The Art of Kerry Soper

While perusing the Internet one evening I came across this art work by Kerry Soper. Aren't they lovely? The picture above is the Manti Temple where I was married and the one below is a kitchen cabinet from somewhere in his mind. The colors are so soft and inviting to look at. I forgot to get the address but you can 'google' him and see more of his wonderful work.

This little cupboard looks so homey to me. I know we're not suppose to covet but I have to admit I covet this fellow's talent. I 'see' things in my mind I would like to create but I can't make it come out the ends of my fingers. What a lovely talent the Lord has give Kerry Soper.

Mr. Soper, I'm told these are some of my talents, I'm a great organizer, listener, worker, I can see things not for what they are but what they can become. Want to trade any of these for yours?

Happy Birthday Cheyenne

On the morning of April 11, 1966 I began labor with my first child. I spent the day at my parents home, hubby and I decided he would go to work and I would call when the time came to go to the hospital. After all, it was my first baby, two weeks early, and what did I know?

Around 5 pm labor intensified and after speaking with my OB's nurse we decided to go to the hospital. After a call to the hubby my folks took me to the hospital where upon the Daddy-to-be arrived about 45 mins. later. I continued to labor through the evening and finally at 11:43 pm

our daughter, a 7 lb 5 oz, 19" long bundle of joy arrived. Cheyenne came into the world with wild coal black hair, black eyes, and a rosebud of a mouth.

My mother said, "Look at that hair, it'll never lay down. She didn't get that hair from my side of the family. That's that North of Ireland hair...she got it from your father. That's the kind of hair you see on Presbyterians. If you had married a proper Limerick man she wouldn't have this standing-up-North of Ireland Presbyterian hair." Then she spat on the child's head to try and make her hair lay down.

Ok, I added this tale about my Mom for effect but it sounded pretty good didn't it?

All that wild black hair eventually fell out and it came back white as snow and those black eyes turned brown which eventually turned green with brown flecks.

You were such a happy beautiful baby; I couldn't have asked for a better 'first' baby than you were.

Cheyenne, you are still sweet and beautiful and a joy to have as a daughter. I cannot imagine my life without you.

I'm so grateful to Heavenly Father for allowing me to be your earthly mother, I don't know what I did to deserve that but I do appreciate it and I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHEYENNE, I LOVE YOU . . .

Your Mom

Love . . .

I love my family with all my heart. My husband is a prince and my children & grandchildren are jewels. But alas, I must admit there is something that ranks right up there with the prince and the jewels . . .

Mmm hmm, that's what I'm talkin' bout . . . cake!
You heard me . . . C-A-K-E

I love cake. I have been known to eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. I'm just daring that way, it doesn't matter a tittle what time of the day or night it is, I love cake.

I don't know if I have a favorite or if it's whatever kind is on the end of my fork at the moment. I eat all kinds, colors, shapes and textures. I like it hot, cold, plain, or frosted. I love it with no filling, cream filling, or fruit filling. I like it square, oblong, round, and bundt. I like it single layer, double layer or in a trifle. I like it with milk and I like it without. I like it just baked or two days old. (Don't snicker it does last two days . . . sometimes.) I just love cake.

The delightful morsel that is pictured is a boxed dark chocolate fudge. I bake it as directed on the box. A couple of minutes before the cake is done I mix up 2 c. milk, a pkg. of instant chocolate fudge pudding and a 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon mint extract. Mint can be strong so TASTE. Don't let the pudding set up. As soon as the cake comes out of the oven poke holes in the top of the cake and pour the slightly thickened pudding over the cake. It will not hold all the pudding. Put the rest of the pudding in the fridge and eat later or suck it up with a straw, don't turn your nose up to this possibility, it's good. Chill cake about two hours.

When thoroughly chilled and you can't stand the pain of waiting any longer cut a nice square, slice down the middle and spread with cool whip or whipped cream or canned whipped cream (the first squirt goes directly into your mouth as a taste test) then spread the same on top. It's essential to eat it on a pretty plate with a pretty napkin.

My dears you will feel like a princess or prince as the case may be. Cake is the food of the gods and since we are all children of our Heavenly Father and He is Deity that would include us.

Do try a square or two of cake this week and see if your disposition doesn't improve and your outlook becomes sunnier and don't forget the pretty plate and napkin.

