Ruby’s top Thanksgiving music picks

I was going to write something about Christmas music when I realized I was about to do something I hate—skip Thanksgiving in a mad dash to Christmas. It’s a lot harder to find collections of Thanksgiving songs, but here’s a list of music that to me reflects gratitude and the contemplative, peaceful mood of late fall:

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Nimrod by Elgar

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (reprise) by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (the version with the orchestra and some reverent oohs).

Can’t Take it In by Imogen Heap

Banish Misfortune by Leaping Lulu

Sin Tu Amor by Andrea Bocelli

Dante’s Prayer by Loreena McKennit

Homesick Blues from An American in Paris by the Five Browns and Chris Botti

Dad’s Room by David Benoit

Mandolin Concerto by Vivaldi

I realize that many of these songs were written more than a decade or even a century ago, so if anybody has other suggestions I’m happy to see them.

 

A note from Pearl: Ruby called me the other night just as I was feeding the calves. She asked me what I like for Thanksgiving songs and I told her I didn’t know any. I mean the only song I can remember for Thanksgiving is, “Over the River and Through the Woods.” You know the one that talks about riding on a sleigh to Grandmother’s house. Where everyone goes and eats and the horse know the way. Or is that a Christmas Song? See what I mean? I think Thanksgiving is completely overlooked. Why just yesterday I noticed that Hyrum City was putting up their Christmas Decorations. Good Golly grief it was over 70 degrees and Christmas decorations. Let us know what you think.

Where is it in Cache Valley? Late October edition.

This pumpkin stand is on a busy street by Cherry River standards.

By Ruby Luke

This week’s “Where is it?” features one heckuva gardener. The garden must be out back because you can’t see the pumpkin vines from the road, but good heavens, what a harvest! Pumpkin grower, I salute you!

Interview with Monique Pepplum, Cherry River Fashionista

By Ruby Luke

I sat down with Monique, who has lived in Cherry River for 25 years but has never lost her polished city look. She’s so chic, she stands out in Logan. She even stands out in Salt Lake.

Ruby: So what do you think of the fall fashions?

Monique: If you really cared you would have asked me in August. By now, all the fall clothes have moved to the clearance rack.

Ruby:  You buy clothes off the rack?

Monique:  I didn’t say that.

Ruby: No, I’m sure you didn’t. All right, we can’t really tell people what to buy, but we can tell them how to work with the stuff they have in their closets.

Monique: Well, that’s hopeless. Take you, for instance. Where did you get that shirt? It’s enormous, and the buttons are on the wrong side.

R: A garage sale, but cut me some slack. I just fed the pigs.

M: Hopeless.

R: Well, maybe I’m not the best example, but I was on campus last week. I noticed a real retro-eighties look. Leggings, color block sweaters.

M: It’s awful.

R: Awful? 

M: The first rule of fashion is that the only retro decade is the Sixties. We’re still the largest demographic in the United States. Designers must cater to us until we’re dead, or at least until we stop spending money, and believe me, that day isn’t here yet.

R: Oh.

M: I really like your boots, by the way. Where’d you get them?

R: Walton Feed, up in Montpellier.

M: Uh-huh.

R:  You were kidding when you said you liked them?

M: Yup.

Mrs. Pepplum is wearing Dolce and Gabbana, but I suspect her shoes are from Ross.

Mrs. Luke’s shirt is from Cutter and Buck, and in its day it was a fine piece of apparel. It has “AIG” embroidered on its right cuff. It was purchased at a garage sale in Idaho Falls. How it ended up in Cherry River will be the subject of a future blog post.

Answer to “Where is it?”

By Ruby Luke

The tree moves, but it didn't catch us. This time.

Thanks, commenters, for recognizing the Riverdale, Idaho home featured in our first “Where is it in Cache Valley?” photo. We’re the new kids on the block, so we were delighted with the response!

Grandma Arda’s  is not easy to find, but it’s very rewarding for the trick-or-treaters who make the effort. The inside is chock-full of spooks, too.

