Bits and Bobs - Late October Edition

Tuesday, after a fun visit from Grandmother Boynton, Rod, Kris, and I took her to Salt Lake to spend the rest of the week with her sisters. That intrepid group of widows has been blessed to be able to spend lots of time together, traveling and visiting. They laugh, watch movies, read, eat lots of chocolate and have a wonderful time. After dropping Grandmother off at Aunt Donna's, we went around the corner to the Lone Star Taqueria for supper -- yummy fish tacos and tamales.

As you saw on the previous post, Wednesday was Kris's birthday. We had a delicious steak dinner. I bought the meat at Costco and it was superb. I made a chocolate cheesecake instead of a proper birthday cake, and it was delicious too. There is still a little bit left in the fridge! Lucky me.

Friday night was, of course, Halloween. Anna and Emily planned the party and everyone met here to celebrate and trick-or-treat. The food was great, the costumes were fantastic, and we all had a great time.

The lovely Beck sisters: Bonnie, Raye, Donna, Carol, and LaVee

Birthday dinner: steak, squash (from our vines),
salad, and garlic-mashed potatoes

Chocolate cheesecake for dessert

Anna reading Halloween tales to the binkers

Alice, mad scientist, rooster, Snow White, Indy, Hermoine, Harry

We managed to get a pumpkin carved just in the nick of time

Only two more day until the election (not counting today). I hope I survive the anxiety and stress. That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Happy Birthday Kris

Kristine Boynton
October, 1955
La Framboisiere, France

Yup, sure enough, it's October 29 and it's Kris's birthday. I'll let her tell you how many years this is. She doesn't want any fuss, but I just wanted to wish her many happy returns of the day.

Happy birthday Krissy!

With much love,

David

Maxwell's Party

Yesterday, Sunday 26 October, we gathered at Emily's for Sunday dinner and a rousing Harry Potter birthday celebration for Max, who turns 9 today (27 October). The kids LOVED the Harry Potter activities, ably executed by Madeline. The food was good and the company was great. Thanks to the Ensigns for a great time.

Everyone digging into some good soft tacos

Those girls slicked up their plates

Grandmother Boynton with most of the grandkids

Madeline preps the Hogwarts first years for the sorting hat

Meg gets sorted to everyone's great delight

Gochi = goat cheese = fromage de chevre

Max and the cake

Katy Kathryn chillaxin'

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Grandmother Is Here

Wednesday afternoon, 23 October, Kris, Rod, Vic, and I went to SLC to meet Grandmother Boynton, who flew from Arizona to spend a few days in Utah. We took her to Mazza in Salt Lake for supper before returning to Provo. Friday the ladies shopped and we went to La Casita for supper. Saturday we had supper at Scera Park with Uncle Rod's family. Grandmother will be here until Tuesday when she will join her sisters in SLC for several days of madcap adventures.

Mazza at 9th East and 9th South

Birthday flowers (27 October is the day)

Rod and Vic and some of their progeny

Grandmother with some of our progeny

Katy and Carrie: those silly babies grew up

More adventures to come.

OXO

D.

We Voted This Morning

This morning we voted early. The line moved quickly and after making a change of address, we voted without a hitch. Now we just wait and see how it all turns out.

OXO

D.

When It's Falltime in the Rockies

Alright, I know the song is all about "Springtime in the Rockies," but I love this time of year best. On Saturday, 18 October, Emily, Max, Lizzie, Katy, Kris and I drove to SLC and went with Rob, Anna, and their family to Ledgemere picnic area in Big Cottonwood Canyon for a campfire dinner: hotdogs or tinfoil dinners and s'mores. It was a spectacular fall evening and we had a great time using up some of the wood left over from the Idaho reunion. This is the best time of year.

Waiting for the coals

Auntie Em, Clara and Anna

Sushi at a campfire? (from Harmons -- delicious!)

Lizzie and Lucy enjoying nature

Daring rock climbers Max, Tucker, Lucy and Anders

Lizzie got close to nature, but as I approached, she posed

Fall in Big Cottonwood Canyon

Rob, Lizzie, Lucy and Anna enjoy their delicious dinners

Auntie Katy regales the troops with a fantastic story

This is what people watched in the olden days before
television -- more entertaining in many ways

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Columbus Day Weekend

Alright. I don't have Jewish grandparents in Florida, so we didn't join in the Great Schlep, but we had a nice weekend anyway. On Friday evening we schlepped over to Freestone's for dinner with the group. The Freestones are nicely settled in their "new" home. Liz made some yummy Mexican stuff introduced to them by their mission adventures and we had a very pleasant evening.

Michael Gibbs also flew in from New York on Friday spent the weekend with us visiting Chelsea. Alison came down from Logan and spent part of the weekend, too.

Saturday we held another Don Jarvis campaign meeting. It seems to be going well and we are pushing hard for these last three weeks. Don has a magnificent garden and gave me some plums and pears from his orchard. They were beautiful and extremely tasty.

The family all came to dinner on Sunday evening, joined by the Gibbs and Meagan's family, so it was a fun crowd. Michael made a wonderful chocolate cake for dessert; it was a great hit.

Liz and Phil and their new home

Lots of good dessert and conversation:
Sharon, Liz, Phil, Stan, Allen, Nancy, and Kris

More of the same:
Vicki, Rod, Sharon, and Liz

Wonderful yellow and purple complementary colors
from Don Jarvis's orchard

Michael working his magic with chocolate

Sunday lunch snacking: Kris, Mike, Alison, Katy, and Chelsea

Digging into Michael's cake and Grammy's cookies:
Madeline, Lucy, Rob, Tucker, and Katy

These clever young folks made cookie sandwiches with cake filling!:
Max, Meg, Ollie, and Tucker

Grandmother Boynton is coming next week and her stay will be followed by a visit from Linda Gibbs. So we will keep you posted.

OXO

D.