Seeing is Believing

Ah, so, the last couple months have been eventful.  I moved to my own apartment, had surgery, and...will hopefully pick up my first pair of reading glasses.  Now, looking back, I should have probably g seen the optometrist at least a year ago and the result would be...but I'm a little stubborn and oblivious to the fact that squinting, eye-strain headaches, and moving labels in several different directions to read the text means....that I need glasses.  Mostly though, I was in denial about the fact that I finally need glasses as I was hoping to reach the age of 45 when both of my parents needed glasses.  Yeah, setting goals are good....but calling off the goal is sometimes worth it too. Especially in this case.  So, last week when I was sitting on my couch after surgery (I'm healing nicely) and brainstorming about how I will need to buy books with larger text from here on out.....it dawned on me that eye appointment that my mom has been bugging me about for about 5 years....should probably be made in the the next week.

The best laid schemes o' mice an' men*

Thanks to Garrison Keillor's, "The Writers Almanac," I learned that one of my treasured books (read it when I was 12 on a drive from Moab to Vernal in the shell of our pickup truck, finished it, and then immediately read it again), "Of Mice and Men," was published on this day in 1937. Steinbeck's puppy, Toby, chewed up half the manuscript.  Check out Steinbeck's reaction to his pup making confetti of his manuscript.

*Reference to the poem Steinbeck took the title of this book from

Word of the Day: Acquiescence

Etymology:

A Brief History of True Roundy Feild

True and Verna Roundy.  Sisters.  

Yesterday was my mother's birthday.  I only got to chat with her briefly and then left my phone at work (oh, well), but I was thinking of my mother and my mom's mom.  I noticed that Trudy Anne, my cousin, posted the second biography of our grandmother True.  I read through this biography which I'm not sure I've read before (but nothing in the biography really surprised me.)  Yes, my grandmother loved to wander (sometimes in a book (even though she didn't approve of fiction), sometimes on the road, loved her baby sister, and family, and loved the ranch. If Grandma didn't have the "risk" gene, I would be very surprised. We have a picture of her in her late 50's or 60's riding a motorcycle...and we always joked about grandma speeding. Yes, she loved animals in her own way. Yes, she had a really hard time after Keith, my grandpa died.
Yes, the hardest thing about her getting old for me was we never laughed together anymore.  We were always giggling about something, and she stopped giggling her last couple of years. I missed laughing about something whether it be spilled milk, or someone saying something clever.
My grandma was a rock to a lot of people, and pretty much everyone who ever met and spoke with her, thought that True was their best friend.  The past couple of years since my grandma has died has been hard on my mom and the rest of the family (immediate and extended) but my mom is hanging in there...and hopefully will get to speak to my mom today.  Yay! And get a card out to my Aunt Hannah (Trudy's mother), whose birthday is today,  in the mail too.

http://trudyanne.wordpress.com/2014/01/12/breif-history-of-true-roundy-feild/

Random Musings: Pneumatic Lungs (NOT MINE!!)

So, let's say you get home, notice your best friend aka roommate's car in the driveway and realize she didn't go to work.  You come into the apartment.  She tells you that she has pneumonia.  You Do a few chores, ask her for what she needs, and she keeps telling you that she's fine and has it under control.  She also tells you that her dad who was diagnosed with pneumonia last week is back to work.  She then says she has this under control even though her mother is worried about her and wants to come to DC and take of her.  Yeah, I'm pretty sure that no one is "fine" when they have pneumonia.  No. One.  But she sure made me chuckle.  Darn, stubborn, best friend.  I may still love her, but she's a stubborn one.

"True" Friendship

My cousin Trudy blogged about my grandmother True (yes, the names aren't a coincidence) yesterday.  Grandma or (Gra-ma) had a dear friend from Randolph, Utah, that she met up at Utah State.  Her friend, Kathleen, married after her freshman year, but Grandma and Kathleen stayed the best of friends.  I remember visiting Kathleen a few times and being "ordered" to stop by Kathleen's when I lived in Randolph one summer.   Kathleen and Grandma stayed friends for 70+years and died within three weeks of each other.  My mom and dad went to Kathleen's funeral and my mom reported how happy Kathleen's family were to see my parents.  Here's a link to Trudy's web-site.



