Brrr! - Winter Wonder-fun!

Okay, true confessions!

I love the house COLD!

Roger's and my biggest battle, by far, is at the thermostat.

We live in the hot desert, so, in the summer, let me just say that air conditioning 

is my favorite 20th century invention. 

I know, I know, that's a huge statement and covers lots of inventions, 

including the washing machine. 

I've been known to say, as I am dripping with sweat, that I would rather beat my clothes on rocks in the river 

than give up refrigerated air.

Of course, I have no idea what it would be like to beat laundry over the rocks, 

but I am convinced that it couldn't be nearly as bad as that suffocating, dying-of-the-heat feeling.

In the winter, cozying up to a fire with the thermostat DOWN LOW 

 and snuggling under warm blankets and quilts in bed 

are winter's best perks. 

In St. George, this has been a winter to remember.

It has been cold here for days, for weeks, even months.

Recently I grabbed my phone and took a pic of Roger all bundled up to watch the ten o'clock news.

What you can't see in the pic is how his teeth were chattering.

This pic was taken before the bigger snows that were to come.

Don't the powdered sugar mountains look pretty? 

Winter snow storms, quite uncommon here, have been commonplace.

Off our back balcony

Luckily, there have been fun things to do indoors.

Our little book club met for lunch at Benja Thai to discuss our book.

Three of these fun gals are from up north and come to their St. George homes in the winter. 

We hadn't met since last spring, and none of us were sure which book we had chosen, 

so we read different ones and talked about several.

Truth really be known, we laugh and chat more than we discuss books.

On my Most Favorite Foods list is Tom Kha Gai Thai soup, and Benja's has a yummy version. 

Nectar of the Gods!
(I said to Roger when we went to Vegas for my birthday (below) that I wanted to shop at a Chinese market in China town
and buy the ingredients to make this soup
that I can't find in St. George such as lemongrass and galangel, Chinese ginger.
I made it last weekend and it turned out tasty - Rog liked it better than the restaurant variety because I put in less heat.
It was fun to make and I loved browsing through the Chinese market!)

Roger's sister, Chyrrl and husband, Glynn passed through St. George recently to go on a little trip 

with Jim and Mary Andrus, a great couple they served with in Nauvoo on their recent LDS mission. 

They invited us to go to dinner with them.

We met Dan and Jane Madsen at Magelby's for our annual birthday dinner.

Jane and I taught school together at South Cache Junior High when we were right out of college 

and living in the married student housing. Jane and I carpooled to Hyrum together.

They are very special people, personifying service to others.

Roger looks forward to the Super Bowl with great anticipation, 

but not to watch the game. 

(We don't even watch it.)

We use it as an excuse to have Winger's wings. 

We order the wings and the sauce in separate containers on Saturday, 

then I heat up the wings in the oven and pour the sauce over.

Yum!

It's a tradition.

 Valentine's Day brings my birthday!

I have had the same super-wonderful visiting teacher/ministering angel ever since we moved to St. George - 

Janice Ence, and, almost that long, her partner has been, Judy Van Drimmelen.

I adore them both!

They send me flowers every year on my birthday and they're always so lovely!

Here is the crazy-fun friend responsible for involving me in lots of her wacky schemes!

Okay, in all fairness, this is not how she usually looks. 

Charlotte planned a branch talent show and twisted lots of arms to get many performers/presenters. 

She and her husband did a comedy hula. 

She was born and lived in Hawaii in her childhood and she is really good!

She really does have her front teeth and is skinnier than this.

As you can see by the composite pic below, she talked me into playing my uke and singing. 

I'm not so hot at playing since my accident with my hand, but I can strum and play in the key of G. 

She had me go first to warm the audience up and I finished with If I Had A Hammer 

and had them all wailing it out with me. 

There was lots of good talent - poets, writers, a magician, a story-teller, a harmonica player (my favorite), 

a singer/pianist, and a wood carver, artists, photographers, book-makers, dress-makers and quilters 

displayed and talked about their creations.

She also asked me to show and tell about the many books I have made.

We celebrated my birthday in Vegas the week after Valentine's Day to avoid the crowds. 

We had the seafood tower at our favorite French bistro, Mon Ami Gabi in The Paris.

A free birthday profiterole tops off a yummy lunch.

We stayed in a Marriott with a free night and next door 

is a great tapas restaurant we have been to before and loved, Firefly.

We wanted to see Donny and Marie before they retired their Vegas show in November. 

We saw them about six years ago and it was so good.

They are amazing! 

Donny is 61 and Marie is 59 and they've still got it! They both can sing great, separately and together, 

and the production showcased their talent beautifully. 

My favorite was watching Donny dance. 

He did a whole routine with the four professional, twenty-something male dancers, 

and honestly he outshone them with his moves! 

He still looks, acts and sings like a heart throb and he's a grandpa!

As we were walking out of the theater, 

we ran into Ryan and Emily's 

across-the-street neighbors and friends, Kathryn and Lane Cook.

Cute family - Sarah plays with their Addie every day.

And, last but not least indoor activity that we loved, is the Tri-stake Special Needs Roadshows.

We went to this a couple of years ago and enjoyed it so much, we went last Friday night. 

The leaders put their whole hearts into working with these special people. 

The theme of the show of the kids who live in our area was The Greatest Showman.

The director started working on it six months ago and it was thoroughly entertaining!

It started with many kids coming from the back of the audience to the stage dressed like circus performers 

and singing, The Greatest Show along with the recording.

A narrator told the basic story of P.T. Barnum as the program evolved and the costumes, 

sets and enthusiasm were outstanding!

The soloists who sang, A Million Dreams and This Is Me along with the recording into the solo mike 

and in the spotlight put their whole hearts and souls into it, with grand gestures 

and sometimes off-key sounds of touching sincerity.

It was a night to remember!

In spite of all of the winter wonder-fun, I think I'm ready for spring!