My Real Man . . . eats Sushi

You know that old assertion that real men eat quiche?

Well my REAL MAN eats sushi.

He not only eats sushi he loves sushi. Maybe it's because he has spent his fair share of time in Japan.

So . . . when I saw a gadget that makes assembling sushi a snap! I knew I had the perfect Father's Day gift for him.

I ordered it covertly online and when it came I hid it under the bed for weeks.

I carefully assembled most of the ingredients (not the raw fish) ahead of time and hid them in various places in the kitchen where I thought he would not notice.

Did I tell you that this guy is VERY hard to surprise? I have only managed to do it a few times in the last 36 years.

So on Saturday afternoon I revealed my little plot and he was just as excited as I had hoped he would be. He couldn't wait to get to the store and find the raw fish!

Sunday afternoon we pulled all the stuff out from the various hiding places and had a GREAT time making Sushi.

It was delicious. But that wasn't the best part. . . .

The best part was the smile on my REAL MAN's face.

He does so many things for me I am so glad I can do this little thing to make him smile on Father's Day. He loves sushi and it is just one of the reasons I love HIM!

P.S. On Monday we did Sashimi!!

Homecoming !!!

After a wonderful couple of days in the mission with Hermana Garlick, we returned from Tampa on Friday evening. Here is the greeting at the airport by the neices and nephews in the Salt Lake Area.

It is bittersweet to see it end. We are thrilled to have her close by once again and hear about her experiences but we are sad to see her faithful service as fulltime representative of Jesus Christ come to an end. Everyone who has had the experience can relate.

Party Time !!!!!

This is only half of them! I am the self-proclaimed mini-cupcake queen!

And what, you may ask, has prompted this baking frenzy? Karin will be home next week and we are having an open house. Ya'll are invited.

Saturday, April 18. Family 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and friends (and family that didn't make it earlier) at 6 p.m.  Our house.

Karin will also be speaking at our Sacrament Meeting, Sunday, April 19th at 11 a.m. Our building is on the corner of 9600 N. and 6800 W. in Highland.

Hope we see a lot of friends and family next weekend.

Trick, Trick . . .

My poor mint. What a dirty trick of nature!

Remember the mint?

I underestimated the mint. 

What was I thinking!? 

I was thinking that even mint . . . that invasive barracuda plant . . . couldn't survive the winter when confined to a pot. 

I was trying to transfer my own 'stuck in the pot' (or house) for the winter feelings to the mint.

But the mint has survived it all and now that the warmth of Spring has begun to touch it . . . Look at it!! 

I survived, too, and the mint is now my new favorite potted plant. In fact I 'm going to get more -- varieties--  and have a little potted mint garden for summer.

If any body wants some of this mint just come and get it. It will outgrow this pot and need to be divided. 

Bonus: You can't kill it! Just don't let it out of the pot!

Stimulated . . .

I've been wondering lately. . . 

Am I the only one that has the feeling that the Washington politicians are trying to make something be so because they say it will be so?

Like how does this work? When I max-out my credit card . . . Oh, I know!!! I'll just go get another one!!! And pay the first one off with it and I can keep buying. Then everything will be cool again.

This sarcasm really doesn't fit me very well but sometimes you just have to stop and wonder . . .

Mallard Fillmore is my FAVORITE comic strip. (I read three others regularly -- right after my crypto addiciton.) And today I just had to share.

I also like Bizarro.  This is where I'd be if I was in the White House. . . 

You just have to start Monday with a little humor. 

I'll try for something more profound and uplifting tomorrow. . .

Christopher 'Ham'

This is what happens when you point the camera at a "seasoned" model. Me with the camera, Christopher at his kitchen table in Portland last week. Oooooh it was a fun week with him.

She keeps on giving. . .

Yesterday I was thinking about a special girl. My friend Tammy asked me to help her out by embroidering a quilt block she wanted to make but just couldn't get done. I agreed before I knew how healing it would be.

Tammy's 16 year old daughter, Lindsay, died last October in a car accident. Lindsay was one of those "loved by all" angels. Her infectious smile and happy disposition and giving heart touched countless people in her short life. 1200 people attended her funeral.



