Fish Lake

Our annual trip to Fish Lake was really fun this year. Jim made our accomadations extra nice. Our's is the white tent. Then we had our lovely sitting area that connected us to Whitney and Jason's red tent. (Ty slept in his car). Who could ask for anything more when surrounded by such beautiful scenery?

Waking up the first morning to a spectacular sunrise.

Gathering with the whole gang. We had a bit of rain and a whole lot of mesquitoes. But we still had fun. Fishing, playing cards, telling stories and riddles and crafting. Just being together with this group is the best.

Jason brought back a friend from fishing. The little kids loved this snake. No parents would let them take it home, so it was taken off into the woods and given its freedom.
I love going to Fish Lake, because it is a place where Jim's family has gone forever. Jim's dad spent summers there fishing and having fun with his friends and family. There are trees with his name carved in them. Jim remembers fishing the streams as a little boy, and we started taking our kids there when they were small~ it's a beautiful place to enjoy family traditions.

James and Carol

I loved going to James T and Carol King last night.
Best music I've heard since Tuesday's concert with
Paul. (Actually I liked last night's better). Could
have stayed and listened all night long.

Paul!

Nothing much to say except Wow!

Three hours of non-stop Paul.
It was unreal. Jim and I loved it.
Next stop on the tour~ James T.

A Beautiful Morning

I got up and went on a walk this morning. What a beautiful way to start any day. First walking out my door to the blue skies and our gorgeous mountain as the sun just starts coming up. As I walk along the quail and robins decide to tag along, and they are certainly welcome. Friends wave as they start their day. I visit with my pal Bob. He's busy painting his fence. Making his yard look nice for a young lady's wedding, later this week, who lives on their lane. My walk is for exercise, but it's no fun if you can't stop and visit with a neighbor or two. As I walk along I notice flags waving from front porches or in potted plants. We love our country here. I walk by my church. I love going there. Who wouldn't with those mountains as a backdrop, and the wonderful feeling that is there? And can you believe those lovely blue and yellow perennials?

As I get closer to my house, I feel a need to look up at those mountains once more. Realizing how blessed I am to live beneath their protecting beauty. They give me peace, they give me direction, (literally).

It feels like home.

I go into my backyard to check on my garden. The deer haven't found us this year - yet. So, our vegetables are flourishing. We've been enjoying delicious tomatoes. The cucumbers and squash are getting big, and we'll be having peppers, beans and carrots before long. I pick fresh lettuce or spinach for a salad almost every night. Upper Garden has never been so delightful. It has truly been a beautiful morning.

Beautiful Summer

artwork by Robert Duncan

Summer Evening

"Crows crowd croaking overhead,
Hastening to the woods to bed.
Cooing sits the lonely dove,
Calling home her absent love.
With 'Kirchup! Kirchup!' mong the wheats
Partridge distant partridge greets.

Flowers now sleep within their hoods;
Daisies button into buds;
From soiling dew the butter cup
Shuts his golden jewels up;
And the rose and woodbine they
Wait again the smile of day."

John Clare

Lessons Learned

Occasionally I reread past journal entries and find something worthwhile that I learned. When I was sick I learned a lot and even though the memory of being sick isn't pleasant it is good to remember those lessons. Here's what I wrote:

"I have learned always 'one day at a time'. How about one flower at a time? Here's the experience of the last two years planting my garden. It took two months. I could only be off the oxygen about an hour a day, so I would go and buy a plant or two at my neighboring nursery each day, come home, rest, and plant them that evening. Then start the whole process over the next day. Huffing and puffing through it all. It took a long time, but the results were every bit as beautiful as previous years and probably more satisfying, because it was so hard and it took so long to accomplish the task.
Lessons learned~ Patience and perserverence and NEVER GIVE UP!"

-Two years later-
"I planted my flowers in two days this year, not very many plants, but equally as beautiful and very satisfying.
Lessons learned~ Simplicity is a rich reward,
Be Happy with What you are given."

Sometimes when I was sick I became very wise.

