More Photo's for class

These are more photos for my class- Assignment # 6

Fear and Hobby

Time and Feet

Peace and Youth

Smiles

Photography Class Assignments

ASSIGNMENT # 5

These are some photo's I took for my photography class- I hope you all like them, let me know what you think... Top Left- Rules Of thirds T. Right- Avoid Mergers- Middle Left- Lines M. Right- Balance- Bottom Left- Natural Framing- Bottom Right- Simplicity

Sunday Changes

It turned out pretty good on Sunday. I still didn't feel great, I laid around and coughed most of the day, but it seemed to help me feel better. Kari surprised me by coming home early from Provo and spent the day. Cresta and her kids showed up and went to church with Curt and Kari then came home and fixed me the best dinner! I have not felt like eating the last few days, but her lazagna was excellant! I am so glad that she came to visit. She got to go see grandma and grandpa then went to see Stacie and visit with her and Ally. That always makes her day. Those cousins just round out her life! Extended family adds just the right touch, doesn't it? It would be sad if you weren't able to have family ties. How would it be to be the only member of your family in the place that you live? I know that a lot of people live that way, but I think it would be a horrible. I haven't had contact with a lot of my cousins for years, I don't even know where some of them are. I'm glad that my family has the chance to see and get to know their cousins!
I have to add a kind of funny story... Cresta and her kids gave me a bottle of blackberry honey for my birthday. I was excited, because we had just had raspberry honey last week at "Me and Lou's" in Malad, Idaho. I brought it in this morning to have on my english muffin. I am so glad that I read it more... it was hand soap!!!! I never would have known until I bit into it. That would have been horrible! The hand soap part was written in tiny letters under the big label that said Blackberry Honey! That should teach me to really read the labels before I eat ANYTHING! I bet I would have sworn off honey forever! (Sometimes I really wonder about myself!)

Birthday Blues

Well, I'm officially in my senior years, but what fun I am going to have from now on!
It really isn't fun to be home sick during your day, even though they haven't mattered for years. I had to get a rain-check on going out to lunch with Wyatt, Jim, and Shauntae. They did come and visit, though, so I'm glad for that.
I often wonder why things happen the way they do. I was so proud of not catching anything this winter. I guess pride really is a downfall. So, I'm either freezing or so hot I can't breathe. Curt said he hopes that I don't mind if he ignores me today. I really should have said yes, that I do mind being ignored, but I didn't. I know he wants to be healthy to take take of his mom and dad. I am just feeling sorry for myself, home alone and feeling so crappy. Thank goodness for Gina and her phone call that got my mind on other things. (Some I wish we didn't need in our lives, others wonderful!)
At least it is a little sunny outside and I can look out and see the rays. I'm loving having the fireplace changed over to a gas log, I can turn it off and on all I want. It fits the mood my body is in at the time.
I was so happy when my grandkids called and sang happy birthday to me. It's a very neat feeling to know that they care and are willing to do that to make my day happy. Brooky, Molly and Dalan really get in to the singing thing! It's fun to hear the smiles in their voices when they talk to me. Dalan is quite upset that we let Brooklyn stay with us two nights and he didn't get to come. School gets in the way some times when you are 6 and want to go to grandpas! He is his grandpas helper. I think he would rather be with him than almost anyone else.(except his mom and dad of course!)
This is helping me get over the sentimental part of the day, whoever started the blog thing really hit on to something!

Painting Day

I got to go to Molly's today and help her Primary class do a watercolor painting. I was very impressed by what they can do. Cresta is going to send me the photos, then I'll post them. I decided to put in one of my more recent watercolors for now. Curt thinks it looks like E.T. on a stool. I have asked adults and kids what it is. I have had a few adults who can see what it is, and most of the kids see it right away! I thought it was pretty funny when I saw the photo and I just wanted to try to capture it!
I had a lot of fun watching the girls figure out what to do with the colors and paintbrushes. Some were really quick to pick up on it, and some didn't want to listen and did their own thing! (Aren't we all like that?) I'm glad that they invited me down, anyway. It gave me a chance to paint a little while I was there! Now.. to find the time to finish it!

