Sunday, March 24, 2019

Temples, Friends, Eating Out and Vultures too.

 Monday started out with a visit to the dentist for me, where I found out I need to have a tooth pulled.  Yikes.    Then I spent an hour or so at the DI in Provo which is near my dentist, then headed home to pick up my ministering partner to do some visits.   We saw Carol and Dad's cousin Jerry.  Then I asked my cute 88 year old partner if she'd like to come along and meet a friend of mine, who had some things to sell.  She said yes, 

 
So we headed to Carol's house in Elk Ridge.  Carol is in her mid seventies, and her sister, who is ten years young, recently brought her several boxes of family heirlooms.  Really?  Carol's sister is a doctor and just doesn't have the time to deal with it all.  This is Carol with her mother's teddy bear.
The doll on the right is Carol's mother's baby doll.  She has been badly redone, and Carol gave her to me.  Some day I hope to restore her, to look like the original on the left.

As we were leaving I thought I'd like a picture of Luanna with Carol, and we snapped this.  I love both these ladies, they so enrich my life.  They are both friendly and happy, and always are on the verge of laughing.  I need to be more like them.



That night Randy needed a couple of  copper pipe fittings soldered.  Dad had the necessary stuff left over from helping your cousin Megan with her basement bathroom (Which, BTW has become a necessity, since Megan and her new husband are all tucked in there together with their allotments of children, says Aunt Shirley) It took them about three minutes so since we were there we decided to play games.  This was an interesting Asian travel game, which was quite different than ones we're used to.
Its always a good time when we get together.

On Tuesday I met up with Arlene to go to the temple and do a family name for the first time in 40 years.  I have done some of J. Scott's names, but they were from his mother's side.  Afterward we went to Zupas, and I am so geeky that I took some chopped broccoli to add to my salad there, since I need a cruciferous veggie every day, and that was the best way to get it.

 That night Dad and I headed over to a big fancy 'barn' in Mapleton to hear one of the men on his temple shift talk about his experience as a gunner on a plane during WWII.  He's in 90's and joined up when he was 18, there aren't many such men still alive.  It was terribly interesting, and terribly sad to hear about all the loss of life. He said that once when they had crash landed and all 18 occupants had run from the plane, the pilot insisted on going back because he could only count 17 men.  They had to hold him back and remind him that he hadn't counted himself.

 I seem to be trapped in WWII, the book I just finished for book club was about a 14 year old young woman who lived in Vienna, and who was shipped to England as the war broke out in a kinder transport program for Jewish children in occupied countries.  The girl lived in London in a hostel set up to house such children.  She worked to support herself, paying 3/4 of her income sewing and then later playing a piano in a lounge.  The book was written by her daughter and was a fascinating new view of the war for me. It was especially interesting because I knew it was all true.  Its called The Children of Willesden Lane, if your are interested 
Here we are by a blanket stamped with the flyer's picture.

 It was fun to meet this couple who dad had told me about, who also work on this shift. Their names are Bob and Wendy Lewis and they live near Davin and Briahnna.  They seem very nice.
Here's Dad with Ken Porter.  The fireside was organized by Mark Sheranian, who is also on their temple shift, as were the rest of the 150 people in attendance. Mark is the younger brother of Judd Sheranian, who plays for the Utah Symphony and who lived in our Cottonwood Hts ward, back in the day. Dad loves those connections ... I knew you when ...

On Wednesday morning, as we were studying our Finnish, we did this good sized scripture and I knew most all of the words.  That was very, very exciting for me.

On Wednesday I worked, and tweaked my platter and transferware plate display, adding the blue green plate and using a big plate stand I'd found at DI.

After work, since Dad had gone to his barbershop practice, and I had no Young Women's, I headed to the remodeled DI in Springville and found this little wonder for $3. Its a reproduction of the door knobs in the SL temple to be used as a paper weight on a marble base.  I'd seen them in the Deseret Book catalogue and wanted one, because I love the doorknobs in the SL temple, but they were $50.  Yeah, Dad was even impressed and took this picture and posted it on FB.

On Thursday I was off to work and Dad was off to the temple.  This nice man asked me if my last name was Perkins when I was checking out his order.  Then he asked if I was married to Scott.  Turns out he was in charge of the Toy and Joy machines that Macey's used to have near their entrance.  He went on and on about how great Dad is, and what a gentleman he is.  He said he rarely ran into people as nice as Dad in his business.  It was quite a tribute.  I took a picture of Bob to surprise Dad when he uploaded the pictures for the blog ... and it worked.

