A Visit with Penelope

About once a year I have to visit Penelope Keeling from Rosamunde Pilcher's "The Shellseekers". I know she would welcome me into her home as warmly as she would any of her guests, for she always loved having company.

She might have taken me on a stroll through her charming Cotswold village, where she lived in her later years...

She loved her friends there, often

entertaining them and delighting

everyone with her very unique sense of style.



I am sure she would tell me stories

of her girlhood days in Cornwall

when she climbed over the

rocks by the ocean...

and lived in the little granite cottage

that had a palm tree, with her papa and Sophie...and where she fell in

love with Richard.

What a lovely story.

So lovely, that a few years ago

I made Jim take me

to those old winding

streets to wander around

where

Penelope would have walked..

it was

just as I pictured it.

Thought for the Day

This little thought 

reminded me of mom. 

" I pray that God will help me 

to become all that 

He would have me be.  

I pray that I may face today's 

problems with good grace."

The 24th of July

Grampa "Leo's" birthday is July 25th, so the DeSpain's always celebrate the 24th together. We used to go to grama and grampa's house on 8th east and 8th south to eat and then have a great view of the Liberty Park fireworks. We carry on the tradition at our different homes. Here we have some of "the men" ready to fire up the grill. Patriarch Jim...with Parker, Chris and Eric.

Kathy and Rachel

with Josh and Jake

A few of the only real DeSpain's + Benji (who really is a DeSpain) and Jason.

Ty's always with the girls.

Not quite Liberty Park, but every bit as much fun!!!

Beautiful Flowers

What a difference

a few months make,

a little bit of tender care,
some water and sunshine...

and you've got...

beautiful flowers!!!

Trying to Find Myself

You may have noticed that I have a new format about every week.  I am going through a phase.  A few years ago I went through a similar phase where every few months I moved all the furniture in my house around to different rooms.  I don't know why...but Nick hated that phase, because he had to help me move the furniture.  This phase is much easier on everyone, because no one has to help me move anything (although Whitney might be called up to help with a little design work) far less strenuous than moving a couch downstairs and then a week later moving it upstairs.  I finally found a comfortable place for my furniture and it has remained the same for a number of years, and so I'm sure I will find a blog design that will fit and that I will be happy with and I will leave it there for awhile.  But as I gain strength and more interest in the things around me I have been mentally moving furniture around in my head, I have made a few comments about this to my family and I have heard noises that Nick and Whitney won't be around long enough to help me...can you imagine that?  I wonder what Jim will do? 

Draper Days

JIM AND I HAD FUN AT DRAPER DAYS. A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF THE LONEPEAK TEMPLE AS WE WERE LISTENING TO THE MUSIC.

VISITING WITH ABBY, MIKE AND JAKE..

HAVING FUN WITH OUR FRIENDS, THE WINCHESTERS,

ENJOYING THE MUSIC OF THE BEATLES ON A PERFECT SUMMER NIGHT.

ENDING WITH A GREAT FIREWORKS SHOW!!!! IT WAS A FUN EVENING.

Father and Son

I always thought that it was Jamey who looked just like Jim. But on Father's Day, Tyler showed up with his gift for his dad...it was Tyler in a mustache and some razors. They were suppose to take a picture together and then shave them off together. (kind of a bonding experience). Jim didn't cooperate. Although that mustache brought out the DeSpain in Tyler..

Comings and Goings

This past weekend The DeSpain Gang went to Fish Lake for the annual Family Reunion. We camped out in our usual spot. Ty brought Melanie and Whitney brought Jason. We missed the PA DeSpain's this year and the Latimer's who decided not to introduce Jake to camping until next time...but as you can see, Jason is the best fisherman....

while Nick enjoys his style of fishing.

By the way...A Big Happy Birthday to Jack who turns 10 years old today. Have a great day and a fun year. Love, the Western DeSpain Gang

4 Handsome Boys

We all ready know these boys play baseball. They know how to play just about everything. They also know when it's time to quiet down and be grateful for all they have been given. They get on their white shirts and ties and get ready to go to church.....

Before Church. (They kind of look like the Osmonds when they were little)

After church!!!!. (They have to drive close to 45 minutes each way so that's a little over 4 hours of church on Sunday) So give them a break, they are great boys and they sure are handsome, maybe a bit tired too!!!

Another Day in the Big League

This kid takes his baseball seriously...

Watch as he takes perfect aim at that ball, and hits it off far, far, over the second basemen's (there are several) heads into the outfield.

He may be small, but he's quick and he's smart as he steals....

third base...

And slides in home!!! Another DeSpain wins yet another game! Way to go Luke!!!!!