Greg's video of Isaiah

Greg's video of Mikaela

Grandma's Little Stars

Make a Smilebox greeting

Winter Wonderland!

Usually I am out doing my morning walk at this time, but today I dropped the girls off at school and drove right back home to the garage. (I usually drive to our old subdivision where I walk with Judy, my walking buddy of 20+ years.) The traffic snarls were so bad inside our subdivision that I thought there must be some horrible accident on one of the main roads I needed to use.

So, now I can post a picture of Isaiah! He and Heidi flew in from Maryland Saturday night, spent the night at her Mom's, and then came to visit us Sunday night; and it was delightful to see Isaiah in person! Of course, he has no idea who we are, so he wasn't quite sure why we were so excited to see him. He's changed A LOT since June!!! He chatters non-stop. He giggles and loves to play games like "chase me" or "chase Mama" either by crawling or with walking assistance.

Every little thing he did was a treat to watch since we have seen him so few times in his life. It was fun to see how interested he is in solid foods--it can't come fast enough! He warmed up to Greg more quickly--and we wondered if it was because of the eyebrows and the "Daddy-sounding" voice.

Yesterday, I drove to American Fork and spent a couple of hours with Heidi and Isaiah. He is such a fun little guy to watch. He climbed the long flight of stairs while I watched (and guarded) from the rear. He knew his Mom had gone up there! I did "skin-a-rabbit" with him a couple of times on a bed, and he didn't come back for more. I think it startled him. From observing his personality, I'm sure that will be less of a startle and more fun for him as he grows. He loves it when Heidi swooshes him through the air in different positions.

Well, I need to take advantage of this weather-grounding day and get some presents organized and wrapped. I am far from ready for Christmas.

Poole Collage by Greg 2007

The new shutters and door!

We finally got the job done!

Thaksgiving Part 2

The newlyweds make great entertainment for Maggie and Marcie.


Warm air that is not normal for this time of year made this outing quite nice even for our Arizona visitors!


Jessica holds up her taco salad for Photographer Dad.



Sarah playing Pictionary--she draws very well!

Thanksgiving in Review

Here are a few pics that Greg took while lots of the family were here during the last week.

We made Butterscotch Bubbles for Thanksgiving morning. Gardiners & Grandma Grace came from Grantsville. Jessica and Braden enjoyed them, too. Jessica won't be with us for Christmas, so we made the traditional bubbles early!

Braden was the new guy in the "mix" this year, and he dutifully had tickle wars with the "Littles." Grandpa Greg was never so relaxed!

Jessica made the dinner rolls--and they were so delicious she had a hard time getting any made to save for Thanksgiving Dinner! Did I mention that we all like hot rolls?

Being a Grandma has its perks! Mikaela loves books and puzzles and always makes sure we get those in when she comes to visit.

Carissa & Jonathan still love cameras!

Roman Shades

I finally got the Roman shades finished for the main floor of our house! I still have many more to make, but they will have to wait until after the holidays. So far I've completed 8--and they all work. Last night, Greg and I were hanging the last one up with the TV turned on. He about choked when he overheard someone on HGTV say that they house was worth $10,000 more since they had installed shutters on the windows. He was then even more enthusiastic about my "shade project!" I'll try to add a picture--but it won't look like much. When the shades are up, they are totally hidden. When they're down, they're just a flat piece of fabric with dowels running straight across them. Use your imaginations!

Re-TREAT in Idaho

West bank of the Snake River. I wish we had taken our four older kids there to see how beautiful it was. We were always too busy having fun at the farm, I guess.


Proof that Colleen is learning how to push the button on the camera!

And here we have Idaho . . .

Last weekend, we decided to do a little fling and do some visiting in Idaho. Actually, I pushed for the idea, but the other three Poole's who live here were not easily persuaded. They thought they would be bored, I think. As it turned out, we all had a really nice time! The weather was perfect! Who would have guessed we could get along without wearing our jackets in Idaho on Oct 18?

We stayed with Greg's Aunt LouEtta and Uncle Jim Christiansen. They are ever genuine and generous! Maggie told me she finally understood what it felt like to have a grandfather--we all enjoyed visiting their home that much. For me, it was a reminder of the times when I would get to go visit the family home and my parents in Ucon. There were so many similarities in the experience that I felt like I got to "go home" for a couple of days. Hot bread, homemade cookes, homemade jam, hot soup with lots of veggies, checking out the flower & vegetable gardens that are now ready to sleep for the winter, wandering through barns and orchards and fields, riding up past Bone and Ozone to see the Christiansen cabin. I remember herding sheep up that road when I was a little girl--bonus for me--more reminiscing!