So long family and friends, have a lovely evening wherever in the world you are.

More Camera Photos

Agfa Ansco
View finder of Kodak Duaflexll

Kodak Duaflexll

Back of Wirgin Camera

Wirgin camera made in Germany...Know anything

about this piece of equipment?

Brownie Six-20

Cameras

I have a couple of daughters who like photography, the younger one would like to take it up as a living one day. I decided to start an old camera collection for fun and display and then pass them on. Here is the beginning of the collection starting with all four lined up.

From l to r. The first is a Brownie Target Six-20. It was made from July 1946 to 1952. This is mine and takes lovely old black and white photos. The film has to be purchased from a camera shop. As do all the following.

The next is a German made Wirgin. I don't know anything else about it, I've looked all over the net and I do find Wirgin but not this particular one.

Next is an Agfa Ansco. Cameras with this name were manufactured between 1928-1943 in Binghamton, NY. Any cameras made after 1943 were labeled Ansco.

Last but not least is a Kodak Duaflex ll, it uses 620 film and was manufactured in Rochester, NY in December 1953. Kodak had an interesting way to date their cameras. They used the word camerosity as the base; c=1, a=2, etc. When you open the back of this camera there is some identification and under that a list of instructions, under that is four letters. This camera has the letters carm which interpreted gives us the numbers 1253. Hence, December 1953.

The last three cameras may have, and probably do, have parts missing. I'm pretty sure the Kodak would have a flash.

Anyway I think they're interesting and fun to look at. I don't have a clue how to open the Agfa Ansco to see the inside of it so one of these days I will go up to the big city to the camera shop and have them take a look see.

A story. . . When I was a little girl a neighbor gave me an old box camera. I use to go around taking pretend photos of people in the neighborhood. After I snapped their picture I would open the box of the camera and take out a photo of a pretty woman or handsome man that I had previously cut out of a magazine. It was a fun pasttime and folks always got a kick out of the 'their' pictures.
See next post for more photos.

Something New . . .

Something new . . .
I'm such a contradiction of terms. I love new things but I'm drawn to the old.

I love the feel of new socks on my feet, a new flannel gown, the shine of a new pair of shoes, the smell of a new car. Newly mown grass, just turned earth, the desert after rain, the sun on a brand new horizon. the skin of a new baby. I like the smell of a new book and how crisp the pages are.

On the other hand, I love how worn shoes feel on my feet once they've molded to my foot, how flannel gowns get softer and softer with wear. The wrinkles on older peoples faces, how the smell of a book and the texture of the pages change after you've read it time and time again.
I like the vibrancy of youth and yet love to visit with older folks and glean wisdom from their experiences.

I like going into furniture stores and looking at the new items on display but given a choice of something brand new or something used and loved I go for the old every time.

I think what I like about old used stuff is it's history, the memories associated with it. In other words something new is only new until you take it home. Once you've put it on or used it it begins to accumulate character, history and a memory.

When I first came here I purchased a French Provincial settee from the Salvation Army for $10.00. I used that settee for a few years then I gave it to a friend who used it for a few years then I had it again and once again gave it back to her. This went on for 14 years. It was solid but slightly worn when I purchased it and only got better until finally we decided to part with it. She passed it on to someone new. I don't know the history of this piece before I bought it but it was loved because it was well cared for. I loved it while it was in my care, my friend loved it while in her care and we hope whoever has it now loves it too.

People are the same way. I love meeting new people and making new friends but my old friends and family are the ones I'm constantly drawn too. They're like that pair of shoes, bright and shiny when new but once lives are melded together through trials, tribulations, love and heartaches there's nothing like it in the world.

Cherish friends, cherish family. Make them comfortable with wear and service, love them, take care of them.

I want my friends and family to know how much they mean to me and how much better my life is because they're in it.

To them and all others have a lovely day wherever in the world you are . . .

I'M BACK. . . .

I know, I know you think I fell off the face of the earth but voila here I am.
I left inJanuary and got back in March. So why didn't I post sooner? I came home S-I-C-K! It took three weeks for my voice to become clear enough for folks to recognize me on the phone. I had bronchitis, sinusitius, tireditis, and weakitis!! My ears were so full of fluid I was dizzy a lot, yes, more than the norm. I'm recovering slowly but surely thank you.

