Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Joseph Smith's life and death

I haven't blogged for a while but I have some thoughts I want to put down and this is as good a place as any.

I just finished a class at BYU about the Prophet Joseph Smith from birth to death, 1805-1844. It was taught by Susan Easton Black. Her depth of knowledge and love of the prophet are evident. It was a treat to go to class twice a week, especially since we opened with prayer and a hymn. I loved sitting in a room of young voices harmonizing a beautiful hymn. Today's was "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" sung by John Taylor in the room Joseph was eventually shot in, hours before he died.

Susan spent Monday and today going through the last days and final hours of Joseph's life. It was heart-wrenching. I've been to Nauvoo and Carthage and pictured, as she spoke, two brothers - Joseph and Hyrum, leaving Nauvoo for the last time, going to Carthage, hoping against hope their lives would be spared. Yet, some of Joseph's last words were, "I go as a lamb to slaughter." He knew what was ahead for him. He tried to tell Emma goodbye but she brushed it off, thinking he would be back that night. His friends John Taylor and Willard Richards were with him his last night and day. A kind jailer allowed them use of his bedroom rather than putting them in the jail. John Taylor, a wonderful tenor, sang "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" - all seven verses, then sang the seventh verse again:

"Then in a moment to my view
The stranger started from disguise.
The tokens in his hands I knew;
The Savior stood before mine eyes.
He spake, and my poor name he named,
"Of me thou hast not been ashamed.
These deeds shall they memorial be
Fear not, thou didst them unto me."

How fitting those words are for Joseph, one who was chosen to usher in the restoration of the Church in these latter days and who suffered so much during his life because he loved the Lord and did the job required of him. 

I picture four men, friends, two brothers, talking the hours away, waiting, listening to a growing mob chanting and singing outside the window. Susan shared the final moments with us, how the mob stormed the room, pushing in, shots flying. She told how Hyrum was shot and killed first, how John Taylor took four bullets and crawled under the bed for refuge, how Joseph, perched in the windowsill was shot in the back and fell out, landing near an open well. There is a part I had never heard that was so hard to hear that I can't type the words. I know those who shot Joseph will be judged for a prophet's death. And many in the mob believed that by ending Joseph's life, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would fade away. How wrong they were! How glorious it is that the Church, because of the truthfulness of the gospel, survived, endured and thrived. And that it is a refuge for so many who have the faith to know the truthfulness of the gospel. I love it.

I am deeply grateful to Joseph Smith. I don't worship him; I worship Jesus Christ. But Joseph was divinely chosen and did the work that needed to be done to start the journey for many saints, some who are ancestors of mine and Riley's - saints whose faith remained strong as they faced their own tribulations. I am also grateful for Susan Easton Black and her knowledge and love of Joseph. I'm not sure what prompted me to take this class this semester but I am changed for the better because of it.




Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Canning fruit is NOT hard!

I helped my mom bottle lots of things as a kid but when it came time for me to be a grownup and do it myself, I wasn't sure how to do it. So, I called my mom. That was in 1980 when I was a new bride and had been given some free pears. I rounded up some bottles, new lids and followed my mom's instructions.

Whether you have old bottles and free fruit or have to buy everything new, bottled fruit is so much tastier than store bought. So get some fruit and get going!!

It's been 32 years since I first bottled my own fruit and I still use my mom's instructions. It's the same for apricots, peaches, pears and apples. Other people do it other ways, I like the way my mom did it.

Round up everything you'll need:

Bottles - wide or small mouth jars, they have to be able to accept a lid that will seal
White sugar
Wide mouth funnel
Large bowls
Knives (including one butter knife)
Rings (that screw onto the bottles)
New lids to match the size of your jars (if you are using old jars)
Lemon juice (just to put in the water with the cut fruit before it goes in the jars)

Find a friend. It's way more fun to bottle fruit with a friend!

1) Put 1 cup warm water in each jar. (Hopefully you have enough fruit to do at least seven quarts, the amount a canner will hold.) Use the wide mouth funnel to pour 1/2 cup sugar into each jar. Stir until dissolved. (If you don't, it might cake in the bottom of the jar.)

2) Fill your kettle with water and put on medium heat to get it heating up. You don't want the water to get too hot before you put the filled jars in or they might crack. But you do want to get it heating so it doesn't take so long to get to a boil.

