Temple Hopping Part 4b

See part 4a

Temple Hopping part 4a

Part four comes in two pieces. It was raining and we didn't have anyone to take our picture, so we had to do it ourselves. My phone only lets me post one picture at a time.

Guess where we are now?

Temple Hopping part 3

OK, guess now. Hint, we left Tucson this morning, and Bryce says there are a lot of monsters here.

Temple Hopping Part 2

You were right if you guessed Manti Utah on that last post. Manti was the fifth temple built and the third of those now in operation. It has a summer pageant in June, but alas, we were too late for that.

Today we have spent the day here. And this evening is Bryce's niece's wedding. Where are we now?

Temple Hopping

Bryce and I are on the way to Phoenix and Tucson for a wedding and as we go, are planning to visit some temples we haven't seen before. Guess where we stopped yesterday?

WW: Five Years

This week I'm celebrating five years cancer free.  Five years ago, I was told I had breast cancer.  The doctor called me the day before I was to fly to California and visit my parents on their mission.  So, I had to wait until I got back from my trip to get the rest of the information and diagnosis.  It was a scary week.  I still enjoyed being with my sisters and my parents, but I never really felt calm. 

My cancer doctor here says that I'll be able to go off the Tamoxifen later this summer.  When December rolls around, I can really say that the five years are up because that's when I finished treatments.  So on this "wonderful Wednesday" I'm grateful for five years.

Friday on top of the world

 

Just two of us hiked today.  It seems like July has been crazy for everyone.  Three different groups hiked on three different days this week, with two of the hikes going to Naomi Peak.  This is a gorgeous hike in July because there are many wildflowers in bloom.  It was a lovely day and the view from the top was absolutely worth the hike.

We liked this red white and blue display of Indian Paintbrush, Phlox and Flax.

Still some snow up high.  But those peaks behind us are still in front of our goal.


The wildflowers were amazing, and this picture can't possibly do them justice.


Not quite on top, but still an amazing view.

Made it to the top.

Bryce also enjoyed his day off work taking a trip to the top of another mountain with his Dad. They drove Gus, our Toyota Four-Runner. We figured later that if we'd known how, we could have located the mountain the other was on.

WW: Cool nights

Hot summer days make my zucchini grow - FAST!  Those two little plants that just sat around most of the year have doubled in size and started setting fruit just in the last couple of hot weather weeks.  And, you should see my tomatoes!  They love the hot weather.  I love it too.  Of course hot weather makes the house hot.  I don't like running the air conditioner because the compressor is big and noisy and sits outside against the wall of my office.  The vent is at my feet under my desk which is wonderful when it's heat, but gives me cold toes when it's air conditioning.  So, I love that these hot days turn into cool nights when the sun goes down.  As soon as the temperature outside and inside are close to the same, the AC goes off and the windows come open.  Right now I'm at my desk in the office and it's dark outside.  I have the window open and fresh cool air is breezing in.  Ahhhh.

Leatham Hollow

A few weeks ago, the Likin' Hikin' Ladies attempted to hike the Leatham Hollow Trail.  We drove some cars out to one canyon and left them, then went back to another canyon.  The trail was supposed to go from one to the other.  But, we never found the trailhead.  Later that night, Bryce and I found the trailhead in Gus and ever since then, I've been wanting to do that trail.  Some of my friends did the trail last week while I was gone to the family reunion.  This week, it was only Danielle and I who were planning to hike, so I took matters into my own hands and changed the hike destination.  Danielle and I went in Gus up the four miles of rocky dirt road to the trailhead and had a wonderful morning hiking this gorgeous trail.  It's mostly in shade, but occasionally pops out from behind trees to see some amazing views.  Enjoy!

WW: Glad to be home

Bryce and I have had some wonderful adventures this summer already.  We went to Peru, were home a few days and went to California.  Last week we were at a family reunion on top of a mountain at nearly 9,000 feet.  But this week, we are home.  Ahhh, it feels wonderful.  I've been catching up on yard work and housework, reading my scriptures and just doing normal things.  It's amazing.  This wonderful thing on Wednesday post is just being home.

Family reunion on top of the world

I just came back from a fabulous family reunion.  About sixteen years ago, my folks started giving their family a reunion as a Christmas gift.  They save up their timeshare weeks and swap them for all the same place the same week.  Their posterity now numbers 74 if you count my sister and nephew who died in infancy and the five unborn babies.   So that's a bunch of family at the reunion!  This year's reunion was at a ski resort on top of a nearly 9,000 foot mountain.  The resort was called Powder Ridge.  It was not too far from home, so that's why people were able to come and go, but the last seven miles are pretty scary either going up or going down.  We had 65 at dinner on Sunday, and about 60 who were there most of the week.  I was in charge of Sunday dinner, and Mom and Dad reserved a big room at the lodge for a church meeting and then the meal.  Here are some events of the week:

Hiking - of course!  There were many access roads around the ski resort with amazing views.  We even found a snow field and had a mini snowball fight.

You can't see in this pcture, but most of the plants behind me are bluebells and in bloom.  What a view!

Ahh, true love.  Sara and Eric on the hike.

Getting ready to leave on the hike.  Later we were joined by about ten more people.  From left is my amazing mom, Sue, Alaina, Rob, Julie, Linda, Derek, me, Sara, Eric, and in front Debora, Hannah and Karin. 

Just loved this old tree and the view below.

Brian's family and Brynlee joined us later in the hike.

Our grandson Lee turned four while we were at the reunion.  His mom worked hard to make a great party for all the little kids and a bunch of the older ones too.

It was hard for Lee to blow out his candles.  Some of them got sprayed pretty well.

Water balloon tossing was a great party activity and enjoyed by the adults too.

Grandpa's magic rock disappearing trick was a highlight of the party and of the week.  He encouraged all the kids to go looking for magic rocks and for the rest of the week helped them determine if they had found one.  One little niece learned the trick and even used Bryce's patter as she tried it on her family.

The lodge had a swimming pool, which was enjoyed on several occasions.

And the best night of all - spa night!  This was a hit four years ago at the last reunion, and an even bigger hit this time.  We gave each other neck, hand and foot massages, pedicures and fancy toes.  It's a wonderful bonding experience among the girls in the family, and even my mom came and enjoyed herself.

Love this picture.  My "glitter toes" actually reflected the camera flash!

I wish I had pictures from "Grandpa's golf clinic.  My dad worked really hard to put on a delighful morning of golf instruction and practice for a good sized group.  We also spent a day in Ogden and a group went to the temple together.  We ate well (too well most of the time) and just had a great time.  Thanks Mom and Dad for doing this for us.  I can't thank you enough.

WW: Wildflowers in my backyard

On Wednesdays, I post about something wonderful that I'm grateful for this week.  Today I'm grateful for a beautiful trail that I can walk to from my house.  

I took a walk on the Bonneville Shoreline trail this week and the wildflowers made me happy. 

This is Saddle Hill, view from just above my house.  If you read last Friday's hike post, you saw it from the other side.

The Sego lilies are blooming.  They close up at night, and I was walking early in the morning, so the pictures aren't really great, but you get the idea.