More about March Memories

When we went on vacation in March, we had a WONDERFUL time. Weddings are such grand affairs when family and friends come together to celebrate the marriage of a couple who have decided to spend the rest of their lives together. And this was no exception. It was wonderful to see my sisters Sherie and Kay, and of course my sister Mary, mother of the bride. It was a nice surprise when Mom and Dad left the comfort of their home to be there, in spite of their health challanges. It was so nice to spend time with our kids who live in the area: Eric and Penny, Tess and Coleman, Heather and Keith and Kayla, and Trevor and Karen, Benji, and Brinlee. And how grateful I was to be able to spend a few hours with Hailey and Tyler! I love my family very much and hold dear those memories in my mind. Last but not least, I took the opportunity to go to the Family History Library and research an ancestor, Charles Franklin Babbel. I was hopeful that I would be able to find some additional information and am grateful for Gayle's help and also a German woman who worked there. Unfortunately I was unsuccessful finding any information, but I gained a powerful testimony of how important this research is.
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March Memories




Wedding Day at the Draper Temple. The Dunlap Family

  It was a wonderful experience to attend Celesta and Sage's Wedding, luncheon, and reception on March 12th. And what a bonus to have some of our immediate family there as well!.




Trevor, Karen, Nancy, Gayle, Eric, Heather

Sisters - Nancy, Kay, Mary, Sherie

  
I had the opportunity to spend the day with Dad and Mom on Dad's 85th birthday and took portraits of each of them.




 

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Preparing for Vacation is NO vacation!

I  am resting easier now that I am sitting in a Best Western in Dillon, Montana. But trying to get ready to leave was very stressful! There are so many details to take care of before I leave that it seems impossible to get it all done! For example: The work responsibilities - recent concerts have been settled with the promoters, a new event, Robert Kennedy on May 19 has been built, customers calling in were helped with ticket purchases, food prepared for a birthday celebration,  made a special birthday card for Marissa and Liz, attended a farewell for departing staff member, events message phone lines had to be recorded, just to name a few, and this was just in the last three days! Then there were the personal goals! Attended Relief Society Tuesday night, and spent hours considering and editing images to submit to SVCC for digital judging. Ah, finally, saw the truth: Sometimes I don't see clearly because I am too emotionally attached to an image, remembering the good time we had, and not clearly seeing it for what it REALLY is. BAD. Well, not bad, but not my best work. So! A change of plan, and I have submitted my best work-4 images. I am confident they will do well. And if the judge doesn't agree with me, phooey on the judge. Ok, I also had to make sure that my Church calling was taken care of, thanks to Robyn, the Choir is in good hands. Got tickets for Makaela to Saturday's concert, and delivered parking pass to Charlotte, who is going to watch guest artist Natalie MacMaster's baby on Saturday.

"Heather"

So, I got everything done I HAD to do, can rely on Donna to cover me at work, and I can truly enjoy my vacation. So, my new three favorite words this next week are going to be: I'M ON VACATION! And now that I am on vacation, I am going to forget how hard it was to leave.:)

"The Pavilion in Riverfront Park"

Gas Prices Hiking Up Again

     Gas went up again today, hitting $3.50 a gallon here in Spokane, WA. And diesel is up to almost $4.00. Analysts predict that $3.50 is tops. Oh, really? I doubt it.
     I had a delightful walk in Riverfront Park these last two days. Yesterday I spotted the beaver again (did I mention this before?) and determined to get pictures, I brought my camera along today. No beaver.
     Within a week's time, I will have worked at 5 concerts and will attend 31/2. Last week-end was the Spokane Symphony's Classical concert on Sat. and Sun. (I had to cover for Donna who was ill), Monday was Gonzaga Symphony Orch performing Brahm's Piano Concerto no. 1 with Awadagin Pratt, tomorrow is Michael Ballam singing Broadway Classics, and Saturday night is Celtic Fire with Michael Londra (formerly with Riverdance), the Haran Irish Dancers, and An Dochas, an Irish band.
     Today was the kick-off for the Spokane Symphony's 2011-2012 Season Subscription campaign. Another good season, with some surprises planned along the way. The Nutcracker has changed venues from the INB to Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox and we have a new ballet company.
     I am ready for SPRING! Our temperature reached a balmy 42 degrees today and it felt so good after the single digit lows last week.
     I had a long conversation with Cory tonight over spaghetti at dinnertime. He recently watched a documentary about JFK's assinasion which raised unanswered questions. It made for some good discussion.
     I took the three following pictures  in British Columbia, Canada at Buchart Gardens and reminds me of warm glorious long sunny summer days. I long for more sunshine and warmth. And lower gas prices.

My Coat and Rueger

Last night something quite comical happened. When I got home from work, I took my coat off and laid it on the couch instead of hanging it up right away. I was working in the kitchen, and Cory and Rueger, (Cory's pit bull) came downstairs. Cory and I talked in the kitchen, and it became apparent that Rueger was fascinated by my coat! He was standing on his hind legs, his two front paws were on the side of the couch, and what was he doing? Sniffing? I am not sure. I kinda freaked out and he got down. When I picked up my coat, he followed me whereever I went and was really excited. When I hung my coat up in the closet, he sat by the door and stayed there awhile and whined! Ok, my coat has a hood that is trimmed with coyote fur ( I think that's it.) Do you suppose that he thinks it's alive? Yikes! I'll not leave my coat on the couch anymore! Here is a picture of Cory and Rueger, taken in November.

