Fire September 7, 2020

 When Sid and I moved from Maryland last year, May 2019, I thought with relief no more hurricanes, tornado warnings, no more hard rains.  Little did I know, and probably forgot, about the wild fires.

We have had high temperatures, fire, rain and snow in 24 hours. 

I looked out our window this morning, to the south,  to see how the fire was doing and saw that it had rained and snowed.  That helped put out the fire and the people that were evacuated, parts of Springville and Mapleton,  last night can go home by noon today.

This picture was taken by someone in Springville this morning. It was a good thing it rained, that mountain is really black.

This is  what I saw just before I went to bed last night, which I thought was the whole picture. But when I saw the pictures our friends took that live further up the hill I was mistaken.

A neighbor took this picture. She lives up higher on the hill that we do. She also took the next picture.

The news media called this the Ether Hollow Fire east of Springville.  It was up Hobble Creek canyon just by where we live and I hope it didn't burn the golf course. I know the news said it was headed there.

We didn't see any of this. 

This is our second fire living here in Springville.  I think the one last year was closer and on the mountain north of us.  We saw planes and helicopters dropping water on that fire.  One fire crew even hiked up the mountain in back of us to fight that blaze.  I know this won't be the last fire we will see and I hope we will be blessed not to have to be evacuated. 

Quilting

 I have always love to quilt.  In May of 2016 I had surgery for trigeminal neuralgia and was on some heavy drugs. It made it so I couldn't function very well.  When I got off the drugs I decided to see if I could quilt.  I went to my stash and found the red material I had made quilts out of for my granddaughters, joined a quilt club on Facebook.  The quilt I made was called Snowy Day Quilt Sampler. I learned quite a bit from making this quilt, it was a challenge. I downloaded a block a week.

I gave this quilt throw to Tiffany Bainter, Baxter's wife,  at her bridal shower in Utah.

When Noah Bainter became engaged I decided to make another throw quilt. I bought the material for this quilt throw and it was another sampler quilt.  It was harder and I learned quite a bit more.

I gifted this throw quilt to Olivia Bainter. I think it is called a Mystery quilt, I downloaded a block a week. 

My niece, Jennie Young in Texas asked me to make her a Mickey Mouse quilt.  It had been along time since I did a embroidery quilt but I said I would try.  Jennie drew the blocks and I free quilted them on my old Bernina, Sid bought it for me back in 1963. That was a big challenge, but so worth it.

Jennie's baby was born in October, but I didn't get the quilt done that soon.  

Halley had asked me to make her a queen sized quilt and I had made a log cabin quilt back in 1999.  It had some problems I had to fix but I got them fixed.  Then I decided to tie it.  

I don't have a finished picture of this quilt.  But it turned out really nice.  I hadn't hand tied a quilt for a long time.

Then I started a quilt for Kati Stevens, McKay's wife.  It is called trade winds. I bought the pattern and followed a you-tube video. It was fun to do, I made it out of Jelly Rolls, the first ever Jelly Roll quilt. 

I gifted this throw quilt to Kati in August 2020.  I think it is the most colorful quilt I have made and one of the easier ones.

I am now starting a quilt for Trudy.  She wanted a queen size made out of jelly rolls.  She picked her jelly rolls colors and the quilt is called Tea Time.  I have the blocks cut out, now just need to place them and sew.  

  

Morning walks

 This morning was cool and nice.  I was by myself and using my walking sticks so I wouldn't fall down.  The moon was so bright and beautiful, the picture doesn't do it justice.  Usually I walk with Tina, but Lincoln and her are at Snowbird for a few days.  It is a lot easier for me to walk with someone.  I get my miles in easier when I am not alone.  When Trudy was visiting, Tina, Trudy and I went walking, it was so fun, especially seeing places I hadn't walked before.  

This isn't flat country and it takes effort on my part to get out and walk. But it is sure worth it.

Anything in life worth doing takes effort and commitment.  That is something I need to remember.  Don't give up!!

Springville, Utah 

My Fish Tank September 1, 2020

Today I’m cleaning our fish tank. I have had it a good many years. I even moved it, and the fish,  from Maryland to Utah a year ago. I only lost 2 fish in the move. This past month I have lost all my fish. So I decided to clean it up and sell it. There just isn't a good spot where we can enjoy it all day. Maybe that is why the fish died. They were very sociable, they loved to come over and see us. Here they only were fed twice a day and never saw us. They died within days of each other. It is sad; I will miss them. I wonder if Heavenly father sometimes feels this way when we forget Him and don’t acknowledge his gifts to us, and just don’t remember to feed our spirits and say our prayers.

Thanksgiving At Trudy's

When our family was all in Utah we had big dinners with all the family being there.  Lincoln, Tina and their four children would come, Steve, Trudy and their five children, George, Lora and their four children. The total was 21 people. Sid Jr and his family were in Texas or it would have been 24.  In today's world our boys are on the West Coast, Baxter is in California, three of Tina's children are in Salt Lake, and one of George's is in Idaho. WOW!!!

This year we had Thanksgiving at Trudy's home.  It was small but very good.  We had great food, my daughters are great cooks, and wonderful company.  We differed a little this year and played games after we ate. FUN, FUN.

McKay and Noah

Stevie

Tina and Lincoln

 I had a better picture but couldn't get it turned right

Trudy and Steve

Zane and Ceci

I forgot my camera so took all these with my phone.

It was a delightful day.

Veterns Day 2013

Zane marched in the Veterans day parade again this year.  Dad and I went to watch the parade.  It was a lot nicer day this year than last year. We sat with Stevie and Steve.  Just a fun day!!!!

Noah and Steve's Birthday Get Together

This last Sunday the Bainters had us and the Stevens family over for a Fry Dinner.  Steve fried up a lot of interesting a good food, I made gluten free spud-nut cake donuts, and Tina and Lincoln made Monte Carlo Sandwiches.

corndogs

Fried pickles, mushrooms, mac & cheese, snickers, Twinkies, Oreo, and pepperoni.

I tried one of each

Sid Starting to carve his pumpkin

Grandpa Sid's

Lincoln's

McKay's

Grandpa's

Tina and Lincoln's

Zane's 

Steve and Noah's

 Tina's, Lincoln's, grandpa's, McKay's

Steve's, Noah's and Zane's

Spudnut  the cake kind

Stevie's

We had a great time with a wonderful family.

Stevie

Last Thursday was Stevie's last day in the 5th grade so Dad and I went to her graduation.  Stevie is the last of the grandchildren to be in Elementary school. I am going to miss her coming in every morning, eating breakfast and practicing the piano, but I know that life goes on.

 Honors Chorus singing The Star Spangled Banner

 Oh my, our little Stevie is growing up into a young lady.