He Is the Gift

The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection

The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection by Alexander McCall Smith

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Book #13 in the series.
Mr. Smith immerses the reader so thoroughly in the Botswana culture, that you simply must slow your pace, relax, and sip at something while you read this series of books. There definitely is a “formula” to each of the books: several difficult challenges or conflicts are presented in the early chapters, then, slowly and surely, each of those conflicts are resolved and all is well again with the world. . . until the next book. I usually tire of a series, especially one as long as this. But I’m still enjoying them, so I’ll keep reading them.




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Garlic and Sapphires

Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I absolutely loved this book. It’s Ruth Reichl’s experiences as The New York Times restaurant critic. I loved reading about her disguises and how each revealed different parts of her personality. I loved reading about fine dining in New York City and all of the delicious and fancy dishes. I was fascinated with the restaurant culture and how differently she was treated, depending on her disguise. The book even contains recipes that I’m anxious to try. I read this while on a cruise, so the timing was perfect. She would describe a dish and then I’d get to try it! The author has written several books and I can’t wait to read more.



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That First Step is a Big One!

We're doing some fixing up at our house, including replacing our deck in the back.  It's a little scary to open the back doors these days!   

I'll post "after" pictures when it's done.

What Did the Prophet Ask Us to Do?

What did the prophet ask us to do in the October, 2014 conference?  Here's what I gathered from the four talks that President Monson gave:

Saturday Morning Session
We encourage all worthy and able young men to serve a mission.
Give your attention to the brethren and sisters who will participate in conference.

Priesthood Session
"Please, before you put yourself and your priesthood in jeopardy by bv adventuring into places or participating in activities which are not worthy of you or of that priesthood, pause to consider the consequences."
"Be an example;  be an influence for good."

Sunday Morning Session
Be merciful, be humble, be righteous be pure in heart, be peacemakers
Stand up bravely for our beliefs
Let our lights shine
Be morally clean
Lay up treasures in heaven rather than on earth.
Go to the rescue of those who have left the path and have lost their way.
Ponder the path of thy feet.

Sunday Afternoon Session
May we return to our homes with a resolve in our hearts to be a little better than we have been in the past.
May we be a little kinder and more thoughtful.
May we reach out in helpfulness, not only to our fellow members but also to those who are not of our faith.  As we associate with them, may we show our respect for them.
Let us extend our concern to those who are struggling, as well as lend a helping hand.
May we remember the elderly and those who are homebound.  As we take time to visit them, they will know that they are loved and valued.
Succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down and strengthen the feeble knees.
Be a people of honesty and integrity, trying to do the right thing at all times and in all circumstances.
Be faithful followers of Christ, example of righteousness.
Ponder the truths we have heard.

Kenneth Reed Prince

On Thursday, October 30 at 1:23am  I got a text from Michelle saying she thought she might be in real thing labor.  So I got up and started wrapping gifts and then a little later she sent another text saying that she was pretty sure this was it.  So I woke up Ken and we started packing in earnest.  We got it all in the car and left about 3am.  We arrived and found Michelle in full labor.  After getting instructions on how to care for the kids which mostly went right over my head because I was so tired, we slept for a couple of hours while Michelle continued to labor.  When the kids woke up, Michelle and Brian headed to the hospital and so began a very busy day.  Michelle had signed up to help at Gabbi’s kindergarten with  the Halloween party, so we dressed both kids in their cute costumes, and Ken (what a good man) took them to the school and helped.  I crashed on the couch.     

Gabbi was delighted to have her brother at school with her and took him by the hand to be in the costume parade.

Gabbi and her Elsa friends.

 After the kindergarten party, Ken took them to the library for the library party.  It was party day!

 That evening, we took them to their ward trunk or treat party at the church.  

Anna convention at the ward party!

Meanwhile, Michelle labored all day long and brought forth a beautiful son who they named Kenneth (after Grandpa Ken) Reed (after Brian's beloved Grandpa Reed Walker) Prince.  He weighed 9 lbs. 2 oz. 

That evening, we put the kids down and immediately climbed in bed  ourselves.  I feel certain we were asleep before Jaron was and didn’t even  hear when Brian came home. 

The next morning, we all headed to the hospital to meet baby Kenny.  It was so fun to see the excitement of the children in meeting their new brother and getting to hold him.  After Ken blow dried Michelle’s hair (for old times’ sake) we took the kids home.  

That evening we took the kids trick or treating.  It was really fun.

So began our delightful (for the most part) week in Brian and Michelle’s home.  We so enjoyed tending the kids and taking care of and playing with them, as well as preparing meals and other chores.  It was SO fun to do it together.  I loved having Ken with me and found we made a great team.  Jaron loves him. When I would suggest I change Jaron’s poopy diaper,  Jaron would say, “This is a Grandpa job.”  And so it was.

 One of my favorite things was doing Puzzle Wars with Gabbi with these Frozen puzzles.  We'd each choose a puzzle and race to put it together.  At first, I'd purposely go slow so she could win.  But it wasn't long before I was going for all I was worth and she'd still beat me most of the time.  . . Smart little cookie!

