Park Day

I LOVE taking *my* Bitties to the park! When their Mama was their age I took her and her sibs to the park so I've done lots of parks over the years.

Orem has a brand new park that is OVER THE TOP!  It is the All-Together Playground. It is 1.5 miles from their house so an easy walk for this Grammie and the Bitties in their trolley (stroller). Today was DE-lightful! One of those rare 65º days that come around one-in-a-while in March. We made a quick stop at Target for bagels and Bunny milk and arrived mid afternoon.

I've never seen a nicer park! Let's start with the fact that it is completely fenced in... only one way in or out! Always happy news for this Grammie! There is this wonderful composite soft cushion under every thing.

The kids found so many things that I couldn't keep up with photos of all of them... plus trying to keep an eye on this busy girl! She climbed up, around and exited all by herself.

She is absolutely fearless! She took off her shoes and socks to get down with some serious climbing!

My favorite was when three boys, all older than her watched her climb, successfully to the top of this beehive, ALL BY HERSELF and said to one another that they didn't dare try.

This little pixie-princess has me absolutely smitten!

On our way home, at the corner by Target, Fiona looked at me and nicely asked for a shake! Well, how could I refuse? We trekked across the parking lot to the Wendy's and got baby-shakes and a small order of fries. Were they ever happy little children.

Liam is not one whit behind his sister. He took his first taste of his requested (yes, just 2 and requested!) vanilla shake, smacked his lips appreciatively and said, "Yummy!" with a smile guaranteed to melt any Grammie's heart.

And even though this Grammie walks EVERY DAY I, stupidly, wore the wrong shoes and had barking piggies by the time we got back to their house. I drew up a basin of warm Epsom salts foot bath and IMMEDIATELY had two little foot sore companions, who, incidentally, rode in the trolley the whole time!

Let's just say there is now a damp spot on the carpet right about there!

When Mommy got home from work I showed her the photos and commented that Fiona is fearless. Her response was, YES! You'd never see Liam riding on the canopy of the trolley!

Wait? What??

Well, 10 days ago on Tuesday-last, when the Bitties were at Grammie's house we went for a walk (we usually do) but Grammie's trolley has oddly gotten too small for these two Bitties. We tried several different configurations but nothing was working. Finally Grammie had a bright idea. Fiona could ride on the canopy. It was great sport riding the trolley horse. We made it safely all the way down the steep hill, got this photo and then...

YEAH, IT'S ALL FUN AND GAMES UNTIL 

SOMEONE GETS HURT! 

I changed speed too quickly and that DANG trolley horse bucked her right off, straight forward and onto her beautiful little face. Everything went into slow-mo as I watched her skid and somersault on the frozen asphalt! I quickly scooped her up, called 911-Grampy, and we both, Fiona and Grammie cried! 

This poor little lamb! I was just sick! We got her home, got an ice pack, called Mama and put Healer-Harley on the job! (Fiona says, I love Harley! He helps me feel better!)

This was that brave little face on day 3. We've both agreed that we will never do that again!

Fortunately, we know about Vitamin E and her little face looks almost better today. Only one small scab left on her forehead and new pink skin on her precious little nose. (see photos above)

I'm so grateful that these precious babies are so close and I get to be with them frequently. I'm so grateful that this little precious girl was not hurt badly!!

Cancún- Chichén Itzá

This is my last Cancún post. It has been so enjoyable for me to comb through all of my photos choosing those that I wanted to share.

Our last outing was a full day trip to Chichén Itzá. As soon as Erik invited us to Cancún I knew that I wanted to include Chichén Itzá. Even though I knew that this civilization was much later (600-900AD) than the Book of Mormon time (600BC-400AD, plus the brother of Jared flashback 2600BC-600 BC) I was still excited to learn more about these Lamanite descendants.

GORDON AND JOANIE AT Chichén Itzá

Somehow I'd forgotten this verse of scripture from Mormon 8:8

And behold, it is the hand of the Lord which hath done it [caused the destruction of the wicked Nephite people]. And behold also, the Lamanites are at war one with another; and the whole face of this land is one continual round of murder and bloodshed; and no one knoweth the end of the war.

We went on a tour bus with wonderful Mayan-descendant guides who taught us about the Mayan civilization. But I was still a bit startled with the savage and brutal warring that went on. This wall depicts decapitated enemies heads stacked up on poles.

It was mean to intimidate enemies.

