The Birds and The Books

Long Overdue Videos

2012-01-21T12:01:00.000-08:00

I've got so many videos of James that we finally watched this weekend. He was so small! I don't even remember him being tiny and completely different than he is now. I have a few recent ones to share with everyone. He is totally mobile now, army crawling all over, so I thought we'd show one when he was still working on moving forward and then a couple new ones.

Disclaimer: by watching these videos you agree to not laugh at a) my ridiculous commentary and baby voices. b) Our hideously un-decorated bedroom. We're a bit slow when it comes to getting our house looking the way we want.

*Also, on the second video you have to skip it forward until 37 seconds before it actually starts. Don't ask me why.

James at about 2 months talking to Dad from Annette Steele on Vimeo.

* Skip forward to 37 seconds
James Crawls Backwards from Annette Steele on Vimeo.

Christmas Morning from Annette Steele on Vimeo.

James Army Crawls across the room. from Annette Steele on Vimeo.

Halloween and All That Jazz

2011-11-11T19:55:00.001-08:00

Halloween has come and gone and I still haven't blogged about it! Here are some photos from the holiday.

The Clark family pumpkin-fest

Family photo

Let me apologize for my haggard appearance in this image. Don't ask me why I look like an old asian woman in a ghostbusters costume. On another note, Shaun's proton pack was amazing. It only took a total of 48 strait hours to make and we only almost got divorced over it. When all was said and done he won second place in the work costume contest, improving on last years third place.

And James is slimer. Complete with real slime from eyes, nose, and mouth. But he's adorable :)

I love this one of all the Clark grandkids. Halle is the only one who knows how to look at a camera. James was mesmerized by Bailey's kitty spots then by Halle's sailor hat.

All in all it was such a great first Halloween for my little man. Hope yours was good too!

Nursery

2011-10-20T10:57:00.000-07:00

I finally took some pictures of James' room. Here's the finished nursery.

To Everything There is a Season

2011-10-02T21:08:00.000-07:00

The last day of September! Even though it's 80+ degrees outside I'm starting to get that special fall feeling. These next three months are the best of the year. Since we're on the verge of cool weather it has made me think about the things I'll miss from this summer.

1. James wearing nothing but onesies

2. Our constant trips to Thanksgiving point so I could get out of the house (and eat ice cream).

3. Camping trips and campfires with family

4. Hanging out in the park

5. Babies on blankets in the park

Autumn Harvest

2011-09-27T11:21:00.000-07:00

Guess what I've been doing lately? Turning this:

Into this:

I love canning. It's one of those things that make people think I'm a grandma trapped in a young person body. Tomatoes are the best because I use them all winter in pasta sauce and soup and I know where they came from and that they were grown in the summer. Tomatoes from the grocery store in the winter are yucky.
This is the first year that our tomato plant decided not to grow five feet tall and produce until October, so these are from Shaun's grandpa's garden. We did get tons of cucumbers and I canned five jars of pickles (yum!)

I requested these awesome books a while ago at the Library:

They are so easy to follow and great for beginners. I haven't had a chance to do much with the Dairy book, but I did make some ricotta that was tasty! Ashley English has two other books that I want to read. Not that I'm at all prepared to keep chickens or bees, but I think it's amazing.

Three Month Old

2011-09-22T14:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my good friend Sarah Faubus of Boxwood Clippings shot some three month photos of James for me. They turned out amazing so I thought I'd share my favorites. Technically he's almost four months so I guess I dropped the ball on that one, but at least I had them taken before he turned.

Mobile

2011-09-20T20:32:00.000-07:00

Last week I made a mobile for James' nursery. I never liked any of the expensive, stuffed animal looking ones at the store. This one is pretty simple but I think it turned out great. I'll post some long overdue pictures of the finished nursery once it's up.

Jane Eyre

2011-09-18T20:16:00.000-07:00

I love a good movie adaptation of a classic novel. I've been waiting to see Jane Eyre but it just happened to come out around the time I had James. Let's face it, getting to a movie when you have a newborn is not easy. I have it on hold at the library so I'll let you know how it is. It's been getting good reviews. Here's a link to the preview.

Those Were the Days

2011-09-14T21:35:00.000-07:00

Do you have a favorite toy from your childhood? Having a baby has made me think about some of those great toys you just can't get anymore. My siblings and I were just discussing this little gem:

This sprinkler toy was THE BEST! It attached to the hose and the water pressure would build up and shoot the clown hat in the air. Good times, good times. It tops the ol' hose laying on the trampoline, that's for sure. Interested in purchasing one of these? Want to know where to find one? A cool $190.00 will buy you this one on e-bay.

(It's moments like these when I get one step closer to the inner-workings of the hoarder mind. Why throw things away when they end up priced like this?)

Anyway, I am so excited to buy toys for James but I like traditional toys instead of things that require batteries. A friend introduced me to Melissa and Doug about a year ago. Here are some toys I am dying to get for James in the next few years:

This is the set that initially got me hooked on Melissa and Doug.

The pieces all velcro together so you can pretend like you slice them apart. Adorable, I must have it!

Some of them are a bit pricey so I may have to acquire slowly, but these are toys that will last a long time instead of running out of juice and breaking, right? Worth the investment.

2011-09-13T12:04:00.000-07:00

I figured since it's been a year I should probably blog again! So much has happened in such a short pan of time that I haven't been able to catch my breath. That will be the case for at LEAST the next 18 or so years because of this guy:

James Paul Steele, born May 29 2011

And here he is at 3 months.

He's keeping me busy but I'm hoping to be able to post every once in while!

Swiss Days

2010-09-15T21:12:00.001-07:00

The ladies and I took it upon ourselves to have a booth at swiss days this year. It was such a great time. A TON of work, but such a great time. Here are some pics.

Emily is doing the robot in front of our booth ;)
And here is some of our product:

photos by Sarah Faubus

I Heart New York

2010-09-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

So we went to New York! No big deal, right?

It was just a hot, sticky, subway-riding, pizza-eating, H&M-shopping, Van Gogh-viewing, feet-aching, bedbug-dodging, most amazing time!

Shaun's work was selected as a winner in I.D. Magazine's annual design review. We absolutely felt it necessary to take a trip out there for the show...couldn't miss it right?

view the winners here.

Mom

2010-05-09T11:06:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to show off my beautiful mother. Happy mother's day Mom! I love you.

A Day in the Life

2010-04-30T18:32:00.000-07:00

This is Oasis

When she's ready to go home, she climbs behind you on your chair, puts her head on your shoulder, and makes wookiee noises in your ear. I kind of love her.

The Book of Commandments

2010-04-28T18:32:00.000-07:00

Remember all the paper I was making in this post?

Well, it's for a project that has been a long time in the making at Scrub Oak Bindery where I work. Ethan Ensign was granted permission from several owners ( including the LDS church archives) of original copies of the LDS Book of Commandments to scan and create a reproduction of the book.

So, for the past year to two years he has been furiously scanning, editing files, making paper, and printing (on a Vandercook letterpress) 150 reproductions of the Book of Commandments. Now it's time to bind them all up, make boxes (oh my goodness) and get them sent on their way to those who have pre-ordered and are VERY patiently waiting.

Needless to say, work has been busy lately, but I've got some great photos to show you our progess!

Get ready for photo overload

Untrimmed, printed sheets

Lili folding and collating the cut sheets

A sea of pages

Sections folded, pressed, and ready for a refining trim

Lili trimming

Trimmed sheets being prepped for sewing

Had to get a shot of Ethan :)

Punching sections for sewing

Ethan sewing

Building trays for the box

Ten box trays and lids finished!

Boxes ready for labels

Here's the inside of the box with the Book of Commandments on top and the addendum by Peter Crawley on the bottom. Obviously this copy isn't in a completed state, but you get the idea.

So there's a sneak peak! I'll get some more pictures up soon of the finished product in all it's glory. The reproduction is being sold through Ken Sanders Rare Books.

