glen and veda hale

2011-10-29T15:45:00.000-07:00

Glen and I have often said how nice it would be to go out together. We almost made it happen yesterday. I thought I wanted to go to Zion and Springdale to find out about supposedly a new photo paper that sort of has a glow in the dark feel. So we decided to go for an outing with our car---supposedly bought to be rather sure us old folks would have no car trouble. We had a nice day, headed home early, so as not to tax Glen much. We headed back east through the Zion tunnel and thump, thump, we started to hear the sounds of a flat tire. IN THE TUNNEL!! YIKES! I was driving, which I do now, and could think of nothing to do but drive on. So I did. Just as we exited the back tire caught fire. I pulled off the road there where there is a parking place, and as good luck would have it, there was a forest ranger just happening to be there with a fire extinguisher in his truck. It was a guy not stationed there, just happened to be there. He put out the fire, but then felt that it would be unwise to drive it with spare on, not knowing if breaks were damaged or what. No cell phone signal, so that took some doing to get word to a tow truck from Orderville to come get us. Then it was wait. Ranger fixed a sun shield for Dad and my wonderful, good little doggie was so patient tied to a bush. Then seven big-horned sheep started to watch us from the cliffs. That made a nice show and I took pictures. Good-ol'-boy from Orderville came with a trailer and luckily he had a stool in back, because he often takes his mother places, otherwise, I can't imagine how we would have gotten Glen in that truck. We decided to be taken to Panguitch, a little expensive, but what the heck. Car is waiting for good ol' Gary and mechanic here to determine what to do. Whatever, I suspect Glen and I will not venture out much anymore. I still shudder at what could have happened. Glen's ability to move about is about shot. How I could have gotten him out of that car on fire in that tunnel is still a nightmare.
My trip to Zion didn't find me many answers about photograph paper, but the wife of the guy with tow truck is an artist....a nice lady trying to get a break. I like her work. Oh, if I were only younger!!....I'd like to help would-bes like her....and me do something that would cut the mustard....whatever that really means.
Anyway, we are still here to tackle another day. Veda

New web site - vedahale.com

2011-08-06T20:27:00.000-07:00

August 6 2011

Shawn Caine, the computer teacher at Panguitch High School, has helped me put together a web site that, hopefully, will bring together all the scattered ends of the web referring to Veda Hale and putting it in one place. (Glen hasn't been very interested in building his own identity.) She started it last year with her students to give them hands-on experience. Would I ever have gotten around to it without this incentive? I doubt it. But here it is. Of course there is still much to add.
Just type in as an http vedahale.com

adventurs

2010-12-15T07:12:00.000-08:00

So well I remember the feeling of stepping into the new and unfamiliar! I'm happy and proud of Jason and Erin and family for their willingness to explore. I conclude that
"there is nothing to fear but fear itself....and boredom." My little doggie, Bozie, is a good example. Life has been good. He has no fears, but Oh, does he get bored! We go for our walk. He marks his territory. We come home to his many toys, which he just looks at and steps over. Sometimes he comes to me, puts a paw up and just makes this little whine that seems to say..."Now what. Is this all there is?"
Glen and I had the same feeling of adventure when we were young. And we headed out. Glen's frequent saying was "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." We would go into 1957 post war Japan to explore a city that held, we were told later, many terrible things. We saw things that many Americans didn't, just because we weren't afraid of what was around the next corner.
Now we are old. We let NOT knowing where the next bathroom will be, or how the next bed will feel, or if we will just see the same old stuff, keep us almost home bound. Dang!

toot own horn

2010-11-30T15:30:00.000-08:00

I would not have thought to do it. But new friend from Laguna Beach insisted in taking one of my pictures to Springville to enter in the spiritual and religious contest. I couldn't see much in my stuff that would fit, but let him take a watercolor of sheep and lamb, which we labeled "Mother Love". Didn't win awards, but was accepted to hang in the show at the museum.

wonderful lady

2010-08-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

O for the wonders of people you meet. August 25, 2010 was another one of those days and when it is over, one shakes his head with dismay. Last night was just such a night.
Started visiting with this not-so- young but well preserved lady. And what a story developed.

Married to a man whom neither had any idea of his talents. The first time he begins to write, he creates this master piece and turns into a movie. One success follows another and soon the women are falling at his feet in hopes they could star in his next movie. Well like, Bill Clinton and the golf star, they would and could and so the marriage breaks up.
Meanwhile the lady acquaintances, who we do not even remember her name, turns out to be a world class rower as well as a teacher with special skills.
Well hours later she leaves and Veda & I are left shaking our heads; wanting to know more and not being able to even know how to contact her. A women who wants out of the California rat race and would love to settle in a peaceful area like Southern Utah and yes, even Panguitch.
We would love to follow what happens next. Maybe she will do as she said and email us. She was one human being we would like more in our lives. From Norway, she and parents are into Pay It Forward philosophy. This is written by Glen

It Makes Sense - Doggie Napped and Chocolate

2010-07-27T11:21:00.001-07:00

Don't you love it when those health researchers actually come up with something easy to do that could improve our health? Chocolate to lower blood pressure? Yeah, I can handle that! Of course, they throw in a "Yes, but".... "yes but, it should be dark chocolate.....really dark. Well, I'm a chocolate lover, I can still handle it pretty dark." I won't give up my blood pressure pills though. Not yet. I hope I'm smart enough that, when those "folks" tell me that dark chocolate .... to quote:
"is comparable to the known effects of 30 daily minutes of physical activity (4-9mm Hg) and could theoretically reduce the risk of a cardiovascular event by about 20% over five years," that I don't think "goody, goody, I'll eat my dark chocolate bar and skip the exercise." I'd sure like to. I hate to exercise and to make dark chocolate eatable I'll probably want some sweetener, which means calories.
I wonder if chasing after this new puppy I got will count for exercise. Pets are supposed to make you live longer. Puppy love and dark chocolate--two new things I've added to my life for health.
(I've also added a silly reputation with the local sheriff when we on the street couldn't find my new pup and were just sure he had been "doggy napped". "After all," I said "Isn't he so cute it is reasonable to assume someone would steal him?" You can imagine what our patient sheriff said. Oh yes, puppy was so tired being "cute" that he had crawled under the bed and gone to sleep.
Send suggestions to Veda Hale Box 956, Panguitch, Utah 84759 or email vedahale@yahoo.com

column about America

2010-07-27T10:34:00.000-07:00

I have opportunity to visit with many different people. For this I am grateful....most of the time. However, lately I feel myself sometimes filling with despair. The news isn't good, the responses to the news are not good . I forget my prior resolution to put things in an historical perspective and think "this too will pass". It has helped during this fourth of July celebration to receive a wonderful book by a now local adventurer, Bill Chapman, who opened a photographic gallery three miles north of Hatch. In his young days, he build a raft and floated the Mississippi River from start to finish and also did it again thirty-two years later in 2002. His perspective is right soothing. Rivers can call up in us a strong, visual and emotional reminder that movement and change and flow is how it is. Sometimes the flow has to put up with obstacles, but it just keeps doing its thing--flowing. Freedom, prosperity, greed, restrictions, too many restrictions, a tantrum of some kind and then back to freedom's peaceful flow. I suppose it makes sense to sometimes just go fishing, commune with a river and wait. And sometimes it means it makes sense to step up and help boost our lot in the flow through the rapids. That is the hard part, knowing when it is our turn to paddle or boost. I have no easy formula to know that time. For some of us, we can only be cheerleaders. And cheer for America I choose to do. I like what was in our Lake Branch Church program last Sunday. It was written decades ago by the beloved American poet, Carl Sandburg. Here it is:
"I see America, not in the setting sun of a black night of despair ahead of us. I see America in the crimson light of a rising sun, fresh from the burning, creative hand of God. I see great days ahead, great days possible to men and women of will and vision."
Send suggestions to Veda Hale Box 956 Panguitch, Utah or email vedahale@hotmail.com