When Tammy brought me the quilt block she explained that Lindsay had been an organ donor and was able to give her heart valves and corneas. Someone can now see because of her. The quilt block was her part in a memorial quilt to honor donors. As I stitched yesterday I thought of Lindsay and how she is still giving. I thought of Tammy and the ache in her heart. I thought about giving.


Thanks Tammy for letting me give . . . just a few stitches.

A Love Affair . . . or a Running History

This morning I sneaked out the door before Christopher (or anyone else) was awake and went for a long walk. My running shoes are in Utah and I am in Oregon. As I was heading back I started to reminisce. (Once you hit the half century mark you start doing more of this.)

I thought about the first time I went "running." We were living in Walnut Creek, California and Brian (my third baby) was 4 1/2 months old. I was 25 pounds overweight and my baby was more interested in grabbing a pork chop off my dinner plate than in bonding time with me. I was ready to wean the little piker! I had driven around our block a few times and measured it at 1 mile. I thought I could make it around that even if I had to walk part of the way. But how was I going to get out of the house to test my theory?

Then the stars aligned and the moment of truth arrived. Was I serious or not? I watched a friend's little girl while she went for a well-baby check with her newborn. When she came back I decided to call in the favor on the spot and take the plunge. I said, "Could you just stay here with my kids for a few minutes? I have something I want to do." She was willing so I ran to the bedroom and found my Keds (?!). I knew nothing about running shoes.

With excited, nervous energy I started out around the block. I ran as far as I could then walked a few yards and ran again. The whole thing was over and I was back within 15 minutes. But it was a start! Within a month I was getting up in the dark and running three quarters of the way around the block and turning around and running back so that I ran a mile and a half. By the time I got to two miles I had very sore heels and Achilles tendons. I mean Keds! Puh-leeeeze! The thought makes me shudder now.

Barry suggested that I should look for some running shoes if I was really serious about this thing. It wasn't easy but I found a pair of Nikes for women. Women who were running were wearing men's shoes but they were too wide for my 10AA feet.

By this time I also had a partner. I had asked around among the women at church to see if anyone was interested in running. I mostly got vacant looks. But one new move-in named Susan said she had done some running but wasn't currently. I think I badgered her for three weeks until she finally agreed to go with me. We became fast friends. (Not fast runners yet!)

That was February 1979! 30 years later, I still love running. It has been a great love affair.

Enough . . .

This has been circulating around the internet but I thought it had some merit and I wanted to share it. Nice thoughts for the Sabbath. . .

Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said, 'I love you and I wish you enough'.

The daughter replied, 'Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom'.
They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?'.

Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?'.

'I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral,' she said.

'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough'. May I ask what that means?'.

She began to smile. 'That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone'. She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more. 'When we said, 'I wish you enough', we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them'. Then turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.



May we all be blessed with enough.

Perennial in a Pot . . .

per⋅en⋅ni⋅al   [puh-ren-ee-uhl]
–adjective
1. lasting for an indefinitely long time; enduring: her perennial beauty.
2. (of plants) having a life cycle lasting more than two years.
3. lasting or continuing throughout the entire year, as a stream.
4. perpetual; everlasting; continuing; recurrent.
–noun
5. a perennial plant: Daffodils and tulips are perennials.
6. something that is continuing or recurrent.

About 4 years ago I got this really brilliant idea to plant mint in a remote corner of my yard. I planted it so that it had some room to spread but it was cornered by cement on two sides. For any garden novices, mint spreads by underground roots, is very aggressive and it is a tough perennial. It is a barracuda plant! It is not deterred by bad soil, cold winters or even sporadic drought . . . natural or the forgetful gardener kind.

All was well for a couple of years and then I realized that my darling mint was trying to creep (invade) into the neighbor's yard by traveling under the hefty cement mow strip along the fence line. I wanted to stay friends in the neighborhood so I undertook killing the mint. It was an amazing project. Let's just say the mint had taken root! I sprayed and ripped and dug! It took another season to conquer the mint.

But I love mint and I want it in the summer. So as I was ripping out what the Roundup didn't kill I threw some in a pot close to the kitchen. It thrived all summer and was close at hand when I wanted lime-honey-ginger-mint on my fresh pineapple.

