He's Doing Good...

Well, we've gotten several letters from our son in Oklahoma. Unfortunately, he doesn't appear to be getting ours. What's up with that??

It makes me anxious -- I don't want him thinking that we don't love him and aren't writing him. I know that he'll get them eventually, but I can't imagine what the hold up is! Watch, he'll get them all in one day! grin.

He's been having hotter weather there, more like living in St. George. I understand that the barracks are air conditioned, so at least there is that. I was picturing HOT with no relief... ;)

We are gearing up to go to his graduation. I keep hoping air fares will go down - just a little! Please??? sigh.

I also can't believe summer is almost over. Today is the last day of July!! Where did it go?? I'll be going back to work in three weeks, my kids will be going back to school, and things will be somewhat back to normal.

I hate normal. grin.

Oh well...life goes on. I really need to get painting now...the county fair is in two weeks!! ARGH!

Code is Beautiful?

I think not.

My hubby has been studying computer stuff regarding HTML and XML. I thought he was learning Greek... I took a website design class when I was working in Salt Lake, and it was fascinating, but still not very clear. I got how to use the software, but wasn't entirely sure what to do with it.

Now I've been trying to update my blog, I like a fresh face once in a while. Especially since I started a new one relating to food -- I wanted a template that pictured food. All I could find was pizza and chocolate. Now, while I like pizza -- if that template had been around 5 years ago I would have been thrilled -- and love chocolate in moderation (can you tell I'm not young anymore?), I didn't like the look of either of them. I also wanted to get a different look for this blog, thinking it was time for something less "in your face"...grin. That hasn't been working either.

You see...I've found that the way things look make a big difference in how many people read your blog, or visit a web site. Remember how many times I've said Beauty is in the eye of the beholder? Well that's definitely true when it comes to the internet.

Think about it. How many times do you go to a site and find it cluttered with adds, flash items, bright colors, etc. My first impulse is to close it down. I don't like sites that shout at me. I like ones that are easy to navigate, and easy on the senses.

I've been frustrated being tied to what someone else can create (especially when I have to see what's available for free...grin). Why can't I design my own? Not that I'm good at that sort of thing -- I think I've bemoaned my lack of creativity before. I may be an artist, but that doesn't mean I can come up with stuff off the top of my head. (grin -- I wish!)

So, I'm stuck with what I can find, or else I play with what I've got. I found a couple that I thought I could work with, but they aren't loading onto blogger like they need to. What's a girl to do?? Well, I figured I'd open my Dreamweaver program and see if it could help me. While it opened the code, it just tells me that there is problems with it and I'm not sure I know enough to figure it out.

There are loads of different pages out there, lots of people with apparently endless hours of time to spend on this project. It's amazing. For example, take the LDSNeighborhood site. It's extremely easy on the eyes, easy to navigate, and fun to walk around. For contrast, look at this site. This site's moving top bar and barrage of photos and items may be some people's dream, but this would drive me crazy. I wouldn't go to their site very much...if at all.

I realize these are two very contrasting view points, but I'm trying to illustrate a point. That's what I do...grin...illustrate. My, am I in a mood today...lol.

I thought perhaps you haven't been able to visit all the bloggers that grace the ldsneighborhood site, so I'll highlight a couple of them today in an effort to illustrate the different looks of each blog. Most of them used the regular Blogger template. Some of them have modified things.

First on the block, from left to right of the neighborhood, is New Neighbors. The blogger for this section is Cheri Crane, talented poet and photographer. Her blog is the green dot theme, which I have used as well, and is fun and light.

Next up is Health and Food. We have Keith Fisher and Candace Selima here. Keith blogs about wonderful, yummy things to do with Dutch Oven cooking, and has a customized header on his blog. Candace blogs about assorted health tips and her blog is a great template that looks like blue jeans.

In the Music block, Julie Keyser is the blogger, and today has a guest blogger. It looks very interesting, and I like the customized header on her's too. Great job, Julie!

And last for today, but NOT least, is C.L. Beck with the Write Up My Alley blog. Her's is a regular blogger style, and one that I have also used in the past. I like the soft green -- I think it's relaxing and doesn't distract from her hilarious blogs!

So anyway, that's all I've got time for today, but I hope I got you thinking about the beauty we find on the internet and how complicated it can be!