2010-07-27T10:31:00.000-07:00

Panguitch folks have a new thing to be excited about. Mark and Heather Childs from Las Vegas have bought the old Gem Theater. We locals have a rare chance to bask in their enthusiasm. Anytime one can find the real thing, real enthusiasm, it is like finding a gold mine. It is someplace to visit and visit and take away riches, this time for the spirit. This ambitious young couple and their two boys plan to open an old-fashioned ice cream parlor. Besides that, they will show many free movies. Yes, I said "free". And besides even that, they will host many other kinds of programs, like dramas, lectures and whatever else that could help us feel some of the old community spirit. And they will have computers available in the balcony along with a museum where we can look back and remember.
Some place to go!! Some place to entice us off our couches and out to interact with our friends and neighbors! To help them, all of us who were here when the theater was so much of our lives ought to share our memories and particularly pictures that will help them being back the place the way it once looked. It makes sense to help others with their dreams. If we help then we sort-of claim a tiny bit of something like ownership. It is like a man I talked to once near Panguitch Lake. He said of an old, dead tree. "I was here and saw that tree get hit by lightening. I always visit it when I come back every year." He felt a connection because of shared history. Legal ownership isn't the only way to connect to places. So here's to the next generation having a place that will be part of their happy growing-up years; and, for the rest of us, we have an opportunity to feel young again by participating in something near to what we had as young. And then to get yummy, natural ice cream, too. Way to go, Panguitch!
Send suggestions to Veda Hale Box 956, Panguitch, Utah 84759 or email vedahale@hotmail.com

nostalgia

2010-01-11T14:16:00.001-08:00

nostalgia

Posted by Glen and Veda Hale

I haven't been keeping my little columns to the Garfield county local paper. They seem so trivial. But recently Glen and I watched an Italian movie called "Summer Hours". It was about a old woman wondering what to do with her estate, which included much art. It got me thinking about our situation. It would be nice to have some discussion among family. Anyway, her is what I wrote.
Nostalgia. What good is it to have nostalgic thoughts, be nostalgic, or want nostalgic momentous? The very word “nostalgic” sounds like a disease. Maybe it is, a disease of the spirit.
Museums are for keeping pieces of the past. One walks through, looks, seldom touches and drifts on by. Perhaps a piece once belonged to someone you knew or heard about, but from the glass display case it has a hard time meaning very much.
Some of us are made of nostalgia bones. We want to walk in the past. We want to build our own past to be worth wanting by the young. Oh yes, if what is built is money, then it is wanted--wanted and used to pile up more “stuff”. If we become famous, then perhaps that “stuff” can live on and float from auction house to auction house collecting even more worth as the “once- belonged-to’ phrase pushes it. But what about the rest of us common folks and our stuff? The English tried to do something about perpetuity by developing a system where the oldest son inherited whatever the parents had built or inherited. But even that isn’t enough to always hold together a family’s identity. Families use up money, sell property. They disperse, for there is something of the second law of thermodynamics to them--break down and change, restructure and always change. No such thing as a perpetual motion machine, a system has to have energy put in to keep going. So what makes sense to put into a family? A place? That could help for a few generations. A few valuable mementos, if they are beautiful, utilitarian, or valuable might last a while, but sooner or later no one will remember what meaning they have. What about the written word? If a person is skillful enough to have had the insight and the energy to write about themselves and whatever it is they want to preserve, or a descendant does it for them, then a whole bloodline could have access to copies, which is easier to share than something more material, like money or artifacts; and through the ages, there will likely be a few who would want it. Genealogy is the number one hobby, it is said. Certainly, it is the only thread that could be given equally to each far flung family member. But another thing that might be left to the young, besides a good name, genealogy and family stories, is the unwritten tradition that each person is responsible for him or herself, that they get an education and go forth to follow their own passion. And the energy to keep the system going? Well, Love, of course.
At the start of this new year 2010, I try to make sense of my efforts and the pile of “cents” that has accumulated into dollars and into “stuff”, and wonder what to do with it. I wonder about it and about life and if I have loved enough....
Send suggestions or musings to Veda Hale, Box 956 Panguitch, Utah 84759 or email vedahale@hotmail.com.

New picture painted

2009-12-31T07:07:00.000-08:00

I painted a picture from my Bryce Collection and sent it to Glen T. in Hawaii. We all felt bad that he wasn't with us for a wonderful 2009 Christmas. All his children were here.

2009-11-15T13:54:00.000-08:00

Wondering and notice of photography of Bryce

2009-11-15T12:44:00.000-08:00

Yes, I'm wondering what value a blog. Facebook seems to have taken over. Life just won't hold still to make anything last.

I'm starting to organize my papers. So many. Also wondering what use are they. Only one's one reflections seem anything worth only to the individual.

We are back in Pleasant Grove for the winter of 2009-2010. I have been doing something with the Bryce Canyon photographs I took in Sept and Oct. Brent's Maren and Kaleb and Holly's boys added to my many photos. Out of perhaps 400 I have picked out twenty or so that make good reprints and possible additions to a gallery. However, I fear some if not most do not have enough resolution to make big prints or to cut out parts and make them bigger. Too bad. I'll lhave to learn more than point and shood with my cameras. But the ones I got are very nice, even great. One could see them at Fine Art America under Hale Art Gallery.

Wake up Call

2009-09-08T09:15:00.001-07:00

Yes, we learned the hard way that we are mortal and will die rather soon.
Glen got his water works plugged up and after the urologists attempt to "roter rooter" it free and that didn't work we had to make a terrible trip up north to a specialist who had the right equipment to fit the way he is built. Panguitch didn't have it and the other alternative was going to St. George. Karen was concerned when she saw us heading for the emergency room and called Jason. She said she was at first sorry she did, feeling it wasn't her business, but it turned out to be a real blessing that she did. Brent and Jason came quickly and took us up and helped make the decisions. By the time we got there, Glen's heart was acting so dangerously close to something terminal that the specialist was concerned about doing his thing, but something had to be done so the chance was taken and thankfully he got through it. When that crisis was under control the doctors turned to his heart. Tests showed a hole between upper and lower chamber. They said often people have a small one from birth, but this one had enlarged. So they went through the groin and fished little umberella-like things in and sucked the hole shut. That seemed to work. We hoped that might have been the reason for him needing oxygen all these yeas since about 2002, but it hasn't seemed to help much.
Glen T and Sarah had a trip planned here, which was changed some. Glen came down alone to the cabin and got it winterized and brought back things, as if we were not going to come back down this year. The gallery has been so slow that it didn't matter. But Glen got going again and the heart doctor seemed to think he was doing fairly good--all but getting that blood-clotting test to look good, the one needing the drug cumidin--so we dicided to come back down. It was good to be back to the cabin. We made it for Labor Day. Still slow at gallery. It is just a different feeling year. People's buying habits are different. We are even considering selling and just being old folks with nothing much to do. It is scary being idle, however.

July 4 2009

2009-07-03T12:45:00.000-07:00

About time for another Tebbs cousin reunion. Last year I encouraged people to get a blog. Some did, and I have enjoyed getting better acquainted with the family. But I haven't been very good about keeping our lives up to date. I feel we are sort of out of the loop. Nothing much to report.
A few health challenges for Glen. Prostrate mostly. One has to pay the piper some day and carrying too much weight does take a tole. I remember how I was as a young girl. Too bad I didn't appreciate being thin. I wonder what the world will be like if people get fatter and fatter, as they have done since I was a girl. Prosperity brings with it its own set of problems.

Gallery still doing pretty good. Thank goodness for something meaningful to do.

2009-04-04T09:01:00.000-07:00

April 4 2009
Conference day. I just read Ryan Kinateder's blog announcing birth of his second son. It makes my heart glad to know he is experiencing such happiness. It reminds me of the power of prayer. We all prayed so much for him when he was stricken with cancer on his mission and afterwards as he struggled to put a different life together. We prayed much for his happiness, which seemed so much deserved. Sometimes it takes a while for one to see the blessings. It is a good reminder to be patient.

We are well and enjoying our blessings. I haven't been very good about keeping up blog. I think I'm a little confused about what direction to go with all the different ways to keep up with a family. facebook and the like. I just feel overwhelmed sometimes. Age I suppose has something to do with it. Tech overload without the conditioning of years of computer brain programing. We try to hang in there. I HAVE ADDED BRYAN'S BLOG ADDRESS HERE. (here and at left.
kinateder family.blogspot.com

A Valentine Tree

2009-02-10T09:04:00.000-08:00

The following is a good idea from our cousin, Michael Tebbs. Getting a tree from Myres Valley above the ranch is indeed something many of us relate to. He wrote on the cousin email list the following, which he gave me permission to use in my It Makes Cents column

"Well, we finally did it. The tree got put out tonight. It was cut Nov. 9, 2008 at Myersvalley and
lasted through Feb 7, 2009. It was used as a Chrismas Tree first then
just after New years the Christmas decorations came of except for the lights
and red and white ribbons with hearts on went on along with other Valentine
decorations. It stayed green and fresh the whole time and it still
is. The needles and branches you see on the sidewalk were from my radical
job of taking the lights off. The lights were wrapped around the trunk
and branches throughout the tree so it was difficult getting them
off. As I was sitting by the tree earlier this afternoon, the smell of
fresh pine was still there. It could have lasted another month or
so. No needles fell off in the house or while taking it through the front
door. I learned something new this yearso I'll pass it on to you for your
fresh cut Myersvalley tree next year. Put the tree in the tree stand like
you normally do then add the water, but not just any water. Put
"hot" water in the tree stand. When a tree is cut, it produces
the pine gum to seal the cut - natures way of protection. If you add cold
water, the sealing pime gum remains and the tree doesn't absorb the
water. By adding hot water it melts the pine gum and the tree can absorb
the water. Maybe some of you already knew this but it was new to me and
makes sense. At least thats the way it happened this year. Happy
Valentines Day (early)"

A really good blog

2009-01-07T19:56:00.000-08:00

There is a lot of doom and gloom. This site tells of some of the new things that could and probably will change the world. It is good to think that change can be good. Check it out. AND I MEAN REALLY DO IT.
JOEL BARKER'S GOOD NEWS www.globaldialoguecenter.blogs.com/jbgoodnews/

google will lget it with "joel Barker's good news"

something "up-i-d-y"

2008-12-08T11:10:00.000-08:00

Jamie and I agreed to share things that lift our spirits. No sense being selfish, so I will share on my blog. I found a good site to help. There is a book....always there is a book to buy, but I found you could get the gest from just what is on the site. It helps with all that new mind stuff like came out in "The Secret". I thing that it gives a differet way of saying the uiversial "How a man thinketh, so is he".
Give it a try. google the site for Byron Katie. Or here is the meat of it:
"What is The Work?
The Work is a simple yet powerful process of inquiry that teaches you to identify and question thoughts that cause all the suffering in the world. It's a way to understand what's hurting you, and to address your problems with clarity.
People who do The Work as an ongoing practice report life-changing results.
Alleviation of depression: Find resolution, and even happiness, in situations that were once debilitating.
Decreased stress: Learn how to live with less anxiety or fear.
Improved relationships: Experience deeper connection and intimacy with your partner, your parents, your children, your friends, and yourself.
Reduced anger: Understand what makes you angry and resentful, and become less reactive, less often, with less intensity.
Increased mental clarity: Live and work more intelligently and effectively, with integrity.
More energy: Experience a new sense of ongoing vigor and well-being.
More peace: Discover how to become "a lover of what is."
Top of Page
How to Do The Work
The simplest way to do The Work is outlined below:
Judge Your Neighbor
For thousands of years we’ve been told not to judge, but we still do it all the time—how our friends should act, whom our children should care about, what our parents should feel, do, or say. In The Work, rather than suppress these judgments, we use them as starting points for self-realization. By letting the judging mind have its life on paper, we discover through the mirror of those around us what we haven't yet realized about ourselves.
Fill in a Judge-Your-Neighbor worksheet. You can download one here, or simply use this online version [below]:
The Judge-Your-Neighbor Worksheet
Fill in the blanks below, using short, simple sentences. Don’t censor yourself; don’t be wise or “spiritual.” Take this opportunity to express your negative feelings on paper.
1. Who angers, irritates, saddens, or frustrates you, and why? I am ________________ at ________________ because __________________________________________________.Example: I am angry at Paul because he doesn’t listen to me, he doesn’t appreciate me, he argues with everything I say.
2. How do you want them to change? What do you want them to do?I want ________________ to _____________________________________________________________________________.Example: I want Paul to see that he is wrong.I want him to apologize.
3. What is it that they should or shouldn't do, be, think, or feel? What advice could you offer?________________ should/shouldn't________________________________________________________________________.Example: Paul should take better care of himself. He shouldn't argue with me.
4. What do they need to do in order for you to be happy?I need________________ to ______________________________________________________________________________.Example: I need Paul to hear me and respect me.
5. What do you think of them? Make a list.________________ is _____________________________________________________________________________________.Example: Paul is unfair, arrogant, loud, dishonest, way out of line, and unconscious
6. What is it that you don't want to experience with that person again?I don't ever want to ______________________________________________________________________________________.Example: I don’t ever want to feel unappreciated by Paul again. I don’t ever want to see him smoking and ruining his health again.
2
The Four Questions
Investigate each of your statements from the Judge-Your-Neighbor Worksheet using the four questions and the turnaround below. The Work is meditation. It’s about awareness, not about trying to change your thoughts. Ask the questions, then take your time, go inside, and wait for the deeper answers to surface. Download the blue sheet for use as a facilitation guide.
In its most basic form, The Work consists of four questions and a turnaround. For example, the first thought that you might question on the above Worksheet is "Paul doesn't listen to me." Find someone in your life about whom you have had that thought, and let's do The Work. "[Name] doesn't listen to me":
Is it true?
Can you absolutely know that it's true?
How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought?
Who would you be without the thought?
Then turn it around (the concept you are questioning), and don't forget to find three genuine examples of each turnaround.
3
Turn it Around
After you've investigated your statement with the four questions, you're ready to turn it around (the concept you are questioning).
Each turnaround is an opportunity to experience the opposite of your original statement and see what you and the person you've judged have in common.
A statement can be turned around to the opposite, to the other, and to the self (and sometimes to "my thinking," wherever that applies). Find a minimum of three genuine examples in your life where each turnaround is true.
For example, "Paul doesn't understand me" can be turned around to "Paul does understand me." Another turnaround is "I don't understand Paul." A third is "I don't understand myself."
Be creative with the turnarounds. They are revelations, showing you previously unseen aspects of yourself reflected back through others. Once you've found a turnaround, go inside and let yourself feel it. Find a minimum of three genuine examples where the turnaround is true in your life.
As I began living my turnarounds, I noticed that I was everything I called you. You were merely my projection. Now, instead of trying to change the world around me (this didn't work, but only for 43 years), I can put the thoughts on paper, investigate them, turn them around, and find that I am the very thing I thought you were. In the moment I see you as selfish, I am selfish (deciding how you should be). In the moment I see you as unkind, I am unkind. If I believe you should stop waging war, I am waging war on you in my mind.
The turnarounds are your prescription for happiness. Live the medicine you have been prescribing for others. The world is waiting for just one person to live it. You're the one.
Examples of Turnarounds
Here are a few more examples of turnarounds:
"He should understand me" turns around to:- He shouldn't understand me. (This is reality.)- I should understand him.- I should understand myself.
"I need him to be kind to me" turns around to:- I don't need him to be kind to me.- I need me to be kind to him. (Can I live it?)- I need me to be kind to myself.
"He is unloving to me" turns around to:- He is loving to me. (To the best of his ability)- I am unloving to him. (Can I find it?)- I am unloving to me (When I don't inquire.)
"Paul shouldn't shout at me" turns around to:- Paul should shout at me. (Obviously: In reality, he does sometimes. Am I listening?)- I shouldn't shout at Paul.- I shouldn't shout at me.(In my head, am I playing over and over again Paul's shouting? Who's more merciful, Paul who shouted once, or me who replayed it a 100 times?)
Embracing Reality
After you have turned around the judgments in your answers to numbers 1 through 5 on the Worksheet (asking if they are as true or truer), turn number 6 around using "I am willing ..." and "I look forward to ..."
For example, "I don't ever want to experience an argument with Paul" turns around to "I am willing to experience an argument with Paul" and "I look forward to experiencing an argument with Paul." Why would you look forward to it? Number 6 is about fully embracing all of mind and life without fear, and being open to reality. If you experience an argument with Paul again, good. If it hurts, you can put your thoughts on paper and investigate them. Uncomfortable feelings are merely the reminders that we've attached to something that may not be true for us. They let us know that it's time to do The Work.
Until you can see the enemy as a friend, your Work is not done. This doesn't mean you must invite him to dinner. Friendship is an internal experience. You may never see him again, you may even divorce him, but as you think about him are you feeling stress or peace?
In my experience, it takes only one person to have a successful relationship. I like to say I have the perfect marriage, and I can't really know what kind of marriage my husband has (though he tells me he's happy too).
Top of Page
Frequently Asked Questions
I have a hard time writing about others. I know the problem is me. Why can't I write about myself? If you want to know yourself, write about someone else. Point The Work outward in the beginning, and you may come to see that everything outside of you is a direct reflection of your thinking. It is only about you. Most of us have been pointing our criticism and judgments at ourselves for years, and it hasn't solved anything yet. When you judge someone else, inquire, and turn it around (the concept you are questioning). This is the fast path to understanding and self-realization.
It is extremely difficult to judge yourself. Some of us are very invested in our identifications; our ideas about ourselves-how we should look, how we should feel, what we should or shouldn't be doing-are so strong that we may not be able to answer the four questions and turnarounds honestly. If you are new to The Work and feel that you must judge yourself, please call the hotline and ask a certified facilitator to walk you through your Worksheet.Do I have to write? Can't I just ask the questions and turn it around in my head when I have a problem?Mind's job is to be right, and it can justify itself faster than the speed of light. Stop the portion of your thinking that is the source of your fear, anger, sadness, or resentment by transferring it to paper. Once the mind is stopped on paper, it's much easier to investigate. Eventually The Work begins to undo you automatically without writing.What if I don't have a problem with people? Can I write about things, like my body?Yes. Do The Work on any subject that is stressful. As you become familiar with the four questions and the turnaround, you may choose subjects such as the body, disease, career, or even God. Then simply use the term "my thinking" in place of the subject when you do the turnarounds.
Example: "My body should be strong, healthy, and flexible" becomes "My thinking should be strong, healthy, and flexible."
Isn't that what you really want—a balanced, healthy mind? Has a sick body ever been a problem, or is it your thinking about the body that causes the problem? Investigate. Let your doctor take care of your body as you take care of your thinking. I have a friend who can't move his body, and he is loving life. Freedom does not require a healthy body. Free your mind.I've heard you say you're a lover of reality. What about war and rape and all the terrible things in the world? Are you condoning that?Quite the opposite. I notice that if I believe it shouldn't exist when it does exist, I suffer. Can I just end the war in me? Can I stop raping myself and others with my abusive thoughts and actions? Otherwise I'm continuing through me the very thing I want to end in the world. I start with ending my own suffering, my own war. This is a life's work.So what you're saying is that I should just accept reality as it is and not argue with it. Is that right?The Work doesn't say what anyone should or shouldn't do. We simply ask: What is the effect of arguing with reality? How does it feel? This Work explores the cause and effect of attaching to painful thoughts, and in that investigation we find our freedom. To simply say that we shouldn't argue with reality is just to add another story, another philosophy or religion. It hasn't ever worked.I don't believe in God. Can I still benefit from The Work?Yes. Atheist, agnostic, Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, pagan—we all have one thing in common: We want happiness and peace. If you are tired of suffering, I invite you to The Work.Is there a way I can go deeper with The Work?I often say, if you really want to be free, have The Work for breakfast. Have it for lunch. Have it for dinner. The more you do inquiry, the more it undoes you. Some people prefer to do The Work as part of an organized program, so I offer the School for The Work, an intense and life-changing journey through your own mind, with aftercare and an extraordinary support system.I understand the process of inquiry intellectually, but I don't really feel anything shifting when I do it. What am I missing?If you answer the questions superficially with the thinking mind, the process will leave you feeling disconnected. Try asking the question and going deeper. You may have to ask the question a few times to stay focused, but as you practice this, an answer will slowly rise. When the answer comes from inside you, the realizations (and shifts) follow naturally.
I've been using the turnarounds whenever I make judgments, and somehow it doesn't do anything but make me depressed and confused. What's going on?To simply turn thoughts around keeps the process intellectual and is of little value. The invitation is to go beyond the intellect. The questions are like probes that dive into the mind, bringing deeper knowledge to the surface. Ask the questions first, and then wait. Once the answers have risen, then do the turnarounds. The surface mind and the deeper mind (I call it the heart) meet, and the turnarounds feel like true discoveries.
Is there always a turnaround? What if I am having trouble finding one?Turn the statement around to the opposite, to the self, and to the other. Sometimes you'll find more turnarounds, sometimes fewer. When you're dealing with an object, such as the physical body, turn it around to the opposite and also to 'my thoughts' or 'my thinking'--for example, 'My body is unhealthy' can be turned around to 'My thinking is unhealthy.' And with all turnarounds, find examples (a minimum of three when possible) where the turnaround is as true or truer.
The Work doesn't work for me. Why not? The moment you stop genuinely answering the questions and begin to justify or defend the statement you are investigating, The Work doesn't work. In that moment you are using the hopeless method that people have been using from the beginning of the human mind. When you begin to justify or defend your position or go into a story, simply notice what you are doing, then return to the inquiry again. The mind's war with itself is the old way. If you can't stop the war within, you can't stop the war outside. Welcome to the new way. Welcome to peace. "

