Happy 10th Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary Rebecca and Jason!

Wedding at St. Mark Presbyterian Church.

Leah, Dave, Rebecca, Jason, Me, Rachel

The Wedding Party

Leaving the church with bubbles instead of rice. Best wishes!

Happy Blog-versary to Me!

One year ago, I started writing my blog. My first blog was about my early television viewing: Howdy Doody in particular. Click here. I haven't written another blog on television. . . .until today.

Every year, I get hooked on a television show which is a curse for the show---they get cancelled. This past year, I really liked Life on Mars and Eli Stone. They were way too good to be cancelled.

Eli Stone reminded me a lot of Joan of Arcadia, another favorite of mine---funny, great cast and both main characters talk to God on a regular basis. Eli's father was played by Tom Cavanagh who starred in another favorite, but cancelled show Ed. Ed was a lawyer who went back to his hometown and operated a bowling alley/law practice---very funny.

Life on Mars is about a man who suddenly finds himself in 1973. Sam Tyler is a police officer with Harvey Keitel portraying his boss and Gretchen Moll as a female police officer. Sam Tyler knows he doesn't belong in 1973, but doesn't know how to get back to the present. It's an adaptation of a British show which I've also seen, but I liked the American version much better.

OK, I like quirky television---I call it creative, imaginative television.

Our license has expired. . .

Around 20 years ago, Dave surprised us all when he drove home from the license office with this license plate. Vanity plates had just been introduced---this was as much a surprise to me as it was to the girls.

A few years later, we added another plate. Rebecca and Rachel had pledge Tri-Delta. Not wanting to put pressure on Leah, I decided I was the third Tri-Delt.



In 2003, when all of the girls were out of college, we gave up the 3-DLTAS license plate, but not until our new neighbors saw it before they moved in and declared that Molly had been a Tri-Delta at Delta State.We are at the end of an era. The three daughters are all long-gone, married with families of their own. It was time for us to give up our last vanity plate. So, we have two generic cars (if you can call a green turbo Beetle "generic")
When we cleaned out Mom and Dad's house, we found this license plate. When I was in college, we only needed one license plate on the rear of our cars, so people purchased "vanity plates" to place on the front. I was a little sad when Mom and Dad removed this from our car as I'm sure my girls will be when they learn we no longer have vanity plates.

The 19th Wife: A novel

A group at church is reading this book for an August book club. Since I've vowed not to buy any books, I'm at the mercy of friends or the county library. Well, the book came in just as I finished June's book--The Guersey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

Having been to Nauvoo, IL last fall, this book put people in that abandoned village. Although this is billed as a historical novel, it is based on the autobiographical book written in the 1800's, Wife No. 19 by Ann Eliza Young, Brigham Young's 19th wife.

It's pretty unusual for a novel to have a list of sources, but the author David Ebershoff has a page and a half of sources below (double click to read them).

But, he also acknowledges that many of the "documents" were written by himself.
Like the Guernsy. . .Society novel, this novel has a variety of "voices" One voice is Jordan Scott, a gay young man in the present who is investigating the death of his father in order to save his mother,"the 19th wife" of polygamous family in Utah. She has been arrested for his father's death.At first, this was the most interesting story-line, but gradually Ann Eliza's story became very riveting---the story of an independent woman in the 19th century and how she became Brigham Young's wife. In every way it is central to the story even the one in the present. The events of her era are reverberating through Utah today. Not only did I learn a great deal about the early years of Mormonism, I learned about the culture and how it has evolved. Below is an excerpt from the Ann Eliza story.
Interspersed are "documents" which made the novel seem more authentic.
One of the saddest parts of the story was finding that no one knows what happened to Ann Eliza---not even her own family although some suspect she was "quieted" by her brother and the rest of the "Firsts". That brings the story full circle back to the Jordan Scott story-line which is about the "Firsts" who live today on the Utah and Arizona border.

Happy Birthday, Elijah James!

Eli had a smaller birthday party this year in his back yard---the weather was perfect!
First, the children opened up their nature kits--magnifying glasses, nets to find creatures hidden around the yard.

Some needed a little parental help.
After the hunt and playing in the sand and water, it was time for the cake!

Yum, the cake and ice cream sundaes were delicious!
A little more play time. . .
Then, time to unwrap the presents.

And play with them. . .
A good time was had by all---parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, friends and children!

Eli at Amy's Wedding

The invitations are Bella by Karah.

Eli has spent two days with us while his mom, Leah, participated in a friend's wedding plans. His granddad Gregg took the evening shifts. Eli did so well. He only had one sad moment.

Right after this shot, Eli got sad and I took him outside for Plan B. I'm not sure if the flower girl crying or finally recognizing his mom, but that little lip started to quiver and we headed out.
Leah had found several playgrounds at the church and adjoining property. So, we went outside and played until it was time for us to head into the church.
We found our spot in the back of the church watching familiar faces walk in---sorority sisters of Leah's, Henry School people, Parkway West people. Leah has known Amy since around Kindergarten when they were on swim team together. Grade school, high school and college followed with them pledging the same sorority. Amy's mother Marilyn has been a friend of mine that long, too. We still see each other at Wellbridge, our fitness club.
I'm sorry I didn't get a better photo of Marilyn with her lovely pink halter dress---it was perfect for a July wedding.
Here's Kim who also was the vocalist at Amy's wedding (she was the vocalist at Rebecca's wedding, too)
And Eli's Mom Leah---thankfully he was busy taking his trains down the pew and didn't see her.
Here's Julie, Leah's friend since Junior High. They are both expecting babies within a week of one another and are hoping to room together one more time!
And, Catana---Leah's friend since Kindergarten who now lives in Chicago and who may be a distant cousin. . . I'm waiting to hear from you Catana!
Amy's neices and nephews---"Hey, Eli, look at the pretty girls. . . ."
"Aw, Grandma. . .aren't you supposed to be taking pictures of the bride?"
Adam and his lovely daughter Amy.
Shortly after this, Todd came to rescue Eli from Grandma. You'll have to go to Leah's blog who will hopefully have photos of all of the festivities.

Animals in my Yard

I don't really expect animal sightings in July---usually they stay in the underbrush to stay cool, but we've had an exceptionally kind July and the animals have been out during the day. I'm not sure what that crazy rabbit is eating---I have a whole yard full of grass and clover. . .unless this is spiteful eating. I did enclose my lettuce and beans in a raised garden surrounded by chickenwire. . .
I was very surprised when I moved a pine branch and saw something jump out. I thought it was a cicada, but it was the tiniest little toad.
Look at the size of the periwinkle (myrtle) leaf to see his size.

This morning I looked out my window and saw some movement---a tortoise (turtle). For the past week, I thought I'd seen one, but it always was just a large leaf. I even dreamed of one this past week (I've been thinking of them ever since I found my only large, ground level tomato had disappeared---I wondered if a turtle had done it)
Still no sightings on the deer. . .can't you see me running through the neighborhood in my PJ's trying to get a photo of that stag for my blog?