Six times a day?

Well, no more BBQ ribs for me! Dang. I went to the Dr today and she said I can only eat small meals, but I can eat six of them every day! And nothing with high fructose corn syrup or soy. Doesn't that mean nothing that is canned or bottled? Oh well. I guess I'll be stuck with my regular day long snacking on carrots and grilled cheese sandwiches--on home made bread--, with shredded wheat for breakfast and smoothies when I'm bored. It's the break in the routine that kills me, those occasional real meals!

Are poppies weeds?

My yard guy came over to weed the yard. We walked around the whole yard, front and back, and looked over the hill. There was nowhere he could weed without taking out the spring poppies. They are spreading across the yard more every year. We finally decided we couldn't weed at all until the poppies go to seed. So the weeds and wildflowers have full reign for a couple of more weeks. Isn't it great!


These are African daisies. They absolutely cover the fields off Continental Rd in Green Valley--at a nursing care complex. Last year after they went to seed we brought home a handful of seed pods. And they are growing where they have water. Next year they too will be everywhere. I love it!
Well, this was the beginning of BBQ ribs before I cut up the peppers. But since they too are pretty and colorful, here they are.
And I hope you too have a beautiful day.

Who are the dumb animals?

I found a quote I like:
"Cows are not troubled by their calves. Mares are unperturbed in their love for their foals. The smarter people become the more their kids bother them. What happens to simple sweetness? Who are the dumb animals?"
JPS Brown, cowboy

I'm with the cows and horses on this one. I vote for simple sweetness. I think we all need a little more sweetness, a little less trouble and perturbation.
Guess I'll start with me!

A piece of the family Tree

My mother in law was out walking last night at about 7:00 PM and suddenly fell to the sidewalk headfirst. You may ask what an 87 year old is doing walking the streets of Phoenix at that time of the evening. She was on her way to some friends' house to share in family home evening with them. A member of her church ward happened to be driving down the Street and saw her fall. He pulled over to see if she needed help. Another ward member saw her on the sidewalk and also stopped. They called the paramedics and got her down to the hospital. Then they called her bishop. He went to see my mother in law at the hospital, then called the facility where she lives. Not getting an answer on the phone he went over to her building and pounded on the door until someone let him in. He asked that a list of her medications be sent to the hospital, and then he called and notified us.
I am happy for the support systems that we have, for people who are willing to stop and help when they see someone in trouble, and for those who go the second mile.
We all need a support system. As they say--No one expects the Spanish inquisition. Or even a header on the sidewalk.
Today she will get a pacemaker and a CAT scan of the head, just to check that nothing is broken. Her heart was beating well, except that it stops and takes a pause now and then. Not a good thing if you don't want to pass out.
Life goes on, thanks to good friends, good family and caring acquaintances. And there is nothing like having brothers and sisters in the Gospel to back up the rest of us who aren't close by.
Thank you so many times.

He is risen. Celebrate Easter

It's all in the seeds

I like to work in the garden. When I plant a lemon yellow cucumber seed, I know I will eventually get a lemon yellow cucumber plant.
We are children of an Eternal Father. What can we grow to be?

The fig tree

Five years ago I planted a fig tree.
I grew up in California. We had fig trees on the property. They were wonderful climbing trees, the branches spread out and up, the big, heavy leaves made plenty of shade and in the middle we had a wonderful fort.
I wasn't trying to grow a fort, just figs. We live in the desert, but we are at 4500 feet. Sometimes we get a little snow in the winter--very little. But it does get cold. And in the winter my fig tree died. Come spring I had a dead, dry stick where a fledgling fig had tried to grow. I snapped it right off. But just in case I watered the roots.
That year a sprout grew up and formed a new, small tree. It froze in the winter. Year three, the tree roots put up an entire circle of branches that grew out, low to the ground. And I got lots of figs.
The fellow who helps with the yard wanted to prune my fig tree, shape it up. I told him the tree had found its shape. It lived through the winter, thrived, gave me lots of figs again.
This year the branches are stronger and taller, and new leaves are out. Not one branch died back during the winter.
When it gets cold, remember: spread out, stay low and keep growing!!
Works for figs.
In the meantime, keep watering.