3) Put your clean, new lids in a saucepan with water and start simmering. (Not the rings.)

4) Prepare your fruit. Different fruits require different prep. Wash all fruit before beginning but don't let it sit in water or it might become mushy.

Apricots - cut in half, take out the pit, cut any bad spots off.
Peaches - blanche, slit skin and peel it off, use knife to cut into the pit into slices and they will fall off. Or half and take the pit out. (I do mine in slices, then they are ready for a pie, crisp or whatever.)
Pears - peel with a vegetable peeler, cut in half, use a Victorio pear corer. They are the BEST tool to use for pears. I've had mine for 35 years!
Apples - use a handy dandy apple corer/slicer/peeler. You will jump for joy at how dang easy this thing makes bottling apples! Cut off any bad spots.

As you cut the fruit, put it into cool water in a large bowl with about a cup of lemon juice added to keep it from browning.

5) When you have lots of cut fruit, pack your jars. Make sure the sugar is dissolved! Pack it tight to about 3/4" from the top. Use a butter knife to slide down inside and get any air bubbles out. Then fill with water if it needs it. Peaches and pears are juicy and might not need extra water. Apples seem to need a little extra.

6) Wipe off the top of each jar with a clean, damp rag or paper towel. Using tongs, get a hot lid from the stove. Place on top, screw a ring on, comfortably tight and place on rack in kettle. When you have seven on the rack, lower it. The bottles need to be covered by at least 1" of water, 2" is ok.

7) Turn heat to high. It needs to come to a full rolling boil, then set your timer for 25 minutes. (It takes a while ...) I know many people time for 30 or more minutes. My mom always did 20. I usually do 25 just to be safe. You could let it go longer if you are a worrier.

When the timer goes off, turn off the stove. Lift the rack so it sits on the edge of the pan. Use hot pads or a glove or tool to remove the jars. Be careful!! They are hot. Set jars on a cutting board or towel to sop up any juice that seeps out. Don't feel the tops of the lids to see if they are sealed, they need to do that by themselves! A favorite memory of mine from my childhood is the sound of the lids "popping." I love it! When they are sealed, wash with warm water if they are sticky. Let them dry. Mark them with the year and store for delicious fruit in the middle of winter!!

See! I told you it was easy!!!





Monday, August 13, 2012

What I did on my spring/summer "vacation"

I haven't blogged for a while. I've been doing projects - you know, those things you put on a list and then hopefully find time to do. And time is key right now - I have plenty of it, being unemployed and all. So in a few weeks I will come back and list my accomplishments and post pictures. And even though it might look like I'm done, I will still have more projects in the works. I like it like that.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Strange to not have a job!

It's strange to not have a job. I will admit I like being able to get caught up on lots of things! I've cleaned out the garage, condensed Jason's stored things, replaced the food in our 72-hour packs, cleaned out cupboards, planted the garden, crocheted, read, washed all my kitchen decor, cleaned and organized for Amy in her studio and down in Phoenix for Jason and Brandy. It's fun to visit them and see our new sweet, darling, happy baby granddaughter - I made three trips in her first six weeks of life! I certainly couldn't have done that if I was working!! So, being sad at the end of my job didn't last long, not with so much to do and a new grandbaby to dote on.

Tomorrow I am painting the kitchen! I've put this off for years because I didn't have time. It will be a bold blue on one wall and pale blue on the other walls. I took all the Wizard of Oz stuff down and I will re-organize what I want to put back. It will be less and more eclectic - when you look at the items you might have to think about how they play a part in the movie. Of course I will still have my favorite Oz cookie jars and other items - I can't get rid of those!

Riley and I are going to Yellowstone sometime this summer and we have a trip planned to the Grand Canyon with the family.

And with Parkers living just 22 minutes away, there's always a project in the works with Jera! We made several quilts this spring, painted at Ben and Kristi's house, we're going to put a wallpaper border in her sewing room and we've found a few antique stores for ideas.

I know there is a job down the road for me - just don't know what it is yet. I did write an article for the Church News this week and it was good to be writing again. Plus I am editing an online newspaper in Springville and that's fun. Today I made five pair of earrings with my friend Tamela. we've been trying to do this together for about four years. Yes, I think I'm ok not having a job for now!

