Monday, September 22, 2008

Miracles


Talk about "Coca Cola Miracles". This was that little
plant they give mothers at church on Mother's Day.
A little tender care and some patience and it turned out
pretty good.

This is one small part of a little tree I bought at Wal-Mart
about four years ago. There are thousands of plums. They
are about to break the branches off the trees. I need
Candice to come over and make a bunch of plum
Popsicles, you know. real snack food.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

The Last Load


Maybe this "Last Load" was really just a half a load. It
seems like much of what I try to do any more isn't quite
what it used to be. Altogether though, there is enough
firewood here at home to keep the fire burning for seven
or eight months straight. I always used to feel such a
sense of security when this was done each year, knowing
my family would have a warm place to spend the cold
winter nights in case the electricity went off or the gas
supply was somehow interrupted..

Nonetheless, and perhaps less selfishly than most of the
loads before, it took a lot of sweat and a few sore muscles
to get this tree from the forest to the wood pile behind
the tree in the backyard. This summer I have never had
any intention of using so much as a stick of it, since we
will have moved to Logan before the cold of winter arrives.
The intent was and is to bring someone else the same joy
and comfort we so often felt on those cold winter's nights
of the past. I hope it will be used. At least my heart was
in the right place.

Iris always used to worry when I went alone to get wood.
I would tell her, that I was never alone, and indeed I was
not. My faithful River was always near by, though of late
he's a little like his master, he'd rather just lie in the truck
and snooze instead of go chase tree squirrels like he used
to. And besides, I often felt closer to my own Master in
the woods than about any other place. We had lots of long
talks, which I will continue to have in another setting.
Age tells its own story for man as well as his best friend.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Jared's LOTOJA





LOTOJA 2008 (6th September,2008)


Jared pulling into the "feed station" in Montpelier after
about seventy-five miles from Logan and over Emigration/
Strawberry Summit. Close to on schedule about four
hours of riding.

After a quick refresher and a moment in the porta john
it's off toward Afton, Wyoming for the next leg of the ride.
He seemed to be doing great.
Shana, Jared's support vehicle driver. I doubt many
of the riders had their own personal physician. Thanks,
Shana for supporting him on this ride. He has worked
so hard to do it. Fortunately the day has been nearly
perfect, about 70 degrees, sunny, and almost no wind.
We will now have the privilege of having Emily, Malissa,
and Sam for the rest of the day and most of tomorrow.
Good Luck to Jared and all the other riders. I admire
anyone with the courage and determination even to
undertake such a feat, and if you can finish 206 miles
over three major passes in one day all in daylight hours,
my hat is off to you. That is no easy task.

To quote William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
when he and his party first came in view of the mighty
Pacific Ocean after nearly two years treking across the
continent more than 200 years ago: "Oh the Joy". This,
I'm sure, was Jared'ssentiment when he crossed the
LOTOJA finish line at Teton Village in Jackson Hole
yesterday. Congratulations! You trained hard and you did
what you set out to do. We are very proud of you. Keep on
rolling!!!! You are an inspiration to us all.



No, that is not Jared, just a LOTOJA pic I found on the
net. At first, I actually thought it was him, but Jared had
already been there for more than ten minutes when this
dude crossed the finish line. Way to go Jared!!!!!!!

Monday, September 1, 2008

LOTOJA BEWARE


LOTOJA riders beware. Those spandex pants are not
well insulated and those muscled bodies don't have a
very thick fat layer to keep you warm. Hopefully the
muscle between your ears can compensate for the others.
Actually I'm looking for a beautiful day on Saturday.
Lots of luck to Jared and the others with the grit to even
think of such a ride in just one day. I'm envious to say
the least.