Gingersnap Gems

Snow Day

2012-02-12T20:56:00.001-08:00

Today was a SNOW DAY.

Here is the sight which greeted me this morning.

Although I've been told TWICE that sleeping right under windows is

bad feng shui,

I don't care.

I have lots of flying dreams and I think it's because I sleep this way.

I love the native Utah Gamble Oak, especially when there's snow on it's bare branches.

The shapes are simply . . .

I have a canyon community.

We represent the die-hards who go up the canyon
in ALL types of weather
and at ALL times of the day or night.

This is Charles.
Today he hiked to Squaw Peak.
A little white stuff didn't stand in his way.

This is Squaw Peak,
in case you don't do links.

Okay.
It's an abstract.

Photoshop helps you to see things you wouldn't otherwise see.

For example,
I wanted to see if today was just a black, grey and white sort of day . . .

. . . or if there was some color.

Bring up the color saturation of a photo and voila!

There definitely IS color and it turns out that snow has some awesome blue tints.

But I do like the canyon in it's raw format.
Especially in the winter.

There's a quiet beauty
which draws you in.

"Come on!"
cries Chica.

I'm on my way!

The Plug-in Drug

2012-02-05T15:13:00.000-08:00

I did lots of things WRONG as a parent. Like, having a quick temper. Sometimes, a VERY quick temper. (I swear it was stress. I was a single mom running a child care center, worried for twenty years about the daycare going under - with good cause.) Anyhooo, I'm going in a different direction . . .

Here and there, I did something RIGHT.
Like, I limited television. Not total abstinence, mind you, but very close.

I know that it's hard to resist at times.
After all, it's the cheapest and best babysitter in town.

However,
you get LESS of THESE kinds of activities when the t.v. takes over:

Dancing

(Arian & Leah)

Outside Play
(Arian & Leah, again.)

Creative Play
(Leah & Kelty)

Activities Which Take Concentration

(Kelty)

Projects Which Take A Very Long Time

(Arian & friend, turning my garage into a space simulator.
It took three or four years.)

After surviving a gzillion tantrums over my stance on television,
I notice that my kids are going in the same direction.

Tee hee!

Being at Leah's home,
I was reminded of the benefits of curtailing the use of the plug-in drug.

Creativity flourished.

These kids hopped all over the house, tied together.
It kept them going for quite a long time!
(Marnie, their friend, is the tall brunette in the middle. My daughter only produces blondes.)

And then there's DRAMATIC PLAY.

I enjoyed several fine episodes of theater productions and . . .

Dancing.

Put on the music and these girls dance their hearts out.

It's always different and always fun.

And then there's MAKING STUFF.

In this case, Avery made a rocket ship and it evolved into some spectacular dramatic play.

Here's Brinley with a snake she made from some clay I got at the dollar store.
ONE DOLLAR can go a long way!

Three cheers for life beyond television!
(and computers and smart phones and iPods, etc.)

In my last post, I neglected to add the shot of baby Reese, Leah, and Grandma Ginger, taken after her baby blessing.

She was blessed to become a peacemaker.

Leah is thrilled about that!

In Ohio with Baby Reese

2012-01-29T13:39:00.000-08:00

This wee cherub - Ms. Resse - provided ample motivation to go to Ohio.

What is it about holding a baby?

Unquestionably, it enlivens the soul.

Perhaps all wars would cease
if every adult on the face of the earth would hold a baby for ten minutes a day.

What do you think?

All three of the elder sisters absolutely adore their baby.

The eldest, Brinley, is actually a first-rate mother's helper,

at the mature age of 8.

Leah bounced back from this birth like a schoolgirl on a pogo stick.
I had such a delightful time with her.

Here she is wearing a baby wrap made by my goddaughter Paige,
who happens to be Leah's beloved friend.

My job was to entertain the older munchkins and brush up on my cooking skills.

The entertaining part was hardly a chore!

These little gals are absolutely FEARLESS.

Miss Avery, age 5, will try anything. . .

. . . like rolling downhill at a terrific speed, collecting a face full of snow.

One evening, we headed to an indoor community pool with a lazy river.
I didn't bring the camera, so I'm recycling last year's trip to the same destination.
Is that cheating?

On a weekday afternoon, I had the privilege of taking the gals to Dr. JoJo, their pediatric dentist.

It was the first time for little Aspen and she wanted to hold my hand the ENTIRE TIME.

She had a very willing grandma.

Dr. JoJo has the world's best selection of prizes for brave little children -
about 20 drawers worth!

I felt honored that Brinley wanted me to join her for school lunch.

We did the exact same thing when Baby #3 was born.

Baby #3 is the same little tadpole who's leaning in towards me during this story time shot.

I absolutely loooooooove STORY TIME!

But when I was a mom, I remember executing merciless on-the-spot editing
when I was bushed.

Nowadays, I an stretch out those story books for a long, long time
. . . and enjoy every minute of it.

The three big sisters have been sleeping in one bedroom,
just like my kids did.

They seem to like being together at night and I relished getting to tuck them in.

Then, after the lights were out, came the very best part of the evening . . .

traveling to MAKE BELIEVE LANDS.

You can have countless adventures, as long as you have a
MAGIC CARPET!

I'm gonna miss those whippersnappers
their dear mom (especially their dear mom!)
the new baby
Kelty who arrived on Thursday to take my place.

Something I will not miss: the Ohio slate-grey skies.

Utah skies are full of drama.

In fact, here's the sunset shot I took twenty minutes ago, from the living room window:

Such exquisite beauty is a consolation. Sort of.

Joel in Ethiopia

2012-01-19T22:30:00.000-08:00

Recently, Joel and his parents came for a visit to Utah.

The above shot includes the five of us who went to Ethiopia,
Joel, his Ethiopian mom Iman, his Californian dad Mike, and Nancy the Grandma, and me
along with
my son-in-law and granddaughter thrown in for good measure.

I only wrote one blog post about traveling to Ethiopia and that's something I regret.

So I'm going to share the delights of experiencing Ethiopia with 5 year-old Joel as a travel mate.

Joel was beloved by just about everyone. He made friends almost instantaneously.

He loved giving out ballpoint pens to children he met on our journeys.

Pens were in short supply in Ethiopia and everybody greatly valued such a gift.

It's very hard for us to imagine, but it's true.

Joel could be hilarious and he kept us in stitches.

(BTW, these reed boats really do float.)

This little man didn't hesitate to try new things:

(Notice the little girl holding on to my hand in the background of the above shot.
Children would just find your hand and become your buddy before you even realized it!!!)

The Ethiopian Coptic priests would take great delight in giving Joel a blessing.

Literally, he was irresistible!

Like his father, he was always ready for adventure.

Of course, his grandmother and her friend were pretty great adventurers too!

But there's nothing like a radiant child to open doors when you're traveling the world.

Nothing.

Rather Random

2012-01-10T19:45:00.001-08:00

This post is a collection of recent unrelated, random shots.

These ultra-high-top shoes are securely tied to the legs of one of my Lovely Lassies.

Bizarre fashion statement, don't you think?

(The young lassies came to my place yesterday and learned about careers from three savvy women:
a lawyer, a nurse and a business owner.)

This was bizarre, too.

I came across a unicyclist on the canyon trail. Quite unexpected.

Then, there was this decorated Christmas tree - just above the trail on US Forest Service property.

I know. The holidays are soooo over.

But the wild pine loaded with ornaments is still there, encouraging people like me to ask questions:

Who did this? Was young love involved?

Here's Duane, my son-in-law, with his younger sister on his shoulders . . .
experiencing the sensuous texture of the canyon moss.

Finally, a decent show of snow.

Shockingly late, but we didn't complain.

Still, no rules against GRILLING during the snow season.

Barbequed these yummies for some friends who gathered last weekend.

Fireside chats mixed with healthy vittles = the BEST.

Is that RANDOM enough?

asks my granddaughter, Ms. Rella, with a purple plastic necklace hanging out of her mouth.

Christmas Wrap-up

2011-12-31T17:43:00.000-08:00

Christmas officially commenced with a family wedding.

The bride is a friend of my goddaughter Vic. The groom - first son of my youngest brother.

Took this shot last April. The bride-to-be is on the left.

After the wedding ceremony, there was a family luncheon. In the evening, a reception.

Kenneth, my highly social grandson, LOOOOOOOOVED all the partying.

My sister Tricia hosted our Christmas Eve dinner.

In our family, there's no wine or beer, but we tend to get a bit drunk on music.

As you can imagine, singing the carols was the highlight of the evening,
although my sister's cooking was a close second.

BTW, Tricia is what you'd call a professional vocalist.

You can listen (and even purchase) her music at TriciaStorey.com

After dinner was cleared, here's what remained ~

On Christmas day, there were two present opening extravaganzas at my house.

The first one @ 9 a.m. with Kelty & Duane's family,
with little Ms. Rella May modeling her mom's new fuzzy hat & scarf:

The second one took place when Arian and Jill along with their three kiddos arrived @ 4:30 p.m.

This little gal loved the delightful chaos almost as much her older brother and sister.

On Christmas night, aunts and uncles and cousins came over for a final round of celebration.

Notice the three conversations taking place in the kitchen.

What might they be saying?

The foreground = "Do you really think so?"

The guys in the middle = "No kidding! It was about this long."

In the back = A compliment followed by "Shucks" and a downward glance.

