TRASH--a card game

I have been spending quite a bit of time these last few months entertaining grandchildren.

I am always on the outlook for fun and easy games to play with multiple children of varying ages.

My daughter, Cara, introduced us to TRASH the other day, we spent the whole visit playing the game with her three children ages 3, 6 and 10.

We introduced the game to 5 of our other grand children this last weekend, and they enjoyed it as well. 

I will take the cards along when we go visiting with my parents in a few weeks, I think they will also enjoy the game.

Here are the rules.  See what you think.

TRASH

2-4 players

1 deck of playing cards

SKILLS: Players should be old enough to recognize numbers and have a desire to learn to count--

This game is great practice to learn these skills and wonderful fun if you already have them.

FIRST HAND:  Deal each player 10 cards, lay them out face down in a straight line 1-10.

 Place remaining cards, face down, in center of table.

WILD CARDS:   If a KING is drawn or turned up, it is a WILD CARD and can be used for any face down card as desired.  If the numbered card for the space that the wild card is occupying comes available, it can be traded out and the KING put into a different spot, or, if at the end of this hand's play, passed on.

TO PLAY:  Youngest player starts the play by choosing a card from the center pile.

If it is a card from 1-10, put it in the proper place and turn over the card from that place. 

If it is another number card between 1-10, put it in the proper place. 

 Play for that person continues until a face card or number card that cannot be used is turned up.

TO CONTINUE PLAY:  If a QUEEN or JACK is drawn or turned up, that players turn is ended and the card is placed in the center of the table, face up, starting the TRASH PILE. 

 If a number card is turned up that cannot be used, the card is passed on to the next player that can use the card, starting with the person directly to the left.

 If there isn't a player that can use the number card it is placed in the TRASH PILE. 

 The player to the left then draws and play continues as before.

TO WIN A HAND:  The first player to have all of their card slots, 1-10 face up, wins the hand.

Play can continue WITHOUT ANY PLAYERS DRAWING, until no further plays can be made.

SECOND HAND:  Players retain face down cards on the table and turn in all cards that were face up. Those players that turned over ALL of their cards receive one less card than the previous hand

 (If the last hand was 10, this one is 9 and so on on until just 1 card is dealt)

CONTINUING PLAY:  Deal each player the number of cards needed, face down, in a row.

First player to go out the last hand is first player for current hand.

GOAL OF THE GAME: To be eligible to go onto the next step

 (from 10 to 9 cards. etc.) all cards must be face up.  

At the end of the hand, any remaining face down cards remain on the table and are counted toward the number of cards needed for the next hand.

Only those players with ALL of their cards face up can receive one less card.

Players with ANY cards left FACE DOWN will stay on the same step as the last hand.

(Example:  for the first hand 2 cards remained face down, turn in the 8 face up cards and receive 8 new cards to place face down with the original 2 making 10 cards face down for the second hand,

 while those who had all 10 cards face up receive only 9 cards )

 The first player to successfully reach 1 card, face up, is the winner.

HAVE FUN

Family Motto

We just had a family reunion.

WOW

Family drama, chaos, joy, laughter, fun and bonding

We have been planning this reunion for 3 years with the finishing details over the last 6 months

In April we sent a formal invitation and included this scripture from 4th Nephi and titled it:

 OUR FAMILY MOTTO

10 And now, behold, it came to pass that the people of [David] did wax strong, and did multiply exceedingly fast, and became an exceedingly fair and delightsome people.
11 And they were married, and given in marriage, and were blessed according to the multitude of the promises which the Lord had made unto them.
15 And it came to pass that there was no contention in the [family], because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.
16 ... and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.
17 There were no...ites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God.
18 And how blessed were they! For the Lord did bless them in all their doings; yea, even they were blessed and prospered.

Too soon our children grow and leave home.  My heart fills with joy when I can be with any of them and fills to overflowing when they come to our home.  To have all of my family in one place at one time is becoming a rare experience to be cherished .  I am deeply blessed.

Me and My House

I love to go to church.  

When my family was young I loved sitting on the church pew with them.

