Family, Food, Fun!

The Master, Richard, and I hit the road last week. We headed south through red rock arches country, cut through Colorado's colorful corner, and ended up in Bloomfield, NM. I have made that trip countless times in my life and it never seed so quick as it did that day. We left earlier than this family has ever gotten on the road, had breakfast in Moab, and lunch at my brother's table in NM. I slept most of the morning so for me it was awesome! Here's to my Sweetie for being able to drive without being drowsy! I fail miserably at that!

Here are a few photos from our Mother and Child Reunion:

I woke up long enough to see the beautiful big skies of southenr Utah. Then I slept some more!

The Farias brought Cousin Charlie and there was plenty of puppy love all around!

 My brother Richard made some yummy caramels. He is an amazing cook! He also made a wonderful white chocolate cheesecake, some London Broil to die for, and a great breakfast one morning!

 

 There was always plenty of tasting, crocheting, talking, and Wii Golf playing. There were a few wicked Mario Kart tourneys too!

 

 Wherever there was food, there was Charlie. Richard and Sherrie were soft touches!

 

 Card games are always in the mix. Gena and Sherrie ponder over a game of Hand and Foot, which sounds like a disease, folks! I personally despise this game. I prefer to sit back and take photos of the 3 hour long process of making red books and black books and scoring and counting; but everyone else loves it and thinks I am a party pooper!

 Dean, Dee, Renda (our hostess with the mostess) and Richard.

 The Big Guy, my brother Dean makes a move while our 90 year old card shark mother Helen looks on.

Sweet Helen still has that charm and spunk that made my Dad's heart go flip flop 71 years ago!
She would want you to know that she doesn't normally go around with large gift bows on her head.

Profiles of two guys I love. My brother-in-law Steve and my son Richard. I took this photo because I looked over at him and couldn't believe how much older he is starting to look!

We celebrated Dean and Richard's birthdays while we were there. I am sorry I missed snapping a photo of Dean's big day! Gena and Dee made a giant cream filled version of the Pioneer Woman's Heavenly Cupcake recipe. That's what brother Richard requested. They surprised him greatly with this hulking hunk of calories!

Ughh! Full tummies all around!

 The guys all went fishing up at Navajo Dam on Monday. They had a great time and if I recall, they all caught at least two brown trout. Richard Loose took some great photos but alas, they are on his phone! Here is a fun selfie he took of himself and Charles.

On our last evening together we were treated to Chinese food by our brothers. For being in the middle of some people's nowhere, Panda Gardens in Bloomfield was pretty yummy! My fortune made me laugh because it was SO not true!

 

 Richard and Sherrie were staying at a hotel in town, the rest of us out at Dean's house. We said our goodbyes after dinner because we were all leaving early in the morning.

I love my brothers and sisters with all of my heart. I have wonderful memories from my childhood with these people and it has carried through until the present day. We lost Dad 10 years ago and sister Sharon 6 years ago. We miss them, but I felt them around us now and then.  I know Dad is happy that we all get together and love each other as he and Mom taught us to.

Back-Richard Ellsworth, Dee & Marianne Loose, Dean Ellsworth, Georgena & Steve Faria.

Front-Sherri, Renda, & Helen Ellsworth.

Thanks Dean & Renda for being such wonderful hosts!

See you all next time!

June 16, 1979 ~ To Infinity & Beyond!

 Once upon a time, a boy fell in love with a girl. He loved her so much he wanted to be with forever and ever!


He took her to the Temple of the Lord and they became husband and wife for all Eternity.

 Her family came and brought many little people of the kingdom.

 His family joined in the celebration.

There was cake...


 





...and drink of the fruity punch variety.

The happy couple danced.

There was much
merry-making as well.

 There was so much silliness that many photos were unusable.

 After a toss of the flowers....

T

...they sped off to a honeymoon in the red rock country of Sedona.

After 32 years of joy and fun, tears and trial, and growing more and more in love with every passing year they have decided most definitely...

