picnic on the rim

Family Camp ended after lunch on Labor Day Monday. So our daughter Miranda and son Tyler drove up from Phoenix to join us on the Mogollon Rim for a picnic. And just so you know, Miranda & I did not plan to be all mother/daughter matchy-matchy. But I'm glad Nancy took this picture of us looking all cute & matchy. ha!

We were excited to have our dear friends Terry & Nancy also join us for the day.

Check out this incredible image that Nancy captured while following us up the mountain.

I almost cried when she sent it to me the next day! I love it that much!

We immediately gathered in a circle at our favorite camp site...

to hear all about Miranda's Australian adventures...

and Terry & Nancy's Scotland & Ireland adventures!

Be sure to check out Miranda's blog and Nancy's blog for the whole scoop!

Uncle Tyler picked a flower for his little elsie lane.

Nothing warms my heart more than family & friends gathered around a meal.

Oh elsie, I can't believe you're going to be a year old in a month.

We wanted to give the young folks some time to visit... but instead got a concert.

Yes, they all sing beautifully... and harmonize angelically.

My oldest son Shawn is the best husband, Daddy and friend.

Randy & I found these Amish Acres wooden pop guns at my little thrift store for a dollar.

emolyn is quite proficient at "popping her popper". 

(we say that, rather than "shooting her gun")

Oh my, that look of determination ~ I'm thinkin' a remake titled "Emolyn Get Your Popper"!

We later watched the sunset over the largest expanse of Ponderosa pines in the nation,

and then headed back down the mountain to start another week... 

and to tolerate the ongoing heat.

Hey, guess what? Randy & I just returned from the most amazing trip EVER!!

The NORTH RIM of the GRAND CANYON!

Pictures and posts coming soon!

best camp food EVER

Foods you never thought you'd utter at camp ~ much less ingest!

 Beef, chicken & fish Street Tacos for lunch! Mmm, I love Talapia fish tacos!

Seriously the best dessert-in-a-glass ~ Horchata ~

Chicken Marsala w/ capers ~ Baked Ziti ~ Caesar Salad for supper...

... followed by Tiramisu for dessert. I KNOW! Crazy good!

Oh my gosh, the Circus Carnival food was AMAZING!

~ Homemade Indian Fry Bread ~

Churros ~ teriyaki pork-on-a-stick ~ best rice dish EVER!

and the CORN... OMG, seriously, talk amongst yourselves... I need a moment. YUM!

~ chocolate-covered grahams ~

 ~ chocolate-covered frozen bananas-in-a-stick ~ 

~ chocolate-covered marshmallows-on-a-stick ~

~ TO-DIE-FOR ~

My dear friend & camp chef Michelle 

master-minded & executed this illustrious menu.

Thank you Michelle! 

Truly THE best camp food EVER!

PS ~ I neglected to bring my camera to the dining hall when appetizers were being served upon our arrival at camp. We're talking The Best of Bruschetta. I'm serious ~ THE BEST! The dessert bruschetta was my favorite ~ a thin layer of Marscarpone cheese, melon and Nutella ~ served warm from the oven. I have yet to stop thinking about that first bite, and that last bite, and every bite in between... changed my life forever.

Camp Circus Carnival

The Camp Circus Carnival was SO MUCH FUN!!!
Oh, and that would be my husband in the ginormous green glasses.
Hey, I looked at this photo several times before I actually saw him myself! ha!

Shawn's family cracked me up! Love their costumes!
Nicole found everything at Goodwill.
Shawn's hobo clown costume featured boxers that were a size 6X... 
and they were ripped... and not on the seam. 
And that's all I got to say 'bout that.

elsie lane could not have been more adorable!

So this here Mimi couldn't stop kissing those chubby cheeks.

Mustaches-on-a-stick make for a mighty fine photo op, wouldn't you agree?

The face-painting booth was a hit with all ages!

"Pop pop, when I open my eyes, that thing on your head better be gone".
(click pic to enlarge)

And my miniature cupcakes were quite the hit at the cake-walk!
But wait till you see what we ate at the carnival!

Family Camp 2011

Family Camp was so wonderful and refreshing.

After a month of record breaking heat in the valley ~ the mountains were a welcome relief.

My little friend Cheyenne even befriended the camp butterfly.

Family Camp '10

Family Camp '11

Man oh man, what a difference a year makes!

I remember trying to imagine emolyn's sister joining us this year...

and now we can't imagine life without the little "e" sisters!

The Craft Shack is one of my favorite places to be at Mountain Meadow Ranch.

So peaceful and just oozing with creative energy.

My husband even caught the crafting bug. (see him and our son Shawn in the back?)

Ok, so it took him a few tries before he nailed it. (the stick broke on the first one)

But I love it and we have it hanging in our cozy cottage.

So proud of my husband's handiwork.

emolyn & her Daddy decorated a frame using fallen bark, leaves and acorns.

The homemade boat races on Christopher Creek are always a highlight of the weekend.

Here the crowds await the results of the race and the best design.

Hey, check back for future posts ~

* the CIRCUS CARNIVAL *

* the most amazing camp food EVER *

 * picnic on the RIM after camp ended *

9/11 Healing Field

9/11 Healing Field '04

This weekend marks the 8th Annual Memorial Healing Field at Tempe Beach Park.

I will never forget the moment I saw this stunning display of 3000 flags representing the victims of 9/11. Randy & I had decided to park on the other side of Tempe Town Lake 

and walk across the bridge.

We had no idea what we were about to witness.

I remember gasping... and then bursting into tears. 

Every single flag has a yellow ribbon attached along with a laminated card 

with the name and picture of each and every victim of 9/11. 

9/11 Healing Field '08

Take a moment to read Ellie Lobel's story. So heartbreaking.

May we never forget...

Church Family Camp

We get to hang out with this crazy bunch of Family Campers this weekend.

In fact twice as many are coming this year to Family Camp @ Mountain Meadow Ranch ~

which is north of Payson along Christopher Creek.

We plan on playing hard, laughing lots, eating much, singing loud,
 creatively crafting and hiking along the creek.

And occasionally resting in our cozy cottage.

Trust me, the higher elevation will do that to you!

Last year family camp was over the 4th of July ~ gotta fly the flag of freedom!

We also plan on parking our cozy cottage on this very spot

and getting occasional visits from our granddaughters.

So of course I packed toys and books and treats.

Cuz well... that's what Mimi's do.

Aussie bungee jumping

***EDITED!! VIDEO LINK  INCLUDED!!

My daughter Miranda is heading home today. And I can hardly wait to get her back on US soil! And yes, that would be my daughter bungee jumping in Australia. And yes, I've watched the video 4 times and cried every single time. But thank God she had the foresight NOT to tell her mother she was planning such a thing. Or else, I might have... well, I don't know what I would have done. Maybe curled up on the couch watching The Housewives of New Jersey marathon till I received word she was safe and sound.
Anyway, I have plans to post the video when she gets home... so your heart can race at speeds unnatural to human nature... and weep with joy as she defies all odds and lives... you know, as though you didn't know the outcome. Kinda like watching Apollo 13. I've watched that movie a dozen times and I still get all hot and sweaty and emotional as the drama unfolds. Seriously, like I don't know how it ended?
SO, be sure to check out Miranda's blog. She's already posting about her adventures in Australia... with many more in the works I'm sure.
Oh, and she boards her plane in Sydney 1 PM Monday and arrives in Phoenix 1 PM Monday. Pretty scary if you ask me. (ok, she boards 8 PM Sunday night our time :)

*** Just realized I could link you to her video on facebook!!! ***

Enjoy! ~ Click HERE and turn up the volume!

handmade quilts tops

As you can imagine, I really miss my favorite little thrift store.

I mean, where else can you find deals like these...

handmade quilt tops for under five dollars each!

Ok, maybe I need to re-emphasis my point here ~ hand-made quilt tops.

As in, made-by-hand ~ needle 'n thread only quilt tops.

Another words ~ no electricity was involved in the making of these quilt tops!

For the life of me, I can't imagine taking on such a task.

Not to mention the hours of tedious measuring and cutting and placement

 of each and every fabric square!

I am simply in awe of the artistry that goes into such meticulous craftsmanship.

If I were the creator of this quilt, 

I would want to know that my work was in the hands of someone that appreciated
the hours of love and devotion I invested in bringing about its completion. 

Well, I do. And I often run my fingers over the perfectly placed stitches

and imagine the conversations had ~ the stories told ~ the dreams envisioned.

Even though I am not privy to its past ~

I will accept the responsibility for its future ~

and make it the family heirloom that it was always intended to be.

I'm linking up to these amazing Linky Parties ~
FRUGAL FRIDAY

SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY