Sophie Has A Brainwave - 22

     Prattle said a few things and Tibby told her to be quiet.
     That's enough, she said.
     When they got to the bank they found that Mummy had drawn out all her money in haste for the sale and there was nothing left for their lunch.  So they had to use the money in Mummy's purse and picnic in the park.

That's Enough For Today, Children

Sophie Has A Brainwave - 21

     Now tomorrow morning, said Mother, I am going to a dress sale at a store.  You two, Tibby and Prattle may come with me and see what it's like.
     Oh thank you, Mother, said the two.  They had never been to a dress sale before.  I think we will stick with Tibby and Prattle for a while, although there were other children we haven't mentioned.
     Tibby and Prattle arose early the next day and put on their best dresses.  When they were all washed and dressed and prayed and had read their scriptures and helped their younger siblings get ready, the two of them went and stood by the door with their ponchos on, waiting eagerly for Mother.  Eventually she came, and was very pleased to see them there, standing at attention.
     Now we'll go, she said, and off they went.  Off to a store in town with a line of impatient-looking women.  I say impatient because Tibby and Prattle read their thoughts.
     For instance, one of the sale-attenders was thinking, I want to get in there and tear as many clothes off the racks as possible so I can wear them to parties for practically nothing.
     Inside, once the doors were open was a scene of mayhem.  Women were grabbing at the fancy clothes in the store.  The girls just stood and watched in disbelief.  What was more amazing was that these women all had lots of clothes at home, racks of clothes at home, because they were all wealthy women.  Tibby and Prattle thought it was funny.

To Be Continued

Sophie Has A Brainwave - 20

     Oh I love min mamma (my mother in Swedish), said Tibby.
     Goed zo, said Prattle in Dutch (meaning well done).  That was a good story.
     Well the day passed in much the same manner with the siblings speaking in foreign tongues to each other every few words until they were all tired out and went to bed after a bowl of ort soup with homemade bread, fish fillets and bread pudding. 
     Nothing like a good bowl of ort soup, said Mother.

Nothing more now, children

Sophie Has A Brainwave - 19

     Deplorable in Lithuanian, said Prattle - Apgailetinas!  I never knew people could be that bad as to stop one getting calls from a beau.

That's it for today

Sophie Has A Brainwave - 18

     One of the reasons Prattle said such a lot was that no one usually answered her.
     Tibby continued.
     The princess' calls came to the ogre's castle because the princess didn't have a lot of income so she had to live with her father sometimes, although not alltid (Swedish for always).  So she had to get a job to get out on her own so she could receive the prince's calls.  She found a job as an artist working for the Chancellor of the Exchequer and made an income and moved out on her own.  The calls from the prince came to her.  Prince Intrepid prayed for her to get a job with the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
     Did the prince and the princess get married?, asked Prattle.
     Of course, said Tibby.
     Did they live happily ever after?  asked Prattle.
     No wonder no one answers you!   said Tibby.  Look at the type of questions you ask.
     Well, did they?  asked Prattle.
     Yes, said Tibby.  And that is the end of the fairy tale.

More Next Time

Sophie Has A Brainwave - 17

     Tibby used to make up stories for her siblings.  One day she made up the following story for her sister Prattle.  As you can guess, Prattle had a lot to say.
     Once upon a time, there lived an ogre in a castle.  He had a princess for a daughter.  She was a very sweet girl, but she couldn't find a husband.  Every time a prince would come along and show some interest in marrying her, the ogre would treat him so badly that he would run away.  
     One day along came Prince Intrepid.  He was no ordinary prince.  Which was just as well with all the opposition.
     Are you sure this has a happy ending?, asked Prattle.  It does seem rather frightening.
     Prince Intrepid placed a call to the ogre's castle on his cell phone, hoping to catch the princess home.  The princess was home, but the ogre her father pretended she was out.  For the fifth time that week.
     Oh no, said Prattle.  Can't we have a kind story?
     The ogre said the princess didn't like Prince Intrepid, (which wasn't true) and that Prince Intrepid should go away.