One of my favorite scripture passages has always been Joshua 24:15

"...As for me and my house, We will serve the Lord"

I am blessed to have a wonderful family.

My children have all grown up and they are all happily married.

They are working hard to teach my 17 grandchildren truths

I love family scripture study.

I love family prayer.

I enjoyed family home evening.

I thought game night and family dinners were the best.

I was thankful when Sunday came around and we could have a family day without interuptions.

Life was not always perfect.  We made mistakes, but we did not give up.

Now I watch as my children try to keep going in their own homes,

and pass on the traditions that my mother and father taught me, my grand parents taught them...

Back 4 generations and forward 2 more.

Life is good.....

......I am blessed

Every day we choose whom we will serve...

 

 

Floored

Last spring we looked at our schedule and decided that a few weeks at home would offer the time needed to lay the wood floor in our Dining Room.

So we ordered the floor, it arrived and we put the pieces in the front room to acclimate and wait.

Then our daughter called with the news that she needed to have back surgery AGAIN.

The flooring pieces continued to wait in the front room until a new window of time could open up.

Weeks and months passed, still the flooring pieces sat in the front room, welcoming our guests, waiting.

Then, we looked at the calendar and realized we had a few weeks together scheduled to be at home.

Wake up floor, it is time. 

It took a week to prepare the sub floor, we had to remove the carpet and secure the sub floor to be sure we did not have any squeaks.

Two weeks to cut and lay the floor boards.

A week to top nail, distress, sand and buff.. (a special thank you to my sons and home teachers for hammering those thousand nails and counter sinking them)

Hours and hours on our knees staining the floor, praying the stain would match the kitchen and landing floors that it would connect. (It matches)

Now to oil the floor, a few more hours on our knees.

We have been waiting 13 years to lay this floor and it is beautiful.

Heart pine.  Random width.  Hand sanded.

A sturdy floor to last decades.

As I look at the kitchen floor we laid 11 years ago I see so much history in the groves, scratches and wear.

The dining room floor is already telling it's own story of family and friends.

Our first celebration will be Thanksgiving.

This floor is a work of love.  Hours and hours over several weeks as my husband and I cut, nailed, sanded, stained and oiled.

Each new scratch over the decades to come will add to the beauty of the floor and record the activities of our every day life

The dining room is home to my grandmothers table, my husband's grandmothers chairs, and a pretty rug I bought with an inheritance from my Nana.

For Thanksgiving we will gather our children and grandchildren in the dining room, connecting the generations.

A humble floor.

A foundation to stand on.

A work of love.

Girls Camp

Ever since before I was born my family has gone camping.

I love to sleep outside and cook over a fire.

Now I would not love to do this on a 24/7 routine, but for a week, once a year, I am in heaven.

I love the peace of no TV or telephone.

The smell of bacon in the morning sets the mood for a wonderful day.

I enjoy creating a delicious meal for my family using the fire and a few simple tools, it makes me feel content.

I like being able to sit under a tree with a good book and not feel the need to go anywhere.

I like that my children can run and yell and carry on all day long.

I enjoy stories and songs around the campfire in the evening.

It is true that camping is a bit of work to get ready, but over the years I have gathered plastic bins that stay packed with supplies.

It is true as well that cleaning up after is a chore, but I have a wonderful washing machine, and it is camping gear, it will wait on the deck while I get the job done.

This year I am camping with the girls from church, I am the cook.

My husband is worried about me, I am thrilled for the opportunity.

Yesterday I practiced baking brownies in a cardboard box with charcoal, they were yummy--totally amazing.

Today I make the last minute lists to be sure I don't forget anything--old brains need a little help.

Tomorrow we load it up and start a fun adventure.

I am so excited.

Sometimes

Sometimes you can and sometimes you can't

This week it is more like sometimes I can and sometimes I can't

On Holidays I love to set my grandma's table with pretty dishes, fancy silverware, cloth napkins, and use pretty serving dishes

The best part of the meal is to gather my family and spend time with them.

For Christmas I have holiday plates with an outdoor theme, birds and pinecones wrapped in ribbon. For Thanksgiving I set the table with blue Currier and Ives dishes that have beautiful scenes printed on them. For Easter I have china printed with pastel flowers and a silver edge, these were my mother in law's that I inherited.

