A little bit of this and that

1) One of the videos I closed captioned today was about spiritual food storage. It was good. The speaker shared this poem by 

James Whitcomb Riley. 1853–1916

"When the Frost is on the Punkin"

WHEN the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock,
And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin' turkey-cock,
And the clackin' of the guineys, and the cluckin' of the hens,
And the rooster's hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;
O, it's then the time a feller is a-feelin' at his best
With the risin' sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,
As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.
They's something kindo' harty-like about the atmusfere
When the heat of summer's over and the coolin' fall is here
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossoms on the trees,
And the mumble of the hummin'-birds and buzzin' of the bees;
But the air's so appetizin'; and the landscape through the haze
Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days
Is a pictur' that no painter has the colorin' to mock
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.
The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn,
And the raspin' of the tangled leaves as golden as the morn;
The stubble in the furries—kindo' lonesome-like, but still
A-preachin' sermuns to us of the barns they growed to fill
The strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed;
The hosses in theyr stalls below—the clover overhead!—
O, it sets my hart a-clickin' like the tickin' of a clock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.
Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keep
Is poured around the cellar-floor in red and yaller heaps;
And your cider-makin's over, and your wimmern-folks is through
With theyr mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and sausage too!...
I don't know how to tell it—but ef such a thing could be
As the angels wantin' boardin', and they'd call around on me
I'd want to 'commodate 'em—all the whole-indurin' flock—
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock. I really like it, so I wanted to share. It reminds me of the joy and satisfaction from seeing what you can reap from hard work. I love feeling that I've worked hard and done my part. 2) Throughout the talk, several times there was reference to nutrients. And I was reminded of Nacho Libre, "It gave me no nutrients.... I wanna win!" And so I was giggling to myself a lot- in my own little corner on my own little chair- as I continued to work on the captioning. [post publishing note: David just read through this post and after reading this paragraph he laughed and said, "Yah, you do giggle to yourself a lot."] 3) As I was working there was an audio feed playing from one of the auditoriums on campus. I didn't pay too much attention to it, but several times I caught myself giving it an attentive ear and thinking, "Wow! This guy is really good!" And then later, "Who is this kid and the band??? No college group sounds this good." And then it hit me. Kris Allen, former American Idol winner (?)/contestant is in town this weekend for a concert, right here on campus. He's been rehearsing the last hour or so, and I've been listening to the live feed the whole time (because I work in the Audio/Video Productions department). mwahahah! After figuring that out, I paid a little more attention whilst finishing the video I was working on.  Here's the best pic I could get of the video feed running from the rehearsal. He's the one with a guitar on the right. I love my classes! I'm in the same building all day every day (except for the last required religion class) taking classes that relate to each other and are just plain fun. This week in Arboriculture we operated a Tree Spade   The thing is huge, and can you imagine that there are other spades MUCH bigger?!? Blowing my mind. The one we used is for trees with a trunk diameter of 4 inches max. We were practicing just on the parking lot asphalt, trying to maneuver it to pick up a big construction cone. By the time it was my turn, the anty was upped and the big orange construction cone was switched out for a small, soccer-like, cone. I'm pretty sure I got that cone picked up the fastest! Booyah! (It probably helped that I observed several other people before me and from watching them I had a good idea of what all the levers controlled by the time it was my turn.) We also played with an air spade: Lots of dirt everywhere on that one. The first 1.5 hours of class we're outside and then last 1.5 we're inside for lecture. It's a lot of fun.  