"I'm Always Available for Manhattan"

It's 8:00 a.m., Wednesday morning. I'll begin my blog this morning and go back a few days. So far the week has been good. The wind is blowing really hard. I looked out the window and thank goodness the red sand is blowing to the West. When it's blowing in the direction of my house it is on all my floors and furniture. I hope I can live long enough to enjoy the nice clean air again.

My landscaping will be done this week. Bruce has done a good job. Next year I will have grass for our Easter egg hunt. I'm excited to have trees and grass. I want to stay home more so that I can get my monies worth. I think my traveling days are almost over. Underline the word almost. I'm always available for Manhattan. I dream about shopping in Macy's.

Nicole and I had our review Monday. Of course we couldn’t have done it without Cindy running the music, making costumes, and all the other things she does. It has been fun for me to have Nicole come every Monday. She taught my students to clog, and taught me how to blog. I told her Monday night to remember the night. 50 years from now she can tell her grandchildren how she tap danced with their great grandma. Times have really changed. When I tell my grandchildren about their great grandma Polly it isn't about tap dancing. Actually your Great Grandpa David Smith was the first in the family to clog. I was awakened every morning by my Dad fiddling on his violin and dancing around the kitchen table. That was after he had chopped the wood and made a roaring fire for us. We would run down the stairs and keep warm by the fire while we got ready for school. When we all clog together at Peach Days, I'm sure Grandpa Smith will be be bragging to everyone how he started it all. He will probably be up in Heaven dancing with you. It was so fun seeing Mathew dance again. I loved watching the girls.

Sunday was wonderful. Brad gave a great talk. The food was delicious. I loved being with all of you. The girls are all so pretty. It's like a fashions show. The boys are fun to watch in the lively basketball games. (especially little Michael) I missed the family members who weren't able to be there. We should meet in Delta more often. It's the first time I can remember that we didn't have to eat and run.

These blogs start out to be short, and then I ramble on and on. Goodbye for now. I'll write again when Nicole comes back from Spain. I love you. Grandma Polly

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

I just read Becky’s letter from Chile. It is so wonderful to have the internet so that I can read the letters so soon. I didn’t have it when Matthew and
Steven were on missions. It was amazing to realize that what I read just happened. I think I’m too old to be able to assimilate all the new technologies. I almost felt I was with her. Gave me goose bumps. She has a great attitude but is going through a culture shock. She probably gets stared at because she is tall. Becky described the houses and furnishings. She said their furniture is like DI rejects. Compared to what we all have, we are all rich.

Yesterday was a wonderful day. I missed the family that wasn’t here but thought about you all day. We met at Dave’s home and had a great dinner. He has a nice big backyard so the kids had fun. The gifts were generous and nice. Gosh, I’m such a blessed Grandma to have such thoughtful children. I missed Kari’s call but it warmed my heart to hear her voice.

Craig told me about Jeff’s call. He said Jeff struggled a little with his English. (that’s good) He also said that he baptized a Cambodian last week. I’m very excited about Brad’s new call. The church IS TRUE.

I think a new name for Grandma’s Blog page should be renamed Grandma’s Brag page. I could write a brag page a day about each of my children and each grandchildren. Maybe that’s what I’ll start doing

Every day I am reminded of my age. Before I went to the Doctor I was fine. When he told me I had all these age-related health problems, I haven’t had a good day since. (I should never have had a check-up)

My advice for today is: Get plenty of calcium, take your vitamins,
go to bed early, each day eat healthy food (fruit and veggies) and count your blessings every day. I wish I could tell you to never grow old, but then you wouldn’t have the joy of having grandchildren to brag about.

May 7th, 2007

I’m just not functioning up to par today. Nicole will soon be here and I’m hurrying to get done in one hour the things I should have done this morning.

I’m still doing dishes from yesterday. We had another big Stirland meal.
The food was the same fattening menu we always manage to cook. The Burr’s were here until about 9:00. Kort and Craig came, as did David and his family. Bob and Tommy come every Sunday. We missed all of you. We went for a walk down to the old sheds. The boys managed to find a few remnants from their past.

We had a great day going to the temple with Brad. You would never know it was his first time there. It was another wonderful family experience. After the temple we had pizza at Metcalf’s. The girls shopped and I came home with David and the Burr boys. (interesting conversation with Steven)

The left over food from yesterday is still in my fridge. It is tough to diet
when there is a bowl of pasta salad still here. Last week I dieted the entire week and only (gained) one pound. Now I’ve got to start all over again.

My yard is progressing slowly. I haven’t seen Bruce since Friday. It’s a touchy situation. What he has done so far is impressive. The comments from everyone are varied. Michelle thinks I’m losing my good judgment. David won’t really commit. Thank goodness Kort walked in and said,
“Mom, your front yard is great”. That gave me hope . My ultimate goal is to improve my home so that it will sell well. The yard should help.

I’m talking at the “old folks” home tomorrow for R.S. My talk will be about the little stove Cindy found on the internet. All my life I have mourned for the loss of the stove that I got for Xmas when I was about four. I cooked little biscuits in the oven and fried eggs on the burner. When I got married my treasured stove disappeared from my keepsake box I had carefully packed away. For over seventy years I have dreamed about the stove. When I opened the box Christmas morning, I was overjoyed. As I caressed the stove I remembered the times I had spent in the kitchen with my Mother. I realized it wasn’t the actual stove that I longed for, but the love I felt while following my Mom around the kitchen. I wanted to do what she did. Now whenever I look at my little stove I remember my kind, gentle Mother., and I’m still trying to be like her. The little black stoves in our lives will soon be forgotten, our example will live forever.