Beneath the Wraps

                 Richard and I had gone to Medford on Thursday.  As we got closer to the city I could see the mountains in the distance somewhat enveloped in a hazy whiteness.  I asked Richard if it was smoke from the California fires.  He thought it was.  And yesterday I could sense the same sensation I had back in 2020 during the COVID fires – well, not that the fires were COVID related – the fires had pushed the topic of the pandemic into the back burner like it was no longer relevant, I could see the orange beams spill into my bedroom.   Kind of eerie – especially when the sun wasn ’ t even visible to my eyes when I looked for it outside.   Or through the window rather.   Still too hot outside to want to open the door just for Bonnie to go out and do her business.   The skies are hazy, but the hills are still visible.   It looks overcast but not.   The air quality is better than mo...

                Rock is not her most favorite genre of music, but she LOVES the minerals that nature forms for her collection.  My Aunt Eloise had given her a sack of rocks when Jaime was three.  I know.  That seems like an odd gift, but Jaime truly loved them and would spend hours sorting them by color, size, her favorites, and whatever other grouping she could think of.          After we had moved to West Valley Jaime had gone next door to assist the neighbor with some light chores and came home with a large jar full of rocks – which again she separated into piles.   I remember taking several pictures of her enjoying her treasures which she had strewn across the couch.   This is the only pic I can find and she's not in it          I did not ask her to pose for this picture but took it as it triggers fond memories.   Her love for rock...

 Whenever I see a touchless garbage can I can't help but smile.  It doesn't have so much to do with the can itself opening up - although that is pretty cool. No, the memory that makes me smile is my first encounter with a touchless trash can was offered at Schlotzsky's then in Midvale Utah up by 1300 and Fort Union (no longer located in said area) and my four year old nephew who had walked by when a device invited him to throw away his trash. Ben excitedly cleared the table returning for more and asking, "What else can I throw away?"

 Not only is the language in Spanish, but the handwriting seems to be providing an even bigger challenge.   Is this why they stopped teaching cursive in schools?

 Jaime always manages to miss whenever we go to the pool on July 25.  Josh had always decorated for the first five years we had lived here but Sebastian did not.  Today I was surprised to see some parts decorated.  

 What Myrtle Creek summer fest would be complete without the blazing heat?

                Since purchasing our home in Tri-City, we have had three sets of neighbors to our left.  Jane and Austin lived there for at least three years.  Not quite sure when they moved out (I’m guessing during a holiday excursion to Utah – perhaps even New York?) and Jane’s sister and brother-in-law moved in.  They fought a lot and I suspect moved out of marital problems – but I don’t know.  It’s not as if we had ever become bosom buddies with any of our neighbors.            They moved in March and a new family – couple moved in this month.   They have two huge dogs who have barked at Bonnie though she tends to ignore them.   Oh, good for her.   I thought she would be the instigator.   Obviously male dogs.   The new home owner says he thinks that his dog has a crush on Bonnie.   That’s different.   That’s sweet.        ...

  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/100-million-heat-warnings-dangerous-record-breaking-heatwave/ While I feel for a huge population in the nation right now, I feel quite blessed to have had my windows open allowing the cool air to come in.   That can be done from midnight to about 10:30 and then it starts warming up – but not to the triple digits – at least not thus far.   I really do feel bad for those who are currently experiencing extreme heat as I have been there before. The weather has been really nice – although today may be the last day.   It looks overcast like the sky wants to rain.   I LOVE this temperature (60 degrees Fahrenheit) and wish it could just stay this way always.   I don’t even mind if the skies are grey if the weather will stay as it is.   The only number I would like to see in the triple digits is a daily addition to my bank account.

                Doesn ’ t seem right to label something that is only five years old as an antique.  Our 20 year old Saturn moves quicker than the laptop does.  I plugged it in at 11:00 so that it would be ready to go by 1:30 – only forgot to turn it on so of course it wasn ’ t ready.  Even after I gave it another half hour.  What the hey?          When we put the keys in the ignition and twist to position the car is ready to go.   Even after sitting unused for a few weeks.   It will start.   It can be driven once that motor is running.   The laptop has to think every little step.   It takes longer to process than I do.   Jaime needs to take a laptop to school – but not that one.   A student doesn ’ t have the time to wait for something that is required right now!   What frustration!         Modern Technology ...

  Mom had picked out four girl names long before she married.  She wanted to name her four girls Karen Kay, Kelly Jane, Kimberly Elizabeth and Kathy Lynn.  She did end up having four children – but only two girls.  I received the first name.  My mom and dad both have names that start with G and their eldest two have names that start with K. Third born was an S and I thought we should keep the pattern going – two G ’ s, two K ’ s and so my baby sister would have to have a name that started with S.  Instead of Kelly Jane we named her Shelly Jane.  She said she was happy of that as she doesn ’ t care for the name Kelly. There were a few reasons that I decided to use alias names in my blog rather than actual names.   You can read about it in my very first post found here . After I started my blog I changed my sister ’ s name from Shelly to Kayla because I remembered she hadn ’ t liked the name Kelly.   Mostly I used a middle name, one that rh...