When frost came I put it next to the house for protection. Now from where I sit at my kitchen table this is what I see.

Even mint does not survive in a pot in the winter. Every time I look at it, I think, "There is a lesson there." I know what my lesson is. You'll have to think about yours. All lessons aside, I'm not letting the 'mint out of the pot' again so I can't wait to find some in the spring for my pot and I cannot wait to go running outside again in the Spring!

I am a 'sew and sew'. . .

I don't even know if that term is used anymore but when I was a little girl my mother would say, "Oh she is such a so and so. . ." I'm guessing it meant that whoever she might be referring to was a real character. Well, I hope I am not that kind of a so and so but I am a real sew and sew. I love to sew and I don't do nearly enough of it to satisfy me. But every few months I get to do something that really feeds my creative cravings.

I hate sewing under pressure and I really don't like doing what I call 'down and dirty' sewing. I like to do the kind of sewing that takes time and gives lots of attention to details and I try to get it as close to perfection as I can. I know that kind of sewing drives most people crazy but for me it just feeds something inside of me. Maybe it is the quest for that long 'four letter' word -- perfection.

Some people have told me that I should start a business or try to sell my dresses. Never! That would totally ruin it! A big part of my sewing is that most often I am doing it for love. And being able to give a gift that makes someone happy is where it's at. This one is for my friend Cami. She was sick just about her whole pregnancy but her darling little Scotlyn was born in January.



Besides hating to sew under pressure I have a reason for sewing things up ahead of time. This dress won't be worn until March but it will hang in my sewing room where I can see it for the whole month of February. It will take me that long to bond with it. Dresses like this take a long time to create -- first in my mind, then on paper and finally on the sewing machine. I need time to look at it and absorb it. Then I can give it away. Kind of like children.

A New Brother for Christopher

I thought I would indulge myself and post a few more pictures of Andrew and Christopher. Here Andrew is looking like the cap is a bit tight. 

"Wow, Mom. This is a cool new brother you made for me. He's got eyes and a  nose and everything." 
"Hey! You caught Dad eating the hospital food!!
"See! Aren't we just the cutest!!??"

Goings and Comings . . .

I am thrilled to announce the arrival of Andrew Dale Garlick, born last night at 7:23 pm, PST. He weighed in at 7lbs. 14oz. and is 19 3/4" long. Here you see him taking a little snooze in the arms of his mother, Kristin Catmull Garlick. He made is entrance at St. Vincent Hospital in Portland, Oregon. Just down the street (as a matter of speaking) from where his Dad, Davin, was born during THE BIG windstrom, November 14, 1981. Who would have thought!!??!!

I love those "OK. Now where have I gotten myself to?" looks.

Kristin poses here after what she termed her "dream delivery." Thanks for taking care of that in the daytime for us so there were no all-night "nail biters" for the grandparents. Good job!!! We love you. You are a "dream."

So. . . some go and some come. Barry and I couldn't help reflecting on our friend's son leaving earth this week while our dear little Andrew came.

Goings and comings. This is life. And as my Mother observed after 87 years of goings and comings, "Life isn't what I thought." My thinking is, "If life isn't what we think then we'd better listen to another mother who said, 'Come what may and love it.'" Life is good. 

P.S. The count now stands at 9 grandsons and 2 granddaughters.

Heartache. . .

Last night I was writing a post when an email came in from my friend and first college roommate, Wynette. This is us at our recent dorm reunion.

Her third son, Bryce was killed in an accident on I-15 near Spanish Fork, yesterday morning. Bryce just returned in October from a mission to South Africa. This is her beautiful boy.

All our 'mother hearts' ache for her. You can read more about this precious boy on Wynette's blog. The link is on the right under 'My blogs.'

Grandma Day

Yesterday Alli and Noah came for an hour while their mom, Alisa, went to help at Joseph and Dallin's school. Alli is 4 and talks non-stop. Noah is 7 months and smiles non-stop but yesterday he didn't feel well and he couldn't smile. He is still adorable.

It's always an adventure with Alli. She apparently thought the garden bench needed sitting on.

