A Saturday Stroll on the River Walk

One of our favorite places to walk is the River Walk in Logan. It's in the middle of the Logan River Golf Course. It is beautiful whatever the season. We leave the car at Rendevous Park. It is a mile to Golf Course Road and a mile back. The water is so crystal clear that we saw a bunch of fish. We'd like to go back with fishing poles. We saw people we knew today so we stopped and chatted a while.

Reed

Ducks

Geese

Miscellaneous

Our huge 12 foot Christmas tree, which we purchased to fit in this house with the vaulted ceilings, will now be at home at the Burkhardt residence. They have a big, two story entry that will make a great location for it. We gave them our big tree ornaments too. When we had the gigantic tree I had to hang little personalized Christmas stockings on it for our entire family just to take up some space. We are wondering where we can even fit a small Christmas tree this year. I gave Bryan 14 sets of 100 lights which we weren't using. He loves to decorate for Christmas while Reed and I are are sort of scroogey. (Is that a word?) I wrapped my first couple of Christmas gifts last night. That's all I have purchased so far. I had better get busy...just over a month left. I wish I had some spare moo-lah as it would be fun to purchase unexpected gifts for lots of deserving people. I think it would be satisfying to be able to help others financially.


We went for a ride to Bear Lake. We stopped at Beaver Mountain. They hardly have any snow at all. It will be a long time before they open for skiing. Beaver Creek Lodge had banners out advertising snowmobiles for rent. This good weather must be tough for business. Most places in the canyon are totally bare and dry with no evidence of snow. I have wanted to go 4-wheeling really badly. Every place I have suggested, Reed says he doubts the road is open. As we drove the canyon, we checked out several good spots for 4-wheeling. Most were gated with signs of closure from November to May. How disappointing!

When we were passing First Dam and ready to enter Logan Canyon, there was a 3 point buck walking along the hillside. Too bad I didn't have the camera with the good zoom on it.

Thanks to Marilyn, who gave me one of these for Thanksgiving last year or the year before, I was able to make some of these treats for those I visit teach etc. Jill helped me with the paper to accompany the sacks. It says:

Blessing Mix

Each ingredient in this snack symbolizes something associated with Thanksgiving.

Bugles - represents a cornucopia - a horn of plenty

Pretzels - represent arms folded in thanks and prayer

Candy Corn - represents the sacrifices of the Pilgrims' first winter. Food was so scarce that settlers survived on just a few kernals of corn a day

Peanuts and Sunflower seeds - are the promises of a future harvest, one we will reap only if seeds are planted and tended with diligence

Dried fruit - Thanksgiving is the celebration of the harvest

Happy Thanksgiving!

One evening we were coming back from town and there was a gorgeous sunset. The colors were very vivid and bright...turquoise blue and orange. I raced home to take a picture but the sky was a minute or two past its prime. I guess I should have pulled over to get the shot I wanted.

Family Cars

In 1967, Reed purchased a brand new lime green Ford Mustang right off the showroom floor. We got married in 1971, had Kimberly in 1972 and Jill in 1974. The Mustang had around 140,000 or so miles and we had outgrown it.



In the spring of 1976 before Robin was born, we purchased a new buckskin tan 1976 Pontiac Grand Prix. Candace was born in 1977 and Jodi came along in 1980. Where did we fit everyone? Luckily the girls were all little and seatbelts and carseats weren't issues back then.



In April 1986 we were 'just looking' at vans and ended up coming home with a full-sized custom three-tone gray Ford van. It had levelors and drapes, swiveling captain chairs, a fold-down back bench, a table and lots of room. The girls fought over the seats so when we went on vacations, we had a rotating seating chart. I could never see well out the back windows and worried about backing over someone or something. Driving the van was great when I had to haul people or possessions but I didn't like it when I was driving alone. It felt like a bus.



The girls grew up and were getting driver's licenses and cars of their own. We didn't need a big van anymore. We ordered a Ford Explorer in 1994. We had a hard time deciding on what color to get...forest green or dark cranberry? We voted and got the dark cranberry with a gold package on it. I really enjoyed the Explorer. I liked being up high and being able to see well. If there was one dislike, it was probably the stiff truck suspension.



During the Christmas holiday of 2001 when I was at work and Reed was home on vacation, he found a car he liked and took a test drive. He took me out to the dealership for a test drive as well. So in December of 2001, we got a 2002 desert sand Toyota Avalon. We added the gold package on it as well. It has been a great car and has served us well for nearly 100,000 miles. We have basically had trouble free driving for 7 years. How long will it be until repairs start killing us? We have a few issues with it...none of which are Toyota's problems.




