March 2019

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

August 2013

We are on the downside of summer in Idaho. The winding down began with taking the Kurowski kids home to their parents in Kirkland, Washington. We spent the night and then drove to Whistler, BC to meet with Stephanie for two days mountain biking. She was on the downhill bike and we did single track. It was a beautiful place to meet.

Our trip home took us through Vancouver, WA to meet up with the Hodgsons. We visited with Mike and Louise for lunch and then drove over to Camus, WA to visit with Natalie and to see her new baby, Brennen. Following our visit we drove to Pendleton, Oregon for the night.

The next day we arrived home just in time to pick up our registration packed for the Color Vibe 5K on Saturday the 10^th of August. Early Saturday morning we met at Freeman park in Idaho Falls to begin a very COLORFUL foot race around Freeman Park and part of the green belt on the Snake River. There were four waves of runners (We were in the first wave) and hundreds of color powdered folks both young and old.

After washing out all the color from the run, it took us several days to rest up and get organized following a month of grandkids and travel. Dawn quickly began to catch up on her visiting teaching assignments. I began to change gears with my church responsibilities since I was called to serve as the High Priest group leader in the 3^rd ward. To date there has not been called anyone to replace me as Stake Executive Secretary so I am doing double duty.

Now, Woody and his family are taking care of grandkids. Tara and Ian are moving to Georgia from Arizona and needed care for their three young kids (Fran, Gus and Amir). They have been here for three weeks in August and will be here until into September while the folks move to Georgia.

To mention a few things involved with caring for the Nash children, Bar B Ques, pool in Woody’s back yard, trip to the zoo, not to mention busy times at Julia’s home each night putting them to bed. Val has been a trooper staying with the kids and helping out.

We have managed to drag Julia and Woody off to golf at Heise and Cedar Park on occasion. Both have also been busy with gardening. It is in high production cranking out beets, carrots, onion, lettuce, radishes, peppers, potatoes, peas, and now wonderful tomatoes. This has been a good year by missing the early frost and having such a warm summer.

Fortunately, we have been blessed with rain lately. The last few days the weather has been wet and warm The monsoon moisture is coming up from the south. It has not kept us from road riding. Dawn and I have done a few 20 mile rides as the weather has been nice.

Lastly, we are planning two trips in the future. In October we plan to take our bikes and family to Santa Cruz, CA to visit with the Laus and Ben. Then in November we have scheduled a cruise to the western Caribbean with the Crofts (a ward family). Maybe we will slow down but not likely.

Color Vibe w Color Man!

Dawn in the middle of the 5K

I am powdered!

The Garden!

Whistler, BC

Dawn look out behind you at Whistler Village!

Ouch! Single track accident!

Franny loves chocolate!

Summer golf!

The Nash kids at the zoo!

Tallya!

Friday, August 16, 2013

07 July 2013

Midsummer and the month we had grandchildren stay with us. To begin with, Dawn and I drove to Utah the first of the month be at Dax’s baptism and celebrate Tate’s birthday. We also rode our bikes with Dawn’s cousin, Angie Bytheway. Josh has a beautiful garden. Tate also had an unusual birthday cake made from a watermelon. Tate and I golfed at Swan Lake golf course. We had a great time in Utah.

We drove back home with Tate and Baya who stayed a week with us before Josh and Danielle came up for a fishing trip we had planned on the South Fork of the Snake River.

The fishing trip was a highlight of the summer. Josh, Tate and I floated down the South Fork of the Snake with AJ our guide from Heise Expeditions. The day was spent catching beautiful brown trout and one cut-throat trout. We say eagles, moose and many other birds. Good time had by all.

We also hiked the Cress Creek trail near Heise, attended the outdoor concert at the river in IF. It was a full week with the Russells.

It just does not stop there with the grandchildren. Dawn and I drove to Coeur da lene to meet with Brian and Katie Kurowski and their three kids. We arrived a day early after spending the night at the KOA campground in Deer Lodge, MT. The day before they arrived Dawn and I rode the famous Coeur da lene bike trail from Kelloge to Cataldo (some 15 mines and returned). It was a beautiful ride. Then spending the night at the Coeur da lene Resort campground we met up with the Kurowski’s.

While in Northern Idaho we took the Kurowski family to Silverwood Amusement Park near Sand Point, Idaho. All day long we had fun, in the water and on the rides. It was a full day of excitement.

The next day early we drove all the way to Idaho with our three grand kids in the back seat. Orion (11), Makelae (10), and Elenore (5) spent the next two weeks with us. During their stay we did many things with them. To mention a few: played golf, went to the library, farmers market, walked the green belt, loaded shells and shot guns in Rexburg, Tautphaus park, BBQ at Julia’s house, Orange Leaf frozen yogurt, Guitar exhibit at the IF museum, mowed the lawn, picked up apples, played games, Chucker’s ball game, hiked Cress Creek, swam at YMCA pool, not to mention drove back to Kirkland, WA in one day to take them home! We believe they were ready to go home!

Once we got the kids home, Dawn and I drove up to Whistler, BC in Canada to stay with Stephanie. She invited us to mountain bike with her for a couple of days. Dawn and I rode the Valley Trail and Tin Pants single track while Steph was on the ski lift and speed down hill.

All in all this was a very busy month for a couple of old grand parents.

Tate's Fishing Trip

Tate's Fish

South Fork of the Snake

Tate's Birthday CAKE!

Hiking at Cress Creek

Beya fishing

Granny at the Concert in the Park

Boe in Woody's Rat Rod

Wow! Ben and Julie at the finish line (their first Marathon!)

Granny and Elanore at Silverwood Park

Silverwood

Fun in the sun at Silverwood

More Fun!

Sand Creek Golf Course

Orion at Sand Creek

A night at the Chucker's game!

