MY CAMELOT

"My home is my castle, my Camelot"

I have had several homes in my life. All these homes served the my purpose at the time. The home I grew up in belonged to my parents. When I first got married we bought a small, simple and ample House. The next home was a beautiful home in Denver, Colorado in the Applewood Mesa area, I so adored it. Then we moved back to Salt Lake into a small ugly house my husband bought from his brother. We hated it, then...........we got a chance to buy the big beautiful home across the street which I again loved dearly. We finished raising our family there before my husband left and I was on my own to find me a "camelot". I Did. I bought a fun condo for the twins and I with a lot of fun amenities. Pool, tennis court, two car garage, gated. Inside we had as hot tube, a sun tanning machine, wet bar for parties, fire places. We had a dogie door for our dogs and a fenced back yard. Just right. I have done a lot of remodeling in the past 23 years I have owned it. Sky light in the kitchen, hardwood floors through out, tile bath rooms, new railings, new fireplace mantel, new patio, new furnace. Every time I finish a project I swear that is the last mess I'm going to put up with. WELL, now that I am not traveling any more and have as little extra money I have started looking at my shabby kitchen. Which has been absolutely fine as all I do is put a tv dinner in the microwave when Tiff isn't home, and she isn't home a lot. The only reason I have a kitchen is, it came with the house. I started looking and thinking......and thinking and looking and the cupboards do need a face lift and the counter is the worst. The microwave is ancient and so is the sink. Well, one thing led to another and the next thing I know I am tearing out pages of kitchens I like and getting estimates on granite counters. Today I went looking with Karrie's help. I knew EXACTLY what I wanted. New white cupboards, black granite counter, green walls, new stainless steel sink and microwave and stainless steel back splash! Well, guess what? I fell madly in love with a heavenly piece of blue and white granite.

How could that happen? Yes, it will cost more so I will cut down on some of the new cupboards.

My house is full of blue and white things I have always loved, but am I fickle or what? How can you be so sure of what you want and then pooph.........change directions in the middle of the stream? Maybe it's called old age. I have not signed anything so still have time to change my mind another time or too.

LOOK UP

Do you know that if you put a buzzard in a pen 6 by 8 , that is entirely open at the top, the bird in spite of his ability to fly will become a prisoner? Why? A buzzard begins a flight by a 10 or 12 foot run on the ground and cannot take off other wise.

Do you know that a bat cannot take off from a level floor? He will shuffle around on the ground until it can reach an elevation from which to throw itself into the air. Other wise it cannot escape from an open pen.

And.......do you know that if you dropped a bumble bee into a jar even with no lid on it, itwillbe there until it dies. It never looks up,it just goes round and round trying to escape from the sides, until it destroys itself.

Many people are like these critters. We struggle over our problems and frustrations never realizing that all we have to do is look up for the answers. This has really made me stop and think because I know I am guilty of not stopping for a quiet moment and say a little prayer knowing GOD has the answers.........even if sometimes the answer is No. So for the answers and solutions to your problems just remember to LOOK UP. I am grateful today for the faith I have to look up and know someone is listening.

THANK GOODNESS FOR FAMILY

Today I went to my Aunt Frankie's funeral. She would have been 99 the 13th of June. She was a year older than my mother who has been dead for 40 years. She and my mother had babies 9 days apart and my cousin Lucille and I grew up 18 miles apart. No old friends of Aunt Frankie were at the funeral today, they have all died. It was her wonderful daughter and son and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren that gathered to remember and pay tribute to her memory. She had 10 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren, which made a nice group. Lucille and I share the same grandparents on my mother's side. Her father was my mother's big brother. I loved Aunt Frankie and have some fun childhood memories of her and she will be buried in Mancos, Colorado where all our family is buried. As I look at my family tree, my two sets of grand-parents, my parents and my four siblings, my heart is filled with love and happiness that I am connected to so many wonderful people. I feel very lucky to have a family tree that I am part of. I have lost my parents and two sisters which leaves a hole in my heart but I have three daughters and nine grandchildren at this point in my life........Twelve nieces and nephews with mates and children. I'm not sure I want to live to be 99, but I know in the years I have left here on earth I have a wonderful family connection with many people that love me. I was impressed with the love I felt with Aunt Frankie's family today..........she will be missed. Today I am grateful to be a part of a big family.