This Easter, even though I felt keenly aware of the love of my Savior and His atoning sacrifice for me, all I could muster was paper plates, napkins and cups.

We had a ham, sliced and barbequed by my dear husband.

I cut up some apples, put out carrots, warmed up some broccoli and baked some cut up rosemary potatoes

We did not even have pie

My police officer son was on the schedule to work, but at the last moment received a few hours off and surprised me--He has not been home for Sunday dinner for many months--this was not my best offering--but

It was the meal that I could do and it was filled with simple love

My family was gathered around my grandmothers table, physically 6 adults and 4 children, yet in my mind I had 14 adults and 17 grand children, all smiling, talking and laughing.

With paper the clean up is quick and easy--time enough to play a game....

Sometimes I can do it up with linen napkins and heritage china.

Sometimes it is paper plates and finger foods

Yet I hope those I love know that I try to serve with a smile and a prayer of thanks for my many blessings--

My cup runneth over with love,

Simple pure love

Competition

We are visiting my son and his family.

We sat down to play a game with all of the children.

We chose Phase 10, a counting type card game.

In our allotted time we were able to do four rounds with the 6+ of us playing

One child burst into tears as the round ended before her turn

One child boasted of having reached the phase before the round even started

One child struggled to complete the 1st phase after 4 rounds

We wrote down where we were so when we found time to continue later in the week we would know where to start.

Poor grandpa will start next time trying to reach Phase 1-- AGAIN

Mama Kendra had some wise counsel for her children as we played, she said:

Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. Sometimes we are the best, sometimes we aren't. That is how life is, so dry your eyes and try again.

I have learned that as long as we keep playing in the game of life we are winning. It is when we decide to call it quits that we lose.

I am at phase 4 when we start again, I hope I get a good hand this time.

Treasures

I have had visiting grandchildren almost every weekend this last month. Sometimes it is fun to stay at home and watch a movie and go with grandma and grandpa's everyday style. But, sometimes it is fun to mix it up and do something different.

We decided to do the something different lately. We ventured to the flea market with a few grandchildren to see what we could see.

The children were amazed with the treasures that were to be discovered there.

We told each child that the goal of the day was to find the best deal for $1.

We looked and looked at do-dads and thing-a-ma-bobs. We pointed out items that were popular when grandma and grandpa were children, things their parents used to like to play with and items that my grandparents might have used on a daily basis.

We found good things to eat and plenty of sights to see. Some of the granddaughters found necklaces, a grandson found a special book, some fast miniature cars and cast iron figures were among the choices. Grandma found some vintage hats and white day gloves and Grandpa found some comfortable socks.

When we lived in Delaware we were tight on money and chose to go to the flea market for weekend entertainment quite often. We would each have a dollar and look for the best deal of the day. My husband once got a whole box of combs, we came home with a box of juice glasses, we combined our dollars one day and got a floor lamp. My best dollar buy was a pewter teapot.

I have plenty of furniture such as dressers and end tables that came to us from the flea market. Most needed some cleanup and a fresh coat of paint or paint remover to make it into the house, but the labor of love added to the few dollars to purchase made them ours. The best luck for furniture was when I was looking for a dresser. We were late getting to the market and I was sure all of the best deals were gone for the day, but, I found a nice dresser that would do well and it was just $35--oh, and by the way, the bed goes with it!! I like the way it looks in my guest room.

One time I needed a table with some drawers for our bathroom. It was a cozy space in our tiny bathroom and our money was limited. I said a prayer and was off to see what I could find. It was $5, painted orange and at one time had a twin and a mirror, but the dressing table console with two drawers would be the perfect fit after a bit of paint was removed. Later it served as a night table in the bedroom, now it sports a white coat of paint and stands proud in my sewing room holding specialty threads and do-dads.

