Saturday.....garage sale day! I love garage sales, but I don't like estate sales. You walk into the house and everything smells like the person who died and now you are cleaning out their prized possessions......I helped clean out my family home and everything had a memory......so many, " remember this,"....... or that....... or when she got that"...... was attached to so many things. Dr. Bober says it starts early, when an infant gets attached to a blanket or a stuffed animal. Adults make similar transfer to objects that belonged to loved ones. When we lose someone dear, and go through their stuff, its painful because these objects remind us that everything in life is temporary. That makes us want to hang on to these objects, no object will bring happiness.
To detach, tell yourself that the important attachment is not to any object but to the person that the object represents. Whether you keep the object or let it go doesn't change your connection to a loved one. Parents 'stuff is emotionally charged because the things get merged with the person. Letting go feels like betrayal, like you are throwing out their love and their legacy. Hanging on to her special sweater, clock or lamp only represents a way to stay connected to a parent no longer with you, though the memories, not the object, are the true connections. Some of my things have been promised and I will write it down for all to see......don't fight over my ugly china or cheap jewelry!!!!!! Stay friends and work together always remembering...."what goes round.....comes round." it could happen to you. I have saved some strange things that you could never understand why.....even if I tried to tell you. Just a wonderful time in my life I love to remember, but feel free to unload them for anything you can get out of them. So hot today......made out bills, washed my hair and went grocery shopping.
"A wise person knows that there is something to be learned from everyone."
We, in our Mormon church are very lucky. When we become teenagers we have the privilege of being given a "Patriarchal Blessing". I was told when I got mine if I lived worthy and heeded all the blessings it offered me, it could be a road map for my life. It was a serious thing to me. I tried to live worthy and do what it told me to do and have seen so many of the prophecies come true in my life. My children were promised me and my traveling around the world and into distant lands.
I grew up thinking if it's broke....... fix it! Sew it, tape it, glue it, nail it! But after my many years I am learning 'Maybe it's not always about trying to fix something broken.....it's about starting over and creating something better.' I definitely felt a bad marriage can be made better by a divorce........ANYWAY in my case it did! Today the Panniers are cleaning out and cleaning up the home they lived in and raised their three children for 26 years.......what they wanted could not be fixed as easily as would be, by building a new house, but that doesn't make it less sad to walk away from. I see how sad the children are, but their day will come when it will be a decision to fix or change something.....and they will have to cross that bridge when they get to it. I do remember well the day I cleaned my family home for the last time, (26 years ago in Nov.) and that is when the change hits you square in the heart. Two very good friends, Patty Beltz and Nadine Lyngle came over and we vacuumed, washed, wiped and cleaned up my last family home on Lauri Kay Drive.......for the last time! I loved that house and the neighbors. It was a big house, 6,000 square feet, big yard, patio and double garage. I moved to a 2900 feet condo, consequently after the garage sale I still had to rent a storage shed for half my stuff......30 years of marriage can accumulate lots of "stuff." The twins darling friends...... (boys)........ helped me get it to the storage.. None of this is the Pannier's problems, it was their choice to change neighborhoods. I know they will have mixed emotions tonight, probably more so than when they sign the papers Friday. They are hoping they can start digging the basement for the new house after Memorial Day.
Yes, this is Maxine......one of the people I really admire. She is known for just telling it like it is! She does not mince words usually and thinks of all these great things I wish I had like.......She bought a bird feeder. She hung it on the back porch and filled it with seed: With in a week hundreds of birds were taking advantage of the continuous flow of free and easily accessible food. But, the birds starting building nests in the boards above the table. Then came the poop .....everywhere! Then some birds turned mean, dive bombed her and tried to peck her even though she had feed them out of her own pocket. Some were boisterous and loud and squawked when the feeder was empty. Finally.....she could stand no more and took the feeder down, in three days no more birds. She cleaned up the poop and took down the nests. Soon a peaceful .back -yard again......no demand for free meals.
Big moving day for the Panniers......poor Rob is moving in with "his mother-in-law!" To most men, death would be preferable to this, but thank goodness, Rob and I have always gotten along, in fact I have taken his side several time and gotten into trouble with my daughter. They will have such a fun new house and in a pretty neighborhood, just keeping our fingers crossed Ivory will get on it soon for them. Moving is always a pain, and especially after 26 years in one house.
I was born in 1932....81 years ago.....so I was 2 years old when the Montgomery Christmas catalogue of 1934 came out with a few of these items......The prices are unbelievable. But, of course they were in one of the worst depressions of time. Today's paper tells what the recession we are trying to climb out of today has done to us. "Homeownership rates in Utah plunged from record highs during the run-up to the Great Recession to an 18-year low last year, underscoring the damage done by the worst economic crisis in Utah since the 1930's."........"What we went through was so unique. This is a reflection of what happened in the housing market and the connection between jobs, income and homeownership." Home ownership reflects the true magnitude of this economic downturn. Hopefully, we are the way up again. More interesting prices of 1934......
Thank goodness ALL my family and most of my friends have dogs and are dog lovers.....I think this little guy is a good poster-dog for dogs. I am sure all our dogs would agree with his rules.......Pam and Rob are moving in tomorrow with their 'puppy person', that is very spoiled, my Gigi just tries to avoid her, but they get along. Gigi is 11 and an old lady who has her own agenda, Bree is a few months old and likes to play. She has been duking it out with William's big puppy and will miss someone to play with. Aspen is moving in with Tiffany's dog Captain, more her size with energy........poor Tiff!