To Be Continued

Sophie Has A Brainwave - 16

     The twins expected the finest of everything and were always tinkering with their toys.  They expected such high quality they almost drove their mother crazy.  But then the twins grew up to be cello manufacturers.

That's All For Today, Children!

Sophie Has A Brainwave - 15

     Lipstick was always getting into Mummy's lipstick.
     Look at me - I'm Mummy!  Lipstick would way with her moth smeared with the stuff.
     Her real name was Lucy.  Lucy died young unfortunately, children.  She was climbing to see how high she could get on the roof and she fell off a ladder and hit her head so hard that it killed her.  She would have been a researcher or something like that if she had lived to grow up, as she liked trying things out.

To Be Continued

Sophie Has A Brainwave - 14

     Arnold was the next child.  He was a brainwave child himself.  He was always thinking of bright ideas.  A bit wild, but bright.  He made a lemonade stand that went over well at age six.  That kind of thing. 
     One day his mother left some money on the bed.  He thought he would furnish himself with some money towards his mission.  So he picked it up and left the room without so much as a "by your leave".
Well, Mother found out her money was missing and she wanted it.  She wanted to go and buy a loaf of vanilla fudge ice cream, not just for herself but for everyone, and she couldn't find it anywhere.
     I was so sure I left it here on the bed, but it's gone, she said.  Tuppletime, have you seen it?
     Arnold took it, said Tuppletime.
     Oh, said Mother and asked him for it back.  She explained to him that he could earn the money.  And so the tale of the lemonade stand.

To Be Continued

What We Do Every Six Months

     Every six months, the Prophet speaks to the members of the Mormon Church and so do his emissaries in talks in General Conference.

Sophie Has A Brainwave - 13

     Well, incase you were wondering whom the beleagered next child was, it was Samantha.  Some people get heaps of criticism in their lives, like poor Samantha did, and don't know what to do about it.  There is a choice.  Some of them give back the criticism unfortunately and others of them don't.  Samantha was completely flabbergasted by how much criticism she received at first, but she held her tongue.  Mother stepped in and told Merrilee to stop and things got better for Samantha. 
      Samantha bragged though.  She thought she was the good one and bragged about it. 

To Be Continued

Sophie Has A Brainwave - 12

      The next child was called Merrilee because she was always merrily singing.  Merrilee was a harpist.  She was always harping on about the faults of the next child.  She was kind when Mother taught her though, and you should teach your brothers and sisters to be kind.  She had a good quality I'd like to mention, she always gave away her snacks when the next child didn't have any and the next child always did because Merrilee gave it away.
     This was her rhyme:

My name is Merrilee,
Not Taralee.
I live with a bee
Under a tree. 

     She would repeat this to herself when no one was watching while she was eating her bread and honey.  The next child would come along, and Merrilee would remove the crust from her own mouth and put it down (she always ate crusts) and sing for her the verse:

I'll make you a treat
Just for you to eat
And you'll be my friend
Until the end.

     Then she would butter a slice of bread for the next child and spread it with honey and  pass it to her.  Wasn't that nice?  (Otherwise she would just eat it herself, if no one came by.)  

To Be Continued

Sophie Has A Brainwave - 11

     Amanda got a slipped disc and spent the rest of the summer in the hammock.  Everyone said it served her right.
     Oh please, she cried, don't say such a thing.  Otherwise I'm going to spend the winter there, too.
     Alright, we didn't mean it, they said.

Time For A Break, Folks!

The Bard Of Abbotsford, (British Columbia, Canada)

     Well, children, the bard of Abbotsford, yours truly, was taking a bath today and she thought she'd take a day off.  I hope that's alright with you.  Happy Victoria Day!
P.S.  A bard is a Welsh poet from the dark ages with a long white beard.