Join the Neighborhood Newsletter . . . Subscriptions are free and joining is easy. Just by signing up and maintaining your subscription to receive the yourLDSneighborhood.com newsletter, you become eligible for our "Thank You" prizes. Our dozens of giveaways range from a trip for two to China, to iPods® (each with a $50 gift certificate for LDS music), cruises, and more. Learn about our amazing monthly, quarterly, and annual giveaways by clicking here.

Return to The Neighborhood

My Vision Gets Distorted

I feel sometimes when I try to paint something that it's like that old commercial; Is it real or is it Memorex? What I see is so real, but what comes out of the ol' pencil or paint brush doesn't necessarily look the same. Things get distorted somehow between the eye and the fingers -- somewhere in the brain.

One of my favorite things to paint is flowers. A couple of years ago, we were fortunate to take an Alaskan cruise with my in-laws. It was amazing! I had no idea that Alaska was so green, or that it had so many flowers. I decided at that point I was going to take pictures of every flower I could, perhaps I'd paint them and create a book of flowers and I tried to take pictures of the names (if they had them) as well – but then I realized that's not the way I paint. (grin)

The flowers up at the top were the ones I painted the year after we came back and submitted to the State Fair. This is how it turned out:

Not real, obviously, but as well as I can do it. Do you try to capture something real? Perhaps with photography or drawing?

I remember when I was in college and my watercolor teacher was disappointed in me because my work seemed more -- unreal -- than what he was aiming for. It used to frustrate me, but I've grown into it. I've decided that this is how I paint, this is my ability, and it's not going to be what someone else thinks it should be. I used to apologize for it, but not anymore.

Another flower that I love to paint is the sunflower. We get lots of the wild ones around our home in the summer, in the empty fields and long the roadsides. I guess they might be called Brown Eyed Susans in official names, but I still think they all look like sunflowers. I've painted a couple of different styles of them.

A watercolor version:


And an acrylic version:


Obviously watercolor is my favorite medium, simply because I can do more with it. Another flower I like to paint is the Tiger or Day lilies.

It occurred to me that possibly the reason I like to paint these flowers is their brightness...the way the seem to hold the light of the sun within their petals. They lift up toward the rays of the sun, and their color seems to brighten with the day. I think they are cheerful, inspiring.

I never get tired of saying it, though you'll probably get tired of hearing it -- but I am amazed at the creations of our Heavenly Father. Especially the flowers. I think they would also be the best way to start drawing a still life. Get a pencil, paper and a flower and practice the lines, the flow, the shading and see how you like it.

You never know – I think you’d do a whole lot better than the ones Van Geoh painted and made famous.


I know I'm not very impressed with them...grin.

Join the Neighborhood Newsletter . . . Subscriptions are free and joining is easy. Just by signing up and maintaining your subscription to receive the yourLDSneighborhood.com newsletter, you become eligible for our "Thank You" prizes. Our dozens of giveaways range from a trip for two to China, to iPods® (each with a $50 gift certificate for LDS music), cruises, and more. Learn about our amazing monthly, quarterly, and annual giveaways by clicking here.

Return to the Neighborhood

Wicked Witch of the West?

I feel like I'm the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz...I'm melting, melting...!!

Ugh.

I hate summer. I think I've mentioned that before, but if I haven't, let me clear that point up for you. If I could have the same time period off from work (which is the ONLY BIG plus for me) but it could be a good ten to twenty degrees cooler -- I'd be a happy camper. I'd be sooo happy, and I'd (hopefully) get so much more done. sigh.

I just melt when it's hot. I don't function well, I swell up and drink loads of water. I don't like to cook until forced when everyone else is begging for something to eat and can't think of anything to make either. We tend to do a lot of cold meals, because I don't like to heat up the house. Especially now that our AC is on the fritz.

We spend a lot of time downstairs in our basement. In fact, that's where we eat most of our meals. There's no other place cool enough -- seriously. Ice cream starts melting the minute you pull it out of the fridge in our upstairs.

But enough about the weather...lol. We got lots of news from our son on Monday. We got letters and then we got a phone call! It was so much fun. One of the things he said was when they go to chow, the last man in line has to hold the door. Then he has to sing this little ditty about how he's the last one holding the door. Well, my son was the one holding the door one day, and instead of using the word Hell in the little ditty -- he said Heck. Everyone stared at him. His Drill Sargent asked him why in the Hell he said Heck. He told him that he was trying not to swear.

