Jam Day!

 Neal and I ran to Costco on Thursday evening and bought sugar, corn syrup, lemon juice and strawberries and raspberries.  Then to Macey's to get the pectin and lids for the bottles.  Our total bill for all the jam makings was $400.00+.  That includes all the berries, and makings for the jam.  Not a cheap endeavor but oh so good to make and share with the kids.  This year I didn't have to buy any bottles because they remembered to bring all the bottles back!  That saves money for sure. 

Neal and I got up at 7:00 this morning and started the jam making.  We ended up doing 51 pints of strawberry jam and 37 pints of raspberry jam.  I text the kids and told them if they wanted some they would have to come and pick them up.  We weren't going to deliver jam this year.  

Some fun pictures:

Jamming (aren't I funny)  to the country music while preparing the strawberries.  

Finally finished!!  Such a good feeling.

I had to take a picture of this one bottle.  This was the last of the bottles.  If I had one more batch of jam I would have had to run to the store and buy more bottles.  So glad that my kids returned all the empty jam jars!  

Moving Day

 Tuesday, July 21st was a moving day for Mallory.  She was able to find an apartment in Lehi that is so close to her office building that she could walk there.  Living in Orem has been a challenge with the freeway commute.  This new place will be so much better for her and for Brinkley.  They rented a big U-haul and we were able to load every thing in the U-haul.  What we couldn't get in the U-haul went in our cars so we didn't have to make but one trip!!!  We then drove to her new apartment and with Jeff, Annie, Mallory, Andrew, Tucker and myself we were able to get everything unloaded and the truck returned all by 12:30!  Amazing.  Fastest move ever.  Mallory had everything in boxes and ready to load, which made it so very easy.  Thank goodness for Tucker who came and helped.  He and Andrew were able to move the heavy and awkward stuff while the rest of us did all the items.  Everyone kind of gives me noise for taking pictures but I think pictures are worth a million and years from now they will be fun to look back on.

Everything packed up and getting ready to caravan to her new apartment.

On the freeway.  And yes, I took a picture while driving, but we were going all that fast.

At the new place.  Brinkley kept wanting to get in the truck.  Funny boy.

Brinkley and Mallory checkout out the patio.  It is a really nice big patio.

Andrew moving a mattress.  Heavy and awkward.  How one person is strong enough to life a mattress by himself is beyond my ability.  I'll stick with the bedding :-)

It was hot and Andrew was about done with moving!  He sat down in the back of the truck waiting for Tucker.  He and Tucker just had the couch to get up to the new place and then they would be done.  The nice thing is that Mallory's new place has an elevator!  And the hallways were all air conditioned.  

Finally done!  Now all Malory has to do is spend the next couple days organizing her new place.

Trying to decide where to have lunch.  Jeff and Annie treated us all to lunch at Melties in Lehi.  Tucker was leading the way to get on the other side of the freeway and I wish I had taken pictures or could explain the circus we went through following him!  I was laughing so hard.  We were in and out and in and out but finally found our way to Melties.  

Just going to add here that the next day I got to see my first rainbow over Mt. Olympus.  I LOVE rainbows!!!  

How can anyone look at a rainbow and doubt there is a God in Heaven who created this beautiful earth!

This and That

 Spent the day taking everything out of my freezer and organizing it.  I went to the container store and bought some baskets that fit in the freezer and put all the soups on the top shelf.  Seriously, we had no idea we had that many soups in the freezer!  Then gathered all the pork cuts and they filled both the white baskets.  Again we had no clue we had that many cuts of pork.  Then got the beef and we only had a couple steaks.  Gathered the butter and it wouldn't all fit in the bucket on the right!  Yup, we are in good shape for butter.  The tray is full of peach jam, soon to have more strawberry and raspberry in it.  The bottom shelf was a turkey, salmon , lasagna.  Nice to have that little project done and things organize so we can find what we want without having to pull a bunch of stuff out.  

I was taking garbage out to the garbage can and notice down on the ground in the corner of the fence and the garbage can a little purple viola blooming.  Oh my gosh.  That just made me smile all over and I thought about the fact that no matter where you are in life you have the ability to bring a smile to someone's face.  That little viola growing all by itself certainly brought a happy heart to me.  That little flower certainly had no business growing there.  Look closely to the bottom left of the garbage can.

