PS Elaboration on a Fantasy of Our House

 

 

  

 

I just want to share my fantasy about living in our home in Poky, if that's where Mark ends up working; it would be so wonderful to have the money to finish up what needs fixing up and finishing.
I would want to make the heat go all through the house - right now it goes through half the house!
And we would want to fix all the irrigation on the property.  And make sure the fences were good.

Then I would get one of our neighbors that has a backhoe to scrape up the rocks by the driveway, so the grass can grow there, too.  And I'd have him scrape and level the yard, bring some good dirt in if he could, and we would start over on the lawn.  I also want ramps and pressed concrete paths out to raised bed vegetable gardens that I can access.  And I want the porch rail finished up, a swing on the porch (the old-fashioned kind), and window boxes that hang on the porch railing.  I also want a new front door!

I want a curved sidewalk going out to the road from the front door.  Wouldn't that be cute?  And I might paint the shutters and main gable of the house a blue/slate grey color.  Wouldn't all of that be pretty?  Maybe a window box in the kitchen window, too.

I would have a trex deck out the back (the concrete pad is bad about funneling moisture to the house).

I would have the wiring checked, and also have some plumbing errors fixed while I was at it.  I'd build in shelves and cabinets in the kitchen for Mark, right where we had his cookbook shelves.  I would put mop and broom-holders in the utility room, and things to keep the pets fed and watered automatically.  Also, an automatic litter scooper!  (Remember, this is my fantasy!)  Once we don't have Leto or Tut, I think we won't have a dog that sheds next time - or an indoor kitty.  Either that, or we'll have to take them for grooming down at Petco, lol.

I would see about more hose attachments too.  Right now there is only one, way on the far side of the house.

 I want to get all the junk out of the pasture, if any, and reseed that, too.    I want to have a beautiful pasture and fence.  And then I want to build a little red barn at the front of the pasture, with a little hay storage, a stall and an area with cross ties, storage for tack or grooming supplies (I might keep the tack in the house!), some shelter, and a little chicken house area, perhaps.

Then I would get a donkey or POA or mule that was dead-broke, for me to ride around on and strengthen my trunk and legs.  We might even get a handcart of some kind, for use if we had to.

I would want to fix the basement better, for cold storage and such.  I would help our fruit trees and plant a few more, and maybe have bees?  I don't know what that involves.  Also, grape vines and a couple of nut trees and raspberry bushes and strawberries, and so on.  we'd have to work that out and see how much room we have.  There is a lot of wasted space in some areas.
If we had more land, we'd have a pig, a couple of goats, some rabbits, and a cow.  I suppose we could still have the goats.  We'd have to be able to hire help with the animals and such-like fantasy-things, lol.

The family could come over and cook out on the deck while the kids played on the paths.  Even if we didn't have so many animals, it would still be so much better and productive too, wouldn't it?  And Darling!  Can't you see it?

I haven't mentioned roses, but we'd probably plant red Knockouts along the drive (or around a lantern at the end of the sidewalk).  They are totally ever-blooming all spring, summer, and autumn, and they are no-care.  You don't get the beautiful, huge, furled roses, but they are great in the landscape.

Then I would get a few huge pots and grow some hybrid teas that we could put in the garage in the winter.  Oh, and we would put our shelves up in the garage and label bins clearly for storage.  Mark would have a workbench and a place for tools, and all the locks would be new and more secure.  (Do Mastiffs shed a lot?)  : )

I'll probably think of more things, like fixing the sound system up, or putting up more towel racks or something.  Also, fixing all the screens and replacing some windows.  Okay, okay...I'll end before I lose this whole thing.
Thanks for reading this!  Give me your ideas, and remember, they don't have to be practical!
'Love you!  See my older post, too.
xoxoxo
PS  I also thought of a flag on the porch post, dedicated craft storage, an office and a guest room, etc.  And the barn having access for a wheelchair, of course.
Tell me about your fantasy houses!

Job Update, Reliv, and a Great Movie

 

Just wanted to let you know that Mark has applied to a place in Ohio now, and he had a phone interview with a big place in Pocatello!  The people at the place here and the one in Boston stay in touch, and he hasn't heard a thing from the place in N. Idaho.
I fantasize about different places, like living near Megan and all the things to do around there, or living back in our house, with more money to fix it up. : )  Or living here with more moola.  Not sure so much about Boston.  It would certainly be an adventure.
I was excited about N. ID, but just because it wasn't so far away, and it sounded like a pretty area.
Anyway, that's the update.

