Independence Day

 The 4th is on Saturday this year which would make it so people wouldn't get a week day off from work, so some places closed on Friday.  For me it did not matter...it just made me want to celebrate for two days!  On Friday Paul, Bean and I went to see the new Angel/Wonder studios movie, Young Washington.  It's a terrific movie and made me thankful for men who were called by God to do a work to help America/The United States become a free land where the gospel could be restored and where finally, all people could be free.  Today we are having a little get together with Ferf and her kids who are down visiting with her.  Moss and Christie and family asked to join us for the too.  Lots of good food, good visiting and fireworks (by the city) and a few that Brynnli and Ryan will bring.  I got up this morning and took my walk on the Red Hill and felt blessed to live here and be free.  I also posted an old picture I took and have as a side thing on this blog.  I found more pics of flags that I or others in the family have taken.  And I thought of the song we used to sing long ago in week day Primary: 

I love my land America with blue skies big and wide;

I love my land America with seas on either side. 

The prairie corn grows tall and green, the wheat is amber gold;

The rivers run from mountain peaks where the stars and stripes unfold.

I love my land America, and as long as we are good, 

the Lord will bless America, in love and brotherhood.

Here are the pics from our gathering.  The fireworks pics never turn our very well in the dark.  We also celebrated Kai's birthday as part of the evenings fun!  Good times with good folks!  We enjoyed meeting Kennis' friend, Aliya, and also Jared's daughter's Shelby and Koda.  

Toe surgery, Valentine's Day at home/with Bean & Japanese Garden work

 

On Thursday Paul had some toe surgery done to hopefully correct some things and make it a bit better.  So far he's making a good recovery.  On Friday the 13th, for Valentine's Day, we used a gift cards the kids gave us and went to Nonna Ina Italian restaurant for lunch.  It was SO GOOD! They have this big wheel of Romano cheese that they light on fire to make it all melty.  They they dump your pasta carbonara in the middle of that and swish is around until it's covered in creamy cheese.  Then they twist it up and put it on you plate.  Ahhh...so wonderful.  We had enough left for dinner that night too.  

On Saturday (actual Valentine's Day) we went up to visit Bean.  We dropped off Valentines to the Randalls and the Weavers and then drove up to Parowan and had lunch at Dee Dee's Farmhouse Cafe.  It's a fun little place that's located in what used to be an old sheep barn from the beginning days of Parowan.  Not much looks old or sheepy how.  It was really good food and such a fun atmosphere.  Afterwards we took a backroad drive out to Parowan Gap where we saw a dinosaur track and lots of petroglyphs.  I hadn't seen the dinosaur track part before.  It was a really nice day and a good to spend time with Bean.  

Another cool thing that's been happening is Paul doing some stonework here at home and also doing a job for the city.  They built a new City Hall and out back they have a little area that they have decided to make into a Japanese garden.  Paul and Tim did some nice stonework there.  It's getting close to finished and looking so nice.  

And here are the photos of the Japanese Garden all done!

New Year's Eve 2025

 We ended the year with a fun gathering at Moss and Christie's house.  Jay and Brynn and girls had arrived that day.  We ate good food, played games and enjoyed each other's company.  Paul, Bean and I only lasted until the eastern midnight (10 pm our time).  It's was lots of fun with fun people!  (The Weavers came later than my pictures lasted unfortunately.)

Happy Thanksgiving 2025

 It was in-law year, so we were small in numbers, but it was still lovely and delicious.  We had some trouble with the smoker, so we had half smoked/half baked turkey...very good!  Ferf and Kennis joined Paul, Bean and me.  They brought lots of yummy food to add to what we had.  It was good to visit with Kennis since she's been off at school at U of U.  Ferf's other kids went other places this year.  I always think I'm not eating too much...not too much of one thing, but there are so many good things that you still end up feeling very full. Ferf and Kennis couldn't stay too long because they both had a lot of homework waiting for them.  Ferf is in nurse practitioner school right now.  Kennis is focusing on Computer Science I believe, and is a TA.  She seems to be doing pretty well.  She's like her mom and always works hard and gets good grades.  My pics are not the best ever, but they're what I have!  After Ferf and Kennis left Paul and I sacked out for a nap.  Then we took Bean and went out for a walk at Snow Canyon/Johnson Arch to get the body up and moving!  It was beautiful.  We were there for sunset. After we got home Juge and Eden stopped by to eat some pie with us!  More good times!  Happy Thanksgiving 2025!  Small but good!  

Labor Day weekend fun!

