The Warburton Home in Avon, Utah

While in Utah we drove up to see Jeanne's daughter's home in Avon (past Brigham City). It has this wonderful wraparound porch!

There are also umpteen rooms for family gatherings...

What is really amazing is this view from all sides of the porch--really gorgeous. This is Mick, Carole's husband.

This is a picture of Carole, her daughter, daughter-in-law and granddaughter plus her Mom Jeanne, myself and sister Marilyn. Great home in a really cool place!

Grumpy Old Men and Cranky Old Ladies

What is there about us old men and old ladies that makes us speak our mind and become grumpies and crankies. I thought one of my neighbors was bad when I went to ask him about bringing a truck back to my yard to pick up my yard waste. He was just a whole lot grumpier than he needed to be. And his sweet wife was embarrassed behind him.

But today when I went out to inspect the tree another neighbor had had cut down and the clean up of my yard the workers were doing, I let the two young guys in the truck know their clean up job was not finished. I rake up all those loose branches at least twice a year. Why should I let them leave all the ones they caused for me to rake up later? I think not. Anyway I became that cranky old lady that pops in and out of my house from time to time. And they cleaned it up.

There was a time in my life I would have said nothing. My husband always had to handle any difficult situations that arose. But not anymore. The hard knocks of the business world and then being on my own to handle everything has changed me. That cranky old lady is me...

News from High School Friends

Bill Hayford looks like he is keeping ready for those Santa Claus stints. He sent the news on Chuck and also wondered if I knew that Sugar Loaf had been flattened. How can they mess with a memory like that? At least I can still see it well in my mind. Thanks for the news, Bill, good and bad.

News on Chuck England is that he is recuping nicely from his surgery. He can still drink beer but eating steak is a little harder, bummer, well, at least you have the beer, Chuck. Good to see you are up and around but still couldn't get a smile out of you? Maybe next time.

Carla's son Rhahime is pictured here with the President and one of his administrators. I don't know what Rhahime does but it must be important! Thanks Carla for the pix.

Being Your Own Best Friend

Janet at Choice Mortgage in the 1980's

Sometimes in life we have to be our own best friend to get that encouragement we so need to keep trying to do our best. Richard was always such a good friend in giving me the appreciation I needed, I miss that. Anyway I had a pleasant surprise while throwing away old paperwork from the garage the other day. I found a whole stack of letters received from happy clients when I was a mortgage loan officer in our business Choice Mortgage, Inc. Naturally I kept a few to read when I might feel I have failed or am of little worth to the world...

Here are a few comments...very fast, efficient, courteous, patient, always took the time to explain, very good person to work with, very good service, could not have asked for any better service, appreciate all the work Janet did for us, very satisfied with your skill and knowledge, excellent job in handling our loan, very helpful to clarify any questions, was patient with us, even spending time outside of office hours to talk to us, non-defensive attitude helped to smooth the process, appreciated your efficiency and integrity, impressed with the speed of the transaction, thank you again for making the process an easy one.

Thanks to Mrs. Hardy's extreme professionalism, Janet acted as an agent in our behalf rather than an institution, Janet was exemplary in putting together the loan package and managed the whole affair very effectively and efficiently, truly an exceptional effort, we really appreciate what you did in the ................ situation--it will never be forgotten, Janet, we think you are great, Janet was terrific and she did just what she told me she would do, quick, accurate, professional and honest, Janet was always on top of things, expeditiously accomplished, prompt and great service, pleasure to do business with someone we really trust, service was second to none, always attentive and knowledgable, outstanding, appreciate the attention to detail--saved us quite a sum of money, nice to feel confident someone was looking out for our interests.

I have never had the service I received from you and your group, Janet has been a wonderful person to have on our side, she has been a major contributor to keeping us sane, her professialism is the finest, every curve ball that came to you--you hit, a great job, you are the best, if I am ever in need to secure another mortgage--there is only one call I'll make--to you, service and guidance we have received was exceptional, it's just a shame that all professional business people don't conduct themselves in the manner that Janet does, every time we came into, or left your office we felt confident that we were receiving the most professional, courteous service that we could expect, always took the time to see us and to answer all of our questions without making us feel awkward or uneducated, helpful-courteous-and patient...

Oh, well, that should be enough accolades to take me through some more of my many senior moments and embarrassing situations that I encounter as I drift from efficiency and speed into old age.

Summer at 709 East Mountain Ridge Rd

It is summer in Lake Almanor and I am so enjoying my little habitat. It is a wonder how the weeds avoid growing but then so does everything else. Oh, well, you can say it is neat, if nothing else. Maria used to tell the kids I vaccumed my yard!

My Dog Bandido, and Me

You know how they say pets look like their owners? I can certainly say we have aged together, wouldn't you say?

 

When he was younger!!!

ay \nd I look a little spacey, wouldn't you? No wonder he looks at me as if I am crazy sometimes. Of course, my arm isn't long enough to get a good self picture anyway...

Visit Sisters in Utah

At a restaurant in Midway.