Oh, and Reliv is so wonderful!  I'm not kidding.  It's the best way to get the nutrients your body needs, in my opinion, and it's a great thing to put in your food storage and rotate it.  Just imagine, you could eat whatever and still get your nutrition.  To me, that's such a good thing.
I'm just sayin', I smile so much more when I take Reliv, my stomach and bones and muscles stop hurting, I'm waaay less tired and things seem easy to do, plus I eat way less and don't have cravings all the time.  I feel warm to my fingertips, too, like I have better circulation. And, of course, my hair gets thicker and my nails are stronger when I take it.
Mark takes it too, and he's so much livelier and happy when he does.  He says it takes the edge off of his appetite too.
This isn't a commercial, but it sounds like one.  It really affects our lives, so I've got to say something.  We've been back on it for a matter of days, and it's so profound in its effect.  Crazy.

Also, we went to see the movie, Last Ounce of Courage, with Ben and Linda.  It was a low-budget film, and we were the only ones in the theater at the morning showing (the other time was 10 p.m.).  It was super-good!  A great family film that made me feel so patriotic and I cried so much.  Just great.  Ben and Linda and Mark loved it too, and you should tell your friends about it, because it's an important film about freedom and the sacrifices it requires.

I hope to write a letter to our newspaper editor, to encourage folks to go see it.  The critics gave it zero percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and it does have some cheesy parts, but the audience gave it seventy-seven percent, which is a good average for a conservative-slanted film.
Sooo, take care!  I love you!  Please comment!

xoxoxo

Hurray!

I'm so happy!  Thanks to Megan, I'm in effect getting my stolen saddle and tack back!!!

Happy Dance, Happy Dance, Happy Dance!!!

I've been so sad inside ever since my saddle and tack, etc., were stolen from our home in Chubbuck (while we were working in Las Vegas for a year).  Every time I looked on Craigslist, I checked the saddles for sale, looking for my saddle.  More than anything else that was stolen, that left a huge hole in my heart because it represented my lifelong love for horses, and it also felt like it was important because, in case of disaster, I couldn't traverse rough terrain and would only be able to ride a horse.  I felt that if I had some tack, we might be able to find a horse for me to ride.  Otherwise, I'd be stuck.
But, mostly, I had a sentimental attachment to the saddle I got from George Ellis.

Megan had purchased that saddle, and one other, with me from George; we each kept one later on, and I'd assumed she'd sold her tack when they moved back East.  I was amazed to discover, by a miracle, that she still has her tack and that she is in the process of selling it - and she is letting me pay her later (I insisted that I pay) for her saddle, a bridle, cavesson, and saddle blanket!  Emotionally, it feels as if it's almost the same saddle (Although I would be thrilled, still, to find my old, comfortable saddle, and my halter that belonged to Mitok, my Arabian gelding!  I had used my old saddle on Buddy and Mystique and Jewel, too - hence all the emotional attachment.)

Anyway, thank you, Megan!  I can now look at Craigslist without feeling a heavy sadness in my heart.  I know, it's not like losing a person, and I've been very philosophical about the many things we lost (we never reported it to our homeowner's because Mark thought we might lose our insurance if we did).  But this IS a very happy thing for me, and it validates my feeling that there are no real losses in life - just temporary separations - if we don't lose ourselves in the meantime.

Hugs, and more later!
xoxoxo

Caution and Link

 Please be doing practices of quick escapes with what you need for an evacuation, such as documents, meds., computer discs, 72-hr. kits, etc.  This will help all of us see where we fall short on that.  And don't forget to keep your car's tank full of gas (or oil!).
It will be interesting to see the Conference talks this time.  Have you seen what is happening all over the place?  Disasters, impending disasters, impending wars, ambassadors killed (along with some other great people), the world on fire, etc.

Okay, to change the subject:

http://www.godvine.com/items/Music-22.html

This is the web address Elizabeth posted on facebook, of the guy trying out for the British X Factor, I believe.  It's just great!  Scroll down the page until you get to "Nervous Man..."

More laters!
xoxoxo

Our 9/11

Hello!  I woke up feeling so good yestday!  Mark had me wear a Breath-Rite (?) nasal strip, and it helped me breath so much better when I use a c-pap machine at night!  Isn't that wonderful?

The ward had a fast for Bishop Baird, who's been in the hospital for a week with excruciating back pain.  So awful that he's suffering and they're not sure of the cause.    He's always  so healthy and happy normally, and it's sad to think of him suffering so, but it gives me a sense of the Savior's  suffering for us, in a practical way.  It just makes it easier to grasp how we'll feel when we remember him personally, and we realize his immense sacrifice for our sakes.

Around 1 p.m., Melinda brought her girls over while she went and gave plasma.  They loved, loved, loved playing with the Fischer-Price toys we have for them!  Irelyn was on my lap the whole time, except the last 10 minutes, when she felt brave enough to jabber and stand up holding onto the bed, pulling herself near to Tut.  He'd been a lump under the covers, and had finally meowed a couple of times and squooshed out to the surface.  He was just out of reach, so she turned and touched Mark's back with one finger.  He was at his computer, sending out resumes (still haven't heard back on the job in N. Idaho).  Anyway, all the girls were darling to watch.

