We’ve had a lot of workers here this week working on the exterior of our house and the Farm House. The old wooden siding has seen better days. We’re replacing it with a new man-made product called Hardie Board that will last a long long time.
The gables and garage at the Farm House are also getting a facelift. The Hardie Board looks just like wood, but it’s indestructible and fireproof. Once it’s finished it will be painted something close to the original paint color.
I’ve been finishing some of my I Spy quilts this month. Six more are ready for quilting. Back in the day (about 10-15 years ago) when I made these, I couldn’t stop making them. I struggle with a condition that I call “Failure to Count” or “FTC.” I just cut and cut and cut and sew and sew and sew, and then I’m always surprised at how many blocks and quilts I end up with. I seldom intend for it to be so many–it just happens. I think I have enough blocks and tops sewn to make about 20 of these quilts.
My plan is for each grandchild to get one. So far, we have 6 grandkids. My mantra is “if I make them, they will come!” I hope that happens!
Vivy loves purple and orange. She’s 3. Margot loves pink. Hers is the one with a zig zaggy back because that reminds me of her spunky personality.
Another project where I don’t count is my scrap quilt project, which I call “Chopped Snakes.” You can read about these quilts if you search for “Chopped Snakes” in these blog posts. Tonight I chopped more snakes, filling the box below. I’m ready to put a few more of these quilts together. The kids loved the ones I gave them for Christmas. I’m thinking I’d like to have one for each of the grandkids when they get married–these are fun picnic quilts that can be used every day. They are made from parts and pieces and scraps I gather from other quilts and other quilters. They make me happy.
These chopped blocks will turn in to rows like these:
These rows will turn into quilts like these:
Here are two more fun quilts I’ve been working on. I use our guest room bed to lay out my quilts. The pattern for the Halloween Quilt is called Shimmer by Cluck Cluck Sew Sew.
And here is my almost finished Butterfly Quilt. The binding is ready to sew down now.
This is the pattern I used:
My friend, Lynette Bybee came by to visit and show me her finished Stars in the Garden Quilt. I shared my fabrics with her after making mine and she did this while we were in Germany. It’s spectacular!
Sledding with the kids at the cabin after Christmas reminded me that a long long time ago (2004) I started a quilt of sledders going down a hill. I found the pattern for this block in a sampler quilt called “Snow Day” by Jan Patek. I got it started, then got distracted, like I do with so many of my quilting projects.
This week, I came home from the cabin and found the box with that project in it and have been working on these cute little sledders ever since. They are appliqued onto snow-colored flannel. There will be 38 blocks in all. I’ve finished about half of them so far this month. Having handwork handy makes me so happy.
Here’s the Jan Patek quilt where I found the idea:
Update 21 Feb 2026:
Here are all the finished blocks ready to stitch together.
There are a lot of little stitches in these blocks, sewn in the evenings while we’ve been watching the Olympics and ball games. I like keeping my hands busy.
Here’s the finished top:
Years ago, when I first started this quilt, I found a great flannel back with pines in the snow. Now it will go to the quilter.
I go visit my dear friend, Mary Ellen, every week. She’s in an assisted living center now, patiently dealing with some memory loss and mobility issues. Today we escaped together. I took her to see the Lindon Temple, then the new Provo Rock Canyon Temple. We are waiting for these two temples to be completed.
Then we went to the Orem Temple, where we spent a couple of hours soaking in the goodness of being in a holy place
A temple is a House of God. We feel His presence there. Today was a pretty perfect day with one of my favorite people.
Adam came to town this week for more interviews with doctors here. We are all praying he will have some good offers to choose from. He will finish his residence in St. Louis at the end of June.
We have had a really fun few days with him. That probably hasn’t happened in about 10 years! Last night we went to the BYU vs. UoU basketball game in Salt Lake at the Huntsman Center. It was pretty fun, even though we were surrounded by Ute fans! The Cougars left with a win!
Our BYU BB Fans!
We enjoyed some good food together this week and even an outing for Handel’s Ice Cream.
But Adam’s favorite is In ‘n Out. Today on our way to the airport we had to stop one more time (it was his first meal when he arrived).
I watched him inhale 3 burgers–two of them were double-doubles. Wow. How does he do that??