Stay tuned for our next photo.

What’s the scariest movie you’ve ever seen?

Adventurine: Bambi

Ruby:  Cloverfield. I was so scared I was sick to my stomach. Or maybe it was just motion sickness from the handheld camera.

 

Adventurine to Pearl: (I wanted to post this by your comment but couldn’t figure out how to do it.) This is my response to your rant about me getting real about scary movies:

WHY DON’T YOU TELL US HOW YOU REALLY FEEL?

And yes, Adventurine is a wuss. I admire tough women like Pearl and Ruby.

Halloween Plans for the Gems

Adventurine: I think I’ll be green jello. Not sure how to pull that one off, but it could be fun trying. I heard of a great one today. The character:  white lies. You wear all white and pin little pieces of paper all over, all containing white lies.

How about you, Pearl and Ruby?

PEARL: Well Adventurine, I think I’m going to dress as myself, rent a few scary movies and turn the lights out to keep all those pesky beggars away from my door. The Sasquatch sighting also should keep them away. I left a message for Adventurine because I think she is in serious need of therapy because of her aversion to frightening tales–Bambi is a right of passage! All kids have to view it and learn right then and there that life and death are part of the PLAN. You need to know that all God’s creatures (no matter how cute Disney artists make them) end up as supper for someone or some bigger animal. Get over it. My best advice is to find a copy of Hitchcock’s “The Birds” and watch it right after you fill the bird feeders hanging from your patio beams. Make sure no one is home to comfort you while watching the movie.

Ruby: I’m spending the next week creating a fairy, a ball gown, a pumkin coach, two horses and a robot–all from duct tape and other common household items. I think I’ll go to Cherry River’s Halloween Carnival in my pajamas, and if anybody asks if that’s my costume I’ll just smile and nod.

Where in Cache Valley is it? Halloween edition

This Halloween wonderland has everything, from cemetery to X Files. It's a little out of the way, though. If you know where it is, leave us a comment.

 By Ruby Luke

Our goal is to bring you gems from all over Cache Valley: places that may not be visible from Main Street but are still worth a look. Our first one is a private yard in a very out of the way place.

Let me tell you why it’s a gem. Not only is it full of ghosts and goblins (the photos don’t come close to showing everything), it represents a family tradition that has gone on long after the kids grew up and left home. In fact, I hear a family sleepover is centered on setting the spooky stuff up. I took my youngest out to see it and she thought it was great, so we salute the family that went through so much trouble. They scare because they care.

Frankenstein's Monster dominates the front yard.

Sad day for Aggies

 

 

 Nevada 35-USU 31

After leading for the first three quarters . . . well, we didn’t win.

But, as Johnny Winters would sing, it was a bright (bright) bright sunshiny day. We were in shirtsleeves! Gorgeous Cache Valley autumn weather!

I’ll leave with these few words. Please ponder the words to this song.  If  you like, you can imagine me singing them. If you  understand the meaning, post a comment!

Show me a Scotsman who doesn’t love the thistle;

Show me an Englishman who doesn’t love the rose;

Show me a true-blooded Aggie from Utah

Who doesn’t love the spot (clap, clap) where the saaaage bruuuuush GROWS!

Ace Sports Reporter Adventurine at work

An interview with Adventurine

Pearl: I thought I’d interview one of the gems so you can get a better idea of who she is. (She fancies herself to be a bit more sophisticated than either Ruby or myself and maybe she is.) Ruby is sitting in.
How did you get your name, Adventurine?

Adventurine:  Adventurine is a blue gem. Blue is very calming. Wish I’d known that when I was raising my kids. It’s the color of the sky, the ocean, sleep (how are we supposed to know that when we’re asleep, pray tell?), and twilight. Adventurine sounds like she could be Wolverine’s girlfriend and Wolverine is hot! Plus, I’m the adventuresome type even though I won’t eat sushi. Or curry. I think the name fits me real well because I once jumped off a cliff that was about 50 or 75 feet high into an underground swimming hole in Mexico. Who else but an Adventurine would do that? Plus, I’m thinking of getting a tattoo.

