Quotable Quote
January 30, 2007
“All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.”
–Ralph Waldo Emerson
One of the best things about my family is that I'm grouped with people of different strengths and abilities that support me in my weak areas. Our daughter, Cali, has always had incredible faith. Always. From the time she was little her motto has been, "Things will work out. He always takes care of me."
This morning the moon was shining through the window onto the living room floor. As I knelt down to say my prayers, in the moonlight because it was just so pretty, I felt happy inside that such a sight was there waiting to greet me that early in the morning. The moon, the picture above that my nephew took, and Cali--things I've seen today that teach me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.
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Kitchen Help
January 29, 2007
A few of Ande’s friends asked her if she’d teach them to make pies. They came out Friday afternoon and made a blackberry and apple pie.
Cali made a chocolate soufflé Sunday afternoon from a recipe she’d found in a magazine. It was oh-so-rich and good.
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Homemaking
January 26, 2007
Last week I had to give a talk to young women about building a home that can withstand the barrage of attacks on families and home. Using puppets I’d made from Jan Brett’s incredible website, I tweaked the story of “The Three Little Pigs” to teach the point I wished to make. The point being to build a home on a firm foundation of Christ and place bricks of faith, prayer, order, learning, sacrifice, etc. to strengthen your home so that it can withstand the very big and very bad breath of the Big Bad Wolf.
In the story, the wolf threatened the pig that he would huff and puff and blow her house in, and she did hear the wind howling, but because she was busy inside making her home better (baking cookies, sewing a pillow, reading a good book, budgeting her paycheck) she wasn’t overly concerned. (Besides, she had the vinyl art “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear” posted over her doorframeJ)
It was a fun little talk to give. I really, really enjoy homemaking and love having a safe, comfortable place for my family, friends and acquaintances to be. I like some of the tasks more than others and decided to rate today’s tasks from the least enjoyable to the most enjoyable:
Dusting
Pulling hair out of the bathtub drain
Putting sheets back on the bed
Emptying the dishwasher
Ironing
Vacuuming
Washing the laundry
Baking bread
Budgeting
Washing dishes
Cooking supper
Reading
Three tasks tied for top place: visiting with my family, eating supper together and the responsibility of creating a calm, peaceful atmosphere.
What homemaking task do you like least? Most?
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Please send your comments to jp@neighborjanepayne.com
I really enjoyed your homemaking post. What a wonderful way to present a valuable lesson! I think I'll adapt this idea to my children's family home evening lessons. The use of nursery rhymes would surely catch their attention.
My least enjoyable homemaking task would be mopping. But I really like the way the floors look and feel when it's done; so I tell myself while doing it, "I'm blessing the floor. I'm blessing our home."
I would say that vacuuming is up there with most enjoyable homemaking tasks. :) It's an instant satisfaction thing for me to see it all sucked up and then empty the vacuum and see how much gets dumped in the trash. (I have a bagless vacuum.) I think my children can tell how much I enjoy it because they really want to be the helper during vacuum-time.
I also love baking bread. I never thought about it as a homemaking task though. I never thought about it as something to possibly dislike either. I feel very empowered when I make bread.
Tonight, to get my five year old boy to sleep, I promised him that he could be my helper tomorrow when we change sheets, dust, vacuum, and sanitize toilets & doorknobs, etc. I never would've thought that I could bribe my children into sleepfulness with the promise of chores. :)
As always, I enjoy your posts!
Nikki
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No Clue
January 24, 2007
This fall, Calvin trapped a skunk that was getting into the quail pen
Every now and then when Calvin does something out of the ordinary, Cali will ask me, “Did you know this about dad before you guys got married?” Usually the answer is, “I had an inkling.” Sometimes the answer is, “Yup and I loved him anyway.” Occasionally the answer is, “I had no clue.” One thing I was clueless about? His projects.
Like today, I had just walked in the door from a great day—taught my classes, went to a class, got a great haircut and had a fun visit with Melanie—and was greeted by a smell that made me think a cat had crawled in the house and died. I walked into the kitchen and saw “a project.” I should have known. His projects always make our house smell funny.
