Life Goes On ...

Yes it does, parents give way to their children, who give way to grandchildren to the original parents.  We celebrated 3 of those this week, starting with Kai on Monday.

If you recall from last weeks blog, Cam asked me how she could remember her special day at the Larsen Family reunion.  So, on Monday I made her this little memory book.

This is the last page of the book.  I mailed it as soon as it was done, and she got it on Wednesday.

When Dad went out to hang our pillow cases (Yes, bed washing day) he noticed that one of the supports for the clothes line had rotted away at the cement line.

He got more rope to anchor it until he can figure out to fix the problem. 

Meanwhile I was loading up the new cupboard in the dining room.  Surprisingly it seemed to have more room in the top than the bigger cupboard that would soon be headed to Becca's.

So, I was able to put the brown aesthetic pitchers into the china cabinet, and free this mantel shelf up to place my carved wood collection. 

Then we got the European China Cabinet into the van ...

So that Dad could deliver it, and set it up with Brady's help.

It was also President Nelson's 101st birthday.  Here is a picture of him with his second wife, and his 8 surviving children.  Happy Birthday to a wonderful man, and servant of God.

Meanwhile at home, I found a framed menu that Aunt Cheryl had.  It had signatures on it, but I almost threw it away anyway.  I saved it to reuse the nice frame.  But in looking closely I saw that it was signed by Orrin Hatch, and Mahamad Ali ... how crazy is that.  Cheryl and Craig evidently went to a fund- raising dinner for Orrin during the time that M. A. was in town supporting his campaign, back in September of 1988.  Anyone interested in owning it.  Let me know.

On Tuesday we puttered around the house some more, trying to reclaim the dining room.  I made progress and got things ready to go to the store the next day ... but alas, there is still work to be done.

In the evening we went to Nadine's and saw the last of the 3 episode Hallmark Providence Falls, mini series.  The best part, as always, is visiting with Nadine.

At work on Wednesday Hannah Bibler, as was, came in with her little boy to shop.  She said, "Oh my gosh, I didn't know you worked here, how long have you worked here."  I told her since 1997, which is just crazy and it was before she was born. BTW, with the baseball cap and glasses it took me a minute to recognize her.  

Kathy who has snatched up all the store decor opportunites, (Well, I did leave mine with insufficient protection when I went on a couple of missions) did this great wall.  How fun is that?

Of course, that was also the day that Charley Kirk was assassinated at nearby UVU.   Every customer had something to say, and we listened to sirens on the freeway for much of the day. Kathy got a call from her daughter saying her grandson had been at UVU and heard the gunshot.  He, and everyone, was hustled from campus. We later heard that four of Hannah's step kids were at the rally and two of them fell in the stampede.  Fortunately, there was no lasting physical harm, but what a horrible memory for them all.

At work that day, I found out who I had bought the third business card size art from last week. (It was listed on my venmo account) I looked her up when I got home and found out that a larger original of the painting I bought had been accepted for the church's art show in the spring.  Here she is with it.  It's a painting of her and her husband, and symbolizes the dance, or interaction of righteous couples in supporting each other.  I was so thrilled to hear the back story.

Here's a close up.

And here is her mini that she did from the original.  Soooo fun.

I also found out, when I took the rest of my red transferware to the mall, and researched this plate, that it, and its two compatriots, are almost 200 years old.

I was stunned to find that out, and had to bring them back home.  I mean, they are of an age that Joseph and Brigham might have eaten off them, or ones like them.  BTW the 3 of them were a gift from Joyce back when I was collecting, which is why I held them back in the first place.  

On Thursday the gal here came in.  She is from California but I recognized her.  We lived in the same ward growing up.  The age group that had 16 girls (Patty, Pat, Paula, Debbie, Debbie, Dierdre, Judith, and Carla, who I ran with, also Robin, Connie, Debbie, Debbie, and this gal, Jolane Moulton who ran together in the popular circle, also Kathy, Coralee, and Barbara Terry. And yes, 1/4 of the girls my age were named Debbie.  There were also 4 boys, Barry, Ken, Paul and James.

She didn't recognize me until I told her who I was, and she said she had heard that I was an antique dealer from her sister Cheryl, who I run into occassionally at the DI in Provo.  I helped her get this lovely old soviet cupboard for 100 bucks.  She was delighted.

And since this is absolutely the best picture I've ever seen of life going on, I thought I'd include it.  She is a bride in England during the blitz.