Erin's 40th birthday

2008-11-30T09:56:00.000-08:00

Well, this was the most unusual birthdaiy party I've ever been to! At a mortuary. Surprise. Funny. Only Erin could have taken it with grace. It was a roasting, that's for sure. Her high-school and grade school friend Kris, really told it like it had been with two girls making their own fun in the seventies and eighties. Then the sisters and brother and brother-in-law and mother. Like I said, only a well grounded Erin with a good opinion of herself and the luck to have grown up with so much love and attention and freedom could have taken it with such humor and grace.
I think you could view details by going to a page Jason set up to organize the thing.
socializr-Erin Hale's surprise 40th birthday party

The Miller family

2008-11-17T14:32:00.000-08:00

I suppose I could be a little envious of the Miller family's blog. The whole family seems to be involved. It is great! but it is their inner circle thing. I think it is hard to feel to intrude. I do appreciate being able to look in now and then, however.

I suppose that is just the way it is. We are now split into may factions, all of us wrapped up in our own immediate family and without extra time for much more. We are going to try for an open plan of a 24th of July get-together for cousins at the ranch every year, however.

Holly lives close by. She is involved in her life and that is how it should be. I feel to have moved into a new territory....that of an old Aunt, loved and respected (thank goodnes) but not needed to make life go along. That's good...as it should be. The thought is there that if we were somehow thrown together it wouldn't take long to make living together work. It is a good feeling to realize there isn't a single niece or nephew that I wouldn't like for a close neighbor or friend.
I am grateful for having my art and interests to fill up my own life. My challenge now is to really learn how to be happy for no reason. Believe me, old age isn't for the chichen-hearted.

End of summer 2008

2008-10-23T16:20:00.000-07:00

What a job to think of everything needing to be done to leave gallery and ranch. We thought we would drain ranch house and winterize so we didnt' need to leave heat on, but when we thought through the trouble, we decided to leave it at 40 degrees like we have done in the past. I don't have any indication anyone will use it this winter, but it is there for whatever.
I have wondered what would become of the ranch. It seems the third generation is busy with their own life and that doesn't include Southern Utah much.
Here is something I wrote in one of my Hummmmmm moods.

Once upon a time there was a family who struggled for survival on a piece of land consisting of an exclusive stream, called Buttler Creek, It came magically out of the earth and ran through the ranch and into a bigger creek called Panguitch Creek The first two generations occupying this piece of land off and on for 75 years were in survival mode, which meant work, work, work Some of the second generation were among those needed to help with just holding the land and had no time to explore and play and try boy-ideas. Now in 2009 the third generation have gone into the world and made money and sunk roots elsewhere. Wha will become of the land now?
One fact of life at this time is that there is a fourth generation mushrooming up and many in their later childhood years with an excess of energy, imagination and need for adventure.

What if…….
The parents of this group, including the fathers, in fact, definitely including the fathers, because there are mostly boys in this group, organized themselves and took turns helping this group of little people have “experience”. Real experience, experience that will make lasting good memories and a lasting network of life-time friends.

The infrastructure is largely in place with two big, nice homes on the property. Older grandparents are still alive to “be there” for whatever they are still capable of doing, which they would be interested in doing, but are not capable or inclined to do the imaginative work of organizing and helping with the time spent by whatever “kids’ are there at the time. So many things have to be worked out. Most kids in the group are involved in sports and music and other things in their main homes. The ranch is just a once in a while thing to go to. There is still some “real” work needing to be done there, like the irrigating. It would be possible to take care of this fact, if the “fun” were organized around this need. Instead of a hated fact of the place, it could be a good place for real responsibility to come to kids. With eight or ten fathers taking turns, there likely wouldn’t be more than a week a piece to be involved. (hopefully at least two at a time, if more than a few kids involved.) They would need to adjust to the children with just what works for individual cases.. A scouting project geared to the circumstances could be develped. Rewards to work toward. Etc.etc. Tebbs family special thing.

The men in the family would need real organizing, that’s for sure….. planning. A few women could be worked in and as women usually organize better, they might take over. But the men need to be there. Yes, chances would be taken in that kids should be free to explore and do things not usually done in the city. So mothers would need to deal with their fears and opt in or out. In other words, not make special rules for just their kids, except, of course, health concerns. Well, dreams are still there to be dreamed. I still do it. Veda

The Miller's suggestions for how to have fun at ranch

2008-10-23T16:09:00.000-07:00

HOW TO HAVE FUN AT THE RANCH
2008
Bless their hearts! We just like our loved ones to use ranch. I think Dan Miller must have got chewed on by his mother a bit. One thing about us Tebbs folks, we can't stand thinking we put anyone out or didn't pull our weight. But the older we (Veda and Glen and Dan and Karen) get, the more we will appreciate the help with the place. What will happen to it? It is a wonderment for Danny and me. It can be fun place, but each person needs to make their own fun. Brent and family were here last weekend and Louis wAs weening his calves. Brent's kids thought it was funner than heck to help. A purpose to ride a horse is sure a lot more fun than just up and down a road.
Jenny has bottles around the ranch with papers in them with a part to tear off to prove you visited that spot. Next summer I need someone to take the story that goes with that spot and add to bottle. That is a fun thing to challenge kids to do to see how many places they can visit. We could make a freezby golf course, too. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Miller suggestions for ranch:
Get a map of the Ranch with marshes, trails, etc. marked (to get across the ranch safely and to just know where to go).
Recognize Dan and Karen, Veda and Glen LIVE there – respect their property.
Understand the 4 wheelers:
Gas: Miles per gallon; how large is gas tank (i.e. how far can you go before you run out of gas and how much money should you pay for gas)
Use only with permission. Realize they are needed for WORK at times.
Wash them after use if needed.
What speed to drive them and where to go, not to go (map from #1)
Care of the road – mud holes etc.
Bring gas with you to ranch, or pay for gas – Ask Danny which is better.
Horses: Take care of them before you take care of yourself.
Don’t use without permission
Use map to know where Not to ride them
Don’t tire them out by running to much – Ask Danny to tell you how to tell)
Realize that horses are strong, thinking animals and skill is needed to control them. BE CAREFUL
Don’t tie horses up with the reigns
Veda’s cabin:
Bring your own food
Bring your own bedding
Clean bathrooms, kitchen and sweep floors before you leave.
Visit with Veda and Glen – show appreciation and consideration (they go to bed early and get up early.)
General Ideas:
Always keep gates closed to keep cows in (or out)
Don’t chase cows (it runs the meat off them)
Write a thank you note after a visit
SMALLER, MANAGABLE SIZE GROUPS ARE BETTER – 3 or 4 people.

