Welcome To Earth, Tessa Jean!

National Popcorn Day!

January 19th is National Popcorn Day. Celebrate well.

A Drive in the Country; Upstate NY

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Rowan's Baptism

Autumn Days

Summer flew by and I am afraid my favorite time of year is doing the same thing. Thought you'd like some pictures...

Mysterious Stone Chambers

Dev and I have been researching the mysterious stone chambers that are in abundance in NY and New England. There are over 160 in the Hudson Valley. When I saw the pictures I knew that I had finally solved the mystery of what I had seen as a little girl in Germany outside the town of Landstuhl. All the chambers are built alike.
Speculators say that colonial farmers built them [but they have been dated to as early as 10,000BC], some say that were built as root cellars [but they are above ground and are facing the elements] and some say they were built by Druids [because they are all over Europe]. Some say they were built by Native American Indians but they worked in wood- not stone. Further speculations say aliens built them [that is an out of this world idea!]. Whoever built them they remain to this day.
We found three within a short distance of each other near Kent, NY. Here are pictures of what we found.

Twilight Zone

I accidentally found another Rees family with Utah roots while looking up something online. They have a son named..yep, you guessed it...Logan!

http://thereesboys.blogspot.com/2008/04/happy-birthday-logan.html

Pioneer Day Thoughts

Sunday I attended Greenwich Branch. The theme of sacrament meeting was the faith of the Pioneers. An elderly gentleman spoke; it was obvious that he had not studied the pioneers and the sacrifices they made in great detail before preparing for the talk but he spoke with such passion, admiration and love for those people that it really touched my heart. He broke down several times during the talk as he related stories of the early Mormon pioneers- particularly those who were in the Martin and Willie Handcart companies. I couldn't help but think of the pioneers in my family and how grateful I am for them. I appreciate their huge sacrifices for the gospel and I am so thankful to be the beneficiary of the blessings that have rippled down to me.

I see the lives my children and grandchildren are living and the love that each of them have for the gospel and I can't help but think that our ancestors are being blessed beyond their wildest dreams.

I believe our ancestors continue to be a part of our lives. I know that they were present when each of my children went through the temple the first time. I know they have urged us on from beyond the grave when things seemed darkest in our lives. How grateful I am for them and for their faith in us. I pray we may be found worthy of their sacrifices...

The Dark Knight

I am rarely at a loss for words but The Joker part in the Batman movie, The Dark Knight has left me completely speechless. Played by Heath Ledger, the evil, diabolical character of the Joker unfolds into complete insanity.

I am still, the morning after overwhelmed with the fact that the character was played by Heath Ledger... All through the movie I kept looking for signs that it was indeed Heath. He had transformed himself out of his pretty boy self and into the crazy, soul starved arc nemesis of Batman!

Only once did I catch a glimpse of the actor I am so fond of. The only thing I can say is "Wow!" That is what I call acting...

Rescue Lilies

These lilies grew up thin and spindly this year. With an approaching storm threat I was afraid they would be destroyed so I took them into the house and plunked them into an old vase. I can enjoy them and they won't have to be pummeled by the rain...

Assaulted by the Dead

Last Tuesday Terry and I took a day trip to Richmond, Massachusetts in search of his 4th great grandfather's home. The home was built by Joseph Richards and his sons in 1812-1815. Joseph had been given 160 acres of land in the Berkshires for his service during the Revolutionary War. The home was completed in 1815 and he moved his family from Hopkinton, Massachusetts to the home in Richmond. [The addition was built in 1821.] Joseph and his wife, Rhoda Howe would have a grandson born in Richmond [son of their son, Phineas and wife, Wealthy Dewey Richards] who would grow up to be an apostle, president of the twelve and counselor to Brigham Young. His name was Franklin Dewey Richards.

We found the picture drawing of the house in a book at the Richmond Library. We had a vague description of where the house was located from the Richards History books. We knew it was on Dublin Road where Mill Creek crossed it. The problem is no one had heard of Mill Creek.

