All Over the Map

It was a slow week for us.  I worked four days, and Dad worked on projects, and tried to help his kids.  On Monday we took off all the ornaments on the tree that were Christmasy.  There were a lot of heart shaped ornaments already ...

And I worked on making about a dozen of these felt ornaments.  Each one takes more than an hour.  I worked on them at work one day, and the rest I did in the evening while watching detective shows.

At work one day, I took a picture of my friend Bruce and his wife.  Though they are just in their fifties, she has had Alsheimer's for 2 or 3 years. She seems sweet but does not remember him.  He said she recognizes two people, one daughter, and a grandchild who is not the child of that daughter.  He brings her to work, and she sits quietly, though he said she makes awful faces at people who are buying things she thinks are strange. What a good man he is and in this crazy world it's good to know. 

I loved the light falling across our bed one morning this week, and thought I'd save the memory.

  My project on Monday was to take out all the art that would be going up to the library, with the reno we're starting into there.  It will be decorated with our pioneer memories from out time at Mosida.  We decided to keep the spinning wheel on the wall behind the chair, because it supports the theme of the room now, as Scandinavian. 

Another picture at Treasures this week was this father and son who came in buying silver plate flatware to use in their new Mexican Restaurant in Orem.  I gave them a good deal on some I had.   The Restaurant is called Motel West, and it's on State Street in Orem, across the street from Mi Rancherito near the mall. Let me know what you think if you get a chance to go.

and last of all for me, is that I found the perfect, unoffending deer head for the carriage house. Voila!

Oops, one more moment.  These two boys are in our primary class and got to help with a song this morning.  It's so strange to be teaching a class with 3 boys and 3 girls, when last year we had 10 girls and a boy ... Last year's class was very advanced compared to these kids, but we do still have our star pupil, Emily.

Also, in Sacrament meeting today we were reminded of some old memories, that recalled to us how blessed we are, and how the Lord and his angels look out for each of us.  A ward member in her talk shared this experience that her daughter had that involved our family some 10 years ago.

Kaydee Bailey 
The week after Ben and I got married we had a lot going on. We were moving into our apartment and
starting college and figuring out married life. One night we were in Payson and we knew we needed to
leave in time to go grocery shopping. We said goodbye and headed up to Provo with the intent to go
shopping before we got back to our apartment. We only got halfway home before we realized that I
had left my purse back in Payson. We turned around and decided that we would quickly go shopping in
Payson after grabbing my purse since I knew that store really well anyway. After getting my purse we
headed to the store. As we were going through a green light late at night with almost no cars around, I
slammed on the breaks because there was an old man slowly walking across the street. I was a little
confused because I had a green light, but grateful to see him in time to stop. As we continued to the
store I had so many thoughts of this old man. I kept thinking that we should go back and talk to him. I
justified that it was fine, he was probably just going on a walk, he looked healthy, he was walking on the
crosswalk and wasn’t completely in the middle of the road, he looked like he knew where he was going,
I was in a hurry and really needed to get finished with shopping, etc.
As we pulled into the grocery store’s parking lot a half mile later, I knew we had to turn around and go
find this old man. The feeling was so strong that the thought of not going back was making me sick. I
sometimes test my promptings by making a decision and seeing how I feel and then a few minutes later
make the opposite decision and see how that one feels. After saying a prayer and making a decision I
turned the car around and explained to Ben that I knew we just had to go check on that old man.
We found him on the same street that he had crossed but a few blocks up. We pulled the car up beside
him and started talking to him. We could tell right away that he was not okay. He thought he was okay,
and he told us some story that didn’t make sense at all. He left us and started walking through the park.
We decided that because he didn’t seem capable of telling us his name, we called the police and waited
for them to meet us at the park. After we handed off the responsibility of this man’s safety to the
police, we headed to do our shopping.
I don’t remember much else from that night, but I do remember feeling so much peace and recognizing
the difference it felt from when I tried to ignore the prompting. I know that the Lord needed us to help
that man that night, but more importantly that He needed us to have that experience.
The next morning my dad heard from a family in our stake that they had called the police the night
before when their elderly family member had left their house unknown to them and they couldn’t find
him. As they called the police, someone had already called in a sighting of an old man. It was amazing
to see how perfectly the timing worked out. The Lord is in the details, even the details when we leave
our purse and have to turn around. At the moment it seemed inconvenient and frustrating, but looking
back, I’m confident that the Lord needed us to be in Payson a little later and that we would have missed
the opportunity to help altogether. He loves us SO MUCH! ALL of us!!