We finally decided we'd go camping over in the Kaibab. We wanted to go somewhere cooler! We got an early start on Friday morning.  Since we had time, we decided to stop and visit the Pipe Springs National Monument on the way there.  We spent quite a good time there seeing the film, doing the visitor center things and then walking around the fort and grounds.  We even did a half mile loop trial.  It was amazing to see how people could make a life in such a desert location because of the little spring that's still flowing today.  There was controversy between the original inhabitants (native Americans), the pioneers and then the US Government. In the end, the government settled it.  The Kaibab tribe is still a part of the management and lives in the area today.  It was and interesting and enjoyable activity to start our week end.  

We arrived at the Kaibab/Jacob Lake Inn about 3:00 and had a great snack that included some of their cookies.  Then we found a campsite pretty nearby and got things set up and took a nap.  Then we drove over to Lee's Ferry/Lonely Dell Ranch to see if any of the fruit was ripe.  Neither apples nor pears were ripe unfortunately, but it was a pretty drive.  When we got back we had a great dinner at Jacob Lake.  After that we drove as far as they allowed toward the Grand Canyon.  Many roads are blocked off.  We only got as far as the Country Store/Camp ground.  Then it was time to head back to get to bed.  In the morning we took our walk and enjoyed the cool, cloudy weather.  It was so beautiful.  Then we went to breakfast at Jacob Lake.  It was pretty slow, but also pretty good.  They were actually very crowded with lots of firefighters and other people (some bow hunters) staying there.  Then we went back to camp to take pills/brush teeth and get ready for the day.  We decided to drive to the view points since you couldn't see the canyon other than that.  It was a beautiful forest drive.  We saw some wildlife along the way - deer, birds, lots of chipmunks playing chicken in the road, wild turkeys, and 7 Kaibab squirrels that were nearly impossible to photograph!  We were excited to see that many...more than any other times we've been there.  It had been raining over there and was still cloudy, so it was cool.  There had been another fire going at the time of the one that burned the lodge, etc. You could see it's devastating effects as you were coming up the hill onto the plateau with miles of trees burned along the road and then on  over the hill and down the road toward the Vermillion Cliffs.  It was so sad to see so much destruction of beautiful forest.  But, we were glad about there still being a lot left, thank goodness.  It was a wonderful, cool, relaxing campout!  

We finished up the fun with a Lava Point picnic and beautiful Kolob Terrace Road drive with Bean on Monday afternoon.  The weather was fine with beautiful clouds.  Our picnic was tasty and we enjoyed the drive through the woods.  

4th of July time!

 The week of the 4th included lots of things - a surgery on Wednesday. It went seamlessly and with no after pain.  I'm still waiting for the results of the tests, but hoping for all negative.  The day of the 4th we went for a beautiful drive over Cedar Mountain - it was covered in wild flowers - and then on over by Bryce to check out a possible family camp site for next year.  We stopped and picked up Bean to go with us.  We had a really nice picnic there - Pine Lake Campground/Lake and then drove home again over Cedar Mountain.  It was beautiful again!  That evening Ferf and Torin and a friend of Ferf's and the Randalls came by to watch the fireworks from up on the hill.  Our Blake neighbors put on just about as good a fireworks show as the city did!  We had a great view of both of them!  Didn't get much in the way of pictures.  Oh, yes, it has been a busy week in the yard too.  Paul is working on a small stone patio under the mulberry tree out back.  I have been busy pulling weeds everywhere.  

Happy Father's Day Paul!

 

Oh how we all love you (and especially me)!  Happy Father's Day Paul.   It was a nice day with dinner that Paul chose and helped make.  Ferf and Anna Lou joined us for omelets, hash browns, toast, fruit salad and of course, cheesecake for dessert!  It was all yummy. Kids were calling all evening to wish  him a happy Father's Day! Moss, Christie and kids came by later and had some cheesecake and we gave Moss his birthday present and Father's Day card/candy bar since we'll both be gone on his birthday.  Later on, we listened to old records on our record player.  The kids think it's crazy, but they liked it!  PS - We tried out his new scrabble game last night...oops, I won.  But not by very much - 235/220.

Memorial Day Picnic Fun!