It cracked me up.

His unit is doing really well, that's why we got the phone call, they'd earned 10 minutes each!

We are working on going back for his graduation in September, and that should be interested. I figure it's still going to be hot there -- this is Oklahoma. sigh. I wonder if I can bring a hand held fan on base and not get it taken away?

At least the car will have air conditioning, and hopefully the hotel!!

Have I commented on the fact that I'm a whimp?? Oh yeah...big time. I would never have made it as a pioneer.

Gonna watch the parade tomorrow though!! Oh yeah! I love parades.

Have a good one!

A Day of Triumph and Beauty

This is the time of year that we get to remember some of the past that was more than just the beginning of Life for this valley. It was the start of the Desert blooming as a rose. I realize that some of that quote was for the middle east, but I think a great deal of it was for Utah.

Back in 1847, when the pioneers first entered the valley it was nothing like what we see now. There were some trees, mainly around what steams and rivers existed, but most of it was arid land. A desert.

Only the industry and work of those early saints turned this valley into what it is now -- a glorious area to see. One that I wouldn't trade for anywhere else.

I moved here from California when I was 18. I had lived in a couple of different areas, close (relatively) to the ocean and then further up next to the mountains. I don't remember being happy anywhere there as I have been here. (Okay...I do miss the ocean once in a while -- but we do have salt water nearby...grin)

The thing that I love most about this state is it's people. We have some wonderful people here, and they aren't all members of the church either. They are just simply kind, generous and welcoming. Hopefully my children will grow up to be like their neighbors...grin.

My favorite thing about the 24th, though, is the parade. I mentioned the Day's of 47 Parade last week, and I really wanted to mention it today. Talk about beauty and artistry! Some of those floats are amazing! I think anyone who works on a float deserves a medal, because that takes so much patience and diligence. At least they don't have to work with live flowers and stuff like the Rose Parade and have more time. They also don't have to worry about the thing dying and falling apart within 48 hours or so...grin.

If your curious about the floats before the parade, there's always the KSL preview party, held Monday and Tuesday down at the South Towne Center. Personally, I'd like to go see them after the parade, so I can go gaze longer at the ones I liked best.

Have you ever thought about the art of putting a float together? Not only do you have to consider the base and foundation, how it's going to move and be driven, you have to decide if there are going to be people standing on it, how they are going to be secured and what is going to happen around them. I guess it's always the theme first and then figuring everything else out.

I've never done a float, but I have a friend who has done many of them, and from listening to her -- they are a lot of work. I don't think I ever want to work on one ... I guess if someone asked me. grin.

What really amazes me is that this year marks the 159th year of the parade. I remember when it was the 150th and they did the commemorative entry into the valley. We lived in Salt Lake and were really excited and thrilled with the event.

There have been many gifts from our pioneer ancestors. Among them the drive to succeed, the desire to change the world around us, quilts that last to be heirlooms, dutch oven cooking, and last but not least the hoe-down. Okay -- I'm sure they weren't the inventors of dancing, but they knew how to party and have fun.

If you don't have pioneer ancestry in your family tree...I'm sure there's someone back there that has proven their worth. I myself don't have pioneer stock, but my hubby does and I'm proud to be able to associate with them.

My parents were converts. My father's family came over from England -- In fact I even had one that jumped ship and went awol. Kind of exciting family history, huh? I like it.

Anyway -- I hope you take this time to celebrate families and take pictures, read journals and make some memories of your own this month. I know I will.

Didn't someone say there was watermelon in the fridge?

Oh...and don't forget:

Join the Neighborhood Newsletter . . . Subscriptions are free and joining is easy. Just by signing up and maintaining your subscription to receive the yourLDSneighborhood.com newsletter, you become eligible for our "Thank You" prizes. Our dozens of giveaways range from a trip for two to China, to iPods® (each with a $50 gift certificate for LDS music), cruises, and more. Learn about our amazing monthly, quarterly, and annual giveaways by clicking here.

Return to the Neighborhood

Art Is Not Necessarily Entertainment

I remember the first time I heard of performing arts. It was in the movie Legal Eagles starring Robert Redford. I thought hmm...people really pay to see stuff like this?

My version of performing arts is plays or theater, concerts, and movies.

