What is in Store

Good-bye growing things...

Hello,

The Sky is The Limit

Future Pilot



Feeding Jaden's airplane need at the Rexburg Air Musuem Show one summer.


Backseat Pilot




I have been going back into files of pictures and walking down memory lane. Loving the pictures of Jaden as a little guy and seeing him gravitate toward what he still loves today. Here are some of his Firsts:




He loved bikes early on, he just had to get in and play with the tires. If I'd known then that he'd be dropping in and popping out of a bowl now at age 6...






Yellowstone

Apple Roll

Yesterday we went on a walk to the T's. Played on the toys and picked apples. Even

Kade played on the jungle gym. Wrapping his monkey legs around the poles and

hanging, with my help, like a koala bear.

I made Apple Roll for dessert. Jaden said: "Mom! That is so good! You are a good

cook! Restaurants are better, but you are good for a mom!" He is the best at

compliments! Then came the hard part. Bedtime and still needing to run to the store

for milk. My mom told me a bit ago about some line out of Dr. Laura that said when

we don't go to the store at those hard moments, we show our kids that we aren't

willing to do hard things. I thought that was silly but it made me mad enough I made

it to the store. Thanks Dr. L for that motivation.

BEANS

Earlier I posted the "last" string bean picking before a frost. I must have subconscously been hoping for that because I have picked them twice since them. Hardy little fellows.

I was out there amongs the strewn toboggans and toys and was picking what I hope is the last bag when I recalled that I have had some reactions to the raw beans. My allergies are bad and the sticky leaves make my arms itch. But the show must go on right? So I start snapping them, the juice flying on my forearms, I am eating them too and my right arm starts to sweel a bit. Uh-oh. Flash backs to the Allergy Testing I did awhile ago. Remember Hithc? It was almost like his experience with the seafood.

Just one ear decided to blow up and then I had a sytemic reaction. So I came in and took the Benadryl and applied the pink Caladryl. this might change up next year's garden items I know what you are all thinking: "But canning beans is so fun!" I know, I KNOW! But I can't take the chances. I'm a mother!

Stay- at -Home -Daughter Diaries

Oct. 12th
I have a confession. Most of the texts I receive are from my Dad. This surprises my friend, Carolyn. And once she pointed out to her own father the kind of communication my father and I have on a regular, daily basis.

"My dad travels a lot, so he will call me etc." Carolyn replied: "So does mine." Hmmm. With out looking at the texts he sends me I can't really pin point a good explanation. So I thought about today's texts. The first came and said: "I don't know about Rush's (Rush Limbaugh) 1st and 2nd hour, but his third hour is a must." And he played it for us tonight on his ipod. He will relay messages to me if someone is trying to get a hold of me. One came today as I was driving to the football game. Tonight I shot one to him: "Keep it down up there, trying to sleep." He replied: "Not much noise up here, you must be hearing things." And so on. Finally I got J down and came up to upload photos on the blog. Couldn't find the most recent. uh-oh. But luckily it was his mistake, he'd put them on the hard drive during the Nikon transfer. He found why that was and found it was defaulting incorrectly and if he just had more time, he could watch all the photos upload. But he is really busy. Which he is. I am glad he is here to fix things, but then he tries to explain the why. I heard words like: "D300. And "oh, that number is showing military time on the up load" and I just turn off. I told him so and he went into a discours on if someone like me is doing this so often they might want a pointer or two. The 'pointers' get lengthy.
So it is in the middle of the night and he is explaining. Then he realizes it is late. That every night he gets to bed, late because there is always, uploading, sychronizing, talk radio and whatver he does, to do before bed. And that is what makes him a great dad. I better go rub his feet.

Well, today (Oct. 11th) was another for the record. I was getting in a Sunday nap. The one where you wonder if the soroe throat is a pre-cursor to H1N1 or if it is just the usu cold. Anyway there was a lot of commotion coming from Dad. come to find out my little one had decided to pour Apple juice in the garage. Since the cold weather we put the juice out there. Inticing the kids that come to jump with Jaden for a drink. Except today they missed the paper cups and there was sticky apple juice on the floor.

