January 2018 Neighbors that are Neighborly

As I drive through communities to deliver flowers I've noticed something. House after house, separated by tall fences and no one is outside. Granted it's the middle of winter but still, it seems as though we as a nation have segregated our lives, our homes, our yards and our communities with fences and barriers.
I know the old saying "good fences make for good neighbors" has a measure of truth for those who are not neighborly or someone who doesn't care for their home or yard.
What does it mean to be neighborly anyway? If you live next to someone, you are by definition a neighbor but what does adding an "ly" to the word, do?

Neighbor:
1. A person living next door to or very near to the speaker or person referred to.
2. A person or place in relation to others next or near to it.
3. Any person in need of one's help or kindness (after biblical use)

Neighborly:
1. Characteristic of a good neighbour, especially in being helpful, friendly, or kind.

A new neighbor moved into our farming corner and shortly thereafter as I was hosting a garden club at the farm, she stopped by to say hello to me and to them, since she knew several of them. Not long after, we got to meet the familywhen I stopped to see some projects she was working on. We discovered we shared many similar hobbies. This sharing of ideas and showing interest in each other's lives created a thread, a living vibrant connection between us. She brought over some warm artisan bread one day that she had just baked. I pulled some items together for a charitable project she was working on at Christmas time. Then this week she did something that literally brought me to tears.

She posted a video of her husband flying a plane over their home. I responded how cool that was and that he should take pictures next time he's flying.  Now, two things just happened here. I cared about something that was important to her family by making a comment. She listened. She took note of something I would like.

I got a text from her the other day that said "go outside, I'm flying over". I ran outside and saw the plane making a pass over our farm and then theirs. I took a video and immediately texted it to her. What I got back from her was what brought me to tears.  I had just left the house and saw a text come in so I pulled over because I saw it was a picture from her. I opened it, and wept. She took a picture of our farm and sent it to me.  She remembered.

WallFlower Farm

This was my happy place, full of memories, work, reward, sacrifice, celebration. This was the farm my husband and I worked so hard to renovate, to build, to plant, to maintain. My husband, who is a corporate executive comes home, puts on overalls and takes care of animals, helps me with projects and last night, freezing cold, he finished my temporary sign for the flower shop and went with me to install it. Truly, he is the man who makes all my dreams come true.

Our farm

Now, back to my neighbor who remembered I would love a picture of our farm. She gave me a view of our home in a way I'd never seen it before. It flooded my mind and soul with a perspective I had yet to experience. I realized how important this place had been in my life. Transitioning from a busy life with younger kids to searching for what my next role in life would be with married older children and now young grandchildren. This farm has been a place of discovering what to write in that next chapter of my life. I now know I'm good at growing flowers and designing with them. I know I can write and am now a" soon to be published" author. I will open my very own retail store: a flower and gift shop on Monday 1.8.18 and I think I've got a good start at being a successful business. These are all things I had never done before. New territory.

This picture affirmed that God was leading me to a good place and letting me discover things I would love doing. Things that would enrich my life and others lives.

How I love the wonderful neighbors we have. Our fences are to keep our animals contained and safe. They disappear from view when seen from above. What you can't see are the people who watch out for each other, take care of their animals when they take a rare vacation, call when something seems out of place and stop by, just to say hello.

We all have neighbors but my hope is that you are as blessed as I am to have "neighborly" neighbors, and that if you're not as neighborly as you'd like to be, make the change. Be the neighbor you'd like to have. I know I can do better. Kristi Nelson Tidwell, you've inspired me to be a better neighbor and to reach new heights this year! (pun intended)

Justin's Timepiece

Time marches on.
We all have the same 24 hours in a day.
It's all about time...the quotes are as endless as they day is long. Justin recently completed a clock which he built with his own hands. One piece at a time was cut from wood, sanded, finished, waxed, filed, and carefully assembled to create this incredible clock.

Pumpkins by the fireplace

May Flowers Covered in Snow

We thought spring had finally come. Dogwoods were late, strawberries were late, everything seemed to want to sleep just a little bit longer. The weather was lovely, but the weatherman kept forecasting snow. We thought...snow in may...never. I had to got to Little Rock for a conference on Friday but knew that with the temperatures hovering above freezing, there would not be snow. Friday morning we woke up, early, to snow. I headed out at 5 AM to drive to Little Rock and on the way out of town there were at least 4 cars that had slid off of the road. I was a tad nervous about driving, but proceeded slowly. I ended up late to the conference but it ended up a good day.

Welcome James Barrington Wall!

Barry and I both left our phones at home today. I am almost never without it but today we both happened to leave for church without them. I arrived home after a particularly wonderful meeting to find a complete surprise! There was a text and photo of our new grandson, James Barrington Wall, Brandon and Audra's newest son. He was born at 6:35 am and weighed a whopping 9 lbs 15 oz and was 21 inches long. My goodness, how did he fit in Audra's tiny little body? He has a copper top just like Brandon so we are all excited about this big boy having some of Brandon's features.

