Huckleberry Time

"Now many of those I loved and did not understand in my youth are dead. But I still reach out to them. Of course, now I’m too old to be much of a hiker. And now I usually go into the mountians alone, even though some friends think I shouldn’t. But when I am alone in the half-light of the canyon, all existence seems to fade to a being of my soul and memories, and the sounds of the wind in the pines and the call of distant birds. Eventually, all things merge into one, and a mountain is in it. The Mountain was left by the world’s great flood, and shelters bushes from the basement of time. On some of the bushes are timeless huckleberries. On some the berries are the words, and some of the words are theirs."

"I am haunted by huckleberries."

Pardon the River Runs Though It  musings, but as I was in Emigration Canyon as evening approached one night this past week picking huckleberries I was reminded of the now famous lines at the end of the novel by Norman MacLean  and couldn't help but reflect on the good times and the memories I had in days gone by with my parents and family picking huckleberries in the mountains.  The berries were wonderful, but the memories of those days linger much longer and I cherish the times and the stories told of picking huckleberries in the mountains.

My brother, Reed, called the other morning and said: "Let's go pick huckleberries."  My reply was: "I'll pick you up in an hour."  We went  together on Thursday and then again on Saturday.  Each time we got at least two gallons each.  That isn't bad for a couple of oldies with arthritic hands etc.  At least for me.  We enjoyed our time together and especially the chance to have some good discussions about the things that matter most in our lives.

Here we are after about eight hours on the mountain with the fruit of our labors.

Spur of the Moment Family Fun

Stephen and Candice and their family have been here for a few days from Pueblo, Colorado.  They came over to be a part of Candice's brother Nick's wedding festivities.  They were married in the Logan Temple on Saturday.  We decided at the last minute almost to see if we could get some of the family together and have a little barbecue.  Ryan and Sam offered their beautiful back yard and we made a few requests as to food and the party was on.  It turned out great.  Ryan can cook up a storm behind the grill.  The main course was  grilled chicken breasts and salmon,  Everyone pitched in with salads, desserts, drinks etc. and we had a sumptuous feast.  The weather was perfect, especially in Ryan and Sam's shady back yard.  The kids ran and payed and jumped on the trampoline.  Stephen and Ryan spent some time playing catch with a baseball and I even got to try a couple of pitches to Ryan.  I was not surprised, I can't throw a ball the way I used to, but it was fun and brought back some good memories of days gone by playing ball and then later watching the boys as they did the same as youngsters.  The adults sat around and enjoyed the evening just chatting, reminiscing, and laughing a lot.  Everyone seemed to be enjoying one another's company and the time went by way to quickly.  We need to do this type of thing way more often than we do.  We have truly been blessed with a wonderful family and are so grateful for each and every one of them.  We are also glad that they love one another and enjoy being together.  Below are some representative pictures of those who attended.  I think I got most of you anyway.  I tried.  We love our family very much and are gateful that each of you has been a part of our lives.  We missed those who couldn't make it this time.  We'll do it again.
It's hard to get everyone of our busy, far flung family, together at a moment's notice.  A big Thank You to Ryan and Sam for hosting this fun time for us all.

JUSTIN

CHALISA AND HAYDEN

HALLE AND MICAH

MASON

MICAH, TANNER AND TRISTAN

MADDIE B.

GRANDMA IRIS AND CHALISA

TANNER AND SOPHIE

ADA AND MEGAN

ALISON MARIA

SOPHIE AND AMMON

JASON AND MEGAN

EVIL EYE AMMON

JASON AND TRISTAN

GRAND KIDS PLAYING DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE

RYAN

ANNIKA AND GABRIELLE

HAYDEN AND TRISTAN

ADDISON

HAYDEN AND CHALISA

KATE

MEGAN AND GABRIELLE

TRISTAN AND SAMANTHA

STEPHEN AND CANDICE

AVERY, MICAH, AND ETHAN

ETHAN

RENE AND ANNIKA

All The World's a Garden Sweet

As most of you know I have long been a "flower child".  I guess, I just love the beauties of the earth and am so grateful to play a very small part in making the world beautiful.  It all stems back to the time when I would bring my mother bouquets of alfalfa blossoms and she would decorate my birthday cake with green frosting and dandelions in place of candles.  I loved it then and I still love flowers, especially the one (Iris) I  sleep with every night.  Since moving here to Logan I've kind of become the unofficial keeper of the flower beds in the neighborhood.  They are turning out really good this year, I think.  Below are just a representative few of the scenes surrounding our humble little cottage.  It is a joy for me to work with them and then to see the results of our labors, symbolically with the flowers, but also with the other things I try to do and have done over the years.