I turned on the hose and in my skirt (too tired to change after church) and my wellington boots, I sprayed down the garage. As I swept the water out into the drive using the big sweeper we went over the rules of using the garage. Don't get in it. Very difficult when that is a kids' home base that he shares with his Grandpa.

so we settled on if he needs juice, come ask, have an adult pour it. Drink it on the grass. After the juice note we wrapped up playing and still he had caller ring the door bell around 7. I had to tell them he was going to bed soon. Unfortunately the drapes were drawn and he could see the fun start out in the street.

He sat on the couch and folded his arms and said: "They are having a lot of fun. And I am having LESS." My brother Dan asked: "How much less?" J: "A LOT."

This is usually the look I get from my Dad. Here he is fixing another of my messes, well it's Jaden's fishing line. But when we get to the end of our rope we hand it to Dad!




Well, I snuck upstairs to blog. Dad already started to scan the computer... yikes. But he just got in the shower. He takes a looong time in there so I am ok. He doesn't waste water either, he puts it on a low trickle or something. And then he puts on his talk radio that he plays from his special speakers hooked up to his ipod. If anyone deserved to meet a couple of conservative talk show hosts, it would be him. He works for the phone company so we have speaker phones through out the house that act like well, speakers. So you can intercom or put on any kind of talk show over them and you are obliged to listen unless you pull out the cord. Which I have done in two rooms that I won't mention. Anyway, I just barely heard the shower start. So we're good.


This needs to be a new part of my blog. Because I have some great stories.
They mainly have to do with how my Dad and I can drive each other crazy. Last night was a classic case. I am trying to plog/upload pictures. He is trying to 'synchrinize' his treo on the computer. Then he is trying to upload the information from the Weather Station. Not on TV mind you but the one he owns. It is a little black device that fits in both hands that sits on the baker's rack in the kitchen.



So if you are curious what the minimun and maximum temperature inside and outside is, boom it's right there.

He showed this to me last night as he was attaching wires to the computer like a hospital patient getting set up for a an EKG. I was blogging and he was working around me.
Then we have a debate over the use of the computer. What it's important uses are and why what I am doing doesn't fall into that category and he wins because any use he has is important, because it is his computer.
When it gets late we get cranky.
Mom had smartly gone to bed. I quickly wrapped up what I was doing and turned off the computer BEFORE scanning it for viruses. This is a NO NO. It is done religously each night and my Dad likes to be the one to do it. so he fired it back up after reminding me that I'd forgotten. : )

The Spider and The Fly by Mary Howitt

The Spider and the Fly
Mary Howitt



We memorize poems when we weed Or try to.



Will you walk into my parlour?" said the Spider to the Fly,
'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I've a many curious things to shew when you are there."
Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."


"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the Spider to the Fly.
"There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin,
And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!"
Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "for I've often heard it said,
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!"


Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, " Dear friend what can I do,
To prove the warm affection I 've always felt for you?
I have within my pantry, good store of all that's nice;
I'm sure you're very welcome -- will you please to take a slice?"
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "kind Sir, that cannot be,
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!"


"Sweet creature!" said the Spider, "you're witty and you're wise,
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I've a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf,
If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself."
"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you 're pleased to say,
And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day."


The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again:
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing,
"Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple -- there's a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!"

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue --
Thinking only of her crested head -- poor foolish thing! At last,
Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,
Within his little parlour -- but she ne'er came out again!


And now dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed:
Unto an evil counsellor, close heart and ear and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.
The Spider and the Fly
Mary Howitt


The Spider and the Fly - Mary Howitt

Mary Howitt (1799-1888)
First publication date: 1829
A poem can paint a thousand images in your mind's eye. If you enjoyed this poem and appreciated the lyrics of The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt you will find even more poem lyrics by this famous author, together with their biography and picture, by simply clicking on the Poem Index link below !

