THANKSGIVING

FOR A WEEK IN REVIEW THIS TURNED OUT TO BE A LONG POST...SORRY.

THIS YEAR JEFF AND I WERE LEFT TO OUR OWN DEVICES FOR THANKSGIVING.WITH NO FAMILY COMING HOME  WE DECIDED TO TAKE THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING AND ESCAPE TO OUR FAVORITE RETREAT, PARK CITY.  I KNOW THAT I HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE, BUT THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES TO GO, IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE THE R & R THAT I NEED...NICE KING SIZED BEDS, HOT TUBS, SHOPPING AND BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS, (I THINK MOUNTAINS ARE WHAT I MISS THE MOST LIVING IN IDAHO). I PACKED UP MY CHRISTMAS CRAFTS, SEWING MACHINE AND COMPUTER IN HOPES OF GETTING SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE DONE, AND I WAS SEMI-SUCCESSFUL IN AT LEAST STARTING A COUPLE OF CHRISTMAS PRESENTS. 

WE WERE SO HAPPYTO BE ABLE TO SPEND A COUPLE OF DAYS HANGING OUT WITH BEN AND MICHELLE. THEY CAME TO UTAH TO HAVE THANKSGIVING WITH THE MCPHERSON  FAMILY BUT BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T GETTING TOGETHER UNTIL WEDNESDAY, WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH HAVE A COUPLE DAYS TO HANG OUT.  BEN AND JEFF DID A LITTLE AUTO REPAIR IN HEBER AND THEN WENT FISHING ON THE PROVO RIVER.  MICHELLE SPENT SOME TIME WITH CALLI AND THEN THEY BROUGHT NASH UP TO THE CONDO AND MADE COOKIES.  WE WENT TO DINNER AND THEN CELEBRATED MICHELLES BIRTHDAY WITH CAKE AND ICE CREAM.  WE ALWAYS FIND A WAY TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.

 

CLIX CAME UP ON THURSDAY TO EAT THANKSGIVING DINNER WITH JEFF AND I AND THEN WE DID SOMETHING THAT IS TOTALLY OUT OF OUR CHARACTER... WE WENT TO THE LATE MOVIE AND HIT THE BLACK FRIDAY SALES AT THE OUTLET MALL.  EVEN THOUGH I WAS YAWNING DURING THE MOVIE, I GOT MY SECOND WIND WHILE WE WERE SHOPPING.  THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER DONE BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING AND PROBABLY MY LAST, BUT IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE. TO BAD  I DIDN'T GO PREPARED WITH A CHRISTMAS LIST TO SHOP FOR OTHERS, SO JEFF AND I JUST SHOPPED FOR OURSELVES.  I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT :)

UTAH HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH A LITTLE EARLY SEASON SNOW THIS YEAR AND ALTHOUGH  IT HAD BEEN A COUPLE WEEKS SINCE THEIR LAST STORM WE WENT SKIING AT BRIGHTON AND HAD A GREAT TIME.  THE SNOW WAS GOOD AND IT WAS A REALLY GOOD RESORT FOR ME TO GET MY LEGS WARMED UP FOR THE SKI SEASON.  IT SEEMS LIKE I HAVE TO RECONNECT THE SIGNALS FROM MY BRAIN TO MY FEET BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON SKIING IS NOT LIKE RIDING A BIKE FOR ME, I CAN'T JUST GET ON MY SKIIS AND TAKE OFF, I HAVE TO DO A MENTAL READJUSTMENT, ESPECIALLY AFTER MY CONFIDENCE GETS SLAMMED WHEN I FALL ON THE FIRST RUN.   BUT ALL IS GOOD, THE DAY ENDED WITH ME FEELING GREAT ABOUT THE SKI YEAR AHEAD, LETS JUST PRAY FOR SNOW IN IDAHO BECAUSE THERE IS NONE.

 (never without his phone.  Even on the ski hill Jeff is reporting the ski conditions to some inquiring friend).

 NEEDLESS TO SAY WE HAD A GREAT TIME.  WE STOPPED TO SEE MOM ON OUR WAY HOME AND SHE SEEMS VERY HAPPY IN HER NEW HOME AND MARILYN IS TAKING VERY GOOD CARE OF HER.  I HOPE HOWEVER THAT I DIDN'T PASS ON MY  NOVEMBER COLD (THE ONE I GET EVERY NOVEMBER) TO MOM.  NOW ON TO THE NEXT EVENT...CHRISTMAS!!....EVERYONE WILL BE HOME AND TOGETHER AT SOME POINT THIS YEAR AND IT WILL BE A BLAST.

DO YOU GET IT?

IF YOU DON'T I WILL GIVE YOU A CLUE... CHECK OUT THE BABY BOOTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUS.  WE ARE SO EXCITED BECAUSE BEN AND MICHELLE ARE EXPECTING A BABY IN JUNE.  THAT MAKES TWO BABIES NEXT YEAR.   YEAH!  WE COULDN'T BE HAPPIER FOR OUR KIDS.

A TRIBUTE TO MY MOTHER

 Have I ever said how great my mother is. Well she is great and has been a wonderful example to me my whole life.  I only wish that I was half the mother to my kids that I feel she is to me. Through all her ups and downs she never focuses on her downs, she is always so positive  and supportive when I have my downs.  Example...I have had some issues with my ears and my Dr. has not been able to get a handle on what is wrong so he wanted me to go have and MRI on my head.  Jeff said they just want to be sure that I really do in fact have a brain.  Ha Ha.  Anyways,  the last time I went for an MRI I had a bout of clausterphobia and I was a little nervous, so nervous that this time I had to take a valium before I went.  Just knowing that I was going into a tube and had to be perfectly still was bad enough but when I got there they informed me that I would have to put this helmet thing on my head to be sure that I didn't move, that was not so cool with me.  Begin the Mini meltdown.  At this point I started telling myself that if my 91 year old mother can have shots in her eye I could and  would not complain about this... I could do this.  She is my inspiration, and my MRI was completed. 

Back to my mother.  She has been going through a major transition in her life and decided that for her safety and well being it was time to leave her home of 60+ years.  She has done so well for the last 5 years since my dad passed away, taking care of her home and the that huge yard and everything else, but this year she decided that it was finally to much.  My sister Marilyn has a basement apartment that mom could move into and within just a matter of a couple of weeks we started cleaning out her house and moving her into her new apartment.  Look at this woman, she doesnt  look like a woman with worries, especially one with her house being turned upside down.  No, this is a woman who is so content with her decision to move on in a new direction.                    

I on the other hand was an emotional wreck.  I had such a hard time knowing that these last couple weeks that we spent working and cleaning out the house would be the last days that I would spend in my childhood home with my mother and my silblings.  Oh the memories...thank goodness that we get to take them with us, that they don't go away even if the house does.

THE BEST NEWS EVER!

I'M GOING TO BE A GRANDMA AGAIN.  HAILEY ANNOUNCED IT TO US VIA SKYPE SUNDAY NIGHT WITH HER CUTE SHIRT.  WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR GRANDBABY #2 WHO IS DUE JUNE 11, 2013.  AND DAYNA THINKS NINE MONTHS IS A LONG TIME FOR HER?  ITS GOING TO BE EVEN LONGER FOR THIS GRANDMA, BUT IT'S OK  THIS EVENT WILL BE WELL WORTH THE WAIT.

MIDDLE AGE

I HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO A BOOK CALLED "THE BEGGAR KING AND THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS", IT IS A CUTE BOOK WITH A FEW PEARLS OF WISDOM THAT I HAVE ENJOYED. I LISTEN TO THE BOOK EVERYDAY WHILE I AM DRIVING AND THIS MORNING I HAD TO LAUGH WHEN I HEARD THIS QUOTE...ESPECIALLY SINCE I AM IN THE PROCESS OF WRITING ABOUT MY MOTHER. ( IN A BLOG POST YET TO COME)
"MIDDLE AGE IS WHEN YOU STOP WORRYING ABOUT BEING LIKE YOUR PARENTS AND DISCOVER YOU'VE ACTUALLY BECOME THEM."   

