a new day?

The US has elected a totem, a symbol for its President. I have felt for many, many months now that Barack Obama's biggest asset in this election was his black skin. In a time when many Americans felt like their nation has done so many things wrong: the war in Iraq, the failed economy which is bringing down the world economy--the one thing the little man could do "right" would be to elect a black man President, thus putting behind, once and for all, the national disgrace, the national shame, of racism. The little man might be racist in his behavior, but he could say to himself that he was not--"I voted for a black man for President, didn't I?" No matter what anyone says, I believe that many whites voted for Obama because he was black more than because of what he said.

time change

A person doesn't get an extra hour of sleep if turning the clocks back in the evening causes them to stay up an hour longer.

I planted some peach pits today by the side of the fence in the front yard. Do I have faith they will sprout into baby trees? Not much, because I planted some starts of a grey-green plant on top that my neighbor gave me.

I tipped D & C and P of GP reading schedules into little spiral bound notebooks this evening for the Relief Society sisters for 2009. Several sisters have told me how useful this year they have found the B of M reading schedule notebooks prepared by Cindy Gallagher last year. So I decided to do the same thing again for the scriptural course of study for next year. As usual, I am second guessing my intentions and wondering if it is a good idea after all, or if anyone will get any good out of my efforts.

Halloween

After the trick-or-treaters were all gone, Iggy called his friends to come eat donuts and play games. I am happy that eight of friends came. They played "Pass the Pigs" as they laughed and talked. They had apple juice and hot cocoa with their donuts. It is good to have the kids' friends over. I am happy that so many friend would come on short notice.

attitude

From Dead Lucky, by Lincoln Hall

"The values held by Sherpas certainly work well in the mountains, where being aware of the fullness of the present moment minimizes the inattentive lapses that lead to fatal accidents. I also learned from them that this same attitude -- of simply getting on with what has to be done -- is the best way to deal with uncomfortable situations. I remember arriving one afternoon at a clearing on a forested mountain ridge during gentle but continuous rain. We had stumbled upon an unexpected camp site, grass-covered and level, the perfect escape from the weather, so I called it an early day. The members of my trekking group huddled under a tree, not complaining but looking miserable while they eagerly waited for the Sherpas to finish pitching the tents. I was out in the clearing with the Sherpas, who were working busily as if the rain was not there. Suddenly the drizzle became a torrential downpour. Water ran down into my sleeve as I held up a tent pole. I cursed while the Sherpas laughed and shouted at each other, stimulated by the force of nature and not annoyed by it. Half an hour later I was in my tent when the flap was unzipped by two kitchen boys, who offered me tea and biscuits. They were still soaking wet but still laughing, this time at the waterlogged biscuits on the tray.

"Many people who visit Nepal are deeply inspired by the Nepalese attitude to life and vow to find pleasure in the simplest of things. However, after a week or two back in a modern city, with the cut and thrust of office politics and not enough time at home to do the many apparently important tasks, it is easy to overlook the promised subscription to the values and priorities of the people of Nepal. For me it was much easier, as I was working with deeply religious Buddhists and Hindus and at the same time climbing mountains -- both powerfully centering influences.

"I came to realize that the common ground of both climbing and spiritual practice is the state of being "in the here and now". Essentially, this is a focus of mind, which offers a simpler but somehow deeper and clearer appreciation of reality. During the most intense passages of climbing, the "here and now" keeps you alive. There is no analysis of what is happening, no judgements, and no plans of what to do next. You are kept alive by the awareness of ever-present danger, which focuses all your faculties on the decisions and actions directed entirely to your survival."

Lincoln Hall states that his experiences with climbing mountains in the company of Nepalese eventually converted him to Buddhism. From the experiences of my own life, I think that the attitude and approach to life he describes are accessible without the danger of climbing, and within Christianity, when Christianity is understood. I don't know if I could laugh as I pitched tents in torrential rain and then prepared snacks for those sitting in their tents who didn't help me pitch those tents in the rain. But then, if such was my job, I think I could. I don't think a person needs to be in a state of ever-present danger to achieve that focus.

blessings

Today was a red letter day at church for the family, for Iggy in particular. Ephram had his appointment with the stake president this morning to be given the Melchizedek Priesthood. Ephram will be presented in a couple of weeks at Stake Conference, then ordained an Elder later.

Iggy received his Patriarchal Blessing this morning. He was given a very nice blessing. Iggy is a very good person, so I am not surprised at the blessings given him. Just an hour and half later, Iggy talked in Sacrament Meeting on patriarchal blessings. His talk was well-prepared and powerful.

We enjoyed seeing Hop on the webcam this evening. He was busy with dinner and a bath much of time, so we only saw him when it was time to say Goodnight. He's such a cute little kid. Watching Taina work on her quilt was enjoyable too. And we were able to chat a little as she worked.

