tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89947896992974602332024-03-19T15:41:40.879-07:00Franson Funny FarmFranson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-13519245051270631122018-07-02T08:09:00.003-07:002018-07-02T08:09:57.482-07:00My mind has gone blankOnce again I was unable to get into my blog to post, until now. This post was written last December. Hopefully I can be more consistent with writing.<br />
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Before I could access my blog again, I had all kinds of thoughts of things I wanted to post. Now it seems my mind has gone blank. Why is that? Makes a body wonder.<br />
Holidays are tough ones. I finally put up my tree tonight. I bought decorations to decorate it differently this year. I thought, over this year, that I was doing good. But I am realizing it will still take time. Lots of time. I love the ornaments I have collected over the years. There are handmade ones that the kids made at school & church, and also ones I bought for them each year. I decided I needed a change. Maybe it will make things easier, but probably not. And it's ok!<br />
We still have our sweet little foster baby that we have had for nearly 8 months now. She is such a precious little one. Always happy, smiling, and responding to us. Today was court for her parents. It was another routine hearing, going over the plans for reunification, and reviewing if mom & dad are doing their part to make the reunification happen. As I was sitting there, I had a very strong impression that she is going back to them. I suppose I should explain that. Mom & Dad have had 8 months to do what the social workers have asked them to do in order to get her back. Instead of doing it, they have found every excuse imaginable as to why they haven't. It is incredibly frustrating and sad. Not to mention the fact that they hate that their baby is in a white peoples home. They are Native American, and extremely racist. It makes me so sad to see this, and to know that this is what this sweet, darling baby is going to be raised up in. BUT, I know it is not my business. My job is to just take care of the babies and love them until they are able to go home to their parents. This little one just has a way of touching everyone's lives who come in contact with her, even for a brief moment. I don't know if I have had as special a little spirit in my home before. There is just something about her. I have learned that I have to have faith that Heavenly Father is mindful of her and will do what He can to watch over her. I guess I just had hope that the reunification would not happen, or be successful, so she would have the opportunity to be adopted into a good home.<br />
Then I am torn, because I realize that when she is gone I will be able to really concentrate more on my sweet grandchildren. Then I feel awful thinking that, because I know just how much John & I will miss her. Oh well. I must wait & cross that bridge when we get there.<br />
As I read back over this, I am chuckling to myself, thinking it seems like I am rambling. Maybe I shouldn't try to write when it is late at night. lolFranson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-33174903780315276132017-09-27T11:50:00.000-07:002017-09-27T11:50:47.356-07:00Reinventing Myself aka My New NormalThis post was originally drafted about a year ago. But before I was able to finish it, I became unable to access my blog any more. I am so grateful that I can now do this, and rather than delete this post, I thought I would publish it anyway. I need these reminders.<br />
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June 19th, 2016 changed my life forever. I have had many life-changing things happen over the course of 50 years; a brother passed away when I was 13, we lost my nephew when I was 17, both grandparents are gone, both my parents are gone, my marriage, the births of my children, a car accident that left me in a hospital bed in my home for 2 months, etc...But this one tops them all.<br />
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Our sweet special needs boy passed from this earthly life to continue his mission in the next life. He was my life! My whole world revolved around him. I mean that in every sense of the phrase. I have previously told the story of how he came to our home. Over the years I have experienced anger at the birth mother for making the choices she did that caused him to have these earthly challenges, but then I would realize, we wouldn't have him if that hadn't happened.<br />
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Because of the Fetal Drug Syndrome Disorder, the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder, Epilepsy, and the Autism, Jud required a lot of work. He tried his best in EVERYTHING he did! But he was also very impulsive, delayed, and quick! I would turn my head for a minute & he would either disappear or be into something, creating messes. But he was my life!<br />
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On June 18th, twenty minutes after John & I returned home from a 3-day trip, Jud went into a seizure. It was the worst one I had ever seen him have. The paramedics could not stop it so they loaded him into the ambulance and took him to the hospital. John & I followed behind. At the ER, it still took them forever to get it stopped. Total seizing time was over an hour! That is hard for a parent to watch. They got the seizure stopped, but could not get his oxygen sats up. Then his heart stopped! After about 2 minutes of CPR (PCR as Jud use to like to call it when we were playing), they got it going again, but the decision was made to fly him directly to Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake. Long story short, and LONG 3 hour drive later, we, his parents, had to make the decision to end his suffering. He had been oxygen-deprived for over 7 hours, his heart had stopped 5 times, and was getting weaker every time they restarted it. How do you make that call to shut off the machines and let your sweet child's heart stop on it's own?<br />
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The last two months have been HARD! I know it is just the beginning. I walk thru the house & every moment has a memory.<br />
I do not have to walk around legos scattered all over the living room floor anymore, or worry I might vacuum up an 'important' piece.<br />
I will never again hear, 'Mom, I'm going to Larry's' anymore, or watch him stand at the end of the driveway hollering, 'Larry!' waiting to go over to 'work.'<br />
I have gone from running the dishwasher an average of twice a day to maybe, 3 times a week.<br />
Laundry??? Well...let's just say I do that once a week, maybe, whether we need to or not. I think I was probably doing 6-8 loads a week before.<br />
No more running to Camp Hippo twice a week, and to Disability Services twice a week. My gas bill for my car has reduced drastically!<br />
Each time I go to town I do not hear, 'Can we get a snow cone?' or, 'Can I get a treat or a prize at the store?'<br />
My grocery bill? Forget about it! From 3 dozen eggs a week to none. From 2-3 gallons of milk a week to 1. We've had 5+ bags of chips sitting up in our pantry for 2 months now. They would have been gone in 5 days!<br />
The tv is not on all day long.<br />
I do not get snuggles at night when it's bedtime. And no more stories to read.<br />
My lawn does not get mowed 5 times a week. (the neighborhood is strangely quiet. I think the girls next door need to step it up!)<br />
No more playing in the mud & hosing off. Or jumping on the trampoline with the sprinkler under it.<br />
I watch his puppy growing and think of how much he would have loved him. They would have been inseperable!<br />
No more cleaning and finding old food or wrappers stuffed behind furniture or in cracks. (I looked up on the wall and found some gum stuck to the picture up there. Then when I finally had the emotions in check enough to take it down, I found another big wad just behind the picture)<br />
And speaking of gum...We've had 6 packets of gum sitting up in the cupboard for 2 months now. That would have been gone in a matter of days.<br />
I don't have to hide the sharpie markers any more.<br />
We don't go thru reams of paper like crazy.<br />
My table now has sewing stuff all over it instead of art supplies.<br />
It is very lonely driving to church by myself. I use to long for the day when sunday mornings were peaceful and sitting thru church was not a challenge. Now I long for the way it was.<br />
No more will I hear:<br />
'I love you Mommy!'<br />
'Can we snuggle?'<br />
'Can we go some-else?' (somewhere else)<br />
'When will I be done with Camp Hippo?'<br />
'When is my HI worker coming?'<br />
'Can I go swimming?'<br />
'I'm hungry!' (ten minutes after eating!)<br />
'Where's my silkie?'<br />
'When can I get a dog?'<br />
'Thank you for my dog!'<br />
'Can I go to Larry's?'<br />
'When is scouts?'<br />
'Can I watch a movie?'<br />
'When are we going camping?'<br />
'When are we going to Brittany's?'<br />
and so many many more!<br />
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And do you know what? This is the first year in 22 years that I have not had to register for school!<br />
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My days are very quiet. Even with all that needs to be done around the house, it is hard to find motivation to do it somedays. I am learning.<br />
I will be working more.<br />
I am retraining my mind to not be on high alert all the time.<br />
It will be weird not walking out to the bus every morning, and watching for it every afternoon. I would always think that we needed to get another tree planted out at the end of the driveway to block the wind while we waited for the bus, in anticipation of when the other one finally fell down. Now we don't have to. At least for that reason.Franson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-74151265444980743572017-09-27T11:46:00.001-07:002017-09-27T11:46:54.334-07:00Thank you to a wonderful friend, who managed to access my blog for me that I haven't been able to do for over a year. I am so grateful!<br />
I stated this in my profile, but I am going to restate it here. Right now I am using my blog to record thoughts & feelings I have from events that have shaped my life over the past year and nearly a half. For me, I do not believe in posting things like this on Facebook because I do not want it to appear I am looking for attention. What has happened has happened and I am just trying to deal with it day by day, but do not want to appear that I have not 'gotten over it', or am looking for sympathy or attention. That, I am not! I just need an outlet.<br />
So.....with that being said, you do not have to read the posts, or follow me at all! You can if you'd like. This is just for me, right now.Franson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-40968911844041589912015-07-21T09:30:00.000-07:002015-07-21T09:31:16.921-07:00Crazy LifeThings have been so crazy-busy lately. Since June 18th, we have been to Utah for 4 days, home for 5, then I left for California for 4 1/2 days, home for 2, back to Utah for 4 days, home for 1 1/2, then to Boise for 2 days. We managed to be home for a week before spending a day at Girls' Camp, cooking for the Stake leaders. The next day I headed for Stanley to participate in the Mountain Momma's Craft Fair. That lasted 2 days. I am now home and so happy to be here, with no major things happening, relatively, for a little while. John does have Helaman's Camp for his priest-age boys next week, and in 2 weeks we will go back to Utah to spend a day with ALL the kids together. Taya & Kaleb will be up, so we are going to all be together. That will be awesome!<br />
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Anyway--In all this running and going, I have worried about how J would handle it all. Did I mention we also survived another seizure, and a panic/anxiety attack during all of this? In spite of it all, he really hasn't done too bad. It could have been much much worse. We have a month until school starts. I sure hope we can keep on a schedule and be ready for that. I have confidence that we will.<br />
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My challenge right now is getting him to keep the tv off during the day. I get distracted, cleaning and working, and don't pay attention to what he is doing, most days. Yesterday, it was afternoon before I realized he'd had it on all day. Today he is quite a bit more mouthy and sassy, thinking he is funny.<br />
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I took him with me when I went to Stanley last friday night. John came up the next morning and stayed a few hours, then took J home. I quickly figured out that wasn't a smart idea, to bring him with me. We were trying to set up Saturday morning and he was all over the place. For a little while, he made a friend who loves legos, so they sat under a tree for a long time, playing. After that, he was all over the fair, talking to people, making animal noises, etc. My stress level went thru the roof, trying to set up and keep track of him. Being my first fair as a vendor, that stress alone was phenomenal. Add trying to keep track of the boy on top of it, wow! It was a tough weekend for me. We made it thru, and lived to tell about it. But I definitely learned I don't take him with me without plenty of backup. Kim & Tyler were with me but they were trying to help me get the booth set up and ready to go. We have to have one person totally designated to watching the boy and nothing else. There was so much to see and so many sounds and smells. For a child who has the smell and hearing comparable to an animal, that is almost too overloading. And he wants everything he sees. I told him he could pick out one thing to buy, but he had to walk the whole place first, with a grownup, to see all there was, before he decided. Once he found something, and decided, there was no peace until he could go buy it. He perseverates on things so badly lately. Once he gets something on his mind, there is no peace until that happens or comes about. It doesn't do any good to tell him not to bring it up again, because he cannot get it out of his mind. Usually with Autistics, you need to prepare them in plenty of time, of an upcoming event or activity that may be a change in routine, or they will freak out. Not so with J. We cannot tell him we are going to do something or go somewhere until just before it happens, or we get no peace, and he works himself into a huge frenzy. Certainly makes life interesting.<br />
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Tonight is our ward Pioneer Day party. J absolutely loves going to these, but gets so overstimulated at them. He wants to be everywhere, talking to everyone, playing with everyone, in everyone's face, loud, mouthy and sassy. The ward members think it is all cute and funny, or don't say anything to stop him. It creates so much stress for John and I. We use to be able to skip the parties, and not say anything to him. Now he is more aware and paying attention at church, so he hears the announcements, gets the invitation, and wants to go. I just don't know. I am becoming more and more of an introvert, and just want to stay home. I suppose that isn't a very good thing either. We will just have to see how the afternoon goes. I am sure I will post an update on here.Franson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-57910695036860276442015-07-21T09:14:00.001-07:002015-07-21T09:14:12.589-07:00Big WeekedWe went to Salt Lake this weekend. We left thursday afternoon and came back saturday. J had a dr appointment friday morning. We took the new car so there was change #1. It is an Impala, so smaller than the van, obviously. J cannot quite spread things out & have the room he is accustomed to. But he loves the new car.<br />