I flew to Arizona stayed two days and flew out to Great Falls, MT on the third. My girl and one of her boys came down to pick me up, I stayed there a few weeks and then back down to AZ. I was staying with another of my girls there and she wanted me to stay an extra week so we went to the airport to see what we could do, I'm sure the Lord had a hand in it, because it didn't cost me anything extra to stay so I did.

The weather in Alberta was SNOW, SNOW and more SNOW! Alas, should I forget, under all the SNOW was ICE! Never-the-less, we burned up the roads. The boys and I stayed up till all hours of the morning watching a couple of series I had never seen before. Cheyenne, from the beginning, has always been an excellent cook. Her husband Keston is an excellent breakfast cook so I was treated with good food, good company, and a good time. Thank you Cheyenne, Keston and boys.
Thank you for the wonderful birthday gifts. Keston, the books are especially grand.

The weather in Arizona was fantabulous! Jan, the grandchildren, and I got to Globe for a day of 'junquing' and had a blast. I love that place. I'm glad Jan has carried on the tradition of junquing and lunch in Globe because it's more than fun...it's an adventure! Jan and the kiddies got me hooked on Hidden Expedition, a PC game, it was so fun. Ms. Morgan is especially good at finding the jewels. Thank you Morgan for all your help, you too boys.
When Jan was first married if she couldn't nuke it she couldn't cook it. I have to say this girl has turned into quite the adventuress in the kitchen. She makes some mean dishes and uses a lot of imagination in her cooking. What I mean by imagination is this; she adds vegetable and fruit purees to her dishes, wonderful spices, and combinations I wouldn't imagine. Jan's husband Greg is also a good cook so again I was treated to good food, good company and a good time. Thank you Jan, Greg, and children. Thank you for the birthday movies, I love them.

My son Chad and his wife Jacinda and their girls hosted my birthday supper with Chad cooking on the grill. M-M-M, it was scrumdidlyumptious! My oldest son Chris was in attendance as well. Chad and Jacinda entertained us with music as well as Chris. Once again, I was treated to good food, good company and a good time. Thank you Chad, Jacinda, girls and Chris.

My girl Brandee had to work while I was there but we all got together one evening at the park for dessert and let me tell you that girl knows how to make cheesecake. It was beyond heavenly. And again, I was treated to good food, good company, and a good time. Thank you Brandee, DJ and boys.

The only one missing was Mark. Wish he and his family lived closer.

So folks, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it. Have a lovely day wherever in the world you are.

Snow!

We woke up this morning with more snow....
Last night as we were leaving Cardston it was 'flurrying' but nothing substantial. This a.m. however is another story. We only have one boy home who has a lacerated kidney so he won't be shoveling snow, K has gone to work and the other boys are in Saskatchewan playing in a tournament, guess who that leaves to shovel snow. . .

There has been a lot of snow in this part of the country and ice on top of it but it's prairie so they can always use the moisture. The prairie here is not like the Heartland prairie, it's so different looking. When we were in Cardston yesterday the Rockies were covered with a blanket of snow head to toe, they were beautiful.

Hope all who are reading NanC's News today are well and happy. Have a lovely day wherever in the world you are. . .

Hello From the Far North

It's me NanC...

I'm still in Canada and will be for a bit more. My girl and I have been busy with the usual things of life. She's made me three skirts while I've been here and if I can find some fabric she will sew me a couple summer skirts. We'll see...

My grandson with the lacerated kidney went in for an ultrasound yesterday but no news yet. We're praying for the best. He is so ready to get back to his life. He loves his mom and grandma but I don't think we would be his first choice to spend ALL his time with.

Valentine's day is Saturday and I'm still trying to figure out what happened to Christmas 2007. Is the time flying or is my perception off because I'm getting older and death is around the corner?

Sweet Man is on his way to Ohio this morning and then to who know where. He was supposed to go to Gatesville, TX but there was a change of plan and I'm so glad or he would've been in the middle of the Oklahoma tornado with the location he would have started from. I do believe the Lord watches out for that man. He's missed more than one accident and weather catastrophe.

We're on our way to Cardston this a.m. so will close for now.
Have a lovely day wherever in the world you are.

