Enjoying Thanksgiving Point Tulips from the Tulip Festival at Home, 2020

 A few years ago I visited the Tulip Festival in Ashton Gardens at Thanksgiving Point.  The flowers were absolutely beautiful.  This year, due to the virus, the festival went virtual with Facebook Live showings and an opportunity to buy Tulips to enjoy at home.  My sister-in-law Krista bought a bunch of tulips and then had fun delivering them to family and friends over the last couple days.

On the website I can't find where to buy the tulips, but it looks like you can donate tulips to a healthcare worker, which is a really cool idea.

Also, it looks like the gardens will be opening up May 1st with limited availability, social distancing roles in place.

Thank you Krista!! :D

 This cute little wooden pin commemorating the festival was attached to the info sheet.  I love collecting pins, and this will be a nice reminder for this year.  A reminder to not take things for granted, and to enjoy the beauty that's around us everyday.

Just Leaving This Here...

It's been awhile!  And this post doesn't have a picture.  There are times when I wanted to write about something, but didn't have an image that matched, so those posts went unwritten.  I'm still doing picture posts!  Because I like pictures.  But I'm going to try more posts without pictures as well.  Thoughts.  Ideas.  Whatevers.  Wanderous Whatnots.

Not going to talk much about the situation at large.  We all have a myriad of experiences.  Some similar.  Some very different.  Luckily where I live we didn't go into complete lock down, so random walks and drives were allowed.  Even so I still feel claustrophobic and struggling with motivation.  We're all fighting our way through, and it's good to keep fighting so we don't lose ourselves.

I am getting stir crazy!  Several days ago I dreamed I was in Japan and dropped off two suitcases to be held in two different locations.  When I went to get them, I couldn't.  Translation barrier.  When I woke up I thought it meant I wanted to start traveling again.  Then I decided to look up dream meanings out of curiosity.

One website said: "To dream of lost luggage represents feelings about having lost your ability to “keep it together” during or after a transitional moment. Feeling unprepared or not ready for something you expected to be ready for."  That feels pretty spot on.  Another website said: "Losing your luggage or items from your luggage is actually a good symbol in a dream. It is a request to let go of baggage or past issues that you are carrying around. It doesn’t matter in the dream what is in the bags. The bags represent issues that are holding you back."  Heh, so it's hard to know which meaning is more fitting.  Maybe both are applicable!  Honestly, yeah, I think both meanings work, and I did have two suitcases that were lost.

I'm trying to figure out if I should keep doing movie reviews, as the theaters are closed.  I've seen Emma and Onward, so those will get reviewed.  Maybe I can talk about classics, or movies that have meant something to me.  I'm still not quite sure how I feel about the digital releases taking place.  I understand the need for studios to make immediate money, but are theaters going to have movies to show when they do open?  And after all this time will they be able to open?  Hopefully.

There is a locally own theater that created an impromptu drive-in several weeks ago, and that seems to be doing well.  But there's just something so nice about going to the movies and getting a bucket of popcorn.  Hopefully the industry can pull through.  But also, these movies getting early digital releases are going for around $20 for 48 hr. access.  There are movies I want to see that my family doesn't, and in the past when that happened I would go to $5 Tuesdays.  Tuesdays are what made it possible for me to see so many movies.  We'll see.  There are so many unknowns.

And that has me now thinking about Disneyland.  So many thoughts on this matter.  I think Disney World will open, most likely partially, before Disneyland.  The situation between Florida and California, plus the different ways the Governors are approaching the situation, means one might open before the other.  Honestly, I think Universal will probably open first in Florida, and Disney World will watch.  It will be interesting to see how this all happens.  I wonder how different things would be if Disney didn't buy Fox.

One thing I don't want is virtual queues, which is something I've been reading is a probability for managing crowds and social distancing.  Not saying this will happen, as I haven't a clue, but this speculation is popping up.  I didn't want to deal with Rise of the Resistance when I went last February.  The thought of crowding into the park before opening, trying to get a spot for a ride that has limited availability, and then having all the spots filled within minutes, possibly missing out, was something I didn't want to deal with, especially since my two nieces and Mom were with me, and all of us would have needed to be in the park at the same time to get the boarding passes.

Can you imagine doing virtual queues for all the rides?  All of the spots filled up within the first few minutes of park opening, people desperate just to ride a ride.  Can you imagine going to the parks early, paying all that money, and not being able to get on any ride?  And people are going to crowd around waiting for their boarding group to open.  It would be a mess.  It's a tricky situation.

I have other thoughts, but I think I'll bring this post to an end.  Oh, I really wish I had a Nintendo Switch or lite.  Both are impossible to buy as they're all sold out, and I really don't have the money, but that Animal Crossing New Beginnings game does look like fun.  Heh, so maybe it's a good thing I don't have one, as it would suck me in and I'd really lose all sense of time.  I have a Nintendo 3DS that hasn't been turned on in the last few years, and I have games I got on sale that haven't been played, so priorities.  I should see if I can even charge the 3DS up.  Hopefully it still works.  Heh. :/

Until next time.