We were newlyweds with his first project. I came home to what I thought was chopped tomatoes in the blender. The cupboard was a mess, fresh dishes were in the sink and I thought, “Don’t be mad, Jane, just smile and clean it up.” So I did. After I’d finished cleaning the kitchen he came in from doing chores (we were living on the ranch then) and he asked, “Do you know where the muskrat brains are?”
Who’d have guessed those chopped looking tomatoes were muskrat brains? He’d trapped a muskrat earlier and was tanning the hide. He mistakenly thought I knew “that every animal has enough brains to tan his own hide.” While most ranchers’ freezers are full of beef, ours was full of skunk, beaver, coyote and muskrat pelts—his projects.
Once we left the ranch, Calvin could no longer trap so he started another line of projects: building black powder guns, longbows and cedar chests. Though I learned fast to tell the difference between gunstocks and firewood, I was slower to learn that he would ruin any of our kitchen pans that I did not adamantly make off-limits to gun making. And the smell of gun making? Sulfur.
Last spring, he started another project. When I wasn’t looking, he hooked the incubator up in the family room and put quail eggs in it. For nineteen days our house smelled like a swamp while we waited for the birds to hatch.
Today’s dead-cat-smell project was harmless. It was just a bunch of wet sagebrush drying in the oven. I thought I was a sagebrush connoisseur growing up in Southern Idaho and all, but apparently there is a type I didn’t know about. Calvin needed the dry, fine sagebrush as tinder so that he could teach the Boy Scouts how to start a fire by friction tonight.
Did I know he loved projects like this before we got married? Nope. Not a clue. I’d have married him anyway, I’d have just asked for nose plugs instead of a ring.
What about you? What surprises were in store for you?
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Please send your comments to jp@neighborjanepayne.com
Jane,
I can't tell you how many times I have thought "I never knew he would do
this!' I really should have spent more time around Milo's dad, that would
have given me plenty of insight! But believe it or not, I wouldn't change a
thing. Love the dead skunk! =) Mel
Jane-
Loved your blog the last couple of days - I'm in the middle of a scrapbooking project for Valentine's day called "The Greatest Love Story Ever Told". In it, we have looked at many of those - did you know this before you got married? - and journaling about why we'd do it all again anyway. It's turning out great! Keep blogging - it makes my day . . . Heather
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Quotable Quote
January 23, 2007
I used to post a good quote every Tuesday and then comment on it. I got sidetracked for a few months, but I’m back on track again.
“The true measure of a man is how he spends his time
when he doesn’t have to do anything.”
-David O. McKay
Today of all days, school was called off. Last week I was certain they would call it off at least one or two days but they didn’t. I wasn’t even suspecting it to be cancelled today and got to school before I even knew it. I turned around and came home to a day where I didn’t have to do anything for a few hours. I spent my free time reading—fixed a cup of hot chocolate, a couple of pieces of toast, pulled out a comforter, curled up and read a book.
I’ve been reading John Adams by David McCullough. What a compelling book about a compelling man. However, today I set it aside and read a quilting novel set in the pre-civil war era. I also tried a new chocolate crock-pot dessert. (I’ll let you know how it turns out.) My true measure found me reading a novel (though novels certainly have a place, I’d rather report I spent my time reading John Adams) and consuming chocolate. Alas, my true measure is a chocolate fluff rather than a meaty substance.
Updated to add: when the crock-pot recipe says to cook it on low for 4-5 hours, it means to cook it on low for 4-5 hours, it does not mean to adjust it to fit your schedule and cook it on high for 2- 2 1/2 hours. Update my true measure to be a burnt chocolate fluff.
