Poinsettias to honor mother!

All decked out for CHRISTMAS~~

Thanks to Sheila!!

of course I helped a little.

'little women'

I was just channel surfing... looking to see if there is anything worth watching on TV.

On Turner Classic Movies... Little Women.

Seeing this reminded me when I was a girl. Indoors durning the hot hot summer and laying in the cooler air on my Mother's bed as she read to anyone willing to listen. One of Mom's favorite books was Louisa May Alcott's 'Little Women'. She wrote the novel in 1867-1868 she wrote it in just two and a half months. This novel published in 1868-1869 (in two parts). It is about the lives of four sisters (it was loosely based on the life of the author and her three sisters).

Well I have six sisters and I like to think that we all are our Mother's 'Little Women'.

thinking of you Mom...

I remember that you and Dad used to get the biggest turkeys... which was out of necessity because you fed us all.

So you would get up at the crack of dawn.... I mean earlier than that and you would get the turkey in. Many years we helped... Angela would do the mashed potatoes. The rest of us would help with whatever was left. YOU never would let us cook the turkey though. YOU knew just how good a home can smell with the aroma waifting through the air. So you always cooked the bird... as you called it.

I learned so many things from just watching you work your magic in the kitchen. I may not have been allowed to cook my own turkey dinner for many a year... but I am so glad that I paid attention. Now with a house full of my own children and grand-girls... I am so thankful for a Mother.

Happy Birthday!

I love you... I miss you!

Dear Mom,

I was at Walgreens a few weeks ago...

and as I headed for the check out I noticed this chunk of peanut brittle and I thought of you.

I did not give into the temptation until a couple of days ago...

I spied it once again.

I bought two chunks and I have been enjoying every last bite in your honor.

Almond Roca [from Debra]

Almond Roca Recipe

Use an inexpensive chocolate such as Hershey's. It has low cocoa butter content. If you use a premium chocolate with a high cocoa butter content, unless you temper the chocolate first (look up directions online), the cocoa butter may separate into white streaks as the melted chocolate cools.

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 Tbsp light corn syrup
1/2 lb butter (2 sticks - NO substitutes!)
1/2 lb. slivered almonds (2 cups)
1/2 lb. bar of regular Hershey's dark chocolate (7 oz okay)

Method:
Do not attempt to make this on a humid or rainy day. Do not double the recipe, make one batch at a time.

1 Melt butter with sugar, syrup and water in a pan (such as a large non-stick frying pan) on medium to medium-high temperature. Stir continuously with a wooden spoon. When butter is melted, add the almonds.

2 When mixture comes to a rolling boil, set your timer for a minimum of 10 minutes and keep stirring (no more than 15 minutes). The mixture will thicken and turn darker in color. The almonds will roast. Keep stirring and cooking until you hear it crackle. If you don't cook it long enough it will not harden, so keep stirring and listen for the crackling sound.

Elise's note: I have found it very hard to distinguish between the boiling sound and the crackling sound in this recipe. A better guideline for me is by color. When the mixture turns a warm amber color, at about 11 or 12 minutes into the boiling, that's the time to pour it out. Wait too long and it will burn. If you try to make this, please read all the comments listed below. It's actually trickier than one would think.

3 When the mixture crackles, pour the mixture out onto a large cookie sheet and spread it as thin as possible with a fork. While it is still hot, break up the chocolate into chunks and distribute it over the almond mixture and let it melt. Spread it evenly on the top.

4 Let it cool to room temperature. When cool you can lift the whole thing off the pan and break into small pieces.

Mom's Favorite Actress

I was trying to remember some of Mom's favorites...
and I thought of Debbie Reynolds. So I want to challenge
my sisters... what favorites do you remember?

Post them here on the blog. In honor of Mom's
birthday... one month from today.

Sisters-Sisters!

Teresa e.mailed this out to the Murry Girls... aka Elaine's daughters. Thanks Tess!

Sisters... something special about that bond. Elaine was one of six... and I am one of seven.

Mom's Sisters!!

I love pictures of when mom was younger. (Left to Right: Janice, Jean, Loris,Dad,Cheryl,Mom,Elaine,Judy) I am not sure how old she is in this picture but I enjoy seeing how her family looked!

Mom and my Babies...

Mom and "Little Elaine," as she would always call her.

Mom and Luke.
Luke is enjoying the magic belly.

And Mom with Kristopher.

Baked Beans

Mom made the best baked beans.

In the beginning of my marriage I asked her for the recipe and this is what she sent.

I love it because it is in her handwriting.

I make this at least once a year and have had people request it for potlucks.

