Taylor's Adventure

 I found out from Maren, that Taylor broke her ankle but didn't get any details on just exactly what happened so I text Taylor and asked her what the story was and to send me some pictures.  This is her story as I remember it.  

She went on a date to Park City.  I didn't get the details on why they left her wheelchair behind but her date was carrying her down main street in Park City.  It was dusk and they were going on a late night walk.  Her date accidently stepped off the curb and he and Taylor took a tumble.  She said it was a pretty long fall.  Her date had to leave her there and go get his car to get her back in the car.  She thought she had just hurt her elbow, but the next morning her knee was swollen and the bottom of her foot was bruised.  

She said she still went biking even with a broken ankle!  What a trooper!!

She said that her friend felt really badly about what happened and sent her a bouquet of flowers.  

Taylor is now sporting a cast and will be for weeks.  

Saving Baby Ducks

 Mallory called me the other day and said she had a happy story and a very sad story.  I'm sure I'm not going to get this entirely accurate but I'll do my best and it will be mostly accurate.  Apparently, Mallory had gone to the library on a Saturday morning to write a paper.  As she was walking home and going across campus she heard a duck quacking loudly and a bit frantically.  As he rounded the path and got closer to the noise she saw a female duck with it's next outstretched quacking at 7 baby chicks who were sitting atop a cement planter.  Mallory thinks the duck had nested in the planter and hatched all her babies and was not trying to get them to jump down from the cement wall.  

Mallory wanted to help them down but she couldn't get close to the babies because the mother was being very protective and warning her off.  So as she watched, three of the babies jumped down and while she was watching the other on top the ledge, out of nowhere a Raven swooped down and grabbed one of the babies and took off.  Mallory was so sad to have witnessed that.  But, thank goodness the other 3 chicks couraged up and jumped down.  So Mallory decided that she had to see them to safety so she kind of escorted them along to a stream and pond on the other side of campus.  

What would have taken her 15 minutes to get home took her over an hours by the time see made sure the mother and babies were safely secured in the stream.  Way to have a tender heart for God's creatures!  Love that you did that Mallory.

Miracle of Miracles

 My tomato plant is growing like crazy and I discovered 6 new tomatoes growing on the vines this morning.  So exciting.  

While I Was Gone

 Neal called me Saturday late afternoon and said that he cut his little finger really bad while potting some plants.  He ran his hand across a broken pot and it sliced his little finger.  I told him to get to the Insta Care immediately.  I was pretty sure it needed stitches and that he would need a Tetanus shot.  He went and sure enough, stitches were required along with a Tetanus shot and a splint for his finger.  I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have gone if I hadn't insisted.  This is the pot and you can see the blood running down the front.  

Eight stitches later !!!!!!

I have to clean it, put cream on it and bandage it with the splint every night for two weeks until he gets the stitches out.  This happened Saturday while I was gone.

Sunday, our refrigerator went out!  What a mess I came home to.  Scurrying around to get coolers filled, Neal running to get ice blocks, moving food from the inside freezer to the outside freezer and trying to find room for everything that had to be kept cold or frozen.  Water from the ice maker all over the floor!  

We got a technician here today and he is replacing the compressor.  Hopefully we will have a working fridge by this evening!  It will cost us $1100.00 for parts and labor.  YIKES!!!  But, can't live without a fridge.

I think I should stay home for a while!

Impromptu California Trip

 Annie called me at the first of the week and asked if I would like to go on a road trip to California?  Of course, I said yes.  Annie wanted to take a couple dresses down for Abby to try on for her wedding and to see the cabin and deck where Abby and Antonio will be married.  Annie will be doing the decorating and just needed to get an "on sight" view of what the deck actually looked like and where things were.  Sounded like a smart idea to me.  

Annie picked me up at 3:15 and we headed to Provo to pick up Mallory and Brinkley.  We were on our way for a fun adventure of traveling, visiting, talking and lots of laughs.  We stopped in Cedar City for some Costa Vida and to fill the car up with gas.

The beautiful Cedar City Temple perched on the hill.  I love that it is one of the first things you see coming in to Cedar City.

It was a bit chilly but we ate out on the patio so that Brinkley could be with us.  Much to Mallory's chagrin, I did throw some chips to the birds.  Mallory isn't fond of birds!  