Words from the Wise

I just have to vent! In all my days of government doings, this Health Bill that Obama and Pelosi badgered their way through seems to be the path to living under a government controlled world for us. Who will pay for it and the debt he is incurring? My poor grandchildren and great-grand children. We do not have wise people as leaders anymore. I found the following list that I feel tells us what real wise people generally are. Wise people are: Grateful, Live disciplined and principled lives. Are honed by adversities. Thirst for knowledge and understanding. Exhibit discernment and good judgement. Have uncommon, common sense. Are reflective and introspective. Exemplify self-sufficiency. Seek balance in all things. Are altruistic and seek common good. They are humble and caring. Our leaders should be chosen from the above list and have experience in leadership, running businesses, budgets and not just big mouths and lots of money. Wise people know you can't help others without love....who do our politicians love besides themselves? Our present leaders are the most unwise, uncaring, self-centered bunch of people I know. To bad we can't make the above ingredients into a vaccine and give to Obama and his little group!

If we go back to our native culture for wise people , one Navajo called White Elk, tells us wisdom is possible only when the mind and the feelings come together. "To be wise means one must plan ahead----think of possibilities and plan for them. It is knowing what to do and what not to do. It involves choices." Each day I see the government taking more of choices away.......I am sad.

Drug Problem

How many of you had a drug problem growing up? Come on, think about it........I did. My whole family had a drug problem.

My mother was probably the biggest druggie. When we children were young she drug us to family dinners with boring relatives. To church, to weddings and funerals, to community socials no matter the weather. To our brother and sisters school and talent functions. We were not drug by our ears as some children reported. We were drug over and soundly sat on a chair if we were disrespectful to adults, teachers or each other. We did not have a woodshed so our father never drug us out there for punishment, I was always thankful for that. You knew you would be drug out and punished if you told a lie or brought home a really bad report card. You were drug home from a play time to do chores or help weed the garden. My father had four daughters and could not understand why he always had to drag someone in to do the dishes after the evening meal. Seems mother had to drag my brother in for hair cuts, to bath and change his underwear and socks regularly. To spend time doing homework. I remember my father drug my little sister into the kitchen and washed her mouth out with soap for saying a swear word.........and when he finished she told him that all the bad words were gone! He felt worse about it than she did.

"Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say or think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack or heroin and, if today children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place." What am I grateful for today? God bless the parents who drugged me.............

AND THEN I DON'T FEEL SO BAD

As I face another birthday in less than a month, I try to think of all the things I am thankful for. I try to think "I'm not old, just older." I welcome each birthday, that just means I've lived another year, lots of people have not been lucky enough to live 78 years.

MY FAVORITE THINGS

Maalox and nose drops, and needles for knitting, Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,

Bundles of magazines tied up with string, These are a few of my favorite things.

Cadillacs, cataracts, hearing aids and glasses, Polident, Fixident, false teeth in glasses

Pacemakers, golf carts, porches and swings, These are a few of my favorite things.

When the pipes leak, When the bones creek, When the knees go bad,

I simply remember my favorite things, And then I don't feel so bad.

Hot tea and crumpets, corn pads for bunions, No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,

Bathrobes and heating pads, hot meals they bring, These are a few of my favorite things.

Back pains, confused brains, and no need for sinnin'. Thin bones and fractures, and hair that is thinnin',

And we won't mention our short shrunken frames, When we remember our favorite thing.

When the joints ache, When the hips break, when the eyes grow dim,

Then I remember the great life I've had, And then I don't feel so bad.

