Another View on Coding...

This was a strange article that I came across reading another blog the other day. It made a point that I thought was totally amazing -- an eye opening thought so to speak. "Quantity always trumps quality."

I don't agree with that mentality, of course, as a painter it doesn't work with my abilities. But, I think it touches anything we deal with in life.

As a writer, the more we write, generally the more we improve. As an artist, the more I paint and experiment with different things, the better my skills get. As parents, the more we try and listen and work with our children, the better we become. It seems to be a principle of fact, doesn't it?

However, when you think of it in terms of spirituality, I think it could be twisted...much like the route Mr. Dutcher has gone...(only read if you want to be disgusted for the day...otherwise, don't go there) With spiritual things, the more you question and doubt and "seek wisdom" from dark sources, the farther away you go from truth and light.

It reminds me of a video we got a long time ago from Living Scriptures about the Tree of Life. They showed two men who were supposedly learned, and they were in search of more knowledge. The one wanted to follow Nephi, and the other said that truth could only be learned in unknown corners...they ended up in darkness, lost and unable to find their way back.

That sounds to me where Mr. Dutcher is heading. The medium he chose for his art was a difficult one, I think. Motion pictures has long been the tool of Satan to lure the good hearted and well meaning. Thank heavens we have people here in Utah that do well, and don't seem to be worried if their movies make it world wide or make millions of dollars.

But onto a more positive note.



We went to the farmers market in our home town yesterday, and toured the 'Utah house' as it's called. Apparently it is totally 'green', in that it's made to run on low energy, has solar panels and the toilet water is from a cistern. The garage is made partially from bale hay construction and foam/cement block. It was cooler than the house, but I wasn't sure if it had air conditioning on or not.

Anyway, inside the house was this large...painting? I'm not sure it could be classified as that, because it seemed to be a mix of mediums. I looked at it and shook my head, wondering why anyone would attempt such a thing. It was across between abstract art and natural texturing. Go figure. Abstract art just seems to be a child's work. Anyone (it would seem to me) can splash color on a canvas and claim it's the window to their soul.

This piece was something I'm sure anyone who's gone to a professionally decorated home or office would have seen before -- it's that kind of obscure and abstract all in one. Using color and texture to create something only a decorator would think of. Imagine looking at that kind of stuff on your own!

"May we help you?"

"Yes, I just spotted that large abstract over there..."

"Oh, that magnificent example of (whoever did it's)work? That's an ambitious size at 4'x2'. Do you have a place in mind?"

"Yeah, my sister needs something to cover the hole in her kids bedroom where they kicked through the wall, and that looks about the right size. How much do they run?"

About now the person, (totally offended)would tell me with a "sniff" that such piece's of art wouldn't be appropriate in a child's room. Besides, repairing the wall would be much cheaper than this work of art. I'm sure it ran a couple of hundred dollars.

That's where I guess my artistic endeavors clash with my practial side. I can just see when I start selling paintings and charge the cost of the frame and canvas. My hubby reminded me when I was contemplating a booth in a neighborhood boutique that I needed to charge for the time I spent too, not just the materials. Well, how in the heck do you figure that out? And this is something I like to do, I'm not in it to make money (obviously). So...I guess we'll see how that goes.

Just for the record though...remember I'm not the person you want to take shopping when looking for decorations for your house. Anything not slanted to my taste would probably be subjected to a critical/sarcastic tongue...grin.

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Cinderella??? UGH

Okay....so I was over at Candace's blog, and she had a post about princesses. I decided I'd take the bait and see which one I was. But really...Cinderella?


You Are Cinderella!

Dignified and hard working. With a gentle and soft-spoken manner you have something many people don't. Patience. Even through the moments of heartbreak you're still able to hold onto all of your hopes and dreams. Bide your time; your dream will come true.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Beauty of the Sences

During the past week I was host to a perfume party. While there are many of you who are probably going, Huh? It is pretty fun. I never thought about making my own perfume before, and it's fun to smell all the different scents.