Thursday, May 3, 2012

I'm in love

I have a new love. Her name is Artemis Valborg Nelson. She's pretty teeny tiny to warrant so much love - just 7 pounds 11 ounces. But how she makes my heart burst with joy - wow.

Details? I've got details.

Last Saturday I kept telling my friend Jera, who is temporarily living with us, it would sure be fun to have a birthday baby since my birthday was the next day. Brandy wasn't due until May 5 but I got a call at 11 p.m. from Brandy that her water had broken and they were going to the hospital. Who didn't sleep that night? Brandy, of course. Jason. Brandy's mom Jackie. And me. Too dang excited!! I thought she'd have the baby before church at 9 a.m. and I'd be able to announce the wonderful news. I was naughty. I held my cell phone all throughout church, texting Jason and my girls, running out to talk to Riley. All throughout Sunday School and Relief Society I couldn't focus - I just wanted to hear she was here.

After church Jera made potato salad and guacamole to take to my birthday barbecue, then we headed to my mom's house in Springville. My sister had coordinated a wonderful party with family and friends. We enjoyed burgers and all the fixings, chatted, opened presents and I kept checking texts from Jason which said, "we see hair," "coming now. Next 10 I bet" and "crowning." Then, at 3:21 their time, 4:21 our time, as my sister was serving my birthday cake he wrote "She is out   holy crap."  I laughed and cried with joy and held up the phone and gave the news - everyone was happy but maybe not as happy as I was!

We got pictures a few minutes later of a tiny black-haired wailing baby. Brandy and Jason have their own personal memories of the birth that I won't share - those are theirs to treasure. Mine were of gratitude to Heavenly Father for bringing this perfect little child to earth. We heard later she weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces and is 20.5 inches long. We got to see a few pictures and that had me hooked so much I felt compelled to just get to Phoenix and not wait. Brandy's mom was OK with that, Jason said he wanted me there "now" and I had no reason to wait. I needed to see my granddaughter.

I booked a flight for Tuesday morning and got to Phoenix by 10 a.m. Jason picked me up and took me to the hospital where Brandy and Artemis were waiting to be discharged. The baby had been in the room with them almost constantly, bonding, eating and sleeping. I walked in the door and saw the tiniest, truly most perfect little face, body, arms, legs. She is amazing. She looks like Jason as a baby and Brandy as a baby. She has skinny legs and arms with soft, soft skin. She has black hair that hangs over her collar. She has a tiny mouth, perfect nose, little eyebrows and ears. She is a calm, happy baby. She is easily consoled - really doesn't get upset at all unless someone annoys her like the doctor checking her out for her first pediatric appointment.

I'm pretty sure I won't be able to go home. I can't think of the day I will have to leave. All I know is, I will be back. A lot. I'm in love.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Big changes ahead

I haven't written anything for a while. Just didn't feel like it. I did write the following back in January but didn't post it. I guess this is as good a time as any to do that:

*** (Jan. 15) The shock still hasn't worn off. I got a call Wednesday night to come to a meeting at work on Thursday at 10 a.m. I told the department chair I take care of my mother on Thursday mornings. He said I needed to be there - it was important. I took my mom to her hair appointment and got our good friend and caregiver Melanie to pick her up. I ran some errands for my mom, then headed to the meeting. Several of my Daily Universe colleagues were already there, the rest filed in after me. We were sitting on one side of a long conference table. Someone joked about it being a firing squad. I joked about getting blindfolds.

Our department chair stood before us and gave us the results of a task force study which was done last fall. We each participated in that study giving our opinions as to why the Daily Universe was in trouble (we had no leader, ad sales were in the toilet, seven of the eight of us were doing what we could to keep the paper afloat financially). Then we were blindsided. Rather than choose a minimal fix, they went drastic. He told us all eight of us were being let go - downsized or some other term. The DU would go digital starting spring term (we actually already are digital) with a once-a-week paper rather than a daily. He said, "this decision is final."

