SPRING WORK PERIOD

Windy, Snowy, Cold Spring Work Period -- April 6, 7, 8, 2010
During Spring Break I am usually working with my boss and staff from my office. This year Missy Small, who is the Interior Appropriations staff in our office traveled with me to some Interior funded sites. The weather was, quite frankly, miserable. We took pictures of some of the places we visited.


This is Missy at the Minidoka Interment Camp National Monument. The wind was blowing about 45 mph with a windchill of upper teens. If you are driving past Twin Falls this is a worthwhile stop, about 15 miles South off the main Twin Falls exit. It is a sad part of Americas history and you realize it as you stand in this spot and read about those that were there. It is also inspiring as you learn how they adapted to their surroundings making the best of their situation. It was so cold and windy we were really humbled as we read the descriptions of the camp. This was where I dropped my camera and the phantom black spot appears on my lens in the rest of the pictures.


Same day -- Craters of the Moon National Monument. They were recovering from a blizzard from the day before.
Quite the contrast of black and white.
City of Rocks National Monument was the day trip the following day. The temperature was rising, snow melted, beautiful fun day. Take the Albion exit off I-86. Great drive and very nice Back Country Byway road.... it was not and easy job to get that Byway funded and completed... you can thank the perseverance of Missy Small when you drive that nice smooth Back Country Byway..
Some great "Old West" characters to learn about. City of Rocks is more than an international climbing destination. It is a the crossroads of the California Trail and Oregon Trail, ruts still visible and marked. There are some of the granite rocks where you can see the names and year of the families that passed through. It is a great camping location with lots of rocks for kids to climb on. You don't have to be a serious climber to enjoy City of Rocks.... Very nice campsites as well.
This picture isn't that great but if you look close you can see the year 1825 and others.
These were the highlights of our visits -- at least the places we remembered to take pictures of.

Two Birthdays in One Week!

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY
TO
ZANE
here's the Birthday Boy hanging out in his new hunting tent!
It was fun to see him on his birthday! I love this handsome boy!

......and
HAPPY 27TH BIRTHDAY
to
SSG TREVOR
...we had a fun time celebrating Trevor's birthday with
Kiersten and her fun boys, Costner and Parker.
Trevor got to have his own ice cream cake with
candles!! It was so wonderful having you home for
your birthday!! Love you, buddy! We are all so very very proud
of you and your service to our country. You are a wonderful son!

Rocket Man and Piano Man

In 2003 I read an article describing one of the best concerts on tour it was an Elton John and Billy Joel Concert. I placed this concert on a mental list of a concert I wanted to see before I died!
Last Summer Jeff and I were listing some of things we wanted to do -- sort of our own
Bucket List. I mentioned that I had always wanted to see Elton John and Billy Joel perform
together -- if they still did. While driving in SLC, one weekend, I saw a billboard announcing this concert was coming to SLC. The next day Jeff surprised me with tickets in awesome seats.

The concert was suppose to be last November but was postponed until Feb. 19, 2010!

The night finally arrived and it was much more than we expected. The lights dim at 7:45 at the SLC Energy Solutions event center and the arena fills with the sounds of Randy Newman’s “The Natural.” Twin grand pianos rise up from underneath the giant stage. Billy Joel, 60, comes out first to the tune of “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” Elton John, 63, enters from the opposite side to the blaring “Hail Brittania.” The two music superstars share a warm embrace and acknowledge the thunderous roar of the crowd. Either one or both of these musicians play -- non stop -- no intermission until 11:00 PM

The concert was amazing. The sound was perfect. We felt as if we were sitting in a small concert hall listening to these two amazing pianists. The first half hour they played together sharing the lyrics of "Your Song", "My Life", "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me", and others. It was amazing watching and listening to these superstars perform their music and switch back and forth singing each others lyrics while jamming together on the piano. Then Billy Joel left the stage and for the next 45 minutes Elton John performed alone. Elton John left the stage and Billy Joel performed for about 45 minutes. They ended the concert performing together for about 30 more minutes concluding with Piano Man and Candle in the Wind. The lights, sound and stage were amazing and superstar quality. I have never been to a concert of this caliber before. It was so cool to watch and hear them perform Rocket Man and Piano Man, Uptown Girl, all their hits. I loved loved loved it!!!

SSG Trevor!!

Trevor and Keirsten dropped off two shadow boxes that Keirsten had done for Trevor's medals and his purple heart. Trev asked me to ship them to him rather than taking a chance of carrying them on the plane with him. I don't know what all the medals represent it's the first time I've seen them. They've been in Texas with Trevor.


This picture doesn't show it very well -- Trev's Purple Heart from his first tour in Sadr City is in a shadow box too.
Some of you may have already seen these but I wanted to show them off. I'm very proud of Trevor and his service to his country.

