Utah visit - First Sunday

Utah visit - First Sunday

Larry and Annette fixed Kabobs for lunch. We had Lorraine as a guest as we worked on choosing the winners for the High School Cowboy Poetry contest for the upcoming Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival next Saturday. We had about 18 entries and needed to pick the top five - a job for the five of us.

Nice setting for working on the grill. Here Larry is basting the Veggie Kabobs. For Allison, yes, we did have chicken kabobs, as well... and pineapple kabobs, to boot!

Here are the whole array, with about 5 minutes under the hood to go.

Yum! To say the least! ;-)

The evening activity, of course, was the Solar Eclipse viewing. We were quite undecided what to do.

Annette had purchased four sets of The Eclipser glasses for us!

At $1.98 each, they actually worked quite well.

Here, Annette is trying to get an early photo, as the moon was just moving over the corner of the sun.

It quickly became obvious that from the house down in the bowl, that we would not see the full eclipse. We told Larry and Annette to go on over to Telegraph Hill, to the west, where the towers are, so they would get a good view. They decided to take the ATV RZR.

There they go, up the hill, and away.

Well, - let's look at this picture, while I tell 'the rest of the story!'

As they whizzed up the diagonal (bare wall- upper left) toward the Wilson's house (see it sticking up, right over Annette's head in this photo). Their house sits up on the rim, with magnificent views to the north and east as well as south. When they got up there, they realized Wilson's patio or decks would be a perfect, private viewing site. They were not here this weekend. So, Larry and Annette turned around and came back down to the house. We put the folding chairs in the trunk of our car, and the four of leisurely drove back up to the Wilson's house, got out the folding chairs and walked back around the house to the patio. The moon was about half way - and we could see it was going to be perfect. We got out the folding chairs and made ourselves comfortable for the 'big event!'

As reported elsewhere, with patience, we saw the perfect 'ring of fire' as the moon reached the center of the sun, and then moved across. It was truly spectacular - as has been shared on TV and the Internet ever since. We saw it in person, live, with just our little The Eclipser glasses. Amazing, for sure. We were very happy our Utah vacation included May 20!  ;-)

Driving back down the hill, to the house, I took this photo that shows the new rock wall supporting the garage and driveway from the higher elevation very nicely.

It was a very good day!  ;-)

Utah visit - First Saturday

Utah visit - First Saturday

After a hard afternoon on Friday out in the sleet and cold coming back from the class, etc., Mom and I decided not to go on the field trip. It looks like they had a really good time, but the stories and photos also convinced us we made a good decision. Here is a photo of Larry with his metal detector and the team searching for relics. Click on the photo to go to Annette's Facebook photos (14 in all).

Nancy and I rested and worked our computer based projects. When the wind was down, we walked and sat on the deck. Here is Nancy, on the new glider, enjoying the view!

Actually, just above the railing, over on the side hill, I can see the campsite of the neighbors. They are here this weekend. They will eventually build their house on that flat area, sort of in front of that white spot, or thereabouts... assuming they actually get around to it!  ;-)

As always, here, sitting at the kitchen table, or in the living room, one of the amusements is watching the various species of birds and squirrels, etc. in the wildlife sanctuary along the length of the west side of the house. A few obligatory photos:

Out the kitchen window, a ground squirrel eating on the plants.

Then, below, bigger squirrels eating under the bird feeders out of the middle window.

The aforementioned bird feeders, with a couple of birds...

A better view of the red-headed bird feeding...

And, birds at the other feeder...

Finally, the pretty Entrada Institute posters Larry and Annette (they now serve on the board) helped make are laying on the easel. We'll be going to the first seasonal event, the Cowboy Music and Poetry Festival, next weekend.

Overall, a very good day!  ;-)

Utah visit - First Friday

Utah visit - First Friday

The first Friday in Utah was focused on the Friday afternoon class of local historian Steve Taylor. Annette and Larry are nearing the end of two years of attending Steve's weekly classes on history of the local Wayne County, Utah, area. This area is sparsely populated, but very typical of early, outlying Mormon settlement areas. Steve's ancestors were among the earliest settlers in the area. Born in the Fremont area, Steve went off to earn his PhD in mathematical physics and a successful career, but his heart was always in his home community. So, retirement brought him back to Fremont, where he has built a beautiful home that overlooks the valley where the community is located. He conducts his classes in his home, in front of the plate glass windows overlooking the valley. It is a marvelous experience.

