A House of a Different Color...

These will both be available today in the Love Boxes Etsy Shop...

Thoughts on Faith...

Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings while the dawn is still dark. ~Rabindranath Tagore

I think faith must be part of the learning requirement to pass through this life. We are born not really mobile, we must learn to roll over, sit, stand and walk independantly. As a new mother, watching my child learn to do these things was very moving to me. She fell all the time learning to walk, but there was never a hint of discouragement, she had faith that she could do it.

When we marry someone, we walk into the unknown... we must have faith in ourselves and faith in our mate and we must remain faithful... part of faith is loyalty.

When we try to overcome those things that set us back and keep us down, we must have faith. I love this verse from Ether 12:27..."And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then I will make weak things become strong unto them."

Emily Dickenson spoke of faith in this way...

I never saw a moor, I never saw the sea;

Yet know I how the heather looks, And what a wave must be.
I never spoke with God, Nor visited in heaven;

Yet certain am I of the spot As if the chart were given.

There is one other bit of wisdom on faith that I truly love... There is a little speech given from uncle to nephew in the movie Secondhand Lions, that goes like this:

"Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things a man needs to believe in the most. That people are basically good. That honor, courage and virtue mean everything ; that power and money ... money and power mean nothing. That good always triumphs over evil. And I want you to remember this.... that love....true love never dies ! Remember that boy ... remember that. Doesn't matter if it is true or not, a man should believe in those things , because those are the things worth believing in...... got that ? "

Faith is, in my opinion, a spiritual gift, but it is also a choice. In the book of Malachi the Lord says, "...prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Can that be anything but an invitation to choose faith?

Whether choosing to put faith in a person or a church or in diety..to put faith in the things, people and doctrines that are worth the effort, worth the sacrifices, worth the patience required seems like wisdom to me.

*not my image above

7 Wierd Things About Me...

I was tagged by Dolly... Hi Dolly!!!

1. I love sharpie pens... oh how lovely they are.

2. I am obsessed with bright colors... brown makes me a little sad.

3. According to C, I share a strange undocumented sign language with my family that few others can comprehend. (he's learning)

4. I try not to buy books, I try to go to the library a lot... but I cannot help my-self.

5. Books on tape from the library are one of life's greatest things... how wonderful to have someone to read you a story...

6. I get car sick, if I'm not the person driving.

7. The cute little furry pet that you likely have... yes, I'm terrified of it. If a sweet kittycat or even a cute little doggy rubs against my leg, I am likely to climb the wall boards with my finger nails.. Due to allergies I think. I often have nightmares where cute fuzzy creatures try to get me. It's very embarassing.

I am supposed to tag seven people so I tag... Rachel and Aunt Jackie, Shelese and Jenni and Janice and Natalie and Lindsey...

May Flowers...

May is here and that gets me to thinking of May flowers. Little c told me a joke yesterday... what do April showers bring.... May flowers.... what do May flowers bring.... pilgrims... ha! ha!

I really enjoy all the books of Barbara Milo Ohrbach, but since I adore quotes... I love these tiny gift books she does best of all.

"Lastly, love your flowers. By some subtle sense the dear things always detect their friends, and for them they will live longer and bloom more freely than they ever will for a stranger."

Julia S. Berrall

"Die when I may, I want it said of me by those who know me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow." Abraham Lincoln

"Green fingers are the extensions of a verdant heart." Russell Page

Alexandra...

The May Newsletter is posted! See it here.

Mo...

Bidding on The General Lee is only up to 2,302,100.00.... just thought you might like to know in case you want to get a bid in. :)

I love a Big Salad...

Elaine: They have big salads.
George: I've never seen a big salad.
Elaine: They have a big salad.
George: Is that what I ask for? The BIG salad?
Elaine: It's okay, you don't…
George: No, no, Hey I'll get it. What's in the BIG salad?
Jerry: Big lettuce, big carrots, tomatoes like volleyballs.

Thanks to the character of Elaine Benes (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus), restaurants everywhere have got the idea that the BIG Salad is dear to the culinary heart of every woman, (it is ... right people?!?) We have some really great big salads around here. I love the sweet pork salad at Costa Vida and the Grilled Lime Chicken Bajio Salad at Bajio. If I have to make it myself, I like to make this BBQ Chicken salad. If you want the recipe... you slow cook some chicken breasts in your favorite BBQ Sauce and shred the chicken once it's cooked and then put whatever you like with it... or in my case, whatever I have on hand. It can be fancier with some corn strips, and drizzled BBQ sauce on top of the whole. I like making a pastry bag by snipping the corner of a baggie, or you can just pile the stuff on and eat it.

I have 2 big salad recipes that I make quite frequently. My family is so over them. But, I like them both because it seems like a lot of food, but calorie wise it is really is not. I always use a low-fat buttermilk based dressing and low-fat cheese on the top and then chicken... after that the rest is vegetable material.

The thing is... I wanted a Big Salad bowl. Putting your Big Salad on a plate is no good and I always spill it that way. Finally after years of searching for the perfect Big Salad bowl, I found the one pictured above for five dollars at Kohls. Happiness. (I bought 3 of them, but have mostly used just one... people around here say... "Um.. can I just have my chicken and a little salad on the side.." They don't get the whole.. "Big Salad" thing.

Frontline... The Mormons.

The photo on the right is one of film maker Helen Whitney whose documentary film in cooperation with the program Frontline aired last night on PBS. She is quoted in the Deseret Morning News in an interview with Scott Pierce as saying, "I hope that most of the stereotypes — ideally, all of them — will be blown away. Because so many of them are just based on ignorance. Ignorance about Mormon history, ignorance about Mormon theology. Ignorance."

Last night was just the first two hours of the program, but I was personally very dissapointed in most of it. Atleast Whitney tried to get the idea out that Mormons are not currently practicing polygamy. Polygamy was practiced for about forty years of the church's 200 year history. And then, by only about five percent of the members. Still, she spent quite some time interviewing a polygimist family who are not Mormons. People could get the wrong idea.

While the program tried to show the history of the western migration of the church and it did touch lightly on some important points, I thought it fell short there. In a nutshell, the Mormons had built three different and beautiful, clean and lively communities in three different states. They were driven by persecution from each one. By persecution, I don't mean hassled.. I mean tarred and feathered, murderered, raped and had their property stolen from them. Governor Boggs of the state of Missouri had issued an extermination order against them. Much of the problem the Mormons had in Missouri had to do with slavery. The divisions in the country concerning slavery were rising to a fever pitch. Mormons were against slavery and voted as a block. Those who killed Mormons were not to be and were not prosecuted. Mormons built the lovely city of Nauvoo Illinois out of a mosquito infested swamp land into a city that rivaled the city of Chicago in size and surpassed it in beauty. The prophet and his brother were murdered and the Mormons again had to leave a beautiful place that they loved to go out into the wilderness again where they contracted horrible sickness and starved and froze to death by the hundreds.

I don't know if we can, but try to imagine their anxiety, as they had settled in Salt Lake, and as they had once again begun to build a beautiful city... they recieve news that Johnson's Army sent by President Buchanan is coming to occupy the city.

All of those things are documented in journals and records that have been carefully preserved. I would have like to have had some of the experiences of these amazing people told in their own words.

I understand that we are talking about trying to cover 200 years worth of history in four hours, really a daunting and truly impossible task. And, I understand that there will be loud voices clamoring from both sides to have their views heard. Maybe it will be a starting place for those who are curious to learn about the history of the Mormon Church. While the members of the church are not and never have been a perfect people, there are so many stories and lessons of courage, strength, sacrifice and faith in the history of the church.

In my own family history, I had an ancestor who owned a farm outright in Denmank. She lived in wealth and comfort. She left it all and came to join her faith in Utah. C has an ancestor who carried her little brother on her back a thousand miles across the plains. Why? Becaused they believed. To me, that kind of faith is a sacred and beautiful thing and that above all was not covered in this program.

Still, I'll be watching tonight.

And the winner is...

And the winner is...

Ellie!

Congratulations!

Monday Giveaway!!!

The little blue birdie is back with a giveaway today! The giveaway is a box of my original spring photograph cards, signed and dated and this large size pink rose box. The quote inside the box is one of my favorite Emily Dickinson quotes... "Who has not found the heaven below will fail of it above. God's residence is next to mine, his furniture is love..." Emily Dickinson.

Details about my boxes and notecards and other little things can be found in the Love Boxes Etsy Shop.

As before, any little comment on this post will enter you in Fridays drawing, which will end at Midnight EST. You are welcome to enter as soon as this is posted & and everyone is welcome to enter so if you'd like to tell a friend.. no need to ask permission. I would love it!
Good Luck to Everyone!

Niki's Artichoke Dip Recipe...

