8 February 2026

Here we are a week into February. Much has been going on here in The Hermitage. 

We had a “wellness” check-up this week with the nearby physician. Everything was proclaimed wonderful just before we left, however other results will be available tomorrow. Correspondent will have to check on that. 

Weathergirl has noticed that we are not in our “normal” (IF there is one!) winter weather here. We have had highs in the mid to upper 70’s with lows in the high 40’s to low 50’s. All sorts of things are happening because of this. Now she’s heard that a winter storm is on the way. Dare she say anything to Gardener???

Gardener noticed this afternoon that the iris are starting to bloom! Also the strawberries are starting to turn red. They may be ready to eat in a week or so. The orchids are blooming also! AND the snake plant she has been nursing for several years, trying desperately to keep an “easy-to-grow” plant alive, is FINALLY starting to look alive and growing. She thanks Disciple for her part in this as well.

Seamstress has been diligent in working on the next Christmas stocking. It is coming along nicely and she is more than three-quarters of the way done!

Movie Buff is off of her detention and has had to find new things to watch. We were well into watching the old Perry Mason shows, then they disappeared! We were midway through season 8, and anxiously looking forward to season 9, and BOOM! It’s gone. So, she has gone out on a limb. We’ve watched Donovan’s Reef, Hatari!, Operation Petticoat and Father Goose countless times. And yet, every time we hear, “Married?! Goody Two-Shoes and the Filthy Beast?!?!” We laugh until we cry. Old movies are wonderful! Now she has found an old series, Hogan’s Heroes, which we all remember from our youth. We used to watch it with Queen’s father. He loved watching it. She also had us watching a documentary about Castles. In it an ancestor, or two, were mentioned. That was fun. Family Historian’s ears perked up at that! Then we were watching Ancient Aliens! Another fascinating show. We’ve also watched several religious videos.

Correspondent is busy with celebratory cards, and Artist has helped with the decorating of the envelopes. Correspondent has had a pen pal in England for several years. This pen pal will be turning 92 this month. When she doesn’t hear back right away, she worries. Thankfully it has been somewhat needless. The mail is sometimes slow and she is impatient. Many of us in The Hermitage have this slight imperfection. 

Speaking of Family Historian, she has been VERY busy and dove head first down another rabbit hole. We’ve decided she loves it down there, but we aren’t sure what’s going on. She was down in the 1000’s and checking on various ancestors. We are ALL fascinated by her “finds” as she digs around. Queen is especially fascinated. King Harold II Godwinson (1022-1066) of England is her 26^th Great Grandfather. Grand Prince Vladimir II Vsevolodovich Monomakh of Kievan Russia (1053-1125) is her 25^th Great Grandfather. Jeannede Bourbon Reine de France (1338-1378) is her 16^th Great Grandmother. King Edward IV of York (1442-1483) is her 14^th Great Grandfather. King Philippe of Savoy-Carignano II (1438-1497) is her 13^th Great Grandfather. What fun.  

Speaking of royalty, Queen was very melancholy yesterday. She is better today, but it took some time. Queen loved when ALL of her children lived within 10 miles of The Hermitage. Life was just lovely and she couldn’t have been happier about this. Then one moved about 3 and a half hours away. She still isn’t over this, but tries to be happy for them. They are doing well. That should be all that matters. Now another one told her yesterday that they will be staying in Florida. To say she lost it is an understatement. She tries to be happy for them, but reality steps in and takes over. So we are leaving her alone and trying not to say anything to her about ducks leaving the pond. 

Disciple has had an incredibly busy week. She spent a little over 12 hours at the Temple on Thursday, and another five on Friday. Family Historian has her busy. She is looking forward to serving with Seamstress at the “Sisters in Service” on Thursday evening. She won’t get to be at the Temple all day, but will be doing important service projects. She is also the “Spotlight” for February. That was kind of fun.

Today while listening to the talks in Church, Disciple went down a rabbit hole. She has a tendency to do this more often than she lets on. Yes, she was engrossed in the talks, which were wonderful, but something was said, which led to something in her thoughts, and that led to something else, and off she was to the races! Over the decades Disciple has been called out on her beliefs, and much more. She insists that there is ALWAYS MORE out there. When one thinks about the last 2000 years, IF people thought there was nothing more, we would be exactly where they were then. In EVERYTHING! Science, medicine, philosophy, geography, religion, everything. Just everything. BUT there were people who thought, “This can’t be all there is!” When one thinks of all of the inventions, explorations, discoveries, etc. Disciple is thankful that she is one of those who is outside of the box. She “knows” there is more. She is prepared for more to come. AND it will come because we don’t know everything. We don’t have everything. There is more to discover. More to explore. More to invent. The search is never over. She feels sorry for those who believe we already have everything and there is nothing else. And to Laione Eteaki, you gave an amazing talk! You will be an amazing missionary in Washington D.C. North Mission speaking Spanish. Yes, you wanted Tonga, but you are right. God is putting you where He needs you. Someone is there, just like those missionaries who taught you when you were nine years old. Disciple can’t WAIT to hear about all that happens on your mission.