How our Garden Stings

Jaden has a library book called Venom (written by Marily Singer) and it says the honeybee is the a killer bee.






It kills more people in teh U.S. than any other venomous animal.

Can you see the bee in the picture? We actually had no stings this year despite all the sunflowers in the garden.

Step Into My Garden

Help getting the garden resurrected a few years ago.





Another helper




And wahlaw!








The Sunflowers are sad that I am going to have to remove them since I positioned them right in front of the beans thinking they were not as gargantuous as they would be!








When we weeded this summer we practiced memorizing The Spider And The Fly poem














Here is a draft of an article going to a mag.It has been a great growing season. A cold breeze sent me out to the garden one last time,




with a meshed yellow Rio Star grapefruit bag to fill with string beans. It is September and the vines are climbing up and over the willow poles. It seems just like yesterday that the poles were gathered down by the banks of the Snake River and placed in the dirt. I pulled up the familiar rusty stool that continually sits in the garden, and began plucking beans from the vine. My 6 year old son, Jaden, is delighted to be able to use the garden for his own purposes again. Now that the onions, peas, carrots and radishes have come and gone, he can make a BMX trail for his miniature motor cycle and






bikes.



I pointed out a lady bug on a sticky leaf and Jaden coaxed it onto his finger then tried to get it to sit on the BMX seat. When it flew off he replied: “It’s scared!” and went back to jumping the bike.

It has been almost 4 years ago that we resurrected the garden. All the hard work has been worth it. Mainly because of the way the food enhanced the gatherings around the table this summer.

Although the kitchen is small, the people that frequent it are many and the food from the garden is abundant. When Dad came back from the coast with fresh Salmon, we smoked it and made a Hoison Sauce paired it with a Mint Cucumber drink and my sister’s canned Dilly beans, and had honedew melons drenched in fresh lime.







Using my mom’s silver pressure cooker Amy was determined to learn the art of canning. Brining her little baby over we joined forces to knock out the canning.





I dug up the carrots and red onions from the garden using a small shovel; washed them in




the hose and sliced them for the Dilly bean recipe. Adding vinegar and garlic along with the string beans she made a couple of batches of the delicious concoction.
We would drive the 15 minutes across town to her farm house in Iona to help her pick red raspberries for jam, corn flake topping in the morning, and a personal favorite; add heavy cream from the local dairy along with a lot of sugar for an after dinner dessert.

It was one warm evening at Amy’s, she sat on a lawn chair holding her son wearing only a diaper while Jaden ate his first fresh strawberry from her patch.
Barefoot he curled his toes on the end of the wood surrounding the patch and bit into a plump red strawberry. He closed his eyes and relished the mouth watering fruit. I smiled.

Before long we were enjoying the ripe tomatoes. Cutting them in slices and sprinkling them with salt and pepper; a staple at our table. That and the cucumbers swimming in water mixed with vinegar, a bit of sugar and onions. Amy set to making home made salsa and brought several batches of it, which we devoured with crackers and chips.

One of the things I enjoy most is taking fresh vegetable in ziplock bags to neighbors; mounting my orange cruiser and placing the produce in the wicker basket, I took

radishes to Connie, carrots and beans to Debbie, squash to Sherri.
But my favorite thing of all is to sit and weed in my garden. There I can contemplate life.
Slow down and meditate. The action of . I love to take off my flip flops and see my red toe polish against the dark brown earth as I weed. The quiet amongst growing things is bliss.

Methodically winding my fingers around the base of a weed and tugging it from the
ground; I make plans for next year’s garden and my life. Maybe I should add a
strawberry patch to the yard? Where?

One cold and windy spring, I surveyed the back yard as my son crawled on the tire Volleyball pole. The once sprawling garden of my youth came back into my memory. All that remained now was the rhubarb patch in the north east corner painted in by lawn.
Wheels began to turn in my mind. I walked into the garage and surveyed the faded yellow and green John Deere tiller; sized up the dormant garden tools hanging on nails behind the white door , and nodding my head I walked into the kitchen the screen door

clap, clap, clapping.