Free Fall

2008-10-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

Yes, it feels like the stock market is in free fall. It is amazing the powerful people couldn't see problems coming. So many of us little guys sensed it. I talked to some Canadians this morning and they have been waiting for this housing bubble to burst for a few years. Why on earth didn't those in power see it? Well, whatever, we are where we are today. Change. We are getting it. Us retirees living on a fund will probably be the worst hit. But we re the ones who know how to live poor. The kids today are the ones who will likely suffer the most as all their plky things are cut off.

My intuition has been telling me of these kinds of days for long time. I'm glad we fixed a room behind the gallery. I can imagine myself being there, going across the ally to the new senior citizen center for dinner and living on my social sec. (as long as that lasts) In other words, if one faces the worst and figures they can still live and choose to be happy, it makes rough times a lot easier.

2008-09-08T09:31:00.000-07:00

I just fixed this blog so that search engens could't find it. That should make it fairly safe. However some of you might feel uncomfortable having this list here. I just wanted all us folks's emails preserved and couldn't figure how to work my address book. I hope we get this tradition of meeting every 24sth established as a "forever" think.

Tebbs, Susan and Brian" , "Tebbs, Craig and Lisa" , "Tebbs, Kathy and Ron Mecham" , "Tebbs, Nate and Jennifer Moos" , "'Tebbs, Doug (Danny)'" , "Jason Hale" , "Brent Hale" , "Glen and Veda" , "Glen Hale" , "Merrilee Gottfredson" , "Andrea Callister" , "Dan and Heather Gottfredson" , "Janice and Michael" , "Kent Gottfredson" , "Lorraine Dickson" , "Matthew Gottfredson" , "Louis and Lolly" , charityannsmith@gmail.com, "'Tebbs, Christian and Alice'" , "Robert and Cindy Judd" , "Cristy Rowley" , malyndaruth@yahoo.com, "Andrea, Nickles " , "Brad and Alicia Judd" , "Cindy Judd" , "David Judd" , "Lee Bjerreguard" , "'Robin Nielsen'" , "'Daniel Miller'" , "'Elder Andrew Miller'" , "'Holly and Mike (JFMA)'" , "'Holly and Mike (Yahoo)'" , "'Jared and Shirley'" , "'Jonathan Miller'" , "'Kent (Work)'" , "'Megan Miller'" ... more

Erin Hale gets her horn tooted

2008-09-02T16:43:00.000-07:00

http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/278822/17 This is the place to go to to see the article in the Herald that tells of Erin's volunteer work delivering meals on wheels. Glen and I will be interested to see when we will be eligible. Sometimes in Panguitch we get Senior Citizen meals. They are building a new Senior Citizen Center right behind the gallery. Yeah!
Cindy and Malinda came for Labor Day. Good time. We painted. Robert is going for it. Interesting. He is very meticulous and will do well. Malinda is spontanious and somewhat impatient. But that, too, will lead so real art. Good folks.
While I'm telling about family accomplishments, I should mention that Brent's company is on the list of the best 20 .com companies for this year. Brent was largely responsibility for the product, which is a program to help companies keep their inventory up to date.

2008-08-18T13:53:00.000-07:00

I gave the Relief Society lesson on the Plan of Salvation. Glen and I got the wrong lesson number so gave it out of sequence. It was good for me, because it went along with what I had been reading. Anyway the following is something that happened just before I taught the lesson and I used it at the end. I also put it in my column, thus this version is rather veiled.
" was with a group of good people discussing people in our area. We were sort of celebrating the fact that so many really good people were moving into our communities. There was a little light chuckling as we reflected how it had been an eye-opener to realize that many of these people are from a different religious culture and how it is that we used to think we had some kind of corner on being good. Some voiced the desire to be better neighbors and wondered how-- as it was laughingly said to be "gooder". How to be "gooder". . . . Most people I know really want to be good people. That desire is natural to most hearts, but many wonder if they are good enough and keep an eye out for ways to be better. I had an experience that showed me probably the best way to be a good person. Nothing new, that's for sure. But it came to me in a new way. I was cleaning up after a family reunion and found a pair of the most beaten up old sandals I'd about ever seen. I thought "Well, I'm certainly not going to waste time trying to return these old things. I'll just toss them in the garbage." Then I looked at those dirty, worn shoes and wondered about the person who put so many miles on them, or I should say "in them". What were his or her hopes and dreams, his or her fears and heartaches. I slipped in them and walked around a bit thinking of this and trying to love and empathize with the person. It was an interesting few minutes. I understood then that what being good is mostly about is loving others and feeling how they feel. Of course, then there is the part about treating them as you wish they would treat you. I suppose it is in the doing that that is when the "being good" happens. It makes sense to give it a try."

2008-08-09T09:30:00.000-07:00

The net is getting too cluttered with good ideas. We need a way to keep up on the little things of life and a way to keep a record of the biggies. The way I've started to blog lots of relatives will possibly be checking in. That might limit some of what our family might want to post. "Who give a heck about this?" we might be saying, when in fact, at least Grandma is very interested. Face book is confusing, but maybe it is for less intimate stuff. I'm not ruling it out. I thought it was for young'uns mostly, maybe I'm wrong.
Whatever, so it is a feeling-our-way-along experience right now. At least it is something.

If Jason and Erin wanted to continue their missionary efforts in Italy, I sure opened an interesting door here at the gallery this week. People from Bergamo. Never heard of Mormons. Interested. I gave them a B of M in Spanish (Only one I had and they acted like they could read it.) Their English wasn't too good. I have their card. They work for a modern art sort of place. I really feel they are open to more. Erin, if you wanted to keep your Italian sharp, see what you could do. Elena Leggiardi. The only web site I have is info@ideatrade.it. Man's name is Diego Sala Leggiardi. Via Bergamo, 34 15048 Valenza (AL) P.IVA o2080640069 tel/fax 0131 955355---- For the What-the-heck-file.

We sold two big pieces of art to a French couple who must be rich. Invited us to visit. Marc Prikazsky mprceva@gmail.com Vice President for Ceva Sante Animale, which is a veterinary company.

2008-08-08T18:09:00.000-07:00

I had an email from a cousin who was upset because she had made a pieced baby quilt, thought she should wash it before giving it to her granddaughter and when she did found that the colors ran together. She wondered if I knew how to fix it. Unfortunately, I have no suggestions. All I can say is for the rest of us to remember her heartache and check the materials we use in a pieced quilt. It is sad to put all that work into something that won't wash well. I thought most materials were color fast these days, but apparently not. Her plight reminded me of a situation that happened to a friend of mine that she turned around to have great meaning for her family. It seems she bought a new couch, brought it home and discovered one leg was shorter than the others. In frustration she reached for a book nearby and stuck it under the short leg. Being a busy mother, she didn't get around to doing something about it for some time. Then she noticed that the book she had stuck under the leg was one named "Love or Perish". So instead of treating the unfortunate situation of buying a defective couch as a small tragedy, she drew her family's attention to the book under the leg and told them it was going to be their family's theme. It was where the family sat most the time to watch TV and was where they often needed to be reminded about the importance of getting along. In later years, the children all remembered this reminder. I couldn't think of a meaning to use with the quilt with the color smeared blocks, but the granddaughter could learn a good lesson about how a grandmother's feelings are more important than a perfect quilt. If she expressed her thanks and used the quilt anyway, it would go a long ways to making this become a remembered episode in their lives. Hummm, maybe she could use the run-together colors as a symbol of how a family needs to share, to blend together and make the best of what they all have collectively.Some of us are better at making lemonade out of sour lemons than others. It makes cents and sense to learn to see uses and meaning in whatever life hands us.

2008-08-04T07:41:00.000-07:00

The following is a post I sent to Adrienne. Her blog is an example of what I loved about the idea of a family blog. I loved seeing her blog! I feel I got a peek of her new married life and her happiness makes me happy. Sharing like this enlarges our lives. Of course, I realize Adrienne is a darn good blogger! She has had some good examples from her Bradford relatives. But we could all stand to learn from each other.
We had the Northern Exposure series on disks we have both watched and had in common. It is hard to breach the age difference, but that helped some. Anyway, I answered her when she told me they were almost through the series. She said some of the episodes at near the end felt like the writers were getting tired. I answered:
"there was a stage there toward the end when there were episodes that didn't seem very good. But it does finish with a few good ones. Wait and see. It was an ending I wouldn't have expected early on. Actually not till nearly the end.

I haven't found any other sit com worth watching. But we haven't tried many. What I'm into is lectures or interviews I find on the net. These are scientific or historical. I found one that pleased me greatly. It is a book called "The Ark of Million of Years" I heard the guy, Brooks Agnew, interviewed and it sounded interesting. They had a special where you could download the first two books free if you bought the third. I ordered it, because it sounded like a lot of stuff to listen to. I listened to the first book and kept thinking, "some of this is familiar", as I got into it the author started citing Book of Mormon, and other Mormon scriptures right along with the other ancient texts he was using. It was like "Well, da, Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, D and C are just as valid as anything else out there." No substantiation at all. Fun. This is what I predict. The internet is like that stone your father (Glen T) likes to think about that lets us
know all things. Many many ancient texts are now available and being translated into English and put on the web for anyone to study. The "ask and ye shall find folks, called "seekers" can now find answers. It is a new age. I'm glad my life at least can hit the beginning of it.

