Kaylee Maria

 

Introducing Kaylee Maria

She was born to Karen and Grover, 

and made her appearance on August 15 at 5:13 p.m.,
weighing in at 6 lbs 0 oz 

What a precious little angel she is! Her brothers and sisters are in love with her already!

♥ Melody

Keep me as the apple of your eye . . .

Oh Lord of all, who knows me, sees me, loves me, and protects me, thank You. Amen.

In the Stars . . .

This post feels heavy to me, but let me lie down on your sofa for a moment - 

My dad's death has felt so differently than my mom that I've felt like I'm grieving all wrong . . . 

My relationship with my dad was a long-distance relationship since the age of 13 when my mom and I moved 6 hours away from my dad. I saw him in the summers when he'd pick me up and take me to his house where he lived with his new family. He'd take a week off of work so we could go to family reunion, but to really spend undivided time together, we didn't, so songs like "Daddy's Hands" by the Judds and other "daddy" songs didn't really bring on a visceral response because it just wasn't our relationship.

"I Love" by  Tom T Hall is the song that I always listened to that reminded me of my dad's soft side, and "I Don't Need Your Rocking Chair" by George Jones reminded me of my dad's spunky nature. I listened to both of those after my dad passed and got a tear in my eye . . . 

But before this past Saturday, (Nov. 16th) I hadn't had a moment where the thought of his dying took the breath out of me. Saturday was our family's Thanksgiving celebration, and my daughter had the grandkids sing, "In the Stars" by Benson Boone because their voices are beautiful and they'd all sung it in her car when it came on the radio and she wanted to have us all hear. While they were singing, I had to leave the dining room - I went to the kitchen and remind myself to breathe. After everyone was gone, I played the song again and the tears flowed. 

Regarding the passing of my dad -

 

Being the baby of one family and the middle child of another is an interesting place to be.

My dad and I didn't live together after I was 12, and after I was 13 1/2, we didn't live in the same state. I'd go and visit in the summers, but it just wasn't the same.

As an adult, we lived 6 hours away from each other, & family reunion was 8-9 hours away.

My dad was a hard worker, and rarely took time off from work and often worked long hours, but the family reunion week and deer/antelope/elk hunts were something he loved to and would take time off for.

As for me, I tease that I am a hobbit, of which you all know by now; I really don't like to leave the "Shire". I like to stay close to home, it's true! I regret that I didn't go visit him more often, even though my reasoning was always sound: I never buy new vehicles (I am cheap) and the ones I have are fine for the few hours I typically drive, but driving them across the prairie and mountains where there is spotty cell service these days, and no cell service in the past, made and still makes me very uncomfortable.

We talked on the phone about once a month, sometimes more and sometimes less, and we always closed with I love yous, because we really did love each other, but I never felt like we were truly close.

These past two months have made me wish I would have taken more time and spent the extra money when I could to go visit more often. It had been 8 years since we'd seen each other when I visited in July. His eyesight and mobility wasn't as good as it had once been, and he quit driving to Utah after my brother Bill's funeral.

I was glad that he got rides to go to Texas to see my brother and sister, who both live there, but I wished he could have gotten to Utah to see my sister and me. Though, as he said, the road goes both ways, which is true.

Sh*t happens/Joy anyway is my life motto, and I've been living into it deeply in the past two months. When my brother asked how we are all doing with the passing of our dad, I just said that I need therapy, which is 100% spot on true. Saying that I am FINE is also true (FINE: freaked out - insecure - neurotic - and emotional).

The death of a parent always dredges up all of the emotions and all of the memories; some are great, and some are less than great.

I am so grateful that I could visit in July and see my dad before he passed, and I am so grateful to reconnect with siblings and step-siblings. I hope to continue and deepen those relationships. I loved seeing aunts and uncles and the many cousins these past few days. Love to you all!

------------

And to Dad -- I will miss you. I wish I would have visited more. I am grateful for the last words you spoke on the phone to me: "I love you. I have always loved you. Don't ever forget that." and I say the same things back: I love you. I have always loved you. Please always remember. Love, Mel A.K.A tuney / bug/ darlin'/ honey.

Here's the song that reminds me most of my dad. You can listen to it on youtube if you'd like: "I Love" by Tom T Hall - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COgEh1u11Yw

Puppy Woes - boxes and pee pads

 I have been having to rethink the boxes I use for the puppies' bed, play area, and potty area. Also rethinking disposable potty pads, which have been SO GREAT (though I think I've been single-handedly destroying the environment!) I could keep the puppies clean and dry by changing the puppy pads super often. So nice!