Last week we started with harnessing in and climbing a huge tree on campus and zip lining down and out of it, and operating a bucket truck. We were up in the air as high as the Ricks Building's highest floor. Not sure what the heighth  is on that, but it was pretty high. It doesn't seem that high when you're on the ground looking up, but then you get in that bucket and wooee, my stomach might have flopped once or twice. I'm also in a landscape design class. Last week we worked on creating tree symbols and then learning how to color render. Wowza! Loving it. In junior high/high school I always thought myself as not creative and not artistic, and I never thought an art class was for me. The last few years however, I've been tapping into my creativity and discovered that there really is something there! I am loving playing with all the markers. It's also appealing to my architect desires of old- I used to draw up house plans on the CADD program on the home computer all the time. And I still draw up plans for our future dream home. Guilty pleasures, we all have them. This last week we drew up a design using our rulers and stencils and oh boy! Here's my first first attempt on some colored tree symbols. Yes, this was a homework assignment. Mama Nessie thinks they look like cupcakes....I guess I can see her point. And here is what we'll be doing at the end of the semester. Eek! Well, not exactly this very design, but creating and drawing out our own designs. Last week we finally made it to the Farmer's Market- loved it! We had dinner from one of the vendors, I bought a rosemary plant and two little basil plants from the BYU-I Horticulture booth, and then we splurged and got deep-fried oreas. Nom! We had a movie night with Jake and Kate downstairs, and thus needed to squish and roll and force our luv sac down and squeeze it through the door at the base of the stairs. Totally worth it. David's classes are tough this semester, poor guy. He originally was signed up for 17 credits, but we decided to drop one class so that he can do better in his other ones. He has all the classes at once that normally you spread out and just take one each semester with your general/foundational courses. Chemistry, Biology, Botany, Math, and the oh so fun required Book of Mormon. He'll survive. :) He's quite jealous of all the fun I seem to be having in my classes. I do have homework, quizes, tests too, but I am just really enjoying it all. Last Saturday we finally got the curtains up in our room. It looks great, I love it! We also painted an old dresser that Jean and Colin gave to us. We tried sanding the darn thing, but that plastic laminated surfaced just didn't want to come off. So instead we just used the leftover gray paint we had from the exterior house gables and shutters. I saw we, but David did the majority of all of this. I'll have to get a picture.... And now we've made it to another weekend! Crazy. The week flew by. We both have tests and quizes next week that we'll be preparing for, but hopefully we can get a project or two or three finished as well. Also, I can't remember if I mentioned this on here yet or not, David got a campus job!!! Such a blessing. So now we're almost making it to 40 hr/week between the both of us. He got the job he wanted- custodial services at 4:00 a.m. He said he wanted to just get work done and out of the way for the day. Ok, honey! It does have it's perks though- a little bit more pay, 3 days paid leave every semester, and he's right- it is nice to get work out of the way. However, he can only work 15 hr/week. My work schedule for the most part is just coming in whenever, and let me tell you- that's a hard way to get in 20 hrs for the week. One last thing- we found out what our credit scores are this morning. What in the what what what!? (house stuff) We've never had a credit report before, and we had no idea what ours looks like. Let's just say that we we're extremely happy campers as we journeyed to campus this morning. Cheers! It's the weekend!