 School's out, graduations are over and it's onward toward Summer vacation!  But, before we take off and get going we always enjoy the Memorial Day Picnic that has become a tradition now.  This year was better than others in some ways, and a little bit scary in other ways.  The Weavers usually have a Sheffield boat trip/picnic conflict which makes things hard for them, but this year the boat trip was scheduled just a bit later and that did away with the conflict.  Yea!  We had 31 people able to make it.  We missed quite a few, but we do what we can with who we have.  Jay and Brynn always come for that weekend and that's pretty much how we got the tradition started.  This year Paul was a bit down for it because of his recent knee replacement surgery.  We took a cot for him to lay down on and an ice chest full of ice to put on his knee.  He actually did pretty well.  And, it turned out that the cot was a good thing to have there for another reason...that was the scary part.  Moss brought along a hammock and he and Jay hung it up in a couple of trees.  It must have seemed solid, but not long after Moss lay down in it, it crashed to the ground dropping him on a chopped off stump which hit him in the back near his kidney area.  He sat rather dazed for a little bit afterward.  I know it hurt lots for him to do that.  Luckily he didn't land on his backbone on a big rock that was also below it.  Then he came over by the tables with Christie and suddenly he was turning pale and passing out from shock.  She and other people caught him before he hit the ground and managed to get him on the cot.  He was having a hard time staying conscious for a little bit and then Ferf stepped in to help with her skills and nursing bag.  She got his blood pressure and did other assessments.  Supe had 911 on the line just about to head our way when Moss seemed to come out of it so they didn't need to come.  They got him laid down and into the shade and calmed down and with Ferf's skills she found that nothing seemed broken or injured internally.  He did have some scratches on his back which she carefully took care of while keeping a close watch over him.  Christie was just about to lose it herself I think with worry for him.  So thankful that it wasn't worse than it was.  He's fine now.  It really showed me how much shock can do in a situation like that.  Moss is very able to do first aid on others, but this time it was his turn and there was nothing he could do to get past that shock without the help he got from others.  I don't think that he thought that it would hit him so hard. The rest of the day went well.  The weather was wonderfully cool.  Pine Valley is such a beautiful place.  The cousins and older peeps had fun visiting.  We had a great lunch of sloppy joes with lots of sides to go with it. Games were played, hikes were taken, people caught lizards and saw snakes (non-poisonous).  Juge and Lance brought their new kitten, Pippin, who was a real hit.  Supe and Beacher brought their dog, Auri, and she is much loved too.  Later we broke out the s'mores and had a good time roasting marshmallows for them and getting very sticky eating them.  It was just a wonderful, relaxing - except the incident with Moss - day!  I always want to stay longer, but the time came to leave so we could clean up and head home.  Jay and Brynn and girls went over to Moss and Christie's after we got home so their kids could swim in their neighborhood pool.  Paul and I stayed at the house because he needed to rest and get his knee up with ice.  It was a great day!  Happy Memorial Day! I remember Weed at this time when  people are visiting graves of military and other family members.  I don't remember Weed by visiting her grave usually, but that doesn't mean I don't remember her. So grateful for family members alive and those gone ahead.  And so thankful for those who gave so much for our freedoms.  I am thankful to live in the "home of the free because of  because of the brave."  

President's Day weekend fun!

We had a fun weekend with Jay, Brynn and girls and lots of the rest of the family. Saturday we did a fun hike - The Aspiration Trail.  I love this trail with all of its inspirational messages on rocks lining the path.  Afterwards all who could came over for a hot dog picnic and lots of visiting.  Juge made a cake for us for dessert and to celebrate Weed's birthday.  Jay and Brynn had some tough weather on the way down, but the rest of the time is was really wonderful.  Paul and I had a good time with the girls on Saturday evening while Jay and Brynn went out to dinner with Moss and Christie.  We ate pizza and played a fun card game.  Sunday we had to split up for church since we go to the Singles Ward, but afterwards Moss and Christie joined us for dinner and visiting.  On Monday those who could came to the annual Sears Invitational Art Show at the university and the kids had a great time doing the I Spy painting search.  After that we went to Arctic Circle for a fun time visiting and eating lunch.  Then Jay and Brynn had to take off after a quick visit to Grandma Kurtz (Anna Lou).  Then Paul and I enjoyed going to Eliza's Soccer game.  It was the last game of a weekend tournament and they won with Eliza making a great assist for one of their points!  It was a full and fun weekend!  

24th of July hike!