As were were smelling and chatting, it occurred to me that it would make a great blog. Unfortunately, it was just my daughters, me and the rep -- Sandra. No one else showed up. Have you had that happen to you? Well...it happens to me a lot. I'm just not a party magnet, and people are always too busy to come to my house. sigh.

But I figured it was okay, I still get to chat with Sandra, who is a military mom, like me, and see what's new in her life. I talk with her online sometimes, but it's better in person. I also got to spend a little time with my daughters, doing the feminine thing -- perfume.

I really had no idea how perfume was made. Before I met Sandra, I had no idea there were 'essential oils' or any of that. I figured it was some kind of chemistry experiment and walah, you have perfume. Granted, some of the grandmother stuff made me wonder if they used anything resembling real flowers, but I digress.

Urban Botanics was started by a friend's daughter. It was something she'd dreamed about doing since she was a teenager. Her perfume oils are NOT made with essential oils because most of them are hazardous to the skin. The ingredients are from natural sources and are good for almost all to wear -- even those normally allergic. I was excited. I thought I could finally wear perfume again!

You see, my hubby has been allergic to stuff since he was about 20, and while he has accepted my on again, off again perfume wearing, he usually can't stand some of it -- he starts sneezing, coughing and has to leave the room. sigh. So much for romance, huh?

But I thought I had found the answer with the Urban Botanics. I have -- sort of. As long as he's not in the house when I have the party, we're great. When she pulls out her oils and starts the home fragrance bit (a wonderful alternative to candles and candle warmers), he has to leave. sigh.

Have you ever thought there was an art to smell? Everyone talks about the things you can't stand to smell...skunks, manure, etc. But I like to focus on the joys of scent. I love roses -- not only the beauty to look at, but the smell! ahhhh, it's heavenly. Although, I find if I smell it in a perfume, it reminds me too much of a grandmother smell.

I don't know how my grandchildren are going to deal with a grandmother that doesn't wear perfume and hates the smell of mothballs...grin.

Anyway, if you think about it, there are lots of smells that are a gift. Smells bring memories into sharp focus, they help us to calm, enliven and enjoy. It's amazing. Think about it...chances are, if you have a fond memory, there is a smell involved.

I love the smell of baby powder. It reminds me of my children when they were babies...


But there are some smells that they don't sell in bottles that I will always love -- like the smell of my husbands skin, the smell of the backyard right after the lawns cut or there's a rain shower, the forest with a campfire...They are all memories of beauty locked in my brain.

It's interesting, I've never thought about the art of smell, or taste or feel before. But upon contemplation, they have a great deal to do with appreciating it.

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When Did That Happen?

Clothing is something that has come in and out of style in varying stages throughout the centuries. Clothing design is considered somewhat of an art form, though I think that can be highly disputed. I have seen many outfits that were breathtaking, and some that made me want to run screaming to the hills.

Take the Olympics for example. I talked about the opening ceremonies and the amazing and beautiful costumes worn for the show. THOSE were gorgeous, and definitely art.

Some of the contestants, however, leave much to be desired. Obviously, I'm a gymnastics fan. Recently, I've been even more impressed, sort of.

You'll notice that the gymnasts wear pretty modest outfits. They are a bit high cut in the leg for me, but they are modest and usually quite attractive in design and color.

On the other hand, we have the beach vollyball players.

If for some reason you missed the gold medal match, (which was very good) or any of their other matches, you wouldn't know that they are wearing their underwear. For some reason it seems to be acceptable to wear your underwear for sports activities now. First it started with the "sports bra" that suddenly became acceptable to wear to the gym, despite the fact that it was a BRA. Then they made bathing suits skimpier and skimpier until some bikinis could actually be less than underwear!


Okay, I'll get off my soap box now, and get back to the subject at hand -- clothing as art and how they've lost it.

For some reason, if it's an outdoor sport, it's acceptable practice to wear practically nothing. If it's an indoor sport, you wear more. Go figure. Wouldn't you be just as warm inside -- if that was the argument?

In comparison, here's the indoor vollyball uniform.

What's up with that? These are perfectly respectable.

Then you have the pole vault...