Sophie Has A Brainwave - 10

     Sophie's next sister was named Amanda.  She liked bright sunshiny days and living outside - in the hammock.  She played her music on a flute.  Nobody could catch up to her in the mornings, as she was up early and out in the garden, with a stack of books to read.
     Marshall was the next child.  He was very tired all the time because he stayed up too late.
     I can't wait to go to bed at night, said Mother.  Can't understand it, she muttered, why won't he go to bed.  I read to him, sing to him, and he still gets up.  Oh well, I guess he'll grow out of it.  One day he'll most likely be grateful to go to bed like me. 

To Be Continued

Sophie Has A Brainwave - 9

     Martha had ideas coming out of her head by the zillions but no one wanted to hear them except for Mother, because Mother loved her and was kind.  She also recognized what a good person Martha was, as are all children.  Only false teachings make them prideful.
     Mother, said Martha, jumping up and down as she spoke, I think we should move to Wisconsin.
     Why dear?  asked Mother Adams.
     Because I've never been there before.  I love you Mother, said Martha skipping off.
     Martha you have holes in your socks, said Mother.
     God loved her and Mother even loved her with holes in her socks.

To Be Continued

Sophie Has A Brainwave - 8

     All the children of Mother Adams were good children and they were all loved.  Now let's go on to the next one.
      Sophie's lookalike Martha had her hair up in a curl on the middle of her head.  She used to dance about when Mother was trying to speak to her, and not calm down until she was told to you think, but no Mother didn't tell her to calm down.  She liked her like that.
      Martha is the zippy one, said her mother, adding, I wish I had that much zip.

More Next Time

Sophie Has A Brainwave - 7

     Tuppletime took the last of the pudding out of the bowl when it was finished, using his finger.  He ran for the bucket to help his sister Leyenda wash the paving stones and helped her, but afterwards said he liked the moss, it was so pretty.
     And now we come to Lucinda.  Lucinda liked to sit in the living room with Grandma and play with dolls, that's what Lucinda liked to do.  She had a paper doll book and a teddy that played music when you squeezed it in a hug.  Lucinda placed love notes for her family under their pillows and read books to her younger brothers and sisters.  She read them the scripture stories.  God liked that.

More Later

Sophie Has A Brainwave - 6

     When Leyenda did what was right, everyone was happy.  When she cleaned the paving stones outside their house, so that no moss was on them, nobody slipped over.  When she fixed the hem of her sister's dress, Lucinda could wear it to a party.  When she powerwashed the house, Daddy didn't have to work so hard. 
     You may wonder, did she ever do kind things for herself, because we must be kind to ourselves too, children.  No, she wasn't very kind to herself.  But she tried.  She put hand cream on her hands when they were sore.  That's a kind thing.  Other than that she wasn't very kind to herself.  Know what I mean?
     So we will try to see what we can do to make her kind to herself in the story, because that would be a good ending to the story, don't you think?

     Tuppletime was the next child.  He was a good boy, always doing what was right you think.  No, he was a funny boy, but a good boy.

More Next Time

Sophie Has A Brainwave - 5

     The beginning part of this story came to me in a dream in quite some detail, but this part I just came up with.
     I want to introduce you to Sophie's brothers and sisters.
     The first one was a girl, called Leyenda, which is Spanish for legend.  Leyenda was the sort of child who, seeing a bowl of pudding ready for supper, or a birthday cake sitting on the table, feels impelled to stick her finger in the pudding and lick it off, or break off a piece of the birthday cake.  Everyone says, "Oh, Leyenda!" in a peeved sort of way, and she laughs it off.
     Well, one day she took the whole birthday cake, because it tasted so good, and then poor Tuppletime didn't have any birthday cake and they had to have ice cream without it.  But Tuppletime got his cake the next year, so not to worry.

To Be Continued

Sophie Has A Brainwave - 4

     They went to Zambia for their music lesson and learned drumming.  They spent the day there and did basketweaving.  They met new friends and had a happy time.  Afterwards, Sophie and Ansel returned home and had supper of Nshima, a  Zambian corn dish, which they ate with meat and sauce.