Niki has brought this to a lot of fun parties with neighborhood friends, and now that I've made it, I really need to thank her because not only is it really delish... it's also kinda expensive to make. But make it you should because it is soooooooooo good.


1 80z can non-marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonaise
8 oz. cream cheese softened
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 clove garlic minced
dill weed to taste

Mix together all ingredients except artichoke hearts and beat until smooth. Add artichoke hearts, place in greased pie or quiche pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 min. and serve with the Tostitos Flour Tortilla Chips in the post below.

**Notes... Niki says the dill is optional. We had dill in ours and it was great. She also said that greasing the pan could be over-kill. We did not grease the pan and it was great. Lilli made mention that water chesnuts might be delish in the dish, Niki thought so too. We did not have any water chesnuts on hand, but we are trying that next time. Niki actually makes hers in a really shallow tart pan, which looks very cute when she brings it to parties. I was bugged that I couldn't find a tart pan as cute as hers; mine is some kind of casserole dish, but it was still great! Did I say it was great? It was great!

Just a couple of little things...

I got the Artichoke Dip recipe from Niki and I am going to make it and show everyone tomorrow or Monday. I don't know if any of you follow Father Jonathan Morris, C reads his posts regularly and often shares them. I found this one interesting. Lastly, be watching Monday... there is going to be a Mother's Day Giveaway.... also don't forget to sign up for Michelle's giveaway if you haven't already. I have one of those cute elephants and I adore it! Thanks Michelle!

Pink Tulips...

When we experience enthusiasm, we feel a new kind of freedom that can profoundly change our personality. There is an awakening, a light that transcends our consciousness. This mysterious force is a god within. This gift is given to human beings, inspiring us to create a life of significance. Live and celebrate in appreciation of this motivating inner force, this effervescent blessing. Enthusiasm urges us onward and upward. Open, receptive, aware of the highest and finest within us, we "dance to a mysterious tune" that is uniquely ours.

Alexandra Stoddard from her book Time Alive

Tostitos Flour Tortilla Chips... or how I don't get out much...

Just let me ask you now to forgive the next few posts. I sit in my little studio for lots of days and when I finally get out, I get quite excited about some of the silly things I see. This is one of them. We had a few last night with our Taco Salad. They were really delish, but I was thinking what would really be great with them is my friend Niki's Artichoke Dip. MMMMmmmmm.

Purple Pens...

OK... this post should have gone after the next one instead of before, but this is the other really fun thing that I found at Target. Why do I get really excited about purple pens? Who knows really... :)

Circo Bermuda Short...

I had such a difficult time finding age appropriate summer clothing last year for little c. I was so happy when we found these darling girls shorts shopping yesterday. Target has them in khaki, white and denim. They fall just just above the knee and come with the all important adjustable waist. See them here. They cost $9.99 per pair.

More Mother's Day...

Sorry, it took awhile for me to get this box in the shop.. I kinda forgot. It actually has one of my favorite Mother quotes ever... "I remember my mother's prayers...they have clung to me all my life... Abraham Lincoln" See it in The Love Boxes Etsy Shop.

Giveaway at Michelle's!!!

Don't miss. You can get there from here! She also has a fun Etsy shop... visit her shop here.

Big Stone Gap... And Book Club...

Big Stone Gap is just a really fun read. I love Adriana's style and her characters are all so three dimensional they seem like real people, even the minor characters. This is the third Adriana Trigiani book that I have read. I also have read Queen of the Big Time and Lucia, Lucia... I recommend those as well.

I have recognized a common theme in all three of these books. She explores the idea that there may be just "one true love" for each person. Not all of these books turn out happily ever after, so some of the "true loves" are the ones that got away. I'm a romantic and so I love this idea. What do you all think?

Book club was delicious! We have a very bright group and so the discussion is always really fun. Then, Katherina's home was so beautiful. Pale yellow paint with blonde floors and beautiful bright blue and yellow Spode plates decorating the walls. It was like taking a happy vacation to sit around in all that pretty.

She also made us Shirley Temples in beautiful champagne flutes and we had Chocolate Coca Cola Cake.... which we ate with little antique silver and ivory forks and the cake was amazingly fabulous! A grand evening indeed!

Adriana has a fun website, if you are interested see it here.

Busy Day...

I am hoping to make a dent in these and a dent in my voluminous piles of laundry and read the last third of Big Stone Gap for book club tonight... that is a really fun book!