Catch Up

Well, tons of things have happened lately and thought I might do a "catch-up" blog.

Had a great Sunday Brunch with my longtime, old school pals, great to
catch up and love who they have turned out to be. We are all glad for our happiness and friendship. Went with Jayne, Charlene and Martha. Just the right size group. Nice to reminisce and laugh and talk. Good to have friends.

We first had a scare the Tuesday/Wednesday just before we left on our cruise and then being luckier than a million 4 leafed clovers when we got back and did the angiogram. Just $10,000 in medical bills (so appreciative for good insurance). And glad Brent had his heart scanned and even though they didn't give us much of a diagnosis, at least we know how blocked his heart arteries are. I guess that is something and we still do believe in better living with chemicals, not so sure about doctors. Now, he trying to get back into a more healthier state, just his recovery after exercise takes a few hours to get back to normal. Each morning he goes out and weeds or does something in the yard for an hour. Nature is good for his heart and soul.

We loved sharing our beautiful spring flowers with our folks for Memorial Day and loved the time in the truck just being with my Love. Glad my Mom and Brent's Mom loved flowers and gave the appreciation to us to cultivate and enjoy the beautiful blessings of color and floral bouquets of smell that they bring to us.

When we came back and stopped to see Aunt Ruby, we did get the "last ever she'll make", plate of some exquisite Turtles that Aunt Ruby makes. Such a treat and she always has some for Brent when we come. She knows just how much he loves them and her, and she loves him. But then, who couldn't? As he says, "I am basically lovable!" And of course he IS.

Alaskan Cruise







We went a wonderful, beautiful, relaxing cruise to Alaska at the very end of May. We flew into Seattle and caught the ship that morning. We cruised up to Glacier Bay, Juneau , Sitka, Ketchikan, and Victoria, BC.

The sun almost never sets this time of year and so when Brent gets up at their time it is up and when we go to bed really late, it is still up. Makes for a great day.

We even saw a big white mountain goat in the middle of nowhere, just proud and majestic standing like a picture post card on the way to Glacier Bay and 2 Bald Eagle sitting on ice chunks.

In Juneau we took the city bus up to the Mendenhall Glacier and then hiked to Gold Nugget Falls. Doesn't the glacier shadow on this iceberg that was in the bay at the Mendenhall Glacier look like a cruise ship?

On the way back to the ship we did a little shopping in the Red Dog Saloon shop. The original saloon is pretty old and dank, and dark, and smokey, and crowded, so we didn't stay to have vitals.

I was amazed just how large, no, GINORMOUS, the water fall was. It was about a mile and half hike on a good path up there and then you could see rainbows in the mist. Perfect day for a walk with the birds, butterflies and tourists. I only saw it from a distance the last time we went there and there was less water and more bank, then. Loved to walk back in the forest and alder trees.
On sailing days we saw tons of whales, all kinds and Orcas just off the deck with their spouts like water steaming up like a volcano. Saw the BIG back of a Humped back whale and he was pretty close to the ship. After the shows we saw many pods of them and their spouts off in the distance, almost looks like steam, then quickly disappears. Quite a site. Many schools of Dall porpoises and dolphins jumping, playing, and bow-riding, a sea otter and some seals, NO Puffins, oh well, another trip, another exploration.Sitka is a true gem in the world and probably my favorite stop almost anywhere I have been. Flowers all over, ones so temperate that we cannot grow them here. A volcano hovering in the background, verdant forest, with wilderness just minutes away, a Russian and fishing history. I think I would like to live there, if it were not so remote. The kids never would come to see us.

Ketchikan was spectacular and fun and Brent thought Dolly's house was pretty interesting, this old lady had a brothel until 1965, it is famous and infamous right on beautiful Creek Street and they are very proud of her. Loved all the Totems. Later, Brent of course, got lost so I met him on the ship.

Great scenery and fell in love with Alaska, all over again. We didn't do any of the cruise excursions and just wandered around. It was a terrific time. Holland America always treats you really well and of course the food was the best. We met and made new friends and loved all the green, the turquoise blue of the icebergs and the glory of waterfalls. Who couldn't love this week?

Just after we got home from the cruise we had the grand kids for a sleepover the Friday-Saturday. Justin, Tom and Ashley were on a 1,000,000 mile Rockwell bike riding relay from Blanding? to St George. Whew!

The g-kids sure did enjoy the Slip N Slide and little pool. Shane and Ash came over so Emmalee could play with her cousins. All in all a really great fun time. Love our backyard and having family over to play in the water. Grandpa loved the pic with the boys and their hats. He sure does love life and good times.

We dropped them off to Eagle Mountain at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday morning so they could go and see Tom and Sarah's newest little one be blessed.

We had a leisurely ride home going around Utah Lake, saw the biggest antelope ever, just standing in a field at the south end of the lake, so we stopped and just looked and watched. A Sheriff came by, stopped and asked if we were having problems, nope, just admiring the wildlife, so he watched, too. That ride we also even saw a big bad badger crossing the road, then he hissed at us and acted like he was going to eat our tires. Pretty cool. I guess big maroon trucks do NOT scare him!