I hope that you all enjoy!

the sound of rain

it's the simple everyday things that remind me of you MOM...

I love YOU!

Anything Cow...

Reminds me of you!

My Sisters, My Friends

[written by Teresa]

They all grew up in Logandale, but little did they know,
What the world would bring to them, or where they would all go.
Playtimes became shorter and naptime was all gone,
The Murry girls had all grown up, it was now time to move on.

Sheila was the first to come, and so the first to go,
Now with 4 kids she has learned how quickly they can grow.
When Sheila laughs-you will laugh too, her smile lights the day,
To make one smile, Sheila's best, you know she'll find a way.

Lisa came next as 2 of 7, but know one knew back then,
She wanted 12, kids that is, but didn't know quite when.
Lisa knows a lot of things, she always knows what's best,
5 kids keep her on her toes, that girl could use a rest.

Debra is the 3rd you see, and defiantly not last
3 kids, a job, and Michael too, boy, time sure flies by fast.
Debra, she is always there to tell you problems to,
She has a shoulder meant just for tears, when you are feeling blue.

Angela, she's #4 and always has a ball
Even with three boys and a girl on the way, she is loved by all.
She listens and she'll make you laugh, the first to place a dare,
But deep inside her laughter, I know that she does care.

Teresa, that's me as #5, I love you all out there,
For each of you I'd give my life, that's how much I care
My 6 sisters, all my friends, the ones that make you smile
It is for you I wrote this poem, you make my life worth while.

Carma is 6, in line that is, with a little boy who's 1
He laughs so hard and squints his eyes, he has so much fun.
Carma cares for everyone, a peacemaker, a friend,
She's always standing by your side, she's with you till the end.

Karena is the baby, last but not least, I know,
She always tries to find a way to help her spirit grow.
To Texas she will go, real soon, the last to leave the nest,
With this I say, Good luck, dear friend, may you strive to do your best.

We share a bond as sisters, unlike any other,
There's more to being sisters, as you know, than having the same mother.
All these things I say are true, my love it never ends.
For each and every one of you, My Sisters... My Friends.

[This poem was written 'many moons ago'... so here is a quick update. Lisa lives in Valley View, TX with her hubby Nick and 7 kids. Debra lives in Overton, NV with her 3 kids (Michael passed away May 2003) Angela lives in Overton, NV with her hubby Dave and 5 kids. Teresa lives in Austin, TX with Austin her pug. Carma lives in Issaquah, WA with her hubby Jared and 3 kids. Karena lives in Danville, IL with her hubby David & 3 little girls.]

written by her Daddy

Elaine...

you were born before the doctor arrived. Mother was at home in LaVerkin, Ut. I was at Las Vegas, NV working and learned you had arrived from a neighbor. Mother didn't call me that night because she was afraid I'd drive home too fast and wreck. Besides I couldn't afford the lost wages. I made $1.50 per hour back then.

You learned fast, walked early and didn't have much hair at first. When you were about 16 I called you my 'Princess Grace' you looked like Grace Kelly.

You were so very special and always kept us on our toes.

her 'wedding day'

Harris Murry & Elaine Heywood

July 15, 1961

listen and remember...

sorry for the car-beeping distraction... oh and the wipers

from Elaine's journal

[February 3, 1980]

Today is Sunday and during the past 4 days much has happened. Thursday I went to a staff meeting for the Gen. Library. La Dean was kind enough to watch my 2 little ones. After the meeting Peggy and I during her lunch hour finished our visiting teaching the 31st of Jan. you know! Harris and I planned to go home teaching and I came home to fix an early dinner. Then Sheila and Paula came in quite upset about Paula's Mom. They were not very happy when the answer to their plea was "NO". Sheila could not spend the night at Paula's. If Pat was that ill we must get help from their home teachers. Ron was out of town. We waited til Lisa came home to tend our kids as Debra was with her Beehive class on an Ice Skating outing. Sheila, Harris, and I went and stayed with Pat until about 9:00. She seemed in a much better way when we left. Debra came home at 9:30 really excited with all of the fun of the trip. At 10:00 we were all settled down to bed. At 11:30 we were awakened by Paula knocking at our window. She was really upset. The group of girls in a van from the First Ward was in a big wreck. 4 killed and 8 hospitalized. Paula's sister Rhonda was hurt and her Mom had gone to Vegas to be with her. I went to Paula's to spend the night with her and the boys. It was a very long miserable night. I was impressed with striving for the lasting eternal things. We often lose sight of the things that happen for the eternities. This life is but for a moment in God's time. We should learn to love each other and give it freely expecting nothing in return. I was so glad Paula felt she could come to us for help. About 1:30 Vern Waite came to tell us what he had been able to find out. Then we went to bed. I think Paula slept briefly. At 3:00 Charlie and Twila came. They had been in Vegas at the hospital. Waiting for morning was long, long. At about 4:00 the cat had a drink and then wanted out. I had shut the window so Paula got up and let him out. She shut the window and came back to bed. We lay still and warm. Pretty Soon. Whop!! the cat hit the window we laughed and laughed. He must have had his feelings hurt because Paula couldn't find him. (I'll continue in the am.)

