Three Tables Full

These kids are incredible! They came in cheerful and talkative. They sang! They followed directions! They didn't groan too loudly when I took their picture! I noticed some neighborhood kids walking to school do double-takes at the group of beautiful teenagers coming out of our home this morning! They are impressive, and a powerful group for good.


Pillows are allowed for the hard metal seats, yes. Young Men walking to the High School will be encouraged to be gentlemen and carry music instruments and book bags of the Young Women. I actually insist on it. (Nothing romantic or dating about it, just the proper thing to do. Encourage the YW you know to BE ladies, and encourage them to encourage the guys to act their part. If we hop out of the cars before they have a chance to physically get to our door to open it, we rob them of the chance to be gentlemen. Sit and wait for it. It is worth the respect, I think.)

Did you know they changed the name? Instead of "Early Morning Seminary" it is now known as "Daily Seminary." Suggesting, perhaps, that it become a daily habit that we take on after high school, to our missions/marriage and throughout adulthood. Daily spending time with the scriptures is a great goal for all of us!



Students chose reading charts today. One is a pretty color-in-as-you-read fun one, the other has check boxes that encourage 10 minutes a day of reading the Book of Mormon. They will finish the entire book in 36 weeks of daily seminary with no problem. Or, they can do a Parley P. Pratt and read it straight through without stopping until they finish it several hours later. Either.

Students have all "adopted" a Scripture Mastery verse. Refer to the attatched Devotional calendar for reminders. They should be able to tell you what their verse says/means. If you have ideas on how they can visually illustrate a memory trick for that verse, please make suggestions! Each student is responsible for creating a visual clue, and giving a devotional on that verse in the coming month.

Special guest speaker tomorrow morning! Please be on time. Seats are slightly shifted to pull the tables out from the wall, just look for your large/small/tiny plates and scriptures and Scripture Mastery pictures to find your spot.

And students, think of another something you are thankful for to add to your blessings list (to put in the "Tiny Plates").

24 students---so for the time being, we are going to postpone Friday "breakfasts" and do something else. There will be educational food sharing on this Friday and I will talk to the students more about new traditions.

Thanks for your support!
(I had thought of making small & large plates during the summer, and then last Saturday was shown a website selling Small and Large Plate journals, but for more than I could spend on our budget, even reimbursed...Hack your own with composition books and Ensign/New Era pictures! Every day I want them to write something in at least one of the books. Assignments will be glued in for them. Trying different teaching methods to get the students into their scriptures and WRITING down their thoughts and feelings, without calling it a "journal" or making it scary.

Family History-Samuel

Today at Church we talked about Family History.

Sometimes it is hard to talk about history when we are so wrapped up in the current-surviving day to day.

The teacher asked us if we had any interesting stories about our families.

Silence.

I first thought of Jane Patten and her sewing machine, making "jeans" for the workers. And beating a bear on the nose with her broom.

John whispered to me, "What about Samuel H no period Smith?"


Some people can point to a specific ancestor and trace their name. Our Samuel was named partly after this great great grandfather of his, Samuel H (no period) Smith, with a mysterious father. She never told.

They sailed to America, and he had to get out of the wagon and walk when he turned 7. They made it to Utah, and Pleasant Grove where there is a park named after him. That is where we go for Memorial Day to put flowers on the headstones and sit on the grass and talk to cousins...

I was reading today about Samuel the Lamanite, how many times he talks about hearts in his first talk recorded. We named our Samuel partly after this Samuel the prophet, and the Samuel in the Old Testament. And Sam in the first chapters of The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

Our Sam is in middle school now. Lockers. Big kids in the hallways. Moving to different classes all day long. Uniforms for gym. School counselors.

He is getting taller, more independent. So far, with only two days of school, I have missed him in the mornings! It is just Roxie and I walking the 1/2 mile to the school.