Another four knots of conversations in the living room.

I'll only guess at the fireside chat:

"You could see this ginormous elk grazing just beyond the lake."

We have taken lots of hikes up the canyon with all the visitors in town.

My granddaughter Audrey has been living in Nevada
and simply HAD to experience snow up close, REALLY CLOSE.

Her brother Kenneth found a hefty rock with a nice vein of quartz and determindly lugged it back down the canyon.

It still sits on my front porch, reminding me of that little guy and his family,
now settling into life in Oxford, England.

Truth is, there's been little snow this year.

What's fallen has mostly melted away, as you can see from this shot taken on December 23rd.

I'm not complaining. Not complaining AT ALL.

This has been a spectacular holiday season, wrapping up a banner year for my family.

As I type, I can hear Kelty and Duane packing up downstairs.

Duane's mom and sisters are doing likewise.

There are outbursts of boisterous laughter at regular intervals.

Tomorrow @ 4 a.m. I'll be driving one family to the airport, headed to Chicago.
and bidding another family farewell from my front porch later in the day, headed to Canada.

Then, I'll sit back and enjoy the quiet.

I like a strong dose of holiday pandemonium . . . followed by the restoration of orderliness.

Both are good and provide counter-balanced elements of rich living.

Cheerio!

2011-12-30T20:43:00.000-08:00

My son had a rough time making it through junior high school.
He was NOT an optimal student.

In spite of that fact,
he just completed his first year of graduate studies @ Oxford University.

During 2011, he maintained a full-time job in the U.S. and 'commuted' to England.

But things are gonna change!

At this very moment,
Arian and his family of five are crossing the pond in a jet plane, headed to London.

The family will spend 2012 home-based in England while Arian completes his last year at Oxford.

It was tough to say "Cheerio", knowing that my older grandbabes will be coming back,
speaking the King's English.

NEVER give up on your kids as hopeless!

AND, tomorrow I'll be sending the holiday wrap-up and it's
really sweet.
Really.

Reese Noelle

2011-12-23T21:35:00.000-08:00

This is my daughter Leah -

Great with Child.

While I was putting ornaments on the tree . . .

and welcoming her siblings and their families into my home,

she was toiling with a mighty labor.

is welcomed by her sisters,

Brinley, Avery, and Aspen -

and even by FATHER NOEL himself!

7 lbs. 6 oz. * 19.5 inches

Base Jumpers

2011-12-13T19:20:00.000-08:00

I took this shot @ 4:30 p.m. today.

Base jumpers are becoming quite common in the canyon, even in the most unsavory weather.

They hurl themselves off the edges of the cliffs and free-fall a few hundred feet before opening their parachutes.

It's pretty thrilling to watch them navigating their descent between the natural obstacles.

My dog hates the loud crack reverberating off the canyon walls as their parachutes open.
She usually runs home at break-neck speed.

On the other hand, I usually trot over to their landing spot, wherever that may be,
and get acquainted with these jumpers who inevitably become fast friends.

Sometimes they end up enjoying a cup of herbal tea at my place.

These fascinating people who drop out of the sky,
they are among the many perks of living in the shadow of the canyon.

Bear on the Square in Georgia

2011-12-06T12:48:00.000-08:00

Last spring, I spent some time poking around Georgia, a state which has won my heart.

In the 3rd post about that trip,
I promised that I would explain exactly WHY I spent time in the little hamlet of Dahlonega,
nestled at the base of the southern Appalachians.

It's worth sharing, even if I'm TARDY on fulfilling my promise.

(I know you weren't holding your breath. Well, maybe Jean was.)

I was interested in Dahlonega because of a small local music festival called Bear on the Square
which draws folks down out of the hollers in the Chattahoochee Mountains.

The Old Time style of music is alive and thriving there.
(Bluegrass was born out of Old Time. Frankly, I can't quite tell the difference.)

Talented groups like The Buzzard Mt. Boys played in the one tent erected for performing.

But the bigger part of the festival was more like this: "Come bring your guitars, banjos, dulcimers, fiddles, mandolins, washtubs,
scrub boards or whatever you've got and we'll JAM . . . for three days."

LEFT: Washtub Bass fiddle RIGHT: Appalachian Dulcimer

Do you know how to get different notes out of a washtub fiddle?
Pull on the stick to change the tension of the string.

Here's a guy who does rather well with his spoons, when he's not strumming his guitar.

I took this shot of a dobro guitar, also called a resonator guitar.
It's often played while being held like you see below:

(Thank you, Kristen, for properly identifying it for me.)

Go HERE if you'd like to see how it's played and how it sounds.

There are spontaneous gatherings all over the town square and surroundings.

Dozens of them.

Most of these musicians show signs of being just regular fellars who work the land.
There are lots of small farms in the nearby hills.

Yet, they get on their fanciest boots and cleanest jeans and they show up with their instruments.

This old guy (VIDEO BELOW) demonstrates how to play the fiddle (out of tune) on top of his head.
Then he tries playing it between his legs and concedes that he can no longer bend that far.
Everyone laughs in a sweet empathetic way.

Here's the last video of the music.
I liked this guy because he could really set his fiddle on fire.

As part of the festival, there was an auction with all kinds of local home-made items
. . .as well as items that might have (should have) ended up in a garage sale.

Auctioneering simply intrigues me. Fast thinkin'. Fast talkin'

I listened to this gentleman (BELOW) for a solid hour while neighbors and friends milled around chatting.

Listen to how he concludes with -

"Lord have mercy! Thank you Precious Dear!"

The whole experience was simply AMAAAAAZING to me.
With these low-quality video clips, it may not seem quite that amazing to you.

It wasn't just the music, it was the delicious combination of
the music and true Southern hospitality which I described in THIS POST.

Truth is, it was SO DELIGHTFUL that I'm planning to return in April 2013.
Let me know if you'd like to come along.

FINAL NOTE:

Do you wonder why they call this festival Bear on the Square?

In April 1996, a mama bear with two cubs made its way onto the town square, causing a big commotion.
Even brought the mayor out of his office.

The festival name is not a marketing ploy.
It's just a choice bit of history which many of the locals fondly recall.

Zion National Park

2011-11-28T23:01:00.000-08:00

Victoria, the goddaughter who lived with me during high school, just turned 21.

Her birth mother and I cooked up a lovely surprise - a trip to Zion . . . and MORE.

First we headed to Pah Tempe Hot Springs, taking her sister Brianna along with us.

Notice anything different about Miss Vic?

Her MANE is no more. About 22 inches of tresses will soon appear on a luscious wig.

The two sisters fell in love with Pah Tempe.

The piping hot water rises from spots underneath the river. I was searching for the warm zones.

In the spring, Kelty and I hit these hot springs on our way down to see litte Grace GINGER.

The light was different in April. The experience was equally DIVINE.

This time around, I received an education in planking.

It's a sport.

1. You 'plank' in a weird place. 2. You snap a photo 3. You post it online.

Maybe YOU knew all about it. I certainly didn't.

It's just one of many reasons I love hanging out with young people.

The next morning, we visited Fae who lives just outside of Zion National Park.

Here we are, just outside her classy desert home.

Victoria received a birthday massage from Fae.

Ninety minutes of bliss.

Meanwhile, Bree and I drank tall glasses of Fae's fresh squeezed pomegranate juice
and took in the sun on her deck, reading her eclectic collection of magazines.

Then we got a completely unexpected treat . . .

Fae had laid out sublime spread.

Even a MEAL is an ARTISTIC EXPERIENCE when Fae creates it.

THIS is the one link that I'm really going to plug, because it shows you more of Fae's unique world. Go there.

That afternoon we hiked the riverside trail.

We were there at sunset when the river turns to gold.

Water seeps from the cliffs and ferns flourish. So incongruent to see them in a desert clime.

We also marveled at the pines. They seem to be growing right out the rock. What do you think?

That night, we joined Fae for dinner at Oscars Cafe - a restaurant I'd recommend if you're headed that way.

Then we went back to Fae's place and witnessed the drama of the night sky from her hot tub.
It's DARK in the chaparral and that makes for incredible star gazing.

I adore Fae.

Taken in November 2009 @ Oscars

The next day, we headed out to the trailhead for Angel's Landing. It is NOT the hike for the faint-hearted.

But these gals were game.

The three of us hiked together for the first 30 minutes.

Then the young, strong and courageous (fool hearty?) gals continued up the trail without me.

I contentedly went off to spot deer and poke around Springdale, the town that's just outside the park.

When the girls and I met up, they exclaimed "Good thing you didn't keep going!"

I agreed. The important thing: they LOVED it.

Our last grand experience was to LEAVE the park via the Mount Carmel Highway.

Built in the late 1920s, it was an engineering feat costing $508,000 back then.

The highway takes you WAY, WAY UP the side of a rock cliff.

Here's the view from the edge of the road:

Photo courtesy of East Zion Tourism Council.

There are a series of tunnels. The first one is right up on the wall of a huge cliff.
Yes. There's a road INSIDE the rock face shown in this photo:

Just THINK, they were built without modern excavation equipment.

One bit of serendipity was coming across these Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep.

Can you see the fellar with the large curved horns?

Wikipedia says those horns can weigh up to 30 pounds!

The final bonus was the sunset on the drive home.

Thanksgiving and More

2011-11-24T19:55:00.000-08:00

My niece Robyn needed a new location for a photo shoot with some clients.

She offered me dinner if I could escort her to THIS PLACE.

However, upon arriving at the bast of the mountain, we were greeted with a padlocked gate and a sign --

So we boogied up a different side canyon where there was a delightful trail running next to a river.

Fallen leaves were scattered along our way.

Winter is definitely approaching.

Yet, around a bend, there are a few trees with a dashes of color,

and deep red shrubbery lining the river.

Thanksgiving came once again. My brother and sister were playfully FIGHTING over me.
That was way cool.
For years and years and more years, I hosted enormous crowds of family and friends for Thanksgiving.
This year, it was gratifying to be the honored guest who showed up with a couple of side dishes and a smile.

Here's another Thanksgiving worth remembering . . .

My Kelty . . . just a babe.

My Leah . . . brimming with pixie charm.

And, finally, my Arian with his cousin Ross.

This shot of the hugging cousins really touches my heart. The truth is, they really consider each other to be brothers. As they grew up, they skied and mountain biked and camped together. They even chose each other as college roommates. Their wives had two daughters and one son. Their first babies were born within a month of each other. So were their second babies. So were their third ones. Do the brother-cousins plan these things out?

Anyhow, that Thanksgiving hug illustrated a relationship that would hold strong for over three decades.

Heck! They even managed to talk their wives into a 15 mile backpacking trip with their first babes along for the ride. (They are good talkers.)

Don't you just love Arian's hat hair?

Anyhow, that Thanksgiving hug illustrated a relationship that would hold strong for over three decades.

This THANKSGIVING morning, I saw a certain little bush for the 1000th time,
and high time I shared it with those of us who are facing The Dark Season.

It brightly greets me every time I go from the house to our detached garage.

All my trees have lost their leaves. But this little bush blazes on, crowned with maroon-colored berries!

We've had two snowstorms and yet there's ONE little plant which refuses to acknowledge winter.

I am thankful that my life is graced with such awe-inspiring beauty.

(AND,in case you haven't noticed, I deeply love where I live.)

The Zoo

2011-11-16T21:29:00.000-08:00

Photo courtesy of Deseret News - HOGLE ZOO

I've had charge of my granddaughter Audrey for a few days while my son has been in Utah working with investors from Malaysia. Bringing Miss A back to Utah was a last-minute decision - a good one.

Monday was simply a gorgeous day. When I saw (via emailed video shots) that my daughter Kelty and granddaughter Rella were at the Chicago Zoo, I thought "GREAT IDEA!" I cancelled other obligations and off we went - to the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City:

Right by the entrance gate, there's a little steam engine which winds around the grounds.

I loved the conductor's fanciful braiding. YEP. That's her real hair.

We took the train ride TWICE: once upon arrival, once just before departure.

During the FIVE HOURS in between those train rides, we studied every single critter in the zoo.

Some animals required LONG STUDY . . . especially if you're 3 years old.

The GORILLAS held her attention for a VERY long time.

I grabbed my phone (not my camera) just in time to capture (in poor resolution) this ferocious-looking yawn:

Miss Audrey was glued to the window.

The same gorilla then rolled onto his back and suddenly my granddaughter began laughing.

He was picking his nose.

The laughter turned HYSTERICAL during Part 2 of the show:

He began eating his booger.

Now THAT'S classy entertainment . . . if you're of a certain age.

The carousel was probably as big a hit as the gorilla's nose-picking.
(Could someone else be in the process of picking her nose?)

There were about twenty different animals one could ride and it was ever so hard to choose.
Now, I'm a GRANDMA not a MOM and that means I am willing to be a tad bit indulging:

We raced each other to the ticket booth between each ride and that was half the fun.

How interesting to observe feeding time!

I didn't know that turtles had such long necks, did you?

Wanting to be certain that my little charge would take a nap during the car-ride home,
we spent a solid 30 minutes at the zoo playground before taking our last train ride:

Miss Audrey fell asleep as we drove out of the parking lot.

I found myself getting mighty sleepy too.

So I pulled off the freeway and we both slept nearly an hour, right there by the side of the road.

I would do it over again in a heart beat.

My Birthday

2011-11-08T12:43:00.000-08:00

The dear friend ABOVE arrived on the morning of my birthday
with a smile and a bouquet of flowers.

Later on,
this little pumpkin showed up with two sibs and her mom in tow.

They traveled five hours to celebrate with me.

Here's the big sister, Audrey.

Here's the energetic big brother Kenneth.

BTW, I have ALWAYS let the kids climb on the outside of the stair rail
and then jump onto the blue 'Love Sac' which serves as a soft landing pad. You could say it's a tradition.

In the evening, my sister Tricia whipped up some homemade chicken and bean soup
with cornbread - also homemade - and enough sides for a crowd.

The crowd included my brother and his family.

Here's my bro holding my granddaughter Grace.

Mark, brother-on-law-extraordinaire, hit it off with Grace's big sister
and he exercised Grandpa-level patience by playing ball 3-year-old style until the meal was ready.

Here's the gang. On the left, you see the darling gal who will soon marry my nephew.
They're getting married on the same day, in the same place as my bro and his wife - his parents. Way cool.

My sister whipped up a KILLER chocolate cake, made with 3 cubes of butter!

The grandkids helped blow out the countless candles.

Tell me, what kid doesn't like THAT traditional birthday activity?

They also like the tradition of Grandma Reading Stories.

Notice the furry critter on the bed.

Also notice the child who likes getting his hand licked as he hears the stories.

It was freezing cold outside on the following morning.
The kids don't have 'freezing cold' in their neck of the woods.

They were up EARLY, out the door and zealously raking the leaves.

They discovered every possible way to play with the leaves . . .

tossing them into the air,
raking them into a pile and jumping,
getting buried in them.

They really liked the GETTING BURIED game.

Meanwhile, Jill was helping me marinate portobello mushrooms & chicken for grilling.

Not that she would be eating them. Noooooo. My dear daughter-in-law was simply eager to help me. (That's Jill!)
I was barbequing for 14 dear friends from my old neighborhood.

After Mama Jill got a shower and the kids had some more romp & play,

it was time for my little birthday celebration crew to hit the road.

There were some stalling strategies implemented by a certain 3-year-old who didn't want to go.

Eventually, they all made it into the car.

Even this one.

The Alpine Loop

2011-10-30T20:06:00.000-07:00

It's a FAMOUS scenic drive. Well, it's celebrated by the locals, that's for certain.

To do it right, you need the better part of a day so you can stop a hundred times and get out of the car and breathe deeply and really, truly TAKE IT IN.

The road is narrow and winds up and up and up. The altitudes are NOT for the faint-hearted. It's definitely ALPINE terrain and the drop-offs can be rather unnerving.

My mom was game right up until her last month of life - just before her 84th birthday. That was the last time I took her. . . the last of many such excursions, punctuated with countless OOHs and AAHs and futile attempts to describe the majesty with mere words.

Photos are, indeed, a superior modality for such descriptions.

My friend, Ms. Luke and I embarked bright and early, packing several components for our picnic lunch, tossing in a fold-out table and two chairs into the back of the Subaru.

Then a decision had to be made.

Do we take the dog or leave the dog?

Good decision.

We began the ascent on the Sundance Side, as it's called, since the road takes you right past Sundance Ski Resort.
In this shot, you can see the ski slopes just beyond the spectacular splash of autumn colors.

My little Subaru climbed nearly 4,000 ft.

After a gzillion hair-pin turns and many stops along the way,
we selected a place to dine al fresco.

Our chosen spot (with a million-dollar view) was quite close to a trailhead, but away from the road.

Convivial hikers were surprised to go around a bend and find us there with a full-on banquet.

The feast included:

homemade guacamole and chips

swiss cheese

yogurt mixed with raspberries from the farmer's market

veggie salad

hummus and romaine lettuce leaves for dipping

dog food for Chica

a quart of home-canned grape juice crafted from the fruit of Ms. Luke's vines

After our banquet, we back in the buggy,
taking in another round of grandiose vistas.

Sooooo worth the $$$ for a tank of gas.

And that, dear friends, concludes the Autumn Wrap-up.

Did you think it would NEVER end?

Kids on the Move

2011-10-22T21:21:00.000-07:00

Extraordinary measures were taken to recover these photos,
which I shot during last month's trip to Ohio where I cared for my grandkids.

Somehow, I managed to erase them,
and so I mailed the memory card to Duano Braino who managed to retrieve them.
Every family should have at least one computer whiz and one doctor.

I hit the jack pot with my dear son-in-laws.

Gotta say, sometimes photos are VERY REVEALING.

For example, the shot BELOW shows my two granddaughters in a tussle.
They were going to have a foot race, but the younger child 'jumped the gun'.

Brinley, the oldest sib, emphatically told her sister Avery that the race needed to be started over.

Well, when words don't work, kids resort to other means.
In this case, it included DRAGGING the the wanton sibling back to the starting line.

Here you see the dragging. At the top of this post, you see the actual foot race after dragging.

(Sometimes it pays to sit behind the camera and give them a chance to work things out.)

I wish Big People could make up as easily as children do.

"Would you like a few tomatoes from our family garden, Grandma?"

Here's Aspen, currently the youngest, whose world will be changing with the expected arrival of a baby sister.

These girls are oozing with healthy imaginations. Their inventive shenanigans include . . .