Next time, there'll be more

Sophie Has A Brainwave - 3

     So Mother Adams and Sophie took turns telling jokes while standing on a table in the inn for money until they had collected all the money they needed to pay for their visit and a little extra.  They paid their tithing of course.
     When they all reached home Sophie was married or sealed with the really handsome and funny Egbert in the Temple so they could be together forever.  They were so happy.
     The crooks were caught.
     Sophie and Egbert named the foundling Ansel and adopted him forthwith.  Everyone played the Orange Game at a party for Ansel, you know the game where you stand in a line and pass an orange from chin to chin, under your chin and try to keep it from falling onto the floor.
     Soon it came time for Ansel's first lesson and to teach him to write, Sophie arranged a special activity.  They time-travelled back to the time of King Alfonso The Wise of Castile, Leon and Galicia to meet him and his court.  He showed them all the poetry he had written and he taught Ansel how to write.
     They travelled back through time, just in time to make it to Sophie's appointment with the naturopathic doctor about her sore toe.  The naturopathic doctor told them to dance to get over it, as it needed more exercise.
     So as soon as they reached home, Sophie and Ansel danced a dance together, in which Ansel danced out a complicated riddle, and Sophie danced the answer with her sore toe.  After that they had scones and jam and peppermint herb tea and followed it up with another dance where they danced that they were riding horses and stamped out the rhythm of the horses' hooves.

To Be Continued

    

Sophie Has A Brainwave - 2

     Now for those of you who are wondering why a Swedish word suddenly popped into my head, I was raised with a number of different languages, so one might appear suddenly in the text.  I will try not to let it occurre, I mean happen, too often so you will not get confused and I will always explain it so you will understand.  Now where was I...oh, yes, nineteen children and Mother Adams and a newborn foundling were all going to ride on a buggy.  How could that happen you ask?  How could any buggy be big enough?  It was a double-decker buggy, like those double-decker buses in London, England.  It was even red.
     So there was room for the foundling on the buggy and off they went, around the corner of the driveway where hundreds of gypsies greeted them, dancing and singing and with various musical instruments playing.  Sophie laughed because she was having so much fun. 
      They rounded the next corner and people on rooftops stopped what they were doing to come and play for them.  These were different people than the gypsies, and they were wonderful too.
     What a day we're having, said Sophie.
      They rode for a while, until the horses were hungry and thirsty and tired and then they stopped at an inn to feed and give the horses some rest.
     Inside the inn, two crooks took their money and so Mother Adams had no money to pay for their stay.  With nineteen children to feed, that was quite a burden and so they prayed to God to help them.

To Be Continued

Another Serialized Story - Sophie Has A Brainwave - 1

     Mother Adams and older daughter Sophie, a grown-up, are staying at a relative's estate from the other side of the family, while they attend a home schooling convention.  It is during a recession.  Sophie will soon marry a well-to-do gentleman.  Mother Adams has a large family, including twins, all the children being with her at this time, nineteen children.
     Mother Adams and Sophie attend the homeschooling convention together and marvel at the beautiful books.  So many people can't even get work but here they are able to afford beautiful books for the children, marvels Mother Adams.  People out of work were told by some to go back to school and study during the recession but they said they couldn't afford tuition.  Sophie looks forward to when she will be married and one day be a mother and can homeschool her future offspring.
     She looks at copies of Peter Pan and a book about the life of author Mark Twain.  She likes the illustrations of one of the versions of Peter Pan, but finds the other Peter ugly and thinks the children won't like reading the ugly one. 
     They go home to the estate by four horses and buggy, because horses are in fashion igen (sorry, a Swedish word, I quite ran away with myself) I mean again, because the price of fuel was so high.
They reach the relative's home and settle down for the night.  The twins wake them up in the night - they are all twisted up in their bed sheets and were crying.  Mother Adams and Sophie set them to rights. 
     Early next morning, before it is light, they pack everyone up and drive home to their house in the horses and buggy and see all the assortment of tall weeds growing up on the road from disuse.
     What a curious, idle place this is, muttered Mother Adams.
     Yes, said Sophie.
     Suddenly they heard something in the underbrush, a cry.
     What's that?  asked Mother Adams.
     A baby, said Sophie.  Someone had left a baby in a basket at the side of the road on the cousin Adams' estate hoping someone would come by and rescue it.
     Let's adopt it, said Sophie.
     I'd like to adopt it, but I have enough children, said Mother Adams sweetly.  Why don't you adopt it when you're married?