I HOPE ONE DAY  THAT MY CHILDREN WON'T BE ASHAMED TO RESEMBLE THEIR DAD AND I.  I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT IF I RESEMBLE IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM MY MOTHER OR FATHER THAT I'M NOT SORRY, I AM PROUD OF THAT.  AS A CHILD/TEEN/ADOLESCENT  I MAY HAVE THOUGHT OF MY PARENTS AS BEING PRUDES, TIGHTWADS OR WHATEVER A CHILD MAY THINK OF THEIR PARENTS, BUT TODAY AS I LOOK AT MY MOTHER I KNOW NOW THAT  THE THINGS THAT SHE AND DAD DID WAY BACK THEN WERE FOR A VERY GOOD REASON,  TO MAKE SURE THAT I BECAME A RESPECTABLE, HARDWORKING AND FINACIALLY RESPONSIBLE ADULT. 

DO I LIKE THE FACT THAT I AM MIDDLE AGE?  NO,

AM I FINE WITH BECOMING MY PARENTS?  YES.

YOU GO MOM.  AT 91 YOU ARE DOING GREAT!
CLICK HERE IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE VIDEO OF MOM ON HER EXERCYCLE

OCTOBER SNOW

THERE HAS BEEN SOME SPECULATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN EARLY WINTER OR WETTER THAN USUAL WINTER.  WHO'S RIGHT THE FARMERS ALAMAC OR THOSE WHO SAY THE ANIMALS ARE ALREADY GETTING THEIR WINTER COATS?  I DON'T KNOW BUT THIS MORNINGS SNOW MAY SHED A LITTLE LIGHT ON WHAT'S TO COME.  MAYBE WE WILL BE SKIING AT PARK CITY THIS YEAR AT THANKSGIVING.

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

It wasn't to long ago I recall saying to my sister-in-law how I would love a day to be lazy, maybe not even get out of bed, a day that I could read, watch tv or even do nothing at all.  Well my wish came true on Monday, I got to spend the whole day in bed, however it was all because I had the nasty flu  as well.  I tried to read, but I couldn't focus, I watched a little TV, but found myself sleeping most of the time.  Yes, I needed the rest, but this was not the R and R that I had in mind.
I recently started a book called "The Beggar King and the secret of Happiness" it is ironic how the first chapter talks about how curses can become blessings and how blessings can become curses.  It is funny how I thought a day lazying around would be a blessing, but it turned into a curse because it came with the flu.  I guess I should have got my flu shot last week when I was thinking about it.

WEDDING PICS ARE HERE.

WELL THE WEDDING PICTURES ARE FINALLY HERE AND YES, I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE PAID A HIGH PRICED PHOTOGRAPHER FOR THE WEDDING, BUT THAT WAS NOT MY CHOICE.  THE GAL THAT TOOK THE PICTURES DID A GOOD JOB, BUT AS I HAVE LOOKED AT THE PICTURES I FOUND THAT THERE WERE NO FAMILY PICTURES TAKEN OF JUST OUR FAMILY.  SO MUCH FOR HOPING FOR  A FAMILY PICTURE AT THE WEDDING.  WE DIDN'T EVEN GET A PICTURE OF JUST JEFFAND I,  SORRY BEN AND MICHELLE THERE ISN'T ANY OF YOU TOGETHER EITHER,  BUT I DO KNOW THAT YOU WERE THERE BECAUSE OF ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU PUT IN AND IT SHOWS IN THE PICTURES OF ALL THE CUTE SPACES THAT MICHELLE CREATED.  AND THE BEAUTIFUL FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS.  I WOULD HAVE LIKED A FEW MORE CLOSE-UPS OF JESSICA AND TJ, BUT I AM JUST GOING TO SAY THAT I AM GLAD THAT WE HAVE PICTURES.

ONE THING THAT REALLY WENT RIGHT

WELL THE WEDDING IS OVER AND BECAUSE I WAS SO CONSUMED WITH THE EVENTS OF THE WEEKEND I DIDN'T EVEN TAKE ONE PICTURE.   I DO HAVE SOME PICTURES OF THE SUNFLOWER CENTERPIECES THAT MICHELLE AND  DAYNA CREATED WITH THE FLOWERS THAT THEY PICKED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE MORNING OF THE WEDDING.  (just begging to be picked)

I JUST LOVE HOW THE FLOWERS TURNED OUT AND THANKS TO DAYNA AND MICHELLE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE LOOKED SO GREAT.  IF  WE HAD KNOWN WHEN WE ORDERED FLOWERS FROM THE FLORIST  THAT SUNFLOWERS WOULD BE IN FULL BLOOM ALL AROUND US AND, JUST OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN HUGE PATCHES, I COULD HAVE SAVED SOME MONEY.  I THINK THAT THE FRESH SUNFLOWERS WERE SO MUCH PRETTIER THAN THE ONES THAT WE WE SPENT $$'s ON.

 

 

BESIDES THE BRIDE THERE WAS ONE MORE SPECIAL GIRL AT THE WEDDING.

THE FLOWER GIRL....

One step forward two steps back

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.  I am so tired of doing everything for this wedding twice.
It all started again last night when I went to Sam's Club to get pictures printed for the frames that we had bought to display.  Jessica had everything organized and labeled for me so all I had to do was select the picture and have them printed, easy you say, but I say nay :(  The big 11x14 pictures came out pixelated and now I have to go home and put them in photoshop and  change them to a larger resolution so that they will look better being blown up to that size.  So back to Sam's Club I go later this week.  I went to get a nice relaxing pedicure today and thought that I would try to use my time effectively and since I was right by Walmart I would go and get a cute little girl sleeping bag for Hailey to sleep in, but I wasn't even suprised to see that there was  no little girls sleeping bags,  unless of course they like spiderman.  Knowing that Jeff was on the other side of town I called him to go to the other Walmart and low and behold a pink sleeping bag was found.  I moved on to  Sonic to pick up pebble ice because  that is the "prettiest" ice to use for a wedding.  I went up to order my ice and go figure the ice machine was not working properly and they asked me to come back later.  REALLY?  This is exactly why I say everything I do is one step forward and two steps back.  Am I jinxing myself  somehow?  It is getting so bad  that I went to the quick stop to get a coke the other day because I decided to drown my pathetic self in chocolate and believe it or not their air conditioning was out and all the chocolate was off the shelf.  ALL OF IT!
  I can't even buy a   piece of chocolate without going to do it twice.

BRIDAL PICTURES

I STARTED WRITING AND SAVING
A POST ABOUT THE CRAZINESS  OF
PREPARING FOR JESSICA'S WEDDING,
BUT THE WAY ITS GOING IT MIGHT
BE NEXT YEAR BEFORE IT GETS DONE,
SO I HAVE DECIDED TO POST BITS
AND PIECES OF SOME OF THE CRAZINESS
AS I THINK ABOUT IT.
GETTING A PHOTOGRAPHER FOR
THE WEDDING HAS BEEN  A LITTLE DIFFICULT BECAUSE JESSICA DID NOT WANT TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS OUT OF HER BUDGET.  SHE  DIDN'T HAVE "OFFICIAL" ENGAGEMENT PICTURES AND SHE WASN'T GOING TO HAVE BRIDALS, BUT TWO WEEKS AGO SHE HAD A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO WOULD DO HER BRIDALS AND HER WEDDING FOR $100.  SHE IS JUST STARTING OUT AND I KNOW, I KNOW,  YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR,  BUT  SURELY  THERE WILL BE SOME CUTES ONES WHEN IT IS ALL SAID AND DONE.  I SAY BETTER THAN NOTHING. IT SEEMS THAT IN EVERY STEP IN THE WEDDING PREP THERE HAS BEEN A HITCH OF SOME SORT.  JESSICA HAS SUNDAY AND MONDAY OFF AND SO THEY DECIDED TO DO HER PICTURES ON SUNDAY.  SHE LEFT IN THE MORNING TO GET HER HAIR DONE AND JEFF AND I WENT TO CHURCH, PICTURES WERE AT 4 PM AND  JUST AS SHE GOT HOME I REALIZED THAT SHE DIDN'T HAVE A BOUQUET FOR HER PICTURES.  NO FLOWERS, I WAS JUST ABOUT TO DIE. HOW COME I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THIS EARLIER?  SO I THOUGHT WELL SHE IS USING SUNFLOWERS AND I AM SURE THAT ALBERTSONS WOULD HAVE SOME, AND OFF I GO TO THE STORE WHILE JEFF, JESSICA AND THE PHOTOGRAPHER GO TO HER FIRST SPOT FOR PICTURES.  THERE IS A HOUSE ON THE WAY TO THE STORE WITH A HUGE FIELD OF SUNFLOWERS AND I DECIDED TO STOP AND ASK IF I COULD BUY SOME FROM THEM BUT ALAS, THEY WERE NOT HOME AND I THOUGHT SHOULD I JUST CUT SOME AND COME BACK AND PAY FOR THEM?  PROBABLY NOT SO OFF TO THE STORE.  I GET TO ALBERTSONS AND THERE ARE NO SUNFLOWERS, BUT THEY DID HAVE A YELLOW FLOWER THAT LOOKED LIKE A SUNFLOWER BUT WITHOUT THE BROWN CENTER, SO I  BOUGHT THOSE AND SOME BABYS BREATH AND RAN OUT THE DOOR.  BEFORE I LEFT HOME I GRABBED SOME SCISSORS AND BURLAP TO TAKE WITH ME.  I DECIDED ON MY WAY BACK TO STOP ONE MORE TIME AT THE SUNFLOWER HOUSE, BUT AGAIN NO ONE WAS THERE AND AS BAD AS I WANTED TO CUT DOWN HER FLOWERS I KNEW THAT JUST WOULDN'T BE RIGHT.    WHEN I GOT THERE I CUT THE BURLAP IN A LONG STRIP WRAPPED IT AROUND THE STEMS, CUT THEM OFF AND VIOLA' INSTANT BOUQUET.  IRONICALLY WHEN WE WERE DONE AND AS I DROVE UP THE ROAD TO MY HOUSE THERE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WAS A PATCH OF SUNFLOWERS, READY AND WAITING TO BE CUT DOWN,  TO BAD I WAS IN SUCH A HURRY TO GET TO THE STORE OR MAYBE I WOULD HAVE SEEN THEM.  GO FIGURE, JUST MY LUCK, ALL I COULD DO IS LAUGH.

I snuck a quick pic at the happy bride-to-be

HEY MOM! GUESS WHAT?

LAST WEEK JESSICA WENT HUCKLEBERRING (IS THAT A WORD?) WITH HER FUTURE FAMILY IN-LAW AND CAME HOME WITH A SMALL CONTAINER OF BERRIES FOR ME.  I WAS EXCITED BECAUSE THEY ARE A MUCH SOUGHT AFTER FRUIT IN THESE PARTS. ANYWAY, I SAID GREAT! MAYBE WE CAN MAKE SOME HUCKLEBERRY ICE CREAM FOR THE FAMILY ON FRIDAY BEFORE THE WEDDING.  SOUNDS GOOD RIGHT?  I KNOW HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE ICE CREAM HOWEVER, I HAVE NEVER MADE HUCKLEBERRY ICE CREAM BEFORE...  *NOTE TO SELF DON'T OFFER TO DO SOMETHING YOU HAVE NEVER DONE BEFORE THE WEEK/DAY BEFORE A BIG EVENT.
WELL TO MY SUPRISE JESSICA AND TJ WENT HUCKLEBERRING AGAIN ON MONDAY AND BROUGHT ME MORE HUCKLEBERRIES, THIS TIME THEY HAD ALMOST AN ICE CREAM BUCKET FULL.  THEY WERE SO HAPPY TO DO THIS FOR ME.  NOW I HAVE ENOUGH TO MAKE ICE CREAM FOR THE WEDDING.  RIGHT?  REALLY?  ARE YOU SERIOUS?  YES, THEY ARE... IT'S NOT LIKE I HAVE ENOUGH TO DO, NOW I GET TO MAKE ICE CREAM FOR 50.

WEDDING CRAZINESS

CALL ME CRAZY, CALL ME FRANTIC CALL ME NEUROTIC, I KNOW I AM ALL OF THE ABOVE AND READY TO HAVE A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.  SO I AM DRAWING ON THIS QUOTE TO HELP GET ME BY.  I'M TRYING TO LAUGH, REALLY I AM.

I AM IN PROCESS OF CHRONICLING THIS JOURNEY OF JESSICA'S  WEDDING AND ONE DAY IT WILL GET POSTED AND IF YOU WANT TO TAKE AN HOUR OR SO OUT OF YOUR LIFE YOU CAN RELIVE THE  CRAZINESS OF THIS JOURNEY WITH ME.  IT WILL PROBABLY BE POSTED AFTER THE WEDDING IS OVER.

