What A Difference A Year Makes!

One year ago I posted this picture of my  crocuses poking
their little heads out of the flower bed at the corner of my
house.  It was definitely a sign that spring couldn't be
far behind.

Today there certainly aren't any little crocuses brave
enough to poke their heads up through the snow.  We  just
got through the freezing rain and now today, it is snowing
 once again.  I think we're supposed to get 4-6 inches by
morning.

These pictures are taken from my front porch.  You can see
the snow coming down.




























What a difference a year makes!  I wonder if Spring
will ever find its way here.

Freezing Rain

Wow!  I certainly have a lot more sympathy for those of
you who experience ice storms.  I am used to snowy, icy
roads, but not ice storms. 

We were warned that this was coming in early this morning,
so I got up a little earlier and headed out just as the storm
was beginning.  Roads, at the time weren't too bad,
but the rain froze as it hit my windshield.  I was so
grateful I only had to drive a mile to work and didn't have
to get on the freeway.  Several people at work had a
difficult time getting in.  One worker slid into a mailbox
and curb and she was in her 4-wheel drive vehicle.  Didn't
seem to matter what you drove.

Leaving for the bank about 10:00 a.m., I skated across
the parking lot to my car.  Absolutely pure ICE!  It took
me about 7 minutes or so to break up the ice on my
windshield and windows so I could see to drive. 
Thankfully, the snowplows had been out with the salt and
the main road was not too bad, but the side roads were a
skating rink. 

I was so glad when my shift was over and I could go
home.  The roads into my subdivision were an ice
sheet causing a neighbor to slide into a school bus
parked next to the curb.  Another neighbor and friend
is a school bus driver and often parks there during the
day.   It took me a couple of tries to get up my
driveway and into the garage.  My car was completely
engulfed in ice.

This was only the 9th time since 1940 that we have
had freezing rain.  I really don't recall any other
times and this will be enough to last me for a long,
long time.  I am sorry for many of you that endure
this on a yearly basis.

So what does one do when stuck in the house all
afternoon?  Work on these paper-pieced hearts:

After watching a tutorial on you-tube and making a
couple of muslin samples, I felt ready to attempt
this little project.  This is my first time at paper-
piecing.  Think I may have tried a long time ago,
but didn't get the hang of it and gave it up.  Must
admit it was quite fun and I only ruined one heart
by trimming it incorrectly at the end.  But it can
be used for another project, I'm sure.  Just have
five more to do then I can start assembling them
into the final project.

Be safe and stay warm!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY.....Tuesday, January 23, 2013

Outside my window...It is a balmy 23 degrees F.  The sun is
shining and even with the inversion I am able to see a  little of
the surrounding mountains.  Just seeing sunshine makes me
feel warmer. 

I am thinking...how lucky my sister is to be leaving for
the warm tropical island of Oahu on Monday.  How I wish I
was going with her and her husband.  It will be good for them
to get out of this cold and inversion.

I am thankful...that my daughter is doing well.  She had
emergency Gall Bladder Surgery last week.  I am thankful
that she is not in excruciating pain and that she is feeling better
everyday.  I'm thankful that we live close to one another and
that I could help out for the week.

In the kitchen...Nothing going on.  Went to a birthday
lunch for a friend today and will probably just throw a salad
together for dinner.  Wish it still smelled as good as last
week when I was baking and freezing things for my
daughter.

I am wearing...Levi's, long sleeved tee shirt, fleece vest,
socks and slippers. 

I am creating...I don't know if it is really creating, but I am
busily tracing, cutting and sewing little diapers for
http://www.teenytears.blogspot.com/.  I saw this on
Barb's Blog awhile back and thought it would be great to
get involved.  I have a few friends who are helping me
and we are doing some for an organization in our area thanks
to Megan.  We hope to have these ready to go by the middle
of February.

I am going...I've gone and am now back.  Today I went to a
birthday luncheon for my friend and neighbor.  Love Zupa's!

I am wondering...if Spring and warmer temperatures will
ever arrive.  Seems like my furnace runs 24/7.

I am reading...a wonderful little love story by Marcia Lynn
McClure:  "A Better Reason to Fall in Love."  Every once in
awhile, I just need an escape and her books provide that
escape.