I just love these tiny little flowers!

We were invited to the cabin in Scofield for three days.  As always, Judy had the most delicious meals.  She loves to cook and experiment with recipes.  I'm just spending my time watching, soaking up some cooking suggestions and cleaning up.  She is a messy cook.  I swear she should have been on a cooking show on TV.

She is making an upside down rhubarb cake.  I'm not a great fan of rhubarb, but it was surprisingly good.  Still not a fan of rhubarb :-)

Finished cake

Her famous tomato pie and an chicken enchilada dish for dinner.

Had such a fun time.  We went to church on Sunday and heard two really great talks.  I'm trying to get a copy of one of them.  

Silly Sprout

 I was sitting at the kitchen table working on my blog when I heard Sprout barking non-stop.  Didn't pay much attention at first because that is what he always does, right?  I finally looked over at him and he was staring up at the ceiling and barking, barking.  I got up and checked out what might be on the ceiling and this is what he was going crazy about.

A shadow on the ceiling!!  OMGOSH.  I laughed until I couldn't breathe.  Interesting what a dog will bark at!!

I also got in the mood to do some cleaning and organizing.  I haven't tackled the freezer in years.  I measured the depth and height of the shelves and then off to the Container store so get some buckets that would work in the freezer.  Now I know exactly what I have in there and where it is.  That whole top shelf is soups.  I had no idea we had that many soups.  The two white containers are full of pork products.  Mostly spare ribs and a couple pork roasts.  Again had no idea we had that much pork.  I told Neal that he wasn't to buy anymore spare ribs or pork roasts until one of those baskets is empty!  Nice feeling to have the freezer organized and know where to look for everything.  I also threw a lot of product in the garbage can.  Found things that were dated 2016!!!  Yup.  That old and I'm sure freezer burned and no taste.  Don't tell Neal - he doesn't need to know how much I hauled out to the garbage can.  He would probably lose sleep over it :-)

California Girls In Town

 Jordyn Lyn, Lexi and Peyton all came to Salt Lake to spend a few days with their dad.  I hosted a Sunday dinner of roast, mashed potatoes, carrots and all the accessories.  It was a delicious dinner and we had such a wonderful time catching up on their lives and what they are doing.  Jordyn Lyn is graduated from college and is doing grafting, art and advertising for a place in Fresno.  Lexi has graduated with a Bachelor's in counseling and is going on to get her Masters Degree in counseling for high school students.  Peyton is close to graduating with a degree in hair and makeup, etc.  They are all grown up and such beautiful young women!  Where did the time go?

And then come the goodbyes!  Hard, hard, hard.  

The traditional Brock and Peyton picture.  

Sprout jumped in and wanted his picture taken!

LOVE this picture of Tucker and Maren!

And this one as well.  Sprout did a photo bomb!

Our last all together picture before everyone drove away.  I tried my best to look happy but my heart was sad to see them go.

It was such a fun day.  We played games for a couple hours.  We played Swoop and then Fruit Salad.  The day and evening went by way, way too fast.  Loved having the girls over for the day.  They head home Tuesday morning and they will be greatly missed until we see them again.  

This and That

 First:  I saw this darling picture of Abby and had to save and post it.  She was in Hawaii with Emmi and the two having a wonderful adventure together.  So glad that Abby had the opportunity to trip off to Hawaii for a long weekend to spend time with her sister.  Love you Abby!

Second:  I asked Mallory to order me a (what we used to call a Rolodex) business card box.  She said she chuckled that I still wanted one.  I did go to Office Max to buy one and, of course, they are antiquated and don't make them anymore!  Nice that Mallory loves her antiquated Gam and took care of me.  She did mention that I could have all that information on my phone.  Yup, I am definitely from another generation and kind of stuck there.  Thanks, Mallory, for loving me even though I'm still back in the sixties!!

Third:  I've been working on this project for a long time.  Actually had it done a couple years ago and never finished it.  So I spent a couple hours sewing on all the red ribbons and the little bell at the bottom.  Now I just have to sew the back to the front, put the dowel through the top, twine to hang it and tie the candies on.  Hopefully Annie, who saves advent calendars, will get this for 2026 count down.