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He knew we were going to stay in the motel, so he was really ready to be able to swim. Our original plan was to leave early enough that we could take little S & J swimming in the hotel pool that afternoon. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Change #2. We have to be careful what we promise because if we say we MIGHT be able to do something, it is as good as saying we will do it. Even if we say we will think about it, he takes it as we are going to do it. We really have to be on our toes and pay attention to what we are saying, or replying to.<br />
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Change #3 is staying up later than normal, and sleeping in the same room with Mom & Dad & a t.v. It always takes a while for him to fall asleep, so that means late nights. Much later than normal.<br />
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One thing he absolutely loves, when we stay in the hotel, is the waffles at breakfast. He really loves getting to eat there. He's usually pretty good, and was that morning. Just a little too friendly for my comfort, with the other guests, but we are working on that one.<br />
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The dr visit went good. We get to do a sleep study. I have to make all those phone calls today and figure out when, in the middle of our crazy schedule over the next month, we can get that done. That requires another trip to Salt Lake. I don't mind that. It means I get to see the kids again. :) After the appointment, we went to the City Creek Mall to go to the Disney Store. Had to get a couple of things for the grandson, for his birthday, that he requested. J loves going into that store. He had 3 quarters with him that he dearly wanted to spend. He still doesn't understand the money concept so, rather than try to get him to understand there was absolutely nothing there that he could buy for 75 cents, John & I told him which area he could look in to pick something out. Everything he wanted was at least $20. He picked out a car, then found a stuffed Olaf that was on sale within the price range we gave him. Olaf has been his constant companion since then.<br />
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We had one more shopping place we needed to go so headed that way. On the way we stopped for lunch, then got the shopping done and headed back to the hotel. The whole morning, all we heard was, 'When can I go swimming? Am I going to get to swim today? Can I go swimming?' This child has no concept of time, at. all. I could tell him he has 5 minutes to do finish something and 2 minutes later tell him time is up & he believes me. I cannot tell him we will do something in 30 minutes. He doesn't get it.<br />
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We finally made it back to the hotel & I took him down to the pool to swim. There was another family there with the dad & 3 kids. The girlfriend (I gathered that from trying not to listen to some of their conversations) came a little bit later. I schooled J on the 'rules,' that he was to leave them alone, not bother them or butt into conversations, and just do his own thing. For the most part, he did pretty good. It was a very hot day! They had the pool doors open and an occasional breeze would blow thru, but I only lasted about an hour and 15 minutes before I had to call John and have him come take a turn.<br />
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The rest of the day wasn't too bad. We went out to Brittany's so she could cut & color my hair. By that time J thought he was starving to death. Brittany told him there were crackers and granola bars in the food storage room & he could help himself to something. Unbeknownst to us until yesterday, he took that very literally, and ate 2 boxes of fruit crisp bars. Ugh! We just have to keep a constant vigil over him.<br />
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Saturday was the two little grandsons birthday party. They had a bounce house set up. That got J all sorts of excited. Once everyone started coming, it wasn't long before he had to remove himself from the crowd. He went downstairs and put in a movie & stayed there. I love that he, for the most part, recognizes when he has had too much, and needs to find some place quiet. He doesn't always do that, but it is good when he does.<br />
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After the birthday party, Brittany had a 'surprise' birthday party for me, since it was my birthday that day. Apparently it was John's idea to do something and he told her to put it together. That was fun! I've got such a great family!<br />
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It was late before we headed home, and didn't get home until after 11 that night, but J managed to sleep some on the way. He didn't like that the seats don't recline in the car like the van's did, but I am sure we will adjust to that eventually also. Life is full of adjustments. It is just hard for those who view things so vastly different than the rest of us, and whose understanding isn't where ours is. I am sure we will live to tell about it all. :)Franson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-13905493053975220082015-06-18T08:12:00.000-07:002015-06-18T08:13:18.873-07:00ANOTHER ER visitI don't know if I've mentioned J has not only been diagnosed with Autism, FAS and FDS, but also epilepsy/seizure disorder, migraines, and cluster headaches. We also discovered, thru an overnight oxymeter test that his 02 sats drop below 88 when he is sleeping at night, so it is recommended that he sleep with oxygen on at night. We are still working on getting him use to wearing the mask all night long. (sensory issues). Frequently, he will be sound asleep, or almost asleep, and get woke up with a headache. That happened last night.<br />
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I don't think he had quite fallen totally asleep when he hollered to me. His head was hurting. We got the oxygen on him and I waited by his bed. Sometimes the oxygen calms him and relieves the headache quite quickly. That's how we distinguish between cluster headaches & migraines. Oxygen stops the cluster headaches. I think there was more going on last night. He kept saying he felt funny and dizzy. That is when I go on high alert, watching for seizure activity. He stayed responsive to me the whole time, so that is good. But then he started twitching. Now, he can be pretty good at faking things sometimes (we are working on that), so I have to really pay attention to tell if he is faking it or it is uncontrollable. After a few minutes I determined he was not faking. I called John down to watch, and possibly give him a blessing. John watched for about 60 seconds and said I had better take him into the hospital. We try very hard not to be paranoid parents, but once you have witnessed just one of his seizures, you would understand. I don't know if I've mentioned before that his seizures are not like normal ones you usually see people having. And, they don't just last for a few minutes. They will last anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half. Of course, we cannot allow that to happen. We have to have them stopped within 10-15 minutes max. So--that is why we are hyper-vigilant. </div>
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We got J out to the car. I tried taking his portable oxygen tank with us but couldn't get the regulator on right. So frustrating! We headed in anyway. Thankfully, we got lucky and got good staff in the ER this time. Last time we were in I kind of felt like the dr thought I was being an over paranoid mother & there was nothing really wrong with my son. This time they were so sweet and understanding and so good to J. I am learning that one of the first things I tell them is that he is Autistic and has a hard time verbalizing exactly what is wrong. They still were clueless as to what was happening with him. They run a quick EKG test & his heart tested out great. They did some blood work, gave him a blanket and an ice pack (he first said he was freezing, then 30 seconds later his head was so hot). The dr ordered a small dose of valium to give him to calm him down. I cannot tell you how much he HATES shots! He just knew the nurse hit a bone when she gave him the shot in his behind. (not likely). It took a few minutes for the valium to really kick in, but I saw him start to relax. About 10 minutes later he went from crying to hysterically giggling in about 30 seconds. Cracked me up! Anyway, after about 2 hours in there, they sent us home with a pain pill in my pocket, in case it happens again. As I lay in bed, after getting him settled and was thinking about it, I wonder if he is having panic attacks when his head starts hurting. They told me if he doesn't keep breathing normal (which he doesn't), the hyperventilating can cause chest-like pains. That made sense to me. I think with each visit, I am able to gather little snippets of information to help in the understanding department a little bit more. What a process! Thankfully, we are scheduled to see his Neurologist at Primary Children's tomorrow morning. Hopefully, we can piece together all this information and see if he can shed a little more light on what is going on with this sweet boy. One or two normal days would be so lovely to have, but I know it is wishful thinking. </div>
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That was just the evening activities we got to enjoy. All day yesterday, J had been looking forward to his HI worker coming so he could go swimming at the lake. He had his weekly appointment with the dermatologist to treat the warts on his thumb. They are very stubborn and are taking quite a while to go away. Once they are treated, they need to stay wrapped for 24 hours. While we were in the office, I realized he would not be able to go swimming. We had an all out crying fit in the exam room. The dr is also a counselor in our bishopric in our ward. He got a front row seat to view the festivities. Again, so frustrating! The fit pretty much lasted thru the dr visit, all the way home, and for the next 45 minutes until the HI worker got here. We were trying to convince him of other things to do when my visiting teachers showed up in the middle of it all. At that point I just wanted to curl up in a ball on my bed and cry. I knew that wasn't an option tho, so I sucked it up, and continued on. We were finally able to get him out the door, with extensive bribery, and I had a short visit with my VT's. After they left, I finished up some projects I was working on, while enjoying the quiet time and listening to some piano guys on youtube. </div>
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That was my day. How was yours? :D<br />
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BTW-This was our third ER visit in a month. I don't like those statistics.<br />
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Franson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-76412536635156554642015-06-16T20:55:00.000-07:002015-06-16T20:55:57.189-07:00OverstimulationToday J got to go with John & the Young Men and Young Women of our ward to the Logan Temple to do baptisms for the dead. Our Idaho Falls Temple is closed until October of 2016 for renovations. We feel this will be a great opportunity for the youth to visit other temples and to realize how blessed we really are to have a temple only 30 minutes away. Now, having our temple closed, the nearest one is Rexburg, an hour's drive away. Because of it's being next to BYU-Idaho, it is so busy they will not take appointments. It is just a come-and-take-a-chance-you-won't-wait-for-hours thing. So, the leaders think it is a great opportunity to visit other temples. Twin Falls is a 2-hour drive, Logan is nearly 2 hours, Brigham City is about 2 hours, Ogden a little farther, and Bountiful just a bit beyond that.<br />
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Anyway, it was J's first chance to participate in this activity since he turned 12. The youth must be 12 years old, and have an interview with the Bishop to be found worthy enough to receive their limited-use recommend to attend the temple. I tried to explain to him what would happen today, but he just had a hard time understanding. Combine the stress of not understanding with the anticipation of getting to go somewhere and we had a recipe of a quite stressful morning. When J gets overstimulated, he gets quite mouthy. Honestly, I would describe it as a teenager-type attitude. Only, with a normal teenager, a parent could let them know loud and clear that that kind of talk was totally unacceptable and do NOT talk to me like that any more. For the most part that will work. But not with J! I deal with this on nearly a daily basis. Sometimes it escalates to the point that he has to go to his room to calm down and improve his attitude. He is always sorry and apologetic, but does not get that when you say you're sorry, it means you won't do it again. It happens. Over and over and over again. Maybe one day we will get it.<br />
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So….we first had to go to town to gas up the van, wash it in the car wash, then go to Wal Mart to buy lunch stuff and snacks. We gassed up and I let J wash the front window. He loves washing the windows at the gas station. We pulled around to the car wash and discovered just minutes before they had closed it for cleaning. J loves going thru the car wash, so he was very disappointed we couldn't do it. We don't deal with disappointment well when our stimulation is already off the charts. Off to Wal Mart. That is a very overstimulating outing all in itself. It is hard for him to take in all the things on the shelves, and all the smells. He wanted to buy this, and that, and make sure he had enough for everyone in the car. I feel all I do is say "No, we can't get that." Or, 'Only pick one.' Having to pick one drink out of 20 can be almost too much. Needless to say, by the time we got home, we were both on edge and quite snippy. I finally threatened him with, 'You can stay home and not go at all.' (that sort of worked). He was able to have some time for down time while I got things ready to go and fixed the lunches. That helped a little, but I'm not gonna lie--I breathed quite a sigh of relief when they pulled out of the driveway. I sat down in the chair to peruse the computer for a bit and promptly fell asleep.<br />
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You would think that just a little excursion to town like we had this morning would not be a big deal. But it is. He loves going in to Wal Mart, but has to look at EVERYTHING! He has hyper senses so he can hear and smell things that we normally cannot, or do not pay attention to. Add the vision to that, and all that is on the shelves and racks is a lot for him. And it exhausts me trying to keep track of him and pay attention to what I need to get. A lot of times I try to time my trips to town to coincide when he is at therapy or out with his HI or HS worker. I know I need to take him more, but…..<br />
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They made it home about 6:30 this evening. He said he had a good time. John said he had a little trouble keeping his hands to himself in the car, with the other boys, and when he was done with his turn being baptized and confirmed, he couldn't just sit there and watch the other kids. He had to go walk around outside. He cannot sit still without having something to do with his hands. That is why, at church one will always see him with a lego toy or his paper, clip board and drawing things. He has to be doing something. John took him out and let him walk around the grounds. When everyone was all done in the temple, they loaded up the cars and headed up to Utah State University campus for some Aggie Ice Cream. It's really good stuff! The leaders treated the kids to a 2-scoop cone or cup. That was a big hit. Then home they came.<br />