I am hoping...to get the top stitching on the 30 diapers
sitting on my sewing table done today.  Then I can cut and
sew 20 more later this week.

I am looking forward to...visiting my favorite quilt shop
the first of next week with my friends from Logan----that is if
the weather permits.

I am learning...some new exercises.  Since losing weight, I've
incurred some flabby arms and need to tighten them up.
Why can't the flab melt away like the fat?  

Around the house...A little cleaning is in order.  Need to put
away my snowmen things and dig out Valentines.  Perhaps
that will brighten things up a bit!

I am pondering...Whether to get this cookbook (Seasons by
My Best Bites) for my daughter's birthday.  It is on sale right
now, but after going to the bookstore and looking through it,
can't decide if it is really something she would like or not.

A favorite quote for today..."it's not true that nice guys
finish last.  Nice guys are winners before the game ever
starts."  Addison Walker, United Feature Syndicate

One of my favorite things...Watching the little birds as they
visit my patio and eat the bird seed I have placed there for
them.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Visiting Teaching tomorrow afternoon
Work
Visiting Teachers here on Thursday after work
Work on diapers
Work on scarfs I am knitting for my daughter
And whatever else pops up

A peek into my day...


Building with my grandson's last week while Mom
was recuperating:

Brrrrrrr!

It is so very cold.  Temperature this morning when I got up a
little after 6:00 was 2 degrees F.  With the wind chill it felt
like -15 degrees F.

We have not had this cold of temperatures for several years.
We also got hit with about 14-16 inches of snow Thursday
evening into Friday and more is expected today.  Makes one
want to stay indoors and hibernate.  Seems like our furnace
is running constantly and with no-burn days we can't use
our wood burning stove.  Temperatures are supposed to
hover in the single digit to possibly a high of 17 later in the
week.

Took this picture from my window this morning:

Haven't had icicles like this for years.  Reminds me of
when I was a little girl. 

Wonder if we will get a January thaw!  I'm so ready for
warm temperatures once again.

Hope you are warm wherever you are.

Word of the Day

Impression:  An idea, feeling, or opinion about something
or someone, esp. one formed without conscious thought or
on the basis of little evidence.


Many, many years ago when our subdivision was being 
built, we attended church at the Rock Chapel, about a 
mile away as there were not enough people here to 
form a ward.
 

I remember very vividly sitting in Relief Society, which 

was held on a week day, during the day, when a

beautiful and very pregnant new girl walked into the 

room.  She walked past my row and took a seat a 

couple of rows behind me.  As I sat there, I had a very 

strong impression come into my mind that I needed to 

get to know her.  How grateful I am that I followed 

that impression all those years ago for we have become 

the best of friends.  In fact, we are like sisters who are 

best friends.

Through the years we’ve supported one another 

through the ups and downs of life, the good and 

the bad.  We’ve been there when phone calls have 

come late at night, in the wee hours of the morning, 

and whenever we’ve needed a shoulder to cry on, 

someone to vent to or laugh with.  We’ve raised our 

children together.  She was there for me when I 

struggled with cancer and I was there for her when 

her son passed away from a tragic accident.  We’ve 

been through thick and thin and it has only made our 

friendship stronger.  

She knows more about me than possibly even my 

family does and I about her.  Our lives have an 

amazing parallel beginning with our childhood to 

the present day.  I can always tell how she is 

feeling the minute I hear her voice.  At times 

when I need her and hesitate to call, she always 

follows her impression and calls me to see how I am, 

what is going on and if I need her.

She has been and is a dear, dear friend and support to 

me.  There is so much more I could write, but needless 

to say, this was one time I was grateful for the 

impression I received and that I followed it.  My life 
has truly been blessed by our association.
 

This is an early picture of us when we served in the
Stake Relief Society Presidency.  Faye is on the
left and I am on the right.

What Was Lost........

.........Is now found!

Do you ever search and search, practically tearing your
house apart looking for something and end up being
extremely frustrated because you can't find what you are
looking for and you know IT is there?

That has been me the last couple of weeks.  Recently, my
daughter asked for a recipe for Raspberry Salad Dressing
that I had made and served at my friendship luncheon
a year ago.  (Does that tell you how I often I used it)

I was sure it was on my computer under favorites or in
my recipe folder.  It wasn't there.  I couldn't believe it as
the recipe for the salad I served it on was there.  Could
it have gotten deleted when my nephew worked on my
computer?

