2020- Week 21(May 18- May 24)

We were finally able to hold a DUP meeting. We held it outside in Barbara's church parking lot so that we could keep our chairs 6 feet apart and practice social distancing. Everyone wore a mask. Marilyn M gave a lesson on the 19th amendment when women got the right to vote. Women in Utah had been voting for several years before the amendment passed. Linda gave a history on her mom who is also a member but can't come often. Doraleen told us about her great grandfathers musical baton and Judy shared her journal jar minute about how she got the name Judy. It was really nice and great to get out of the house.

I went for a short visit to Claudia's house to take her a treat for her birthday. She had made a cake so I had a piece and visited for a few minutes. Ally told me that it was her birthday that day ha ha.

I went for my annual exam with Dr Froerer. We all wore masks. I was one of his very first patients back in 2000- So he has been my doctor for 20 years. I was pleased to find out that I had only gained 2lbs since I started quarantine ha ha.

More of my turtles came over and found their turtle

Whitney picked up her cap and gown and graduation stuff. The young women leaders(Monique, Velvet, Tami and Andrea) also came over and surprised her with a wonderful little basket of college essentials. There was all kinds of measuring spoons and cups, dish towels, a cookbook, boxes of food, etc. They also left her little notes all over the door and gave her a balloon bouquet. It was so so thoughtful!

Sanding is still happening on the table.

Jeff and I went to Arbor Day Nursery and finally after 11 years planted some new plants in the front flower beds. We got three trees- a Norway spruce, a lavender twist red bud and a rose of Sharon tree. Then we got a poppy, 2 goldstrum, 3 box woods, a blanket flower, a Cora Louise peony, a blue hydrangea, ivory leafed dogwood and 2 different kinds of daisy. Jeff and I spent the whole next day planting all of them. I really hope they survive and thrive and make our yard look nice. 

Before

After

On Sunday I was asked to give a talk in church(by Jeff in my living room). I chose to speak about President Nelson's talk called Hear Him and how important personal revelation is. We received an email from the stake letting us know that regular church is going to resume soon but it will look very different. I have loved home church but it will be nice to be able to worship together again. After church my mom and Liz came over for a visit. They hadn't seen the kids since March. 

2020- Week 20(May 11- May 17)

Paige mentioned that she wanted to go on a hike while she was here. So I wrote her a list of several that I thought wouldn't be crowded or covered in snow. She invited me to come with her and told me she had heard about a new one in Draper that had only been open since October. She said it was about 2 miles round trip which is my kind of hike. It was called the Lupine Trail and it's in Suncrest. You have to drive through a neighborhood to get to it and then all of a sudden there is a wooded area. We had the trail all to ourselves. We saw one other person about halfway through. It is mostly shaded and the path is well carved out. There were tons of wild flowers. It was absolutely beautiful and had an amazing view of the Draper Temple and Salt Lake Valley.

We tried out my new fire pit. We also brought out the corn hole boards and the hammock. It was a perfect night. We took turns playing corn hole and we roasted marshmallows and enjoyed the perfect evening.

Paige loves to go on walks each night and I went with her on Tuesday night. We went to Daybreak. It was very crowded so we walked down the streets to the temple to try to avoid them. The homes here are so perfect. I love everything about them. I love the colors of the homes and especially the front doors. I decided one day when I am a grandma I want a light turquoise colored house with a pink door.

Paige gave us a Mo'Bettahs gift card for letting her stay so we got dinner on Wednesday night.

Melinda stopped by to get some of our chick and hens. Their whole family had masks on and baby Bronson looked so cute with his and totally kept it on the whole time.

Another night out by the fire. This time we played a get to know you game where you had to answer a question about the person sitting to your right.

Since we can't hold Activity Days, Crystal and I hid tiny toy turtles in our front yards for the boys to find. If they take a picture of themselves with one we leave them a treat on their porch. They have loved it. It's been a great no contact activity.

Now that Ashtyn is home she has been getting rid of a lot of clothes and I love that I can wear all the shirts she no longer wants.

The table is ready to be refinished now. I have called four different companies and only one of them said they could do it but that it would be a minimum of $750. I do not love the table enough to pay that so I have been researching different techniques online. I found one where you use antiquing wax right on the bare wood and it makes it a nice lighter brown. I saw three different people do this exact technique so I got some wax. There is a man that sells it out of his house just a mile away so I didn't even have to go to a store. When I put the wax on it looked perfect but then when I buffed it out it ended up looking way too light- almost like driftwood. I like that look but it's too light for our house and too beachy looking so now it's back to the drawing board. I just hope I can find a way to fix it without having to sand down the table again.

I found a robin's egg in the front yard but no nest.

I made Jeff and the kids watch The Buttercream Gang with me on YouTube. I loved this movie when I was a kid. It has the best message ever. They thought the acting was a bit cringy ha ha.