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I will say--this is one of the faster nights he has fallen asleep when it was time for bed. He didn't even stir when I got up from laying by him. He didn't think he needed his oxygen tonight, so I am hoping he sleeps all night without it. We shall see how it goes. John discovered it is not an easy thing to drive a significant distance while keeping track of a car-load of kids, one of them being J. That can be quite exhausting. :) <br />
<br />
I think it was a rather good day, all things considered. We are all learning!Franson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-43928481721041575562015-06-10T23:33:00.000-07:002015-06-10T23:33:53.226-07:00Enjoying the CalmThe past two days have been relatively calm. I really appreciate when that happens. Both mornings had one incident in them where J got mouthy or argumentative & was disciplined for it. This morning he was actually sent to his room for some time out time. I don't send him to his room as a punishment. Rather, I let him know that is a place for him to relax and calm down. Once he is calm & realizes what he has done, he is able to rejoin the activities upstairs. If the incident was very severe, he is not allowed to come back up until I tell him he can. There have been times in the past where the calm-down time in his room was not so calm. We have a few small holes in the walls to prove it. Thankfully, that has gotten better.<br />
Today was spent going to the dr for his weekly treatment for the warts on his fingers and foot, and to Pocatello for another appointment. His regular dr. has been treating the warts on his thumb on a monthly basis since December and they kept coming back. He finally referred us to the dermatologist (who actually lives in our ward). I think we may be starting to see some progress. These warts were on his thumb that he use to suck. I thought they were calluses, but when the first dr saw them he identified them, then explained how lucky we were that they did not transfer to J's mouth. He has had to send a child or two to Primary Children's to have the warts lazered out of their throats. That was exactly what J needed to hear to cure the thumb sucking! We do feel blessed, tho, that no warts were transferred to the mouth!<br />
After our visit to Dr. Wray, we grabbed some lunch at Taco Bell. J's favorite is the Crunch Wrap Supreme. My favorite is Chicken Chalupa Supreme. I got two of those because I knew exactly what was coming. He wanted to taste mine. Once he did it was a hard decision of whether or not to trade half of his crunch wrap for my second chalupa. That happens a lot. He also downs his drink extra fast, then thinks he can drink mine. We are working on that. What's his is his and what's mine is mine, unless each offers some to the other.<br />
As we ate lunch, we were rushing home to get something for someone who would be stopping over later while we were gone. I placed it by the door, ran back out to the car, and away to Pocatello we drove, for our Developmental Disabilities Services Reassessment appointment. (Say that fast several times). J went with an HS worker out in the community while I sat in the appointment going over his plan from last year and helping to make a new one for the coming year. That took just over two hours. Now that I know more of what to expect, we were able to tweak certain things so we can, hopefully, see more progress thru out the coming year. We have met some great people who come into our home and help J with various things to encourage growth and progress in his development. That meeting took up the better part of our afternoon. By the time we got home, I was beat. Thankfully, (this time) John had a dinner appointment so I got by with just fixing Macaroni & Cheese with hot dogs for supper. I try really hard not to fix boxed stuff, or prepackaged food, too often. I have found that the extra preservatives they put in the food to make the shelf life last longer, affects J in a negative way. He seems more agitated and uptight when given a lot of processed foods. I have always loved canning and preserving our food, but even more so now, and have learned to put up all sorts of new things. I have expanded my horizons greatly in that area.<br />
Red Dye is another one that I have noticed has an adverse effect on J. Do you know how many drinks and foods have that in them? Doritos are one, and many sports drinks and soda pops. Of course, those are not very good for anyone because of the amount of sugar in them, but J still likes them for treats. It's a constant for me to stay on my toes and watch that stuff.<br />
Wanna know what is a great sensory activity that calms my boy down A LOT? Playing in the mud. Occasionally I will posts pictures on Facebook of him playing in the mud. He has his own designated mud hole out in the garden area. That is his spot. And it is an All or Nothing kind of activity for him. I mean, in the hair, in the ears, all over the entire body kind of activity. The clean up isn't always pleasant. There are rules he must go by in order to retain this privilege. He is only allowed to play in his underwear. More than one set of clothes have been ruined. Underwear is cheaper to buy than shirts, shorts AND underwear. And when he is done he must shower off with the sprinkler before being allowed in the house to the main shower. Nearly all traces of mud must be removed, and he cannot get water or mud on me in the process. That is a challenge, because the water gets quite cold coming out of the well, so that has a tendency to overstimulate him. However, I observed last week that he was much much calmer the remainder of the week, after getting to play in the mud just twice. I think it is worth it to me. Now if we can just get him an above ground swimming pool, I think my sanity my be preserved for the summer. lolFranson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-91933311270815740952015-06-09T08:29:00.001-07:002015-06-09T08:29:41.016-07:00As I was sitting here this morning, thinking back on yesterday, I realized it wasn't really too bad. There was only one real confrontation and that was in the late morning when I asked J to turn off the t.v. when his movie was over. He then decided to change the movie & I caught him trying to find another show on netflix to watch. Because he turned off the show he was watching, he now had to turn off the t.v. He thought he could go back to the original one instead. That is one struggle we will have this summer, I am afraid. He would have the t.v. on all day long if I would let him. But I don't like that. I don't think it is good, or healthy, and I like him to find other things to do. I have allowed a really bad habit to form that I am trying to break now.<br />
Another issue we are trying to work thru with him is nighttime sleeping. I feel so bad for him. He falls asleep pretty fast at night but then is woken up with a headache, and lately, stomach or chest cavity pain. I have taken him into the dr. and we've even been in the ER trying to figure out what is going on. We know his oxygen sats are dropping in the night, which I mentioned in yesterday's post. When I was exchanging his oxygen tanks out at Lincare last night, I was visiting with the lady there & she suggested putting him on oxygen all night long, to see if that helps with the headaches. Technically, because of his sats dropping like they are, he really should be on oxygen all night. We tried last night, but he didn't like the mask elastic around his head so he took it off. I thought I had some nasal canula tubing, but I remember cleaning a while back and getting rid of them because when we tried them before, he hated them. Now he wants to try that instead. So back to Lincare I get to go again today to get that & try. I put the fan in his room for the first time this year because the nights are getting warmer. I think that noise is comforting to him. Once I turned that on, & got him to sleep finally, he slept all night. It is a process. We just try and try again, until we figure out what works. Even then, that may only work for a time, so we try again.<br />
Today is a busy day. He has his HI worker (Habilitative Intervention-for Developmental Disability Services) for 2 1/2 hours, then Camp Hippo from 4-5:20, then Scouts this evening. He does like having things to do. Days that we stay home and don't go anywhere he is constantly asking to go somewhere else. I don't like being on the go so much. It is a balance.<br />
Hopefully today will be another good day, with minimal meltdowns.Franson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-38234809821709237152015-06-08T11:28:00.001-07:002015-06-08T12:33:31.295-07:00My life with Autism, FAS and FDSI obviously am not much of a blogger. But something has been on my mind quite a bit lately, and I think someone even suggested to me, that I should keep a record about my days living with Autism, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and Fetal Drug Syndrome. I posted, quite some time ago, of how we got our sweet boy thru foster care. He is a joy in our lives & we love him so very much. But it is not easy. Somedays, not. at. all.<br />
To keep this post from being way too long, I will just post about yesterday. Some days are really really good, and some days are not. Some are somewhere in between. I am still trying to decide what yesterday was.<br />
It started out pretty good. John was gone, so J was sleeping with me. It is a comfort to him (and to me), and it is much easier. When John is gone at night there is a lot of stressing and worrying and little sleep. I like my sleep. By letting him sleep upstairs with me, we both generally get a good nights sleep and I am not running up and down stairs all night long.<br />
So, even tho he slept well all night, he still woke up at 6 am. I convinced him to go play out in the living room quietly so I could catch a few more zzzzz's. At 7 I woke up and found him playing with his legos and watching a movie. I proceeded to get things done to get ready for church. While I showered, he found his church clothes, got dressed, and got his church bag ready. I was thinking to myself, 'what a great morning. Things are going pretty good.' I wanted to get to church a little early to make sure he was prepared to pass the sacrament. It was only his second time. With John not there to help him, I needed to talk to one of the other boys to make sure they could keep watch and help him if he needed it. We didn't make it quite as early as I had hoped, but still a couple minutes before start time. I got him settled where he needed to be and went back to sit down. Not long after he came back wanting his church bag. I told him he couldn't have it up there where he was sitting, that he would have to wait until he was done. Then I opened up the bag. Instead of the usual paper and pencils to draw with, that we have been trying to move toward, there were two hero factories, and a big bag of sunflower seeds. That's what I get for not checking the bag before we left the house. Since I wouldn't let him have the bag, he got upset and would not go sit back up with the other deacons. He was mad and was not going to do what he was suppose to. I finally just ignored him and let him think about it for a minute or two. He decided he would go back up. We made it thru the sacrament with relatively few incidents.<br />
During Sacrament Meeting, he usually sits on the floor facing the bench, to play with his legos, or draw. Yes, I know. He is 12. He should be sitting up on the bench by now for the whole 70 minutes. But hey! We have got him sitting up during the sacrament, and especially now that he is passing, so I feel we've accomplished much. Baby steps!<br />
About 10 minutes before closing time, he decides he is tired and tries to lay down, under the benches. 'No. You are too big for that.' (he is 5'8" tall and 190 lbs). That mildly upsets him, but we manage to get him sitting back up. (KC and Jordan had come up for the weekend, so they were sitting with us, helping me out.)<br />
Once Sacrament Meeting was over, he knew he must go to his 'old' class. That is the Primary class he has been going to all year. Until January, he will continue to go to this class. Then he will move up to a Sunday School class. After the Primary class, instead of going into Primary for Singing and Sharing Time, he is suppose to go to Priesthood with the other Young Men. I had been asked to sub in Primary, leading the music, and John was not here to coach him to go to Deacons Quorum, so I just told him he could come into Singing Time with me. I THOUGHT he would be good. Nope! First, while they were waiting out in the hall for class change, he went into the Young Women's room, licked his hand, and rubbed it all over the light switch. One of his babysitters saw him do it and chased after him, but he got away from her. She told me what he had done. Sigh!<br />
Next, once in the Primary room, he would keep calling out to me from the back of the room. He was bored. He wanted to play on my phone. He wanted to go out in the hall. He wanted to come sit up front by me, etc. Thankfully, I didn't have a whole lot of time for singing time, got it done, told the pianist I was leaving, and asked the Primary President to please lead the closing song for me. And we left! Still, not a really bad day, so far, but he was getting the idea that I wasn't very happy with how he was acting.<br />
For the most part, the rest of the afternoon wasn't too bad. He played pretty good, unloaded the dishwasher for me without too much complaining, because Jordan helped him, and wasn't too sassy and rude to me when talking to me. I was still counting my blessings.<br />
After KC and Jordan left to go back to Utah, he decided he wanted to go for a bike ride. He wanted to ride down to the subdivision and back (about 3/4's of a mile one way). I thought he would be ok so I was going to let him, but when I told him he could NOT go into the subdivision, that he had to just turn around and come back, he decided he didn't want to. (I am figuring out his motives for wanting to do things. He wanted to go find friends to play with. Nope! Not happening without permission first.) He finally talked me into going for a walk, so he could ride. I needed some motivation so off we went. I am trying to get back into running, so it was good for me to get out & go.<br />
On the way back home, he rode ahead. He was doing good staying on his side of the road and not all over it, until a pickup came up behind him. Thankfully she was still a ways behind him when he heard her coming and darted over to the other side of the road. In his logical mind, he needed to be on the other side of the road so he wouldn't be in her way. After she passed by him, he crossed back over tho where he was suppose to be. I am so glad she wasn't closer to him. when he darted across. When I got home I had to go over 'the rules' again with him, that he stays on the side of the road. The cars will go out around him. That is a constant with him, going over the rules. The same ones, over and over and over and over again. We don't remember well.<br />
Still thinking the day was a pretty good one.<br />
While on the phone to my sister, he asked if he could jump on the trampoline. Of course! I knew eventually water would be involved, because he thinks that is the only way to jump on the tramp. That was ok too, but next thing I knew, he was standing at the door with soap all over him. I quickly got off the phone and started quizzing him about the soap. First, it was just on the tramp. Nope! Sorry, I'm not buying that one. Then it was just a little bit. Try again! You got that expensive bottle of body wash out of the shower didn't you? 'Yes.' And you used up the entire bottle didn't you? 'Yes.' Ugh! So much for the good day! I made him shower off with the sprinkler to get the worst of it off, then come into the shower for the rest. Yes, grass got tracked in clear thru the house, because I had just mowed the lawn the previous day. (The tub was filled with grass too).<br />