On the Road

Good morning, it's me...NanC.

I left the Heartland a week ago for Arizona. I stayed there two days and flew out on the third. I'm now in Canada and will be here for a while and then back to AZ for a short bit and then home.

It's been fun getting to see family. My Canadian girl is doing ok but definitely not herself. Her youngest son went snowboarding just before I got here and had an accident. He lacerated his right kidney and is home for a while. It's hard to see your babies ill or hurt. Please keep Cheyenne and Dillon in your prayers.

It's cold here today with a lot of ice on the roads and snow on the ground. Albeit, it's melting slowly. It's overcast here today and the wind is b-l-o-w-i-n-g!

I talked with Sweet Man this morning and he is dropping a load in Cedar Rapids and heading home. I'm hoping I will have a bit more bathroom completed when I get home. That would be heaven. We have been sleeping in the downstairs guest room while our upstairs bathroom is being remodeled. It's such a slow process since Sweet Man is on the road so much.

Thanks Kenny and Sarah for house sitting while I'm gone.

Have chores to do so will sign off for now. Have a lovely day wherever in the world you are....

Out to Lunch Bunch

6 of us 'girls' met at Burger King for lunch as I mentioned in an earlier post. We ate and visited for sometime. It was quite nice to be together and get to know each other in a different light. We then went to church. Two of the sisters worked on their own personal pieced/quilted wall hangings. Another sister showed up at church as we were starting so we five, Peggy, Anita, Sue, Vickie and myself, tied a fleece blanket and put together a crib quilt. We had the youngest sister with the best eyes do the sewing around the edges, we did it envelope style, and then pinned it. Peg took it home to stitch the top seam and we will tie it next time we get together.

Our sister Sue gave us some ideas for some new service projects today. She has recently graduated from nursing school and has access to some places that would prosper with assistance from time to time. She has graciously offered to make us a list.

It's so exciting when we work together and share the talents we have. I do have to admit my patriarchal blessing says I have many 'latent' talents. As you know, in the context that it is used in my blessing, the word latent means hidden and let me tell you folks...that is the truth! Mine are so hidden I don't know that I'll ever find them. However, I am blessed to be acquainted with sisters from church that have so many talents , there is nothing they cannot do.

Anyway, I had a fun day and I hope those who participated did too. I hope you had a great day and the sun was shining in your part of the world. We had a skiff of snow when we woke up this morning and I think our high was suppose to be 34. It's been flat gray skies all day and gloomy. Tomorrow is a brand new day so we'll hope for sunny skies and fair winds.

Good night to one and all wherever in the world you are.

Life Questions

I've gotten away from the Life Questions I started and wanted to restart today.

20. Write about your best Thanksgiving.
21. What were some of the chores you did as a child.
22. What is the thing you love most about your mother.

I'm so looking forward to today, it's our Out to Lunch Bunch at 11:30 and then to church to tie a fleece blanket and put together a crib quilt. It's so fun to meet with the sisters in our branch, visit, and work together on a project. It's lovely to see talent in action.

You have a lovely day and use your talent wherever in the world you are.

It's 2009!

How can that be? Do you remember the big hoopla when 2000 was approaching and how everything was in an uproar? Would the banks work, would the pc clocks turn over, would prices go beyond the moon? Here we are nearly a decade past it and we're all still living, breathing, and paying taxes.

Why do we get in such a dither I asked myself. We surely shouldn't if we know the Gospel and how it works. We have a prophet to guide and direct us, scriptures to guide and direct us and the Spirit to assure us. What do we have to fear? I think nothing IF we are living the gospel to the very best of our ability and making good choices. Those good choices must be led by pondering, prayer and listening for confirmation or negation of the Holy Ghost. I don't even entertain the thought that I 'know' Heavenly Father's plan for the universe. He's in charge of the big stuff, I'm only in charge of me through His good graces.

That last sentence has had me pondering for days about what I would like to accomplish this coming year. A brand new year with no mistakes in it, a clean slate. In my opinion, and this is the gospel according to Nanc so don't quote it, principle of the gospel is R-E-P-E-N-T-A-N-C-E. We get to wipe our slate clean ALL the time when using this principle correctly and OFTEN. I'm so thankful for my brother and Savior Jesus Christ and how He has made this possible for you and me. I don't exactly understand how it works I just know it does and I'm grateful for it. It would be extremely foolish not to take advantage of this magnificent gift.

