Will Fish For Food!

We have fished a lot at Hyrum Dam this year and have had great luck. The nice thing about the dam is that it is only about 4 miles from home. Since school started there are times we have had the whole dam to ourselves. We seem to be catching more fish than the other fishermen. We have seen others get their binoculars out to 'spy on us.' We have had other boats 'follow' us, presumably to see what we are fishing with or why we are having success. We troll faster than anyone else. We use downriggers at a depth of about 15 feet. The funny thing is that the fish seem to only like one of our lures. It is an old discolored, rusty, reddish-orange triple teaser that I found in our kitchen junk drawer. Two days in a row we each caught our limit of six. I usually take care of the fish at the fish cleaning station while Reed gets things put away and takes care of the boat. We have smoked a bunch of fish, given some away, eaten many, frozen some for later, and might bottle some too.

One morning's catch

Wrapped in foil for a family dinner

Somewhere Over The Rainbow...

On Saturday the 22nd we ended the week at the Logan Temple. The following day we began the week attending the Oquirrh Mountain Temple dedication. We had a really nice rain on Sunday. (When the saints meet, the heavens weep). I captured this rainbow over Mt. Logan from our back porch when the rain stopped.

...now on to some of our family's milestones & new experiences for August...

KATELYN started pre-school, OWEN started Pre-K, ASHLYN and BRYNLEE began Kindergarten! COURTNEY started taking dance lessons and is our first grandchild to be old enough to take Seminary. RILEY and ASHLEY got braces on their teeth. RILEY moved from Spring Creek to South Cache and ASHLEY moved from Thomas Edison Charter School to Spring Creek. KIM even changed grades in her job as Teacher's Aide. ANDREW started chemo. JORY broke his ankle. BRYAN is one of the 'fortunate fifteen' remaining employees (for the time being) at Weathershield. AUBREY was blessed and didn't even cry. ANDREW turned 32, COURTNEY turned 14 on the same day that MILES had his 2nd birthday, TANNER is now 9, and OWEN is 4 years old! ASHLYN has her first wiggly tooth. (That's all I can think of now. If family members want something else added, let me know)

Last week...

We went fishing at Hyrum Dam twice during the week. The first time we caught a bunch of nice-sized trout. We had trout and garden produce for supper. The next time we went we only caught some little bass, none of which were keepers. Reed lost two lures and broke his newest fishing pole in half...not a good day. We have been frustrated with the number of ski boats and lack of courtesy they have for fishermen. With cooler mornings and school back in session, we figure that problem will go away, but the water level has dropped dramatically, plant growth has closed some areas off, and snags are frequent. And where did the trout go in the space of a couple of days?


On the bluff above 'Big Toe' at the east end of Hyrum Dam, there is a tower with this guy who keeps watch over the water. When we took Mason, Tanner and Landon fishing, they kept waving at him but got no response. Anyway, it is just a mannequin with red swimming trunks on.

I picked the beans for the final time and pulled the plants up as I went. I loaded them in the back of the pickup and Reed took them to the green-waste bin. We finished bottling the last beans for this year, and if there is any consolation for all our hard work, we won't need to bottle beans next year! We also bottled some diced beets. The pear trees were so burdened with the weight of their fruit that the limbs were bent to the ground. Reed picked the pears so we're just waiting for them to be ready. We made more blackberry freezer jam, impossible zuchinni pie and zuchinni bread.

Reed picked the remaining corn and dug up the corn stalks. Each year we take the corn stalks to one of Reed's friends to feed his horses. We joke that we have our corn 'recycled' as it is run through the horses and then we use the manure on our garden the next spring. We gave some fresh corn to our kids and grandkids with the bulk of it going to Jill and Brandon. They froze it. We bought a bunch of frozen corn last winter so if we froze more we'd have to start up the old freezer in the garage.