 ...dreams do come true!

Animal House

I have been alone each day now from morning until Richard gets home in the afternoon. I sleep a lot! Ah...but I am not truly alone.

Girl Scout cookies from cousin Lori in AZ! Note the little pink tongue poking out below.

My recovery buddy and I keep each other warm! He also appreciates the dinners brought over by my dear Relief Society sisters!

But he is not the only one in the house...

 We are tending the little Grand-birdie, Evie! (Her "parents" had the nerve to go to sunny Florida with Nick's family) She is so sweet and has adjusted very well to our house. She sings all morning long and makes me smile. She also has Mr. Samwise quite baffled. He hears her but can't find her...usually...!

Here is the moment he figured out where that song was coming from the other day. I was down making my morning oatmeal with Craisins and almonds (yum!)

His is a bit miffed at me. I go all "Dog Whisperer" on him and back him away with calm assertiveness. He gets huffy and goes to nap in the laundry room for hours and hours. But rest assured, he is right back by my meal tray when it arrives!

Thanks for all of your good wishes! It is snowing outside and I am glum. What else can I do but go take a nap all by myself. My buddy is in the laundry again!

I Have Never Flipped Anyone Off

Contents of this post may be disturbing to the very young or the squeamish!  Do you recall this post from the summer? I had sliced my little finger open on a can of olives. Two stitches, lots of blood, me fainting...
I topped that yesterday. I will  show you.

Just scroll down.

If you don't mind X-rays.

Are you still with me?
Good.
As you can see, I missed the bone.

I was being very careful.  

I WAS!

Remember this bookshelf? 

I had repaired the broken parts and sanded it.
I had put wood screws in the back where it had come loose.
I was  putting a screw in one of the legs to tighten it up a bit.
It was the last one.
Literally.

The very old wood suddenly splintered and went flying. In a split second my eyes followed it and my free hand flinched upward as the drill went haywire.

I was screwed.

(that is SO not like me to say anything like that!)

It was 4:45 in the afternoon. Richard and I were the only ones home. It felt as though the drill was chewing up the outside of my finger. I expected to look at my hand and find a real mess. Thankfully there was not blood or I would have passed out right there! My first thought after seeing this lovely brass screw through my finger was that I was not going to be able to remove it myself. My second thought was of my 15 year old son sitting inside of the french doors just a few feet away. I did not want him to panic. I needed him to have a calm head. I prayed for help and merely walked into the house, past Richard, and up to the kitchen. I picked up my cell phone and called Britt at work as I ran very cold water over my had while NOT looking at it.

Britt and her father work at the Fitness Center in the afternoons. She supervises the facility and he is coaching the swim team. I knew he would not hear his phone out in the pool area so I called my ever calm and helpful girl. I had to redial several times because of nerves I suppose. I finally got through and was linked to her desk. She did not answer. I had to call back all the while growing more faint. "Please, PLEASE, PLEASE! Somebody pick up the phone!" was my only thought as my head started to spin. This time I asked the friendly desk girl to find my daughter and tell her it was an emergency! I had to explain it to Brittany twice. "You did WHAT?!" , she asked. At that moment Richard yelled, "You did WHAT?!" He ran up to the kitchen, took one look at my hand and exclaimed, "I have got to go sit down. I am gonna pass out!" I called to him that I needed him to be calm because I was going to pass out! (It was my turn...seriously!)

Recalling his Boy Scout first aid training he sprang into action. "Sit down Mom! Feet up. Feet UP!"

"That's for shock son."

"Oh, yeah. Head down! Between your knees!"

I complied.

Brittany heard the whole thing.
She was home within minutes and took me to the E.R.

It was a slow day in the American Fork Hospital Emergency Room. Two ladies were standing at the front desk window filling out paper work. The staff inside the window was engrossed in whatever they were doing. The girl at the computer glanced up. Britt said "Hi". The girl glanced back down as if we were not there. A guy in scrubs leaned forward and looked out at us. I was standing there with an ice bag in a dish towel on my hand. He straightened back up and did not reappear.