Later that day this gal wanted the blouse off this mannequin, so I went back to help.  It didn't appear to come apart, but as we tried this and that, pieces started separating, we were laughing our heads off.  Yes, she went back together fine, and the gal bought the blouse.  Her mother (who took the picture) said her daughter loved vintage clothes from the time she could dress herself.  It was super interesting to talk to her about recycling, and not buying clothing produced in sweat shops, and even avoiding  harmful chemicals used in cloth production in foreign countries now.  Who knew?

On Friday we started slow, going shopping at Sprouts and then Macey's before heading to Bountiful where we shopped at DI for an hour.  Dad found the President Monson biography he'd been looking for for three months, and went to the car to read it.  He was the winner of that DI stop.

Next we went to meet the Londons at the Sizzler on 500 S and when we walked in I saw them, then saw my brother Doug.  How fun is that.  He was there with all these Mechams (Including Arlene who I had just attended the temple with on Tuesday)  They were meeting some cousins, and we just happened to run into each other.  That was fun.

Here we are after finishing our dinner with Lynn and Rick London. Its so nice especially since we are missing two Finnish mission reunions as we come home from Hawaii on Conference Sunday.  

Dad and I were up early to attend an art auction in Salt Lake, as we seek a place to sell our newly acquired art. Well, we decided this was not the place.  The highest selling items went for 2 and 3 thousand, and several items with reserves of 10 to 50 grand went off without a bid.  There was a Minerva Tiechert painting, but it was done before her marriage and was a portrait, that was atypical of her work, though it was well done.  The reserve on that was the 50 grand reserve.


I did bid on this large portrait of an unknown Pioneer, by an unknown artist, but I only bid a hundred and it went for two. 

 I dropped Dad off to help Spencer with his floor, and headed to my favorite DI in Sugar House. A gal had these boots in her cart, and later told me that they were selling on Ebay for 100 bucks, but they were too big to ship priority.  I thought about putting them in the mall,  but they really don't with the stuff I sell.  So alas ...
 I headed back taking Dad lunch, then, because we had an hour before we needed to leave, and Brittney was heading off for a sister date, I checked out a couple of shops in Sugar House.
I loved this bit of reclaimed art that I found in a gallery on 21st S.  I even got to chat with the man who was on shift, as its a co-op, and found out it was his art.  He said he found the adult size coppered shoe in the trash.  One wonders.

Then we met up with the Moes, and other members of their empty nesters group for dinner at La Dulce Vita, before heading to BYU

To see this play.  Though it was well performed, I'm afraid that Dad and I just don't know enough about Hamlet to get most of the references, and in the end, for us at intermission ... we headed home.


 Today we got to speak about temples in our Sacrament meeting.  The others sisters who spoke were girls, and one leader who talked about our temple trip the week before last.  I talked about how good it felt to be prepared to take a family name to the temple this week.  Dad told about his experience, as a veil worker in the Salt Lake Temple, when he got to take a person of African decent through, just 6 days after the official declaration, that all worthy male members could be ordained to the priesthood.  I know I've told you all already, but every prayer I said with my family growing up included a plea for the Blacks to be able to receive the priesthood.  I still tear up when I think about it.
After church I made whole wheat pizza with non dairy 'cheese' and lots of veggies, and a big salad.  I'm going to try again, before I give up on pizza, but it was pretty pathetic.

Dad wanted me to announce that the swallows have returned to Capistrano.   Err, I mean that the turkey vultures have returned to Payson ... he counted 17! He thought you would want to know.

Sunday, March 17, 2019

Family, Ancestors and Temple Work



What a wonderful picture.  Having just been at the Vatican, and hearing stories about the generosity and humility of the current Pope, its not surprising that he is the first Pope to meet with the President of the LDS church. Its nice to feel a part of this historic moment.  That started off my week on a high note, and it didn't seem to come down from there.

 Dad and I headed north, stopping in Provo because he had an appointment with his eye doctor, so I dropped him off.  Then I headed off to my favorite place and ran into my friend Joanne.  Small world.

