PRIMARY ACTIVITY DAY

Tug-o-war, marbles, bandanas, crossing the plains, and learning about our pioneer heritage within the church was our Primary Activity Day. We had hot dogs and all things kid-food and enjoyed the whole morning. Jan Fleck, my Primary President, is an awesome woman. She really planned most of this and it went off very well.

PAINTING WITH JESSIE

Last week end I also had the wonderful opportunity of spending time with Jessie and doing come creative artwork with acrylic paints. We really enjoy making a picture together. Then this Friday night I went over again and Jess and I did some stencil work. It is fun to just relax with Donna and Jess and do a little creative stuff on the side.

TOUCHED BY BRILLIANT COLORS

Last weekend I went with my friend Vickie Enger to the Leepa-Rattner Art Museum in Tarpon Springs, Florida and I was amazed at the paintings. Rattner was a jew in Paris and was caught up in the fiasco of Hitler and the jewish people. He had established a reputation as quite an artist in Paris and Europe, with Picaso and friends of that time. He had to flee France as the Nazi's advanced. He fled eventually to America where he began to paint again. Only 8 of his original paintings pre Hitler have survived. But his other works on this side of the globe have been preserved. He hated war and what mankind do to mankind and these are two pieces of his artwork that moved me.

I was blown away by his bold use of color and how it affected my emotions.

IAN AND OLIVER TURN ONE YEAR OLD

A little over one year ago I had a dilemma, "How do I tell my boss I need to be in Ohio in June and then again in July? Then as soon as I mentioned Grand-babies, he understood!
Funny how that is. Everybody loves babies and Grand-babies are the best babies of all.

THE NEW MOVIE AVITAR

I am not usually a fan of Science Fiction and I usually do not endorse trendy pictures. However, I did enjoy Avitar and was facinated by the computer graphics and amazed at the scenery. Then I realized at the end of the movie that my facination with the scenery might have had a feeling of familiarity to me because a lot of it was shot in New Zealand, one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and you all know my love of the Land of Arohanui. I can see why they won Acadamy Awards. I think we will probably see more of these "people" in a sequel.

MISS MATILDA MAE SMYLIE ARRIVES

In case the Merrill family did not get a chance to see the latest on the Jake and Sarah Smylie branch, who are now resident in Utah, this is the latest addition to the Smylie Clan, Miss Matilda Mae Smylie, nearly 10 lb in weight and full head of black hair. This is Sarah and Jake's 4th little girl. Their names are Grace, Rosie, Lillie and now lovely Matilda. I love all these names. I just wanted to have a place for her in my blog as well as my heart.