FLYING with the aid of plastic bags full of air.

TWO STYLES.

I caught some 'end-of-summer' sales with great outdoor play stuff, including these bubble wands.

They were a hit. Grandma SCORES!

However, sometimes this particular granny got a wee bit tired.

One afternoon, I was sort of dozing on the bed while the kids removed ALL the pillows from ALL the bedrooms
and engaged in heavy-duty pillow fight while I listened for cries of injury during my light repose.

By the time my little rest was over,
the pillow fights had concluded (without tears) and here's the sight that greeted me at the foot of the bed.

THE FASTER YOU GO,

THE BETTER YOU'LL JUMP, and you just MIGHT make it in the pool.

Barely.

Splashing is half the fun of a backyard wading pool.

This little gal was trying to create the experience of wearing a beard.
She thinks she's cute.

She is.

How I love catching kids in motion!

Before leaving for Mexico, my daughter counseled "Just sit on the couch and let them dance for you."

Great advice. Taken in large doses.

And they could really CUT THE RUG!

I'm sure missing these kids. They write to me. They skype with me.

But there's nothing like BEING THERE.

(My glasses. Not hers.)

P.S. The special effects on some of these photos were created during a quiet evening of Photoshop Play.
They were NOT the outcomes of my son-in-law's retrieval. His work was absolutely FLAWLESS.

Roughing It in Colorado

2011-10-16T18:39:00.000-07:00

Just got back from a trip to Vail, Colorado.

With the RIGHT CONNECTIONS, we landed a suite at a swank lodge. (Not quite roughing it.)

My friend Nancy's son is a concierge for the Ritz Carlton
and he was able to snag accommodations with extraordinary views at a Motel 6 price:

Yes. There's a ski lift right outside our balcony.

The place was practically deserted because it was 'off-season', but I think the season was mighty fine.

This resort is super DOG FRIENDLY.

In fact, dogs are permitted to jump up on the furniture in the lobby:

The St. Bernard on the left belongs to the hotel
and will be available for guests to enjoy dog-walking in the mountains when he grows out of puppy-dom.

Wowie-zowie I was crazy about that furry pup . . .
even though he likes to give slobbery hand nibbles!

Nancy's son arranged all sorts of fun for us,
including nightly meals at upscale restaurants which were FREE, sans tips.

Being the friend of the mother of a concierge comes with amazing benefits.

Here's Senor Concierge (Kenny) with my friend and I jeeping in nose-bleed country:

He arranged for us to go with a guide named Theo who was absolutely fearless
driving on snowy high-country roads at 12,000 ft. altitude without snow tires.

(It was dicey.)

As we ascended, we saw hillsides populated with naked aspens.

It's WINTER up there.

Theo showed us where bears have pawed at the aspen bark.

Coming back down, we returned to autumn, although there was fresh snow on the rugged peaks in the distance.

One evening, Vanessa, the daughter of my friend 'Bonsey', drove up from Aspen, Colorado for a visit.

She joined our three-some for a hike and we ended up getting lost.

It didn't matter. The company was delightful and the laughter between the four of us sustained us.
Eventually, we found a way off the mountain, trail or no trail!

The morning of our departure, I snapped a last photo from the balcony.
The clouds shadowed the tops of the mountain adding to the richness of the colors in the foreground:

It was definitely hard to leave such a luscious place.
POST SCRIPT:

During the car trip, I stepped on the brake and pulled over to the side of the road for this unusual site:

Spanish Fork Canyon, Utah. Near the summit.

Seasonal Surprises

2011-10-07T20:14:00.000-07:00

Once again, it's been happening.

Why does it always take me by surprise? After all, it DOES happen every year.

I have proof: 2009 & 2010

So, early this week, I decided to spend a day with AUTUMN.

I do this every year. Well, since I've retired.

I clear off a full day on the calendar and head to the back country.

My 'back country' is about a 20-minute drive from the house.
(Notice front bumper of new Subaru.)

I travel on a well-maintained dirt road . . . where the traffic is literally non-existent.

I set up my lounge chair under a tree that is ON FIRE.

I read a little and hike a little and read some more and gaze a bit and read a little and listen to the nature sounds.

I try not to think very much. It takes away from the experience.

My dog loves spending the entire day romping around out-of-doors.

In the late afternoon, I take the road back home.

It's the only season when the local GIANT of a mountain stands 'naked' without snow.

You can see it behind the choir of reds:

Here's how our mountain looked TODAY:

The angles are different, but I swear to you it's the very same mountain.

When the first snow storm of the season arrives, we find ourselves reeling.

This one literally POUNCED on us.

It was darn sobering after the recent riot of colors.

Actually, this mountain CAN blush with color in the snowy season. . .

for about ten minutes before sunset.

February 2010

We did NOT have those conditions today. Nor yesterday.

However, in spite of this dreary weather,
I'm stimulated by the textures of the mountain facade.

They inspire me to throw in a few 'effects'.

Taken with a telephoto lens from my front porch - today.

Be that as it may, let me just declare, loud and clear,

It MUST.

After all, the O'Henry peaches were just barely harvested and the Fuji apples haven't been picked yet.

Sheecago!

2011-10-02T20:51:00.000-07:00

My daughter Kelty loves to soak up life at every opportunity.

Before the above shot was taken,
we were heading home from a museum near Kelty's pad
and I suggested a stroll along the shores of Lake Michigan.

We ambled by a cement embankment where the waves were slapping violently,
causing the water to spurt up in the air.

It intrigued Kelty and she got closer and closer,
loving the unpredictable timing of the geysers.

Here comes a COLOSSAL one!

Sera, Kelty's sister-in-law, watched for a while and finally couldn't resist the fun.

Now there were TWO soaked gals to toss into the car!

BTW, I was SORELY TEMPTED, but I exercised some restraint, which I can muster up on rare occasions.

Back on the homefront, Ms. Rella was entertaining us royally
with her tremendous capacity to enjoy life.

I wonder how she acquired that trait?

For the last couple of years, HOME has been a Palace in the Sky,
a condo overlooking the Chicago skyline, Millennial Park and Lake Michigan.

See all the boats in the harbor, right behind my granddaughter?

Does Rella May even care?
No.
She is more interested in experimenting with different methods of getting MILK into her MOUTH.

"Hmmmm. That's interesting."

As for me, I'm fascinated with their views
and loved seeing how they would dynamically change from sunrise to sunset . . . and beyond.

As I gazed through those windows, I marveled at the seasonal changes, as well as the intra-day variations.
You see, most of my visits have taken place in the dead of WINTER.

Notice how there are NO boats on the lake. Just ICE, with cracks near the shore.

During THIS trip, with the balmy temperatures and all, I managed to take in the
Chicago Architectural Boat Tour.

I highly recommend it.

(To make it an Over The Top Experience, take Kelty. She's superb company.)

Finally, let me mention that Kelty's MAN was there, but I have to use a stock photo to represent his presence.
(Taken at one of our family reunions.)

He patiently helped me through the 100 hurdles of my new smart phone.

As usual, he never once made me feel dumb, in spite of his commanding knowledge of the techno world.

That's just ONE of the many things I like about this dear son-in-law.

Gal Pal Time

2011-09-25T16:42:00.000-07:00

Reflections . . . on a lake and a fine trip with friends.

It's September - a lovely time to be up in the mountains.

Along with some delightful gal pals, I hung out at a cabin
in the mountains of Southern Utah for four days.

We ate on plates which we each designed during last year's getaway.

Sometimes we could be just a bit goofy:

Sometimes we simply hung loose:

And then there were issues requiring our solidarity . . .

and Lynnie + Janet's quilting skills:

There couldn't have been a prettier place for a cabin.

The general area is called Duck Creek Village.
The cabin goes by the name of . . .

Here's the view from the back porch:

Can you see the early morning frost on the benches?

Aspen Mirror Lake is situated just beyond the grove of trees in the above shot.

I rather think it should have been named Pine Mirror Lake,
but who asked me ?
And how can I quibble over such details when the MIRROR part of the name was so RIGHT ON?

The lake was particularly awe-inspiring
as the day advanced to evening, and again, as the night transitioned back to morning

Dawn was my favorite time of day to be there,
because the early rays of sunlight captured the mists rising from the water.

My friends snoozed during those sunrise moments.

But several of them joined me for a moonlight hike around the lake.

No photos of that night. It was a whole different sort of magic.

Even the mid-day hikes were delightful.

One never knew what surprises would present themselves around the bend.

The deer on the right seemed to acknowledge the human presence with a turning head,
silently saying"It's okay. I'll share my home with you."

Or, at least, that's what I'd like to believe.

Gallavanting

2011-09-16T18:23:00.000-07:00

I've been traveling . . .

Ohio, Illinois, and the mountains of Southern Utah since my last post.

These three whippersnappers were the reason for my nine days in Ohio.

My dear daughter Leah and her husband were taking their first trip ALONE

since their 8-year-old daughter was a baby.

Working as certified fitness instructor for two hours daily

landed her an almost FREE vacation at a 5-star resort in the Yucatan.

They loved snorkeling in the Caribbean waters. You can see more shots of their trip HERE.

Can you tell that she's six months pregnant with her fourth child?

Other monkey business was going on back in the U.S.A.
while Grandma Ginger took 'front lines' their children.

An hour at the local pet store was OUR

5-star excursion!

