The MTC

Here we are at the Provo Missionary Training Center...October 1st through October 5th, 2012.  You can see the excitement on our faces!  It was a special, spiritual experience that we will never forget.  More photos at...

https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/MTC?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLW07OmchYGnew&feat=directlink

Sunday Visit with Baron and Brie and Colby

https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/SundayVisit?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOrwyqGDn9HXngE&feat=directlink

Hillsboro Blessing Weekend

Dad and I flew to Hillsboro on Saturday, September 22nd.  We spent a wonderful short weekend with Briton, Robin, Talmage, Sydney, Clara and Miles...my how their family has grown!  The weather was perfect.  All of the food was great and so was the company.  We had fun playing games with the kids.  The blessing at church on Sunday was special.  Little Miles looked cute in a fuzzy white and light blue outfit and bright orange socks with monkeys!!  He boisterously put in his two cents worth, letting his opinions be made known.  We enjoyed every moment and had to return home too soon.

https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/HillsboroBlessingWeekend?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMKykqnaxsKAKg&feat=directlink

Almost Missionaries Say Goodbye

It was quite a weekend, full of fun and family and friends.  We gathered together for food, games, a Farewell (2 talks and a marvelous quartet rendition of "We Are Sowing"), and a great send-off party.  Thanks to everyone for journeying to Farmington, participating and helping in many ways.

https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/FarewellWeekend?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPfCsN2a4LiDHw&feat=directlink

September Days

Sunny sunflowers and card from my next door neighbor...we've been getting greeting cards and best wishes from friends and family as we get ready to go.  September is going by really fast!

It was fun to celebrate Colby's 7th September birthday and take a drive to Bear Lake on a crisp September afternoon.
https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/September122012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLKYz7Pclo-QoQE&feat=directlink

5 Go Caching

Saturday, September 1st was a great day for geocaching...it was warm, but overcast, with a short rain to cool things off.  So, The Geo Idiots and Won Ton Cache'n set out on a caching adventure in Farmington and Kaysville.  We ended up finding a lot of caches and a lot of loot and having more than 3 hours of fun.

https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/Geocaching092012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIG23LaMi8D0KQ&feat=directlink

August 28, 2012

https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/42ndAnniversary?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJbYvuz2pdmh9QE&feat=directlink

Humming and Buzzing

We had burgers on the deck earlier this week and Dad took some videos of the hummers at dusk.  There are more than ever this year and August is always their peak of activity...just ask Autumn who has been filling the 3 feeders almost daily.  I guess they multiply and replenish and return in greater numbers every year.  We've seen more than a dozen at a time and there are more than that frequenting the Barker Juice Bar.  They are almost like big bees swarming around a hive and they certainly like to tweet and squeak.  Enjoy these videos:
https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/Hummers?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMWOj5XPlJTYBg&feat=directlink

Today I was unhappy to receive yellow jacket sting #4 for the summer while out pruning the potentillas.  Dad discovered a huge nest afterwards.  I got stung on the right hand knuckle around 1:00pm.  Ouch!  Then it started to swell.  By about 7:00pm I couldn't move my fingers, they were so swollen.  My hand was burning and itchy and the skin was stretched really tight.  I ate dinner with my left hand.  Here is a photo taken around 9:30pm, after the swelling had started to go down and my fingers were working again. 

August Road Trip to Oregon, Idaho and Montana

9 days and 2800 miles...one last hurrah to see some really beautiful countryside and people we really like. It was lots of fun!!!
https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/AugustRoadTrip?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMG5uqbw7a_O9wE&feat=directlink

Bridal Shower, Musical Theatre and Baron's Birthday

What's not to like?  Birthday's are worth it, don't you think?

