Beneath the Wraps

I vaguely remember the toaster oven that my mom had purchased.   I thought it was a neat device for making things crisp.   One year, after being dissatisfied with the way the reheated pizza crust came out in the microwave, I had asked Roland for a toaster oven. The particular modle he had purchased was far more sophisticated than my mom’s had been.   I believe there were five settings to reheat, toast, broil and actually cook food.   But not an entire meal for three people.   I didn’t dislike the toaster oven, but it wasn’t as fast as I believed my mom’s had been.   I had thought the waiting time had been longer than the microwave but not much more than an actual toaster.   I now believe it is equivalent to an actual oven.   Perhaps there is less wattage involved.   I don’t know.   My main desire for the toaster oven was to toast things that were too fat or messy for the actual toaster – but without the wait of an actual oven. ...

          Shortly after we had moved in, a neighbor from across the street introduced himself to me.   He told me if we ever needed anything we could call him.   I think he was genuine in his heart, but his poor body was not in great shape.   He needed a ramp to get in and out of the house and was in no condition to climb our hill to inspect the house.   He had asked what changes had been done.   Because I had never seen the house before it went on the market, there was really no way to compare it but I don't know that he could visualize what I had tried to explain.          I could see that he was in pain as he hobbled out to the mailbox and back to the house.   I don't remember seeing him after that.   I think his children must have taken turns moving in for a while as I would see others go out to retrieve the mail or be out in the yard or what have you.   They would come and s...

            Have you ever made plans to do something only to have your plans fall through so whatever you had planned falls into the cracks and ends up not being done at all - but in the long run it turns out to be for the better?   Let me give you an example:   After our backyard neighbor had passed away, his wife has been getting rid of tons of stuff.   I don't know if she's sold anything or if she has just given it away.   In our case it has been given.             Roland and I had built a hot house ( here ) and used concrete bricks to line our beds (both donated by the neighbor) Roland started cantaloupe seeds in the greenhouse before moving them to this bed.   They seem to be doing well.              She'd also given a doll house kit to Jenna.   Now Jenna is not nor ever...

          Saying good-bye is not always a bad thing.  Especially when it only invites clutter and chaos.  In 1985 I was on my mission.   It was my second Christmas in the mission field and my family decided to send me a tape and king size card with greetings from various friends and neighbors from my home ward.             A 22X25 poster paper was purchased and folded in half.  My family decorated the front with pictures which represented my personality – a picture of Baloo and Mowgli from Jungle Book (I love Disney’s animated version of that show) Ziggy ,   a picture of ceramic nativity set, trees and flower in bloom, dance shoes, real mountains ( Utah mountains ,    not the hills of Virginia where I served) the Salt Lake Temple, dolls, golden plates , scripture  paintings  , and musical icons.     ...

It will be a while before my next post – as I have TONS of photos and scrapbooking to go through.  I just simply don’t have the room for storing them – at least not the hard bound books (and there are many) but do have room on some drives to insert in the computer. Blessed are they who can discard without sentimental attachment – for they don’t have to dejunk later on.  Their lives are made easier because they don’t save every little item.  They don’t have decades of clutter. As Corey had mentioned in a previous post     Ellen and Nate have decided to throw out a bunch of mom’s junk.   And granted, it does look nicer than I think it has ever looked – and seems inviting.   But at the exact same time, it’s not           I haven’t lived in mom’s house for over 11 years  but had always felt at home there.  I paid for the microwave that is in the kitchen.  I paid for the over-the-to...