On Thursday I also saw this  display honoring NYC for 9/11.  I thought it was amazing, and the sad thing is, I once own that platter.  Alas ....

At home that night I saw Dad snacking on the Conversation Hearts that my brother Doug gave him the day we picked up the replacement cupboard for the Mall.  Thanks Doug, you made him happy.

Then we celebrated the second birthday of the week, with Alex' birthday that day ... of course we all remember how Brittany didn't want him to be born on 9/11, but he had different ideas.

On Friday when Dad was mowing he found me this lovely mushroom, but since I can't identify them, I dared not eat it.  Dang,

Later I got out my Halloween so I could sell off the excess ... these pictures show the items that made the cut.  Shown here is the witch sign, a battery-operated candle and the banner.

 

Here is the owl, I actually loved so much I bought it new.  The spooky banner is a former craft project.

 3 more wood standing signs, I love and the second hand Bibbity, Bobbity, BOO! sign.

Then off I went to The Grove to display the Halloween items that didn't make the cut.

I was also able to get a trade for my September workday that happens during our cruise time.

I got home in time to make a quick dinner, and then we headed to the Payson Theaters to meet Heidi and Mike Perry to see this movie.  We both actually really liked it.

On Saturday we headed to Salt Lake to attend the Art in the Parks sale at This is the Place Monument park.  Here we are at the entrance.

We ended up buying 6 painting, 2 from each of 3 artists.  The artist that did the round interiors here is one of them.  Her name is Anna Lee Wood, and I didn't realize until I got home that I have bought from her before.

On the way home we stopped to pick up our Indian Food from Davin (Who lives next to the maker) and found that Elias' birthday party was in progress.  Trevor and Nell had brought their younger girls down, and were still there.  Davin and Bri bought me the beautiful flowers I am holding.

This is not all the kids, but here are some of Eli's friends. 

And even though his birthday wasn't until today, I thought I'd put his collage here, as made by Papa.

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This pink daisy painting that I hung in our room is by Courney Lunt, from whom I have purchased at least three time before.

Here it is in the grouping.

When I got On-Line to check out Anna Lee Wood, who I had been following, I ran across an old post of these paintings ...

and realized that she is the artist I bought these three paintings from.

The one on the top of this grouping in the hallway is also hers.

The close up.

This Payson Temple, plein art painting is also Courtney Lunt's.

This is it in its temple painting grouping in the large guest room.

The last artist of the day was Heather Graham.  I loved this painting she did of Christ, but it was $2500 too rich for my blood, but I loved it.  As it turns out she also did the business card show last week and did a mini of this one.  Guess I didn't see it.  

This morning, I got so see a bit of nature's handiwork.  How beautiful are these clouds, its almost like a polkadot sky.

In Sacrament meeting this morning, a new couple in the ward was speaking.  Dad had already arranged for them to come to dinner on Tuesday, along with three other couples, so it will be fun to get to know them a little before hand. One thing that struck me was a letter she read from one of her sons who was serving a mission in Texas at the time.  I asked for a copy of the letter and thought I'd share it here.  It amazes me that the young people today are often so very, very amazing.  I see it personally as a sign of the times.

"I have learned so much while serving here in Texas.  I have learned that God gives us the strength and opportunities to do the very thing he wants us to do.  I have learned that the natural man wants to look inward during pain, but true healing comes from turning outward, serving others, forgetting yourself.  I have learned that God puts people in our lives for very specific reasons.  I have learned that it is of  eternal importance to learn something from everyone.  I have learned to NEVER EVER judge someone by their outward appearance.  Each is a precious son or daughter of God and He loves them the exact same as you and me. I have learned to see people as Jesus Christ sees them, I need to look for Christlike attributes in them. ... I have learned that God just wants us to be happy."  He ends the letter by quoting the words of the hymn, I Stand All Amazed, a favorite of mine.

and in Primary I look at these young people as they learn and grown, and wonder what amazing things they will do and be in their life times.  

We hope your week was full of the beauties of this world, and that even with the reminders of pure evil in the world that we have had this week, that we can do what the scripture on the board tells us to do as Christ calls us his friends, he tells us to fear not and let our hearts be comforted, to rejoice evermore and in everything give thanks.  This scripture is the words of Christ as his people are being driven out of Jackson Country Missouri in the dead of winter, where some would die of starvations and exposure.

If we look for things to be grateful for, and focus on those things, we will feel the peace that Christ has for each of us, regardless of what is happening around us in these last days.