I sure love this time of year.  The garden has really gone crazy this last month.  The tomatoes were really slow to turn red...I think it was from the heat. (I Got a face book  "memory" the middle of August with a picture of my kitchen loaded with tomatoes and Kelley and I up to our elbows in salsa...middle of August this year...no tomatoes at all  Ha!)  About two weeks ago they started coming on and we had bags and bags full of them. So needless to say, I've been canning.

I've done a few batches of that yummy sweet salsa.  ( I seriously could just sit and eat it with a spoon)

Out Basil plant is huge and produced many batches of fabulous pesto.  The smell of it is heavenly.

Our kale plants are pretty much out of control.  I don't know if it's  the bees or the chicken poop, but these plants are really happy

It's so neat to be able to go pull up a hand full of carrots for dinner.  They are so sweet and tender...I can eat the whole bowl of them myself (KC does't like when I do that though...he likes them a lot too!) They have got to be one of my favorites.

The Broccoli has been so yummy too.  I froze a bunch when there was more than we could eat.

And the brocoflower is starting to get going too.  Last year I was about ready to pull the plant out because all it grew was huge leave.  Then late August, the brocoflower starts growing.  It was really delicious too!  We got three big heads last year and it looks like we will have that many again this year.

One of the tomato plants produced these huge tomatoes  seriously the size of a small plate.  One slice was perfect for a tomato sandwich  (yum)  We've picked a ton of Roma tomatoes that are great for salsa.  

The tomatillos are pretty much out of control too.  We only planted one plant, but i think seeds from the tomatillos that dropped  on the ground last year just grew into plants on their own.  Soooooo many tomatillos!  They are yummy though and I love the green salsa.

Yellow squash is also a favorite.  It' reminds me of home.  I loved the way mum would fry it in eggs.  I think I'm the only one around here that loves it though so when I make it (at least once a week) I end up eating the whole thing.  Ha!  I'm not even mad about that.  

The other day I made some candied peppers.  They seriously are just like candy. Aren't peppers beautiful?  I love the bright colors

This is a shot of the pumpkins with bees and squash in the background.  The squash grew up the trellis so it looks kind of strange to see these big acorn and butternut squash hanging from the vines.  They grow to be incredibly strong to hold these big squash hanging in the air! I'll have to get a better picture of them.  

Those are onions that look like antenna.  Curtis' mom gave us a start of them last year and they came up again this year.  I'm excited to see what's under the ground there.  It sure grew some cute flowers.  We have dug up a bunch of lovely red potatoes for Sunday dinner a few times too.  There's nothing like fresh vegetables from the garden.

Stacey called the other day and said they had a bunch of apples left on the tree if we would like to come pick some.  We went over and picked a bag of them.  Then on Sunday, they brought over another big bucket of them.  Kelley and I got busy yesterday (he is the fastest peeler in town!) and made some pie filling and applesauce.  It's a ton of work, but it sure give you a satisfying feeling to store these yummy foods away for another day.   I'm so grateful for the bounty we have been blessed with!

Kelley and Katie have been working hard all week on a few different projects.  Katie has been busting out a bunch of these beauties...She's really got a talent there.  

Sam came over and took some pictures of their latest projects. 

This was pretty cool... the other day Kelley got a call from a lady from In Style Utah magazine.  They had seen the Raw Restorations website and were interested in doing an article about what Katie and Kelley are doing with the barn wood.  They were interested in the restoration of the Airstream and the wood work they did in there.  We had taken a lot of pictures of it, but they were not the high resolution pictures they need for a magazine.  So Katie went to California yesterday to have a photographer take some better pictures of it.  

 Kate did this 9 foot piece of work for Scott Neidig.  He sent some pictures of it hung up and its pretty spectacular looking.  This mirror was Jimmy's sisters.  She wanted a barnwood frame on it in gray.  I love the way it turned out.

 Sam is such a sweetheart.  She puts her whole heart into these pictures.  

Kelley and Katie put together this wall to take pictures in front of.  This was also something the In Style magazine was interested in...

