After being stretched too thin, this year's advent calendars had to be quicker to make than those of the past. Here's how it's done:
Grab a Christmas village building at the local craft store. There are
different styles, they have a light in them and are quite cheap! You
just have to get to them before they sell out.
Cut a hole in the back about 1.7 inches in diameter. You may want to sand the opening.
Then from a similar piece of wood (buy it at the craft store) cut a larger circle about 2.5 inches in diameter. You may want to sand the edges.
Paint everything a gingerbread brown. Mix baking soda in with the paint before you begin if you want to try a gingerbread texture as seen below.
Attach velcro to the back of the door and house to keep the door on. If your door has a hole in the center of it from the drill, use a button or crafting brad to cover it up. (I tried a button first, but the paint wouldn't adhere to it and it still didn't adhere to the brad that well either.)
Puff paint can be used for the frosting effect. Though, it is kind of clunky and difficult to get fine details with. Try paint and a brush if you want more detailed control.
Next, wrap 25 little gifts and stuff them into the house. Close it all up and gift it away!
Inside the packages are a piece of candy for every person in the family and a little, age appropriate activity. Hayden sends videos when they open theirs. It's been a great way to bond with family far away.
Below: The prompt was to wear everything green they could find, because it's the second favorite color of the elves of course!
Friends...I have gotten so BAD at recording Adam's family events. I hereby raise my hand to the highest sky and declare that I will do better. Thanksgiving has finally moved to Texas and I am grateful to be around more family this holiday (In the past, we've had as little as five of us getting together.)
Above: Winning coolest nephew award, Koa. Below: Winning "Only in Texas" award, Authentic Cowboys. (We saw them from the gas station on our way home late that night.
Below: a VERY short video...mainly to show who was there.
As one in a group of three, I helped host a baby shower for our good friend Stacy.
Marla taught us how to make a balloon banner I found online (and now I have a new skill!) And I purchased flowers for center pieces so we could use Stacy's pretty blue mason jars as vases. Another good friend, Lysha, put them together and cut out the little dinosaurs. (I had COMPLETELY NO time to do it myself. I am so grateful to Lysha for doing this, and she did such a lovely job!)
Unfortunately, we couldn't host Friendsgiving this year, our kitchen was not done, so Marlex hosted. Nick and Stacy were there too. It wasn't formal or anything. No table settings that I can recall.
Still, I desperately wanted to contribute something special and successfully found a works-out-of-the-home business woman who puts together charcuterie boards and picked one up on the way to Marlex's house. (They are EXPENSIVE. Sheesh. But we get to keep the tray.)
Consequently, this is the only photo I got of the whole evening.
While in Arizona with Lysha and her parents, they took us to the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park. My only regret: we didn't have enough time to swim and picnic in such a calm and lovely place. We could have stayed until sunset, right Lysha? This stop made the drive from Phoenix worth it.
"Tonto Natural Bridge is believed to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world. Located in central Arizona near Payson and Pine, the massive formation stands 183 feet high, spans 150 feet wide, and covers a 400-foot-long tunnel carved by Pine Creek."
Clover Spring is located northeast of Phoenix Arizona. It used to be maintained as a campground but is no longer, and it's closed off to vehicles. According to this news article it is part of a "water restoration project begun 22 years ago to restore 2,800 feet of stream channel [and is now] working as envisioned without human maintenance."
This is NOT the kind of place I envision when I think of Arizona. I imagine only rock, cactus, and houses with no lawns—but this drive into the mountainous region proved me wrong. The air was cool, almost crisp even, when Lysha and I exited her parent's vehicle to walk down a secluded path where her family used to camp.
It was a short walk, but nice to be out in the quiet of nature with a friend who loves it at much as myself. We visited the area because it holds fond memories for Lysha's parents and of course they wanted to share. And I agree, it would be a lovely place to hike and camp.
The Pinner's Conference & Expo happens once a year in a few places across the states. I invited my friend Lysha to come with me and try it out for the first time. (Note: the conference is NOT sponsored by Pinterest.)
Cons—we don't know if we would do it again. Here's why:
The website for registration was confusing and not easy to navigate or find information.
Class options were very basic (for us). We had a hard time finding something we would be interested in learning or paying for. It's great for beginner creators though.
The location (building and entrance) were not marked in any way. Imagine groups of lost women asking one another where to go.
We arrived five minutes early for the needle punch class and they had already let in all the registered students AND all the standby students! Supplies were dwindling and seats were filling up FAST. Of course Lysha and I went into a frenzy trying to get what we wanted and then there were no two seats together when class started. Talk about anxiety.
