Dreams come true

What a fun Sunday we had with the family (minus Roy, miss you, can't wait for Christmas to see you again). All who could come, came. Ashley & Shane rolled out the special Grandma Ina Pitcher Christmas butter cookie dough and got them all baked and ready for us to decorate later. Most of dinner was ready but I sure was glad that Jamie helped and made a delicious salad. They were having so much fun I had to cajole them a few times, then we all headed to the dinner table. Good food and good fun conversation.

We did have our newest member of the family come too, Maci Elizabeth just slept through all the noise and clatter. She is such an angel, when she did wake up, no fussin' for her, just eating and a very polite burp. We all got to see her eyes and see what a gentle spirit she has. Just beauty, as Brent says.

After dinner we did the family tradition of all the family helping us with the old eclectic tree decorating. Makayla and Keagan did lots of ornaments and Kaiden decided to help when he saw the candy canes horses. His eyes lit up and off he went. All so cute. But Emmalee doesn't quite have it down yet, she likes to take them off the tree. It was all so cute and I got to just hold Maci and just watch it all with great joy. It was like watching some of my dreams come true.

We had a nifty pink cake to celebrate Tommy's birthday this week on the 17th. He loves that pink strawberry swirl icing. We all got pretty stuffed with ice cream and cake. I was glad my little boy could still blow out all those candles..., but he did need some help from a few little ones to really get all of them out! I am sure he was grateful for their help.

The next morning when we had our breakfast and said our prayer, we remembered our loving parents that are gone. I know they were happy to see many of our family traditions living on. We were both so very lucky to have had the best parents, who showed us the 'way' and left our hearts so full. I am also sure that some of their dreams came true watching us all being so happy.

Maci Elizabeth

WOW, the little beauty finally showed up on December 1, 2009, all 21" and 8 lbs. 9 oz. of her. Ashley was a trooper and had her naturally, took a lot of hard work, but well worth it.

She is just so calm, like she has my Mom's temperance, she wakes up and just looks around and I don't think I have ever heard her cry. As Ashley says, she has the most feminine little cry, she is so sweet.

We were lucky to watch her big sister and big 'brudders' during that time. Lots of fun and good loving for Grandpa and Grandma. They are so good.

Justin couldn't be more proud of Maci Elizabeth, as well he should be. A wonderful time in a families life together. And did I say she is beautiful?

Me, I got the best honor of all, they added my middle name, my Mom's middle name, and my great grandmother's name and so on up the family tree to her already beautiful name. It took my breathe away when they told me. This is so special, I never ever dreamed or even thought of it. WOW! what a great couple of days.

Another one of those 'Best' days in my life.
Family is the best!

Fun Cruise

What a way to start out our November, a fun and memorable cruise from Miami to Costa Maya, Belize, Cozumel and the Grand Caymans. Good times with Brent and making new friends.

Being chased by hurricane IDA was better than you think. It was our first time with a balcony and I loved it! Watching the ship crash through all those tall waves and then seeing them skitter for 50 to 100 yards out into the sea, just like BIG breakers crashing on the ocean's shore.

This time we got to go and see Tulum from Playa Del Carmen, beautiful views and very interesting. But take you bug spray if it rains, nasty little black flies that suck your blood dry...maybe appropriate as we left home on Halloween.

It is always good to get away. We love to go cruising and seeing the world.

Footsteps in the Frost

Today we lost a dear, longtime friend that was born in our bedroom closet, the runt of the litter, all white and the softest fur, with a funny little "meow", our little 'Sweetie'. We almost lost her way back then and had to help her mommy kitty, Izzy to nurse and keep her warm. She had a dear brother named 'Flop', a beautiful silver blue gray cat with a charming personality. We lost him early in his life, but will always be remembered by many and is greeting our little Sweetie, now.

We knew she was in her last hours and we laid by her, cooing and telling her we loved her. We had her gently wrapped in a little pink bath towel to keep her warm, she was always cold. You could find her in any sunny patch in the house and in winter sitting on a heater vent or on our deck or gardens basking in the sun. She was a sunshine lover. Really a sweet, cute kitty. She loved to be held and petted. At night before Brent would come to bed, I would put my arm and hand out on the blankie and she would just gently place herself just right, her head in my hand, night after night. It was soothing to me and to her as you could hear her purring loudly. She was our social cat, she would come out to say hello to whomever dropped by, whether they like it or not.

