March 2019

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

01 January 2014

A New Year! Yes, another year to celebrate our extended retirement. Each additional year we appreciate our good health and wonderful living in a free country. So much of the world suffers from restricted living caused by poverty and poor leadership.

We began the new year by hosting Jon Slatore and our daughter Holly visiting from Salt Lake City. We began by fishing the Warm River near Ashton, ID. Jon gave me a new fishing pole from Japan called a Tenkara. It had no real and worked well as we trundled through the deep snow together the fishing line in the water. After fishing near the campground we stopped below the bridge and fed the large trout Trail Mix. They loved the offering as we saw them grab the snacks

Then we cross country skied Tautphus Park that evening. On New Year's Day we went bowling at the Bowlero alley. All I all everyone had fun topped off by diner at Garcias.

January each year the 3rd ward has their annual conference. I was able to lead the music for Hazel Cummings, our music director. She is a family I home teach and am willing to fill in when she is absent. We also had a successful pot luck the first of the year and a ward blitz coupled with our stake leaders visiting all those who are in the ward and don't come to our meeting. I went with Bob Bidstrup, who is the new Ex Sec for the stake (he took my place).

This year I have been asked to chair the committee our 50th high school reunion. This is a big task and as a result I resigned from the board at the YMCA. I have served nearly two years and we needed a change, so we are now exercising at the Apple Center.

The Idaho Falls temple is closed two weeks in January for cleaning. This gave us the go ahead to schedule our trip to Bullhead City and be with Woody, Val and Julia. We brought down Enid Hardman (my aunt) to join with us on our cruise to the Western Caribbean starting on the 24th of this month.

While we have been here waiting to leaves for our cruise, we have been busy sight seeing and visiting family. The first day here we traveled to Chloride mining town. Then we were off to Phoenix to visit with the Miners. They are the adult children of Julia and Enid's sister, Neva. She has long since passed away but we have been friends with her children. Dawn and I also had to see the Mariner children. We took them to eat Sushi and stayed in our favorite motel, Quality Inn in Glendale, AZ next to the 24 hour fitness center and Sprouts our favorite shopping place.

We have golfed at several local golf courses. It has been so delightful even though it has been windy but the temperatures is much warmer than Idaho. Dawn and I have been jogging nearly every day. This week we managed to jog to a distant recreation park and back. It was 6.6 miles. So we are able to do the 10K coming up in July in Santa Cruz, Ca.

In addition to golf, we have manage to visit Oatman,AZ a famous mining town near Bullhead City. The town is over run with burrows. We fed them hay cubes and some licorice I did not want. Also, today Woody and I went back out to the same area to the Tri-State shooting range. This is a well developed facility with range master and stands for al to shoot. Woody and I were able to fire our weapons i.e. .380, 45 colt (Taurus Judge), and Woody's 38 Special.

During the evenings we have been playing cards and watching movies (The Butler, Captain Phillips. This is something Dawn and I seldom do because we are so busy with our callings in the church. All in all it has been a restful break. We sleep well at night in this quiet neighborhood. Lastly, I must tells out the resident roadrunner living at the end of Roadrunner Lane. We jog down and try to get lose. He has personality.

Tomorrow we leave for New Orleans, La to stay a couple of days before we board the Carnival cruise liner, the Sunshine. Off on another adventure.

We spent Saturday touring New Orleans. Our first tour was a city tour on a comfortable bus. We visited all the major sites including the notorious grave yards with above burials. Then we spent time at the city park (1300 acres) and dining at a restaurant serving beignets. Lastly, we drove to the famous part of town with mansion style homes. Our bus guide was fantastic.

The next five hours we were traveling out of town to the Oak Lawn Mansion. Our bus guide talked all the way out and quizzed us on local trivia. At the mansion we visited the slave quarters, blacksmith shop and gift shop. Our guide at the mansion took us through the entire house and explained the life and fate of the Roman family who established the mansion in the 1800s.

That evening we ate at the Oceanica restaurant consuming traditional Cajun food. We spent the night at the La Quinta hotel downtown French Quarters. The next morning we headed to the port and processed onto the Sunshine ship. All went well.