The rest of the evening went pretty good, because he knew he had upset me & I wasn't happy. When bedtime came, I was able to get him into bed without too much incident, altho he kept stressing over when Dad was going to get home and why wouldn't he get to see him until morning. We finally got him to sleep, & I came upstairs to relax & wind down.<br />
About an hour later I heard him cry out so I went down to see what was wrong. His head was hurting. We deal with that a lot. I thought we had them under control, but they've been starting up again. It doesn't happen until after he falls asleep. We have done a couple of all-night oximeter tests, testing his O2 stats while he is sleeping. Apparently, his sats are dropping at times, while he's asleep. I am wondering if this is causing the headaches.<br />
Anyway, we got the oxygen started, but this one seemed to be a little worse. I don't know if that was the case, or he was just worrying about when Daddy would get home. Just when I would get him settled down, about 15 minutes later he would cry out again. Then, his 'heart started hurting'. It pains him in his chest in the vicinity of his heart. I tried everything. Oxygen, oils, Melatonin, rubbing his back, more oxygen, even taking him for a drive in the car at midnight, hoping to relax him enough that he could fall asleep. I think we managed to accomplish that goal about 1:30 this morning. I have no idea what is going on, and neither does the doctor.<br />
So, that is just one day. Actually, not a really bad day, considering. There have been worse days. Puberty is rearing it's ugly head. He is beginning to act like a pre-teen, with the sassiness, and attitude, but with the mentality of only an 7-9 year old. Some things he is age-appropriate in, but most things, much more delayed. And did I mention the arguing? Oh, the arguing! I have already raised 4 teenagers. But you can reason with them, for the most part. This child? No. It doesn't happen! He argues with me. And argues with me! You know I just don't know anything. He does. No matter how many times I tell him to stop arguing, he will do it again. He sure is able to push buttons!<br />
I don't write this to garner sympathy. I do it, I believe, to start keeping record of what happens daily. And, if it helps a few people understand what it is like living in our home, then maybe that accomplishes something too. I think it helps me, most of all, to put it down into words. That is my way of dealing with it I guess. I really don't mean to blab my problems to all the world. It is just me. I have to find a way to deal with the stress so I can be more of a benefit to him. His sensory level is super high. Even when I may not think I am stressed, he will sense it. So I try hard to stay as even keel as I can. I do my very best not to baby him. I am trying to teach him he has daily chores to do, to contribute to the family. I try to help him understand I am not here at his beck and call. If he wants me, he must come to where I am. We are trying to teach him good and proper manners when around others, and to be kind and respectful. But it's a process. Some days I think we are getting it, other days, not at all! It seems, lately, too, that his sensory overload button is stuck. Everything overstimulates him, and so much faster than usual! Just having his brother home, with his girlfriend, is overstimulating. Taking him to town is overstimulating. Going to church, with all the people there, in one building is overstimulating. I just keep hoping, and praying that this too will pass. That one day he will grow out of it, or learn how to control it. Just like I hope for all the other things that he may learn to control one day. It's the only way I make it thru, sometimes. Hope.<br />
Oh yeah, one more addition to the post. I went into the use the back bathroom this morning. I don't go in there often, but just had cleaned it a couple of weeks ago. The floor didn't feel very clean. Yep! There was pee on the floor, dried, around the toilet, on the lid, on the back of the toilet, probably on the wall too. We aren't careful where we aim. But hey! At least I finally have him remembering to flush after he uses the toilet, most of the time. And he can finally wipe his own bottom after a bowel movement. That's progress. Right?Franson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-20422631792463904482012-11-02T10:19:00.000-07:002012-11-02T10:19:25.340-07:00My RantI am going to rant here for a few minutes, so if you do not want to hear it then stop reading now! But if your curiosity gets the better of you & you want to know what I am ranting about, then, by all means, read on.<br />
I heard a story this morning of a family in need of some compassionate service (in the way of meals brought in) for a few weeks. In the midst of this story a statement was made that the teenage child in the home did not even know how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Are ya kidding me?!?! Seriously??? That made me think back and have cause to be thankful.<br />
Growing up on a ranch, I was an outside girl. Every moment of every day, when I had the chance, I was outside; playing trucks on the hillside, building forts along the creek (hiding from the pigs that roamed out there), making a playhouse in the loft of the old barn or riding my horse or the motorbike out thru the fields. Every chance I got I was out 'helping' my dad irrigate, drive tractor or just tagging along. Even when we had 'work day' for school I would gladly work out in the yard cleaning up the bushes and flower beds. Then when I was 11 my world changed a bit. My big brother, who was on his mission, was diagnosed with cancer. My parents were gone for quite a while. When that happened, I got to go stay with neighbors or friends (that was FUN!). But once Mike was brought back to Salt Lake for treatments my dad came back home and Mom stayed down in Salt Lake with Mike. Since Dad was home, I could stay back at home, but then I needed to learn how to do some of the basics around the house, like laundry and cooking. Mom would write me letters in detail, explaining how to sort the clothes (I pretty much already knew how to do that from just watching her) and how much soap to put in and what settings to wash and dry them on. Sometimes my Grandmother was there to do it for us, but most of the time she was up in Hat Creek with Grandpa. Life had to go on, you know.<br />
When it came to cooking, I cringe now to think of the things my poor dad had to eat. I knew how much he loved meat, potatoes, and gravy. I so wanted to cook that meal for him to show him how grown up I was. Now, we made our gravy a little different than most people. It was a white gravy made from bacon grease, flour and milk. I called a neighbor/cousin to ask her how to do it, but she was a little unsure also so....I made the attempt. I knew you melted the bacon grease in the fry pan, stirred in the flour, then added the milk. What I didn't know was you needed to let the bacon grease and flour brown for a few minutes to break down the flour and make a paste. Then add the milk, stirring as you go. I just pretty much did it all together at once. The gravy was horribly lumpy! The meat didn't turn out too bad, but I'm sure it was very dry and lacked any seasoning at all. Bless my sweet dad's heart, he still raved over it, how great it was going to taste. As we sat down to the table to eat, a knock came at the door. In walked our neighbor, my dad's best friend. "We were just sitting down to eat. Would you like to join us?" said my dad. All the while I was trying to catch his eye to tell him NO! I knew the meal was not fit to feed a friend. Of course he eagerly said yes and sat down with us. I was mortified! Nothing was ever said about that meal being awful, or horrible or inedible, but right then I decided I was going to make sure I knew how to cook better to make it up to my dad!<br />
Now for my rant....when I got to college I was shocked at how many girls I met who had no clue how to do ANYTHING for themselves. They did not even know how to go to the store to buy personal items for themselves, let alone turn on the stove, make ramen noodles or wash their clothes. The dorm mother had to teach them. I must say, they were extremely excited to be learning these things, but at the age of 18 they didn't know how???!!! Really??? How sad. I made another vow to myself that my children would not be in that boat! They would leave home at least knowing the basics, if nothing else.<br />
By the age of 5, Brittany at least knew how to turn off the stove if I was outside & couldn't get in right then. She also was skilled at vacuuming! By the age of 9 Mataya could follow a cookie recipe and make cookies all on her own when I was too tired after a day of teaching at school and was pretty much passed out on the couch. BTW-I would use that on my Foods students, who were 7th and 8th graders. I told them it was pretty sad my 9 year-old could show them up when it came to making cookies.<br />
On her mission, Kim is very knowledgeable about how to live on a budget and know how to prepare simple, but good foods that don't cost a lot. At college, KC is the apartment chef and doing an excellent job at it.<br />
So...Mothers....teach your children the basics! Teach them how to be independent while you are there to watch them so, heaven forbid, you don't have to do it thru a letter and let them have to learn it on their own. Granted, trial and error are great tools, but it sure is nice to have mom stand alongside you, helping and giving pointers. Mission presidents, future spouses, mission companions, roommates and your own children will thank you many times over if you do. I promise!<br />
End of rant. Now you can return to your regular programming. :) Have a great, teaching day!Franson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-81957190719440742932012-10-28T18:26:00.000-07:002012-10-28T18:26:09.326-07:00Homemade Onion RingsJohn & I are getting more & more where we find something at a restaurant that we really like, then come home and try to fix it here at home. Sometimes we get it spot on the first time and sometimes it takes a few tries. That is the case with onion rings. We LOVE onion rings, but I like the ones, like at Rupes, that have a crunchy, corn meal-type breading on them, not the smooth breading. We have tried several different recipes. FINALLY yesterday, as I searched the internet, I found a couple of different recipes that looked good. I got the supplies, combined the recipes, and made the best onion rings yet! I think they are even better than Rupes! BTW, Rupes is our local fast food joint that is very similar to A&W. Great food but rather expensive. SO----here is the recipe.<br />
<br />
<b>Onion Rings</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
1 lg onion, cut into 1/4 inch slices<br />
1 1/4 c. all purpose flour<br />
1/2 c. dry bread crumbs<br />
1 tsp. baking powder<br />
1 tsp. salt<br />
1 egg<br />
1/2 c. milk<br />
1/2 c. buttermilk<br />
3/4 c. dry bread crumbs<br />
<br />
Heat oil in deep fryer.<br />
Separate onion slices into rings & set aside. In a small bowl mix together flour, 1/2 c. bread crumbs, baking powder, and salt.<br />
Dip the onion slices into the flour mixture until they are all coated (this dries the rings out so the batter will stick); set aside. Whisk the egg, milk and buttermilk together and add enough of the flour mixture to it to make a batter, not too runny but not too thick. May need to add more milk during the process.<br />
Dip the floured rings into the batter to coat & shake off excess batter. Then dip in bread crumbs & coat well.<br />
Fry in oil 2-3 minutes or until brown. Drain on paper towels.<br />
Can sprinkle with season salt after frying, if desired.<br />
Makes about 3 servings<br />
<br />
I promise you these will be devoured in no time at all. You will hardly be able to wait until they have cooled enough to put in your mouth.Franson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-30737425699952377872012-01-22T13:45:00.000-08:002012-01-22T14:59:57.519-08:00I Am So Blessed!While Kimberlee was living at home we would be having a conversation and the words to a song would pop into my head that were related to the topic we were talking about. It would almost always be a country music song. She often made fun of me for comparing my life, or hers, to a country song. Well, guess what....here we go again.<div>All last summer and fall I could not get a particular song out of my mind. I really felt (and still do) that it applies to me. You may have heard it. It is Martina McBride's "Blessed." These are the words:</div><div><br /></div><div>I get kissed by the sun each morning,</div><div>Put my feet on the hardwood floor.</div><div>I get to hear my children laughing</div><div>Down the hall through the bedroom door.</div><div>Sometimes I sit on my front porch swing,</div><div>Just soaking up the day.</div><div>I think to myself, I think to myself,</div><div>This world is a beautiful place.</div><div><br /></div><div>(chorus)</div><div>I have been blessed.</div><div>And I feel like I found my way.</div><div>I thank God for all I've been given</div><div>At the end of every day.</div><div>I have been blessed</div><div>With so much more than I deserve,</div><div>To be here with the ones who love me,</div><div>To love them so much it hurts.</div><div>I have been blessed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Across the crowded room</div><div>I know you know what I'm thinking'</div><div>By the way I look at you.</div><div>And when we're lying in the quiet</div><div>And no words need to be said,</div><div>I think to myself, I think to myself,</div><div>"This love is a beautiful gift."</div><div><br /></div><div>(chorus)</div><div><br /></div><div>When I, when I'm singing my kids to sleep, </div><div>When I feel you holding me,</div><div>I know.....I am so blessed.</div><div>And I feel like I've found my way.</div><div>I thank God for all I've been given</div><div>At the end of every day.</div><div>I have been blessed</div><div>With so much more than I deserve.</div><div>To be here with the ones who love me.</div><div>To love them so much it hurts.