2008-07-28T18:34:00.000-07:00

I'm finding this blog site confusing. I thought I had it fixed so my columns went to a separate blog. Doesn't work. It did at first. I just don't know.
Another problem with my dream of a family connected is that some people don't want their blogs open to anyone but their close family, they are afraid of bad guys getting access to pictures of their children. I just don't know about what kind of danger that is. anyway it will be too cumbersome to get it to work the way I thought. Each person would have to get permission to access the sites that is tightly protected. That would mean having a username and password for that site. Too complicated.
At this point, I'm discouraged.

We did have a very successful reunion. Especially did the little kids have fun. The dance that Sat. night was great with Daddy's dancing with daughters, etc. I've been thinking about why the whole reuinion was so good. Probably one reason was that everyone was bedded comfortably with easy access to good bathroom. Louis's family was in their new cabin--the one they are desperate to sell at the lake. The people size was good. About 70 people. Kids about the same age, which was under 10 or 12 mostly. We all age together and had wonderful food prepared by Karen's family. They served it out of their garage, which was protected from sun, wind and rain. I think the tradition of just plane having it the same time each year is good to start. If you come, you come. If not, life goes on.
The ranch was glorious. There is a great value in having a piece of earth that holds so much family history and which is just for you.

I

2008-07-28T18:22:00.001-07:00

Sitting around visiting the other day we ran out of ideas about how to save the world and talked about mundane things like how to keep the refrigerator door closed. And I don't just mean how to keep from going to the frige to get something to eat. I mean just keeping the door closed so the cold air doesn't escape. Seems we weren't the only ones to have our new frige give us trouble. Every time we opened and closed the freezer, the refrigerator door opened a bit and sometimes stayed open a crack. Danny Tebbs said his new one did the same and he found out that it needed balancing. The front legs have a little screw thing that can be raised and lowered. Also he said that if the door was loaded with heavy things that it would close easier with a little nudge. Karen said it also helps to make sure the gasket is clean. I tried these suggestions, and sure enough, I have no more trouble finding it open a crack and electricity wasted. So....in some places there is legislation pending to outlaw high calorie, high sugar snacks where children have easy access, like in schools. I thought that was a good idea, until I remembered how kids will find a way to get to where the junk is. It makes sense to remember the best way to change behavior is "to teach correct principles and let them govern themselves." The trick is to teach in such a way that gets through that "me against you" mentality young people come with. The cigarette ads seem quite effective to get people to smoke and now days the anti smoking ads ought to be effective to get them to stop. I wish there were such ads that teach the stupidly of junk foods. Couldn't vanity be used? I mean let it be seen that the pretty, popular, smart kids eat smart. Trouble is, they don't. Like the disappointment when one finds out sometimes the kid who breaks all the rules can beat us in a race and "not be weary." The Popeye and spinach hype was a good idea. But even that little help isn't around much anymore. To get the big, long-time picture across, must take a something I haven't seen yet. A few ideas:1. DON'T HAVE "DUMB" STUFF IN THE HOUSE.2. Do have "good" stuff available and looking attractive and easy to grab.3. Plan meals so that children seldom have to use their own ingenuity to find something to eat.4. Cut out most pre-packaged foods.5. Find ways to get kids to compare what attractive popular heroes eat compared to sickly, over-weight less successful people eat.6. Reward. Now and then buy the "junk" and have a pig-trough, then compare how you feel. The day kids actually choose healthy over junk, you have won.

The value of being a trustworthy person

2008-07-26T15:45:00.000-07:00

Most of my columns I put in a separate blog. But this one I decided to put where maybe some of my family would see it. We have just gotten rid of a renter who was so untrustworthy that we felt uneasy even having her in our apartment. Her life seems to be going no where fast. It is sad. I tried to help, but her "trust account" was so over drawn that people wouldn't hire her and the trouble she was causing those close was beyond fair. So I wrote this for the paper. She probably won't see it, but it makes sense and "cents" to think of this fact of life.
The column is as follows:
I listened to an interview with a big financial adviser recently. What he said made sense and would certainly make lots of "cents" in the long run. Trust. We want to trust our financial people. The ones who are successful, the businesses that are successful, are the ones who develop consumer trust. I thought of that. It is true. Then I thought of individual lives. If a person started out with nothing and wanted to end up with something and thought it would all be a matter of circumstances beyond his control, he is wrong. He has what anyone else has, the choice about how he goes about building his bank account of trust. If from childhood he builds a reputation of honesty, of doing what he said he would, of being fair and ambitious, that reputation will open doors to opportunity all his life. Opportunities lead to money. Consequently, becoming trustworthy leads to happiness, not that money is happiness. It certainly helps, but happiness is naturally a byproduct of trust. Being able to go to bed at night without worry that you have harmed someone by your dishonesty is certainly a big factor in that state of happiness. So being trustworthy leads to money and happiness. It seems so simple. It seems to smart. I wonder why we don't teach this concept more forcefully to our children? Equate it with money and maybe it would be. It isn't that being trustworthy will necessarilay make one become a multi-millionaire or someone with no heartache. Bad things happen to good people. But the person with a reputation of being trustworthy will have a landlord who will be more patient, a boss who will save your job, a person or business who will give you credit, a spouse and children who will love and support you.
We all have access to the same priveledge of coming into a large trust account that will bless our lives. All it takes is the decisions and actions that make you a trustworthy person. It makes cents.

A fun business!

2008-07-26T09:42:00.000-07:00

Matt and Lindsey have a fun business raising yorkies. That means dogs. They have three dogs, one male and two females. Twice a year the females have three or four pups each. They sell for $1000 or more and the male gets to get a stud fee of $300. Fun way to make some extra money. Way to go Matt and Lindsey!! I have put a link to their web site under links. Check it out. Yeah, if I wasn't painting I'd tease Glen to let me get into this business. They are adoreable dogs.

Newspaper columns

2008-07-08T13:08:00.000-07:00

I think Glen and Sarah are trying to make us all wish we lived in Hawaii. They are doing this by sending those pictures and the beautiful, discriptive words. Well, good for them, expecially Glen T, who has surprised me. Thankgoodness I have been to most the places they have told about and I can imagine veryi well.
I have made another blog to put my columns on. I didn't want to clutter up this one. I doubt many will read them. I don't pay much attention to them and wonder why I keep at it. It is like having a freshman English theme each week to get out. I get free advertizing out of it. You will notice a link on this page and also a link under other people's blogs.

4th at the ranch

2008-07-06T08:51:00.000-07:00

We have been so occupied trying to solve a sticky renter problem that I didn't think of the 4th. No one is here at our house. Karen invited us to a lovely dinner and will let us horn in on their family's fun. Doug and Mary are running Doug's jack-pot roping at the arena in Panguitch. He has put it all together. He won a saddle, which made Karen wonder if he should have won the saddle he had put up as prize. He asked Kathy's two teen aged boys to come help him. What nice kids!! They helped Danny put up a little hay and they had a good experience--grandpa and boys working together and talking and working together. Glen and I know how sort-of really fun haying can be. Maybe we could "rent" the job from someone sometime. We have been racking our brains trying to think of something to do with grandkids. We draw blanks. We can't go hiking or boating because we are too old. We need help to create fun.

Today, Sunday, the day is wonderful, cool, fresh green and oh so quiet! After reading how Glen T's paradise trip on Kawaii was mared by people, I think how blessed we are to have spot of world that we can control pretty well. The camp grounds are all full, people camping in the sagebrush up and down the road and, I'm sure, some are peeking into our ranch and thinking "Boy! would I ever like to own that!!!
Brent and Kriss and family were in Circleville, as they are every 4th, having a whole lot of Dalton fun! I know they love it, and I'm glad they have such a good relationship with Kris's family. I'm trying not to feel jealous. Brent called and offered to come up for few hours, but I assured him it wasn't necessary. I understand. Usually we drive down there on the 4th.
I met a lady yesterday in gallery. Glen spotted her and for some reason figured she would be someone I would like. He was right! She is 50 has 7 kids all athletic, writes, paints, etc, etc. I thought Sarah would really click with her, as she is near same generation. She lives in Annabelle by Richfield and comes to Panguitch often with these athletic kids who are playing in one baseball game or another. I expect I have a new friend.

Coming to ranch last night a rainbow looked to be ending right over our cabin. I had no camera. It did feel like we were coming to the end of the rainbow and our pot of gold. The ranch seems so nice I regret discouraging Glen from thinking of spending time here in his simi-retirement. If he could arrange his world to spend about six weeks here in summer and then rest of time in Kauaii, what a life!!

2008-07-01T14:04:00.000-07:00

Makay Tebbs, wife and baby just dropped in to see us. Beautiful baby. It is so good to see young people making life work. He teaches guitar lessons and plays in a band and makes his own cds. I'm putting a link to his page here on my blog. One cousin more to add to this connecting web of cousins I dream about.

