Uncle Jason

Jason and Justin went to St. Louis to see a Cardinal's baseball game for Justin's dad birthday, who loves the Cardinals. They stayed over and went to the zoo on Sunday.

Justin adores his niece and nephew, his brother's children. The little nephew is 4 turning 5, and he wanted some cotton candy; Jason got him some. The little guy was just sure Jason was super man and Santa Claus rolled into one. After a busy day at the zoo he got tired and cranky and wouldn't have anything to do with anyone but Jason so Jason ended up carrying him around, half asleep, for a portion of the zoo outing.

After everyone was splitting up for the drive back to Bloomington, the little nephew called out, "Goodbye, Uncle Jason." Touched Jason's heart. I thought it was such a sweet story I needed to blog it.

Walmut Creek

I went over to Alyona's house on Wed so we could go walking, arriving at 8 or so and leaving for our walk at 8:30 or so and walked until 10 or so. Good exercise, felt nice. Walnut Creek is quite pretty with a concrete path and lots of dirt trails going off it into the woods and down by the creek and who knows wherever else. Saw bikers and walkers but definitely not too busy, maybe because the area must be so large. Big plus is it's only 5 min from their house. Little Zoya loved it, but then she just loves to be outside walking. Beautiful weather, the hot summer heat is over, feels more fall-ish.

Why do I always feel like I look like Jim Carrey's Grinch?

 

That night they invited us over for dinner, and to celebrate the anniversary of their engagement. We are so happy to have Alyona in our family!! Plus dinner was delish.

 

 

Snow on Wasatch Front Mt/Park City

Scott Facetimed me early this morning on his way to work to show the light snow that was coming down. Still dark outside; oh, so pretty. Later I read an article that the Great Salt Lake is really low and has been for a few years. I don't know where their water comes from to fill it, would seem like these mountains. But last year was a good snow year and yet, the lake is so low.

Anyways, the resorts and skiers should be happy with such early snow. Scott just Facetimed me on his way home to show me all the accumulated snow. It is so pretty up in the mountains.

Temp on the top was 35*. Should be a great snow year.

Utah

The second part of my trip was in Utah, and was fun also.

Sept 10 Sun: I got up and went to church with Paige, altho still staying with Scott while he went to work.

Monday: I went to Paige's early to see the ggrrls off to school.
Puzzle time with Hattie. We put together 2 large floor ones and some little wooden ones. She does love her puzzles.

Tues: Haircut with Kirby, super love how he cuts it, Redmonds and their kombucha. Stayed with Paige while Scott was working until 11pm on Tues and Wed.

Wed: Walking with ggrrls to bus stop, busy with Paige taking them to all activities - gymnastics, Joy School, piano, tumbling for Hattie.

Thurs: back to Scott's after he got off work, got delish tacos at the food trucks

Fri:  Scott and I were super busy, haircut and misc for Scott, driving up canyon, Scott packing, and driving to airport to get the rental.

Scott and Kincade left at 6 for Denver and the football game.

7:30 pm Paige and I took the 3ggrrls to Sundance and moonlight lift ride, it was so beautiful, the weather was great. But they wouldn't let all 5 of us on one seat so we had to take 2, not as much fun.

Sat:  Shopping, drapes for townhouse bedroom, boots for Stella and Macy. I had $15 in Kohl's Rewards, Jason sent us his $10 Kohl's cash, 20% coupon, we got $60 worth of boots for $35. Yay. The ggrrls take turns sleeping with me, so much fun.

Sun:  Church, Paige was teaching and I always love her lessons, she is a great teacher. Guys were at the Denver Broncos game, where, I guess, they crushed and won.

 

 

Macy was walking around on the outside of the trampoline, fell off and hurt her little elbow.

Mon:  Left Paige's to take Scott's car back to the townhouse, then took Lyft to the airport (I like Uber better). Plane got in at 11pm, Rick was there (having flown in much earlier from the football game and gone home) and we were home and in bed by 12am. Rick still had to get up early for work, boo hoo. We will both be happy when he retires.

Austin wedding in Phoenix

I left for Phoenix on Sept 8, Thurs, early in the morning. Met Scott, he already had the rental car. We drove to the hotel and checked in (more about this skanky place later), then got some food, then went to Cheryl's. Squirt had gotten there Wed and they were busy cooking. We cooked then went over to the church to set up for the Groom's Luncheon after the wedding on Fri.

Thursday evening was Doug's twins blessing. It was quite nice and the babies are adorable.

Friday was the wedding, the luncheon was wonderful. Scott and I went over to the house while they were at the temple and I finished the triffles while Scott cooked all the tortillas - took him 2 hours with 2 fry pans going. No one thought it would take that long. But I have discovered everything always takes longer than you think.

Four pairs of shoes

My sister should be an event planner - she does a great job and loves to make it extra nice. Squirt and I and Emily went over to Emily's house in between the events. She has a nice home, huge backyard for the animals, garden, etc.

As Squirt and I were helping Cheryl decide what to wear to the reception (between only about 30 tops, jewelry, 4 pairs of shoes, did I say she is an over doer?), Scott called. It seems a drug deal was going down directly below us, complete with SWAT, police, ambulances - enough noise and lights to wake the dead. He was apprehensive about coming out of the room just then, supposed to bringing me over some clothes. Waited 15 min and then exited, hoping not to be thrown down on the sidewalk himself. I choose only the best in hotels. So sorry no pics of Scott with the tortillas or at the hotel while the drug bust was going down.