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Please send your comments to jp@neighborjanepayne.com
My dearest Jane,
Some days are just meant for fluff, and today was one of them. I had a mountain of things to do, but fluff won out, and I watched movies with my girls, curled up with a blanket, with my book by my side, in case I got bored. It just seemed like that kind of day. Love, Susan
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To Blog About It or Not to Blog About It, That is the Question
January 22, 2007
I seldom mention Abe. Not that out-of-sight means out-of-mind, quite the contrary, it’s just that while he’s serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Philippines, I can’t run entries by him before I post them to make sure he approves, because . . . he’s busy. And since I learned years ago nothing that compromises your kids or your relationship with your kids is worth writing about, I haven’t posted on him much. Because missionaries are focused on teaching and helping the people where they're called to serve, contact is somewhat limited though we do have contact with him through Sunday night e-mails, occasional letters and two phone calls a year (on Christmas Day and Mother’s Day). I asked him in my last e-mail if I could write about him every once in awhile as long as I was careful and used good judgment. He said he didn’t mind. I love the following three pictures.
Abe and his mission companion on their way to a teaching appointment
Abe with one of the men he taught. Abe affectionately refers to him as his little starfish. He said the man never catches anything and is very, very poor.
I think this place looks so cool—Swiss Family Robinson style.
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Ty riding in a helicopter through the alps.
What a Month to set a Goal
January 20, 2007
Ty’s New Year’s Resolution was to try to become more involved in his ward (the term used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to signify a congregation). Though he goes to church every Sunday and Institute (religion class) on Monday, academy responsibilities have kept him from participating in activities other than those. He decided this year to make a bigger effort to attend weekday activities in his ward.
Last week the ward activities committee was asking for volunteers to try out for Mr. Singles Ward. No one offered. Ty thought of his New Year’s Resolution to be more supportive and slowly, slowly, slowly raised his hand—wishing he’d have chosen another goal. Others started to volunteer. The contestants are judged in several categories and here is their list of instructions from the woman in charge:
-Evening (Sunday) wear- You may be as creative or formal as you wish, just keep in mind that you will be judged on the quality of your appearance, both in dress and on the stage. Details, gentlemen, are the giveaways.
Ok, details. He can do details with Sunday wear. He has a suit and cuff links and knows how to link them or he has a uniform that he has to wear a shirt garter with. He’s got details covered.
-Talent- There is a 3 minute time limit.
Oh boy. Talent. He can’t sing, he doesn’t know how to dance, but he can do back flips from the stage or run up a wall and flip off of it. I never thought I’d cheer for that talent of his, I have spent my life hollering at him that he “was gonna get hurt.”
-Questions & Answers- Don't be dumb, rude, or crude. Humor is appreciated—stupidity is not.
He’s not lude, crude or rude by nature so he should be ok, but I can see him saying, “I really don’t have an answer to that” if something stumps him rather than schmoozing. I think you’re supposed to schmooze in pageants.
-Date- Everyone should select, ask, and plan their own date. Before it actually occurs, I NEED to know the lucky girl's name, phone number, and/or an email address. I must speak with her and she will need some stuff from me. Keep originality/creativity and etiquette in mind—she will be evaluating you.
The date is tonight. He is taking her to a museum, out to eat and to “Night at the Museum.” I don’t know how she’ll enjoy the date, but one thing is for certain, she will never open her own door. He has been opening Cali, Ande’s and my car and building doors for four years running. He gets quite miffed if we get in the car without him. He runs from one side of the car to the other to accommodate us. Other than that? I’m betting that he’ll take her to eat somewhere that serves beef. If he takes her to his favorite place they’ll also have peanut shells all over the floor (Texas Roadhouse). I’m not sure how his date will feel about peanut shells on the floor.
-"All about me" poster.
Hmmmm. Not sure what he’ll put on that as I have most of his pictures. He could use purple skittles wrappers as the background. He tries to hold himself to one pack a day, but when I called him the other night and asked how his day went he said, “It was a three pack of skittles day.”
-Dessert- Bring a dessert. Homemade is better than store bought.
He doesn’t have access to a stove, freezer, crock-pot or fridge. I’m not sure what he’ll pull out of the hat. Any suggestions?
-Pick up line- They will be written on a card and read by the emcee so that the line itself and not the guy will be judged. The winner will be the crowd favorite.
I had no suggestions in this category. Not one. Any ideas out there? Calvin’s are too old to be considered.
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Jane,
I loved your post. I thought Milo might have a couple lines for Ty but his were clearly from his dad, they were as bad as Calvin's I'm sure!
