Five Generations - a year ago

A little over a year ago, Julia (behind the couch), Suzanne, and Blake were here (Preston) visiting us in between Ron's surgeries, and great-grandfather to Blake, Val Gillett from Grace, came for the day. This picture is memorable for that reason alone, but also of note is Ron's famous beard - which didn't last too much longer.

Belated Happy Birthday to Suzanne

Last summer - Blake was enjoying this ride.

Blake, Jonathan, and Suzanne - What a handsome family!

I tried not to get these pictures backwards, but after three trys, I give up - These were taken outside the Portland, Oregon temple on Suzanne's and Jonathan's wedding day. His brothers are the teasing men on the right, Marilyn and two other attendants on the left.

This was a very happy day, and the beginning of a wonderful new family.

Suzanne was an avid sports fan, but she also played a mean game of softball, as well as excelling in basketball. She is not very tall, but she could really shoot the basketball.

May this coming year be a wonderful one for you and your family - we're anticipating the addition of a brother for Blake in April, and are excited for you!

Frosty February 15th in Preston

The sun did shine across the tops of the frosty apple trees. It was a beautiful morning - only 1 degree above zero at the onset. Old Man Winter still has us in his grip, but there is beauty still in the cold and frost.

Christmas Presents that Last a Long Time

Last year, Dorothy and Sara & their families gave us several months of planted bulbs so that we could enjoy flowers in the winter. It was so successful that this year, they decided to send us some bulbs, and we could plant them as we liked. The first bulbs to grow and make beautiful flowers are the paper-white narcissis. They are so pretty - the first amaryllis is just beginning to grow, so we should have flowers for a long time. They are so welcome in the middle of this snowy, icy, frosty winter - a reminder that spring isn't a long time away, and that it will eventually come.

The animals are just beginning to dance.

Here they are, Judy, as per your request. The little animals are complete, and now are ready to be placed on each block, fused, sewn down, and the auxiliary blocks and borders sewn, and I'll be ready for the April birth - for Blake's little baby brother. These little animals were so much fun to make; they began coming alive when a few little embroidery touches were added, and will look even better when they're stitched to the background. The designer gets my vote for "cute".

Be sure to enlarge each of the sets of animals. Oh, yes, and the hen seems to be floating, because her dancing legs and feet have to be embroidered after she is on the block.

Julia Has a Birthday!

Okay, so we really don't care to have birthdays fussed over as much when we are adults as when we were children, but it gives the rest of us an opportunity to recognize the unique qualities of each family member, and how they contribute to the the family as a whole. Julie has special talents, and certainly put them to good use when she became a mother and then a grandmother. She has used her empathic talents, along with her intelligence to keep the ties strong with her husband, children, (that includes her grandchild), parents, sisters, grandfather, and her husband's family. We have watched Julie blossom through the years, and take on increasingly difficult jobs at her work, as well as coping with home life. We hope you have a wonderful day - we wish you Happy Birthday!

Glory in the Morning

Here in northern Cache Valley, we are experiencing what is called an inversion - we seldom have it as bad as Logan, Smithfield, and Richmond, but it can be very unpleasant. We had some foggy situations this morning, but as the sun was coming up, the fog dissipated. It was as though the sky was divided, with the light from the sun shooting straight up, with a division between the radiating light and the northern sky.