One cute story was about how she would stretch from a sitting position to some one sitting in a chair to place her paws on your leg or lap. Justin's wife, Ashley does not like pets very much and at one of our Sunday Dinner's Sweetie came up and did this to her back of her chair and she exclaims "The cat is attacking me". Not very fun for Ashley, but we all hooted. From that point on she became our 'attack cat'. I even found a sign that I use on Halloween that says, "Beware of Attack Cat". Pretty funny.

She earned her name because she was the sweetest kitty. She would proudly bring in a grasshopper, a bird or a mouse she had caught for us as a present. She always had a funny look on her face when we would whisk away her present and toy. I guess we we not very grateful.

She got hit by a car when we lived in Riverton, we thought we would lose her. She had this big ginormous abrasion on the top of all of her head, at the least, we thought she would never have fur on her head again. Lucky for us she survived and even had plenty of healthy fur between her eyes and ears. But she did always prefer you petted her there and it must have always needed a good scratch because that is where she loved it. She would bop or nudge your hand with her head to remind you you needed to be paying attention to her.

As I said earlier, we knew her time was short with us and so first Brent soothed her and then I stayed up and did the same and thought of the joy our little runt had given us. I made Brent go to bed and after a few hours and I went also leaving her swaddled and warm and hearing her belabored hoarse meow. I don't know when she passed, but early the next morning Brent came in and said, "We need to say good-bye to Sweetie.". She was gone.

I got dressed and looked out on the back yard, there were foot steps in the frost in the grass to way in the back of our yard, a man and his dog. Quite a thought provoking sight. He had been out early with Rocky and dug a special place for her. It is so amazing how much love you can have for a little critter. We carried her out in the pretty pink towel, funny papers and lovingly laid her to rest, Brent, one handful at a time. We said some loving words. I'll be glad to see her in heaven.

As I looked at the footsteps in the frost again from my cozy, warm window; mine with Brent and Rocky's, I thought just how hard it would have been to be one of our Pioneer ancestors. To have trudged over the plains and to have left a darling little baby, a little son or daughter, mother or father, sister or brother in the cold hard prairie. That would have added to their heart broken sorrow. I don' think I could have ever been as strong or have the courage to walk that frosty path. I appreciate and love my ancestors challenges, faith and courage.

Bye bye for now, our sweetest little white kitty.

Rude People and Concerts and ranting!

We went to a concert last weekend at the Usana Amphitheater and I am so surprised that one woman could be so selfish or so much the exhibitionist, dancing and writhing. It was a fun concert and we all get up sometime to sway or dance with the music, but we also sit down. I get it, I love music and rhythm, but could never be so self-centered as to do such a thing, and I don't think many people could or would.

We had this one 40'ish, auburn dyed haired, plumpish woman that would just not sit down, not even for a moment of the entire show! We all paid the same high price for our good seats and the people directly in back of her never saw the show. Nor did a lot of others from the enlarging "V" that naturally formed behind her, maybe it was a control issue to this woman. She knew she was being inconsiderate, she just didn't care about anyone but herself. Her companion got up and left for part of the show, he needed more beer and probably didn't like the negativity she was creating.

We finally left and found seats higher up and enjoyed the rest of the show. Loved all of it, that we saw. Maybe there should be some kind of written concert etiquette or a ticket you could give to someone like her.

Trace Adkins (loved his tight black T-shirt), Toby Keith and the other leader group were fun to listen to, I just wish I have been able to see more of the show.

"Should Public Schools make their students say the Pledge of Allegiance?"

This was a poll on facebook and I responded 'Yes'.

It sure didn't hurt us. I think it is important to openly show our loyalty, be patriotic and to acknowledge the respect to and for our country. We should regularly ponder upon all the sacrifices that have been made for us and all the freedoms we have.

Each game I attend, with the singing of our National Anthem, it also reminds me how grateful and appreciative I should be.

It also makes me think of my Dad and his proud service in the Army, of those many years taken out of his life, that he gave for me and you. The openly pledging my allegiance to freedom's symbol is the least I can do. I want my kids and grandkids to understand how blessed we are. I want to be that example of patriotism, so we may never forget.