We are all keeping our fingers crossed as we wait now to hear what his options will be. He already has offers from 2 of the 3 places he interviewed with. Go Adam!!
I am taking this entry from my personal journal:
This morning Adam wanted to go visit BYU campus to see and feel his old stomping grounds. It was fun. COLD day. 20s. It was fun to drive through campus (we could because school wasn’t in session). Then we parked in the visitor parking east of campus and walked into the ELWC, going first to Jamba Juice by the Varsity Theater, where he’d go for breakfast when he was a student there–he got his favorite Chocolate Moo’d drink with peanut butter, banana and chocolate.
Then we walked through to the BYU Store (no longer a book store). That always makes me sad. I loved going to the Bookstore to look at the books. Now it’s mostly clothing and gifts. Adam wanted to get some sweat pants. Didn’t find any he liked. He picked out a BYU CMS tie. We got a BYU shirt for Clark and a BB Jersey for Aaron like the one we got Adam for CMS–their favorite player.
[This used to be one of the book areas filled with brimming full shelves of books on every topic. Now it’s a place to watch BYU sports highlights. It almost feels blasphemous.]
Things are so different there now. The Administration Building has been torn down and a new one will take its place. There are so many new buildings all over campus. They are big and beautiful. It all feels so different. I’m grateful for my years there–1977-1984, then again from 2004-2013. I spent many years on campus, learning and I loved it.
It all feels so technical now. I feel like I could never do again what I did then as a student. The technology would kill me.
Then we drove over to the new Creamery on Ninth. It’s moved out of the old Carson’s Market, later The Creamery, location on 9th East to a big new building behind it. It’s like a full grocery store now with a bakery and a snack bar/eating area. Adam wanted to buy some of his Favorite BYU Chocolate milk.
[One of the happiest days of my BYU life happened in Carson’s Market on 27 May 1980. You will read about it below.]
Here’s news from this week on what’s happening there now (Carson’s Market is long gone):
THE DAILY UNIVERSE
An ode to the original BYU Creamery on Ninth
By Christian Salazar, January 9, 2026
The original BYU Creamery on Ninth building on Nov. 26, 2025. The building closed a week later on Dec. 2, 2025. (Christian Salazar)
The original BYU Creamery, located on Ninth East in Provo, closed on Dec. 2 after serving millions of happy customers for 25 years.
The original building on Ninth East opened Aug. 24, 2000, and was the first full-service grocery store on any college campus in the United States. The building that remains will be demolished to create more parking lots for the new BYU Creamery on Ninth, which opened Dec. 4.
Before it became the Creamery on Ninth, Kent’s Market (also known as Carson’s Market) operated on that location for 59 years before closing its doors in 1999. The widow of the owner bequeathed the building to BYU, which renovated it and turned it into the flagship Creamery on Ninth.
Customers shopping at the original BYU Creamery on Ninth. When it opened, this creamery was the first full-service grocery store on any college campus in the U.S. (Christian Salazar)
On July 15, 2024, BYU announced its plans to construct the new Creamery on Ninth. The announcement stated, “The new store will feature over a 70% increase in retail space, allowing critical updates so the store can meet the evolving needs of the campus community.”
Visited by more than 1.3 million guests, the building has served the needs of BYU students and the community at large. . . .
I’ve been searching through my 1980 journal and I finally found the entry–my Carson’s Market memory:
Tuesday May 27, 1980 9:50 p.m.
I had a feeling it would come today. . . .
11:00-12:00 Missionary Prep. Then home. Checked the mail. 2 letters for old roommates, 1 big envelope . . . addressed to Ann Laemmlen and Jackie Owen from Deseret Book Headquarters for LDS Publication, 1620 So. Empire Road, P. O. Box 659, Salt Lake City, Utah 84104.
Nonchalantly, I walked into the apartment, moved the phone into my bedroom, and tried to find the number for Carson’s Mkt. where Jackie was working. Meanwhile, I could vaguely see that the reply letter was a full page. . . . Does it take that long to say, “I’m sorry, but we are not interested in publishing your manuscript.” Carson’s was unlisted. I called info. & she gave me a number. Meanwhile, I carefully eased the licked flap up, so I’d be able to pull the letter out quickly to read to Jackie. The number was for some other Carson’s place. So there I sat with the open-ended manila envelope & a promise that Jackie & I would open it & read it together. Dilemma. Couldn’t stand it. Peeked inside. My eyes found the salutation: “Dear Ann and Jackie:” My eyes moved anxiously to the first line . . . .
