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!

Fun on the Town

Well, yes we headed out on the 4 day weekend to do some business for Brent...and I got to go along and have some fun. Las Vegas is a money pit, but I don't gamble too much, it's just that we like to see the shows! We stayed at the Golden Nugget, we love it there, not too busy and great rooms. Found this place one December when we went to the National Finals Rodeo with LeAnne and Norman a few years ago.

They have great small theater that we have seen a few shows in. Very intimate and you really can see the performer. This time we saw "Defending the Caveman!" Yep Brent dragged me there by the hair, caveman style! Really funny and also enlightening for both of us, mostly the caveman...or maybe me too!

We swam with the sharks in their shark tank and have to admit, it was a wee bit cold so loved their big hot tub. It is really cool to see a shark up close and personal and see all his rows of teeth, big and spikey, from underneath him. Glad we had heavy duty glass between us. Too bad the pic don't show the sharks! They have a glass water slide that runs right down through the shark tank, pretty fun!


The best of the fun was seeing the play Mamma Mia ! It was so good. It was the reason we went to Vegas, what a treat for me! What a fun show. Love Abba and the play is better than the movie, but loved that too!


After we left Vegas we checked out some sites for work in St George, then over to Kanab. Boy that is an interesting and beautiful town. We had Chicken Fried's at the famous diner there where all the cowboy movie stars ate. Good and fast service. Then to see a sunset glowing on the red bluffs, and turning all the cliffs on fire. So beautiful! We went to their movie house to see a 30's western, but the little old lady, and I do mean old, decided to show Pajama Game instead. Half of the 10 patrons left. I would rather have seen Tex Ritter in the show "the Utah Trail", but instead we got Doris Day. It just wasn't worth getting our $2.00 back and then go and watch TV. We decided Kanab was an interesting and kind of weird town.


Then we headed home and made a stop at the Coral Pink Sand dunes, we had tried to go there years ago, but it was getting late and we hardly had any gas, so decided to be safe and skipped the extra ride. But we were prepared this time, early in the day and lots of gas! In fact we were so prepared that we made a stop after we left and scooped up some of the pink sand to put into our little turtle sand box for the grandkids to enjoy! Lovely sight to see.



By the Way..... A GREAT BIG THANKS TO ALL YOU VETS AND THE SERVICE YOU HAVE GIVEN FOR US... Especially to my Dad, my brother and our son. Your sacrifices are appreciated now and for all our future generations.

Twilighter

Yep, I read the first one last week, and will read the rest. It's a fun light escape and so much better than any Anne Rice wrote. Been told by Carol to read them and I always obey my big sister! So take the quiz and see who you are!


Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

Halloween Bugs

Cutest bugs in the world were our grandkids.... 2 spiders and one beautiful butterfly! Aren't they the cutest? Sure makes a holiday fun! Who's the scariest, Brent or the twins.

Emmalee Marie

Such a little sweet sugar cookie! Shane and Ashley had our little darling on September 25th. 6 pounds 12 ounces and truly a bundle of joy! So lucky to have the special opportunity to have them living with us during this time. It has been great! Both are wonderful parents and so cute with her. It is such a gratifying feeling seeing their love as a family.

Trippin' Again!

Myrtle Beach

Yep, we've been on a trip to South Carolina and boy was it fun. We first hit Charleston and took in the sights and history. Loved riding in the horse drawn carriage and being transported back in time and seeing all the beautiful homes and haunts, markets and the pigs statues in front of the home of the Piggly Wiggly store owners. Saw Fort Sumpter from a distance and love the ocean.

We ate in the most quaint, busy, side-of-the road restaurant. I had an orange Nehi drink and seafood. Lots of fun, had to park down the lane and walk a block, there were so many people there to get into this little spot.

In our 7th floor condo on the beach, at Myrtle Beach, the sights went on forever. Boy, oh boy do I love the ocean and the sunrises. We only had to go down the elevator, pass the pool and walk on the 15 foot boardwalk to get our toes in the sand. Just perfect place to stay.

We saw the group Alabama and a few other shows while we were there, but the best is the golfing.... 200+ courses in the area. Brent went 4 times and I went once. It was a fun time. The Witch Golf Course had swamps you drove through between holes and critters making all kinds of noise, and they preface your round with "Don't try and retrieve any balls in the water or woods."... And we could see why. But I didn't see any alligators in the ponds. Brent saw one on another course.

We saw the most beautiful gardens with statues and glorious art just hanging out at Brookgreen gardens. We had a river ride to see the old rice fields and then to the zoo on the plantation. Most huge spiders ever! Got to see a super long alligator, birds and foxes and so many more.

I even saw my first cardinal! Been on that quest since I was a little girl, so check that one off the list of lifetime "must see's"!

Everything there is cooked Calabash style, lightly floured and then fried. Some was good and some wasn't. We took a trip up to the border of North Carolina and had more Calabash at the original Calabash, NC! I loved that one, but Brent didn't, but that is because he only like buffets!
But we were both Calabashed out by the last day (The Giant Crab buffet did it for me!). So we hit Jimmy Buiffet's Margaritaville just hours before the real hurricane landed. Lucky we were out and had flown away on our way home by then. It hit just a few miles from our condo. So that was fun, too!

Labor Day was a fun time to go.
LOVE TO GO TRIPPIN!