Then I laid out the big renovating plan to my middle- aged parents:
“I have a great idea!” clasping my hands together. “let’s resurrect the garden!”
Immediately my father’s face turned ashen, the ghost of preparing past gardens swirling around him “Nowww I d-d-dunnno… it’s uh l-l-l-ot-a o wa-wa work.”
“Dad, just think” I used my best persuasive skills, “fresh peas, corn on the cob, plenty of weeders” hitching my thumb to in the direction of my chest “and to top it off your grandson will learn to work!” The skepticism and momentary stuttering gave way to the same goal.

It paid off. When it warmed a bit we cut the lush green grass, pulling the earth’s hair and placing it into a rusty wheel barrow ferrying it to the trailer. Even my son toted small strips in his yellow Tonka truck using his working gloves.

That was 3 years ago; today a sprawling garden once again resides at 1220. It is
September and the beans are climbing the willow poles , creating a green canopy for the grandkids to run through. A rusty stool continually sits in the garden, always beckoning me to come and sit in the warm evening or cool morning

I smile to see the red striped white straws amongst towering Sunflowers, marked graves made by the grandkids for slugs that had been retrieved from the moist leaves of the peas, salted and then given a garden burial.

I chuckle at the kids trying to learn the trick to opening a pea pod; and marvel at my petite niece and the delicate way she plucks the bulbs off ripened raspberries with her miniature finger tips.

Bringing the wicker basket from my orange cruiser I set it next to the garden, I bend down to pull the green tops of the carrots and wash them in the sprinkler, then load it into the basket.

I gather red potatoes dug from around the roots, red onions, cucumber that survived the June hail storm and finally clip sunflowers for a table bouquet. Checking the for ripe tomatoes I pluck some noticing a small sunflower shoot smiling out at me amongst the tomato vine.

Mounting my bike I take produce to my neighbor’s where we chat for a few moments on the porch .






Then I head home to make our family dinner. A trip to the local farmer’s market to pick up items not in the garden this year; Honey dew melon, sweet corn, walla walla onions, Sassie Suzy’s Asparagus and a juicy plum for the ride home. The plum makes my fingers sticky and juice dribbles down my chin but I don’t mind. It’s summer and it wonderful!

My sister Amy comes over to can Dilly beans as we make for a celebration. The menu includes Mint Cucumber drink, Smoked Salmon with a Hoison Mustard Sauce, honey dew melon drenched in fresh lime and family.

I love a garden. I love the bounty. Especially of family.

My Typewriter

The Royal Quiet De Luxe




















Some time back I was driving and came upon an estate sale. I stopped and immediately was drawn to a black, portable typewriter. The woman was ill and unloading everything. I bought it for $10.

She told me that it belonged to a man that lived in Island Park. He'd belonged to a wealthy family in CA. Had a falling out with his father over the fam business and moved to Idaho.

I let Jaden plonk on my Royal Quiet De Luxe sticking a few keys together before boxing it up until I moved home. Then I put it in a high place and referred to it for inspiration. I thought about looking into its worth but didn't until today.

I got on google and typed in the brand. I went to Mytypewriter's.com and there it was. After searching more I found that Ernest Hemingway had the exact model. That he kept the model on his desk in Key West. Then I saw pictures of him working on it. I got so excited!

'The Royal Quiet Deluxe puts you right in touch with literary histoyr-- it was one of Ernest Hemingway's favorite machines. This was the first model in a series of the Rolyal QD line that outsold any other portables of the time. It was introdced just before WWII, but its production was suspended when the Royal Typewriter Company, like other typewriter manufacturers in teh US at the time, was converted to an ordnance factory to produce weapons. When production resumed in 1946, the Royal QDL continued to gain a following among on the go writers and journalists. Compact, snazzy and a pleasure to write with , this workhorse model is also of my myTypewrite.com's bestseller's. '

Some things are just meant to be. So I will be reading my Rosamunde Pilcher novel: Coming Home for inspiration and editing my work. A perfect Sunday.