Even this Mesoamerican ballgame, that oddly reminded be of quidditch, ended badly.

This Stone Ring is located 9 m (30 ft) above the floor of the Great Ballcourt; the players could only use their hips, elbows and shoulders to get the ball through the hoop.
The captain of the winning team decapitated the loser captain,

whose blood spurting out turned into seven snakes.

The ruins of Chichén Itzá are quite extensive including this building, referred to as the nunnery, with elephant trunks on each corner. (Now that isn't me making this up... this is what our guide told us.) This evidence seems to support the Book of Mormon prophet who spoke of the beasts of burden used to help them in their work, including the elephant.

Another startling aspect of this National Park was the presence of vendors set up pell-mell throughout. I can't even imagine something like this in Yosemite or Zions!

Our guide warned us against purchasing from these vendors. These carved masks, depicting the Mayan Yin and Yang, smell heavily of petrol and would not be allowed back through customs!

After a short bus trip from Chichén Itzá we stopped for lunch at an *Mayan-approved* cluster of shops.  Then on to one of the many cenotes (sinkholes) found on the Yucatan peninsula.

The plan was to swim there, I'd even brought my suit. But all I could hear ringing in my ears was the advice *don't swim within two hours of eating*! So I left my cute new *babing-suit* to languish on the bus while I took the 95 stairs down to the bottom to check things out.

PANORAMA FROM HALF WAY UP ON STAIRS

Notice the tiny white speck at the end of the red arrow? Yup, that's Gordon!

I was pleased with my physical stamina as I cooked back up those same 95 stairs. Sure makes a difference when I'm used to walking at 4800' elevation and now I'm in oxygen-rich sea level air!

Our Caribbean vacation was all that I'd hoped for. It was wonderfully restful and diverting. I'm so grateful to our Erik for making this possible. Thank you again son! 

Play-Date with Harley

This morning Fiona's daddy had a doctors appointment so I went early to watch her. And since silly-Grammie forgot her phone at home we came back to my house today.

Fiona fell asleep on the ride and somehow I managed to sneak in the house without Harley noticing that HIS baby was here! You should have heard the racket he made as soon as she stated making *I'm awake* sounds.

He certainly loves his babies! The hardest thing for him is *NO LICKING*! I gathered some *Grammie-toys* (read- Grammie didn't look carefully enough in the diaper bag for the toys so we improvised!) so Fiona could play in my sewing room. Harley was right there to keep her company.

Fiona loves Harley's soft fur.

OK... this cracks me up. This busy little girl doesn't want to lay down. She will hold up her head and feet. Gramma Lewis would call this exercise!

But this was the funniest of the Grammie-toys; my silicone pastry brush. She didn't like the way it felt in her mouth and would make a little shivering-gag each time she put it in. After twice (hey, I had to get the photo!) Grammie took it away!

We even took a little walkie: Grammie, Fiona and Harley. I love this happy view.

Good, Deer Friends

Harley and I went on a late afternoon walk to *blow the stink off*. On our was back I decided to cut into our neighborhood since there were horses, kids on skateboards and dogs our on Canyon Rd. As I was passing the Wilding's house I saw 3 deer just across the fence in Heidi's side yard. I stealthily removed my MPC (aka iPhone 5S) from my back pocket and was at the ready to capture some wonderful photos of my GOOD, deer friends (as opposed to the naughty 2-point buck who loves to vandalize my trees).

I love how alert they are; ears pointed forward. Harley is always very quiet and cooperative when we are around deer; which I don't fully understand since he whines for any other animals. I watched as the first adult jumped over the fence. She was quickly followed by this adolescent.

I almost wonder if the last deer is the mama. She is craning her neck to keep me in view.

When she sees that her baby has gone safely she follows.

Can I just say, once again, how much I love where I live?

Elio's New Family

Several years ago on one of my trips to Palmdale I made a potty stop at some random gas station along I-15 and saw the cutest little stick people window stickers. I bought one to represent Gordon, Harley and I. Sadly, I don't think I have a photo of those little people... and now they are cleaned off of Beatrix!

Change is frequently stressful for me (DON'T ask me to change wallets!) so I wanted to replace that cute family sticker on Elio. I looked online and at the Towne Center Mall and didn't find anything I liked. Since I was in Orem today I thought I'd check at the University Mall. There's a new kiosk- Emblem Art with a very NICE and TALENTED owner/operator.

We Travis designed this one!