We drove up and down Dublin Road but couldn't find anything that remotely looked like the drawing. It seems a bridge was out and so we didn't have access to the part of Dublin we needed. With the help of the librarian and new directions we found the home. The creek that runs through the property is where their cousin, Brigham Young had "dipped" them for baptism. It was exciting to stand at the door of the home of relatives so long gone. I couldn't help but wonder if they were proud of our lives and glad to say we were their family.

After that we decided to try to find the graves of any of the relatives we knew had died there. In one of the cemeteries someone had planted a hedgerow too close to the headstones. The hedge grows within one inch of the side of the stone containing the information of who is buried in that spot. I would try to push the hedge back to have a better look and was successful until about the fourth stone. I pushed with my left hand against the hedge and instinctively pulled the stone with my right. All of a sudden the stone snapped off its base and left my foot with a huge black and blue egg and the thoughts that it must surely be broken. About that time thunder could be heard and it started to rain. I guess it wasn't meant to be that we find the grave sites and someone didn't want to be disturbed!

Took Devin August 2008- took picture on porch...

Friendships Renewed & Discovered

We had the privilege of becoming acquainted with the grown daughter of an old friend from Connecticut. She is absolutely delightful and we enjoyed getting to know each other. She teaches school in Homestead, Florida [where Terry and I met]. Small world. After she left we found a beautiful new friend for the garden. Meet the beautiful Hibiscus... [Hibiscus were shrubs in the front yard of our Miami home]... such memories.

Picture Perfect Palmyra's Secret Garden

Happy Birthday, Stella!

Bookshelf Makeover

When we moved in this room was painted Big Bird Yellow! We painted the walls a pretty blue green but somehow the walls behind the books never got painted. They didn't show because there were so many books but I knew the yellow still existed. It took me all week [one day without power] to finish my project but here it is! Now, to get rid of all of the extra books!

A Walk in my Friendship Garden

My garden is full of memories of friends. Some have been with me for years and others are new additions . I love them all the same because they came from those who love me. My peonies are from plants carried across the country in a wagon train, my Tiger Lilies from a dear friend's lake house in Otis, Massachusetts, my Bleeding Hearts from a NY friend & Relief Society sister who lives in Idaho,Monkey Grass from a friend in Georgia. I also have Primrose, Sedum, and Egyptian Onions from a neighbor, Iris and Minature Iris from a Garden Club friend and Virginia Bluebells from another Garden Club member... I love them all...

Paradise Found

Sometimes the very thing we seek is in our very own grasp.

I spent about two hours today on the deck reading and talking with my kids [three of them called while I was outside.] The breeze brought the fragrance of the flowers to me as though by command; the birds chirped and sang for me as though they had been commissioned to do so and the hummingbirds provided entertainment with their theatrics.

I would stay quite still and they would fly all around me as though I didn't exist. At one point one of them came and hovered near my sunglasses for what seemed like an eternity. I'm not sure if she was looking at her reflection or if she was trying to figure out if they were windows. It was one of those moments when you connect with nature on a personal level. Whatever the reason, I felt quite privileged to have been in their world.

Is this really me?

You Are An INFJ

The Protector You live your life with integrity, originality, vision, and creativity. Independent and stubborn, you rarely stray from your vision - no matter what it is. You are an excellent listener, with almost infinite patience. You have complex, deep feelings, and you take great care to express them. In love, you truly see relationships as an opportunity to connect and grow. You enjoy relationships as long as they are improving and changing. You can't stand stagnation. At work, you stay motivated and happy... as long as you are working toward a dream you support. You would make a great photographer, alternative medicine guru, or teacher. How you see yourself: Hardworking, ethical, and helpful When other people don't get you, they see you as: Manipulative, weak, and unstable

What's Your Personality Type?

So, that's the Problem!