May Flowers and Fences 2021

MENDING FENCES -

In the words of Robert Frost, ". . .Good fences make good neighbors, why do they make good neighbors?

Isn't it where there are cows? But here there are no cows.

Before I built a wall I'd ask to know -

What I was walling in or walling out, . . ."

The poem considers the contradictions in life and humanity - as man "makes boundaries  and he breaks boundaries" - mending the wall serves both to separate and to join the two.

This is the fence in our back yard along the Murdock Trail.  It is getting old and by the looks of it had been repaired several times.  Russ and I decided it was time to make it good and more accessible to the trail.  We added a gate and then took down this section piece by piece and rebuilt the fence.  You can see the difference and Chip, the dog will not be getting out any time soon!  I could not help but think about the idea of mending fences and all of the meanings that can go along with that.  As we tore down the fence and had access to the trail, we met several neighbors.  A few just said Hello, but there is always one that stops and wants to visit. We learned all about his Rhodesian Ridgeback dog and all the amazing things he could do.  It was a beautiful dog and he enjoyed exploring our back yard.   We were being "good neighbors" by walling in the dog, and walling out the deer and other animals that roam the trail.  Just adding the gate will open up a lot of possibilities for us along the trail.  Interesting food for thought as I contemplated the task of "mending the Fence".

We have continued working on our home this month and had lots of motivation to get it done.  My two sisters were coming to visit on May 14th and Brian and Beth were coming to visit from Kansas on the 21st.  My goal originally was to have everything completed by May 1 and we did not meet that goal, but we have continued to move mountains and are almost done.  We have already had to redo a few things due to inferior products being installed.  So, you get to see more updates of our progress - Picture time!

Construction of Shower

Russ cleaning the new grout

Floor laid

Tile Finished

  It took us three days to tile and grout the shower.  It was a big job as we also did the wall behind the toilet.  It turned out like we had planned and even better than what we had envisioned.  With the big 5 foot window in the bathroom, we feel like we are in a garden bathroom at a resort.  We have ordered the glass for the shower and it will be another two weeks till it is installed.  Always waiting on contractors to do their part.   

I am not sure my hands will every be the same after this job, good thing I don't get my nails done - there is not much left of them right now.  

Everything installed

Bedroom Closet

We installed all of the hardware and shelves for the closet.  It looked really good and Russ started filling it with his clothes.  Before he had all of his clothes hung, the bars and racks came off of the wall! ugh!  Not only is wood expensive - it is not very good quality.  So, back to the lumber store and buying better and bigger wood.  It is Rock Solid now and working great - just a little set back. Oh the lessons we have learned on this project.

My favorite flowers

  Happy Mother's Day!  So grateful for the "mother's" in my life and their influence and example.  

We took time out to Celebrate Mother's Day and Russ' 71st Birthday - Yes, I always have to share Mother's Day with his Birthday - But it was a wonderful day for his mother the year he was born.  He was born along with his Twin Brother on their Mother's Birthday and also as a Mother's Day Surprise.   A great way to honor his mother is to honor him!

Monday morning started the next project - 

BEDROOM FLOOR

floor installed

Barn Door Installed

Valance Installed and curtain hung.  Picture haning is next and one more room will be complete.

There is something about having your bedroom that makes it HOME.

First time in 46 years we have a TV in our room.  Our new bed has a TV mode where the head and feet raise for great TV viewing.  We have only used it 1 time, but it is there just in case.  Preparing for the "easy life" in our twilight years! LOL.

My Sisters, Pam and Brooke arrived and it was a grand reunion.  I had not seen my sister, Brooke for three years.  We talk on the phone a lot, but it was so good to give her a hug and to spend time with these special Sister's.  They are the best big sisters any girl could ever have.

We have been attending Melaleuca Convention together for over 25 years.  The past two years it has been a virtual Event.  We gathered together for two days and enjoyed the workshops, great food and shopping together.  

A few highlights learned:

These two slides were so empowering for me.  They not only apply to my business, but more especially to my life.  I can testify of the value of commitment.  I have seen the results of being committed to something and being blessed by the results.  The pictures I have shared of our home are a good example of being committed to something instead of just interested in it.  

I committed to do 5 things every day in my life.  I enjoyed the schedule I had as a missionary and most of last year.  The past  4 months have been chaotic most of the time and some important things in my life have taken a back seat.  I realized they are the most important things I need to be doing and have committed to getting more balance back in my life.