Love Small Town America

This weekend, last Saturday, Brent decided we needed to go to a rodeo. He found one up in Heber, the Mountain Valley Stampede and so on-line we get and purchase the tickets. Now, we head up to Heber via the Provo Canyon route and are amazed at all the people, people, hundreds driving up and down the canyon. Millions tubing the river like we used to do. Trillions boating on Deer Creek! Can't blame all of us who live in the heat to head out to get cool and have some fun!
It is always a beautiful site to see the view of the backside of Timp.

We arrive into the Heber Valley, past the airport (great memories) and look for the Rodeo Arena, but what? We see the gatherings of a parade about to start! Brent is in heaven, a rodeo and a parade? We purchase some pink camp chairs at Smiths and try to head back to the big old red sandstone building to find some grass and shade. We are lucky and only have to walk 2 blocks and park ourselves under a big tree! Oh heaven!

We are right by the announcers booth and can hear them tell their jokes and announce who is in the parade and even who's having a birthday. Lots of kids, a band, dancing groups, bagpipes and all that goes with a small town fun atmosphere. There were many old cars and the usual hot air balloons were there in force (the politicians). The best group were the men who dressed as vibrant hussies and driving bikes, the ones usually topped with lots of leather and black. Loved it!

After the parade we head down to the Rodeo grounds and visit the booths and carnival. It's close to time to head over and get our assigned seats at the rodeo.

A Navajo taco and a diet coke and we are happy for hours watching this PRCA rodeo. Lots of fun, beautiful horses, scary and intense rides, great local clown from Payson and fun with the kids stick races and the loonies doing the hide rides! We even saw Louis Fields! There were great people all around us, all having a great experience.

When it is all done, even the bulls, we get a fireworks display and was it ever grand! Loved it all.

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE BEING A PART OF A SMALL TOWN PARTY IN AMERICA!

Flying!

We went flying, not just as passengers, but as the pilots! What a great Christmas present and a memory that will last forever.

We go early on a Saturday morning and sit and wait for the pilot to show up. The waiting just adds to the anticipation of the next few hours. Then the pilot comes and greets us and he is young, like 30! He is going to help us fly a Cessna 4-seater? He is the one going to take up, up in the air? No training? He acts like he knows what he is doing, seems confidant, looks capable, but he is just a kid! He doesn't even have on the old leather cap and no goggles! Should we trust him? Yep, and away we go like deer looking into headlights just before the inevitable crash!

It takes 15 minutes to check out the airplane for the normal pre-flight check and to put on the radio headsets. Then into the plane we get. Me in the backseat and Brent and the pilot in the front. He talks to the tower, and I sure can't understand between all the static, but he says we are ready to taxi and take off.

Like little kids, with tons of trust, we start down the runway. Then off into the wild blue yonder!

He does the take-off (OF COURSE), then says to Brent, just keep it east of I-15 and takes his hands of the controls, all of the controls! Now our life is in Brent's untrained hands! Faster and faster we go, higher and higher we go and we haven't crashed so far..... Then down to Corner canyon and over the Draper Temple, over the mountains. Then Brent tells the pilot about the 1968 Devil's Brigade Movie and shows him the road and rocky outcrop from that movie as we fly up and over it... This is getting so cool and I forgot the camera!

Up and over the east side of Utah Valley and then turning up the Provo Canyon. I have been on that little road down there so many times for so many years, but we are up here, seeing the places that I only had dreamed about climbing! It is so beautiful and green. My canyon, the mountains of my heart and childhood. What a trip and getting better as we fly over Bridal Veil Falls, they are rebuilding the restaurant at the top, so very cool!

Then up the canyon, past Vivian, past the Sundance turnoff, past and over Deer Creek! Getting close to Heber and he says "They don't have a tower here, so it is up to the pilots to keep in contact to let each other know where they are and to take turns if they are landing or taking off." Sure that staticy, noisy radio, that I am still not understanding, hoping he can understand their sqwaking! He lands the plane (OF COURSE) in Heber.

What me take the controls? I still haven't figured out how to get out of this heap of metal! Okay, so I do and then Brent is in the back seat and I am in the front. I cannot see over the dashboard with all those controls! How am I supposed to fly this crate? I cannot see! I need a booster seat and wooden blocks on my feet to touch the pedals! He takes off (OF COURSE) and we are air bound again, he gives me the controls!

