I'm Back!

Hi everyone! After a non-planned break from blogging I am back! I let a few weeks go by after the last post, and then it was easy to blame it on the holidays coming, then the recovery from the holidays, then I was tired...you know all of the excuses. I feel the need to keep my Time Travel Tuesdays going, I miss my Grandma Hamblin's story and I want to finish it! So come back on Tuesday for the next chapter! In the meantime, here are a few photos of life at the Little House on the Corner from recent months.

My adorable Grandson became acclimated to his new home in Minnesota and grew a furry coat to stay warm. He met his new Bishop for the first time at a fall ward gathering where the Bishop let him "drive" his tractor. Lucas now calls his new friend "Farmer Bishop"!

This cool guy got his first job and spends his time wondering why his Mom takes so many photos of him.

Some mornings I wake up to this. You're jealous, I know it!

Remember that dead bush from my last post? My men did, indeed dig it up for me, and Richard turned it into kindling. I love how he works in comfort!

There was pumpkin carving in October. Roxie helped.

Well, OK. Roxie chewed!

It's awesome to have grown children who will clean out their own pumpkins. I am SO over doing that!

For Thanksgiving we hosted Dee's nephew Robert, a good-looking Marine who came up from California to be with us. He's the blond with the Marine hair-cut, naturally! The dark-haired young man is Tyler, Sarah Faria's brother.

And there's my nephew Michael and his wife Sarah, with their sweet baby Nathan.

I love his adorable face!! I wish my sister could see her Grandbabies more often.

Dee and Robert took in a BYU basketball game. Don't you love those 1970's gold seats in the Marriott Center?

Miss Britt and her Provo Google Fiber team earned a trip to Google HQ and had a wonderful time!

 It's a Wonderland kind of place to work!

I taught myself a new skill in December. I learned to paper-piece quilt from You Tube and made a Christmas gift for Sarah, our Canadian daughter (!).

It's a little table runner. I had so much fun doing it and I already have my next project ready to go!

I was thrilled mid-December to get this photo text from Diana! It meant my kids were closer to getting here for the holidays! Sarah flew to Minneapolis and spent a few days with Diana, Nick, and Lucas. Then they all flew here to be with us!

Santa-Dee always wears his Cougar Santa hat all through December. It lives on our bedpost so he can wear it to swim practice some mornings.

Poor Rox was -ahem- in a ladie's way in December and we tried out these Velcro undies to keep her tidy! They worked, but she was not thrilled.

 We bought a little Christmas train this year and showed it to Lucas on Skype. He was excited to get here and play with Pa and the choo-choo!

I had a nice village all set up and the boy had fun putting Santa in the chimneys. I new it wouldn't last long, but I enjoyed it for a week or so before he got here!

We soon cleared the way for the men to have room to run the railroad. They had a blast! Notice the dinosaur in Pa's hand? It produced giggles from Lucas by chasing the train!

 I love how snugly this boy is. He melts my heart!

Christmas Eve day was fun. We all went to the Provo Rec Center and had a swimming party. What else would this family do?

Louie and Britt kept the fire stoked and had us all feeling toasty! I spy Roxie chewing her Greenie bone!

I'll share a few more photos later. I know you are on overload right now! I've got to jump into my Tardis and get some Time Travel going! See you next time!

Halloween Over, Bring on Thanksgiving!

I have never been so excited for a Thanksgiving in the Little House! Nick, Diana, and our Little Lucas are coming!! It's going to be a busy month. I feel the need to get the house ready for an irrepressible, perpetually moving/exploring little one year old! There is a lot to move and secure. Under the kitchen sink is a veritable poison stronghold! We are going to pull out some of Richard's old toys (yes, I still have them, don't mock!) and clean them up as well.

I between then and now I have a trip coming up myself. It's one that took me by surprise and I am so excited for it! I am going to Toronto to be with Dr. Sarah when she receives her Doctoral degree!! She has gone to school up there for 6 long years and we have never been able to go see her there. We found out just two weeks ago that everything checked out with her dissertation to put her in the November convocation. Many prayers were said for the funding to appear so that at least one of us could be there with her. It is really unbelievable how prayers are answered. I have my airline ticket ad am waiting anxiously for my passport to arrive. You pay through the nose for a rush order so they had better get it to me! I'll be gone for a week and be home on the 20th. Just in time to get Thanksgiving ready!

Halloween was her usual fun night with the help of my amazing kids. I am not much of a costume, decorate the outside of the house kind of gal. They do it every year and it is a lot of fun to see the end result. Nothing too fancy, but we got lots of compliments! Spooky music and blinking ghost light, spider webs and a growing skull in the candy bowl that some cute kid tries to take as a treat every year. Here's some of what went on this week:

We spent an evening at Cornbelly's. Lots of fun and only a little bit cold, maybe in the 40's.

Britt and Richard decided to climb the rock wall. Richard looks all spidery here!

B reached the top first ( her side was easier!)

Richard reaches the top!

  My two youngest went on a terrifying monster truck ride!

 Next came Dee and I. He's a scary driver!

 He made it all better with a smooch though!

We have to throw these in to gross-out the kids, you know!

Then we were off to watch the darling pig races! This is a favorite of mine. But that darn Dusty asked the crowd who had the prettiest Mom there. Rachel made the most noise and I got the prize for my beauty...I got to kiss a piglet!

It was a side/European type kiss so Little Piggy kissed me too!

Then later Dee kissed me in the same place. When I pointed it out I thought he might die! Picture Lucy in "A Charlie Brown Christmas" after Snoopy kissed her!

My girlies at home were very creative this year. Britt was Fiona from Adventure Time! Rachel hand made her Steam punk outfit from the aviator cap all bedazzled with gears, to her blouse and skirt. She did this in two days and it is really a fine job of sewing! Take it from one who sits behind a sewing machine nearly every day, she is amazing!

 They had a hard time getting baby brother to dress up. He's just a bit too cool for that. They wanted to go out to "Slurp" a local Shaved Ice and beverage joint and wouldn't let him come unless he joined them in their costume fun. He came downstairs with his Dad's rabbit fur hat from Moscow and a grim look on his face. Perfect!

Here we are behind Slurp where you park. Don't they look like little Trick-or-Treaters?

Slurp is one of the many businesses that has sprung up in the old houses on Main St. I love that these places are being preserved and that we get to go inside and enjoy their craftsmanship. Look at this lovely window!

I did my part inside of the Little House on the Corner. I love the older "vintage" style of pumpkins and black cats. I'm starting to collect them a bit at a time.

Love my Disney candle holders from or trip in 2006!

This cute scarecrow has been around for a long time. She was a gift from my mother-in-law!

Brittany made the jumbo candy corns. They are so cute!

Rachel was responsible for the spider attacking my cute little birdie!

So, now it's over, clean-up has begun...on to LUCAS!!!!!

 Hide the pens Gramma!

Why Worry?

Sorry I haven't been around lately! I've been checking in on all of you though, rest assured. I had a few weeks after I returned from California where I just didn't feel well. Something was off in my old body. The gray cloudy days, rain, and gloom added to my weariness, but the last five days or so have been so bright and sunny! I am feeling much better and the sun does something to me. It fills me with energy and a drive to get things done. That's what I have been doing. Cleaning out closets and cupboards and getting things done. I tackled my fabric stash the other day. After a whole spring and summer of sewing it was in a terrible mess! I have a lot more fabric than I thought I did, and I had forgotten how many pre-cut aprons I actually have waiting to become something beautiful!

 Here's my stash as it looks now. Wish me luck keeping it that way. And, yes, that is my camera strap hanging in the way.

 Here is my latest creation.

I've also been worrying over my little flock of chicks. Every one of them! The Master has hurt his back, yet again. He fell while performing a skit with the other coaches for the opening party of BYU's Swimming and Dive teams. He landed hard on his left hip. The doctor thinks a muscle or ligament is torn. So much for his acting career. He is in a lot of pain and can barley bend over. How he puts his shoes on is a mystery! Hopefully we can figure out how to best help him. He has X-rays today. Quality of life not so great right now...!


Dr. Sarah is busy applying for jobs around the country. She has found a lot of joy serving as a Seminary teacher for her Stake, along with her roommate Seija, she teaches every other day. (They teach together on Wednesdays.) She has gotten very ill over that last week. She thinks bronchitis again.. Worry over jobs, worry over health...!

Miss Britt is in limbo over new jobs. She's waiting anxiously to hear from one in particular. She has had several call-back interviews and would love to move on in her life. Can't say more! Today she finds herself at the Utah County Courthouse in Provo. She made it through the first cut on a list of potential jurors. Today they are being individually interviewed. This is no ordinary jury duty. These jurors are being chosen for a very high profile murder case. If you live in the region it is on the daily news. It has been talked about on every cable news station and featured on shows like 20/20. That's all my girl needs right now!They've narrowed the field to 120 prospective jurors. What are the odds? Looks like one in ten. Life in turmoil and murder...!

Rach has applied for admittance to Utah State in Logan. She has decided art school is so pricey and she would really like to get her Bachelor's degree done and behind her while giving herself more time to save money to get to art school. Money...!

Richard is still working on some classes on Electronic High School. It is a process. The job search continues. I know he'll find just the right one for his unique needs and personality. Worrry about the future...!

I just hang around the house every day trying to keep all in order and get sewing done. I am getting my ETSY shop back up and running. It's not ready yet, but soon. Stress and pins in my fingers multiple time every day...! (But my fingers are tough, right?!)

There is much in our lives that is good and we are grateful. I know everything usually turns out alright and that things will be OK. Waiting is hard though. In the meantime, here is a little prayer I always think of this time of year. If only ghoulies and ghosties were all we had to bother us!