Oscar meets the Ranes family

The Ranes family (sans Andrew) arrived just before midnight last Saturday from St. Kitts. Janae and boys will be staying for two months while Andrew studies his eyes out at medical school. Thank goodness for Skype.

Number one on their agenda was an introduction to the newest family member, Oscar. The admiration appeared to be mutual!

Oscar is now three weeks old. At his doctors appointment, he weighed over 11 lbs. and was almost 24 inches tall. Raymond is four and a half. We took him into the laundry room on Sunday morning to mark his height on the wall. Much to our surprise, he is taller than Nate was at the same age, by an inch or so! Does this mean I will have grandchildren taller than 6' 8"?!?

But maybe Oscar will surprise us and be "normal" like Henry.

I think that Janae feels like her all day trek through the airways was worth it for the baby holding alone. Ask her sometime about navigating customs and the Atlanta Airport (if you have ever flown in or out of Atlanta, you'll understand) with a cart full of luggage and two little boys. Don't ask her about her Delta flight from Atlanta to Phoenix. It might trigger traumatic stress syndrome!

I'm glad that they made it. They are in the pool as I write and they plan an outing everyday in my car because they can. They said that their first ride on the freeway was a little like a roller coaster ride. Fast and scary! It's hard to be fast and scary in a wagon!


Janae says that their wagon has a great reputation on the island with constant offers to buy it!

Thanks for continuing to share your baby Nichelle! We all want to hold the baby!

Heirloom color

After slicing up the heirloom tomatoes for our grilled pizzas last night, I just had to take a picture of all that color. Clockwise starting at 12 o'clock: Brandywine, Green Zebra, Russian Black Krim, and Old German. The pizzas with fresh basil, oregano, and mozzarella were delish!

Children, I know you think I'm strange for treating my heirloom tomatoes like gold, but they can't be found in just any garden center and they taste like no other.

Tomato Bar

I love my "tomato bar." Hum, which tomato shall I slice for my sandwich today? Unfortunately, June has brought very high temps, 108 today and 100 plus teens by Monday. My tomato days will soon be over. There are plans for these yummy beauties; salsa, homemade pizzas, pico de gallo, more BLTs. From left to right, there are eight different kinds.


I also have three volunteer tomato plants. They popped out of the ground on their own (my other plants are in containers) so I started watering them.

They have thrived! It will be interesting to see if they last longer than the container plants.

I decided to try making some sun dried tomatoes.

I cut some romas in half, scoped the seeds out, and sprinkled them with freshly milled salt and pepper.

I placed them outside in the sun during the day under a piece of cheese cloth for three days


and this is what was left. A colander full had shrunk down to half a pint jar. I'm going to store them dry and then place some in some olive oil with fresh herbs for a day before I use them in a recipe.

The yellow, red, and green bell peppers will soon be ready for grilling!

Our favorite blankies

Janae and sons are due to arrive in Arizona very late Saturday evening. The grandgirls requested a "girls only" sleepover so we had to work it in mid-week before the boys arrival. All three of these girls are very attached to their "blankies" so they were in attendance at our sleepover as well.

My fourth grade classes used to bring in their favorite baby or childhood item as part of a sharing/writing assignment in conjunction with a book I read to them. I always loved their sweet stories about their "lovies." It also made me realize how much gifts, especially handmade gifts, can come to mean so much to little ones.

Sadie is holding the quilt I made for her and meant to give to her when she was born. It actually became a one-year-old birthday present! I am happy that it became her favorite. It is impossible to predict which blanket or quilt will be honored as "the special one."

Heather has attached herself to a baby quilt made by Grandma J for her father, Eric. Eric was a United States of America bicentennial baby who was blessed on the 4th of July, hence the patriotic fabric. The quilt and it's original owner will soon be 34! Heather, however, seems to be the current owner.

Ruby received her homemade quilt from Kay Wagner, mother of one of Sally's best friends. Kay has a beautiful home in Hawaii right on the beach which she has generously shared with us. Ruby was almost two on that visit and had already loved her blankie into disrepair, so Kay patched it up for her. I was a bit envious of Kay's sewing room over the garage with its view of the ocean! As you can see, that little quilt is beyond repair now, but is still so loved.

Oscar is now two weeks old. He received a couple of quilts/blankets from Kay who is also the mother of one of Nichelle's best friends. This grandma has a quilt in the works in her sewing room with a view of the pool (which might just turn into a 1st birthday gift!) It will be interesting to see if he comes up with a special blanket and if so, which one.

I think Oscar has become Nate's special "lovie!"

Some Memorial Day reading

I've just finished reading the seventh in a series of books beginning with "Maisie Dobbs." Maisie is a former nurse who served in France during World War I. We learn about her early life and wartime service in the first novel. The series then follows her life during the years following the war as she recovers from both physical and psychological wounds while creating a career for herself as an investigator for hire. The reader is also immersed into life in England as the country, its veterans, and citizens attempt to recover from the remains of war. The characters are engaging and the plot lines well driven. It's not often that I remain with a series, but after reading seven books, the last being released in 2010, and I'm definitely hoping for more.