To Be Continued

Modesty

     I have been cleaning out my closet and chest of drawers.  Time to make room for clothes that fit me better is not the only reason.  Some things were simply not needed.  They had been there for some time and were not being used.  It felt strange to get rid of them, but now that they're gone, I feel much better.  I went out and bought a $4 sister-missionary-type black and white checkered dress at the thrift store which pleased me greatly as it fit my goal of dressing more simply.  It was modest, long enough (a problem finding clothes in the past as I am somewhat tall) and went with what I had.  A find.
     Now I am looking for plain tshirts (I saw some at Michaels), long modest plain dresses  or jumpers and shoes which are comfortable to walk in.  I'd like to get my hair cut, all one length, also.

Moccasins again

     I tried to make moccasins again, so I could be with Pocahontas some more maybe, but the laces were too short and the pattern had changed.

An Allusion To Tim Horton's - Everyone needs a joke today

     Woman to Man:  "Why don't you go to Tim Horton's for a donut?  Maybe you'll give birth to a baby there too!"
     Man to Woman:  "No, I don't want to have a baby.  I think I'll go home via McDonalds."


Inside Joke
     Man To Woman:  "When are you going to give out another pie?"
     Woman To Man:  "I wasn't going to.  Did you want one?"
     Man:  "No.  I was just wondering are you going to give one to him?"
     Woman:  "No, he doesn't want one either because it tasted so awful."

Ties That Get Swiped From Brothers
     Young Man:  "My brother swiped my tie."
    Mummy:  "What did you do to deserve that?"
    Young Man:  "Nothing, but he said I'm mean so he took it."

The Panache Prison
     Old Person:  "I've got panache and you'll want some too because it doesn't do to be without it when you're an old person."
    Middle-Aged Person:  (Prays) "God, Please help me have panache." 
     God:  "Shazam!  Off you go to a mental asylum.  That's the kind of panache you're going to get.  Do all you can to stay well there and I'll let you out! 
     Poor Person In Mental Asylum:  "I can't believe I'm in here."
     Voice:  "I can."
     Poor Person In Mental Asylum:  "Who's that?"
     Voice:  "God.  Remember that prayer?"
     Poor Person:  "Oh, no - that prayer got me in here?"
     God:  "Be careful what you pray for."

Elders Win
     Elders:  "Deck the halls with boughs of holly!"
     "Thank you for singing," said a voice.  "I'd throw you a coin but I haven't any left."
     Elders:  "We don't need coins, just love."
     Voice:  "Then I'll invite you in for cocoa."
     Elders:  "Thank you."  (They go in.)
     Elders:  "May we sit down please."
     Man:  "Sure.  Sit here."
     Elders:  "We haven't anywhere to sit, but on the floor.  Is that right?"
     Man:  "Sure."
     Elders:  "It hurts to sit.  Are there nails on the floor?"
     Man:  "No, candles.  Oh, shall I blow them out?"
     Elders:  "Yes, please.  Ah, now we can see again."
     (Now you know what the elders are up against.  They never know what to expect.)
     Elders:  "Would you like to be baptized?"
     Man:  "Sure.  What does baptized mean?"
     Elders:  "I'm not sure we have time to tell you.  The house is on fire."
     (The Second Coming is coming shortly folks.  Be ready.)
     Man:  "Thanks elders.  I think I'll be baptized."
     (They baptize him.)
     Elders:  "Now go and tell your friends."

Can you see the kitty hiding in the grass?

      I saw a lovely sight today - a cat was outside my window.  I walked outside to photograph it, and it hid in the grass.  Can you see it?