Mark had put in Coraline before they arrived and Lainie lay down on the bed to watch, unfolding Tut's fur-covered blankie and snuggling up.  Melinda retrieved her chilluns' just at the scariest part, and Lainie looked a bit concerned as they left.  I assured her that Coraline escapes and is happy to be back with her parents at the end.  She was quite relieved for them!  

All the girls seemed more grown up, but especially Alaina, who starts kindergarten tomorrow.  The boys were at their first day of school already.  

- - -

We hardly thought about the terrorist attack on our country today.  I felt a gratitude, though, to those who had died trying to save others, and those who have fought for our safety since that day.  That night we went to Barnes and Noble for a bit, before we took Leto by Dairy Queen for an ice cream cone.  While there, I read parts of No Easy Day, written by a Navy SEAL who was part of the attack group that went in and killed Osama.  He told how Osama was still convulsing from head trauma when they got to the bedroom where he was.  He lay at the foot of the bed, and they shot him several more times in the chest, till he lay still.

They weren't sure it was Osama till the author of the book wiped the blood from his face and they compared it with the picture they had.  They took DNA samples and photos, but the women there wouldn't say who it was- they said he was "the sheik."  Finally, the author asked a child that was standing with other children, outside on a balcony where they'd been taken.  The little girl said, "Osama Bin Laden," not knowing to lie.  Then one of the women said the same thing.  They SEALS put Osama in a body bag as they left, and took him back to their commander on the ship.  

I stopped reading that part then, and searched for mentions of President Obama: all I found in my cursory search was about  a ceremony where Obama gave a speech acknowledging what they had done.  Afterwards, the author writes, the President said maybe they could come to the White House some time, to share some beers.  When that didn't happen, it was a big disappointment for the author (sorry I don't remember his name right now).  He mentioned it to a buddy, who responded by saying something like, "You believed that bull?  You're probably one of the suckers who voted for change, too!"

And then they dumped him in the sea, an ignominious end for a man who had laughed as he described the attacks on the towers and the Pentagon.  I've seen the video tape of that conversation, which was determined to be authentic, and he clearly thinks it's hilarious that so many suffered and that so many died. 

I have to say that I was glad Osama didn't die instantly, even though he was unconscious when they got to him.  I'm glad the author, one of our U.S. Navy SEALs, got to lift Osama's head and see that it was him.

Somehow I don't feel guilty about my feelings of satisfaction on reading the details of his death.  

Not at all.

                                             

Hey, we did something today!  (The picture above is just a cool-looking cat, 'cause I didn't take any pictures today)  Anyway, we went to the Farmer's Market by the library in Downtown Idaho Falls.  

It has grown so much!  It's on the next block, too, now.  People decorate their booths so creatively and they offer samples.  We tasted Red Clover tea (no caffeine or weird ingredients), spinach dip on pretzels, bread chunks dipped in Greek herbs and olive oil (so subtle and full of the sun), crackers dipped in jalapeno-lime jelly (surprisingly tasty!), and whole wheat flapjacks w/maple syrup.

Lots of people had home-grown vegetables and fruit, of course, and we bought two cucumbers.  Others had jewelry and magnets and scarves and kitchenware and homemade soaps and lotions, and everything under the sun.  A man was playing the guitar and singing, and a number of people had their dogs with them.

At the end, we got Leto out and walked him around for a bit.  He was really good, and several people wanted to pet him and admire him.  He always wags his tail a little, but doesn't pay much attention to his fans.  They don't seem to notice that he's not looking at them; they are so busy feeling his fur and talking about how large he is, etc.  Leto has such a rough life.

We also went by Misty Darrington and family's garage sale, which we just happened to notice.  I was so excited to get some Fischer Price people and vehicles, etc.,  Yay!

We left them with some banana bread that we were taking to the bishop, who's been in the hospital, but they weren't home.  Misty tasted the bread and threatened not to share it.  I love her!

 She said that I'd better come to book club, so I might go to the next one.

I need to get the book, tho, so I'd better hurry up and read it!

I've been reading Dune: The Butlerian Jihad to Mark when we sit outside.  It's kind of hard for him to follow so many characters, but I assured him that they'll be named throughout the story, again and again.  

Their names are all such tongue-twisters, and it feels like a workout for me to pronounce them.

I try and read them like Princess Irulan , which helps with my enunciation

and makes it feel like we're in that world.

The world of Dune is so mesmerizing to me.

Lots of people feel the same way about it,

because Dune is the best-selling SF novel of all time.

And the movies are wonderfully flawed and interesting

the source of endless discussions on the Internet.