Valentine's Day

My Sweetheart husband has been spoiling me this  week-end. On Saturday we ran some errands, and he made a stop at the florists as he had ordered a corsage made of red and white roses. It was very beautiful! The kind you where when you are the mother of the bride or groom, or some such wonderful occasion. Later, he gave me a beautiful card with a heart-warming personal message added and a gift...a heart neckace with my birthstone, the garnet in the center. It is so pretty. We went out to dinner at King's Restaurant, then went to a Spokane Symphony performance and heard Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 performed by 29 yr. old guest artist Orion Weiss. It was beautiful. I wore my corsage to the concert and to Church on Sunday. Are corsages old-fashioned? How do the florists stay in business? I think that I was the only one at either place with one. The ONLY one! Gayle started a tradition years ago. He would give not only me a corsage, but our daughters also - on Mother's Day. He also bought me corsages at other times of the year: Valentine's Day and Easter, occasionally. Some years ago, I decided that I would take the corsages that Gayle gives me and dry them in silica gel to preserve them, then make a wreath with all the flowers. I have added some that I have grown in my garden like roses and peonies, but by and large, it is made up of mostly corsages. I started with a plain white styrofoam wreath, and have just filled it in as the flowers come. I wish now that I had labeled each corsage with a date and occasion. Wouldn't that be fun to look back years later at the dates and occasions?  Here is a picture of my "Corsage Wreath,"

 Dried Flower/Corsage Wreath

A Slice of Life
     Edgar A. Guest

Let loose the sails of love and let them fill
With breezes sweet with tenderness today;
Scorn not the praises youthful lovers say;
Romance is old, but it is lovely still.
Not he who shows his love deserves the jeer,
But he who speaks not what she longs to hear.
There is no shame in love's devoted speech;
Man need not blush his tenderness to show.
'Tis shame to love and never let her know,
To keep his heart forever out of reach.
Not he the fool who lets his love go on,
But he who spurns it when his love is won.
Men proudly vaunt their love of gold and fame,
High station and accomplishments of skill,
Yet of life's greatest conquest they are still,
And deem it weakness, or an act of shame
To seem to place high value on the love
Which first of all they should be proudest of.
Let loose the sails of love and let them take
The tender breezes till the day be spent;
Only the fool chokes out life's sentiment.
She is a prize too lovely to forsake.
Be not ashamed to send your valentine;
She has your love, but needs its outward sign.
_______________

                                   So happy to be in love with an old-fashioned romantic husband.

Sister's Reunion

     It's 5 a.m. and I can't sleep. I keep thinking about the wonderful time I spent with my daughters last week. I want to relish every minute.
     It all started months ago when I told Jennie that Sarah McLachlan was going to perform in Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox on Thursday, February 3, 2011. She got SO excited! I was surprised as I had no idea that she liked this artist that much! I said, "Well, do you want to come home for the concert? If you come home I'll buy the concert ticket for you." Within the hour, literally, she had Heather and Lisa on board with her, and I reserved four tickets for us.
     Heather, and Jennie and Piper flew in on separate planes but arrived within 20 minutes of one another on Wednesday, and Lisa arrived on Thursday. I took Wednesday afternoon and Friday off. Thursday I had to work to prepare for the concert, and they drove down and parked in prepaid parking a half-block from the Fox. Our concert seats were in the center of the first row (Orch A 13-16) and they were perfect  for this performance. Though the theater was sold out, it felt like Sarah  was singing to us alone, and we were oblivious to 1,700 other people. We could see every detail in the beautiful stage lighting from the spit that projected from her mouth as she pursed her lips in song, to the guitar picks she would drop to the floor when she chose to strum with her fingers. I personally discovered Sarah McLachlan's music that night through the eyes of my daughters and found it to be enjoyable and telling of a woman who isn't afraid to reveal her feelings through her music. When the nearly three hour concert came to a close, Jennie, song-writer and musician, could not just walk away without asking for one of Sarah's discarded guitar picks and the playlist which was taped to the stage floor. She received both from one of Sarah's crew, and thanks to my friends and coworkers at The Fox, Sarah received a CD with a few of Jennie's copyrighted songs.
     Afterward, my friend and event co-ordinator/ booking manager, Gretta Bailey took our picture.

     I had the pleasure of introducing Lisa, Heather, and Jennie, to a few of my co-workers, then we left for the Heileson's home to pick up... The children did perfectly well and were happy as they could be without their mother for a few hours.
   In the next few days we would mostly just sit and reminisce while babies napped, fed, and played, but we did also swim briefly at the Athletic Club, go shopping, and I photographed each one, and Jennie me.

I am blessed to have spent this time with three amazing women that just happen to be my daughters.