Dear Kids,
Can you stand one more story about John’s Porsche? The other day he opened all his garage doors, because it was so hot in there. Pretty soon he heard squawking. He went out to look, and there were four magpies walking around his car. They were inspecting the tires, looking over everything, and squawking to each other, the way magpies do. He chased them away with a broom. It’s interesting that they weren’t looking over his Sienna. There are probably hundreds of Siennas in Heber, and they’ve seen them all. But this was something brand new to them. They couldn’t figure it out.
Yesterday our outside thermometer registered 97. That’s unheard-of here. It must have been well over 100 in Salt Lake. The worst thing is, it’s supposed to stay this way for at least 10 more days. Poor Paul and Stefanie in St. George! Poor us helping them move next weekend (which we’re still looking forward to!) It’s supposed to be over 110 there every day. What a good time for them to leave St. George, with the least possible regret!
Nora’s barbecue is still on for Saturday, the 4th, but I don’t have any details, so you’ll have to call her as to the time, what to bring, etc., and you can also contact Paul about possibly helping unload their truck later that evening. If all goes well, we’ll all be in Ogden in the early afternoon, but when you’re moving, whatever happens, happens. With luck it will all go really well.
A happy hot summer to you all! Love, Mom
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Dear Kids,
Fathers Day, the summer solstice, and Sharon’s birthday, all on the same day–what could be better? I hope all you boys are having a good Fathers Day. You all deserve it! I called Sharon to wish her a happy birthday, and she said Conrad had sampled the centers of both layers of her birthday cake, where they were spread out to cool. It was BT cake. If I had been there, I would have been in on the deed with Conrad.
The family reunion is coming up in less than six weeks. The campground (same as last year) is reserved for three nights, July 30 and 31, and August 1. That would be Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Donna is wondering if people really want to be there Thursday night, or should we start the fun on Friday? I’m for doing all three nights. If you have an opinion, contact Donna.
I was driving down Lower River Road one morning last week, on my way to the cabin, when a small deer jumped out in front of me. Nothing new. But he took off down the center of the road. I had to follow him. (Who would dare try to pass a deer?) Every time I honked he looked over his shoulder at me, but he kept running. I followed him for maybe a mile, going about 20, and he finally ran off into the meadow. John said once he followed a fox along that road. The signs that say "share the road" ought to have pictures of animals on them, not cyclists.
Since my plan for the 4th of July hike has fallen through, Nora has planned a barbecue to make up the difference. It will be at her house. Dad and Paul and Stefanie and I will be driving from St. George that day, bringing their stuff to their townhouse in Ogden, and the idea is that if we get there early enough, people can come to Ogden to help unload the truck. Sounds good to me. You can contact Nora for more information about the barbecue. My original idea for the hike up Wolf Creek pass will probably have to be put off until next year, because the 24th is just a week before the family reunion. So much fun, and so little time!
Lots of love, Mom
Fathers Day, the summer solstice, and Sharon’s birthday, all on the same day–what could be better? I hope all you boys are having a good Fathers Day. You all deserve it! I called Sharon to wish her a happy birthday, and she said Conrad had sampled the centers of both layers of her birthday cake, where they were spread out to cool. It was BT cake. If I had been there, I would have been in on the deed with Conrad.
The family reunion is coming up in less than six weeks. The campground (same as last year) is reserved for three nights, July 30 and 31, and August 1. That would be Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Donna is wondering if people really want to be there Thursday night, or should we start the fun on Friday? I’m for doing all three nights. If you have an opinion, contact Donna.
I was driving down Lower River Road one morning last week, on my way to the cabin, when a small deer jumped out in front of me. Nothing new. But he took off down the center of the road. I had to follow him. (Who would dare try to pass a deer?) Every time I honked he looked over his shoulder at me, but he kept running. I followed him for maybe a mile, going about 20, and he finally ran off into the meadow. John said once he followed a fox along that road. The signs that say "share the road" ought to have pictures of animals on them, not cyclists.
Since my plan for the 4th of July hike has fallen through, Nora has planned a barbecue to make up the difference. It will be at her house. Dad and Paul and Stefanie and I will be driving from St. George that day, bringing their stuff to their townhouse in Ogden, and the idea is that if we get there early enough, people can come to Ogden to help unload the truck. Sounds good to me. You can contact Nora for more information about the barbecue. My original idea for the hike up Wolf Creek pass will probably have to be put off until next year, because the 24th is just a week before the family reunion. So much fun, and so little time!
