March 2019

Friday, August 1, 2014

07 July 2014

I love the summer months in Idaho. The weather is comfortable and warm. I fired up the hot tub and in the mornings I can sit outside at dawn and feel the warm air sitting there listening to the birds amp up the morning.

The 4^th of July is how every year we begin celebrating the summer. Dawn had just got back from the funeral of her mother-in-law (Marie Hoper). The funeral was held in Duchane, Uath. Monica and Roxy attended the funeral meeting Dawn in SLC and traveling together she had this crazy idea of bringing Roxy back with her. So we have enjoyed this 16 month old in our home.

In a week Adam Mariner, Roxy’s father, brought her brother Burton to stay with us until the 17^th of July when their parents flew up to take them home. Kids! Little kids are lots of work. We did have fun each day playing in the water and many times to the park swings. There was lots of bonding time.

I continued to train for the 10K in Santa Cruz. On Tuesday evening just before the concert in the park on the Green Belt, I would jog around the river and Freeman Park. Dawn joined me for the 6.2 miles of trail, so I knew we could complete the run.

Then on the 23^rd of July we drove to SLC to catch the Amtrak to Colfax, CA. The train was 3 hours delayed so then we got to Colfax, CA Robyn was waiting an extra hour beyond the delay because we were behind a slow moving freight train. Fortunately, we drove to Capitola to pick up Wayne just shortly after he got of work.

I was so glad Robyn drove through all the heavy traffic and winding roads to Santa Cruz. Ben and Sage had been there since early afternoon. Larry and Ashley Vetty arrived and so we had a wonderful dinner that evening. Ben cooked fish and shrimp boil with corn on the cob.

The next day we spent at the beach while Wayne and Kesler surfed at 4 mile beach. Robyn, Dawn and I rode the mountain bikes from the residence above Santa Cruz to the beach some 10 miles away.

Well, it finally arrived, the day we had been waiting for over a year. Parking a couple of miles away Wayne, Robyn, Dawn and I walked to the Boardwalk to get ready for the 10K. We were in section 3 behind the 1 and 2 front runner groups (much faster) than we. Behind us was section 4 and Dawn and Ashley were joined in that group. After what seemed a lengthy time at 8:00 am the first group raced off then minutes later group 2 and finally group three. There were nearly 20,000 runners so the mass moved rather slowly. For the first two miles I followed Robyn and Wayne through the crowd passing the walkers and slow runners. Then Wayne took off and I followed with Robyn behind me. We passed over 40 bands playing and encouraging us along.

The finish surprised me since it was downhill and I was not sure how much distance was left. At 1 hour and 6 minutes I crossed the finish line. I felt remarkably good. Tired and sweaty I waited for Robyn. We picked up our packets and waited shortly for Robyn and Ashley. It was amazing we found each other in the crowd.

Dawn and I rode back to our residence in the back of Larry’s car. I was glad it was over. We had a wonderful Tai dinner and then rested up.

That evening Brian Kurowski and kids showed up to stay with us. The next day they all went to the beach again for more surfing. I rode down alone on Kesler’s mountain bike along the Wilder Ranch coast line, viewing along the way pelicans, Harbor seals, dolphin and sea birds. It was a lovely ride.

That evening we got ready to leave on the morrow. We took the kids to the Boardwalk. They had a great time on the rides and eating Dip and Dots.

On the way home Robyn drove up highway 1 to Pigeon Point Lighthouse, Ana Noava State Park and Half Moon Bay. We had clam chowder at the beach in Half Moon Bay.

After we got home we cleaned up and Robyn cooked a wonderful Mexican dinner. The next day she took up to Colfax, CA depot to catch the train home. Thank you Robyn.

We picked up the Kurowski kids in Truckey, California. The train arrived in SLC at 3:00AM. After loading all the kids in the car at the SLC depot I drove straight home arriving at 6”00am in the morning. I was exhausted. What a month!!

Burton in the hammock

Roxy eating green apples

Crofts at the ball game with Roxy

4th of July Parade Roxy with dog Roxy

Julia has a new Pink Flamingo!

This baby is "not" very cute!?!

Dinner Time!

Golf cart got stuck at Journey's End Golf Course! Brad and I were having too much fun!

Brad fishing the Snake River

Dawn in training at the Green Belt

Woody giving Burton a ride in the "38"

Training continues!

Amtrak

Truckey California

Indy at the "Pump Track in Santa Cruz

Fun at Santa Cruz

At the start of the Wharf to Wharf 10K

Robyn at the end of the race!

Beach at Wilder Ranch

Surfing at 4 mile beach.

Robyn and Elinor at the Boardwalk

Fun at the Boardwalk

Donner Lake out the observation car on our way back to SLC.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

06 June 2014

The month of June was a very busy month. It began with a trip to Utah to drop off Dawn at her cousin, Angie Bytheway’s place. She was registered to ride with her in the “Little Red” ride in Cache Valley, Livingston, Utah on the first week end of June.

It is important that I announce Dawn and her cousin rode the longest they have ever ridden in a bike ride. They rode 70 miles in one day.

I was then on my way to Boise, Idaho to join with Stephanie, Holly and Robyn who had entered the Boise Idaho Ironman competition as a relay team. We met up with Gordon and Paula who were visiting Nancy (Linda’s sister with cancer). We stayed in the Best Western Northwest Lodge the night before the competition and put Steph’s bike together which was shipped out to Holly and Jon in a large box.

The next day the competition began with Holly swimming 1 ¼ mile in the choppy waters of the Lucky Peak reservoir. She did it in 48 minutes (seven minutes below the cut off time). Steph then put on the ankle timer and rode off on the 56 mile bike ride. She was hammered by a 20 mhp head wind on the way back from the 24 mile turn around point. However, she gained 30 minutes by the time she arrived at the transfer spot for Robyn.