Asked my friends, who were at the luncheon, if I had
given it to them.  No such luck.  Went to all my favorite
recipe sites looking for it, checked my recipe box,
journal and blog.  Nothing!  It was so frustrating.

Tuesday as I was talking with my daughter, I told her
that maybe it was Kris, at work, who had given it to
me as we had talked about ideas for the luncheon.
I would call her or talk to her at work.

Suddenly, it was like a light went off in my daughter's
head. She said, "Was it Nicole's recipe you used?"
Nicole, her friend, had served this dressing at a lunch
Kerri had been to and she had raved about how good
it was.  We both grabbed her ward's cookbook and
started looking through the recipes and sure enough,
there it was!  It was right under our noses all the time
and  we just never connected up with it.

Needless to say, it is now highlighted and in my recipe
folder.  It is so yummy!  I made a green salad last
evening, added freshly cut up pears, pomegranate
seeds and topped it with this dressing.  Heavenly!!

Today for lunch I made that salad again, but added
left-over chicken.  I simply had forgotten how good
this dressing was and is.  So now, it is going to be in
my fridge all the time.

We certainly had a good chuckle over all the
searching we had done, never even thinking to
check our cookbook.

Raspberry Salad Dressing

1/2 cup oil
4 Tablespoons sugar
4 Tablespoons raspberry wine vinegar
Dash of Tabasco
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix all ingredients together and chill.  Shake well before
serving over salad greens.  (I have a mini whisk I use to
mix it with just before serving)

Now if I should lose the recipe again (heaven forbid), I will
have it here on my blog!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

   Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Outside my window...It is very dreary.  We are in an inversion

and it is gray and murky.  The air quality is very bad.  But,

it has warmed up to 30 degrees F. on my patio.  I miss the

sun, but a storm is supposed to come in Thursday evening

and will hopefully clear out the air.

I am thinking...that January is moving along nicely.  It is

a month that seems to drag for me, but not this year.

Maybe it is because I am keeping busy with projects.

I am thankful...for my neighbor who was kind enough to

rewire a lamp for me.  Years ago my Mother gave me

this sweet little lamp and I stored it on the top shelf in a

cupboard downstairs and kind of forgot about it.  Then in

November I discovered it again while searching for some-

thing.  LaDell is an electrician and I knew he could help me.

He picked it up after the first of the year and returned it

last evening.  Now I just need to go to the Lamp Company

in Salt Lake and get a shade or have them custom make one

for it.

In the kitchen...Tortilla shells baking in the oven for

taco salad this evening.  There's the buzzer!  They are

all done.

I am wearing...Levi's, white long sleeved shirt and fleece

vest, socks and slippers. 

I am creating...projects for myself!  Actually today I have

been stitching on "Tisket A Tasket" which was started

some time ago and also cut out the background pieces 

for "Lincoln" from Schnibbles.

I am going...call a friend to wish her "Happy Birthday"

and see if I can stop by a little later.

I am wondering...if my crocuses will come up as soon this

January as they did last year or if it will be too cold.  I

think the ground is pretty frozen.

I am reading..."Becoming His" by Emily Freeman and 

hoping it will encourage and strengthen me to be a better

disciple of Jesus Christ.  That is one of my goals for

this year.

I am hoping...I can stay well.  It has been a difficult

winter with sickness around here.  My granddaughter

was hospitalized with Croup just after Christmas and

as she was recovering, my son got sick.  Colds and

flu have already visited my daughter and her family

and there are a lot of people sick at work.

I am looking forward to... Our Visiting Teaching

Conference tomorrow evening.  They are always so

uplifting and motivating.

I am learning...to applique using glue.  I started a BOM

project at my local quilt shop in November.  I am behind, 

but hope to get caught up.  It is a relatively new venture

for me as it has been years since I've done it.

Around the house..I see snowmen.   I have my table 

runner and quilt hanging.  It brightens up the house

as it always seems rather dull once all the Christmas

decorations are put away.

I am pondering...Whether I should get busy with spring

cleaning.  I really don't want to and I didn't put it on my

list of things to accomplish for January.  But, I know if

I don't get to it, Spring and good weather will come and

then I definitely won't get it done.