Lots of love, Mom
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Dear Kids,
I was cooking up a plan for the 4th of July, having a family hike at Wolf Creek Pass, where you’re walking on top of the world, but it turns out that Paul and Stefanie are moving that weekend, and Dad and I are anxious for the trip to St. George, to help. (Dad will be driving the U-Haul truck, again.) So we’ll plan the family hike for the 24th. Donna pointed out that we just had a barbecue for Memorial Day, and it hasn’t been very long. True. I’ll put the details here in the letter, when it gets closer.
Paul has finished his first week on the job in Ogden, so he’s officially a railroad engineer. But he doesn’t get to blow the whistle. He’ll be using a program like Sim Railroad for designing railroad systems. He told us that the width between two railroad tracks matches the width of the back ends of two horses. Who would have guessed?
If you were driving past the Heber Airport a week or so ago, and you saw a white blur on the runway, it was John’s Porsche going 151 mph. They were having the grand re-opening the runway, (after repairs, I think) and he volunteered to test it out. Nobody saw his top speed, because he had passed all the spectators, and the only video shows him at about 100. Oh, remember how he now has everything he wants? Not so. Now he wants to buy a tractor.
Last Sunday night we had a bunch of grandchildren here, and of course they were outside playing in the dirt and rocks. (Dad and I are working steadily on the yard, but it’s going slowly.) I keep feeling bad that we don’t have a finished play area, but then I’m always reminded that it’s the dirt they like best. Or the rocks. Dallin was sitting in my dry creek bed throwing out rocks, which I had put there with so much care. Anna was climbing on my pile of topsoil. The adults were on the swings. It’s all good.
We hope you’re lovin’ your summer! We are, too. Mom
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Dear Kids,
Dad and I celebrated our anniversary on Tuesday: 43 good years! We drove up the Mirror Lake Highway looking for a good hike. (Since we went camping for our honeymoon, I’m always looking for an outdoor adventure on our anniversary.) I thought we might hike Bald Mountain, but there were 2 feet of snow at the trailhead, so we drove on to Mirror Lake. The road off the highway into the lake had been blocked with snow, so we had to park there and climb around the snowbank. Other people were parked there, too. We walked the short distance to the lake, which was mostly covered with ice, and the trail around it was impassable. But it was an absolutely gorgeous day–blue sky, white clouds, pines, snow–what could be better? We talked to a couple of fishermen who hadn’t had much success. They said the water was 42 degrees.
What else? Dad and I went to Rylee’s wedding celebration/picnic at South Fork in Provo Canyon last night. Donna came with Amy, and Nancy and Bonnie were there, too, so we had fun chatting. (Bonnie said it would have to count for the family reunion this year.) We met Rylee’s new spouse, Stephanie. So I’m wondering . . . I guess she’ll be added to the family list? Barbara is keeping it now. Will her daughter be added as a great-grandchild of Grandma and Grandpa Allen? She’s a very nice little girl.
Our pavilion was nearly at the end of the Squaw Peak 50 Mile Trail Run, and runners were still coming down the road when we got there. Most of them looked practically dead, but Bonnie said that Becca had trotted by earlier, jaunty and waving at them, looking fresh as a daisy. Whitney was supposed to be running, too, but we didn’t see her.
Bonnie also told us that Jane and Joe are buying a house at the north end of Springville, and she showed us pictures of it. It’s right next to the mountain. When they move in, I’ll have four sisters in Utah Valley. We’ll have to have lots of get-togethers.
Life is good! I love you all! Mom
Dad and I celebrated our anniversary on Tuesday: 43 good years! We drove up the Mirror Lake Highway looking for a good hike. (Since we went camping for our honeymoon, I’m always looking for an outdoor adventure on our anniversary.) I thought we might hike Bald Mountain, but there were 2 feet of snow at the trailhead, so we drove on to Mirror Lake. The road off the highway into the lake had been blocked with snow, so we had to park there and climb around the snowbank. Other people were parked there, too. We walked the short distance to the lake, which was mostly covered with ice, and the trail around it was impassable. But it was an absolutely gorgeous day–blue sky, white clouds, pines, snow–what could be better? We talked to a couple of fishermen who hadn’t had much success. They said the water was 42 degrees.
What else? Dad and I went to Rylee’s wedding celebration/picnic at South Fork in Provo Canyon last night. Donna came with Amy, and Nancy and Bonnie were there, too, so we had fun chatting. (Bonnie said it would have to count for the family reunion this year.) We met Rylee’s new spouse, Stephanie. So I’m wondering . . . I guess she’ll be added to the family list? Barbara is keeping it now. Will her daughter be added as a great-grandchild of Grandma and Grandpa Allen? She’s a very nice little girl.
Our pavilion was nearly at the end of the Squaw Peak 50 Mile Trail Run, and runners were still coming down the road when we got there. Most of them looked practically dead, but Bonnie said that Becca had trotted by earlier, jaunty and waving at them, looking fresh as a daisy. Whitney was supposed to be running, too, but we didn’t see her.