Glen B's response to church

2008-06-30T13:48:00.000-07:00

There are times at church and then there are other times. Sunday June 29th was one of those that warm my heart. I have always lived by the rule that, "who says your supposed to get and amazing lift every time you go to church! Just remember that the one time you miss might be that great time you'll remember for a life time.
Sunday was one of those days. The first speaker was kinda ho hum. The second speaker did a great job in showing how the PROCLAMATION could be applied in a family. But like the farmer who goes to the field with a load of hay and only a few cows come. He doesn't unload the entire load of hay; in other words she spoke way too long and lost my attention.
And then the following that left the lump in my throat. We have a family in our area who are very gifted. The Cooper family. They sing well and the genes seem to follow where the children also carry on. They sang a melody and ended with the STAR SPANGLED BANNER. The first to rize was our final speaker and ex military. Immediately, one by one, the entire congregation rose to therir feet in respect to the great country we get to call home. I kinda respond to the same stimuli in a rodeo as they parade the colors. But this was truly wonderful. Brought tears to my eyes and reminded me how blessed we are! I hope my family will experience similar sacred times in their lives

Danny's claim to fame

2008-06-23T06:05:00.000-07:00

We all would like to go to Kawaii and see Danny in his element. But the next best thing is to view him on Utube. Here's the link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r06RU1v0aY

Magic tree gone bye bye

2008-06-07T08:53:00.000-07:00

A little more traffic at the gallery. So yesterday Glen sold my latest one--"The Magic Tree". I felt a little bad seeing it go out the door. Glen was cross at me for lowering the price. I just got scared when the new gallery seemed to have better prices than I did. Of course this picture was quite big - 24x30 and in a good frame. I sold a while ago that other magic tree in blue and pink that Jamie wanted. I guess magic trees are good to paint. I better get busy.

Great Sunday experience

2008-05-26T14:31:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while a biggie comes one' s way from the pulpit. Sunday. May 24th, at the lake Craig Tebbs and Wally Lee spoke. Craig did a good job, talking about how a good example, like he had in Grandpa Tebbs, helps a person through life. Wally's talk was no holds barred. Spirit to spirit. He told how when first practicing law here in Panguitch, he thought he had to go after a friend who from all evidence had committed a crime. I don't know the details. He said that it left he and this friend not speaking for ten years. Wally felt he had not done anything wrong, that he had just been doing his job. It wasn't his fault this friend felt unjustly treated. Wally told how this thing cankered his heart and made it very hard to live in a small town where he might meet this man someplace. He knew he should do something to try to fix the situation, but just couldn't make himself do it. He, as said, felt he hadn't done anything wrong. Then he was asked to be in a bishopric and the bishop said that before he accepted he needed to go apologize to this man. He knew that was true and described how hard it was to make his feet take him to the man's house. (You know Wally, he is good with words and writing.) Anyway he did it and the man stepped out on his porch and they talked it out. He described how good it made him feel. The point of his talk was how important to not let things stay in your heart that make you feel unkindly toward anyone and that builds a pile of bitterness that only hurts you.
All of Wally's family was there at church--brother and mother. Afterwards David, his brother came up to us and was friendly. He had hurt my feelings when I was trying to help with his father's work. I thought he thought I just wasn't good enough to be involved in any way. We talked and I felt better. Then Glen had to tell Wally about how I felt. I was rather cross at him, because it hadn't been anything Wally had done at all. He wasn't involved in his father's art. Now I feel bad that it was brought up. I was living with it all right. I knew the boys were (and still are) suffering from the grief of losing their beloved father, and I hated thinking I might have caused them uncomfortableness over my offer to help. I know how it makes me feel when someone comes in the gallery with art work I just don't think is professional enough. It is awkward. And what do I really know? Maybe my style and place isn't nice enough and would harm their father's name. Sure I felt bad. This is a good example of how it is for probably most people. Sometimes something that shouldn't be such a big deal just happens to scrape off an old scab that was hiding some silly inadequate feeling from childhood. So much of the emotional baggage is tied to previous hurts. In my case, I have carried an inferior feeling from being a little tomboy who was usually dirty and grimy and hanging out with the boys and men and trying to think that "fancy" was terrible. My cousins, Wally's mother and sister, and aunts on my father's side were such ladies. I tried to act like I didn't care, but about age 12 or 13 one day after helping Dad with the marking of the lambs, one of the dirtiest jobs imaginable, but one I thought I didn't mind, I looked down at my chapped, bloody hands, then around at all that was going on and thought: "This isn't any fun." Then I had a problem. How could I get out of my reputation for being rough and tough and a nobody. I thought by age 72 I had figured it out, but just one little thing and Wham! back rushes all those feelings of being inadequate. Anyway, good ol' Wally apologized and apologized for hurting me. And it wasn't even his fault. So much of it was just what I described. I suppose I'd like to think I could have helped promote senior Wally's art. I had been told by Rick Kinatedar that a dead artist's work needs to be kept before the public or they are quickly forgotten. I thought the way we were doing things in the gallery was being successful and not all that low class. David and Joan, on the other hand, were so desirous of handling their beloved one's work in the best possible way, they were more inclined to listen to other very successful people instead of someone like me. (This fact also scraped at old hurts, as I thought how some in our Tebbs family can't trust their own ideas but have to depend on an expert.) This is the kind of thing that, if shared, could make blogs meaningful. When someone reacts in a way that seems exaggerated for the circumstances, perhaps we should wonder if it isn't because of something rearing its head from the past. Whatever, I think we and the Lee's cleared the air. I sure have a big admiration for those boys. The heartache they have endured is beyond my comprehension.

Cecily has a blog

2008-05-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

Cecily has a blog and it is build around her cat, Silas. A cat is a very good character to play life around. It reminds me of a Texas artist making lots of money with his blue dog pictures. Each one has this simple blue dog but in a way that a whole attitude or story is depicted.
Animals are always suprising us. We were happy to find the cabin free from mice when we opened this spring. But then a little chipmunk got in. We can't get him. I really don't know where the heck he is and don't see him often. I had about decided he had died or gotten out until we returned from being in Pleasant Grove this week and I pulled back my bedding to get in bed to find about six chocolate chips laying on the pillow. No sign of chipmunk or mice poo or anything. They were just laying there as if to welcome us home. Reminded me of a fancy bed and breakfast that puts a piece of chocolate on the pillow for guests. Did any of you readers sneak in and put them there? It has got to be that cute little chipmunk. I hate to set one of those big traps. but we can't hardly live with a chipmunk, can we? I guess I'll go see that new movie out about the chipmunks and see if it makes me more tolerant.

Veda's art on the web

2008-05-16T09:31:00.000-07:00

I put some of my art on two sites on web--free ones. Lots of want-a-be artists are doing that. I have only sold three prints from site, but it is a good place to store pictures and to give someone interested a peek at what I do. I am adding the site name and address to the list area. It would seem that an interested person could then find it. I'll write it here, too. www.yessy.com/vedahale

Daniel Asay Tebbs and other's History

2008-05-14T14:51:00.000-07:00

So If anyone is interested here is how to get to a page on My Family.com and into histories and pictures of the recent and long dead: Dan and Nedra have a history there. Dan's is a short version. I have the long one I'll figuer how to get on. Other good stuff is there to help anyone touch their roots.

Go to Myfamily.com
put in vedahale27 for username
veda1894 for password

Lots of stuff there. A cousin, Dan Marshall, from Uncle Cal Tebbs's line has done a long of work. As anyone can tell, Myfamily sites don't get used as they were designed. Not enough people use them. Usually you can't remember your password or username. Then once there too much is offered.

It Makes Cents column - May 15 08

2008-05-14T09:50:00.000-07:00

I was in a conversation where disagreement got rather heated. It had to do with whether the cheese with some mold on it should be thrown away. The teen in the group was for chucking the whole package. The older members thought a little mold wouldn't hurt you They were also thinking how cheese is expensive and shouldn't be wasted. So I looked on the internet for some clarification. This is what I found: "Molds are used to make certain kinds of cheeses and can be on the surface of cheese or be developed internally. Blue veined cheese such as Roquefort, blue, Gorgonzola, and Stilton are created by the introduction of P. roqueforti or Penicillium roqueforti spores. Cheeses such as Brie and Camembert have white surface molds. Other cheeses have both an internal and a surface mold. The molds used to manufacture these cheeses are safe to eat. Hard cheese (not cheese where mold is part of the processing) - If the mold is not too much, just cut it off. Cut off at least 1 inch around and below the mold spot (keep the knife out of the mold itself so it will not cross-contaminate other parts of the cheese). After trimming off the mold, re-cover the cheese in fresh wrap. Mold generally cannot penetrate deep into the product. Cheese made with mold (such as Roquefort, blue, Gorgonzola, Stilton, Brie, Camembert) - Discard soft cheeses such as Brie and Camembert if they contain molds that are not a part of the manufacturing process. If surface mold is on hard cheeses such as Gorgonzola and Stilton, cut off mold at least 1 inch around and below the mold spot and handle like hard cheese (above). Molds that are not a part of the manufacturing process can be dangerous. Soft cheese (such as cottage, cream cheese, Neufchatel, chevre, Bel Paese, etc.) - Discard. Foods with high moisture content can be contaminated below the surface. Shredded, sliced, or crumbled cheese can be contaminated by the cutting instrument. Moldy soft cheese can also have bacteria growing along with the mold. Yogurt and sour cream - Discard. Foods with high moisture content can be contaminated below the surface. Moldy foods may also have bacteria growing along with the mold." I think what I learned is to be a little more like my young friend and throw more of moldy hard cheese away and not to try to save high moisture type cheeses, like cottage cheese, when there is just mold on the top. I suppose I have been thinking of the dollar more than the possible ingesting of harmful bacteria. I likely rationalized that molds, like is in blue cheese, is good, so other molds must not be bad. Then there was that thinking that penicillin comes from molds, so maybe molds are good for me. It makes sense to leave the selection of molds to the experts who make the cheese and conclude that if they didn't put it there, it could hurt me. When I cut off mold from hard cheese, I will cut more off than I used to and will be careful not to contaminate the knife. When my mother used to make and store cheese, she rubbed the cheese blocks with butter to keep the mold from forming. That would make sense to do. It would make cents, too. IMPORTANT - People with mold allergy often are advised by their doctors to avoid eating mold-ripened cheese and restrict themselves to processed cheeses. Send suggestions to Veda Hale, Box 956 Panguitch, Utah 84759, or email vedahale@hotmail.com