Best of Times

Boy, oh boy, what a fun and relaxing evening up at the Red Butte Gardens last night. We got to see the Rhubarb Tour, sponsored by Ketchup! We love Garrison Keillor's ‘A Prairie Home Companion’ radio show and even the movie. He has such a great way of looking at life's happenings. I really loved his ode to Dad. Touching and of course got me all misty. Several years ago for Brent’s birthday we went to see him in concert with the Utah Symphony and really enjoyed that. The music, the stories, the sound affects, the venue, the weather, the night sky and especially my companion were all perfect. Couldn’t ask for a nicer time!

No One to Blame But Me!

I just hate haircuts!

Just mine, of course. It always takes weeks to get over one, no actually months, this time! I loved to cut hair, but always wanted it to be just what the customer wanted and usually got it right. Problem with me is those spur of the moment ideas and choices and knowing it will grow, eventually. Got daring and had an A-line, but whew, way to short, guess I will like it by December! But the one good thing is that my neck is way-cool!

Another funny thing happened to me earlier this summer, I wanted to go strawberry blonde and ended up with the color of a copper penny, just had to add some drabber and wait for it to all wash out in a week. Pretty funny, but you have to get your jollies where you can! I have always said it is better to wear funny socks and color your hair, because it would be really dumb to change husbands!

Blessings

I am grateful for my sis and good doctors and hospitals. It has been 3 weeks and finally Carol is out of the hospital and at home. Pretty tough and extremely lucky to be getting over an aneurism on your aorta. Glad this is behind us now and she can start to live her life again. Blessings and Thanks!

Just Beauty!

I think I'll never regret getting up early to see a glorious morning sunrise or working late enough to drive home in the orange hues of a beautiful sunset or sitting on a cruise deck or some balcony with Brent to see the fading orb drop into the sea. Just Beauty! And God has even given us rainbows when we are lucky enough to see them.

And then there are fireworks! LOVE them, and all that goes with them; the cool dusky air, the smell of the grass, the anticipation of waiting, all of those new glow-in-the-dark halo's and light sabers and the smell of the park food. I especially love the sounds and giggles of all the children playing with the adults muffled chatter in the background. Then, all are silent followed by an "ooohh" or an "awe" and when the first flash, crackle and pop displays a multitude of bright colors filling the child in all of us with wonder. Who can't love the falling glitter and the surprise of extra explosions at the end when you thought that one was done... All the bangs and the smell of gun powder in the fading brilliance and twinkling bits. It’s a bit of heaven on earth for a half hour. Sometimes, we even get music to synchronize with the blast and flood of colors in the night sky. I can't wait for the 4th of July family celebration in the park!

Fathers

Oh how lucky I am to have had a wonderful father, miss him and appreciate his sense of humor and of course all he taught me to make me whom I am today. GO CARDS!

But then there is the man that made me a mother, dear Brent. We've been together so long, I don't remember life without him and can't imagine one. Little did I know that love-at-first-sight existed or could mean such long-lasting love and a joyous life for me. He is a truly great husband and father. I remember one time one of my friends said years ago, just how lucky I was to have both the best husband and father in one man. Yes, I DO know just how fortunate that first glance at him was, all those years ago, but who would have known we all were to be so blessed?

He is a great example of how to love a woman and how to be a real father. He has shown hard and constant exemplary work in all he does, and is always steady and stable in his own goals and unique zest for life. No one loves with so much heart, be it his love for me, the kids or our grand kids. It's actually in everything he does, just like the joy he shows when he's singing and yodeling with me in the car.

No matter what sport he tries, his love of life is clearly visible, whether it is sculling on the Great Salt Lake, pitching in a softball game, training for a marathon or swinging his clubs in golf. He truly does enjoys any sport he tries, and keeps on trying to get better (no matter how early the hour may be....). And then he still has to put up with me... takes such a huge heart. You just can't help but love and admire him! GO ZIPPY!

Easy to Love

I woke up today thinking how easy Mary is to Love.


All she asks for is a little respect for her talents and contributions, a little compassion for her feelings and desires and a little appreciation for her efforts.


In return I get the partner in everything we do for for our whole life and eternity.


I get understanding, appreciation, love, respect, support. She laughs at my jokes, navigates when we drive together, cares about my job, cooks my favorite foods, scratches my back and forgives me when I mow down her plants in the back yard.


I think that all in all, I win.

Me

Happy Mother's Day
OK so I was thinking ahead, by about a month when we were at Costco one day and I tried to get Mom to get a set of golf clubs. "Get them for me for Mother's Day" she said. So today, Saturday, I go to Costco ( disguised as a trip to get gas) and they are not open yet, so we go together this afternoon and low and behold, she still lets me get them for her.

Now, some of you may think this was nothing but imposing my will on her - but believe me - and I guess the old adage of getting other presents you would want if you were them, still holds true.

So we bring them home and go into the back yard to try them out and she hits balls from the back patio into the back of the yard and has the idea to go and hit them back towards the house. She happens to hit her best hit of the day and lofts a nice 7 iron from the back property line and sales the ball into the area above where the fireplace vent is, above the deck, between all the nice picture windows in the family room and bounces it off the stucco. At which point Roy brings out the wiffle balls, because he was standing in the kitchen door way when the ball bounced off the wall.

This present goes along way to match getting bowling balls and sleeping bags, now our lives have changed and it will be fun to find some golf courses where we can hack around the course just enjoy being together and laugh and drive golf carts and have fun - together.