From ALL of us here in The Hermitage, we wish you a wonderful week. We are blessed to have you as family and friends!

 30 January 2026

 

Writer keeps thinking she will enlighten others about the on goings of those in The Hermitage, BUT time has been consumed by so many things. Some of us decided that we weren’t going to be on the phone wasting time, so time is being used more constructively.

 

“There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.”

Martin Luther King 

 

"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought."

JFK

 

Two quotes we have been pondering here at The Hermitage, and for good reason. While we ALL have our thoughts, opinions, and conscience, we have decided to act in a way that doesn’t bring conflict on many fronts. This is something we do, NOT out of cowardice, but Peacemaker has reigned several of us in, and for good reason. Some of us have, in the past, tended to become combative. In order to live peacefully, which is our complete desire, we have not entered into any form of disagreements. At least NOT worldly. Take that as you will, but please do not chastise us for working to get along and play well in the sandbox with others.

 

Baker hasn’t been too busy with anything, although there have been requests. Not sure what her problem is, but a Key Lime pie or Coconut Cream would be nice. Cookies might be nice too. She suggested Shopper buy some candy and refill the tins, which Shopper complied and the tins are full. 

 

Chef HAS been busy. Just today she made a big pot of white chili and another pot of taco soup. Everyone is excited about this and it smells wonderful! She has also grilled some egg salad sandwiches, made some beef stew, and various other things. Thankfully she has been busy.

 

Building Super has had the fire going a few times in the evenings and it is wonderful. She has even had to remove the ashes three times. She is preparing to “check” the watering system out front with Plumber. She hasn’t done it, because things have been TOO hectic, and in the event that everything blows up, she isn’t quite ready for that fiasco. 

 

Gardener and Landscaper spoke with the guy from the water company about the project across the street. They went from real grass to turf. He complimented Gardener on ALL of her plants and how more people should do that. She was shocked and appreciative. Daffodil’s, roses, rosemary, etc. are all still blooming, and many others are getting ready to bloom. It is lovely and smells wonderful. They also got the walk and scalloped edging back in place from the new sidewalk piece where the sinkhole was. 

 

Family Historian was working overtime and went WAY down the rabbit hole again! She is insane! She was back to the 600’s and 1000’s. THEN she printed off 52 ordinance cards!!! HOLY COW!!! So, Disciple not only worked her shift and was there, as usual, all day on the last two Thursdays, she also was there on Friday and Saturday for most of both days! AND got them all done, ONLY to have Family Historian do it AGAIN!!! But Disciple got them all done last night! She has implored Family Historian to dial it back a little. We’ll see how that goes. BUT she did share some of the names with others, and new friends in Rexbury have taken on the task. That’s a blessing! Disciple also went to the monthly luncheon with 21 of the sister’s she works with at the Temple on Thursdays. They went to P.F. Changs! It was fun and she dressed up. 

Artist tried her hand at watercoloring. This is not a medium she has done much in her life, but was given a cute watercolor kit for Christmas by Queen's oldest son, and thought she would give it a go. It is fun.

 

Seamstress has been VERY busy. She sewed up three of the JustServe quilt tops and took them back. Now she has been busy with felt, beaded/sequined Christmas stockings. She made them for Queen’s children over 40 years ago. Then it was “suggested” that spouses and grandchildren should have them. Hmmm… So, she started one for the oldest grandchild several years ago. It is tedious work, threading the needles isn’t easy anymore, especially the beading needle, and cutting all of the pieces out is also time consuming. Each stocking takes between 70 and 100 hours. BUT she finished the stocking for Lucas last Saturday after getting on a roll. It had been sitting for far too long. She has decided she is going to finish one a month. She started the one for Queen’s oldest granddaughter and is about a third of the way. She has figured out a new method to the madness. NOT that it is saving much time, but seems to work better. Right now she is doing a satin stitch on several candy canes. She is determined. 

 

Chauffeur doesn’t take anyone too many places. She takes Disciple to Church and The Temple, and she takes Shopper to the local marketplace. She is still having a few issues with intersections, but working on that. 

