Random Thoughts

Things are a bit slow at the homestead right now. I am awaiting hubby's return so we can finish the computer room upstairs. He gets home on Thurs., the 5th. Not only are we going to finish the room and move the computer back upstairs, we hope to do a night time skiing trip into the Uintas. It should be pretty close to a full moon, so we should have a delightful time. I'm sure there is plenty of snow to making skiing great.


(Notice the beautiful blue sky. I love it.)

I did a "long" ski trip at the state park this morning. Usually I only do the two upper loops, but because it was so nice and sunny, I did the bottom loop as well. It was spectacular and I enjoyed it so much. There are a couple of spots where the snow is scarce, but it was fun, nonetheless. This was the first time the trails were groomed which makes it much easier to ski. Maybe that's why I did so much today. I didn't see any moose, but one guy said he saw a bull moose with a huge rack the other day.

I was surprised as I looked into the elk pasture, too. We have a new elk. One of the large elk passed away a couple of summers ago and now there is a smaller elk to join the remaining one. (I read in the town paper that there were two elk brought to the state park, but the other one crashed into the fence and broke his neck.)

My aero garden is doing very well. Everything has spouted and is looking great. I have figured out how to set the timer so the light isn't shining all night long.

Nate continues to do well in school. I am very proud of the way he is getting himself up each morning for the ACT prep class. He wants to do well on the ACT test he is required to take in March.

I am putting together a list of things I want to do this year in the way of traveling. Of course, Florida is on the list for spring break. I want to go down and check the place out for sure. Albuquerque in August is also a sure thing. Maybe a camping trip that way as part of that trip. A couple of trips to Yellowstone is a must and a bike ride on the trails in Provo Canyon is on the want to do list.

If you can think of other fun things to do or if you are planning a great trip and don't mind Nate and me tagging along, let us know and we'll be there.

(Here's a picture of the Bison, enjoying the snow.)

Exciting Present

(It kind of looks like a robot, doesn't it)

I just finished setting up the "big" present Roy gave me for Christmas. I have been holding off setting it up because I was going to put it in the computer room upstairs. I couldn't wait anymore. It is an AeroGarden. I came with herb pods. Basil, chives, mint, thyme, dill, and parsley. I have never done much cooking with herbs, so it will be fun to learn. (I didn't cook with garlic either and look what happened with that.) I can plant tomato pods and green salad pods, too. I might try flowers next winter, also. (Maybe one night I will try out the ice cream freezer--the roll around kind-- that the Albuquerque Turners gave us. That should be fun.

I think I have finished painting the computer room upstairs so I thought I would share pictures of the colors we painted it. Hope you like them; I sure do. I especially like the chair rail. It kind of dresses the room up. We will get the laminate "oak" flooring down when Roy comes home the first weekend in Feb.

He is in Florida for the remainder of this week. I hope he enjoys the sunshine and warm weather.

Thursdays are my Favorites

Today is Thursday and I started it off by going skiing at the State Park. I really do love that and today was perfect. I left the house at 9 am and the temp was 23 degrees. Perfect skiing weather. By the time I finished I was soaking wet from sweating so hard. I came home and took a nice relaxing bath and then order lunch to take in to the school. Each Thursday I take some sort of lunch in to the school to eat with my teacher friends. Today I took in Mexican from Don Pedro's and there were 8 of us eating together. It is fun to just get together and gossip and it makes me realize how glad I am that I am not teaching full time anymore, but makes me grateful for good friends.
I then came home and prepared for my class this afternoon. For me Thursdays are like Fridays, because I don't have to go to work tomorrow. (Nate doesn't have school so we are going to Park City to buy him some more T-shirts. His other Tees don't fit anymore.
Everyone have a great weekend.

Back to Work

We are on the 9 AM meeting schedule this year for church. I don't know how I feel about that. I really enjoy sleeping in on Sunday morning, but it is sure nice to take a nice nap in the afternoon, too. I guess I will get used to it.
I go back to work at UME Monday afternoon. It is only for 1.5 hours M-Th. I guess I can handle that. It still gives me plenty of time to do things I want to do around the house and to some skiing in the winter and biking/walking in the afternoon. I will be teaching extended math again, the same program I used last year.

I am trying to get out to the state park each afternoon for a little skiing. I am really enjoying that. I continue to do the painting in the upstairs computer room. I want to have everything done when Roy comes home in Feb.

Only four more days of the first semester and then it's three more semesters to go. (But, then, who's counting.)

The Holidays--they're Over

Nate's back at school; Roy's back to work in Bowie; that must mean the Holidays are really over. We had a lot of fun with the new "Wii" and had lots of good food to eat. Roy and I went skiing once at the state park and had a great time. Most of our time was spent working on the computer room upstairs. We had hoped to get it all done, but it didn't happen.
Saturday, the third, I took Roy to the ER in Evanston where he was diagnosed with a kidney stone. He had been in a lot of pain since Thursday and working on the room wasn't a priority. He has gone back to MD and is still having some discomfort, but he has lots of pain pills, so we hope he does okay. He is supposed to fly to Florida tomorrow; we'll see if he makes it.
I just got back from another skiing trip at the state park. It was a lot of fun. But, I am sure out of shape. I'll try to make it out for a little while every day.
I want to try to get up to ID sometime this winter and try skiing at Herriman. Any ID folks want to make the trip with me?

The Holidays--they're Over

Nate's back at school; Roy's back to work in Bowie; that must mean the Holidays are really over. We had a lot of fun with the new "Wii"

What a Finish

The holidays are over. Roy is back to work and getting ready for a few very busy weeks that include two trips to Florida in the next three weeks. Nate is back in school ready to give the semester a big finish. The Christmas decorations are in the boxes waiting for me to lug them back to the basement, (except the spiral trees and beaded reindeer that will have to wait for the snow to melt before they come indoors.)

We spent a lot of our relaxing time working on the "computer" room upstairs. We really thought we were going to get it done before Roy headed back east, however, it didn't make it. We did alot of the painting, bought all the materials to finish including the flooring. (The colors of the room are: off white, Brussels Blue and bonnet blue. After getting most of the painting finished, it looks great.

While we were picking up the flooring in Park City, Roy started to feel sick and to make a long story short, we ended up getting nothing more done. He spent a few hours Saturday morning at the ER where it was determined he has a kidney stone. Veyr painful

Happy New Year

Welcome to 2009. It started with a bang in Evanston. Thousands of crazy Evanstonians gathered together at Depot Square for the New Years fireworks. (You expected something else in Evanston.) Really there were a couple of thousands of people gathered together to watch the spectacular display braving the cold. It was very exciting. The music playing in the background was fun to listen to, as well.
The Evanston Turners had a great Christmas thanks to the generousity of family members. The digital photo albums are fun to watch and remind us of fun times from the past. The camping ice cream maker will be used when we get out in the wild; Dad will make use of the ladder, which matches last years ladder, alot; and the new fleece jacket will keep me warm, but not too warm. Its perfect for a jaunt to Ogden when it's too warm for a heavy coat. Thanks to all.
It appears the grandkids had a wonderful Christmas. Nate did too. He got the cell phone he wanted, a weight bench, and lots of shirts for the cold Evanston climate.
We also got a "Wii" and that has taken up a lot of free time. Bowling is definitely the most used game,but I am trying to learn golf, tennis, and baseball.
All in all it was a most fun time.
Roy is finishing up the computer room. We are going to pick up flooring sometime today and I will get to painting later. Blues for this room, but that might change when I get the paint on the wall.
Roy flies out on Sunday.
Enjoy the remainder of the Holidays.