Here is Steve, before his lecture. I didn't want to distract him, once he got started on his stories for the day. I'm certainly glad. The one hour plus went by far too quickly as it was.

There were 13 persons in the class this week, fairly typical, mostly regulars.

Ages ranged from early 50s to mid-90s...

Steve always has books about his lecture available to share, before, during and after class. Here he is pulling an agenda for someone who missed class the prior week. Steve is very well organized!  ;-)

The lecture this week was on John C. Fremont and especially his fifth and final expedition that came through this valley, below, known now as Rabbit Valley. The expedition had a campsite in a grove of cottonwood trees southwest of Steve's house. Besides given excellent background on explorer, John C. Fremont, known as the Great Pathfinder, Steve provided very interesting details of the route of the expedition coming into the valley that had been shrouded in mystery until the last few years when new discoveries have lent credence to some certainty, now, of the route they took along the San Rafael Swell, and across Cathedral Valley following an old Indian trail into Rabbit Valley. They made camp in January 1854.

Tomorrow, on Saturday, we will join several members of the Old Spanish Trail Association at the Campsite. We will have metal detectors and will be searching for artifacts of that historic visit - with permission of the current land owners, of course.

The lecture and discussions were accompanied by an unexpected thunderstorm and some decent rainfall which the area had not had in quite a spell. We headed on south to the town of Loa, on Highway 24, to the Tusconos Pizza establishment for our main meal of the day. Larry ran an errand in town while we waited for our pizza.

 And the, the sky opened up again, and the sleet started coming down! Here is the Jeep - he is waiting to get out until it slowed down a little.

Pizza was great - a bit excessive, of course, but really good going down! By the time we got back to our mountain top in Teasdale, there had been no weather, at all. However, now, a couple of hours later, we have been having steady rainfall for a long time! Larry says first 'real' rain this year so far. Just have Bill and Nancy show up and the weather changes. Never fails.

So, we are doing what we do best. Working at our four workstations - I posted this on Facebook and hour or so ago, and have about 20 comments already!!  ;-)

Lite salads for supper...  ;-)

Utah visit - First days photos

Utah visit - First days photos

As we took our first full day here on the Mountain to recover from two long days in the car on the road across (MO, AR, OK, TX, NM, AZ, CO?!?*, and UT, I decided to take some photos around the house. Larry had just uploaded some photos on Facebook of the big equipment they brought in to 'finish' the retaining wall by the garage. They built it out about ten feet, about 12 feet high, of boulders, big and small and lots of fill dirt, as well. They also widened the driveway and finally got a good gravel topping on the driveway. Very nice!

Here is one view of the rock wall:

Turning around, and looking at the rock wall more closely:

Going back down toward the end of the drive, looking back, to get a long view:

Above, you get a bit of a view of the widened drive, as well as the little 'indent' were the water and elecrical boxes are. It also turned out to be an ideal parking spot for the newest 'member of the family' - the RZR ATV. See below!

A closer look up by the garage:

Very impressive construction work by Jackson Excavating!

Larry has also been doing a fine job on the sidewalks and drainage areas:

I got up out of my chair (then took the photos), while Annette and Nancy went to town to get some groceries, and Larry was off on an errand, because of the birds making a lot of noise outside. Some of the Jays had decided to descend.

Larry returned from the post office in the ATV so I 'captured' his arrival to show where it was parked.