A favorite quote for today..."We turn not older with years

but newer every day."  Emily Dickinson.  This was on a

blog I saw as I was browsing the other day and I really

liked it.  I love turning "newer" instead of "older".

One of my favorite things...Natural almonds in yogurt

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Work

Visiting Teaching Conference

Family activity here Friday

Grocery Shopping

Church on Sunday

Continue working on my list of projects

A picture I am sharing:

 This is my sweet little lamp.  I have tried to date it

but can't find out how old it is.  I'm thinking it 

might be from the 1930's or so.  Wish my Mother

was here to ask.  Usually things are tagged but if

this was, it has been lost.  If any of you might

recognize this and could help me with a time

period I would appreciate it.

Outside My Window

While visiting with a friend on the phone this morning, I
happened to glance out my bedroom window and I saw
this sweet little woodpecker (I think it is a woodpecker. 
Karen you would know) searching for breakfast in my
Maple tree.














It was hard for him as three magpies would come
swooping along and land on the branches around him.
He would fly off and then return a little later. Glad he
could find some nourishment among the bark of the
tree.

Guess I will have to see if I can purchase some suet
for him at the store.  Also need to get some bird seed
for the chickadees that are hovering looking for
food.

This little woodpecker made my day begin with a
smile.  I love seeing the birds out my window!

Too Cold for Snowmen???

Brrr!  It is so cold!  Three degrees this morning when I got up
and now it is a balmy 18 degrees.  Makes me wonder if it is
too cold for snowmen.

These little snowmen get to stay indoors and enjoy the
warmth.  Hopefully they won't melt!  lol

Found this fun snowflake fabric for 50% off at our local
quilt shop and thought it was just perfect for these little
snowmen.  (oops, color is not so great.  Colors really do
co-ordinate)

The snowmen were stitched before Christmas, but just
didn't have time to finish them.  Have spent the last few
days sewing the borders and then today finished up the
hand quilting.

Slowly narrowing down my list of projects for January
as this is finish #2 and it is only the 5th!  Does it count if
parts were done in 2012?

You can find the pattern and fabric for "Snow Happens"
http://birdbraindesigns.net


Stay warm!  I'm trying to!

Word of the Day

Word of the Day 
January 4, 2013

VIEW:  The ability to see something or to be seen from a 

particular place.

A small four-letter word but full of meaning depending upon 

how it is used.  As I’ve pondered this word, I’ve thought about 

how I view myself, how others may view me; how do I view

 my present circumstances; what is my point of view on 

 various topics—my way of thinking.

After thinking about the word “view” for a time, I decided to 

look at it from a different aspect and thought about the view 

from my bedroom window where I was sitting.  That led me 

to thoughts of the view from my west-facing bedroom 

window in the home I grew up in.  My bedroom was located 

over the garage and afforded me a grand view of my 

neighbors, the comings and goings on the street in front of 

our house, the pasture where we kids played baseball and a 

 good portion on Midway.

But the view I loved most was of the mountains to the west. 

 I could look southward and see majestic Mt. Timpanogos in 

all her beauty and marvel as I picked out parts of the legend 

that surrounded this mountain.  Moving north I could view 

Deer Creek and during hunting season watch the lights of the 

hunters as they came down off the mountain.  Devils Hole, 

Snake Creek Canyon and if I stretched my neck, Pine Creek 

Canyon were further north.  This view of the mountains 

always gave me a feeling of peace and security as I gazed 

upon them.  I have many cherished memories of times spent 

in these mountains with my family and especially my father

 who loved nothing more than spending time in the canyons. 

Every season provided beautiful views from the winter snows 

frosting the mountains to the arrival of spring and summer’s 

greenery and autumn’s carpet of reds, oranges, gold’s and 

greens.  I could view the beautiful sunsets as the sun slipped 

behind the mountains and evening shadows crept across the 

valley and up the mountains.

My view of Midway surrounded by these majestic mountains 

was unparalled.  I treasure and hold dear these memorable 

views found now in my memories of growing up in Midway.

Midway in dressed in Winter with Timpanogos in background 

Summer in Midway.  Taken from atop Memorial Hill

What is your "view" of the Word of the Day?