Audra wanted a home birth and Brandon was excited to be a big part of the birth as well. He would need to be very involved to make it all go smoothly and support Audra in a non-medicated experience. They purchased a birthing tub (swimming pool) and had it ready to go. James was born after about 4 hours of labor so we all know that this momma was made for having babies!

We are thrilled to see pictures!

Cristopher was there for the birth and was cheering Audra on and was so excited to see his little baby brother when he emerged from the water.

Easter sabbath 2013

I've felt the need to connect and remain better connected to my family: living and dead. Those feelings are intensified around the holidays when we consider the things of greater significance, things beyond this life. My sister and her husband shared some tender stories about the angels among us in relation to their accident. Truly we do not walk this mortal journey alone and our footsteps often have several sets as angels surround us to bear us up.

It was with this in mind that I approached this Easter Sabbath. We don't do anything secular on the Sabbath, but we do have an egg hunt on Monday. We planned a dinner with historical and symbolic foods: lamb shank, barley, lentils, bulgar wheat salad, goat cheese, olives, bitter herbs, flatbread, grapes.

We sat on cushions on the floor and ate our simple meal after learning about the significance of what we would eat. Then we ate. We sang. We visited grandma Werner and sang to her as well. I wish we lived closer to family but since we don't, we give our love and helping hands to those within our reach.

I sure love my children, grandson Cristopher, parents, grandparents and ancestors that I am coming to love more each day.

I Swore this would never happen

Barry bought a motorcycle. It's not that I am against motorcycles. I'm just against anyone I love owning one. Clearly, I love Barry and now he has one, so what does that mean?

He has always wanted one. I was actually the one that found it on one of my daily trips to Pea Ridge. I snapped a photo and he got so excited about it that we had to go look it over. Just to look though.

I was at his office one day not long after and there was an 8x10 of the picture I had sent. It was on his desk right below his keyboard. In other words it was never out of sight. It was there, on his desk for 5 months.

I finally suggested that if he really wanted it, he should just do it.

Today was the day. We discussed the price and before we had a chance to dicker on the price the owner took 200 off and threw in a helmet and new brake pads. Not bad for not haggling.

Barry said that after he drove it 5 months ago he grinned for 2 weeks straight. How could I say no!

He promises to be careful.

I landscape first

I got a note from a fellow master gardener that she had plant material to move and get rid of. Free plants? I'm there! It was raining so we are all going home wet muddy and cold. Ahhh hot shower.

We should have a well in 2 weeks and will get all fences checked before we head out to the auction for cows.

A first for me - seeing the MoTab in person!

I have never heard the Tabernacle Choir sing in real life. They are doing a special event for the Roots Tech conference. We are in the Tabernacle, a place if great history and significance to our family and the church. I love knowing my ancestors walked these streets and their eyes beheld the beauty and majesty of the SLC temple.

Gentry Safari - NWArkansas' Very Own Zoo

I hate to admit this, but I went to the Gentry Safari for the very first time today. I feel horrible that it was 30 minutes away and I never took the kids but they went with their school groups so I did not feel the need. Don't tell anyone this but I thought it would be a cheesy little place with a few animals.

I could not have been more wrong. This place was not only a beautiful example of the stunning landscapes we have here in the Ozarks but it was filled with various interesting creatures.

We enjoyed the petting zoo where chickens, roosters, pigs, goats, bunnies, ducks, geese, kangaroos and Llama's roamed. We then went on to visit the exotic creatures and got to HOLD and PLAY with 10 week old tigers!!!

Shanan's goal for the day was to see and possibly pet the baby giraffes. She was not only able to see and pet them, but got to go inside of their pen and FEED them! She bottle fed a young giraffe! It is a good thing she has some height because the 5 month old female giraffe was already much taller than she was.

The driving part was not just a quick boring loop trough the woods. We drove past herds of deer, zebras, buffalo, different horned creatures and passed by springs, lakes and through ravines and caves.

This was by far one of the nicest places to take the family. Thanks to the Gentry Safari we have another spectacular memory with the kids.

Movies in the woods

Our little Honda generator is a wonder. It is so quiet we can watch a movie with it running right behind the screen and it powers the projector, laptop and sound system... Awesome fun times!

Burning can be a good thing

It was the perfect day for a controlled burn. It had rained and cooled somewhat but the leaf litter was very easy to catch on fire. There are lots of invasive honeysuckle and this helps clean things up significantly. We should have lots if green grass sprouting up in the coming weeks. The kids get to have a camp out and we get to sleep in our beds after washing all of the smoke in a nice warm shower.

The 4 wheeler has been a blast. It used to be so thick here we could not get a tractor through and now we easily stroll through the trees. We imagine that we can hear them breathing a sigh of relief because they have room to spread their branches.