 Sam really puts in the work to get these shots and can spend a ton of time setting them up.  It all pays off in the end...her pictures are incredible!

So proud of these two...they have really been putting their hearts, a ton of work and many long hours into this business.  It's pretty exciting to see some good things happening for them!

A few things from the past week...

So  a few weeks ago, I got a call from Marlo K asking me to come in to see the stake president the next Sunday.  I was glad he called just the day before so I didn't have too long to stew about it.Sunday morning at church Josh was giving me the eye and the big thumbs up, asking me if I had something special happening that afternoon.  He gets a lot of pleasure out of seeing me squirm.  Stacey was sitting next to me and said "are you going to see the stake president this afternoon too?"    Ha!  We both had an appointment  at 2:30.

So Kelley and I went in and met with President Despain.  He said Brenda Davis had asked if I would be her first counselor in the stake young women presidency.  He said they were calling Stacey to be the stake young women camp director!  

I don't know Brenda D very well, just from girls camp and them coming to visit our young women at ward conference so I was kind of surprised that she would pick me, but I was very humbled and honored to get to continue to serve in the young women program so I said yes. Stacey was excited about her calling and said she had a feeling it was coming.  She will be great at this!  She always has fun new ideas and gives 150 percent to whatever she does. 

( We might have been a little bit out of control when it came to overdoing on some yw events ...(gifts, decorations, activities, handouts, presentations, holidays etc)  Bonnie tried to reign us in and was the voice of reason in our presidency.  She was absolutely right too.  "Just love the girls...that's all they need" ( and don't stress about all the extra "fluff" 

I'm going to take that advice to heart as my motto as I begin this new calling.

That's another thing thats been pulling at my heart for the past few months.  One day when we were going to our institute class, Bonnie told me they were going to build a new house..  She had talked about wanting to move when we were in the presidency together...she has some neighbors that really give them fits and that has driven them to this decision.  We cried as she told me how torn she is with this decision.  They have lived in that house for over twenty years and are much loved by all who know them.  Randy served as Bishop a few years ago and Bonnie is just one of those people who goes about doing good without ever telling anyone.  I have watched her (one on one with the young women, listening,laughing with them, loving them, and with the older ladies in the ward too...helping them out of their chair and giving them an arm to hold on to.) shes just one of those people who always puts others before herself.

We became friends before we were even in the ward together.  We met at a stake relief society conference where they had asked Bonnie and I both to speak so we were sitting on the stand next to each other.  We started talking and immediately felt a sisterhood that we decided must have been formed before we came to earth. A few years later when they put our ward back with the 6th ward, Bonnie and I found ourselves sitting on the stand again, both of us speaking in Sacrament meeting.  We laughed about the fact that we ended up there again.  When I was called to be Young Woman president, her name came to me so strongly, I knew she was going to be serving with me. We had some great experiences and now have a heart full of memories I will ever be grateful for from our time together.

They did a sweet thing for her in Relief Society on Sunday.  Jana had a book for us all to write a note to her in and had got her a cool walking stick that she had us all sign our names on (Bonnies' passion is hiking)  Anyway, I sure hate to see her go...but I know we will remain friends no matter where she lives. 

I'm really wandering here...so anyway, Marlo called again this last Saturday and said they would like to set me apart on Sunday afternoon. Josh announced the change in Sacrament meeting and our girls were sweet to come give Stacey and I a hug after the meeting and tell us they were glad we were still going to be in young women!

President Despain gave me such a sweet blessing as he set me apart.  It was like he knew what I needed to hear. Sometimes My faith gets a little weak and I wonder if Heavenly Father really hears my prayers.  I pray for the same things over and over that I believe are righteous desires, but they seem to go unheard.  I know I need to trust in the Lords timing and don't mean to sound ungrateful...I have been so blessed in my  life, but after so long, I start to think He has forgotten about me. 

 President Despain told me in my blessing that the Lord is aware of my prayers and the desires of my heart and he will soon answer my prayers.  That really gave me comfort and a peace I haven't felt for a long time.  