For the next two days we were at sea on the Carnival Sunshine. This gave us time to relax and have fine evening meals with Julia, Enid, Dawn, Hazel Cummings (a lady I home teach) and several others joining us for dinner.

Following dinner each night we were entertained by the ship’s cast of performers. The stage shows were spectacular with the addition of a giant LED screen and graphic video images. The level of entertainment was very high. I was even asked to get on stage and help out with a number.

Once we arrived at our first destination, we were ready to get off the ship. Enid and Julia headed out for a day at Mayan Key. Their day was filled with visiting a zoo, sights of birds and plant life on Roatan, Honduras. They were given a meal and treated to a relaxing day at the beach.

Dawn, Hazel and I were transported to Anthony’s Key and boarded the Stingray ship for two tank dives off the local reefs. The first dive was a learning experience for Dawn. She had trouble with her mask filling with water. The second dive was much more exciting since she got a new mask and we swam with giant groupers the entire dive. We were tired from excess nitrogen and spent the evening on the ship resting after another wonderful meal.

The next morning we arrived early at Belize City and were among the first to board the tender vessel taking us to our guides at the bus station. After a 90 minute drive to the Xunantunich Mayan Ruins, we crossed a rive on ferry and walked to the ruins. Our guide took us to the top of the castle ruin from there we could see Guatemala. We had a fine luncheon and then drove back to the port. Julia, Enid, Dawn and I enjoyed this excursion.

The next morning we were in Cozumel for our last excursion. Enid and Julia were headed for a tour of the local park and ruin replicas. Dawn and I had two open water dives with the Sand Dollar dive boat. The first dive we drifted along without difficulty and were rewarded with sights we had never seen. The giant lobster was phenomenal. The second dive was even more spectacular as we drifted along. We saw thousands of fish and hundreds of varieties. We were both exhausted after the dive and were glad to rest up before dinner that night.

After a long wait at the New Orleans airport we finally traveled on to Los Angles then finally to Las Vegas. It was late by the time we arrived at the Marti Grais motel. We had only three hours sleep when we arose to take Enid to the airport to catch a plane to Salt Lake City, Utah. After dropping her off we headed to Bull Head City, AZ.

For the next few days we spent golfing, shooting and visiting the Christmas Tree Valley petroglyphs near Laughlin, NV. Then Dawn and I departed and drove to St. George where we visited with our friends the Spendloves, Adams and stayed over night with the Nebekers.

Early the next day we drove to Ogden, Utah and spent time with the Smiths and the Burtons. They were missionaries we met in Mozambique. After spending the night with Angie Bytheway (Dawn’s cousin) we went to church with Josh and Danielle’s family. Following church we drove home to Idaho.

All in all we were gone nearly one month. We enjoyed our friends and family. We enjoyed the warmer weather and the wonderful outtings. We felt relaxed and rewarded. Life is good.

Fishing the Warm river with Holly and Jon. New Years Day!

Bowling on New Year's Day

Chloride Bar for a drink!

Rock art at Chloride AZ

Cousins in Mesa, AZ

Oatman, AZ

New Orleans

Grave Yard in New Orleans

City Park NOLA

Lunch at the market in NOLA

Mansions at NOLA

Oak Alley Plantation

Oak Alley

Court Yard at Oak Alley Plantation

Tour Guide at Oak Alley

On our way on board the Carnival Sunshine

Speedway slides on board - we just had to try it!

The Twister was fast, dark inside and shot me out like "Muffy" out of a cannon!

Sun! Yes Sun!

Lets take it easy!

Cards in the afternoon

Sunset on the Caribbean

Ready for bed

Dinner with Escargot!

Good Morning at Roatan, Honduras

Aboard the Stingray for our first dive at Anthony's Key Roatan

Between dives

On our way to Belize City, Belize

Crossing by ferry

Looking toward Guatemala

Fun in Belize

On to the ruins

Jungles of Belize are full of Howler monkeys

The largest temple in Belize

Lets climb to the top

Are those ants down there.

Dawn at the top

next is Cozumel

Aboard the Sand Dollar dive boat

On our way home

sss

Got to have dinner

Julia and Jim

Julia and Enid

Anyone for lobster?

