A book, a book, my kingdom for a book!

Just came from my bookgroup - only 2 of us had read the book! (And it wasn't a book I particularly even wanted to read - Ender's Game - I am not into sci-fi!) The group picked a year's worth of books last year one time when I wasn't there - I had a class - and I said, when I saw the list, "I don't like Sci fi" and they all said, "Well, we tried to pick stuff from several genres." So as we go around the room to see who has read it, they are all saying, "I didn't read it, I don't like science fiction." Sort of annoyed me!

I had high hopes for my book group - and they have really not been realized. Maybe the best thing is to just go around talking about books with people - seems about as effective as the book group has become! I think I probably need to pick a bunch of English majors - the group seems more into "popular fiction" and I really would like to discuss literature.

Anyway, my pick for January - which I will host - is Death Comes for the Archbishop. I'll let you know how it turns out! (the discussion, not the book!)

And I do need to get going on my book blog - I'll keep you posted on that too!!

The Short Shawl

The Short Shawl
Originally uploaded by grannybabs.

Phoebe requested this shawl - it called for 2 ply yarn and she chose 4 ply yarn, so it came out a bit shorter than she had planned. But Calvin loves to snuggle with it because it is very soft. And we found the same yarn - on sale even - at JoAnn's the day after Thanksgiving - so we're trying again. At least I know the stitch!

A couple of business men hard at work!!

Henry helps Noah
Originally uploaded by grannybabs.

Noah is in the envelope stuffing business with Rusty - it's turning out to be a good source of income and you can converse, listen to music, watch t.v. and movies, visit with friends and family - all while stuffing and sealing envelopes.

The ever-helpful Henry enjoyed making his contribution.

The extra boxes in the car were a bit of a nuisance - but covered with pillows they made a nice spot to rest your head!

Finger lickin' good!

Finger lickin' good!
Originally uploaded by grannybabs.

I do this every holiday - we are so busy having a good time, eating good food, cleaning the inevitable mess that comes from enjoying lots of good food - that I forget to take pictures! (And several that I took came out very dark!)

Calvin was a continual source of entertainment - and he knows a candy dish when he sees one!

Turkey for Me, Turkey for You

Good evening.

We enjoyed our Thanksgiving dinner at Matt's brother Jeff's house with their family. Pumpkin-s'more-less, but still fun. Hope you all had fun too! I'm excited to see all y'all in a few weeks.

Let's see some pics from the rest of y'all's's's's holiday festivities!

poor esme'

esme' was so frustrated with ella today. ella had a friend over and they did not want esme' around. esme' was not happy about it - so she came upstairs all upset and i said "esme', you just need to ignore them" so she went downstairs and she's pointing her finger at them, yelling "IGNORE! IGNORE!" so i went in and said, "esme' do you know what ignore means?"

A great baptism

A great baptism
Originally uploaded by grannybabs.

The latest baptism - gotta love the sister missionaries - they make me smile all the time!! We are truly blessed to have them in our midst.

Little Bunny Foo Foo

Little Bunny Foo Foo
Originally uploaded by grannybabs.

Eve loves her curls - and sits patiently while Mom rolls them up. The ears are her own special touch!!

When I Was 28, It Was a Very Good Year

Happy birthday to Matt!

Gotta Love the Hat!!

Gotta Love the Hat!!
Originally uploaded by grannybabs.

Last Friday was Veteran's Day - and a school holiday! So Bonny and the girls came out to Monrovia - and a popular stop in Monrovia is the park across the street from Harry and Dawn's house on Lemon - right around the corner from where we used to live on Lime!!

At any rate, Porter was sporting this great hat - it made me think of the plaid hunting hat that Holden Caulfied wears in Catcher in the Rye. It's funny how so many odd little items from books stay with us - probably a good argument for choosing books carefully!

Salinger and Catcher in the Rye - for good or ill - is certainly in the Terrill library. After reading Dream Catcher, the memoir written by Salinger's daughter Margaret, I have a lot more understanding about Salinger. Like many - or should I say most - of us, Salinger is a product of his upbringing and his time. Not an excuse, just an observation.

And Porter is certainly a dapper little fellow - with or without the plaid hat!

Annika and the Stink Eye

Annika and the Stink Eye
Originally uploaded by grannybabs.

Bonny always talks about Annika giving everyone the "stink eye," but I really didn't see it clearly until I uploaded this pix. I wonder what she is really thinking?! And will we all laugh in 20 years - because she still does it?! It may prove to be a powerful weapon in her arsenal!!

Tiger, Tyger, etc.

For all you Lynne Reid Banks fans (I know you're out there), I just finished her newest book, Tiger, Tiger (burning bright, deedle deedle deedle dee). Anyone read it? I don't know why you would have, seeing as it's recommended for grades 5-7, but that's never stopped some of you before.

It seems to be exactly the same story as the movie Two Brothers, which I haven't seen, but I noticed it on a shelf in Blockbuster the other night, read the back of the DVD case, and said to myself, "This sounds suspiciously like that tiger book I'm reading." I don't know that I'd like to see the movie though, because I never really like animal movies. Or animal books, really, but this one is more about the people (ancient Romans) than the animals (tigers).

