Yo Ho, Yo Ho--

I've been thinking about the economic crises. There are far more jobless people than jobs to go around. While we're waiting for the stimulus package to address that, how about we send off all these unemployed dudes to Somalia and let them be pirates for a few months? After all, piracy seems to be incredibly profitable. I read a report that those guys have collected about 80 million in ransom moneys this last year. And it seems to be pretty secure. Nobody has a clue how to deal with them. They don't answer to anybody. And think how romantic! Move over Jack Sparrow. Consider all the cool stories for the grandkids:
"How did you get by during the depression of 2009, Grandpa?" "Well, my boy, I tried cleaning carpets and selling Pampered Chef, but I really didn't hit my stride till I ran off to sea and became a pirate." "What about Grandma?" "Oh, she stayed home and scrapbooked all my adventures. Later she wrote a book, My Swashbuckler, and the rest is, uh, family history."
Shucks, maybe president Obama should consider privateering as a means to fix the national debt. Governments have done it before, like Queen Bess and her hero, Sir Frances Drake. Maybe National Pirate could be a cabinet post...and he wouldn't even get in trouble for taxes!

Ice-Cream

I was invited to accompany Shannon and her girls on an outing yesterday to visit the Beehive House. It was the "field trip" part of their study of Brigham Young. It was great fun. And afterwards, we stopped at McDonald's for ice-cream. Alyssa was doing her best not to be messy, but somehow that stuff got all over her chin. I watched as she used the heel of her hand to wipe it off, and then licked her hand. She reminded me of a little kitten.

I miss ice-cream more than any other dessert. It was part of nearly every special memory from my childhood. Uncle Jim sometimes just showed up, stuffed us all in his car and took us to eat ice-cream. We went to Snelgroves for my high school graduation celebration. More than once we went to Ice-Berg Drive-In for milk shakes, wherein we all ate our favorite flavor first, and then ordered another in someone else's favorite flavor to experience the whole package. Then we'd finish by all having an ice-cream cone.

One glorious day, Mom took me to the doctor to see why my skin was so scaly. He wrote out a prescription for ice-cream! Told me to eat as much of it as I liked. This is true.

Share your ice-cream memory!

Cultural High

This week, having Shauna visit has been rich in opportunities to indulge in some of my favorite things. We went to Tiffany's Senior Recital. Who would think listening to a french horn for an hour could be such bliss? She is very proficient, and her accompanist equally so. She played a Mozart concerto for horn that was remarkable. Then on Thurs. was my monthly art guild meeting. This month I'd arranged with James Christensen, the fantasy artist, to do a presentation. He is a delightful person, as well as very astute, artistically. It was a treat. Shauna enjoyed this, as well as Rob and Anna, his new wife (who is also an artist, as it turns out). For our home evening, Monday, Steve and I went to the BYU Art Museum and viewed the Walter Wick exhibit. This is the guy who does the "I Spy" books and "Do You See What I See?" series. He photographs things with visual tricks and such. The exhibit is a marvel and great fun for any age. On Saturday night we went back to BYU for the philharmonic concert which included the Firebird Suite (as in the Disney Fantasia video) and a violin concerto with a guest violinist that was simply marvelous. Also a Wagner overture in which our Tiffany had a horn solo. This BYU group is remarkably professional. It was wonderful. I am pleasantly sated. So... now you guys can enjoy a bit of culture with my latest painting included here. Look at it with music playing.

Peace, Be Still

We had the opportunity to attend the last session of the Dedication ceremonies of the Draper Utah Temple on Sunday. Although our participation was by satellite, the spirit of the occasion was easily felt by all in our building. Before the meeting started, the screen showed different views, inside and outside, of the new temple while played a recording of the tabernacle choir singing various songs, including some of my favorite primary hymns. We hadn't been to Draper to the open house, so these images were the first views I'd had of the temple. I sat there for an hour watching and listening. The people coming into the chapel were very quiet. It was a much needed restfulness and peace that one only feels when in such a setting. I thought of the scripture, "Be still and know that I am God." Truly, I have to make myself be still once in awhile to remember that His love and influence can reach me, no matter what. It was a lovely interlude in life's hectic-ness. We ought to make a "stillness" now and then, of our own accord, rather than wait for it to come to us. I hope I remember that. And I'm passing it on to you.

Accessorizing

I took Downey for a bath and hair cut yesterday. I don't very often take her somewhere else for these attentions. But 2 or 3 times a year I just give in and pay someone else to do it. She looks perfectly lovely. She would be just as lovely without the little ribbons tied into bows above her ears.
What is it with the feminine need to decorate? I can understand a certain amount of "Nesting." We like our home to be just so. But clean isn't enough. We have to add flowers or paper hearts or evergreen wreaths. There are knick-knacks and doilies and centerpieces. And this still isn't enough. We have to decorate ourselves, too. I admit wishing we could wear hats. I like hats. I look good in hats. But I have to settle for the culturally approved adornments of the day.
Men arent' like that. Pitifully plain, they are. Usually. Almost no variety in their attire. So dull. I'm glad I'm a woman. But I don't get why we have this obscession with ornamentation. And why it has to include the poor dog. (This next in a whisper) There are places that cater to pet-pouffing, places that dye poodles pink, powdering, polishing and painting and, yes, attaching hats. But it makes me cringe to think of it.

Spring Thoughts

Spring is a puzzling thing.
It is fickle and furious with weather most curious--
Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

Spring has a glamorous side.
The sparkle and glowing of tiny things growing--
Fill the gardens and meadows with pride.

Spring is a cheerful refrain.
The day and the night welcome more light
And my heart starts to sing, again.

Spring is a lively time.
I hear the birds sing as they take to their wing--
And I begin spouting a rhyme!

I am a Romantic. This you know. Stir that into the artistic mix and you get an occassional odd product. When I was young, I spent a great deal of my free time designing princess gowns. Nowadays, I produce other results. Such as this painting, the image of which came from a photo I took at Tiffany's wedding reception. It's called "Wedding Punch." I'm not at all sure anyone would ever want to put it on a wall, but it was great fun to paint. I just indulged myself and did it! So, what do you think? I'd appreciate some honest comments on this. It's hard for me to judge it. (It's 18 X 24 in oil) Thanks!