</div><div>I have been blessed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, the chorus is probably my favorite part because of the words. I do thank my Heavenly Father every day for all He has blessed me with. For a time, last fall, I was having difficulty falling asleep at night. My mind would get racing with all the things I needed to be doing the next day or upcoming week and I could not relax. One night these words came into my mind so I started thinking of all the things I was blessed with. It didn't take long to relax and fall asleep. That became my habit each night. </div><div>Today in Relief Society our lesson was on how much we really mattered to our Heavenly Father, and how important each one of us is to Him. The sweet sister giving the lesson commented on how her life had become somewhat stalemate and how she didn't think she really mattered to the Lord. This last year she has had some profound things happen to her that made her realize how important she was to Heavenly Father and how he had been carrying her thru her life. I thought of that and also of how I get trolling along, so super busy and caught up in my every day things that I forget to continually communicate with Heavenly Father each day. After a time things will get so bad (in my mind) that I do not think I can go on another minute or I just don't know how to handle a certain situation at home and I am reminded...I just need to ask for help. He is always there waiting to help me if I will just ask. And help He does!!! Invariably, things will turn around and be better. Or I am just at peace enough that it helps the situation. </div><div>I am just truly blessed! My last blog post here was about our busy year last year. What a year it was! But soooo many blessings! It was a year filled with such wonderful and positive things. Even my mother's passing was such a blessing. She is now free of her earthly body and reunited with her eternal companion and many other loved ones. My brothers and sisters and I had the opportunity to work together to help her just before she passed and to also plan her funeral and spend time together. For me, the time was not long enough. I so enjoyed being in Edward & Kathy's home, (the house I grew up in) visiting with them and getting to go see where Tim and Barb live and visit with them. That visit definitely wasn't long enough! I don't get to do the visiting I would like to very much because Jud keeps me quite busy, but this time was great. I hadn't been up to my hometown of Salmon for a number of years, so going up there was so good. I realized I need to take the kids and go more often. Of course, now it is really only Jud at home. KC is here too, but he is hardly home and will be jumping ship soon. Still, I hope we can make more trips up there and maybe even have the older kids and their spouses tag along to come see the beautiful place I grew up and all there is to enjoy up there!</div><div>Just so many blessings! I love where we live here in Blackfoot. I remember when John was transferred over here. I cried. I loved living in Magic Valley, in Rupert. I really didn't want to leave there. And to live in BlackfooT?! Who wants to live there??? I mean, really! But, boy was I ever wrong! We were so blessed to move into a fabulous neighborhood and an even better ward. The friends we have made over the years have been so great! I hope I never have to leave here. Many times I have expressed the desire to live farther out in the country and not so close to town, but now I realize how blessed I am to live close to town, mostly because it is close to the hospital when we have needed to be when Jud has his seizures.</div><div>I am blessed to have really really good kids! And now I am blessed to have two fine sons-in-law. I am blessed to be able to do foster care for the state of Idaho. Especially to be able to care for these sweet little ones who come into our home. We have a sweet little almost 3-year old in our home right now. I hear about the home he came from, and I think of the homes and situations of all the other little ones we've had in our home, and I think how blessed I am to have grown up in the family I had. No home is ever completely perfect, but my home was close. Sometime I will have to blog about my home life growing up. It was great!</div><div>And now, I look back at my writings here and think...Life is just great! I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and am blessed to have the knowledge I have of a loving Heavenly Father who helps me every day in all I do. Isn't it awesome? I also am blessed, because of this membership in this church, to be married to my best friend, not just 'until death do us part,' but for all eternity! So cool!</div><div>These are just a tiny portion of some of the blessings in my life. What about you? What are some of your blessings? I think, for this year, we should all concentrate mightily on the positive things in our lives. Even when something bad or tragic happens, let's try to find the blessings from it. I learned from my father how good life can be when you concentrate on the positive. I challenge you to do just that. </div><div>As my beautiful missionary daughter says..."Have an action-packed day (week, or year!)!"</div>Franson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-79389454181922146612012-01-03T07:37:00.000-08:002012-01-03T09:21:38.590-08:00A Year in ReviewI didn't get Christmas cards & letters out this year. I think it was because I was busy getting wedding announcements out and used the postage for that. Instead I have opted to post a year-in-review here on my blog. I must say, it has been a rather eventful year for us.<div><b>January--</b>not too much happened this month aside from John doing his traveling for work and also his birthday. </div><div><b>February--</b>another month of travel for John, but also finally received the much anticipated mission call Kim had been waiting for. On the 25th, at 4 p.m. she found out she had been called to the Tennessee Nashville Mission and was asked to report to the Mission Training Center in Provo on May 25th. John and Brittany were on the phones listening as she read the letter. Her Franson Grandparents and her Grandma Tolman were here with us as we opened the letter. Two days later we celebrated Kim's 21st birthday.</div><div><b>March--</b>spent making plans getting ready for the garden, making the new 'hoop house' greenhouse for the garden and also traveling to Utah for the start of several of Brittany's baby showers.</div><div><b>April--</b>another baby shower for Brittany, here in Blackfoot, more getting geared up for the garden and attending the Logan Temple with Kimberlee as she goes for the first time. Our dear friend, Lis, rode down with us and Brittany & Scott and Scott's parents, Richard and Connie, met us there from Salt Lake. We sure do appreciate how supportive Richard and Connie are with all our children and not just Brittany. Kim also had a close friend and her husband travel down from Blackfoot to attend with her. Grandpa & Grandma Franson were also there.</div><div><b>May--</b>starting the countdown to a busy month. Kim gave her 'farewell' talk in church on the 15th. She did fabulous! After church we had a get-together at our house to celebrate Kim's new chapter she was embarking on and to celebrate Mataya's upcoming graduation. We had a wonderful turnout of family and friends and really appreciate all the support they give our family. That was also the last family gathering my mother attended. She was admitted to the hospital 4 days later with an unidentifiable infection.</div><div>The 17th was Jud's 8th birthday so, of course, we had to have a party and celebrate that!</div><div>On the 24th John, Kim and I headed down to Salt Lake to stay overnight with Scott & Brittany prior to taking Kim to the MTC. Brittany rode down to Provo with us the next day. The drop off was quite funny, actually. All along the street there are pairs of 'Elders' (young men attending the MTC for training prior to serving in their assigned countries or states). These young men are there to help the new missionaries unload their luggage and direct them where they need to go. As we pulled up to the curb and I got out and opened Kim's door, one of the Elders greeted me then saw Kim and said, "Oh. A Sister Missionary." Within seconds there were a half dozen Elders gathering at our car. All were eager to greet her and 'help' her unload her luggage. Once our hugs were given and goodbyes said, John, Britt & I got back in the car and headed out of the parking lot. Brittany kept chattering away, which I was grateful for, but then just stopped talking all together. That is when I lost it and started to cry. 18 months seemed like a really long time at that point.</div><div>John & I traveled home that afternoon and the next day I was in Pocatello talking with the Hospice nurse, trying to work out the details of Mom's release from the hospital to go back to her apartment at the assisted living center where she had been living. She was unable to take care of herself, even to the point of feeding herself or sitting up in bed on her own. </div><div>Friday, the 27th, was spent in preparation of Mataya's High School graduation that evening. It was a really nice evening. She got all graduated and spent the night at the school at her 'all night party.'</div><div><b>June--</b>The last few days of May and the beginning of June were spent on the phone a lot talking with the Hospice nurse and family keeping updated on Mom's condition. The first weekend she was back home from the hospital she rallied and did very well. We thought she was on the mend. By tuesday of the next week she quit feeding herself and pretty much quit eating all together. By that weekend she couldn't be left alone so my sister, Jane, brother, Edward, took time from their busy lives to come stay with her 24 hours. I was able to go down a couple of times to relieve them so they could go home to take care of things there. Finally, on the 9th she gave up the fight and returned home to Heavenly Father. During the time Jane & Edward stayed with her and the rest of us came to visit her there were some precious moments we were able to experience and share with her.</div><div>We had Mom's funeral in Salmon on the 17th. We left Jud in Rigby with Grandma & Grandpa Franson. We knew it would be too hard for him to understand all that was going on and it would just be too much stimulation for him with all the events that had been unfolding up to this point. He did fabulous with Grandpa & Grandma and we were able to relax and enjoy our time in Salmon.</div><div>After all this, we were on the wait for our first grandchild to make his appearance. Finally, on the 23rd he decided it was time and Stockton Heinz Sawatzki made his appearance in this big, wide world. Brittany did great through the entire labor and delivery process. I think Scott even made it through with minimal stress. :)</div><div>June is the month of mine & Scott's birthdays and Brittany & Scott's anniversary.</div><div><b>July--</b>another month filled with activities. The weaken of the 4th started off with Judson's baptism on saturday. He's such a funny kid. It was so great to see him be so excited for his baptism. We were unsure of how much he understood about it all but so happy to see that he knew this was part of what he needs to do and to be so excited about it. After the baptism, before he & John got out of the font, he turned to the crowd, gave a big grin and two thumbs up. </div><div>On the 4th we had a barbecue with some of the Franson cousins. Then, later that week we celebrated KC's 17th birthday on the 8th. On the 9th John, Taya, Judson and I went over to Raft River and Burley for the annual Tolman Family Reunion. There is a family in Raft River that has turned their yard into a big play area with two giant slip-n-slide water slides, a mud/volleyball pit, a couple of pavilions, a huge zip line and a candy cannon made from an air compressor. We were there for about 3 1/2 hours and not one time had to worry about where Jud was or if he was getting into trouble or mischief. He LOVED the water slides and spent the entire time running up to the top, sliding down, and going back up again. We could hardly get him to stop long enough to eat.</div><div>This month Mataya moved down to Salt Lake to live with Brittany & Scott so she could babysit Stockton for Brittany when she had to go back to work. We also attended our Corbett Family Reunion in Riverton and had Stockton's baby blessing in church the next day.</div><div><b>August--</b>we hosted the John & Kathy Franson family reunion here at our house on saturday the 13th. That was a fun time having family here and letting the cousins just run around and play. </div><div>The rest of the month was spent enjoying the garden and getting ready for school to start. It is also the month of Brittany's birthday and John & I celebrated our 24th anniversary. We also make another trip to Salt Lake to help Mataya move into her apartment for school.</div><div><b>September--</b>started off the month with the Eastern Idaho State Fair and Mataya's birthday. Brittany, Scott & Stockton came up for the weekend and Mataya and her new boyfriend, Kaleb also came up from Salt Lake. Mataya was getting ready to start school at the LDS Business College.</div><div>I decided to enter some things in the fair this year and got 2 blue ribbons and one red. I made a crocheted baby blessing outfit with the dress, bonnet and booties, plus a little girl's sundress & hat and another little girl's dress with a white pinafore over top. That was pretty fun to see those ribbons on what I had done. Made me start thinking of what I can do for next year.</div><div>After the fair it is time to concentrate on all the canning and cleaning up of the garden. That is quite a chore in itself. </div><div><b>October--</b>I think the most exciting thing that happened this month was Mataya getting engaged to Kaleb Klingler. We have been so happy for her that she has found such a wonderful young man who loves her and treats her so well. They are so perfect for each other and very cute together.</div><div>KC has managed to keep quite busy with school and work. He is on the Student Body Student Council at school and works at a local restaurant. If he isn't working he is busy going to the ball games.</div><div>We also did really well with our pumpkin patch and had a lot of fun letting people come and wander through and pick their own pumpkins for Halloween. </div><div><b>November--</b>worked on wedding preparations, dress shopping and the start of bridal showers. We also enjoyed Thanksgiving Dinner at our house with John & I, Mataya, KC, Jud and Grandpa & Grandma Franson. </div><div><b>December--</b>More bridal showers and wedding preparations, along with Christmas shopping. John, Jud and I went up to the hills to find a Christmas tree and had such a fun time. It was good to let Jud play in the snow. Wish we could get some here so he could have more fun in the white stuff. He sure does love playing in it.</div><div>Christmas was great. We had Mataya & Kaleb here with us. Jud was so excited he hardly slept all night long. Finally at 5:30 KC came up and asked if we could get up because he didn't think he & Taya could keep Jud down there any longer. By 6 a.m. all the gifts were opened. We went to church that morning, then came home and cooked dinner and waited for Kimberlee to call so we could Skype with her. Oh it was so fun to get to see her and talk to her. She is doing so good and looked awesome. How grateful we are that she chose to serve a mission and teach people about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have seen so many blessings come to our family because of her service. She is such a beautiful young woman, trying so hard to do what is right. We are quite proud of her.</div><div>Mataya and Kaleb were married on the 29th in the Salt Lake Temple. The night before we attended the Jordan River Temple with her for her first time going to the temple. Both days were just wonderful and beautiful. Their wedding was so awesome! We had such great support from our family and Kaleb's family. The reception that night was very well attended. It was a steady line of guests greeting the bride and groom for almost 2 hours. </div><div>Now we are looking forward to 2012 and all the fun and blessings it will bring. John & I are already thinking ahead to the yard and garden and what we are going to do. We had such success with our first greenhouse that we are going to build another. One we will fill with tomatoes again and the other we hope to fill with watermelons. Our watermelons did well and were sooooo yummy. We hope to figure out to grow a bumper crop so we can sell them and share the goodness with others. We are also excited to keep the pumpkin patch going again this year with maybe some more improvements to make it a little more fun for people to come pick out pumpkins.</div><div>Happy New Year Everyone!!! Make it a year full of purpose and service and positivity.</div>Franson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-85963408188527341802011-08-09T13:53:00.001-07:002011-08-09T14:01:29.435-07:00Picnic Anyone?I have a hard time throwing things away if I think I have a purpose for them. I have saved all our jeans that have worn out over the years with the intent of making jeans quilts with them. I think I have only ever gotten one made. Just recently I came up with the idea of making picnic blankets. I found a shop that sells heavier canvas-type fabric at a super good price (some of it is only $3 a yard for 54"wide fabric). These sew up really quickly and because of the heaviness of the jean blocks and the material for the back there is no need to put a batting in the middle. So far in the last 3 weeks or so I have made 3 of them. I have been giving them as wedding presents but am entertaining the idea of possibly selling some. I still have 4 plastic tote tubs full of jeans! Gotta use them up! When I thought of starting the first one, it was before Kim left for her mission. She gave me the idea of putting the bandana fabric on the blocks to make them look like patches. I didn't do it on the first blanket I made but have on the next two and quite like the look it gives. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pLhArP6BZXIZgD8eoNOuI-EGExJ3czma8O53CyKZwcjuU3S0xLjyACQlTu3B54SioNWR1AG51hbMNLFyo04x7Y4Qrv0TiepsE_GnsvmdYiWnshhjKX9FXZF9w3a0SUrCkzjlpX7CSSY/s1600/DSC_0336.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638962361344857170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pLhArP6BZXIZgD8eoNOuI-EGExJ3czma8O53CyKZwcjuU3S0xLjyACQlTu3B54SioNWR1AG51hbMNLFyo04x7Y4Qrv0TiepsE_GnsvmdYiWnshhjKX9FXZF9w3a0SUrCkzjlpX7CSSY/s320/DSC_0336.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div>I think we all could use a picnic blanket and take time out from our busy lives to just go enjoy a lunch hour or afternoon outside relaxing a little bit. How long has it been since we have done that?</div>
