In Retrospect...

It's been almost a year since I started writing blogs for Yourldsneighborhood. What started out as an exciting foray into the world of public journalism, grew into a stress that I've only recently begun to wonder if it was worth it.

Thankfully, or unfortunately, before I had to seriously give thought to resigning, the option was taken out of my hands. Last Friday (or this past Monday) was the last blog I will have written for those good folks. I appreciate their willingness to let me attempt descriptions of the world of art, and the chance to stretch my wings a little. I have grown a lot.

Now I can take some time to get some serious work done on the work I have in progress. I appreciate the opportunity this has given me, and I want to thank those of you who stuck with me, even when perhaps my subjects were not interesting.

Now, it will take a little time to get back into the swing of blogging for the fun of it. Perhaps you'll be more interested in my little tidbits than my artful thoughts...grin. Who knows.

But anyway...we're back to normal now.

Wicked...or Not?

In trying to find the interesting and artful for this weeks blog, I heard about the Broadway musical that seems to have taken Salt Lake by storm.

Wicked.

My sister-in-law went and saw it Saturday with her children. Her youngest is a boy turning 8, and all he had to say was he didn't like the "kissing" parts...lol.

This is the musical based on the book written by Winnie Holzman.

I've known the book was around for sometime, and while my sister and everyone else seemed to be reading it, I was never attracted to it. Hearing the basic idea behind the story makes it sound intriguing, and the musical sound inviting. I'd like to see how they manage the idea of two total opposite girls becoming friends in college only to become enemies in adulthood.

I'm afraid that I have the Wicked Witch of the West firmly entrenched in my mind as the crotchety voiced crab (played by Margaret Hamilton)who acted in the original movie with Judy Garland as Dorothy -- my all time favorite actress. Who didn't want a pair of ruby slippers after watching that movie? Perhaps it's just the old fashioned part of me -- but then I don't like a lot of the remakes that have come out in the past ten years either.

Be that as it may, if you like theater and musicals, you'll probably not want to miss this one. It's truly a spectacular on stage presentation.



I hear the stage setting and costumes are amazing, and that everything is very much what you'd see on the Broadway stage. There is even some reference to the movie of it's base, The Wizard of Oz, and that would be interesting to see. Apparently everything is vivid color, like the movie, but the wizard is black and white. I guess you'd have to read the book to understand that.

The recommendation of my sister-in-law? She thought it was awesome and fantastic.

So, if you're in the mood for some musical theater this week, see if you can get some tickets and check it out.(I've heard two different sides to this...tickets are readily available, and yet, tickets are all sold out and the show ends May 3.) So -- apparently they're in short supply. I think the munchkins got to them...grin.

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Easter Moments

If you watched conference on Sunday last week, you will remember an amazing talk by Elder Holland. (not that any of the others were less so, but his really struck a cord)

Apparently they created a short film of it and put it on the LDS Messages site. I want to share it with you today, that perhaps Easter might live on in your hearts. I had a wonderful Easter, and I hope you did too.

Two Wonderful LDS Artists

If you watched the in between conference presentation on channel 5 Sunday, you were able to see a program about the art inside the Draper Temple. I've already talked about the windows and how wonderful the decor is, but I'd like to touch on these two artists, because their stories were so inspiring. Especially the first one...

Linda Curly Christensen

This wonderful artist has been able to realize a dream by heading up a team of Art Missionaries. Until this point, I never knew there was such a thing. She heads up a team of artists that paint the murals for the temples. What a wonderful mission! that would be simply...heaven on earth to me. Imagine getting up in the morning and going to paint for the Lord!



Fortunately, she has married a man who was equal to the dream and to the task of helping her in these projects. Greg built her a studio that will fit the tall panels of murals used in the temples, and also built large easels that roll on wheels. I can't even imagine the scope of these paintings. The largest thing I've ever painted was about 27" by 40".

She is really an inspiration to artists in the church, and a talented woman who has been able to share this wonderful talent with all of us who attend the temples. If you've gone through the Draper Temple, you've seen how amazing those rooms are.

The other artist that worked on those projects was Keith Bond.



He does amazing work as well. According to the program, and his website, he practices the art of painting en plein air which means outside. Of course he paints larger pieces in a studio, but he tries to do as much as he can outdoors where he can experience the reality of what he wants to put on canvas.

In addition to the murals he did for the temple, he has done two murals for the Utah Capitol building. They are both large and amazing works depicting two distinct scenes from Utah, in a way intended for those working there to remember that their state is beautiful.



This is the style of painting that I aspire to, since I love to paint flowers and the outdoors.



I was inspired by the program and the highlighting of these two artists, and wanted to share their talents with you. I hope you have a chance to see their work soon, and to enjoy the wonder and beauty of the world around us that was created by our Savior, and gifted to these talented people who are quick to share and answer the call.

