Quilts for the Mid West

Our first service project as the new RS presidency was to make quilts for the humanitarian service. The humanitarian center gives the (ugly) fabric, we supplied the batting, yarn and labor. We tied two quilts on Tuesday. I've got to remember to take photos. We'll have another session in a while.

The humanitarian center quilt inventory is 'thousands' of quilts behind demand. There are many disasters in the world and quilts are always needed.

Mom

We Are the Caretakers of the Earth

My roommates and I have acquired a (free) gardening plot at the new community garden down the street. We are planting lettuce, lavender, tomatoes, watermelon (so we suspect... we got the starts for free, unlabeled), marigolds, and whatever else we find a long the way. Yesterday we tilled the hard, chunky dirt, mixed in compost, watered it, and let it sit over night. It felt good to revive the hard, dry earth, and make room for life. Today we are going to mix in another bag of compost and plant the starts. I'm excited about this chance to get close to the earth and step into becoming a caretaker of the Earth. We live in the Garden of Edan. We have cast ourselves out by creating the world we live in with a mentality that we have fallen from grace (we love our stories of victim hood). We believe and succumb to the story of us being separate from God, forgetting that He speaks in the wind blowing through the trees, the sun bathing the earth in light, or as the still small voice". My intent in our gardening project is to gain a deeper connection with the divine so I may realize in my heart my responsibility to become a creator and a steward of the Earth.

"We aren't only here to grow corn, we are here to grow Gods." -Don Antonio Morales

I hope to take some picture of our garden plot and our planter in the front yard (its finally full of life!) and "pot" the pictures here for your viewing pleasure.

Thank you CJ for creating this space! Weee!

Love,
Scott

Jed and the 69 cruiser

I took ol' Bess up to Big Elk Meadows with some friends on Saturday for some exercise. Unfortunately I forgot to bring a camera. I got briefly high centered on my front diff in a mud pit, but a tow strap and a little gas got me off. About 2 hours in we stopped to enjoy the view and one of my friends noticed that the front driver's side leaf spring shackle was busted. The top bolt was sheared on one side and looked to have been broken for awhile. It was a nervous ride back home, but the other side of the bolt held out and I made it home without any problem. So now I've got to either make or buy a new shackle before the cruiser leaves my garage.

Which brings me to my next point: I blew a bunch of money on a welder this week so I can waste a bunch of time in my garage. It's a nice 120 V MIG that is supposed to weld up to 5/16" steel. I'm sure Ann is jealous. The welder came with a free 4 hour welding class, which is good because I don't really know what I'm doing. I tried welding some scrap together on Saturday, and I was successful, but my welds were UGLY. I'm sure the welding class will really help. Maybe when I'm home for the Powell trip dad and I can weld together a cage for Brutus because we need to contain such a ferocious animal.

Brutus Got Shaved

like a lion. He had to be drugged which lasted about two days. The Doctor said he needs to diet and exercise. He got his shots. A bid was presented to have his teeth cleaned for about ~$550; needless to say, John did not go for that. The vet's technician thinks Brutus is gorgeous!

His mane is lopsided because he has a two puncture wounds on his neck - looks like another animal was trying to have him for lunch. We give him antibiotics twice a day (which he hates). Honestly, what have we become without children to look after! Diane

CJ & Ann's farewell party - Post by Diane

Slackline!

Christian and Jeremy being charmed by Jake's baby.

Portland in May

Portland was lovely in May. This shot is of Abra and Scott one of the beaches we visited. Diane

Ann and CJ, CA and stuff....

Ann and I have been exploring Sacramento and CA as much as we can. We went to the Northern Coast and backpacked a little ways up the beaches (Ann and co-worker Mark @ the Lost Coast):

The smell of the sweet forest and the salty ocean were a great scent.

I've been skiing at Kirkwood and Mt. Tallac (my co-worker John @ Tallac below):We like Sacramento, though I miss the summer skiing in SLC and the cabin. But the job is fun and I'm way busy. I am at work now and will be going home to celebrate the summer solstice with a few ancient rituals. I'll brog that later.

Waterskiing

Here is a picture from my first day of waterskiing, this morning. It was pretty sweet until the starter on the boat went out and we had to paddle in.

Hey CJ - thanks for making this blog. My first post! I was put in as Relief Society president yesterday - life never stays the same! John got an MP3 player for father's day. Here we are - finally in the 21st century!

We had a father's day dinner with David and calls from CJ, Jed & Scott.

Notes on D.C. trip with Jed, John and I (sorry, it was too hot to take photos). The FOOD on King Street in Alexandria was the best, Thai, Cuban, Crab, Bilboa Baggins, Italian and homemade ice cream every day. The HEAT and humidity was the worst. The company was GREAT - Nick & Nancy Ward, Bryce, Lisa and George Whittaker, Jerry & Sue Rapin, Jana Valentiner all shared meals and great conversation with us. We saw the Newsuem, Spy Museum and Mt Vernon. I visited National Art Galleries, Botanical Gardens and the American Indian museum. Did a 6.7 mile run along the Potomic River and met with a ChiRunning coach. Its good to be home where it is a cool 90 degrees and little humidity.

This post is long so it pushes Patrick below the fold!

LOVE YOU ALL!

first post: instructions.

I hope everyone who sees this will read it as if #5 from Short Circut would read it: in robot voice. Or, as Davey Crockette would read it. Etherway, you'll get a better feel for things. Now, post your events, expiriences, thoughts, photos, what if's, notes, etc. on this site. You know, for keeping in touch and stuff. One example might be, if we were a movie who would play us? I don't know. Maybe Jed would be Patrick Swazey: