ADOBE ABODE

Hi Family, Just got back from Arizona and helping Matt and Anna Marie move to their new house. So, I am sharing a few pics of their new abode. We all love it! Nice big trees in the front of the house and lovely courtyard effect in the front entry. Of course the lovely, big trees are why the plumbing was clogged and the sewer line had to be drilled, but at least that is done now and they can flush again!
Their furniture fits beautifully in the new living room! The previous owners left this lovely big tree in the LR and it really adds. We think it was too heavy to move! Also, notice the plantation shutters. They are beautiful and go through the whole house. Love that they don't have to deal with window treatments!
Here is a corner of the yard with the pool. A darling mural enhances the back wall. I love that potted palm on the right. And cute lampposts! The cool decking is done in blocks, also an attractive feature. There are orange trees on the side of the house along with additional storage sheds.
Kyle, who is almost 18, and his friends moved all the furniture! They were great! Kyle also completed his Eagle Scout project while I was there, along with lots of help from his friends and ward leaders, and especially his MOM! Way to go Kyle! I am so proud of him for that accomplishment!
Darling Danielle sitting in her newly painted bedroom. She is a happy girl! And she is a very good worker! She and her friend Maybry helped pack and clean and carry boxes! They were great! And they never complained!
I was so happy to be able to help out. I love their new house, and you will too! I also loved seeing my relatives while there, going to lunch for Mexican food and visiting!

ATLANTA

Recently I heard a rumor that people were tired of looking at Becky's wide open mouth when this blog was opened. Hard to believe. But here is a new post anyway. I am home from Atlanta after spending a week there with Jennie. Oddly, I have no photos of Jennie and myself. But Laura and Liz came on Monday to spend some time with us. So.....
Here is a pic of Laura and Jen--cozy cousins! Laura got up early and drove to Atlanta from Macon where she is staying with her dad. I hadn't seen Laura in years, but it didn't seem that way because I have seen so many pictures of her. She is bubbly, sweet and vivacious! She and Jen really enjoy each other.

It has been a few years since Liz and I have seen one another also. We spent the afternoon together and then went for pizza before Liz took the long trek home. It was so sweet of her to drive so far (3 hours) just to come and see me! Liz has a very nice blog that I enjoy reading. She has a nice writing style and talks good sense. Check it out!

Here is Jennie's kitty with whom I shared my bed and room and apparently my fabric purchases. Jennie and I had fun together. We visited a couple of quilt shops! She knows how to show her mom a good time! The week went quickly. I am thinking I may go back there in September. There is a big quilt show there that I wouldn't mind going to. Luckily Jennie enjoys looking at quilts and even making them. So we always can find a project to enjoy together!

BECKY

Yesterday Becky wanted a burger. "A big meaty one", she exclaims! Here she is trying to get her mouth around it!
Now she is laughing because she cannot! She is embarrassed about cutting her bangs crooked, so I thought I would point that out.

We have really loved having Becky here for the past six weeks. No, she never got a job, but it will be fine. Life smiles on Becky and she just bounces along, full of joy and happily entertaining herself. This is what I learned about Becky this summer: She is a happy person. She does not whine or complain. She does not get bored, as she finds things to do. She is very creative and can spend hours on projects that she pulls from the air, or the internet. Is that redundant? Also, she loves taking pictures of herself. Well, that is nothing new! She is clever and entertaining and sharing and loving.

Becky leaves on Wednesday! We will miss her so much!

CHICKEN PARMESAN

As I made dinner today I thought of my son Renn who has asked for recipes. So I decided to share this one. We had it for dinner today with tossed salad and garlic toast. It should be served with spaghetti, but I forgot to make it. Whoops. Give this a try. It is easy and good!

CHICKEN PARMESAN
2 to 4 boneless chicken breasts
1/2 cup bread crumbs mixed with 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 egg
1 jar spaghetti sauce
2 slices mozzarella cheese

Dip chicken in egg, then in breadcrumb mixture.
Brown in olive oil over medium-high heat.
Place breasts in baking dish and pour spaghetti sauce over all.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Place cheese slices on chicken and bake until cheese melts.
Serve over spaghetti with tossed salad and garlic toast.