A 'SLICE OF HEAVEN'

Several of our friends have dual residences. On Tuesday we went to see fellow HVC missionaries, Gary and Suzanne, who have their primary residence in St. George and spend summers on their property near Lava Hot Springs. We hadn't seen them since March and 60 pounds ago for Suzanne! We met for lunch in town and then spent the afternoon in their beautiful, peaceful surroundings. They have been busy clearing dead and downed trees, lining the edge of the road with rocks, pouring cement, erecting a pavillion, making a patio, adding a washer,dryer, restroom etc. Really nice!

On top of Mt. Logan

Hyrum Dam is in the center of the picture

Providence Quarry is along bottom in center

Our house is in the lower left-hand corner

Conversations with a 5 year old

I'd like to get inside of Ashlyn's mind for a while. She's quite incredible. She cracks us up. Here are some recent conversations:

Ashlyn talking to Aunt Kim: "How old are you?"
Kim: "Twenty."
Ashlyn, after thinking a moment: "You can't be twenty because you are my mother's oldest sister and my mother is thirty-three."
(Ashlyn will ask us how old we are and when we were born. The next time she sees us she'll tell us how old we are, the date of our birthdays, and how old we will be on that next birthday.)

Ashlyn to me: "Grandma, I see some gray hair growing on you."
Me: "I know, I am long overdue for a color job."
Ashlyn: "Don't you like gray? I do, it's just a mixture of black and white."
The next morning-- Ashlyn: "I see your gray hair again!"
Me: "I know, you don't need to remind me, but hopefully you won't be able to see it much longer."
Ashlyn: "Don't worry, Grandma, there are lots of good things that are gray...like concrete!"

Me: "We've got to hurry, it is already eight-O-five."
Ashlyn: "You must mean eight-ZERO-five. Didn't you know that 'O' is a letter, not a number?" (She corrected me on this more than once!)

Ashlyn is always reading, thinking, making observations and asking questions. Out of the blue she came up and asked, "What does 'consequences' mean?" When we were taking her home she said, "Grandma, what does 'assisted' mean?" I told her it meant 'helped,' and if I assisted someone, then I was helping them. Then I heard her say, "Assisted Living." Evidently we had passed an assisted living center and she wondered what it was. One day Ashlyn asked me what 'glurp' meant. I didn't understand what she was asking so I asked her how the word was used. She started laughing and said that there was just this lady 'glurping.' I went to check and she was reading the comics...Dilbert of all things. In one of the conversation bubbles it said "Glurp." How do I define that for her? Ashlyn LOVES the word 'slurp' because the sound of it is so descriptive of its meaning. All I need to say to Ashlyn is 'slurp,' and she gets the giggles.

While eating, Ashlyn spilled all down her shirt. She said that it was 'okay, because that is what Oxi-clean is for.'

Ashlyn just can't believe I don't have a middle name. She wants to know why. I told her that my parents didn't think girls needed a middle name because when they married they added their husband's last name to theirs. Sometimes when she asks me what my middle name is, I say "Milligan." Ashlyn will tell me, "No, that's your maiden name." I told her that none of the four girls in my family had middle names, only the boys got them. She thinks it is awful that we didn't give any of our five daughters a middle name either. She acts like I was very derelict in my duties as a parent. She reminds me that all of my granddaughters have middle names.

When I pick beans in a short-sleeved shirt, I get a red, itching rash on my arms. Ashlyn tells me that I am allergic to the beans. She'll ask what else I am allergic to and then ask her grandpa if he is allergic to anything. If I sneeze, she wants to know what I am allergic to. Do most 5-year-olds even know the word 'allergic?' Also, while snipping the beans, she reminds me that my mother could snip beans faster than anyone...a tidbit she picked up from talks at mother's funeral.

After attending Primary in our ward, Ashlyn's teacher was telling me how the class went. Evidently Ashlyn was quite a handful. The teacher said the kids were all talking at once so she just sat with her arms folded and listened to their conversations, hoping they would decide to be quiet. She said she overheard Ashlyn say something about 'ordination to the Priesthood.' She asked me where Ashlyn got those words from as they are not words normally heard spoken by a 5-year-old.