First day of spring

First day of Spring......Yes! Sun shinning bright, it is a little cool but the brave little bulbs are peeking out already. I really think spring is my favorite time of the year, soooooo tired of winter. AND.......I got a call from my oldest granddaughter Tiffany, who left yesterday for a cruise with her boyfriend's family. "Grandma, Scott ask me to marry him, I'm, engaged". "Why are you crying?" "Me ,Because I am so happy for you!" I guess Scott ask Rob if he could marry his daughter so they have known for a couple of weeks. They love Scott and are excited. Also the twins and Annie got home from a girls shopping trip to LA. They brought me an out of the world bracelet, they do so spoil me. Got the bug to spruce up my kitchen. I'm starting with painting and staining the kitchen table and chairs. Will meet with a counter man Monday and another one on Tuesday. Can't rush into something this big and need two or three bids, before I'm convinced I can afford it. If I was still traveling it would never happen, but seems I'm dry-docked, no one to travel with anymore so got a little extra now. Well, what am I greatful for today? A new member will be added to our already great family...............

Another Special Day

What a lucky grandmother, two special days in the same week. This is my youngest grandchild Scottie Cook with my sweet little dog Gigi. I picked Scott up at school today as his mother was out of town and Dad was busy. He is always so excited to see his Gram and we have a great time together. I gave him an after school treat and of course we had to play "old maid" which he always wins. I love it when he spends the night, but tonight it was off to a little friends house for dinner. His mom will be home in the morning. Scott is eight years old and the youngest of my 9 grandchildren. I am trying to keep him my baby, but in no way does he want to be any ones baby. He is handsome, smart and very busy. He loves life and goes full speed 24-7. He loves hot pockets and ice cream. He swims, plays succor, basket ball and golf. he never takes "No" for an answer and can argue his side into the wall. I can hardy wait to see what he chooses for his future, he would make a good lawyer. He loves my gigi and his two dogs, Marley and Izzy. I am thankful for the times I have with Scottie and hope he will always remember the good times he has had with his Gram and tell his children about me someday. I lived close to my Mother's parents and remember so many wonderful times with my " grandparents." I am grateful today for the wonderful grandparents I had living up the street from me when I was growing up.

I Believe

I don't know why, but I just believe in the hand of fate in our lives. I believe like the Navajo Indians do that every thing that happens to us is intertwined or interwoven together to make our lives as they are suppose to be or destined to be.....rather beyond our control. I know sometimes things look like coincidence or miracles. Why was I there at just that moment? A few seconds more or less have saved me from a bad mishap. Things I can't explain.

Then there are the "Why,s" and "What If's" that just can't seem to be explained. Yes, we have choices , but I think the final destination of each of us has been set into motion long before the choice is presented to us. Each relative, family member, friend, or mate has been put into our lives for a reason. A reason we may not at first understand. We need to stop, take a step back and accept it. It may be an inconvenience to us, a bad neighbor, a bad boss, bad mate, bad choice in church or political leader. You may feel these bad times are about you, but if you can be patient you will realize the choices are to teach the boss, leader, neighbor or mate a lesson. Just be patient, humble and take the wait and see attitude. A troublesome child is a wonderful teacher. God is fair, never doubt what goes round comes round eventually. I say these things because at the time of my divorce, you never could have convinced me down the road a few years my life would be a 100 percent better. I guess I just had to go through the hurt, heartache and rejection to learned the lessons I have learned. As I have said before........God doesn't give you the people you want, he gives you the people you NEED to help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you into the person you were meant to be. I have gratitude in my heart for all the people sent to make me a better person.

Happy St Patrick's Day

St Patrick's Day originated as a Roman Catholic holy day, the death date of the saint (March 17) and turned slowly into parades, partying and wearing green. "The color green is a serious multitask er. It speaks for St Patrick's Day and blooming spring, tranquility, jealousy, healthy food and greed.......all at once." We see green everyday in everything. Grass, flowers, healthy food is green food, money is green, when we think of a vacation it could be green tropics, jungles and green water. Green is second only to blue as a favorite color, says Kate Smith a color consultant for big business, fashion and design. So get out your green today and have a Happy St Patrick's Day.

March 17, is also celebrated in our family as a special day. 31 years ago my first daughter was married, no they didn't all wear green. It was a fun and special day and 31 years later I am enjoying my first grandchildren she gave me. Tiffany is 27, Nicole 24 and William 19. They are the joy of my life and constantly surprise me with their wonderful accomplishments. Happy anniversary Rob and Pam...........Today I am grateful for the fun Pannier family and all their love.