I especially love movies. I think movies are amazing with what they can do with computer generation and cinematography -- this in itself is an art form. We are big on collecting movies to watch as a family. We don't watch television and don't have cable -- we watch DVDs.

Last week, though, we decided we'd had enough. It was either ferret out the movies that were iffy, or choose another option. Not that we had that many PG13 or even R movies -- (the Patriot, Saving Private Ryan) but we decided it was time to be more selective in what we allowed in our home.

Taking that to heart -- and the knowledge that a lot of PG13 movies are only rated that way because of language or a select scene or two, we opted, instead, for the Clear Play. We've had a TV Guardian for several years, and have really loved it. It's amazing what a shock it is to be watching a movie at someone elses house or on vacation without the guardian on and remembering it had those words in it!!

But a draw back of the TV Guardian is that it works with the closed captioning function of a movie. If the movie didn't have that, we couldn't get the guardian to work. Also -- it would print up stupid words for some of the blocked language. It got to where the kids pretty much knew what they were saying, even though it didn't come through on the speakers. UGH.

Enter the Clear Play. Now -- I didn't start this blog with the intention of this being a commercial, but I have to say it's been wonderful! For example, the movie Transformers? It's a great movie, and we've watched it over and over since it came out on DVD. But there are a couple of scenes that we'd like to not have to skip and there is a couple of spots where taking the Lord's name in vain is the only thing being said.

The Clear Play blocked it all out. I mean the two scenes we didn't like, and the language -- without messing up the movie. I'm dying to see what it did for Titanic, but we don't have it on DVD.

What brought this subject to mind, is the movie Dark Knight. I do mystery shops, and one of the things I get to do a lot of is do trailer checks and theater counts for new releases. A side benefit to this is I usually get to see the movie (unless it's something I didn't want to see in the first place).

I have two shops to do for it this weekend, and I'm figuring I'll probably get to watch it at least once. It looks to be kind of dark -- Heath Ledger appears to have done an amazing job in his last movie in reprising the role I didn't think anyone else could do better than Jack Nicholson. (I think Jacks face was just made for the role -- an incidently, I can't believe Heath was born the year I graduated from high school!! Man does that make me feel old...)

But I was also reading about how they won't be nominating him for any awards, because they tend to shy away from doing so for dead people. I think Hollywood is the only art medium that refuses to grant awards to those who have died -- unlike the rest of the art community. How many painters didn't make it big until they died? Too many to count.

I just thought it was interesting -- and I got carried away. Sorry! ;)

Anyway, I just think the way society views art and all it's mediums is sometimes contradictory to reality. I think it goes along with the "good is bad and bad is good" theory that Satan loves to encourage. Just because one person thinks something is "art" the rest of us are supposed to agree or be classed as judgmental.

While we try not to judge other people, we do have to judge what we want in our brains and in our homes. This involves our spirituality and eternal salvation, does it not? Then it is up to us to decide what we want around us. It is up to us to decide what is art and what is uplifting. We are guided in many ways -- we know how somethings make us feel -- and if the spirit is with us.

If you haven't already done so, I would recommend looking through your movies and analyzing your watching habits. What is the message you are sending your children about how you want your home? And what are you teaching them is art?

And I feel the need to say this: Just because it's on a public television channel (such as PBS) doesn't mean it's art either. They have their sponsors to appease as well as other television stations have advertisers.

However -- I do want to point out that there is a great television opportunity coming up this month...a definite want to watch item that only comes around once a year. The Days of 47 Parade! grin. A definite highlight of the summer.

In looking through the LDSNeighborhood, I noticed that the title of my little corner of the world is Arts and Entertainment. I'm thrilled! That means that we have a larger subject to cover, and I'm proud to be part of this whole thing -- have I mentioned that before?

The LDSNeighborhood is a one of a kind. I hope you are finding all the wonderful articles and stores helpful. I know I love the newsletter. If you haven't subscribed yet...

Join the Neighborhood Newsletter . . . Subscriptions are free and joining is easy. Just by signing up and maintaining your subscription to receive the yourLDSneighborhood.com newsletter, you become eligible for our "Thank You" prizes. Our dozens of giveaways range from a trip for two to China, to iPods® (each with a $50 gift certificate for LDS music), cruises, and more. Learn about our amazing monthly, quarterly, and annual giveaways by clicking here.

Return to the Neighborhood.