Let's talk boxes first:

I started with one box when they were first born, which makes sense because one was enough - they just slept and peed where they were.

Then their eyes opened, so I started using a second box - one for my bedroom for them to sleep at night and one in the dining room for them to play in during the day.

Then they started walking and then running and needed more room, so I created a third box for just playing in with toys. The third box was a lot longer, so it became the play box and the second box didn't get much use.

Then, they learned to get over the side of the play box, so I brought back in the sleeping box that had 2 "doorways" so that Maggie could go in, but the babies didn't really leave the box even though they could. The second box became the transition box for Maggie and a potty station for the babies - I (mostly) trained them to not pee in the toybox.

Then the sleeping box became to small, so the second box became the transition box and I cut down the wall a little so that Maggie could still get in and out and the original door was turned toward the toybox door.

Enter another problem: The disposable pee pads. The puppies started tearing up just for fun. Then they started chewing on the torn up pee pads, and I worry that they were swallowing some of the torn up pee pads, too.

So disposable pee pads are now out (I'm in mourning), and washable pee pads are needed - but amazon is taking THREE DAYS to ship them! (the world of instant food and overnight shipping has really spoiled me!) I do have 4 pee pads, but 4 is simply not enough, so in the meanwhile I'm using the washable pee pads that I do have along with towels.

I'm thinking of getting rubber backed rugs to put the washable pee pads on in the play box, the sleeping box, and the transitional box / potty box so that the wet doesn't soak through onto the carpeted floors. (Update, I bought some rubber backed rugs and they are on the bottom of all 3 boxes with some "scatter rugs" and washable pee pads & towels on top. I'll let you know how it goes.)

I was taking to Steve about all of this and I said, "I wish I could have worked backwards so that I knew what I'd really need and save money by not buying things we won't use. But, you can't know what you don't know. I'm going to post a blog post to help along the next person" (hopefully the next person will not somehow be me again!)

"Nah," he said, "just write, 'You can't know what you don't know', it'll be unhelpful and yet make you seem wise.'"

Here are the boxes: Box #1 - the babies' bed when they were first born:

Box #2 - the box used in the dining room so that the babies could be close by us during the day:

Box #3 - the toybox with one of other boxes butted up door opening to door opening:

Hopefully the rubber backed rugs will work to keep any wetness from leaking and that I can keep up with the washable pee pad laundry AND that the puppies potty train easily and soon!

Here is what the set up looks like now until I get more washable potty pads -

Their bed in my bedroom - the 2nd door has been raised up so they can't get out and the box that you'll see in the next photo sits at the end of this box too, so Maggie can get in and out as she pleases:

The boxes in the dining room for play during the day - The toy box is the furthest away, that middle box is the transition box. For now, I put down a disposable potty pad after their naps so that they can potty right away, then I remove it so that they don't consume it. No accidents yet, but this is a new set up. The closed up box is just for Maggie to use to jump into the box with the puppies.

♥ Melody

Puppies!

I am slow on keeping things up to date here. In September, we adopted Josh and Hayley's dog, Maggie. We knew there was a possibility she was pregnant when we brought her home, and on October 17th it was confirmed with an ultrasound, and just a few days later on the 21st she had an xray that revealed 3 puppies.

On October 26th, she gave birth to 3 healthy puppies - 

I put a stuffed animal in with her and the babies so that she could get out of the whelping box occasionally and the babies would be okay snuggling up to the stuffed animal and give Maggie a break.

The little black male was born first, then the little black female, followed by the little brown female. 

The weigh in:
Boy: 9.0 oz

Bl Girl: 7.5 oz

Br Girl: 8.5 oz

As they've grown, the brown girl has become the biggest, then the boy, followed by quite a margin by the little black girl.

The brown girl and black boy's eyes opened yesterday (Nov. 11) starting with one eye opened on the 10th. So far, the little black girl's eyes are still closed. 

Current weights:
Boy:2 lbs 3 oz

Bl Girl: 1 lb 15 1/2 oz

Br Girl: 2 lb. 6 1/2 oz

And pictures taken last night & this morning:

Josh and Hayley have called dibs on the black boy, and I am thinking of keeping one of the girls. There has been a lot of interest in these puppies, so I think it will be easy to find a home for the 2nd girl. As of today, I am thinking of keeping the little black girl, but that could change.

Maggie is doing well, though she didn't sleep last night and seemed to have an elevated temperature  on the 10th (101.8). It was within normal range but her normal temperature seems to run a bit cooler (99.6-100.4). 

