A Day with Alison and Ammon in the Great Outdoors

Throughout most of my life I have blessed with a great love for the great outdoors.  It matters little what the season is.  I spend considerable time researching the local mountain trails and look for excuses to experience as much of nature as I can,  It has good for my health, both body, mind and spirit.  Often in the past I have gone solo on these little adventures much to the chagrin of my good wife, Iris.  She has always encouraged me to find someone to go with, but I must admit that I have also gone solo on many occasions,  Most of them turned out well, although I have felt the unseen hand  reaching out to protect me on more than one occasion and I have had the wisdom of this desire to go solo questioned, not only by Iris, but by some others who are our friends and family.  On one occasion, I got home safely, to find out that the Search and Rescue had been called out to look for me.  I was a few hours late returning from my climb to the top of Meade Peak in Idaho.  I always take a camera, and who knows where that might lead and what  effect these little sidebars may have on the timing my adventures,  I have always tried to be very cautious and not do anything risky.  But certain people I know and love are not so sure.

I have been blessed with good health for the most part throughout my life.  This has allowed me to have many experiences off the beaten path that I never would have had with out this great blessing. I give credit to my ancestors for sharing their good genetic makeup with me, but I also work hard to stay healthy, mentally, spiritually, and physically.  For the most part this hard work and a little self disciple along these lines have been successful.  These adventures have led me to mountain peaks nearly two miles above sea level, and to mining shafts about half that deep into the earth (an operating silver mine in Northern Idaho). 

Living in Logan we are surrounded by the beauties of nature and I have tried to take advantage of all these interests and see what there is in our own back yard..  Today was one of those days.  I had talked of going to White Pine Lake, which is located in the mountains up Logan Canyon and about 12 miles from the main highway.  There is a paved road for the first seven miles after leaving Logan Canyon Highway.  Alison got wind of my impending trip and wanted to go with me, later Ammon decided to tag along, Grandma Iris was happy with that, and so we left a little before eleven AM.  I think Alison has a little of her mother in her and didn't want his admittedly aging grandpa out in the mountains all alone.

The weather was beautiful, and especially at that elevation, over 8000 feet above sea level for the entire trip,  We left the sweltering heat in Cache Valley, over 95 degrees, and enjoyed the day  where the temperatures were about twenty degrees cooler,  We drove to Tony Grove, and then hiked into White Pine Lake.  This time of year is supposed to be about the peak for the wildflowers in that area,  As it turned out there were only a few places where the wildflowers were thriving, must of them had already succumbed to the intense heat and drought we have been experiencing this summer.

It turned out to be a wonderful hike (actually) Ammon rode his mountain bike.  I've had enough experience with bikes in the mountains to know that that is not an easy way to go over a rocky an sometimes sandy trail.  He is tough though and actually stayed pretty close to his sweet wife and his aging father-in-law.  This was also greatly appreciated,

Alison and I took a lot of pictures, imagine that.  Some are posted below.

Alison and Ammon starting out on the trail.

Alison and Ammon sitting on old white pine that had fallen to the lake some years earlier.

Just to prove I was there. I appreciate Alison's kindness to me all the time.  She seems to always be looking out for her parents or someone else.  I know, I don't add much to picture, but Alison, didn't seem  to mind.

Some species of mountain daisies,

Mountain asters

Just a little camera experiment using the close up macro setting which allows me to focus up to  four tenths of an inch. This flower was less than a quarter of an inch in diameter.

The pictures above represent just a few of the pictures we took of the beautiful wildflowers for which this particular hike is renowned.  They were, however, for the most part, suffering from the extreme heat and dry conditions we have experienced for the past several months.

We even stopped to observe a colony of ants busily engaged in preparing a home for the winter in a decaying tree stump.  I think they could teach us all some very important lessons.

