Beneath the Wraps

Since she learned to walk, Jenna has had a habit of touching things and picking up things and examining things and trying things on.   Each year her habit seems to get worse.   It doesn’t matter where – a neighbor’s house, a good friend’s room, the gift shop or store.   Each time we have told her to look with her eyes and not her hands.   With the latest incident, I would hope that she’s learned her lesson. She is always asking me or Roland to recount the story of “The Five Chines Brothers” until finally Roland just ordered the book so she could read it for herself.   The book came in and we dropped by Deseret Book on our way to the store to purchase groceries. Roland and Jenna went into the bookstore and returned in less than a minute with book in hand.   I wouldn’t have guessed that Jenna would have had enough time to touch and play – but she did.   It wasn’t until we were shopping and eating samples that she discovered ...

            Jenna had taken an art class last week. We’ve been taking TRAX of course.   It’s funny about that form of transportation.   Streetcars could be seen in downtown Salt Lake back in the late 30s.   I don’t know when the city decided to rip all the rail lines out.   So many changes have taken place through the years. For over half a century the streetcars and rails had been done away with in downtown Salt Lake. The garage that had been used to house the trolleys has since been turned into a shopping center. Meanwhile the rails have been re-dotting the Salt Lake map for the last two decades. Some existed from when the Union Pacific was built (I think) but most have been added by Utah Transit Authority. The Union Pacific Building gradually changed from cargo trains to Amtrax.   (I remember having gone to it a few times to meet my grandma) The building   is now the...

                         My shed is in disarray and I know that I have shorts in there somewhere.   I don’t know where.   I’ve been searching for a nice day in which to organize and dejunk (there are tons of items that really should be trashed)             I need a time that’s not too hot and not too cold.   Mornings are good – if I can find the ambition.   It usually takes me longer to wake up and by the time I get dressed and think of it, it is time for Jenna and I to leave.             She’s taking an art class downtown.   I’m always so hot between bus stops and the train.   The bus has been running late due to construction.   (Utah roads are ALWAYS under construction during the months that aren't winter) It ...

      A wish for my   dad and husband   on     Fathers’    Day   Here’s to all those           ties   -     my dad        always wanted           something             practical         like   socks .   I   thought giving socks   as   a   gift   was   very boring!   Even ties were boring.   And yet I managed to   give   him   at   least   one   every year.   When Jenna    and I were looking for a     gift to give to Roland,     I had suggested socks.          Jenna thought that          would be boring.   I ...

On the day that my oldest nephew was married Jenna and I had lunch and played in the park with my youngest niece and her brother who used to be the youngest but another brother will be born I’m guessing in July.   Kayla’s due date is August 2 nd but she looks like she’s ready to pop any minute. We both believe that B.J. is on his side. Kayla says he moves around much more than the other two Anna and Garrett (we call him Gary) are replicas of their mother at least they LOOK like Kayla I bet their brother looks like Bill and has Bill’s personality. Hence my nickname for him – B.J. = Bill Junior Today we could not meet in the park for lunch.   This afternoon Jenna and I took a bus out to their house and took them back to the same bus stop and rode to the next TRAX station where we boarded the train Gary was especially awed by this new sensation. We took the train back to where Jenna and I had started out....

I have mentioned in earlier posts that my sister, Kayla, is expecting her third child.   Her eldest, Anna, will be four in the first week of July.   Garrett turned two in February and B.J. will be born in August. As a result, Jenna and I have been going out to assist at least a few hours each day.    This past Wednesday and Thursday we had made arrangements to meet the kids at the park nearest Jenna’s school.   There is a park closer to where they live, but the bus doesn’t go by the park, and I don’t particularly wish to cross the street with the two children in order to get to the park.   So Bill has dropped them off at the other park.   We can make the return trip on the bus without crossing the street. So on Wednesday, Bill stood in line with them to get their lunch and then he took off.   After Jenna, Anna and Gary played for a while, we got on the bus to take my niece and nephew back to their mom.   The kids were de...

I have actually used baking soda as a cleaner, a medicine, a laundry booster, and perhaps a third of the suggestions listed here  and here  but my absolute favorite miracle (which I did not see listed) is that in addition to grease spots and stubborn stains, it also works on scorch marks and burns. In the past, when I have burned a pot beyond recognition (usually my fire is too high) I have just thrown it away.  But the other day, I was boiling some water on high.  I excused myself to visit the bathroom and just forgot to come back.  I wish I would have done before and after pictures.  It was so truly amazing that I was able to save a pan that had been on the expensive side. I was steaming corn – which by the way turned out really succulent and tasted great – when I realized that I had forgotten to turn it down.  The bottom of my pan glowed red along with the burner.  I thought that the fire had burnt a hole through the pan and tha...

After we had purchased the house Roland put the boys to work painting the trim red. That was seven years ago. Time to paint again. Randy needs money and Roland puts all three boys to work and says he’ll pay them 100 dollars each as soon as the work is done. The instructions are fairly simple:  Everything that is red needs to be painted over in green, everything that’s white needs to be repainted white. Biff was the first to show. He works graveyard and comes straight from his job though two weeks ago I think he went to the gym before coming here Roland had to work that day and so I had told Tony that he could be in charge I didn’t want Randy to be in charge because most of the time he doesn’t even know what he’s doing as he has managed to disappear each time Roland taught the boys a trade Randy appears to be genuine about helping or at least that was the case two weeks ago But he loaded the paintbrush so that it d...

I think I must post about cleaning the church at least once every four months.   I don’t mind cleaning the church building.   I really don’t.   There have just been some weeks in which I have been appalled over the tremendous amount of litter that is left behind. How can people be so careless and not take any consideration that they are in God’s house?          Today I put myself in charge of vacuuming the chapel – which is what Bro. McDobb had done every Saturday morning in which our ward had been assigned to clean the building.   Roland joked that he wouldn’t have been surprised to find him there this morning – even though he moved out of our ward over two weeks ago.          Programs had been left on several pews.   I get it.   I’m sure I am guilty of that as well – though I have tried to make a conscience effort to check the pew before I leave. ...