We arranged to meet Duane and Udawna for dinner one of the nights and then found a quiet place in a nearby mall to just keep gabbing until the mall closed. Greg took the girls shopping for a little while, and we just kept right on gabbing!

We visited the Iona cemetery and I got to show M & M the burial spots of my parents and three siblings--plus my Hammon grandparents and great grandparents.

Maggie and Marcie got to attend a session in Rexburg called Best of Especially for Youth. They were happy about that. We got to enjoy a short visit with LaNae while the girls were occupied. Kim & their four daughters were there visiting LaNae from Syracuse, UT, so we got to meet the "littles" in Kim's family. They are sweet little girls. I really enjoyed visiting with LaNae again--we should do that more.

We wandered through the "gardens" at BYU-I. Lots of the flower beds had been readied for winter, but there were still some really pretty spots to wander through. There are so many new buildings on campus--I hardly recognized the place. The Manwaring Center is closed while the inside is being totally remodeled. A big arena is being built that will hold 15,000 people. Right now, they still are using the Hart Bldg which will only seat 4,000 if they put chairs on the floor section. Since they've changed to a four-year school, I'm sure the enrollment has gone way up.

We also found a small frozen yogurt store in Rexburg before we headed to Burton to visit our friends, the Kirkham's. They moved from our neighborhood about two years ago, and in that time they have built a barn, acquired a llama and a horse, remodeled the whole inside of their house, and grown to love SE Idaho. It was very fun to reconnect and have a little gab time--Maggie and Marcie even helped Paulette do some "heart attacks"--where you put paper hearts on someone's door in the darkness trying not to get caught.

Sunday morning, we enjoyed the scenery and Sabbath music as we drove back to Utah in time to attend our meetings at 1 p.m. We saw where lots of potatoes had been harvested, but we only saw one combine still at work. The week before we went, there had been an early snowstorm that dumped quite a lot of snow. The farmers had been worried that they might not get the potatoes out of the ground this year. The weather had been kind, though, and the pleasant days had allowed the farmers to get the potatoes dug after the winter storm blew through.

Our little "retreat" was just that a "treat" that happened "again" like it used to when we would go visit family. We'll have to remember how much we liked it and do it again!!

Diana Tagged me! Try it out on your blog!

Go to images.google.com and type in your answers. Then choose a picture from the first three pages listed in google images. Post that as the answer to the question.

What is your first name? Colleen

Colleen Dewhurst, from one of my favorite series of books, Anne of Green Gables!

What is your maiden/middle name? Hammon

This is a WNBA player called Becky Hammon. . . Maybe she is a distant relative!! I always thought I was a b-ball star, too!

What is your surname? Poole

A place we've talked about visiting . . .Poole Harbor in Poole, England

One of my bad habits:

What I am doing right now: Major project to finish--making Roman shades for many windows in our home.

Grandmother's name: Emily Tyler Cramer. This is a current picture of the place where Emily was born: Hebron, Utah

More info. here. Emily was born in 1889.

http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/ut/hebron.html

Past pet: Tramp

My first job: box stapler at Ucon Produce (a potato warehouse)

The boxes came in flattened bales, I would stand them up, run them through a wire-fed staple like this one, and then stack them in wheels of 10. Each box would hold 50 pounds of "spuds," and also had a lid that needed four staples in it! Not very exciting work--cold and stinky workplace.

Where I grew up:

I lived on a farm 10 miles North of this picture. Greg and I were married in the I.F. temple pictured in the distance (before it had an Angel Moroni on top of it).

One of my favorite places: Our Playhouse

If I went back to school, I would: study graphic design.

Place I would love to visit: Epcot Center

My favorite color: Fall colors. In high school, every dress I owned was a shade of green, because somebody told me I looked good in green! Yes, we wore dresses/skirts/jumpers every day!

Favorite food:

Formerly . . . try to avoid now . . . sigh

Currently!

or . . .

hot wheat bread!

We forgot to take cameras!!

We had a wonderful time in the Uinta mountains last weekend. We were able to listen to General Conference via radio--and the doorbell and the telephone were never a problem!!

It is so beautiful up there with the changing of the seasons. There are dark pines sprinkled in with groves of bright orange and lots of shimmery gold leaves on the quakies. A couple of times, we were in the middle of shafts of light that made everything just POP where we were--the colors seemed more like neon lights!

Sunday morning, it snowed! So, when we were coming home on Sunday, all of the Fall colors were made even more beautiful by the backdrop of the big mountains that were now standing up proudly in their new winter white coats. It was stunning! I wish I could show you a picture--sigh!

We had three visits just outside the windows of our little playhouse--by two buck deer!! They were so pretty! The smallest one was a four-point buck--and no it didn't remind me of food. He stood and chewed his grass an stared at us through the window--not 10 feet from my own gaze. I could see his beautiful eyes and his complete trust that he was safe there. They stayed grazing around for about half an hour that time. Later they were back and I startled both of them and myself when I walked out the door and there we were staring at each other!

