Spring Blossoms

Apple blossoms and Lilacs - what a combination for spring! Lilacs were my traditional birthday flower, blooming later in Penrose than in many other places. And apple blossoms, ranging from the pretty pink buds to the more faint pink buds always attract so many honey bees. As you can see from the many picturess I've posted, we live next door to an apple orchard, boasting many different varieties, and including some apricots, and plums. The orchard owner usually has a blend of apples that he takes to the cider mill in Paradise, Utah (Yes, you can go to Paradise on this earth.), and makes into the most delicious apple cider you would ever want to drink.

South Pass in May

The trip over South Pass, Wyoming always elicits memories of past crossings - South Pass in the winter and snow, the beauty of the greener grass in June when the reds in the mountains look more vivid, and driving it in windstorms. We saw lots of pronghorn antelope as we approached the pass. Also, there are the thoughts about all of those pioneers who went over South Pass because it offered the least resistance to their wagons. It never seemed very much like a pass to me, but it is lower than the surrounding mountains. There were still patches of snow at the top during the third week of May, but they're probably all melted by now.

Memorial Day Past

Flowers were on Grandma and Grandpa's grave - would be nice to know who put them there - but we do remember them, as well as our parents and other family members buried in the Penrose Cemetery. (As you can see, I'm in the picture, too.) When we go to Burlington in July, I'll take a little digging tool with me - the vase holders that Dad wanted on their tombstone was filled with dirt and grass - Just a little digging should reverse that.

Cousin Mardie called yesterday to say that she couldn't get to Preston as planned to put flowers on Reed's grave, so Ron and I bought a bouquet to take out. Flags were flying everywhere yesterday - it was a beautiful sight.

Benjamin

Benjamin surprises us with new things he's learned every time we see him. He has so many obstacles to overcome, but his world is very interesting. He has had good teachers in the Wyoming school system - mac 'n cheese is still his favorite food. He also likes riding the yellow school bus.

Arilla and the Million Dollar Smile

The whole problem with taking pictures of Arilla is that she presents you with this huge, beautiful smile, so all of her pictures look the same. I didn't catch her being pensive - will try again. She spent lots of time with her cousin feeding her 4-H pig(s) at her aunt's place.

Bethany

We can't believe how much Bethany has grown up in the short time since we had last seen her. Bethany is another talented artist - and she is the pillow queen of the whole family. Her funny sense of humor will save the day for her. Good to see the girls pitching in and helping their mother (on occasion).

Seth Graduates from High School - 2009

We just got back from Burlington, Wyoming, where we got to see Seth graduate and hear him as he delivered the Valedictorian address. It was a combination of wit, wisdom, and 18-year-old stuff. Succinct and Germaine. I didn't get a picture of him in his graduation gown - Sonja has promised a copy later. However, he wasn't too happy because the class couldn't decide on colors, so they were supposed to be white on white. The gown company compromised with throwing in peach for the accent color - plus Seth's gold for honors, and gold on his tassle. Oh, well, it wasn't a fashion show, and it served the purpose.

Seth is a do-it-yourself young man. He did take art, but made this bust pretty much on his own. The problem is going to be baking it in the kiln, but he's working right now on making a copy of it. I'm pretty sure everyone can figure out the subject.

Sonja (Mom) provided the official birthday cake - it was delicious. Chocolate is a favorite with most of the kids.

Seth worked hard on the publication of the yearbook. All of it was done on the computer and in their high school - he even designed the front of the annual, and they made a stamp in some technical way that I can't even begin to describe. Then the annuals were stamped with a combination of India ink and acrylics.

Seth had his choice between the Daniels scholarship, which is a full-ride scholarship to the college of his choice, or the Hathaway scholarship, which gives him an all-expenses paid trip to the University of Wyoming. His plans are such that he probably will take the latter, but we'll see. In the meantime, he is watering and mowing the lawns of Burlington schools for the summer, so he'll have plenty of time to make up his mind. It is so exciting to see grandchildren striving to do what is right, and to make sense of their world and find a place for themselves within it. We are very proud of Seth, and know that he will go far in this world.

