Why Do I Blog? Could it be Root Canals?

A little over a year ago, I took to the keyboard with blogging. Why..I ask myself do I do this? Maybe it is to take on my alter ego...LeAnn...the sweet life, perhaps this is truly my fictional character...who is sweet, kind, generous, outgoing, life of the party...etc. And I'm all to familiar with the teacher quote about touching lives..and being connected to everyone and everything!

Then after reading the quote by Frederick Buechner, I realized it is probably as profound as any about what blogging is all about:

"The life I touch for good or ill will touch another life, and that in turn another, until who knows where the trembling stops or in what far place my touch will be felt."

All these thoughts came about because I had another root canal (2nd one since I have been blogging)! While I was in Dr. M's office Thursday, he said, "So, will this be on your blog tonight?" I immediately said, "No way!" That is because my first root canal was not all that pleasant of an experience....and Dr. M did not do my first one! If you would like to read about it again...here is the link:

http://ladolcevitaleann.blogspot.com/2007/05/here-is-darling-jennifer-parker-im-so.html geeze I wish I knew how to just copy the little short version of the html...

Sorry I'm off track again (no not school track ....just ADD...you know the one teachers always think you are!)

Okay so back to the idea of blogging about everything in your life ....after Dr. M gave me the thought, I came home and found a picture of the real Dr. M.

Lookie here: I think Dr. M has an alter ego too! He is the best dentist I have ever been to. He knows his stuff and does it well. And he BBQ's when told to do it by the BC Girls!

Seriously he is the best dentist around because he went to the prestigious University known as "Georgetown". He took my BFF across the country and became a renowned DDS. ....so if you would like my recommendation for the best there is you will want to make an appointment with Dr. McKellar. You will be glad you did.

Artistic Dental Care

3984 Washington Blvd

Ogden, UT 84403
(801) 399-4477‎

Tell him I sent you!

Now that is why I blog......you are all connected with my root canals and everything else that happens in my life!

I AM

I was totally inspired when I read "I am from" over at http://lifeinthelostworld.blogspot.com/so I decided to write my own. Jayedee said if you would like to write your own, there are some guidelines that can be found over at "fragments from floyd"

I am from lush backyard gardens, from Smith Corona Typewriters and Hallmark Cards.

I am from the front porch chairs and large shade trees with the winds gentle breeze.

I am from the lilacs, hibiscus, apricot trees, from the toy boats in the ditch and Salem Pond Bridge.

I am from picnics, swings, books and spaghetti and practice makes perfect, you need to get ready, from Frank and Leola, and Thomas and Viola, and Stephano and Caterina. I am thinking an “a” should be added to make my name LeAnna.

I am from the intelligent and hard working people, with strange looking little toes, some with very nice hair and others with ostrich feathers like mine.

From practice your piano, is your homework done and walks around the town on a Sunday afternoon, I am from Catholics and Mormoms who love the Lord.

I'm from Utah, Italy, and Wales, spaghetti and roast beef and tiramusu please.

I’m from two grandmothers who raise 7 children each after both grandfathers were tragically taken in accidents, from learning to drive and the gift of a Mustang, GTO, and TBird, from the old cabin being replaced by the new, from hours upon hours at baseball parks.

I am one with a husband, parents, children, cousins, aunts, and uncles and valued friends.

I am from boxes and albums and old fashion slides, with digitals on computers, I from Llardos, Hummels, Madeam Alexanders, and Precious Moments placed in curio cabinets big and small.

I am from memories that take up volumes, I am from friendships and unconditional love, from happiness and tears,

that will go on for many generations and years.

Daughter-in-loves Birthday

Happy Birthday Julie

This is my beautiful daughter-in-love Julie. There are so many things that I love about her, besides the fact that she thinks my son is the best man on planet earth....right? Here are just a few of the things that make her so amazing.
1. She is a wonderful mother to my darling grandchildren.
2. She is the hardest worker I have ever seen. Honestly she can out work almost anyone in our family.....including DH. If we need something done we call on Julie. The winter picture is at Loafer where she, along with her father are almost single handedly building a family cabin.

3. She has a great attitude. Usually has a cute smile on her face, even when the kids and DS are driving her crazy.
Look how beautiful she is in the freezing cold of winter.

4. She spent 5 years in Logan, Utah ....winter, spring, summer and fall.....going to Utah State with Jason. They both completed their schooling and worked jobs all the way through school. That's commitment! 5. Julie was my son's high school sweetheart. One of the principles of our family is that once you are in the family, you stay family. Family is forever and there is nothing you can do that will get you dis-owned. Lucky for me I have never had to forgive her for anything. She is the perfect daughter -in-love.
6. She loves our dogs. That makes her a true family member. We love our pets and treat them just like they were one of the kids.