Frumpy Dumpy Doo

2010-04-19T20:42:00.000-07:00

I have been in a funk. As a moody blogger you will have to excuse my 'in-a-funk' absences. January, February, and March are my frumpy dumpy days. These usually trigger a return trip to the depression of my adolescence.

Good News... They're over! At least...for today they are :)
Here's why:

1. It was a beautiful day today and my house smells like fresh flowers (courtesy of Nate and Stevie's wedding, thank you very much).
2. I gardened today...a lot. I'm going to try square foot gardening and I've got it all planned out. More to come.
3. I saw these:

http://www.keepcalmgallery.com/

I will have them. At least the first two. Just tack those on to my wish list guys.

Cross Country Skiing: The Hardest Sport Ever

2010-02-22T15:26:00.000-08:00

Saturday we went cross country skiing with Brock and Sarah at Aspen Grove. I'm in pretty good shape...I mean. I've run marathons. But that stuff is hard. We were all pretty tired by the end of the trip.

I went home and proceeded to crash on the couch. When I woke up, guess what was on TV?

Marcus Hellner of Sweden won the men's 30 km SPRINT (that's right, SPRINT).

Amazing. I think I'll stick to marathons. Did I mention I'm addicted to the olympics? They're so motivating. If it weren't for my warm bed in the morning I'd be in tip top shape right now!

Fine Binding Design with Tini Miura

2010-02-22T15:14:00.000-08:00

This last week I had the amazing opportunity to take a workshop with a world-famous design binder named Tini Miura.

All I can say is it was a once in a lifetime, unforgettable thing. I'll have more pictures and details later this week. For now, here's a shot of Tini and I.

Valentines Shmalentines

2010-02-05T20:31:00.000-08:00

I kind of love Valentine's day, even though Shaun doesn't. It's not that I love it for the flowers and chocolates or anything, but there's something great about expressing love to everyone around you during one of the most depressing months of the year (in my opinion).

(Don't worry, that's my face on an old pinup, not me really!)

Last year for Valentine's day I made Shaun this little pamphlet stitch binding full of dorky things. It's pretty cute in person, even though it doesn't photograph well. I photocopied entries from my journal on important days like when we got engaged and days when I just loved him :)

This year I went simple:

Nothing says love to me more than Victorian embellishments!!

This books got some great things he can use at work.

Hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day

Baby Book

2010-02-05T20:20:00.000-08:00

Just finished this little photo album for Chrissy's baby today.

It turned out pretty nice, and it will look even nicer with photos in it!

(The first three images are before the final label was put on)

It's a good thing she doesn't read my blog or the surprise would be ruined, I say RUINED. I'm hoping to bring it to her in the hospital. Time to have that baby Chrissy!

Book Book

2010-01-29T09:21:00.000-08:00

Have you seen this???

These are hardback leather cases for macbooks...that look like old books! I love it.

I need one now! Oh wait, I don't have a macbook :(

Happy Valentines day to Annette? ya right

For more info see:

designsponge

Twelvesouth

I also found this other original macbook protector:

manilamac.com

Hand Papermaking

2010-01-23T12:24:00.001-08:00

On Thursday and Friday of this week I went to Tryst Press for my job and helped make beautiful paper for an upcoming project my Boss is working on.

It's not an easy process and it takes a lot of practice, but the paper is well worth it! From pulp to dry flattened sheets involves many many steps. I've included a video that shows one step in the process. In this clip Rob Buchert is at the vat where he uses his handmade paper moulds to scoop up the fibers and form a sheet. He then passes the moulds to Ethan who couches them onto felts. They make it look easy, but it's not!

Whenever I'm in these extremely odd environments involved in processes that are hundreds of years old I'm amazed at what a great job I have!! Just putting my respiratory therapy degree to good use Dad.

You can visit Rob's website for more paper making videos:

http://www.trystpress.com/Paper_Mill.html

So Sleepy

2010-01-21T18:07:00.000-08:00

Today I went down to Tryst Press to make paper for work. I didn't take a camera but I'm going again tomorrow so I'll post some photos after that.