Anyway. Tiger is good, a quick read, and compelling. By the last chapters I was actually on the edge of my seat. Not bad for an animal book!

Ross Terrill

There's a guy named Ross Terrill speaking today in the JSB. I think he's a professor at Harvard. Relation?

Hannah Ring Came to Dinner

Yesterday our longtime friend Hannah Ring came to dinner. Afterwards as we were talking the conversation turned to how she had joined the church. As it happened she was raised in a village near Liege, Belgium, and was introduced to the gospel when very young by her aunt and uncle. Her father had been a member of the underground resistance during WW II, and disappeared in 1940 when she was three years old. Two years later her mother heard from someone that her husband was nearby, went to find him but never returned. So Hannah and her older sister were raised by her father's sister who had married a Pole and therefore had avoided registering during the German occupation as a Jew.

Her aunt and uncle hid a Jewish family in a little cubby under the stairs during the whole war. She told us that the family never left the house, and often had to scurry into the hiding space on short notice when they heard people coming to the house. It happened that the woman of the family, now in her eighties and who still keeps in close contact with the family that saved her, had been a good friend of Hannah's mother. So on her last trip home Hannah was able to record memories of her parents, whom she had never really known.

When she was nineteen Hannah was able to come to the University of Utah on a scholarship, then transferred to BYU. Whe taught French 301 at the Y, and even tutored Nugh Nibley's children in French.

How is it that she and her sister were able to escape Hitler's "final solution?" Part of their strategy was to change the spelling of their last name to Ryng to sound more Flemish. And her name was changed from Hannah to Henriette to sound more French. Years later she became Henriette Lusczeck, our friend and neighbor for some 24 years.

And that is the rest of the story.

Jesus the Christ

My coworker emailed me this link to an LDS media survey... if you complete it, you can DL the audiobook of Jesus the Christ for free!

For those of you who are interested, check it out here.

christmas time is here again

 


had to break out the christmas dresses early this year. they've been calling out from our closet and i had to give in. besides the season has begun, and we need to enjoy our christmas dresses not just on christmas sunday. 

To Run or Not to Run

Me again, re: the Moab half-marathon. Again. Registration info is now up on their site. Looks like it's $40 per person to enter the lottery--all refunded if we don't get in (at least that's what I hope they mean by "In the event that you are not selected, your check will be shredded"). They'll select 4,000 people, out of...I don't know, a lot of applicants, and we can enter as a group. November 15 is the first day to register, and the lotteries are November 29 (first 3,000 lucky winners) and December 15 (the remaining 1,000). We can only register by mail, and group entries need to be in the same envelope.

Anyway, so far it's me, Matt, Hannah, and what looks like a yes from Dad and Bruce--anybody else? The 5-mile run (or walk) is also included in the lottery, so for example Mom, or whoever, if you wanted to do the 5-miler you'd need to register and pay $40 too as part of the group.

Let me know before Tuesday, if you please, so that I can write the check and mail in the form(s). Up to 10 people can register as a group, but if for some reason I get a staggering amount of yeses in reply (ha, ha), we can register in more than one group and cross our fingers.

And, if you just want to take a little trip to Moab (who doesn't, really), then you're invited to come too. Again, it's March 18th, which is a Saturday. M, H, and I would probably drive down Friday morning or afternoon, depending on work, school, etc., then go back to Salt Lake Saturday night or Sunday morning. Moab is about a 4-hour southeast drive from Salt Lake and about a 10-hour drive from L.A.

This would be a good place to comment and say, "Yes, DEFINITELY count me in and fill out a form for me." Or, if you don't want in, then...this would not be a good place to do that. :)

Au revoir!

Tuesday Night Tasty

Tonight's dinner at Chez Us:

Caribbean jerk-grilled pork chops
Black bean salsa (black beans, corn, pico de gallo, lime juice)
Parsleyed couscous (parsleyed for the lack of cilantro)

Yum, and it's easy, adaptable (you can make it to serve one person or several people), and inexpensive. Mexican rice is also good in place of couscous.

Because we had cereal for dinner last night—and because, since getting back from our trip, I've not been the most motivated in the kitchen—I'm feeling triumphant that I actually made dinner tonight.

And then I thought I'd share the joy.

Because it's good.

Oh yes, and pumpkin muffins to top it off. (I didn't have the patience to wait for a loaf of bread to bake.)

I think I might have to do this regularly. It'll be an incentive for me to cook new things. I'd love to read about your fave recipes too.

Mama in her kerchief....

What a tranquil evening! It is just a bit chilly outside, so we have a fire going and are both sitting here in front of the fire killing time until Noah gets home. This morning it was just a tad foggy out. A perfect fall day in LA.