1.  Scripture Study

2.  Reach out to 1 friend preferably on the phone or FaceTime

3.  Exercise (Row on my new machine at least 3 days a week)

4.  Add 1 name to my contact list  (Business)

5.  Help 1 person each day with their Wellness 

"People with forget what you said and what you do, They will never forget how you made them feel."

THIS IS THE PLACE MONUMENT

We spent an afternoon together in Salt Lake City visiting This is The Place Heritage Park.  This is a beautiful State Park celebrating the Pioneer Spirit and Native American Culture in the State of Utah.  Beautiful day to be in the Park, great food and fun gift shops.  

Back to work on the house:

GUEST BATHROOM AND KITCHEN UPDATES:

painting cabinets 

Everything was white when we moved in.  I decided we needed more color so I painted the cabinets and added a brick wall.  It turned out so good and I love the warmth it adds to our home.  

We thought we were done with the kitchen.  We had put wallpaper on one of the walls.  I liked it, but in a few short days, because of the texture on the walls, it was not sticking.  It started to bubble and I could tell it was not going to be very washable or very permanent.  We decided to add a shiplap wall instead and it really changed how it looks.  Again, the learning curve of decorating.

Now I am trying to decide what I really need to have in the kitchen for cooking.  Still have many boxes to unpack and find a home for the wares.  Good thing we have a big garage with lots of shelves.  The kitchen is one of my happy places and picking out my most useful dishes and utensils is not easy.  

The month is winding up quickly and still so much happening in our lives.  Brian, Beth, William and Nora arrived and Preslee celebrated her June Birthday with friends before school was out for the Summer.

Emily loves to Party and she knows how to put on a great event.  It was a Karaoke Party and they rocked the night away.  It was a "red carpet" affair and the bounce house was a hit.

Emily and Preslee greeting the guests and getting the party off to a Rocking good time.  It took the kids a little while to be brave and come to the mike, but once they got going it was so fun to see them perform.  

Oh to be 10 years old and so full of life!

We were invited to be guests in a Suite for the Jazz Playoff game in Vivint Arena.  

Nice that our Son has great In-laws and good connections!

We had so much fun watching the Jazz - only thing better would have been if they had won Game 1!  

It was nice being with their family and sharing that time together.

Thanks for the Memories!

NORA 

It was a quick trip for Brian and family - they came for the Wedding Reception of their Niece and we benefited from them staying at our home.  Another blessing of being in Utah closer to family.  Grateful for opportunities for the grandkids to be together.  

A MILESTONE was reached on Tuesday for Logan.  He participated in the Bridge Ceremony for completing 6th Grade.  I have shared a little bit about his journey the past few years and this is truly a miracle.  He was so nervous to go to school that morning - he vomited when he got out of the car from his anxiety.  Previously, on special days he has not had good experiences.  Usually he has had a melt down and then did not get to participate in the event.  He has built a trust with his new teachers and has enjoyed being in school.  He wanted to participate in the ceremony so much and was trying so hard

to make it happen.  He patiently paced on the back row of the students while the program was on.  He had it all planned out that he wanted to do the "Chicken Dance" as he crossed the bridge.  He ended up just walking across and then when it was over and they let parents take pictures, he walked again doing the Chicken Dance.  He was so happy.  We have not seen him like this for so long.  We are getting our Logan back - thanks to so many blessings the past few months.  Ignite Academy has the environment for every student to excel at their own pace and to learn with confidence in who they are.  We were so impressed with the philosophy and staff.  They are making a difference.  

I love the quote from Dieter F. Uchtdorf, April 2021 General Conference: ". . . because of Jesus Christ our failures do not have to define us.  They can REFINE us."  

Preslee has the nickname "Wolfy" and she ended the year in style with her Wolf blanket for show and tell.  She too had a great year.

Jamie Grimmett also graduated from Elementary and will start Middle School in the Fall.  We missed being in Texas and getting to celebrate with him.  He has had a good year at Jones Academy where he learned Spanish and Chinese, dance, piano, and cello.  We look forward to watching him continue to excel and learn new things.  

We will be going to Minnesota on June 1 to attend the graduation of Eric and Abby Zuis from High School.  We are so proud of both of them - I will highlight them next month.

