Pedal Cake

I had mentioned in my last blog that I would take a picture of the "pedal cake" I made for Lynda's birthday. I big holiday called Christmas came up so I didn't get it in the blog the next day so here it is now.
It looks like flower pedals so I guess that's why I call it "pedal cake". My brother, Ken, calls it "shower cap cake" cause way back when, probably the '60's, I had a fancy pink swimming cap that looked like flower pedals all over it. Back in those days fancy caps were the big "in" thing to use.
Anyway this is it....aren't you impressed.......

A Second Daughter

Today we celebrate our 2nd daughter's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LYNDA!
1972
I made her a birthday cake with Christmas decorating on it. After all it was almost Christmas.

On Christmas she loved to visit with Grandma and Grandpa Loveridge.
1973
Santa came again to her birthday party.
So did Grandma Ancell.
1978
Santa came again for Lynda's birthday party.
Santa liked to dance with all the cousins.

A cute doll and lots of toys were happily received by the birthday girl with aunt Sue looking on.

1979
Santa couldn't come any more to Lynda's birthday celebration. But her cousins still could even though they did miss the Santa visit.

I had fun decorating her cake copied after a drawing she previously made.
1981
Many cakes followed using her drawings.
I think I was more ambitious then. I'm bringing a cake to celebrate today but it doesn't have the cute drawings. I made a pedal cake. It looks like a big flower. We'll take a picture today and post it tomorrow so you can see what a pedal cake looks like.

November

As this month of November draws to a close, I've much to be thankful for in this time of Thanksgiving.
The beginning of November displayed some fabulous sunsets right out our door.
Had to catch it quickly for the display was short lived, only about 10 minutes of vivid color.
The yard displayed it's vivid colors, too.
The reds and greens complimented each other in their own way.

I'm thankful for this beautiful earth.......
Lots of birthdays this time of year.
Emma turned 2.
I'm thankful for family........

Thank you, Julie, for having us over to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner together. It was delicious!
I even attempted to make mom's famous red cabbage dish. It turned out pretty good.
And Becky made the pumpkin pies, yummmm, wouldn't be Thanksgiving without them.
Lynda brought some great salads which added the finishing touches.

Family gatherings like this are what makes these times special.

Again, I'm thankful for family........
.....and this beautiful world in which we live......

What a Day!

What a day Bernell and I had, yesterday. We were invited by an acquaintance (who is a prominate federal judge) to see his chambers and a tour of the Federal Courthouse. So we can say we went to court yesterday. It was a fantastic tour; first time I've ever been waved through a security check with purse in hand!
We were also invited to accompany the judge and his wife to the swearing-in ceremony of immigrants receiving their citizenship in the United States of America. A federal officer met us curbside and drove us to the theater where this occasion took place. After shaking hands with many dignitaries, we were escorted to reserved box seats and from there watched the proceedings with the judge conducting. Having never seen this before, I was very touched by what I saw and heard. About 190 people received their citizenship that day representing over 60 different countries. A person sang the Star Spangled Banner as part of the program and it triggered me off needing tissues to dry the eyes. The new citizens could raise their hand if he or she wanted to make a comment as the microphone was passed. I wish all Americans could have heard what I heard that day from these people. What a wake up call! Let's cherish our freedoms, liberty, and this great land. These people do. All that spoke were in tears as they expressed how thankful they were to now be called an 'American'.

I'm glad to be an American. I love this country and may God continue to bless it. We need His help and need to do our part in keeping it a land of freedom and opportunity. We can't let our new citizens down.

All Dressed Up

It's that time a year again to get "all dressed up"..........for Halloween.
Lori had us all over for our annual Halloween party and the kids did a good job again arriving in their favorite Halloween attire.

This year I think auntie Annie and Suzy took the prize; the best witches I ever saw!
We ate our usual bread-bowl soup, dry ice root beer, vegetable tray, and donuts.
Out newest little goblin, 3 month old Mitchell, even seemed to have a good time
Combat games, swings, trampoline jumping, and busy little ones running around was activity of the day.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!
Fall is here!!!!!

Is it worth it?

Summer's gone. Where did it go.......
I mowed the lawn Saturday between Conference sessions Saturday, one of the many weekly times since early spring. It's been a lot of work to keep it mowed and edged these past few months, especially when the days hit 95 degrees and above. When I was mowing the front, a neighbor walked past and made the comment, "You,re working too hard!" I made a comment back, "Yea, I don't know if it's worth it."
In the Spring, many flats of flowers and tomato plants were bought and planted in flower pots and flower beds. They had to be watered, weeded, tended and fertilized.

The garden grew, the flowers covered the beds and pots, the grass grew green. The tomatoes produced. Continual applications had to be made in snail control, weed control, pest control, deer control (they killed our weeping flowering cherry tree this spring) and whatever else it takes......is it worth it?
Last week the temperatures dropped.......really dropped......and the impatiens didn't like it. Color's gone, life's gone, stems drooping down, leaves are wilting; they're finished.
Becky kindly pulled them out....she wants to get more tulip bulbs and plant them.




