Monday, November 24, 2008

Tuesday Trivia

It's Thanksgiving Week, 2008 - Yikes! Where has this year gone? I have been mentally writing my Christmas letter and it's going to be a doozy this year! It's been almost a year since we took that awesome trip to Hawaii. I never did do the final post on that trip!

Thanksgiving Day will be quite a bit less hectic than in the previous several years. We'll only have 10 at the table, with the two babies doing their thing, being passed around from person to person who wants to hold them. I'll do the turkey, dressing, potatoes and gravy, and my home made crescent rolls. Everyone brings a part of the meal and it turns out to be scrumptious.

Christmas will be an adventure for sure. My MIL turned 90 in October, and we will be celebrating that milestone with 90% (well, 88% if you want to be technical!) of the family here - only one grandson and family will be unable to be here. So we'll have 30 people here for a week, staying with all of us who live around here. Should be a very busy, very fun week.

I have decided to stick with glasses, at least for now. I really hate glasses, but contacts don't work for me any more and I've decided not to spend my savings on Lasik surgery. Several suggested transition lenses to avoid the problem of changing in and out of sunglasses. I tried them once, but they didn't lighten up quickly enough for my liking. Have they improved over the years, I wonder? Thanks for all the caring.

Several of you have written about your snow storms. We've had ridiculously warm weather so far this year. It is so dry that the humidifier is running 24/7. We have hoardes of birds taking advantage of our bird bath for a drink. I want to get a picture, but they get spooked with the least motion, though my patio door is a long ways from the water. Picture a ring of robins standing on the rim of the bowl, taking turns bobbing their heads into the water as if they are being very polite. I'm going to keep trying to get a picture.

I was watching a re-run of "Touched By an Angel" the other morning when I saw an episode that first came out in 1995. I was happy to see it again because it contained something very exciting for people from our town. I have told you before that this town has become a mecca for artists, particularly bronze sculptors. I've shared a few of my favorites with you, and there are many more, some of which I'll show you later today.

But back to the story - this was a very touching episode - Gerald McRaney played a heart transplant specialist who refused to do the transplant on the patient who was up for a new heart. When he heard the patient's name, he realized it was the man who had killed all of his children in a drunk driving disaster. He was finally able to put away his anger (with the help of Monica, the angel, and God, of course) and do the surgery. The end of the episode showed a wonderful sculpture which had been created by the doctor's wife in memory of their 5 children.

The sculpture was created, in real life, by an artist who lives here. I did some research when I saw the show last week and called the local Art Council, who gave me his name and phone number. I called him to ask how his piece had ended up on the show. You may or may not know that "Touched by an Angel" was filmed mostly in Salt Lake City area. At the time, in 1995, the artist, BLAIR MUHLESTEIN, was living in Park City, Utah, and had a studio there. The producers and writers of the show had written the story line with 3 children. They went looking for a sculpture that would fit in with their plot. In the window of Mr. Muhlestein's studio they found the piece pictured below. They changed the story to have 5 children rather than 3.





It lives in a park less than a mile from my house. I have always loved it, and was so happy to find the story behind the story. When I talked to the artist on the phone, he invited me to come in for a visit. I'll let you know when that happens.


When I went to take these pictures, Feisty was with me. She and Care Bear love this park and their mom and their Grandpa both take them there often. She wanted to pose for all of these pictures, so I'll share them with you -- they were all from the children's section - I'll have to show you some more someday - they are wonderful. Better yet, come visit me and we'll go for a walk in the park!









This is one of those that I don't quite "get" - Feisty thought it was pretty funny. I've included the name, if that helps!




Remember the tree over my neighbor's house that glowed in the early morning sunshine for so many days? Here it is at sunset on a recent afternoon.


A few minutes later, I tried to get the final rays - I love the deep blue still showing above the mountains.


Wrapping up - people are always asking if the twins are identical. They haven't been DNA tested, but the evidence is pretty overwhelming that they are. They do the same things at the same time, have the same facial expressions, cry the same, laugh the same, and on and on. They fell asleep in their car seats the other morning - what do you think?


Their favorite new activity at my house is to play with the radio/CD player - opening tape decks, pushing buttons, messing with the volume, trying to put CD's on to play. Quite technologically advanced! But there's nothing like a good ole Evie record (what's a record???)



Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

24 comments:

Nancy said...

I loved this sculpture story. How neat that you put all of that together and that the artist was from your area! The photos of the kids are precious too. I think they are identical and as cute as can be.

Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your family!

Tammy said...

What a great story about the sculpture...I use to love watching Touched by an Angel.

Yes, they definitely look identically cute to me! :)
(And the record! Did you remember that that's the same Evie record that I actually own from back when I was a kid? How fun to see your baby granddaughter playing with it!)

nancygrayce said...

The sculptures are so neat, but like you the feet one??? I don't get it either. I do see how it could amuse a child!

The little ones sure look identical to me. They are precious asleep in the exact same pose!

Midlife Mom said...

Great post Dawn! The twins sure look identical to me! They are both just beautiful!

Loved all the sculptures. The one where she was sitting on the pig is a howl! I'd like to have one of a horse. There is a place we go by in Florida that does full sized horses and I drool every time!