<br />Franson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-58593503330003693492011-08-09T13:34:00.000-07:002011-08-09T13:52:56.434-07:00Finally finished!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5lv24J822KGZyGy6kUkvdELpVUtcr-YRJWEWP6303uq6K_c88zXuhoSaXQdAKiVhcrHScSYYNShpuIfSBe-s2CO46JV7ButxsuNinYS26jECp_ybPHQ2uwr-qn1PQkj5glXP2JAD9GpE/s1600/DSC_0340.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638957754753763138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5lv24J822KGZyGy6kUkvdELpVUtcr-YRJWEWP6303uq6K_c88zXuhoSaXQdAKiVhcrHScSYYNShpuIfSBe-s2CO46JV7ButxsuNinYS26jECp_ybPHQ2uwr-qn1PQkj5glXP2JAD9GpE/s320/DSC_0340.JPG" /></a>
<br />I love finished projects! Sometimes it takes me a while to finish something I have started because I either get bored from working on it so much or I get distracted with other things that take precedence over the current project. I started this log cabin quilt almost exactly 3 years ago. I wanted to use up scraps of material I had. Like a dummy who hasn't made one of these quilts before, I just started cutting out strips without much thought of how wide they really needed to be cut. As I started sewing them up I realized what I had done. By then I was determined to keep going because I don't like throwing things away. Once I finished the top I then had to find a back for it. That took a while until I found the material I liked. Once that was done I could send it over to my friend, Shanda, in Boise. She does machine quilting. She did this one and the one below for me. I just finished binding them and am so excited with the finished results. Because of the narrowness of the strips on this one, after it was sewn up I figured there are just over 6,800 pieces of material in it. Crazy huh!!!
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQZg-dh9z9Yd7mzCRXFbQ9G9BTFkbpAJnij4TOJDv5d-GWfPhmRhSQz-mKmxs7EMiAv0jGmAv7_g1l5HFnMd65G6YJ2GDGdum731E0-EtW6brEoqi5e6lkueEYXIH5YEf6BdSZ43RRCM/s1600/DSC_0334.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638957558549833874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQZg-dh9z9Yd7mzCRXFbQ9G9BTFkbpAJnij4TOJDv5d-GWfPhmRhSQz-mKmxs7EMiAv0jGmAv7_g1l5HFnMd65G6YJ2GDGdum731E0-EtW6brEoqi5e6lkueEYXIH5YEf6BdSZ43RRCM/s320/DSC_0334.JPG" /></a>
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<br />So when I got ready to make this one I was much more wise and planned ahead before I started cutting. I wanted to make this for a very dear friend for her wedding. I knew these were her favorite colors so I went to work. I absolutely love the colors in this one and how it turned out! In a way I cannot wait to make another one! But...I have too many other things I want and need to get done first. I am just thrilled that they turned out as nice as they did!
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<br />Franson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-67377239336671267692011-08-02T08:55:00.000-07:002011-08-02T09:17:38.125-07:00Finally at peace<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8IXTnJV-Ib5aBpEuvvcfG-7oaid2srGldPvVZrbe6wvDhTLHnBHqNDpigxDMzlNXNGoEjpw_LCiki0_mRzohWZRY55tbz_1VW4kiiXNgvkKzGepuFiAgunZIxUdS8pBh6z2NE3TjkM4/s1600/DSC_0117.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636289727620777106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8IXTnJV-Ib5aBpEuvvcfG-7oaid2srGldPvVZrbe6wvDhTLHnBHqNDpigxDMzlNXNGoEjpw_LCiki0_mRzohWZRY55tbz_1VW4kiiXNgvkKzGepuFiAgunZIxUdS8pBh6z2NE3TjkM4/s320/DSC_0117.JPG" /></a><br />My mother, Elizabeth (Beth) Corbett Tolman passed away June 9, 2011. She is finally free from all the pain and suffering her body was inflicted with. I have to say, it was a relief to know she doesn't have to endure the hardships of diabetes, congestive heart failure, and 'old age' that her mortal body went through. Also, to know that she is now reunited with the love of her life, Rex, her Celestial Missionary son, Mike, her parents, Ed & Maud Corbett, her grandson, Caleb, and great granddaughter, Zoey. What a reunion that must have been! I know how much she loved these people so to be able to be with them again must be wonderful!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3F1VQoF3PXLooKFuCsLX8S4dET4LMJ9IW1XqHR0bj_16812OkOlIyRKm7zNKGBnmbNZAamDHxvvxXXbLB4uEPhB2uCWfJ3xyvDc4F2eGmVjnzcixfBVXXn4dh16bAgiqOk0Tfzt4vJc/s1600/DSC_0119.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636289612802252418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3F1VQoF3PXLooKFuCsLX8S4dET4LMJ9IW1XqHR0bj_16812OkOlIyRKm7zNKGBnmbNZAamDHxvvxXXbLB4uEPhB2uCWfJ3xyvDc4F2eGmVjnzcixfBVXXn4dh16bAgiqOk0Tfzt4vJc/s320/DSC_0119.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-J-lrX_UGJ4ThqSb0seLNqW628HPGSaQb1qEUkg2U9WXzFjTe6RMXn1aML9WmQcpdH_UE7lDkXZTJBWkx-sKAO-5uDFMFJGf59rcodliOfZbQxKbMSxchhy8Zpi05rpZsHys7v05e1B8/s1600/DSC_0120.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636289398859139010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-J-lrX_UGJ4ThqSb0seLNqW628HPGSaQb1qEUkg2U9WXzFjTe6RMXn1aML9WmQcpdH_UE7lDkXZTJBWkx-sKAO-5uDFMFJGf59rcodliOfZbQxKbMSxchhy8Zpi05rpZsHys7v05e1B8/s320/DSC_0120.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaJureGLFHxT9ESS4MjicePeDd5gdfmRJPesoo0dDddtP9Qo9Q4AaigHTjlF9oXcvDLlNScBKU7zWtyC8pn6NyfZUic17sRZ8DGGN7beerE438aFCmFCR2RtiKvhMfdl-YKZBzS8ceZI/s1600/DSC_0143.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636289284860154434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaJureGLFHxT9ESS4MjicePeDd5gdfmRJPesoo0dDddtP9Qo9Q4AaigHTjlF9oXcvDLlNScBKU7zWtyC8pn6NyfZUic17sRZ8DGGN7beerE438aFCmFCR2RtiKvhMfdl-YKZBzS8ceZI/s320/DSC_0143.JPG" /></a> The Paulbearers: Six of her handsome grandsons. From l to r--Mike Forsgren, KC Franson, Malachi Tolman, Seth Batz, Jonathon Forsgren, and Weaton Forsgren. She wanted to have one grandson from each of her childrens' family but Tim's son, Andrew, was unable to make it. How she loved her grandchildren, especially her grandsons!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKatZb8kcym7DT4AzsJBMrjzMQIJWE4I_ezmmuFO534GQGak9QUp__qXtzuaGX8l_c5UTU2d74epOWX8rGfHPmZ1byNfwMJDniMDmqov7t8_Dmbv89h1ML304NXJzIan1Bgu0z7w66tYE/s1600/DSC_0152.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636289166372221442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKatZb8kcym7DT4AzsJBMrjzMQIJWE4I_ezmmuFO534GQGak9QUp__qXtzuaGX8l_c5UTU2d74epOWX8rGfHPmZ1byNfwMJDniMDmqov7t8_Dmbv89h1ML304NXJzIan1Bgu0z7w66tYE/s320/DSC_0152.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeY1JGTpjKCJAnwuPe2qI02pTyRKyiaQAyc9Ym3ekkyi7NFnLqbO5-gx8FRCXtECpA-gXq8zT7XeNnN5EJ5MDRK79YnwLB88GqjkFh7VgBR_PfBHOys9lrYOmJJfDqwdzr0PnPCNJ0kI/s1600/DSC_0156.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636289044542634498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeY1JGTpjKCJAnwuPe2qI02pTyRKyiaQAyc9Ym3ekkyi7NFnLqbO5-gx8FRCXtECpA-gXq8zT7XeNnN5EJ5MDRK79YnwLB88GqjkFh7VgBR_PfBHOys9lrYOmJJfDqwdzr0PnPCNJ0kI/s320/DSC_0156.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Finally her mortal body is layed to rest along side her beloved Rex...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHP1aYjpX7-V3yikn2CtLVzzhG7PIcGT1loYi9quuqflsioPxCEoHr7XT-fyW1_ifk1pA0ljSNDmUYGw6DXHP6FKKABuhYBp4RUNwPYJyUvTx3ulLwPUYQmqSmZX2wbC7g7NpLsvhW9c/s1600/DSC_0155.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636288911435537650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHP1aYjpX7-V3yikn2CtLVzzhG7PIcGT1loYi9quuqflsioPxCEoHr7XT-fyW1_ifk1pA0ljSNDmUYGw6DXHP6FKKABuhYBp4RUNwPYJyUvTx3ulLwPUYQmqSmZX2wbC7g7NpLsvhW9c/s320/DSC_0155.JPG" /></a> and next to her son, Mike....<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCtkuREUD5r_wHf3m4YRhZpGd_-7A7hBWpK55RAZSOx1a02hRVLjePQc_25CyZSHrMHmx_cgXaw39uQBT_pokjFpeoH1JgsMXAjWw3unmUNnUi9OL9ZwwK9bSS5JRG_d_SqdsbRiU0Qc/s1600/DSC_0163.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636288785509098034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCtkuREUD5r_wHf3m4YRhZpGd_-7A7hBWpK55RAZSOx1a02hRVLjePQc_25CyZSHrMHmx_cgXaw39uQBT_pokjFpeoH1JgsMXAjWw3unmUNnUi9OL9ZwwK9bSS5JRG_d_SqdsbRiU0Qc/s320/DSC_0163.JPG" /></a><br />not far from her parents.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8wJm12fMXv5q5rkQfFCLuvSLXz7mJEAhCCLwgHDnQ3Ux83ABRPrviTdkhBf8cpXwVM0dVLFgeU4VetI_w8sZIKfX58YvISH1n3xUiDUm9fSXKo4l_9k9kgZxxnypc3avJy6jvS_ZE-Y/s1600/DSC_0214.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636288644300655650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8wJm12fMXv5q5rkQfFCLuvSLXz7mJEAhCCLwgHDnQ3Ux83ABRPrviTdkhBf8cpXwVM0dVLFgeU4VetI_w8sZIKfX58YvISH1n3xUiDUm9fSXKo4l_9k9kgZxxnypc3avJy6jvS_ZE-Y/s320/DSC_0214.JPG" /></a><br />I really do like funerals in the fact that they are more like reunions for us. We get to see family members and friends that we rarely get to otherwise. These are two of my beautiful nieces, Rachel and Josie.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8raqrWvAc1kREixAXvOUgiQt769fjrnDLtKxVxC2IPzwRLokZuCoRvBbrT7iWEjzHIzryvkFSTg8SAy7gdq_Y9u4sIiq3bcbViQMMZImbh7jIldjCCFUbX9VMNMNr7aJe5KBfrh-KuiQ/s1600/DSC_0215.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636288514326118194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8raqrWvAc1kREixAXvOUgiQt769fjrnDLtKxVxC2IPzwRLokZuCoRvBbrT7iWEjzHIzryvkFSTg8SAy7gdq_Y9u4sIiq3bcbViQMMZImbh7jIldjCCFUbX9VMNMNr7aJe5KBfrh-KuiQ/s320/DSC_0215.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Josie and Rachel with cousins, sisters Jeralynn and Nancy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-hrL3QELNVT9hKH3wLC2-Via_mZZ5a3kPQT1Bnvhc3I8R4IpjnWgwCEuO3ApwIS5WP-yKN_yutRGinDtzDU77gVSRtR0uAeDI0wAgnh6JrVn3YK61963reqviYaQeJQ2acit9mvUiNc/s1600/DSC_0216.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636288375373671826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-hrL3QELNVT9hKH3wLC2-Via_mZZ5a3kPQT1Bnvhc3I8R4IpjnWgwCEuO3ApwIS5WP-yKN_yutRGinDtzDU77gVSRtR0uAeDI0wAgnh6JrVn3YK61963reqviYaQeJQ2acit9mvUiNc/s320/DSC_0216.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Edward's children, Gideon, Tiffany, Josh and Malachi.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzp2EMoymW9HTdWpccNt-Tak8Kn1smb2hrjLwk_641P9AQi_6wE_-VkuOxzRuy1VyryIZDFd4TcT4J1gT1PFxcBkjlSf2frIxLOvygNIN7z_IfVWTgsy8oAZeyuPqsGex0U5K0QqDEBq4/s1600/DSC_0236.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636288234788558866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzp2EMoymW9HTdWpccNt-Tak8Kn1smb2hrjLwk_641P9AQi_6wE_-VkuOxzRuy1VyryIZDFd4TcT4J1gT1PFxcBkjlSf2frIxLOvygNIN7z_IfVWTgsy8oAZeyuPqsGex0U5K0QqDEBq4/s320/DSC_0236.JPG" /></a><br />The 5 of us together. I love how all our eyes nearly squint shut when we are smiling.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Franson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-73372163736322689792011-04-10T15:40:00.000-07:002011-04-10T16:01:18.114-07:00Hair Flowers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKF34eQLqjfIFg2t62XqjFECxsS6QGVGSwmCg3nHUKj3Sd3kbWR8c-wKYQgdoCWwmasYu_n85PYkFTreI6xKZ0Ck9jB8pDlgsCcQKSBJwePvxSiq1y99a7AGTElTqmHqX9G457852WUIc/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594090775478975186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKF34eQLqjfIFg2t62XqjFECxsS6QGVGSwmCg3nHUKj3Sd3kbWR8c-wKYQgdoCWwmasYu_n85PYkFTreI6xKZ0Ck9jB8pDlgsCcQKSBJwePvxSiq1y99a7AGTElTqmHqX9G457852WUIc/s320/DSC_0001.JPG" /></a> Pretty much everyone that knows me knows I like to make things. I love to crochet anything from doilies to baby blessing gowns to afghans. I sew (I do custom sewing). I love making quilts and baby blankets, burp rags, most anything baby. I make stick horses. You name it I like to do it. I had 3 girls and loved making all kinds of hair bows and things for their hair. These hair flowers are the latest of many things I like to do. I have started selling them & had someone ask me if I had a web site. No...I'm not that smart, but I can post them here on my blog. So here you go. Most the flowers here are $5. There are a few smaller ones that are $3 and $4. Specify which one you want and I will let you know for sure the price. I also make headbands that the flowers can clip to. If I can find the color of flower you want I will custom make one. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExjrSP-N0zhZMxAeJ3B74TlAcf3_Cr1M0RBeErkFfsx2Nb7yKKqmXp0S23KfFAZm1I23B8vGapxye5eWe9Aqif34Pv1ZXQfleabsAxxSycVB8v1RoHl8aI26HYi8-C5H2qsAq0WfX3vw/s1600/DSC_0002.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594090688943518066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExjrSP-N0zhZMxAeJ3B74TlAcf3_Cr1M0RBeErkFfsx2Nb7yKKqmXp0S23KfFAZm1I23B8vGapxye5eWe9Aqif34Pv1ZXQfleabsAxxSycVB8v1RoHl8aI26HYi8-C5H2qsAq0WfX3vw/s320/DSC_0002.JPG" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPo0sK3TeNFUZGMAdE5sSTg7vkF4HALY2Kv28qhRuQxOKSPV-XHU0eZ8SQqUt-Rbyx0uWN5jreCa7dWKLVIxk5tfzT64EiL-3ZeLaQto3GkhqsSYGEKSj8KCUEVRCwvfaxsxHSwbu0Lb4/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594090595943341858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPo0sK3TeNFUZGMAdE5sSTg7vkF4HALY2Kv28qhRuQxOKSPV-XHU0eZ8SQqUt-Rbyx0uWN5jreCa7dWKLVIxk5tfzT64EiL-3ZeLaQto3GkhqsSYGEKSj8KCUEVRCwvfaxsxHSwbu0Lb4/s320/DSC_0003.JPG" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTxVeT608xU0KodsjEdOqzt2N9sNV235r4NyuCGjDHSg1DZWc9CCxfQZbWr-6Feh5Lv9wDOTfuMbxh3JV-mRM4iCvGGXQ3xFhNZbvrMByj2qi-Q1s5faGzx9pinmLSrwGawiDmArneHU/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594090505069984674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTxVeT608xU0KodsjEdOqzt2N9sNV235r4NyuCGjDHSg1DZWc9CCxfQZbWr-6Feh5Lv9wDOTfuMbxh3JV-mRM4iCvGGXQ3xFhNZbvrMByj2qi-Q1s5faGzx9pinmLSrwGawiDmArneHU/s320/DSC_0004.JPG" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kIXdipksqcxoOStQ2hZ5AIRZB6vsHvvG5V_ze8dICEqoLaF8Xv_6wlcoquyYPYD4mFYO_LU9K8zItGUT5a2LDzSsxFcu6RcAwoGoaOyAFWdM4zzA_0HTZKp9LFMU9GgrvyHkczub2pY/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594090331626145874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kIXdipksqcxoOStQ2hZ5AIRZB6vsHvvG5V_ze8dICEqoLaF8Xv_6wlcoquyYPYD4mFYO_LU9K8zItGUT5a2LDzSsxFcu6RcAwoGoaOyAFWdM4zzA_0HTZKp9LFMU9GgrvyHkczub2pY/s320/DSC_0005.JPG" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0MHbt7ZQ3pEOgftGK6dGhsfyqj5e_UOljtDbUJ2m2akxoTHo6VV4kDE33W-mdIX60QwMRMQrAdMlcB5AbJDXvmJJcJ04lxKCg42Oju5-fKxzi5VQj5DfB3b64_5X2jbIsFIvxV8pNnw/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594090205387008914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0MHbt7ZQ3pEOgftGK6dGhsfyqj5e_UOljtDbUJ2m2akxoTHo6VV4kDE33W-mdIX60QwMRMQrAdMlcB5AbJDXvmJJcJ04lxKCg42Oju5-fKxzi5VQj5DfB3b64_5X2jbIsFIvxV8pNnw/s320/DSC_0006.JPG" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7ucd89rNR2qQyHB2K-dbnNohFj8BxTwAyJuX6t4qWh-Mu80YZRgMVulv0uRk4FpSivsOp4V4cTw-9sOagY7z0YobUhpom6QyjxwQ_2ot5dgMg28EsNlQrKLPPicK63mqbu8DyECCyhw/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594090126857077330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7ucd89rNR2qQyHB2K-dbnNohFj8BxTwAyJuX6t4qWh-Mu80YZRgMVulv0uRk4FpSivsOp4V4cTw-9sOagY7z0YobUhpom6QyjxwQ_2ot5dgMg28EsNlQrKLPPicK63mqbu8DyECCyhw/s320/DSC_0007.JPG" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXVAafLtToIL_vLvv3kYVk9Im2KueqMOpWXvpGa3cQ7mRqKm_VsiiUkc6VrG5BgQ7NckhltdaIceVhgQbIy7bN9RBUzZRM8TGQ-ZZ9qtAVlwvFk744x1DuguRRUT6VMYCWQKi4CKuzUc/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594089962180630610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXVAafLtToIL_vLvv3kYVk9Im2KueqMOpWXvpGa3cQ7mRqKm_VsiiUkc6VrG5BgQ7NckhltdaIceVhgQbIy7bN9RBUzZRM8TGQ-ZZ9qtAVlwvFk744x1DuguRRUT6VMYCWQKi4CKuzUc/s320/DSC_0009.JPG" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrYKhIb9hBdK62asc5FTpcptGxYhO_TREdxnkIxbX0kNjmsQMwP9BQsi5z1NMy094FBxAi8ilQlHIz1uhyphenhyphenLKYFApLuHHAfzrM-0hQ3j4hR-nUC7nERKrbYJA37Ht_GXzPtbhkxTIPk_g/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594089865090121858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrYKhIb9hBdK62asc5FTpcptGxYhO_TREdxnkIxbX0kNjmsQMwP9BQsi5z1NMy094FBxAi8ilQlHIz1uhyphenhyphenLKYFApLuHHAfzrM-0hQ3j4hR-nUC7nERKrbYJA37Ht_GXzPtbhkxTIPk_g/s320/DSC_0010.JPG" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgDIuugQh0eOl25MPShinruSuYPSoVx6GBk2Ov6tvgwl7PDXni4H4n2cyewA_S2sF4ysSWJVFnOq-OgGbtOfKNJ4kTQXkR6Wwj1MAhOpMUSVvat_j231kPxzuAzFQX5LIWlMOv2BYgzP8/s1600/DSC_0011.