There are even charm bracelets with the keys around them that I fell in love with.
It was cool to go there and find that bit of history and seemed perfect that I left it for today to look into it. Because I just started a short story based in the forties. interesting.... it makes me want to start typing on it. The problem of me being on my Dad's computer: ReSolved!

Toboggans in Summer

My Dad's air compressor worked handily tonight to get the dirt off Jade.
He jumped from the tramp and a cloud of dust wound around him like a Snoopy character.

That's what happens when you ROLL in dirt. That's not sarcasm either. He rolls in it. His lips looked lined with it. Dark brown like he'd licked his lips and then rolled. Then licked again. I was too slow with the camera.

And then Dad lamented tonight: "I don't have one, nor two, but four toboggans in the garden. Who has that problem in the summer?" Good question. It doesn't help that we store them in the back yard. They usually end up on the tramp. But today it was the garden. Dirt is everywhere.

He just came in and asked how long it will take him to earn 60 for a air hog or something. I am mean because I won't buy it for him!

Mr. Bun

I got onto the site: Writer's Digest.com and checked out the topics I could enter my work into. I had a dream the other day that seemed Stephenie Meyer (meaning it was a single thought and I needed to branch from there) well once I started and tried to connect the themes in 4k words or less, it looked lame.

However I am going to keep plugging along with it and see what happens, if anything it will be good practice.

We have had several play dates at our house lately. Poor Padre is getting up there in age and is going through all of this again! The garden is now designated for making jumps. Which serious gardeners do NOT do in their gardens. But I think that this summer we will make the exception. We have plenty of canned beans coming out of our ears.

Well today we have two sisters over and it is 14 mintues into the play date and they have informed me that we do not have enough girl toys. After listening to the exact dolls that they like to play I asked if they wanted to play with the Cabbage Patch dolls. Nope. Hm. Um, how about the little plastic dress up ones? Nope. The other gals we have had over and my niece, love to play with Jaden's swords, skateboards,etc etc. So we have not had any problems. Til today... I am at a loss. Just boy stuff. Looks like today's date will end a bit early or the blogging will.

Suddenly a comic from Calvin and Hobbes comes to mind, when Suzie comes over and wants to play house with Calvin and he is incensed because she wants to pretend that 'Mr. Bun ' is their baby. All of this is in classic adult looking cartoonage.

One of the sister's came in and asked me to call their mom. Then she said: "All he wants to do is fight with swords. And do this" (she punches the air, which must mean fake fighting.)But she did say: "Our brother would really like it here you have a lot of trucks." whew. I did find that the sprinkler was on drenching the swing set and they said they'd stay if we dried it. That is a good thing because I tried their mom and she isn't home. I handed them some towels and they are drying off the swing set.

I want all the Calvin and Hobbes for Christmas.

Lost and FOUND!

The article of clothing I lost a bit ago, found it. After I tackled the mound of laundry- there it was. I knew that would happen but working has not helped the laundry schedule.

I love how the laundry goes from the bed to the wash, eventually, back to the bed to be folded. I even found myself running to the dryer and pulling out a SINGLE pair of underwear for Jaden one night then I closed the dryer back up and we went to bed. We were that tired!

Boober Bay

Itsy -bitsy- tickler is asleep so I can finish blogging!

The other day Jaden and I passed a land mark in Utah and I said: "Oh, look what pretty sails above Willard Bay. Jaden shot a look out the window and incredulously said: "THAT is Boober Bay?" (See Dr. Seuss' How Lucky You Are book about the folks who have to build a bridge out over Boober Bay on Bum Ridge.)

"no, no, WILLARD Bay."

We just read Charlotte's Web-- and are at the point where Wilbur is going to find out about why he is being fattened up. I love this book. Another hilarious read is Runaway Ralph but it is great in the car as you drive to listen the guy make the motor cycle sounds.