I am TERRIFIED; I am going to be the one who kills us all! And then there is all those other airplanes in the sky, just waiting to crash into us, who knows where they are? I can't see them, but we hear all the radio noises and what altitude they are on and so we need to climb to not hit them! Sure easy for you to do that, I had to climb and I still cannot see! Up over the lake and into Kamas, too scared to take my eyes off the controls, then little by little it gets to be fun! It is just a small margin, like a 1/4" on the control to take the nose up or down, hard to keep it level, but this is pretty cool!

I start to look out of the side window and just fly! You get relaxed and the plane flies even and where ever you want to go! Up or down, left or right, such freedom! So beautiful, our world! No troubles, over another lake then heading towards Park City and down Emigration Canyon. What? He says he needs to take the controls as we are heading into Salt Lake airspace? Why, now? This is fun and I am just getting the hang of it. Oh well, all trips must end!

What a fun and thrilling time. Truly expansive for the mind, body and soul!
Thanks Tommy and Jamie for the innovative Christmas present!

Patriots and Charity

I am proud to be an American!

Another July 4th, and I just have a heart full of "grateful" to all our ancestors and current military personnel who have given us this great privilege to live in a free country. Thanks to my Dad, to my brother and my son Roy for serving in our military.

Thanks again to my blue blooded Canadian, on both of his parents sides, Brent's family and his heritage (it must be still in the blood). One among them was John Winthrop. He was a visionary man who in 1628 gathered together, led and established the 1st Puritan New England Colony and their center of government at Boston. He was their first governor and re-elected 12 times. We saw a municipal building name after him when we were there visiting in MA. But really, he was an amazing man, who delivered one of the famous sermons "A Model of Christian Charity" and in so many words was the first to introduce the concept of "manifest destiny". Wow! A man who establishes a new religious forum for freedom. I know he must have been a zealot, but me thinks he was a patriot of the best kind.

We went to the Freedom Festival Patriotic Service last night. It was pretty good. President of UVU mentioned the foresight of John Winthrop in those early patriots. Made us both proud and all we are the recipients of his work those hundreds of years ago.

President Holland talked mostly about Abraham Lincoln and his charity to all men. It's his 200th birth year, what a man and another great man of charity who would bring our broken nation back together. He spoke on his 2nd inaugural address, just a month before the end of the Civil War, he stated "With malice towards none and charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive to finish the work we are in." He had and lived personal and civic charity. He was a student of Winthrop in deed.

John Winthrop was also mentioned at Ronald Reagan's Memorial as one of his great personal influences on his governing and his philosophy. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Conor read an excerpt from his sermon 'A Model of Christian Charity" as part of her tribute to him.

You should read it sometime. It is even for here and now and every day. An amazing man of values and courage. It is long, but thought provoking.

Please, let us, none of us, ever forget who and why our founders led the way. Put your hands over your heart and remember them, all of them, with deep thankfulness and gratitude for the lifes we are afforded to live here today.

I cannot say the pledge anytime and never could that I do not get a bit weepy eyed. Thanks to my Dad for his courage and my Mom for waiting and supporting him all those years they were separated during WWII. Thanks to those families today doing the same.

There are so many things in my life that I am grateful for and I know I have led a very blessed life, but being born here in the Americas of goodly parents and finding Brent, a Canadian with more charity than imaginable, are my most valued.

I am not a Bible verse quoter, but this one is worth quoting and remembering each day. (Shown to me by example by Brent daily.)

1st Corinthians 16:4

Let all your things be done with charity.

Barks and All

Listening to Rocky bark at the lightning and then the thunder.... He sure is brave and is keeping me safe and watched. Glad we have the special little God-sends in our lives, Sweetie who caught a bird yesterday (this with no claws), Spot the cat with the mouse-breath that licks our hair to groom us and our blind old lovable mutt, Rocky. The harder it rains, thunders and lightnings, the more hoarse that cute, not so quiet bark gets! Love all the weather and those other special parts of our lives, barks and all!

Graduation

Our sweet little 5 year old, Makayla, graduated from Preschool! What fun that was to watch her march in and listen to her sing. Balloons and mortars, cookies and little brothers having as much fun as she did. It was such fun to be there, and lucky all the Grandparents could come to this one. We gave her a Dr Seuss book on Graduating that he had actually delivered to a college. We hope that it will mean the same and even more when she gets to graduate in all the rest of those special occasions to come.