I have to ask all my questions after school. I try really hard to not be busy in the middle of a project when the older kids walk in the door. So I can greet them. Feed them. Find out how their day went, and what work needs to be done, projects, friends they have met. And to keep track of who they are and what they are becoming, how they think, what they feel, what they need.

Day-to-day family history in the making!

Lost & Found

Last night John found two boy scout manuals that have been lost in the basement since January. Eight months. The last two weeks we have started praying as a family to find them. Seriously, in family prayer, "Heavenly Father please help us find the scout manuals..." or help us know where to look. They were at the bottom of a box with computer stuff on top.

I didn't put them there.

I really try and group my piles and keep important ones close to me so I can find them again!

I spent $25 once to attend an amazing workshop in Pittsburgh by a professional organizer. I learned that I do not have an organized lifestyle, that I have problems making choices about things, and that I craft/fabric hoard. AND that I need to see things or I forget about them. Clear boxes, vertical storage, clips, magnet boards are all good solutions for me.

So is less stuff.

I knew a lady in SLC who said one of the best things that happened to her family was a home fire-everything destroyed. They had to start over, all the clutter gone...

Moving doesn't solve that clutter problem if you have no time and dump things into boxes, bury them in your memory.

My mothering wish for the day: instant retrieval system. Everyone in the family could put things down anywhere in the house and then the next day or after 3 months they could type in what they are looking for and it would INSTANTLY appear in a basket, TA-DA! Magic, science, miracle, whatever.

Moving around basement this summer to get ready for daily seminary created chaos. I admit that. I couldn't paint through the computer wires and boxes as they were.

Sixteen year old Max is looking for a composition book with a summer AP assignment he said he completed. He does not want to redo it. I don't blame him, for the hours he says he invested.

But I do not feel responsible for his school work if he places it in a public space. We have looked. I know I didn't recycle or throw away any composition books (I save them, and reuse them, tape/glue magazine rips to the pages by theme, and I have not done that this summer, didn't cache away any books, showed him the drawer that has the old ones I know about...) Painful, horrible family moments. Who is responsible?

Am I really the keeper of the house items? I know I don't know about everything that comes through the door.

Check-in at the door, and you receive a ticket item, like a coat-check system?

I have seen beautiful mud-rooms with a locker for each child. Baskets with their name. Magazine ideals, sigh, with a price tag.

My cheap organizing solution is office clipboards hung by a nail with every one's name corresponding above their paperwork. It has helped keep track of loose papers.

But the chunky stuff, the books, the heavy textbooks need shelves or something sturdier.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOME ORGANIZING SOLUTIONS?

Make it Fit!

I love the fabric in this dress, a shiny-satin teal paisley (Persian Pickle!)and a matte wispy version of the same pattern. After I saw this picture of me wearing it at an Alumni Association dinner, I could see how unflattering it was on me. It has sat in my closet for too long. Terrible fit in my non-waist and too long in the shoulders (it is not cool when the shoulder seam that is supposed to sit at the top of your shoulder is creeping down onto your bicep...I have narrow shoulders, thank you Grandma Laura, and a high waist. This dress was not cut out for me. Why did I buy it? Great price, fit around my chest, and that first sentence--loveLOVElove the fabric.)

So I cut it up for Emma! Minus 10 sizes, it fit her better, flattering colors...
First I carefully cut off the skirt from the bodice, sleeves off and used a Simplicity 5591 pattern to re cut the bodice. I put the pattern up against the finished edges of my dress so wouldn't have to do any edges...I took 4 inches out of the underarm.

And took the scraps from cutting down the other parts to make a quilted stomach area-- (what is this part of the dress called? Not a yoke, not a bodice, a front panel part?) You wouldn't know this is pieced from 7 scraps???

Quilt to your interests

Gorgeous quilting on this (I did not make this, but wish I had!) Look for the music staffs, bride teaches music, and the quilter made it personal.
Many posts ago I blogged about these blocks...I will research the date and link these.