Ashlyn has been planning her wedding for quite some time. For a while she said she was going to get married on February 3rd. When asked why she picked that date, she said, "Because it's the day after Groundhogs Day!" Like, Duh! Couldn't anyone figure that one out? Now she has decided to have a summer wedding. I asked her if she was going to be a June bride. She said, "Probably not June, because it would have to be after the 21st of June, or it wouldn't really be summer yet." Ashlyn is fine with a white wedding dress, but would like a pink sash. She wants 30 children, 17 girls and 13 boys. Ashlyn thinks the Salt Lake Temple is the best temple so that is where she is going to get married. When asked about the Logan Temple, she will give an emphatic "No!" She doesn't like the fact that the Logan Temple does not have Angel Moroni on top. That upsets her. Recently after attending the openhouse for the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, she remarked to her mother that the Salt Lake Temple was still the best.

Ashlyn is very aware of family relationships. She will often say something prefaced with the relationship like: "My second cousin..." When she hears the garage door going up at home, instead of saying 'Daddy's home,' she is more likely to say to her mother, 'Your husband is home.' She has an uncanny way to figure it all out. One day after Mother's funeral she was telling me something about my mother. She started out saying, "Your mother...my great-grandmother..." and then proceded with the rest of the conversation.

I hope you enjoyed these few 'Amazing Ashlyn' stories. I hope Robin is writing a lot of them down. I am sure I will think of many more as soon as I post this.

Catching up...

We have had a very productive garden this year. Here is a picture of Ashlyn and Katelyn with some of the vegetables they helped pick. Ashlyn, especially, is really fascinated with the garden. She says she is going to be a farmer's wife some day.

Look at the size of our blackberries!

The garden really ties us down. Everyday we have garden chores, but we get to enjoy and share the harvest. We have had sauteed zucchini, impossible zucchini pie, zucchini casserole, and have have made 12 loaves of zucchini bread. Every other day we pick and process beans. We've dined on radishes, peas, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, beets, beans, lots of corn on the cob etc. We've made jam, pickled beets and applesauce. Cantaloupe should soon be ready. The pumpkins are already orange. Next month we will have tomato juice, pears and peaches to bottle and apples to eat. A garden is a lot of work but it gives us a lot of satisfaction (and food storage) as well.

Maybe with our giant sunflowers we'll have food for the birds too! Everything has grown so big and tall. I planted some dwarf zinnias on the border of a flowerbed because the package said they would grow 6-8 inches tall. They are at least 18-24" and block the sprinkler.

Aubrey

Future Shutterbug:

Katelyn loves this old camera from the toy box

Wigs and dress-ups are always a hit

Missed photo opportunity:

One morning when Katelyn got up she had her usual wild, fuzzy, messy 'bed-head.' She was playing with the trolls and lining them up on the bench when I realized her hair looked just like the trolls. It was hilarious! I grabbed the camera but she moved faster than I did and refused to let me take her picture. Oh well, just imagine her with her out-of-control, white-blonde hair kneeling in her pjs in front of this bench.

Cache County Fair

Ashlyn in Cinderella's coach

Ashlyn loved the rides and Katelyn hated them. They both loved all the animals.

The fair wore Katelyn out so she hitched a ride on Grandpa's shoulders

Smoke and dust made strange afternoon skies

For a Daughters of the Utah Pioneers booklet, I was supposed to have my picture taken with a family heirloom. I am holding a sampler that my great-grandmother, Elizabeth Smith Prigmore, made while at the Oakley School in England during the early 1850's. I am holding her picture as well. I didn't tell them that Great-Grandma Prigmore lived and died in England and, therefore, wasn't a Utah pioneer.

Jory: Get Well Soon!