I enjoyed going to the Rodium with my parents and grandparents when I was young. It was a drive-in theater at night that served as a swap meet during daylight hours on the weekend. It is still in operation as a swap meet almost everyday in Southern California. When I get out west to visit, my Aunt Zella and I still enjoy a walk around the Rodium looking for the best deal of the day. With her I have picked up dinner napkins. table cloths, sterling silver, glass jars that have turned blue, dishes like grandma used to have, fabric, lace and buttons.

You have heard the saying that one man's trash is another man's treasure. Well I have found quite a few treasures over the years lurking under dirt, grime and some ugly paint. Now I am enjoying showing my grandchildren the joy of the search for the perfect item at the perfect price, a treasure in the rough.

Maybe in all of the searching, the best treasure to be found, is a memory that will last a lifetime.

White

I have a white pitcher that belonged to my husband's grandmother. It has graceful lines and sits on the shelf above my kitchen sink. It shares the shelf with an old white porcelain pitcher and another tall white pitcher that was made in Italy.

My kitchen cabinet is filled with assorted white serving bowls and platters, some are newer, some wear the marks of time. Some have straight lines, some are curvy. Each are unique in shape and size and do their job well in holding the various foods I choose to place on my dinner table.

I have a closet in my home that bears the weight of 200 dinner plates. When my oldest daughter got married she wanted a sit down dinner for her 200 guests. Purchasing the plates from the Pfaltzgraff outlet was less expensive than renting, and I have enjoyed and used the dishes for large get togethers and weddings for about 15 years now.

I have a drawer of lace doilies that my husband's grandmother crocheted and a drawer of white tablecloths in assorted sizes. I have tablecloths in cotton poly for everyday use and some linen ones I iron for special occasions. For Shawna's wedding we also made 200 lace edged napkins to wrap the silver in. Over the years I have collected some pretty embroidered napkins as well as some that are monogrammed that I use on special occasions.

Some of the dishes have a special meaning for me, like the ripple edged cake plate that was one of my mother and father's wedding gifts. I enjoy the fruit design on the stemmed white glasses that were my grandmothers. The gravy boat that Michael and Kendra gave me gets put on the table almost every Sunday. I like cutting bar cookies and placing them on the rectangular plate that Kevan picked out. I have bowls that were made in Portugal where Michael served his mission

There is something special about setting an all white table and letting the pretty colors of delicious food take center stage. One of these days I will need to disperse my 200 dinner plates amongst my six children, but for right now they are happy on the shelf awaiting the next call for a celebration.

In the mean time, mmmmmmm... what shall we fix for dinner tonight?

Destiny

In life there are opportunities to make choices and decisions every day. Some are as simple as "what shall we eat?", some are major as in "where shall we live?".

Thomas S. Monson has said

"Decisions determine destiny"

One may not think much about what is eaten every day, but to a dieter that decision is a major thought process each and every meal.

Choice in what to wear reflects our values. Others see our outward appearance and are either drawn toward us or repelled.

As I have thought about it, I agree that decisions do determine our destiny.

That is major work 24/7

Sunday Dinner

When I was a little girl my grandma would cook a Sunday meal and invite her family to share it with her. Roast beef, mashed potatoes swimming in gravy and home made rolls with melted butter. All these years later I can still smell and taste the delicious offering.

When we moved away my mom would cook a roast or chicken every Sunday. My other grandparents would come visit and I have many happy memories of our family lingering over a good meal with pleasant conversations.

When my sweetheart and I were married we shared Sunday dinner with my parents at their house for the first few years. Later, after my parents moved, I started cooking Sunday dinner at our house and have done so for over 30 years now.

Today I was excited to fix Sunday dinner for my family in my renovated kitchen. I read the instructions for the new stove and set the timer to cook the roast while we were at church. We returned home and were greeted by the smell of roast beef. The rolls were raising on the counter and ready to put in the oven. I started the water boiling for the mashed potatoes and vegetables. Put the drippings on the burner to make the gravy then realized that the burners were not heating.

OH, NO!! What is this?? I got out the manual and read the instructions. Looked for safety features that might be causing this phenomenon. Found the hot plate from the original remodel 10 years ago to finish the gravy. Put the veggies in the microwave.