It really is weird not attaching a photo to this blog post.

I'm On Another Podcast Episode!! Creator's Playbook, Episode 12, Skin Deep

A couple weeks or so ago I got to record another episode of the Creator's Playbook with my brothers, and we had just as much fun as the first time.

This episode is the 12th in the series and is entitled "Skin Deep". (Active link if you want to check out the podcast without searching for it).  The other episode I'm on is the 6th, Balloons of a Feather.

The theme was Magical Transformations, but we decided to be creative with it.  There's so many types of magical transformations!  It's not all of the school girl variety.  What did we come up with?  I'm not going to spoil anything. ;0)

This episode is on Spotify, but my bros said it's on other platforms as well, so I should find out which ones. :P

If you love creativity, if you love stories, check out the Creator's Playbook.  It might inspire you to create some fun things as well.

(Currently this episode is on the top of the list, though my brothers finished editing another episode and will be posting it soon, so it might be second to the top).

Peace in the Storm; Church at Home

In the October 2018 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, President Nelson announced an adjustment to how we gather on the Sabbath, and a new focus: Home-centered Church.

"As Latter-day Saints, we have become accustomed to thinking of “church” as something that happens in our meetinghouses, supported by what happens at home. We need an adjustment to this pattern. It is time for a home-centered Church, supported by what takes place inside our branch, ward, and stake buildings.

"As the Church continues to expand throughout the world, many members live where we have no chapels—and may not for the foreseeable future. I remember a family who, because of such circumstances, was required to meet in their home. I asked the mother how she liked going to church in her own home. She replied, “I like it! My husband uses better language at home now, knowing that he will bless the sacrament here each Sunday.”

Our three hour church block was whittled down to two.  A new Sunday School course was introduced: Come, Follow Me. This is to be used while at church, but the greatest emphasis was for home study.  More home learning for individuals and families.

When it was announced a few weeks ago that we wouldn't be gathering for Church on Sundays, and to focus on Come, Follow Me and other resources, we as Latter-Day Saints we're shocked.  No church!!?  Until when? A few weeks? A few months?  Emails and other messages were sent out, telling us to study at home, use this new way to honor the Sabbath, and for families to partake of the sacrament in the home at least once a month.

Not gathering at a Church on Sunday was weird, but we were ready.  And what a blessing it was for President Nelson to announce a Home-Centered Church one and a half years ago, and for us to be prepared for changes.

A couple weeks ago my brother Michael came over to administer the sacrament to my Mom and I, and the spirit was so strong.  We felt such peace while partaking of the sacrament.

Today we have General Conference again, which happens twice a year, first weekend in April and October. It's broadcasted on www.churchofjesuschrist.org at 10:00 am, 2:00 pm, 6:00 pm Mountain Time today, and then again Tomorrow at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.  Each session is two hours.  What a blessing it is to find peace and feel the spirit.  I look forward to watching all the talks today and tomorrow. :0)

The Treasures of Family

Last week was one of my brother's birthday.  For reasons I don't have to mention we couldn't gather, so my Mom got nostalgic and took pictures of pictures and then texted them out.  It was a trip down memory lane.

 

She texted out these two pictures that brought all the feels.  We were adorable kids. :0) :P  But look at my hat!!  Ah man, loved that thing.  Wore it out proper.

 

With how crazy life is, unpredictable, reach out to loved ones.  We live in a remarkable time of technology.  How amazing it is that we can be so spread out, so isolated, and yet we can still communicate.  Share.  Be there for each other, even if it's not in person, we can still be there for one another.

 

We're being asked to social distance.  That's the wrong word.  We're physically distancing.  With the help of technology we can still be social.  Send virtual hugs.  Help people smile.   And as it stands we can still send snail mail.  Old fashion letters are cool.  That would be a good weekend project. :0)

“The most important thing in the world is family and love.”

 ~John Wooden

Thank You to the Heroes

Don't know who will see this, but I just want to say Thank You to those who are the true heroes.  The truckers, grocers, police, firefighters, doctors, nurses, delivery, those who keep the garbage/electricity/water going, and everyone else out there not mentioned who are just as amazing.  You're out on the front lines.  Thank you for all you do, for all you've done, past and present.

On a slightly different note, while doing the dishes yesterday, late afternoon, I looked out the window and saw two horses pulling an open carriage followed slowly by a police car escort, the couple waving as they passed.  What a funny sight!  A huge smile spread across my face as I ran outside.  Moments later a firetruck came down the street making beeps of sound, and behind the truck were decorated cars following suit.  Teachers were waving, and down the street there were families with kids waving back.

My Mom and I decided to walk around the park, and as we walked there were more families just hanging out, enjoying the nice weather.  As crazy as everything is, there are things that are worth the smile.  There are good people in the World.  Are there crazies? Sure, but overall we're good.  Overall we care.  We're freedom loving people riding the storm, unknown of the wake left behind, but we're strong.  This too shall pass.  We will overcome. 

Keep smiling. :0)