Explain to me why it is necessary to dress this way when you are jumping over a pole? I can understand that the clothing should be tight fitting, you don't want anything to catch as your flying over, but this?? sigh.

Needless to say, I am very disappointed in the various Olympic committees that decided these uniforms. I mean, look at the swimming competitions, they have more clothing on than the track and field people! It's just bizarre, and I heard somewhere the statement that there was pressure to make the Olympic games more sexually attractive. Give me a break!! Perhaps we should go back to the original olympics, then, and how they dressed.

When we told our children about that, my daughters were grossed out. My oldest at home says that she can't see this one commercial on TV where they have dramatized the original Olympic games for a energy commercial and show a discuss thrower coming out of a tent with only a loincloth/skirt/kilt? on. She says it grosses her out to think about it.

Well, I guess that goes back to my original thoughts on art and clothing. The ancient Greeks felt the human body was a work of art in and of itself. They had the athletes compete with nothing on. Naked as the day they were born. Personally, I would have a hard time with that -- not to say, one would have thought the participants themselves, but I won't go there.

We are talking art, in the form of the human body and the material covering it. It gives credence to the whole art class thing where they have students sketching/drawing naked bodies for college courses. NOT. I don't see any legitimate reason for that. They can wear the tight swimsuits and get the same muscular shape, in my opinion.

So -- now that I have spouted off in about every direction and possibly offended everyone who could be offended, that's the Olympics for you. Everyone is not ever going to be happy at the same time (unless we're living in Zion) and so we have to deal with what life gives us.

We have all sorts of beauty around us to enjoy or decry -- things to do that create beauty and joy in our lives, or bring us down. It all comes to what our focus is.

Are we seeking for the light and good? Or are we seeking in the dark for 'knowledge'?

I am thankful for the games, in that in some small part they bring us together. But I just wish they didn't promote more unhealthy things for us to have to clarify and try and shield our children from. sigh.

Especially swimsuits...let alone, have to wear one in public -- I scared off enough last week. grin.

I'll leave you with the visions of beauty.



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Housewife's Olympics

As I was contemplating this blog and watching the Olympics, I had to run upstairs a few times to get things ready for dinner. As I did so, it occurred to me that there should be a housewife's olympics! How many things do we accomplish that are physical and graceful everyday?? LOTS!

Unfortunately, only those with children would be allowed to compete -- not that I have anything against those who don't have, can't have or do not want, children -- but only those that do could possibly understand all the nuances of the events.

We'd probably need a separate Olympics for those without children -- they would probably run along the lines of scheduling (hair, nails, work and shopping all within one afternoon, etc. grin)

So anyway, here are the events as I picture them (and I limited several of the events items to families of 4, since the thought of dealing with items more than that seems to send people into wide eyed panic):

Grocery Shopping:
Milk Jug Carry -- (how many jugs of milk can you carry in one trip without dropping and looking graceful at the same time?)

Bag Carry -- (how many plastic vs. cloth (eco friendly) bags in one trip without dropping, cringing, dying, etc.)

Cart Filling (how much you can fit in one cart without dropping, crushing or tipping -- smiling all the time)

Coupon/Bargain Hunting -- (the most coupons used in a shopping trip, the best bargains in the store, etc.)


House Cleaning:
Fastest Dusting (how many rooms can you dust in 30 minutes)

Window Cleaning (inside all -- outside of reachable without ladders)

Vacuuming Queen (all carpeted rooms in 30 minutes or less and adding dance to your event brings even more points)


Laundry:
Quickest Sorting (not just darks and whites, but warm and cold -- items for family of 4)

Quick fold and sort (all clothes out of the drier, folded and sorted to owners -- family of 4)

Sock Match (how many socks can you match together in 5 minutes - family of 4, one weeks worth)

Home Exercise:
Stair Aerobics (how many times up and down stairs in 20 minutes without breathing hard or clinging to the railing)



Garden Stretching (how far can you hoe without over balancing, weeding from your waist)

Leaf Raking (How much can you rake in 30 minutes)

Lawn Mowing (using a push mower, how fast can you mow a slightly sloped hill, 20' x 30' and make it look easy)

Milk Jug Press (how many times can you lift and lower two full jugs of milk in each hand?)


