Week 8 An Evening at Tom's Farms

On Saturday evening, we met Heidi and Ned & their two kids, Ella and Asher as well as April & Wes along with Baby Peyton for an evening at Tom's Farms down off the Temescal Canyon exit of the 15 Freeway. Because its winter, there weren't too many other people there. There were a few Harley riders just leaving when we got there around 6:00. (I understand that this is a popular stopping place for the "Wild Hogs" type of biker....older professional types -- not Hell's Angels!)

We started our night by ordering a few pizzas.
While they were cooking, we walked on over to the produce stand and picked up some apples, pears, squash, jicama and bananas for the coming days.

Me, Ella and John


After Shopping, we had our choice of any of the numerous tables out by the fountain and pool where we relaxed and enjoyed some absolutely delicious pizza and great company.Heidi and Asher making a "toast to happiness"!

Ella enjoying her orange cream soda.

Easy going Peyton just enjoying being out and about with her admirers.

Ella and Asher on the Carousel

Wes and April and their very large pizza

Ned and his bottle of chocolate pop...he liked it till he got to the dregs at the bottom.

I was really glad we got invited to join the kids out at Tom's Farms for the evening. We've never been there before but had one of the most relaxing nights out we've had in a long time. The pizza was great and, in addition to the produce, brought home some great gourmet cheeses as well. Now I'm thinking we'll have to rally on out for a nice evening with our biker friends when the weather gets a little bit warmer. We're definitely going back.

http://shop.tomsfarms.com/

Week 7 -- Gussyin' Up Our Garden Gnomes

Our poor little garden gnomes have seen better days.

They've been taking a beating form the heat, wind and rain for years.So, we brought them in, cleaned them up and started sprucing up their paint.
I left the paints out on a Sunday afternoon and when the kids came over, most of them picked up a brush and gave a gnome a new coat of paint with maybe some polka dots, stripes or checks.

The gnomes are much happier now in their bright new colors.Come on Spring; we're ready for you now!

Week 6 -- A Simple Wedding and Being a Politician's Wife

We live in an unincorporated area of Western Riverside County. There’s a vote in a few weeks concerning becoming a city. John has been active in that cause (Measure A) and, with that, John is running for City Council.

John has had many “Meet the Candidate” events in recent weeks but with the family and Relief Society commitments, I haven’t been able to join him at one yet.

This Wednesday was another very sweet Relief Society related event –the wedding of one of our recently activated sisters, Elvira, to her boyfriend, Carlos. Bishop Lauritzen married the couple in the Relief Society room and then we had cake and sherbet and Sprite floats while everyone just lingered in the hall by the kitchen -- my kind of reception!

After that fun wedding, I made it over to one of the local high schools, to see John in action, as one of the members of a field of 16 candidates for a total of 5 open seats on the, hopefully, soon to be council. (Measure A needs to pass to gain city hood before a council is needed.)

John held his own on the panel very well.

John is a pretty humble guy and isn’t too good at telling people how great he is, but to me, that’s what makes him stand out among the crowd. I do know that he’s very patient (he has been married to me for 33+ years and we do have four very outgoing, talkative children). He can sit and listen and engage in long conversations with anyone long after I’ve looked at my watch and said, “sorry, gotta run.”

It was kind of fun to stay and hang with him after the event to meet and shake hands with the other candidates and people from the community. Now I know how first ladies and other spouses of politicians feel. It felt great just to stand next to John and show unwavering loyalty to this great guy and just hope that others can see what a good man he is.

On Saturday, we drove around town to hang up election signs. Luckily the weather was nice (in fact, almost hot, at 80 degrees).

I told John he should have worked on some sweet dance moves for the end of the question and answer session a la “Napoleon Dynamite” and he would have had the election in the bag.

If you happen to live in the soon to be city of Jurupa Valley, California, please vote for John. But, regardless of the results, its been nice for John to get involved in the community, to meet people have have people get to know him. These efforts will lead to good things no matter what the outcome of the election!

Week 5, An Old Poem That's New To Me

I listen to every day's version of "A Writer's Almanac" podcast (I just upload it from I-Tunes) when I'm alone in my car, driving to and from work. Aside from some interesting facts about writers, literary history and books, on each day's recording, Garrison Keillor reads aloud a poem. This week, he read one which, because its by Dorothy Parker, must be very old but one I'd never heard before but fell in love with. So, here it is, I think you'll like it too. Its about something we can all relate to.

Inscription for the Ceiling of a Bedroom

Daily dawns another day;

I must up, to make my way.

Though I dress and drink and eat,

Move my fingers and my feet,

Learn a little, here and there,

Weep and laugh and sweat and swear,

Hear a song, or watch a stage,

Leave some words upon a page,

Claim a foe, or hail a friend-

Bed awaits me at the end.

Though I go in pride and strength,

I'll come back to bed at length.

Though I walk in blinded woe,

Back to bed I'm bound to go.

High my heart, or bowed my head,

All my days but lead to bed.

Up, and out, and on; and then

Ever back to bed again,

Summer, Winter, Spring, and Fall-

I'm a fool to rise at all!

Dorothy Parker

(She's the one who said, "Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses.")