"I have a wood screw in my finger," I stated very matter-of- fact, but very loudly.

That brought a nurse out post haste!
She took one look and said, "Oh, we'll take you right back!"
The two ladies said in tandem, "Can we see?!" I showed them and they were duly impressed.

They were the first of many.

To shorten a long story, The nurse was calm and professional up until the point where she brought out her cell phone and asked if she could text a photo to her husband. "Sure, why not?" I replied and I held my hand up for her to get a good shot. I was in fairly good spirits. It didn't really hurt like you might think. What hurt were the four injections she put in my finger! FOUR. My finger looked like a sausage by the time she was finished. When I was numb she brought in the doctor. He was a handsome 40-something guy. "Ooo! Can I take a picture?" he asked. As he ran to get his camera a sweet little student nurse appeared.  She asked me very meekly, "may I see?"

My husband arrived soon afterward, took one look, and told Brittany he needed her chair. Sigh.

By this point I was laughing it up and inviting everyone in. I was numb and in a bit of shock I think.
 
Feet up! Feet Up!

Doctor J came back and had me hold up my hand.

"Um, can you put the other fingers down and just hold up the middle one with the screw in it?"

"I have NEVER flipped anyone off," I stated firmly.

The nurse looked at me dumbfounded and said, "really? Wow."

Lady, you CAN get through life without using crude language and gestures.

The X-ray tech. was very kind and did not laugh at me once. I love her.

Upon viewing the X-rays and inviting other doctors to do the same, (they were gathering like flies and sneeking glances at me) Dr. J came into my stall and said, "Let's get this done!" He explained that I had been very lucky. The screw had missed the bone. He sat down and proceeded to unscrew the thing right out of my body! I didn't look. At that moment a maintenance man appeared with a power drill. "Oh, didn't they call you? We don't need it anymore," said the doc. The plan was that if it had gone into the bone the doctor would need some power to get the screw out. I felt sorry for the maintenance guy as he walked away looking very disappointed.

SO, here I am nearly 30 hours later and my finger is still numb.
I think it is a blessing.
I think I will throw the old bookshelf away.


If you want to see a picture of the injury Britt took on her cell phone I refer you to her Facebook profile. Ask her to be your friend. she'll love it!

Be warned...it looks like a really good Halloween make-up job!

Time Travel Tuesdays~

OH What do YOU do in the summertime?

The Ellsworth famliy had one place they always visited. Every summer we took the long drive from Mesa up to the Four Corners area to visit lots of Hamblin relatives in Farmington and Bloomfield, New Mexico. My mother's older sister Fern and her husband, my beloved Uncle Smitty owned a cabin a short distance away in the LaPlata Mts. near Durango, Colorado. I found three photos from what was my very first trip there in the summer of 1958.

Here is my sweet Dad, George holding me, and my big sis Sharon who was 15.

In the background is the "old cabin". Years later they purchased a larger, 2-story one. I remember this one in particular because it was in those walls I had to use a chamber pot, no kidding, for the first time. My mother did not want to walk little me out to the outhouse in the dark! Even at age three I was disgusted!

I love Sharon's double cuffed jeans and that hat...not sure where she got that. It kind of looks like a Disneyland something-or-other!

Aww...aren't I sweet? Look at that vintage walker I am in! It is SO not safety friendly these days.

It's a miracle any of us survived childhood!

Just over my shoulder was an ice cold stream where we kept our milk cartons in a wire cage so they would stay cool and not be stolen by raccoons or washed away. I also remember being asked to turn watermelons over so they would get cold all the way through.

Last of all, what better way to spend a summer afternoon than napping 

 in the shade of pines and aspens in the Rocky Mountains?

Sharon is spread out on an old sleeping bag I remember. I love her head scarf!

These old cabins were about as rustic as I like to get but there are so many good memoires there!