*Colorado is not normally on our itinerary, but Nancy had the TomTom GPS out, 'checking it out,' and it told us to north "too soon" in Arizona. We ended up going my the four corners monument! Into Colorado and then back west into Utah. I still prefer my own maps, thank you very much! ;-)


This evening, Annette and Larry went to a private party - invitation only - at the new Saddlery Cowboy Steakhouse Bar and Grill in Torrey. It opens to the public tomorrow. I caught them in their 'cowboy' attire, in front of the fireplace, as they were leaving:

More adventures tomorrow!  ;-)

Alex's week-early Birthday Celebration

Alex's week-early Birthday Celebration

Before we get to the "Birthday Celebration" we need to finish up the Saturday activities.

Here is the "Star Name Tag" Alex wore in the Math Pentathlon competition - the 5 star points representing the 5 games they compete in during the meet.

Alex came away with a bronze medal - Ben said that medals are awarded to about the top quartile of the 650 students competing. Alex didn't get the highest, didn't get the lowest in that range. Well done!  We are all proud of his work - and his Mom and Dad, as well! ;-)

Later on Saturday, Ben and Alex worked on a rocket to take to the big Municipal Park to fire one day.

Kaylee is generally very good, but from time to time not; here she is sulking over her food - she did eventually eat is... just has her times. How about that face?  ;-)

Later, about bedtime, she went to sleep watching television... isn't she sweet?!  ;-)

OK, on to the "8th Birthday" event - the ice cream cake decoration...

The candles are lit - and they were blown out... Kaylee actually let Alex do it, this year!

Kaylee wrote Alex's name on his card from her...

Alex liked the Target card (and Scooby Doo DVD) from aunt Allison. ;-)

Grandpa and Grandma Smith won't be here the following week after his actual birthday to help him celebrate his First Communion (his other Grandparents will be here then) so we wished Alex well with a special, combined gift he has been wanted: His own Kindle. He has become a very good reader and we want to encourage him. He is holding it up for Arrion to get the photo! ;-)

I have a few more photos of our visit, but this is enough for today, and a day late, at that. We go home on Wednesday. I'll share some more in another day or two.  ;-)

It has been a great week in Austin!  ;-)

A busy Saturday in Austin in April 2012

A busy Saturday in Austin in April 2012

Ben, Arrion, and Alex left early Saturday morning for the big Math Pentathlon contest in Austin, over 650 students from around the region competing. Arrion serves as coach and coordinator, Ben was a judge, and Alex was a participant as a second grader. Here they are, ready to go. Results, tomorrow.

Nancy and I got up early too, to look after Kaylee and get her to her Saturday Soccer practice and game. And, today was team and individual photo day. Nancy put Kaylee's hair in side ponytails, but the cold wind and sweater she needed to wear as we WAITED for photos to be taken took their toll.

Here is the team photo, from my camera (official photographer to my left); The Purple Dash, with coach Vince (Kaylee beside the coach):

Kaylee's individual photo, on my camera:

Kaylee was already for the team photo before some of the others...  ;-)

Little time left for practice, as photo-taking ran late; six teams on three fields.

Here, Coach Vince is encouraging Kaylee (center); short kid in black shorts is the one I mention below scoring goals... for both sides...  ;-)

Coaches meeting while Kaylee practices behind them; the blond boy was on our team, Cruz (hadn't changed his shirt to grey, yet), our most active and aggressive ball-mover - Kaylee probably second in that regard:

I didn't try to get any action shots. It was quite windy, and rather chilly. I think the score may have been a tie, with 3 or 4 goals between the teams. The little boy on the other team scored our first goal, going the wrong way. Then, he scored their goal, or two or three, going the right way. Kaylee nearly scored about three times, but the other kids blocked her each time. This seems to be the first time this season that a team had learned to block - Arrion thought it was against the rules of the league, when I told her, later. Guess she will find out next week!  ;-)

Before we left in the morning, Kaylee relaxed in her beanbag, watching cartoons.

Left over from Friday night, Ben and Kaylee playing:

Arrion and Alex preparing for the math games on Saturday!

And, finally, the sprinklers in the backyard. I'd never been up early enough before, to see the spinklers running... quite an experience, for me, all around!  ;-)

It was a good, busy day - in the afternoon, the four of them also had a Fun Run and Carnival at Clayton Elementary... Nancy and I went for a ride in the car south of Austin.  ;-)