We spent the day in Salt Lake and Dad worked on flooring at Spencer and Brit's .

The electricians came, including one named Perkins.  Then I was off to do more junking.

When I got back, look who came to help.
And he brought some cousins along for Van.

 Spencer was off for the day, and got a lot done.
 Cousins
What a great idea for a service FHE!

On Tuesday Dad went back, and got a lot more flooring down, while Spencer and Brit were off to work.
The condo is really shaping up, I can't wait to see it whole piece.  I know it'll be amazing.

I went to my friend Kim's for our art group that day.  Jan is doing well, recovering from her brain surgery, and we're all so grateful that she's back to normal.

Everyone always brings gifties, and here's my loot for the day.

Here's our Shirley.

 Kimi
and Ann, its our first meeting in 6 months, and it felt good to get back at it.

It was fun to check out Kim's latest décor.


I love this sign, on a shabby decorated chest of drawers.  It was the sweet spot for me.

 This is my ward Family History consultant, Ingrid Moyar, who came over to help me get back into family history work.
It was fun to check out the new interpretation of my DNA … I'm more Scandinavian than ever, about 65%! No wonder I ended up with that lovely Scandinavian disease, PMR, which I'm sharing with my brother Doug and my sister Julie … you may all want to check out just how much Scandinavian you are.

On Wednesday I was off to a day of work.  Dad went to lunch with Trevor, and we got this picture of Becca's Garagemahal, with its new trusses in place. Dad went to Barbershop that night.


 On Thursday morning, I made up notes for the mini pies I'd bought at Walmart, and took them around to my ministering ladies.  Dad took his mini pies to his Ministering ladies, after he got out of the temple.
Becca brought me a 'customer appreciation' pie at Treasures, and my friend Keith sampled it for me.  I had two pieces when I got home, Yum.

 I enlarged the motif of the Transferware display, by gathering all my transferware platters and displaying them on top.  

After Dad and I shared some pie that night we parted ways. He headed to the ward's Pie Night.  Here he is with the Kews and our friend Brent Johns.

I went over to Cheryl's house.  She's our YW President and we put together these Temple albums, adding the pictures of the first two temples they have visited in their quest to visit all the Utah temples this year.

We gathered at 5:00 A.M., the next day, and I gave a devotional thought telling Elder Ballard's family story about the mystery of the 3 day old Newspaper from England that was delivered to his great grandfather, who was then able to work for something like 60 family names in the newly dedicated Logan temple.


Here are Dad and I at the Logan Temple.

Here's the whole gang.



The Brigham City temple.

 Some of our girls out in front of the Brigham City Temple.

This is our entire group in front of the Brigham City tabernacle which is across the street from the temple.








Here are Dad and I at the Bountiful Temple.


We drove more than half the girls, which is always fun. 





On Saturday Dad hung the tooth brush holder I got a few weeks back, because I was tired of the tooth paste marks on my glass shelf.  Isn't it perfect?
Emily sent me this picture of her girls with the fairy tale book I gave them … its Bekie's favorite, I guess she's a fairy tale girl like her momma and Mimi.

On Saturday Dad went to help Darby get rid of some trees, while I stayed home and finished my 1,000 page book.  Yeah, that's why I try to stay away from the long ones.  It took a month!!

When he got home we went shopping and listened to Harry Potter, then jumped Ben's car in Springville and took it to Joel for a once-over while Hannah decides its fate.  What a great date.

Davin and Bri had a more exciting date, they celebrated the 12th anniversary of meeting, by going to a rock show!!  Looks like fun.  They saw old fossils, we are old fossils.
Congrats Young Lovers!!


… and look who went skiing for the first time … she had a lesson, and her brothers came along to share the fun.  Britt was not ready to get back on skis after her concussion, but had fun watching her boys and her ski bunny in action.

Today I snagged this picture of my Aunt LaRee and her second husband.  He only lived two years after they were married, dying of turberculosis, leaving his son, Eyrling, his name sake, who is the father of my first cousin once removed, Beki, who lives in California.  LaRee looks so much like my mother.

We had church as always, and did our Come Follow Me study afterwards.  Then Dad was off to a stake choir practice.  When he got home we watched the first of 50 something installments of a TV series about the Joseph Smith Papers.  Its pretty interesting.

So that was our week.  We hope yours was lovely as well.