June 2012

June is the month the sun reaches the most northern journey. The days grow longer and the temperature is warmer. It was not until after the middle of the month did the days got warmer.

The garden was an item of interest. After a slow start, due to a late freeze ( June 2 nd) the recovery process began. Then late into the month the temperature increased. Not only increased but got hot and the plants have grown after a lot of work. We are now eating beets, peas, greens, radish, and many raspberries.

June also brought us new and exciting activities in our lives. I have been personally been busy as a board member of the YMCA. We are in need of a new CEO. I meet with the selection committee each week. We visit the " Y" regularly.

We have planned a major event in the month of June. For months we have planned to take the Kurowski kids to Disneyland the end of June. The schedule worked out perfectly with our temple assignment. So we left Idaho Falls on 19 th of June and spent the night in Caldwell,Idaho. Our plans included attending the wedding reception of Elder Kroon. It was a wonderful reception and we also visited with Elder Vance.

The next day we traveled to Vancouver, Wa to stay with the Hodgsens ( Mike and Louise). The weather was wet but delightful. Our visit with Natalie and Brian and their son, Ryden was delightful. The meal they provided to us was delightful.

Following our visit with the Hodgsens we traveled to Kirkland, Wa.  We spent the night and then drove to Bellingham, Wa. The children ( Orion, Machelae, and Elenore) were excited to fly for the first time in a jet airliner. Arriving in LA late afternoon gave us time to check in at the Clarion Hotel just a few blocks from Disneyland. The kids swam in the pool until it closed at 10:00pm.

The next day after a wonderful breakfast, we got transportation to Disneyland. The day was filled with rides, food, and celebration of the occasion.  We are so glad the parents ( Brian and Katie) came along. They are such good parents.

The next day we decided to go to California Adventure Land. What a great day. It was filled with fun. We rode the Ferris Wheel, White Water Raft, and 3D movies, food,and shopping. Late that night Dawn and I returned tour hotel with little Eleanor asleep on the shuttle. She held her baby Minnie Mouse.

On our return home after arriving back in Bellingham we still had an hour and half drive back to Kirtland, Wa. Early the next day we traveled to Sandpoint, Id.  The Kelleys invited us to stay with them on our way back to Idaho. How delightful! They drove us around to see the Lake Pend Oreille and downtown Sandpoint. It is a beautiful area.  Then home for an incredible meal of steak grilled and wonderful desert. Their house is so comfortable in the beautiful forests of northern Idaho.

The next day we had a causal breakfast before leaving for Montana. Driving through northern Idaho (Coeur d'Alene, Kellog, Wallace, and Mullen) brought back memories of when I was going to college at Moscow, Idaho and Pullman, Wa. so many years ago.

We drove through beautiful Montana, Missoula, Anaconda and stayed at the KOA in Deer Lodge. Finally we were able to campout. We had a beautiful spot next to the Clark Fork River. We watched the fish jump, deer eat in the fields and the muskrats swim up the river. The next morning we spent time touring the Deer Lodge prison. It was very interesting and all so enjoyable with the addition of touring the automobile collection adjacent to prison.

Before we entered Idaho we stopped at Dell and ate at “The Stop Along The Road” café. We had the hamburger and fries along with the other cowboys eating along side at the counter. Afterwards we drove back home.

Since our arrival home we have been extremely busy getting ready for the reunion coming up in July. 

May 2012

May 2012

To begin, I would like to list the events of this month and then make comments. Agendas for stake meetings, finish fence, garden, graduation, and weather (yuck!) are the main events of this month for the Blaine and Dawn Russell family.

Each Sunday I meet with the stake presidency at 7:00AM. Then throughout the week I schedule meeting with the presidency. The calling requires me to fabricate agendas for all the meetings that take place each month with the stake. I also assist in the stake office with the stake clerk. Pres. Stewart calls me frequently to arrange for items to be put on the agendas. Missionaries coming and going, temple recommends, high council, stake council and presidency meetings are the bulk of what needs to be put on agendas.