They are each learning to have Faith in the process of life.  In the parable of Christ feeding the 5,000 we learn that from a few loaves and fishes when they were all fed there was food left over - 12 Baskets full.  We learn that we can't learn everything at once.  We can't take it all in - we get full and need to digest that first - then get more.  The 12 baskets are waiting for us to partake of in the future.  

Boyd K. Packer said, "You must learn to walk to the edge of light (knowledge, truth) and then a few steps into the darkness; then the light will appear and show the way before you." March 1991

As we gain knowledge - The awareness of certain principles of progression - we can then act upon what was learned and obtain Wisdom.

In James 1:5 it says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him."

The part that many miss with this wonderful counsel by James is that of INTENT.  James doesn't say, "If any of you lack KNOWLEDGE, let him ask."

He says,  "If any of you lack WISDOM, let him ask."

Wisdom is the correct application of knowledge.  He gives to those who ask with the intent to use it, to act . . . To APPLY IT in their lives for their betterment.  

I am watching my grandchildren learn and obtain knowledge and learning to use that knowledge to ACT and APPLY it to bless their life and others.  As they do that, they will learn that the more they apply it and gain Wisdom, the more they will be given to use and the process repeats.  Oh how I love the pattern set by Jesus Christ and His teachings that bless our lives in all aspects both spiritually and temporally.  

Wasatch Lawn Memorial

 We ended the Month visiting the Cemeteries for Memorial Day.

Elysian Gardens

 We visited the graves of my parents, brother, son, and grandparents at Wasatch Lawn Memorial and then went to Elysian Gardens to visit the gravesites of my other grandparents and Aunts and Uncles.  It has been years since I have visited on Memorial Day in Utah and it was special meeting my Sister Pam and several of her children and grandchildren and my niece, Allison and her children at the cemetery.  We shared stories and memories of these family members that many of them never met or knew.  It was a special day.  Grateful for family and my heritage.

I will end this month with a few recipes.  We have joined the R3  Health Plan and a new challenge begins June 1.  These Protein Balls are a great snack and help eating healthy enjoyable.

I made all three.  Each makes about 20 balls.  Ready for our Road Trip and healthy snacking.

We look forward to a great Summer and hope to see more friends and family.  Our Home is always open for visitors.

The Grimmett's

April Showers and Snow 2021

April in Utah is a little different Spring than we are used to having in Texas.  We have had snow, rain, sleet, wind and lots of sunshine.  It is still too early to plant most flowers and gardens.  We worked in the yard yesterday and planted the first plants in our garden on May 1.

The Easter Bunny came to Logan and Preslee for a great start to an Easter morning.  An egg hunt and Breakfast casserole kept the family traditions going.  Our daughter, Emily goes all out on holidays.  She loves to make them special for her children.

Bunny Prints

We then spent the day listening to the Semi-Annual General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Twice a year we spend two days listening to our Prophet and other leaders in the Church.  We prepare our minds and thoughts to this time of great spiritual uplift and instruction.  We were so excited at the conclusion of the conference that Pres. Russell M. Nelson announced a record 20 new Temples that will be built around the World.   He announced a new Temple for Vienna, Austria.  We shed tears of JOY for the saints in Austria.  They have prayed for a Temple closer to them so they could enjoy the blessings from attending more often.  They have been very diligent in traveling 8 hours to the nearest Temples in Frankfurt Germany or Freiberg Germany.  This new Temple will serve all of Austria.  We are so happy for them.  We look forward to returning when it is complete and participating with our friends.

We attended the Wedding Reception of two of the missionaries from our mission, Eliza and Chayce.  It was such a great gathering of friends that we had not seen for many months.  We invited a few of them for dinner the next day on Sunday.  Five of our former Vienna, Austria missionaries came for dinner.  Oh, what a reunion.  We had so much fun catching up on their lives and sharing memories.  It was also a great experience for our grandchildren to meet them and share in the stories.  We feasted on food and friendship.  It was a great day!  We hope to see many more of them at our home for dinners.  