With that in mind, my number one goal this year is coming even closer to my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through diligent study of the scriptures, temple attendance, prayer and repentance.

I'm a weak vessel and I'm the first one to admit it. I probably will have days I won't have this goal upper most in my mind and that's ok, I'm human. What I do know for a certainty is there is a new day tomorrow and it is fresh and clean with no mistakes in it and I can begin again. I don't want anyone to think we can continually put off what we should be doing today because eventually our tomorrows will run out here on earth.

I would like to invite you to take this journey with me, to come closer to our Heavenly Father and our brother Jesus Christ, to get to know them personally and feel their love, compassion, and charity for us. I bear testimony to you that if you will do this your life will open like a flower. It will be sweeter, happier and more joyful.

WARNING: If you take this journey it does not mean you will not be tempted, tried or have problems BUT I can assure you that you will be better able to overcome the obstacles in your path and if you endure it well you will be blessed beyond measure.

I wish you a happy, prosperous, and sweet New Year wherever in the world you are

The Travelin' Trio Are Home

Just want to let everyone know the boys are home. They made it safely and I will be posting story and photo sometime soon. They are still sleeping....jet lag. Have a lovely day wherever in the world you are.

The Trio Arrived

The boys arrived at the airport outside of Bethlehem this morning and met with the three guys who were going to see the new kid in town too. The three men called themselves The Three Wise Men. Roger said he could understand that since him, Roger, and Rudy call themselves the Travel' Trio. Rudy said the men had camels for them to ride too but the boys all agreed they were keeping their furry little feet on the ground. Robert said those camels are nasty creatures and quite unrefined. He said they hiss and spit and are downright mean. The boys said these three wise men were dressed to the nines and had stuff called gold, frankincense and myrrh for the baby. The boys were worried about not having a gift for the child but decided it would be ok. After traveling a couple of hours the wise men spotted a star over this little spot and they all stopped. Roger said these animals were looking in with awe and wonder. The place was filled with light and there was a wonderful- quiet -calm feeling permeating the entire area. The inside of the little place was filling up so fast that the mother, a lady named Mary and her husband Joseph, brought the baby outside for some fresh air. After the wise men parked their camels they and the boys went forward to meet the newborn babe.

Robert said in this photo you can see the wise men (on the left) who led them to their destination, the mother Mary, her husband Joseph, a sweet little girl angel named Ruby and the babe himself. You can see from the photo that the boys were enthralled with the wee one. Rudy told me that this was one special little boy, that he glowed with light and you could feel the love radiating from him even though he was a bit of a lad.

The boys asked Mary, the mom, if they could get a photo of just the family and themselves with the babe and she sweetly gave them permission to do so.

You would have to know my little friends Rudy, Roger, and Robert to understand what they told me and I am about to tell you. They are rambunctious-little- devil-may cares at times, refined when necessary, quite inquisitive, always loving, kind and generous.

This is what they said. . .

All three of them bore testimony that this magnificent little boy was indeed the Son of God, that He came into the world to save all of us who would be saved. That one day he would visit a garden called Gethsemane and take upon himself the sins of the world and then be crucified. That on the third day He would rise and ascend to His Father and then return for a brief period to earth as a resurrected being. He told, though the boys said there were no words spoken but somehow it came into their minds, the things he wanted them to know and to tell others.

He said to tell the people to repent and come unto Him, that He was the way, the truth, and the light that no man could ascend unto the Father but by Him.

Those are a few of the things the boys related in their latest email. More will follow when they get home.

Rudy said to see the face of that sweet boy was worth all that they went through to get there. They were so full of joy I could feel it in their email.

Bethlehem is much later than we are and the boys were going to go to bed but they wanted me to tell you good night and sweet dreams. They were pretty sure they were going to have sweet dreams tonight themselves. They are staying one more day and then heading home.

Good night sweet boys, you've had a big day. We, your friends from the kitchen, are anxious for you to get home, we have missed you and your wit and can't wait to hear more about your friend you call Jesus.

And to the rest of you in the world, wherever you are, we wish you a good night