I prefer the Indian meal.

Sailing on back to New Orleans

Back to Arizona and visit to Grapevine Canyon

to Christmas Tree Pass

Petroglyphs

This is the "Spirit" that lives in the mountain

The beauty of the desert

Look but DON'T touch!

Back home in Idaho!

Thursday, January 2, 2014

12 December 2013

It seems to run together in my mind: the last of November and the first of December because the temperatures were the same, COLD! We have had below zero temperatures every morning beginning the last of November and two weeks into December.

I remember putting up the Christmas lights outside right after Thanksgiving, thinking I had better get started before it gets too cold. Well, the next day it got TOO COLD. The northern arctic air came right down across Idaho all the way to the southern states in the west and then across the US all the way to Florida. It was cold and has just begun to warm up a bit right before Christmas.

We have had very little snow. I have shoveled snow just once. I monitor the walks for my neighbor lady Mrs. Michelson who is 92 and the Bresslers. Julia’s great grandson, Sam, is doing her walks.

When we got back from the November cruise to the Western Caribbean, Dawn and I were home one week before we visited the Inland Divers in Idaho Falls. This facility offers scuba classes and Dawn immediately signed up. So for the first two weeks in December she spent training for her certification with PADI instructors. Patty and Cory Christensen are the mother and son dive instructors for the course. She spent time in the classroom each week and then on two Saturdays in a row we were in Plymouth, Utah at the Campers World Hot Springs campground diving in the hot springs pool.

The first Saturday (Dec 7) we drove down in a snow storm. I was able to be Dawn’s dive buddy for the open water dive skills test. I about froze getting out and putting equipment away following the time in the hot springs pool. The next weekend (Dec 14) I was again her buddy but this time I wore a wetsuit purchased from Sportsman’s Warehouse, the only place in town I found a wet suit to fit.

One other event that happened this month which I felt was incredible was the ward Christmas party for “adults only” (meaning there were no children this year). Sister Laura Mason was in charge and did a beautiful job in decorating to the theme of the Bethlehem village and selecting talent for the Christmas program. Food was distributed in various tent displays. I might add there was a lot of food. The program was exceptional with singing and narration from Paul Mason. Amber Beck sang beautifully. Dawn was unable to attend due to her scuba class. The next week end we had another dinner for just those who could not come because they had small children. It was less decorated and casual. Santa Claus did come and sit with the kids. Dawn was on overload and exhausted from much preparing and didn’t attend this ward activity either.

Now that all the activities are ending – making placemats for the Crofts, Christmas stocking for the Mariners and ourselves, Dawn and I are spending time taking care of gifts for the grandkids. Most of them got gift cards from Target. We did send the Kurowski kids a box filled with various presents. Now that we are finishing wrapping the presents for Lynette Kunz, something Dawn does yearly, we are wrapping the gifts for the Mariners. They will be here Sunday evening. We have a lot of fun things planned for Adam, Monica, Burton and Roxy.

Dennis Croft and I boxed potatoes at the Taylorview regional potato farm last night. We spent three hours assembling potato boxes to be filled and ready for transport. We boxed 72 palates of fresh pack potatoes last night. I am tired today.

Dawn and I delivered Christmas plates of cookies and sweets to our families we visit each month. We also took goodies and a Book of Mormon to Carol, our spinning teacher, to Darryl Spencer and to Ricardo, our next door neighbor. Dawn has been up evenings preparing for these deliveries. Once again Christmas is a busy time of year. Fortunately, we have three weeks off from our temple duty to spend time with family and friends.

One Christmas activity that has turned into a Russell family tradition is hosting a Saturday-before-Christmas neighbor breakfast and white elephant gift exchange. Phyllis Steen was our new guest. We had a great time and was so happy Christine who recently returned from England could join us.

Well, Christmas is fast approaching and the activities are starting to mount. Among all the celebration, both Dawn and I continued to train for the July 2014 Wharf to Wharf 10K this next summer. I have been jogging around the river and spending time on the treadmill. Even though it is cold we continue to exercise.

