. Maxwell has said, ‘life is not lineal, but experiential, not chronological, but developmental’ (Ensign, Dec. 1986, 23).  The issue is not what we have done but what we have become.  And what we have become is the result of more than our actions.  It is also the result of our attitudes, our motives, and our desires.” (Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Pure in Heart, 138-39)

February 15, 2014

          This morning one of the new guards, Kevin, wandered around to the back of our building where Glade was using the wrought-iron fence for his stretch band exercises, and watched him for a little while.  When the two of them engaged in conversation it quickly went to religion.  Glade picked up on the opportunity and told him the Joseph Smith story, about the restoration of the Gospel, and about temples and temple work.  The guard told Glade he had seen a Book of Mormon in one of the guard stations and had started to read some of it.  Glade will find the missionaries who work in the area where he lives so he can get the lessons in his home.

          There were four young North American men in the temple this afternoon who are stationed at a military base in Tegucigalpa.  They all served missions and are now using their individual language skills in service to their country.  The wife of one of them was in the temple, too.  She is just here to visit for a week and a half and will then return to Logan, Utah, where she lives with her parents.  Her husband is stationed here for a year and he is half finished.  They are very young and it must be difficult for them to be separated; but they looked so happy and were just full of smiles.  It was a blessing for them to spend a little of that precious time in the temple.

          Another week has flown by.  I hope we are accomplishing all we are supposed to do here.  Every day is important and must be filled with the things that matter most. 

          Have a peaceful, restful, spiritual Sabbath.  

February 14, 2014 Valentine’s Day

Being away from worldly distractions and worries while we are here gives life new perspective and new ways to spend our time.  Glade and I love all the things we do together—exercise-walking, surviving in close-quarters apartment living, sharing the necessary routine tasks, supporting each other in our individual challenges, and being in the temple together leading and participating side by side.  We have been smoothing out the “bumps” in our relationship for many years so it is just second nature to make our experiences here smooth as well.  It is beautiful to know that the most important goals we are striving for in this life are common to both of us and are based in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

There is wisdom in the counsel to “rejoice in diversity” and we can use it to expand and enhance our viewpoint.  So we allow for all of the things that make us different—and they are many—and strive to be each other’s “cheer-leader” in the individual things we love. 

My Valentine’s Day comment is about love and its need for nurture.  Nurturing can mean:

Accepting the one you love “as-is,”

Speaking only positively about your spouse to others,

Speaking in calm, soft voices,

Going the extra mile to meet his/her needs,

Making happiness happen every day,

Paying real compliments,

Making sure you have a real date night every week,

Sacrificing your interests for something important to your

        sweetheart,

Smiling when challenges shadow the day,

Praising accomplishments,

Providing a sense of security and safety,

Sharing your feelings, hopes, dreams, disappointments,

Giving lots of hugs and saying “I love you” over and over again,

And being kind—kinder than you are to anyone else in the world!

          Keep your love nourished 

and it will thrive as a beautiful garden of happiness.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Everyone!

With Love—Hermana Peterson  

Thursday, February 13, 2014

          It was a beautiful morning for walking outside.  I took a few photos, but the photo subjects are not new.  The poinsettia beds are just beautiful and the color is so vivid—just couldn’t resist!

          We love working together and being able to touch base often during our shift on most days.  It is pretty awesome!

Headed to the fitness club.

Don't you just love his green crocks!   He wears them every day!

These next photos are of the back side of the building where we live..

The door on the far left opens from the cafeteria to the outside
where the quests can eat if they choose.  

This is just a view in the opposite direction.

Oops--there is a shadow bomb!  The color in the photos isn't nearly as
brilliant as it is in reality.  Maybe the early bright sun washed it out a little.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

          My little reminder owl was there again tonight encouraging me to do more Spanish—so I did.  I wonder how long this will keep up!

          It was a great day in the temple and I helped two sisters in English again.  Perhaps it is a good thing to stretch the brain to do the two languages back to back from memory and not get mixed up.  Focus, focus, focus!  It was fun. 

          It’s late for us and Glade is saying “lights out.”  So good-night all.  Thanks for your support and your prayers.  We feel them every day and are grateful.  

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

          Yesterday I started studying Spanish from another program on the computer called “Duolingo.”  It’s great and I actually enjoyed it!  Tonight, the program generated an email reminder to me as follows: 

Hi bevcpeterson, keep the owl happy!

Learning a language requires practice every day!

  

There is a cute mascot--a green owl that wouldn't copy and paste--that is depending on me for its happiness; so I spent time on the program again tonight—just to keep the owl happy!  I didn’t know the computer was going to keep after me about Spanish, too!!  I can just hear some of you saying "practice, practice, practice"!!

          It was a beautiful day outside and a great day in the temple.  Reading several articles from the January Ensign was also a blessing.  Those who counsel us are inspired by our Heavenly Father to give us the messages we need and I am truly grateful for this spiritual resource at our fingertips.