Ready for the Party!

Ikea has great candles, wonderful colors packaged together.

Finished castles with seashells and sea glass baubles.


My favorite, two-towered castle. Needs windows, and I could live here.

Sam had a great time eating cake (white chocolate sea shells and brown sugar "sand") and dancing.

Had to do it the hard/long way

I don't mind short-cuts, easy ways out. I use paper plates for company. I love paper towels. Crock pots. Spray paint. But if I get an idea in my head, no matter how complicated, I am stubborn. I have to see it, try it.

John knows me well. Instead of opting for using several lighthouse collections for a friend's reception, I wanted something BIGGER, BOLDER, MESSIER, MORE TIME CONSUMING...I thought it wouldn't take long to do. He shakes his head knowingly, stays supportive, but isn't surprised when I am stressing over the time it takes to finish a creative project.

These are almost done, with 2 1/2 days to spare!

Centerpieces Need HEIGHT! But not too much.

Ever been at a party and the centerpiece is right in your sight line--you can't see across the table? One of my pet peeves. But I also think centerpieces need height, some presence, make a statement, be noticeable, tie in with the theme, add conversation cues, and be fun!

These started out as cereal boxes, yougurt containers, ice cream, sour cream. I raided the recycling bin.
Made my own paper mache paste from 2 parts water to 1 part flour. Ripped wrapping paper and used the white side up.
Needed to smooth out the angles. If you have ever filled cracks with expanding foam, you know how much it can poof! I got the kind for cracks. Sprayed it out and then quickly spread it out with a plastic knife to texture the walls.
If it expands more than you want, you can wait until it dries and use a saw knife to make it smaller.

I primed them (spray paint) and then painted them the exact color of the sand.

Glue is on sale with back-to-school sales! I smeared it all over the castles with my hands, than rubbed sand all over the walls, nooks and crannies.

An outside project! Messy, but fun. One neighbor walked by with her dog and said I looked like I was in a huge sandbox. The goal was to create 10 table beach-scapes, they didn't need to all match, which encourages creativity! I have shells and beach glass to add, already painted the plant dishes they will go in...
Saturday I will upload pictures from the Nuzman beach-themed wedding reception to show them in context.

P.S. note: lots of compliments and questions about how I did them! Too bad they aren't weather proof, or I would make a huge one in our backyard--which actually sounds kind of fun, if we built a play fort, I could faux paint it, add sand...

Sticky Juicy Work

My fingers are stained purple. My T-shirt was drenched when we got home, my jeans wet from kneeling on the ground and sweat dripping down my back. I had to take off my glasses because they kept fogging up from the heat.

Why do I put myself in these situations? In the middle of the job there is always a moment of "This is really hard/gross/uncomfortable/painful" internal conversation. Work is hard work.

I wonder if it would help my kids to know that work is hard for adults, too? That it isn't always pleasant/comfortable/fun to work hard. It's more fun to play.

But there are benefits of working. Blessings. Berries turn into pies and jam! And kids learn how to delay gratification (biggest indicator of success, according to youth fireside by William and Julia Mattson quoting statistics about education and earning power).



This is my friend Debbie. She teaches school, grandmas (that is a verb), gardens, quilts, makes prize-winning jams, pickles, relishes and jellies, spins her own yarns! And she shares her bounty. We've already enjoyed white peaches from her trees this summer.

She has made friends with some neighbors of her mom's...Our adventure began at 8 am, a group of us from church meeting at her home and caravanning to a perfect blackberry picking yard. We joked about Mormon migrant workers! There were 18 of us for part of the morning! And plenty of berries!
Sam is the ultimate babysitter. He loves babies and little kids and has a talent for making them laugh, keeping them happy!
Those who pick, get to eat! The story of the Little Red Hen really impressed me growing up. You work, you benefit.
Yeah for teenagers willing to wake up and help!
(Notice Maxwell missing?? He didn't quite get up in time, so John called him and had him mow the lawn by himself while we were gone. There is NO getting out of work at our home!) We will share the jam, and bring a jar to the owners of the blackberry patch. They don't know what to do with them and are thrilled that Debbie comes each year to harvest.