No I haven't made the crescent rolls yet. I do have the print out you did though and will make them sometime. I did make three batches of yeast rolls today for Thanksgiving. My family would revolt if I didn't make yeast rolls! ha!

Have a wonderful blessed Thanksgiving Dawn! xoxo

Needled Mom said...

I have always enjoyed the Touched by an Angel shows. How exciting to have a pice of it so close to home. It makes a great story too.

Yes...the transistions are great now. I do know what you mean about the pause as that was the complaint before.

Your Thanksgiving sounds like ours with what everyone will be bringing. It will be busy for you, but nothing like your Christmas will be.

The twins do look very much alike. I suppose they get into the same mischief too!!! Fiesty is so cute in her pose pictures. I am with you in "not getting" that one sculpture.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Nadine said...

The sculptures are wonderful.

Sounds like loads of funny fun coming your way. I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving day.

Sharon Lynne said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you too! You are a great "poster".

Beautiful skies!

Christa said...

How interesting and what a great thing to know the story of the sculptures and to live so close, they are fantastic. Fiesty looks cute with her poses, and the twins, well they do look alike!
Have a great Thanksgiving!

Kristen said...

Well, I am their Mom, so what I say goes and I say they are identical. Pretty evident when on occasion I still have difficulty telling them apart.

Feisty sure does love to pose. Maybe she'll be a model someday. (although I hope not).

That sculpture has always confused me. You know, I have taken them to that sculpture park many, many times myself. It's always a fun place to take them.

Looney Mom™ said...

Hi Dawn. Thanks for stopping by my blog every now and then. I love to hear from you. You are always so sincere and concerned. I'm doing so much better emotionally than I have in a LONG time. Thank God.

The twins are so cute and growing oh so fast. I know how that goes; our Dakota is already 15 months and into everything. But it is so much fun having him around - and we do a LOT!

I'll be sure to pop in here more often too! Still working on that! ;)

Diane@Diane's Place said...

I like your new Christmas look (Good job, Kristen!).

If all goes as planned, we'll have around 12 at Jessica's for Thanksgiving. I'll make the dressing, sweet potatoes, giblet gravy and pumpkin pies.

I don't know that it really matters if genetic testing confirms that the girls are identical or disproves it. They're twins no matter what and they'll still look the same and do the same things, alike or not.

Emmy likes to push all the buttons on my TV and DVD player in the living room. We have to really watch her when she's here.

Have a great Thanksgiving, Dawn.

Love and hugs,

Diane

Mimi said...

your Thanksgiving and Christmas sound so wonderful with family all around....
I vote for identical....they are in for lots of fun fooling people when they get a little older....
Have a wonderful blessed Thanksgiving...
Mimi

Susan said...

Beautiful sculptures!!! What a neat story about the 5 children. I love the one of the childrens ring where your granddaughter is in the circle.
Susan

nancygrayce said...

P.S. maybe we should compare Christmas letters. :) If I wrote the absolute truth, somebody would have me put in a home!

Hootin Anni said...

Phew!!!!
I could NOT get into your blog yesterday at all. I tried again this morning and still the same thing...no loading. I did some browser adjustments on my side, and finally it loaded.

I wanted to thank you for stopping by and leaving Happy Thanksgiving wishes for me and Bud. And, I send the same back to you and your family!!!

Susan said...

Dawn, I just saw your post on Hearts. Thank you so much for posting this and passing this on to us. I have posted today also.
Have a nice Thanksgiving!!! I appreciate you!!!!
Susan

Susan said...

Dawn, I just saw your comment on my post about Bethany. Oh yes, we must!!!!!
Susan

Linds said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Dawn! I hope you are all having a lovely day!

Jess said...

Hope you have had a great day! No snow here and it's not that cold either!

Lots of love to you!!!

Carole Burant said...

Hello dear Dawn:-)

I'm finally here to visit...so pass me some turkey! hehe I'm so sorry I haven't been around to comment the last few days, please know it's never a slight, only means I've been too busy to visit everyone:-)

I hope you've been having a wonderful Thanksgiving Day? I finished decorating the inside of the house today but haven't put up the tree because this year I want a real tree so that means I can't put it up early like I would the artificial one.

Wow, I can't get over how warm it's been over your way...want some cold weather and snow?? I'd be more than pleased to share ours with you!! lol We're in for another snowstorm throughout the night apparently.

How fascinating that story is about the sculpture that was shown on Touched by an Angel! I love that show but unfortunately haven't been watching it lately. Loved all the pictures of Feisty with the various sculptures:-)

The twins sure do look identical to me! There's no way I could tell which one is who! lol They're simply adorable!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones, dear Dawn. xoxo

Judith said...

Hello again, Dawn, Like always, you bring us the most beautiful things. My favorite this time around is the children dancing in a circle, so of course Feisty should join in. I love her sense of creating beauty, and those twins sure know how to nap well.

Sue Seibert said...

Hi! Thanks for stopping by my blog. Sounds like you had a good, busy Thanksgiving...same here. Man, are the twins growing!! And I love the bronzes!

Take care!!

groovyoldlady said...

I love the sculpture story. If you do a photo tour of the park, make sure you bring me along!

Izzy, Emmy 'N Alexander said...

I think the sculptures are amazing! Thanks for sharing such great background.

And I think the twins are IDENTICAL! In fact, I can never tell them apart!