Here's the link to some July happenings:

https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/July2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOXX38mM9smpfQ&feat=directlink

Hillsboro Visitors

The Hillsboro Barkers came for a visit and WOW did we have fun.

https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/HillsboroVisitors?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJ_o3-iUg8uGWA&feat=directlink

June 29th--Birthday Luncheon

Happy Birthday to me...#63!
https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/BirthdayLunch?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIiO97LNkbyhTg&feat=directlink

Music and More

Links to the latest from the Farmington folks...
https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/MusicAndMore?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKHP44i07Ya7Ag&feat=directlink

MISSION PAPERS and FATHER'S DAY!

https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/MissionPapersAndFatherSDay?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKTugeTMpuXB6wE&feat=directlink

June Trip to California

We enjoyed a great 5 days on the Monterey Peninsula.  Fun to see some beautiful new sights and scenery.  Hope you enjoy checking out our photos and videos...about 225, gulp...at these 2 locations:

https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/CATripDays12?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCK3S48atnunOEg&feat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/CATripDays345?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKmhuI72uZjfSg&feat=directlink

Busy, Diverse Week

It has been a busy week.  Monday...foot surgery for Dad to remove 2 plantar warts...ouch!!   He'll be limping for a while and has to have the other foot done in 10 days.  Tuesday...lunch at Little America with the Franchows.  Wednesday...3 hours of dental work for Dad at Huffy's (only one appointment to go) and we helped clean the church that night.  Thursday...Pioneer Theater.  Friday...Art Show.  Saturday...up at 8:00am to finish cleaning the church, wedding reception and Adult Evening Meeting of Stake/Regional Conference.  Now it's time for a nap!  Here are a few photos:
https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/ProductionsAndPresentations?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCN_xnOrSjMHOFw&feat=directlink

Mother's Day Weekend

https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/MotherSDay?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCNin0KW4tt2VhwE&feat=directlink

The First Week of May 2012

I hope everyone saw the Perigee Super Moon on Saturday night. It was 14% bigger and 30% brighter than usual. Dad took this photo from the deck with his bigger lens, and of course it's cropped and enlarged with no points of reference, but we were amazed. It was quite a sight!  Here are some photos taken in our Spring Yard:

https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/FirstWeekOfMay2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCP7QvIvyrOz80QE&feat=directlink

BYU Women's Conference 2012

Autumn and Mary Springer and I had a wonderful 2 days in Provo attending this year's Women's Conference at BYU.  Mary and I drove down on Wednesday night, checked in, walked around campus, ate at the CougarEat and attended a screening of 2 BYU TV shows.  (I won 1 of the 6 raffle prizes...a micro-fleece dark blue byutv blanket in a bag!)  Autumn joined us the next morning for the opening session.  We joined up for the 4 plenary sessions, entertainment, tour of service projects and then mostly did our own things for the 6 other conference sessions.  It was exhilarating and exhausting with 1/2 hour breaks to race to your next class and no extra time for lunch, so you had to eat on the run.  I attended such things as "An Empty Nest, Not an Empty Life", "Grandparents:  Sow Good Seeds in Their Young Minds", "Be Proud of Who You Are and What You Believe", "The Gospel of Jesus Christ Is Not an Obligation; It is a Pathway."  We went out to Rubio's for Fish Tacos and Shrimp Burritos on Thursday night.  Yum...thanks, Mary!  This is the 4th (I think) time I've attended (it's been a long time since the last one) and Mary's first time.  We ran into people we knew...or who knew people we knew...it's a small world.  All in all, all 3 of us enjoyed the experience along with about 15,000 others and the weather cooperated...cooler on Friday, but no rain.  How lucky to fill our cups and be inspired to be and do better. 
https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/BYUWomenSConference2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJComrX_q_vtIA&feat=directlink