Grandparents day

I just got back from grandparents day with Bailey! It is so neat to see what these kids can do now. The classes sang for us, we ate ( It was actually pretty good this time!), and then toured the school and classes. Bailey was an excellant tour guide! The whole lunch room was filled up with family members of the the third grade classes. It's no wonder they have to have separate days for the grades, there wouldn't be room for the rest of the school. They made each of us a President's Day hanging to take home, mine is on my door with the rest of my grandkids artwork. Days like this make me smile. I love to be involved with these kids. I'm glad that I live close enough to go to these special events with them. I even got to go to one with Gina's son and it was pretty special to be introduced as "Grandma Chocolate Milk". The teacher even knew what he was talking about. He has called us that since he was tiny, because we had hot chocolate when he would visit. Life is good, expecially when you spend it with Grandkids!

Trial and Error..

I have been bugging everyone about how to get music on this site.. after about 3 hours of trial and error I finally got it to work. I won't be able to tell anyone else how I did it, since I have tried so many other things. I'm just glad that it finally worked! Now I just have to try and remember in case I need to do it again!
We got to spend a great afternoon with our family in Logan. Brad got home from his mission and it was so neat to see him and his family. A mission has a way of maturing a person, and it shows on Brad. He was always such a good looking young man, now he is a good looking older young man! He lost forty pounds while he was away. I didn't think he had that much that he could lose, but he did and he looks great. He hasn't gotten used to being home yet, but I bet it won't take too much time to be back in the swing of things. I just remember how I felt when my boys got home from their missions, I expect his mom is feeling that same relief at having him home and the same questions on what his life will be like now! He has a great family and he'll do fine!
Kari got to fly to Pocatello, Idaho today. It was a beautiful, sunny winter day. I bet it was so pretty up there looking down on the snow and seeing it from that height. While she was flying, we were driving to Malad to look at some land. We had our beautiful grandson with us ( and his parents, too) ! He is such a good, happy boy. He hardly made a noise the whole time we were gone. I swear I can hear him say words already! At ten months he is pretty smart! (I know, I'm pretty prejudiced when it comes to my grandkids!)
Anyway, we had a great time. I imagine it will seem like tomorrow when he gets ready for his mission and I won't believe how fast the time went!
Life just keeps on moving on, doesn't it?

On excerise and losing weight...

Being told to lose 30 pounds or not live to see my grandkids grow has motivated me to take care of myself. I never knew how much fun exercise could be. I haven't done well on the losing weight part (eating gets in the way of that). But, I am feeling a difference in the energy level. I took different classes at the gym this week to see just what ones I would like to stick with. I have to tell you, the instructors probably were honing up on their C.P.R. while they watched me turn beet red and sweat a river on the floor of the gym, thinking that they would have to revive me at any time! It challenged me, to say the least. I loved the way it made me feel to know that I could actually do some of the exercises. I guess old people can move, too! The first class was a body sculpting one. I thought my legs and arms were going to quiver right off. The next day I took a Yoga, Pilates mix. I decided the Sculpting class wasn't so bad after all! The next day it was called bits and pieces. A little of all styles... The yoga class wasn't too bad, then. The next day I did "Silver Sneakers" with all us older people... I actually made it through that one with enough strength to do a yoga class right after. ( These classes are geared at a slower pace, so it was pretty easy compared to the others) Saturday was Turbo Boxing... I thought this one was so fun, even though I didn't know the moves and couldn't keep up, it will be easier next time because I learned some of the steps. On the other day I just did the upper body strength and treadmill. I have to say that the staff at the gym are so nice and supportive. The other class members didn't even laugh at me (at least not out loud!!!) I really needed to find some strength in me, and this is helping. It does take a big chunk of time out of my day, I'm hoping I will see some more difference in the weight part soon. It took 55 years to put it on, I know now that it will take longer than a month to get it off! I may not be keeping up on the household stuff, it can wait until I'm in better shape and can do it all

Valentines Day

It's another Valentines Day at the house. Curt gave me some pretty miniature roses that are a dark peach color. Sometimes he surprises me. It's nice to be remembered even after 35 years! Before we got married, I had a bridal shower and so many of the people gave advice. The one I heard most was to always be in love and act like it. I can see the wisdom now that I've seen this many years! It is too easy to get complacent in a relationship. So, I guess I'm glad that Valentines Day comes around, even if it is so commercialized. It gives you a chance to tell the people you love how you really feel about them! I hope that I will always remember to keep the fun in marriage! ( I know I get onery too much!) Then I won't need a special day, everyone will know just by the way I act!