I'm sorry I don't get to show you any pics! Maybe next time!

It's a miracle! Today I made bread!

In the olden days, I always made homemade bread for our family. It was an economic necessity as well as a family tradition that my Mom had established. Greg would run the hand-cranked grinder to get flour for me, and I would make 6 loaves at a time--just like my Mom! Well, I lost that tradition. I had a friend who ran a bread store here in Taylorsville, and that was the demise of my breadmaking. I think that was at least 15 years ago!

Last week, I attended a class on using wheat, and I loved the fresh bread that we got to eat there! I determined that I was going to try out that recipe on my family. Today was the day, and this was the result!

I'll include the recipe below--apparently it has gotten easier to make bread during my hiatus from said activity! I added my notes from the class in case any of you are wanting to be creative!

Perfect Whole Wheat Bread
2 T yeast (use rapid rise)
5 cups very hot water (not boiling)
2 T salt
2/3 c. oil
2/3 c. honey
11 cups of whole wheat flour (at the demo, she ground her own fresh flour from white wheat--I went to the store and bought whole wheat flour made from white wheat)

Combine all ingredients. Dump onto counter and knead for 10 minutes (this is the secret to perfection!) She didn't add much flour during her kneading--just a little if the counter got sticky.
Form into loaves. (makes 4 loaves)
Place in grease bread pans and let rise until double.
Bake at 350 degrees for 35 min.
Let bread cool in pans on rack for 5-10 minutes. Remove from pans.

The rapid rise yeast is a new product to me. You don't mix it with warm water or sugar--just put it straight into the mix of all ingredients. (It's also gotten expensive during my time away from breadmaking!)

You don't have to let this bread rise before making it into loaves. You just knead it and then make the loaves. It only rises one time.

The lady said the recipe doesn't turn out well if you try to use sugar instead of wheat.

Other ladies in the group said that they substitute 1/3 c. each of millet, flax seed, & soybeans (ground up) for 1 c. of whole wheat flour. I didn't do that.

Another lady said she puts in 1 T. of vinegar or lemon juice to make her bread softer and to add vitamin C.

Another lady said she adds 2 T of orange juice to her bread dough to "soften" the wheat taste.

Store yeast in the fridge or freezer.

If your yeast is old, add 1 t. of sugar to 1 pkg of old yeast.

You can speed up the loaves rising by placing them in a warm oven with a container of water to keep the air moist.

Greg took a picture for me to post, but it's not on my computer yet. I'll edit my post later!

A good reason for forgetfulness . . . long may it wave!!

This morning, Marcie forgot to take her flute with her into the school. (She left it in the car.) I discovered it later, and drove by the school to drop it off so she would have it during band class. As I came whipping around the corner into the hall where the glass windows let you see into the main office, the "Star Spangled Banner" began blasting through the hall via the intercom. I stopped where I was and looked into the office--there was a flag. Voile! I could just stand where I was and put my hand on my heart and take a moment to think about the wonderful blessings that are mine because I was born in the USA. When the music stopped, we all recited the Pledge of Allegiance together. It has been a very long time since I've had that experience in a school setting--and it made me both homesick and proud. I loved having a flag in my classroom. And I am happy that our schoolkids are still having that experience! It was nice to see all of the ladies in the office and counseling center standing where they work and participating in the patriotic gestures! I decided that it was good that I needed to run by the school this morning--I liked what I saw there!

She's arrived!! Check out this smile!!

For most of the past 11 years, Maggie has disliked immensely getting her picture taken. She particularly disliked photographers who would try to get her to smile for a portrait by saying something "cheesy" or having Maggie say something "cheesy." She would not smile for them if she didn't like their tactics! We've discussed many times how she is the one that gets stuck with pictures she isn't fond of when she "punishes the photographer" in this manner. Today Greg got out his camera, and I think she finally has the idea! Isn't she gorgeous at age 14? Maggie has good news this week--she auditioned for Granite JuniorYouth Orchestra--and she made it! She plays a stand-up string bass. After her first rehearsal, she happily announced that it's a lot more fun to play with people who know what they're doing!

Can you teach an old dog new tricks? or new hairdos?

Several people have tried to get me to go with a new hairstyle over the last few years, but I have been reluctant for several reasons. Darla finally prevailed, and today was the day! I think I'm going to like it--though I look at it and have no idea how to style it. Hopefully, I'll learn as the days go by! You'll notice that the red is faded--in fact all of the cut hair on the floor looked very blonde. I guess I'll just go merrily on my way and be happy that I still have some hair!