The Interview You've Been Waiting For!!

We are going to be doing a virtual tour from my sister's gorgeous multi level 'cabin' in Fish Lake, Utah. It's our favorite place to be, with rich furnishings, gleaming logs and leather furniture. The area is quiet, cool and relaxing. I figure with all the wild rides you've had so far on your tour, you'd appreciate a moment of peace. ;) We'll be sitting on the wrap around porch, lounging on plastic chairs and sipping lemonade as we gaze out over Fish Lake and it's surrounding mountains. Don't worry about the kids...they'll all be inside playing Foosball. We'll have some pasta salad with shrimp if you're hungry.

JSS: This is my dream spot. Really. If you ask me any time where’d I’d like to be, it’s at a cabin on a lake. Great lemonade by the way. Is it fresh squeezed of does the fresh air just make everything taste better?

G: I think fresh air does make everything better, but I make a mean lemonade. Glad you like it. So! It's been wonderful to read your book and get a glimpse into Farworld. What was your inspiration for this story?

JSS: You know, with very few exceptions, I’m not sure I have a specific inspiration. I just try to write a story I would like to read. I wanted a fantasy story where the heroes were real people with real problems. I didn’t want them to be the best at everything they tried.

G: What made you change from writing mysteries to Young Adult?

JSS: I’m still writing mysteries too. I actually didn’t think I would ever write YA or fantasy. But once I started it came so easily I couldn’t stop.

G: Do you have any other story lines in mind after finishing this series?

JSS: TONS!!! I’d really like to be a full-time writer so I could crank out two or three new stories a year.

G: I loved the other books you've written -- I think you handle suspense extremely well. Have you thought of writing a suspense novel for the young adult market?

JSS: It’s funny, before I read all of your questions I had written that I would like to do a YA suspense novel. Then I scrolled down and went, “Oops, better save that answer.” Yes, I would. I’d also like to try something along the lines of goosebumps.

G: How well did your family take the change of genre?

JSS: Well my wife loved it. My older kids (18 and 19) still haven’t read it. But my 8 and 10 year-old boys loved it. I finally wrote something they could get into.

G: What has been your favorite part of your tour so far?

JSS: Getting to know people better and reading their insights into the book. It’s funny how many little things they picked up on. And in some cases, things I didn’t even realize until they pointed it out, and I was like, “Oh, yeah. You’re right. I did do that, huh?”

G: What would you do differently?

JSS: I might have reconsidered the Q&A part. I love it. But I had no idea how much time it would take to answer 160+ sets of questions.

G: What is the strangest question anyone has ever asked you?

JSS: My two least favorite adverbs.

G: Adverbs? That is strange -- most the time I don't even know what an adverb is, let alone have a favorite one. Who do you look up to as a writer?

JSS: I honestly look up to everyone who has the guts to finish writing a novel. That takes a lot of willpower and a lot of courage.

G: What would you recommend to the writer who is just starting?

JSS: Read. Read. Read.


Well...there you have it! Thanks for joining us this afternoon, Jeff -- It's been an honor.

Remember, everyone. You too can have a copy of Farworld in the fall when his books come out. Be sure and grab a couple, everyone is going to want to read it!

WAIT!! I Was Wrong!

Okay...Now you know I really have no brain. I've totally messed up my contest...how often do you do that?? I don't know. I just know I announced the wrong winner. Probably because I only have a few people who visit my blog, and I picked one of my favorite regulars...but the winner actually was KEELEY!! I'm sooo embarrassed. Can you ever forgive me?? Carrie, I'll be talking to you soon...sigh.

Go figure.

All I can say is I've got children... ;)

And the Winner is...

Carrie!! You did it. You get the ARC of Farworld. You're gonna love it, I just know it.

I'm sure she's excited that there were only two entries...and I'm sorry I couldn't give out two copies of the book. You both deserved them, since there were only two of you interested...grin.

Have a great summer, Carrie!

Today's another Birthday!

I can't believe it. My youngest daughter (which isn't saying much) turns 20 today. It's hard to believe so much time has gone by! We're going to spend the day at Lagoon, so I'll be sunburned and tired for tomorrow, but it will be worth it.

(Hey, with my son working and there this being employee appreciation day, it's a cheap party!! grin)

Don't Forget!