Yay for Dune!

HaHa

We might go to the church potluck tonight.  Mark finished his S.S. lesson.

Justin is supposed to be here and I have the rest of his birthday present for him.

Yay for Justin!

Okay, that's all for now.  Hope you enjoyed reading about our day.

Yay for you!

I love you for reading this!

xoxoxo

 

Sigh...

 (Bear Lake Photo by V&Co)

After the children left for school today, Charlotte and I lay on my bed.
Fresh out of the tub, Lottie lay on her back and played with her toes.
The windows were open and the apple tree dropped apples as the wind blew.
The chimes lightly tapped together and Charlotte cooed.
The mountains out my window are turning colors, autumn is on
its way. This time of the year makes me feel so happy.

It's quiet around my house these mornings since school started.
Charlotte and I take it slow and I am enjoying every second.
Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for my baby sweetheart.
I want her to be happy always. I want her to make right choices
that will help her grow and develop into a beautiful woman.
I want her to understand that having a strong testimony
of Christ will always make her happy...always.

There is someone you can forgive.
There is someone you can thank.
There is someone you can serve and lift.
You can do it wherever you are and however alone and deserted you may feel.
With this knowledge, life is beautiful no matter the pain, loneliness,
confusion, heartbreak, and sadness in the world.
How blessed I am and feel each day.

--- Nie Nie, 9-5-2012

Both these things are so beautiful, from some of my favorite blogging ladies.

I just had to share them with you.

Mark had his Skype interview and it went well.  They'll let him know whether they want further interviews or not.  Thanks for the supportive thoughts and prayers. 

Love and Big, Big "Bear" Hugs!

xoxoxo

Haley Hallelujah! and Birthday Ben!

That's my way of saying that Haley and Dallin have a new baby girl, born Sept. 1st, no definite name yet.  She weighed 7 lbs., 11 oz., and was 20 inches long.  Haley says she's doing great!  Watch her blog for more info. and pictures, esp. of Dallin and Hunter's happy, proud faces.  Haley looks great too!

Isn't it wonderful that life renews itself like it does?  

Also, Happy Birthday to Ben!  (Aug. 30th)  Ben and Linda and Josh and Beth came over yesterday evening to celebrate his birthday with us and eat some homemade soup and home-baked bread..   Mark's still working on the bread recipe.

We went on a walk after we ate, which was pretty exciting 'cause Josh wanted to hold Leto's leash and he was running with him and, of course, Josh fell down.  He said Leto "pulled and pulled!"  Then Josh slid out of the stroller and landed in the road again.  And Leto had many admirers, including one young kitty who came up and stood on his hind legs to sniff Leto.  He wanted to follow Leto home! 

Mark has a second interview on a job as a Exec. Director in No. Idaho this Wednesday.  That's pretty exciting!    It sure beats not hearing from anyone.  Mark's talked to others, too, but hasn't had other interviews, so wish him luck on this one!

What else?  Hmm...not much.  We're going to email you a correction about Seth's information.  We got some much-needed rain last week.  It's cooler weather today, and I am wearing a sweater.  Leto and Tut are still spoiled.  Last night after I hugged him, Josh told me, with his hands up as if to keep me away and his finger pointing,  "Okay, that's 1 hug - only 1 hug a day.  Only One Hug!"  It was so adorable!

Beth was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.  She rolled around on her blanket, played with toys, and almost crawled.  She's getting so big!

Melinda brought her kids over the other day, and then Alaina stayed for a few hours longer, by herself.  The next day, I believe, Tristan came and stayed a few hours by himself.  I love it when they do that!
They both wanted to watch movies, so Alaina watched The Last Unicorn and My Neighbor Totoro, and Tristan watched Spirited Away and Castle in the Sky.  You can't beat those Miyasaki movies - kids and grownups both love them!

Tristan is so grown up and loving, and Alaina is so quiet and beautiful when she's visiting on her lonesome.  What a difference that makes.   She ate scrambled eggs with us, and they both enjoyed suckers while they watched their movies.  Thank you for sharing your children, people!

A couple of years ago

Present day

Pictures from our visit to Salt Lake City to see our friend Julie

a couple of weeks ago

 Fire and water fountain show at City Creek Mall

 Julie and her fiancee JR

Isn't she cute?

 On the way back, we drove by our house down in Chubbuck and we snapped this photo.  I think it looks good.  I can't wait till we can fix it up outside and help the inside in little ways.  I love that house and land and street and neighborhood behind us.  I don't like some things about there - mainly being so far away from Idaho Falls and family and ward!

The fountain show was better than the photos show, and it was set to music.
Anyway, it was a fun trip!

Well, I'd better close and post this.  You never know when you'll lose a post, right?  

Take care!  We love you!

xoxoxo