Multi Tasking:
More than one task -- make the team, your female.
More than three, Bronze
More than four, Silver
More than five -- Gold!



Shopping Queen:
Car Parking (how close to the doors can you park?)

Cart Maneuvering (how often do you pick a cart that has a squeaky wheel or turns to one side...how well are you able to dodge other shoppers?)

Store Lapping (how many times do you go around the store?)
Everything in one lap - GOLD!
Two laps, Silver
Three laps, Bronze
Four laps...you have ADHD and need a friend to keep you in line.

Of course, this idea brings sooo many other types of Olympics to mind. We could have the men's Olympics, with sports watching or playing, couch potato sitting, etc., and we could do teenager Olympics, where they compete for how long they sleep, complain, and play the Wii...grin.

I guess competition is an ingrained thing, and the more we compete, generally -- the better we get at whatever we do. My daughter asked why there weren't athletes that competed in more than one thing; such as why they didn't do swimming and track, or gymnastics and something else. I told her that everything was so specialized now, that they trained differently for every single sport.

There are a few crossovers, such as in swimming and diving, but I guess that it's a related aspect and doesn't cause too much problems. I like the idea. I mean, it's kind of like the Gymnastics allaround, isn't it? They compete on more than one apparatus.

I'll bet you can come up with additions to the Housewife's Olympics. I'd love to hear them...



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I've Made the Semis!

Well...since my theme this month is the Olympics, I've got a few items of my own. Remember how I mentioned going to county and state fairs for viewing art and enjoying it for low cost? Well, this week was our county fair, and I entered a painting. It was kind of a last resort -- I felt I'd committed to doing it and the painting was the only one handy. It framed up nice, and everyone commented on it when I turned it in.



My hubby insisted on taking this shot...so now you know what I look like with extremely short hair...lol.

Anyway, I was so excited! I've never had anything go higher than 3rd place. I figure when I enter something that earns a ribbon, I take it to the State fair and see how that goes. I've never gotten anything higher than 6th there...

In watching the Olympics this past week, especially the gymnasts, it has reminded me a lot of where I find myself. There are several semi's that are required for some of the competitions -- especially in swimming and track and field. Gymnastics, on the other hand, kind of starts with the team stuff and then takes off into the other levels.

But on going with the theme of art...I find gymnastics the most amazing of the summer sports. (I've never been into the flag waving stuff, or understood synchronized swimming...what's that all about???) The grace and agility of these athletes are just mind boggling. If you watch it long enough, I'll bet you start pointing your toes as you go down the stairs, splaying your fingers as you bend over, or seeing how high on your toes you can go before using a chair or ladder...grin. They make you want to add grace to your life.

I was able to watch the Gold medals for the all around today (yes, I tape them and then watch later...toooo long in the evenings for me) and was amazed at how well the US gymnasts did.
Of course, remembering that they spend hours everyday doing this stuff, it shouldn't be so awesome, but it is. There are many who do the same thing day after day and still don't make it to the Olympics...so these girls are different.

I also think the whole team had a lot of pressure on them, because as I've mentioned before, there is still politics involved. (Oh...and all photos are from the internet -- probably united press.) The scoring was supposed to be new and keep things from being confusing, but listening to the commentators this morning when they were talking about the scores received for different athletes, I don't think it's helped at all. They were hinting that the judges were being paid by China...yeah...I don't think that's happening, but I don't think they've been doing us any favors either.

It's sad that something so beautiful has to be brought down to a score. A judge has to give opinion on it. I always want to know if the judges were professionals in the sport at one time -- otherwise, how can they qualify to be judges? Or is it a question of those who can't, teach?

What is really astounding, is how they can move this way. This shot (wow, talk about timing) makes it look as if this girl is like a barbie doll and can move her legs any direction she wants without muscles or bones getting in the way!


I remember feeling this way on the way back from the mail box when I was waiting for letters from my would be husband...grin.

But as these games progress, and we see all the different sports that they compete in, there are many chances to observe beauty and appreciate art in the human form and ability. Heavenly Father has created an astounding piece of machinery in the human body. The Olympics simply showcase it.