Family Get Togethers

What can be better than a 4th of July celebration? A 5th of July celebration! We had a great one Monday night. Everybody started showing up around 6 and Jim started barbequeing some delicious salmon. We had our favorite Ceasar salad, asparagus, watermelon and Red Velvet cake dressed up like an American Flag. (Thanks Halverson's for the idea). It was fabulous! A lot of visiting, lounging around
until it got dark enough for Ty's great show! He's the best with fireworks.

Although, Jim can't stay away~ and this year Jason was brought in for consultation.
We all loved it!
Nothing's better than getting together and enjoying
the company of loved ones, especially
seeing those little boys faces light up with
excitement over simple things.

Her Light Shines

We had a beautiful lesson today in Relief Society. How grateful to go to church and be reminded of this great country we live in. To live in such a lovely home with neighbors who truly care for one another. Who share with one another in joy and sorrow. How grateful for the beautiful mountain that protects us and thrills me with its beauty each time I look out my window or step outside.
I would like to put in a quote that was in the end of a lovely lesson today.
"On the Sunday after the September 11th, 2001 disaster; the following was read at the 'Music and the Spoken Word' broadcast:"

"Tragedy has knocked at our nation's Golden Door. The dust fell so thick, and so heavy, we felt it all around us, even though we're hundreds of miles away. With you and with others all across our land, we grieve~and we pray. Lady Liberty may be surrounded by ashes, but she still stands. And her light shines in the hearts of Americans who rally to the aid of those who suffer. Her light shines in the hundreds who line up at the local Red Cross, ready and waiting~for three hours and more~to give blood to someone they don't know on the other side of the country. Her light shines in memory of those who have died. Our nation has overcome tragedy before. And we will rise triumphant again. The words of Abraham Lincoln echo through the ages: "Let us strive..to bind up the nation's wounds,..to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with other nations.' We are 'one nation under God,' and we turn to Him for peace and hope. He is the balm that will heal the wound. He is the calm in the midst of the storm. He has comforted His people through the ages. To Joshua of old, and to each of us today, His promise is sure: 'I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee...Be strong and of a good courage...Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest."

I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who gave me this country, my family, this neighborhood, where we do turn to Him for peace and hope, where He does not forsake, where I can surround myself with love and peace.

Happy Independence Day

Trying to find just the right Car.

We're going on a little road trip in the fall. So, we went on a shorter road trip today to find just the right car to drive in. Jim always likes to go to the Logan fairgrounds in the summer and see all the different cars. We got up early and actually missed our annual 4th of July breakfast and took off. Teri really liked this little red number. I think she would look perfect driving around town in it, but it wouldn't fit us all for the vacation.

Dale liked this one. It would fit us nicely and we could pull our drinks wherever we go!

Perfect~

And of course, Jim found his corvette. After he purchases this car, we couldn't afford to go on our trip, and there would be no room for anyone.

I found the perfect ride. This lovely pink caddy! Lots of leg room. I'm sure it gets great gas mileage too and the trunk has plenty of room for all Teri's and my clothes. (I think this car is longer than a suburban and wouldn't fit in our garage). But she is unique.

A Great Woman

I truly admire Abigail Adams. She was a patriot. She loved and supported her husband, while maintaining her own identity. She loved this new nation, with thoughts and ideas during a time when womens thoughts and ideas weren't welcome. She and her husband were true partners. She was educated. She raised her children pretty much by herself, (one becoming a president) while her husband was off forming the new nation. She took care of the family farm. I like her so much that I named a daughter after her, and she has a lot of her traits. She is hardworking, outspoken, loyal, loving, gets what she wants and will do anything for anybody.
Here are a few quotes from Abigail Adams that I love.
"A people fired.. with love of their country and of liberty, a zeal for the public good, and a noble emulation of glory, will not be disheartened or dispirited by a succession of unfortunate events. But like them, may we learn by defeat the power of becoming invincible."
And- in a letter to John she wrote-
"..remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember all men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice, or represention."

I think John probably listened to her.