Over the weekend we had a delightful visit from Mike and Linda Gibbs. They were accompanied by Cathy Gibbs and Graham. The occasion was Chelsea's graduation from BYU. We had some great visits and they were kind enough to invite us to join them for a special celebratory dinner at La Caille in SLC. It has been years since we've eaten there and we were pleased with the food and the experience. On Sunday evening we played several rounds of Beyond Balderdash. Linda had flown to California on Sunday morning and Monday morning early, the rest of them headed to Colorado.
La Caille
Dickie, Mike, and Cathy
Chelsea and Graham
Linda and Kris
Kris's pork ribs
My Coquilles Saint-Jacques
The Gibbs and Kris
Beyond Balderdash: beyond fun
Colorado-bound
We always love to have the Gibbs visit and it was go great to be with Cathy, whom we have not seen for a long time.
We have a nice tradition where we exchange dinners with the kids who live nearby. We cook one week and they cook the next. Maren and Gavin started the exchange when we lived across the breezeway from them at Sparks Apartments during our house remodel.
While they were engaged, Katy and Daniel mostly ate with us. Once they were married they joined the rotation. Two weeks ago they cooked, but at our house. Tonight was the maiden voyage at their house. It was delightful and delicious.
Uncle Tony's painting of the Notting Hill Gate
fish market is a focal point in the dining area
They made some delicious chicken tacos in the slow cooker
It was a beautiful and tasty meal
Two satisfied customers
Mike, Linda, Graham, and Grandma Gibbs arrive tomorrow for a few days. We are excited to have them here.
Since Emily was at camp on her birthday, we celebrated last night instead, taking advantage of the pool while we can. I am confident that all had a good time: food+folks=fun.
Ollie, Max, Lucy, Millie, Holdie, Bea, Lizzie, Meg
... and Scoutie
Embly and Maria Magdalena
Phillip, Meags, Colton, and Em
Ollie and Max in mortal combat for the ball
Dinner time: Emily, Katy, and Daniel ready to tuck in
Binkers on the "beach"
39 and counting
Yesterday I gave my last final and this morning early I finished cleaning out my office. I have already submitted grades and cleaned up all the loose academic ends. I have locked the door and turned in the keys! I brought home very little because everything I need to know is now on the internet, and we have no more room for books. The files all got dumped in recycling and the place is empty. It feels good.
A bit bare
Everything I hauled home fit on the cart in the hallway
After dropping my stuff off at home, I drove to Emily's where I picked up her and Lucy Jane for a trip to the airport for Lucy's flight back to Reno this morning. Lucy doesn't say much without prying it out of her, but we think she had a great time at camp with Emily and a fun week in Utah.
I haven't posted anything for ages because we haven't done anything. I have been close to home with a "chronic internal derangement of the medial compartment of the right knee with advanced arthrosis," whatever the h*ll that is. After a month or so of hobbling about, icing and heating, massive doses of Ibuprofen, and a fair dose of depression (would I have to do Disneyland in a wheelchair, sit at Matt's home in England in the fall?), I finally broke down and went to see an orthopedic specialist, who turned out to be a mission buddy. I dragged along my X-rays from when Debby and Rob sent me to the emergency room with a swollen leg, and the PA asked if they had done a standing view because that is how you use the leg (duh!). The image they took showed the malady named above, which means the upper bone is coming to rest on the lower bone behind the knee cap -- the sucker's all out of alignment! I was headed for knee replacement at some point. For now injections of cortisone would mange the pain. Well guess what? Cortisone didn't do a darned thing.
Elder Kirt Kimball on right
Sensing my discouragement, Stephen said, "When you are ready to stop hurting go see Dr. Pain." Dr. Pain" is a Brazilian therapist who releases muscles in a manipulation process that generates excruciating pain, hence Stephen's nickname for him. When the muscles are doing their job, the bones should realign. I have had two sessions with him and am experiencing some improvement, but am not yet fully healed. I am, however, hopeful because the pain is greatly reduced. I have one more scheduled session in about 10 days. I hope all goes well.
This is how my knee felt!
Just a couple of things on the home front: we inherited Father and Ethelyn's painting of Timpanogos by Floyd Breinholt. I really like the painting: it feels like it was painted for our room. The frame feels a bit much and may get replaced at some point. It nicely fills the space where Tommy's painting hung on loan until he reclaimed it.
Timpanogos hanging where Kershisnik's Angels hung
The Strawberry-Reservoir-to-SLC water line has reached our neighborhood and our road is closed at the south end. It has been an incredibly disruptive project with bits and pieces (reaches as they call them) going on all over the county from the Ironton Hill, to University Avenue. You can't get anywhere without a major detour.
Don't even think about getting through
I wish I had better adventures to report, but I just don't. I have, however, been consuming Sue-Grafton novels like crazy. I'll soon be caught up with the latest in the series.
Today was Grandma Lyn's funeral. We went to SLC last night for the viewing, and today was the funeral. Uncle Hank was one of the speakers and recounted memories shared by some of the Taylors. President Monson popped in at the last second and made some very nice remarks about the Taylors and Ethelyn. After the funeral we dashed to her apartment on 2nd Avenue to bring out some of the things she had designated for HDT family. We now have a beautiful painting of Timp that hung in their place. It looks great in our room and was a nice surprise. I also found my old world globe that I received as a Christmas present in LA as little lad. After the dedication of the grave many of the HDT family headed to La Casita for a late lunch. All in all it has been a nice couple of days remembering what a great lady Ethelyn is.
Good chilhood friend Janet Calder with Kris
Anders and Taylor
Amy, Colette, and Emily
SKT with John and Shirley Carmack, friends from
the Los Angeles years in the Westwood Ward
The HDT family
The Taylor 1st cousins: SKT, John Arthur Taylor, DAT, HDT Jr.,
After the wedding festivities were finished and the happy couple was off on a mini honeymoon, we had an outing or two. Clara accompanied Pop Pop and Grammy to Ikea where we ran a couple of errands for Katy. Lunch at Ikea is always a treat and sharing it with Baby Goat Cheese made it even better.
Clara looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
Lunch with a view of the Ikea parking lot
Clara loves her some chicken tenders
The following day most of the troops headed to Park City for some mountain fun. Maren, Gavin, and Rob rode the zip line and were thrilled. Tucker and Anders rode the kids' zip line and were also thrilled. Everyone rode the Alpine Slide and most were thrilled again. The most thrilling ride of the day, however, was the Mountain Coaster. It was excellent, possibly even awesome. Some discovered they LOVE coasters and (almost) everyone is now psyched for Disneyland in September. (Thanks to Anna for several of these photos.)
Park City and the Alpine Slide
The Hastings boys in flight
Anders and Tucker approve of the zip line
The troops waiting for the lift
Harry, Maren, Tucker, and Finn
Dragging our sleds behind us at the top
Rob and Clara made a safe landing...
as did Gavin and Beck
Ready to enter the line for the Mountain Coaster
Anders was my partner in our coaster adventure
So fun!
YouTube video of the Mountain Coaster
Some had frozen chocolate-covered bananas at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate factory, but most of us saved ourselves for Mexican dinner at Tarahumara in Midway. It is one of Colton's favorites, and it was really good.
The binkers waiting for their supper to be served
Tarahumara has HUGE salsa bar and we tried several
Beck thought it was a pretty great day (as did we all)
There are still posts pending for the 4th of July. This, however, is all for now.