The puppies are adorable, but being a puppy grandma can be rough at times in trying to take care of mama Maggie and wipe off poop from various locations found on the puppies - today I found some on a puppies ear. Puppies have no idea of personal space, so puppy piles happen often. I am past the point of making sure that each puppy latches on properly during feeding time, which is very nice! At this point, I just point them in the right direction when necessary - like when a puppy is behind Maggie instead of being in front of her where they need to be.

♥ Melody

Grandkid Quilts

 I just saw this post on facebook, and I'm placing it here so that when I get back in gear creating baby quilts, I will remember how many blocks to create - 

Grandkid quilts -

Quilt #4 - for baby Malekai (Jessica & Haylee)

The past few days I've been sewing again.

Each baggie has 9 blocks (36 in total), enough for my grandkid quilt - the strips above the blocks will attach the blocks together. Tomorrow, I'll start putting the blocks together.

My EfM Graduation

 I only just realized that I never wrote about graduating from EfM (Education for Ministry), a program through the University of the South to create a "more articulate laity." 

Before I get to that, though, I want to talk about my journey.
I started off at St James' in Midvale in my first year (Old Testament), then St Stephen's in West Valley my second year (New Testament). My third year (Christian History), I started my own group and held classes as the mentor & a participant at St Mary's in Provo. During the pandemic, I discovered that permanent online groups could be held, so I have opted for that every year since. My fourth year I completed Christian Ethics and Morals, Theology, and Interfaith Relations as a co-mentor and graduated from the program. Since then, I have been the mentor for 2 more classes, and was asked to be the EfM Coordinator for the Episcopal Diocese of Utah this past February. 

I absolutely love the program, and the way it is put together creates a cohesive group of friends. We are having our EfM Graduation next Saturday for the group of 2023.

Here I am at my own graduation in 2021. Amber, Rio, and the girls came to celebrate with me. ♥

Amber wrote this on a post of the picture on facebook: 

Got to celebrate my momma today! Proud of you! Love you

Madison Elizabeth

 I am late in announcing the birth of grandbaby #13! 
Madison Elizabeth came into the world on December 6th at 7:59 a.m., weighing in at 5 lbs 11 oz.

Because of crazy wintery weather and sickness, Steve, Michael and I weren't able to meet her until yesterday when Karen brought the kids to visit. I got to snuggle with her the whole time!

Of course I had to have a picture with her - isn't she absolutely precious?

Be sure to look at her pictures from her birth, too, with her mommy (Karen) and daddy (Grover) below the pic of Mema and Madi. I can see so much of Ben & Millie in her! ♥

Just an update about life as it is right now

 Just to check in - 

Amber is so pleased how well Brylee sleeps! She says that she now understands why babysitters told her that Bryn & Blake didn't sleep - she hadn't had a baby who was a good sleeper to compare them to.

EfM is going well. I love the group and I love leading the group through the information. The TRs are wonderful this year.

Community of Hope/Circle of Care is going well. I was asked to be an Al Alon sponsor a few months ago, and the training I received at COH/CofC is helping me to hold space and walk the journey with my sponsee.

The Enneagram Journey program by Susanne Stabile went well. The group is still meeting, expanding beyond the 12 weeks.
I am starting another group in June during EfM's summer break.

I have also decided to go through the "Me and White Supremacy" book with another group this year. I think it is important to recognize our own biases/prejudices since awareness is the first step to change.

I am still hosting the Al Anon group on Wednesdays, and occasionally attend the Tuesday meeting as well. I am so grateful for the tools taught in Al Anon. I have more serenity now than I have at any other point in life.

Aquarium Sagas:
I still have three fish tanks: 

a 29 gallon tank with Gus Gus the blood parrot, a bristle nose pleco, and some zebra danios.
a 15 gallon tank with a bristle nose pleco, three peppered corys, a platy, and three neons.

and a 38 gallon tank with the two goldfish: Cleo & Levi. 

I have the two guinea pigs: Chewy & Andie.

Four indoor cats: Tilly, Patch, Lucy, & Boots.

One dog: Meggie. 

Four outside cats: the mama cat, two babies (who aren't babies anymore!) and Minnie. I need to name them. Mama cat had babies & one of the "babies" is pregnant. I sure wish that No More Homeless Pets was still open to the public; I'd like to get the outside cats fixed, but it is so expensive. Minnie is spayed, but the other three, and now the babies, are not.

Seven chickens: an Americana, Rhode Island Red, Barred Rock, a silver laced Wyondotte and three gold sex links.

Bentley asked me, "Why do you have so many pets, Grandma Mema." I didn't know what to say! I love them all & they bring me joy.

I had Boots to the vet last week. He is getting over his nasty cold, but the vet did think we should do a viral panel since he has a spot on his eye that worried her; she is hoping that it is not being caused by the herpes virus, but told me to watch it and bring him back if it starts turning opaque as it could make him go blind.

I figured out the ages of all of the indoor cats & Meggie:
Meg will be 16 in July (born in 2006)
Mow Mow Boots will be 14 (born in 2008)
Tilly will be 13 (born in 2009)
Patch will be 5 (born in 2017 - the year Bethy the dog died.)
Lucy will be 4 (born in 2018)
All of the indoor cats & dog were born here at this house except for Boots who showed up in the yard last year & adopted us.

Last week Steve had his first colonoscopy on Friday, and on Tuesday we visited Michael's new neurosurgeon. Steve's colonoscopy went great and he doesn't need another one for 10 years! I am jealous, since I'm on the 5 year track.
Michael's neurosurgeon seems very kind and is happy to tell us that since Michael hasn't had a problem with his shunt for nearly 20 years, chances that he will in the future are very low. We will go back for a check up in 2 years.

Something of note is that I had someone besides Cami or me cut my hair on Saturday. I went to the SmartStyle in Walmart and one person was working, Karley E., so she was the one I chose. The haircut turned out very well!

Miah had her 13th Birthday, last week, which is a big difference from when I first met her 9 years ago when Josh and Hayley first got together (her 4 year old birthday)!

I think that is all the updates I can think of for now!
♥ Melody

Daniel Tiger and Lady Aberlin's duet

I saw this facebook post and realized that it needed to be here, on my blog, where I can read it and remember it, because I had forgotten all about this -

Melody
April 7, 2019 

I love in the part in Mister Roger's "Won't You Be My Neighbor" documentary when Daniel Tiger and Lady Aberlin sing a duet together after Daniel confides to her that he feels like a mistake and a fake. 

Hedda Sharapan said that it was interesting to watch Daniel tell Lady Aberlin his worries, then watch her she sing back to Daniel that she loves him as he is, and then they both sing their songs together, in a duet. She said that she felt it would have been disingenuous if Daniel would have simply accepted what Lady Aberlin said as truth above his own - that in that moment he knew she was right and he was wrong - but as they sing both of those songs as truths in a duet, it felt very genuine and helpful. It felt true that Daniel could hold both ideas in his head and heart - and I think we're all like that.

My story similar to this was when a person said to me, "Everyone loves you, Melody, don't you know that?" I don't remember what my mouth said, but my heart said that no, I don't know that. Now, when I start feeling unlovable, I remember his words; they are a treasure to me just as I'm sure Lady Aberlin's are to Daniel Tiger.

https://vimeo.com/90982494

Brylee M. Rose

She is here! Brylee M. Rose Born on April 4, 2022 @ 12:54 p.m. 6 lbs 10 oz 20" long ♥ Grandma Mema and Baby Brylee ♥ I am so glad that this little bundle is finally here, healthy & strong. ♥ Melody

Sugar Cookie Recipes

At Christmas, I was longing to eat a sugar cookie from my childhood. Today's sugar cookies are so different from the "old ways."

I have decided to ask friends for their sugar cookie recipes and try them, to see if I can find the sugar cookie from my memories.

Here is one from Tracy from C&H Sugar ( recipe link ) 

Also, I just realized that the icing I've been missing is Royal Icing. I'll post a recipe soon. 
I've used buttercream in the past, but I've missed the smooth, hard icing from my childhood, and I think that is Royal Icing.

Spring's Yam Oats

This is the tiktok link to the video with the recipe:
https://www.tiktok.com/@springdiesel.2.fkn.whyte/video/7053572865081494831?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1

Written recipe:

In an Instant Pot:

Spray the pot with a vegetable oil like Pam, then add:

1 1/4 cup steel cut oats
3 3/4 yam juice + water
can of yams

Pressure cook on high for 10 minutes. Turn off the Instant Pot and let sit for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, vent to release pressure.

Open the Instant Pot and smash the yams with a potato masher. Stir the oats and yams together.

My additions:
add 1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar. 
Let the butter melt and stir together & place in a 7 cup bowl with airtight lid to store in the fridge. Keep the lid off until the oat/yam mixture is cool.

This dish will store for several days. 
You can reheat a dishful in the microwave and add half & half to cool it off a bit and add more flavor.

1/2 cup of yam/oat mixture is 216.5 calories.

Steve's cabbage vegetable soup

Steve's cabbage vegetable soup

Ingredients/Shopping list:

1 head green cabbage (Don't use purple! - I have tried it, it is yucky!)

