Camp Cassin Court!

Last evening we enjoyed a fire in our fireplace. When it was time to go up to bed, we thought the fire still looked so warm and inviting we hated to leave it and go up to our cold bedroom. SO... we got out our airbeds and sleeping bags and slept in the family room!

Here is the view of the fire from the bed with the lights out:

Cozy!!

It's Pickle Day!

Dan is head of the Administrative Services team at work, so from time to time he does things to inspire and motivate them. Recently, they watched a DVD from motivational speaker, Bob Farrell. He sold his 55 chain stores of ice cream parlors in 1973 to take his message of customer service on the road. It's called "Give 'em the pickle!" and is based on a letter he received from a disappointed customer. So Dan is giving everyone on his team, all 15 of them, a jar of pickles to remind them to go the extra mile!

Here is a copy of the letter and response that inspired the program. It's a good thing for all of us to remember in all of our relationships and dealings with others--seems like we've heard that somewhere else before: "And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain." (Matthew 5:41) Here's the letter and quote from Bob Farrell:

"I’ve been coming to your restaurant for over three years. I always order a #2 hamburger and a chocolate shake. I always ask for an extra pickle and I always get one. Mind you, this has been going on once or twice a week for three years.
I came into your restaurant the other day and I ordered my usual #2 hamburger and a chocolate shake. I asked the young waitress for an extra pickle. I believe she was new because I hadn’t seen her before. She said, “Sir, I will sell you a side of pickles for $1.25.” I told her, “No, I just want one extra slice of pickle. I always ask for it and they always give it to me. Go ask your manager.”
She went away and came back after speaking to the manager. The waitress looked me in the eye and said, “I’ll sell you a pickle for a nickel.” Mr Farrell, I told her what to do with her pickle, hamburger and milkshake. I’m not coming back to your restaurant if that’s the way you’re going to run it.

He signed his name and, fortunately for me, included his address. I wrote him a letter and enclosed a card for a free hot fudge sundae. I assured him we don’t run our business that way, apologized, and asked him to please come back. I had a chance meeting with him years later and I thanked him in person for his letter because it became the “war cry” of our young company, “Give ’em the Pickle.” When something happens with a customer and you’re not sure what to do? “Give ’em the Pickle!” Do what it takes to make things right!"

My New Favorite Hobby!

Everyone should have a hobby--something they like to spend time on--something that brings them some measure of joy and satisfaction. In fact the definition of hobby is: "an activity engaged in for pleasure and relaxation during spare time." In the past few months I have discovered a new hobby! (Thanks to my family's gift) I have been frustrated working on
scrapbooks--too much stuff and too much bulk. Where to store it all when finished? Publishing my own "books" on the computer has given me a wonderful alternative to my desire to preserve memories. It also gives me a great creative outlet as well. I just received my latest "book" in the mail today and I was so pleased with it, I decided it deserved a blog. Here are some of the books I've already completed and two that I am working on:

Photos of my garden's treasures over the last few years.

Our Family Home Evening Group: The Early Years--a book of highlights of our Monday nights over the past 5 years--given as a gift to all the couples this past Christmas

My emails and photos of the time I spent with the McClellan family

A paperback memory of a trip I took in 1969. The original scrapbook I made from the trip was literally falling apart and bullky to store. I just scanned in everything from the original scrapbook and am very pleased with the results!

Here's the one I received today. It contains all of my blog posts from 2007 and lots of extra pictures too!

This one is almost completed. It's another paperback memory book of our trip to

Washington D. C. last year.

And I've just started this one on our trip to Israel.

Everyone should have hobbies! Add a little more joy to your life!!

Happy Half-Birthday To Me!

I don't know why, but I always remember my half birthday!

So in honor of the occasion, here is half a post:

(See if you can guess what the other half of this true post would say!)

One day last week Dan had to leave work early so he could

He has to do this every year and it takes over 3 hours.

I finally received that package from my Dad with all the

The bishop came over and called me to be

I won't be sustained still for another week or two because

We enjoyed our first Blockbuster by Mail movie which was

Working Our Way Down the List!

Dan and I have a list of day trips we want to make. We have gradually been checking them off. Some of those have included the Point Reyes Lighthouse, walking across the Golden Gate Bridge, and Lassen National Park. Yesterday we were able to check another one off the list! Before I tell you where we went, take a look at these upclose photos of the bark of some Redwood trees that we saw. Can you guess where we went?