I guess no one gets through life without some cross to bare. I came from a family of five healthy children, my three children were all healthy, I have nine grandchildren who are wonderful and perfect with one exception, my Kennedy has a learning disability. He is 15, 6 feet tall and so much fun, he loves sharks, legos and wants to be a monster truck driver. His parents have been working on his speech but a new testing found his math skills are third grade and his reading skill fourth and he is starting high school! They have to be brought up to at least sixth grade level to get through high school. Sherrie called in tears not knowing exactly what to do........and I have shed a few for Ken. But today I am determined we can handle this. Ken has a very good doctor willing to help, there are several options with his school work, tutoring, home schooling, school aids. Yes, it will take patience, time and prayer to work through this but.....God doesn't hand you more than he knows you can handle. I am determined to do everything I can to help Sherrie and Darren get through this......isn't that what grandma's do? GRATITUDE.......Yes, I am grateful for the many things Kennedy can do and has done. He just got his driver learners permit, he creates great things out of legos, he water skis, snow mobiles, is a wonderful swimmer and is a scuba diver. I love you Ken.
This is my third son-in-law Richard Cook......and the fourth birthday in five days for my family......so Happy Birthday Rich. He takes very good care of me and he and my daughter Karrie are raising three of the greatest children.....proud grandma! We have shared a lot of good times together and hope for many more. He is very patient when it comes to bailing me out with computer problems......or anything else I ask him to do. He is a good father and spends quality time with his two sons. Coaching foot ball teams for both, playing tennis and golf. I hope you have many more birthdays Rich.
God answered my prayers doubly......a baby girl that made me a mother for the first time. Pamela Marie Peterson/Pannier. My only child for 11 years and cherished. Her husband (in the picture with her) and son were off bow-hunting so I went up to Idaho with her Friday/Monday. It was fun hanging out up at the cabin and the weather was nice. Saturday we went into West Yellow Stone shopping......and to dinner. We are shoppers. Then we went for a long drive on her birthday to a beautiful water falls......after sleeping in kinda late. Then to one of our favorite places for her birthday dinner, "BOONDOCKS", where some friends that built their cabin happened to drop in also, they pulled up their table and chairs and joined us.......so had a fun birthday party. Home about four today. Guess they will get busy packing and move in next week until their new house is built. It was a fun girls weekend.....her dog Bree and my dog Gigi are both girls too, they joined us. Another Happy Birthday marked off!
.JPG)
The feel of Fall is closing in and soon the hills will start turning bright colors. I love nature . Once when I took a photography class we were to critique a picture in the exhibit in the library on campus and write a paper. The one that spoke to me was the one of this huge stone standing next to a huge tree with the beautiful roots flexing like muscles over the ground.
What do sisters do when they get together.....they knit and talk for hours......as you can see Leslie is displaying a few of the products of our labor so she could put them out at a garage sale this week end. Each scarf you make seems to have a personality of its own and hopefully will appeal to some one. I will be anxious to hear how she did today.
Off to Vernal .......and the Dinosaur Museum. This big hairy monster is my favorite of the displays. My grandson Alex who lives in Vernal helped his school class glue the hair on this display.....YES! Kinda glad they are not still wandering around the earth any more. It was a fun time with the Christensons.
Having a great visit with my sister Leslie. Yesterday we hit about every yarn place in the valley......hope your not looking for fun stuff for scarfs as Leslie bought out JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby, Michael's and Walmart!!! So far we (I made several for her) have made 29 scarfs. We learned a fun new way where you knit with your fingers....and they go really fast. She sold over four hundred dollars worth when she went to Mancos Days last week and Mike's wife Andrea is having a garage sale Saturday where she will put them out and then when she gets home they have a big celebration in Winslow called "Standing On the Corner"..... you know the song? Standing on the corner in Winslow Arizona....... and a Christmas Boutique. When your retired you need something to keep you busy. We also went to two movies and out for dinner....I was tired last night.
There is nothing more special than having a sister.....I was lucky and had three, but two of them are gone now so the one I have left is very special to me. Leslie is coming for a few days visit and plenty of time to catch up on each other's family and reminisce about growing up and the people we both knew. Today we are driving to Vernal to spend the night with Sherrie, it is a nice three hour drive and Leslie has never been there. We will be back tomorrow and will have lunch with our cousin Lucille Smith, in West Valley later this week and go see Pam and Karrie. Leslie has a son in Orem so gets to town for a night or two once or twice a year......and we have had many fun trips around the world together. Two were driving trips in the U.S. which were delightful. FAMILY.....I feel so sorry for people who have no families or who do not continue to be connected to them throughout their whole lives. They miss out on a lot of love.
Just had to put a little humor In my life today....Do you believe it, you know there are some strange ideas floating round out there.......just had a thought????Do you think Obama has a lot of gas every day??? 
This is my second missionary Richard Cook......in Puebla, Mexico. When I was baby sitting he and his little sister one year when he was about five, they put their little table and some chairs on top of the hot tub and climbed upon the roof of their house.......agony! I didn't dare yell until I got them down because I was afraid it would scare them and they would fall.....I coached them down.....THEN yelled! Well, looks like he is still climbing and my yelling did no good, and I am not there to get him down! He was just sent to Puebla, Mexico, which is next to the famous volcano Popocatepetl......now I will worry that it will erupt before he moves on to another safer district.