 What a great hike we did for July 24th!  We went up the Mill Flat trail that rangers have been clearing!  They had it cleared to within a half mile of being done, but it is so crazy after that there will be a lot of things that have to be done in order for it to be remade.  We met a group of 3 girl rangers coming down from working on it.  They had their big saw and said they had cleared over 300 logs out of trails this summer.  After we got to the end point of that trail we started back down and decided to take the Cut Off Trail up the mountain to get to the Summit Trail.  Neither of us had ever done it before.  As we were going up we sort of lost it, but then we saw a group of guy rangers coming down it with a horse and a couple of mules.  The girls had told us they had taken that route.  The guys told us that in order the clear the rest of the Mill Flat Trail it will probably take "lots of ologists" meeting to work out the environmental and other impacts that will have to be taken into consideration.  It was interesting in to talk to them.  Since they had just come down the Cut Off Trail it was easy to find after they headed down.  I really enjoyed this quicker ascent route to the Summit Trail.  It was so much faster, lower and easier than when we did it via Forsyth Trail a few weeks ago.  It was all very beautiful and there was still quite a bit of water around.  We looked at the view and ate a snack at the top and then headed back down to go out the way we had come.  I wasn't looking forward to the afternoon sun shining on us, but clouds came in and even sprinkled on us a little bit, so it was actually very nice.  We did a total of 11.36 miles and were pretty tired by the end.  We started at 8:30 am and came out at 3:30 pm.  We did it pretty leisurely like and ate lots of red and purple raspberries along the way.  We saw a couple coming in on our way back and other than them and the rangers we saw no one else.  It was a beautiful, peaceful day of hiking.

Then we came home and cleaned up and cooked a wonderful steak, baked potato, salad, bread dinner and had RB floats for dessert and then watched Mr. Destiny.  It was a really relaxing day for us. Happy Pioneer Day.  We did hear a great pioneer story on the way up to go hiking too.  

 

Happy Mother's Day 2024

 We had planned to go to California for a Broadbent family reunion, but then I realized it was on Mother's Day weekend and it just didn't seem right to go and leave Anna Lou here without someone to wish her a happy Mother's Day.  So, we didn't go.  Then after all was canceled, Ross and Lerlyn decided to come over and surprise her with a Mother's Day visit.  That's really great.  Maybe we would have gone if we had known, or not.  But I'm glad they came.  If they hadn't, we might have gone camping, which is usually what I say I want when Paul asks me. But instead we took a beautiful walk up at Brookside on Friday afternoon and got all of our errands and grocery shopping done on Friday morning. We took little Mother's Day gifts around to the local daughter and daughter's-in-law on Thursday evening and had fun visiting with people there!  We took our usual morning walk as well and saw beautiful hollyhocks.  We also went down to see the new statues at the Town Square.  And we took Ross and Lerlyn on a drive up to Kolob Fingers.  So, it has all turned into a very nice weekend so far and Paul is making a really delicious dinner for this afternoon.  I feel blessed to be the mother of wonderful children, and to Anna Lou for being the mother of my wonderful husband!  I feel grateful to my mom for all she did to be a wonderful mom to me!  I am truly blessed!  Got calls, texts for visits, and presents from kids! Sweet! 

 

Here's the reunion crowd that we missed seeing.  Aunt Georgia in the wheelchair is the closest thing to a mom that I have left from my mom's family.  I do feel sad that I didn't get to see all of these people.  I'm not sure there's going to be a next time with some of them.

Mother’s Day & Father's Day 2023

 Mother’s Day was a nice day for me. Paul cooked ribs on his smoker and we had potato salad, beans and watermelon to round out the summer picnic dinner. The day before we had my favorite lemon meringue pie and on Sunday we had angel food cake and strawberries with whipped cream. Kaebri and Zade and G’ma were there also. We took G’ma to dinner on Saturday for her present. Also on Saturday night Moss and Christie brought over the family presents for me. It was fun stuff!  A gift cert for a chocolate tasting tour and a dinner cert for a new BBQ place.  On Sunday most of the kids wished me a happy Mother’s Day one way or another. It was all nice!  I bought myself new shoes and got a pedicure as well (from Paul).  Juge gave me a darling statue for Mother’s Day when we were up seeing Noah’s play a few weeks ago and later on, after it arrived in the mail, she gave me the most beautiful lily necklace with Lenae written in the leaves.  It's so pretty.  Love it all and most of all the peoples!

We barely made it home from Oregon in time for Father's Day!  It was a nice day for Paul.  He smoked the meat for his dinner.  When we got home we found that our cherry tree was still filled with ripe cherries, so we picked them and we had just enough for me to make a wonderful cherry pie and also a batch of jam.  That made him very happy!  It's his favorite.  He bought his own Father's Day present up at the Japanese Garden in Portland - a sweet little knife made of special steel that he also loves!  The kids called him and loaded him up with nice gifts, so it turned out to be a very nice Father's Day for him I think!