Paris 2019 Day One

On the inward-bound trip, the first two days run together, so this post will be for 20 and 21 March, which for us feels like a very long single day. Millie picked up Ann, Stephen, Kris, and me dark and early and whisked us off to the SLC for our flight to DTW (Detroit - a very nice, newish, and HUGE Delta hub) where we transferred to our LHR flight through the night. A driver picked us up at Heathrow and drove us into London to Saint-Pancras International. We spent a couple of pleasant hours eating breakfast  and sorting out our Oyster Cards before taking the Eurostar Channel Tunnel train into the Gare du Nord in the heart of Paris. A very scenic taxi drive took us from the Right Bank to the Left Bank where we were dropped in front our digs at 11 Rue Rollin. We were a couple of hours early for check in so we had a delicious supper at a pub on our corner near the Place de la Contrescarpe. It turns out that our neighborhood is extremely lively, but our street is quiet and peaceful, which is wonderful. We were checked in by Lily, our host, and after getting settled, we went out to get some food, buy some electronics for Annie, and walk about until bedtime.

 SLC

 An interesting play of light on the wing at sunup

as we descended into London

 Saint-Pancras International

 Linenfold paneling in the former ticket hall (now a posh restaurant)

 Less posh but very delicious al fresco breakfast

 Fabulous egg on toast with bacon and cheese

 Jet lag got the best of us on the Channel Tunnel train

 Headed to the stairs at the bottom of Rue Rollin

 Place de la Contrescarpe around the corner from us is lively

 The Rue Mouffetard on the right

Opa relaxing back at the Airbnb

Good, but long day. Let's see what today holds. That's all for now.

OXO

D.

February and March 2018

Katy and Daniel sold their Provo home, and Daniel, after 10 days of quarantine with C-Diff, left for Roosevelt and his new job at the Uintah Basin Medical Center. He stayed in a hotel there and Katy and the kids lived with us until all the thorny details of the purchase and refurbishment of their new place in Vernal were complete. Life was filled with the normal routine made interesting and exciting by the Colver's stay. There were walks, Cousins' Breakfasts, theater, and a wonderful, but short, visit from Meagan, who is a consultant for the Provo School District. Stephen and Annie rode to Vernal with us to see Katy and refamiliarize ourselves with Vernal.

 Weekly dinner with Opa and Annie at Strap Tank Brewery

 This little girl loves to help cook

 I taught her how to peel ginger with a spoon

 Young Arthur is becoming grabby

 Magic Mountain on a morning walk

 Her own cart at Trader Joes

 Angel baby

 We made pink cookie bars for Valentines

 Some real foods go down well, others like poison

 The Colver Provo house was empty and clean

 Good Japanese dinner at a new Provo restaurant

 Ready for the snow

 EAC loves puzzles

 With the cousins in downtown SLC

 Two babbies, two dogs, and a momma heading to Vernal

 She moved on the right day, because the next, the

weather turned nasty

 The theater is always a treat

 Last load from the last storage unit finally headed to Vernal

 A quick week with Meags 

 Lunch at Freddie's in Vernal

 The Calder farmhouse is still there

 The church did a nice job of saving this Tabernacle

 The Uintah Community Center is nicer than Provo's

 Katy at home in her new house in Vernal

 Creating order one bite at a time

 A very nice home for their family

 Daniel's new office at the hospital is almost ready

 A stop in Midway for supper...

 ...at the Mercantile Restaurant

The food was delicious!

In just a couple of days we are off to Paris and London for three weeks, so there will be more, but this is all for now.

OXO

D. 

January 2019

January started, as usual, with the traditional Greek Dinner. The kiddos all headed for home, the NY Gibbs came to SLC, and the Colvers started the search for a house in Vernal in response to Daniels new job at the Uintah Basin Medical Center in Roosevelt, Utah. The super blood wolf moon was spectacular. Young Arthur joined his cousins on the wall, icy roads drove me indoors for morning walks, and I made my first limoncello cake.

 Spanakopita, dolmades, and souvlakia are so delicious

 Dishing it up

 If looks could kill

 Drool!

 Maren and the Colvers tucking in

 The whole group

 An unusual cameo appearance by Dickie

 Goodbye to the Arizona cousins

 The Soelbergs keep the tradition alive: running with the cousins

 I love fog

 A delicious dinner at Per Noi in SLC with SKT, Annie, 

and the NY Gibbs

 A trip to Vernal to look at houses with the famous Caro, 

the Colver's agent

 A spectacular sunset most of the way home from Vernal

 A cold evening sitting in Opa and Annie's driveway watching

this incredible view of the moon

 Young Arthur joined the rogue's gallery

 BYU Fieldhouse was warm, dry, and not slippery

This delicious limoncello cake was inspired by some we had at Per Noi

A fun month. That's all for now.

OXO

D.