It was nice to have president Cauldar, Stacey and Rick, Brenda and Jennifer in there too.  We talked to Brenda and Jennifer for quite a while after. They  are great ladies and I think it will be fun to work with them.  I'm ready for a new adventure!

 I

 I got to have a lovely visit with my sisters yesterday.  It has been quite a while since we got together...everyone's summer was pretty busy.  

We still hadn't celebrated Brenda's birthday (from July!)  

It's so fun just to catch up on each other's lives and  just enjoy each other's company.  

Leslie showed us her pictures from her cruise.  She went on an Alaskan cruise and it was sure beautiful.  I was most jealous of her visit to Vancouver and to the Butchart Gardens.  They were amazing and reminded me so much of mums flower beds.  I wish she could have had the opportunity to visit there.  She would have really loved it.  I picture her and daddy planting and creating beautiful gardens in heaven where there are no bounds to their talents.

I have sure been missing mum and daddy lately.  I think it's this time of year when I have so many wonderful memories of them...harvesting the garden, bottling beans and peaches, sitting out in front of the old tree house, watching daddy cut the corn off the cobs so we could freeze it (I used to love to snitch chunks of it from the canner as it was being blanched). Helping mum  pick,(oooo the hey fever!) snip and stuff beans into the jars for canning.  (I always shied away from the pressure cooking of them though...that thing scared me and it still does.)  We would go out to aunt Sherry's and pick grapes, then pick them off the stems (purple fingers for days) wash them and bottle them for juice.

The flowers were always at their peak beauty in September...Begonias were huge and so beautiful (had to be covered every afternoon so as not to burn the tender plants)..rows of zinnias, marigolds, alyssum, geraniums and mums hanging baskets were glorious with fuchsias and ferns.  It really was a little bit of paradise there and just driving in the driveway felt like you were entering a different world.  Gosh talking about this makes my heart ache  and tears come I miss them so much.  Anyway, this time of year just makes me long for home.

I sewed this pillow for Brenda's birthday.  Thanks to Katie for designing it.

 Teina gave her this beautiful centerpiece that will look so pretty by the pillow!

 Getting together with my sisters always renews and fills that empty place in my heart I feel when I'm missing mum and daddy and home so much.I sure am grateful for them and for the sweet relationships we share.

A few other things from the past few weeks...

A few weeks ago, Cindy B called and asked if I would teach a embroidery class for the Super Saturday coming up in October.  So I tried to come up with  a little pattern that would teach a few different stitiches.

 Then in my normal, can't leave well enough alone fashion, I thought I must have a few other different choices, so I stitched a few other projects.  Katie drew up this "You make me happy when skies are gray" pattern that was really cute.

Then Candice drew up this one that said "Have I done any good in the world today"  Then in my even more psychotic un decisive mind, I thought I had better take my whole book of patterns and let them pick what ever one they wanted.   Heaven help me, why can't I just keep it simple?

Anyway, I stewed way too much  unnecessarily over the whole thing.

 Katie was looking back through our old photo albums for some pictures  for Camille's birthday and came across this one of Kelley. ( Be still my heart!) He was sitting on his old Camero in mum and daddys' driveway.  Wow that brings back a flood of memories of when we were dating.  I'm sure glad this guy walked in the doors of ZCMI that day I was working some 38 years ago and had the guts to pursue me till I said yes. He tells me he knew from the first time he saw me that I was going to be his wife and he was going to do what ever it took to make that happen.  It's been a pretty wonderful ride and I can't wait to see what the next 40 years together bring!

Kelley built this beautiful cabinet for our family room. Him and Kate have been coming up with some pretty amazing pieces.  I just can't stop looking at this!

Jasen contacted Katie the other day and said he was going to be in Salt Lake this last weekend for a signing of his "Cokeville miracle" movie.  He said he would really like to see her, so for back up, Candice and I went with her, and we went to see him at the Deseret book up on Ft union.  

He is just so darn charming and sweet.  (He is working on a new project something with vikings...hence the interesting hair do) When we walked in, he got up from the group and came and gave us all a big hug.  We got to meet one of the girls who was actually in the school house when it was bombed and the producer of the show too.

