Mountain Monday

Kam called early.  He is one of the greatest guys.  Part of our 'maintenance group' here.  I don't know that I like that term, necessarily, because he and Nancee feel more like family and are dear, dear friends since we have had the cabin.  They watch out and take care of all the things we need to have done when we are here and when we aren't.  His crew was coming to clear the scrub oak.  That dastardly stuff that is so beautiful and yet so harmful in the mountains.  With the wet spring it has multiplied and taken off and is quite the fire hazard.  They are working on a good 30 foot buffer all the way around.  And making sure it isn't choking the groves of volunteer Maple trees we are nurturing.  Maple trees are so amazingly beautiful in each season.  But in the fall, they are the ones that offer up that gorgeous red autumn color.  When we first bought Cougarhaven, we didn't even know we had these 'little groves' of them because they were so overgrown with the scrub oak.  It was a precious find.

Christine was all packed up and we headed for Provo.  We have never done a sports camp before here.  We saw and learned a lot.  She is nervous not going with anyone she knows, even though when we signed her up for it that didn't seem to bother her then.  She will figure it out.  She's good at that.  And it will make her stronger.

Duff and I ran some errands while we were down the canyon.  I needed some supplies from Joanne's--thread and a cutting mat--dropped off Shaun's fall apartment contract, and headed for Costco for some bulk items like toilet paper and trash bags.  They carry dress shirts right now.  I've been buying men's dress shirts for 30+ years and these are really nice and at a Costco price.  I picked up a new one for Shaun and Duff got a couple tshirts.  I decided on the new book out about Porter Rockwell.  He has always fascinated me.  It will be a good one to read on the porch or deck.

While we were gone, Shaun went for his daily walk and didn't want to leave Darla alone.  Well, little Darla isn't used to walking up and down hills in the heat and altitude for several miles.  So he had to carry her home, where she gulped water forever and parked herself on the bean bag in the great room for the rest of the day.  Pampered pooch.

It's Friday and We're Baaaack!

The flight was great and we got to Midway about 12:15am. While we were in Long Beach going through security we ran into Kenny and Erin Jenks! I grew up with them in Torrance and Kenny and I were ballroom dance partners for the Dance Festivals. We danced in the Rose Bowl, etc. I had really good experiences as a youth growing up. When Kenny was getting ready to leave for his mission, he and 3 other friends who were all leaving at the same time decided to have 'one more' date. I was Kenny's and we all went to Disneyland. These guys picked us girls up very early in the morning and we had breakfast there and closed it down dancing to Olivia Newton John at midnight. We were all just good friends so no pressure and it was a fun way to send these good guys off on their missions.

Anyway, Kenny is now the bishop of the singles ward in his area and was bringing a bunch of YA's up to conference this weekend. Erin is such a sweetheart and it was great to reconnect with her too.

Today, Duff and Shaun and Christine went to Provo so Shaun could take a test and go to the BYU bookstore and get another sweatshirt. And I went to Tai Pan Trading. Oh MY! I hadn't expected the sensory overload. I could hardly take it all in. It was a lot to process. I did get a Christmas tree for the cabin and a few fall decorations to use at Thanksgiving. The next time I go I'll have a much better perspective. Quite a fun place.

Then Shaun and Christine came back up and Duff and I picked up a few things from Costco. We ran in to Theresa Watson! Her family used to live in our ward and they moved to Springville a year ago because Dale was transferred here. It was wonderful to see her and we had a good long chat right there in the middle of Costco. Duff was very patient!

It has been raining most of the day. Some thunder and lightening. COLD! Just the way we like it. I wonder if we will have snow in the morning????!!!! The news just finished and they say there's a mighty good possibility!

Shaun is in bed, I'm getting ready for bed, and Duff and Christine should be on their way back from the airport picking up Josh and Meredith. We have missed them and they could use a little change so this is a perfect weekend to be together. I called them earlier in the day and told them it was 40*, windy, raining. Josh relayed the message and you could hear Mere in the background yelling: yippee, yeah, etc. It was 95* today in Tempe and they are ready for some cooler weather!

Looking forward to conference. I NEED it. I'm feeling like a sponge lately and need to soak up lots of good things.

Until tomorrow---