          Brother Bassett, one of the senior missionaries, turned 81 years old on Sunday!  He is amazing.  He is full of energy and kindness, always has a smile and a cheerful greeting, and absolutely loves serving in the temple.  You would never guess his age since he seems much younger.  This is about the 5^th or 6^th mission that he and his wife have served.   What a great example!!  

Monday, February 10, 2014                             el lunes,  10 del  feb

(GlP)  I have an arrangement with our taxi driver to pick me up at the guard station every Monday morning at 7:00 AM to take me to Casa Campo.  It is located next to an international high school not far from the temple.  A nice fitness center, complete with soccer fields, tennis courts, weights, fitness classes, many treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, and a nice big outdoor pool, it is used after school by the students for their sports teams.  A big sign on the school says, “Casa Campo, Home of Wildcats.”  Almost like home.

          I split my time riding a stationary bike and swimming, both back- friendly.  I meet some interesting people there, mostly businessmen.  One is from Barcelona.  Because the weather has been cold here [by Hondurans’ standards] at eight AM I usually have the pool to myself to do laps.  It is very comfortable.  David, my taxi friend gets me home by about 10 AM, a good way to start “P-day”.

          All of you have a “Wildcat of a day”! ------Glade

Sunday, February 09, 2014

          There were two choir practices at the church this morning at 8:15 and I play for both choirs.  Neither one was aware of the other so the conflict in timing went unnoticed until we arrived this morning.  (I only knew about one of the practices—it’s funny how they sometimes think I absorb information by osmosis or something!  Makes me smile J.)  I opted to help the one that sang in Sacrament Meeting today and left the other one to sing with an electronic device.  They are still working in sections.  Once again I was grateful and happy to step in without notice and accompany the congregation as well as the choir.  The young kids do great playing the easier hymns, but can’t do all of them.

The bishopric in our ward was released today and the new bishop is President Ocampo’s son-in-law.  Some had anticipated a division in the ward because it is getting so big, but the time must not be right yet.  The bishop who was released was called as a counselor in the stake presidency, so the division may still be on the near horizon.  The High Priest Group Leadership was also reorganized, and Glade is thinking his work as a secretary will end.  He is not available in the evenings for two weeks in a row and feels they need someone who is able to accommodate week-night meetings and visits.  We’ll see.

          Two sets of North American parents were in our meeting today with their sons who are leaving—one today and one tomorrow—to return home.  One Elder and his family are from Pocatello and the others were the group we helped in the temple yesterday from California.  We met one of the new Elders today and he is from Lemhi, which is near Salmon, Idaho.  It may not seem like news to any of you readers, but it was great for us to talk to people from “home.”

          

Saturday, February 08, 2014

          A couple from Newport Beach, California, was in the temple today with their son who had just finished his mission in Tegucigalpa.  It made my day to be the person sought out to help Sister Livingston since she spoke no Spanish.  The three of them will be in our ward for church tomorrow, so we will get to visit with them again. 

          Also today I was able to help a sister who was in the temple for the first time.  She and her husband, who are from the Caiman Islands, have been married for forty years and were in the temple to do their own work and to be sealed together for eternity.  Helping her through everything was very personal and very rewarding.  It is amazing how it makes you feel when you are needed.  I was able to help her with things I have never done before and may never do again; and it was a blessing to me.

          Because we worked mornings this week, we were able to see some of the Olympic events in the late afternoon and evening.  It was a good break from our routine and provided a little needed entertainment.  It makes me want to set my goals a little higher and work a little harder!

Friday, February 07, 2014

          This was just another typical day, and like all the others, a blessing to us for the privilege of serving in the Lord’s house.  There is always something new to learn if we look for it.  There are always people who teach us about sacrifice and commitment.  Being in the temple environment is a blessing of peace since we don’t see anger, contention, competition, or hear loud noise.  We see love in action, covenants being made and kept, God’s children loving and serving one another, soft voices, and smiles.  It’s a bit of Heaven on Earth.             

                   

Thursday, February 06, 2014

          There were lots of missionaries in the temple again this morning.  Two of the sisters were from the United States, one from Virginia and one from California; and I loved being able to help them and visit with them.  Missionaries come fairly often to the temple and we love seeing them there.

          Glade felt great today.  We were glad his down-time was short. 

          Love to everyone.  

Wednesday, February 05, 2014

          Glade caught another “bug” and didn’t feel well all night.  He was somewhat better this morning, but wisely stayed at home to be sure.  Tonight all is well and he is making his lunch for tomorrow.  J

          While cleaning out some old emails, I found a copy of a poem I used for a lesson a long time ago and still love to hear.  Thought I would share it with you.  To simplify is a way to find peace.

         

“Learn to like what doesn’t cost much.

*Learn to like reading, conversation, music.

Learn to like plain food, plain service, plain cooking.

*Learn to like fields, trees, brooks, hiking, rowing, climbing hills.