Justin and Ashley have such cute little ones, just like I predicted! Grandkids are the best!

Brent wrote his first poem for her on this auspicious day!

Graduating


You are cute and beautiful and sharp as a whip
Keep viewing your life, as though it were a trip.

Keep playing and studying and becoming so smart
Your surely are a rising star.

Grandma and Grandpa love you so
It is great fun to watch you grow.

You graduate and move on to something new
Only you know how many dragons you slew.

Keep up the good job and learn to play and to work
Keeping your goals in site and learn never to shirk.

You will succeed at all that you do
And be able to crow since you have chosen to grow.

You can see the world as though you can fly
And always remember the One on high.

Move along now and take a challenge anew
Never stop learning something new.

You have our love and cheers and goodwill
Now take hold of your life, your dreams to fulfill.

Composed by Grandpa

Gotta love that man of mine!

In Touch and Trees

Early this week I bought a new tree, a Purple Robed Locust. It was a tree from my childhood. It was the same type of one that I had played under when the summers were long and the grass was green, with clover to search through for ones that were 4-leafed. In late spring it gets beautiful light purple drooping clusters of fragrant flowers.

It was in the front yard of the Luke's home on 560 North in Provo. I spent many hours at their home and learned to love plants and trees because of Mrs. Zelda Luke. She was always outside gardening, while we were playing in her yard. I had to get a pussy-willow, a filbert bush and those autumn fiery red sumacs for my own yard. Oh, the wonders of the apricot tree or the little alcove with grapes and the rusty old springs of a bed to sit in and just talk and live life as a little kid.

We played "blocks and little people", known only to a few close friends and great imaginations, not to mention the patience of Jayne's parents. We played it in their front room and it could last for days. We started with choosing different pieces of wood to build a miniature house floor, room by room, with all the furniture, too. All the wood pieces were in a few orange boxes and we used them over and over, season after season for years. They finally built a family room at the back of the house and it was larger, so we moved into it. We had plastic little figurines (snow white, grass green, and so many more, mostly Disney characters) that we could choose from for the people to live their lives and for us to pretend... oh, the lessons learned and the imaginations that grew. What a blessed bunch of us to have such a happy 50's childhood, all because of the Luke’s. I still can remember the sight of her Dad, Theron, coming home from the Daily Herald and tippy-toeing, oh so carefully through the few empty spaces on his front room carpet.

Zelda fed us the best brown bread, cooked in a Peter Pan Peanut Butter round can. I can still smell it and taste it and it was glorious. She was a very thoughtful Primary teacher and gave me my first New Testament, in a special handmade light saddle brown felt pouch adorned with our own initials in green, cut painstakingly from loving well-used hands. It is still one of my treasures. She taught us to love the outdoors and even as far back as I can remember to take care of our land. From the depression-aged people (her and my folks) we were taught to use what we had and not to waste, water, electricity, clothes or food. A valuable lesson we are still learning to this day in the age of conservancy and recycling.

Back to the significance of the tree: early before he went to work, Brent dug a large hole for me. Later when I came out, I dug some more, and planted this wonderful tree to be, including some vole poison mixed in the planting dirt, around the roots. It was quite a job for me to get the tree into the hole and to mix the dirt and plant it just right. I was tired, so came back to the patio, to grab a soda and rest in my blue Mexican string, sitting hammock. The phone rings, I never would have heard it way back in the back of the yard, and it was Jayne. Not even 5 minutes after I had finished planting that special tree and having thoughts of all the beauty and the fun times we had had as kids under the Luke's tree, and hopes of fun times to be, for us and the grandkids, she called to say her Mom had passed away.

She had just had her 99th birthday and they were all happy and blessed for her to go on to a better place. She wouldn't have liked all the celebrity when she turned 100. She gave her body to the U for research. She didn't want a funeral or any fuss. She was a private and mostly shy person. I loved her and all she added to my life. She was a humanitarian and ‘the’ ultimate recycler, even in her death.

Spring Beauty

I love Spring! All the blossoms, all around, colorful and fragrant, one just after the other, just teasing us about the warm and sunny days and delicious fruit to come. All the seasons are great, but Spring is my favorite. So many happy memories, just like the flowers on the forsythia, creeping phlox, basket of gold, tulips, daffodils, apricot, pottawatomie, peach, pear, cherry, and then apple blossoms. But who can forget the pussy willows or the sand cherries or all the trees that just glorify the days? Our red bud and lilacs are ready to pop as well as the crab apple and hawthorns. Just love all of the color and the many sounds of all the birds. Just can't get enough of the love that is showered upon us from above.

