My lampshade

This is the lampshade I made

Isn't she darling?

Joseph Smith

As I mentioned we went to Sharon, VT. I was so glad that Rob suggested that we drive to Joseph Smith's birthplace Sunday morning. We arrived at a little visitors center on a secluded mountainside. It was a really nice visit. Several things I found really interesting about Joseph Smith was that he, Emma, the George Bush's, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, and Winston Churchill all had the same great, great etc...grandfather. I remember President Hinckley presenting Pres. George W. Bush with his family tree during a visit, I wonder if George felt at all honored to be related to Joseph Smith.

The tour guide told us several stories about Joseph Smith's family, there was one story about his grandfather that nearly put me over the edge... but all in all I came away remembering how much I love him and what a remarkable man he was and still is. I'm so grateful for all he's done for me, and for his example of what faith can pull you through. Rob remarked that we were visiting the birthplace of the second most important man to ever walk the earth. That of course got me thinking about Jesus Christ and how humble his birthplace was. The tour guide talked about how Joseph knew suffering from a very young age. She also said that the suffering made him who he was, and then I thought about the Lord, and I wondered what his childhood was like. It was humbling to spend a Sunday afternoon thinking and reflecting about two lives that have changed my life forever and whom I could never thank enough.

Lampshade Class

Judy Lake
Not MY class but you get the picture
Judy's shop

Ormsby Hill Inn
The Library

I just returned from Pawlet, VT. Rob and I went on a little vacation while my parents, Jennifer, and Kelley watched the girls. It was so nice... The reason I went there was to take a class about covering lampshades. It was a GREAT class! I loved the woman who offered it and the other 7 women who attended the class were fabulous! Especially the one with the English accent and who likes to work in her garden. The town of Pawlet was very small, but full of character and characters. The biggest character being Judy. She's so upbeat and open. A great person who seems to be the central personality in the small community. Her store is the size of my sunroom, so tiny. She had the door open, the weather was beautiful and every Tom, Dick, and Harry dropped in on her. The woman from the adoption agency, telling her that her best friend had just adopted a baby, the man across the way who has an art gallery, several women stopping in to chat. It was darling. It was a feel good place because they seemed to know each other and care about each other. I told Judy that she should run for mayor.

While I was at the class Rob checked us in at The Ormsby Hill Inn. The Inn is a beautiful bed and breakfast and over two centuries old (1764), complete with exposed beams, wood floors, and beautiful fireplaces. It was even used as a jail at one point in time. We stayed in the "Library" room. It was seriously a step back in time. It was the most welcoming, romantic, warm room I'd ever been in. It was an experience in itself just to stay in that room. Like you were a part of history, what I would've given to have period clothing, ok I wouldn't go that far. The fireplace, the big billowy bed aaahhhh....

We ate at two good restaurants, Bistro Henry and Zoey's Double Hex. We visited
Woodstock (not NY), Weston, Sharon, Pawlet, and Manchester (where the restaurants and inn were) among others.
Woodstock was an old town with lots of charm. Weston was a Walnut Grove kind of cute. Sharon was touching because it was Joseph Smith's birthplace. Pawlet, I've already talked about and Manchester was a nice ski resort town with lots of outlet shopping.

The one thing that surprised me about Vermont was how economically depressed it seemed. A large number of the houses there seemed to be in terrible shape. Some seriously seemed unliveable with so much garbage all over the property. It may very well be due to the harsh winters there, or the fact that we visited during "muddy season" when everything melts into spring and creates. . .you guessed it, mud! I couldn't see what they would do for work because so many houses were miles away from civilization. It was really eye opening and I'm glad I got to go, because now I know that Rob got a job offer there I'd never go.

Look-a-Like Meter

So, the look-a-like meter is a little sketchy. I tried two different pictures of Caroline. The first one said that she looked like Rob by 3% the second like me by 3%. Which do you believe? Who do you think she looks most like?

Happy Birthday Honey!

Happy Birthday to you! You're too good to be true!
You're a wonderful husband!
And father too!

Witches

I got this cute little hand-out from my visiting teacher. I had no idea when she first gave it to me months ago, how significant "witches" would become. Lately there's been a lot of "witch play" at my house. It all stems from Dora the Explorer. It's the Prince and the Witch episode. I'm the witch. Sometimes I'm the good witch (there are two Inga and Maria, Inga was a bad witch but she repented and became good). Other times I'm the bad witch (which Caroline has named Carganzola). If I'm one of the good witches I talk kindly and sweetly. Carganzola on the other hand is gruff and she picks Caroline up and puts her in the high tower (upstairs) or in with the crocodiles (inside a laundry basket).

As a result of all the "witch" play I've thought a lot about that hand-out on my fridge. It's true. There IS no place like home, and at home it's important to be the good, kind, helpful, loving, patient, wise witch.