The trees are spiritual. They were created in spirit before they were created here. I love knowing that. I love being out here. It's my little corner of heaven, even though we hear the pack of coyotes yipping and howling as the sun goes down.

Let the water flow...

Ok this is the spot. We will drill the well here. The house will have the feel of growing out of the hillside.

Picking a spot to drill the well

We have long dreamed of building and are just so slow to make any decisions! Today we are going to steak out the place to drill a well. Water is the key to everything, including having animals up here. Once we have access to water, we can start on the other projects.

So, the boys will be boys and Barry and I will do the fun work of making long held dreams come true.

Bryce's Big Day

Bryce has been counting down the days for months. He wanted to be a Deacon, hold the priesthood and pass the sacrament. He was also the last one in his primary class to turn 12 by a few months so that also had him wishing his birthday had come sooner. Nevertheless , he patiently prepared and today he was introduced as the ward's final addition to the quorum for 2012. Bishop said he was impressed with his preparation and that he had not seen another deacon so excited and well prepared as Bryce was. We love our kids, and joy in their goodness.

Bryce had a solo in the primary program

Dear Family
The primary had their program yesterday and both boys did fantastic in it. Jeff has a strong voice and sang out on every song. Bryce was the narrator and also had a short solo. We were very proud of our little guys that are not so little any more! We enjoyed so many years of firsts and now are experiencing many lasts. Next year will be our last year of having kids in Primary and I love what it has taught our children.
Love
Mom

A Birthday Tribute to my Mom

I notice things
the sunset
a flower
unique pottery shapes and glazes
remembering images from my youth.

You filled our home
with beauty
learning
smells of baking bread and dinner
homemaking skills are mine now

life is hard
but joy
radiates
it comes from deep inside and shows
that peace and love will overcome

I see you
in me
inheritance
is not something with price,
I see it's what I have become

My job now
as mother
teacher
is to give to my children
what you have given to me. Jewels.

Happy Birthday Mom

Love

Mechel

A visit from the fire department

Rogers fire department just got a new ladder fire truck and it is every boys dream to play with all of the levers and dials if a fire truck. We had time to wait around for the carbon monoxide to clear out of the house so they lay the boys work the ladder, went for a ride around the neighborhood and chatted in the front yard for an hour or two.
It all started with the cold snap. With a flip of a switch we went from cloudy and cool to sleet and cold. We turned the furnace on after we got back from the property where we had spent the night and had worked since dawn. We were chilled to the bone.

The usual burning dust smell was there but shortly after that burned off the carbon monoxide sensors began buzzing. We took batteries out so we could enjoy conference. The alarms continued. We replaced batteries and they kept buzzing. Annoying, because we were really trying to focus on the talks. Everyone was tired and naps would be great if the darn alarms would just stop!

I began to smell gas so we opened the doors and turned off the furnace and called a repair man. That was finally the right move.

I called a firefighter friend and asked if he has a sensor to see of there really was CO in the house... Since we could not smell it. Duh. That is what the alarm was for. He said to call the fire department and that is how we ended up outside hanging with the firemen. There was a LOT of CO gas inside and they smelled a gas leak just standing by the front door. The readings just inside the front door were so high that they had to get out too and no one was allowed back in until the gas company came and shut everything down.
We were all affected by the exposure and had headaches and were sleepy. We will get a new furnace next week.

Now to get rested up for another great day of conference!

Field Trip Thursday: Bug Festival at the UofA In spite of the long lines of school children snaking through the Equestrian Arena, where the UofA had set up tables covered with creepy crawlies, we managed to see and touch some very unusual creatures on our field trip today.

Bryce was brave and held a walking stick that had body parts that looked like leaves layered down the middle of him.

The hissing cockroaches were a huge hit and they used them for races which were quite entertaining.

The spiders were not my favorite because I really have seen some like this around - which freaks me out. Killing 6 huge black momma widows last week and a very large wolf spider had me shivering - but seeing this very large tarantula crawling all over this guy, not wanting to get back in its box, up and down his back, on his neck, down his arm - it made me scream (yes the boys thought my startled scream was funny) - I just did not expect to turn around and see a large spider on this guy's back!

We had a great time and enjoyed seeing so many of God's wonderful creatures and appreciated that they were in boxes or in display cases and not hiding in our closets!

Run for a child

The ward has been practicing for several weeks to do a flash mob dance at the Run for a Child. We got there at the appointed time and there were not very many people around. You have to have more than the flash mob people to pull it off so we decided to wait until the races were over.

Meanwhile Bryce and Jeff decided that they really did want to run and headed off to the starting line. Jeff ran the mile and Bryce ran the 5k.

When it was determined that the time was right to dance, the music started and we did our thing. People got a kick out of it and we got on the news so I guess the goal was met.