2008-05-12T19:11:00.000-07:00

We had a family night with all the kids on Monday. We played capture the flag. It was fun as long as the big guys played. Little ones really got into it then. I hope it might get started as a neighborhood fun like it was on Lincoln street in Murray where we lived when Glen and Brent were pre-teens. They were the organizers and neighbors from far and wide came to play in the evening. Their version was called "Ditch". What were the rules? Maybe one of them will post them. It is so good to see kids running and active and not in front of the TV. By the way, Dr. Laura is pushing a new book. "How to raise fit kids in a fat world" Sounds like a good one. One has only to sit in front of WalMart for five minutes to know it is definitly a "fat world".

about culture

2008-05-05T06:18:00.000-07:00

We watched a TV program on educatonal channel 9 about the Hawaian Hula. I didn't know that the Hawaiians on the mainland are holding to their culture and even developing the hula further. There are hula schools and contests, sounds about like the Indians are doing with their pow-wows and dance contests. It looked so fun to be involved in such a close-net family and community thing. The hula has caught on with men in a masculine way that would appeal to guys wanting to look and strut fierce.

I so remember one of the highlights of our stay in Kauii. We lived in an apartment owned by one of the island's foremost hula teachers. We were invited to one of their family get-to-gethers and witnessed how the hula ties the family together. We also witnessed it in a rather pure form where it was so darn graceful and beautiful, we could hardly believe it.

Yes, I wish my Hawaii children could partake of the spirit of hula. I wonder if they feel a little like I do....kinda like we don't deserve to horn in on their "thing". I feel like that with he Indians. It is their territory. The whites have stolen everything else. Then, too, there is that white-man, Christian superiority attitude to get over.

The hula is a little different than the Indian pow-wows. It seems to be a little more accepting of other than pure Hawaiians. At least the way it is developing here on the mainland.

If I lived in Hawaii, I would want to partake and claim as much as I can. Even old, maybe I'd learn hula. Probably couldn't. I had a hard time being exact when I learned some tie chi. I am so much a do-my-own thing person. To learn Hawaiian words would be very hard for me. But the things they dance about seem so "cool", "beautiful", and even spiritual.

I feel awkward trying to belong in a fun way. Our Mormon culture seems rather bland to me. We are all so scared we aren't being Mormon enough. What is being Mormon enough? Temple going and work?....that is great for a quite, reflective mood. But what about the joyous life moments of celebration? About all we do is eat.

The next TV program was one on bluegrass music. Even that looked fun. Not as much as hula, however. The feeling that there was a "jug" in the background wasn't for me. But it did make me want to get up and shake a leg.
Hey! We now have a Scott in the family and he is a drummer. Once I went to a "drumming" and that looked fun as heck. Maybe we could get him to help us do a familly drumming some time. I have two big drums like Indians make. Buffalo hide and all. The time I saw it done, some ladies got up and belly danced. Now that REALLY looked fun! Whew, I can just see Jamie as a belly dancer. She would set the whole place on fire. I guess we better stick to watching Dancing with the Stars. That is Grandpa's favorite. Apparently as you get old and can't do things, the funner the doing looks. Darn!

Adrienne married and fear of old age for Veda

2008-05-01T18:14:00.000-07:00

I can remember when 1986 seemed so far away. 1986 because we owned a convertible bond that was due then. Now look.....2008.
I write this thinking of Adrienne and Scott starting out with that idea that they have so much time to make so much happen. And they do. relatively speaking.
I think of old age because I have thought while things were so slow at the gallery that I would reach out and befriend people I knew here in town who were lonely. My aunt Shirley Tebbs Henrie, Uncle Carvel's wife and a cousin on the Tebbs side. She is in her late 80's and as frail as parchment paper. But her mind is good. She offers consolation to others in the care center and worries about her health. Her kids try to be good to her, but she is determined not to curtail their lives. Her life looks bleak to me. I tried to encourage her to let me get some books on tape. Not much interest.
Then there is my first cousin, Neucile Tebbs Yardley. She has had an interesting life being the wife of Jim Yardley after his first wife died. He died last year and she is so lonely. The doctor told her she has alhimers. She was angry and disbelieving. At first I couldn't see it, but today I was much alarmed. I had thought I could interest her in painting with me some of the old red brick houses in Panguitch. She can't seem to remember or tune in to what I have in mind. She is fixated on painting on this sandstone rock she can get in Kanab and goes down there about every day. Her ex husband is in Fredona and I think she wishes he would need her and ask her to marry him again. Today, she couldn't remember what had happened this morning when she came to see me. I know her family is concerned. She is only a year older than I am.
I went to see her yesterday and we looked through her mother's old photograph album. There was a picture of her brother at the ranch in front of the old house that burned down. The first and only picture I have ever seen of it. A log cabin with an old trailer pulled up to the back. It reminded me of just how poor I lived as a child and I related to the book I just finished, The painted House by John Grishum. I saw the pictures of when Uncle Ray and Aunt Verda went to California during the war to work in the ship yard. Aunt Verda wanted to stay, but Uncle Ray was afraid he'd miss something of the assets Grandpa had and came back. I suspect Dad had had a hard time keeping things afloat while he was away making big money, but he moved over. I thought how their life could have been different if they had left Panguitch. Danny came and we tried to see if there was one family who stayed here ever made it on farms or ranches with cattle after the war. Dad and Uncle Ray did. Dad did have the Dairy Queen that mother ran. Aunt Verda worked there, too, But they mostly made it with sheep. But we could only think of very few, if any others. A few of the other Tebbs's who had that rich father who set them up. Most still here had wives that taught school or something else. Is Panguitch a dead end? The looks of main street makes me wonder. Why have I been so tied here? I wonder and wonder. I'm painting old houses now. Each has a story of a family and the drama of leaving or staying. Lots of Panguitch folks who left I know have done very well financially and other ways.

I'm grateful I've still got my husband. loneliness has got to be one of the worst things to face. I'm planning for that possible time by encouraging my family to make blogs and make them available to me. I am also struggling to make my art worth doing. I'm thinking, too, I better make friends who might be here later. But I'm also giving to others in case there is truth in that thing about casting your bread on the waters.

Glen and I give the lesson in SS and priesthood May 18. Lesson 9 on Gifts of the Spirit. Any input would be appreciated

Just read Kent's post on global warming

2008-04-27T08:55:00.000-07:00

What Kent wrote about global warming made so much sense! To me this was very valuable. First, I like thinking we have in the family a "real" scientist. Second, I thought what he said made a good deal of sense. Thirdly, I feel truely 'enlightened' by what I learned.
Of course, I like to learn. The challenge of life seems to me to be to gather as much real truth as we can, that, in deed, that is all we can take with us.
Thanks Kent. Each of us could contribute in a different way. I would like to post the lecture I gave in St. George recently. I know everyone wouldn't be interested, just as everyone wouldn't read all of Kent's post, but it would be there--like another jewel in the family's bag. (Now to try to learn how to get it in this "bag" that I envision for the family. I want lots of "stuff" from this scientific paper to Danny Hale's triple flip off a rope over a river in Hawaii. It is all welcome.)

Information from "My Family.com"

2008-04-24T12:02:00.001-07:00

I want to be able to get to the histories and pictures stored on the My family site. I don't know how to do it on the blog yet. If anyone went to My Family.com and logged in as vedahale27 and password, veda1894 maybe you would get in..

2008-04-24T11:51:00.000-07:00

My sisters and I are trying to get blogs going to keep the family connected. I'm collecting here as many as I can. Help.

glen and Veda Hale family - 2007

2008-04-22T15:54:00.000-07:00

first blog

2008-04-22T08:17:00.000-07:00

First entry. New things at our age are sometimes daunting. But what a great thing for old people to have! Think out when all else shuts down and one can't go many places how wonderful to open a page of blogs and see what loved ones are up to. so let's get it going. You will all be old one day. Connections will seem more and more important. Veda