Of course, the man spoken of here was Grandpa Carlo. We had no idea that the person who found him that day was the daughter of Susan and Kevin Crook into whose ward we would be divided 2 a couple of years later. What wonderful people, and how grateful we are that they intervened in what could have led to an accident that we'd have felt awful about for years. 

And now for a few more stories of our week. 

In the Summers' family, 9 year old Madi built this Hogwarts Lego castle 95% of the way by herself.  It's recommended for kids 16 and older.  What a smarty pants.

The family got back the family portrait print they ordered from our family session in June. 

We were up at their house to deliver the van for their use taking 12 of Reagan's friends ice-skating for her birthday party.  She turns 12 tomorrow. Dad pointed out that we had more grandchildren born 12 years ago in 2013 than in other year, and she has birthdays with Charley, next month, then William in March and McKenna in November.  How blessed we have been. 

Dad was busy at the house of course.  It was time to kiss the entryway cupboard goodbye.  I thought this looked interesting.  He has already painted the spot, and it now awaits some artwork.

He also ripped the carpeting out of the library, in anticipation of putting in a wood laminate floor.  Next, he'll make a new tiled hearth in front of the fireplace.  When the flooring is done, its onto new wallpaper, and a new antique tile insert on the face of the mantel. Voila

Cam and Van got to join the Okada side of the family at Disneyland.  Here they are with their Aunt Crystal, to whom we are grateful for posting these pictures.

Here is Parks with his cousin.

Cam is Minniing it with another cousin.

Here they are with fuzzy friends.

Sadly, while they were in California, and just 30 miles away at some points, the worst California wild fires broke out.  There was never a question of closing the park, but what a tragedy for thousands and thousands of people who lost their homes. 

Meanwhile in Texas the Talleys enjoyed a snow day on Thursday. Its pretty cool when you Dad is the school superintendent and is the one who makes that decision. 

That's why Dad gets to be home making memories with you.

Hi Johnny. 

When they got back they had a chance to play with some of their Perkins cousins.

Ah Yes, the Pie Pizzaria!!

Trevor jumps in here with a nod for his birthday on Wednesday.  Happy 44th to our oldest son.

Then its time ...

Dad and Trevor joined forces to get the Okada-Perkins to the airport ... Look at all those duffels. 

The kids rode with their family in their family car.

They all arrive at the Salt Lake City Airport Saturday morning.

here they go ...

Checking in.

A double stroller simplifies the process.

Van brings a new friend along.

Love this picture.

Weighing the kids.

 Just the right size to fly to India.

But first let's try out some alternate ground transportation.

Best wishes to the OP crew, we're already missing you, but plans to see you again later in the year, gives us something to look forward to. 

And that night, Trevor makes the Jumbotron once more, this time at the Hockey Game with a friend.

Our last family update includes the fact that this young man was ordained a Deacon today in Bonham Texas ... yep despite moving 20 miles away, they are all still in the same ward.  What a wonderful milestone for the Talleys.

Then there was that epic moment on the way home from Church when Benny asks everyone in the car what their favorite part of church was ... Emily hushes the family for an inciteful moment, then Benny continues by saying, "My favorite was going home!"

And last of all, a couple of young men stopped by the house today to request an opportunity to film a scene for a movie they are making here at the house.  The film has already been accepted to this Film Festival.  Sounds like fun ... it involves the use of Becca's favorite room.

The Best Fifty Years Ever!

I'll start off with a nod to last year, though the new year did not happen until Wednesday.  These are my top 9 Instagram posts for 2024. They include all my Favorites, Art, Travel, Austen, books, Cloches, Scottishness, Our Historic House, being an antique dealer, and tea parties. 

Monday started with a cat in a box in Idaho, and ended with us at home in Utah. Hi Moochie.

Ready to go, and we needed a stair step picture first.

On the way home the mother of one of the kids in our Primary class last year, sent me a picture of this note that her 6-year-old daughter had written.  Wow, its actually an exact copy of what I said.

A couple of weeks ago, she gave us a card that said "Best Primary Teacher Ever!" Why am I not surprised her name is Emily?

Bright and early on Tuesday we met up with Barb to celebrate her birthday.  I had an amazing vegetarian  Eggs benedict ... oh so yum!

Here's a picture of our plates, Barb has two because she ordered ala 'cart, a healthier choice. 

The first movie was 'The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" I read the book in my Children's Lit class back in the early 80's and loved it.  This was our second time to see it, as it came out this year, and I LOVED it even more.  What a feel-good movie. (I'm all about the underdog, I guess)

Taken after the movie, the little is Trina's daughter Kensy.