6 green onions (scallions)

2 red bell peppers (green works fine too - but the added color is nice)

1 whole stalk (bunch) of celery

2 large cans chopped tomatoes

1 package (envelope) onion soup mix

3 bullion cubes or equivalent

Instructions:

Chop up all vegetables and put in a 8 quart or larger stock pot or kettle. The size to cut them is from 1/4 inch to 1 inch - just however big you like vegetables in your soup.

Add the 2 cans tomatoes and the 3 bullion cubes (or paste or granules or whatever.)

Stir and add enough water to cover everything.

Bring to a fast boil and boil for 10 minutes. Then reduce the heat to a simmer (slow boil) and continue cooking until vegetables are tender. (The cabbage and celery are the ones to look out for. I like mine cooked for about 30 minutes! Some people like them crispier.)

Add seasoning (like poultry seasoning or additional salt) if desired.

Enjoy a bowl of hot soup. It smells good and tastes good. And it uses more calories to process than it gives your body. This is a negative calorie food!

Let the rest of it cool, and then refrigerate. I like to put mine in pint size jars to make it easy to grab a couple before heading out for the day.

Presbyterian ruling elders & ordination

I am also preparing to be ordained and installed as a ruling elder at church, since I was recently elected to session. I am reading "Presbyterian Polity for Church Leaders" to prepare. (Yes, it does feel like a ginormous responsibility that is much bigger than I am prepared for. I am trusting in God that this is what He/She wants me to do and will guide me as long as I listen. May God bless me to always listen.)  

I found an article that I really like, so I am tucking it away in case I'd like to reread it.

Here is my favorite line in the article:
"To be ordained is to become a “rower” in the church’s boat, listening to the word of the coxswain, Jesus Christ, as he gives direction and marks the tempo for the way forward."

https://pres-outlook.org/2015/08/why-ordain-ruling-elders/

A picture of Ron, April, Kathleen, Pastor Bobbie, and me as April and I were ordained:

Grandma (Ellen) Deveraux's Gingersnap Recipe

Recipe as told by Wendy, Dave's wife. 

4.5-5 c flour 1 c sugar

1 c shortening ( don’t use butter)

1 egg

2 T vinegar

1/2 t salt

1 c molasses

2 t ginger

1 t cinnamon

1 t cloves

1.5 t baking soda

Preheat oven to 375* degrees. Cream shortening and sugar. Add egg, vinegar and molasses. Beat well. Sift together flour ( I start with 4.5 cups), salt, soda and spices. Mix into creamed mixture. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least one hour.

Flour board and roll dough to 1/8” thick and cut with cookie cutter. Re-roll dough until all is used. Transfer to baking sheets. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake for approximately 10 minutes. This will vary depending on how thick the dough is and the size of the cookie.

Cool on pans for a couple of minutes then transfer to cooling racks.

Grandma’s original recipe said you could use bacon grease if you don’t have shortening. It also said that you could use Karo Syrup or honey for the molasses. . I’ve never tried either of these.

Banana Bread Recipe

Banana Bread Recipe (Debbie's & Grandma D's I think) 

1 1/4 c. sugar
    1/2 c. shortening
         2   eggs
       2 c. flour
    1 tsp. baking powder
    1 tsp. soda
 1/2 tsp. salt
    3/4 c. sour milk
       1 c. mashed bananas
    1/2 c. nuts

Mix sugar, shortening, & eggs.
Mix dry ingredients together. Add (slowly) to the sugar mixture. Add milk, then bananas, then nuts.

Bake 1 hour at 350*. Check doneness by poking a toothpick in the center; done when toothpick comes out clean.

Where is God when things go wrong?

I had an epiphany today -

Very often, when terrible things happen, I wonder where God is in all of it.

After reading this and seeing the picture and tying this in with Teresa of Avila's idea that we are God's hands and feet in the world, I realize that when I wonder where God is in all of the terrible stuff, I can look to His/Her people to see what they are doing to combat the bad stuff, and that will answer the question. God inspires us to take care of each other; that's where God is.

♥ Melody

 

My spaghetti recipe

 How have I never added my spaghetti recipe before now?

Here it is, as I remember it - 

Cook 16 oz of spaghetti noodles as directed on the package. After cooking & draining, add a TSP of butter & stir through to keep the noodles from sticking together.

Brown 1 lb of hamburger with 1 medium onion & 3 cloves of crushed garlic. 
Drain grease and return to pan. 
To the meat mixure, add:
1 - 15 oz can of tomato sauce
1 heaping tsp of oregano
1 level tsp of basil
1 heaping tsp of salt
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
Stir together and heat to a simmer, reduce heat and simmer for 5-10 minutes.