Our life has revolved around renovating our home this whole month.  We had a soft completion date of May 1.  We worked non-stop the past two weeks and it looks like we have one more week of work.  Everything takes a little longer and a lot more money!  We definitely feel our age and that we don't work as fast as we used to.  I am so grateful for our good health and for the knowledge and experience we have to draw on to complete this project. Some days are better than others, but at the end of the day we are still speaking to each other and we get up the next day and work hard again.  My friend, Karen Spitzer tried to tell me how hard it is to live in a house that is being renovated - not just painted or new pictures, but actually building walls, showers, etc.  I cannot believe how much dust is everywhere.  I will be so glad to have it all done by the end of the week.  Then the real work begins as we unpack our boxes and begin to really set up house.  

I will share a few pictures of our progress:

KITCHEN

Original kitchenette 

  We put in new cabinets, electrical, under

  cabinet lights, tile backsplash, granite

New full kitchen

  counter top, farmhouse sink, range,  dishwasher, track lighting, refrigerator, island bar with storage and seating and new floor.  Still working on unpacking boxes and organizing the kitchen.  A work in progress.

MASTER BATH

original storage room

dug out plumbing  trench

cement filled trench

Leveling compound spread

wall built to divide shower from closet

Cement-board installed

Shower pan installed by a professional 

mudding the Sheetrock 

wall ready for primer coat

Primer coat painted

wood ceiling installed

Tiled Floor before grout

Shower water proofing

Shiplap on walls

Shiplap painted white

Sorry for the photo bomb but a lot better than me writing about it.  We will begin tiling the shower on Monday and then we can install the vanity, mirrors and toilet.  The lighting is all ready to be installed as well.  Electrician and Plumber will come back to do the final installations.

Final project is to put in the laminate floor in closet and Master Bedroom and then we can move into that part of our home.  I hope it will be a completed Mother's Day and Birthday for Russ.  

We are grateful for the projects we have done in the past and then learned more as we took on each project.  YouTube was a great teacher as well as many contractors that came to give us bids and each had their own ideas of how we should do things.  In the end we did most of the work ourselves instead of hiring others.  We are happy with the work that has been done.  My sewing skills came into play as we laid out the pattern for the floor and the shiplap walls.  Cooking skills were also very helpful as we mixed the mortar for the floor and walls.  Mixing is key and it was just like making bread - slowly adding in the mix to the water to the right consistency.  

This has been real teamwork.  Russ and I see things a little differently and usually have to work it out for the best possible solution.  Compromise, cooperation, trial and error and experience and knowledge have all come into play.  

We purchased a small refrigerator to use until we could put in our large refrigerator.  Russ has decided he wants to keep the small one just for cold drinks.  Our grandson, Logan came down the other night and asked what we were going to do with it - he really wants it upstairs in their game room.  Grandpa said I am going to use it for cold drinks.  I made a comment about it and Logan said, no Grandma, I think Grandpa has the right idea.  I asked him what drink he would like me to stock for him for when he came down to visit.  He thought for a minute and said, "I would like those little bottles of milk to have milk and cookies."  He does not come down very often and I was touched that he would ask for that.  I have already stocked a few bottles in the little fridge.  We have seen so much progress with Logan just in the two months we have been here.  He has been in school every day, is happier and is overcoming some of the challenges of the past year and a half.  He is feeling in his heart again and seeing life in a more positive way.  

I love being close to my Sister, Pam.  We met at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Gardens this past week to visit the graves of my grandparents, brother, parents and our son.  It was the four year anniversary of my mother's passing.  We decorated the graves and just enjoyed sitting on a bench and visiting in the beauty of the day.  We had lunch and had such an enjoyable time together.  

Logan asked where I was going after I dropped him off at school.  I told him I was going to the cemetery and he asked me some very special questions.  He has not wanted to talk about God or Jesus Christ for the past 2 years.  He has been very angry that he is different than other people.  He is Autistic and saw that as negative and bad.  After being in the Mental Hospital a year ago, he felt like he was a bad person and would not go to Heaven when he dies.  He did not ever want to talk about it.  He asked me about Heaven and what happens when someone dies.  He asked about Paradise - the place all good people go to be with Jesus Christ before we are all resurrected.  I was able to tell him about the Plan of Salvation and how God loves each one of us and wants us to return Home to Him.  He is not a vengeful God who punishes, but sent His Son, Jesus Christ to come and be our advocate with The Father and through the Atonement of Jesus Christ there is hope, forgiveness , happiness and love.  We talked about agency and choice.  He said, "so I can go to Heaven even if I don't believe right now?  When I get there I will learn that my parents and you were right and I will accept it."  WOW, that is a complete turn around from this past year.  He is thinking and feeling good things.  You can see and feel that he is trusting again and is finding hope in living and life.  I know I have been blessed as I have prayed for guidance in talking with him and helping in some small way.  