Check out this Farmall--like the one we grew up on!

We had a neighborhood breakfast yesterday morning, and for publicity we used the words "Chug on Over!" We served milk chugs and fruit and pastries--and about 50 people came!! We had our neighbor, Jake Barbour, bring over his restored Farmall tractor--and everyone loved it! He was hesitant to bring it because he didn't want people to think he was boasting.

About a year ago, I was out in the yard working one day when this shiny red tractor turned the corner in front of our house and went cruising down the street. I, of course, followed it home to find out where it lived! It still smelled of fresh paint and was just out of the paint shop--and it is absolutely gorgeous! He told me he spent six months restoring it and that he has before and after pictures.

It is a tiny bit smaller than the Farmall tractor I learned to drive on (when I was five!). Our Dad used to have the little kids steer the tractor when it was time to haul hay. I learned to steer around the bales and if I got scared, he told me to kick the kill switch. So, I would dutifully steer in and out trying to get the hay wagon close to the bales for the men to load them. When I got to the end of each "land" of hay, I would kick the kill switch and my Dad would then come and start up the tractor and turn it around. Then I was back in the driver's seat! I think about Stewart (our grandson who is now five) and I wonder how I could do that job without messing up somehow!

Someone asked Jake how fast his tractor would go, and he told them 15 mph! I asked him if that was "road gear," and he said yes. I did a flashback to the days when I would sit on Dad's lap and steer the tractor as we went "flying" down the road after taking the tractor on one of our irrigating jaunts "to turn the water." We were only going 15 mph! No wonder Dad felt safe letting me steer!

p.s. The little girls are Sadie and Kennadee Pearson who live next door to us.

Links to Jessica & Braden's wedding pics online

Here's what it said in the email from the photographer:
We are so excited to share with you the slideshow and gallery from your wedding:
SLIDESHOW: http://www.sloanphotographers.info/darkroom/share/?client/jessicabradenwedding
GALLERY: http://www.sloanphotographers.info/darkroom/proof/?client/jessicabradenwedding
There are several wedding folders to access in the gallery on the top right hand side (under the little triangle that has a drop-down menu). Please check them all out! :o)

The jet set honeymooners! June 2008 San Diego

Braden surprised Jessica with a darling rental car convertible to drive away into the sunset!

Some of my favorites from the CA wedding trip

Bryce, Danica, Jessica, Carissa, Maggie, Marcie (all in baby order!)

Bride & Groom, Jessica & Braden Robins with Gardiner Family (Danica, Michael, Stewart age 5, Kaela age 3, and Sarah age 7)

Bryce & Heidi Poole with baby Isaiah

Bryce walking with Jessica and her tired feet

Kaela & Sarah spinning in their "princess" dresses

Uncle Brad & Kaela in San Diego

My writing career launches today!

I've been watching lots of blogs for the past few months, and I decided that I would learn how to blog in the Fall. Well, it is August, and today I just jumped onto blogspot and tried to figure out how it's done! It occurs to me that I don't have a cute baby or an exotic trip planned--you'll just be getting "vanilla" experiences from our ordinary lives. Maybe I'll even learn how to post pictures and video clips. Every Fall, I get a little "homesick" for school (either as a student or as a teacher--I'd take either), so maybe blogging will help me feel like I'm back in school learning how to do something new!

Maggie and Marcie attended Brighton Camp from Monday through Friday--and I worked like a dog trying to get some projects done that have been calling my name. While the girls were gone, I didn't have to spend lots of hours each day tutoring algebra, so I sanded and painted the old bookcase that Grandpa Cramer built, a little knick-knack shelf, a nightstand, and a bench for the front yard. I still have one more nightstand to do, the bench out front isn't finished, and I don't like the color that I put on the bookcase, so I probably need to redo that one. The good news is that I enjoyed my break from algebra!!

Maggie came home from Brighton sick with the flu, and Marcie started with the flu Saturday morning. Greg hasn't been feeling well either, and I try to stay out of the room unless they need me. I don't want to get sick!

We had a window salesman here from American Exteriors for 3 hours one night. He was rather persistent and rather long-winded. We actually signed a contract with him--and then exercised our 3 day right to rescind the contract the next morning. I did some fast research and found some windows I liked better for $4500 less in total cost. That talks to me! I'm excited that we're getting good windows finally. Maybe the temps will be more consistent in our home--they're supposed to block warm rays in the summer and let in warm rays in the winter. That is very fascinating to me! Don't believe a salesman if he/she tells you that you're SPECIAL, and they want to use your house for advertising and give you a REALLY GOOD DEAL!

I'm so glad we're having the Hammon reunion at our house in 2010! This is the first time we have been in agreement on all the projects that need to get done before lots of relatives come to see us! I'm loving it!!