And yes, my grandmother's French Bread?  Best. French. Bread. Ever. (really).

True Roundy Feild and Keith Alma Feild

My cousin Trudy started a family blog recently called "Trudy's Tree."  Trudy's first two entries are family histories of our grandma, True Roundy Feild, and our grandpa, Keith Alma Feild.  Although my "gramma" was suffering when she died just two years ago, two weeks ago, losing her was losing my "third" parent. My mother and her siblings refer to my grandma as Mama..and my cousins and I called her gramma..which I think was partly out of laziness..and partly because our parents called her mama.  I know Grandma True is in a better place but I think I'll always think of her this time of year.  Grandma True's  birthday is this week though and I plan to celebrate by laughing, reading Robert Frost, and eating fish sandwiches; something we both did together as a treat. We would often go out and get fish sandwiches to celebrate my birthday..or just as a special little thing we would do.

True Roundy Feild on left...Keith Alma Feild on right.  Both pictures taken in the 1940's I believe. 

My grandpa, Keith, died when I was seven years old from a recurrence of lymphoma.  I only have "little kid" memories of Keith, but I still remember many things about him.  He was a huge reader and would read to me, even when he was sick.  When my younger brother was born, I was excited, but the only person I didn't want to share Richard with was my Grandpa Keith.  He was a quiet man, but very loving..and intellectually curious.  Grandpa Keith didn't get a chance to get a college education, but he read engineering journals that a friend dropped off.  My mom says that she wishes my grandpa would've lived long enough to meet my youngest brother because he would've gotten a kick out of Steven.  Grandpa Keith also was well-read and loved literature.  Although my grandma True didn't approve of novels, my grandpa often had a library book tucked away to read after he finished the chores.  His book collection was eclectic, and I remember seeing his copy of "Roots," after he died.  Both my grandparents loved poetry and rhyme..and I think they both realized that I thought in rhyme..or responded to rhyme, because they both had me memorize poetry at a young age.  Anyway, reading my grandparent's histories (which I've read before..but its been several years) was interesting.  It was interesting to read what the two talked about in their personal histories.
Here's the link again.  http://trudyanne.wordpress.com

Interview

A Motley Vision, the "major" LDS Literature blog interviewed me about my paper at the Association for Mormon Letter's Conference in April. The interview is below:

http://www.motleyvision.org/2012/interview-with-joy-buhler-on-mormon-literature/

Back

I've spent the last 5 weeks in Utah with my parents.

While there I:
worked;
held (my niece);
kept a secret from my mom;*
attended two graveside services;
regretted I didn't let my brother show me how to knife (an oyster);
teach the other niece how to eat berries obnoxiously;
caught up with a friend from high school;
rode bikes;
was invited to Nicaragua next year;
rode 2k miles in a car;
presented;
ate at the Ranchhand for the 3rd time in 6th months;
realized that my parents watch at least one sport every night (many nights two);
played Ligretto with old friends;
introduced a dog to a little boy who kept saying, "meow";
teased my other brother;
had one-on one time with my sister-in-law; and

many other now memories.

The secret? After work I wandered outside to help my dad with the garden.  While I prepared soil for his greenhouse he came over to me saying, "I don't have the seeds."  He set them down in a plastic bag and couldn't find them.  We looked for them for several minutes but because it was so windy we thought they could easily be halfway across the valley. I was then sworn to secrecy.  Well, he found them a few days ago in the window well and the seeds are now seedlings in the greenhouse.

Steven Knifing Oysters at Hood Canal

Bus Stop

Monday evening I happened to be at the Pentagon Bus Terminal at the end of rush hour.  I had about 20 minutes until my bus came so I sat down to read a book* for the paper I'm currently writing.  As I was reading, I noticed a handsome black man trying to catch my eye.  I looked up at him and smiled.  He came over to me and asked what I was reading and then asked for the book.  I gave it to him.  His first question to me was, "are you Mormon?" I said yes.  His face immediately turned angry and disapproving.  I thought, "oh crap, he's been reading all the crazy stuff Randy Botts said in the Washington Post."  He asked me, "Why are you Mormon?" I immediately asked him what faith he was, but that didn't diffuse him.  He asked me again.  I answered him but he didn't like my answer.  He then asked me again and I answered.  At this point, my bus came and I asked for my book back because I didn't want it to end in the trash and I wanted to finish it.