Pearl: Tattoo? I hope it isn’t a butterfly. They are just so overdone. But  tell us a little more about yourself.

Now, you and Ruby are sorta country girls. I’m a city girl, myself and I live on 1/3 of an acre in the civilized town of Logan, Utah. Would it be correct to say that you’re both a little bit country and I’m a little bit rock and roll?

Ruby:  I’m more jazz, actually.

Pearl: How about let’s just leave it as we are blessed and you–well not as much, blessed certainly but I believe the truly blessed live where they can smell the sweet country air.

Adventurine: I’ve been to your place and needless to say it smelled like . . . manure.

Pearl: Like I said. Well on to another topic. What can you tell us about local sports today?

Adventurine: Here are some scores: 57-22; 31-15; 21-18. There were blowouts, rallies, bittersweet victories, big challenges, and milestones.

Oh, and Box Elder beat Logan, Mountain Crest beat Ogden, and Bonneville beat Sky View.

Aggie basketball is coming up soon and some of the starters will be Pooh, Tai, Tyler, and Jared. Jared got a bloody nose in practice the other day One nostril wouldn’t stop bleeding for half the practice and he found it difficult to breathe but “I survived. I’m a trooper.”

Pearl: Thank you Adventurine for taking time between innings, or is it quarters? Anyway thanks.

Adventurine:  Wait. I’d like to speak on a more spiritual note now and bear my testimony of Aggie Football. I know they are the one true football team on this earth.

Ruby:  I’m outta here.

Adventurine: They haven’t been doing too well lately. They’ve had trials and tribulations and budget cuts and their share of bloody noses, too, so we need to keep them in our thoughts and prayers. Especially since they play Nevada this afternoon.

Well, that’s about it for today. I’m taking my Kindle to the Aggie game. Tune in on Monday for a recap.

Cheers!

Who I am

It’s hard to describe me in a nutshell. I live alone in the small Cache Valley town of Boonville. Boonville is the kind of place where everyone knows your name and your reputation–at least they think they do. I am a convert of sorts to Mormonism and I believe in it as much as I believe in anything, apple pie, Democracy, and global warming–not necessarily in that order. My husband, Yes I had one once–a good man as men come, but he lacked stick-to-it-ness and left me for greener pastures. He died ten years ago and I haven’t heard from him since. It’s tough being a youthful widow and taking care of the farm by myself, but every once in a while the ward here in Boonville sets out to send an eligible home teacher to me. You know one who might not yet be single, but will be soon. The bishop because of his inside knowledge pushes these men my way. But if their wives don’t want them, you can be sure I won’t. One woman’s trash is not necessarily another woman’s treasure–not even Terrestial material, let along Celestial.  In other words they aren’t worth a hill of beans. None of these home teachers have worked out yet. I usually get them to muck out one of the calf stalls and then I don’t see them for six months. But I have it on good account that they report 100% home teaching because home teaching can be done vicariously now it seems–or just by saying hello in the grocery store or even including you in prayer. “And please bless Miss Pearl Button that she may find a husband . . . or a suitable substitute.” I’d just settle for a lingering handshake now and again. Enough about the self-pity.

And back to the Gems of Cache Valley. I, just like my dear friends Ruby and Adventurine find gems too. I glean them from church,  or on a walk with a friend, or even in Macey’s store–everyone whose anyone–shops at Macey’s, at least the more self-appointed pillars of the community  do, so it is a good place to learn what is most important. (Although I want Macey’s owners to know that they may fool most of the people most of the time, but they can not fool Miss Pearl Button. Their prices are higher in their new store!)  Anyway my gems are just anything wonderful that I can pass on. For instance I have it on the absolute knowledge that Sasquatch passed right by my house a couple of months ago. Now isn’t that a gem worth knowing? More of this in my next post.