So...in my own personal Olympics...I'm off to the State fair to enter my talent. I'll let you know how it goes!



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Pageantry, Custom and Art

The whole world is focused on one location, right now. The Olympic games in Bejing, China. Normally, any attention focused on China would not necessarily be a good thing. Many of us have issues with their communist rule.

However, the Olympics have given them an opportunity to show the world they aren’t so bad, and give them a glimpse of the proud past they have known.

The opening ceremonies were a mixture of modern technology with ancient culture and arts. It was amazing watching a painting being created from people doing modern dance. Many of the costumes being worn by the participants were gorgeous and an art form in and of themselves.

I don’t think anyone would disagree that the ancient oriental arts are beautiful. I heard one of the announcers say that the Chinese felt there was no exact art to painting, the artist painted from his soul – so the strokes might not be perfect, or the painting exact, but it would be a representation of his inner self, and therefore; beautiful.

I find that most of the work done in the oriental style is soothing and flowing. My daughter bought a kit that shows how to paint in that way, using the bambo brushes, and I can’t wait to look into it. But I'm getting sidetracked again...

What was fun to see was the rich colors and the carvings, the artwork inherent in just the buildings. The enormous pageantry of the opening ceremonies was enough to astound and take ones breath away.

Take this scene where they have a woman dancing a traditional dance on top of a mat being carried! It's amazing.

There was another scene where they were depicting the ancient boats and how China ruled the seas. They had large oars that were painted and when held in place, was a painting so large it filled the floor of the stadium. Then they moved them in rhythm and synchronized movements that were worthy of professional dancers. It was one more piece of art to the gallery they were presenting.
The technical aspects were mind blowing as well. They had probably the worlds largest LED screen on the floor of the stadium, that they used for various stages of the ceremonies, but was at one point a large unrolled scroll. They used the top edges of the stadium itself to present the lighting of the torch, having a man run along the edges as if he was actually running -- but was being flown by cables -- toward the torch. The torch itself appeared out of nowhere in the last 30 minutes before they were ready to light it. Makes me wonder if it's going to stay there or if it will be dismantled with part of the stadium after the Olympics are over.

There were many dancers and floating lit people filling the air at different times. This shot is hard to see, but it's a woman who was floating through the air with lights.
I've been an avid Olympic fan since they were held in Los Angeles. That was when I was old enough to truly watch and appreciate them. Since that time, I've watched every single minute I could of them, both winter and summer games. It drives my family a little nuts sometimes, but my hubby puts up with it with mostly good humor.

I was able to participate in the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Olympics as a volunteer, and as a result I got to actually attend the closing. It was one of the highlights of my life!

I feel strongly that the Olympics could be such a growing and meaningful thing for our planet, should we grasp the reality of them instead of the commercialism. Too much of it is lost in the costs, and the urgency of winning. I think they should be free, personally, especially to the host nation. It's one thing to be able to watch it on TV, but there's nothing that replaces actually being there and feeling that amazing Olympic spirit.

I remember when I was at the closing games and it was time to extinguish the torch. It was an emotional thing -- none of us wanted it to end. If only it didn't have to in our hearts. If only the feelings and meaning of the Olympics could live in the hearts of the world over -- perhaps we would find peace.

Until then, I will still enjoy the beauty and wonder of each country and glory in their triumphs, feel sad for their losses, and feel in a small way -- part of each of them.

That is the feeling of the Olympics. We are brothers and sisters the world over.

We are one.

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Art in Automation

Our world has become an amazing modernistic world of automation. Have you ever noticed how many things have become automated? I was amazed the other day when I was at McDonalds and watched as the girl at the window got drinks from a machine that automatically dropped the correct sized cup, filled it and put the lid on for her to hand out with an order -- blew my mind.

I know that automation was began as a blessing to mankind, especially in factories -- but I think the most well known was when the car was invented with the Model T. Automation was what made it an affordable car.