I woke up this morning desiring Lemon Sponge Custard, something I haven't made for a long time. Here is a picture of the result.

done teaching kids to drive

Iggy and I finished his night supervised driving hours last night. Woo hoo! I am so excited to be done. This means that I am done teaching kids to drive. All done. No more. Iggy is not so excited because he still has all four of his road sessions with the school driving instructor to do before he can get his license. He isn't done, but I am. Hurrah!

getting ready for winter

Today we are working well. We have accomplished much so far.

Iggy has sprayed down the pool and pumped it out. We have disconnected the plumbing from the pool and put the hoses and other paraphernalia away in a sheltered location. Iggy has put the deteriorating thermal cover in the garbage.

Iggy and I put Reija's room back together and minimized the clutter in the commons.

Ephram and Iggy excavated a large space into which we planted 75 Apeldoorn tulips and 75 King Alfred daffodils.

Ephram cleared off the sunflowers.

I coiled the watering hoses and put them away.

I washed the wastebaskets. Ephram helped me with that job.

I spread winterizer fertilizer on the lawns. Now the rain and the leaves and the temperature can fall.

I also ironed eight shirts and picked up Phil and his three students at the airport.

Where is the food in this? After Ephram had gone to work, I rewarded Iggy and I with dinner out at India Fusion, which opened recently down the street in Jordan Landing.

crumble to reward my day's work

Today I made Rebekka's Plum and Ginger Crumble from her Reb Eat World blog. I found the proper plums at the farmers market in Murray. They aren't carried in my grocery store. The crumble is pretty good. I especially like the chewy bits of crystallized ginger mingled with the plums.

I have been cleaning Reija's room today so that it can be put back together. I took the movable part of each window out to clean both sides. Then I stood on a stool to clean the outside of the fixed half of each window. Those windows are cleaner than they have ever been. I think I might clean the rest of the downstairs windows that way. Except for the windows in Taina's room. Those windows have an extra pane, added on the inside, to make the room warmer, making it impossible to get to the windows proper. I hope to get Reija's room all finished tomorrow.

I have lots of tasks outlined for the morrow. The weather is supposed to be fine, so we will do some outside chores. In particular, I want to wash the wastebaskets and lay down the winterizing fertilizer on the lawns. We need to plant bulbs too. I bought 75 each of mixed daffodils and tulips. I also bought a bunch of bulbs from the high school marching band fund raiser, but they haven't been delivered yet. We will just have to plant those another day.

wrong web

I apparently do not have the right kind of web for my fabric box project. I think I need the kind with a paper backing, with which the two fusible sides can be fused in separate steps. I have the kind which is meant to fuse two layers of fabric together in a single step. All I got when I tried to iron my web onto my two pieces of design fabric is a messed up iron. Thank goodness I had heeded the counsel of the book author and bought a tube of iron faceplate cleaner. She said that it would be needed, so it was best to be prepared. I think, when I am buying some different web, that I will also buy another tube of iron cleaner!

am I a real quilter now?

I have bought equipment for cutting fabric with a rotary cutter. Scissors can make my hand hurt these days. I hope that using a rotary cutter is easier. Anyway, I have fabrics and book to make boxes for the girls for Christmas. The boxes are way cute and just the sort of challenge I craved when I was younger. Now, I must admit, I am a bit intimidated. That is what comes from diminished capabilities. I always fear nowadays that my best efforts won't be very good, simply because I can't see as well as I used to. I can't see that what I'm doing isn't good, so I can't make it better. Oh well. I think that I will have fun making the boxes. I just need to get started.

where the sons are tonight

Tonight is Part One of the Homecoming Date for Iggy's group. The band has rehearsal this afternoon and pepband for the homecoming football game this evening. The group, whose every member is a member of the band, plans to do something between the rehearsal and the game. The plan is to go to Living Planet Aquarium in Sandy. The aquarium has a cafe inside, so they will probably eat their dinner there.

Ephram is gone to Capitol Reef for a geology fieldtrip. His group left UVU Wednesday after classes. They will return on Sunday. So Phil and I are on our own tonight. I suppose we will go somewhere to eat. I don't know what we will do after that.

pies

Today I was thinking about my pie production this fall. I haven't felt like I have made many pies, having made pie on only four occasions. Then I thought about it some more and realized that I have made 7 pies, I just make them two at a time now: one for Ephram and Iggy and I that is sweetened with sugar and one for Phil which is sweetened with sucralose. The one pie for the boys and I takes three sittings to eat. So our three pies translates into nine pieces of pie for each of us. In the day the family would eat an entire pie in one sitting. So, in that regard, I have made sufficient pie. We just haven't had fresh pie every time we've eaten it. Maybe I have missed the freshness. Well, that is how life evolves. I am doing fine in the pie department after all.