It became time for the Mariners were to arrive on 22 December but they had car trouble and were delayed a day having to rent a truck to get here. They arrived a day later than planned and the following day we all went to Victor, Idaho to celebrate Christmas with the Taow family along with Luis and Emily hosting the Alberto and Elsa family from Peru.

The Peruvians came to stay with Luis and Emily because they bought a new home in Jackson, WY. We spend the eve of the 24^th with them. Then we stayed the two nights at a Bed and Breakfast in Victor (Tim and Julie Morley). Christine, David, Dawn and I were hosted by Julie Morley each morning to a wonderful breakfast.

While in Victor, Dawn and I cross country skied up Teton Canyon for 6 miles and afterwards joined the Taows and Peruvians at the ice skate rink. I was able to stay up on the ice and got back some of the ability I once had on the ice.

We opened gifts on Christmas with the family in Victor at Sven and Brenna’s home. Dawn and I brought Burton and Roxy back to our house while Adam and Monica stayed to snow board Grand Targhee Ski Resort.

To celebrate the New Year Jon and Holly arrived as the Mariner's were exiting. We never slowed down. The next day we drove to Ashton, ID and up the canyon to the Warm River. Joh, Holly and I spent the day fishing. I have a new Tankara Japanese fishing pole Jon gave me for Christmas. That evening we had dinner at Garcias here in Idaho Falls. The next day was New Year's Day and we drove to Kelly's Canyon to ski but turned back to see the eagles and fish the Snake River. Then we cross country skied Tautphus Park before dinner at Sizzler's and off to the Bowlero bowling alley. Sure had fun!

The year has ended with wonderful memories of the abundant events we have had with family and friends. Although there are changes in our society which cause us concern, we continue to hold fast to that which we know to be true. We want our way of life to be above the changes that will eventually cause great alarm to those living beneath the moral standard of mutual existence.

The New Year will bring opportunities for us to serve our family and community. Service is what makes us happy.

Day after Thanksgiving - No Snow!

One week after Thanksgiving sub zero weather in Idaho Falls

Continued to stay cold for three weeks

Our street at Christmas

Our Christmas Party in our home with neighbors

Dawn's certification dive at Camper's World Hot Springs in Plymouth, Utah

The temperature outside was in the single digits!

Cross country skiing in Teton Canyon

A beautiful day to ski

Morning breakfast at the Morley Bed and Breakfast in Victor, ID

Teton peaks in the background

Baby Roxy

Little Boy Burton

Adam and Roxy

She made our Christmas fun!!

Dawn made the Christmas stocking for everyone

Fishing the Warm River with my new Tenkara pole

Bowling the New Year in!

I sure hope it warms up!!! for 2014!!

Saturday, November 30, 2013

11 November 2013

What are we going to do, no more golf since the weather has gotten colder? Well, we will have to come up with something to do where the weather is warmer.

And we did! This is the month the Crofts and Russells have been waiting for. On the 8^th of November we rode together to Salt Lake City and boarded a Delta flight to Orlando, Florida. That night we stayed at the Marriott Suites. It was late but we were hungry so the group of us went to dinner at Denny’s.

9^th November early we boarded a bus chartered by Fun For Less Tours and off to the Everglades for the day before traveling to Cape Canaveral port. The trip to Wild Florida was an unexpected treat. We scooted over the Everglades in an air boat. Saw the birds, alligators, and beautiful waterways. We walked through an animal collection before we were back on the coach.

At 4:00pm we turned off our cell phones and stepped aboard the Carnival Dream cruise ship. This was the Crofts first cruise and so they invited Dorthy’s two brothers to help with the adjustments. That evening we were underway. Walking along the deck to the smooth sway of ocean travel, breathing warm air, makes one so glad not to be in Idaho in the winter.

10 November early morning we were docked at Cozumel, Mexico. The FFL party were off to the ruins on the island. Dawn, Dennis and I were shuttled to the Sand Dollar Adventure scuba dive school. After 15 minutes of instruction we were in the water. What a mistake with Dawn…..she loved it and as soon as we got home she signed up for scuba lesson so she can dive as a certified scuba diver. That afternoon we spent shopping for boots for my wife. We found them at the same boot shop where Steph got her boots in February and sold by the same clerk. Dennis, Dawn and I ended the day with lunch at Tres Amigos.