Since last time

Wellllllp, since last time this was updated (up at Henry's Lake while at work) a few things have happened. 

This morning I picked up our first Bountiful Basket. Looks like there's a lot of good stuff, and I didn't have to fight with the crowds of BYU-I students (and this weekend, their parents) at the grocery store to get it. And on that parenthetical note, can I just say that it was making me giggle to see all the new freshman and their mommies and daddies at the grocery store, buying their baby groceries just one more time. Ah, too funny. Maybe I thought it kind of odd because I never had that experience. My parents didn't even drop me off. I hitched a ride from Henderson in order to get to Provo. And did my grocery shopping with my bike. hahha. goood, good times. 

Yesterday we finally got internet up and running at the house- goooo David! 

We had visitors! Jenny and Dessa Selch were here to get Dess set  up and settled in Rexburg to start school. Yay! I'm so excited for Dessa. 

Jake and Kate moved in the basement. They seem to really love and appreciate it. And it seems we're going to be best of friends. :) 

I started my new job on campus. In July, I interviewed for a closed captioning position, but didn't get it. But the guy that interviewed me was kind enough to send my resume to another guy in the A/V productions department who was looking to hire a teleprompter. So I didn't even have to research or apply or inquire about this job, it just came to me. What a blessing! The new guy contacted me and asked me to come in for an interview. I got the job! So, Mondays I meet with and work with the devotional speakers and get the teleprompter formatted and ready to go, and on Tuesday I (well not me by myself. There's a team.) run the teleprompter for the speaker during the devotional. The rest of the week I fill up my hours doing closed captioning (the original job I applied for). I haven't been trained on the teleprompting business yet, that will start Monday. But this last week I have been a closed captioning fool! As per federal law in accordance with the Disability Act, all videos used for learning at the university need to have closed captioning. You should come and take a tour of this place! The department I work for, Audio/Video Productions, is housed in the I-Center, where the huge conference center is. Sooo many computers and monitors and fancy gadgets and cables and cords. It's cray cray.

What else, what else......

Dad was here to finish the little things in the basement and around the house and yard. I didn't take pictures of the basement before Jake and Kate got here, woops! I wasn't feeling too great the last week or so and documentation of progress just didn't happen. But I did take a video! (after J&K's first round of bringing stuff in) See in previous post. But see, we're pretty much best buds already, so they don't mind. ..... ;)

The last time Dad was here (the last week of August), David left with him on Thursday night (the 29th). They didn't have time to stop and rest along the way because Dad had a whole butchered cow to get back to Vegas before it thawed. So, he needed another driver in order to accomplish that. David drove all the way from Rexburg to St. George, where he got out and met with Chelsie for breakfast, did some school clothes shopping (he was in desperate need of pants that weren't faded or torn or beat up) while Ch was at school, after Ch was done with school for the day he helped her pack and move some stuff from her place, and then they headed home to Panaca, even caught Preston's football game. Wow, longest sentence ever. 

David stayed in Panaca and had the best time with his brothers and family. Preston has a deer tag and Zachary had a bull elk archery tag. So, naturally, David was in heaven just being able to hang out with his brothers and hunt all the live long day. 

Zach filled his tag:

They think he scored around 350- a trophy sized bull, so they are stoked. Can you imagine packing that huge thing off the mountain, miles away from your vehicle? That's what they did. Crazy boys. The archery tags are early in the season, which means that the elk are higher up because it's still hot, which makes them even more difficult to find, let alone get a shot off. As if using a bow and arrow wasn't hard enough already.

Anyway, if you did the math, I was home alone for 10 nights. Luckily, Jenette came to visit and play for Labor Day weekend. We went to Bear World, dinner at Winger's, drove around town in her fancy new car (ahhhh I miss stick shift!), and spent lots of time in the kitchen. 

We made apple pies, scones, salsa, chili, crepes, corn bread....nom!

   

We painted our toesies and watched Lord of the Rings

She went to Ikea for me on the way up and got spice racks, yay for more counter space! I still have never been to Ikea. This needs to change.

David asked her to take a picture of my Sunday outfit and send it his way

One morning, in my all alone lonesomeness, I made an omelet. And it was delicious. And it looked like it came from IHOP.

I also made zucchini bread one day and it, too, was delicious- no sugar (subbed honey), no oil (applesauce sub), and fresh whole wheat flour instead of the nasty, processed, bleached, enriched white flour.  (I guess now you know where I stand on white flour)