Birthdays and phones???

I went to Kari's yesterday and helped celebrate her birthday. She doesn't want to grow up! I told her that she was the best old young person that I knew! We had quite a day... we were going to get her a phone for the big day, since her old one fizzled. We spent time looking and picking out some, then found out that she couldn't trade up. We went back to her apartment and got an old phone that a friend had given her and the nice guy transfered her information on to it. It only took THREE HOURS to transfer her photo's and contacts. I swear she had a million pictures and tons more contacts. She made a new friend there...after talking to him for the whole time!
I swear that we are lost without our phones. I couldn't believe how many texts she had waiting when she finally got it running. What did we ever do without these handy little devices? (We visited face to face or on the home phone when we got home!)
Anyway, we had a great day and a wonderful lunch at Hamilton's. My first time there. Their Creme Brulee is to die for. (Even though I will have to do hours worth of exercise to work it off!)
I guess being the youngest and getting to be twenty is a big step. I am getting older, though not quietly. It's good to see my family growing and enjoying life.

I just figured out how to put photo's in here, so I thought I'd try! Now I just have to figure out how to edit my post's so there are no missing letters! As you can see, the family is growing! As I said before, this family is what is keeping me going. They are everything that is important in life. I'm so happy when they are all together and enjoying each other. It gets crowded and noisy and so much fun to watch the comings and goings. The extended family comes sometimes to visit and they make my day when they visit. When you lose siblings in your family, you come to realize how short life can be and it makes you want to do better with the time you have left!

So, I have made some changes in my life and they are making me see parts of me that aren't great and others that I'm glad about. Thanks to my great family I am learning how to take better care of myself so that I will be around for my grandkids. Jenny and I are going to the gym and I am finding out how out of shape I am. I have tried to pretend to myself that I am o.k. but that can only go on so long! I have gotten addicted to the feeling I have after I exercise! I hate to miss a day at the gym, even the ones when I have to hold on to the walls of the building to get to my car. I have parts that I never knew could hurt!!! Someday I will be able to see effects from the work, I am looking forward to that! I'm sure glad that my kids are smarter than me and have taken care of themselves. It's also nice to have kids that have been trained in health and exercise that can help me move along the path. By the way... Jenn is one tough woman... she can exercise when I am panting and telling her I'm done. She inspires me everytime we exercise together. (Jessica went with me one day and I couldn't keep up with her!) Watch out girls... I'm going to be borrowing your clothes pretty soon.
I am spending more time perfecting some hobbies. That has been challenging and rewarding, too! I have a long ways to go, but I'm learning a lot. I have some really great friends that go to some of the classes with me. It's alot more fun when you have someone to talk to about what you are learning. I am especially loving a photography class that I'm doing now. It's been great learning more and being able to use the grandkids for models.

Karen's Corner

Thanks Ally for telling me about this. Well, here goes, my first time to Blog. We are doing great, just sold our farm and trying to find land to roll over into. What a change for us. We are still the same, we just have a lot of planning to do to get things in order again. The kids are excited about some of the prospects, we're just waiting to see what happens. Life can throw some curves that you never expect, some good, some bad, some that are good have bad things with them and some of the bad have good outcomes, so they are all blessings. Our family is moving on and growing up. I love watching my grandkids grow and change and find out what life is about. I never knew being a grandma could be so fun! Each new addition adds new adventure and excitement to our lives. We have so much to be thankful for. I hope we can see what we have and enjoy it for the rest our lives!