Learn to like people, even though some of them may be different from you.

*Learn to like to work and enjoy the satisfaction of 

doing your job as well as it can be done.

Learn to like the songs of birds, the companionship of dogs.

*Learn to like gardening, puttering around the house and fixing things.

Learn to like the sunrise and sunset, the beating of rain on the roof and windows,

and the gentle fall of snow on a winter’s day.

*Learn to keep your wants simple

and refuse to be controlled by the likes and dislikes of others.”

--by Lowell L. Bennion.

Tuesday, February 04, 2014

          Exercising in the late afternoon is much harder than first thing early in the morning, but we are committed and just keep going.  Glade walked while I played the piano at the church, and then I walked just before dark. 

When he came around the bus corner, he heard a dog just yipping away like crazy.  One of the guards said a man had ridden his bicycle to the temple and didn’t have any place to leave his dog, so he just brought it with him.  There was a nice deep basket on the bike and the little dog fit right inside.  However, it wasn’t happy and just kept barking.  On Glade’s next round, he noticed that the barking was even louder and more distressed.  He discovered that the little dog had jumped out of the basket and was dangling from its harness over the edge of the bike.  Glade rescued the poor thing and it stayed put after that.  It was still there when I went out to walk later, so I took a picture.

That’s all the excitement there was today.  It was slow this morning except for the group of missionaries who came first thing.  We love it when they come and I can imagine Drake and Dexter sitting among them and it makes me happy.  I met one of the sisters afterward who was from California.  Another English treat!!

This is the puppy Glade rescued.

This guy is making good use of his down time by giving his bus the "once-over"!

I never did see a ladder, but there must have been one!

This picture isn't the best because it is in the shade,
        but these flowers are beautiful and are still blooming!

Monday, February 03, 2014

          It was a beautiful crisp morning and the sights and sounds took me back to summers in Idaho.  It is such a beehive of activity here on Mondays when there are no patrons and service people clean and clip and cultivate all day.  Birds were singing, lawnmowers were humming, and the street cleaners were brushing away.

          My favorite days at home when children were growing up were those that were the busiest.  I loved it when two kids were pushing lawn mowers--for hours, a younger child swept sidewalks, music from piano practice floated through open windows, children knelt in the garden rows tearing away at weeds in the strawberries, corn, potatoes, carrots, etc., and our home-grown habitat provided for a chorus of early morning birdsong.  The list goes on, but it was fun to be reminded of those “good old days” and reminisce.   

           There was time to play the piano today and plenty of study time since we didn't need groceries.  We go back to the morning schedule again starting tomorrow.

Sunday, February 2, 2014

          Well, friends, it seems that during the Groundhog Day celebration at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, U.S., February 2, 2014, Phil saw his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter.  According to records going back to 1887, Phil has now seen his shadow 101 times while failing to see it 17 times, according to the Inner Circle.  There are no records for the remaining years.  So sorry for all of you who have been held in the grips of a terribly cold and snowy winter.  It wouldn't help to tell you that we are headed into warmer weather, the winds seem to be abating, and the colorful flowers continue to bloom. J

          Since there are no “blog worthy” happenings tonight, a cooking note will fill that space.  For the second time since we have been here, I made frosting.  Both attempts failed to produce the expected delicacy.  The powdered sugar we found at the grocery store was actually “pulverized” sugar which just re-granulated during the making of the frosting.  It turned out like very sugary fudge.  A few rounds in the micro-wave and lots of stirring by hand (the way we used to stir fudge in the old days) made it somewhat smoother, but it certainly doesn’t’ resemble any frosting I have ever made before.  A thin layer over the yummy orange cake, however, seems better with a little chocolate than without it; and Glade, bless his heart, says it turned out great.  Most of it was saved to be eaten like candy in small amounts about once a week or so!  We will just go back to having no sweets of that variety and we’ll be better off!

Saturday, February 1, 2014

         

          Welcome February, and welcome week-end!  We are ready for a rest and change of pace. 

          As Glade and I were finishing our “snack-lunch” in the comedor today, one of the men coordinators came up to me and starting making conversation in Spanish.  I looked to Glade for a little help, but the brother put his hand up to Glade and wouldn’t let him respond.  He went on--kindly, but sternly--to look me in the eye and tell me to speak ONLY Spanish, everywhere, every day, and no English.  Well, of course I didn’t want to hear that, but he was very persuasive and I knew he was right.  However, he doesn’t know that there has to be love and peace at home, and Glade knows he has to tread lightly with the Spanish-only idea.

          My bird watching friends were on the grounds again a few days ago and we had another nice visit.  My flashcards were in my hand and one lady took them and looked through them.  Then she said the same thing that the brother in the temple said—you have to practice conversation every day!!   It takes vocabulary, though.  Maybe it is time for me to step it up a bit.  I have to keep taming that baptized cat feeling!!

          Have a renewing Sabbath.   Sending love to all---