Yes, I guess it's worth it. 4 months of color and the beauty of flowers makes us feel good, makes us happy, makes us love the pleasant surroundings this earth offers us. It gave us a sense of accomplishment. It gave us a pleasant place to host outdoor activities. It gave us enjoyment just to sit and read or have a simple outdoor lunch or dinner.

Yea, it's worth it.....can't wait for Becky's tulips next spring.

Used up 2

I've used up 2 of my 9 lives this past week.
1st one:
Becky and I drove down to Julie's (Becky's driving). We're in the carpool lane and getting closer to our exit. "Shall we get out on this outlet or wait till the next?" "Oh, let's wait till the next." As we stayed in the carpool lane, a truck about 2 car lengths ahead of us in the center lane, which we would have been in if we had exited the outlet, dropped a canoe off it's roof. If we'd been behind him, it would have gone through our windshield!
2nd one:
These hamburger buns have a good story, too. Bernell and I went to the Wonder Bread thrift store near us and as I was picking up this package of buns, a huge crash sound came from behind me. A car had slammed into the building hitting a steel bar that supported the front between the large plate glass windows. If the car had been 1 foot to the right it would have gone right through the glass and plowed me and probably Bernell (he was a couple of feet away from me) right down because we were right next to that front window. I think it would have shoved us right into the twinkie-cupcake display and maybe at least we'd a died with a twinkie in our mouth. Well.....Bernell went out to see what happened and I looked out and saw the woman getting out of the car. It was Joy! Our own Joy, Dad's second wife. She'd stepped on the gas instead of the break. Well, fluids were leaking out of her radiator and the left front was bent in badly; a tow truck had to be called and a police report made. We drove her home and hour and a half later....glad we were there to help her.....I think.

Ensign Picture

Not often we get to see a picture of a family
member in a magazine. But this time
we get the honors of claiming Becky in
the October Ensign. She works in the
new Church History Library so they used
this one of her on page 40. Check it out!

Ancell Picnic

We had our Ancell picnic this past weekend.
All of my siblings came and many of their children and grandchildren came.

Lots of good food was enjoyed by all.
The usual sitting around and talking took place while the children played on playground equipment. Nice fishing pond nearby so the little 2 years olds had to be watched, though.
Shannon, Garry's daughter, did a good job putting this together at a park near her home.
We all brought white elephant gifts.
Ken got the gift I brought. It was a picture of him with his 3 sisters. This first picture is the original. The one he got was edited a little bit.
I had some fun changing faces to different bodies.
I slid them all one to the right. Annette has Ken's (not sure I like her with a mustache), I have Annette's face and Susan has mine (can't tell the difference....well maybe), and then Ken with Susan's face (we'll leave this to our imagination as to what he or she looks like).

Julie's studying the picture, too. She's not quite sure about it either.


But it made for a good laugh.

That's what fun in getting together with family. Having a good laugh and just catching up on things.

Family, that's what it's all about!!!

Looks OK

"Mrs. Loveridge, you can wake up now," I heard the Anesthesiologist say in the OR at LDS Hospital two days ago. Last thing I remember was the nurse stretching my right arm out on an extension from the table I was laying on. What an experience; thought I just blinked, but the mass removal which was deeply embedded in my right breast was all done. The best words I heard later were from Bernell, "The surgeon said it doesn't look like it should be cancerous, it looks OK." After 3 weeks of worry and getting my right side squished over 20 times in different positions on 3 separate occasions in radiology, what a relief to hear those words. My 2 sisters weren't so lucky. Both have had breast cancer removals and now Annette has to go in for a third time. Given this family history, the doctors acted quickly when an abnormality showed up on my mammogram. I give the nurses, doctors, and staff an A+. We do have the best care right here!

Family Reunion

Our every-other year family reunion once again was enjoyable this past weekend. Arnold and Becky have already made a great blog of this occasion with great pictures and descriptions of the events. So I'll just post a few pictures and call it good. Read theirs'.

A family reunion wouldn't be complete without old pictures and albums to see.

The guys set up a screen Friday night to view a great DVD Arnold made of old family pictures. Many of them I'd never seen before! Just loved Reva and Elwood....miss them!


Mac, Chad, and Kami cooked us a delicious breakfast Saturday morning. Thank you!
Woody's family did a chili and stew dinner Friday evening. Saturday,Reva Beth's and Arnold's group made us lunch, and our family made a dutch oven dinner that evening. All were yummy good.

Thanks, Kami, for the fun jewelry party! Love the grandma necklace I made.


What a nice playground down the hill for the kids to play on. Liam loved the curly slide!

Oh, the hazard of being the 'little' brother. Liam loved following the big guys as they tromped through the trees playing war games. But sometimes he got left behind.

The bubbles were a big hit with the twins until Ava fell over the bubble bucket and it dumped all over her. Was kind of funny but she didn't think so.
Thanks, Becca, for keeping them busy.

Reva Beth kept the kids busy with crafts......
....the rock hunt and the confetti hunt.

Glad Arnold and Carolyn made the long trip from California to be with us.
Family, you're all great and we love you!!!!!