  When you need to confront someone, would you rather communicate in person, on the phone, e-mail or letter? In what situation do you find yourself “ walking on eggshells ” ?        I would rather confront someone in person but is not always possible.  Often words aren ’ t read the way they are intended or said verbally. Recently I had (well still in the process) a confrontation with my oldest son who constantly gives off verbal vibes that he would like to take his life in a new direction. I know he isn ’ t happy about his current situation but only seems to TALK about change rather than ACTING upon changing.  He reads my advice in a different way than I am telling him – though I don ’ t imagine talking with him in person would help out our situation.  He doesn ’ t bother to follow any council that Richard and I have given him or will continue to give him. He had said that he wanted to move to Oregon.   His wife believes that they can ob...

                 I don ’ t believe we ’ ve yet broken 100 degrees – though it feels like we came close today.  I am soooooo soooooo tired.  Until tonight, I have slept with the windows open.  Usually I can ’ t because of the temperature and the smoke.  How blessed we are right now.  The heat makes me feel so worn out. 

              Most of the games that I play on my kindle are word games.   There are two that will provide a list of four words and it is up to the player to figure out what the four words have in common.   One list that came up was DEFEAT LOSER DISASTER ZERO Twelve letters appear at the bottom with seven spaces above.   I was to come up with a seven letter word using the letters below.   I came up with FAILURE and thought just because one is defeated does not make him/her a failure.   Just because one loses a game does not make him/her a zero.   My next set of words was PROSPEROUS PROVIDENTIAL LUCKY GOOD Once again I was given a choice from twelve letters to come up with an eight letter word which was FORTUNATE One set of words had such a negative vibe while the next list was positive.    Just thought it was interesting and thought I’d share.

           Richard has been watching several reruns from the 70 ’ s.  We were watching a “ Quincy ” with the topic of down syndrome and ignorance.  It reminded me a bit of the controversy of abortion.  My obstetrician had advised me (or maybe suggested) that I might want to consider an abortion given my age and the statistics that made it probable that I would be carrying a child with down syndrome.          I remember feeling resentment at the suggestion.   So what?   If my child had down syndrome he or she would still be a blessing to our family.   God entrusted the baby into my care and I would definitely care for him or her.   It wouldn ’ t have mattered.   I would have loved the child regardless.   We have been so blessed with Jaime who does not have down syndrome.           Regardless of their physical appearance or their a...

         For those of my readers who are unfamiliar with baptisms for the dead, this site will be helpful information          I was asked to join a group of ward members to go down to Medford Temple with our newest member.   I had gone with the youth a few times but had never physically been in the font since I had lived in Utah.         I had ridden in the car with our former RS president and our newest member.   On our way down the car encountered something – though none of us seemed to know what it was.   It felt like a pothole.   Our driver continued driving hoping to make it to the next exit.   Unfortunately the tire lost all air and he didn ’ t wish to continue driving on the rim.   We were a quarter of a mile from the rest area.         Fortunately the tire was on the passenger ’ s side and he managed to remov...

          The other day I went to the hair salon to get my hair cut and colored.  I had  made an appointment for 8:00 but had forgotten I had made it for that time and did not show up until 9:00.  I think the stylist was mad – which she had reason to be.  I was upset with myself – and here I ’ ve been taking this Prevagen (which by the way does not seem to be working; at two dollars a pill, I would think my mind would have cleared that first day).          She said she ’ d color my hair and reset the appointment for my haircut.   But it was the cut I needed more than the coloring. I had purchased only one bottle of hair coloring and was willing to try it by myself – but with less hair.   She agreed to cut me and commented on the thickness and length of my hair.   She then read the directions of the hair dye I had purchased and proceeded to get it ready to add to my head.   I was...

          I didn ’ t want to jinx things by saying something sooner but the news this morning said we can expect a warmer hot forecast next week. And surely by the end of the month.  After all what is a Myrtle Creek summer fest without scorching temperatures? The weather and elements have awesome for about two or three weeks.   June had up and down temperatures but seemed quite pleasant for the most part.   Mornings are always cold and then it cools off at night.   I don ’ t even think it hit the 70s yesterday.   That was nice.   The rain isn ’ t so bad.   Better than the blazing sun. I honestly don ’ t remember the low temperatures this late in the year.   When I looked at the map there were only seven fires in the entire state.   None up and down I5.   I wish it would stay that way.   I wish the dark skies would always be due to moisture and never smoke.   I wish to breathe in the clean air alway...