Service Project

 Neal and I had the opportunity to do a shift at the cannery.  Thursday morning we were down at the cannery about 10:00 and prepared to go in an do what ever they needed done.  This particular day they were doing strawberry jam.  They no longer use glass bottles.  They have plastic bottles with lids that screw on.  Our first job was to pack the bottles of jam as they came off the conveyer belt.  Twelve to a box, then we send the box through a taping machine and from there the cases are loaded on to a pallet.  I'm always amazed at what the church produces and gives to help those in need.  After we had done that for about 30 minutes, the supervisor came over and said he needed fast hands at another station so he moved us to a turn table that we had to take the plastic bottles out of the case and stand them on the turn table to then be fed into the area where they are filled and sealed.  It was important to keep the bottles feeding through evenly.  We did that the rest of the time.  Our shift was from 10:00 to 2:00.  The time went by very fast and we were more than happy to help with the process and provide some service.  Maybe a service mission here in Salt Lake is what we should apply for.  

After we left the cannery, we headed to Jimmy Johns for a sandwich and then I headed to Dave's to get my hair cut.  I'm back to bangs.  Tried for a year without them and decided I like bangs better.  Met Annie at Dave's.  She was getting her hair cut and colored.

I was checking on the squirrels two days ago and spotted a new one.  He or she is much smaller than the other three so we are pretty sure it is an off spring from one of our squirrels.  We know he is new because his coloring is a little different, he is smaller and his tail isn't as bushy as the older ones.  

Great Weekend

 This past Friday evening, Neal and I along with Ken and Mindy Leethem drove up to Log Haven for dinner and to listen to our friends, Wayne Egan play.  Wayne plays the piano at Log Haven every Friday night.  Dinner was very expensive, but very delicious.  I had salmon and Neal had steak and we shared.  Absolutely delicious dinner.  And the music was great.  We were celebrating my birthday and Ken's birthday.  Both birthdays in August but it took us until September to find an evening that we could get together.  Mindy is my morning walking partner. 

 

Saturday I drove to Provo and met Mallory and Susan for lunch at Joe Vera's.  A great Mexican Restaurant on Center Street.  We had a delicious lunch and then Mallory and I went to a couple places to look and shop.  The weather was perfect and the company was even better!  

Oh, and I will add here that Mallory text me this morning and told me that she had been called to be a counselor in the Relief Society.  She will be amazing with her skills as a leader and excellent speaker and her love for those around her.  Proud of you Mallory!

Projects Complete and Starting

 I've been busy the past couple  months.  I'm getting quite a collection of stitching projects that I've finished.  I'm thinking I'm going to arrange them and hang all of them - no matter what time of year it is - on the wall in my office/guestroom.  It is a shame to have them done and framed and not display them.  Even if I'm the only one who gets pleasure out of doing them and seeing them, that is what matters.  

This is a Halloween one that is now at the framers.  Not sure what drew me to this one because I'm not big into Halloween.  Just thought it was cute and would be fun to do, which it is and was :-)

This one is in a series of gnome ones that I've been doing for Mallory.  This is the last of the holidays that this lady has created.

This is one that Lynda Ann snagged.  I love this one.

And this is my current project.  Just started it last week.  

Getting Ready for Fall

 This year I decided to bring out all the Fall, Thanksgiving and Christmas dishes for use and for display.  It was a huge project but with Neal now retired and home it was easier than I've ever experienced and went so fast.  First of all we emptied the China hutch, the dish cupboard above the drainboard and the dish cupboard above the sink.  I stored all those dishes in the bottom cabinets.  It's amazing how many dishes you can store in a small place if you use a little ingenuity!  Then Neal and I brought up all the Christmas dishes and the Thanksgiving dishes and while I unpacked them, Neal arranged them in the hutch and above the sink.  The brown and white Fall dishes went above the drainboard to be used every day.  We then took all the Americana ornaments and statues from the top of the cupboards and replaced them with Fall and Thanksgiving ornaments.  I'm not a Halloween person so it is very easy for me to totally bypass Halloween and go from Fall to Thanksgiving without putting any Halloween decorations in my house.  Here are a couple pictures of the finished project.  Amazingly, it only took us about 4 hours to complete.  In the past it will take me all day to put away, transport and replace dishes.

I have a picture of the Thanksgiving dishes displayed above the sink but I can't find it.  I'll have to post it later.  But, the exciting thing is that my house is all Fall and holiday ready and it is such a nice feeling to have that project all done.  Happy Fall everyone!

Love the Temple

 Neal, Mallory, Jeff and I went to the Jordan River Temple a couple weeks ago.  Mallory made all the arrangements and set up the temple times for all of us.  She is doing her best to keep me on the straight and narrow and I love her for that.  Annie was hoping to come but decided that it was best for her to stay home and take care of things there.  Mallory and I made it to the chapel first to wait for Neal and Jeff.  Neal came in and we waited and waited and waited for Jeff.  We expected him to walk through the door any minute.  But no Jeff.  It was time for us to leave the chapel and head to the endowment room and just as our row was moving out, Jeff came in.  When he got to us he threw up his hands and said, "Don't ask."  So we all smiled and went on our way.  After the session was over and we were going back to the dressing rooms Jeff told us that he needed to rent some pants.  He got a pair and went to pay for them and the worker said that they only took cash - no cards.  Jeff didn't have any cash, so the worker told him not to worry about it.  Jeff got to the dressing room and the pants wouldn't fit.  So he had to get dressed again and back to the rental desk to get another pair of pants.  All of the going back and forth and not having change is what slowed him up.  But all was well and we were able to enjoy another time in the temple.  