No. I didn't get them a puppy. After all, they are getting a baby in three months.

Good thing these kids are used to having a 'Quiet Time' in their rooms every afternoon,

helping children and adults (esp. grandmas) to decompress.

A brilliant idea, Mommy Leah!


Miss Avery in Quiet Time

These little gals love SELF EXPRESSION in all forms!

Furthermore, they inspired me,

because I could see evidence of the conscientious parenting behind the scenes.

PROMISE: The next two posts will not be focused on grandchildren. I'll be sharing some choice shots from my other adventures. Stay tuned. Here's your sneak preview:

Illinois (Shore of Lake Michigan):

Aspen Mirror Lake in Southern Utah:

Mountain Magic with Kidlets

2011-08-30T10:16:00.000-07:00

The mountains in Utah are famous for skiing. Personally, I think they provide more recreation options in the summer.

The best part is they are practically in our back yard!

Mind you, I'm on rewind here. The children's mom is back from Europe , although the dad returned to England after a few days on the home front. (He goes to school there and continues with a 'full-time' job in the U.S.) Mr. K. has completed his first day of kindergarten. Be all that as it may, I must digress for this final episode with the kidlets.

The mountain shot above was taken during our last evening together,

during which we conducted a gourmet weenie roast.

S'mores were SUPREME.

Rewind a few more days and you'll see us in a mountain park for a LUAU

with all the trimmings.

(I, too, would cover my eyes if I had fire on my feet.)

My niece Robyn was selected as the finest whitie hula dancer among the crowd.

And here's the little guy who won 1st Place in the Hula Hoop Contest ~

As you can see, Mr K scored a victory hoop and a hefty bag of candy.

(The later item was later abducted by Grandma prevent a sugar-induced coma.)

Throughout the evening,
there were various repeat performances of his talent and willing audiences kept him going.

**************

Parting shot ~

Here's lil' Ms. Audrey sorting sea shells. Will she become a biologist like her mama?

This activity kept dear Ms A content for long stretches of time.

No applause necessary.

Shakespeare & More

2011-08-21T20:39:00.000-07:00

My friend Anne and I managed to escape for a two-day fieldtrip to attend the
Utah Shakespearean Festival.

One of the best things about the festival is the Green Show which takes place before the evening plays.
It is free to the public, full of music and frolicking and grand ole Elizabethan Era fun.

This was the 50th anniversary and Shakespeare's 'Top Hits' were performed.

Naturally, there was Midsummer Night's Dream and, indeed, it was THE BEST I'd ever seen.
(I've seen it performed dozens of times, so that says a lot.)

The characterization of Puck was absolutely brilliant.

(I mean, he was ALMOST as good as my son, when he played the role.)

Really, the entire thing was done with a great deal of imagination and creativity.

We slept overnight in Cedar City and then took my Subaru up into the nearby mountains the following morning.

The road took us higher and higher in elevation. We felt like explorers seeing these drop-dead gorgeous alpine meadows for the first time.

Then, we came across some wooly friends. A multitude of them:

We crept along behind the herd at a sheep's pace. Soon three pre-teen girls came onto the scene. "We'll help you!" they gallantly proclaimed. One hopped off their ATV and began parting the sheep, just like Moses parted the Red Sea. She effectively created a pathway for us to pass. Obviously, she and her ATV friends were more experienced in these matters of animal husbandry than us older gals.

So, onward and upward we went.

Mind you, the road (now dirt) was quite deserted. The scenery, truly stunning.

Meadows after meadow full of wildflowers . . .

I took great delight in spotting the Western Cone Flowers which grow in the upper ranges of the Rockies . They look like something created out of the imagination of Dr. Seuss. What you see below truly IS the flower:. I simply had to snap this shot and share it:

On the way back, the sheep were headed TOWARDS us. This time, we weren't so shy (sheepish?) about driving through the herd.

The view was quite different as we headed down.
We could see ribbons of red rock country along the mountain ranges.

What majestic, wild scenery!

We snagged the very last tickets for a matinee of the Music Man, the perfect finale for our mini-holiday.

BTW, Anne has an extraordinary gift in the humor department.

Her off-handed remarks caused me bust up about 10 times an hour.

Here's the only shot I got of her:

Anne is also an artist of great acclaim. You can see her works here and here.

More Grand-mothering

2011-08-10T21:53:00.001-07:00

"Camping" with young children requires little more than a tent . . .
and a backyard.

However, one must be prepared for the fact that children are out of their element
and they may stay up past midnight.

Additionally they may need to hold your hand until they fall asleep,
because there are all sorts of weird noises out there.

"What's that sound, Grandma? I'm sure I heard something GROWLING."

Well, everybody managed to get a few hours of shut-eye until they woke up at the crack of dawn.

Do notice that there's only netting at the top of the tent, affording a spectacular view of the sky.
That translates to hours of watching the moon crossing the sky,
as we listened for wild critters on the prowl.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
You learn a few things about little personalities if you spend some quality time with children.

. . . like the fact that a certain little gal has a very playful tongue.

We continued to explore with art, both inside and out.

Three cheers for Katy who brought over her three kids
and I was able to put the house back in semi-order while they romped around the yard.

These blue square things (BELOW) are for moving frigs.

Actually, they can also move kids with thrilling velocity.

Grandma's Triple AAA Fieldtrip: Take Chica to Petsmart.

Can we buy a fish? Can we get just a little mouse? How about a bird?

A bag of dog treats was all we bought and , luckily, the kids were content with that.

After all, they could make Chica follow commands with those tempting little goodies.
Bossing around a furry creature (with bribes) made my grandkids feel rather powerful.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

One evening, we played at our local splash pool with Robyn, my niece, alongside us.

Notice Audrey eating my bbq-ed salmon from a ziplock baggie as a poolside snack. So funny!

Two other two other delightful house guests - a mother and son team from Canada -
have also been staying with us this week. So, it's been a beehive of activity.

Oh. And did I mention . . . Buddy, the neighbor dog, returned for another visit???

Fine by me.

But when he arrived, I declared "FULL HOUSE!"

There's more to tell. Another post is just around the corner.

1st Day of Romp & Play

2011-08-02T21:23:00.000-07:00

ABOVE: This is how my grandchildren demonstrated their undying love of my long-suffering, often humiliated dog.

Playdough time started right after breakfast. NOTHING beats playdough!

Actually, my costume boxes just might win over playdough. Depends on the moment.

Here's Princess Audrey:

Neighborhood kids came over for the morning .

"The more the merrier!" is my saying when it comes to children.

I quickly discovered one of our visitors was a ham and revved into high gear with my wigs -

A picnic at the park was followed by plenty of playground time -

Please notice that my up-turned shoes look like I have Bozo the Clown feet:

The day was full of giggles, but there was just a moment of good ole pouting on the playground.

Two year olds are the best pouters on the planet!

My niece Robyn imitated it perfectly:

European Jaunts with Papoose

2011-07-31T22:25:00.001-07:00

Four years ago, my son and his wife went gallivanting through Europe with Baby #1 . . .

who is now a five year-old buckaroo:

Once again,my kids are headed off to the Old World. This time with Baby #3 in tow.

Yep. This little cherub has her very own passport so she, too, can become a globe-trotter.

Beginning tomorrow, Grandma Ginger will be wrangling that little cowboy and his sister, the OTHER sister,

who has never been abroad and can whine about that fact when she gets a little older.

I'm awfully grateful that my niece Robyn will be lending me a helping hand.

She adores these little whippersnappers ALMOST as much as Grandma Ginger.

Almost.

(Niece Robyn took the photo above and the Buckaroo shot. Her photography blog can be found HERE.)

About Robins . . .

2011-07-22T22:03:00.000-07:00

This spring, I was delighted with the mommy robin bird
who chose to build a nest on the ledge outside my living room window.

(The window reflects the scene outside, but the arrow helps you get an idea of the nest location.)

Here are the baby robins. This photo was taken on the very day they left the nest and took to the skies.

There's another robin in my very own family who has also flown the nest -

When she wasn't doing high-flying trapeze acts,

she found other ways to entertain us.

So hard to wrap my mind around that fact.

Another Mind Blower: she is carrying her 4th baby girl . . .

. . . and my 7th grandDAUGHTER.

Back to Camp!

2011-07-16T21:53:00.000-07:00

My Lovely Lassies and I returned to Camp Jeremiah - our favorite place ever!

Once again, I drove the neighbor's big ole passenger van
which brought back memories of my hauling kids around in my 15-seater van.

(I ran a child care center for twenty years. There were lots of kids to haul.)

Soon after we arrived, the girls crafted boats - some very simple, some full of artistic touches.

Here we have a little Annie Oakley in the making ~

(She was definitely the Sharp Shooter of the group.)

This novel game required balance, strength and a good aim.

If someone got pushed off their balance boards, there was a round of laughter
and the fallen player got right back up again for another GO AT IT. So resilient!

May these girls remain in childhood for a few more years.

That is my prayer.

P.S.
Kelty and my granddaughter DID come back, but I didn't get any more shots.
We just gabbed our way through a dinner at the picnic table which took us past sundown.
Next morning, she caught an early flight which was a steal-of-a-deal.

Unexpected Serendipity

2011-07-12T20:44:00.000-07:00

When returning from a family reunion in Canada - other side of the family -
my daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter had a layover in Salt Lake City.