As soon as I sat down on the bus, a gentleman engaged me in conversation (not that it matters, but he was black too).  He wanted to know what the other man said to me.  I told him the story and he shook his head, "Muslims, Mormons and Jews. People get so riled up over you."  He then told me to keep my head up and be proud of what I believed in and other words of encouragement.

Anyway, I've had similar things happen in the past, but never had a stranger give me a verbal pat of encouragement.  I found myself half-way wishing I was reading the book on my Kindle though.

*Dispensation: Latter Day Fiction 

Just Peeking In

Iguana at the Uxmal Ruins in Mexico.

I'm alive.  Between getting sick (again), preparing for a trip to the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula and being not sure what to blog here, I just let the blog lie dormant for a few weeks.  But I'm back from Mexico and (maybe) back blogging.  Hope this finds you well.

Grandma's Carrot Pudding

I'm not the biggest cake fan.  I think cupcakes are fun, and I like tres leches cake but I'd rather have a birthday pie, bars or even birthday cookies.  So this year when my mom suggested my grandmother's carrot pudding for my birthday today-I said, "great"!  This recipe was perhaps my grandma's signature dessert and I remember eating and loving it as a kid and adult.  In fact, I only found out recently that this recipe is actually English-and there's not much modification from the English recipe that was handed down to my grandma.

Carrot Pudding
1 cup grated apples
1 cup grated potatoes
1 cup grated carrots
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup raisins
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
Lemon Clear Sauce

Shred apples, potatoes and carrots into large mixing bowl. Add remaining ingredients, mixing well.  Dust raisins with flour to prevent sticking together.
Fill four pint bottles 2/3 full with batter.  Cover loosely with lids.  Place on rack in pan.  Fill pan with water about 2/3 up on bottles.  Cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours or until done.
Serve warm with Lemon Clear Sauce.

Lemon Clear Sauce

1/2 cup sugar
1 cup cold water
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Combine sugar, cold water, cornstarch and lemon peel.  Boil until thickened.  Remove from heat.  Add butter and lemon juice.  Serve hot over Carrot pudding.  Serves four.

My mom decided to serve our carrot pudding with Buttermilk Caramel Syrup from "Our Best Bites" , otherwise known as "liquidy crack" in my world.

My grandma True Feild in 1986 looking at a monument in Wyoming. 

Random Updates

Kelli's brother Chris came to visit and attend the Foo Fighters concert with us tomorrow night.  Today is his birthday which is kind of fun.

A couple of days ago a package came to the house for Kelli.  She opened it up and there were two giraffe t-shirts from Threadless. (Yes Nicole, Anna would be super jealous of these t-shirts.)  This morning Chris apologized for not getting one for me too.  I told him he didn't need to, but I thought that was very sweet he thought of me.

Yes, Chris got a beanie for his birthday.  It fits him too!

Chris's beanie.  

So, Sunday I had a tough asthma day.  I knew I wasn't going to sleep without taking something, so I took an ambien.  About 11 or so I half woke up, realized I wasn't wearing a watch and ordered 3 off Amazon.  I realized Monday morning what I had done and tried to cancel the watches.  Then when they came, I mangled the packaging so I can't send them back.  I've never done anything like this while taking a sleep-aid (I sometimes have to take something when I'm sick or I don't sleep) but at least I have decent taste when I'm mostly awake--and I definitely could've spent more on watches I don't really need.

Monday, I was out to lunch with a co-worker at Subway.  I ordered a tuna sandwich which I got about 3/4 full before I had the nastiest taste of fish in my mouth and immediately wanted to gag, puke, had cold chills and a slight headache.  I didn't tell Subway that they had rotten tuna fish because all I wanted to do was get out of there fast.  Luckily, I felt better after several hours but I'm still not craving a tuna fish sandwich.

I'm amazed that there's people out there trying to defend Joe Paterno.

Anyway, Happy Veterans Day tomorrow!

Wordless: Gettysburg Summer 2011 Edition

Barrel Roll!