Time is counting down...you don't want to miss the opportunity to get a free copy of Farworld! Remember to check out the contest...;)

Water is Beauty in Motion

This is my most loved falls of all time -- Multnomah Falls in Oregon.

My favorite thing about summer is water. When I was a kid, we'd go swimming at the local high school for 50 cents. I always came home starving -- but that's another issue.

This is my dream pool...my hubby and I talk about it all the time, it would be right outside our bedroom...sigh. Hey -- there's nothing wrong with dreaming...grin.

Anyway -- we had some neighbors that did the above ground pools, and they were okay, but there's nothing like a big in ground swimming pool. I don't even think the ocean compares, unless it's in the Caribbean...snorkeling has got to be the best thing ever. Otherwise, too much sand...salt, ugh! Oceans are great for walking along the shore with my hubby, but it's not what I think of when I'm thinking of water.

The beauty I'm talking about, is the sound, the feel, the smell even, of water. Have you noticed that there are lots of those little fountains now that you can get to sit on your desk and give you a calm feeling? Those little 'Zen' fountains that bring a peaceful atmosphere. I like the natural kind, outdoors.

It's a feeling of oneness with nature when sitting by a waterfall, feeling the spray on your face and listening to the birds. It's a moment of beauty given by God. It enables you to calm your world, get free of the rat race we are surrounded by and just soak up the wonders and beauty before you. There is a great instrumental piece on the neighborhood juke box by Jon Schmidt -- I would recommend listening to it while your enjoying this wonderful view.

I think this would also be the ideal location to have your children start painting. Give them watercolors and see what kind of shapes they come up with -- what captures their imagination and brush strokes as they sit among nature and feel it's peace.

Of course, you don't have to take them to a waterfall for this excersice, but it's nice...I would say it's the best. But -- we don't have one nearby either, so it's usually the back yard with our big Day Lilies' blooming.



Of course, if you have one of those little Zen fountains, you could set it up outside in the shade somewhere and pretend you were on a field trip. Pretending is always good.

July is the big month for family picnics and get togethers, so it would also be a good time for children to work together on crafts and art projects. Big sheets of butcher paper, large jars of paint, the whole big outdoors for them to portray... Just as long as you have a hose handy to clean them and everything else up, you're set! Grin.

And remember --

Join the Neighborhood Newsletter . . . Subscriptions are free and joining is easy. Just by signing up and maintaining your subscription to receive the yourLDSneighborhood.com newsletter, you become eligible for our "Thank You" prizes. Our dozens of giveaways range from a trip for two to China, to iPods® (each with a $50 gift certificate for LDS music), cruises, and more. Learn about our amazing monthly, quarterly, and annual giveaways by clicking here.

Return to the Neighborhood

Last Week to Win A Copy!!! Extended time...

I'm guilty. I got so crazy the end of June and beginning of July, that I forgot I was supposed to end the contest on the 5th. I figure one more week wouldn't hurt anything, although since only two people entered, they are probably wishing I'd shut up...grin. So -- I'm extending it to the 15th. Totally last day!

But, since I announced it a few weeks ago, you've probably forgotten. You've gotten wound up in your own little busy summer activities and have forgotten you could have this excellent book in your little hands!!

Well, it's time to refresh your memory! J Scott Savage's book, Farworld, is by far one of the best books I've read of that age grouping in a long time. He has an excellent way of telling a story and drawing you in for the ride.

Here's a review of the rules:
EVERYONE with a blog can join in.

1) Add a link to this blog on your blog, with some nice blurb about the contest.

2) Post a comment on here so I can visit your blog and see your entry.

That's it! The contest will run until the July 15th. The winner will be drawn at random from the comments. Your prize will come direct from the publisher, Deseret Book's Shadow Mountain.

So...don't waste anymore time. I'm keeping track...I'll be posting an interview with Mr. Savage the week after the contest (or thereabouts) so be sure and watch for it...it should be interesting!

Sometimes, It's True!

If you're anything like us, you get lots of junk email from friends that have cute sayings, stuff attributed to one star/celebrity or another, something telling you to write your representatives/politicians, something about global warming, and fun pictures that make you smile.

You can always tell when someone is new to the internet, because all the old stuff comes floating through, and you spend the next little while pretty much deleting what this person is sending until they get caught up with the times. We had this with my mother-in-law when she started getting onto the internet and reading emails.

