Hanging Art

My middle name is Arthur and Stephen sometimes calls me Art, but yours truly wasn't hung today. Rather, we hung artistic pieces of various sorts at Rob and Anna's to bring their move a bit closer to completion. There was also some looking at neighborhoods and houses, furniture shopping and assembly, and the day finished with a delicious meal at the Thai Cafe. It sounds low-brow, but was actually very chichi.

Warrenton definitely felt very eastern, and Reno feels very western. Some of the neighborhoods here remind me of areas in northern New Mexico. So far Reno, just like Warrenton, is a very appealing place to me.

Rob assembling Lucy's night stand purchased at the Draper Ikea
on Tuesday and transported to Reno yesterday

Tucker and Anders ready for a day of school at
the Elizabeth Lenz School

Clara kept Grammy busy with several story books

The Hastings home on Thomas Creek Road

Mount Timpanogos goes up in the dining room
(Photo by Anna)

The Hawaiian painting hangs above a new console
table purchased and assembled today by Anna

Beef salad at the Thai Cafe

This was a fun and productive day. Tomorrow will likely be good, too. We'll let you know.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Reno

This morning, as always, we got up just before 5:00, performed the usual routine, packed the car and went to work. After my class finished at 10:45, I dashed to the MTC, picked up Kris, programmed Giles Poppleton Smythe (GPS), and giddy with excitement for a road trip, headed west to Reno. We made the trip in exactly 8 hours, including two quick stops. The trip was beautiful. I have always loved the drive across northern Nevada and today's trip did not disappoint. Thanks to Kris who snapped the photos out the car window as we sped along.

We found all well at the Hastings. Their house is very nice, but with some bizarre space planning. It is situated on the foothills with a sparkling view of Reno below (including a perfect view of the airport and associated take offs and landings -- what could be better for me?). I will get some shots of the house tomorrow in the light of day.

Ruby Mountains, south of Wells

Ruby Mountains east of Elko: as Anna said this summer,
if these were in the east they would be a national park

These mountains near Lovelock look like velvet

Anna had a delicious dinner waiting and a
birthday cake for Kris

This is the view from Rob and Anna's front door

There will be more to report, so stay tuned. This, however, is all for now.

OXO

D.

Halloween 2011

It was a warm and beautiful Halloween in Provo this year; the binkers didn't have to wear coats over their costumes. The P&M Taylors and the Ensigns met at our house for a quick supper of chili and chips before trick-or-treating. Emily made excellent brains in a bottle for dessert. This year, since he is 12, Max went with his friends instead of the cousins.

This year's jack-o-lantern

Pumpkins galore -- they can stay
right on through Thanksgiving

Brains in a bottle

Chili and chips

Meg and Lizzy

Ollie, Emily, and Maxwell

Scoutie, Holdie, Meg, Ollie, and Lizzie

The Harry-Potter-themed Taylors

They are off on their rounds

It was a great evening. We are off to Reno tomorrow and will have more on that later. So this is all for now.

OXO

D.

Everybody Loves Kris

Today, October 29, is Kris's birthday. Kris, I hope it is a great day. I love you and so does everyone else, including Coaster (Ollie's puppy). Many happy returns of the day!

Coaster likes Grammy to baby sit, but you
can see who is doing the sitting

Last night we went to Tucano's to celebrate and tomorrow the kids will gather for dinner.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

All Kinds of Fun

Saturday, 22 October, we went with Anna, Emily, Millie and Colton, and the kids to Cornbelly's. It was the second visit of the season on a much warmer day with larger crowds (UEA weekend). In spite of those factors, the kids had a good time. At 5:00 everyone gathered for a hot dog roast at our house. When the fire had subsided a bit, the marshmallows came out and there were s'mores for everyone. As part of the festivities, I harvested the pumpkins. Anna traveled to SLC to collect their car, turn in her rental, and pick up Rob, who is now here in Provo.

Today after church Anna, Rob, and I walked through the park, BYU campus, and along the canal walk to Emily's house for supper. After supper there was a birthday party for Max who turns 12 on Thursday. Tonight the Hastings are packing in preparation for the trek to Reno.

Holden with both his Cornbelly's bands

Colton purchased a bunch of shots and everyone
got to shoot a few corn cobs

Max, Lucy, and Anders at the wheel

Burning up the track -- sort of

The corn-maze trekkers

Dancing princesses

Cooking dinner on the fire

Holdie does three at a time

A beautiful evening for food and family

The binkers entertaining each other while they eat

Pop Pop harvested pumpkins

For such a late start, they did fairly well

Anna and Rob on our campus walk

The beautiful green ash in front of Emily's house

Max's BYU Cougar cake

The camera is too slow to catch the blowing
out of 12 candles

We have loved having the Hastings spend the week with us and wish them the very best on their new adventure. It will be nice to have them close enough to drive for visits.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Donut Falls

Friday we hiked to Donut Falls in Big Cottonwood Canyon east of Salt Lake City. It was a beautiful day and the canyon was spectacular. The binkers were all good hikers and we had a great time.

Big Cottonwood Canyon in October

Big Cottonwood creek is still running full after a wet year

Small falls on Big Cottonwood Creek

The hikers ready to climb

The aspens are still aglow

Donut Falls

Hikers at the foot of the falls

Clara and Pop Pop strike a pose

Ready for lunch on a log

Wasatch Mountains are the best

Humorous Clara moment: At lunch, Meagan gave Clara some sort of tasty treat. Clara thanked her with her back turned staring at the ground. In my most grandfatherly manner I instructed Clara that she should look at Meagan when she thanked her so she could really sense her appreciation. I said, "Clara, look her in the eye." Again with more emphasis, "Clara, look her in the eye!" Clara gave me a puzzled but resigned look, leaned over, and obediently LICKED Meagan in the eye. The entire group collapsed in laughter.

That evening the adults all went to P 712 for a delicious meal. It was a very fun day. There were more adventures yesterday about which I will report in the next post. So stay tuned.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

An Interim Visit

The Hastings have packed up and departed Virginia and are on their way to Reno, Nevada. Rob flew to Arizona for a conference and Anna and the kids flew here for an interim visit while they await the arrival of their car and Rob's return; both will arrive on Saturday.

Everyone was very excited to see Ollie's new dog, Coaster and Meg's rabbit, Bun Bun. There has been lots of cousin-together time, in spite of school. On Wednesday school was out early and all the cousins went to Sundance in hopes of riding the chairlift. Unfortunately, the summer season finished last Sunday, so we made our own fun with a short hike to the Theater of the Pines. The kids had a great time playing on the stage and reenacted Hamlet or the like. I assumed it was Hamlet because everyone died. The outing ended with suckers from the Sundance store.

Timp put on a special show for Anna

Ollie's beagle, Coaster

Bun Bun and the boys (sounds like a band)

Coaster and the Cousins (another band?)

Wednesday afternoon at Sundance

Theater of the Pines

The big finish

The troops

The cousins collecting burs in their socks

Super suckers

The "big" cousins

It's UEA, school is out, and there is an outing in the offing today. We will report later.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.