Brent is enjoying golfing this summer and seems to be going almost every week somewhere for work to golf. Golden times.

We have been down to Sanpete for the Mormon Miracle, it is better than ever and always so good to see our Aunts and have a Turkey dinner in the old church on Main Street. The stars shine so much better than here in the city, pure amazement, that is what I have for the heavenly night skies!

The big 4th of July weekend started on the 2nd with the Riverton parade, then dessert at our home after, but it really turned out to be a BBQ. Always fun to be with family and watch the g-kids and kids loving the local parade, the princesses and never, no never, forget all the candy that they throw to the kids. After the BBQ & dessert, Brent started a leap frog with the g-kids, then all the BIG kids joined in and then races, so funny and tons of fun and laughter. Wish I had a video of this. Pretty funny. Not sure who is the biggest kid of all, but I am sure glad they all can enjoy the "little kid" in them.

Up early the next morning, the 3rd, to watch Ashley run her first 10K and she did the race proud. J & A went to the Stadium of Fire that night so we had their 4 little ones and took them to the Riverton fireworks that night. Amazing how much Maci LOVES kettle corn, but, dainty, just one kernel at a time. They all lasted until it was over and barely made it into our beds. Maci kept saying "BOOM, BOOM" and loved the lights. I put my hands over her ears while she was sitting on my "almost" lap and she just wore out and fell asleep. Nice moment for a Grandma and Grandpa to share one of our traditions with them. Roy, Tommy, Lelani, Shane, Ash and fam and Ash's Mom, sisters and family and friends shared this with us. We had LeAnne and Norman, Clint and Tricia, Jer and Amy, Chris and his wife (cousins & nephews and families). Always a memorable time and dazzling eye candy that we never get tired of seeing and hearing. Great exposure to the senses on a perfect July night.

On the 4th we headed up to CJ's and Lava Hot Springs. The lines were too long to go swimming (almost a 1/2 block long in line to get into the pool and the pool already looked full!). So we drove north to get my favorite Oreo shake at the Jack-in-the-Box in Pocatelly and a quest to find a place to go swimming. Didn't like the look of the lake, but stopped for an hour and won some money in a little, junky, smoky casino. Really a hole with a capital "H", but we came out with more money than we gave them, so not as good a swimming, but maybe a stinky okay. Maybe the lottery ticket that Brent bought will bring us some good fortune. Who knows?? It could happen. ;~)

We went to PBR in West Jordan with LeAnne and Norman on Monday the 5th, rip snortin' great time and had a killer view of the bulls and fireworks. Bulls 37, Cowboys 2. But still a good time had by all.

Had a dinner last night with my "Salem Gals" and sure was good company to be with friends of a very long time. Always look forward to talking the them. It is a blessing to have such great girl friends.

Brent is off golfing at Rose Park this morning and he deserves it. He has taken a new position, like in April, a brand new department to handle servicing of the SBA loans. They were being poorly serviced at a third party company and it was all messed up, really messed up, not the right docs. no docs, nothing, no order to speak of and no history on 3,000 loans. Well, Brent to the rescue, he can fix anything and he is. He has hired some really fine talent and together they are whipping this battle and putting it into shape. Really proud of him and his abilities and his brains! New challenges are great, but tiring. BTW, he is still doing all the commercial new construction loans and trying to train his replacement on residential construction loans. Doing two jobs at once and quite a project.

I have delved into genealogy and loving it, just like my Patriarchal Blessing told me to. I really am feeling like I am learning about my family and their lives, successes, hardships and glories. Quite a rewarding and tremendous feeling. I use the Church site and compare it to the Ancestory.com site for the actual records and am catching up all the lines I can on my side first, then will do Brent's. I think I must have waited until all the technology made it easier. Just the same, I was able to find our long lost Nielsen ancestor that no one could find, with the help of the Lord and the Salt Lake Family center member who could speak Danish we found him on my very first try. Just one more of those numerous and wonderful blessings that I have had in my life.

We love our back deck and the swing and patio table. We have many meals and pleasant swing sessions and talks out there and just enjoy the bountiful vistas and the beauty of nature. I still feed the birdies and it is so much fun to see them each day and the varieties that come and visit us. Bird scoopies, black sunflower hulls and the cost are all that may be a burden, but so worth it. Just had a young Grossbeak at the pie tin. Fun to watch them eat and share with all the other birds. We wake up each morning to the chirping and sweet songs and go to sleep by the crickets. Pure beauty as Brent would say.

An interesting spring and summer so far. Weather has been wet and cool, can even turn off the central AC some days and leave the windows open at night. Love fresh air. Didn't have to turn on the sprinklers until mid June. Who would have thunk?

So, after writing this, it just rained like a banshee for a long time-maybe 15 minutes and that is a long time for us in the summer. It hailed at Eagle Mountain. Now the sun is shinning and our deck is already dried off. You know, just wait a few minutes and we will see what else we will have.

Long winded again, oh well.... just catching up.

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!

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!