One last story. While David was gone I took to going for a lot of runs/walks. Being outside, rain or shine, always lifts my spirits. On one such occasion I left the house and even had the thought to double-check the doors to make sure I didn't lock myself out. For once in my life I followed through with that and checked to see that the back door wasn't bolted. I've since learned to look more closely. :) I got back from my lovely jaunt and what do you know, I am locked out. While the dead bolt was not in place, the turning lock on the knob was. Even if in the locked position you're still able to turn the knob and get out. Getting back in is a different matter. My dad was gone and had all the ladders packed up, there was nothing laying around that was tall enough to help me get through the upstairs windows, and the key to the shop where there might be something useful/high enough was inside the house. Joyyy. Just the day before I went through the house and closed up the windows (and locked them, so I doubt I would have been able to use a higher, bigger window even if I could reach. . .) But that morning as I was sanding the kitchen cabinets downstairs I opened the east window of the basement to let some air in while I worked. I remembered seeing this window open as I got back to the house from my run and was worried that a certain squirrel that I always see running around found the opening for his next mansion. Don't worry, no creatures have been found inside....yet. Anyway, I ran to the other side of the house and determined that indeed my wide set hips, undoubtedly made for the sole purpose of child-bearing, would fit through the small window, if only I could get the rest of my body to follow. Now, envision this with me. I'm shoving myself through the BASEMENT window. The window sits level with the ground outside. When I'm inside, the window sits above my head and I have to stand on tip toes to see out of the very bottom of it. Meaning: a good drop. I should have gone in with my knees down. Instead, I went in with my cushy bootay down and knees to the ceiling. After getting my hips through and being precariously perched on the sill, half of my body dangling inside and the top half holding myself in place whilst outside, I realized that there was nothing within toe reaching distance for me to place my weight and thus be able to help break my downward fall. And so, not wanting to sit so very uncomfortably any longer and not wanting to try to wriggle myself back out, I gritted my teeth and just went for it. My back caught on the window casing and then slid down, down, down. That hurt. My eyes may have shed an involuntary tear or two due to sheer pain. Sometimes when I stub my toe or smash my finger, an obscenity or two might slip my tongue (Mother forgive me, you know, and I know, that you taught your children better. I mean, CRIMENATELY is a much better word choice). However, be proud! All I uttered was a pathetic, tearful "Owwwwwie."
Can't tell in the picture but the top is all bruised and scratched and slightly bloody. Fun! Excuse the nakeyness.

And of course I was home alone and had to figure out some way to get to my back and treat the dang thing. Luckily that night I went to my auntie's house, where another one of my aunt's was staying that night, and had her help. :) Thank you Jenelle. I should note that this damage was incurred through a solid, cotton t-shirt and the orange sports container. Aycarumbah!

And I think that's all for now! I should go wake up David and make breakfast. Happy Saturday! Saturday is a special day!

Rexburg house basement after

I also have a video of the upstairs after reveal, but my camera died as I was uploading stuff and that video didn't make the cut. So when I find my camera battery charger (again....yes yes, I lost it again) I'll be able to load the upstairs video....or maybe I'll just use my phone and take another video...hmm.

Rexburg House before

So, here is the before video. (Yes, I finally found it! I thought it was deleted and gone forever!) Don't mind my awful annoying voice. Gee whilickers, does anyone else absolutely hate hearing themselves via a recording?

Getting closer!

I'm not sure if I posted the finished mailbox/new post project in its completed state:

 

Since taking the above photos, the grass has started to look green again....who wants to pay that water bill? ugh!

Our fridge decor, send us pictures and you could make it to the fridge too:

Kitchen cabinets installed in the basement:

 

The previous new tub that Dad bought for downstairs just wasn't working out. Plumbing problems, I don't know. So he had to get another new tub. And this one didn't come with the shower walls with nice corner shelves like the other/older new one, so we had to tile the walls. 

   

Also, got the rest of the bathroom floor tiled, new toilet put in, new vanity/sink put in, and some awesome lighting! Seriously, that place is brighter than any room upstairs. Yes, tiny bathroom. Originally I believe the plan was to extend the bathroom wall (where the tub is) to provide a little more space. But I think the final verdict was that you spend more time in the kitchen, so more space in the kitchen is better than a little more space in the powder room. Or something like that.

     

Kitchen countertops being cut and installed:

When we left Saturday night, the sink was in, oh and all the appliances were delivered earlier in the week- brand new stove/oven and fridge.