Cleaning House

It's that time of year again when it's my turn to have the bridge club at my house. I belong to two bridge clubs. One night one with desert served at the end of the evening. Thank goodness Costco is close by and they have very nice deserts. And a day bridge where you fix lunch before. Thank goodness with eight people and skipping a month or two for some reason, my turn for each club comes only once a year. That means twice a year my house gets it's corners cleaned. The night bridge is the easiest because at night you don't see the dirty windows, comb webs and dust, or they are more easily concealed. But the day bridge takes two weeks to clean the patio, the mirrors, and the corners. You try to have a real delicious lunch, to keep them from too close inspection of the corners and of course a good wine helps too. I love all the girls in the club and I have belonged to the night club since my oldest daughter was small, like 45 years ago. Once a month we catch up on how the kids, grand kids and in some cases great-grand kids are doing. Nice time to brag a little. Five of the eight are now without a mate so we have bonded in "singleism" and compare note and support each other. We really talk more than play bridge and it seems we are going home earlier and earlier in our later years! I am grateful today for such good, long time friends and hope we have many more years together.

Spring Ahead

Well, here it is that time of year again when we lose one hour of sleep. Tonight I will try and remember to run around the house setting all the clocks up one hour. I guess you gotta do what you gotta do!

Everyday I learn something new and I really LOVE this idea. It is the Japanese art of "Wabi-Sabi." Wabi-Sabi is a term from Japanese that describes the beauty found in :"Imperfection!" The Japanese artist will leave an imperfection in a picture, a bump in the glaze on a vase, a rough spot on a carving, as a reminder of the wabi-sabi nature of life......life isn't perfect. WABI-SABI knows all life is in a constant state of change, and that decay and aging is a definite part of all life.

Through the centuries, wabi-sabi has come to mean an approach to life and art that is in harmony with nature, one that recognizes the impermanence of life. Lori Erickson suggests ways to incorporate wabi-sabi into your life: 1. Use what you have, don't always feel the need to keep buying. 2. Make wabi-sabi friends. Have friends who care less about keeping house, they can teach you something about putting things in perspective and valuing spending time with people over tidiness. 3. Cook receipts from your childhood. Think of your Mom as you cook them and remind yourself that families are rich in tradition. 4. Relax your house keeping standards. The world won't end if the furniture is a little dusty and things not as neat as they could be. 5. Practice the art of hanging out. Give yourself permission to ignore the clock and to just focus on people you love. 6. When you drink tea.....drink tea. Don't try to multi-task. Live fully in the moment. 7. Remember that life doesn't go on forever! It may end tomorrow......or not. It's later than you think. Your moments of joy will pass so will your pains and sorrows. Live them, learn their lessons and let them go. I say yes, to a wabi-sabi way of life. Today I am grateful I have "7" clocks to set ahead tonight.......oh yes, and a watch.

Special Day

Today was a special day for me. My second to the youngest grandchild came in fromVernal to spend the day with me and his aunt Karrie. Kennedy's family moved to Vernal four years ago and took Kennedy, but I don't think his heart went with him.........he gets very lonesome for his gram and the Cook family with fun cousins. He is a beautiful blond, blue eyed little boy. Well not too little, he is as tall as his grandma. He will be 12 years old next month, so was 8 when they moved. The two older brothers settled right in, but Kennedy is still working on it. His Dad gave him money and told him to take Aunt Karrie and I to lunch. We let him choose. We figured it would be McDonalds, but they have one in Vernal, so he choose "Hot Dog on a Stick". After eating at the mall, he wanted to shop, so off to the game store. He fell in love with a Sponge Bob Wii game, so we bought it for him for next months birthday...........we got lots of smiles, and thank yous. Life isn't very easy for Ken. He has a learning disability and stutters, which makes life a little tough at times. Sometimes a little TLC and special time with the ones that love you lots goes a long ways. Besides we all know "It takes a family.......grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins etc........ to raise a child." Kar and I wrote down our phone numbers and told him to call us whenever he got lonesome. It really made Grams Day great, I hope it made Kennedy's day great too. I also hope we have lots more special days together as he grows up.

