Gifts

On Labor Day we went to Williams-Sonoma so Jenny could use a gift card she got as a wedding gift. I don't usually frequent that store for a couple of obvious reasons: I don't really like to cook, and everything is a bit on the pricey side. But while browsing there I came across this beautiful bowl - okay, I'll admit it caught my eye first because it was blue and second because it's made of gothic arches! But then I read the fine print and realized it was also quite functional, as a fruit bowl, and it can be heated in the oven and will keep napkin-covered rolls warm on the dinner table. I didn't buy it then, but kept it in the back of my mind. Well, I wasn't the only person who remembered. Last night when my dear husband and I went to Maglebys for dinner and had a 30-minute wait he said, "Let's walk over to Williams-Sonoma and get you that bowl." What a sweetie!

Speaking of gifts, I never posted a picture of this most beautiful Nativity set that my dear husband got me last Christmas. It's so lovely I can't bear to put it away, so we have a bit of Christmas all year long.

I'm one lucky girl to have such a kind and generous husband.

A Dream Come True

Years ago, before I starting keeping a file of decorating ideas, and in fact before I recognized my obsession for blue and white, I saw in a magazine a picture of a red rattan chair with blue/white cushions. I hadn't thought of it for years, but the other night I dreamed of that picture. So I got to looking around my house and realized I had some chairs, not rattan mind you, yet with possibilities. So I purchased spray paint and fabric and voila!

Here are the "before" pictures:



The red rocking chair was just in for a touch-up. And here is the coolest tool for using spray paint, especially for a person with an incapacitated pointer finger:

I recognize that the title of this post is a little over the top, but the inspiration did come in a dream . . .

What I've Been Up To (or anything to not have that picture of my chubby hand)

First of all I wanted to post these cute pictures of my NY gkiddies on their first days of school. Wow, do I miss them!


























Next here is what I did with that giant zucchini that I grew in my garden: I made zucchini bread and grated and packaged the rest to freeze for future zucchini bread.












And finally, today I changed the front porch decor from Fourth of July to Fall. I decided to wait until after September 11, because it's a patriotic day, too.

Booboo on My Finger

Earlier in the week my right pointer finger started hurting. At first I thought I must have a sliver, but couldn't find anything. It just kept getting worse, red and swollen and that kind of deep pain that makes you nauseous, so I finally went to the doctor. I felt stupid going to the doctor with a "sore finger" but he took me seriously and got an x-ray and blood work. We were thinking maybe gout. Well, today I got a call with the diagnosis: a fracture! I have no idea when I got injured enough to break a bone ~ but apparently I did. So I get to wear this lovely splint for two weeks and return to the doctor. Crazy!

La Caille

A year ago we got a gift certificate to La Caille, the most expensive restaurant in Salt Lake City. So on Friday August 29th we joined with the other two lawyers at Morinda and had a lovely evening out. The food was delicious and the company delightful and the surroundings just beautiful!

My Three Sons

Today my three grown-up sons worked hard for me in the yard. First we trimmed the front bushes and then they pulled off the ivy that has been growing on the back of the house for over ten years. I'm guessing that you're supposed to trim it more often than that! It was growing into the wood trim on the eaves and the guys really had to work hard to pull it free of the house. It took two truck loads to the dump to dispose of the ivy they pulled off the house!

Todd pushing it off the roof

The final clean-up

A bonus was that it was so great to see and hear my boys working together and enjoying one another.

Thanks, guys!

55 on the 5th

Happy Birthday to my dear husband, Richard! It's kind of like a magic birthday ~ he gets two ~ 5 on the 5th and 55 on the 5th. He is a dear and kind man who loves God and his family. He is generous to a fault and has a gift with words, whether speaking or writing; he is always inspiring.


This is a picture we took in Geneva, Rich is pointing to the work "bijoux" - it's a silly word that Rich and Connor laugh about. Behind him is "schmuck," also a pretty silly word. That's another reason we love Rich ~ his sense of humor. He keeps our family laughing and not taking life too seriously. In fact, he's not above making "poo" jokes to get a laugh from the grandsons!

I love you!