I wish more booths had been handcrafted items and craft supply oriented. (There was a knife booth. Sorry people, you need to know your audience.)
Pros:
There were small crafting tables in the hallways where you could learn a quick skill or make something small.
There were a lot of booths where we were able to kill most of the downtime between the classes.
It's fun to sit in a class and learn how to do something new with new people.
Advice for those wanting to attend a Pinner's Conference:
Show up 20–30 minutes early to class.
Bring snacks.
Bring a bag or trolley to carry purchased items.
If you're prepared for a little bit of chaos, and go with a friend, it'll be fun!
My Grandma Margene passed away at 95 on September 30th. I was unable to attend the funeral but was able to watch a broadcast of the event and Dwynne sent me a few Marco Polos and photos too. For better viewing of the short slideshow below visit YouTube here.
Above, All of Grandma's children, left to right: Luan, Arlene, Sally, Lynn, Ronald, Chad
Above left to right: Sally, Luan, Arlene
Grandma wanted a lavender casket.
Above, left to right: Arlene, Sally, Luan, Ronald, Lynn, Chad
Above, left to right: Hayden, Michael, Dwynne, Natalie, Luan
Below are some of the items on display.
Obituary written by my Aunt Sally:
Helma Margene Andersen Clawson, 95 of Twin Falls passed away on Friday August 30, 2024. Margene was born on March 8, 1929 to Christian Waldemar Andersen and Carma Pearl Monson in Shelley, Idaho. She grew up as the youngest of four girls: Johanna (Joey), Lillace, and Laree. Margene graduated from Shelley High School in 1947 and then took classes at LDS Business School in Salt Lake City, Utah where she roomed with friends in the Beehive House.
Margene was sealed to George Ray Clawson in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on March 15, 1951. They are the parents of six children: Ronald, Luan, Lynn, Arlene, Sally, and Chad. They were good parents and provided us with the good things in life. We knew our parents loved each other, loved us, and loved God. We were taught the gospel of Jesus Christ in our home; we were encouraged to serve missions and get an education.
When Dad retired in 1991, they started serving their own missions, starting in South Dakota, Rapid City where they served in Eagle Butte on a reservation; then back to George’s beloved New Zealand, Auckland mission where they served as proselyting missionaries; Utah, Cove Fort mission where they were tour guides for the Fort; and finally in the New York, Palmyra mission where they were guides for the Peter Whitmer home, the Grandin Building where the Book of Mormon was first printed, the log home of Joseph Smith, the Sacred Grove, and at the Hill Cumorah Pageant. Margene loved being a missionary and serving with her husband. From the time of their first mission until Dad’s death, they were rarely apart.
Mom and Dad loved camping and kept the camper stocked—ready to jump in and go for a night or two, fish, and enjoy the outdoors. The South Hills and Alturas Lake were favorite spots, along with small unnamed streams they liked to scope out. We cooked the fish over an open fire and enjoyed every bite.
Mom had many callings as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved being ward librarian, Sunday School and Primary chorister, counselor in the Primary Presidency, and teacher to the 5 and 6 year-old children in Primary. She was a Cub Scout leader and also helped George with the Boy Scouts. She was in the Relief Society presidency where she found her courage to stand in front of people and speak, which served her well as a missionary. She was homemaking leader where she taught some of her own skills of quilting, sewing and baking. She said those are the good things of life. Her favorite callings were working with the sisters in Relief Society. Mom was quick to share her talents and generous with everything she made. Margene faithfully read the scriptures, marking passages and writing her questions in the margins.
Mom was an incredible seamstress. She learned to sew when she was young, and after she was married, she took tailoring classes at CSI. Many people came to Margene to sew clothes and drapes for them. She became a 4-H leader and taught her girls to sew, and they also made banana bread to enter in the fair. Mom learned to quilt and became a master quilter; she was very good at choosing fabrics and knowing how to coordinate them to make something beautiful. Her quilting was all by hand, and visitors often admired her handiwork. Margene also painted, and she filled her home with the products of her many talents. Mom was very gifted in all things handmade—she quilted, sewed, crocheted, knitted, tatted, did netting, and she could pick up any kind of handwork.
Margene had a beautiful garden, both flowers and vegetables. People often stopped to see her yard and flowers. She enjoyed working in her yard and was active in yard care, even mowing her own lawn up until a couple of years ago. She loved her riding lawnmower and was excited to take her grandchildren and great-grandchildren on “tractor rides.”