Joan Johnson gave me this recipe! Love, MOM

MY MOM WAS AN ARTIST

When I was a child it was not uncommon to see bottles of India Ink and special pens in our home. My mother was an artist. She could draw anything, and her lettering was beautiful. We accepted her gift as a matter of course because we saw it expressed all around us. She took art classes in high school, and that was it as far as training. Later in life she took oil and china painting classes, which only complimented her natural ability. Some people are just like that. The above photo was taken at Chris and Gina's house when we were there recently. You can see a framed sketch that Mother did of Joseph Smith when she was 16 years old. It is amazing! I was pleased to see that Chris and Gina had framed it so beautifully, and displayed it so prominently. I think Mom would be delighted as well.
Above is a sample of her watercolor ability at the same age. She used to frequently draw Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The original Disney movie was released in 1937, when Mom was about 14 years old. We have all seen samples of her Disney drawings through the years.
This is a picture of Mom, Louise Mae Chambers, at 16. She is so cute! Read all the cute things she wrote on it before she gave it to my dad, Jimmie Winspear. They met in high school, or just after. Dad wrote a cute story on his old blog a while ago that you should read regarding this. He calls it The Girl Next Door.  (Click it!)

Before she passed away I asked Mom why she never pursued a career in art. "I had a family to raise", she said simply.  I think in today's world she might have found more commercial opportunities to use her artistic abilities while raising a family. But she never complained. She raised her family and used her talents in Church work, PTA, Girl Scouts, etc. She did it all! 

Did her wonderful talent get diluted when it passed down to the rest of us? I don't have talent like Mother, but you all know that I love to design and make quilts. That is where my artistic ability finds an outlet.  How about the rest of you? I would love to have you share what talents you possess with us. E-mail me with pictures or whatever and I will post them here for our family to enjoy! 

Love to all!

P.S. I just noticed that Mom signed the Grumpy painting as Louise Winspear, 1945! Whoops!

BE OF GOOD CHEER

Happy Easter everyone! A month has quickly passed since Renn and Keira's wedding.  Mike got sick right after the wedding and is still coughing. I got sick a week after him, and I am pretty much back to normal. But it sure knocks the socks off you to be so wiped out. I hope everyone else is doing well. 

This week's big news is that our darling first granddaughter Becky has turned 20 years old! April 11 was the big day. Above she is pictured with Travis, her boyfriend and all-round nice guy! He drove with her to Las Vegas for the wedding festivities, so we all got to meet him. Becky and her friend, Lauren, are coming to spend the summer with us in Virginia Beach. Hopefully they will make some money and contribute to their educational goals. I expect they will find time to spend at the beach as well.  We love you Becky!

I think this is a nice picture of Grampa Jim, Renn and Mike. 
And these beautiful kids had such a good time together! Chris and Gina's two kids, Tatum and Ethan, and then Kathryn, Jack and Mary. Ethan isn't really that small, he is getting squished!

Now for anyone who is unaware, Jack got quite a nasty burn last week. His pants caught on fire while he was scratching at a fire in his neighbors backyard. It was such a freaky thing. A spark jumped up his pant leg and his pants flared right up. The neighbor is a doctor and she jumped to the rescue, fortunately. He is home from school, possibly for the rest of the year, all bandaged up and resting. Tomorrow he sees a burn specialist to determine if he will need a skin graft. Everyone please pray for Jack! You can read more about this on the Froelich Family blog - there is a linked on the side.

I am still waiting for photos or other news to publish here... 

Love to you all,   ~Marcie

Las Vegas Sun

We had fun in Las Vegas.  This was the day before the Froelich's headed for home.  We needed to soak up all the sun we could before we went back to winter, snow and ice.  There is not a lot of sun in Missoula in the winter, lots of overcast, grey days.  Uncle Chris has a hot tub he fired up for the kids and they had a blast.  I would've preferred it if Kathryn hadn't gone in the water since she was sick, but there was no stopping her when the pool was cold so we were happy to have it warm...

Cute picture of Aunt Jennie and Mary!
   Grandpa Patch slept in the sun.
Kathryn danced in the sun!
Great Grandpa Jim read in the sun.
Jack dried off in the sun.

posted by Polly