Paul's Birthday Dinner

     Last night we celebrated another family birthday.  My son Paul wanted tubers for his birthday dinner so set about peeling great amounts of potatoes and yams and my daughter kindly bought him pizzas to go with them.  Afterwards we watched movies, sang a hymn and read from the scriptures, the Book of Mormon together.  Happy Birthday Paul!

Caring For Sick Ole Grandma by Joanne Okano

My 50th Birthday Sarah Party

     I am part Dutch and will have a Dutch traditional Sarah Party for my 50th birthday.  My family will come over and we will have a Sarah cake and they will read poems they have written to celebrate my birthday.  If you are a man in Holland you get an Abraham Party when you are fifty and if you are a woman, you get a Sarah Party, named after Abraham and Sarah in the Bible.  People say that on your 50th birthday you have gained wisdom because you have so much life experience.  I remember my Dad having an Abraham Party when he reached 50.  An Abraham or Sarah cake is a large spice and almond cake shaped like Abraham or Sarah.

 This is a Sarah cake.

Made by Shoshana and Brigham Okano.

Songwords Of Birds And Planes (2 of 3) by Joanne Morris Okano

It's Going To Be A Great Year!

     Tomorrow is my fiftieth birthday.  I am looking forward to it.  I spent my morning baking apple tarte tatin and pretzels and listening to the requests on Music That Rocked Your World, one of which was mine.

The Lookout Tree by Joanne Okano

     Once upon a time there was a lookout tree.  It was called the lookout tree because it looked out over a fence at the people going by in their cars on the road.  It was a little tree.  It had a knot in it which looked like it was smiling at you as you walked by the fence.  The owner had made a little dip in the fence just below the knot so the tree could see out over the top of the fence.
     It listened to the sound of the traffic all day, and the breeze blew its branches.  That is all I wanted to say about the lookout tree.  Goodbye.

The Nightmarish Green Dress by Joanne Okano

A little girl went to a store
With her mother.
Which dress would you like,
Asked the mother.
The cool stripey one,
Replied her daughter with glee, please Mum!
Oh, don't you like the green one,
Said her mother, it's such a nice colour.
The little girl tried on the green dress
To please her mother.
It was such a nightmarish colour.
And it made her look fat.
Her mother bought her the dress,
Plus some shoes that made her look
Like King Henry the Eighth.
Oh dear. 

How To Get Back Your Lifestyle After You Have A Downfall

     If you feel like life has hit you on the head and then some, and you have trouble regaining your balance, here are a few tips you may find helpful:

Read scriptures
Pray
Meditate (listen to God)
Go to church
Stay out of debt, except for a house or an education
Use your talents
Treat your spouse and children the best you can
Do something kind for someone else
Listen to good music
Read a good book
Go to the library
Give something away that you don't need
Eat healthy food
Believe in yourself
Believe in miracles
Do something good
Declutter
Give to the needy if you can
 Take your spouse on a date
 Take your children on a date (take them to do something fun)
Draw a picture of how you feel
Make a collage
Sing
Be a good listener
Be a good friend
Clean your house
Pray for someone you know who needs help
Look after yourself when you get sick
Spend time with supportive family members
Have a family dinner
Do something you were good at as a child
Walk, run, exercise
Get a clean slate with the Lord
Write a poem
Women: paint your nails
Speak positively about yourself and others
Live a clean lifestyle
Wear your favourite clothes to the store
Write to a friend
Have a good posture
Be good to yourself
Spend time playing with your children
Pray for help with your self-esteem
Develop a talent
Visit a friend
Visit the sick
Pick out new clothes at the thrift store
Make new clothes
Write your memoirs
Take a class
Improve your skills
Save lives
Take little tiny steps at first
Mourn, if a loved one has passed away
Take care of expenses
Don't wean your baby abruptly
Do something special you've always wanted to do
Get enough sleep
Go to an art gallery or museum and be uplifted!
Listen to the Prophet