 

Organizer has some new plans for various tasks. She has been in cahoots with Gardener, Landscaper, and Building Super about removal of rocks and the design for the gardening area. They brought home 60 concrete blocks from the remodeled front yard across the street. They are like several others in The Hermitage. They can’t stand to see something still usable thrown in the trash. She also worked in the carriage house and sorted through some things! Progress is being made!

 

Banker, Financier, and Manager have been contemplating tax season. They are hoping it doesn’t turn out like last year. Time will tell. They did notice that the electric bill went up $70.00! Could the Christmas lights have done that? They checked the previous January bill and noticed that one went up almost that much last Christmas! Why didn’t they notice that before? Are the Christmas lights worth it? There will NEVER be a discussion over that! 

 

Weather Girl has been pleased with what is going on here in Vegas, as compared to the rest of the US. Night time temperatures have been in the mid 40’s, although one night it dropped to 34º. There was a freeze warning, but it didn’t drop that low. The day time temps have been in the 60’s and 70’s. THIS is the weather we would like all year. She tells us not to get too used to it, time will tell what’s going to happen next.

 

Board Member has been working over-time. She has gone to two city planning meetings for the empty building nearby. It has become a refuge for many who have made choices that have put them in a homeless situation. This has not been a great thing. She has also worked with another board member cleaning things up… WITH GLOVES… and taking care of other HOA business. The elections are next month, but her term isn’t up. 

 

Queen’s youngest had his birthday this month on the 5th. We ALL pondered where the last 43 years had gone? We discussed and thought about things that had happened, events, etc. Days seem L O N G and years go so fast. How does this happen???

 

Spread joy. Be kind. Take care of yourself. You are the only you we have.

 4 January 2026

As Disciple sat in Church today, listening to heartfelt testimonies, her mind wandered. NOT that this is uncommon. It is not. The minds of those in The Hermitage wander around in various places frequently. Half the time when someone is talking in The Hermitage, a frequent word is, “What?” This is due to the fact that everyone is wandering in their own little worlds, far from real time, thinking about projects, things that need to be addressed, or just plain pondering.

Disciple started thinking about “gifts.” Queen received a gift that was given to someone else because the youngest grandson just read the “To:” part of the tag, which read, “Mom,” but neglected to read the “From:” part, which read, “Mike.” The error was immediately corrected. 

A beautiful gift was received last week from Amazon. It caused a conundrum for about 20 minutes. No one knew WHO sent it. The weeks have been hectic, time flew on, with many other things as well. Daughter-in-law and Youngest Grandson were here, in fact, she received it from the Amazon delivery guy out at the curb when he arrived. When this beautiful gift was opened, both DIL and Queen were shocked and befuddled. Youngest Grandson, in the middle of the confusion, suggested the obvious person who sent it. Queen and DIL both adamantly said, “NO!” at the same time. Then, Queen’s phone rang, and looking at who was calling, she immediately remembered the phone call from the week before that came in all Christmas and HOA confusion, and knew who the beautiful gift was from. 

Over the years we have ALL received gifts; wedding gifts, shower gifts, birthday gifts, some from family, some from friends, some from “secret sisters,” some from admirers (secret and otherwise), white elephants and exchanges, etc. Some gifts were surprises, others for a reason. 

And so, Disciple pondered “gifts” as she sat in the Chapel. She realized that it will be four months tomorrow that The Hermitage received an unexpected “gift” and none of us has been the same since. She has discussed these thoughts with the others here at The Hermitage. 

Every day is a brand new “GIFT.” Every day that new gift is opened… Hopefully. It is rarely the same gift as the one before. This gift comes in all sizes, colors, shapes, etc. As we open each gift we may say, “WHOA!!! This isn’t mine!” “I don’t remember ordering this!” “WHO sent this?!” “This is the wrong color!” “This isn’t my size!” “I don’t need this!” “This wasn’t what I expected!” “What the heck?!” “Can I return this?” “Can I exchange this?” “Maybe I’ll give it to someone else.” “Perhaps I’ll use it at a gift exchange!” “What am I going to do with this?”

But that gift was picked for us personally by Him who knows exactly what we need and when on this journey. Each gift arrives on time and with a purpose. Each gift helps us to realize so much more than the actual gift. Sometimes, well most times, it brings other gifts. As we realize how the gift was meant for us, and ask the giver what was meant, lights go on. He will let us know exactly how to use each gift. He will answer ALL of our questions regarding each new gift. All we have to do is ask. It rarely helps to try and figure it out ourselves. He knows all things. 

So, each morning as you open your personal gift, remember who sent it and learn why. There is a reason. Hugs!