Miscellaneous

Back from my blogging hiatus; miscellaneous goings on...

Got an additional calling that entails scheduling families to clean the church.
It has been fun organizing things and the building is on its way
to being clean or at least cleaner!

Milestone birthday for Candace!

I'm constantly amazed by the decorations at the commissary!
Here, the stalwart potato is recognized!

Stake RS asked Emi and I to make desserts again.
Emi's flan got rave reviews, at least from one unnamed sister
who said she ate seven servings!

I made toffee crackers again, easy plus---yum!

And, most importantly, another milestone birthday---Tomboy turned 60!

 

Feeling the Christmas Spirit

Candace was in charge of the decorations for the ward Christmas party this year and she did an outstanding job! I'm a bit pessimistic regarding decorations. I like them, I just don't like spending a lot of money on them.  Candace not only economized, utilizing free cardboard and decorations that we already had in the ward, but her decorations and design focused on the Savior and invited the Spirit so very much! 

I had to get to the party early to set up my own thing, so I got to see the decorations alone with just Candace, and I choked up taking them all in! My favorite decoration was the manger, front and center, raised up on a table, lit from within, of course symbolizing the light of Christ.

  Simply beautiful, Candace!  Well done!

Sweet and beautiful

 

The Giving Machine

The Giving Machines came to Old Town, San Diego this year, so when

sign-ups to help man them came around, we wanted to take a turn!

Signed up for an early Christmas morning shift and it turned out to be a great way to begin our Christmas day! We decided that we want to continue doing Christmas morning service next year, too!

Seven different charities were represented in The Giving Machine with items available for donation ranging from hot meals and baby items to warms blankets and chickens!

We three got matching Santa hats for fun.

Meeting people from all over the world while doing our service-Turkey, Greece, Ireland, China, Korea, etc. was fun and interesting.
After a person bought something to donate, they got to hold a corresponding poster of their donation and get their picture taken!  Fun!

 

Apple Butter

Haven't made apple butter in a few years, so made a batch to give away.  The apple peeler peels, cores and slices the apples-super easy!

A potful of apples cooks down to less than half a pot of apple butter.

There is actually no butter in apple butter, only apples, sugars and spices.

Ready to gift!

 

Costco Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving helps me remember all the many blessings Heavenly Father has given to me and my family---I want to thank him! I feel deep gratitude to HF for his Plan of Happiness, at the center of which, is Jesus Christ and his atonement. I am again reading, The Infinite Atonement (Tad McAllister) in an attempt to better my understanding of the most significant event (in all history, anywhere).  I am so very grateful to HF for my family.  HF helps me to be aware of just how much they mean to me. 

Tom eating Steaksgiving dinner.

 

                                                                                         

Kimo wasn't home for Thanksgiving-missed him!

Most of our Thanksgiving meal came from Costco this year, namely steak and mashed potatoes. Go, Costco!

                 

Costco worker all into Thanksgiving!

 

A Week Off From Work?

We had a stovetop fire in our kitchen a long while back which was...

Traumatic! (at least for me!)

I guess it's taken this long to get over the feelings associated with that fire.

And after washing and painting just about everything on our upper floor, 

we just weren't in any big hurry to finish the job. 

This week Tom decided he wanted to replace those cabinet doors that were damaged.  This is no small endeavor, since he actually makes the cabinets himself, so he took the whole week off to get the work done

Pretty cherry wood

Lots of pieces to keep track of-Tom wrote on the back of each piece.

Our itty-bitty garage was up to the job

Tom's garage stool

Beautiful!

Trim work

Seven doors!

You do such good work, Honey!

Emi and I ate lunch without Tom and this was my fortune!

Tom is a Hunk

The sun was shining on the side of Tom's face today, making him look extra handsome.  I was struck by the white line of sunshine along his jawline and as I described it to him, told him I wanted to take a picture.

(He is used to my taking pictures of him all the time.)  

 

He may not say it, but I know he likes the attention
and I like his dimples! Let's just face it, I like him all the way around!