Love, Melanie
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Journal Jar
January 18, 2006
I have enjoyed keeping a journal jar. It's a fun way to keep a record and an easy way to store little things (I would be sorely tempted to throw them out otherwise). Mine is an old pickle jar that was in my grandma’s basement and I’ve filled it with memorabilia that’s important to me. This week I finally got around to writing down why each item is significant, so now it’s like a real live picture book with a few words.
Gloves: This pair of gloves was made by Grandpa George’s brother, Charles Chadwick. Charles tanned the leather before sewing the gloves. Grandma Erma (Grandpa George’s wife) liked to wear them, especially driving, because they were supple and soft. Grandma Erma was a funny grandma. She had swollen, thick ankles that she covered with heavy support hose. I mention it because she always mentioned them. When stockings were rationed during WW II, Grandma wrote the stocking company and begged for a new pair to replace her damaged ones. She told them it was their civic duty to protect the public from the sight of her heavily varicosed veins. The company sent her six pairs. Grandma Erma was a former teacher and corrected our grammar when she came to visit. From her I learned there is no “r” in wash and that some people pronounce it “creek” instead of crik, and “roof” instead of ruf. Grandma Erma was a storyteller, letter-writer, organizer, scrap-quilter and debater. Her preferred mode of transportation was the Greyhound bus. Grandma was a Democrat in a Republican state.
Miniature story books: One year Grandpa and Grandma Hoops took us to the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah to see the Ice Capades—we even saw the Olympian, Peggy Flemming, skate. After the ice show we went to the sky room at Hotel Utah for a dinner of scallops. Grandma always ordered expensive food. We also got to go in a little gift shop and buy a memento for our trip. I picked out these little story books. They remind me of Grandma Hoops and all the special little things she did to make us feel important.
Grandma Julia was compact, like a shapely barrel if there is such a thing. Her dresses were fitted, made of paisley cloth and pricey. Grandma Julia loved dolls, diamonds, and luxury cars. She was a former teacher, but unlike Grandma Chadwick, she only corrected our table manners. Every morning she fixed Grandpa Cream of Wheat with wheat germ for breakfast and in the evenings she trimmed the fat from his steaks. Grandma liked burnt toast, roses, and peonies. When Grandma Julia came to visit she brought a gallon of ice cream or a box of candy bars with her. She was proud of us grandchildren and took us with her to visit her friends (I think she was proud we could sit on the couch so very still for so very long while she talked and talked). Grandma liked to give rides and food to the widows and homebound. She used both feet on the brakes.
The blue sparkly ring: One year my sister, Rachel, and her family came for Christmas. Calder drew my name and bought me this ring. Everyone needs a Calder in her life. He is so sweet and without guile. He often is in a world all his own. Here is one of my favorite Calder stories that Rachel e-mailed me:
“A funny one this morning: I was driving into the store with Cache, Calder, and Pal. Calder says out of the blue, "Mom, do you like the smell of the thrift store?"
Me: "Uh....no....why??"
Calder: "Oh, I was just wondering I HATE it. I really, really HATE it."
Me: "Hmmm......"
Then there was a long silence. I was kind of smiling to myself over Calder’s oddity when he said, "Mom, do you like the smell of Aunt Jane's garage?"
Then I really smiled and said, "Um.....I don't know. I guess I never really noticed a smell in Aunt Jane's garage, did you?"
Calder: "Yup. It's my FAVorite! I love Aunt Jane's garage smell."
HA. What does your garage smell like Jane? I just thought that was too funny. It's not your kitchen, or clean house smell he likes, he likes your GARAGE. Then he said, "________’s house ALMOST smells like Aunt Jane's garage....but not exactly." He went on looking out the window as we drove.
Cache started to laugh silently, but then he leaned over and said, "I kind of like Aunt Jane's garage smell too." And he was serious. SO...next time we come, don't roll out the red carpet or work on cleaning the house too much, we're just coming for your rubber boots, and trash.
My kids love to look through my journal jar and have the stories retold that go with the items.