Jacqueline Winspear, the author, began this series in part because of her interest in the experiences of her grandfather during wartime and its aftermath. She tells more about that here. As I looked at the picture of Jacqueline's grandfather, I couldn't help thinking of mine.

Andrew Percy Nyborg was also a veteran of WWI. He was an Idaho ranch boy who was wounded in France. In his own words:

The summer of 1917, Rhoda Foote the girl I later married, came up to cook for her two brothers who were farming a ranch of Fred Bailey's 1/2 mile from our ranch. I became acquainted with her that summer. In September of that year I was drafted into the U. S. Army and left St. Anthony October 20th for Camp Lewis which is now known as Fort Lewis. I trained there 9 months with the 91st Division also known as the Eveready or Power River Division. The pine tree was the symbol which stood for eveready as don't change winter or summer. The 91st Division was originated at this time. Starting June 1918 the 91st Division was sent to France and became a major fighting unit of World War I September 1918. We were sent across the states by train on the Great Northern. We were given a great send off. Wherever the train stopped, the home folks showered us with ice cream, candy, tobacco, and about everything else they could think of.

We were moved from St. Mihiel to the Meuse-Ligomne Sector. This was the first the 91st was given a place in the front line with full command of its Division. Sept. 20th, we suffered a few raids with a few casualties. On Sept. 26th, at 4:30, we went over the top on our first time under fire. The next four days and nights, I never had my shoes or clothes off and lived mostly on hardtack and corn beef. I was a camping scout. Went out in front of troops to locate the main body of the company. It was raining most of the time we were in the front lines. On the night of Sept. 28th, it was raining and the mud was about ankle deep. We were marching in the dark to keep from getting separated to a new point on the front line. The orders was no smoking or lights of any kind. Then we were told that they didn't know which way the enemy was and the lives of the Company depended on us guards. We stood 2 hours guard, and the rest of the Company would get what rest and sleep they could.

When I was relieved from my 2 hour watch, the man that took my place said, "Do you smoke?" and I said, "No." He said, "I wish I could say that." He wasn't afraid of the enemy, but he was afraid of the strain without a smoke. I felt that I was blessed that our Church has standards to live up to, that help you out in some pretty tough places sometimes.

The next afternoon, I was wounded in the neck, a bullet going through my steel helmet, splitting my ear and lodging in the tissue of my lung. Dr. Larsen said he didn't see how it missed the heart. He took a x-ray and located it. This was one night I could not lay down or stand as it sort of paralysed my body for 3 months. I could not run or carry anything without my legs going out from under me. I could walk around slow, but that was about the size of it.

This night I felt I was blessed again as what I needed most was given me. First I guess I would of bled to death, but Wood Jenkins was next to me and put on my first aid. Though after dark, I got to my feet and started to mosey around. Didn't know where I was or where I was going and along came two solders with a couple of German prisoners. They helped me to walk and had the Germans pick up a buddy wounded in the leg and pack him back. When we got back to the first aid station, one of the Germans gave me his overcoat, something I surely needed.

In the night, I went to the sargent in charge as there was no place but the wet ground to lay on and was sure in misery. It was hard to stand and harder to lay down. And I remember him telling me it was a fourth mile back to the next station where they were hauling them back from the front. I thought I started on back, but the next morning about 8:00 o'clock, a buddy came in the German barrack across the little valley from where our first aid station was and told me I had better get out of there as the Germans had started to shell them. I was on a German bunk. I walked on back that morning to the next station. There they redressed my wound, took off my clothes, gave me pajamas and a blanket, put me on a seat with a Red Cross driver, and sent me back to the Hospital. They had to cut my shoes and socks off, as I had had them on for 5 days and nights.

I put the next 3 months in the Hospital and Convalescent Camp waiting for my outfit to come out of Belgium. My Father passed away while I was in the Hospital on Oct. 2, 1918 in Salt Lake City, Utah; but I didn't get the word till 6 weeks after. It was that long for my mail to catch up with me. I returned to the United States on April 1918 and was discharged from the Army that month at Camp Russel, Wyoming.

My Grandpa Nyborg passed away from a heart attack when I was 7 years old. I remember my mother telling me of the bullet he received in France and then carried for the rest of his life. Three of his children served during World War II, including my mother who joined the Women's Army Air Corp. I am grateful for their service, but I am even more grateful that they all lived and were a part of my life. I will always remember them on Memorial Day when an American flag waves over their grave sites.

Oscar's first visit to grandma's house

Oscar made his way across Mesa today to visit grandma. She was thrilled to see him! He is now ten days old.

He is changing fast and is, oh, so so sweet. He brought his knitted blanket with him. Grandma made it for him, her very first big knitted project.

