Greetings from Payson, Arizona

 

It has been a quiet week here in Payson.....my sister Juli continues to get a little better each day.  And, I have just played the supportive role - doing laundry, cleaning, fixing meals, washing dishes, running errands.  We have watched a movie each day.  And, I have had plenty of time of my own to work on the sewing projects I brought  to work on.  I went through two sewing machines in the process!  Juli's machine, a solid Kenmore she got as a high school graduation present, served me well all week until Friday morning when it just stopped.  Probably a broken belt but not something I can fix.  So, I decided to try out the very old sewing machine that belonged to my mom and on where I learned to sew.  It is a Domestic and does just a simple straight stitch.  And, once I finally remembered how to thread it, it worked!!! For about thirty minutes.  And, then it just froze up.  

Happily, there was a spare machine in the Relief Society closet (a Husqvarna Viking - LOVE those machines!!!) and Ruth, the R.S. President and a very good friend of Juli's, brought it by Friday afternoon and I was able to finish all my projects last night. 

Speaking of vintage machines - I made waffles Thursday morning on the waffle iron that belonged to my parents.  Juli had it stored in the top of a kitchen cupboard, she had never used it since she acquired it after mom died, and we weren't sure it was even viable. But, it still works!  

Thanks to technology, I was able to keep up with email, with my ward missionary calling, with the family via Marco Polo, with nightly scripture study with Steve.  I was able to watch a webinar by the Shaw Nature Reserve one afternoon.  

So, Juli and I watched the rest of the All Creatures Great and Small season on PBS.  It was just lovely!  I even had to watch the last episode a second time, it was so good.  We also watched "The Ultimate Gift" (Juli had never seen it - it is always worth a watch), "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" (kind of meh), "Sabrina" (the Harrison Ford one - so good), and "The Secret- Dare to Dream" (quite good- I recommend it) .  I personally watched "The Dig" (interesting but I was not thrilled by the little romantic sub-plot) , "Love Guaranteed"(really liked it), and the newest WandaVision (whoa!!). 

I go back to Saint Louis on Tuesday....