Golfing and Beaching at Bear Lake

Adri, Craig, and kids are in Utah. Since Kim and CJ were busy we took advantage of their cabin and went to Bear Lake. Linda and Boyd also came up and had a tee time at the Bear Lake Golf Course so Craig and I went golfing with them. What a beautiful day it was. The course was very busy, but we enjoyed it none-the-less. The next picture is where I out drove Boyd so I had to take a picture. Then I got pay-back for being so cocky. My next hit went about 20 feet to the right, and the next hit was about the same. I ate humble pie after that.

It was a beautiful day and was a lot of fun.

When we got back we loaded up for the beach. The kids had a ball. It was a little breezy, but that doesn't bother kids. They played in the sand and on the water tramp.

Back at the cabin the kids had a little "fool's paradise" upstairs. When they weren't at the beach some of them (Keaton) were in front of the TV watching videos. We just let them because life will change into the real world when we get home. Keaton and Klayson will start football on Monday and that practicing in the hot sun.

We love that Kim and CJ have the cabin and hope to get up there again before Adri and the kids go back.

Skimmin' at Bear Lake

With Kim and CJ having fun at their annual Cannon Beach vacation, I told the kids we'd go to Bear Lake and stay at the cabin for a couple of nights and spend one day on the beach. My good friend, Rhonda, said she'd go with us so we left Sunday after church.

Rhonda and I got up early Monday morning and went golfing at the Bear Lake Golf Course, which used to be the Sweetwater Golf Course. It was a beautiful, cool morning and the course was way fun to golf. Rhonda asked me how we were going to get to the green after we teed off on hole #1. She was a little leary when I told her we would take the cart straight down. She thought that first ride down the hill was like the roller coaster at Lagoon. It was a great day to golf, and we even hit some good balls even though there were times we didn't know where the next green was hiding. (too bad I left my camera at the cabin)

The day at the beach was equally as fun. The kids were great. Livey just played in the sand and the older ones rode their skim boards. They got pretty good just skimming along in the ponds on the beach. They said the water was a little high in the lake for the boards. That was fine with me. They were easier to keep track of if they were in the ponds. They had to talk pretty hard to get me to try it, but I did--without much ability. Now if I were as good as Rhonda, I'd be professional. Actually, I'm almost a professional photographer to get such a realistic picture of her on the skim board. Notice, I didn't say 'skimming'!

We ended the stay with Klayson and Rhonda's favorite thing to do -- puzzles! Look carefully and you will see that it is a puzzle of Bear Lake.

So close, Yet so far away!

You can't beat a $5.00 game of golf so Rhonda and I have been trying to get out and practice. There's nothing better than being on the course in the cool morning air. The only thing that could be better is to have a good game, but it only takes one good hit to get me coming back. That good, no, for me I should say "great" hit came today on hole #8. It is a 3 par, but I still decided to use my driver because I don't alway hit so well. I have been slicing a lot to the right so I turned my body a little and let it fly. It sounded great and as I followed the ball I could tell it was a great hit. It was just five inches from being a "hole in one." I even have pictures to prove it. It will probably be the closest thing to a "hole in one" for me. And, yes, that one great hit will bring me back another day.

Sew Cute!

Well, Kim inspired me. I hadn't sewn for years, but when I saw the cute skirt Kim made for OK and the fabric she got for KB a skirt I decided I needed to make one for myself. So she and I made a trip to Sew and Save (that's a misnomar) and I got me some fabric, etc. When I say "etc." I didn't realize "etc." was so many other things. I had forgotten that it takes so many extras to sew something.

I had to have the store clerk help me figure everything I needed. I hadn't sewn clothes for years, (not since the kids were little and would still wear what I made) so I had forgotten how to read a pattern and really had to refresh my memory on putting in a zipper.

The pattern is what blew me away--it was $11.49. I remember when an expensive pattern was $2.50. Now I sound like my dad. He bought a spool of thread once for $.65 so I could fix his pants and thought that was outrageous. He thought thread still cost a nickle.

Anyway, I got busy and finished the skirt. I got the zipper in on the second try and didn't have to unpick any seams. That is pretty good!

Go Green

I decided I would do my part preserving the earth's resources. I have always saved aluminum cans and newspapers when we take the paper. A few months ago Tremonton City put up bins where we could recycle plastic so all my plastic has been recycyled. I saw a composter advertised on Costco so I decided I would try my hand at compost. I hate throwing away food that could be used in compost so I sent for the composter. Little did I know it would come in a 'thousand' pieces.

It really wasn't too difficult to put together as I followed the directions step by step. It is a sphere and should be quite easy to move. All I have to do is roll it to where I want it once I get compost made.

Here it is. I was quite proud of myself, because I did it by myself.

Easter Comes

We went to Virginia for Easter and had such a great time. I was going to post it all, but time just got away from me. The kids got some sidewalk chalk for Easter and while Adri, Sharma, and I were in the kitchen and Craig, his dad, LaMar, and Lloyd were in front of the TV, the kids had a ball. They were outside, unsupervised and going to town with the chalk. They made a line from one end of their block to the other end with stops of different colors inbetween. I loved to see them be able to be outside and be kids but their parents were not too pleased. This is the extent of their fun which you can see was nothing to get excited about. They were good to clean it up. In fact, I think they had as much fun cleaning as making.