Now, most things that are automated are not what I'd class as beauty. Good grief, most of it is covered in grease, noisy, and not something I understand. On the other hand, I was fortunate to work in the cannery in Ogden last week. If you've ever worked at a church cannery, you know the experience. Everyone is a volunteer, everyone has a position at the line, and hundreds of cans pass in front of you. It's amazing. What's even more amazing, is how clean it is. I mean, everything is shiny and bright and I watched the metal cans come flying down the twisting chute with awe. What amazing minds came up with this stuff!

The kind of automation that really amazes me, is something that is totally useless. Have you ever been the Clark Planetarium? There's an exhibit there called Newton's Dream, and it's pretty cool. I wonder what Newton would have thought about it. I think it's amazing, and it promotes the idea I wanted to present for the blog -- Automation can be art. I'm sure the original inventors of automation saw it only as a way to make thing faster and more efficiently, but when it's put together as these things are, it's art.

There is also another site that discusses the different aspects of it.

What I like, is that it's not only fascinating to watch, but it's musical. There are several spots where the balls hit levers that hit pieces of wood, or hollow pipes that make sounds like a wind chime! It's totally engrossing, and when we were there, that's where we could always find the children. The display is two stories tall, and there are different spots top and bottom for kids to move the balls and start the thing rolling.

That's what I call automation! I guess part of what amazes me, is the brain power that thought up these different things. Newton's Dream alone is amazing, but even when thinking of the cannery and the different belts that ran along a line and how smoothly the whole thing runs. It takes engineering and invention. It takes inspiration and desire. It's a gift.

Just another amazing part of our lives. Check it out sometime and see if it doesn't astound you.

And, it's that time of year again! When the EFY CD comes out with all the great songs for our youth. I've never been to one of these conferences, but I discovered the music two years ago, and have made it a priority in our music listening. I think I know all the songs on the two CD's we have by heart. What's really cool, is that the LDSneighborhood will be selling this years copy on August 16th. Be sure to look for it -- I'm way excited it has Ryan Shuppe And the Rubber Band!!

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Oh Dear....First One Tonight...

I've been called to be Cub Committee Chair, and since my Cub Master doesn't have an assistant, I'm it. He goes out of town a lot, but this is the first meeting that I'll have to do on my own. ARGH!

I just hope all goes well...at least it's water -- nothing can go wrong with water, right?

sigh.

Count The Blessings...

Have you thought of what this earth would be like if Satan had won? He had promised that we'd never have pain, never be hurt and would all come back to Heavenly Father...

In thinking about that today, (I had loads of time to think, I was working at the cannery, and you know it's not a real brain job...grin) I realized this is one of the reasons we have The Arts.

The Plan of Happiness, is just that -- an eternal plan for our happiness.

Just think if we didn't have the arts in our lives -- there would be no music, theater, no real color, no upliftment. (I'm not sure if that's a word...) The many gifts and talents we have been given as children of our Heavenly Father enrich our lives.

I was thinking of this because I remembered my daughter saying how she didn't like to be like anyone else, she liked to be different -- unique. What is kind of funny about that statement, is that it's usually because they want to look just like their friends...Gangs are another example of this -- they are different, but all the members have to look very similar, have similar clothes, tattoos, etc.

Satan likes to make us think that we have be like others to fit in. That our outward expressions must be like everyone elses, and we have to do certain things to be happy.

Heavenly Father and The Savior have taught us that we are each special in our own way. We are each different, and we each have our own talents and challenges.

I find the idea that we each have our own talents a wonderful thing. Just think if everyone only painted in watercolor, or just in oils, or perhaps only did pen and ink? The world would be soooo limited.

I believe part of the reason we have these wonderful gifts and talents, is to bring us joy. Think about colors for a moment...does the color black make you happy? Bring a smile to your face? Not likely... But how about the color yellow? or a poppy orange? Cheer, brighten and uplift -- that is the purpose of the arts in our lives.

What amazed me is that even when they were first building up this valley, the pioneers made time for music, plays, entertainment, dances. They knew that such things brought enrichment to their lives. They knew that to be without them, life would not be rich -- we would simply be existing.

To simply exist is what Satan wanted. We would come to earth, get our bodies, exist through this trial of time, and then we'd die and go back to Heaven. There was nothing about enrichment, growth and knowledge.