I had tanked up the car on Sunday, preparing for a couple of hours of "connecting" with my loved ones.

However, a last-minute decision was made and Kelty and little Rella decided to stay!

(Daddy had work obligations back home, darn it all.)

The occasion merited a celebratory round of The Wheels on the Bus, performed in my very back yard!

This little Munchkin is Doggie Crazy.

How fortunate that we had TWO furry and friendly critters to keep her entertained!

Buddy - from next door - is here for a 10-day visit, much to Rella & Chica's delight.

Rella fancied the experience of crawling in and out of Buddy's cage.

There was almost room for the two of them - child and beast. Almost.

She also joined the Grandchildren's Club of C.F.F.H.
(the Chica-Feeding-From-Highchair Club.)

Here's how it went down with Rella:

1. I know I'm really cute and you adore me.

2. So, how would YOU feel if I give just a few of my Cheerios to Chica?

3. Thanks, Grandma! You're the best EVER!!!

When the dogs got tired of entertaining a 17-month old,
Rella moved on to DRESS UPS.

Ask me - what kid DOESN'T like dress ups???

Especially when there's a mirror for lengthy self appreciation.

In Rella's case, it involved KISSING her beautiful reflection, but I missed that shot. (I was laughing too hard.)

The 8 ft. living room blinds also pique her attention and I'm ever so grateful they didn't crash down on her.

And there's always the fun of splashing around in the bathtub.

"I'm fetching . . . with or without my clothes!"

This afternoon, Kelty and Rella hit the road and headed north in a bright red rental car.
They went to Idaho, with plans to visit Duane's cousin in the hospital.

They'll be back at Grandma Ginger's for a few more days after their little jaunt.
Maybe then I'll catch a decent photo of my Kelty doing something else besides The Wheels on the Bus.

Brinley, my first grandchild, had a birthday had her EIGHTH birthday today.

Time flies!

Blessing Baby Grace

2011-07-09T14:19:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, Arian gave his little daughter her baby blessing.

Among LDS families, this is a special ordinance.

Grace Ginger was blessed at my home, with loving family surrounding her.

Her exquisite blessing gown was crafted by Grandma Kathy (below).

Doesn't Grace look like a little porcelain doll?

Great Grandma Louise (Kathy's mother) simply adores her precious progeny . . .

I love this shot with Grace's mom - below - because she looks like . . .

Hey, it was nothing. I just went and got two hips replaced and then had a baby. Not a big deal, at all!

* * * * * * * * *
Kiddles were swarming the premises after the blessing.

Hauling my dog Chica around on a leash seem to be the rage.

Please notice the fact that Chica was willing participant, with a grin from ear to ear!

My dress-up box was also quite in vogue!

(Notice that Chica is wearing a dog costume.)

Adults and children alike feasted on a buffet dinner with ice cream and sorbets for dessert.

Independence Day

2011-07-07T16:23:00.000-07:00

Why does the 4th of July parade just GET TO ME, year after year?

I can't say, exactly.

The high school marching bands are definitely part of it.

All those kids, making bold and rousing music together . . .

Then there's the gathering of family.

Siblings, cousins and second cousins. A whole new generation rising up.

This year, my brother and two of his kiddos made us proud by running the 5 K Race
which took place early, early - before the parade.

My grandson might tell you that the fire fighters were HIS favorite part of the feastivities.

Personally, I like the fact that floats aren't just about beauty queens anymore -

One never knows what will be coming down the parade route.

Could be legions of Star Wars stormtroopers and other characters from the Galactic Empire . . .

Even the EVIL DARTH MAUL

My grandson wasn't scared one bit. Thought the guy was "way cool."

Our town parade may be unique in the fact that LDS missionaries join in the procession.

Notice the hand-slapper on the right. It's a little like an enthusiastic jazz dance move . . .

Horses and parades go together.

Vaulters doing stunts of daring -

Cowboys sporting dramatic facial hair -

Displays of pure elegance -

SO GREAT to share it all with my son's family, although I couldn't help missing the far-flung kids & grands.

BTW - the darling little dresses were made by the other grandma who is just about as talented as her daughter.

* * * * * *
However, the weekend wasn't just about the parade.

There was also the annual family BBQ at Aunt Tricia's . . .

. . . with little sprouts who jumped on the tramp, ran through the sprinklers,

and cried "PLEASE won't you pull us in the wagon, Uncle Chris???

which he did, of course!

There was badminton for bigger kids,

and cozy spots for even bigger kids,

. . . and a yard big enough for lots of family to chow, romp and gab.

However, the weekend was about EVEN MORE
than the parade and the BBQ.

I'll share soon.

Summer Parties

2011-06-30T06:10:00.000-07:00

This week, my Lovely Lassies got HIGH on Summer.

A generous neighbor down the street provided her pool to host sweet summer swim party for these lil gals.

"WE WON'T PUSH. WE PROMISE!"

After three hours of rollicking water play, HUNGER finally weened them from the pool.

However, they still had energy to spare, transitioning from the snack table to the trampoline.

It was DINNER TIME when we finally scooted them home, tired and happy.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The women in our neighborhood gathered for
a different genre of summer celebration:

We nibbled on scones, tea sandwiches and sweet miniature cakes.

The Royal Wedding inspired us to shake off our inhibitions and don stylish hats from by-gone eras.

It doesn't matter our age, we all LOOOVE playing Dress Ups!

The wife of BYU's former football coach, donned BLUE, right down to the fingernails!

Why did we ever give up hats? They can be downright charming!

This neighbor (below) ended up spending most of the afternoon cozied inside an old closet,
trying on every single one of her mother's hats and recalling sweet memories from by-gone years.

It wasn't exactly the Royal Wedding, which - you have to admit - was way OVER the top!

Never-the-less, our neighborhood tea party was delightful.

Of course, it won't be long before we'll be seeing ' bonnets:

This year, I'll have KIDS and GRANDKIDS coming home to celebrate.

Dining Al Fresco at Eventide

2011-06-22T07:10:00.000-07:00

(Young couple in love, looking over the valley from my spa deck. Wedding in September.)

The evening was divine.

Just right for gathering some dear friends and firing up the BBQ grill.

Good thing for many helping hands,

and a special SHOUT OUT to my house guest Dion.

16 of us feasted and laughed during those magic hours of a summer's eve.

Rachel has a tribe of boys she calls The Natives. Only three out of six can be properly seen here.

She (and her Mr.) did manage to plant one girl flower in the mix and she's a bright Gerber Daisy.

As the sun traveled west, everything began turning golden.

Especially the curly locks of my friend Kristen.

We all remarked and begged for poses. She was generous in accomodating our requests!

The sun dipped lower and faces were aglow.

Finally, there were the last brilliant rays as the sun began to sink below the mountains to the west.

Kristen penned these words which captured the essence of the ensuing eventide:

"Doesn’t it look like summer? But oy – another twenty three minutes, and that sun disappears behind the mountains across the lake. And then the air moves swiftly down through the canyons, so that we sit swathed in borrowed jackets and blankets, still enjoying the company. The air was just short of chill, and smelled deliciously of wild pine."

If you go to Kristen's blog, you can find this story (with more photos) and lots of other delights, no matter where you look on her site. Truth is, I'm flattered to be featured on the site of a famous writer and a friend dating back to our first year in college.

Although Rachel (along with Kristen) live just across the valley, she entered into my heart through her blog. I have been inspired by the way she manages her tribe, which includes a special needs son. In just one evening, I fell in love with that boy who fell obsessively in love with my dog. Rachel is a West Nile Fever survivor and the fastest dishwasher this side of the Rockies. (Her kids weren't so bad either.)

This Evening's Sunset

2011-06-19T21:42:00.001-07:00

You had to be there to really believe it.

(I was there.)

These photos are for Leah who is missing the Rockies.

HINT: Move WEST.

Ginger's B & B

2011-06-15T20:44:00.000-07:00

My home is fondly been given the name of Ginger's B&B by my goddaughter's family.

Okay, sometimes it's like that.

Here's Victoria with her dear friend Sarah who is leaving to go on an LDS mission in Italy.

This shot was taken seconds before Sarah was whisked off to the Missionary Training Center.

Three of Victoria's sisters stayed at my place before leaving on their missions.
It's a big, exciting and scary time of transition. They go for eighteen months to two years of service.

I remember ever so clearly the details of the day my son left.

Vic stayed around for a week, due to a certain young man.
Too bad he's also leaving on a mission (to Taiwan, not Italy) in a few days!

Vic has always been a great napper. I learned this about her while she lived with me.

Don't you love Vic's curly locks?

Then there's ME, wearing my dorky reading glasses on a chain, just like the old librarians.

Let's face it. I'm now a certifiable senior citizen.

* * * * * *

The day after Victoria left, my son's family arrived.

They've officially announced the birth of this adorable little whippersnapper with a DYNAMITE middle name:

She's a great little traveler. GOOD THING. Her parents are taking her to Europe this summer!

Big Brother and Big Sister loved zipping down my driveway on these scooter cars:

They also loved eating home-made frozen smoothies inside a cardboard box.

Have you ever noticed how entertaining large boxes can be for preschoolers?!

On Sunday, these two imps woke up before 6 a.m. and crawled into my bed.

Their parents deserved more rest . . . which they wouldn't get if the kids were romping about.

I made a judicious decision to sack my highfalutin standards regarding the Plug-in Drug.
(My own kids had very limited access to TV during their deprived childhoods.)

