Winter~Spring~Summer 2011

Where has the time gone ?

Way past due for a blog?

Disney still rocks ! ! !

January

Started off the year with Pam’s daughter Leisha and family staying with us for the first week.

Their hometown in Arizona was –20°, but with the wind chill, it felt like -38°

Weather in Utah was cold, but not that cold !!!

Daughter Vanessa was in Utah and we were happy to attend her baby shower the last day of the month.

February

Pam and I were called to be Spanish Language Missionaries and now attend 

a Spanish speaking branch of the Church.

Our main focus will be teaching English to those that want to learn . . . in their homes.

We made a short four day trip to Arizona for the baptism of Kameryn and took Pam’s brother Jay with us.

I applied for Social security on birthday in Dec and this month got my first check !

Man, how old do I feel now ???

March

Lots of birthdays this month, 9 family members !

. . . and more snow !

Finally got one of my Christmas presents attached to the car !

April

We have a new grand daughter (#13 !)

Congrats to Rick and Vanessa on the birth of their daughter Bridgette Vera Zinke.

Oh  . . . and Bridgette has her own blog too ! ! !

This picture was taken later when they were in town.

And one more recent picture with her mother

I started treating some solar keratosis on my forehead  with Efudex

This stuff attacks the pre cancerous parts only and catches about 80%, so may be doing this again in a few years.

This picture is about 3 weeks into the program . . . ouch !

My skin was so dry and itchy and then my eyes started swelling up

May

Another trip to Arizona and then to Disneyland !

California Adventure is all torn up with construction of the entrance and the new “Cars Land”, but were able to get a great view of the spectacular  “World of color”

We also got passes to go on the new “Star Tours” three  days before the actual reopening.

We also had a great view standing on the bridge (above Pirates of the Caribbean) for “Fantasmic”

 

June

After Disneyland, we got to spend the night with Morgan and her family, plus a trip to the beach in Malibu !

Pam froze at the beach !

Finally (late because of the trip)  got the garden ready to plant !

Here are some sequence pictures.

Ready to plant !

Planted

Ready to harvest. Tomato plants at the back are about 5 feet tall !

Have been eating spinach, zucchini and first 2 tomatoes this week.

Peppers and tomatillos will be ready soon.

First good year for Concord grapes.

 

July

Leisha and  family were up for the 4th  and we had a great time at the

Provo “Freedom Festival” Balloon Fest, Fireworks and  Parade.

. . . and later that week a trip to the Zoo !

 

Parker, Leisha, Kameryn, BJ, Jackson, Addison and Kennedy at the balloons

One on the perks turning 62 last year was being able to get a lifetime pass to all National Parks (yep, $10.00)

So we used it and made a stop at Arches National Park in Utah on the way down to Arizona.

It was about 95° and we only made it through about 1/3 of the park.

Coming back on the way home it was 105° !

Spectacular would be an understatement !

above . . . World famous “Delicate Arch”  . . . a 3 mile round trip hike to get up close . . .

On the way home we did a little side trip (44 miles) to Needle Point Overlook of Canyonlands National Park

August

We have made a few trips to visit Pam’s father who is now at “Stonehenge” in Richfield about 100 mile trip, and the latest trip last week was for a family reunion at Pam’s brother’s home.

Pam’s dad still rockin’ on the harmonica at age 87 !

Funny thing that he has started doing lately . . . at the end of a song or the end of a sentence,

he will end it with the (Expedia) “dot com”

I’m working on a freestanding 12’x12’ pergola this summer and just finished digging the main post holes.

Finished project pictures next blog.

We have been blessed with a great summer (not so crazy hot . . . yet!)

and lots of spectacular thunderstorms and rain.

Oh  . . . and sunsets and rainbows like the pictures below.

Until the next posting !