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Please send your comments to jp@neighborjanepayne.com
Hi Jane,
When I read about your journal jar earlier I thought it was such a good and clever idea that I borrowed it for myself. I now have my own journal jar on the shelf over my computer and it serves two purposes. It looks quite decorative and it holds all of the small treasures that I brought back from South Africa. We've been home for almost 13 years but I kept finding these small momentos scattered around in drawers etc. Now as I find them I drop them in my jar and the collection (though unrelated) stays together. There's a necklace, my missionary badge, a telephone list, etc.,etc, and still room for more things as I come across them.
Thanks for all of your good ideas. We loved the ministrone soup from your newsletter.
Please know that I check in almost every day and continue to enjoy your blog so much.
Sending Love to You and Your Family.........Ruth Palmer
I love the idea of putting all those little things in a place that you can see them, but they are contained! That is a great idea. And your jar is decorated so cute, love that big J!
SusanPyle_
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The Cat
January 17, 2007
Today was one of those funny days where my claws were out scratching one minute and my tail was between my legs the next. A couple of times I wanted to growl and slap like a spoiled, displaced cat, but the next I felt so good I wanted to curl up, wrap my tail around me and soak it all in. I don’t really care for cats and so the day felt terribly abnormal.
- I thought for sure we’d have delayed-start school with last night’s snowstorm. I even banked on it and slept in until 5:00 am. I should never try to outsmart the schoolmaster. We did not have delayed start. Grrrr.
- The drive into school was beautiful—fresh snow and frozen fog crystals. Prrrrr.
- I felt impatient and easily annoyed. Grrrr.
- The kids were pleasant and happy at seminary today. Prrrrr.
- The kids were silly. Grrrr.
- I mailed a couple of fun packages off, one to my nephew for his birthday and the other to Cali. Prrrrr.
- The postmaster (a father of twelve) told me his fellow co-worker, Stan, died last week. He was bothered by it. I was glad I was there to listen. Prrrrr.
- I got two Christmas cards in the mail today—one from a brand new blogging friend, one from an old, old friend. Friends make me smile. Prrrrr.
- I attended an interesting class today on the writings of John, the Beloved. Prrrrr.
- I came home late, was starved, and ate six peanut butter cookies. Grrrr.
- I got a little notebook for my purse with my name on it and a very sweet card from a friend. Prrrr.
I’m not moody by nature, but today I felt terribly unstable. I think I need a nap; it would be the prrrrrfect cat thing to do.
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Please send your comments to jp@neighborjanepayne.com
Love your day through the eyes of animals. Too funny. I could use a nap myself
Jenny ;)
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Cradle Rockers
January 16, 2007
When the kids were little, I KNEW I was doing something important. After all, the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world and there are few more important jobs on this globe than running planet Earth. As the kids have grown older and I’ve (ahem) matured, I’m even more convinced that nurturing other people is a big and important job. I’m not the only one who thinks this way, ‘cause I saw it in his eyes.
My neighbors had a baby a couple of days ago, their first, and so I took the little family supper last night. The father was sitting on the couch with the little baby bundled up and lying on his dad’s chest. The baby looked so tiny lying on the 6’3” body. I didn’t want to be a nuisance and planned to just drop the food off at the door—the baby is just a few days old—but the dad asked me to come in, sit down and hold the baby. Who can resist a Johnson smelling new baby? It was sooo hard not to nuzzle and kiss him; he was ever so new and beautiful.
After a few minutes I again got ready to leave (not wanting to sap the new mom) when the dad started to unwrap the sleeping baby so he could show me how big his hands and legs and feet and toes and fingers and knees and thighs were. It was so sweet. I loved seeing how much that dad loved his little boy. There is nothing like a strong hand to help the gentle hand rock a cradle.
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Details: This is definitely the most comfortable bed in our home. It is an old, twin-sized bed that Cali earned. It used to be my nephew's, but when he got a new bed Cali offered to do chores in exchange for the bed. She painted it and has slept in it for a dozen years. Everyone in our family likes this bed and even today, when I see Cali curled up in it, I still feel pretty darn important because I got to rock her cradle.
