2011--Oh, What a Year!

So, 2010 was a horrendous year for me--finding out about husband's shenanigans; deciding to leave him (good riddance!).  I consider it the longest year of my life.  I didn't realize how much I would miss my friends and family in Pennsylvania.  I figured, there's only one way to go--UP-- right?  2011 can only be better.
And it was...until September 3rd.
So, let's see what has happened this year...

January, 2011--still living with Meyersons (bless them abundantly, Lord) * found a house * thankful for my job

February, 2011--bought my house February 10th * moved in February 19th * was greeted by the many good people of the Midvale East 2nd Ward

March, 2011--Zannah's wedding on March 11th, my birthday * got my divorce notice (YAY!)

Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas C. Trujillo
Sealed in the Salt Lake Temple March 11, 2011

April, 2011--Alex moved in with me to live in my basement apartment

This is a terrible picture of Alex, but the only one I have at the moment

May, 2011--started planning and planting my garden--total bliss! * called as Sunbeam teacher at church * joined the Old Glory Vintage Dance group (it's so much fun!)

My back garden in May

June, 2011--helped with the Tour de Cure bike ride sponsored by SelectHealth * fell in love with Brigham City * went to the Utah Arts Festival in SLC with Zannah and Nick (so fun!). There was a whole display of a Knit-a-thon (crochet, too) where everything was covered in knitted or crocheted yarn--trees, parking meters, bicycles--even a whole car!  We also saw a performance by Ballet West, which is why Zannah wanted to go.  We rode Trax and had a great time.

Tour de Cure riders getting ready to ride. Beautiful backdrop.

I didn't realize I got the temple in the background. It was several blocks down the road.
The Wild Bird Refuge was closed due to flooding.  Maybe next year!

The new Brigham City temple, under construction

They knitted everything--even a car!  That's me standing next to the car.

UTAH ARTS FESTIVAL

Zannah and Nick waiting for the ballet performance.  It was wonderful.



They knitted and crocheted trees...



...and even bicycles--poles--parking meters--everything! 
It was so fun to discover all the places and things
that had been knitted and crocheted

July, 2011--visited Jewely and James in Rexburg * visited the Campbells in Idaho Falls * stopped in at Brigham City again (why am I drawn to that place?) and saw the angel Moroni on top of the almost completed temple * went to a couple of rodeos with Bonnie (who knew I would love rodeos?)

July 4th rodeo in West Jordan. 
There were fireworks after.  That made my day complete.

Brigham City temple with Angel Moroni

August, 2011--had a Divorce Party--I mean, a "First Anniversary of My Flight to Freedom" party with my PA Pals * had visits from Theresa Sneed and Betsy Love from Arizona;  hosted a book signing for them at my house! What fun! I also went to a book signing/reception for them and rubbed shoulders with authors and editors and publishers (bliss!) * Carla and Ellen Campbell visited from Idaho (so great!); we went to This is the Place Park and to Joe's Crab Shack (YUM!); we attended Music and the Spoken Word on Sunday before they left to go home * Jewely visited for a day or two and we went to Hogle Zoo * (I can't believe I didn't take any pictures. I have to be better with bringing my camera)

September--da.da.daaahhh * while painting a tiny cut-out wall over my fireplace, the ladder I was standing on collapsed and I ended up in the ER. No break was seen on the X-rays, so it was assumed to be a bad sprain.

This was the little wall I was painting when the ladder collapsed.

This looks like a very bad sprain, doesn't it?

This is me, the day before surgery, standing and kneeling on my knee walker
in front of the little wall that Sandy painted in 15 minutes.

 October--finally got an MRI October 11th which disclosed a displaced fracture in the talus bone; surgery needed immediately; surgery on October 17th disclosed dislocated tendons and ligaments; out of work for 3 weeks * my mom flew in from Florida for a week (nice!)

November--follow-up doctor appointment November 1st; stitches out * back to work on November 7th * one-year anniversary at SelectHealth November 22nd (so grateful for my job and understanding boss)
December--started Physical Therapy December 7th; was told I am in the very beginning stages of recovery.  I may not walk without a boot until May.  I may not fully recover for 12 months.

So, I'm looking forward to spending Christmas with three out of four of my kids (and their spouses).  I can't wait to talk to my missionary on Christmas Day, so we will all technically be together that day, via technology.

The year 2011 was mostly wonderful, until Labor Day weekend.  I worked on gaining my freedom and learning who I am, forging a new identity in a new state, new city, new job.   I hope to be able to finish my book, take some creative writing classes and maybe some art classes.  I'm also thinking about taking voice lessons from my friend, Jane Kessler, if she'll teach me. 

So, I'll say again, there's only one way to go--UP--right?  Yes, I choose to believe that.