I gave them both a set of earphones and let them watch The Bee Movie on my netbook computer:

Notice the TIGHT FIT on my TWIN SIZE bed WITH DOG:

When Mom and Dad awoke and whipped into action, the movie was just ending.

The kids were dressed, fed, and out the door for church in record time.

They wanted their photos taken with their favorite dog in the whole wide world:

It was GOODBYE for a few days. They'll be back for the 4th of July.

Right after their departure, my dear friend Dion arrived for a two-week stay:

We met on the back of a bus in Japan in 2005.

I did NOT take this sweet photo of her from the back of the bus.
We went helicopter-ing together, many moons later.

TOO MANY STORIES, TOO LITTLE TIME!

Sorry I fell silent for two weeks. I actually didn't "go away". I just got INVOLVED.

After all, there's Ginger's B & B which is completely delightful but requires a bit of focus.

Did I Say "Spring"?

2011-06-01T09:17:00.000-07:00

From the kitchen window, it looks Spring-ish. Well, sort of.

From the front porch, the true story is told ~

Yep. This was Memorial Day in MY corner of the universe.

The storm cleared up yesterday morning and we enjoyed this view from the street at 9:30 a.m.

Utah's Snowbird Ski Resort received 776" of snowfall over the winter . . . and spring.

My son will be skiing there with his cousins on the 4th of July. CRAZY!

But I'll tell you something crazier.

A couple of weeks ago, my nephew climbed up Mt. Timpanogos from the back side.

With skis slung over his shoulder:

The route he took is FAMOUS for spring avalanches.

This action shot was taken on this very route . . . and it demonstrates what frequently happens there:

(Courtesy wn.com)

Well, my beloved nephew ascended unharmed and trekked clear up to the summit,
nearly 12,000 feet above sea level.

Then he strapped on his skis and did a big-time "Vertical Drop".

Please take a look at the front side of this mountain to appreciate his feat:

The fact he did this - well, it tickles me no end.

I did some winter mountaineering (and a little skiing) in my 20s.

This IS me. Mount Nebo ~ February 1972

Nebo is a neighbor to Timpanogos, but slightly higher.

(BTW, I won a $10 bet with my brother Ken over that issue many moons ago.
He had summited Timp. I had climbed Nebo.

I really loved winning that bet,
because he was so completely certain about being right and it's good to humble an older brother.)

I think that carrying an ice axe was probably a lot easier than hauling a pair of skis.
Still, it was tough. We started from the valley floor @ 4 a.m. More than half the party turned back.
I was the only female to summit. I was extremely happy but exhausted.
On the descent, we slid down the glaciers on our fannies and I wore a nice big hole in my pants.

My Grandma Leah took great pleasure in the fact that I made that climb,
since she ascended the same mountain in her youth.

There's something in our genes. We thrive on adventure. We like trying new things.

My mom celebrated her 83rd birthday THIS WAY:

Helicoptering over Mount Timpanogos where my nephew recently did his daring feat.

And, actually, my son and grandson their 2011 birthdays, in similar fashion:

Notice the green scene out the window of their helicopter.

Loverly.

Please, no more out-of-season winter trickery til December. I mean it.

With that emphatic statement, I'm signing off to head up the canyon for my daily jaunt. My dog is giving me THAT LOOK.

Today: the Pinnacle of Spring

2011-05-25T21:08:00.000-07:00

Taken from my front porch. This morning.

SPRING is positively a glorious season for hiking the canyon.
Today I sacrificed my house chores for an extended hike. Wouldn't you?

With my Casio pocket camera purchased under $100,
I effortlessly snapped a $1,000,000 view at the mouth of the canyon.

Even managed to capture a Monarch resting on a native Utah oak.

Oh, the stunning colors of those newly-born leaves, not to mention the sweet butterfly!

Just last month, the riverbed was bone dry.

Now it's raging with the spring run-off.

If you look closely at the photo below, you can see remnants of the open irrigation trough on the other side of the river,
originally built by the Mormon pioneers to bring water to their crops.

Over the years, I've been witnessing the process of it crumbling away as it gradually returns to nature.

Notice how my dog, Chica, is posing in front of some hefty boulders on the trail?

Quite recently, these geological giants plungde from the high cliffs of the canyon.
More of them come down in a wet year.
This year.

Here and there, a brave little tree manages to grow right in the middle of the river bed.

Will it survive the flood season? I'm not sure.

BELOW: These tree logs were violently ripped from their roots on the mountain, crushed and broken from the weight of snow, then carried down into the riverbed during a thunderous avalanche. They occur every winter in this canyon with it's steep cliff walls. One year, a troop of boy scouts perished here. Fairly near this very spot. Wow, they are powerful! I've only experienced ONE as it was happening and, oh my goodness, the sound of it was like nothing else. Caused my dog to turn and run all the way home.

As for the river itself, it does not gurgle. It ROARS.

Turn up your speakers and listen:

The river hasn't peaked yet, by any means.

When it does, I'll video the humongous rocks tumbling downstream in the torrent.

Now THAT is an experience!

Another Bride in My Powder Room

2011-05-17T15:32:00.000-07:00

Several young maidens have been dressed and coiffured in the inner sanctuary of my humble abode,
before they bravely set out to tie the knot.

In fact, two sisters of this spring bride (above) sat on the exact same stool, in the exact same spot,
being transformed in preparation of their weddings.

Which one is the bride?

It's silly Brianna, on the left, eating an artichoke leaf.
AKA Goddaughter #4.

The shot above was taken during one of our fabulous feasts as we prepped for the Grand Event.

It was ever so pleasant in the upper yard as we created hundreds of thank you gifts for wedding guests.

After searching the entire valley for supplies,
we made these darling little wildflower seed packets,
which included a poem crafted by the bride.

Price: 16 cents a piece!

The almost-married couple show off the finished product below:

On the day of the big event, there were the last-minute alterations of the bridemaids' outfits . . .

. . . and tying the bow of the bridal gown.

Then, we were out the door!
Sort of.
Actually, I was the one in the car snapping photos.
waiting for my goddaughters who made their appearances 'in due time'.

My assignment:
to take a photo of each and every wedding guest.

Couldn't help catching a shot of these dear gals.

I love them to death,
although I wanted to spank each one of them for deserting their posts
. . . and thus I ended up doing their assignments.

I forgave them within 60 minutes. Wouldn't you?

A neighborhood park, just a few blocks from my house, provided the perfect ambiance for the celebration.

The night was lovely, except for a few sprinkles, which provided us with a beeeaaautiful rainbow!

This shot was taken right from the park:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The next morning, little Emma fed Chica most of her breakfast - Cheerio by Cheerio.

I let her give our little canine friend a large doggie biscuit as dessert,

Notice the perfectly executed hand-off:

And lots of things happened after that breakfast and the next day.
However, I missed the shots at the 2nd party which enthusiastically lasted until 2 a.m. .
Also, at the BBQ the next day.
As well as the ceremonious opening of the gifts.
Also, the lobster bisque banquet.

Okay.
I missed lots of shots.

So, here you get the parting shot as the herds are leaving their favorite 2nd home in the Rockies. (Mine, of course.)

And they're OFF !

Five of them jammed into a Subaru overflowing with presents.
Driving NORTH for another round of celebration.

P.S. Two goddaughters (and their families) remain in Utah. Just said nightie-night to one of them.
Hope her little Emma sleeps through the night. Pray that they all make it to Calgary, Canada safely.

Babies + More Babies

2011-05-11T08:40:00.000-07:00

Okay. This photo does not have a baby anywhere in sight.

HOWEVER, if Grace hadn't come into the world,
this shot would not exist!

Yep. My new granddaughter has a name. "Grace" just happens to be ...

The first name of Arian's cousin. (She's the daughter of my brother Squashblossom and a fine specimen of a human bean.)

The middle name of his sister and niece. (The sister = Kelty Grace. The niece = Avery Grace.)

The last name of our pioneer ancestor Isaac Grace. (She's way prettier than ole Isaac. Of course, that's not hard.)

Oh. She also has a middle name: Ginger

How sweet!

This big brother can NOT sit still for ANYTHING.

However, he will sit gladly for his baby sister. Like, for 20 minutes.

He'll even skip on story time for a chance to hold her. (He LOVES story time.)

By the time I arrived for grandmotherly duties, he was wearing a mask due to a cough. That didn't phase him one bit.

Does this little gal qualify as a baby?

Perhaps recent events have dissolved all association with that name.

Either way, I just have to say that she - Big Sister Audrey - won my heart.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Wait. There's more.

I received an UNEXPECTED SURPRISE on Mother's Day.

Can you guess?

Yep.

Another there's a wee dumpling in the oven!!!

WAY TO GO, Leah!

(Leah whizzing @ 40 mph on an inner tube in the Caribbean Ocean.)

. . . and you're up to the task, mamacita.

Big question =

Is THIS little whipper-snapper ready for a little sister?

I just got off the phone with Leah. Apparently little Aspen was busy practicing the fine art of diaper changing.

She'll manage in her new place within the family circle. Her two older sisters will teach her ALL about it!

She's Here!

2011-05-02T10:35:00.000-07:00

The latest addition to the family arrived on Friday.

She's a healthy 6 lb 10 oz little gal, looking quite a bit like her new big sister.

