Stillborn by Merrijane Barton Rice

Merrijane was a favorite BYU roommate. She was talented then, now she wins big writing contests like Mormon LitzBlitz with this beautiful and poignant poem.


Stillborn
You were wanted,
not an accident.
Your first fluttering cells
set plans pulsing—
names, knitting, nursery colors,
universities.
Though two others came before,
I saved a part for you.

Sometimes a heart stops beating
and dreams bleed free
in a slow, red river
of barren pain.
No healing prayers,
no reasons sought,
none given.
Just one of those things.
But it wasn’t an accident.
You were wanted
elsewhere.

Indian Bride & Groom...

Custom Wedding Cake Toppers by...

Hand Painted Love Boxes

The Actual Cake...

I love this picture. I've only been able to see my cake toppers ON the actual cake a couple of times... Thank you so much Rachel..

(Photograph by Christi Baker Photography)

Custom Wedding Cake Toppers by...

Hand Painted Love Boxes

Traditional Japanese Bride & Groom Shiromuku Kokeshi

traditional Japanese Bride & Groom Shiromuku Kokeshi wedding cake toppers by...

Hand Painted Love Boxes

Alexandra Stoddard & Peter Megargee Brown

I painted these dolls for two people I really admire.

Happy 90th Birthday Peter! May heaven's best blessings be yours...

The Train

I picked this up at the library yesterday and we watched it last night. The film is losely based on actual events that occured in the days just before the Allied invasion of France. Any film that honors the courage of the French Resistance is usually a film I want to see. This one is a little disappointing in the script which could have been tighter.. yet I really found it quite gripping even though it's lengthy as well. I think this is a classic to see. And, this is a drama you can invite the husband to watch with you.

Sleeping Beauty

Dolly, Cake Topper, Party Favor

Hand Painted Love Boxes

Don't Carry It All

Cover of Don't Carry It All by Lindsey Stirling and Shaun Barrowes

Peanut Butter Cookies

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup fresh ground whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar, firmly packed

1 1/4 cups white sugar

1 cup butter salted

3 large eggs

1 tsp good Mexican Vanilla

1 cup Adam's Crunchy peanut butter

Bake at 375 for 9 minutes

Surprise!!! GIVEAWAY!!!

$100 Credit to Love Boxes Shop for or toward any item you would like... 

Enter at...
Darling Belle Events

Everyone welcome to enter.

Easter 1974

Robert Todd & Tiffany 1974

Poor Man's Lasagna

This is the original recipe.. which is great.. I made a few changes which is why I've reposted it here.



Poor Man’s Lasagna

• 16 oz penne pasta
• 1 lb hamburger
• 16 oz cottage cheese
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 jar spaghetti sauce (24 oz)
• shredded cheese
• 1 yellow onion chopped
• Johnny's Seasoning Salt

Boil the pasta according to instructions on packaging. Drain the pasta and return it to the pan. While the pasta is still warm, I like to add the cream cheese and cottage cheese to the pan with the pasta. Stir together until well mixed.
Brown the ground meat & chopped onion. I usually add a little Johnny's seasoning . Drain the meat.
Layer a 9×13 pan with pasta mixture, meat, and pasta sauce. Repeat. Add shredded cheddar cheese on top. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.
If there are a lot of leftovers, I often freeze them for a later time. You could also freeze it before baking and it would make a great freezer meal.

Downton Abbey...

I'm obsessed. My shelter friends were discussing this and I hadn't even heard of it. When I looked it up and found the Elizabeth McGovern was starring as Lady Cora... I bought the first season and gobbled it up.. and then went to Costco and gobbled up the second season like a novel that you can't put down. I tried folding laundry, but you really can't take your eyes of the screen.. so that didn't work.
What will happen to Mr. Bates and his faithful wife? Will Matthew and Lady Mary ever make it work? What will happen to Downton in the new age? Lady Sybil and the chauffeur? I can't wait to find out.

Maggie Smith is so brilliant. I love watching her roll her eyes, plot, manipulate and act all tough.. we know she's a marshmallow on the inside. Love it...

Downton Abbey

Don't miss.

Little Dorrit...

This was one that I missed when it aired on PBS... Goodness. This adaptation is brilliant and all family members but one are obsessed. I should buy it though. I hate how everything from Netflix comes scratched.. Netflix is on my list this week.

The Secret World of Arrietty...

I have to say that this film moved a little slow. However, my children were mesmerized by it... they barely blinked. TRAILER HERE..

Lunch for my Valentines...

I have been waiting all month to have a lunch for my Valentines.. today was finally the day and even though there was small water issue and the disposal broke and a few other mishaps.. It mostly came together.. I did leave the broccoli in the steamer for the second time it did not make it to the table.. I'm done with broccoli..

Happy Valentine's Day... We're celebrating all month :)

George Washington... Happy President's Day!

George Washington...

Hand Painted Love Boxes

No Man has a more perfect Reliance on teh alwise, and powerful dispensations of the Supreme Being than I have nor thinks his aid more necessary.

~George Washington to William Gordon, May 13, 1776.

Alicia's Cute Family...

Have your custom family painted...

Hand Painted Love Boxes

Bell Jar...

Thanks to Michelle for showing me this fun way to display

Love Boxes Portrait Peg Dolls...

It will be nice to release all thoughts of Bell Jars from Sylvia Plath.. thank you very much.

Shelter

This above are photos of Jen's brilliant President's Day Lunch.. the only President's Day lunch I've ever been to.. but I hope there will be many more. Thank you Jen! It was a perfect day. (Fabulous photos courtesy of Jennie Dopp.. Thank you Jennie!)

Friendship is a sheltering tree... ~Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Most of us don't need a psychiatric therapist as much as a friend to be silly with. 

~Robert Brault