I'm taking a "freebie" today for NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month).  I realized a couple of days ago that the sinus infection I picked up a couple of weeks ago has now morphed into bronchitis which is why I'm feeling fatigued and have been wheezy off and on. I'm getting better, but I have many ideas for posts that I've neglected to write this past year that hopefully I'll get up on here.  At the least, I'll hopefully get to archiving some of the projects I've made this weekend.  
Meanwhile, I leave you the following thoughts about yesterday:

Just try it.  I dare you, if you haven't yet!

Wordless Wednesday: Peoa Edition

My Grandmother Feild's Obituary

1921 ~ 2011
True Roundy Feild, daughter of George Spencer Roundy and Hannah Agnes Marchant Roundy, completed her time on earth and left us early in the morning of September 2, 2011. She was born September 19, 1921 in Peoa, Utah where she spent her life. She loved her home in the mountain valley and the people there.


True graduated from South Summit High School and Utah State University where she obtained a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. She taught 3rd grade in Kamas. After her marriage to Keith Alma Feild she devoted her life to her children, church, ranch, and community. 


She served faithfully and diligently in many church callings including a mission with her husband to Fort Thompson, South Dakota, where they grew to love the people there, and service in the Salt Lake City Temple. She was proud of her pioneer heritage so membership in Daughters of the Utah Pioneers was a joy to her. (These last few years were a trial to her. Because of her physical limitations she was unable to serve as she was accustomed to. ) And she found the time to attend many rodeos and other athletic events to cheer for her sons and grandchildren. 


Our mother taught us well in the important things of life. Her example and steadfastness showed us the way. We will always cherish her. She will be missed. True is survived by her children, Hannah Braithwaite (Kent), Joyce Buhler (Paul), John Feild (Becky), and Lewis Feild (Veronica), sixteen grandchildren and 25 " greats". 


She is now reunited with her husband, her parents, sister Verna, little brother John, and her son Richard. What a joyous time it must be.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 9,2011 at the Peoa Ward LDS Chapel. Friends may call on Thursday evening, September 8 from 6p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. prior to the services. Interment will be in Peoa Cemetery following the services.

The family expresses appreciation to all of True's friends, neighbors, and ward members who were such a support to her these last few years. A special thank you goes to the caregivers at the Beehive Home in Payson, Utah who took such good care of our mom these last six months. In lieu of flowers True would want you to make a donation to the Primary Children's Hospital or a charity of your choice

Shake, Shake Shakin'

So, the earthquake yesterday?  Honestly, it wasn't the strongest quake I've ever felt, but that might be due to the fact that I was sitting in a building that was dedicated in the 1930's and is rock solid.  The first 10-15 seconds felt like someone moving furniture on the floor above us.  After that, the building started shaking.  I realized immediately what was going on and moved into the doorway.  The quake stopped after about 45 seconds or so.  My co-workers immediately started speculating. One thought it might've been a bomb, but that idea was shot down pretty quick.  We weren't evacuated immediately, but after about 10 minutes.  Then we stood outside for a while until we were excused to go home.
The buildings in DC aren't built to earthquake regulations to my knowledge, and as my building takes up two city blocks, it's going to take time to inspect the whole building.  I headed to the metro, but a co-worker stopped me at the station and told me to find an alternate way home.  The platforms were crowded and the trains were running at 10 mph.  After that, I walked down to the bus stop.  Another co-worker stopped me, told me that wasn't a great idea and asked me if I wanted to walk with him over to Virigina to another station.  We walked over but as soon as we got to that station, we realized we weren't going to get on a train there anytime soon.  After that, I walked back outside and waited for a hour and a half before getting on a train.  The trains were still crowded and running 10mph but I was able to get on one and home a little after seven in the evening.

What I Learned over the Weekend

1) That our dog, 13 year old Lady died.

2) My friend had no idea that Japan and the U.S. was playing the final in the Women's World Cup.  Ironically, my friend is half Japanese and at least her father was following the game closely.

3)  When my mom went to put a cover over Lady, Lady jumped up.  Both my mom and the dog were surprised. 

4) I've been asked to teach Sunday School.  The best part about this assignment?  No class to teach.   

Dear Blog

Blog, I haven't forgotten you, it's just been a weird month, so I've taken a breather from you. 
Don't worry, we'll be back together before too long.