Audrey doesn't know what Big Sister entails, but she's as happy as a lark,
playing with Aunt Kelty outside the hospital.

4 year-old Kenneth wants a turn too!
His auntie happily obliges, despite the fact that he's as tall as a 6 year-old.

"My turn!" "My turn!" "Now my turn!"
Good thing she's a strong gal and loves those little kids to death.

Moreover, she has MEGA-ENERGY!

I'm guessing it comes from the fact that her own little baby is back in Chicago with her papa.

This is the first time she's had uninterrupted sleep for over a year!

Another daddy does humble duties as his wife and newborn recover from the c-section.

Jill is a medical first. Nobody has ever had a baby within a year of two hip replacements. Yep. After Audrey was born, BOTH her hips were replaced, she needed new hips due to hip dysplasia at birth. A previous cheer leader and zumba aerobies instructor, she had big changes in store. You can read about her major recovering HERE. She glowingly reports that THIS pregnancy was her easiest. That THIS birth was a snap. That's our Jill. She is a Happy Camper under practically all circumstances.

On the Go!

2011-04-27T09:36:00.000-07:00

You were always ON THE GO. Still are.

You are no longer navigating HOPS OVER THE FENCE.

Now we're talking
HOPS OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD.

Your life at Oxford is chock full of interesting people
and mega-doses of intellectual stimulation.

But we all know where your heart is fully planted.

Jill & the kids taken on Easter Sunday

(Can you see that she's nine months pregnant? Probably not.)

Anyway, dear son, congratulations on another birthday

. . . as well as the upcoming DAY of BIRTH
scheduled for Friday!

Hugs, Mom

P.S. I'm ON STAND-BY and IN GREAT ANTICIPATION.

At Home in Georgia

2011-04-22T19:01:00.000-07:00

Why did I go to Georgia?

Well, it was the warmest place I could get to for $78.

Yep. That was the cost of my flight. Scan this site regularly if you love bargain basement flying.

Then, the car was $15 a day.
Bid on PRICELINE for the Economy Class, never more than $15 on your first bid. You'll usually get the car.

When you arrive at your destination, ask for a free upgrade and they'll often give one, because they run out of the cheap cars.

Another great deal: I got a Day's Inn room in Dahlonega, Georgia for $30 flat a night.
Use Hotels.com and sort by price. Sometimes Booking.com beats 'em but not often.

Why Dahlonega? It's at the base of the Appalachians. I'll explain what took me there in my next post.

In the meantime, see the view I got from my $30/night room.

When I opened the door and saw that amazing picture window, I squealed with delight!
Naturally, I had expected a rat hole.

The view was worth $1oo a night, even tho it was a regular Day's sort of place in every other respect.
I stayed there for the majority of my trip.

Soooo, I justified spending my last three nights in B&Bs. I selected ones that were in real plantation manors.

My first night was at "The Colonels Plantation" in Athens, Georgia.
Both the husband and wife are retired colonels. Colonel Mark took my photo just before I headed off to church.

This spread was the Fair Haven Plantation in Arnoldsville, Georgia.

What a joy to sit out on the balcony, listening to a banquet of bird songs that were completely different than Utah bird songs.

With encouragement from my generous host, I hung around for most of the day, absorbing a bit of paradise.

Holly Court Inn was my last stop in Washington, Georgia.
In this sweet town, many manors date back to the 1700s, including the first photo in this post.

I highly recommend all three of these B & Bs. They exceeded my expectations . Additionally, my hosts provided me with the fascinating histories of their homes and communities. Two of them played a role in the Civil War.

I probably look like a loner in the photo below, taken at the Washington B & B.

Actually, I wasn't alone. My host joined me at the breakfast table and we chatted about racial issues in Washington where there are approx. 2000 whites, 2000 blacks. Basically, he believes that people have learned how to get along much better than they did 50 years ago. Phil was old enough to KNOW.

Since forever, I've wanted to attend Southern African -American service, both for the unique, intense preaching style and the fervent gospel music. This trip was my opportunity! After asking around, I was led to the Springfield Baptist Church in Athens, which was established in the 1800s. Wow! What an amaaaaazing experience!!! See the church's history here.

FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN THE EXPERIENCE: I was the only Caucasian attending the Springfield Sunday service, but I was treated as a long-lost family member, hugged warmly by at least two dozen members of the congregation and the preacher himself. The music was indescribably beautiful. The call and response, praise and worship style of the traditional Negro gospel music is so full of emotion. The choir or sometimes a single vocalist started the hymns and then the congregation would sing the refrains. Many worshipers rose to their feet, swaying their arms, and even dancing in place. The minister at Springfield gave a rousing sermon. Here's a bit of the history of the "Negro Preaching Style" which perfectly describes my experience at Springfield: "The black sermon is stated in the vernacular, with inflection and timing so musical that many have compared it in style to improvised jazz. Much of the sermon is improvised. . . . This (style) is assured in part by the congregation, which answers the preacher verbally at every opportunity, creating a call-and-response pattern, which often builds to a frightening intensity." (Reference - here.)

The South isn't called the Bible belt for nothing. And there are still "Revivals" in Georgia.

I found this sign at the entrance of a cafe.

Can you read the small print which states that the Revival would be FOUR DAYS LONG?!

Most Southerners are Baptists and their churches are everywhere, but other Christian sects DO exist.

I only saw one Episcopal church and it was distinctive enough to get the street behind it named thus:

The streets in Georgia were named BEFORE developers got that honor, so they usually carry a bit of history. Like this one:

Don't know this particular bit of history, but one could venture a guess.

Vestiges of bygone times are rusting in overgrown vineyards . . .

Many of homes from the 1800s are still occupied and still show loving care.

Just about every home has a front porch with rocking chairs.

Even the not-so-nice ones:

However, there's a different genre of home, up in the "hollers" of the Appalachians:

Do you notice that the first trailer is attached to the home? They gave up the effort with the second one.

Okay. This is a crummy photo.

I got spooked because some hound dogs started barking at me just as I was taking this shot.
I drove away rather quickly, anticipating a shirtless guy with a beer can in one hand and a shotgun in the other.

There are lots of hound dogs in Georgia, because hunting is BIG.

When I saw this sign, I thought "Boar? Huh?"

Well, apparently the Conquistadors brought over boar in the 1500s and they still roam wild in Georgia.

Photo courtesy of blackcreeklodge.com

Possum hunting is a favorite Southern pastime and this little cafe proves it.
When I entered, I realized that I simply couldn't eat there. However, I bought an ice cream to be friendly.

I passed on the Poss-umm, and chose to eat at Big Chick.
Yes, two very big chicks were frying up chickens, a more common main dish than hamburgers at "fast food" diners.

The fried chicken was a whole lot better than KFC. It was served with okra or fries, you choose.

BTW, here's a little highlight from the Big Chick's menu board:

"GIZZADS" is the Southern way of pronouncing (and spelling in this case) "gizzards".

I absolutely LOVED the dialect! Especially the way they'd say "You'll come back now!"

Another Georgia specialty is boiled peanuts. You see the boiled peanut stands along the the country roads around the state.
If you're a genuine Southerner, you eat them shell and all!

Sorry to drag you through such a long post. That's why I'm saving my Appalachian adventure for the next round.

In the meantime, two parting shots - both advertising Coke using different venues.

First in Hapeville, near Atlanta:

Finally, this one, taken near Lexington, Georgia:. Don't you love the matching red roof?

Southern Hospitality

2011-04-16T18:22:00.000-07:00

Not only did the churches of Lumpkin County welcome me to town of Dahlonega . . .

. . . the LOCAL RESIDENTS themselves have been giving me a pretty fine welcome, as well.

You would think I was the ONLY person from west of the Mississippi to ever go to Lumpkin County!

I've been introduced to people, right and left, as "Miss Ginger, all the way from Utah."

Southern hospitality is ALIVE and WELL, let me tell you.
I've had more supper invitation since my arrival in Georgia than I'd received in the last six months at home.
Here I'm a special commondity. A foreigner!

Yesterday, I wandered up through the Appalachian Mountains in my rental car
with the sunroof open and windows down, letting in the fresh air.

Have to say, those mountains are more like rolling hills to folks who live in the Rockies.
Quite lovely in their own right.

Little family farms and ranches dot the countryside. Lots and lots of them.

Tractors which we'd call "antiques" are still in use on these little bitty family operations.

There are plenty of really old churches up in the "hollers", like the one below.
This is Cane Creek First Baptist Church,
established in 1866.

Cane Creek's cemetary was quite fascinating.

Many of the headstones were of Confederate soldiers.

Southerners still honor those grave sites with the Confederate flag.
They also fly Confederate flags in front of their homes. The Civil War isn't quite over in Georgia.

I have been entertained by the meal options here in Georgia. Different grub than I get back home:

Today I chose the crawfish with fried pickles and I wasn't disappointed.
A meal to remember. BTW, they tossed on a mess of collard greens and okra as freebies.

These Southerners are courteous people.
Even the country hillbillies - folks who can't properly conjugate verbs - have manners that would put sophisticated Californians to shame.

That includes the children.

At the motel, a six year old introduced herself as Lila and then asked my name.
"Ginger." I said as I stooped down to meet her eye to eye.
She smiled and speaking in a thick Southern drawl, she remarked,
" That's a right purty name, Miss Ginger. It fits you cuz your a right purty lady."