After a good dinner, we loaded up and headed on the our first night's destination, which was Primm.  However, we did make a stop in Vegas at the now very famous "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign and took a bunch of pictures.  They have special parking for people and actually have professional photographers there to take pictures for a fee.  We didn't feel the need for anything except our own phone pictures.  Which, I might add, turned out great!

Finally got Brinkley to somewhat cooperate and pose with us.  Mallory has a cute one of just her and Brinkley that she posted on Face Book.

We probably saw a little too much Las Vegas while we were waiting in line but we left happy to be the kind of people we are and not the worldly scenes we witness. from very little clothing to beyond drunk.  It was entertaining.  I'm not going to write the details.  Just take my word for it.  The group who came in on a wedding bus left NOTHING to the imagination.  We saw it all!!!

We made a stop at the outlets in Barstow and went in a couple stores and bought a few items.  Fun shopping.

Brinkley as we were leaving Barstow.  His head out the window to get some air while the car was cooling down.  Brinkley was amazing to travel with.  So good in the car.  

We made it to Primm and stayed over night.  The room was a bit sketchy but better than Maren experienced with Boston.  We left the next morning about 9:30.  Grabbed a McDonald's breakfast and we were on our way to Lake Arrowhead where we were to meet Abby and Antonio.

Explanation for this picture after.

I have to post these two pictures because it was kind of funny trying to get them.  Every time we went by this particular sign I tried to get a picture but Annie turned to quickly and this is what I ended up with.  The first one made us laugh and laugh.  I sent it to Abby and said, "This is where you turn!"  

Then, this second one was a little bit better.  At least I got most of Lake Arrowhead in there.  

  We spent most of the day at the Resort and met Abby and Antonio there.  We had dinner out on the patio and then wandered around and did a little shopping.  Very fun day.  Here are some random pictures.

Brinkley checking out the fish in the water.

The beautiful and very private fenced off lake.

The place is way up in the mountains and it is gorgeous.

I took this because I thought it was so funny to see this lab very contentedly kicking back on the boat in the afternoon sun.  

Oops!!  My thumb got in the way.  Sorry girls :-)

We spotted this shop as we were driving in to the resort.  Loved that my name was spelled correctly.  Don't see that very often.

We had dinner at Papagayos.  Sat out on the patio so that Brinkley could join us.  The temperature was almost perfect.  Sweater weather for me and t-shirt for the rest.

Mallory and Lynda Ann went into the Chocolate Factory and got candied apples.  I don't like them so I stayed outside and tended Brinkley.  When they came out the informed me that they also had hard ice cream.  Well I would never pass up a chocolate mint ice cream cone!  It was delicious.  I stood in the sun enjoying my ice cream cone and Mallory and Annie were sitting in the shade enjoying their apples.

After dinner we went to the cabin where the wedding will take place.  Annie got some great ideas from Abby and Antonio on decorations, where they would stand, etc. etc.  I wish I could possible share Annie doing her charade of a bride walking down the aisle.  I laughed until I couldn't breathe.  It was so funny!!!

Annie is a comedian at heart!!!

After some measurements, ideas, thrown around and final decisions made we headed for the cabin we were all staying over night in.  The moon was breath taking as we climbed higher in the mountains.

Just chillin' at the cabin. 

We all stayed up late talking.  I think Mallory and I were out first.  Mallory and Abby along with Brinkley stayed in one bedroom, Annie and I in the other and Antonio got stuck with the couch downstairs.  

The next morning we order breakfast and sat out on the deck and ate.  All of us wishing the morning would move quite so quickly.  At 10:30 we had to all say our 'goodbyes' and Abby and Antonio headed back to LA and Lynda Ann, Mallory, Brinkley and I headed back to Utah.  

On the way down and on the way back I asked Annie questions and we recorded her answers.  Questions like, how did you decide names for your kids?  How did you meet and get engaged to Jeff?  Cute stories about each of your children, etc.  Now, it is up to me to type up what she said.  

The trip was fun and very successful in finalizing wedding plans.  Abby asked Tucker to marry her and Antonio and to take pictures.  He graciously accepted and has a double duty at the wedding ceremony which will take place on July 21st in the evening.  So happy and excited for Antonio and Abby.  They make a darling couple.  

We traveled all day, arriving in Provo about 9:30 p.m. Lynda Ann was a trooper and drove all the way.  She was tired / exhausted by the time we reached Salt Lake but I think very happy that we accomplished what she wanted.  Great trip, Annie.  Thanks for inviting me.  LOVED IT!!!