Since I didn't get to use my plane ticket to Utah for the BYU Homecoming in October I flew in on July 15th and we gathered at my sister Jeanne's in Orem for a week of chatting, eating and celebrating Jeanne's 80th birthday. She looks more like 50! Beautiful skin with hardly any wrinkles. She didn't spend her time in the sun like I did.

I had never been to Thanksgiving Point so we did a quick trip there and shopped in this wonderful vintage shop.

Sister Carole, she is the only one still in Montana.

 

We went to Julie's (Jeanne's granddaughter) to pick her up for lunch and her son Nixon entertained us royally.

Julie has decorated her house so beautifully.

Julie, Carole and Jeanne at a French boutique for lunch.

 

Marilyn, Janet and David's wife Tammy also at lunch. David is Jeanne's son.

 

Jeanne's granddaughter Ginger, the world traveler and adventurer. She is the daughter of Carole and Mick.

Jeanne's 80th Birthday Party

We gathered at Cascade Pavillion in Orem, Utah for a 80th birthday celebration for my sister Jeanne.

Granddaughter Winter (Steve's), husband and daughter Isabella.

 

Jeanne's son David and wife Tammy.

Our brother David and wife Dorothy, still looking very young and spry.

Jeanne's grandson Stan (Norma and Bryan's) and wife and son Emerson.

Jeanne's granddaughter Julie next to the friend of grandson Michael, Juliana, grandson Michael (Doug's) and grandson Trevor's wife and daughter.

Several grandchildren have lived a time with Jeanne while going to school. This is Julie, daughter of David Thayne and Gina, and mother of Nixon and wife of Morgan.

 

It was a fun party with a book being given to Jeanne of rememberances, gifts and nice things being said about her. Lots of good food but no birthday cake!! Michael and Juliana said they would bake one on her real birthday day.

Stockholm July 2009

We traveled by train from Copenhagen to Stockholm and visited with a Political Science professor who gave us very interesting details about Sweden. For instance that only 1% of the Swedish population is religious at this time. Many have domestic partnerships and those that do marry in the many beautiful Lutheran churches do it more for tradition than religious reasons.

To encourage couples to have children the government provides 18 months of paid marital leave which can be used anytime between birth and 8 years of age of the child and the husband can use 6 months of it!!! You see fathers wheeling prams and entertaining children at the parks all over Sweden.

We stayed at the Hilton Slussen near Gamla Stan so we were able to walk to many interesting attractions and were close to the railway and bus. Stockholm is a beautiful city on many islands. I loved it again as I did the first time I saw it in 2000. We were provided lavish breakfasts and suppers and snacks at the hotel but still enjoyed the many delicious pastries and treats available in Sweden. One dish that was surprisingly delicious was the mashed potatoes with deer meat on top of a round soft flat bread as seen in the movie.

My great grandparents on my father's side and my grandparents on my mother's side all emigrated to America in the late 1800s as new members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their stories are both heroic and inspiring as they embraced a new religion and a new country.

I am so glad the my daughters were able to see some of the beautiful countryside with the many red houses as we took the train from Copenhagen. My ancestors all came from the area east of Stockholm and off the east coast of Sweden below Stockholm. I chatted comfortably with a father and son from Gothenberg on the airplane. They said I must come back and see the west coast where they live as it is truly the most beautiful area of Sweden. I wish...

I am so thankful we were able to take this wonderful trip to Copenhagen and Stockholm with all our accumulated hotel points!!! It will probably be the last such trip for me.

Copenhagen..

Our adventure begins, colorful Copenhagen and then sedate Stockholm.

We went to the palace to see the changing of the guard and walked right into the marching guards--so followed them to the palace!The architecture was beautiful all over Copenhagen and I loved the colorful old buildings along the canals. Hope Maria and Linda have a picture to share of the canals and bridges, spectacular !

Copenhagen was sunny and was packed with tourists and there were jazz concerts all over the city. This activity was all within walking distance of the grand Marriott Linda had us staying at with her points.

Even the lollipops are giant size in Copenhagen! No, I did not buy one. But we surely enjoyed the ice cream, pastry and hot dogs, yum yum. Very good in Copenhagen. Mostly older men run the hot dog kiosks. Can't help but think how happy Richard thought he would be running a hot dog stand.

I couldn't believe how profuse and large the flowers were in Tivoli gardens. And I inspected everything and saw no nibbles from bugs or anything---in Tivoli or in the gardens beside the sidewalks

Lovely Linda next to another lovely garden in Tivoli.

Maria and Linda take a well deserved rest in Tivoli.

See how tall those lillies are! So Cophenhagen will be remembered for the gorgeous gardens with large flowers and no bugs, the most delicious hot dogs, ice cream and pastry, lots of colorful canals and beautiful old buildings and peculiarly the men were better looking than their women partners. Now what is that all about.

Great city to visit...

After the first day I just enjoyed the trip and let Maria and Linda take all the pictures so I will have to wait till they 'publish' to finish my trip.

Tomorrow I am off to a reunion with my siblings in Utah. Bon Voyage!