“Our staff has read your manuscript, Articles of Faith Learning Book, and their reactions are unanimous: raves!”
I continued . . . .
“They think you have some excellent material, well thought out and thought provoking.”
I shut the envelope & stood there, eyes tightly closed, grinning, scared to read on without Jackie. I furiously dialed Paul’s, asked for the car, & ran to his apt. got his keys, waving the manuscript in one hand, and ran for the car. Couldn’t find it. Found it & headed for Carson’s Market. Found Jackie, revealing nothing. We went to the side and slowly pulled out the reply letter. Our eyes raced. Hers were ahead so I covered up the end till I caught up. Then we read it together.
“I think we’re all agreed that we feel strongly we would like to recommend publication; now we need to work on how to present it to the board. . . .”
Our eyes met & we started screaming –”They liked it–They liked it!!!”
They Did Like It!!! We read it again. Customers stared. They liked it!
I have never been so excited. They RAVED. THEY RAVED. Unanimously. And they liked it! We never expected this news. As I drove to Carson’s, my mind had completed the letter: “. . . we loved it, but we’re sorry, we won’t be able to publish it. . . . vague reasons . . . keep trying . . . better luck next time . . .”
BUT they liked it!!!! And they Raved!
DESERET BOOK. The top. The very top.
Jackie had to get back to work. JOKE.
I ran to the car & headed for Bro. Boyce’s office. He wasn’t there. Left a note, quoting part of the letter. Ran back to the car (Paul was waiting for it), & drove home. Ran to Paul. Read him the letter. We called home. Mom was leaving in ½ hr. for LA Dr. Check up. We talked for awhile & then I read the letter. She’s Excited & Proud. It was good.
Eric was named Most Inspirational Swimmer. Baccalaureate Ceremonies are Sun. And his Eagle Scout Court of Honor. He graduated June 5. We’re packing Red Beaut plums today. This morning was was a 2nd earthquake–(1 was Sun.) both measuring 6.1 on the Richter Scale. They centered at Mammoth Lake just up the mts. They felt both at home. No damage done.
Then ran home & Jill [roommate] read the letter. What an exciting day!!
Jackie came home at 2:00 & we’ve spent the large part of the evening being amazed & overwhelmed. Not studying. Tomorrow I have 2 Eng. Papers due, 2 possible research paper topics, & a CDFR Midterm for which I haven’t studied.
Right now it’s 11:15 & 1 paper is done. 1 to go. No topics yet.
But mostly I’m Excited.
I must go. Work to do.
It’ll be a long night.
Ann
RAVES.
I’m grateful for my journal entry that allowed me to relive the excitement of that day. A series of 3 Learning Books were published in 1982, then for the 2nd printing, they were combined into one book.
These books were my first publications. What a thrill to see our words in print!
Today we loaded up the back of the car with books I’ve purchased for local kids who need books. The United Way works with moms and kids in 2 programs: Welcome Baby and Everyday Learners. During home visits, the mothers are given books to read with their little children. The goal is to have books in every home and to encourage literacy at a young age.
My 2 weaknesses are buying books for children and buying fabric for quilts. Today was a happy day.
My thanks to my dear friend, Penny Stephenson, who quilts my quilts. Instead of asking for payment, she asks us to make a donation to someone in need. These books were purchased with my quilt money.
The tree made it through last night’s New Year’s party, but not a day longer. This morning it was CRISPY. It gave up its ghost, just like that. I am always sad to strip a tired tree of its Christmas glory and magic. I remember the night we picked this one out–it was a wet snowy evening and all the trees in the lot were so fresh and living. The fragrance was heavenly as it came into our home. Now it’s gone. Finished. Tired.
I love these German ornaments. Each one makes me smile. It was hard to wrap them up and put them away until next year. We’re not sure where we’ll be next year. Things may be very different for us, so I wanted to soak in every moment here this year.
The other sad thing on my mind today on my birthday, is the eBike sitting out in the garage with a bow on it. Thinking about it is giving me anxiety. Today I am a 67 year-OLD lady. I don’t ride bikes. I haven’t seriously ridden a bike since I was 30. I’m not sure what John was thinking. I’m losing sleep over this one. I think it needs to go back to where it came from. I’m not going to die on a bicycle.