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594089773681718690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgDIuugQh0eOl25MPShinruSuYPSoVx6GBk2Ov6tvgwl7PDXni4H4n2cyewA_S2sF4ysSWJVFnOq-OgGbtOfKNJ4kTQXkR6Wwj1MAhOpMUSVvat_j231kPxzuAzFQX5LIWlMOv2BYgzP8/s320/DSC_0011.JPG" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63RFraQoLF8cu4C8ODfDQqJZnHJrYmr2nAN6ajJE-vghfwL8oglZrS55aLMhHhT2d2InNHudlJRmnOVEYB62_KJITdgIqTldWImYxcxocwv6Bzja3LFuAy3mxqvYzCjkpDG8DYQyiMf8/s1600/DSC_0012.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594089697327565682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63RFraQoLF8cu4C8ODfDQqJZnHJrYmr2nAN6ajJE-vghfwL8oglZrS55aLMhHhT2d2InNHudlJRmnOVEYB62_KJITdgIqTldWImYxcxocwv6Bzja3LFuAy3mxqvYzCjkpDG8DYQyiMf8/s320/DSC_0012.JPG" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0o07UnbN3a82f0sBojPJxOej_s9d4suMc51Z7kKPwcLdzz1aL5ZfTw_RKJMFTPJeqZutzkssRzk2-ta8EiHz41FAUc22Fw4OTtHPx_wY3g343_o4pXKM8BEhQogwy-JJlIO_8GSoitac/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594089567140153330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0o07UnbN3a82f0sBojPJxOej_s9d4suMc51Z7kKPwcLdzz1aL5ZfTw_RKJMFTPJeqZutzkssRzk2-ta8EiHz41FAUc22Fw4OTtHPx_wY3g343_o4pXKM8BEhQogwy-JJlIO_8GSoitac/s320/DSC_0013.JPG" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxBTXD740wH-4eth9zLjqvD7u0lZGOHoYhtNWx17Ce6oZFtdEy7JV6qamTbNnoZXOCNWXXV8sDQBOHL4MChwso_kicuhJOBW4sESE_lQpt0sCe7bI0HRMkLSGWyoji7n561XalqKAqts/s1600/DSC_0014.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594089484903763986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxBTXD740wH-4eth9zLjqvD7u0lZGOHoYhtNWx17Ce6oZFtdEy7JV6qamTbNnoZXOCNWXXV8sDQBOHL4MChwso_kicuhJOBW4sESE_lQpt0sCe7bI0HRMkLSGWyoji7n561XalqKAqts/s320/DSC_0014.JPG" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88VHHw1pBdnsKu_yS4_6dchPYXbRlkvHQBQKPMFZmIIgOas__Kwic3BNvFMfvPIBvDbT9JZTasITgGX6cBnCof4TtJDktnELIGkBUYKU059dlk909Oqg37zryETvqdu3vhBKpGyraXA8/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594089378310936242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88VHHw1pBdnsKu_yS4_6dchPYXbRlkvHQBQKPMFZmIIgOas__Kwic3BNvFMfvPIBvDbT9JZTasITgGX6cBnCof4TtJDktnELIGkBUYKU059dlk909Oqg37zryETvqdu3vhBKpGyraXA8/s320/DSC_0015.JPG" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwme3MF6u4maW158093uQ8FkU1_KP-eS5Nb6GP_kC4P1_0T6gLrK2Kt6whuBFS-OWUOL52l9lm0F4UY725p3kRvohEuYtA5oS2POfkQ25rKOo9BVlyOOe5NtvZ2i1rLeLwZBYWFcFanOU/s1600/DSC_0016.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594089253272450258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwme3MF6u4maW158093uQ8FkU1_KP-eS5Nb6GP_kC4P1_0T6gLrK2Kt6whuBFS-OWUOL52l9lm0F4UY725p3kRvohEuYtA5oS2POfkQ25rKOo9BVlyOOe5NtvZ2i1rLeLwZBYWFcFanOU/s320/DSC_0016.JPG" /></a> <br /><div>I don't have many white ones pictured because I ran out of flowers. I will have more done up this week.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCp6jWwgZ8zyTV1HQFz1JBn6NlrTbmVCVxUW2yhfbm1MYytiBNJAgna5zdt5gUXQOR6MIzH2yrnHhRg1p-iVrJ9t_5kw8vRR3muKTgpTXSdNQzGVGOk4Ug4gCkRdWYldAUk8ReFj2JSzc/s1600/DSC_0017.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594089131651481554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCp6jWwgZ8zyTV1HQFz1JBn6NlrTbmVCVxUW2yhfbm1MYytiBNJAgna5zdt5gUXQOR6MIzH2yrnHhRg1p-iVrJ9t_5kw8vRR3muKTgpTXSdNQzGVGOk4Ug4gCkRdWYldAUk8ReFj2JSzc/s320/DSC_0017.JPG" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KvPARV24Q3_uCU4SGHFKYb7A8fUTGxW7124YMQiRhzNAQaB0in2Qun0F5IynvEYyU37sSrcTmQL6_hkAqpoj9Kb5jcjXWpWCW-MKltJMS7s_ZhTgaDf5-wQmJdb-nJ0ocy8jcweIkPU/s1600/DSC_0018.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594089027072273234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KvPARV24Q3_uCU4SGHFKYb7A8fUTGxW7124YMQiRhzNAQaB0in2Qun0F5IynvEYyU37sSrcTmQL6_hkAqpoj9Kb5jcjXWpWCW-MKltJMS7s_ZhTgaDf5-wQmJdb-nJ0ocy8jcweIkPU/s320/DSC_0018.JPG" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfruJ0VVS3Jqag7KMJrL_XM-vrlxZDzRzAf2mgvYR98P2CAj6M7ymV9V1gBc269O1ryi2BnXUTeWKPorYwubt-vvVb5yD8qzcQ_4AHRH3GTIbxnhnJsLqhgz2rO6diOF05NVRvvyoujc/s1600/DSC_0019.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594088915314426562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfruJ0VVS3Jqag7KMJrL_XM-vrlxZDzRzAf2mgvYR98P2CAj6M7ymV9V1gBc269O1ryi2BnXUTeWKPorYwubt-vvVb5yD8qzcQ_4AHRH3GTIbxnhnJsLqhgz2rO6diOF05NVRvvyoujc/s320/DSC_0019.JPG" /></a> <br /><div>I also am always keeping my eyes peeled for black flowers because I get several requests for them, so if anyone sees any in their shopping excursions let me know.</div><br /><div>You can either comment here on my blog or email me at <a href="mailto:lfranson@q.com">lfranson@q.com</a> for any questions or requests. Thank you!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Franson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-46754809081631848362011-04-10T14:16:00.000-07:002011-04-10T14:34:14.674-07:00Our Distinguished DudeLast year the Junior Miss committee decided to add a fundraiser to the program. They started the 'Junior Mr.' here at Blackfoot High School. This year the title, 'Junior Miss', has been changed to 'Distinguished Young Woman' so they changed the fundraiser to 'Distinguished Dude.' The boys do essentially the same things as the girls...have an opening number, introduce themselves, do a fitness number, a talent, and the 'strut', which is self-expression for the girls. KC did not say anything about doing it this year. In fact, I didn't hear anything about it until I got a phone call one evening while KC was at work. It was his best friend, Matt, calling on a Monday night (the program was set for that Thursday) asking if KC would want to do this. They had 2 or 3 boys drop out because of the state BPA competition so they needed to fill their spots. KC practiced three times with them, did a talent with Matt and another friend, Layne, and strutted his stuff. What did he get for his efforts? 2nd runner up to the Distinguished Dude, out of 17 boys. Plus he one the 'Strut' competition. Pretty good I'd say! This is a picture of some of the boys. Third from the left is KC's friend, Matt, fourth from the left is Colton, who one the title of Distinguished Dude, next to him is Layne, then KC on the far right. All 3 of the boys winning the title or runner's up are in our ward. Pretty good huh? Way to go KC!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ceqd2CuEoWNc_Lug9lo9X2fvoEc4h5VmR9VNwZZUrusaGy-oByLY-P74Q1bJZk7oqxzzaCZwa0qBtre_ZZo2RmNaF6YfVWdfIsqZrwY8FTZPqxfdKGEDOh4xNglw_-psX4lpqq-k_p0/s1600/DSCN0531.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594067540873155618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ceqd2CuEoWNc_Lug9lo9X2fvoEc4h5VmR9VNwZZUrusaGy-oByLY-P74Q1bJZk7oqxzzaCZwa0qBtre_ZZo2RmNaF6YfVWdfIsqZrwY8FTZPqxfdKGEDOh4xNglw_-psX4lpqq-k_p0/s320/DSCN0531.JPG" /></a> These next two pictures were last fall during Homecoming Week. KC was one of the cheerleaders for the Junior Powder Puff team. Not so sure about the 'distinguished' look here. :) <br /><div>Go KC!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3k4M8jgPWhD1BnIvk3mCWnPqRmb4qxzLCk4t40_mK62YCJOFFRFpaZvq4lcMDBD6RvMI-WQFwhaGd9fpBp7FDvAHn2XwIvLvdAERB0vwmqfO6pxzzzpTcRwKQF8_iLdVPy-Sf3BanIQ/s1600/DSCN0400.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594067368380196562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3k4M8jgPWhD1BnIvk3mCWnPqRmb4qxzLCk4t40_mK62YCJOFFRFpaZvq4lcMDBD6RvMI-WQFwhaGd9fpBp7FDvAHn2XwIvLvdAERB0vwmqfO6pxzzzpTcRwKQF8_iLdVPy-Sf3BanIQ/s320/DSCN0400.JPG" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkswI4wvUAmS1xBDWSjq4fo3anAXGDDyqzb2EQNnbp2mlLYLNKsPnI4prW9tyYLTQxrufLYb8GqIFuWqf6ZQmvrudRk2XC28t3t93OAFCmZCY2ubQsfn74Ds9Eea5HFsuXYPKTCawJ74/s1600/DSCN0398.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594067235178570658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkswI4wvUAmS1xBDWSjq4fo3anAXGDDyqzb2EQNnbp2mlLYLNKsPnI4prW9tyYLTQxrufLYb8GqIFuWqf6ZQmvrudRk2XC28t3t93OAFCmZCY2ubQsfn74Ds9Eea5HFsuXYPKTCawJ74/s320/DSCN0398.JPG" /></a> <br /><div></div></div></div>Franson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-84919539137475915902010-11-30T10:33:00.000-08:002010-11-30T10:43:45.097-08:00Winter Wonderland<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WyUwUrVT2w2z5agqGbs3gjmGWV55qhwQelJTMV9H_tuPxQMdar84OUq-acyLW4J_jH-OkRKN8IhFFQ5Rlp48ACs-exMNZ62-DTougZsQBvnvpKH4-k16BVhba0wHn4EwXb4bfMigQA8/s1600/DSCN1700.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545413720180672866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WyUwUrVT2w2z5agqGbs3gjmGWV55qhwQelJTMV9H_tuPxQMdar84OUq-acyLW4J_jH-OkRKN8IhFFQ5Rlp48ACs-exMNZ62-DTougZsQBvnvpKH4-k16BVhba0wHn4EwXb4bfMigQA8/s320/DSCN1700.JPG" /></a> When I took Jud out to the bus this morning, this is what greeted us as we walked out the door. The fog from last night had covered everything from the trees to the fence to even the spider web hanging from the roof. It was all so quiet and peaceful, all sounds were muffled. What a beautiful morning. Jud was totally fascinated with it all. I told him I thought the frost covering the pine tree looked like fluffy cotton. He tasted it and said it tasted like coconut. Funny boy.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcfu9c4Cov2xorl9gYAoG_0dLITGhfrtIAgPw8G4Ncs2C9dbJ_v4jOhEp_3Cpysmojr0QWoU0HfN9wE-zvfRjLUe5MnzCEZ2VvB5_Mjpiq3aA0IwRTp_7xnIPKkZnYU3TtSoXHCD5N-U/s1600/DSCN1702.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545413543010033730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcfu9c4Cov2xorl9gYAoG_0dLITGhfrtIAgPw8G4Ncs2C9dbJ_v4jOhEp_3Cpysmojr0QWoU0HfN9wE-zvfRjLUe5MnzCEZ2VvB5_Mjpiq3aA0IwRTp_7xnIPKkZnYU3TtSoXHCD5N-U/s320/DSCN1702.JPG" /></a><br />This is what it lookes like from our driveway looking out to the garden. KC commented on how he does not hardly remember our snowpile (from scraping off the patio) being any higher than that. (Jud has helped flatten it some). I don't mind the snow at all. It is beautiful and fun for the kids. I just hope we don't get bitter cold along with it.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZUxywDZeaGQ0qHZiT2BEALejxMzqy0RuBt9kJRFU0xHS-EO9rVW4Euvv07I-pqJr_mAkD5l77mdLDrUY8AEES-VRoq5mlwZePwMokoi8Hp_wqDr_vhPsQqZzTMGIg_FWP8403eef_F0/s1600/DSCN1703.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545413262084956674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZUxywDZeaGQ0qHZiT2BEALejxMzqy0RuBt9kJRFU0xHS-EO9rVW4Euvv07I-pqJr_mAkD5l77mdLDrUY8AEES-VRoq5mlwZePwMokoi8Hp_wqDr_vhPsQqZzTMGIg_FWP8403eef_F0/s320/DSCN1703.JPG" /></a> More snow in the forecast this week.<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Franson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-49724246709539552932010-06-27T22:08:00.001-07:002010-06-27T22:21:01.791-07:00A School Birthday and a Park Birthday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsXXUhU7F1mzpuLMJ3q7f8U63puMRQm4Xvu-RJxrcEgIKULHxbqHUndhIOiqbkzDcFHfeQfcekNHXZsCT-mq0jx2ChVSHi9yI8MGiPVrO4x32yI8Qe5kadcCqKrPYR97ksp1y8FLVgvo/s1600/DSC_0143.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487687334485708274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsXXUhU7F1mzpuLMJ3q7f8U63puMRQm4Xvu-RJxrcEgIKULHxbqHUndhIOiqbkzDcFHfeQfcekNHXZsCT-mq0jx2ChVSHi9yI8MGiPVrO4x32yI8Qe5kadcCqKrPYR97ksp1y8FLVgvo/s320/DSC_0143.JPG" /></a> Judson's birthday was on a monday this year. He wanted a party so bad, but monday's are super busy for him. He gets home from school about 2:15 and has to be out to Camp Hippo for therapy from 3:00 to 6:00. We decided to have his party on Tuesday. He counted down the 'sleeps' until his 'school birthday' and until his 'park birthday.'<br />We HAD to take treats to school for his birthday so I made this SpongeBob cupcake cake. They were little mini cupcakes. I actually made two of them so he could take treats out to Camp Hippo also.They were soooo cheesy but the kids devoured them so I guess that is all that matters.<br />For his party, I thought I would be smart and have it over at the park so the kids could just play on the new big toy they have there and I wouldn't have to come up with games and entertainment. I am just not a 'games' kind of mom. I wanted to keep things simple and easy. Mother Nature had other ideas in mind. It poured down rain all day Tuesday. Yep--we still had it at the park, just inside the pavillion. I found a Pin-the-tail-on-the-Donkey game and got some crepe paper streamers for the kids to play 'Spider Man' and wind them all over the pavillion. They had a blast doing that. Then we opened presents, had cake, and ran Jud through the spanking machine, cleaned up and went home. It lasted just a little over an hour and he was one happy little boy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODgDzitMdumAidq7t225-dVkxqGVxNJUVA53jfOVnGdp-5PUhjWbbhj4b9ksJEA0sEj7oh__D2-oKNW0RxAxMMxaGrJ1D6iq0LzNNDQEU3JOSZAXwD6NOgzRkHsfZfJ_pg17AnQ3LVC4/s1600/DSC_0145.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487687224922953186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODgDzitMdumAidq7t225-dVkxqGVxNJUVA53jfOVnGdp-5PUhjWbbhj4b9ksJEA0sEj7oh__D2-oKNW0RxAxMMxaGrJ1D6iq0LzNNDQEU3JOSZAXwD6NOgzRkHsfZfJ_pg17AnQ3LVC4/s320/DSC_0145.JPG" /></a> This was his 'Park Birthday' cake. He is really into dinosaurs. Especially T-Rex's. At school, when it is the child's birthday, the teacher has them stand on a little podium and call on their classmates, one at a time, to tell them what their favorite thing about them is. Almost all the children said Jud makes a good T-Rex when they are playing at recess. It made me smile.<br /><br /><div></div>Franson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-6425060186467291792010-06-15T20:59:00.000-07:002010-06-15T21:22:53.457-07:00Please don't call me a SaintAbout 8 years ago John and I decided to apply for a Foster Care License. It took us a while to fill out the paper work, because it seemed a little intimidating at first. Then we had our background check and home study and all that stuff. If I remember correctly, we were notified that we passed everything and would soon be getting our license in the mail, then, BAM! I was in a car wreck and ended up in the hospital for a week then in a hospital bed in my living room for 8 weeks. The week I got home from the hospital we received our license in the mail. I remember thinking, "Wow! We waited for this and now we can't do it for who-knows-how-long." I think I forgot about it after that because my next few months were filled with healing, therapy, surgeries, etc. My mother came to live with us for a time, I went back to work substitute teaching. and prepared for summer to hit. One day...