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January 14, 2007
We received this beautiful plate rack for Christmas from Ty’s USAFA host parents.
It was the only black thing in the dining room, till now. Yesterday I painted and painted till I didn’t want to paint anymore. I painted the tabletop one more time as well as the two benches and the chairs.
It only took me about three hours, but sitting on the kitchen floor it was yoga without a mat or meditation and nothing but a stiff joints exercise. I had decided while painting (I was listening to Bach, Beethoven and Mozart and strictly attribute this thought to inspiration through the classics) that we should eat at McDonald’s. Clearly, it was a flash of brilliance on how to feed the family while avoiding the black paint on the benches, table and chairs. After I’d finished painting and threw away my clothes, (I love when I can throw away clothes—it just feels so . . . so . . . disposable. I wear and wear and wear them way past the point of decently wearing them and then throw them away like they are a paper towel. It feels so good, other than by the time I have worn them this long I am attached and there is a touch of sadness.) I went to town to get some movies and pick up food at McDonald’s. Calvin ordered a Big&Tasty with fries. Cali said she wanted peaches and toast and would navigate the kitchen clutter to fix it. Ande didn’t want anything from McDonald’s either.
I picked out movies (Ever seen Codebreakers? It’s an ESPN movie about the cheating scandal at West Point involving the football team back in the ‘50’s) and headed to McDonald’s. Ande called and said she’d changed her mind and wanted some chicken nuggets and fries. I had a $20 bill to buy the movies and hamburgers and after I ordered Calvin’s and Ande’s food I realized I was out of money and so didn’t order me anything. I wasn’t super hungry and thought toast and peaches sounded pretty good at that point anyway (and would maybe grace me with good news on the scale the next morning). I did eat a few fries out of the bag on the way home because I knew if they noticed I hadn’t gotten me something they’d say something and so I ate a few fries on the way to be able to say, “I ate on the way home.”
When I got home and got everything ready to start the movies and eat, Ande said, “Where’s your food mom?”
I told her I’d already eaten and she said, “What?”
Well, I hadn’t counted on needing that answer and didn’t have one ready so I said, “Fries and stuff” and went into the other room to put the paintbrush and paint away. Everyone followed me into the room and I stood real quiet-like behind the curtain (the paint and paintbrush go on a shelf strategically covered by a curtain), Cali laughed, “She’s hiding from us!” and Ande accused, “You didn’t get you any food did you?”
I came out from behind the curtain and started laughing and said, “I ran out of money, but I wasn’t hungry and I had just the right amount so it was just perfect.”
Calvin and the girls really pelted me then and Ande started to cry. She said, “I’m sorry. I’m such a selfish girl. If I hadn’t called you at the last minute you’d have had enough money for you. I’m sorry I’m so selfish.”
I tried to console her and said I didn’t feel bad one bit and wasn’t hungry (there seems to be some magical digestive juices that make a mother’s stomach not hungry when there is not enough to go around). I gave Ande a hug, reminded her of what a kind and thoughtful child she is and told her to drive slowly on her way to the ballgame and remember to call home. She left.
Ande is very good about calling whenever she gets to where she is going or whenever she is headed home, but lots of time passed and still no call. Even factoring extra time in for the slick roads she didn’t call, so I called her. She was crying and said she’d be home in a few minutes and explain things. She pulled in a few minutes later and had a McDonald’s sack with her. She’d driven clear to McDonald’s to get me food and had decided not to go with her friends to the game after all. She cried and cried and cried. Oh my. It was the sweetest and I will make sure I have enough money when I go to McDonald’s next time if it in anyway affects Ande. Everyone curled up on the couch and watched movies and we had a great evening.
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Please send your comments to jp@neighborjanepayne.com
Thank you for sharing such a touching post. I hope my children are just as awesome and thoughtful and charitable as yours when mine are all adults.