Oh, and I am getting into the violinist David Garrett. I heard him in a friend's car belting out Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson. he plays amazing and then you see him and OH, Boy. He is NOT ugly. I wish I could go see him play back east. He takes the classics and then rock like Metallica. I have always loved the violin especially when my little sister would play the George Strait song: Amarillo.

What am I doing up? I am hitting the sack!

Flick Trix

Well, there is a new toy. First it was the tech deck skate boards that J had fallen for and now thanks to Nick, the dirt bikes that you ride with your fingers as well.

We headed to Target to buy the 8.00 wonder and I have had a crash course in fixing bikes. Not bikes the normal size mind you-- miniature Barbie equivalent bikes. But her accesories are way bigger. These have pedals and pegs and interchangeable grips, seats. A little boy's dream. I take that back, my neighbor's son who is in HS also loves and wanted one.

The first time we bought it I was combing the carpet for a lost nut. This would be the half the size of Barbie's earring.

Then I spent time searching the car for the pedal and crank that had flown off after a "crash". With the help of a flashlight and re-arranging the car seats we were able to get it! Miracle! Then somehow the whole bike mysteriously went missing.

This was made worse for the owner when a bee caused him to wig out on the cement trail in Yellowstone and sent him kissing it. Ironically Jaden sustained more injury from this fall then those on his bike, granted on his bike he is wearing a helmet and gear. But I didn't think he'd need it walking. So we bandaged up a knee and an elbow and the dirt bike vanished- into toy air.

I searched the car. The parking lot. He had not left the car. After going through it a couple times, I too was convinced that one of the foreign tourists had taken it when they saw him playing with it.

So the whining was at a pinacle.

(As i write this my son is singing: "The itsy- bitsy- spider craw;ed up on Amanda's head -fingers swishing my hair- crawled all around and made a ni-ice a bed!

Jumped down to her shoulder -where he tickles my neck- and climbed down to the fl-oor. and the itsy0bitsy spider crawled out the door!"

Back to the car where we left the park in tears. because we'd just got the new bike and its accessories the day before and it was now a lost toy.

Outside of West Yellowstone Papa said: "Did you look in the camera cooler." He puts the camera in a cooler and it happened to be back by us on the floor but he moved it, right about the time the bike disappeared. He opened it and there it was.

The lost toy prayer once again miraculously answered! So glad all these faith promoting events happen.

Well, I am ticklish and can't finish this post with Jaden itsy bitsing me.

We have a dragon fly (nicknamed 'Dragon') to let loose and toys to put away before bed.

The Worstest Word

J's lunchbox after the first day of school there is yogurt everywhere and was on him too.








Jaden after his first day of school













This morning Jaden finally let me know his true feelings about school. I was up around 4 dealing with prednisone tapering and he walks up in his Superman skivies.

"Mom, you need to take your cell phone with you when you go, so I can call you."

I peered up from cutting a Calvin and Hobbes cartoon out and sized him up. He woke up happy. That was good.But he wants to me to carry my cell phone around the house now? He came by one randomly and now he calls me in the house. Even if we are a foot away from eachother. Like when we went back downstairs to read since it was 6am. He called me. "Hey, what ya doing?"

"Just reading to you."

"Oh." click.

Then it happened. I told him about the day's activity schedule. I had to do some errands.

"Can you pick me up after lunch recess?" He has been having a croupy cough and I thought that maybe he was going to do his best to make it through most of the day- how sweet and hard working of him!

"How come?" I verified.

"It is the worstest word: SCHOOL." he blurted out.  Where did this come from?

"I HATE school! It is so long after lunch!" he whines.

I had to think fast. I don't want my child being targeted as a suspect in 1st grade for this kind of behavior.

Cupcakes. "I will make cup cakes for you after school! And how about the skate park? I will take you after you eat a yummy cupcake. Can look forward to that after lunch?"