Lately, I've begun to look at everything with suspicion. I've learned that alot of what comes through as fact, isn't. And so, I've gotten very familiar with looking up urban legends and hoaxes. My sister-in-law routinely sends us stuff that I have to check on and is generally off base. I usually send them back to her and tell her to check it out on Snopes.com. There used to be a better site, but I can't seem to find it anymore. I take Snopes with a grain of salt too, because they seem to have their own agenda with some items. Another site is Urban Legends, but sometimes it's hard to find the information you're looking for.

What is really impressive is when something comes through that you find is real. That you can believe in, and gives you a little hope. We had one come through about the man that put a full page add in the newspaper about Democrats vs Republicans (he's a republican) and the add cost him over $100,000. It was titled "What I am" and it was very inspiring. Unfortunately, while it was real, it was older -- 2004. I wish someone would do something large today.

I feel that our country is in sad straights, and it's hard to know what to do for it. I am thankful that I live here, I am thankful for my freedoms, I am thankful for my family and the home that keeps me safe. I am thankful for my husband's job and the ability we have to grow food. There is so many things to be grateful for.

I know this is kind of a rambling thing, but it's the thoughts going through my head today. My son entered basic today (official boot camp)and he called last night to let us know. He sounded strange. I can't decide if it was a combination of nerves and homesickness and worry, or if there was something wrong he wasn't going to tell me.

It's hard being 1100 miles away from him...I can only pray and hope things go well.

It's in the Lord's hands now.

Beauty of the Night

For the weekend of the 4th, my family went camping with a couple of my hubbies siblings and their families. We went to Stillwater, UT, which is a part of the Wasatch - Cache National Forest. It was gorgeous. I haven't been camping in a long time (it's not one of my favorite pastimes -- I like a real bed and running water, thank you) and so it was a good outing for us. We had to leave one daughter behind, as she works fast food, and no one gets the 4th off...grin.

The camp site was nice and roomy, there were lots of tables, and even a fire pit so we could have a fire. It was also at least 10 degrees cooler than home, so I was very happy. Nighttime was even better, it was cold enough to snuggle under the sleeping bag, and once we got past the first night and figured out which way to put the stupid sleeping bag so we were both covered, the second night was bliss. (As long as you ignored the dang bird that woke us up every morning at 5:30 shrieking at the top of it's lungs, the loud river going by less than a mile from us, and the early birds of our own campsite -- and did I mention the mosquitoes? UGH This photo is from Yellowstone and Old Faithful.)

Almost as fun as Yellowstone. The fun we had at Yellowstone though, was the Prairie Dogs -- but that's worth another blog on it's own.

What I found most amazing, however, was the night sky. I've been in the mountains camping before and seen stars, but this was the most outstanding sky I can recall ever seeing. Unfortunately, I didn't have a good enough camera to take pictures of it, so you'll have to see the ones I got off the NASA Picture of the Day website (which are amazing, you should check it out).

The only thing that compared, was when I was flying home from Hawaii last fall. It was a red eye flight so it was the middle of the night. I opened my window shade and the sky was full of stars. It felt like we were in the middle of them and it seemed surreal. I'll never forget that experience. It was the closest I'd ever been to them, and it really felt like you could reach out and touch them.

The sky we saw while camping this time though, was just more of an overload. It was as if someone had dumped all of the stars out of a bag and scattered them through the sky. There were so many constellations that I couldn't tell them apart (though, how people get some of the shapes out of things, I have NO idea -- just looks like a bunch of bright dots most of the time to me). I could have laid on my back and gazed at the sky until my eyes closed -- it was better than anything I could imagine.

I was amazed by the creative power of our Lord. The beauty He has given us, both on earth and in the heavens. Nothing is left to chance, nothing is plain -- all that we see was created by a loving and powerful hand to help us grow, learn and enjoy.

Two years ago I was fortunate enough to go on a cruise to Alaska. Previous to this outing, I would have thought Alaska boring. Green along the coast, perhaps, but cold, barren and uninviting. I wondered why anyone lived there (and we have two families in our ward that were raised there)and what attraction it could possibly have.



What an eye opener this trip was. Alaska was gorgeous! The small towns along the coast were quaint and rustic, exactly what one would expect from gold rush eras. It was mild weather, and much of what we saw was VERY green. I was totally floored. Let alone the flowers! I was captivated and took tons of photos of the flowers.