BAGS

Every woman loves a new purse! My twin daughters, Sherrie and Karrie are "bag ladies", so to speak. It all started when they went to a expo in Las Vegas and saw some purses they liked. They got a better deal on them if they bought a hundred dollars worth, so they did. With the extras they came back and had a purse party for their friends. It was such a big hit, they now go back to market a couple of times a year on a buying trip. They show them at boutiques, purse parties, and have a line at a local hair salon. People knock on the door to get a birthday present, mother's days present, Christmas present and the family love having firsts on their shipments. Now days purses come in every color, size and shape. People of all sizes, shapes and tastes can always find the perfect purse for any occasion. In my early years of life, I had a medium sized black purse for Fall and Winter. Then about Easter time I got a white purse for Spring and Summer. Life was so simple then, choices in my price range was easy. Now I wish you would see what I am carrying! The girls insist I keep up with new trends and "advertise" for them. I have really stepped out of the box and my latest is a BIG bag, beige, covered in ruffles, you know I really like it and get all kinds of compliments on it! What am I grateful for today? I have these sweet girls, who aren't letting their mother become an old fuddy-duddy.

Just Reframe It.

All of life seems to be about ying or yang.........Good or bad, right or wrong. You get a challenge and you answer it. We learn early in life, our life is not all sunshine and roses, and we need some bad along with the good to appreciate good....I learned in my NLP course you can fix many things by reframing them so when an angry person calls you the B---- word, just reframe it! In your mind say: Yes I am a Babe---In---Total---Control of---Herself, or I am Beautiful---Intelligent---Talented---Charming---Hell of a woman, or Beautiful---Individual---That---Can--- Handle anything. I think I like the last one best. Smile back at the person and say you are right....there goes their anger. Every time I start to feel like a victim I think, what can I do to reframe this situation? On a cold, cloudy, stormy day.....don't moan, reframe. Just think I have a warm house, a cupboard full of food and a tv. Enjoy the day, tomorrow the sun will shine. So I will try and always remember, reframe, reframe, reframe. You can put a plain old black frame around the problem, or and old fashion ornate frame or a gold eye catching frame. You choose. "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, It's about learning to dance in the rain." CTR......Choose the Right. Today I am grateful to have the freedom to choose what is best for me.

One Pair of Hands

Glen Campbell sang a song that really hit my heart entitled "One Pair of Hands."

One pair of hands built the mountains, one pair of hands formed the sea. And one pair of hands made the sun and the moon, every bird, every flower, every tree. One pair of hands formed the valleys, the ocean, the rivers and the sand. His hands are so strong, so when life goes wrong, put your faith in one pair of hands...............yes one pair of hands! WOW.

Just the power of this thought says how can anyone doubt the wonderful things God does and can do. It has made me value my hands as a wonderful possession and gift from God. I pray that I can always use my hands for good things, like helping others. My mother, Hazel Yeomans wrote a poem many years ago about her hands that just about says it all:

My Hands.......A million times a day, I thank you God, they're made this way.

They're large, but being large they do, the many things I want them to.

They help to cook and sew and bake, they're not too nice to hoe and rake.

They wash the clothes and hang them up, bath a baby, then scrub a pup.

Pick up after a family, and yet...........they can play a rhapsody.

No, they're not white with nails of pink, but I wouldn't want that kind I think.

They are not idle lazy hands, content with wearing golden bands.

My hands don't boast of diamond rings, they're large hands.......meant for doing things.

I would suggest to everyone to make a list of just ONE day in your life of all the things you do that day with your pair of hands. I think that night in your prayers you would say, "thank you God for my hands."

I am grateful today: for my wonderful pair of hands.

Sad Day

"Nothing is forever"........and you have to believe that. Every family has good days and bad days and your always thankful when you have more good days than bad days. Well, this family had a bad day this week. Sherrie's six month old golden retreaver puppy, Zoie, was run over by her husband. He felt bad, she felt bad, the three boys felt bad, and of course so did the rest of our family. Zoie was a precious, busy, beautiful puppy from Sherrie's twin sisters litter of 10 puppies. We all felt like they were all ours. Very few of us get through life without such a tradegy with one of our pets. I have been there done that, when my precious minature yorkie, Mr. Maxx, was run over and killed when he got out of my daughters back yard. I have also had to take two wonderful pets into the vet to be put down, which is just as hard. Lots of tears! We know they are all happy in Doggie Heaven. I have ordered a better week for all of us starting tomorrow.