The melt down temp remedied, he decided to get ready for the day in his new plaid sweatshirt and shorts (he HATES pants and collared shirts.) and go out on his scooter, BEFORE school. Feeling vindicated, he went to school happy! Yay! We said good-bye and I hung out on the couch until his bus barreled down our street, pulling the drapes to catch his frantic wave through the window. I could hear him say: "bye!" clear up the street. I had left the screen door open and he hollered despite me being indoors. I think it helps him feel safe.

October is coming and the Bradleys put up killer Halloween decorations which means he is going to get good at sprinting or will require me to accompany him. I will post a pic of their yard as soon as it is up and running. It even scares me. Maybe we will just cross the street to the other side for that month.

Stay tuned.

Josh Hult

I am so grateful tonight. We were out at the house Josh Hult grew up in. I didn't know that Josh was doing so well... or who he was in fact until a guy in Utah told us.

We were at the skatepark there and Jared told us about him. I faintly recalled the name and when I told my fam in Idaho, I found out he went to school with one of my brothers. So we went to his folks house and they showed us where Josh hit the slopes in his back yard. Jaden was chomping on the bit to get out on the half pipe. Weeds are covering a lot of it since he has been away. We moved the muddy signs that were on the half pipe and Jaden rode for awhile.

Tonight Ms. Hult called Josh and asked if he would go to the skate park with Jaden on Tuesday. (He has a Dew Tour event in SLC and then is coming home to IF) He said yes!

We are thrilled! Before we left tonight Sandy gave us one of his jackets. Neat.

I appreciate good people who are so willing to help out.I talked to her a bit about her life and found that she had been in the Air Force as well as his Dad. Then his Dad joined the army. A neat, humble, hard working family. No wonder they had kids turn out like they did!

After we left the Hult's we went over to the Wackerli's. I grabbed Kerrie's bike she lets me use and we raced a couple times. He beat me. Fair and square.

Tired we came home and got him shined up in the tub then ate watermelon and strawberry ice cream from Reeds Dairy. Oh, my. yum. he added a Ding Dong to it.

Then he read Dr. Suess ABC's. Perfect ending to a perfect night.

Maximizing the Mite

I got really excited yesterday. Over something that might be not so big to someone else.
After collecting cans for miniscule profits (Chicken Run) we got a tip from my neighbor to take them to Pacific Steel. Finally googled the directions and took a couple wrong turns but made it. A big recybling place behind a dealership downtown. Never been there before.

We took all the cans we'd gotten and after being weighed the man whose pants were falling off his bottomless waist and a cigg hanging out of his bearded mouth we had 3.9 pounds.

took it inside and they handed Jaden almost 2 x as much as he'd been getting for that amount someplace else. I was like: "ok now that is worth it." And I decided to keep it up.
they said if I put a bumper sticker on the car we'd get 5 cents more per pound. I took one.

And today after the rain fall I put it on the van. Yes, it was 11.60 cents that Jaden earned. But in a time that I can't afford to even give him an allowance. It is worth it. It is worth teaching him to work.

Last night we had FHE on The Sanctity of Labor from the recent Church News. President Eyring's phyicist father was 80 and suffering from bone cancer when he went to weed the Welfare farm onions. Afterward he found out that the weeds had been sprayed and would have died anyway. He roared laughing. when he was asked by his son about it he said: "I wasn't there for the weeds."

So we aren't there for the paycheck per se. It did make him able to go to Target and buy a finger dirt bike that he does tricks on his Tony Hawk skate park in the basement. He gets stoked about earning money and buying his own things. So do I.

It isn't much but what it does for me mentally is. It makes think of other ways to improve and make each dollar stretch. I don't want to spend my money on dumb things. Or waste food or anything I buy. I want it to last. I like my car. My van that I swore in HS I would never drive.

It makes me want to ride my bike to do little errands with Jaden while the weather lasts and my health permiting.

Yesterday I was asked what I "do". Well, I have a sub-teaching job. But today as I clipped the edges of the lawn out back by the hose I thought about it.