We wish our son-in-law, Jory, a speedy recovery. He seems to get a lot of tough breaks (literally). Pardon me if these details are not be 100% accurate. Jory, Candace and kids were camping with Jory's family at Strawberry Reservoir. Jory and his uncle went on a motorbike ride. While going through some loose gravel or rock, Jory tipped to the side and he put his foot out to catch himself. He suffered a bad break in his ankle. Jory's uncle didn't want to leave him alone in such horrible pain but couldn't find anyone at a nearby camp to be with him. Jory had an ambulance ride to the hospital in Heber where he underwent surgery to put him back together with pins and plates. If this accident isn't enough, by the time Jory gets 'back on his feet,' he will probably be unemployed as well. He works for the Albertsons stores in the Salt Lake Valley in loss prevention/security. With some stores being closed and the others bought out, Jory will be out of a job. With all of our family problems lately, I feel so powerless to make things all better again. Let's all hope and pray for some miracles for the VanWagenen family!

Courtney is 14!

Wow, our oldest grandchild is 14 years old. Time flies. We think she very special! She is a pretty young woman with personality and brains (4.0). She spent the day working at her dad's dental office, getting registered for 9th grade at South Cache and doing corn they got from our garden. We had cake and ice cream at her house but had to eat and run because the garden was being irrigated. We didn't get to watch her open presents, but she was pretty excited about the new cell phone with a keyboard, really neat ringtones and all the features you'd ever want. That will surely make her text-messaging a lot easier! Courtney didn't like the location of her school locker, except she did manage to get a top one. But shucks, she didn't get any classes with her favorite someone.

Courtney shares her birthday with cousin Miles, who turned 2 years old. We were unable to make it to his birthday party in Oklahoma. From the pictures Jodi posted on Facebook and on her blog, it looks like he had a great day. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Miles too!

Update on the update

The new doctors think it is pointless to do the 28 radiation treatments when Andrew is having his colon removed anyway. So it is great news that no radiation will be done. They have also changed the drugs/delivery etc. I feel much more confident in this group of doctors.

Andrew Update

After much delay and a multitude of frustrations with the VA, Andrew has 'fired' them and is going with IHC. Yes, it will cost more out of pocket, but I think it is a wise choice. Chemo will be at Utah Valley where Andrew has his office. Radiation will take place at American Fork Hospital which is a couple of minutes from their home. So much more convenient! Now they don't have to spend a large chunk of time on the road, fill the gas tank as often, or enlist the help of friends and ward members as much. Placement of the pic line, port, or whatever you call it will be tomorrow. Treatments will actually begin on Monday. It is good to finally 'get the show on the road.'

Backyard Waterslide

Jill and Brandon supplied the waterslide and we supplied the yard and ice cream. It made for a fun evening for 10 of the grandkids.

They each got three!

Proud grandkids Riley (13) and Ashley (11) showing off their catch at Hyrum Dam last week.

Aubrey's Blessing Day

Sunday, August 2, 2009 - American Fork, Utah: Aubrey Lauren Burkhardt was given a name and a blessing by her father, Andrew Burkhardt. It was an answer to prayer that Aubrey did not scream during the blessing. Thankfully, she was fairly good natured all day! Andrew gave a nice blessing and later bore his testimony.

Three little girls dressed in white


The Burkhardt Family
Ashlyn, Katelyn, Aubrey,

Andrew and Robin

Mason, Brooklyn and Jory

We had a nice 'break the fast' meal

Later, Andrew was given a Priesthood Blessing. He has two doctor appointments tomorrow and then on Wednesday he starts chemo and radiation. We hope and pray that the Lord's choicest blessings and tender mercies be upon Andrew as he begins this battle. We also pray that the whole family will be strengthened to be able to endure the challenges during this difficult time. Andrew's 32nd birthday is this coming Saturday. We brought Ashlyn and Katelyn home with us.

During Fast and Testimony Meeting, one brother said to "Count Your Many Blessings." Here is a partial list of my blessings:

1. Reed 2. Kim 3. Bryan 4. Riley 5. Ashley 6. Jayse 7. Brynlee 8. Jill 9. Brandon 10. Courtney 11. Hailey 12. Natalie 13. Kaden 14. Robin 15. Andrew 16. Ashlyn 17. Katelyn 18. Aubrey 19. Candace 20. Jory 21. Mason 22. Tanner 23. Landon 24. Brooklyn 25. Jodi 26. Ty 27. Owen 28. Miles 29. Olivia