The trick was getting back. The buzzing noise in the video clip below is her version of chattering teeth . . . note the bare legs!

Out to Lunch

Monday I did something I rarely do . . . I went to lunch with a friend. I don't know why I'm not a "go to lunch-er." Everyone would rather go out and have someone else fix the food and wait on them, than have do it themselves. Right? Well, not everyone. Not me. If I could, I'd invite all my friends . . . in groups . . . or one at a time . . . it wouldn't matter . . . to come and have lunch at my house. And I would cook. Or sometimes I would have people bring some food but I would still cook. I like to cook. I would do it once a month . . . at least. But my friends would probably think they were imposing on me or feel obligated to return the favor so I don't do it. Who knows . . . ? Maybe sometime I will anyway.

So Monday I went to out to lunch. What got me to do it? First, Barry gave me a Chili's gift card for Christmas. Maybe he knows I don't go if I have to spend "unspent" money. But a gift card . . . well, that is already spent so . . . yut tah hey! Second, I hadn't seen my friend Emily in about 6 months and I was past due for a dose of Emily. 

I met Emily at a Master Gardener class in 2001. We had just moved to Utah and I needed to get educated about gardening in the desert. Emily sat up in the front of the class and asked good questions. I decided I wanted to be friends with her, so after about 4 classes I positioned myself in her vicinity and foisted myself into her space. We found we had tons more than gardening in common.

I love Emily. Here are a couple of the many reasons why. She gives me way too much credit. But even if I'm not as good or smart or talented as she seems to think I am, she makes me want to be good. That's because she is good. That's another reason I love her. She is just good. She is also smart, capable, talented, generous and a host of other glowing adjectives. But I love her because she is good. One more reason I love her is that she is an "includer." She is always doing something and including people. I have personally been the beneficiary of her 'including.'

I picked on Emily because we just went to lunch but she is just today's poster child for all of my women friends. I love them because they are good. I think I'll have some more 'poster friends' in the future. 

We had a great lunch. The food . . . just marginal. The service . . . hmmmm . . . maybe we won't go there. I think the waitress needed a hug or something. The conversation . . . GREAT! It could only have been better if it had been at my kitchen table. Maybe after this gift card is all used up we'll just have to do lunch at . . . say . . . GARLICK'S!

Words to Live By

Recently I read Collin Powell's "Rules to Live By."

I thought they were pretty good:

1. It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.
   
2. Get mad, then get over it.
   
3. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.
   
4. It can be done!
   
5. Be careful what you choose. You may get it.
   
6. Don't let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.
   
7. You can't make someone else's choices. You shouldn't let someone else make yours.
   
8. Check small things.
   
9. Share credit.
   
10. Remain calm. Be kind.
    
11. Have a vision.
    
12. Don't take counsel of your fears or naysayers.
    
13. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.*
    

*"force multiplier" is a military term basically meaning something that will increase the effectiveness of a person or group. The more optimistic you are, the more powerful you are, no matter the circumstances.

This set me to thinking. Do I have rules I live by? Well, of course I do. But could I distill them down to a short list? I've been thinking about it off and on for days now and I have a list. I'm not suggesting this is comprehensive but it has been fun.

Eva's Rules

1. Do the maintenance. Take care of your stuff, your body and the laundry.
   
2. Pray, read scriptures and put on makeup every day as many times as needed.*(refer to #9)
   
3. Make bread and attend the temple once a week.
   
4. Don't be caught short. Keep the pantry stocked and have milk in the fridge.
   
5. Stay connected to the earth- garden without gloves.
   
6. Make friends with children.
   
7. Feed people. Feed people good food.
   
8. Never "sit on a blister" or "suck your thumb." Do something instead.
   
9. If you feel like crying, do it, then blow your nose and move on.*
   
10. When you see someone you want to be friends with, make it happen.
    
11. If given an option pick red!
    
12. Remember to be grateful and say it.
    
13. Don't leave the house without food.
    
14. Always have a list.
    
15. Get over yourself.
    
16. Choose happy.
    

So there you have it. Do you have a list? Everyone has one but writing it down is the trick.

Happy New Year!!