Margene was a fabulous cook, and people asked for her recipes. She shared all but one—her mother’s famous caramels. She shared the caramels, but kept the recipe in the family. We love those caramels! Margene was proud of her Danish heritage and had fun making aebliskivers and Danish sweet soup.
Mom loved things to match—if there were twin beds in a room, they had to have matching sheets and bedspreads; shoes and purses had to match. Mom loved long, dangly earrings. Every day she dressed and did her hair. She was never sloppy and didn’t ever want her children to be sloppy. Mom was a beautiful, fancy lady.
Margene is predeceased by her parents and sisters, and her husband George who passed away in 2009. Margene is survived by her children Ron and Sharalee Clawson of Rupert, Idaho; Luan and Stan Zenk of Placerville, California; Lynn and C. Clawson of Eagle Mountain, Utah; Arlene and Duff Madsen of Mesa, Arizona; Sally and Corky Richardson of West Valley City, Utah; Chad Clawson and Penny Buckland of Emmett, Idaho. George and Margene have 21 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.
Margene loved her family and was always happy to have her children and grandchildren come to visit. She loved going “down to the Falls” for a picnic or just a drive. It was a joy to her to be so close to such an incredibly beautiful place. Margene was grateful for the gospel in her life and was happy to share her testimony with those around her. We as her children are thankful to our mother for her love and for being a defender of truth. She taught us to be honest, kind, and righteous. Thank you Mom.
There will be a viewing from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, September 14, 2024 at the LDS church on 723 Hankins Road, Twin Falls, Idaho. The funeral will follow at 11 a.m. Interment will be in the Goshen, Idaho Cemetery at 3:30 p.m. Arrangements are under the direction of Rosenau Funeral Home.
Enjoy some doors from Germany and a bit of the border of France. There
is SO MUCH design inspiration from different decades and centuries
of style. We should make more custom doors in the states!
Michael also adds, "...you can make it days early if needed. Refrigerate the shaped dough balls for up to three days (take out two hours prior to cooking) or freeze for months (take out eight hours before cooking.) The trick is catching it when it doubles. That's why I like using the aliquot jar."
As per my Dad's suggestion, while we were in California this summer, Adam and I took an hour long drive down highway 49 to 124 then 88, to the tiny town of Lockeford set among fruit orchards and veggie farms. It was a nice little drive. We went to check out the famous Lockeford Meat sausages.
There's always a line out the door, but it's in the shade. Service is slow and they only allow six people at a time in the shop because it's so tiny. They sell fresh (raw) sausage flavors you can't find anywhere else, the wait is worth it.
Prices are reasonable and they offer just a few other things besides sausage such as jerky, ham hocks and bacon.
The jerky is good, and full flavored. It made a nice treat for the ride home.
Below are the sausage flavors we purchased and cooked up. The Apple had cinnamon in it. The Bacon didn't taste like bacon but was good. The Basil was a group favorite as was the Hawaiian Luau which was sweet. The Smoked Dakota bratwurst is an award winning flavor, it's peppery and more salty than the other sausages. The Swedish Potato was good, but was the least favorite. (The long haired, Harely Bike rider in line told us there are NO bad flavors and he was right.)
You can see other options on the back of their business card below. Also, Lockeford Meats DO NOT have an official website so even though you can find it online, don't trust it with your credit card.
On our way out of town on 88 and headed home, we pulled into Clements Ranch for their advertised fresh corn on the cob to go with our loot. Inside we ran across fresh pies still hot out the oven so we accidentally bought two—the first called Red Barn and the seconds a strawberry rhubarb. The Red Barn was a mixed berry with peaches and and crumble topping, very good. Adam was also QUITE pleased to find Limonata from Sicilia. (We discovered it while in Italy and it is the BEST lemonade. If you see it, buy it.)
On the anniversary of Mom Moon’s graduation from this life, we went to visit her graveside with a few of Adam’s siblings and spouses. It’s the first time I had been to see the headstone and its in a lovely place.
The headstones include the symbol of each person’s religion. (For those belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints it is the Angel Moroni blowing his trumpet symbolizing the announcement of Jesus’ second coming. This symbol will eventually change going forward though, the Church has approved an image of Christ as the new symbol.) The facility also provides water and containers that can be pushed into the ground to hold flowers. A nice touch, we all thought.
I miss her, but am also happy for her. She doesn’t have the stresses of life to worry her anymore, she's moved on, and she’s experiencing peace and joy that we can't fathom.