And BTW: A Happy Birthday wish to a great sister!

So a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to LeAnne!

Birthdays - double the fun!

Kaiden and Keagan had their 3rd birthday party last night. Their birthday is actually tomorrow, but they are headed up to the Boise area for a bike race that their dad will be racing. Hope to see their cousins and also Uncle Roy. It sure was fun to see them open and react to all the presents and toys. What exuberance they have for life. Gotta love 3 year old's. If we all could just see life with so much gusto and joy in all the simple things. It is so cool to hear them talk, to see them play and just to experience all the new things that they find every day. Wish I had a picture to show, but my camera had no 'umph', dead battery. Having 2 little boys around reminds us of how our home was years ago. What a fun time and much happiness to see them all grow up to be such fine men, now.

Cactus and Baseball

We sure had a fun time last weekend and checked off one more thing of our bucket list . We saw lots of Cactus and Baseball and Mexican food, hot dogs and peanuts!

We headed down to Phoenix early on Friday and immediately went to see the Dodgers and the Royals play baseball. Great seats, behind the catcher, just 8 rows up and what a view. We were just across the aisle from a bunch of scouts and all of the speed guns. Had a guy behind us talking real baseball with his friends and loved it. Hotter than we were definitely use to, so lots of slathered on sunscreen gel. Pretty slow game, with the exception of Manny Rameriz, he hit 3 of 4 ups and played for 5 innings. Pitching was great on the Royals.
Up in the top box was Tommy La Sorta and wandering through the aisles talking to a million people was the Penguin! Lots to watch there.

Early the next morning we were heading to Tucson for our next baseball game, but first I took Brent to the Sonora Desert Museum. (Sure, we had to first get lost using the Micro-suck Streets and Trip planner.) It was worth the time and so fun. Sure we had already seen lots of Saguaro cacti, teddy bear cholla, prickley pear and barrel, but not so up close and personal. So many were in blossom, the aviary was pretty cool, but I liked the humming birds. Last time I was there they were outside under a ramada with lots of feeders, so cool.

Then off to see the Rockies and the Cubs at the Hi Corbett field in Tucson. Pretty neat, parked in a mall parking lot and they bussed you over to the field, no hiking. Nicest fans there and so fun to see the passion of the Cubbie fans! This was a REAL game and boy or boy was it fun.

We saw everything, home runs, hot-box outs, hits to all bases, runs comming in and even though we were up in almost heaven, the last row 1/2 way between home and 3rd, it was terrific! The Cubs were ahead all the way until the 8th inning, then the Rockies came through and blew them away! The Cubbie pitcher was so funny, he would act like he was washing his hands when he had the ball in his glove, too weird, but fun to watch.

The weather was perfect, so not needing any lunch, one foot long huge hotdog and one foot long hugher brat for Brent and who's hungry? We headed down to see Tombstone and the OK Corral. Sure we are tourists, but that is the fun.

Along the way, Brent saw a sign for Fort Huachuca and so we headed towards the Mexican border. We passed border patrol, cactus and drove right past the little fort. We went to a gas station for gas, (Was checked out by a girl named Cally and she checked Brent's license said her Dad had the same name as he does, Callis. That is the only other person we know of, not in the family. Pretty neat.)

But, where was the Fort? Just back a mile or two... so we did get to see it, the outside of an old building that was closed. It was actually a building for the widows of the buffalo and other soilders. So then we headed back to the crossroads to get to Tombstone. We got there just at dusk, almost dark so we missed all the shooting, but got to walk in the town with all the old buildings and on their boardwalk. We ate a terrible dinner in the Crystal Saloon with real cowboys and wrangles and vests and hats and mustaches and cold gravy left over from the shoot-out, but still fun to eat in an almost pitch-blackbfood saloon. So I do not know if the whiskey is good, the water was toerable, but they lied about the best food. Just got to say the old bar was great was saying nothing, it was the real one and pretty picturesque with all the old cowboys belling up to it.