By the way...making paper is HARD work and I'm tired...so I'll leave you with this beautiful painting I just discovered by Casey O'Connell

Thoughts On...

2010-01-19T20:50:00.000-08:00

...Babies...

This is Chrissy (and me)

She is my best friend, and she's having a baby!!! She'll probably kill me for putting pictures of her pregnant self up, but shucks, she's just adorable don't you think?

We had a shower for her at my place last week. Here are some of the pics:

All of my friends from high school are having/adopting babies. It's a bit nutty. Not that they're having babies, but that these are the girls that used to give each other wicked wedgies and save up bags and bags of shredded newspaper so we could dump it on other friends' lawns in the middle of the night.

Good times.

I know we're all growing up, but babies are still uncharted territory for me. I'm just a little too uptight to enter upon that phase of my life without a little paranoia/overthinking.

Don't worry, I'll grow up some day too!

What Type are You??

2010-01-11T11:33:00.000-08:00

This is a fun little personality quiz I found. Give it a try!

http://www.pentagram.com/what-type-are-you/

password: character

p.s. I was Marina Script - lovely!

New Zealand Book Council

2009-11-30T11:34:00.000-08:00

Who are these amazing people?

* Thankful *

2009-11-26T07:56:00.000-08:00

I hope everybody has a Happy Thanksgiving and travels safely!!

I was talking to a friend yesterday and she invited Shaun to a Turkey Bowl. Guess what I said? "What's a Turkey Bowl? Is that where you bowl with Turkeys?" ....... (Pause for raucous laughter)

I KNOW that people get together and play football on Thanksgiving I just wasn't thinking. I've been in the YW program too long and I was thinking of Turkey Bowling that we used to do when I was a youth. The Clark kids are NOT sporty. The End.

Here's what I looked out my window to this morning

LOTS of Turkey Bowls

Happy Thanksgiving

P.S. I am thankful for books, turkey, hot chocolate, my home, and my family.

* Good Reads *

2009-11-25T14:32:00.001-08:00

My sister called the other day to recommend a great book to me. I proceeded to then tell her I'd already read it and rambled off a list of books I think SHE should read. So I decided I'd post some of my recent favorites.

Does it bother you when you forget everything you've read? I can't tell you the number of times I've started book journals and logs and accounts and younameit! So, I know this is not all of my reads over the last few months, but these are some that stand out in my non-organized sort of life.

1. The Book Thief - Markus Zusak: Not your average WWII novel. When the story is narrated by death you know you're in for a treat. The addition of a book-loving main character never hurts either. What I loved most about the book was the way death viewed the world through colors. It's beautifully written. Tears were shed.

2. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel- Susanna Clarke: Move over Harry Potter, this English wizarding world is just as twisted and dark and less juvenile. I loved this book! Warning, it was a bit slow for me initially, but pieces fall together brilliantly toward the end of the book. It's also quite thick, only because Clarke fills the book with witty footnotes that create an alternate history. If you're a 19th Century English literature fan you'll enjoy this. Please Read. It's definitely got a following, with blogs like

The Friends of English Magic.

Oh...and it doesn't hurt that there will be a MOVIE made from this book. IMDB it.

3. Catching Fire- Suzanne Collins: Book two in the Hunger Games series. I'm pretty sure everyone has heard of or read this book due to recommendation on a certain website from a certain Twilight saga author. I'm a little upset that I picked up the first book when it was new, unaware that it was going to be a series. So now I have to wait each year for the next book to come out. Despite my impatience, they're worth the wait.

4. North and South- Elisabeth Gaskell: Recommended to me by several people, a friend at work let me borrow this one. It was good! If you're an Austen fan you'll probably enjoy this. More 19th Century English literature, minus a lot of Austen's satire, but a good romance.

And I've heard the movie's great too!

* Clients From Hell *

2009-11-22T18:28:00.000-08:00

Just found this website. makes me laugh because Shaun's a designer and he deals with this kind of stuff all day.

As a rare book conservator I also deal with clients who don't value the work we do and aren't willing to pay for our time. So this website is good for a few " Yeah, I've been there" laughs.