IF YOU HAVE FRUIT GROWING IN YOUR YARD AND YOU DON'T USE IT, SOMEONE ELSE WOULD LOVE TO COME HARVEST FOR YOU!

Advertise. Spread the word. It was a nice blessing this morning to gather free fruit. Buying sugar to put these up is cheaper than buying jam. Involving the kids and letting them help with the process, teaching them food processing skills will hopefully preserve the knowledge and blessings of work. Good sweaty honest work!

6 am, My Home M-F

(Murals can be put on stair risers! I tried painting chalkboard paint once, very dusty/messy, didn't work as well as I had hoped. Words are good. Forced reading!)


Major life-changing going on here.

I belong to a church with a lay ministry, all volunteer work. Nobody gets paid for what we are asked to do.

I am thankful for the amazing leadership we have and the dedication of so many teachers that have helped my family learn and live the Gospel.

I grew up with parents who were good examples of saying "YES!" to church callings to serve.

I want to be that kind of parent, and teach my children what it means to serve others with a happy heart.

We love those we serve.

I've felt for several years that I would love LOVE love to teach Daily Seminary (Formerly Early-Morning Seminary) =gospel study for the youth, ages 14-18, high school years. And I've been asked to do it. Three of our children will be attending! Convenient for them.

Our home is close to the high school, an easy walk.

Contemplating the number of students has made us re-think some of the room-usage here.

The dark scary basement is now bright and sunny. Even without lights!



I want the kids to feel welcomed. Comfortable.



As we study the Book of Mormon this year, I want them to feel the Spirit testifying of truth. I want them to know truth, and make good choices to follow the prophets, ancient and modern.



Everytime they leave, I hope they read the stairs, think of the virtues we want them to live by.



I am grateful. And I need to be smart about bedtime, so I can wake up before they come down the stairs, ready to learn!

Old and New Ideas

This "strip" quilt was made with a group of friends, each doing a row based on the theme I chose: Turn the Hearts of the Children to the Fathers; a family history quilt!
I want to point out the rolling hills green mural with sky and clouds behind the quilt, another brief experiment I tried in our hallway.

This Book of Mormon quilt is circa pre-2003. Two close-ups. The entire quilt is made in 12x12 blocks, individually sewn and quilted and then grommetted together. For the quilt show I had arrows bound to the edges with leather straps.


Close-up of Joseph Smith.

I can keep adding to this, continue the grommetted theme. I was thinking that when I die I would will certain squares to each of my children. For example, Samuel would get the Prophet Samuel the Lammanite on the wall...If I make 2 more they each get 3...so I should make 8 more for an even 4 patch for each of them. Maybe. Not today.



And for Luanna! Copied your idea of hands, want to get these printed out and framed, or do a re-shoot, if you can't read this?

Mural Portfolio has moved!

This is Emma on Mom's blog.

We are in the process of making a user-friendly blog as her portfolio.

Old blog is gone.

Landbeck Art is here!

There will be music!

Three wedding receptions in 3 weeks--and if I were flying to Utah, there would have been one last week, too! Love dancing receptions! Love 80's music! Love silly songs that make it easy to move!

Like many others, I participated in the great American tradition of taking piano lessons. Painful as they were, forgetting to practice and wincing through lessons, I wish now I had practiced more. It would be nice to sit down to any music and breezily sight read. I can play some, but it is not easily done.

Wanted to play the violin, or the harp. Took guitar lessons while gestating Maxwell--he would thump back in time to the music, kicking with the strumming.

This week Suzanna had harp camp. Long commute, but beautiful music made it worthwhile. She is getting more skilled and more confident. I am thankful for music.