Life with Linda

New link

2012-02-12T17:44:00.000-08:00

Hi! I'm learning about putting a link to my profile on mormon.org. Here goes.

Sabbath Day

2011-05-15T18:39:00.000-07:00

I love the Sabbath Day! I enjoy resting from my every day tasks (sometimes I don't even make my bed), going to church, serving others and renewing my soul. I love to visit with family and friends. It is fun to take walks in our beautiful surroundings. It is a joy to be alive!

Working to Play music

2011-01-28T15:01:00.000-08:00

I sometimes wonder why I work so hard to play music! It is interesting to contemplate. I would always tell my children that with music, everybody wins. We are on the same team and we all work together to make a beautiful sound. It really is exciting to play some of the amazing music written. We are playing Brahm's 1st Symphony tomorrow night. It is one of my favorites of all time. The melodies, emotion, and the way he fit everything together is just amazing.

Utility Bill information

2011-01-18T09:46:00.000-08:00

This info came with our utility bill and at the end, it said, "Please visit with your friends and neighbors about the grease problem in the sewer system." Here is what the insert said:

"The best way to solve the grease problem is do not put any Fats, Oils and Grease in the drains, toilets, etc. Do not put grease down garbage disposals.

Clean grease from plates, trays, pots, pans, utensils, grills and cooking surfaces, using paper towels, rags or use a disposable container and put the Fats, Oils and Grease into the trash for disposal.

When Fats, Oils and Grease are discharged down the drain, running hot water will not solve the problem, it just creates additional problems down stream."

Grease often causes problems in the system and it is very expensive to remove. I think these are good ideas. we always have a rather gross looking empty can in the refrigerator to catch all those fats after cooking before they solidify.
Fun stuff!

Starting a New Year

2011-01-08T15:05:00.000-08:00

It is so fun to start a New Year with a clean slate. I enjoy filling the days with good things. Faith, family, relief.* Learning, family associations, service. Reading, connecting, visits. Thinking, playing, enjoying. Best wishes for a joyful New Year!

*See Relief Society at lds.org

Variations on a Theme

2010-03-31T15:48:00.000-07:00

My latest attempt at meal planning I call "variations on a theme." Wednesday is sandwich day. Grilled cheese, reuben, and hamburgers are a few of the things we have had in the name of sandwiches. Peanut butter and jelly will work just fine.

Today I am going all out. We are having ham sandwiches! Toast the bread, add lots of lettuce and a little mustard and mayo, pepper, and voila! Another variation.

Time Flies

2010-03-13T08:28:00.000-08:00

Last March, I wrote that we washed the car and it snowed the next day. This March, I put the spring wreath up on our front porch yesterday and it is snowing today. The car needs to be washed.

Two years ago, we planned a wedding! We made a list and enjoyed the journey. This year, we get to plan a wedding again! We are making lists and enjoying the journey. It is so exciting!

Isn't it wonderful that two people can meet, fall in love, and commit to sharing the rest of eternity together?! It is a beautiful miracle.

Getting Things Done

2009-06-27T07:19:00.000-07:00

Here's a clue to getting hard tasks done:

Pair them with something fun.
Clean the bathrooms. Then go to lunch with a dear friend for your reward!

Another hint:
A quote on the wall of my laundry area:
To be happy: Don't do whatever you like, like whatever you do.

That's the way it is

2009-03-07T21:55:00.001-08:00

It will surely snow again. I know because today we washed both cars.

It is so nice to see the sun and have most of the snow melt off the roads. We have had some beautiful clouds lately as the storms have blown past. It is already March and I'm still working on my new year's resolutions.

Banana dilemna

2009-03-06T16:26:00.000-08:00

It is interesting to note that we seem to have either no bananas or three bananas left over. They get very ripe and no one wants to eat them. Then I make banana bread. It is a simple recipe that makes three small loaves. I give one away, freeze one, and try to eat the other loaf in more than one sitting.

A Fun Project

2009-02-24T17:48:00.000-08:00

Another way to be green is to "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." One of my projects this year is to wear all the clothes in my closet. If I don't think I will wear them, they are off to the D.I. (thrift store). It is quite fun. I've been wearing jewelry, sweaters, scarves, all kinds of things that are in my drawers that seldom get used. My Sunday outfits have been especially unique. One week it was the 12 year old purple suit and the next it was the pink sweater set from my mother. It is fun to be creative and thrifty.

2008-12-14T20:56:00.000-08:00

Beautiful new Christmas music...

I like being green

2008-11-20T17:19:00.000-08:00

My husband and I are using cloth napkins at meals. With only the two of us, we use cloth for a few days and keep them on our place mat so we know whose is whose. Every few days I change to a new set and wash the used ones with our regular laundry. Every little bit counts.

Small Steps Continued

2008-09-07T19:41:00.000-07:00

I followed my own advice! We made a list and did one thing at a time this summer. With the encouragement of my daughter, I enjoyed the journey and had a wonderful time preparing. On August 1, 2008, we had a beautiful wedding! Things turned out so well and especially the bride and groom were happy with their day. It was a wonderful beginning for their eternity together.

Small Steps

2008-06-21T10:49:00.000-07:00

Sometimes tasks seem overwhelming. If you can divide them up into small segments and just tackle one part at a time, eventually things get done. It is amazing how that happens. Often, it means putting one foot in front of the other and getting to work. The other thing I keep reminding myself is to enjoy the journey and even the small accomplishments. We often tend to put off being happy to when the thing is done, it is good to enjoy the process as well.

Two ways to keep things tidy

2008-05-24T16:28:00.001-07:00

1. Close drawers and cupboards all the way after using them.
2. Hang up towels or put them directly in a dirty clothes container right after use.
These take only a few seconds to do and help keep clutter in check.

Exercise locally

2008-05-23T12:23:00.000-07:00

Here's a way to get your heart rate up for 20 minutes. Do the "Chicken Fat" song two times, then 5 minutes of running up and down three flights of stairs, then the "Chicken Fat" song one more time. Each time through the song is 6 minutes 30 seconds, that adds up to even more than 20 minutes!

Go you chicken fat go! Thank you Robert Preston.

Wednesday shopping

2008-05-21T21:44:00.000-07:00

Today I mixed it up a little! I started at the produce aisle of the grocery store and went down every aisle. Usually I start at the dairy on the other end. I had some exercise, new perspective, and spent less money trying to keep my bananas from getting bruised.

I have usually gone to the grocery store once a week. That means in the last 30 years, I have gone 1560 times. Sometimes, I remember my Dad telling about his visiting colleague from Poland who cried when he first walked into a supermarket. He had never seen so much food in one place in his life. I am grateful for plenty to eat. Other times I remember going with our little children and trying hard to prevent temper tantrums as we passed all the candy at the check-out stand. Now it is a treat when our youngest, who is 21, goes with me to the store. It is a celebration.

Happy Thursday

2008-05-01T07:08:00.000-07:00

Celebrate today. Use the crystal pitcher. It is great to have a new day to enjoy and fill with good things.

Happy to be here

2008-04-30T15:50:00.000-07:00

Always learning something new, today it is how to blog. I've enjoyed reading other blogs. I have found out a lot about even my own family by doing so. Happy day!