Julie has a great sense of humor.....I'm sure she will find this post very amusing...or not! We have had so much fun laughing with her...when she gets going....there is no stopping the laughing sessions. Thanks Julie for being a special part of our family tree. I consider you a true gift from our Heavenly Father. We love you!

Fun ~ Fun ~ Fun

A fun time was had by all during the Beach Boy Concert, Sunday night at the Peppermill Concert Hall. We fly to Wendover about 1:00 Sunday afternoon, checked into our rooms at the Nugget, had dinner at the Rainbow, then went on to the concert. The concert hall was rockin' with excitement. We had seats in the middle section on row 3. DH always likes to visit with everyone around us, so he proceeds to ask the young man behind us if he is a musician. Sure enough he is and said he was performing at the Rainbow at 9:00 Sunday night. We promised to show up to hear him. Then the Beach Boys walked onto the stage. Wow....they put on a show. First off they asked if anyone in the audience had watched them at Lagoon....that goes back a few years! They sang a couple of songs about 10 minutes worth, then suggested that they would be taking an intermission followed by a nap! To funny.....they sang until 8:30! We danced, clapped, and laughed....loved it.

Here we are after the show....look at all those smiles. DH is always on the phone.....it is growing from his ear, with his hand and arm stuck into position....no kidding!
This is Adrian with J Smooth and Ralph. Adrian always draws a crowd. At 6' 10" he certainly stands out in the crowd! We love you A. We spent the rest of the evening enjoying their band. They are part of the Nate Owens band. J joined us at our table in between sets. What a nice guy. I danced so long that Monday morning it was a little difficult to move the legs and feet. Thanks for a great weekend friends. Let's do it again real soon.

Spring Dance Festival ~Still Going After All These Years ---Grandkids Rock!

Wordless Wednesday

The Glad Game

Remember the scene from the movie "Pollyanna" with the prisms? OMG ~ most of you are way to young!

That is when my love affair with prisms started.... back in 1960 with the scene of Pollyanna hanging the lamp prisms with the grouchy old man Mr. Pendleton. Pollyanna hangs the crystal lamp prisms in his window and brought him many beautiful rainbows. Then as Pollyanna tried to teach him the Glad Game….I really fell in love …just because they made me so Glad!

"Oh, yes; the game is to just find something about everything to be glad about--no matter what 'twas."



I now have a small solar prism hanging in the window of my office to catch the sun and make magical rainbows begin dancing on the walls. Dang difficult to capture a picture of the little rainbow beauties……

If You Fix It ~ They Will Come

Inaugural Dinner Sunday May 18, 2008

The Zitos joined us for dinner on Sunday afternoon.

It was very basic Pasta Casserole, Salad, Garlic Bread and Watermelon.

Ali and Robyn teased me about blogging.

When the oriole try to get into his hummingbird feeder, Jeff thought we were giving the backyard birds their own individual names......we laughed!

I am going to love having a table big enough for a group of us to enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner. Dear Family.....Thanks for putting up with my picture taking and blogging. Love ya all.....miss those of you who are oh so close, yet to far away with the price of gas. Hate it!

La Dolce Vita Backyard Diner

With enough pressure, guilt trip, or simply nagging...DH surrendered! I don't know if it was a courtesy, respect, or a What the H surrender...but nevertheless it was a complete surrender. Here is a look at the new table after it was carried to the backyard.
Cecil is a very able helper. He gave up an hour of his Sunday to help unload and assemble this beautiful set. He complained much of the time....weak tools they gave us to put it together with, hotter than....today...(only 80 ~ my kind of temperature)...packages where adult proof to get open! Thanks Cecil... you did an awesome job!
Here is DH putting together the swivel chair. He actually gave up with the "Toy" tools that came with the package. Got "Man" tools will travel.............
After 1 1/2 hours of man labor.....here it is! Now can't you just see an afternoon party? Come on down....up... or over!

Adventure Meals

After working in the backyard all afternoon Saturday, dinner was prepared and served on the patio. Experimental food for the sweet life girl....Mediterranean Potato Salad, Spanikopita, and not so experimental chicken drumsticks. Spanikopita is a pastry with a filling of spinach, feta cheese, green onions, egg, and seasoning. The filling is wrapped in layers of phyllo pastry with butter spread on the inside and out. Spanakopita is golden in color when baked. It is mostly eaten as a Greek snack. It took much longer to bake than the recipe required, and the top wasn't as golden brown as I would have liked. Family gave it 4 stars....to much work for 4 stars. Next time I'll use the filling inside crescent rolls...the pop can kind...and make individual triangles.
Mediterranean Potato Salad.....Ali wanted it heated. So when DH came home for dinner, I tossed a little cheese on the top and warmed it in the micro... he said it was great.
Sunday morning another experiment........Huevos Rancheros with Roasted Tomato Sauce. When DD saw this, she immediately said, "Mom, we live in America, could we just have like pancakes and eggs for breakfast?" She agreed that is was pretty Yummy! But it requires a great deal of prep! I couldn't do this for a crowd of people, unless of course I let them dish up their own.
Tonight's dinner..............Pizza........is that American, darling Italian Daughter?

Perspicacious.....Just Lucky???

You Know Your States

You got 10/10 correct. You've got a pretty good handle on US geography. There's a good chance you've visited at least a dozen of the fifty states.

How Well Do You Know Your States?

Only 10 questions and thanks to a great 5th grade teacher, getting 2 children through US History,30 years of teaching, and a DH who watches the History Channel non stop....I answered the quiz in under 2 minutes with 100%.

Spring Festival and Lilacs

It was a balmy 70 degrees this afternoon when I arrived home. I walked into the back yard and the perfumed scent of lilacs filled the air. It quickly took me back to my elementary school days and Rees Elementary School. (This is not a picture from my Spring Festival...I'm really hoping my mom has a few pictures.)

I'm not sure when school children began celebrating spring by dancing in schoolyards, their teachers leading them, often awkwardly, through the steps, their proud parents gathered round, snapping pictures and clapping along. It is a peculiar urban rite -- called Spring Festival in Nebo School District -- that has been around, it seems, for as long as the public school system itself.

My memories, of course, are from the spring years of 1956 - 1962. Flowers were actually picked from every neighborhood yard, placed in very ordinary containers, and brought to the school to line the auditorium. The sweet smell of lilacs will always remind me of those childhood days. I remember my kindergarten class doing the Hokey-Pokey , I think my 4th grade class did the Maypole, and by sixth grade we were coordinated enough to do the Jitterbug.

When I was a student teacher, in the spring of 1972, the tradition still continued. I was in Santaquin, Utah for my 2 semester of training. My cooperating teacher was the director of the Spring Festival. The first day I went into the classroom her husband had a heart attack and I had to quickly step up to the plate to see that the dancing steps were ready to go for the big event. Oh what an experience!

I have now been teaching for 30 years...there are no more Spring Festivals. Now our emphasis is on accountability and assessment, it has become very hard, in the spring, to put on an event like this. May and June are testing months at our year round school ~ no time for fun like DANCING.

What a shame!The Spring Festival was a big celebration, with a different theme every year. It was special. It really was. Now I just have the smell of spring lilacs keep that memory alive for me.

Wordless Wednesday

Summertime ~ thanks J

Happy Mother's Day 2008

There is no better way of celebrating Mother's Day than remembering your own mother and paying a tribute to all her unconditional love, sacrifices, unselfish and caring ways, on this special day.

As I look back on my life I find myself wondering.....

Did I remember to thank you

for all that you have done for me?
For all of the times you were by my side

to help me celebrate my successes and accept my defeats?
Or for teaching me the value of hard work,

good judgement, courage, and honesty?
I wonder if I've ever thanked you for the simple things...

The laughter, smiles, and quiet times we've shared?
If I have forgotten to express my gratitude

For any of these things,

I am thanking you now....

and I am hoping that you've known all along,

how very much you are loved and appreciated.

I am the person I am today because of you Mom

and I am proud that I am your daughter.

Backyard Bird--Humming Bird - I Don't Think So!

This beautiful "Bullock's" Oriole has decided to enjoy our hummingbird feeder. He joined our backyard several days ago. As soon as I got the camera ready....he flew away.....of course! I have waited days for him to come back. It has been difficult to get a very good picture. Every time I get the camera ready...he's gone. Today I was lucky ~ took the screen out of the bathroom window ~ this is what I got! Pretty nice....for a rookie.

Waits at the Window ~ Who Would You Like to Have Dinner With?

Who would you most like to have dinner with?

Many people come to mind for me. Since I spend many of my hours reading, I think it would be amazing to have dinner with Adriana Trigiani. I have fallen in love with her books. If you haven't heard of her, check her out! She's fantastic!

I would love to have dinner with Rachael Ray. Mind you, she was born the year I graduated from High School, but I'm sure our Italian backgrounds could find some common ground.

Early one Saturday morning at the Village Inn` in Provo`, Robert Redford came through the doors. Oh what a delight it would have been to join his table.

Probably at the top of my list would be Oprah. She has done so much good for not only our country, but the world. She is brilliant, wise, and in my opinion simply amazing.

My daughter was waiting to have dinner with me! I love when I get to have dinner with my family and friends. It doesn't matter if we are at home or some fine restaurant, food seems to bring many memories of good times.