Photo of the Day - Delicate

This is the photo that was supposed to be for the 9th but don't worry, today's is not far behind. Guess what is in bloom? Seriously I bet you wish you had this beauty blooming on your counter in January. I love this flower!

Photo of the Day - Looking Up

Yesterday was the first day of school for me and it snowed all day. I did take this picture while on my way to work, I was obviously stopped at a light lest you think I was doing something horribly dangerous. It is one of the many old and pretty buildings downtown. Something draws me to trees with newly fallen snow. Hopefully today's picture will come before the day is done. 

Photo of the Day - outside

This picture was taken actually Saturday evening as we were driving to a basketball game. I will admit that the snow can help make beautiful sunsets. The world is so beautiful, God knew what he was doing when He created it all. 

Thinking Positive

Yesterday was our 7 year anniversary. We recently returned home from a family reunion to Idaho and Yellowstone. My plan was to wash everything and then enjoy the evening as a family to celebrate. The Smart One and I had made plans to celebrate just the two of us next week at the OC Tanner Gift of Music Concert with James Taylor. The Smart One headed to work and I started the first load (of many) to get the wash going. I soon realized the washer wasn't working and after many internet suggestions and cleaning up water with the shop vac I was ready to give up. Not how I anticipated the day going at all. Other things happened as well that I won't go into detail, just to say that life happens. At one point the Smart One was apologizing for things not going as planned and I had the thought, it is all because Adam and Eve fell. It is part of life and although I understood it I was having a hard time not being a downer about things.
I tried to find something positive about it all and the only one I could think of was that this was the first appliance repair in all 7 years, not too bad on that front. But the thing that really changed my outlook was driving home from getting dinner and doing a couple of loads of laundry at my parent's home.
The sunset:

Sunset view from the end of our street

The sunset in itself was amazing and pictures never do them justice it seems. I remembered a silly story from when I was in high school. I had gone to Temple Square for a YW activity and I remember that night looking at the temple and seeing the sunset was purple behind it. I decided I was going to get married on that day, May 14, sometime in the future to have a purple sunset on my wedding day. Well 4 years later I got married but it was August 26 instead, and if I remember correctly the sunset was purplish that night just like last night. A small tender mercy and a blessing to see something good in frustrating life moments.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

This is what I got out of my garden this morning. So far we have only had a few strawberries and the juliette tomatoes and so I was excited to see the others. 

This is what my garden looks like right now. I think it is going well and just put up the trellis so hopefully it works. Right away the eggplant had more room so that is good. 

The crops I have growing are pumpkins, squash, strawberries, eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, corn and cucumbers.

The lady finger eggplants, they are so cute!

The first pumpkin, this makes me actually excited for the fall. 

Just about everyday the Silly One will say, "Mom, our plants are growing." Yes, yes they are. 

Square Foot Garden

There is something quite satisfying and making something out of nothing. There is also something satisfying in working outside to make things beautiful. That is where I would put gardening and I think I have that love of plants and the outdoors because of my Dad. Growing up we would work outside from mowing the lawn to weeding the garden. I remember one time when I was quite young, my little brother and I had the job of taking all the rocks out of our garden. It wasn't pleasant but I do remember eating the fresh fruits and vegetables that came from our garden every year and loved that. 

Since the Smart One and I have been married we have tried to do some sort of garden each year. Some years have worked and some have failed miserably. The first summer we were married we planted zucchini where some bushes had died in front of our apartment, that was awesome.We were able to move our fence this spring and get about 5-6 more feet in our yard, perfect for a square foot garden. I read this book and tried to do many of the things the author suggested. I checked it out from the library but I think it will soon be part of our library. The Smart One did a lot of work to build the box and work with my vision. It was more work than we anticipated which means the next time we need a box he might just buy a kit. ;) Here is the result:

I planted pumpkins, straight neck summer squash, tomatoes, red and green peppers, eggplant, strawberries, marigolds, corn, cucumbers, and lavender. Several of these I started earlier in little planters and planted everything this morning. I got a lot of help from the Silly One in planting and digging holes. The Small One helped by taking a good nap. So this turned into a family garden in which everyone did something to help. Hopefully we'll have a plentiful garden picture to post later this summer. 

Trip to Upstate New York - May 2011

My whole family went to upstate New York to see my oldest brother graduate from the University of Rochester with his PhD, yeah he is pretty smart. We had a wonderful time and were able to make incredible memories together!

The whole family in the Sacred Grove

With our 'Brother, the Doctor'!

Palmyra Temple

Sacred Grove

Sacred Grove

Emma and Mr. Knightly tree

I took so many pictures these is really a mere very small sample. 

Day 12

Day 12 of the 30 Day Challenge

I love many things and today I think I'll pick nature because the weather has been so beautiful lately. These are some pictures I took last year at the Gardens, I so look forward to that opening in a couple of weeks. 

Greatness

I hope my sister-in-law doesn't mind but I wanted to share her post from her photography blog. She is an inspiration to me and her post made me want to try harder to be a better version of myself. With God as our maker and Father we have the potential to be like him, ultimate greatness. 

Welcome to February!

I know we have been in February for a few days now but here are my two cents anyway. I struggle with winter, especially January, it is just too cold and dreary for my liking. February just seems so much closer to spring. After a recent snow storm earlier in the week I was able to enjoy how beautiful the snow can be, the sunshine helped. This is the view at the end of our street, there is something peaceful to me about snow covered fields and mountains. 

Let's all hope Punxsutawney Phil was right and we get an early spring!

Zygo Cactus

I love flowers and plants! My Mom gave me a Zygo Cactus, or holiday cactus, a couple of years ago. It was in bloom when she gave it to me and it hasn't bloomed since. I have been meaning to look up how to work with it to get it to bloom again. They have some of the most interesting and beautiful blooms. This month I noticed blooms starting, just in time for Christmas and New Years! I can't wait for the rest.