April Days

We haven’t been out to movie or concert, etc., since Christmas (unless you count our ushering at Pioneer Theater), so we decided we were overdue for a date night at Symphony (Abravanel) Hall.  And even though we‘ve seen a Beatles tribute band before, it still draws us in.  There aren’t too many performances you can attend where you know every word and every note…and it’s fun for us.  This group, the Classical Mystery Tour, has performed 100s of times in the US and abroad.    The 4 Americans (with impressive resumes) pulled it off pretty well, doing about 2 dozen tunes transcribed note-for-note and performed exactly as originally recorded.  But the added bonus to the “Classical Mystery Tour” was the backup from the Utah Symphony!  Some songs like “A Day in the Life” were really great with the orchestra.  Of course, they did a section from Sgt. Pepper's in the bright satin getups.  They did “Hey Jude” near the end (not our favorite song) with all the la-la-la-la’s…asking for audience participation…guys, then girls, etc. competing.  It was really funny when they asked all those under 30 to sing!!!  Pretty much dead silence!  Nearly everyone there was in their 60s, I’d imagine.  Fun night full of memories from the 1960s and 1970s and our Magical Mystery Tour in Liverpool a few years ago.   
(click to enlarge page from the program to view the songs they played)

https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/April2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCN3BxfahtbCdhwE&feat=directlink

TILLY CAME! and, oh, Easter

Easter is always a little iffy as far as the weather goes, but spring had sprung this year and the faint greens around the yard and bluish skies and dribbles of colored blossoms brightened us as we were brightened by the joy of celebrating our Savior's Atonement for us.

We were happy to gather to share a great meal. It was really fun to see Tilly (and her parents) from Montana. As the blog title suggests, 95% of the photos at the following link include Matilda..."Puh-Puh" couldn't resist. The other 5% is mostly food...and a few fam shots.

https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/TILLYAndEaster?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOfE9YPHrrXLrwE&feat=directlink

Folks Come to Farmington

Packin' up and movin' out.

Be sure to bring the kitty litter.

Say goodbye to the chickens next door.

Kaya takes one last look at the backyard.

Kaya in a box in the car.

Maki in a bag in the car.

Leaving the little house in American Fork.

Marnie and friend Matt.

Marnie, Matt and Mom.

Levi getting comfortable...almost.

Having fun playing Apples to Apples, after a couple of days of a great General Conference.

Irish Dance Recital

Brielle, the Irish dancer. Keep on smiling and dancing, girl! https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/BrieSDanceRecital2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOLwi96_-or69wE&feat=directlink

BLUE!

BLUE is for Blue Sky and Blue Jay

https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/SpringDay?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIGJ_fbPnM6OxQE&feat=directlink

#65

Thanks for all the thoughtful goodies! https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/65?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCNGQ_M269tLtcg&feat=directlink

March Menagerie

Here are some photos taken in March, including a scrub jay, a quilt, a cactus and an orchid. Not pictured is us going to our first "caucus" meeting...4 hours to elect 3 officers, 3 state delegates, and 6 county delegates. There were more than 125 people packed in a sweltering classroom at Farmington Junior High. (We did not know that there is a new wing of rooms in the back of the school and have no idea how long it has been there!) The meeting was interesting and we learned some new things. 3 people in our ward were elected as delegates. The process was unbelievably inefficient and we left thinking there's got to be a better way. Oh, well, we did our civic duty and have some crazy stories to tell. Since we hadn't eaten beforehand, we found one place open in Centerville, In-and-Out Burgers, and ate our dinner at 11:30pm.

https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/MarchMenagerie?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMzZkfqJh638Ag&feat=directlink

Don't forget your hat!

Close encounter with a tree branch.

We Liked It

Since this movie (rated PG) received 5 Oscars (nominated for 11), we put it on our NetFlix queue. It won for things like cinematography and art direction and sound and costumes. It was magical and amazing to watch. To me, it has a Jules Verne look. It didn't hurt that it takes place in Paris with French-inspired music. (Would have been even better with French accents.) We liked the story and how it unfolded. Evidently it is done in 3D...so we may have to try that out since we have the technology and glasses. I liked the closing credit song "Coeur Volant" ("Flying Heart") by Zaz and had to look it up to listen again and get the lyrics (in French, and also the English translation.) We recommend Hugo (a few scary parts for kids) and hope you get a chance to see it.

Crepe School -- Saturday February 25th

https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/CookingSchoolSaturdayFebruary25th?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLzi8rqF-9Tt7wE&feat=directlink

Birds & Hearts

It's that time of year at Farmington Bay Bird Refuge. They provide the carp and the eagles come and we go out to take a photo.