What we are given instead, is a wonderful time of joy, enlightenment, enrichment with family and friends, exploration of senses, places and amazement at the planet he gifted us with. Truly He has given us such wonderful things in this life to enjoy and bring us happiness!

It's hard to realize that this life we live is only a blink in the eternities. When we die and go back home, all will be clear, and we'll realize that everything that seemed important here, is nothing. The only things we will be able to take with us are those thoughts, emotions, memories that we created while here. (Along with family!)

So I urge you to find joy. Find happiness in the world around you. Find it in the arts...whether it be music, painting, theater, movies, who knows...the list is endless and available. We've talked about museums, festivals, the fairs that are going on and coming up. There is food all around us -- it's up to us to partake and find joy.

I wish color, happiness and joy for all of you.

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I Write, Therefore, I Paint

That may sound a little confusing -- and I'm not above causing confusion if it gets you to think about my subject. But I realized something last night when I was up at 1 in the morning writing a letter to my son.

Letter writing is becoming a lost art.

How many people write letters on an average day? Not many. Now it's mainly email and texting. While some would argue that this in itself is still letter writing, per se, I have to say it is not.

And, not only is writing a letter becoming passe, but so is the art of penmanship. I remember reading about one of the prophets of the church:

"President Grant also worked at his talent in penmanship. He “resolved
that some day he would be a bookkeeper in the Wells Fargo and Company’s
bank.” A good bookkeeper had to write well, so he started working to
become a penman. One author wrote: “At the beginning his penmanship was
so poor that when two of his [friends]were looking at it one said to the other, ‘That writing looks like hen tracks.’ ‘No,’ said the other, ‘it looks as if lightning had struck an ink bottle.’ This touched Heber’s pride and, bringing his fist down on his desk, he said, ‘I’ll some day be able to give you fellows lessons in penmanship’; and he was” (Bryant S. Hinckley, Heber J. Grant: Highlights in the Life of a Great Leader [1951], 39–40). "

What's a little disturbing is the attitude of the youth on the subject. I found this article that talks about penmanship in schools. It has been a continual struggle in my family. For instance, my son wrote us last week that the guys in his unit had commented his writing was "worse than my wife's." He then tried to make more of an effort in his handwriting, and it did look better, but when he's hurrying, it's very hard to read. It definitely would match hen pecking.

As a freshman in high school, I took calligraphy classes. As a junior, I actually attempted teaching the skill to others, but no one really wanted to take the time. My daughters have expressed a desire and we've had a couple of classes, but it's still something that takes time and practice.


Monks who were making copies of the bible did amazing things with calligraphy in an illustrative form. It really is an art form.

So...back to the original subject; letter writing. When we're writing a letter to someone, we are generally catching them up on the lives going on around you. In writing my son, stuff that would seem trivial and non-informative to someone else, would be exactly what he wants to hear. He is somewhat homesick, misses everyone (including his phone) and wants the everyday info.

But as I was telling some friends, even if your writing a family member who wants to know what's happening, if it's boring, they aren't going to want to keep reading. So, you need to paint a picture with your words. Much like writing a book.

For example, he told us that a couple of the guys in his unit had gotten bad news in the mail. One had received notice that his mother had died, and another had a father was was suffering liver failure. He told me that it was against the rules for me to die while he was in boot camp.

This is a good effort. It was a solid subject, though a little grim. I wrote him that the garden we'd been working on since before he left was doing well. The tomatoes were growing fast, and several of them had taken on bush proportions -- enough so that it was hard to get in-between them, especially to weed. This is something he is going to be able to picture -- as he knows our yard so well.

What's funny though, is that he teases us he wants photographs because he is starting to forget what everyone looks like. While that is not reality, they are going to be different when he gets back because his little brothers are going to grow, that's the stage where they are right now. Not to mention how he will have changed...

Strange as this whole thing has been, and how much we miss him, I do owe him thanks. He's gotten me past the 'I don't want to write stage' and into the 'can't wait to write' now.

I would still rather have him home...;)

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