Visitors from the Pacific Northwest

We enjoyed seeing Evie and Dick as they "motored" back from Iowa in Dick's Mother's 1993 Ford (it only had 15,000 miles on it.) We had to have the obligatory poses on the front porch before they left here for Boise. There is nothing like a visit from family members who thrive on a sense of humor and look on life with optimism. When it comes down to it, the bonds that families form are about the best thing going on in this world.

Your Blog Means So Much to Me!

I got my picture next to my name, but that is all I have ever done on a blog. I hope this works. Elizabeth, thank you for all you do in keeping this up. Your pictures on the opening page are always my screen saver for that season, and I get so many compliments. What photographer took that?...where in the world is that beautiful orchard?... I am so proud to say, Oh that's my folks backyard, Elizabeth just snaps pictures every few days. Isn't it beautiful! That is my 1st of many things I am grateful to you for. If this message posts, I will move on to pictures and then let you all into my life. Scary, but it's only fair. The family that knows how to do this has shared a lot and I am happy to know what is going on. I don't think I will ever have a blog of my own so this is my chance. Again, thank you for doing this blog and the gentle kick in the rear. Love you, Jen

About the Blog and Comments

I hate to make a posting without a picture, so the daffodil will stand sentinel while I add my little bit here. I want to thank everyone who makes comments. In fact, I just went back and read all of the comments for the last couple of months and found a few new ones. Feel free - there haven't been any adverse ones yet, and I assume that will continue. Also, be sure to click on the photos to enlarge them. You'll be surprised at some of the details that are revealed when you do so. Sometimes a family blog gets discouraging because the editor isn't sure that too many are participating, so it's very encouraging when I see some family comments, and even an occasional posting besides mine. Keep it up.

It's really spring when Ron has to mow the lawn and the two extra lots. As you can see there is new construction going in south of the orchard and the hay field; just know that there are lots of new houses inhabiting what once had been fields. Our back yard goes clear to the neighbor's fence on the south and the orchard on the east. We feel fortunate to be able to keep our view of the Bear River Range of the Wastach Mountains. We don't water the two extra lots, so Ron doesn't have to mow them very often, but it does take time to go around and around. There used to be a ditch where you see the lighter stretch of growth (just beyond the tree), and then boring mowing could be a hazard if the mower got sleepy. There hasn't been an accident yet - we'll hope for the best.

Mother's Day Flowers and Mother Nature's Flowers

The bouquet came from Ron this year - they are truly beautiful! Hope all the mothers and mothers-to-be in the family had a happy Mother's Day.

The tulips continue to bloom and satisfy the eye with their brightness all around the yard.

As you can see, the roses are still trying to find their new growth - it's just as well - there was a very hard frost last Friday morning. We have gorgeous weather this morning, causing us to think that spring is truly here!

After the Storm

Sunday night, we had periodic deluges of pounding rainstorms that alternated with sleet and hail. The stems of the daffodils bent to the ground, but they did survive. This bright flower is a little battered, but still brings sunshine to us.

The blooms on the little filbert tree ("Harry Lauder's Walking Stick" is the generic name) hang as the tree awaits its twisted leaves to come forth. The tulips are also in waiting. The days will be warmer!

Granddaughters and Grandfather

On a recent visit, Jennifer, Julia, and Andrea visited their 94-year-old grandfather, Val Gillett, He is truly a durable pioneer. He still lives in the house that he lived in when a teenager - it's just been added to over the years. One of the best stories about the house he lives in is that it did not have a basement. He and his wife, Emma, decided that a basement was needed, so it was painstakingly dug out by hand. Emma would hire the neighbor kids to carry buckets of excavated soil outside. The results were two large bedrooms, a bathroom, a food storage room, and a workspace for Val's jewelry bench. I wonder how many people today living without a basement in their homes would make the sacrifice necessary to do their own labor of digging underneath their home and putting in a basement.