The BIG Birthday Surprise

 Lynda Ann celebrated her birthday on Friday by coming in to Salt Lake for a movie and dinner.  Jeff flew to Spokane that morning to see his sister.  Mallory came to my house after school and work.  She dropped off Brinkley and then Neal and I and Mallory met Lynda, Andrew, Hayley and Alex at the theater to see My Big Fat Greek Wedding 111.  It was a cute show.  Lots of popcorn and drinks.  Seriously, what is a movie without popcorn and a drink?!  After the movie we went to Moochies and then back to the house for games and eclairs.  Eclairs from Leslie's Pastries are Annie's favorite.

When we got back to my house there was a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Emmi.  

Everyone left our home about 10:00.  Lynda Ann in her car talking to Emmi all the way home.  Alex and Hayley headed back to their house and Mallory and Andrew in Mallory's car.  Unbeknownst to Annie and most everyone, the BIG birthday surprise was being picked up at the airport by Mallory and Andrew.  Abby and Antonio came in for Annie's birthday!  Lynda was completely surprised and thrilled and had lots of tears when the newly married couple walked in the door.  They stayed up until after 2 a.m. talking.  

The next day the Gertson's drove up the canyon and then met at 2:30 at Tucanos Brazilian Grill in the Gateway.  Neal and I were invited to join them to celebrate Lynda's birthday and see Abby and Antonio.

Cute couple!

We all drove out to Annie's for fondue desserts.  We had apples, strawberries, and bananas to dip in chocolate and caramel.  It was delicious.  After stuffing ourself with the desserts, we played games.  What a fun birthday celebration for Lynda Ann.  

HAPPY 52 YEARS!!!  

I'll quote Lila Mae here:  I love you Lynda Annie.  Always have.  Always will!!

Trying on Wedding Dresses

 Seems like just yesterday that we were all with Abby while she tried on wedding dresses.  Now it is Hayley's turn to plan a wedding and make decisions on what she wants to wear and other details about the wedding.  I wasn't able to be with them, but here are some pictures Annie sent me.

She will make a beautiful December bride.  Lots to do between now and December 22nd.  Exciting times.

Fun Trip to Scofield

 We just spent 10 days a Scofield at Ron and Judy's cabin.  The first three days we were there, it rained most of the day and night.  Some time hard and then a sprinkle but pretty much kept us cabin bound.  It was nice to have a fire and to hang out in the cabin.  Good food, bridge, reading and movies.  Tuesday morning we drove into Price to the Country Club golf course and played 18 holes of golf.  As we were traveling down the canyon to Price we got word that part of the road had been washed out so we had to detour through Castle Gate.  That took us another 40 minutes but we were able to make it to the our golf time.  One the way back, the highway crew had the road filled in so it was passable going back to Scofield.  I snapped a couple pictures.  Kind of hard to tell but behind the big tractor is where the water came down and wiped out a section of the road.

This is the wash where the water came down.

Judy and I getting ready to golf.

On Thursday, Judy and Ron had a class reunion in Price and Neal and I drove to Wellington to meet a missionary companion of his that he hasn't seen for a good 30+ years.  This is a picture of Neal and Lester Thayne sitting on the patio.  We golfed that morning in Price and then drove another 30 minutes to Wellington, Utah.

I had to take this picture of a huge Globe Willow in their yard.  As we were driving out I saw the face on the base of the willow tree and had to snap a picture.  So fun!

Lester and Neal

Lester's wife Carol, Lester, Neal and me.  Did a selfie and it didn't turn out too badly.  Carol and Lester prepared a delicious lunch of steak and vegetables.  We visited for a couple hours and then they showed us around their farm.  It was so fun for Neal to see one of his favorite missionary companions and catch up on family, church and health.  What a fun afternoon.

We had such a fun time visiting with this couple.  We left their home about 4:00 and headed back to the cabin.  

New Addition to the Family

Some time in October, we may be getting a new addition to our family.  Now that I'm retired I'm ready to have a puppy again.  It has not been a quick decision as I know the time and care and commitment that goes into bringing a puppy into our lives.  But, I can't remember a time when we didn't have a dog in our home.  I grew up in Seattle with a big black lab that my brothers names . . . . The name is very offensive so I won't print it.  I love that dog and remember spending many nights with my head on his tummy while I read.  Just before we moved to Utah, he just disappeared.  Maybe he knew that we were going to be moving and decided to find another home.  It wasn't long after we moved to Provo that we had another smaller dog who was with us almost through my high school years.  His name was Cubby.  He would sleep in my upstairs bedroom,  where there was no heat, and keep me warm through the winter months.  Another situation where he just left one day and never returned.  We had a dog in Trona, California and another one when we moved to Salt Lake.  I've always loved dogs and so the time is right to get another one.  Here is a picture of our soon to be new addition:

This is the little boy and probably the one we will take.  He is a Cavachon.  A mixture of a Cavalier and a Bichon.  

This one is the little girl 

The two sleeping side by side.

Hopefully we will go up and see them next week some time.  Working on a scheduled visit to make a decision on the little boy or the little girl.