I wish I had a picture of Keirsten too. I'll work on that. She is a sweetheart and Trevor's fiance. She's from Idaho Falls. That's the only news about Trevor and Keirsten to pass along --when there is more I'll share.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

My friend, Karla, gave me the instructions to this wreath. It is hanging on our
Idaho Falls front door. Hard to believe that I made something pink!
It turned out pretty cute even if it is pink. I like pink - I just don't wear pink.
It is made out of 5" circles of fleece then pinned
onto a heart shaped styrofoam wreath.

Saturday, Jeff surprised me and took me to the
Salt Lake Running store and hooked me up with some great
new running shoes. I should be able to step up :) my training now. Thanks, Jeff, for the
great Valentines Day surprise!

Laney and Abby helped me make valentines sugar cookies last night.
mmmmm good!

I hope you all have a wonderful day!!

Projects Finished

It has been a "creating marathon" the past couple of weeks. I have had a great time making fun gifts for my grandkids and Darci!

It all started when Amy sent me an email with a link and asked me if I could make a car carrier for Charlie for his birthday. Easy -- I had some scraps of fabric, followed the tutorial off the website and ...
here it is... Closed .... and...

Here it is open. Cars fit into the pockets. Here's the link to the tutorial if you want to make your own.. http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/2009/12/cozy-car-caddy-tutorial.html



Then, Amy sent me some links to some terrific card table tents. So we designed and made this one for Charlie's birthday. I have wanted to make one of these for years.







Next project...early in January, Daphne asked me if I would make her a dress to be baptized in. I was honored. Daphne and I went shopping so she could pick out the fabric and pattern. She did a terrific job, I think! She looked like an angel last Saturday on her baptism day.



For about 4 months I have wanted to make a Church bag for me and have saved this pattern from a Joann Fabric website. I thought I'd try out my first bag on one for Darci's birthday.
It was a ton of fun to make and turned out great. I still haven't made mine yet but I will get it done soon. I think we still have 6 more weeks of winter -- at least :) Here's the link to the directions if you want to make one.
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/projectdetail.jsp?pageName=search&PRODID=xprd780715

As you can see it has been cold in Idaho Falls and I have needed to stay busy inside. I have crafted with friends, family and by myself -- it has been so much fun making things for my family!

4 Things Tag -- Finally Posted

My niece, Colle, tagged me last week on her 4 Things Tag. Thanks Colle! You motivated me to keep posting but I'm slow. Before I start let me explain this pic. Last week we had fog several days. On Thursday as I drove out of the driveway I took this pic of some of our aspen trees in the yard. It was a beautiful, very cold, clear day. I love the contrast with the blue sky.

Now to the 4 Things Tag:

4 Things I like to watch:
1. The Good Wife
2. NCIS - Los Angeles
3. Last 6 weeks of American Idol
4. 24

4 Things I am passionate about:
1. Jeff Sayer - I love this man! I love him more everyday!
2. My family, kids, grandkids, so very grateful for them
3. The outdoors, enjoying it, appreciating it, partaking of it....
4. The Arts - visual, performing, lobbying for it, improving our quality of life.

4 Words or Phrases I say a lot
1. Hey, what's up?
2. Hmmm, let me think about that.
3. Hey Dude...seriously??
4. "Hey" ... I usually start out every conversation with "Hey"

4 Things I learned from the Past
1. Call your Mom at least once a week because you will miss her once she's gone no matter how long she lives. You can never tell your Mom you love her too many times and no matter how many times you have told her you say it in your heart when she's gone.
2. My Testimony and love of the Savior directs my life and choices.
3. Guardian Angels do exist.
4. Always smile when you enter a room -- it gives you courage!

4 Places I like to go
1. Mountains, rivers, lakes, outside! Nature strengthens and grounds my soul.
2. My sewing room to "create"
3. Any comfy chair when I have a good book in my hand
4. Places where I am with those that I love

4 Things I did yesterday
1. Finished Daphne's baptism dress
2. Worked out - exercise
3. Finished Charles B-day present
4. Started a surprise for Darci's B-day

4 Things I am looking forward to:
1. Annual Sayer Redfish Lake Camping Trip
2. Riding my new road bike -- I dream about it
3. Spring flowers - I planted more bulbs last October and am excited to see how they turn out.
4. A trip in March with my husband - location TBD

4 Things I love about winter:
1. Watching the Snake River as it freezes and thaws and those silly ducks
2. How quiet, beautiful and clean snow is.
3. Skiing, snowshoeing,
4. that it ends... :)

4 Things on my wish list:
1. Mirrors for our workout room
2. Trip to Italy
3. Trip to Israel
4. A few days or weekend when we are all together - Jeff and all of my kids and grandkids all together at the same time.

4 People I tag:
1. Kaylyn (aka Katie Peterson)- because we are related and we work together
2. Amy Sorensen - because I work with her but never see her
3. Travis - because he hasn't answered Darci's Tag yet.
4. My friend Karla, because she wants to start a blog and maybe this will inspire her.