If you enjoy reading this blog, you may also like to read my Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories blog. You can also read about the family stories in my novels at The Homeplace Series blog. You can sign up for e-mail reminders.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

101st day on Wii FIt

I have now passed the 100 day mark doing Wii Fit exercises. I do it every other day, regularly, for 30 minutes of recorded exercise every session. I still do a mix of yoga, balance board, aerobics and strength routines... just change up the order, occasionally, so as not to tire of them. Also, sometimes I repeat different ones to try to do certain exercises better, or get a higher score.

I have also maintained my weight loss, to date. I'm at lowest since I gained back the weight after having heart thing early in 2006... about 10 pounds under what had been "normal" for a couple of years. Need to go on down, slowly.

It was another very good day! ;-)

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Tree Removal

I'll go into more detail on a new Smith Activities webpage, but here is a quick update on the tree removal that occurred, without incident, today. Sad, but necessary. Here was the sad looking tree before - like seen yesterday out the window with the humming bird... it did come back, this afternoon, without the tree. Whew! ;-)


They came with chain saws and heavy-duty chipper. It could handle up to about 5-6 inch branches, whole....


Then, the boss came with the stump remover - more chips - no tree. Bare cabin left behind.

It was a very good, if sad, day! ;-)

Monday, July 27, 2009

FIrst Hummingbird

We hung out a humming bird feeder about a month ago, in the midst of a bunch of blooming red flowers. This early evening, Nancy finally saw a humming bird and was able to get the camera and catch it. Later on, I saw it too! Pretty big deal, for us! Good picture through window and screen!


Doesn't seem to have the red throat, so likely is the female. Now we can watch to see if there is actually a pair. What fun!


Tomorrow, the tree service people are supposed to come a remove out dead tree. Another major turning point in the life of the cabin.

Jillian picked Ed on Bachlorette.

It was a very good day! ;-)

BIFF post corrections

Thanks to Larry for correcting a couple of errors in my BIFF story, yesterday. In my enthusiasm, I mixed up some parade information, for instance. Here is his statement:

Nice coverage of the BIFF. Couple of small corrections. This parade does not run both directions; rather it travels at near 50 mph (fastest parade in the U.S.) from Torrey to the Bicknell theatre. Both the July 4th Apple Days parade in Torrey and the County Fair parade in Loa do go both ways.

The parade lines up at sidestreet in Torrey, next to the Chuckwagon - - that is where Annette got chalked outline. Then at 7 p.m. the parade heads to Bicknell for the first movie of the festival. Lots of fun again this year.

Thanks, again, Larry.

It is another very good day! ;-)

Sunday, July 26, 2009

BIFF Weekend in Wayne County, Utah

The Bicknell International Film Festival (BIFF), not far from Annette and Larry's home in Utah, has distinctive aspects that are difficult to explain. I'll refer you to the BIFF website (be sure to scroll to the bottom to see the schedule of activities). This year the theme is Gangster and Gun Molls - and the film festival features the worst movies on this theme that they can find... putting it real simple.

Annette and Larry dress up for the parade and decorate the jeep as well. Below is one photo of Annette, in costume, with Larry driving the get-away jeep in the parade... they go "through town" one direction, turn around, and go through town again, in the opposite direction. You get to see both side of the vehicles, without moving... not a real large town, needless to say (Bicknell is the name of the town - a few miles from Teasdale). [See Monday post for corrected information on this narrative. Thanks!]


Gangsters usually end up on the wrong end of the stick, so they apparently played that out too, before going to the dance! Here is Annette, getting her due... in chalk, with a "reporter" trying to "interview" her...


The Bicknell International Film Festival (BIFF) is a lot of fun for the whole county. Folks all participate, either in the parade or as the audience. Kids love it as well. [Last year was a more western theme, with bad western movies... changes each year!]

It was another very good day ;-)

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Ok, I changed my profile photo on Facebook

Based on the one comment I got, yesterday, from Allison, I did change my profile photo on Facebook to the mischievous nine year old look. I do kind of like it. We'll see how it wears.

Allison came over for Pizza, salad, and finished the lemon cake, this evening. We played Wii Sports for a couple of hours to work off the pizza. Played tennis, golf and bowling - our favorites, not necessarily the ones we each are best at. Pretty even, round robins, overall. Fun!

It was a very good day! ;-)

Friday, July 24, 2009

Bill at 9 year old - Mom still called me Billie

This is cropped from a larger photo, but I just love the look in my eyes... the happy smile. It was the summer of 1948, so I was nine. Been thinking of using it for my Facebook photo. What do you think?


Allison came over this evening for lemon cake and orange serbet.... been playing Animal Crossing.

It is a very good day! ;-)