Goodbye Boring Purse!

This one is my favorite.

Hello Simplicity Pattern #2676.  A few months ago, I cleaned my closet and sent some old purses to Deseret Industry. As I looked at them in the box, I was struck by the fact they all looked the same.  BORING! Same old color, same basic shape, perhaps a little snap or opening difference.  I have looked at the fun, bright, fashionable purses the girls are using these days, but thought I would not want to switch all the "stuff" from purse to purse, so thus the boring Penny purses.  I am also very particular about the inside of my purses.  They have to have separate compartments  for just keys, cell phone, wallet, chap stick,  and on and on and on.  I have even taken a purse back to the store a week later, because it did not meet my interior standards!  Lucky it was Walmart, so there were no questions.

It took me hours and hours of sewing  to do just the basic purse.  I wanted everything absolutely in the perfect space.  As the inside stays the same, and the outside is what is changed according to the color of the day.  I have had tons of compliments on my new purse-look.  The only comment on my other purses were "is this yours?" when someone moved it.  Cori had a birthday and wanted a purse.  I made hers with handles on the ends.  She puts hers over her head on the opposite shoulder.  It worked out well.  I put magnetic snaps on hers, but on mine I put a velcro closures.

I tried a ruffle.  The pattern did not have one, so I made it up.  I have had more compliments on this look than any.   Blue check is the lining.  I thought it would look good as a contrast to the paisley.  I was surprised when it worked as a purse shell with the paisley on the inside.  Just can't go wrong with these combos.

I diverted from the pattern that called for
pellon.  I wanted my purse to have
a lot of body, so I used plastic canvas
on insides of bottom and sides of purse.

I hang them behind my door for a quick
switch.  So fun!

Destiny & Friends

Are we destined to particular situations, people, or experiences?  President Monson answered this question in three plain and simple words.  DECISION DETERMINES DESTINY.  An experience I had regarding one of my grandsons brought reflections of my past decisions, that seemingly small at the time,  set a course that led to positive benefits I have been reaping since my teens.   How does my decision,  made so long ago, bubble up again?   A couple of months ago, I received a call  asking me to go to the Mall and pick up my 14 yr old grandson.  He is a great young man, active in his priesthood, admired by his peers, and beloved by his Granny.  So I was surprised when his Father, out of town at the time, told me that my grandson was being held by Security and would only be released to a parent or guardian.   I found him being held by two security officers, along with two friends.  Security told me the "others" were being interviewed in another room.  Items had been stolen from the store.  My grandson immediately told me he did not steal anything, nor would he ever.   He said at the Mall some girls had started hanging around he and his friend.  He knew them from school.  They all decided to leave the store.  As they are going down the mall common area, one of the girls pulled some stolen items out of her purse, bragging about what she had got.  Next thing they heard security officers asking them to stop.  After 45 minutes, Security came in and said that my grandson had not known about the theft and could leave.  It was now dark, and as my grandson talked to his Dad and Mom on the cell, I started the car and turned on the lights.  When I turned on the lights, it was as if a light went on in my spirit.  The experience of my early- teen- past came forcefully in my mind.  I turned off the car and told my grandson the following.  " You did not steal, but you chose to hang out with those friends."  When I was about 13, my good friend moved away.  I was lonely, so I was very happy when a beautiful girl and her friend started to invite me to spend time with them.  One day this girl invited me to her home.  She showed me  a box full of pornography, then she took me to a store, and showed me how to steal.  She stole some sun glasses and wore them back to her house.  Later as I walked home, I felt sad.  My grandmother had taught me what filth was and that stealing was wrong.  I knew, somewhere deep inside, I had to find new friends.  This was hard, because middle school is hard enough.  The lunch room was where everyone got together, so I started to hang out in the rest room to avoid feeling uncomfortable.  I prayed so hard that I would find some new friends.  One day in the restroom, a girl named Ann asked me if I wanted to go with her for lunch.  I had gone to grade school with her, but had never known her on a personal level.  Ann was friends with four other girls that all went to 5th ward.  Those five girls became my devoted friends, and remarkably still are. They were good students, I wanted to be a good student.  They wanted to date good guys, I wanted to date good guys.    They attended seminary, so did I.  They wanted to go to college.  I went to college, and I received a degree.  Neither of my parents graduated from high school.  I look back now and I see clearly where my life would have gone had I not made the decision to change friends.  The beautiful girl who showed me porn and how to steal has led a hard life.  She and her friend experienced early pregnancy, several marriages, and a harder path than I have walked.  I shared this with my grandson in the parking lot that evening, and I have since shared this experience with several of my other grandchildren.  My prayer is that they will know, in their early years, that DECISION DETERMINES DESTINY. 

Lifetime friend, Ann Shirley Merkley and husband Reid.  She drew a circle that took me in.

Chris Rasmussen Leishman and husband Bron.  She is one of my five lifetime friends.