[February 6, 1980]

The last two days have been trying times. Especially for the families of the deceased. It has been a testimony, a visual testimony just to watch them support and love each other. Each family attended ALL of the funerals. At Fern Barber's small girls funeral the husband of Mitzi Ozaki, the father of Laurel McMurray and the father of Jodi Belcher were honerary pall bearers. Each funeral let us glimpse for a moment into eternity where we all will be a covenant family if we are able to endure to the end. The Stake Y.W. Pres. of which I am the Secretary was asked to sit on the stand and support the Beehive families and leaders family. Mitzi was one of the greatest youth leaders. You know that she can never be replaced and yet Lorie Wollenzein, Laurel's Merrie Miss teacher last year gave a beautiful sermon that I know the Lord will raise up many great leaders. The McMurray funeral added so much. It was the only one that had women speakers. Louise Doty and Lorie Wollenzein. After they spoke Pres. Whitney said he was so impressed that he knew more vividly that the Priesthood was given to men to try to put them on a more equal footing with women. This may not be so but it made me appreciate my role as a woman more. I love my Mom and the example she has been to me. I am so blessed to have 7 lovely daughters and pray I might be a more worthy mother. It is going to be a great challenge to come through the hardships that are to come. These trials are teaching my daughters of God. I would that they would come to know Him! His love and mercy are never failing. I know this and am grateful for this knowledge. Today is R.S. and dear Sandy Leavitt is to teach us a lesson on the Savior. It will be hard for her but the Lord will help her.

daiRy aiR

photographer Stephen Baird aka Nikon Sniper

I think Mom would love this shot.

Don't sing at the table...

or dance on the bed.
Or a goblin will get you by the hair of the head.

Anyone ever hear that before?

I remember Mom saying it.
It came to me as I was falling asleep last night.

Shredded Wheat

not the spoon size... or bite size

but the regular size.

I remember the way Mom fixed it for us. First you put a couple in a bowl. Run them under hot tapwater... let set for a minute poor out the water... and then you have a moist warm breakfast cereal. Delicious!!!

When Tess was here...

3.15.09 -photo provided by Teresa

She wanted to have new flowers put on Mom's grave... I think Debbie and Angela helped. Please correct me if I am wrong. [in a comment]

COWS

Emelie made a cow at school. I instantly thought of Mom.

If she was still alive I would mail it to her.

Elaine aka Mom aka Grandma, LOVED COWS!!!

My Potato Salad

[contributed by Debra]

I do not have measurements, because I do not measure. So all this is approximate and to taste.

12 potatoes
12 eggs
celery 3 stalks
cucumber 1 (seeded)
radishes 1 bunch
Mayonnaise
Mustard
Dill Pickle Juice

Add the condiments together just enough mustard to give a light yellow color and pickle juice to thin out.

her favorite story

Mother
Author: Temper Bailey

The young mother set her feet on the path of life. Is the way long, she asked? And her guide said, yes. And the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning. But the mother was happy, and would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children. And gathered flowers for them along the way and bathed them in clear streams and the sun shone on them and life was good and the young mother cried ‘nothing will ever be lovelier than this’.

Then came the night, and storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said ‘oh mother we are not afraid for you are near and no harm can come. And the mother said ‘This is better than the brightness of day, for I have taught my children courage. Today I have given them strength.’

And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth, clouds of war and hate and evil and the children groped and stumbled and the mother said ‘Look up lift your eyes to the light’. And the children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory, and it guided them and brought them beyond the darkness. And that night the mother said this is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God’.

And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she was little and bent. But her children were tall and strong and walked with her with courage and when the way was hard, they helped their mother and when the way was rough they lifted her, for she was light as a feather, and at last they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shinning road and golden gates flung wide.

And the mother said, ‘I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know that the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them’.

And the children said, ‘You will always walk with us, mother, even when you have gone through the gates’.And they watched her as she went alone, and the gates closed after her.

And they said, ‘We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence’.