The dean of the college was in there, plus three HR guys and several Comms faculty. No one would look any of us in the eye. Severance packages were explained, "thanks for doing such a great job" was offered. We asked questions about the 321 class and the newspaper. We were told the class would continue and the paper would be once a week. Students would still take the class. Several new positions would be created that we could apply for "if our skill set matches." We asked what the new plan would look like. The department chair (who has since announced he is leaving) didn't know - "we have a lot of work to do to figure this out." We were asked to be professional during the rest of our time at the DU. An HR guy, under his breath, said, "you'll need them to help make the transition." Yep, I guess so. ***

I've never lost a job. It's foreign to me. I thought if you did a good job, made yourself indispensable, you'd always have a job. Not so folks. I've seen friends and family lose jobs over the past couple of years. Could be age related since we are all over 50. What I've noticed in most cases is it was someone younger who let an older (but not so old) person go. Could be financial reasons - several people I know who were let go had worked for their companies more than 20 years, some more than 30. When you clear out the "old" folks, you can hire people at greatly reduced salaries and adjust benefits. The thing that's lost though is experience, knowledge and wisdom. Plus loyalty and investment mentally and emotionally.

I mistakenly thought the only people who lost jobs were those who messed up, fell asleep on the job, came late to work, showed up drunk, ticked off a boss or whatever. Doing a good job shouldn't lead to losing it.

I believe in Karma. I also believe in new beginnings and opportunities. I just thought it should be me making my life course decisions, not someone else. I guess that's a luxury.

One thing I've told my students who are upset about us losing our jobs is, when you go out in the world and you are in a managerial position, remember what happened here, and treat people better than you saw us treated. I hope my students leave the newsroom with the knowledge of how to be a good journalist but, more importantly, I hope they've been taught how to be a good person.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

We like to travel!

Someone made a crabby comment to me recently about our travels. Seems I irked someone by sending our Christmas greetings and detailing where we went last year. I'm not going to stop traveling and I probably won't stop putting that info in our Christmas letters because many more kind, genuine, non-jealous, loving friends commented on how great it is we do get to travel here and there.

I grew up in Springville, Utah. I didn't get on a plane until I was 19. I didn't leave the United States until I was 28 (the 4-minute trip into Tijuana when I was about 12 doesn't count). Even still, the trip at 28 was one my friend Leslee and I won to Acapulco and I didn't travel abroad again for quite a few years. I think that trip did it though - getting on a plane and being somewhere totally different and exotic just a few hours later, seeing new things, meeting local people of a different country, eating the food of the area - I was hooked. Yet we really didn't travel much until we moved to Utah 12 years ago - picking up Jason from Taiwan and Andrea from Argentina, going to Tahiti for Riley's research and traveling to other countries with Riley for bug meetings. In fact, we've only taken two trips that weren't tied to bug meetings, research, a contest win or picking up missionaries - that was Paris in 2010 and England last year.

This is something Riley and I enjoy - traveling to a new country, seeing new sights, taking pictures, making new memories and hopefully new friends. We aren't "thing" people - we don't buy all the latest gadgets, we don't drive new cars, we are pretty frugal people. We save up Skymiles and find other ways to be frugal even when traveling. Riley travels a lot more than I do yet the past two years I've been able to get away about 20 days of the year. That leaves 345 days here at home to take care of our needs, my 82-year-old mother's needs (and there are quite a few under her umbrella), our cabin, my job, my church callings, helping in my neighborhood and town, working on personal goals and just generally trying to keep up with all the demands. Traveling also lets me get away from demands. It lets me rest my brain from all the "needs" here at home. I think I am due that once in a while.

I won't grant anyone the chance to make me feel bad for leaving for 20 days a year because they think it's unfair or they don't get to or they are jealous or whatever their reason is. We aren't wealthy people but we are blessed with a wealth of good friends and abundant memories, some made in distant lands. That's part of the fun of life, isn't it, to explore?

Friday, January 6, 2012

Goals for 2012

I checked my goals last year - waste less food - check; put pictures on blog - mostly check; write one thank you note a week - that lasted a month. Oh well. Two out of three isn't bad. This year my goal is to write my book about my contest wins. I have it started. I just need to carve out time once a week to work on it. I have other goals like going to the temple more each month and writing in my journal every day. (I've written every day so far since Dec. 31.) And getting on the computer less which means having time to write in my journal and go to the temple. Good luck to me! What are your goals?