Cute pots for my orchid

My orchid is still alive. The flowers are dropping off one by one. It would be nice to have it in a pretty pot when there were no flowers to spruce it up. I found a few that I really like. The bottom one is from Target, and I decided it was the best. But no luck, my Target didn't have it.

I think my favorite is the piecrust edge pot from Growers Exchange

I am just against paying shipping, and worrying when it will come, and if it will be broken, and if I don't like it in person. But I may chance it for this.

Make-a-list Monday

All right, I admit it. Make-a-list Monday sounds much catchier than Make-a-list Tuesday. So even though on Monday I want to blog about my wonderfully exciting and engaging weekend, from now on it will be Make-a-list Monday.

Today's list is--

What needs to be cleaned in my house

1. the kitchen sink
2. the kitchen floor
3. the orange sandy socks and shoes from Arches
4. my hair
5. my computer desk
6. my sheets, kids sheets, baby sheets and guest sheets
7. the guest bathroom
8. my inbox
9. my paper pile
10. my camera's memory card
11. Scott's peed-in sleeping bag
12. my bathroom floor
13. everything else in my bathroom
14. my toenail polish
15. my tears from my dashed hopes about my siblings moving into the coolest neighborhood in Utah
16. oh dear, I better stop, I'm feeling tired already

P.S. Today I am NOT going to clean Scott's peed-in sleeping bag or my toenail polish or my computer desk. Ha ha, so there dirt. Just stay where you are. I don't care.

Back at home again. . .

I can't wait till I'm back at home again. . . (while singing "On the Road Again" of course). I am home and am glad to be. It was a fun trip, cut short by a funeral that celebrated a life well lived. Then Sunday was another packed full family day. Today, it's laundry. Wahoo. (Don't interpret any excitement there please.)

On my way to Paris for the funeral, I drove through the most beautiful canyon alive, Logan Canyon. I've driven it often, and loved it each time. Fairly close to Logan is a cave, so creatively named Logan cave. It is shut down now and closed over with a grid of iron. It has been for some time.



As I drove by it, I was admiring the pretty waterfallish-trickle down the rocks, under the road, and spilling into the river.






I realized that the cave was very much like my Grandpa. The cave is closed. No one can visit or explore its depths. No one can see the source of the clear water that appears. But the water still flows. It still runs down the mountain and brings life to many things in its path. It still enlarges the river and contributes to life.



Grandpa stream is still running, clear and cool. It is still feeding and nourishing. It is still very much alive. Though we can't see the source, we definitely know it is still there. And someday, that cave will reopen, and Grandpa will be with us again (or we'll be with him again, to be precise).

Welcome home Grandpa

I love you Grandpa. Say hi to Dad.

Make-a-list Tuesday

Picture courtesy of ColorfulUtah.com

Things to pack for our Spring Break trip to Arches National Park

1. Three changes of clothes for the kiddies
2. Lots of diapers, wipes, paper towels, TP, napkins, and hand sanitizer
3. Sunscreen, hats, jackets
4. Sleeping bags, tent, pillows, blankets, and playpen
5. Food, lots of it (including sour kraut, PB, sweet rolls and apples)
6. Hiking shoes, water sandles.
7. Dramamine, barf bags, trash bags, duffle bags, water bags
(Camelback), and poopy diaper bags
8. Cell phones, walkie talkies, portable DVD, and iPod (we are camping,
but come on)
9. Treats, bribes, distractions, and prayers for a weekend of relative fun
and frolicing in the red sand and orange rock of a desert playground.
10. Don't forget the camera!

P.S. Today I am NOT going to watch TV while Matt is gone to his EQ meetings tonight.
P.P.S. I am NOT going to blog while I'm gone getting dirty at Arches (Wednesday-Friday).

Tiptoeing through the tulips

Saturday we went to Thanksgiving Point, a beautiful local garden. It was the opening day of their Tulip Festival. We have a lovely time. The flowers were gorgeous.







I am quite addicted to the gardens there. We go at least once a week all season (April-October). Watching the flowers change is mesmerizing. At least it is for me.




My kids usually like it too, especially since we decided to bring some balls along. They roll them down paths and green grassy hills and try to keep them out of the flowers and koi pond.


The four on the left are mine, the 3 girls on the right are our cousins who recently realized that "This is the place" and are joining us behind the "Mormon curtain". Wahoo. Or shall I say bomb diggity!?

P.S. Today I am NOT going to clean my bathrooms. Sorry, you'll have to use dirty toilets and sinks if you visit today. But tomorrow is another day.

My shade garden

In my back yard I have a beautiful big curved patio. It faces North. This year I am going to put a big flower bed along one side of it. I've been dreaming about it all winter. Now I have too many plans for it. I started out not knowing what shade plants would work. Now I am having to select just a few. Here is a list of some I'm considering.

-Red Japanese Maple
-Hostas (lots of them)
-Astilbe
-Begonias
-Brunnera
-Foxglove
-Japanese Painted fern
-Columbine
-Lupines
-Lamium (ground cover)
-Forget me nots
-Lily of the Valley
-Hydrangea

What do you think? Do you have any shade garden plants that you love? I am also planning on putting a pretty bird bath in the bed. I found this cool solar powered one that would be fun.