As I was unpacking the boxes of stuff that we piled in the second bedroom, there was a box with a few photo albums inside. I couldn't resist looking at some of my old pictures and not sharing:

My 6th grade attempt at scrapbooking- notice the fancy cut corners and how neatly I labeled everyone...directly on the photo:

Jenette and Giulia, summer '92

Paige, Tabitha, Giulia, Erin- best dance ever at a family reunion:

Jenette and Giulia's first time to Disneyland, 2002 I believe:

Til' next time! ...whenever that may be. I only blog when we're at work waiting for boats. We don't have internet at the house in Rexburg....yet... And since this is our last shift for work, hooray!, I'm not sure when we'll have buzz again, or that we'll have anything terribly exciting to share anyway.
Toodleyhoo!

More from August

Progress on the basement bathroom: got most of the plumbing kinks worked out, tub in, and walls sheet rocked, taped, and textured

   

Living area all the way sheet rocked, taped, and textured:

     

the ceiling also got retextured:

More lights put in for kitchen area:

 

UPstairs, took off the wall heaters that didn't work (found out they didn't work, after we painted, so we had to dismantle them, and pull out the paint again.):

 

Got one closet worth of stuff unpacked:

Our old bathroom curtain actually looks really good with creamy orange paint:

David is crazy and loaded this piano on to the trailer by himself:

Finally found our dangum tent! And, naturally, the entertainment center it was tucked away in was the very last thing we brought over to the house.

On our drive to California with Chris and Shelly and kids, Spencer had my phone. When I got it back and looked through the pictures, I found some treasures. His pillowcase has lots of different comic book-esque characters all over it. He zoomed in and focused on his favorites. It made me giggle. Smart boy!

   
   

Quick, funny story. We get to my parents Tuesday morning to meet up with our ride. The suburban is waiting in the drive, with everyone inside the house except Lydia...still just chillin' in her carseat. I open her door, and she gives a big a smile and says, "Giulia! You seat here okay?" Points to the seat next to her. "And David, you sit back there with the boys, okay?" "We watch movie! Cars!?" Points to the DVD player in front of her. Ahhh I die. She is too cute. 

Oh hey look, I managed to get two pictures while on the beach:

 

After playing in the water, I put on my jacket and took a nap, face first, on the sand. I slept for about an hour, with the backs of my legs absorbing the sunshine the entire time. Ouch, ouch, ouch. My calves didn't burn because they're already pretty tanned out from being outside so much this summer. But my thighs don't see the light of day too often. Those babies got toasted. The next day they were red and painful. This week I've been peeling off several layers of skin a day.

Dog-pile on papa! Lydia started it, of course.

 

One of the days, most of the ladies, and Dad as our escort and chauffeur, went to the L.A. fabric district. Oh my goodiness!!!! I could spend all day there. Sadly, we only had about 2 hours before we had to leave to go meet the guys and all the kids at the science center for the rest of the day.
I think all of us got a haul of fabric from the Michael Levine loft- all of the main stores leftover cuts or out of season fabrics. Fabric, fabric, fabric, piled into rows of boxes. Grab whatever you want, weigh, and pay. $2.50 per pound. I got ~ 10 lbs of fabric (~10 yards of lace, ~15 yards of jersey cotton and ~8 yards of yummy coral peach chiffon) for $30!


On our way home from last shift, I spied a jack-o-lantern in the sky.


Kitchen unpacked, and table unwrapped:


After getting home from work David wasted no time in getting the basement painted and the wood floor down:
   

Also, David hasn't cut his hair this summer. He has a lot of really nice hair:

And that's all for now. Today is the last day of this shift. Dad is back up here, even came to Island Park last night to visit us. So with him around, we'll keep plenty busy finishing the basement when we get back. 

We're freaking out that it's already mid/end of August. This summer has flowwwwn by. Craziness.