The chain link fence is finished and looks good. We will never need to repair it in our life time. Also, the grass is growing in our newly improved parking space. Also, the garden is beginning to grow next door. With the recent rain we should see real growth, IF the temperature stays above freezing.

Dawn and I flew to Sacramento on the 18^th of May to attend Ben Russell’s graduation. He finished the X-ray Tech program at Yuba College. Convulsing from heart surgery, he was able to complete the course work. He has clinical work to finish all the requirements to take the state board exams. We spent two days with his family before flying to meet my mother, Julia in Las Vegas.

Dawn, Julia and I stayed at the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino to attend Aubry’s graduation from Touro University medical school. We meet up with the Taows (Christine, David, Sven, Sara and Steven Hodgesen) and attended the graduation. A good time had by all.

The weather in Las Vegas was wonderful. The temperatures were in the 90s and beautiful blue skies. The difficulty came when we returned to Idaho. The wind blew fiercely and the temperature dropped significantly. We spent time inside and secluded from the storms. Today the rains came and soaked the garden. One good thing, we will not have to water for a few days.

Dawn and I are looking forward to travel in June. We are planning to visit Mike and Louise Hodgesen on our way to Brian and Katties in Washington. We are planning to take their kids to Disneyland at the end of the month. 

Looking forward to golfing this summer!

April 2012

April 2012

April begins the spring time in Idaho and surprisingly the weather began with warming trends. However, the month continued to be cooler and very windy at times. All this made some difficulty in working outside in the back yard.

Our big project for this month was to replace the existing fence surrounding our back yard. The board fence has started to lean in because the posts are old and have given way to decay. Dawn and I removed all the upright wooden panels and took out all the nails and disassembled the entire fence. The wood was hauled off to my brother’s house for firewood.

In addition, to removing the fence I also removed a large section of the botanical garden next to the alley. By digging up an enormous number of iris bulbs along with various and sundry annuals, I was able to clear an area to prepare for planting.  After positioning paving blocks to act as a drive way for the Volks Wagon car, I planted grass over the entire space now leveled for planting.  The VW will be stored in the back yard over the winter.

April was the month I intended to fix up the VW and drive it this summer. I began the repairs by replacing the front brake system but had difficulty in replacing the master cylinoid.  I needed help so I called on VW Bob’s Repair shop to help. Bob said bring it in and he would get on it. After he fixed the brakes, he called to tell me the main engine seal was leaking and would have to be replaced. I discussed the need to overhaul the engine as well. He said he would do it and two days later called to tell me he had it out and ready for repairs.  I did not hear from him for two weeks and wondered if there were problems. Well, my neighbor brought over the newspaper obituaries listing the death of BOB!

To date, I have been unable to get my car out of the locked up garage. Speaking with relatives, it seems there are legal issues on who actually has possession of the business.  It has been two months and I may never get the car back.

In summary, April has been a working month by landscaping the back yard, putting in a garden next door and planting an enormous number of flowers. Dawn has arranged a front lawn floral display using an old ½ barrel and rocks. It looks nice.

Our lives have changed due to a new calling I have received as stake executive secretary. Also, Dawn and I were called to be temple ordinance workers. We will work Tuesday mornings (5:00AM) each week. I have also been asked to serve on the YMCA board for the next two years. So you see we are not able to plan a mission for some time to come.

March 2012

The month of March has been a rather unusual month of events. It is mixed with joy and anxiety. I normally do not report the difficulties in life in the blog but sometimes life just is tough. Along with the pleasant comes the difficult.

Dawn and I began the month by visiting our family in Salt Lake City. Our daughter Holly and her two wonderful children gave us a place to stay on our way to St. George, Utah. We always enjoy staying with Brock and Ella and Holly offers us a meal that is so delicious and healthy.