By the way, the dining room looks great! I enjoyed (and have been enjoying) all your details. I especially liked the disposable clothes bit. I find my clothes are finally disposable (though they should have been long before) when I'm done painting. Nikki
Ka-ching to you Jane! A mother pay day! Ande IS the sweetest thing! I also love your new dining room. Doesn't it feel good when it is all done. I love that new feeling with out having to get something new! Susan
Jane, I love your table! I just traded my 70's table for a different 70's
table because it has more potential to be painted when the weather warms up.
I would do it now but the kids cannot be trusted to stay away! Will you
help me with all your tips and tricks when I decide to do it?
Ande is such a doll. She learned a life lesson, one I doubt she forgets.
Lessons like that stick with us and help us become better people, our world
needs more Ande's!
Love, Melanie You are the best mother Jane, I need your example too. =)!!_____________________________________________________________________
Today’s Details
January 11, 2007
- Made 18 loaves of bread.
- Secretly rejoiced that it was too cold to exercise.
- Taught my regular classes.
- Took a nap.
- Made pizza for supper and tried to fool Calvin and Ande by cutting the ham with a round biscuit cutter to make it look like Canadian bacon.
- Made terrible diabetic peanut butter cookies. No cookie is better than these were. I’m not even sure the chickens will like them.
- Talked on the phone with Deb and apologized for accidentally putting spaghetti sauce in her Christmas present instead of Alfredo sauce. (She is allergic to tomato sauce—nothing like a yule attempt to poison a friend.)
- Wasted time on the computer.
- Listened to the classical cd's from the library (that Mozart sounds like he was one happy man).
- I’m relieved today does not have a twin.
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Please send your comments to jp@neighborjanepayne.com
Reading it sounds like at least there was some good out of it. You made 18 loaves of bread! You must have been slaving in the kitchen all day. That's a lot of work. Don't we all waste time on the computer? I have to make myself stay away and often set a time limit for myself to restrain. Here's to a better tomorrow! jenny :)
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Daily Details
January 10, 2007
On my way home today I stopped to see an elderly woman who quilts beautifully. We were at a party together recently and she told me of a quilt she was piecing for a soldier and invited me to stop and see it. The quilt was beautiful—an arrangement of randomly pieced blocks. Several quilting guilds across the nation piece quilts to give to the wounded soldiers in Iraq. When the servicemen and women are airlifted to the hospitals they have nothing with them so many quilting groups have been sewing quilts for them. Her work was inspiring. I told her I hoped our boys never needed a quilt from the guild, but if they did I hoped it was one of hers.
I also stopped at the library and got a fresh stock of books, cd’s and dvd’s. It’s been awhile since I’ve been and I actually looked forward to the musty, malodorous place. Our library was such a disappointment to me when we moved here (besides very few books even the drinking fountain water was warm). Slowly but surely my memory is dimming that I ever knew of a better library. Though it is smelly (I always wonder if they’ll discover a whole shelf of hidden rotting books someday), they do have two great policies—no late fees and straight to your mailbox mail service from other libraries at no charge.
The saying “Be Smart” is often quoted at Church. I’ve decided to adopt that motto as one of my goals this year and stretch myself more in what I read and hear. I picked out a four hour documentary on Napoleon along with some classical cd’s today. This little corner is where I do my morning reading. It’s the best lit spot in the house and the loveseat is stiff and upright so I don’t fall asleep easily. The secretary desk is a late 1800’s/early 1900’s find that I got at a yard sale. The wash boiler next to the loveseat is a family heirloom where I store books. The clock chimes keep me company as I read.
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Please send your comments to jp@neighborjanepayne.com
My dearest Jane,
Did you see in the paper where the library staff is trying to get a bigger space? They are saying that they have run out of space. Hmmmm. Okay. They even had a picture. I love all your old furniture and heirloom items. We have that in common, that we both are sentimental and love all that old stuff. Beautiful quilts in your secretary desk too. Clever storage! The difference between us, I'm a pack
rat, and you are a thrower. Funny. Susan
I love your site and check it often! I just wanted to say how surprised I was when I read your list of 100 things and saw so many resemblences. I didn't want mine to look like I just copied yours, so I left a lot out that were the same. But I thought it was so fun to see how much we do have in common! Thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge with all us less-knowledgeable. You are awesome!
Nikki Wilcox