What do you think? My favorite part is *my* spiky hair and Gordon's mustache! I put in my 2 cents worth but Travis worked all the magic! And, yes, we are on a first name basis after I spent over and hour with him working on this rockin' sticker!



Here it is- all *trimmed* out and waiting for the mounting paper. See that large ball? It is made of vinyl scraps from all of his stickers since he opened the kiosk.



Did you know there is an added benefit to having a new car. Elio likes to live way, WAY OUT! Now I get more walking in!



** True Story (sad, but true)

When Auntie P and Uncle Steve got a new car they parked it way, way out in the Von's parking lot... like this, at the outer perimeter. Ah, but in Palmdale the wind ALWAYS blows and it picked up a shopping cart and crashed it into their new car!!!

(BTW I removed two suspicious looking shopping carts before leaving Elio all alone!)

MY Kind of Fireworks

Lasterday evening Harley and I took a little walk-a-bout. I have several favorite route that we take... and THIS-night I chose the right one!

This is what I was rewarded with after my fairly steep climb (it's good for me!)...



Isn't this just one of the most wonderful things you can see? AND to show just how wonderful this was... it was taken with my MPC aka iPhone! You know it's an awesome sight when even a low-end camera can capture this beauty!

My favorite part is the *God's light* coming through the clouds. Truly He has created a beautiful world for us to live in.

A Winter Wander

[You didn't really think you could get rid of me that easily did you?]

Today was one of those cold, crisp, windless, sunny winter days that I just love. And after spending way too many days sick [and in bed] in the last month I was grateful to be able to go out and take a little *walkie*. I took my camera along with me, somehow I just can't seem to leave it at home.

I thought you might like to tag along with me. I love how the sun plays off the clean, white snow.



Doesn't this look just like a Christmas card?



I mentioned that my tree yesterday was filled with fat robins. I suspect this is one of their many food sources. My friend Sheri intimated that the reason they DON'T fly south for the winter is that they are just too fat! Love that concept.



This tree... with these nests... I only see them in the winter and always forget to look when the tree is covered with leaves to see what sort of ginormous bird inhabits this! Now this one? Yep, he went south!



I also couldn't resist capturing this snow capped post. It just looks so cold and frosty.



I got back home and saw my tiny icicles. I had a moment of serendipity when I caught this drip.



But here is the best part: I'm standing in the drive way and here comes a whole herd of deer [10+] motoring up the street. They headed into the yard next door before the spotted me standing still and quiet. But the alpha-mama didn't like the looks of me... she pogo-stick hopped down to the cul-de-sac with the other babies [yearlings] and mamas in close order. This fellow? Yeah, they don't like him so much... he was all by himself.



And with all these photos do you really think that my 2011 photo-book will be any smaller?

173- Tall Grass Memories

Sunday evening I went for a walk around my neighborhood. The funny thing about my neighborhood is that I only have to walk a couple of houses north or south and I find *wilderness*. I think that is one of the reasons I love it here so much.

As I walked past a vacant lot I saw that the grass was as tall as I am (which, of course, isn't saying much!). It reminded me of years ago when I was a child. We had a pasture right behind our house which I loved to explore. There were a few years, when no horses were pastured there, that the grass would grow taller than I was. I loved to go out there and hide, play games or just lie down and look up past the tree-like grass at the blue sky above.



Yes, happy memories...

166- Barking Dogs!

The printers, Copies Plus Printing Inc, here in Springville did an awesome job with the announcements! I took the files on a zip drive yesterday, looked at a proof this morning and at 3 pm got a call telling me they were finished and ready to be picked up!! WOW!

So Gordon and I stuffed envelopes (addressed yesterday) and I set out to deliver the ones here in our ward... on foot! I got organized the invitations by street, put them into my funny little tote along with my Sonic cup full of ice water, my roll of Scotch Tape and was off! We have a long skinny ward so a walk up and down every street is about 3.5 miles (excluding the *way up the hill parts). I should have put on my tennie-runners instead of my Crocs. Boy my dogs are barking!



After walking the flat part of the ward I came back home and asked Gordon to drive me to the *way up the hill* portions parts. I just wasn't into that much exertion this day! Good thing too... just as I was delivering the last 3 houses we got a good thundershower!

020- Decorative Grass

So, do we know what this is? It looks kind of like pampas grass, only fluffier. I suppose I could take a little *walkie* down River Bottom Rd again and ask the owner of said grass... but that is a little obvious, don't you think?