Thanks for going with me, Alison and Ammon,  I hope I didn't prove to be too much of a pain,

Twentyfive (25)

Yesterday was July 25th.  Somehow this day has taken on a special meaning for us.  It was on this day quite a few years ago (maybe 29 maybe more) a sweet little girl joined our family of boys, four at the time.  We had been hoping and praying that we would get a little girl.  That was in the day before everybody had ultrasounds to determine what the gender of new little infants.  For us there was still big element of surprise in every birth.  I think Iris was hoping against the odds for a baby girl, but we were very happy to have a little Alison Maria.  She has been a joy to us ever since and we appreciate her kindness to us in so many ways especially now that we are growing older.  She is a wonderful person and is especially adored by her family.  She is always thinking of others and how she can make them happy.  I have come to know her stake president, who is also their next door neighbor.  I usually see him in the temple and he never fails to compliment me on his neighbor who is such a good example to her children and his.  We always feel a sense of joy at these reports, though we know beforehand that she is a very special person.  We love you very much Alison!!!

Also, yesterday about four o'clock in the morning when we were fast asleep, the phone rang,  It was Ryan.  He had a very short message.  "We are on our way to the hospital." For us that was good news.

Samantha has been expecting a child and we knew the time was getting close.  Sam actually told me a few days ago that she thought the baby would be born on Monday.  Well, not quite , but close.  It was Wednesday early in the morning, so despite the four o'clock phone call we were happy.  Iris had made arrangements to go take care of the other children when the baby came, so despite the early hour she happily got dressed and went to do her grandmotherly duties.  The baby arrived just a little more than an hour after they got to the hospital, a beautiful little 7lb 15ounce girl.  Her name will be Neveah,  kind of like heaven spelled backwards, but not quite.  Close enough to remind us all that she is truly a gift sent directly from heaven to our family and entrusted to the care of Ryan and Samantha.  In the afternoon, after I had completed my shift at the temple we went to see the little angel.  The children were all excited to see the new addition to the family and to get to hold her for a few minutes.  They will be good helpers to their Mom.  Sam is doing well considering what she went through and Ryan held up his end of the bargain pretty well too.  We are happy and pleased to know that they are willing to make the sacrifice and assume the responsibility to bring children into the world.  We love them and wish them the best always.

The baby was born July 25th.  Now we have a double reason to rejoice on that day.  Also, little Neveah, is our twenty fifth (25th) grandchild.  She broke the tie. Now there are 13 girls and 12 boys.

Some of our greatest blessings call us Grandma and Grandpa.

Annika holding her little sister, Neveah, July 25th, 2012.

First family photo with all six.  There will, no doubt, be many more to come.
WE ARE BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE!!!!!

Aspen Ridge/Hull Valley

Tonight we decided to go up to Hull Valley and Camp Aspen Ridge where Jason is serving as the camp director this year.  Maddie has been with him most every week.  She was practically born at boy scout camp and she loves it even after all these years.  She will not be left out.  Megan didn't come up this week, though she has spent some of the time there this summer as well.  Our cousin, Austin, has also been working at the camp.   It is kind of tiring, but I think all are enjoying it and doing their best to make sure the campers all have a great experience at Camp Aspen Ridge.

As we approached the camp we could see that the flag ceremony was in progress. We looked across the way and saw our cute little Maddie paying her respects to the American flag as it was being retired for the day.

A little later I got her to pose for me.  Kids will be kids.

Cousin Austin Eborn, Chris and Micehelle's son, has been working at the camp this summer. He seems to be enjoying it and making some good memories. I think he has come to know and like his Eborn cousins at camp

Austin and Maddie at Camp Aspen Ridge

Here are Jason, Tanner,Maddie and Austin performing the "Eborn Family Skit" at the campfire ceremony.  They were having fun and Jason is always such a good sport.

They even incorporate horses into the flag ceremony.  It was really quite impressive.

You can tell Maddie has been spending a little time in the great outdoors.  What a blessing.

Jason and his camper girl, Maddie.  I never would have believed those summers at Camp Little Lemhi would have led to all the wonderful experiences our family has had as a result of Jason and the Boy Scouts of America.

