Big Test

Well,  just had my 5 year colonoscopy.   (that means it seems like the prep lasted  for 5 years, lol)
Prep consisted of two days of liquid diet (any liquid that was clear - yellow or peach jello, or
same gatorade or  juice or chicken broth).  Plus - one big gallon jug of undescribed flavored liquid like
stuff to drink (8 oz. every 10 min.)  I  could not  do it every 10 minutes without throwing up.
So starting at 1:30 I had two different kind of pills to take and then start the liquid junk.
I ended up at 8:00 pm finally.   I actually didnt even finish the last 1/4 of the jug.   So, after
living in the bathroom all afternoon - today I went for the test.   They gave me an IV which was
suppose to put me to sleep and it didn't  so i was awake and watched the tv camera of my
intestines.   Bad thing was it kind of hurt because the nurse kept pushing on my abdomen as
he did the scope.   Anyway, after all is said and done, my results are: spastic colon, little IBS,  a
redundant colon (meaning longer than normal) moderate left sided diverticulosis.   That's it.
No colon polyps, colon cancer, ulcerative colitis, crohn's  or diverticulitis.
I guess all in all, things are okay.   Dad drove me home and I  had a little nausea so I  slept a lot today.
And now I get to eat real food.
I'm sure you didn't really want to know all of this - but just be aware of good eating habits
and foods you eat.   Actually, life could be worse, right?   I do feel blessed and hopefully
5 more good years before another day like today.   Too bad I didn't have my phone to take
a picture, but you wouldn't want to see that either.      lol

Geraniums Forever

These flowers were in the back but before the first frost I brought them inside to keep them awhile longer.
Now they are put on my front doorstep every morning and sleep inside during the cold nights.  I'm wondering how long this will keep going.  They are looking pretty alive and bright.   They love being pampered too.

Halloween Kids

Couldn't get Carli to stand up so Erin is helping her hold still.  Silly girl

Master Organ Class

Richard Elliott, the principal organist at the Tabernacle, came to Spokane and
presented an organ class at the Valley Stake.  Erin and I attended and what
an awesome opportunity.  To be able to see and talk with and be taught by
such a talented individual was so exciting.  We started our class with a hymn,
which he played and an opening prayer.  (of course)
He talked about the obstacles facing a new organist and then gave us 4 steps
to learning to play the organ.  1.  Read all about organs 2. Listen to recordings of  other organists, 3. study with a good teacher 4. practice on a regular basis (it pays off). 
He suggests using a metronome and slow down when learning a new piece and then build up faster.
Goals for practicing:  have a warm up time ( arpeggios, scales), Building time where you mark your
music, fingering and peddling and registrations, Interpreting time and a performing time.  To practice
he suggests breaking your music down and learn the right hand and then the left hand or measure
by measure and then put it together.     He said there is no rule on whether the organist plays a
little more if the boys haven't finished making the sacrament ready.  Sometimes "quiet" is nice.
He had previously asked 4-5 people to come up and play something and then he critiqued them.
That was interesting but nothing I would be brave enough to do!  He left us with this thought:
"nothing can influence the spirit of the meeting more than music" - Harold B. Lee.

SUNDAY - Dad and I attended his concert at St John's Cathedral and it was awesome too.  He did some
Handel and Bach and then some of his own arrangments.  (the cathedral is so huge and the colored
windows are beautiful but it is very cold inside with all of the brick it's made out of)  There were pipes
in front, on the sides and in the back so the sound was all around.   There were refreshments provided
afterward but we didn't stay for that.   It was a nice experience to just be there and hear him play.
Benches were hard and it was kind of cool inside so we just decided to leave. 

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you imagined. - Henry David Thoreau

Sorry about the black boxes.  Google lost my pictures somehow.   When I have time I will try to
redo some of the lost ones.  (not tonite)

My Tall Flowers

The wind had blown down these tall flowers so I ventured out to the garden to hold them up and put them back in place.   I just want you to see how tall they are. Tall and whispey like.   They are so different and I wish I knew what they were.  The shorter ones are zinnias.  This one bush was taller than me and nearly up to the corn stalk.

Erin and her garden

I just had to get a picture of Erin's garden this summer.   Everything is so tall you can hardly see her.
Those are tomatoes hanging on the fence.   It was hard to get everything in one picture.  Great job Erin.

All Mine

This is just a little pile of what she has done.   I love that face  - -What a character!

Our Quilter

I took this of Andy showing me how her quilting
machine works.  It was absolutely fun to watch
her at work.  She even let me do a couple of
rows and I can simply say it could be addicting.
She's a pro though and fun to watch her at work

Silly hair and Dad's blue hat

Here we are - silly hair and a blue hat!
What's new.    This is
 the last day at the beach and it turned out to be kind of windy - but at least we have a picture of us.
We met Mindy and Evan at the KOA in Ilwaco, which is by Long Beach.
They rented a cabin and we had  the RV.  We arrived on Saturday early afternoon and stayed until Monday.
The beach is so long you can't see the end of it.  It truly is long and the sand is wonderfully smooth but hard to walk in.  Some cars were trying to drive down on the beach and a few were getting stuck.  We decided that we wouldn't try driving down the beach.
You can if the tide has gone out and the sand is wet. Then you sit and wait for the sunset which is always gorgeous.  
Thanks Mindy and Evan for coming along with us and playing for a few days.   So glad the weather turned out good too.   I definitely  had a blast and can't wait to go again.   

A Little of This and a Little of That

This shows the crocheted edge.  It's not fancy but at least it is completed.  I felt good to have that
accomplished.

A picture for Finn

This is Papa J's mask.  He has to wear this at night when he goes to bed so he can breath better.
I thought Finn would like to see how Papa looks with his mask.   (Darth is his nickname)

SO LONG AGO

The Sand Dunes

Jeremy invited the two grandpas to go with him and Avery motorcycle riding to the sand dunes by Pasco.  Dad jumped at the opportunity and was very excited for the invite.  They left early in the morning and came back around  8:30 pm.  A full day of riding plus 2 1/2 hours travel each way.
Not much there but sand and one tree.  Dad had
such a fun time being with the "guys"
 for a day and getting to ride his motorcycle.
Thanks Jeremy for a fun day.

Happy Sewer

I am so, so excited to sew again.  Dad removed the old Singer from my cabinet and made a little shelf for the Brother and it fits perfectly.  Now it is even with the cabinet table top and works great.   Even, he made it so the knee peddle will work instead of having the foot peddle.  I spent yesterday sewing two pillowcases.  It's a new pattern that is so fun and makes it so there are no open seams inside.
I love getting the fabric and making these cases.   That's what I did yesterday while Dad went motocycling with Jeremy, Don and Avery.

Pretzel Turtles

Pretzels, Rolos and M&Ms.   Yummy

Our New Missionary

What a wonderful night this was.   CJ was so nervous for this day and when it came time for his big moment he was even more nervous.   He opened the envelope and read his letter aloud - trying hard to keep his composure.  ( He and I were the only ones that cried)
I think he figured on Brazil but when he actually read the real words it finally stuck him that he had been called for sure.
Cory gave him a Father's Blessing afterwards and then we had cake for dessert.
I think he said there were 5 boys he knew that were already in Brazil and 8 from his stake.  They must have work to be done there.  His friend, JT, came over to support him.  JT is also going to Brazil.
We are so excited and thrilled for this young man.

Temple in the Winter

Just had to steal this picture because it is so
beautiful.

So glad chocolate is good for me