Russ and I were asked to speak in Church last week.  It was a good experience for both of us.  We have been so blessed to be in the Lindon 11th Ward.  We have been welcomed with open arms  - no hugging or handshakes yet but we can feel the love.  A large part of the congregation are our age and it will be nice to get to know them better.  With more and more having the vaccine we are seeing more people at Church and getting back to a regular schedule.  We look forward to that.

I will end on one of my favorite topics - FOOD.  I made gnocchi for the first time and added it to a Chicken gnocchi soup.  I posted it on FaceBook and had several requests for the recipe.  It was delicious and well worth the time to make the gnocchi.  I added homemade bread and a salad and it was a great dinner.

Gnocchis 

Gnocchi Chicken Soup

CHICKEN GNOCCHI SOUP - OLIVE GARDEN KNOCKOFF

I used my Instant Pot, but you can make it using a pan and stove top.

This recipe uses two settings:  Saute and Soup settings.  It only takes 30 minutes to make a delicious meal.  It is a creamy soup made with tender chicken, potato gnocchi, and spinach. (I did not have spinach and so I used kale and it worked great.

Chicken:  raw boneless chicken breasts that will be pressured cooked and sliced, then added back to the soup.  You can use cooked/rotisserie chicken that can be added after the other ingredients have been pressure cooked.

Potato gnocchi - either homemade (recipe follows) or store-bought.

Veggies - carrot, celery, onion, garlic and baby spinach leaves or chopped spinach or kale.

1 Tbl. Olive Oil

2 Tbl. Butter

1 Yellow Onion, diced

1 stalk Celery, chopped

2 cloves Garlic, crushed

4 cups Chicken Stock

2 Chicken breasts (see above)

1 cup Carrots, large shred

2 tsp. fresh thyme

1 tsp. Salt to taste

1/4 tsp. Black Pepper

1 pkg. 16 ounce Potato Gnocchi, fresh, dried, or frozen

1 cup Fresh Spinach, (see above)

2 cups Half and Half

Instructions:

1.  Heat oil and melt butter in the Instant Pot using the Saute setting.  Add the onions and celery, and cook for 2 minutes or until the onion is soft and translucent.  Add garlic and cook for a minute.   Turn off pot.

2.  Add chicken or vegetable stock, raw chicken breasts, carrot, fresh thyme, salt and pepper.

3.  Secure the lid and set the vent to SEALING.  Cook for 7 minutes at high pressure.  Quick release at end of cooking time.

4.  Carefully remove the lid, and take the chicken out and dice or shred it into pieces then set aside.

5.  On the Instant Pot choose the SAUTE setting, and add in the gnocchi and let the soup simmer until the gnocchi float to the top.  Turn off.

6.  Stir in the half and half, spinach, and chicken.  Give the spinach a few minutes to wilt, and the soup is ready to be served.

If making homemade gnocchi, make first as it needs to sit for 20 minutes before you add it to the soup.

GNOCCHI

1 pound Potatoes - red or russet skin on.

1 cup Flour

1/2 tsp. Salt

1 Egg

1.  Boil potatoes till tender with skin on.  Remove from pan and skin will peal off while still warm.  Let cool a little and rice.  Can use a good processor and grate.  Set aside.  You will need 2 cups of riced potatoes.

2.  Put flour  and salt on board or pastry sheet.  Make a well in center and add Potatoes and Egg.  Mix with fingers until soft dough forms.  

3.  Flour board and form dough into small ropes.  Cut 3/4 inch pieces.  Squeeze with a fork a little - do not press flat, just to imprint the dough.

Sprinkle with flour so they don't stick together.  

4.  Let rest for 20 min.  Put into soup as directed in recipe.  Gnocchi is done when it floats to the top.  

Life is good.  We have enjoyed family, love living in Lindon, Utah; and we have worked beyond our strength.  We hope it provides many years of enjoyment as we see progress made and an end in sight for the major work.  The yard is a whole new adventure.  We look forward to May and continuing to see the beauty of Spring.  

Much Love, Viel Liebe,

The Grimmett's