I hand clip grass. I weed my garden. I cut up fresh tomatoes from my garden for the taco dinner I am preparing. I write a list out of needed food at the grocery store and after my son comes home from school we drive there. I take my son to the allergy specialist where we sit for 20 mintues after our shots to see if we have a reaction.

I quiz my son on his spelling words. I watch my son show me tricks on his new bike that he learned at flicktrix.com. I prod my son to brush his teeth before bed and school each morning. I make breakfast and pray with him in the morning.

I spray the bugs and webs on the house. I bring in the mail. I cut up vegetable for my Dad's cold lunch while I make my son's. I rub my parents feet in the morninig before they go to work.

I take my son to the vacant lot and watch him the whole time (almost) and clap after each trick. I put make-up on in the morning and wear a skirt because it makes me feel good.
I RSVP for a b-day party for Jaden's friend and wrap a $1.00 gift from Target.
I make appts and drive across town to attend them. I give myself shots of meds. I pioneer meds that will help others down the road.

It may not seem like much. But like the widow's mite, it is all I've got.

Happiness Is....

Reading Calvin and Hobbes at bedtime and laughing so hard your sides hurt.

Making cold lunch with clips from Calvin and Hobbs and a 'Word of the day' written on a napkin.

Watching Jaden and the neighbor kids build a ramp on the grass as the warm autumn sun shines low on the horizon.

Taking Kade on a stroller ride with Jaden; stopping at all the flowers for him to pat with his big palmed long fingered hands, climbing the rocks at the Morgan's front yard and Kade tap dancing on top of them, watching him suck his thumb and giggle simultaneously as the garbled cement side walk giggles his insides.

Having to tell Jaden not put the plastic tobaggans on the tramp and jump on top of them.

Having to tell Jaden to not sit in his yellow Tonka dump truck on the tramp while the neighborkids try to 'send' him.

Telling Jaden about the broken ankle Uncle Brandon gave me trying to send me as a kid.

Talk/yelling good-byes as Jaden mosies up the street to the bus stop.

Watching Jaden run up the street to catch the bus.

Watching Jaden hop/skip/play down the street from the bus stop.

Watching the jagged tooth erupt from Jaden's gums.

Eating bacon and scrambled eggs along with pancakes topped with Amy's homemade raspberry jam for dinner.

Making Cream of Wheat in the morning and having half and half to pour on it.

Working at Jaden's elementary.

Bike Tip

Seems a shame to call Jaden in on such a lovely evening as tonight. We will postpone bedtime for the sake of a beautiful evening.

Since I have enjoyed riding bikes so much with Jaden I have to share the tip. Our neighbors have a small bike with no shanks. Mark bought it and stripped off the pedals and chain. He explained that the training wheels make the kids lean and not learn balance. While on the skeleton bike, they pad around and eventually get confident in coasting with their feet drawn up, keeping them straight and balanced. Then once they are ready they move to a bike of the same size with the equiptment. Jaden took right off. He couldn't brake for two weeks which required racing into people's lawns to stop. But eventually we taught him the back ward motion.

I bought gloves with out finger tips that have a little gel for padding and then we eventually bought some normal ones. These help tremendously. I didn't use pads until he was going to the skate park in the bowl. Just jeans and a long shirt and he seemed to do fine!

Happy trails!

Boating Boy

Blacktail In July with The Mason's





Tips for skiing: Hold On













FREEDOM!







"It's fun driving the boat." Jaden
He was able to edge El Capitan Mark out of the driver's seat.

BMX Bling!

You sure you want to let all that hard earned money go?

Guess so.


Jaden donning his Mammoth Skull helmet that he earned and bought from Outlet For Outdoors.





Jaden raced at The Snake River BMX Races one night. I made him mow that day to pay the 8.00 fee. After meeting two new friends he placed 2nd in his heat and third overall! The trophy was orange, his favorite color. He totally earned it and had a blast.