Merry Christmas 2011

Some More Garden Blogging

 My back garden in July

By August 21st--my, how it's filled in

July, when I first planted the Black-eyed Susans

The Wave Petunias have really grown in and filled in the sparse areas...and the little zinnias have too.

OK, so next year--lots of Wave Petunias!

The vegetable garden was looking good in July.  Notice where the sunflowers are in the back.

The sunflowers are all now blooming and tall.

I keep waiting for the blue Morning Glories to bloom.  They are growing all along the fence and even up the sunflowers.  They held them up during a recent rain/windstorm.  I remember them blooming for the first days of school in Septembers in the past, so they will bloom soon, I hope.

The cantelope vines on the right only have baby melons.  I dont know if the growing season is long enough here for them--or maybe it's just the location in my yard.

Front garden in July--looks OK...

This is a month later in August.  Yes...more Wave Petunias next year.

On the side in July--Rudbekia, Russian Sage, Daisy, and a tiny cosmos sprout  in the middle front.

A month later the little tiny cosmos takes over

Herb garden in July....

...and below in August.

Wow, until you compare side by side, you really can't see the difference.

The basil globes are a lot bigger.  I thought they didn't grow at all.

And the lemon thyme will be profuse next year, I hope.

The lavender on the right has spread, too.

And here's hoping the lilac bush will spread out next year and take up a lot of space--with lots of perfumey flowers!

 Here are more views of the side garden.

OK.  It's decided.  Note-to-self: more Wave Petunias next year!

I've had so much fun with flowers and herbs this year.
I've been told we will not have much more summer weather and autumn usually settles in earlier. The nighttime temps are in the 60s.
We shall see. I'll be happy for whatever God gives me. I'm thankful for the dry weather here. It's much more conducive to outdoors for me. I get to walk to church down the street. Even in the 90-degree heat, I can still function.

New Garage Door

I know my neighbors are jealous.  I've had a few come over to admire my new garage door and hear the harrowing story about how the garage proceeded to come off the track one morning while I was on my way to work--and how my neighbor was there to raise the door for me while I backed my van out, etc.
So, as of August 12th, I have a new garage door.  I like the windows.  Now my garage is always bright inside and I don't even need to use the light unless it's nighttime.

 Old garage door

New garage door

As of August 12, 2011

Before and After

I've been taking pictures of my progress in the gardens outside.  I've done virtually nothing inside, but I'm in no hurry.  I've been enjoying the weather, esp. in May and June.  It was lovely and just right for working outside.
Before I moved in, I took pictures of the whole place, inside and out.  Here are some photos of the transformation.  I've been having fun.

4-3-11

7-10-11

While I was working in my yard one day, I realized...there were no trees on my property.  My neighbor thought that was odd.  She said the properties were supposed to each have two trees.
Well...at least I planted a little pear tree in the back yard.

planted a pear tree 5-30-11

I bought plants little by little.  I was discovering new varieties I had never seen before, like this little lilac bush that only grows 5 feet tall--and 5 feet wide.  It should be perfect for this spot.

5-30-11

Of course, I couldn't stop there.  I kept adding and adding things--annuals, perennials, seeds (that get eaten by these rather large snails.  They're HUGE!

7-10-11 

But I love how it's going.  I keep watching the climatis grow and it gets bigger every day, I think.

1-24-11--before I moved in, I took pictures of the place. It was all graffiti and paint gun.

This is the BEFORE picture.

One of the biggest tasks I had to do was scrub the, already ugly, cinder block walls.  Apparently, this is how they put up fences in Utah.  Well, it's maintenance free--unless some kids shoot paintballs all over it--and spray paint it.  Sandy and I went to the hardware store and got some chemical that took most of it off.  There is still some residue, but I'm hoping it will eventually be covered by flora.

So, this is AFTER.  It's still ugly, but at least I got most of the paint off.

This is the best I could do with the spray paint.

So, I decided to move the raspberries that were behind that redwood plank over to the end of the wall.  Sandy did that for me.  It was actually the only thing he did to help me, except carry the odd bag of mulch from the car.  I'm pretty proud of myself for doing this work.

 Then there was the matter of the vegetable garden.  I never would have put this near the house.  But since it's there, I decided I would have to plant some vegetables this year.  This is going to go next year, though.  I have plans to have perifery raised bed gardens (is that a word?)--around the boundaries.

1-24-11

This area will be a patio next year (fingers crossed)

5-17-11

I pulled AAALLLLL the weeds and laid down black plastic.  I didn't want to have to bother with weeding. 

The garden is coming along.  I've already had some little broccoli.  The raspberries are starting to come in, too, though few because they were moved.

back garden 7-10-11.
 I love the suns with the climatis growing on them.

I still have to paint the front door, but I'd like to replace it.  Maybe next year. 
For now I guess I'll have to touch it up.  It's ugly.

That's what I'm doing!