YourLDSneighborhood has added exciting new things to its website. Please drop by and take a look, browse around, check out our vendors, our radio station, our authors, our musicians and more. Check out the Neighborhood.

And while you're there, subscribe to the yourLDSneighborhood Newsletter. In addition to being able to shop in the new virtual neighborhood, the newsletter brings you articles, products, services, resources and interviews from around the world-all with an LDS focus. Look for issues delivered to your email inbox every week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Return to the Neighborhood.

Um...Scripture thought went away for the day...

I know I've been really lousy at getting the scripture thought out each week...this week is worse than most because we've been refinishing our floor and haven't had time to do anything other than prep it and get my other two blogs done.

I'm supposed to be on vacation!!! lol

Anyway...Conference was awesome. If you watched or listened to it, then I think you have plenty of wonderful things to think and ponder. Aren't you thrilled to be part of such a wonderful thing as the gospel of Jesus Christ? It's an amazing thing.

Have a wonderful spring break, week, or whatever, and Easter.

The ART of Relaxation

When I think of spring break, I usually think of vacation time. Usually though, we don't go anywhere. If anyone has tried to travel during spring break, they've discovered how that's the same thing everyone else is doing, especially if it involves a warmer climate -- like beaches. Since a crowd cuts down the relaxation, that doesn't work very well.

This year we're doing some much needed remodeling on our home, which involves refinishing the floor in the front room. We figured we were going to want to clear out of the house for at least three days, so that involved actually going somewhere.

Since we're like most of the nation right now with not a lot of loose change, it involved "who can we bug to stay at their fancy condo??" Grin. You see, we are lucky enough to have relations who have a condo in Deer Valley. For those of you in the know, Deer Valley is a nice secluded little valley behind Park City. It's quiet, and calm, and gorgeous.

Fortunately, my sister said yes! So, we are planning on hiding out for a couple of days.

Now, if it were my mother-in-law, she would go stir crazy. She would want to have every day with something planned. She isn't thrilled with doing jigsaw puzzles and reading books or watching movies, munching on goodies and generally lazing around. That's not her idea of a vacation.

That's where we get into a discussion. There are Vacations, and then there are Trips. A trip is where you have locations and activities planned. You take a trip to see Yellowstone National Park. You take a trip to tour Zions National Park. A trip is going to the Grand Canyon and hiking down the trails or riding a burrow all the way to the bottom.

In our view, Vacations are for RELAXING. Did you know there was an art to relaxing? There is! One has to determine what that is for each individual, but for my family, it's easy. One of our favorite places to relax is Fish Lake.



This place is perfect for relaxing. If you like to fish, you can do that to your hearts content (actually catching something is optional). If you would rather relax in a cabin or tent, that's the best prescription -- at least in our view.

My sister has a cabin down there that's to die for, and when we go, we have no intention of doing anything. We go for walks, we do puzzles, we play games, sometimes I paint, the kids play Foosball until we want to toss the game outside, and we generally laze around and soak up the non-electric silence.

It's Heaven on earth.

What is your idea of relaxation? I've discovered there can be many ways to relax. Most of which can be done in your own home. If you like to take bubble baths, that's a great way to relax. Like to read? Curl up with a good book and a cup of hot cocoa and tell the children to leave you alone for an hour. (Doesn't always work, but it's worth a try.) Finding a way to relax with children can be a challenge, especially if they are small children.

The best way I found was to get them to bed early and have a romantic relaxing dinner with my hubby. I remember one time I set up the wading pool in the back yard, found some ocean/beach sounds, lit some candles and fixed dinner outside. We relaxed in the pool with our dinner and it was a wonderful evening.

This past week has been extremely stressful for me at my work. As a result, the subject of relaxation has largely occupied my brain. I'm sure many of you can relate. We live in stressful times. How we handle that stress, and how we are able to relax, is very important in our relationships.

Chocolate is a great start!

I'd love to hear about your favorite way to relax.

YourLDSneighborhood has added exciting new things to its website. Please drop by and take a look, browse around, check out our vendors, our radio station, our authors, our musicians and more. Check out the Neighborhood.

And while you're there, subscribe to the yourLDSneighborhood Newsletter. In addition to being able to shop in the new virtual neighborhood, the newsletter brings you articles, products, services, resources and interviews from around the world-all with an LDS focus. Look for issues delivered to your email inbox every week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Return to the Neighborhood.

No scripture today, I thought I'd share the fun "you are most like" test I took at a friends Facebook site. I was pleased with who it was, but I wasn't sure how closely I matched it...

You are most like SARAH
Dedicated to your spouse/boyfriend, you would do anything for them. You also are a woman of faith, who takes God at His word. You have much wisdom, and are a role model to many other women, both young and old. Your life is filled with adventure, oft times and is unpredictable as you live a kind of "nomadic" existence as the Spirit leads.