Dad got a great shot as one of the previous 2 eagles took off and flew right over our heads.

Canadian goose posing...we could hear a lot of honking.

Herons nesting.

I fixed a special dinner tonight (garlic butter baked chicken, crusted with seasoned breadcrumbs) along with heart-shaped muffins. I used my home storage muffin mix and added glacee cherries, coconut and sliced almonds. Good. Dad got me the heart-shaped Junior Mints (some white, some red inside) and the cute socks card: "I was lost until I found you...We make a good pair." I made one for him.

Valentine's Day 2012

Just wanted to share this creative Valentine to us from Talmage. He used regular paper, construction paper, crayons, scissors (2 corners are cut out), tape (2 corners and add-ons are taped), and he drew great pictures. Can you find the car? THANKS Talmage! And Happy Valentine's Day to all!

Maui Adventure--February 2012

Maui? It was all we’d hoped for! The best part for both of us was just sitting on our lanai (luh-nigh--balcony) eating a leisurely breakfast and watching people walking on the beach, swimmers, snorkelers, board paddlers, guys playing bocce ball, whales!, swaying palms, ocean waves rolling ashore and listening to the birds. The whale-watching tour was amazing. Traveling up to the top of the volcano and along the winding road to Hana were full days of marvelous scenery and we managed to snag 12 geocaches (and 2 Travel Bugs) during our stay. Yes! We’ve cached in all 50 states now!! The weather was almost always sunny and warm (about 80 degrees) and then there was the food! Mama’s Fish House was an experience. It was really fun for me to try to pronounce all the Hawai’ian words, mostly cities and names of beaches, etc., and watch the big waves and surfers. Dad loved scanning the horizon with his binoculars for whales blowing and taking lots of photos of the landscapes and flora. Our condo was definitely worth biting the bullet for, cost-wise. We’d go there again. The week went by oh, so quickly. We are so grateful we had the opportunity to visit this beautiful island and soak it all in.

Please check out our photos and videos…and be proud (and grateful) that we whittled about 940 shots down to about 290! They are in chronological order with too many details, but I use my blog to help document and remember stuff. You might want to tackle it a day at a sitting. Also, I couldn’t put the accent marks on some of the Hawai’ian vowels…but I’m sure you’ll forgive me! (for not painting and making to scale)

Day 1: https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/MauiDay1?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKH85eHR59WkEw&feat=directlink

Day 2: https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/MauiDay2?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCK6EmZmuyYW08wE&feat=directlink

Day 3: https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/MauiDay3?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCK6J-7vm-6aT4AE&feat=directlink

Day 4: https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/MauiDay4?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPDTrZ-djOW9GA&feat=directlink

Day 5: https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/MauiDay5?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCNzb2cn_rKevSA&feat=directlink

Day 6: https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/MauiDay6?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIT82bT3h7Waew&feat=directlink

Day 7: https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/MauiDay7?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJn4n9q20rHK2AE&feat=directlink

January Weather

We've had very little snow this winter, probably setting a record for the driest winter in a long time. The temperatures have been above average, too. But I've enjoyed the sunshiny days!


Things changed a bit this weekend:

https://picasaweb.google.com/103890614854568345609/January2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOrFldjdxv6M_QE&feat=directlink

2 Trips to Eagle Mountain

We went to the Eagle Mountain Barker's house on Thursday, December 29th, to share pizza and play games. Here we are playing the Logo trivia game...Baron was the winner, winner, chicken dinner...Grandma was left in the dust. But it was lots of fun!

I'm admiring their beautiful Christmas tree and the myriad of snowflakes that Brie made for the front window.

Ah, yes, McPuddy chillin'.

Fabulous sunset on January 5th.

Looks like the sky is on fire.

Back out to Eagle Mountain for Brielle's birthday on January 5th. Here she is with a purple gingham bag of goodies.

Yep, she's 9! and yep, I wrapped the presents in fabric.

A new sweater.

We ate red velvet cake and played Crazy 8s. She's wearing a Birthday Girl crown and Baron is baffling us with a magic card trick.