We next stayed with Steve and Charlotte Nebeker in St. George, Utah. We had a wonderful visit for the first time since returning from our mission in Africa. They were the only senior couple there when we arrived in Mozambique. We made plans to accompany them on a trip to India in November of this year. Dawn and I also played “Pickle Ball” on the housing complex tennis court with Charlotte.

Following our visit to the Nebekers we headed to Glendale, Az for a stay with the Mariners (Adam and daughter Monica). The weather was perfect and we began to enjoy our visit when the news came that my son, Ben was scheduled for an emergency open heart surgery.

I caught a flight to Sacramento and met the family at the Mercy General Hospital. He was in surgery for 15 hours and had a difficult aortic valve replacement and a triple bypass of all three major coronary vessels. I was not sure if he would survive the night but in the morning he was still with us. After a week’s stay in the hospital he is now home and recovering slowly.

Once I was certain Ben had recovered from the surgery and stable I returned to Arizona. Dawn and I cared for little Burton, son of the Mariners for another week. We took him to the park, YMCA and shopping. We were able to golf a few times as well.

After leaving Glendale we traveled back to California to see Ben and his family. We spent a couple of days with them enjoying their new home and encouraging Ben in his recovery. It is complicated.

We also stayed one night with Robyn and Wayne and the two boys. Wayne’s day had his 52 birthday celebration at Lee’s Canton restaurant while we were there. It is a delight to have this extended family as friends.

After three weeks of being away from home we drove back to SLC to visit with Josh and family as well as Angie and Bill Bytheway. The Bytheways are Dawn’s cousins. They were gracious enough to allow us to stay the night before finally returning home.

What a surprise, returning to Idaho Falls we were met with beautiful weather. It was actually warmer than in California. Once we were home we spent the day cleaning the garage and putting away our belongings from the travel.

Dawn and I had a great time with the family members on our trip. Most memorable is the quality time spent with the grandkids. We really got to know them better. Since we have been gone for two years the real young did not know us very well. Burton, Sage, and Indy were very unfamiliar with us as grandparents.

We are now working on the plans for the Sage family reunion in July of this year. I will be researching the family history as well as planning activities along with other family members here in Idaho Falls. The plans are coming together for a huge three days with over one hundred committed to be here.

Julia, Dawn and I have had two days of terrific golfing. Now the last week of March seems more like winter today. I got out early before the temperature dropped to 40 degrees and a 40 MPH wind. No more golfing for some time.

I will just have to put the brakes back on the VW and them we paint it another color besides pink.

March has been a very busy month.

February 2012

February 2012

The winter is so mild this year. There is very little snow and mild temperatures. Once we got back from California Dawn and I spent more time putting our house in order.

I was faced with a surgery to remove a tumor from my bladder and reduce the size of my prostate. All went well and I am doing fine knowing there was no evidence of neoplasia.

Dawn is applying for Social Security this year beginning in March. She and I are planning to travel to Arizona for a few weeks at the end of the month.

Some highlights for us since reuniting with family members has been time spent with my mother and brother. Also, we attended the Jump, Jive and Wail YMCA festival. Both of us are at the YMCA nearly every day getting back into shape. Also, last week we had tickets to the Banff Mountain film festival. Julia was with us and we enjoyed the outdoor experiences shown on the films.

The New Year

January 2012

Once we have settled back from being away for two years, we are establishing routines. We enjoyed our family members over the Christmas celebration. The Russells and Kurowskis met together at

Squaw Valley, CA for a week of fun. There was little snow but lots of

fun had by all. Here are the names of those who were together for Christmas:

Blaine and Dawn Russell

Brian and Katie Kurowski and kids

Adam and Monica Mariner and son

Steph and Jared Alyworth and son

Ben Russell and daughter

Wayne and Robyn Lau and sons

This new year began with visits to the dentist, optometrist, dermatologist and urologist. We had a few maintenance needs since we were away for two years.