Spring is almost here give away

OK, it’s officially still winter, but tell that to my Daffodils! They’ve had just enough warmth to spring out of the ground and give me encouragement. Spring is just around the corner. To celebrate a new season (coming soon), the winner of this give away will receive a nice assortment of spring bulbs—a nice mix of Daffodils, Tulips and perhaps some Hyacinths. Some can actually be planted now and others may need to wait until fall. Make a comment and tell me your favorite spring flower. Give away ends Saturday, March 5th at midnight (EST).

These pictures were taken during a thunderstorm with a tornado warning.

Nothing is going to stop Spring from arriving.

The gift of self

OK, this is the last post about the year of turning 64. I made a very mild request to my son-in-law, Allen, to sing the Beatles' song "When I'm 64" to me for my birthday. But that's kind of a big request, especially since Allen wasn't familiar with the song and I honestly didn't expect it to happen. So when we were all gathered and after opening gifts, I was totally surprised to see Allen bring out his guitar from the closet and sing "When I'm 64." All my sons-in-law are great! But I just wanted to say thank you on my blog for this gift of self from Allen to me.

I took this picture to remember the event:

:

He still loves me..........

A week later and he still loves me. Hope everyone had a very Happy Valentine's Day!

Turning 64 -- will you still love me?

My daughters took me out to lunch to celebrate 64 years!

When my husband turned 64 seven years ago, I pulled out the Beatle sheet music “When I’m 64” and played it for him singing every word—over and over. I so enjoyed it, that I was excited to be turning 64 this year and renew the song. Of course, it’s really a man that should be singing it his true love, but here I am singing it to Russ again.......all week as I celebrate 64 years.

“When I’m 64” trivia:

It was written by Paul McCartney (but co-credited to John Lennon) and released in 1967 on their album “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” I love that it was released in the year that I was married to my true love. I like this version of it.

It actually is supposed to be a younger person singing about years later when he turns 64, but I find it just as appropriate to sing it when one is actually 64.

McCartney wrote it when he was only about 16 years old. Amazing! Supposedly he put lyrics to it in honor of his father’s 64th birthday some time later.

Julian Lennon, John’s son, recorded a version of this that was used in 2002 commercials for Allstate insurance. If you want to hear Julian’s version go here.

It was used in the Robin Williams movie “The World According to Garp.”

I’ve always been a Beatle fan. My teen-hood was during their most popular years. So this week I’ve turned 64 and it feels good and Russ still loves me!

A bed is a bed is a bed

Lori’s blog inspired to me post about another “bed” in the family. This one is about 40 years old and still in use. (frame, bed, mattress, and box springs—all original) It was purchased in 1970 for the then 20-month old Troy. His sister, Lisa, was due to be born and needed his crib. To guarantee that Troy wouldn’t fall out of the new big-boy bed, we put it in the corner of the room with the head board opposite the end wall, and then used a side rail. It worked great.

When Julie came along, Lisa graduated to the twin bed. And it continued down the line: Julie, Joel, Brad, Lori. Disclosure: Lori, being the baby of the family happily stayed in the crib until she was approximately 3 ½ years old. We just put the side to the crib down and it looked kind of like a day-bed. But once Lori graduated to the bed, she stayed with it well into her teen years. We did change out the head board to make it more “teen-ish.”

Lori - 1987

1981 - Walnut Creek - Brad leaps to the "bed"----------------1984 - Lori in her new big-girl bed

And then there were grandchidren----When Lori moved on to a queen-sized bed, our sweet original bed became the grandchildren’s bed and continues in use today, as demonstrated by Lydia and Afton.

We have no plans of putting this bed out on the curb. Great-grandchildren, it will be right here for you.

Original tags still in place; spots and stains from 40+ good years of use



Note: The mattress stains are covered with a good mattress pad, as well as a comfy egg-carton and we’ve heard no complaints from the grandchildren.

It's a Wonderful Life

We are blessed: Christmas in Tennessee and Christmas in Utah.