Grandma was sad to see him leave. Happily Oscar is coming back tomorrow evening while his parents go out to dinner. He is definitely a keeper!

What happens at grandma's doesn't stay at grandma's

Last week ended with some great times with the grandchildren. My health issues in February forced me to cancel the scheduled "grand kids sleepovers." Fortunately I'm up for sleepovers again and we had lots of fun.

The fun began for me when I went to Heather's last softball game of the season on Thursday evening and watched her receive her medal as well as get some great hits.

Friday night was Toby's graduation from pre-school. Next year he will be a kindergartner at the "big" school. True to "Jensen form," it looks like he will be the biggest in his class. That's him at the end of the line waiting to march.

Their cute T-shirts had the hand prints and names of all the other class members.

The graduates were adorable as they came forward to tell us what they want to be when they grow up. Toby wants to be a builder!

They sang us several songs including, "It's a Small World." TJ and Heather quickly plugged their ears because "this song is contagious!"

Sally, Ruby, and Sadie joined us for graduation. Then there was the big parking lot switch as all the grandchildren piled into grandpa's car (boys) and grandma's car (girls) along with their overnight bags. The boys went for pizzas and the girls went to the grocery store for supplies.

Luckily, after pizza and playing, they were more than ready to go to bed. I pointed out that the best time to play outside would be early morning when it would be cool. Ruby was the first one up. Ruby is never the first one up, but she told me that, "My brain said it was time to wake up and go outside and my eyes just popped open!"

Our cul de sac was in the midst of hosting a several family garage sale, so Grandpa was soon leading the troops down the sidewalk, the girls still in their nightgowns. at 6:30 am. They came back with lots of goodies which I am sure their parents were thrilled to see upon their return home. Grandpa was thrilled to show off his CUTE grandchildren to the neighbors!

I hung the net curtains leftover from Ryan and Emilia's wedding on the patio.


They spent some time creating fairy bowers while I baked cinnamon rolls for their breakfast. I also made cookies for Nate's birthday. Toby went with Grandpa Glen on his Saturday Home Depot run. After Home Depot, they went on to Lowe's. While walking through Lowe's with many other customers around Toby blurted out, "This place smells just like Home Depot!"


While they were eating breakfast, we also cooked a few purple beans. I planted two different kinds this year. The purple seed packet said that the beans would turn green when cooked. We popped them in the microwave for 1 minute and viola, green beans!

We packed everyone up and took the cookies and helium tank with balloons and drove over to wish Nate a happy birthday. See more HERE.


On the way back home, we included an art appreciation lesson. We stopped in downtown Mesa to see the "God Bless America" statue based on the above painting "American Gothic" by Grant Wood.

On the way, the children browsed through this book I found about Grant Wood. Heather read them important facts. We also learned who he used for his models for "American Gothic." You'll have to borrow the book to find out!

They all agreed that this art installation was pretty impressive! Poor Sadie is sitting with Grandpa on the bench in the background. She had just cut her finger on Grandma's car door handle (another reason to be upset at Toyota - the fake chrome is peeling off and it was sharp!)

All four of them would have fit in that suitcase!

And they could have lived with Old Mother Hubbard in this shoe!


Finally, they found somebody taller than they are!

Before going home, we made the obligatory trip to MacDonald's for lunch at University and Val Vista. Great place to go to "the park" when it's mid-day and too hot to be at the actual park.

Heather and TJ joined me later in the afternoon on a trek to the Tempe Center for the Arts. We very much enjoyed Childsplay's version of the "The BFG." These are the scary giants and part of the reason I wasn't sure that the younger ones should tag along. The play was most enjoyable and Heather was fascinated with the costuming, scenery changes, and puppets in addition to the story. TJ had already read the book but Heather had not. I had picked up a copy of the book for them to have and Heather finished it by Sunday morning.

We also had fun exploring the building.

By coincidence, Emilia was photographing a wedding at the same time we were viewing the play. If you look carefully you can see that Heather is waving to her on the far side of the guests. The bride is already late for her ceremony! The guests are looking across the negative edge pool toward Tempe Town Lake. It appears that the water flows together and the view is very beautiful with the bridges and mountains in the background.

Gila Valley Celestial Room

Heather and TJ spent a second night with us so that they could attend the dedication of the Gila Valley Temple via satellite at the stake center with us the next morning. Eric has been very ill, and he and Susan were unable to take them. Later in the day, Dave and Sally dropped off Ruby and Sadie while they went to the second dedication ceremony

The girls spent time in the grand kids room with the playhouse they had created. (I had been instructed to save boxes before the sleepover.)

Heather had brought the nucleus for the mansion with her. No wonder she was so intrigued with the scenery and props at the play.

TJ hung out in the living room where there was a battle going on. These are the bad guys.

Who seem to be taking out the good guys.

TJ tells me that it actually ended with neither side having a clear victory.

I think that I won! I loved having the little ones about again. But it made me tired! I'm writing this post instead of cleaning house :)