Thanksgiving

Prior to Thanksgiving, we had my granddaughter Sienna come and stay a couple of nights. We took her and another little girl, Katie, to dinner and a movie on Tuesday night. Sienna helped me with my baking on Wednesday. It was SO much fun!

We went to my daughter Erin's house (Sienna's mom) for Thanksgiving. Robert and his fiancee Michelle, and Paul were able to come. Paul's fiancee, Kelsey, had to work, which was a bummer. But considering how many people have lost their jobs over the last few months, it would be a more grateful attitude to appreciate that she has a job even if it means she had to work on a holiday. David and his family went to Idaho to visit his wife Shannon's grandmother for the holiday. We missed seeing them.

We did get to talk with my father and Dad Hanson and wish them a Happy Thanksgiving.



Something that caught my attention was this quote, which I think is very appropriate to the day:

"When asked if my cup is half-full or half-empty
my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup."
Sam Lefkowitz

Reflections on Aging

My dad sent this to me. It has so much truth in it:

Old Age, I decided, is a gift.

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometimes despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60s & 70s, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.

They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.
So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don’t question myself anymore.

I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be.

And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it).

Election is Over

I need to say right out that I didn't vote for Obama or McCain. I had concerns about both candidates. However, the American people have spoken (in amazing numbers). It was quite a moment when Obama made his acceptance speech and compared it to Martin Luther King's remarks 40 years ago. How far we have come.

As for whether or not this will be good or bad, I know of someone who woke up on Wednesday after having nightmares because of the election results. All I can say is that I have more confidence in our system than that! I refuse to believe that our elected officials don't want what's best for this country--our differences come in agreeing on how to go about it. The President does not stand alone in ruling this nation, and there are many checks and balances in place. Regardless of who sits in the Oval Office, there is a Congress and a Senate full of many egos and ideas that will have to be worked with. Hopefully they will learn to play nice with each other.

Harry Potter All Hallows Party

Well, after a furious week (and much effort before the flood), the time for the Harry Potter party arrived. It was so much fun! Everyone did such a great job getting into it.

To get into the spirit of things, I replaced all the family photos with pictures of people from HP.



We even had Moaning Myrtle's bathroom (do you see her peeking in the mirror?):



And don't forget the cauldron of Polyjuice Potion being brewed in there:



Some of our guests included The Weird Sisters (Paul (son), Kelsey (Paul's fiancee), and Adam (son)--who still hasn't figured out how to keep his mouth closed for pictures ;) ):



Here's Harry (Spencer--son in law) and Ginny (Erin--daughter). The picture of Harry Potter in the background was done by my oldest son, David Weaver for one of his senior projects when he graduated in Art from Utah Valley State College (now Utah Valley University).



Here's Robert (son) stepping out with Narcissa Malfoy (his fiancee Michelle):



Here we have Julie and Bob (friends) as a Dementor and a Death Eater:



And, of course, there's our friends Kelly as Gilderoy Lockhart and Arlene as Trelawney:



Okay, enough character snapshots! I can't put them all on here. =D

Everyone was sorted into houses. We did History of Magic (trivia quiz) as a group--Slytherin and Gryffindor tied. Then the members of the various houses went to different locations where their other classes were being held. Below is from potions.



We had Ancient Runes and Arithmancy classes in the newly painted basement (notice that Spencer is trying to copy Adam by hanging his mouth open for the picture):



The following is from the transfiguration class. The Slytherins (second class) got the idea to show the graveyard scene from Goblet of Fire (on the right). The next two classes followed suit, showing the wild ride at Gringotts Bank (bottom) and the trio having to get past Fluffy in Sorceror's Stone. It was so good, they all got equal points, but the Slytherins were disgruntled because they felt everyone had copied them and the should have gotten creativity points.

They were probably right, but I'd forgotten that I hadn't included that when doing up the points, and I knew there were people who needed to get going. In trying to be fair, I admit I did them a disservice.

I bow to their incredible creativity and honor them! :notworthy:



Gryffindor won the house cup.

Thanks everyone for making it such a fun night!

Phew! We're all ready for the installation of the carpet in the morning, and I'll be home in the afternoon to start hauling everything back down where it belongs.

We're not absolutely sure what we'll have the the end of the "hallway" below. It may end up being an outdoor scene. But we won't decide until we have the ceiling painted.



I love what Paul did with the lichen:


It looks cooler in person!

A Castle in the Making

We got a lot done in the room downstairs. The first picture is what it looked like when the new sheetrock was in.


This is what the room looks like with a primer and light gray coat of paint.


The castle stones are in place.


We only had time to get the beginnings of the shading on the stone. I'm not thrilled with the way it looks up close. But I have an idea on how to proceed. We'll have to see how it goes tomorrow.


By the way--my feet hurt!

Flood Update

Well, after hours and hours of ripping out wet sheetrock and putting new rock in the larger of the flooded rooms, we're going to be doing some painting today. The house is nearly as old as I am, and the wood is old and dry. I'm finding it very hard to drill the sheetrock screws into it!