While Kenny had his newborn pictures taken, Ken and I took the kids to the library story hour.  

Story hour.

The two Kennys snoozin' it out.

We left on Friday morning to get back to St. George in time to attend the 2pm wedding of our nephew, Kasey Hinton (Mark and Kathy's son) and his new bride Courtney.  It was a beautiful temple ceremony and good to be with family.  

Welcome to the Family, Kenneth Reed Prince!!!

Teasing Mr. Alligator

Our cute Jaron.  Love this kid.  

Letters

Letters by Marjorie Pay Hinckley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I so enjoyed reading this compilation of letters written by this unassuming, delightful lady- the wife of a prophet of God- to her family. Her cheery attitude and her recounting of her day to day life and service was truly inspiring to me. These letters made me want to be a better person. I am grateful to her family for sharing them in this book.
There are many wonderful quotes in this book, but I think this is my favorite from a letter written to her daughter, Kathy: “I have a new project, 1 chapter a day from each of the standard works. I have been on it for four days and am only 3 days behind. Better to have tried and failed than never to have tried.”




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Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Charming. In one word, this book is charming. I loved seeing the world through Major Pettigrew’s very British eyes. I finished the book a few days ago and still catch myself wondering how the Major and Jasmina are doing. It was definitely a character- driven book, but it also had a very meaningful plot and plenty of action to keep me interested. The main theme is prejudice- prejudice and tradition in a fierce battle with acceptance and caring. But there are other sub-themes as well: aging, grief, materialism, father-son discord, etc. These are pretty heavy, but the book is sprinkled with just enough dry, witty humor to keep it light. I expect to see this one made into a movie.



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Daddy's Dresser

This is Daddy's Dresser.  It is a very special place at our house.  It actually was Ken's dresser when he was growing up.  Years ago, we repainted it and he's used it all of our married life.  So that makes it special.  But what makes it even more special is the role it plays in our home.  When anything gets broken, it gets put on Daddy's dresser and very shortly that item gets fixed- good as new.  It's almost magic.  You just set it there.  You don't have to say a word.  And usually that very day you get it back fixed.  One of my sweetest memories is of when Michelle was just a little pig-tailed two-year-old.  Ken was the bishop of our ward at the time.  As I was getting her ready for church one Sunday morning, her little, white patent leather shoe buckle broke.  Without saying a word, she hopped up, went into our bedroom, stood in front of Daddy's dresser, and with all her might, tossed her little broken shoe up there.  Already at age two she had discovered the magic of Daddy's dresser.  I recently tested it, to see if it still works.  I was sorting my jewelry and in the process broke the clasp of my pearl necklace.  I set it on the dresser, not saying a word.  Sure enough, not even an hour later I was presented with a repaired necklace.  Just like magic!

 So, I decided to give it an even harder test: When my brother returned from his mission in Germany some 45 years ago, he brought me a German jewelry box.  I've kept it ever since, but it was broken and badly in need of repair.  It was actually in pieces.  I put the precious box and it's pieces on Daddy's Dresser.  In a few days, I was presented with an almost-like-new German jewelry box.

In a world of harsh reality and hard, cold facts, it is a pleasure to introduce you to the mystery and joy of our magical "Daddy's Dresser!"

5057 Miles!!

As the crow flies, our country, the United States of America is 5057 miles wide - coast to coast.  Today, Ken logged his 5057th mile on his road bike (he actually got his 5064th mile by the time he got home.)  So, it is as if he rode his bike coast to coast. He got his road bike in December, 2009- he has owned it for almost five years. So, he's putting about 1,000 miles per year on that bike!    I think that's pretty awesome!  I thought you should know!

Hinton Sibling Reunion 2015

We had a great time last weekend at the annual Hinton sibling reunion.  There are eight siblings and their spouses and we were all in attendance- meeting at the Dixie State University cabin in Pine Valley.  The theme was family history.  We ate meals like the Hintons used to eat, using many of Mom's recipes.  We learned about ancestors and how to find them for our family tree. Ken's grandma was a professional candy maker.  She had a hard tack candy mill, which Dave and Gerri brought and we made candy just like she used to.  We used her recipe and even her old flavoring oils.

Leslie and Sherrie cooking the candy

Running the candy through the mill.

It comes out in long strips.

The old candy mill.

One of the old oils.

After the candy hardens, you simply beat on the surface to get it to break apart.

The hot syrup is poured on the marble slab.  Greased knives are used to keep the candy moving to cool it evenly.

The candy must be kept moving while waiting to go through the mill.

All of our kids will recognize this fish candy.  Grandpa and Grandma often gave it to us for Christmas, and we even went over and helped make it a couple of times.  

We also played games,

attended meetings . . 

and got all tuckered out.

We attended church together in the historic Pine Valley chapel on Sunday before separating for our homes.  We love the Hinton Sibling gathering each year.