What I didn't get to see was the night sky. I had sooo hoped we would get a glimpse of the Auroras Borialis. But that didn't happen, since it didn't get dark until well past 10 pm, and we never stayed up late enough.

This past weekend reminded me of the various times in my life when I've seen the stars and been awed. I wanted to share that, and suggest that if you haven't had a chance to see the stars lately, perhaps you could take a late night drive up the mountains or away from town and get a real good look. There's nothing like the Lord's handiwork in full glow.



Join the Neighborhood Newsletter . . . Subscriptions are free and joining is easy. Just by signing up and maintaining your subscription to receive the yourLDSneighborhood.com newsletter, you become eligible for our "Thank You" prizes. Our dozens of giveaways range from a trip for two to China, to iPods® (each with a $50 gift certificate for LDS music), cruises, and more. Learn about our amazing monthly, quarterly, and annual giveaways by clicking here.

Return to the Neighborhood

The Colors of Freedom Don't Run

I thought I would continue my thoughts on patriotism and our flag. I started with the idea that we've heard different versions of what the red, white and blue stand for. I think everyone has heard the red is for the blood, etc. Well, in looking it up, I discovered that the initial founding fathers really had no reason for their choice. It came later on -- but they discussed the colors in the seal.

"Their significance was explained by Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, and included in the book "Our Flag," published in 1989: White represents purity and innocence; red represents hardiness and valor; and blue represents vigilance, perseverance, and justice." They also had this:
"Also this from a book about the flag published in 1977 by the House of Representatives...
"The star is a symbol of the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immemorial; the stripe is symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun."

I thought that was cool. Once more sign that our forefathers revered God and strived for his guidance in their lives.

It kink of makes me laugh though -- I guess the seal had more importance than the flag in the beginning. I had figured the colors came from the flag of Britain, since it had the same colors in it and they probably wanted something to start with. Who knows. I think it's amazing, our flag, and it doesn't really matter why or how the original flag was designed. It's ours now, and it's here to stay.

What I did want to know, was how they created those colors. I am an artist, we discus art and the like here, so that's something we would want to know. (sounds like inquiring minds, right?) That's a little trickier to find out.

Back in the 1700's, colors were all done naturally. Blue or Indigo, was made from a plant -- it was most common for the new blue jeans. Red was made from a bug out of Mexico. Isn't that a lovely thought? Ugh. At least they didn't need to dye things white -- I guess. Strange thought.

When thinking about our flag, and the freedoms it represents, it always reminds me of Moroni and the title of Liberty.

I feel like our country is very much like that right now. The government is very corrupt, despite the good men working there, and the media distorts good to bad, and makes bad look good. It's enough to make a grown man run for the hills.

Instead, our men are taking up standards and proving what we are made of. I was impressed with a talk by Glenn Beck that he gave at the Marriott Center this past week. He told them that they were the future of America. I don't think anyone seems to remember or realize that. Sure, we have the leaders in government now, but they are all going to retire or die within the next 10 to 20 years. Who is going to take over for them?? The youth and young men and women of today.

But I got sidetracked. (again)

The flag is much like what I've been talking about with art the past couple of weeks. It is something so much more than what it seems...it resonates within us, it's beauty is much more than the simple colors -- it is all about representation. The flag represents freedoms and rights and that is why so many are drawn to it.

There is another blog on the ldsneighborhood that is similar to mine this week. I recommend all who read mine, go check her's out. Muriel Sluyter has pretty much the same take on our country as I do. Her blog talks about choices. I think all of us are making choices everyday. I just think some of us make better choices than others.

Choices that liven up our colors and lives, bringing joy to those around us. Celebrate this month of patriotism with your family -- there's nothing better you can teach your children than the colors in their hearts.

Kind of like this family in Bountiful...what an example to their neighborhood and children. What are your traditions for your family? It's never too late to start.

Join the Neighborhood Newsletter . . . Subscriptions are free and joining is easy. Just by signing up and maintaining your subscription to receive the yourLDSneighborhood.com newsletter, you become eligible for our "Thank You" prizes. Our dozens of giveaways range from a trip for two to China, to iPods® (each with a $50 gift certificate for LDS music), cruises, and more. Learn about our amazing monthly, quarterly, and annual giveaways by clicking here.

Return to the Neighborhood