Oquirrh Lake Walk

The older we get the sillier we become.  

Surprisingly, we had an evening to ourselves.  We decided to walk around Oquirrh Lake at Daybreak.  

The view was beautiful, 

the company - grand,

and we got sillier with each pose.  

At age 20 we worry about what others think of us;

At age 40 we don't care what they think of us;

At age 60 we realize that they haven't been thinking of us at all.

We had just as much fun when we came home, looked at our photos, and laughed.  

God grant me the senility

to forget the people I never liked anyway,
the good fortune to run into the ones I do,
and the eyesight to tell the difference.

Until I Say Good-Bye

I love stories that describe how someone overcome, deal with, or inspire me because of great obstacles.  This is one of those books.  

In June 2011, Susan Spencer-Wendel learned she had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) – Lou Gehrig’s disease – an irreversible condition that systematically destroys the nerves that power the muscles.  She was forty-four years old, with a devoted husband and three young children, and had only one year of health remaining. 

Susan decided to live that year with joy.  

Gone to Pot

My  first experience with an outdoor potted planter began pretty wishy washy.  I purchased three pots and returned the first two.  Danny was such a good sport to load the 40-50 pounds pots into his car, and then back again to the store.

After finding the "perfect" pot for us, I felt like I was cooking up a recipe. Danny was the mixer; adding potting soil, vermiculite, peat moss, and seedling starter soil. I felt like a chef with a little of this and a dash of that; only it was shovelfuls of things from the shelves in our garage. Danny mixed and stirred in the hot water until it was sublime.  

So we didn't have to fill the entire pot with soil we placed 80 pounds of rocks in the bottom.  When I went to purchase them the cashier showed me plastic containers of rocks like she had packed them for lunch.  I chose the river rock size, and then asked how large the bag was.  "Oh, like a sack of potatoes," she answered.  I debated whether I needed one or two.  "One," she said.  "Well, one it is," I agreed.  However when it came time to putting things together, I realized she didn't know how large my pot was, and I needed two.  Swell DaBell, Danny that is, ran back to the store and got another bag.  

Now does he look like he is having a great time, or what?

I am certain this is the only thing he would like to be doing after he has been standing on his feet all day at work.  

Now I get to do the fun part - actually planting the flowers.  I put some fountain grass in the center, with geraniums next, trailing sweet potato vine and verbena around the edge.    

I later learned there is potting soil with the fertilizer already mixed in, which I don't have.  For this year I will fertilize with blue Miracle Grow each week.  

I never realized how fun it is to plant in pots.  Maybe tomatoes, corn, or who knows what will be next. 

I sure was pleased with our efforts.  

Budding Blake has a green thumb

I gave Blake one of my new hollyhock seedlings a few weeks ago.  Before he got it out of our house, it dropped three times. After being shook up, he carried it 100 miles to his house.  Once planted, it died.  When his birthday came, we gave his some gardening tools and a few more seedlings.  Now, he will be successful - I can feel it in my thumb.  

Zack is showing us his new gift from his Aunt Jan.  

Blake's Mom is clever decorating birthday cakes. 

"Wait Blake, are you turning 9 or 6?"

His face shows great pleasure. 
The idea that no one is perfect is a view most commonly held by people with no grandchildren. ~Doug Larson

J, K,L, M

 My sweet cousin, Janet who is in Utah going to school; along with her daughter Katie, who is visiting Janet, came to visit us.  What a greeting it was!  

 Actually it is Janet's husband that is my cousin; but if the Samoan's can claim most anyone as a relative, so can I.  Her husband, David died while we were on our mission in Samoa.  We sure miss him.  His wonderful wife, Janet has gone back to school and will graduate in December.  What an accomplishment.  Truly!

 Katie came to visit her mom for the weekend.

 Janet, Katie, Loving husband, and Marcie  (this explains the title)

Marcie and Katie, second cousins, are about a year apart.  What beauties.

Visit the Vet

I took my 14 year old black lab, Sally to the vet.  She has another ear infection.  All her life I thought she suffered because her ears got wet.  Finally this vet explained she has allergies.  Yea!, I don't have to worry so much about giving her a bath.  

The vet cat was sleeping in her basket on the counter, as I left.

After the vet, and bath, Sally is doing what she does best.  I do enjoy her and and vet explained she is on borrowed time as they live on average 11-12 years.
“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” 
― Roger Caras

They catch me by surprise EVERY year

The picture above is one day, and the one below is the very next.  We have four crabapple tree (or something like that) just out the back door.

Each year they bloom for two weeks, and I feel like I live in heaven.

The golden delicious apple tree is even blooming.  Every thing is shouting "it's spring".

My reward for all the work of starting seeds inside in February.  I am now tired of babysitting them, and just want to get them planted.  Each flat holds about 72 small plants, and it takes great effort to get them planted.    

The flat on the left shows the rejects.  Most however grew.  

Here's the gorgeous heavenly trees.

This truly is MY room with a view. 

Can you guess what the orange in the back ground is?  Clue - NOT a flower. 

Oh, it's me, planting my baby seedlings.

Crazy Danny is always taking photos.  

This won't last long, so we took advantage while we could,

 For Mother's Day, Walker wanted to take his Mom and Grandma to the quilt show.

 We were thrilled.

 Just look at all the colors.

 "Okay, I'm ready to go."

"Please, just a few more?" we begged.

We had an astounding time.  Thank you so much Marcie!