Bonnie also told us that Jane and Joe are buying a house at the north end of Springville, and she showed us pictures of it. It’s right next to the mountain. When they move in, I’ll have four sisters in Utah Valley. We’ll have to have lots of get-togethers.
Life is good! I love you all! Mom
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Dear Kids,
Most of you have heard that Paul has a new job, and a good one! He’ll be working in Ogden, designing railroads. (Sort of like Sim City). It’s a perfect place for Paul and Stefanie to live, in between Logan and the Heber-Kamas area, with Nora and Allen on the way. Paul is going to start the job in about a week, and he’ll probably be living temporarily somewhere in the Ogden area while Stefanie finishes up things in St. George. Then they’ll move. I had thought they would be in St. George for a long time, and that Dad and I would visit them during the winter, but they’re thrilled to be moving closer to both their families. Besides that, Paul will be doing something he’ll really enjoy.
We had new carpet laid–again. This time it was the right carpet, but of course there were some minor problems. The job isn’t finished, because the carpet layer said it was so thick and stiff that it was hard to lay, and his only assistant was his son, who was just starting out. So they didn’t finish it yesterday, and they’ll have to come back. Besides that, there was barely enough carpet, and they had to put seams in odd places. One of them, on the stair landing, really looks bad, and that will have to be fixed. They’ll probably have to order another piece of carpet for that, and it will probably take three or four weeks, but eventually it will all look good.
Now that it’s stopped raining, it’s really beautiful here–velvety green on the hillsides, and a darker green down along the river. Dad and I have been working outside as much as possible. Dad has still been digging out cottonwood roots, which were spread out everywhere, just beneath the surface. We started calling them Moby Dick’s skeleton. But I think Dad finally got every single rib. I’ve been planting trees and shrubs, but we still aren’t ready for grass.
Spring is wonderful! Oh, is it summer now? We’re always behind, up here.
Lots of love, Mom
Most of you have heard that Paul has a new job, and a good one! He’ll be working in Ogden, designing railroads. (Sort of like Sim City). It’s a perfect place for Paul and Stefanie to live, in between Logan and the Heber-Kamas area, with Nora and Allen on the way. Paul is going to start the job in about a week, and he’ll probably be living temporarily somewhere in the Ogden area while Stefanie finishes up things in St. George. Then they’ll move. I had thought they would be in St. George for a long time, and that Dad and I would visit them during the winter, but they’re thrilled to be moving closer to both their families. Besides that, Paul will be doing something he’ll really enjoy.
We had new carpet laid–again. This time it was the right carpet, but of course there were some minor problems. The job isn’t finished, because the carpet layer said it was so thick and stiff that it was hard to lay, and his only assistant was his son, who was just starting out. So they didn’t finish it yesterday, and they’ll have to come back. Besides that, there was barely enough carpet, and they had to put seams in odd places. One of them, on the stair landing, really looks bad, and that will have to be fixed. They’ll probably have to order another piece of carpet for that, and it will probably take three or four weeks, but eventually it will all look good.
Now that it’s stopped raining, it’s really beautiful here–velvety green on the hillsides, and a darker green down along the river. Dad and I have been working outside as much as possible. Dad has still been digging out cottonwood roots, which were spread out everywhere, just beneath the surface. We started calling them Moby Dick’s skeleton. But I think Dad finally got every single rib. I’ve been planting trees and shrubs, but we still aren’t ready for grass.
Spring is wonderful! Oh, is it summer now? We’re always behind, up here.
Lots of love, Mom
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Dear Kids,
It’s unbelievable, the rain we’ve had here! And all over Utah too, I guess. Every day the clouds build up, nice and dark, and then it usually pours. People aren’t talking about the drought any more, but they aren’t complaining about the rain, either. Real Utahns are always glad for rain.
Our landscaping is still moving ahead. I haven’t been able to put in sprinklers and spread topsoil, like I wanted to, but in any weather, you can always move rocks. I’m making a new pile along Hilltop Road, and I’ve put out my sign that says "Free Rocks." They always get taken. Dad is still excavating the cottonwood roots, and he’s pulled out some gigantic chunks. Oreo is still supervising. He walks by on his elegant white paws, noting how dirty we are.
Our home improvements inside are still at a dead standstill. Wards Carpet is supposed to have ordered our new carpet, and it was supposed to come in more than a week ago, but we haven’t heard from them. I ordered some new obscure windows from Home Depot, but I don’t have any confidence in the guy who did the ordering. He waited several days to call back and ask for our Home Depot credit card number. He said nothing could happen without that. And he wasn’t sure he could get us what we wanted. At least we have our gigantic yard to keep us busy. And the people who walk by always comment on our work.