We went to Calistoga which is near Napa and visited the Petrified Forest! Those photos show parts of redwood trees but they are petrified! That means they are as hard as rock!! When we first started down the path to the first marker, I thought this is no big deal. There are some old trees laying down on the ground--we drove a long way for this! But then we were able to touch and see that although it looks like wood, it is not! And this is one of the only places in the world where Redwood trees--which are very large--have petrified. They were knocked over during a volcanic eruption 3 million years ago and covered with ash. Over the years water laden with silicates seeped down into the decomposing tree fibers and replaced the wood cell by cell until the entire tree became stone. They are pretty amazing to see as we walked long viewing other species of trees that had petrified as well. The petrified forest were discovered in 1870.

Here is The Giant: 60 feet long and 6 feet in diameter:

Here is The Queen: 65 feet long and 8 feet in diameter--remember, this is solid rock you are looking at, but up close it looks like a tree:

It was a very interesting experience! Here's proof that we were actually there:

Addiction Give-Away Update

My 100th post was very successful! Thanks for all of the "comments." I will deliver your prizes when I see you this July at the family reunion. Jamba Juice was by far the most popular request. Perhaps you were thinking ahead to how good it will taste during the hot summer?!

Chili's came in second place, with the bread in third place, so food is always a hot item! By the way, my favorite Jamba is a Citrus Squeeze! Now I'm trying to get addicted to two more things which include V8 Veggie Juice and Walking. I'll keep you "posted" on how I am doing!

my pedometer

Happy Valentine's Day!

To my Sweetheart:

Happy Valentine's Day! Hope you can find me!!!!

Happy Birthday, Courtney!

A special girl is celebrating her 6th birthday today!

She was an adorable baby!

She was so happy and cute she would "quack" me up!

I loved having her live close for a few years! When we visited them in San Francisco she would be watching out the window and would get so excited when she saw us. One time we came for her birthday, and we could hear her down in the parking lot excitedly yelling: "GRANDPA HAS A PRESENT!! GRANDPA HAS A PRESENT!!

Courtney loves to do crafts and projects and play games inside and out!

She loves to swim!

And who can forget "Caring Courtney." She is a great helper and loves babies. When I went to help last year, I was so amazed at how well she knew where everything was and how to do everything--it was great!

Happy Birthday, Courtney!

100th Post: Addiction Give-Away!

NUMBER 100!

I have finally made it to my 100th Post!! I've been worrying for weeks about what I should do for my 100th. I wanted it to be fun. I thought about listing 100 of something but 100 of anything is a long list for someone to read through. I'm all about contests but I'm not too much on competition because competition usually equals contention. So I decided it would be fun to give something to everyone who reads this blog! I have listed below in alphabetical order ten addictions I have right now. Anyone who comments on this post will receive some of one of my addictions--you get to choose which one you get!

And I will personally deliver it to you the next time I see you!

Here they are:

1. Airborne

(I have been taking this daily since early January and have not been sick! Plus I like the taste and drinking some extra water never hurts.)

2. The Book of Mormon

(I can't get through a day without reading something from this great book!)

3. Chili's To Go Chicken Enchilada Soup and Salad

(Packaged perfectly to enjoy at home, yummy to eat and add some chips and salsa for a scruptious and satisfying meal!)

4. Family Home Evening

(The best night of the week for me since 1972! I enjoy everything about it from the lesson to the treats to the family business, music, activity, joke and doing it all with family and now friends!)

5. Great Havest Honey Whole Wheat Bread

(A healthy part of my day that tastes so delicious I can't believe it's good for me!)

6. Hershey's Nuggets with Toffee and Almonds

(Is there anything that can make chocolate taste better? Yes! There are two things:

Toffee and Almonds!)

7. Jamba Juice

(Fruit and other good stuff, cold and tasty, all blended together! I'm a card carrying member!)

8. Kettle Corn

( Popcorn, that all time great snack with less salt and a little sugar--wow, it's yummy! This is my favorite brand--I've been experimenting!)

9. Sudoku

(I love how these puzzles make my brain think and let me escape for a few minutes!)

10. Writing Implements

(This is a definite addiction for me. I LOVE every kind of writing implement and really get into the differences between fine and extra fine, roller ball and gel pen, chisel tip and retractable, etc. etc. I'm sure I have a year's supply of pens for our whole ward. Write on!)

Just comment on this blog and be sure to leave your name and the "addiction" you would like to receive. Only one prize per commenter. Contest closes midnight February 14th.

The Communication Age!

What a time we live in!

I just realized last night that we heard from every family

on Sunday through six different forms of communication:

The McClellans via Email

The Utah Harrisons via Blog

The Melanchuks via WebCam

The Kansas Harrisons via Cell Phone

The Perrys via Personal Visit

The Frisbeejohn Meister via Instant Messaging

It used to be a letter or a long distance call if you could get through on the party line

on a rotary dial phone. You could always tell when someone was talking long distance--

they talked really, really loud into the phone!