Today we went to Nordine Merkley's memorial service. She died in Beaver last week and was buried up there. Mom played hookey from school (for you Utah folks that means "sluff"--or is it "slough"?). She felt a cold coming on last night and since she had already gotten a sub lined up in case she had jury duty again today, well...let's just say it is a good thing she is tenured and that Arnold's Prop. Whatever about being able to fire teachers just for the heck of it is not being voted on 'til tomorrow. She wasn't really coughing yet, y'know? But I will vouch for the fact that she stayed in bed a little longer this morning, and has pretty much recuperated completely from the sore thoat.

Well, about time to go out and get another log for the fire. I think maybe a spot of hot chocolate, don't you think?

Party (like it's...1999)

On what day shall we be having this Family Gathering? What’s best for everyone? Last time I talked to Mom, she didn’t know, although she mentioned the Phoebe and Davids were going to be there on or around the 27th. Thought I’d throw the question out there.

The Utah contingent will be in town during the week between Christmas Eveish and New Year’s Eveish-Dayish.

There’s my 2p.

Latest baptism

Latest baptism
Originally uploaded by grannybabs.

What a great way to spend a Sunday night! Ben got baptized tonight - his fiance has been a member of our ward, but he was baptized in the ward boundaries where he lives. (They are getting married this weekend but will be living in his ward now.)

Dad gave the Holy Ghost talk - a great one by the way - sharing his experience with then Apostle Kimball while he (your dad) was on his mission.

It's a great story - he wrote it to me while he was on his mission, but I never tire of hearing it. Most of you have probably heard it - it's about keeping a memory of how you felt when you had the Spirit with you.

He also relates how Pres. Kimball told the story of Heber C. Kimball prophesying that soon the saints would be able to buy commodities cheaper than they were in New York - and how Brigham Young said, when Heber sat down, "Well, you missed that one Heber!" But of course we know that with the Gold Rush, prospectors came into SLC will to give all the commodities they had for fresh teams to get them to the West coast.

I love living with the Ward Mission Leader - we have the best experiences around here - seems like on a pretty regular basis too!

A Case of the "I ThoughtYou Saiders"

Tonight David and I were talking and I said ,"I didn't know that was a sore point." And Henry said, "Where is the sword fight?"

I've Come to Talk with You Again.

Hey family.

This is my open invitation to anybody who wants to join me, Matt, and Hannah in registering for the Moab half-marathon. The race is March 18th and the lottery starts on November 15th. As I understand it, groups can register, and then either everyone’s in or everyone’s out. I think the registration fee is probably around $50 or so, but that is an absolute wild guess; I need to check on that.

I’ve been meaning to do this race for the past few years and I just never have—now this could be our last spring in Utah, for awhile anyway—and I really don't expect that I'll ever do a full marathon—so here goes. There’s also a 5-mile run going on at the same time.

Anyway, I’m not especially expecting anybody to drop what they’re doing and head out to Moab, but I thought I’d invite anyway! It should be fun, as long as we get in and I make myself train beforehand. I am feeling motivated today, and I've started a schedule, and I have been running regularly since we got back from Euro-land. I just need to keep that up, I guess!

Happy November.

hello family, my old friends!

For those of you who didn't read my post at The Good Life, I'll exhort you to go see the very excellent movie New York Doll.

It follows the life of seminal 70s-glam rock group The New York Dolls' bassist Arthur "Killer" Kane, who joined the LDS church in 1989 (did that sentence even make sense?). Morrissey of The Smiths fame (or of Morrissey fame) became the curator for a 2004 rock festival in London, and he posted on his website that the New York Dolls would be reuniting 30 years after their breakup... Kane found out about this announcement through a friend who happened to read the news on some website. The director, Greg Whiteley, was fortunate enough to be Kane's home teacher when they lived in Westwood... he discovered that Kane was planning on going to London for the reunion show, so Whiteley decided to bring along a video camera when he drove Kane to the pawn shop where his bass was lying in wait after years of neglect.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Please go see this movie. I feel like I've given this same song and dance to everyone, but it is truly an excellent movie. Kane's story is one of the most moving that I have heard in a long time, and it's about time an LDS filmmaker put real talent to use (no offense, Richard Dutcher). It's a great missionary tool. It's gotten excellent reviews (see Kenneth Turan's LA Times review here, listen to the interview with Whiteley on Morning Becomes Eclectic here). It's opened in major cities (LA and New York last week, SLC and Phoenix tomorrow), and the wider release of the film depends on how it does this weekend. Those of you who live around those areas really need to go check it out. I went to a Q&A with Greg Whiteley today, and his story about how the movie has gotten some very lucky publicity is amazing. You can check out more information at the website, newyorkdollmovie.com.

Do the right thing... support good LDS filmmaking! =)

all the way to milWUAkee

well, betsy didn't go to milwaukee, but she did make it to the 'bu as we call it here.

ella, ara and aspen hit it off and isaac was the awesome thrasher kid, who barely batted an eye when he sliced his nose on the teeter-totter.


annika could not get enough of hazel and had to be forcibly restrained.

it was fun to sit and visit and it's sad we all live so far away - at least we can blog with each other at any time