Visiting Lisa's Marky.........

My friend Lisas' husband, Mark, is buried up in Heber and I went with her on Saturday to decorate his grave for Memorial Day. Came out rather sweet I think. The sign on the left says "Hooked on fishing" but it's hard to tell, because of the angle of the shot. And the sign on the right says "Gone fishing" and she had lots of cute little fishing ornaments dangling on it. The flag represents his active duty (he was in Special Forces). And then of course, some flowers.

Later that evening we went to see "Angels and Demons". I thought it was very intense, but I truthfully didn't understand a whole lot of it. Still, it was very good, but I imagine a lot of Catholics would be offended. It really makes the Vatican part of the church seem totally corrupt. And parts of the movie were very hard to watch. I had to close my eyes as the deaths were very gruesome.

I know how I would feel about a movie that made MY church appear to be corrupt. Would not like that at all.

Yesterday I took Karin and Brett to the airport. They are in London England. (at least I imagine they are there by now.... I know their flight was delayed here). David spent the weekend spelunking in St. George with his friend. Brian and Michael came over yesterday and we barbecued thick ribeye steaks on the BBQ, and had homemade potato salad, fresh chunks of water and honeydew melon, cantalope, corn on the cob, carmelized onions, and strawberry shortcake. It was sooooooooooooo good.

Today I was going to go to Lisa's for a bbq. But she called this morning and her poor knee is really in bad shape, lots of pain, very swollen, she can hardly walk. So we postponed the bbq for another day. It started hurting her really bad during the movie. I guess it got progressively worse. Hope it isn't permanent. She just had surgery on it not too long ago!

Well, I have laundry going, and need to clean up the house. So I am going now. Happy Memorial day to all my friends and family!

Happy Mother's Day

Yesterday was a wonderful Mother's day. I am so blessed to have such wonderful children. They are all so smart and intelligent, and funny, and fun to be with, and kind, thoughtful, sensitive.... I could go on and on. They gave me the sweetest cards (Karin and Brian's made me cry. David and Michael's made me laugh).

I am a lucky mom. Truly.

Of all the blessings I have been given in life... my children are the most precious. They are the jewels in my crown.

My mom stopped by in spirit a few times yesterday so I could wish her a Happy Mother's day. I told her that now that she got my sister married off it's time to work on me.

She says she's working on it. Ha ha ha... Or at least I like to imagine she is.

Better get to work.

Missing Loved Ones....

My See-star is getting married in a couple of days! (That is so weird, but I am really happy for her.) The reason it seems weird is that I totally thought that "I" would get remarried waaaaay before she ever did.

So her wedding is coming up, and Mother's day is coming up and I'm missing my loved ones that have crossed over.


































I miss my mom. I miss her mom and dad. (Grandpa and Grandma Aplin) I miss people on the Harlow side..... (but don't have photos of them handy at the moment. LOL)

This week is going to be very stressful. We have our European auditor coming and I am on high alert because as Document Controller for the company I have a MAJOR responsibility in maintaining the Quality System. I'm nervous. Nervous is not good for me because it triggers diverticulitis attacks. I really cannot afford to have one of those as they knock me totally out of commission for about 4 days.

The wedding is Friday and at this point in time we still don't know WHERE it is going to be exactly. (Long story).

Then my friend Lisa and I are heading to Heber to R-E-L-A-X at the Swiss Alps Inn for the whole weekend and pamper ourselves to death to recover from the audit.


Update on my neck procedure from Friday. Well, I am still wired and having lots of energy and very minimal pain. I don't know how long it will last but I'm liking it a lot right now!

I could say lots more, but it's time for me to try to get some sleep even though I'm not real tired.

Later gators.

The Sun has set on another Life....

Across the street from me lived the sweetest couple in the world. Lee and Athalee Nielson. Lee, the husband, passed away last night at 9:30pm. He was home, surrounded by friends and family.

The man was sick almost his entire life. He had cancer in nearly EVERY part of his body possible. Yet he survived. He was a walking miracle.