I love the look of pampas grass. It is so fluffily (yes, that is a word!) and beautiful. Maybe I will just go seed collecting and have some bea-U-ti-ful grass of my own this next spring/fall.

019- Weather Vane

Just across Canyon Rd is a very sweet gazebo and this cool motor bike weather vane. It's stand is slightly bent and it has that wonderful overall rusted look. It called to me today while I was out for my walk in the sunshine.


FRAME- RhonnaFarrer_2ps_BlackFrame FONT- Albemarle Swash, ACTION- DPMoms Perfect Workflow, (A2D)_Lomo V_2, OVERLAY-Sun Shower (left)

179- The Burrs in Life

I love to take walks. I've been blessed with good health and lovely places to walk. I never *tune out* nature with a walk-man (did I just date myself?) or iPod. I love the sights and sounds of nature. I do some of my best thinking as I walk.

A couple of years ago I took a jaunt down to Hunter Valley (a neighborhood down by Hobble Creek) where I met a darling little donkey in a pasture. This poor little guy had burrs all caught in his ears. I knew that if he would just be patient I could remove those burrs... I could tell they bothered him. But, you see, I was a stranger and he didn't trust me.


FONTS- Problem Secretary, CK Cursive, BRUSH- KPertiet_LedgerFrames, OVERLAY- stoned paper, OldTestament by SkeletalMess

Today was our Stake Conference. We had two visiting General Authorities; Elder Richard J Maynes (say Mains) of the First Quorum of the Seventy and Elder Steven J Lund of the 5th Quorum of the Seventy. Elder Lund said something that took my mind back to burrs and my little donkey friend. "We all carry just about as much burden as we can bear." He explained, as we all know, that this life is a test but the "atonement is Heavenly Father's response to injustice" in this life.

I Googled burr and found: "A burr is a seed or dry fruit in which the seeds bear hooks or teeth which attach themselves to fur or clothing of passing animals or people. The hooks or teeth can be irritants and very hard to get off of clothing, such as wool or cotton."

Aren't our burdens much like these burrs that *grab* onto us and won't let go? Are we like my little donkey friend? Do we shy away from that person who could help us... if we would just trust Him? The older I get the more comfort I take in knowing that "This life is not always easy, nor was it meant to be; it is a time of testing and proving." But if I will just remain faithful... I will lead back home... comforting thought!

084- Lone Poppy

I went on a long walk today while the boys were at school. There were ever so many things to take photos of... some good... some just deletes!

I took the *short cut* that goes from Yosemite Springs Parkway past one of the lakes and joins the road where Bek's house is. In the middle of the field was a lone poppy. (Of course we know that this time of year the Antelope Valley is thick with poppies!). I couldn't resist.

Poppies always make me smile and remember my growing up in No. CA and all of our years in the AV with acres and acres of poppies.

074- Dried Flower Tree

I saw this tree while on a walk with my sister on Friday. Anybody have any ideas what kind of tree it is? It had all of these cool little dried flowers all over it. I just loved the way it looked against our cold blue sky.

063- Deer Neighbors

So do you think that I just made a typo on the title? Nope I really do mean DEER- neighbors. I just love the fact that they are my neighbors (in spite of the fact that those swine-deer eat my tulips!!)

Yesterday Harley and I went for a walk in our beautiful 68 degree weather (I have to enjoy them when they come... today was cold and VERY windy. I thought I was back in Palmdale again). Anyway we were walking on the Hobble Creek trail that starts *in town*- 17th East and Canyon Rd- and continues all they way up the canyon to the golf course. But we weren't all the way up the canyon... we were right across from the Pizza Hut church (another whole story to follow) with houses and streets and everything. There is this garden area with some nice fruit trees and there was a whole herd of deer. Yup... I love it! There were 8 of them but this little guy was the cutest. I was no more than 30-40 feet from them. Most of them didn't even get up, they just kept lounging in the sun (just like me enjoying the sunny day).



OK... so here's the story about the Pizza Hut church. Living in Utah there are tons of churches (just like other parts of the country, but here most of them are LDS Churches) so people have nick-named them- there's the old white church in Mapleton or the Copper-top church, also in Mapleton.. you get the idea! When the properly named Canyon Chapel was first built there wasn't any steeple AND it had a red tile roof... hence the Pizza Hut Church. People all over the valley know that one! Yeah... and please don't tell President Jacobsen I told this story... he doesn't like it when people call it the Pizza Hut Church ;)