We had to let a few traditions go in Knoxville, but went with the most important: The Christmas Pageant, held early before we left on the 16th of December. We are so impressed with the participants. They get better and better every year. Trey took the part of the donkey for the first time this year. That’s a sign of his growing up. He turned 18 this month. Then we packed our suitcases and headed west.

Having never been away from home on Christmas, we flew out to Utah with a little apprehension, but our sons and their families made us feel like it was the most natural thing in the world to spend Christmas with them! We split our time between Lehi and Provo. At both homes we had our own private bedrooms, fantastic meals and more treats than we could count. Christmas stockings were even provided for us at both homes.

Here’s a rundown on our Christmas festivities in Utah—that accompany the pictures:

Seeing the lights and nativities on Temple Square
Going on the “Christmas Candlelight” Tour of This Is the Place Pioneer Village
Seeing Andrew in his school Christmas program
Attending the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and David Archuleta Christmas Concert at a special simulcast in the Tabernacle
Watching the Lehi grandsons while Joel and Jenica had a little two-day vacation
Touring Welfare Square with Joel and Jenica’s family
Watching the Provo grandsons while Brad and Susan went shopping and to the movies
Attending the Carl Bloch art exhibit at Brigham Young University
Enjoying two fresh snowfalls - one being at least 10 inches
Seeing the old Provo Tabernacle after the fire
Seeing Brad and Susan’s new home for the first time
Seeing new furnishing at Joel and Jenica’s home
Participating in a second Christmas Pageant with the Lehi and Provo grandsons who were also excellent participants
Christmas Eve dinner at J&J’s and Christmas Eve Advent at B&S’s
Watching the both families open their gifts Christmas morning
Christmas Day brunch and dinner at B&S’s
Many a night of getting all together either in Provo or Lehi with the families
Visiting other friends and relatives: Russ’s sisters and families, my brother Randy and his family, Cara, Will, and Lincoln (all are doing well after a very scary year), Sue and Ramon Sanft, lunching with Sue and Shahara, and visiting with DeeAnne (Barker) Higley after not seeing her for 40+ years.

We did get stuck overnight in Cincinnati on our return flight, but we had a great time and agree: “It’s a wonderful life”


View from "The Plaza" -----------------Posing after Andrew's Christmas program
at Temple Square ----------------------Both sets of grandparents


Touring Welfare Square in SLC with the Lehi Barbers (and Jonah's friend Jake)


Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!

Temple Square Lights



Cara, Lincoln, and Will at their new home....................Sharlene with Sam and Andrew

Lehi Barber family and Provo Barber family touring the "Candlelight Christmas"

Christmas Pageant in Knoxville, TN

Christmas Pageant in Lehi, UT

Three things leading to Christmas........

(1)Thanksgiving marks the beginning of a month-long celebration of family and all that is good. Some of our Thanksgiving traditions were started long ago when as I child I went with my family to my Uncle Howard and Aunt Rae’s home for Thanksgiving every year. Uncles, Aunts, cousins, and our Grandma and Grandpa Brown would all be there, too. Our numbers usually reached 40+.

Some traditions that carry on are the basketball free-throw shoot out, with hard cash being the prize for the winner in all three categories: Woman, children, and men. To see pictures of the winners, go to Lisa’s blog. The other Brown tradition is the family talent show.





(2)"Fiddler on the Roof" and a trip to Market Square in downtown Knoxville. We went with Julie, Allen, Lisa, and David. We first browsed the open market shops and looked in on the ice skating in the center of Market Square. Next came a yummy dinner at Café 4. But the main event was the stage production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” We had great seats and the production was flawless.

Dinner at Cafe 4-----------------------By the lights on Market Square

(3)Empty-nesters Christmas dinner. We hosted and think it went well. Good times; good friends. After dinner, a rousing round of “White Elephant” gift exchange took place. And so now it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas---we had tiny little flakes of snow that gathered for a nano-second on our decking.

Snow (?) arrived the morning of December 7