Thirty plus tops, jewelry

 

 

The reception that evening, very nice also (altho Cheryl's food was way better!!&^). Too many mosquitoes, but they had been spraying all day to kill them. I guess some are just extra hungry.

Sat morning we got up and played pickle ball, then went kayaking.
I love to play pickle ball and need to find a place here in Austin that I can.

Kayaking was so much fun down the river, with just enough white water every now and again to make it a little interesting. More fun than out on the lake. It was so pretty, with the trees, bushes, saguaro cactus. Cheryl said, many times there are wild horses out in the water, about 15 min later around a bend and low spot for easy horse access to water, 8-9 horses came rushing out it, stopped to get water and wade (I guess). They were beautiful and I'm so glad I got to see them.

Scott and I went back to the hotel, we needed to be out by 1, showered and packed up, took the rental to the airport and caught our plane.

It was a fun trip, so glad I went.

Walking

Patsy has been quite busy since retirement, vacaying here then vacaying there. She texted last week and said she is back in town, the temp has dropped and do we want to walk this week? Yea. She came over here and we walked for 3 miles down by the creek. I have read research papers on how walking/hiking in trees is soothing and good for your heart and peace of mind. Makes sense.

This morning I walked on the trail between the houses. Still has trees, but is not as green with a creek and lots and lots of foliage. Better than the sideway and street, tho.

I'm leaving for Phoenix tomorrow; Scott and I are meeting for Austin's wedding. Then up to Utah for a few days, partly because the guys' football game in Denver is the following weekend. I'll stay with Scott for part of it, he and I enjoy walking around the lake after he gets off work. I'm also his laundry fairy, like I'm Paige's kitchen fairy.

I have given Paige a few options for the weekend:

• Go up to Idaho to visit the graves, stay with Jolene
• Garage sales in Daybreak on Sat
• Moonlight ski lift ride on Fri or Sat at Sundance, with all ggrrls but Hattie

Back to Austin on Mon Sept 19, the same day Rick comes home.
Scott is talking about coming to Austin around Halloween, would be lots of fun. I have some places that do corn mazes, hay rides, etc. Last year the place I choose got rained/flooded out and they canceled it for the only night we could go.
Sniff
Boohoo
How dare Mother Nature not cooperate with my plans.

Lake Travis

Rick and I went out jet skiing again, this time we wanted to explore really well around The Oasis. There is a huge house by it, without lake access, but this thing is a monster. Really fun looking, with lots of balconies, windows, etc.

It's so peaceful out on the lake early in the morning, not a lot of boaters out. We enjoy looking at the trees and water. Soothing to our souls.


Fun cove by The Oasis that we might drop anchor and swim sometime

Fredericksburg

We left for Fredericksburg with Chris and Alyona at 11am, 1 1/2 hr drive. Alyona got car sick on the last part of the trip there; we decided it must be the Sorento - she always gets sick on a long drive in it, even if she is in the front.

Got there, she cooled off by lying down in some shade, a cool drink, then was fine. We walked, shopped, and then looked for a place to eat. Couldn't find a place that looked fun and Alyona knew a fun pizza place in south Austin. It was fun and delish. Out in the middle of trees, old barns, etc, was the pizza place, packed with people but didn't seem crowded because it was so large with lots of seating. We'll take visitors there the next time some come, quite fun.

No pics, so sad.

Plants

Paige posted on the photo stream a plant from my mom's funeral and a start from the aloe my dad had so many years ago. She had put them together on her trunk, not realizing/remembering they were both from my parents, her grandparents. I commented on it and I think she liked the arrangement even more because of that.

It made me happy to see both of them together.

I know I can take a start from the aloe, but I wonder about the other plant from my mom's funeral. Cut off a leaf and will it root and start?

Quest for a perfect, or at least good, natural macaroon recipe

I was in Utah in June and discovered a most delicious, whole food macaroon. I couldn't get enough of them, even tho they were quite expensive - $6 for 5 smallish to medium sized cookies. I must have bought $30 worth of them, and gobbled them all down.

I came back to Austin and started looking for recipes for macaroons and tried 4 recipes. None of them even came close to the original in taste, and most were quite disgusting. I even got a copy cat recipe for Fresh Melissa, the original maker.

Yesterday I came across another recipe, and today made them. No good. Bad, even.

I think I will give up. They no longer call my name anymore anyway.

Fall is coming

The days are getting shorter, and while it's still hot during the day, mostly, it is cooling off more at night and in the morning. Another summer is winding down and gone. It makes me sad; still I do love Fall and all the holidays and activities: Labor Day (really, really miss soccer!!), Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the best of all - Christmas.

I have gotten back in my habit of walking. This morning Alyona and I went walking. Patsy texted and wants to walk next week. That lady has really been enjoying being retired. They are just returning from St Thomas.

I don't have a lot of traveling I want to do. Mostly just visit family and my kids and ggrrls.
I would like to hike some Mayan, Incan, or some ruins. I would like to zipline. I would like to snow ski one more time. That might be all on my bucket list. Lots of hiking/walking in nature.

Newest Nativity

When Jason was in Italy he bought Merano glass for a few people. I was one of the lucky ones; since I collect nativities he bought a hanging ornament for my birthday. Very delicate and pretty.