<br />I answered the phone. Caller ID said, "Idaho State Government." CRAP! What did we do? It was a service coordinator for Children & Family Services telling me they were taking a 2 week old infant into care and would we be interested in taking him? OF COURSE!<br />Over the next 7 years, to date, we have had 17 foster children. Most of them have been infants, but we had a 3 year old girl and her 8 year old brother, and another brother/sister pair that were 9 and 13. The 13 year old girl was something. She taught us a lot in the 4 days she was with us!<br />Just last week we got our 17th baby, a little girl. She is the most precious thing!<br />I love doing foster care. It is very challenging dealing with the family because they can be very hostile at times, but I focus on the fact that we are taking these precious little ones into our home to love them and care for them in the short time they are with us and, hopefully, give them something they can draw on later in life.<br />Our first little 2 week old baby boy ended up becoming ours forever. We knew when we consented to adopt him that he was a drug and alcohol baby. We would not know for some time, if ever, the problems he might have from it all. As it turns out, he has a seizure disorder, which can be very serious (we almost lost him once--had to Life Flight him to Salt Lake), he is developmentally delayed in many areas, and he was just diagnosed last year with Autism. He is an extreme challenge but everyone who knows him will agree that he is the most loving, friendly little (big--he is over 4 1/2 feet tall and 100 lbs & 7 years old!) boy they know. He loves everyone! And everyone should love him.<br />Through all this, I get the comment, quite frequently, that I am a saint. NO I am NOT! To me a saint is someone who is right up there next to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in perfectness. Not quite perfect but close. I am nowhere near that! I lose my temper frequently, (I even swear more than I should), I do not keep a perfectly clean, organized house, I sometimes have a problem with judging others too harshly, I don't read my scriptures like I should and many, many other things that do not land on the 'Saint' list. I just try my best to be patient, listen to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit to help guide me, and remember how much I love my family and am grateful for all Heavenly Father has given me. Because I have been given much, I, too, must give. This is the way I can give!<br />So, please, don't call me a Saint, because I am not. I am just a normal person who happens to love what I am doing and knows that it is my calling in life at this time.Franson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-74047394332944300942010-05-17T09:32:00.000-07:002010-05-17T10:06:30.449-07:00Pretty Princess and a Cool Car<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh832ykdp-A-L1MIx83QzEM0XesabGx428J4P4tYIarOK1Pvm-0OFycWbYm5Y8rTGM_ocsT-vKcEXCziOQDYZCv7oPnvLc6V-xPjZYr4EjCpsCABSl9kAWuP0o7oePRgGhkRutv4Kz8qqg/s1600/DSC_0129.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472280775752607074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh832ykdp-A-L1MIx83QzEM0XesabGx428J4P4tYIarOK1Pvm-0OFycWbYm5Y8rTGM_ocsT-vKcEXCziOQDYZCv7oPnvLc6V-xPjZYr4EjCpsCABSl9kAWuP0o7oePRgGhkRutv4Kz8qqg/s320/DSC_0129.JPG" /></a> This past weekend was High School Prom. With each daughter, we told them they could get one new prom dress while they were in High School. Do you know how much prom dresses are??? Anyway...when Mataya got asked to Prom she asked us if she was going to get a new dress. John told her he would either buy her a new dress or put$400 towards a new scooter for her. Guess what she chose?! The scooter. She borrowed a dress, which I thought was beautiful.<br />Once she saw what color her dress was the wheels started turning. The following pictures are the outcome of her creativity, meaning the hair and shoes. Aren't they just fun?!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4U4p5vjoQbLw414N_kZwO1DiHhqyv6oPr8REe3nwCAmz69wLXf7yQ-slqG6N520iVkSxzKnqxB7QChuImj3Nvazwyyi_tA68hQ0NT6miSkEmGRbgOVeN_zTw1sZeY0UGvCjZx-mCrG78/s1600/DSC_0131.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472280639723410242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4U4p5vjoQbLw414N_kZwO1DiHhqyv6oPr8REe3nwCAmz69wLXf7yQ-slqG6N520iVkSxzKnqxB7QChuImj3Nvazwyyi_tA68hQ0NT6miSkEmGRbgOVeN_zTw1sZeY0UGvCjZx-mCrG78/s320/DSC_0131.JPG" /></a> The traditional prom picture in front of the willow tree with Jud in the picture.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-8U1G5fhKaHhdrlV1FBaKV8wHOr_eIRJsbpy5J3Epod5g0GfJhX7NgRHqe3J-DKeOsPZ7orJwkl30Zm7MhMfEP2nQ27tPSBozLGTCqqvQhep9cfaUcJAFIZNllpMO-mM4RCwz9DzwVY/s1600/DSC_0132.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472280475249017234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-8U1G5fhKaHhdrlV1FBaKV8wHOr_eIRJsbpy5J3Epod5g0GfJhX7NgRHqe3J-DKeOsPZ7orJwkl30Zm7MhMfEP2nQ27tPSBozLGTCqqvQhep9cfaUcJAFIZNllpMO-mM4RCwz9DzwVY/s320/DSC_0132.JPG" /></a> Mataya and her date, Josh<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13ElP8dyirtoUdJcnJ_4sEKF1qhp3mXAVSIg32tBTDgGDBFqRdx-AnHCG8oe6z0MYeNf_myRLq3_ejsVGzntdfOPr7-8cynQaVRWLN2VFomUAAaadpXemmI8Fk_ReANM3PsuLA15PYbY/s1600/DSC_0133.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472280323019704434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13ElP8dyirtoUdJcnJ_4sEKF1qhp3mXAVSIg32tBTDgGDBFqRdx-AnHCG8oe6z0MYeNf_myRLq3_ejsVGzntdfOPr7-8cynQaVRWLN2VFomUAAaadpXemmI8Fk_ReANM3PsuLA15PYbY/s320/DSC_0133.JPG" /></a><br />Get a load of those shoes! She said that was the most comfortable dance she has gone to yet. I love it! Wish I would have been smart enough to think of that when I was going to formal dances.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQQkosS-erIwwpb5v2jzzOIb__7SMFRRXaJ4wqRw4J8MlS8H9HVKf7-C_PBq92gOQbBycK3jVnPQqSjzpoxWPXY1P1z0zfo0qx3IbjzsaTK8Oz3cPBnO2GU-e8JHFirE-ZF6mCL1HJ1M/s1600/DSC_0134.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472280169691450594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQQkosS-erIwwpb5v2jzzOIb__7SMFRRXaJ4wqRw4J8MlS8H9HVKf7-C_PBq92gOQbBycK3jVnPQqSjzpoxWPXY1P1z0zfo0qx3IbjzsaTK8Oz3cPBnO2GU-e8JHFirE-ZF6mCL1HJ1M/s320/DSC_0134.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Another great view of the pink highlights in her hair.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGL1rhNo80SDrcAvnhmuNhWoCrL47uVVIUbWtAlKzA3mkj0Z86iIi_OmDAjDcJFTL9CDBt6xnfOcJHxbrZjVGZqI622E80Glr2njWF8wPYeJiuAkA4IaiG64QD9EG4aBiAxAqmMvOJbDI/s1600/DSC_0135.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472279837619039730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGL1rhNo80SDrcAvnhmuNhWoCrL47uVVIUbWtAlKzA3mkj0Z86iIi_OmDAjDcJFTL9CDBt6xnfOcJHxbrZjVGZqI622E80Glr2njWF8wPYeJiuAkA4IaiG64QD9EG4aBiAxAqmMvOJbDI/s320/DSC_0135.JPG" /></a><br />And look what he picked her up in!!! A brand new Corvette! His dad brought it up for him to use for the evening. Mataya said it was by far the coolest, classiest car there. And driving through town with the top down was the best! Even better than a limo because everyone could see who was in the car.<br /><br /><br />She had a super fun time and her date was a perfect gentleman the whole night. It is such a relief, as a mom, when your kids come home from a big date like that and they have had a great time. Thanks Josh and parents for making this such a memorable evening for Mataya.<br />p.s. Isn't she just beautiful?Franson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-73375379980592509912010-02-11T18:08:00.000-08:002010-02-11T18:17:00.484-08:00My little 'Cooker Man'<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEEoWW4Lxbc3hJWqNYkzOJHLZ2vH3Ey43wyPUedzlYlO0Dm_l5m1PZCENAr2D-e1BswpEpPJdODxfzElk28_k1fhl5z7sjJjVFAR3TdaFeZ5uTscucE9oV_T3rmxae5RsQIrvgir0xwU/s1600-h/DSC_0076.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437173890184048546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEEoWW4Lxbc3hJWqNYkzOJHLZ2vH3Ey43wyPUedzlYlO0Dm_l5m1PZCENAr2D-e1BswpEpPJdODxfzElk28_k1fhl5z7sjJjVFAR3TdaFeZ5uTscucE9oV_T3rmxae5RsQIrvgir0xwU/s320/DSC_0076.JPG" border="0" /></a> Jud says when he grows up he wants to be a 'Cooker Man.' Last week John's sister, Dawn, sent him an email with a link to a web site of her business, Dawn to Dusk. She makes little aprons with matching hats for kids. John saw them and immediately placed an order with her for an orange (John's favorite color) set for Jud. We got them in the mail today and I got no peace until I started supper so he could help me. He cut up the onions for me. This is the first time I have let him use a sharp knife. He usually hacks away with a butter knife. Hope I haven't created a problem for myself. He was so proud of his new stuff and that he could help Mommy now. Thanks Dawn!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijh6CxDC4YzSIFNPPCmB-fAKDJU-oVp5zHZOJDA6DxNDXAUv7eayUE_8za05F4XCZor9hxCjSAUysOTT2sw16De4vjINZ7XBRl-M6fwki2o9fo-uxf-0AXKChjdQiiT2ARJNxeDi3ZRGQ/s1600-h/DSC_0077.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437173781148172162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijh6CxDC4YzSIFNPPCmB-fAKDJU-oVp5zHZOJDA6DxNDXAUv7eayUE_8za05F4XCZor9hxCjSAUysOTT2sw16De4vjINZ7XBRl-M6fwki2o9fo-uxf-0AXKChjdQiiT2ARJNxeDi3ZRGQ/s320/DSC_0077.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rRpms0O6lMGn6C6dIhQdMAEVcL0kLBBYkRLTd_H88L61HMgkK4ng-SM__sgSkKq_uwKqS1tSv2_lITFCdrH9IZxOO0k2g_FWp0CjaIpIPNFV6P0BWd1GUFdqrWO8CBPkFUEmbrX_QcY/s1600-h/DSC_0078.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437173684163857426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rRpms0O6lMGn6C6dIhQdMAEVcL0kLBBYkRLTd_H88L61HMgkK4ng-SM__sgSkKq_uwKqS1tSv2_lITFCdrH9IZxOO0k2g_FWp0CjaIpIPNFV6P0BWd1GUFdqrWO8CBPkFUEmbrX_QcY/s320/DSC_0078.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVdr0YCA1HK-7UcYd2KBMFZqsMsGCKwWTL6QCjNy32fzeiZvuRi2lnxb7ZHUWYP6LJOOPeHKSHnBLfOSQeKajaDaOVjQSxr8Q3f8jo55k2Od6FHPRK8CZYELlGkKzrZPwGefo0SGbED0/s1600-h/DSC_0079.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437173568275761474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVdr0YCA1HK-7UcYd2KBMFZqsMsGCKwWTL6QCjNy32fzeiZvuRi2lnxb7ZHUWYP6LJOOPeHKSHnBLfOSQeKajaDaOVjQSxr8Q3f8jo55k2Od6FHPRK8CZYELlGkKzrZPwGefo0SGbED0/s320/DSC_0079.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />He is so proud he gets to use a big person's knife.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiXA9T9o4NbuvIpJ2YMwMSAnd7hxboMSnuIPEhzOM02jX-WQIw9GIYWkUCCSxgMoyCYRblH3O0EtLorSRFwPbCxf1uKyd0oxKwM2QtFek2E9U62LUgd4IDGjln7VXZRwtRQ6Py59Pkkk/s1600-h/DSC_0075.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437173445029275618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiXA9T9o4NbuvIpJ2YMwMSAnd7hxboMSnuIPEhzOM02jX-WQIw9GIYWkUCCSxgMoyCYRblH3O0EtLorSRFwPbCxf1uKyd0oxKwM2QtFek2E9U62LUgd4IDGjln7VXZRwtRQ6Py59Pkkk/s320/DSC_0075.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />His eyes started burning from the onions. I was helping him try to get it stopped.<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Franson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994789699297460233.post-51303193894892468902010-02-02T12:16:00.001-08:002010-02-02T12:32:53.499-08:00A Year and a half in the making<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3h_4W3qAqa-6v5HEpq7CXPk5sKpQG4zAfnFiKq_xHya6IhQ1Ky6a3VP6FNmilq0MlkXCPPTohCJ0CB-DibY8MNre5pBAjiGfW4lyedWLo_sSr7I3EcYgPlZAnwyUOIfxQCwFjCpqtwc/s1600-h/DSC_0073.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433743092144488978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3h_4W3qAqa-6v5HEpq7CXPk5sKpQG4zAfnFiKq_xHya6IhQ1Ky6a3VP6FNmilq0MlkXCPPTohCJ0CB-DibY8MNre5pBAjiGfW4lyedWLo_sSr7I3EcYgPlZAnwyUOIfxQCwFjCpqtwc/s320/DSC_0073.JPG" border="0" /></a> For a long time I have wanted to make a Log Cabin Quilt. One day, going thru my scraps of material I decided I was going to start. Being the idiot I am, I gave no real thought to what I was doing, I just started cutting out strips of material. Not until I started sewing them up did I realize how small those strips were going to be once they were sewn up! Oh well! I wasn't going to stop now!!!<br />I started in July, a year and a half ago, working on it pretty steady, in between gardening and canning and such. Then I had to put it away to work on Christmas projects. Another project came along, then another, then I was sewing dresses for Brittany's wedding. After Christmas this year I was pondering on some resolutions I would like to make and one thing that came to mind was "Finish some of your projects." This quilt top was on the top of the list.<br />I am proud to say, "I HAVE FINALLY FINISHED IT!!!" It is King size, made to fit our bed. It is just the top right now. I plan to buy some material for the back, some batting, and take it over to Boise to my friend to quilt it with her long-arm machine. No way am I going to quilt this by hand!<br />It is not perfect, by any means. Some of the seams are crooked, the color scheme wasn't in any real order, (was just trying to use up scraps of material I had), so I won't show the actual product to too many people so they can't see the sloppy job that was done. I hope my friend doesn't cringe too hard at all the mistakes. But guess what???!!! I am proud of it! I did it all by myself and it is my first one! After this, the strips will be bigger and much easier to put together, and all the seams will hopefully be straight and line up!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4o1pPtMPYKbk9sPl7Fwv_PkrmUiF34SndoTsJ5bmTpH7boooAnoPGNhHHlPoISQU9F5CCHf586LlRih1pU4xBSGSHqn90RegGBh7dPNInZ0k6lMm7l07QSeX_fFTxMzrf5zE2IMGIu0/s1600-h/DSC_0074.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433742986212794306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4o1pPtMPYKbk9sPl7Fwv_PkrmUiF34SndoTsJ5bmTpH7boooAnoPGNhHHlPoISQU9F5CCHf586LlRih1pU4xBSGSHqn90RegGBh7dPNInZ0k6lMm7l07QSeX_fFTxMzrf5zE2IMGIu0/s320/DSC_0074.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpS_gc6dGWSZdXz2hexKzjMUO8d5mxA5bEL_wga4O4MG2Uzkln-9bPwQ22ahzCqA0SRBCgrbVYdcWSyI46IQR2bOf2elOmL2AByQU9C0eyr4UP10T7t6tE6t4s5HLfrQ3mICauoNtAu1s/s1600-h/DSC_0075.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433742879950709922" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpS_gc6dGWSZdXz2hexKzjMUO8d5mxA5bEL_wga4O4MG2Uzkln-9bPwQ22ahzCqA0SRBCgrbVYdcWSyI46IQR2bOf2elOmL2AByQU9C0eyr4UP10T7t6tE6t4s5HLfrQ3mICauoNtAu1s/s320/DSC_0075.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5eUW4kyxTP6TsiOabRdx2wPqC6WZrNvfki3MB1sUbhrvFSAHiBkzR9PH4NCUbSauppzrA21XkuZCArjWKFL4-7-Atf832kW9EYV9KkDWrDYtQjPImXnDri3IMjoP4oL_qLI4EmhcXLs/s1600-h/DSC_0076.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433742773841838482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5eUW4kyxTP6TsiOabRdx2wPqC6WZrNvfki3MB1sUbhrvFSAHiBkzR9PH4NCUbSauppzrA21XkuZCArjWKFL4-7-Atf832kW9EYV9KkDWrDYtQjPImXnDri3IMjoP4oL_qLI4EmhcXLs/s320/DSC_0076.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is a close-up of a couple of blocks so you can kind of see how it was put together.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div> </div><div>Next project? Well--I have a couple of dresses to make for my nieces, then I have some more squares cut up to make a twin quilt. They are much easier! When that is done, I have tons of old jeans I want to sew up into quilts for camping and using for picnics and such. After that....Oh man, do I have lots of ideas and patterns of quilts I want to do! I hope my children like homemade quilts because I plan on keeping them supplied!</div></div></div>Franson Funny Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059622391027854143noreply@blogger.com3