Here are more pictures of Easter.

Busy in St. George

We have been busy. We got a hide-a-bed out and a futon in. At first I was disappointed with the college look of the futon, but after buying some pillows to color it up I liked it. I especially like that we have more space in that small room.

After the futon, we decided we needed a taller toilet. So Bob-the-Builder replaced it for us. To go with the new toilet we decided we needed new deck carpet, of course. So we replaced the carpet on the deck. Lloyd was just a little hesitant because he thought we would add on, but we are not going to do that. Our place is small, but it is enough for the two of us for the amount of time we spend here.

We have had teal carpet inside since we bought the place. It wasn't worn at all, but just a little out of date so we decided to order new inside carpet. After we ordered it I had second thoughts. The teal color is really quite relaxing. Here is Lloyd in his new chair (oh, I forgot that we also bought a new recliner this year--the one that was here was so uncomfortable) just relaxing, proving what I said about the teal carpet being quite a relaxing color.

Well, I chose a carpet with a fleck of red (for the couch), blue, green (for the drapes) and gold. I put it against the cupboards and it looked good. Today they brought it and laid it out. I was a little nervous about the look. It was really quite colorful. I wanted something like Kim's and Adri's with just a fleck here and there. This looks like confetti! It isn't exactly what I wanted, but it looks very nice and I like it. It must be a relaxing color, too, because here is Lloyd just relaxing again in his new recliner. Imagine that!

Andrew is One today!

Our youngest grandchild, Andrew, is one today. How time does fly. A year ago I was back in Virginia to help Adri with the kids when she came home from the hospital. This first picture is when Andrew was five days old. What a cutie Grandma thinks he is.

They came again in August and then surprised us at Christmas. Andrew, of course, had changed so much. These are Christmas pictures. The smile on his face is what he has all the time. He is such a good boy; always happy and smiley. We're going out in April to see them and I can hardly wait to mug them up a little.

Let the Sunshine In

We have made a few attempts to come to St. George and stay more than a few days, but those attempts failed. Lloyd was still having problems with his blood pressure dropping, so after two falls I said we were going home. At least at home, if he fell he wouldn't hit something, whereas in St. George the place is so small he was pretty banged up after the falls. This looks good compared to what he DID look like.

With the chemo working its way out of his system, he is getting better with each passing day, so we decided to try it again. Who wouldn't feel better with bright, sunny days.

Oops! Too much water for St. George. I'm pretty sure this is Hawaii! Not bad though. Because there is a lighthouse in the picture, Kim thought it was the Oregon Coast. I'm here to tell her lighthouse or not, it is Kauai, Hawaii. And just to prove to her that I knew my pictures, I put another one in to convince her. Sue and Ashley are on the beach in Hawaii. Notice the palm trees, Kim.

Now this is Southern Utah. I couldn't find the most recent blue skies and red hills so I went back a couple of years when Kennedy was down and we went out to Zions. She is a couple of inches taller now, and her grandpa is a few pounds lighter with no hair at all.

I have never absolutely loved to spend months in St. George because I was never busy enough. These few weeks have been different. Since not being down for so long, there is plenty to do. The carpet on the decks was absolutely rotted away. It really needed to be replaced so we contacted our repairman,

Bob the Builder. He took off all the railings and led us to a carpet layer. We chose some carpet to go with the exterior of the house and it was laid the next day. We are really pleased with how it looks. Of course, anything was better than the rotted stuff we had before.

Through a friend we found another guy who does yard work so Lloyd contacted him and he took out the little bit of grass on one side of the house. He will replace it with small rocks and that way the new carpet will still get the direct sun, but not the water, too.

Next, we ordered new carpet for the inside. I really hate to see the 'teal' carpet go (not), but you gotta do what you gotta do. I'm excited for the new look.

The sun was so bright and it was so warm I decided we needed a 'color spot' so I bought some plants and put a planter together. Lloyd wondered who would water it all summer, but I let him know that it was coming home with us. I think I'll be able to keep it alive until I can put it on the deck in Tremonton.

Out with the old and in with the New

The morning before the plane left.




Well, the Sleights headed back for Virginia and we were all sad to see them go. It was so fun to have the whole family here for Christmas. The tree is down and pack away for another year and the lights are half down and just waiting for a warmer day to take down the others.


We rang in the New Year at Kim's cabin in Bear Lake. Lloyd stayed home, but I decided Bear Lake with family sounded a lot more fun than sitting in front of the TV, and it was. Surprisenly, there wasn't enough snow to sleigh ride or snowmobile so we spent the evening putting together puzzles and playing games. Our favorite puzzle was the one of "Bear Lake" and our favorite game was Bananagram. We all had to use our brains (which was especially good for me) and figure out the words we could make with the letters we were given. It was really fun.



I called it a night about 10:30 and the others turned in about 11:00. We know the new year came, but we didn't ring it in. I hope 2009 is as good to us as 2008.


Fun and games at the cabin on New Year's Day!