So we had to go back to Tucson for our room and so we did. By the way construction and closing exits is for the birds and the locals, not for tourists! But a good sleep and off we go! Taking the day to go back up to Phoenix on back roads. Checked out the ruins at Casa Grande, it was amazing and hard to believe it was over 500 years old and still standing. The Ho Ho Kum people were so smart and advanced. The picture doesn't do it justice, over 3 stories high, unbelievable that they did this without any tools other than thier hands and rough hammers.

Later we meandered into Phoenix via Mesa and took in the temple. It made our Sunday. Then a good Mexican dinner, best chimi in a long time, and to bed to head out to the airport early Monday to fly back home and end this exploration.

Sure is fun to travel with my best partner for 40 years! Hope we never stop exlporing! So many places, so little time and so much work!

Best Shots of My Life

I even asked for them! Yep, I am getting the best shots of my life! I am in for the long-run of allergy shots and hope they do the job. I go a few times a week to get them. They are a "NO-PAIN", actually "no feel" type shot and I only wish that getting poked for blood draws or at the Dentist were so nice. I can't wait to not be roughed up by nature any more.

I had the 42 scratch tests and I found out I am really allergic to sagebrush, Russian olive trees, pig weed, Russian thistles and dogs and to a bunch more. Now, none of that resides in my back yard or in the 100+ wild acres over the ravine behind our house or even Rocky who lives in my house!

Lucky to find out cats (like Sweetie who is the one who is walking over my keyboard, meowing, nudging my hand and lightly pawing my face to get attention right now) and dust doesn’t phase me…as you can tell by writing your name or a book on some furniture pieces in our home.

But the best part of all the itchy tests is that I am not allergic to Brent, the kids or grandkids! I think I am counting my blessings and grateful for modern medicine.

Spring Fever

Man, Oh man, do I have Spring fever, beautiful day, sunny and can even see the brownish, yellow, green grass! I think all of the snow has finally melted in our yard. But so of course that makes me want to go exploring! So I booked us a weekend trip down to Phoenix and Tucson to see some Cactus League Spring Baseball! Whoopee for us, it should be fun. Maybe we can even get a few links covered there as well.

ACL's, Valentines and President's Day

Haven't written for awhile and lots has happened, sort of.... Tommy killed his knee on a run when he entered the Masters Snowboard Challenge at Snowbird. Lucky to have great surgeons and he is on the mend now. I helped where I could, but really didn't do much. Jared was there to help with any real needs, I am grateful for him. I was touched by how tender Jamie is with Tommy. They are a good match.

Valentines has come and gone and it was fun. The day before we made and decorated cherry-chip cup cakes with Justin's little ones, that was real fun. I was going to give some to the other kids, but, almost all gone when we were done. They gave me a most beautiful and real book that Ashley had made scrap-booking with pictures of all the grandkids. So sweet with wonderful poems and pictures and so personalized, even with why they like Grandma. It was my birthday present and that they had just barely got it back in the mail, they had to wait because of Chinese New Years...It was truly worth the wait. Probably the very best part was all the kids climbing on the island counter so we can all see together and each of them saying "That's me!" in the picture.


I made a Valentine for Tommy to give to Jamie, took over the hearty crystal vase and some flowers for him to give to her (as he couldn't leave his recliner for the last week). That was fun too. Shane and Ashley brought over little Emmalee and a wonderful glass box with pictures of Emmalee all over it. She is so cute and growing so fast! I gave them a Valentine I had made and we visited for a little bit. Then off to the movies with my Valentine.


On Sunday morning we headed up to Lava to sit and soak in the hot springs. Really was a beautiful sunny day, cold but that is good when you are shriveling up like a prune! We were going to stay over, but decided our bed was better than theirs! And we were right. That even gave us a President's day to have still off together. My best friend is my best company!

Connections...

Having fun finding old friends with facebook, classmates and reunion.com. Problem is, lots of my generation are not using these formats. But I have found a few and now doing some catch-up. Love this newfangled world!

Birthdays

Love them, or else where would you be? But I did have the best one I can remember in a very long time this year. Lots of friends called and even sent presents and then topped it off with a wonderful dinner with the family! Heaven on earth for me.
I adopted my friends idea of celebrating for the whole month, but I did it a bit bigger, I celebrate as long as I want to! Lunched with my sis and friends for the last couple of weeks and still have a few more in the works. Now all I have to do is get back into the habit of cooking again!