Five new 'family vehicles' have taken us through 41 years. We have had about an equal amount of pickup trucks. All of those were 'used' except the most recent one. Our current pickup is a pacific green 1998 Ford and only has about 30,000 miles on it. The girls bought their own cars except a white chevrolet monza and a cinnamon cadillac cimmeron.



We are satisfied with Toyota Avalons. We have just purchased a cocoa bean 2009 Toyota Avalon Limited. The car looks black unless it is in the sun...then it is brown topped with a clearcoat containing gold metal flake. The picture below doesn't show the unique color/paint. It will take a lot of care to keep looking pretty. It has many neat features which will probably take me a long time to learn and utilize. Love it, hate the payments.

Saturday Snapshots

Reed wanted to take a look at Benson Marina. We kept driving...on to Clarkston, over the mountain to the Bear River Valley in Box Elder County, back to Clarkston to the cemetery, on a dirt road that took us into Weston, Idaho, then we meandered here and there and back home again. It was a nice ride although the temperature was a bit brisk.

This is the monument to Martin Harris at his gravesite. On this side there was a plaque that had the testimony of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon.

This side had the inscription shown below.

Amphitheater where 'The Man Who Knew' pagent is held.



Bear River Valley



The valley is a patchwork of fields.

A huge hawk was perched on one of these sprinkler wheels until we approached to take a picture. This is looking eastward from Benson.

This and all the remaining pictures were taken at Benson Marina.

Beautiful Fall Day

After a few days of clouds and rain, there were pretty blue skies and sunshine today. Hopefully this respite from dreary days will continue. It was a mood lifter. I was so excited I stepped outside to take some pictures. We actually need to mow the lawn again as it has grown long and is covered with leaves. We just need to wait for it to dry out a little more.

Looking Southwest from the front porch.

View to the West showing our church steeple.

Another SW shot from front porch showing flowering pear tree in parking strip.

This is taken from our back porch looking Northeast. In the center of the picture and on top of the mountain you can see the tower on Mt. Logan Peak. We like to go 4-wheeling up there. The homes in the lower left hand corner are on the Providence bench. The foundation for Jill's home is just north of the homes in the picture. It is a long shot, but with binoculars we can stand in the backyard along the east fenceline and see the Schvaneveldt property. Sam's new home is south of the Millville church on the hill and Jill's new home will be straight up the hill east of the church. They will both have gorgeous views!

Money and Music

We were invited to a dinner and program at the Ogden Eccles Conference Center by our financial planner. The program featured a renowned Chief Economist and Economic Advisor, Jeff Thredgold, and his wife, Lynette, who is a world-class pop violinist and recording star. She is also a personal trainer, wrestler and body builder. A couple of the things that I remembered from the economist's speech was that: In 1980 a college graduate averaged 25% more in earnings than those who only had a high school diploma. Today, those with college degrees earn an average of 90% more than their counterparts with just a high school education. Also, someone with good computer skills generally makes at least 15% more in the same job than someone without those important skills. Currently one out of every three working toward a college degree is 40 or older. Because of the importance of a college education our estate and trust attorney told us that he and his wife have set up sort of a Family Perpetual Education Fund (patterned after the Church) for their children and future grandchildren. Good idea!


When we walked in to the dinner we didn't see anyone we knew amongst those already seated, so we picked out an empty table on the far side. I told Reed maybe no one would sit with us but right after that a couple came along and asked if they could join us. For some reason, the woman seemed vaguely familiar. After they were seated the woman said her name was Alice and her husband was Gene. We said we were Kathy and Reed. I had a sudden revelation and asked if she was Alice as in Alice Gardner who went to Logan High. She said, "Yes, so who are you?" She was staring at me and saying, "Kathy, Kathy, Kathy who?" I started laughing and she said, "Kathy Milligan...I recognize you from your laugh." We were in the same graduating class 40years ago and hadn't seen each other since. We really never had much to do with each other. Alice confided in me that my sister had married her first boyfriend, Ron Malouf. I guess she was so devastated that she never married until a year and a half ago. LOL. Alice married a guy and inherited 5 children, 18 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She was talking so softly that I had a hard time hearing her but I think she said one of her stepkids is older than she is. Alice and Gene are trying to get their finances in order so they can put their papers in for a 23 month proselyting mission. Reed thought the old man looked like he had one foot in the grave and the other one on a banana peel. Gene grew up in Kaysville and knew Grandpa Prigmore and Uncle Gene. Alice and Gene met each other in the Bountiful Temple where they both work. They live in Centerville. Funny, funny!

Jayse's Baptism Day

Since Kim does not blog, here are a few shots from Jayse's special day. Kim and Bryan live in Nibley but belong to the College Ward which is in the Mendon Stake. College Ward had a special ward baptism for four boys. Kim gave a talk on baptism. Jill lead the singing. Reed, Candace and I tried to maintain some semblance of reverence with a few wiggly, noisy boys. I have to admit the girls were pretty well-behaved. What a zoo with 14 of the grandkids!

The Johnson family

Newly baptized Jayse

4 year old cousins, Brynlee and Ashlyn

Brooklyn at 7 weeks. We had to take turns holding her.

P's (#2)

PROUD moment: Granddaughter, Ashlyn, age 4, is taking PIANO lessons and PROGRESSING very well. The other day she PLAYED "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" for me over the phone. She's a very gifted child. Her PRESCHOOL teacher gave her a book of POEMS with something like 385 PAGES in it. Ashlyn's teacher will take her to get ice cream when she is finished reading the whole book.

PEPPERIDGE Farm cookies. We have to make a cookie run now and then. After making a few PIT stops and not finding what we wanted, Brandon called to find out when the Milanos were being PRODUCED. We went the next day to PURCHASE cookies. After that we visited Ron, then went to see the PROGRESS on Kent's new subdivision. Kent and Eric were both there.

Fresh POWDER in the mountains and PLUMMETING temperatures everywhere. PUSH that thermostat up and PILE on the blankets! Snowbird Ski Resort opens tomorrow.

PROUD moment: Grandson Jayse Johnson turned eight years old on Monday, November 3rd. We gave him a new quad (scriptures, not 4x4). We joined the Johnson family at Iggy's for Jayse's birthday dinner. This PICTURE was taken after the baptism at the Mendon Stake Center on November 8, 2008. More PICTURES to be POSTED later.

PROUD PAPA. After three sons, I think Jory is enjoying a little girl.

PROUD Mama, Candace, must have fun dressing PRECIOUS Brooklyn in PRETTY PINK dresses.

Oops, Brooklyn is PROJECTILE PUKING!

I was PLEASED to see Mother at the rest home. She was PRETTY happy, conversant, clean and was entertained by the flash on my camera. We also visited with Aunt Helen. She said it is good to have us back. When we reminded Helen that her birthday is coming up, she reminded me that mine is before hers. I told her that she will be 92. That seemed to really surprise her.

My favorite Thanksgiving PLAQUE. This was a PRESENT from Marilyn several years ago.

PILGRIMS. We are getting ready for Thanksgiving. We will be having dinner here. Wow, six and a half more weeks and it will be Christmas.

PROUD moment. Hailey came home with her report card for the first quarter. It was a PERFECT 4.0! Courtney has a 4.0 GPA for her middle school years. The PLAN is to continue the exceptional work, be the class valedictorian, and get a great scholarship.

PETROL PRICES. Since we have been home the PRICE of a gallon of gas has gone down from $3.35 to $2.33. We are PLEASED even though Jodi has been PAYING under $2/gallon for a while.

PRESIDENT-elect Obama...certainly not my PICK. The POLLS had been making PREDICTIONS for him for winning the PRESIDENTIAL election and for the Democratic PARTY to have POWER in the House and Senate, but I kept wishing for a miracle. We all need to hope and PRAY for the USA!

The Schvaneveldt's home in PROVIDENCE Highlands has the foundation and the workers have been working on the sub-floor PLUMBING. I don't think the basement floor has been POURED yet. Jill and Brandon have been offered the chance to have their house in the PARADE of Homes in June. There would be some PERKS to having their home on display. They haven't decided yet.

The Coles, some of our missionary friends, were PASSING through here a couple of weeks ago. We went to get some ice cream one night and went on a drive in the PICK-UP the next day. It was a PLEASANT fall day. We went up Blacksmith Fork Canyon to Hardware Ranch, then on to Eden, Huntsville and Liberty, checked out POWDER Mountain and headed homeward through South Canyon, making one large circle. We ended up eating lunch in PARADISE. We dropped them back at Deon's dad's home in PROVIDENCE.

My Kindergarten teacher, Ruby Akin, PASSED away a month and 4 days from her 100th birthday. I had such a bad cough I did not attend her services. She was a wonderful PERSON and I really enjoyed visiting her in the PAST few years. For Valentine's Day in 2006 I had solicited valentines from her former students and PUT them in a large Valentine Box I made and PRESENTED to her. She was PRETTY special to me.