Fourth:  I found this Sacrament Meeting program as I was going through stuff.  It is Tucker's farewell.  I don't know if he has a copy of this or even cares but I think it should be recorded.  Fun to see and be reminded of all the kids speaking.  Good memories and good times.

Fifth:  Tucker asked me if I would make some bread for him and the girls.  I was more than happy to do that for them.  I don't make bread often any more because it is just Neal and I and we just don't eat that much bread.  It was fun to get my hands in the dough and make the bread.  All four loaves are gone.  One went to Judy and Ron, one to Tucker and the girls and the other to Maren.  The fourth was enjoyed slice by slice by all of us.  Delicious Swiss bread!  Thanks to my sister, Lila Mae, I know how to make bread.

A Total Surprise

 Talk about a blast from the past!  Annie sent me this picture.  There seems to be no way for me to rotate this picture.  I even asked for help and there is no help.  So I'll just have to settle for a picture sideways.  This is the Washburn family who was a great part of Jeff and Annie's lives growing up.  It was AlDean who called us about Lynda Ann, which I shall be forever grateful for that call.  The Washburns had 10 children.  5 adopted.  Clara Washburn is at the head of the table and she was an amazing woman.  I worked for AlDean in his dentist office in Ridgecrest.  They eventually moved to Provo, Utah.  They were certainly a great influence in my life and I love them.  What a great family.  I would name them all but sadly I can't remember all their names.  

Belated Mother's Day

 Maren surprised me with a Mother's Day gift.  We actually had not seen each other since Mother's Day.  Work, travel, etc. prevented us from getting together.  I was thrilled with my gifts.  She gave me a beautiful candle that lights up with colors and a set of darling salt and pepper shakers!  Thank you Maren, I love the gifts.  My candle and the salt and pepper shakers that say home and liberty.  Perfect for the 4th!

This is the candle lit up.  Isn't it gorgeous?  I just love it.  Maren said they are hand made and the candle inside can be replaced with the little tea candles.  

Celebrating 250 Years

 The 4th of July has always been a favorite of mine.  Mostly because it has always been a family time as long as I can remember.  Lots of memories as I was growing up.  Family picnics, parades and the carnivals.  Annette and I were always in the Provo parade.  Always on the floats somewhere for one of the stores.  I also played the clarinet one year in the Provo High Band marching down the street in those hot uniforms.  

I love America and I always will.  We should fill our hearts with prayer for this country that God will continue to send blessings to this great land.

29 years after the birth of our nation, on Monday, December 23, 1805, Joseph Smith was born.  Tuesday April 6, 1830 the church was organized and six years later on March 27, 1836 a temple was dedicated.

We are all blessed to live in a nation where we have the freedom to worship, to speak, to gather and to strive for purpose in our lives.  We should ask ourselves, do I thank God for this land I live in?  Do I use my freedoms righteously?  We should be motivated by love, liberty, family and God.

I was grateful to have our family gather at our home on the 4th.  We had a taco bar furnished by Lynda Ann, Tucker and Maren.  It was delicious.  After we played games until it was time to wander down to Murray Park for the fireworks.

Funny thing.  Tucker texted me and said, "This may be blasphemous, but would you like me to bring paper plates and plastic utensils?"  My answer was "Nope.  But thanks.  Dishes are already out."  He answered back with "Well, it wouldn't be dinner at Gams with paper plates."  I love it and I do hope that my children and grandchildren will remember that I always tried to have a nice setting for any dinner that I hosted.

The young lady sitting by Neal was Kassy.  One of Mallory's missionary companions.  We were happy to have her with us for the 4th and any time she wants to join us.

I also made the watermelon ice cream dessert.  I usually only do it once a year.  Lots of work but so delicious.  Lime Sherbet is the outside layer.  Vanilla ice cream the second inside layer and the middle is strawberry ice cream with miniature chocolate chips mixed in to look like seeds.  

My men just relaxing after dinner.

I hope everyone had a happy 4th of July celebrating 250 years of our country blessed with freedom!