It’s my turn to teach Relief Society today. I keep trying different ways to make my lessons understandable to both sides of the room–the Spanish-only and the English-only sisters. Luckily I do the 4th Sunday Conference talk lessons, so the ladies always have a lot to say. If I can only understand them. When I prepare my lessons, I use Google Translate a lot. Tom put it on my tablet, and it has really helped me.
I hope you’re all having a great Memorial Day weekend. We’re looking forward to seeing lots of you at the barbecue at the cabin tomorrow.
Love, Mom
It’s unbelievable, the rain we’ve had here! And all over Utah too, I guess. Every day the clouds build up, nice and dark, and then it usually pours. People aren’t talking about the drought any more, but they aren’t complaining about the rain, either. Real Utahns are always glad for rain.
Our landscaping is still moving ahead. I haven’t been able to put in sprinklers and spread topsoil, like I wanted to, but in any weather, you can always move rocks. I’m making a new pile along Hilltop Road, and I’ve put out my sign that says "Free Rocks." They always get taken. Dad is still excavating the cottonwood roots, and he’s pulled out some gigantic chunks. Oreo is still supervising. He walks by on his elegant white paws, noting how dirty we are.
Our home improvements inside are still at a dead standstill. Wards Carpet is supposed to have ordered our new carpet, and it was supposed to come in more than a week ago, but we haven’t heard from them. I ordered some new obscure windows from Home Depot, but I don’t have any confidence in the guy who did the ordering. He waited several days to call back and ask for our Home Depot credit card number. He said nothing could happen without that. And he wasn’t sure he could get us what we wanted. At least we have our gigantic yard to keep us busy. And the people who walk by always comment on our work.
It’s my turn to teach Relief Society today. I keep trying different ways to make my lessons understandable to both sides of the room–the Spanish-only and the English-only sisters. Luckily I do the 4th Sunday Conference talk lessons, so the ladies always have a lot to say. If I can only understand them. When I prepare my lessons, I use Google Translate a lot. Tom put it on my tablet, and it has really helped me.
I hope you’re all having a great Memorial Day weekend. We’re looking forward to seeing lots of you at the barbecue at the cabin tomorrow.
Love, Mom
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Dear Kids,
Thanks so much for all the Mothers Day gifts and phone calls and visits! I had a wonderful day. All your gifts were very well thought-out, and I now have a nice pile of very dark chocolate to last me for several weeks.
I was checking our e-mail and facebook to see if Katie Brooke had her baby yet, (she did) and I saw a note from Renae that Mark and Tamri had their baby 8 hours later. I don’t know how many great-grandchildren that would be for Grandma and Grandpa Allen, but I’m sure it’s well over 100. Barbara is keeping the list now.
I’ve been busy digging sprinkler trenches in our yard. John says he’s never seen such neat work. He says I don’t dig dirt–I sculpt it. Oreo supervises my work closely. He patrols the trenches every day, and sometimes he’ll leave a dead mouse alongside of one. I guess he thinks I need a snack to keep me going. Dad started digging out some of the cottonwood roots out along Hilltop road. They’re mixed in with some very big rocks, and there’s no way our friend with her tractor could smooth them out. We’re planning to have her come as soon as it dries out, to level out the rest of our yard. So much fun!
Memorial Day is a week from tomorrow. Do we want to have a barbecue at the cabin? We could also celebrate Dad’s birthday, and Dallin’s. Let me know what you want to do!
Lots of love to everybody! Mom
Thanks so much for all the Mothers Day gifts and phone calls and visits! I had a wonderful day. All your gifts were very well thought-out, and I now have a nice pile of very dark chocolate to last me for several weeks.
I was checking our e-mail and facebook to see if Katie Brooke had her baby yet, (she did) and I saw a note from Renae that Mark and Tamri had their baby 8 hours later. I don’t know how many great-grandchildren that would be for Grandma and Grandpa Allen, but I’m sure it’s well over 100. Barbara is keeping the list now.
I’ve been busy digging sprinkler trenches in our yard. John says he’s never seen such neat work. He says I don’t dig dirt–I sculpt it. Oreo supervises my work closely. He patrols the trenches every day, and sometimes he’ll leave a dead mouse alongside of one. I guess he thinks I need a snack to keep me going. Dad started digging out some of the cottonwood roots out along Hilltop road. They’re mixed in with some very big rocks, and there’s no way our friend with her tractor could smooth them out. We’re planning to have her come as soon as it dries out, to level out the rest of our yard. So much fun!
Memorial Day is a week from tomorrow. Do we want to have a barbecue at the cabin? We could also celebrate Dad’s birthday, and Dallin’s. Let me know what you want to do!
Lots of love to everybody! Mom
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