I am greatful for: all the happy times and memories our pets have given us.

Mom liked you Best.

I'm the short one next to my father. The oldest of four girls and finally a baby brother. I was about 19 here, Joan 16.....tall and slender. Dixie Lee 11, Leslie Ruth 9 and Jimmy Dick 6. A fun and happy family. My mother was from Mancos, Colorado and my father from Prescott, Arizona. They settled in Mancos on the old Wetheral Ranch, the people that discovered Mesa Verde National Park. Later we moved to town in the big white house on the corner. As I grew up we all thought and expressed regularly and vocally, "Mother likes you best!" This mother had the nack of making each one of us feel very important and special. Down deep we knew she loved us all the same, but could not help accuse her of having favorites........pleasssssssse can I? Go ask your father. Poor Dad got drug into our arguments and they usually came to a unanimous agreement of yes or no. I wouldn't trade those growing up days for anything in the world. What a learning experience and I loved my family dearly. I still do many years later, I am sad to say my parents and two of my little sisters are no longer with us, but the memories I have carry me on. So if you hear this over and over from your kids, or feel it in your heart about your family, at least you know your not alone. STILL......i think Mom liked me best!!!!!!!

I'm a Joiner

I have always joined every club that would have me I think. In High School there were the usual Cheering Club, Choral group, Spanish Club and the Rainbow Girls. On into college and the soriety thing, dance club etc. When I got married I was tied down with a baby and for a few years didn't join as much. I did belong to the National Guard Wives and a couple of night bridge clubs. We always traveled and I soon become obsessed with getting to 100 countries in the world so I could belong to the "100 Countries Country Club." I made it by the time I was 70 and have since added another 20 or so. But probably the club I am most proud of is: "The Mother's of Twins Club..........where God picks the members!" Quit exclusive and not everyone can belong. My twin girls Sherrie and Karrie are identical, even mirror imagine twins. Sher is right handed, Kar is left handed, so when they face each other they are using the same hand. I don't attend meetings any more as they both have families of their own.........I still belong. I joined a knitting club. "Witty Knitters", A prayer shawl ministry group who knit shawls for those in need of them. A group that have traveled round the world together and the special coffee club bunch. I was in an investment group, but quit when they kept losing money. Belonged to a book club, but they readfaster than I do and I was always behind! A friend and I started a "Red Hat Group" at the local Senior Citizen Center, but my red hat wore out. Guess I am a joiner and a quitter of clubs, but met many nice people and have lots of fun memories. Today I am grateful for my sweet family who take very good care of me.

March

Been waiting all day for March to come in like a Lion, but its sunny, warm, about 50 degrees so I guess the Lamb won out! I just feel happy and smiling today. I find a challenge in the things that move me through the many floors of my life! Like they say "The past is over---wipe the dirt off your feet." As soon as I master the challenge, I am ready for the next challenge. I learned to type, then I learned short-hand ( I know, what's that?) On to knitting argyle sox's for my boy friend, but by the time I finally mastered that challenge, I had been through many, many, many boy friends before I finally finished them. Next crocheting....I made a real Afghan. I learned to sew, everything from Halloween costumes, to prom dresses , always made two alike when the twins were little. Made one of the girls a wedding dress. Too many quilts to count. Easter dresses and dance costumes for the grandchildren. SOOOO give me a challenge and I will sew it. I write, make jewelry, draw, paint , play bridge, which is one of the biggest challenges I've ever faced and still am facing........I will not give up. I danced, play the piano, skied, swam, ice skated, bowled, water skied. I even learned to cut men's hair because we were so poor when we got married. In the 30 years we were married my husband seldom went to a REAL barber, and it seemed there were always others wanting a cut or trim. Hey, the price was right so they never complained. I took the Real Estate course and passed, but that wasn't for me. Yes, I am always up to a new challenge.........like learning to work the computer, email, cell phone, blog, text......this modern world is killing me! One challenge I am still working on.......cooking! Oh well, nobodies perfect. I'm grateful today for the nice weather..........finally.