Orion with dead aim!

Three in the target at 100 yards!

Elle at Tautphus Park

Whee!

Elle and Red Robin

Kids in the pool!

Saturday, July 6, 2013

06 June 2013

The month of June is the beginning of summer and has the longest day on the 21^st. This is the month of which I was born back in 1946 on the 9^th of June. It is also “Father’s Day” month. But most importantly it is the month which we have planned for one year.

Last year I asked Dawn and I talked about visiting her sister Constance Christine Taow in England and then travel to Sweden to visit with our relatives we have never met. As a result of all the planning it took effect this month. In addition, Sarah Taow, Dawn’s niece also planned to visit her mother the same month. In combining our trips we added Scotland to the itinerary as well. And I might add, we were delighted with Scotland.

Sarah and Christine met up with us as Dawn and I flew into Edinburgh the same day they arrived from England. We were in Scotland for three full days. The history and lore came to life as we visited the Edinburgh Castle, Mansion, and other parts surrounding the major city. Golfing was also a must since this is the country that gave birth to the sport. Dawn and I were within walking distance of Portobello Golf Course from the Straven Guest House by the bay.

The Witchery Restaurant , the double decker tour bus, the Britanica (Queen’s boat), the Scotsmen in kilts, Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Abby and mansion were terrific. Plus the people are friendly and helpful where ever we traveled. This was a great adventure.

Next we flew back to England to stay with Christine on Lakenheath AFB. We spent a week in the home of the Willies. They were on leave to the states. So we made ourselves comfortable in their home. Great quarters for AF officers family. While in England we toured the area of our residence. Dawn and I would visit places while Christine worked. We spent a day walking the Lakenheath Fen.The entire area was once a swamp. It has been drained with the help of the Dutch. The peat moss soil is so rich the crops are amazing. One day we drove to Cambridge and rented bicycles. We biked through the town with thousands of others as well as traveled through the country side on the well-developed bicycling trails. Unfortunately, Dawn discovered that biking through a cattle crossing can be dangerous. She injured her left jaw as her head hit a steel post when her bike tire got stuck in the crossing.

Christine had purchased ticket to the ballet “Swan Lake” in London. We drove to Cambridge then caught the train to Kings Cross in town. Before the ballet we visited the London Natural History Museum and Art Museum. Amazing places!!! We walked right by the LDS church in the center of town. We stopped to talk the couple missionaries. How fun!! Then off to the ballet. How wonderful!! I would have never guessed a ballet could be so enjoyable. The troop were so professional, the orchestra so polished. This was a great experience even though we got home very late.

Time passed quickly and we found transportation to Heathrow airport and on our way to Sweden. Two days in Vosteras were remarkable. David Setherberg and Edit Juhlin met us at our hotel (The Best Western) and planned our visit for two days. Related to the Lundblads, these folks were amazing hosts. We had a meal with the family that evening and walked home to our motel. The next day early we met up with Peter and Helena, friends of Edith. They hauled us around the area to ancient burial grounds of the Vikings and then to lunch at the university grounds exclusive restaurant (memorial to Carl Von Linne). Later we toured the city with detailed tutoring of the ecological system of recycling and heating the town. The Swedes are so far ahead of us in this area. We visit the school where Helena teaches next to a 16^th century cathedral. All in all it was a most memorable visit.

The next day were picked up our Renault Hertz car and off to Galve. Traveling through Uppsala we stopped to find a distant relative of the Lindblooms. Barabara Gustavson was certainly surprised and alarmed at first when we introduced ourselves. She had no idea we were related. With the help of a young man interpreting for us she finally realize the connection. Then we arrived in Galve late afternoon at the Best Western hotel, to find a note from the Lindbloom relatives. We met with Hans, Christina and Ingrid later for dinner. How delightful to know these folks had connections with the family in the US so many years ago. Just a work about Gavle, another beautiful city in Sweden, we found Sweden to be absolutely beautiful. The streets are clean and the trees and flowers are beautiful. There is always water channeling through the cities.

The next day we drove over 5 hours following the GPS in our car to Lysvik near Norway. We went through forested areas of little population. Lysvik is a beautiful small town on the lake side. There we met Morgan Setherberg..David’s father. He is an accountant and his wife a nurse in Torsby. Morgan spent two days with us visiting the Brita & Göran Larsson. She is a direct descendants of Per August Lundblade. We visited Tossbergsklatten lookout, the Ski Tunnel and the Setherberg’s summer home. The next day we toured the Selma Largerloft home (Nobel Prize for children’s literature.) She may be related to our family. We stayed in the Selma Largerloft Quality Inn in Sunne. This was a highlight in our visit to Sweden.

The next day (#5) we traveled through rain and winding roads to Norrkoping for a night’s stay at the Presidential Hotel. There we met up with Ingrid Gustavsson a relative of Brita Emilia Nilsson Peterson. She was delightful and so informative of life in Sweden. We spent the next morning touring Norrkoping. A fabulous city along the beautiful river which coursed through the town.

Finally we finished our tour of Sweden in Stockholm. The Nordic Sea hotel is right in the center of old Stockholm. We turned in our car rental and zoomed back to town riding the fast train from the airport at Arlanda. Early morning before returning to our final motel in Arlanda, we rode the Red Bus Hop on and Off touring as much of Stockholm as we could. We visited the Nordic Museum, the Nobel Prize theater as well as shopping downtown “Old” Stockholm. All in all it was wonderful.

Finishing our trip with travel back home took 24 hours of flight and layovers from Stockholm to New Jersey to Denver and finally back to Idaho Falls. Two days of jet lag put us back to some resemblance of normality. Never to be forgotten this trip has been a highlight in our travels.

Golfing in Edinburgh Scotland