Home Sweet Home

We signed the papers last Monday on this house. As soon as the renter moves out we can start moving in. Well, after we take out the carpets and clean and steam everything to sanitize it. It is a old house that we will remodel and update as we live in it. The yard will be one of our first project next spring. I want to have the part right in front of the house planted into square foot type gardening. We will plant flowers along with veggies. The part of lawn that is closest to the street will be kept in grass for now. The back yard has a large walnut tree which provides lots of nice shade. This will be greatly appreciated come summer. There is also a large red delicous apple tree which has really good tasting apples. Because of the the trees, the back yard doesn't have very much full sun for a garden. In the back is a four car garage which has Joe in heaven. This will allow him to have a place for his wood working tools and electronics equipment.

The house inside (pictures coming when we can move in) has lots of very small rooms and hallways. We plan on opening up the rooms. We want to have the kitchen, dining and family room all open. We hope to have an office--extra bedroom on the main floor along with a master suite. The upstairs has two good sized rooms. One will be a guest room and the other sewing etc room. It will take us quite a while to get everything done we want do but it will be fun (I hope). It is not like we haven't done this kind of project(s) before so I think we know what we are getting into. Of course there is always the unexpected that shows up.

Let's Make a Deal Week

I love a good deal and a bargin. It makes me get very excited when I have found some really good deal on something, especially when it is something I need. Well, this past week has been a good week. First: Winco is in Salt Lake City!! Yahoo. My favorite grocery store. They have the best deals for produce and bulk items. Second: for our Relief Society activity this month the Grocery Guru came and did a presentation which was really good and I think I will be able to find some even better deals. Yahoo!! Third: Yesterday I went Deseret Industries to find a vase for my fall decoration. I found one for $.75. While I was there I found three plates for a $1.00 each that I wanted, some Christmas glasses to match the ones I already have and two women's dress jackets. One is a black Pendleton wool jacket. The jackets were $8.00 each and are really nice looking. What a week for good deals!

The Final Chapter of "How Does My Garden Grow?"

This past week I went to Idaho to work on getting the yard ready for winter. I think winter decided to give me a little clue of what is in store for winter and I had better not lounge around but get right to work. Later in the day as soon as the snow had melted I went out and cut the cabbage. It was so cold I was afraid that the cabbage would not survive the freeze that night.
As you can see the cabbage made it. I didn't get as much as I had hoped for but look how big the one is. We will enjoy cabbage, coleslaw etc for some time to come.
The last of the red potatoes. It is hard to see how large they are but some were the size of a soft ball. I am really pleased with the spud harvest this year.
My poor apple trees didn't do very good this year. Carl did say he had picked a few but this all I have to show for this year.
But the peach tree made up for the poor showing of apples. My Mom and my wonderful neighbor froze peaches for us. My neighbor also canned seven quarts of peaches for us. I wish I could move my neighbor down here. They are the best neighbor's you could wish for.
Our red onions did very well. The only problem is that they have a really strong flavor. They will be great to cook with.

And so our little garden was put to bed last week for another year. Sweet dreams little garden and get rested for a new year.

A fun working vacation

Day one: Flew from Salt Lake City, Utah to Portland Maine. We stayed with our great friends Steve and Linda. We have been friends for many years. We met at BYU when we were going to school. Joe and Steve were called to serve as counselor's in the Branch presidency together. Linda and I became friends while Joe and Steve were gone many hours. Our friendship has continued for 35 years. It is wonderful to have friends that we have so much in common and have shared so much with.

Day 2/3 Went shopping with Linda to a craft store to purchase beads etc to show her how to make jewelry. We spent the afternoon making bracelets. So fun, mostly because we are together and got to talk and talk and talk...... We have to catch up for a whole year since we have seen each other. Went to to the Sanford Ward in Sanford Maine. They have a wonderful ward. Also got to see Mimi, another BYU friend who happens to be in the Sanford Ward. Great fun to catch up. After church we had a great dinner and then got talking about a great book Steve had been using with his calling. It is called “Bridges out of Poverty”. Very interesting.

Day 4-6 Stayed at Gloucester MA. The hotel is right on the beach and it was great except that Joe had to be up to catch the train into Boston between 5:30 and 7:00 so no sleeping in. :(
Day 7 I caught the train then subway into Boston. I was able to attend the Museum of Fine Arts. I used to go quite often when we lived in Nashua so it was a treat to get to go back. I was a little disappointed as they are adding a large addition so a lot of the art was being transferred to the new part. This is my favorite painting by Renoir. I love all his work.

The view from our room
Day 8 The classes are finished and a day off. We were going to go out on a whale boat watch but it was canceled due to high winds. We decided to drive up to Booth Bay, Maine and spend the night. It was really neat and lots of great food. We found a little one man booth that sells just lobster rolls and a few other items. We also got fresh Wild Maine Blueberry pie. In fact it was so good we had it the next day. We then spend the rest of out trip with Rose and Ken. What fun to see them again. A great trip, now I need a vacation to catch up on my sleep.

You call this work?

Joe went on a business the end of June to Everett Washington. He got to spend the day on a boat in the Puget Sound. He was observing the equipment for his work they are considering purchasing. He said it was the best business trip he has gone on.

This is a whale.

Bald Eagles

Sea Lions

Garden Update

Look at my great harvest! There are still lots of potatoes still growing in my garden. I was so excited to see how wonderful my potatoes grew this year. Carter helped me harvest the potatoes and cabbage. I dug the potatoes and he picked them off the vines. Even Freddie helped. He likes to toss the potatoes around and then eat them. I missed most of the apricots but the few still on the tree were delicious. The peach tree is loaded. I need to plan my next trip in time to pick them.

The boys had a great time swimming. Aren't they the cutest? Alice and the boys were able to get away from their small apartment for a few days and spend time with Carl at Uncle Carl's house. Braeden loves to play the Wii with Carl. Carter likes to help outside. They love to climb the tree off the deck. Tanner discovered how to roll down the hill.

Family Reunion Fun Times

Joe's family had their family reunion over the weekend of the 24th of July. It was fun. We took Braeden and Carter with us to Idaho as their parents were moving that weekend and were not able to attend. We had a great time visiting with all Joe's brothers and sisters, spouses, nieces and nephews etc. We spent part of Friday at Porter Park in Rexburg. There is a really neat old restored carousel and a 'water spray' playground equipment at the park.

Braeden and Carter playing on the Water Spray playground. They had a ball. After playing at the park we went to Sue's house for supper. Lyle's famous Vinegar grilled chicken with Dutch oven potatoes and salad.

Saturday we gathered at Richard's home for breakfast cooked on the grill outside. All the kids had a ball playing outside in the yard and the adults had a great time catching up with everyone.Carl, Doug and Jessica were there from our family.