LANDSCAPING UPDATE

I LOVE A BEAUTIFUL YARD WITH BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS.   I GUESS THAT EXPLAINS WHY JEFF AND I WORK SO HARD TO MAKE OUR YARD LOOK GOOD.  A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN WE WERE IN WALLA WALLA, WE PASSED THIS HOUSE WITH AN INCREDIBLE YARD.  I HAD TO TAKE PICTURES OF THIS PLACE BECAUSE IT WAS EVERYTHING THAT I WOULD LOVE MY YARD TO LOOK LIKE.  THE FLOWERS WERE IN FULL BLOOM,  IT WAS SO SIMPLE YET SO VERY IMMACULATE.   EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE I WISH FOR A PLACE LIKE THIS WITH A LITTLE COTTAGE OR B AND B THAT I COULD RENT OUT, (IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A DREAM IN THE BACK OF MY MIND TO OWN A BED AND BREAKFAST), BUT THEN REALITY SETS IN AND I REALIZE THAT IT WOULD BE A LOT OF WORK WITH NOT MUCH PLAYTIME AND I WOULD RATHER PLAY.  SO I WILL JUST LOOK AND ENJOY THE BEAUTY THAT OTHERS MAKE FOR US PASSERBYS TO ENJOY.

WE ARE GETTING CLOSER TO COMPLETING OUR TO-DO LIST TO HAVE THE YARD READY FOR THE WEDDING IN AUGUST.  WE SPENT A VERY HOT SULTRY DAY SATURDAY WORKING IN THE YARD.  THINGS ARE STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE AND I AM HAPPY WITH THE WAY THEY ARE LOOKING.

(Love my new seating area.  It is great in the evening because it is in full shade. 

 Such a nice place to relax at the end of the day)

(My daisies don't look anything like the ones in Walla Walla, maybe one day)

THE LAST PROJECT WAITING FOR US IS THE FLOWER BED ALONG THE BACK FENCE.  I DON'T PLAN ON PLANTING ANYTHING IN IT BEFORE THE WEDDING.  I AM HOPING TO GET IT RAKED OUT NICELY AND THEN TOP IT WITH MULCH AND BE DONE.

WALLA WALLA

LAST WEEK JEFF AND I WENT TO SEE BEN AND MICHELLE IN WALLA WALLA.  THEY LIVE IN SUCH A NICE TOWN.  WE ARRIVED ON MY BIRTHDAY AND BEN AND MICHELLE  HAD A CUTE BIRTHDAY GREETING AT THE FRONT DOOR WHEN WE ARRIVED.

EVERY DAY WE DID SOMETHING FUN...ON FRIDAY WE WENT TO PALOUSE  FALLS FOR A HIKE.  IT WAS A REALLY INTERESTING AREA, WITH A LAVA ROCK FORMATIONS AND A HUGE WATERFALL ALL IN A HIGH DESERT PLAIN SOMETHING  YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT TO SEE UP THERE CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT  THERE IS SO MUCH FARM LAND, ROLLING GREEN HILLS AND VINEYARDS THERE.

WHILE WE WER HIKING AROUND THE FALLS BEN COULDN'T RESIST DROPPING HIS LINE IN THE RIVER AND CAUGHT HIMSELF A LITTLE FISH.

AFTER THE FALLS WE WENT THE LAVENDAR FARMS AND MICHELLE AND I PICKED LAVENDAR. (WHEN I SEE A PLACE LIKE THIS  I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO LIVE IN THE COUNTRY  AND HAVE  A  LOT OF WORK... WAIT! WHAT AM I THINKING?  NO I GUESS I REALLY DON'T WANT TO HAVE MORE WORK TO DO EVEN THOUGH IT DOES LOOK LIKE FUN).  THE FARM IS AT SOMEONES HOUSE WITH ROWS AND ROWS OF LAVENDAR TO CUT.  A GIFT SHOP AND IF YOU HAD TIME TO STAY YOU COULD MAKE A WREATH OR SOME KIND OF LAVENDAR CRAFT. IT WAS REALLY FUN TO CUT OUR OWN BUNCH TO TAKE HOME AND OH THE SMELL... IT IS SO GOOD. THEY HAD COMPLIMENTARY LAVENDAR LEMONADE, BUT I HAVE TO ADMIT I WAS NOT A FAN.

MICHELLE AND I ALWAYS LIKE TO CRAFT TOGETHER SO WE MADE 4TH OF JULY BANNERS WHILE WE WERE THERE.   I DIDN'T GET MINE DONE BUT SHE DID AND IT TURNED OUT SO CUTE.