We talked with them all for a while, then Jasen asked if we would go get something to eat with him when he was done with the signing, which was in only a few minutes.  We  went over to the Sweet tooth Fairy and got to sit and visit with him for about a half hour.  It was good to talk to him. He remembers all the family and asks sincerely about each one.  He had lots of stories about his life too...He is just one of those people that you can't help but love and no matter where our paths take us, I know he will always have a special place in the Jensen's  hearts.

I somehow got wrangled into couples bunko at our house again this year.  I don't mind it, but I think we should share the joy!  

We were supposed to have it the middle of August but as I sent out an email, there were several who wouldn't be able to come.  

We talked about moving it a week ahead, but I had thought I would be going to Arizona then to help Camille move into their house.  So we decided to go into September.  

I was glad the weather held out and was pretty much perfect that night.  

KC was a dear and helped me hang lights the night before. He is such a great kid, sometimes I wonder where he came from.  He had the lights strung on one side, then when we did the other side, it didn't look the same, so I had him take down the first side and do them over again.  He is the most patient.

It felt pretty easy this year, and I was strangely not stressed out...I just made a little invitation, then assigned everyone to bring part of the dinner.  Then all I had to do was the meat and some rolls.  

It turned out to be a really nice night.  It was Karen's birthday so it was sweet of her to come to bunko. 

 I feel blessed beyond measure to have the great friends in my life.

Kelley and I got to spend a fun day fishing with Toby and his little guy Talon.  

It was probably the nicest day we have seen up on Strawberry this year...perfectly calm, warm and beautiful all day.

Toby caught the first and only fish. It was strange...the fish would follow our lures up to the boat, but not bite.  I didn't care, I was just glad that Talon got to reel one in.  He was so cute.  He would get a pole, then wing it like he was casting  (I still am amazed that he didn't end up with a pole the water), then he would say "Niiiiiiiiiiiiice" He is really a sweet little guy.

 We tried all the favorite spots without any luck.  It was pretty nice to just sit out in the sun and take in the beautiful day.

 Toby and Michelle moved in next door about two years ago and instantly became good friends. Kelley and Toby are always helping each other out with projects, borrowing  tools, or just shooting the bull over the fence. I had a hard time when Winklers moved away...they were great friends and left a big void when they left. I never dreamed we would be so lucky to get another wonderful family move in next door.  

We got to have  a special treat last weekend.  Camille and her family were going to Idaho for Kellen's grandmas 80th birthday party so they got a rental car and drove here for Sunday and Monday before they flew home.

It was so great to be with them!

Liv and Emily want to get right in there and be one with the chickens 

We dug up some potatoes and carrots for Sunday dinner.  So fun to just be able to go to the garden to make a meal!

 We had a little birthday party for Camille and Kellen

Monday morning it was cool and kind of rainy, but Camille and I went for a run anyway.  It felt really good. 

I can't get enough of this little one.   She slept with Kelley and I Sunday night and is such a snuggle bug.  She turns herself upside down so her feet are in our face but she was much less wiggly than when we slept with her in Arizona. She liked my fuzzy slippers.

 Emily's new thing is "I hep 

you...I hep you!"

She hepped the chickens right out of the coop 

Feeding the ducks 

On Monday we went to Wheeler Farm.  I was so glad KC played hooky from school and came and spent the afternoon with us.

He loves those kids 

 Sam wanted to stay on the tractor all day

 Kelley got to talking to the guy that ran the blacksmith shop and decided he wants to learn how to be a blacksmith.  He's going to go to some classes that the guy teaches.  

 The kids sure got a kick out of the goats.  They were pretty funny.  This one would stick his head under the fence for the kids to pet it.

 Katies friend Steve from California was in Utah for a few days and met us at Wheeler farm. 

 Then we saw this big wooly one that really wanted to get friendly with us.

 Kids had to finish the day getting their feet wet and throwing rocks in the water.

We all went to Apollo Burger for lunch  then just like  that, it was time for them to leave.  Oh man that went by way to quick.  Loved every minute of it.