To stretch out the holidays another week, we decided to invite our Frankfurt Mission friends over for dinner to celebrate the New Year. There are quite a few couples who live in Utah who were able to come. We are happy for any excuse to get together!
Yesterday I made 3 big pots of my favorite soups. You can find the recipes in the links:
Chicken vegetable, Sweet Garden Chili and Hearty Hodgepodge.
Our guests arrived this Sunday evening at 5:00 and stayed through the evening. They brought side dishes, salads, breads and desserts. We had a delicious spread of food!
There was even a birthday cake to celebrate my birthday tomorrow!
After dinner we brought out the bell chimes and taught them how to make some fun music! We did an arrangement of We Three Kings.
Then we introduced our friends to “Crisp Musk Hair Oils,” one of our favorite ways to sing Christmas Carols.
Described by Amazon: Crisp Musk Hair Oils, The “Anguish Languish” Christmas Classic, is a collection of carols presented in a very non-traditional way. It is based on a “language” in which all original words are replaced by other real English words-or combinations-that sound similar but vary in meaning. This completely original work- together with whimsical illustrations-has resulted in humorous readings and a truly amusing book for personal enjoyment and group-singing at Christmas parties. The songs include “Oak Wrist Mystery,” “Rude Alf-Dread No Strained Ear,” “Gin Gulp Bills,” and numerous other hilarious renditions to help make the holidays jolly. Also included is the familiar tale “Twist Denied Beef Fork Crisp Mess”! Crisp Musk Hair Oils was designed to be the perfect Christmas stocking stuffer for anyone who appreciates good humor and having fun with the English language.
You can purchase this hilarious book of carols here.
Next we had a hilarious original poem/song recited by Sis. Geri Conlin, with her husband backing her up:
Here are the words to Geri’s song:
The Twelve Years of Aging
At the first year of aging my doctor said to me: another follow up in 6 months.
On the second year of aging, my doctor said to me: colonoscopy and another follow up in 6 months.
On the third year of aging, my doctor said to me: bifocals, colonoscopy and another follow up in 6 months.
On the fourth year of aging, my doctor said to me: high triglycerides, bifocals, colonoscopy and another follow up in 6 months.
On the fifth day of aging, my doctor said to me: for-get-ful-ness, high triglycerides, bifocals, colonoscopy and another follow up in 6 months.
On the sixth year of aging, my doctor said to me: two hearing aids, for-get-ful-ness, high triglycerides, bifocals, colonoscopy and another follow up in 6 months.
On the seventh year of aging, my doctor said to me: hypertension, two hearing aids, for-get-ful-ness, high triglycerides, bifocals, colonoscopy and another follow up in 6 months.
On the eighth year of aging, my doctor said to me: arthritis, hypertension, two hearing aids, for-get-ful-ness, high triglycerides, bifocals, colonoscopy and another follow up in 6 months.
On the ninth year of aging, my doctor said to me: bad cholesterol, arthritis, hypertension, two hearing aids, for-get-ful-ness, high triglycerides, bifocals, colonoscopy and another follow up in 6 months.
On the tenth year of aging, my doctor said to me: update your will, bad cholesterol, arthritis, hypertension, two hearing aids, for-get-ful-ness, high triglycerides, bifocals, colonoscopy and another follow up in 6 months.
On the eleventh year of aging, my doctor said to me: hip replacement, update your will, bad cholesterol, arthritis, hypertension, two hearing aids, for-get-ful-ness, high triglycerides, bifocals, colonoscopy and another follow up in 6 months.
On the twelfth year of aging, my doctor said to me: depends come in your size, hip replacement, update your will, bad cholesterol, arthritis, hypertension, two hearing aids, high triglycerides, bifocals, colonoscopy and another follow up in 6 months.
———————-
We topped off the evening by introducing our friends to my very favorite Christmas Carol, “Carol of Joy,” by Dan Forrest.
We all had such a lovely evening, surrounded by memories of our time in Germany. Our home and Christmas tree are decorated with treasures from Germany. German carols played while we ate. We talked about our time together and remembered what’s most important during this special holiday season. We didn’t want our time together to end.