WE ARE SO HAPPY TO SEE THAT BEN AND MICHELLE ARE ADAPTING WELL TO THIER NEW HOME.   WE HAD A GREAT TIME WITH THEM AND CAN'T WAIT TO VISIT THEM AGAIN. 

A HIKING WE GO....

WELL I WAS HOPING FOR A FUN WEEKEND IN JACKSON ON A VERY ANTICIPATED REPELLING TRIP FOR OUR ANNIVERSARY INSTEAD, I SPENT THE WEEK BEFORE THE TRIP  DEALING WITH BENIGN POSITIONAL VERTIGO...SOMETHING THAT DOESNT GO WELL WITH CLIMBING AND REPELLING OFF THE EDGE OF A MOUNTAIN.  SO VERY SAD TO SAY WE HAD TO CANCEL THAT TRIP BUT  AFTER A FEW VISITS TO THE DR. MY VERTIGO IS GONE AND WE WENT ON A HIKE TO LOWER PALISADES LAKE WITH OUR FRIENDS DAVE AND SHARON. WE HAVE LIVED IN IDAHO FOR MANY YEARS AND THERE ARE ALOT OF PLACES THAT JEFF AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN AND THIS HIKE WAS ONE OF THEM.

THE SCENERY WAS SO PRETTY AND THE MORNING TEMPERATURES WERE SO NICE. IT WAS FUNNY HOW MANY PEOPLE WE KNOW ALONG THE WAY. 

ON THE TRAIL I ALSO NOTICED A LOT OF BUTTERFLIES, I REALIZED IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I HAD SEEN SO MANY MONARCHS AT ONE TIME. WE WENT THROUGH SEVERAL HATCHES OF BUTTERFILES, ALL DIFFERENT COLORS. I DON'T THINK I HAVE EVER SEEN BLUE ONES BEFORE SO I TRIED TO CATCH A PICTURE OF THEM, HOWEVER WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR GLASSES ON SOMETIMES THE PICTURE ISNT EXACTLY WHAT YOU HOPED TO GET.

I SET MY GPS TRACKER ON THE WAY BACK DOWN SO WE COULD SEE HOW FAR AND HOW LONG THE HIKE TOOK...

RETURN TRIP: 4.94 MILES... TOTAL ROUND TRIP NEARLY 10 MILES

2.02 HOURS...ROUND TRIP 4 HOURS....

AND ENOUGH CALORIES BURNED TO EARN AN ICE CREAM FORM THE SQUARE ICE CREAM STORE ON THE WAY HOME.

HIKING WITH MY FAVORITE PERSON....THE PERFECT DAY. FYI HIKE TO UPPER PALISAIDES THIS FALL WHEN THE LEAVES ARE TURNING IS ON THE AGENDA.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK MAKES

Last weekend was totally rotten, lately we have had some really crazy temperature swings,  but today is such a beautiful day the sun is shining and it feels great to be outside.  I however, didn't do a lot today,  I've felt a little lazy compared to others in my family, ie.. Ben who rode a century ride (100 miles) on his Bike in Walla Walla and Brandon who ran yet another Ragnar,  3 legs of the Wasatch Back from Logan to Park City which takes 2 days and Jeff who work most of the day building a railroad tie wall.   Now you understand.  But I did get some flower pots planted, my laundry and grocery shopping done, ok now I feel better, I did do something although much less significant.

You might wonder about my blog title....let me share with you the weather from last weekend. Jeff and I went up to Grand Teton National Park and decided to do the hike around Jennys lake. It's not really a hike because there is not much elevation change but we experienced many changes in the weather in three hours we were out.

When we started out it was heavy clouds but we could see the other side of the lake.  However, as we continued around the lake the clouds became more and more ominous.

 We got rained on, snowed on and then every once in awhile the clouds would lift and we would be able to see  across the lake again.  It was so much fun I am glad Jeff made me get out of the car and go even in the sketchy weather.  We were soaked when we got through, but so much fun.

 I have a great hiking buddy and he is going to take me back to the park in a couple of weeks to do something I have never done, but have

always wanted to do. We are going repelling off the rocks at the top of hidden waterfall on the other side of Jennys Lake. I can't wait. Stay tuned!