What kinds of memories am I making for my last child at home? I guess we had better head up one of our many canyons here more often and go hiking.

Diana, will you be our guide?

Time Travel Tuesdays~

There's a whole lot of diplomas in this family! Scroll down past this post and you will find that we had a lot of celebrating to do last week. I thought it would be fun to travel back in time to 1975.

Average cost of a new home: $39,300.00
Average yearly income: $14,100.00
Average monthly rent: $200.00
Cost of 1 gallon of gasoline: 44 cents
Average cost of a new car: $4,250.00
Foster Grant Sunglasses: $5.00

News:
The Vietnam war ends as communist forces take over Saigon.
Teamster boss Jimmy Hoffa disappears and is never seen again.
Heiress Patty Hearst is arrested for armed bank robbery after her kidnapping.
Irish Repubican Army causes havoc across UK.
Britain elects 1st ever female Prime Minister, Maragret Thatcher.

Technology:
The Microcomputer Altair 8800 is released. It's creators are Bill Gates and Paul Allen.

SONY introduces the Betamax Videotape, JVC intoduces VHS.

U.S. Apollo docks in space with a Soviet Soyuz 9 spacecraft in space.

Motorola patents 1st ever mobile phone.

Movies:
Jaws
The Towering Inferno
Young Frankenstien

The Godfather II

Benji
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Music:
David Bowie, "Fame"
Elton John, "Lucy in the Sky with Dimonds"
The Captain & Tenille, "Love Will Keep us Together"

Eagles, "Best of My Love"
Paul McCartney & Wings, "Nobody Does it Better"

AND...

In Mesa, Arizona, Marianne Ellsworth graduates from Westwood High School!

While in Forth Worth, Texas, Deward Loose graduates from Southwest High Scool.

Dee with his siter Alicia.

"At Your Age..."

The doctor said I'm going to live! Hooray for me! On my visit last week Dr. M pronounced me healthy and sound (other than the need to exercise and lose some weight) . He addressed my S.A.D. by telling me to get more Vitamin D and exercise. He was also not opposed to short and infrequent tanning sessions. Hmm...we'll see.

About an hour after I left the offices of Lind, Lamereaux, and Melendez a realization hit me. I have entered a new phase of my life. (Here is where is gets all girl talk-ish so if you are a lurking male reader be warned!) After Richard was born nearly 15 years ago I went through post-partum depression. It was intermediately serious. I have been on birth control pills ever since as hormone therapy. They keep me from being a soggy, sobbing mess of a person. I have enjoyed their company. When I have been careless and not refilled the prescription in time I have gone through headaches, shakes, and woeful uncontrollable tears. You can understand my surprise then, when Dr. M said it was time to go off of my Happy Pills! He is practiced and skilled at what he says. He did not say to me, "you are too old", he said "at your age...you do not need this high of a dose of estrogen." Pshhh! You cannot fool me!

I realized I was spiraling to "at your age..." about ten years ago when I would visit his office annually and notice that I was the only woman over 40 in the waiting area. All of the others were young and beautiful and glowing with pregnancy. Hmph! So what, now I am too old for "that much estrogen"?! Here is the plan. In two more days I will be out of pills. I am to then go cold turkey. If I happen to notice that I am having hot flashes or if my emotions are out of control I am to call him and he will prescribe hormone replacement therapy which will be a lower dose of estrogen. I know how it works. I know it is better for my body. I also know that the next couple of weeks are going to be hard! It's a good thing the Master is leaving for Sectional Championships tomorrow and won't be back until Sunday. He may come back though, just as the really bad stuff starts! Watch out!

I suppose Dr. M thought he was being delicate and telling me something I would like to hear when he added that there was "very little chance" of me getting pregnant anymore. Please understand...I do not want a baby (at MY age)! But the fact that I am now bumped up to a new group was disturbing and brought a few tears.

Sigh.

Life passes us by.

I might as well hang on and try to enjoy the ride.