WELCOME SPRING

a few years ago

i featured a day in utah

within the day

snow

rain

wind

sun

clouds

sunset

the moment of SPRING

and nature

has to have it's last hoorah

WELCOME SPRING

A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OF WOMEN

 i was invited by three generation

 of WOMEN

to celebrate one of the most amazing

societies of WOMEN

on march 16, 2013

at 10:00 am-noon

the three generations
 of WOMEN

grandma maxine garff

mother joanne garff hart

and sister michelle hart bodine

This free collage made with Smilebox

the celebration

the BIRTHDAY of the relief society

an organization for WOMEN

where 

charity never faileth

the speaker

sheri dew
as in
"dew as i'm dewing"
recognize the value of
WOMANHOOD
uplifting

edifying

reminders

that we are daughters

of heavenly father

who loves us
while challenging the world's beliefs
*that WOMEN of our faith are oppressed

there was a beautiful musical

if i could hie to kolob

played by lovely WOMEN

on stringed instruments

colorful cupcakes

delicately frosted

by the hands

of a 16 year old WOMAN

made for a delightful

table decoration

and a delicious refreshement

(fun tablecloth pattern)

i am so grateful that i attended.

happy BIRTHDAYrelief society

then off to grandma's lovely home

where family photographs rest
in every room

the dining room's
beautiful centerpiece
from
john and angie marriott


i was intrigued by the simple glass vase
that carefully embrace the delicate flowers


debbie and ron harrison's bulbs at christmas
have come into bloom
for grandma's march BIRTHDAY

grandma's garden room
filled with life
and femininity



emphasizes a WOMAN'S love for intrinsic beauty


and finally
grandma's library
where a brightly colored bouquet
of unique and interesting flowers
adorn the study desk

in the distance my eye takes hold
 of a well organized library of books

a pink slip of paper here

a pink slip of paper there

as grandma's christmas gift

to her

children

and 

grandchildren

michelle and myself find

the browsing

of so many handsome books

classics

gospel oriented

personal improvement

historical

famous speeches

to be addicting

as well as endearinng

what a treat!
tomorrow

is

grandma garff's 96th birthday

born on ST. PATRICK'S DAY

as a subtle reminder of how blessed

i am to know her

and have her to call

friend and grandmother

can you think of a better way to celebrate

such an amazing WOMAN?

i couldn't either

happy BIRTHDAY

grandma

*oppressed
as a child-spoke in church, talks in primary, pray on primary,
as a young woman-secretary, seminary council, spoke in church, sang in church, prayed in church, young women's recognition award, led the singing, played the piano, temple recommend, temple work, geneology work, youth conference committee,visiting teacher, secret granddaughter, relief socity instructor, homemaking leader, sunday school teacher, family home evening coordinator, young women guest speaker, primary 2nd counselor, primary president, primary choristor, young women advisor, young women teacher, gospel doctrine teacher, nursery leader, homemaking and enrichment, primary teacher, young women's camp director, young women's secretary,
 primary teacher, mother, wife, college graduate, master of education degree, continuing education, third grade educator, sixth grade educator, flight attendant for delta, special education assistant, room mom, temple patron, and witness of christ
oppressed, hardly

NOSTALGIC ON MAIN

after an afternoon of shooting

both

gun and camera,

observing the magnificent sundog,

meandering around the great salt lake,

a feeling of nostalgia

coursed through my body.

magna was our next stop.
inasmuch as it was president's day
the township was eerily empty.
was it the holiday
that emptied the streets and buildings?
or had they been abandoned?
i got out of the car
to solve the mystery

my first experiences 

as an educator took place
at webster elementary

in historic magna

(dyches rexall pharmacy in the background
many stops for treats, sodas, prizes...)

though the three story schoolhouse

burned to the ground

the place and memories

still exist

come with me for a walk down main street

the senior center stands in "webster's" place

we loved the senior community.

students paraded down the street

in lively costumes on halloween,

sang christmas carols

and

made valentines

for our friends down the road.

this image is a memory.

it is what i viewed through my classroom window.

it is what i saw on recess duty.
it is still standing.

the faculty parking lot

was north of the yard of cars

used for driver's education.

main street

just because
i love fire hydrants
and
charming buildings in bright colors...

one gentleman exited the building,
locked up and asked,
"are you doing an editorial for the paper?"
if only
i thought...
there are local businesses
that appear to be still in operation
though i am unsure...

surely there were no web printings
when i was here...
a reminder of how far we have come
in technology.
 a few buildings have been transformed

into a museum

a police station
(resembling what i picture mayberry to be)

a library
message on my camera
"empty battery"
i still have a few more buildings to go
one bearing the same last name
as one of my students
from yesteryears...
that can only mean one thing,
another trip down main
with a few stops inside.
i glanced upward
and saw the banner
possibly
containing the answers to my questions.

HISTORIC
MAGNA
COMMUNITY FUN
TRADITION
ACTIVE WELCOMING
BUSINESS DIVERSE
OPPORTUNITY GROWING
FAMILY HOME
TECHNOLOGY LIVELY
ALWAYS
MAGNA