Clients From Hell

Here's my favorite:

Business as Usual

CLIENT: We’d like to go ahead and book you to handle this year’s edition but, of course, we’re in the middle of a tough recession. So we’ll only be able to offer you about 50% of what we paid last year.
ME: I gave you a heavily discounted price last year as an introductory deal. I said at the time it was a one-off and included a quote at the full price to illustrate.
CLIENT: Yeah… Anyway, we’d like you to get to work immediately, since the deadline is
this time next week.
ME: You had a three-month lead last time.
CLIENT: Uh-huh… Moving forward, we want you to treat this as urgent. Oh, and we’ll be paying you when the project comes into profit, of course.
ME: So, you want me to do three months graft in a week, on the promise that when or if you make money out of my work you’ll pay me less than half what my time is worth.
CLIENT: To be honest, we thought you’d be more grateful.

It's that time of year!!

2009-10-01T16:31:00.001-07:00

Halloween. It's the best. Maybe my favorite holiday of the year. Seriously. How can you not love this stuff?

Here are three things I HAVE to do this month:

1. Go to Odyssey Dance Theatre's Thriller.

I've wanted to do this every year for so long and we've never gone. I love dancing. Don't make fun.

2. Make my mom's famous pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.

3. Learn more about the history of this festive holiday

Well, I'm off to run a marathon this weekend! (Why, you ask? I ask why as well) Not as fun as what I did last weekend:

(sigh)

How I wish...

2009-09-24T18:38:00.001-07:00

dress from here

Madge Randall, a.k.a. "Magic" Part Two

2009-09-05T09:37:00.000-07:00

In Memory

Madge Randall

1922-2009

We love you Grandma

The Many Faces of Design

2009-09-04T18:32:00.000-07:00

The American Institute of Graphic Arts has a traveling show on display right now at the University of Utah in conjunction with the Book Arts Program. Shaun is on the board for the Salt Lake chapter of AIGA and I, of course, am a book lover and member of the book arts community.

So we went last night for the opening reception and WOW. Here was my favorite book of the night...steals my heart. I WILL own it someday.

But it's not just the cover that is amazingly designed, it's the inside. Check it out here.

The designer is Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich.

Check out the show if you have a chance. It's called 50 Books/50 covers.

AIGA SLC

U of U Book Arts Program

So, I'm not a good blogger...

2009-09-04T18:26:00.001-07:00

It's been forever, but these two past weeks have been insane. I've got several posts in the works. I haven't dropped off the face of the planet...more to come. (clock from here)

Madge Randall, a.k.a. "Magic"

2009-09-01T17:48:00.000-07:00

Nate, Mel and I drove 15 hours last weekend to St. Joseph Missouri where my grandmother just recently passed away. Then we turned around and drove 15 hours back! It was bittersweet being able to be with family and remember grandma...that was the sweet part. The bitter part was the 15 hours each way nonstop in a 48 hour period.

We did take a break to snap some photos of this beautiful old rundown church off the side of 1-80 in Nebraska. Since there weren't any roads to it we parked on the offramp and ran down the grassy shoulder about half a mile to get these shots. I'm sure Nate's are better.

Nate and Mel making a run for it

Thirteen miles is nothin'....

2009-09-01T17:35:00.001-07:00

...If you're in good company

Went to Ashton ID a couple weeks ago to run the Mesa Falls half marathon with my superfast sister. Here's the photo spread

Before the Race

Melanie during the race, coming up from a mile long hill.

She's like an olympian, look at those biceps. And then...

...I come along! About a half an hour later, mind you.

Always ready for a drink break, you know me.

But you just can't beat the views on the way into town to the finish line.

The grain elevators...

...the sassy old man at the finish line...

...and the promise of

huckleberry milkshakes at the soda fountain for finishers.

In front of Grandpa's old barbershop with our spoils.

You can't leave Ashton without a raid through grandma's garden...

it's an unwritten rule.

The End!

My Griping Has Paid Off

2009-08-19T08:31:00.000-07:00

Ok, well...probably not my griping. But the griping of a nation over the lack of local produce has resulted in an explosion of farmers' markets over the last few years. and the big news is...