A Quick Trip to Camp Steiner

Yesterday we left for a short trip to the Unita Mountains and to Camp Steiner.  It's been very hot here in Cache Valley this past week or so, especially for us who are more used to the high altitudes of the Bear Lake Valley where we lived for so many years.  Camp Steiner is located at an elevation of 10,400 feet so the temperature was about thirty degrees cooler up there.  Stephen is serving as the Camp Director of the camp there this year and we had never been over that way.  We, of course, wanted to see Stephen and what he is doing over at the camp, but also Mason, Halle, and Gabrielle have been with him these past couple of weeks.  We wondered just how they were faring, knowing that Stephen has lots of camp duties and doesn't have time to supervise them very much.  Let me tell you, these kids don't need much supervision.  They  have active imaginations and are always trying to do the right thing.  Mason has kind of migrated onto the archery range, where he is a great help to the supervisor there.  He just turned thirteen and got a new compound bow for his birthday.  Stephen says he is a good shot with a bow and arrow and also with a rifle at the rifle range.  He didn't demonstrate his skills for us this time, but maybe we'll get a chance to see him in action some other time.  Stephen says he never has to be told what to do.  He just goes about doing good.  A good example for all of us.

The girls, you might think, would be out of their element at a boy scout camp.  Not so.  They are having a wonderful time.  They have planted a little garden and some flowers in pots, which they care for.  It gets close to freezing every night, but so far the have dodged the cold bullet.  I don't think they spend any time worrying about it, but it gives them an interest and something to do, as if they have a hard time finding things to do.  They have very keen imaginations and also there is another family there at the camp with some girls about their ages.  They have become close friends.    Halle has kind of taken the lead, and together with the other girls they have created  a play.  They insisted that we watch their much practised drama.  They had their parts memorized  together with all the actions and even costume and scenery changes.  They improvised and made a stage and seating for the spectators.  The name of their play was "Princess Catherine and the Pea.  Gabi was the princess and the "pea" was a nice round rock which they had painted green.  The story gave evidence of their imagination and willingness to take different parts and practice, and practice some more.  They wanted me to see it in the worst way, so I became the audience.  They did very well and I made a video of it.  When I replayed it for them they couldn't hear themselves very well sometimes so they wanted to do it again.

This time Grandma Iris joined me for the play in the woods.  They again did well and this time spoke up much better. I recorded it and it took about ten or twelve minutes.  I would publish it here, but it's too long.  I'm going to make a DVD of it. Some of you will no doubt get to see it someday.  They were so cute and did such a great job all on their own.

They live in a very rustic cabin with no electricity.  They don't get telephone reception or TV.  They do have running water in the cabin, but they have an out house for the other bathroom necessities.  They adapt and never did we hear a word of complaint.  I think these kids would have made great pioneer children like we used to learn about in Primary.

"Four cabin walls would be just right for me."  Well maybe not forever.!!

Gabi showing her strength after dinner with one of her camp friends.

Even Grandma Iris was a good sport and enjoyed our time there.  My honey didn't complain about the
"Honey Bucket", perhaps she felt honored by the name. ha, ha.

Stephen is doing a great job as the camp director and is highly respected by the staff and the campers and their leaders as well.  And even though he teases his kids some, they adore him and they are having experiences together that will never be forgotten.  Oh, if all kids could be so lucky.  Of course they miss Candice and little Sophie, but they are coming tomorrow for the weekend.  It's really not all that far away from their home, just a couple of hours.

Though Stephen is busy and has a lot of responsibility watching out for three hundred campers and their leaders he still finds enough time to go fishing a bit in the evening  once in a while (he even caught one while we were there) and be kind enough to take in his parents who are not nearly as young as we used to be, when they come for a visit.

And to top it all off the scenery was spectacular.  We are so blessed to live where we do, where the beauties of nature are so abundant.

Iris looking on as Stephen relaxes a bit with his fishing rod at Scout Lake.

Just two of the many reasons I'm glad to be alive.  This trip was just a quickie, but I enjoyed it about as much as quickies in the good old days our yore. My age is taking its toll maybe.