Apple Blossoms

One of the sweetest traditions I remember from Sweden was the selling of bundled branches in the open markets in Springtime. People bought them, put them in water in their homes and in a few weeks the sweetest blossoms would appear bringing Spring right indoors. I still do it today after I prune my trees and shrubs. Here are photos of the apple blossoms. So lovely!

A Collection of Conference Snow Photos

Saturday morning we awoke to this lovely Winter scene! Some of us moaned, but within a short time the sun was shining. These Spring storms seldom last and I think just beautiful! By Sunday, there was just a bit left on grasses and in shadows, but enough for a snowman. Will, Em and Libby tried several snowmen ideas, while Teagan, completely uninterested inspected the neighbors car with her mum. (Note Libby's creative eye for fashion in these photos).
Oh, and later I tried a friend's recipe for Tablet. Success! I am gathering quite a collection of Scottish treats!

An American Quilt

When William joined the Marine Corp about 8 years ago, my sister Stacey and I began collecting patriotic fabrics of all kinds to make quilts. (We have had a ball many a time doing various crafty projects!) No matter where we were if we saw some wee fat quarter that looked even remotely reddish, whitish or bluish, or had a patriotic theme, we got it and added it to our piles! Stacey was the one who really got the most, as she frequents the market and is a collector of many things, especially fabrics, and sweetly shared with me. We really have some wonderful patterns, with stars, stripes, scenes of soldiers, and even some of the Statue of Liberty! After several years of talking about it and planning to one day put them all together, we did finally cut the squares for hours and hours, decided how to arrange them, finally choosing a random selection from each pile so they were scattered throughout. At last mine is sewn together, and almost ready to tie. Yes, my dear Jill, I am not a proficient quilter, so I will be tying mine with a lovely cotton string! And please don't look too closely at the corner matches! I found a wonderful blue ticking for the edges and will use a cream cotton muslim for the back. I'll post some photies in the next wee while! I can hardly stand it I'm so excited!

Andrew, Once Upon a Mattress and Spring Storms

We stopped in to visit Andrew (what a pose!) in Salt Lake where he's living while studying at the U. He's renting a fun old house with a bunch of free spirited students, and is having a ball! He gave us the grand tour including his room, so tidy! (above), the gardens, compost area and the back patio... (he and one of his flatmates, Brad have BIG plans for it all this summer! Stay posted!) It was great to see him so happy and doing well. We sure love and miss him as he seldom gets down to see us! (Below) Moroni, Emma, Beth and Andy standing out front.




Moroni enjoyed his first Jr High production, "Once Upon a Mattress". It was really quite amazing for such a young group, but then their choir director Mrs. Walker really pushes the kids to do their very best! Incredible acting and singing from the major characters. But the one to steal the show (for us at least) was the handsome knight kneeling just to the left of the king.


Another shot of him 5th from the right.


And finally, the first of the spring storms arrived with some lovely thunder and lightening, and ominous clouds. Incredibly beautiful, but then you can never catch it on film quite as it appears.

Morning Walks and Spring

I've started walking in the early mornings again, now that the walks and streets are clear. It's the same town, same walkways and houses I see as I drive to and from, but it seems a totally different place when viewed close up, sidewalk level. I've missed it, and though I've tried to keep busy on my indoor bike (even with Downton Abbey or my adorable Daniel Craig as a distraction) there's just no comparison to walking in the early mornings... sweet air, lovely breezes, and the occasional scent of a wood burning stove... and now birds are singing, and blooms and buds are coming out...beautiful! This morning as I have dropped off the last of the kids, and am getting ready to work here I noticed again how gorgeous the sky is up beyond the mountains... that my daffodils are coming out... and that I am ready for Spring!