Lehi is starting a farmers' market!!!

Visit their website here for more info. I'll see you there!

Hiking with Nie Nie

2009-08-17T20:54:00.000-07:00

For anyone one in the world who doesn't know who Nie Nie is, check out her blog here. And be prepared to cry. Go back to August 08 to read about her amazing story. She was in a plane crash with her husband and a pilot a year ago and suffered severe burns. her goal was to hike the Y this weekend on the one year anniversary of the accident. She invited blog readers to join her, so we went! Here are some photos

Katie, Callie, Helen, Annette, Jennica

Stephanie and her husband held hands the whole way up. I don't have any great close-ups because I felt a little intrusive taking pictures of them. But here you can see she and her husband in the blue and white with a bunch of us following behind.

Jennica shared her trail mix with half the mountain. She's always the perfect hostess.

Jennica and Callie

Helen and Katie

It was an amazing experience. I hadn't read all of her blog, but I've been reading and crying every night for a week. She inspires me and reminds me what life is truly about.

Eat Food. Not Too Much. Mostly Plants.

2009-08-15T09:40:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to force my beliefs on anybody, but I think our food society is horrible. And I'm still a part of that horror at this point in time, hoping to change. In an effort to support the Slow Food movement I've been trying to buy local produce. The problem is, I live at an inconvenient distance from the great downtown SLC Farmer's market and the great Orem and Lindon fruit orchards. However...Thanksgiving Point (literally my backyard) has been doing a Farmer's Market for a couple years. I went last year and was severely disappointed. No Produce. Then a friend told me she went this year and it's much better. So I headed over last night and found out that it's growing! There are definitely some farmers there with locally grown produce. Excellent.

Here's my main complaint: It's on a Friday...from 3-7pm. Why?I work full time and don't get home till 6:30 generally. Thanksgiving Point is notorious for odd hours. So maybe if enough of us go and make a suggestion that it be move to Saturday they'll listen. Maybe not. Worth a shot.

Anyway, I'm not a vegetarian and I'm not into organic foods, to a point. The FDA has some fairly easy guidelines by which one can be labeled organic, and that doesn't mean your food isn't still grown or caged in a large agri-business that only produces one thing... 3,000 miles away. Instead, I believe in eating things that are grown or produced locally, with few ingredients, that I can prepare myself. Especially in my own garden. Amen!

You'll be convinced too: Read The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food, both by Michael Pollan

Please forgive me for my rant and my plugs. I'll be looking for easy local options to help me live this lifestyle and I'll post them on the blog for anyone who's interested.

Three Things

2009-08-13T19:59:00.000-07:00

So, I'm very excited about several books that have been made into movies recently. Here are three of them:

1. Where the Wild Things Are. Comes out in theaters this Fall. I can't decide if the movie really looks good, or if I'm just excited about the Arcade Fire Song the preview is set to. Check it out

here.

2. Alice in Wonderland. I've always had a strange obsession with this story. When I was younger I would have dreams that I was Alice trying to fit through a tiny door and on the other side was Disneyland... interpret THAT Freud. Anyway, Tim Burton is always good in my book, so let's hope this one goes well. Check it out here.

3. You must read this book. The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan changed the way I think about the food I put in my body. It's life changing. Food Inc. is a movie about the industrialization of food in our society, etc. Check out a preview here. I have MUCH more to say about this subject, but that will be at a later date.

Black Mirror

2009-08-01T16:06:00.001-07:00

I'm a huge Arcade Fire Fan. Check out this creepy dark music video for their single Black Mirror. You can control elements of the song by pushing certain numbers and change the image to a negative.

http://www.rorrimkcalb.com/

Their wesite is also amazing:

http://www.arcadefire.com/yope.html

I'm in Love

2009-07-30T08:22:00.000-07:00

I just started work on this little gem. A book of poetry by L. Frank Baum published a year before the Wizard of Oz series began. He wrote, printed, and supposedly bound the books himself!! He also had several artists in collaboration who did all the illustrations, including Denslow (the fish illustration) who would then become the illustrator for The Wizard of OZ. This book is beautiful!!!