And he NEVER complained. He was always so optimistic and so happy and thankful for everything.

I absolutely adored him. And his wife is a sweetheart too. I feel so sad for her.

Especially hard when these things happen during the holidays.

Donna and Mom

This was taken several years ago when Mom had her lung removed and she had returned home from the hospital. Donna spent 8 weeks and I spent 6 weeks in Vermont.

During the next ten years Mom rapidly declined and aged about 20 years.

Even though I saw her several times when she was not "herself"... this is how I remember her. Like this picture. Smiling.

I miss her so much. So very, very much.

I miss my mom.

I guess it is because the holiday season is approaching and also because I am heading to Vermont for half of December to spend Christmas with my dad, but I want my MOM to be there too.

And of course, she won't be. Well, not physically anyway.

Given the choice of having her here, frail, sick, hurting, not quite all there mentally.... or knowing that where she is now she is whole, and happy, and pain free.... my choice of course... is for her to be where she is.

But dang.... I wish we could make long distance phone calls to heaven.

Visits from the Other Side....

Every night this week my dreams have been filled with family members who have died. My mom, my uncle David, my grandma Harlow, my grandma and grandpa Aplin, my aunt Rachel, Aunt Maddy.... it's been like a huge family reunion or something. I wish I could remember WHAT the dreams were about, but I don't. I just remember that they are pleasant and I want to stay in them and not wake up.

Somebody needs to invent TIVO for dreams.

Thursday Musings.....

So last night I dreamed that I was in a grocery store with my mom. But she was old, and sick, and in her nightgown. She was hooked up to oxygen and she kept telling me she was going to go outside for a cigarette. I told her not to, she had worked so hard to quit, why go back to it?

I could not find my way around the grocery store... I wanted to get some fresh veggies and was really craving butternut squash. But the aisles were all tilted and zig zagged and I kept ending up where there was just tons of junk food!

I could see the produce section off in the distance, but could not get there.

Finally I found a big beautiful bowl of red, ripe strawberries and I grabbed it and put it in my cart. But then I turned away for just a second and when I turned back, my cart had been moved and I could see it, but some other person was taking it away from me and I was so ticked off because that meant I had to go outside, get a new cart, and start all over again!

Lot of symbolism in that for me.

My Favorite COOK -- MY MOM.

Everything I learned about cooking and baking I got from my mom, my dad, my grandmothers. My mom was a very good cook and she made the most AWESOME stuffing for thanksgiving.

I've debated whether to share her recipe or not... but really it's sooo incredibly SIMPLE and there is no secret to it.... that I guess I should.

TIPS TO HAVE A THANKSGIVING MEAL LIKE MY MOM USED TO MAKE:

Turkey: Use Norbest or Butterball. Always buy frozen and let it thaw for several days in your refrigerator. The night before baking you can rinse it thoroughly with ice cold water, remove the giblets and cook them if you want to put them in your stuffing. (Mom did that sometimes, but I don't usually do it.)

Stuffing: For a 20 pound turkey I use 2 packages of Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Stuffing. I chop up sweet onion (whatever it suggests on the back... I think it's a cup per package) and I sautee the onions in butter. I bring the amount of WATER called for to a boil. I prefer water. I tried it with chicken broth and it was too salty. I put unsalted butter (I think it's a stick per package) and just make it according to the directions ON the package. What makes this stuffing is that you have to be sure you use PEPPERIDGE FARM HERB SEASONED in the BLUE bag.

Mix it up. Pack it loosely in balls and stuff it up the turkey, both sides, the neck area and the cavity area. Allow for expansion so you don't want to pack it real tight inside. And you will have some left over, so just pack it into balls and put it around the OUTSIDE of the turkey. It will absorb the drippings and be awesome.

For my Turkey, I do not put ANYTHING on it except basting it with melted butter. Seriously. I know people who load it with spices. But I don't do ANYTHING to it. And it's always terrific. I put my spices in the gravy and use the gravy for good flavoring.

Those are my two secrets... my two "family secrets" for good turkey and stuffing. It's so easy that anybody can do it!!!