11 November after traveling all night we docked at Belize City, Belize. From two miles out to sea all the passengers were tendered in on boats to shore. Once we set foot on the dock Anita from FFL set us up with a tour bus and away we went to Altuna Ha ruin. After a 45 minute ride and lecture of our wonderful guides we arrived and it was hot and humid. Real jungle and real green! This is what it is all about …warm weather and beautiful blue skies walking around ancient Mayan temples. David Christensen read out of Alma as he addressed us atop of a Mayan Pyramid. He was wonderful and funny. Back in Belize City we waited for a boat back to the Dream.

12 November we arrived early morning at Roatan, Honduras. I was up early and walking around the top deck. Today was special for all of us. I was scheduled to dive with Anthony Key’s resort. Dawn and Crofts were off to a local grade school. We have photos of all the activities and memories that we will never forget. I was delighted in the two tank dive on the reefs five minutes from the dock at Anthony Keys. I will never forget the giant groupers, green turtles, parrot fish and the fast moving needle fish. The reef was one of the best I have seen. The coral and fish were so beautiful. It was a perfect day, then back on board to get underway to Costa Maya.

13 November upon arrival at Costa Maya we prepared for an adventure by traveling to Chaccoben ruins. The bus ride was great. The roads were great and in no time we had arrived at the ruins. Our Mayan guide (female) was animated and enthusiastic in handing out information about the ruin. THIS WAS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE! I was so impressed with the magnitude and beauty of the restored ruins. Everything from “The Tree of Life” to spider monkeys, it was great. Costa Maya is a new town in the middle of the jungle with 1000 inhabitants there to serve the tourists. Totally tourist! There were shops everywhere. Dawn and I found a jewelry shop “Diamonds International” with tanzanite gems reasonably priced. She picked out a pair if sapphire blue ear rings and we had to hurry to make it back to the ship before departing.

14 November was an all-day boat ride back to Cape Canaveral. However, the food, entertainment, exercise room and good company were so enjoyable, the entire trip was such a treat. We had such fun with the Crofts and their family. Another unexpected adventure scheduled by FFL was a brief stop at Cocoa Beach, Florida. We walked along the sand and had lunch on this beautiful beach. It was a restful stop before taking a 2 hour bus ride back to Orlando.

We arrived early evening at the SLC airport where we met up with Crofts two girls who dropped off their car to shuttle us home. We made one stop in Ogden for dinner before our uneventful travel home. Thanks Crofts for taking your car to Salt Lake City. We will never forget this wonderful trip.

There was little time to prepare for Thanksgiving once we arrived home from our trip. Fortunately the weather has been good and we have been able to finish up outside before winter. I was able to get the Christmas lights up before the snow fell.

We had planned on replacing our car this fall. So we dropped in the Honda dealership and found out we could trade it in for a decent return towards a new car. In one day we drove home in a new Honda CRV. Sizing down and yet still retaining the features we desired.

We had to fill in at the temple for the Herbests who subbed for us. It takes a lot of our time but so worth it. Yesterday I met Laron Shumway and Bob Christensen, whom I had known in high school. Also, I met Yale Harker the son of Irene Harker my great aunt. I had not seen him for 50 years. Finally, I met David Fuller from Mackie, ID. He knows Isabel Rosencrance from Shelley, ID. Isabel is the one girl in high school every young man would want to date. Woody and I plan on meeting her in the near future.

Dawn and I getting ready for the summer athletic events in our life, first the three sisters (Holly, Steph and Robyn) are competing in a Boise Ironman in June. Holly will swim 1 ¼ mile, Steph will ride 60 miles and Robyn will run 13 miles. Wow, this is tough. Then Dawn and I are committed to run the Warf to Warf 10K in July with Robyn. We are running the Green Belt all winter just to keep in shape.

Finally, Thanksgiving has come and gone. We ate at Julia’s with Woody, Val, Ben, Julie and Will. We had a wonderful meal an played cards afterwards. Then had to get home early because Julia and Woody are leaving Friday for Bullhead City, AZ to spend the winter, they are leaving us behind. We will meet up with them in January.

That’s it!