When I have a hungry family to feed, I will figure out how to do it. One year we lost electricity just as I was cooking Christmas dinner--my sweet husband got out the camp stove for that meal. Today I am thankful for alternative cooking methods inside the house and grateful I do not need to build a fire and get out the dutch oven.

Today we had a meal to remember. It tasted delicious, not cooked with conventional methods, but a hungry family was fed and an enjoyable conversation enjoyed. Tomorrow I will make telephone calls. What will the answer be????

White Christmas

For the first time since 1947 we have snow in the south on Christmas. Beautiful fluffy white snow that is great for packing and making a tall statuesque snowman sentry to guard the yard. Eden thinks he is just perfect with his hat that her daddy donated and pieces of coal (black checkers) for eyes and buttons.

We are cozy in the house with hot chocolate on the stove, a puzzle on the table and a movie on the screen. Yes, this is a perfect winter day.

Baby Ada is dressed in her angel outfit, snuggled in her blanket and Connor is warm with his jammies under his pants and layers to keep the flakes from giving him a chill as he sleds down the hill.

Church at the building was canceled today. Later we will gather as a family and have a lesson, sing a hymn and talk about our blessings. We don't get the privilege of doing this very often--Christmas, Sunday, snow and family, a good combination for a day to remember.

-Sleigh Riding

Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year.

It is usually the day we deliver plates of Christmas cheer we have created in our kitchen to our friends and neighbors. When the children were still living at home I would send them out with their father to deliver these delights late in the afternoon. While they were gone I got busy and tidied up the house, gathered all of the treats that friends had delivered to our house, turned off all of the house lights and turned on all of the Christmas lights. I lit the candles in the luminaries and house then prepared the dining room for our Christmas eve feast. True, it was a simple feast of canned soup, home made bread and all of the plated goodies that had come from our friends, but sometimes greatness is in the presentation.

When my family returned our house looked like a fairy tale. The children's eyes would light up as we headed to the dining room to fill their hungry tummies and start the night of magic.

After dinner we would gather in the family room under the tree to hear a few Christmas stories and sing a few songs. We would end with my husband reading the scripture verses from Luke followed by family prayer. It was one of those magical moments when the house felt overflowing with love and gratitude. We were glad to be a family and glad to be together.

Then together we would recite "Twas the Night Before Christmas". The children would giggle and laugh, we were silly with our Santa hats on. Most years we would then gravitate to the car or back of the truck for a bit of sleigh riding--driving through our neighborhood to see the lights. It was a magical scene that still sets my soul with wonder at the magic of the evening and anticipation of midnight visitors.

When my children were newly weds and all living in the same town we would have progressive Christmas Eve from house to house enjoying a treat, story and decorations at each home. Tonight we will be going to my daughters home with strict instructions to bring the truck and a stack of warm quilts.

I like driving home from my children's homes on Christmas eve. The streets are empty. Everyone is at home enjoying the evening with their own families. It is peaceful and my thoughts turn to the quiet moment that Mary and Joseph shared in Bethlehem that night of the most amazing gift that was ever given to the human family--the birth of our Savior.

May your Christmas eve be filled with joy in your heart as you contemplate your blessings on this the most amazing night of the year. Maybe you will go 'sleigh riding' to see the sights and lights, sing a carol and read a few verses from the Book of Luke.

Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the whole year. Enjoy

-Stories

I love sitting and reading or listening to a heart warming Christmas story.

When the children were still living at home we had family devotional every morning before they left for school. Usually we read a chapter of scripture and had family prayer at 5:30 in the morning before the oldest had to be out the door at 5:45.

During the Christmas season we would try to add an uplifting story to go along with the prayer and scripture verses. Part of my thinking was that with 6 children the bounty under the tree would be better appreciated with a bit of humble priming. The other thought was that a good story, well told, is quite entertaining and it would treat the kids to something more than the TV had to offer.

I have quite a few notebooks filled with stories of Christmas Cheer that I still enjoy getting out and reading during the season. A story a day till Chiristmas fills your heart with joy that the mall cannot match.

I hope you have time to settle down and read a quick story or two to get yourself in the mood for the real meaning of Christmas during these last few days of hurry and scurry. Treat yourself and enjoy.