Mango, Mango

2009-07-27T16:11:00.000-07:00

Melanie took me to Red Mango for my birthday. I hadn't been yet (gasp) and was dying to try it. They have one by her house. It was delicious! I recommend the tangomonium.

Ava enjoyed it too!

Thanks Mel

Busted

2009-07-26T14:37:00.001-07:00

I just found out our engagement photo pose is a no-no. In several ways! This is just further evidence that I need to redo our wedding now that I have slightly better taste. Live and learn...and check out Natalie's "what not to do" for engagement photos.

My Sweet Husband

2009-07-26T14:24:00.000-07:00

Shaun seems to have especially sweet blood and our backyard seems an especially appealing feasting ground for mosquitos. Since I am a chronic jar-saver I think I'll try making some of these homemade citronella candles courtesy of Kate at Design Sponge and see if that doesn't ease Shaun's itching.

Looking Back

2009-07-26T13:51:00.000-07:00

While in Missouri I was able to bring one of my Grandma's scrapbooks home for my mom. I can't express the amount of love and respect I gained for my grandparents while literally digging through their past in that home. The images from top to bottom are my grandpa Jack Randall with my late uncle David and my mom Glenys, my gorgeous grandma Madge with the kids, Jack with the kids, and a baby picture of my mom. I think my grandpa looks like my husband Shaun a little bit. Interesting eh?

Missouri 3: Warsaw and Sedalia

2009-07-24T11:04:00.001-07:00

Warsaw is a tiny city just off the lake of the Ozarks where my Mom's sister and family live. This was my first visit and I was amazed at how beautiful it was.

The family at Kensie's softball game

Bridge over the Osage river

Ricky frying up some catfish and croppy. You heard me...

Madge and I

This was a REALLY good cafe in downtown Warsaw that is owned and run by a group called "common ground" or " the 12 tribes". They make everything from scratch, including the furniture. I was in LOVE. I'm a little quirky and this kind of stuff really appeals to me...self reliance and what not. Check out their beliefs here.

My mom checking out the local produce at the antique store

Missouri 2: The Books

2009-07-19T16:57:00.001-07:00

While cleaning out my grandma's house we stumbled upon some great schoolbooks and children's books from the 1800's. I was drooling. Look at these amazing blocked covers! Needless to say I brought a few home.

Missouri: Fireflies and Fishfries

2009-07-19T16:42:00.000-07:00

I went to St. Joseph Missouri a couple weeks ago to help clean out some of my Grandma's stuff. It was a bit of a clutter-nightmare, but also a treasure trove of beautiful old things. It was also so great to see this side of the family.

The Randall Kids

The Vintage Prom-Wear

The House

The Mess

The Glasses

The Trees

The City

Gilgal Garden

2009-07-19T15:46:00.000-07:00

Don't know how many of you have ever heard of this crazy place, but it's a little sculpture garden tucked away in SLC. It has some REALLY strange stuff, but to his credit, Thomas Child had a grand vision. The work all has LDS symbology and can be really creepy on a stormy night (see below). Anyone looking for some interesting art in the Salt Lake area should drop by.

http://www.gilgalgarden.org/

2009-06-26T20:03:00.000-07:00

This is my bathroom vision, courtesy of designsponge

SLC Gallery Stroll Treasures

2009-06-22T15:46:00.000-07:00

Friday was the monthly SLC Gallery Stroll. Stumbled upon Cassandra Barney's work in the Kayo Gallery and was stunned. These images don't do them justice because the lacquered, cracked texture of the paintings brings them to life. Reminds me of Victorian lacquered books:

2009-06-18T19:22:00.000-07:00

I made some home made granola Monday. I have been LOVING this recipe from Alton Brown on the Food Network. There's just something great about a man who spends so much time analyzing what he eats.

2009-06-18T18:37:00.000-07:00

So, I finally have a blog. Welcome to the 21st Century, right? I hope everyone who visits can find something they enjoy!