My name is Penny and I am a Weight Watcher Drop Out

I decided to start attending Weight Watchers.   When I joined previously, a lady who has known me for years, did the intake and paper work.  When the meeting started, the leader asked for those who were new to introduce themselves, and said, "and this is one of our Lifetime members back with us".  I said "My name is Penny and I am a Weight Watcher drop out."  I am no where near goal, but later I found out that the lady who knew me, had assumed the weight I have sloooooooowly lost over the last nine years was due to Weight Watchers.  She had put Lifetime on my papers.  My weight had slowly been creeping back since last year when my only sister had a massive stroke, my baby got married,  my position with the health department ended in July, I was released from Stake RS in October, my husband's business began suffering from economic down turn,  our commercial building tenant went out of business,  Walt decided to put our house up for sale, and my friend who usually exercises with me and keeps my dietary head straight has had other more important things to do.  I had the 911 alert go off in my brain that I needed inspiration and support.  I got the inspiration today when I learned 87% Lifetime members keep their weight off.  I was sitting by a lady who told me the reason she and her daughter joined today was that everyone they know who has ever kept off lost weight belonged to Weight Watchers.  I called my friend Ann Merkley, who lives in Salt Lake, to see if she had considered joining WW.  I left a message.  She called right back and said she is on board.  She had joined with her husband and was not feeling the support she had hoped for.   We are going to go for our Lifetime. When we get there, we are going to reward ourselves with a trip . No more dropping out for me.  I am in it for the long haul.  Lifetime here I come!

Number 16 Joins Cluff Clan

Cove made eye contact with Grandpa as if to say, "Yea, I know this old guy!"

Blessed Little Boy with Two Wondeful Parents

Proud Daddy

Katy Alene and Curtis Lee blessed us with our sixteenth grandchild.  Way before his due date, I gave my "Special Time Speech".  I have shared it with every pregnant daughter.  It goes something like this.  "This is a special time for you and your husband.  It will not hurt my feelings if I am not there.  Just let me know when you go in and call when you want us to come."  They have wanted me present at the birth of every one of my daughter's births.  It has been faith promoting and very humbling.  Walt laughs and teases about this fact, because he has said about my births, that he and the doctor were lucky to be there.  He likes to remind me of the time when the doctor did not have anything else to do, so he sat by my bed and read a newspaper.  I asked him to leave until it was time to check me again.  Then there was the time a janitor was mopping the floor near my room and I asked Walt to run him off.  I do not like to be around people when I am in pain.  I like to find a personal cave somewhere all by myself.  Times have changed.  Katy was dialated to a nine for over 2 hrs.  TWO HOURS.  The doctor left to do a c-section.  Little Cove came out looking like his head had been in a pencil sharpener.  That would have never happened in old days.  Doctors stuck around to finish the job.  Perhaps it was due to the screaming or the husband pleading to end the pain of his wife's embedded fingernails in his hand.  I am thankful that it is easier getting babies into the world now days.  I would not wish my birthing experience on my worst enemy.  Cove Jon Lee is and will be a delight to this baby hungry Cluff Clan.

Grandpa & Granny Penny are soooooo happy

Surprise Visit from Robin

My sister Robin came for a week visit in January. So I was so surprised when she came for another last week. Don and his brother Ray dropped her off on their way to their nephew’s funeral in Phoenix. March 10 is her birthday and she told us so when she arrived. I ignored her statement until the family started to arrive and we got out the ice cream and birthday cake I had hidden in the pantry. She was surprised. It was just plain sweet to get to visit with her again. Even though it had only been just two months ago, I was amazed at the progress she has made in her stroke recovery. She walked without a brace, her speech had dramatically improved, and her sparkle was back. Wow, if she continues to heal at this rate, a year from now will remarkable. I have been taking a photography class with daughter Sheena. Robin happened to be here the week that we were supposed to bring a model to photo. Sheena used Robin and I. She did Robin’s hair and I did her makeup. I just loved the photos. I think Sheena captured, not just a good photo, but also the love we share as sisters.

Walt Connects with His Heritage

Walt gave me a trip for Christmas. He did not know where, but said it was forthcoming. Finally, he told me we were going on a road trip to Safford Arizona, the place where he was born. It is not far from New Mexico and we traveled a total of 1200 mile.. We left the third week of February for four days. On the way there, we toured the Petrified Forrest, and it was mind boggling that the trees were once like mighty red woods.  They are now as rocks among the cactus and sand, standing or laying as reminders of a world long ago. 

Then on to Walt's great grandfather Moses Cluff 's ranch of over 788 acres near Pima at the foot of the Graham Mountains. The Fish and Game bought it after WWII, so it is intact. It is still called Cluff Ranch and is an amazing place. I was surprised by the farm country near Safford and Pima. I was expecting nothing but snakes, cactus, and lizards. Instead, it is a rich farm land with a river and a network of canals. It was humbing to walk the paths his fore fathers and mothers walked. They were amazing people. We took pictures of pictures behind glass at the tiny visitor room. One picture of his great grandmother looked strikingly like his neice, Sherre Finicum Henderson, daughter of his sister Nelda. Walt and I enjoyed the trip, but we have always enjoyed traveling together. We listened to audio books Old Yeller and Louie Lamour's High Lonesome, listened to talk radio, and communicated with each other. Even though it was dedicated to Walt's roots, it was still joy to me seeing  him connect with his heritage.

Lap Dancing at the Community Center?

I realize we are not getting any younger, but has it come to this?  Walt and I were having a discussion at lunch about my new Zumba exercise class today.  I was telling him about how I dripped sweat and knew none of the "moves".  He asked what is Zumba?  I explained that it is exercise stretch, a combo of dance steps in salsa, a little hip hop, and LATIN dancing.  A few minutes went by and he said, "Why are they teaching LAP dancing at the community center?"  I had a good laugh.    Later he told me about seeing Jed (freight company owner) at Bakston Corlet (name of the freight company).  I said, "Where did you see Jed in the back of a Corvette (a car)?  He had a good laugh over that.   Hearing aids anyone?