Robyn charged out the timer gate and finished the 13 mile run under the qualifying time to finish the race. What an exciting time! We all were so amazed at their accomplishment. The many hours of hard training paid off. When we got back to Utah, Ella and Brock spent the night with Josh and family. The next morning Dawn and I took all the kids and Josh and Danielle to Lagoon for the day. How fun was that!?

So the first week of June was exciting.

Then next exciting event for Dawn and I was Central Stake girls camp. We had volunteered to spent two days with the 3^rd ward girls and take them on the adventure hike. On the 18^th of June we arrived in a snow storm at the Darby Girl’s Camp. Around the fire Don Schanz and I talked until time to go to bed in a small tent. It was extremely cold and without the wool blanket he provide for cover I would have suffered severely.

The next day Dawn and I put on our backpacks (in preparation for our hiking in Colorado in August) and walked up the mountain to Pack Saddle lake with several of the girls. It was a step hike and slippery due to the weather the night before. It was not without incident due to the misfortune of one of the girls (Mattie) falling in the lake off a rope swing. She was given dry clothes and a fire to bring her back for near freezing.

On the 21^st of June, Dawn and Christine Taow drove to SLC to attend the Swedish festival and meet with family. I did not go because I was preparing for our 50^th class reunion the next weekend. However, Dawn had to return to Utah on the 27^th to attend her mother-in-laws funeral. Marie Hopper died earlier that week. So Dawn did not get to attend the Shelley High school reunion.

The evening of the 27^th of June, Leon Clark, Laron Shumway, Kendall Christensen and I met with 28 other class member at the North Bingham County Park near Shelley, Idaho to kick off the reunion. The weather was cool and it did rain earlier. None-the-less we started a camp fire and roasted hot dogs and smores. That evening we set up for the next day and all the activities.

On Saturday the 28^th we met with nearly 80 member of our class and their spouses for lunch. I was in charge of decorations and a media presentation. After lunch we assembled in the Aldridge School house (an historical building) on the property. I gave a power point presentation of the class of 64’ beginning with the first grade and followed through high school. It was well received.

The last day of June, Nancy Need died. We met with her while in Boise, Idaho for the Ironman. At that time we said our good byes. We attended her funeral yesterday (5 July 2014). She is buried in the Taylor Cemetery near her home in Jameston, Idaho.

Darby Girls Camp Snow

Backpack to Pack Saddle Lake

The girls of Darby

Holly finishing the swim

Steph finishing the ride

Robyn finishing the race

The girls ready for fun

Dawn ready for "Little Red"

Strawberries from the garden

Flowers from back of Julia's yard

Hiking the Menan Buttes

Dawn and Hazel on top the the Buttes

64' class reunion

North Bingham County Park

Class of 64' - 50 years later!

Our last visit with Nancy Need

05 May 2014

The month of transition has arrived. The weather is finally getting warmer and the days longer. I was almost stunned when we had three days of warm weather without wind. It seemed surreal and of course it did not last but for those three days then the wind returned.

During the month the Russells planted the garden in the second week hoping for no more freeze. Sure enough we got below 32 but was able to cover the young plants and avoid freezing. The grass is green and growing, the flowers are in full bloom and the trees have given off tons of pollen covering the car windows and street gutters.

So what else was happening in May? It was biking again. Dawn and I rode our bikes even in the wind. However, she wins the prize for effort beyond the call of duty. Saturday the 10^th of May she rode with her cousin, Angie Bytheway and Angie’s two daughters in the “Goldilocks” bike ride in South Jordan, Utah. They planned to do 60 plus miles but because of bad weather and heavy winds they rode 45 miles and came in tired and cold.

We planted more strawberry plants given to us from the Crofts garden. We enjoyed to tulips for their usual two weeks of colorful life. The iris are getting ready to bloom and will be ready for Memorial day weekend.

I purchased a new hand gun. Chris Brayton and I were in Steel’s gun shop and saw a used 45 Colt Vaquero and I just could not pass it up. I got a cowboy holster off Ebay and now I am looking for a genuine cowboy hat. Dennis Croft and I have teamed up and soot west of Idaho Falls near the old National Guard range. Dennis, Chris Brayton, Alysa Brayton , Dawn and I have been to Rexburg shoot as well. Then Bryce Taylor and the Elders Quorum members invited me to shoot with them at the Taylor farm in Osgood.

The Taylor cinder pit was a perfect place to shoot. I loved Steve Parkers 50 caliber black powder muzzle loader. However, I did have one accident. I accidently shot my new chronogram while measuring reloaded shell velocities. Fortunately, I was able to reassemble the supports and render it functional again.

I must include the efforts of my brother, Woody in remodeling the office room in his home. He has built book shelves, computer desk, cabinet doors and picture frames with professional precision. I am amazed at how beautiful and professional he works in home improvements.

Finally, Memorial Day rolls around again and we visit our loved ones resting sites. We begin in New Sweden where many of my family are buried. My grandfather, Lloyd Russell and his wife Virginia are our first focus along with the new comer, Brian Lindbloom Hodgson (Dawn’s brother). Next we go to Shelley to visit the sites of the Sage and Ott family. Once we leave there we go to Jameston cemetery to pay our respects to Linda and her family. Nancy (Linda’s sister) has her grave site selected from the two I personally bequeathed to her. Her head stone is already in place and she is just waiting her time. She has breast cancer (as did Linda) and is not expected to live much longer. Lastly, we visit my father’s grave site in Idaho Falls at Rose Hill cemetery.

Well, that is May. Woody and I golfed at Sage Lake golf course today and it was lovely weather. There will be so much to report on in June and the rest of the summer will be very busy visiting relatives and having grand kids stay here with their grandparents.