It was fun to see Kylie and her husband John, they went to the most movies next to Dad

Of course, Moana is really a hero movie.

Fun to run into Daniel Heuer and his family.

How perfect is it that my favorite 'Wicked' was in theater 17.

Crista's oldest daughter, Boston, came with a green Elphaba face.

Everyone who saw Wicked, the little Elphaba is next to her mom in Pink.

And really 'Wicked' is also an underdog movie.

Homestead was an end of civilization movie. Since watching the trailer upset my stomach, I decided to take a pass and went junking ....

Then we met up with the Moes and Barlows for dinner at Edna's in Lehi. There were 2 Perkins, 3 Moes and 4 Barlows. 

On Wednesday, after I got home from work, we joined up with Spencer and his kids for dinner at Mi Rancherito.

So much munchkin fun ...

Parks is adorable ...

And look how much joy you can buy for a quarter!

Dad picked me up early from work on Thursday, so we could go to a gathering at Trevor's that was billed to be a Hannukah and celebrating Spencer's Family being in town gathering.  Here Dallas and Darby spending some two on one with Parks.

Oh, and if you're are wondering why Robin, Jeff and Randy are there, it was because in reality it was a surprise party to celebrate our 50th anniversary. 

But I still managed to get me some Adam Sandler Hannukah song happiness.

How adorable is Eleanor?

 

Barb was home sick, I am sorry to say.

But Bri and Robin, being cousins by marriage got a chance to catch up.

Meanwhile in the basement, a lot of silly fun was going on.

Trevor needs to make an impression on Van as it will be at least a year before he sees him again.

Of course, other grands got a piece of the action as well. 

And speaking of action, Darby was in her 'tickle monster persona', and when she came upstairs for adult time, the kids would send an emissary to get her to come back down and chase them some more. 

Reagan even made a tent to hide in from the tickle monster.

I doubt that Van will forget his fun Aunts and Uncles in Utah.

Emily suggested that Becca should do a reenactment 50 years later. Becca did the leg work, having the cake made at Macey's and buying a SLC temple for the top, because I never owned the topper it was the 'borrowed' element of the wedding, and now I have the temple from the reenactment.  Thank you, dear daughters.

Becca also made this banner of the houses we have lived in for more than a year during our 50 years.

Here is where we hung it at home.

Saying their goodbyes.

visiting...

Mack had been sent up to try to get Darby to come back down ...

Visiting

It was super fun to see the video that Trevor put together with family pictures from the last fifty years.  We loved it, and will love looking at it in the future, thanks so much for making that for us all, and for hosting the whole shindig with Nell.

I also wanted to mention that the kids went together and catered a Cafe Rio dinner.  Talk about being spoiled.  We loved it all. 

We also appreciate the wonderful gifts, treats and cards contributed to an amazing evening.

Spencer and Brittney brought Indian treats and spices to share ... I made out with three different spices .... so excited.

modeling the goodies

Here's the table that Parks conquered.

Here is Reagan holding Parks, who managed to navigate himself around the white round table behind them, like twenty times.  He's working on building leg strength I am sure, and will be walking before a year, unless I am mistaken.

On Friday, while working at the Grove a man brought up this truck and asked if that was really that price.

After calling the dealer and finding it was $195, and not $1.95, I looked closer and realized that the dot was actually the dotted i, on the next line .... what a difference a dot makes.  Hahaha.

On Saturday, along with deciding my new food rules for the year, mainly trying to get 50g of protein everyday on a more veganish diet. I'm not supposed to have more that 4 or 5 servings of soy, and since I drink soy milk in my smoothies, it can be tricky.  In researching online I found Seitan, it's a meat substitute first made by Buddhist Monks in China in the 6th century. It's made from wheat and was sometimes called wheat meat.  Anyway, I ran across it years ago and never made it because the process was so complicated.  But using a short cut I found; it was pretty easy, and we liked it a lot. 

I also made a healthy pie crust since I am trying to make a healthy version of Marie Calendar's vegetarian 'meat' pie, which has something like 900 calories.  It was a day of exploring food options.

Meanwhile in Dad's world, he saw this car on-line this week.

Les Callas from our old Orem ward was selling it.  Dad thought it looked good ...

so he bought it... yep, when I got home from work that day, he showed me the pictures and told me he had bought it ... I'm still baffled. 

He posted this on-line ...

He also framed and hung the picture of Dad and me, to complete the wall that Becca and Brady had imagined and made happen. We now have current pictures of the kids and us.