August 2025

August was eventful. Mark, Kris's brother, and Anne were married so some of the Boyntons were in town. Cousin Chris Christensen came to Utah and joined us for Cousins Breakfast. Nancy Ostergar turned 80 and held a retrospective of all her art. The HI Taylors came to Provo for a wedding, as did Debra Sue Darling Gibbs (for a different wedding). The Hastings came town in batches, and some of us went to Vernal for Evy's birthday. We had an impromptu family dinner while the Hastings were here. And after years of carpenter ants and rot, the cabin was demolished - sigh.

Rod was MC

Matt officiated: ordained by the Internet

The Boyntons with their new SIL, Anne

Boyntons at our house

Dickie overwhelmed to see the HI Taylors and...

The Lee's custard pie Meagan carried from

Hawaii for him - so ono!

With the HI Taylors and Ollie's friends at La Casita

Nancy and Allen celebrating her 80th

I loved this collage and...

This abstract archromatic painting

Back to Hawaii for these kids

Joined by Cousin Chris - Kreg was in Scotland

I got a $30 parking fine at breakfast, but won my appeal

The Hastings brothers in town to see their parents

Over to Vernal with Debby, Anders, and Tucker for Evy's birthday

DSDG and the Covers

Katy Kathryn showed us her office

Evy is ten

Grammy Kris made her a silky nightgown and robe

The Hastings porch-sitting on their quick stop - headed to Walla

Walla, WA to take Clara to Whitman College for her freshman year

Sunday dinner with the family

So sad!

The stairs and chandelier still standing for a minute

So that's it.

OXO

D.

July 2025

July included Fourth celebrations, even though there is a huge orange reason not to celebrate this year. Katiana's daughter grew up and got married, there were incessant gatherings on the front porch in the July heat, the Marlpit Hill Boyntons stopped in, and the Vernalites popped in for quick visit the same day. We commiserated over the state of the nation with the cousins, and Uncle Mark checked into the Happiness Hotel in preparation for his August 1st wedding (next month's post).

Katiana and Jeremy

Dickie and Katiana

Their kids are beautiful: Lexi and Davin (I think)

Morning, noon, and night on the porch

Getting old is tragic

Always something fun on the Interwebs

Fourth gathering at Millie's

Ditto

Ditto

The Marlpit Hill Boyntons

The Colvers of Vernal

Brigham, Arthur, and Evy: love dem babbies

The happiest day of the month

We made the bouquet for Anne and Mark's wedding

That's all folks.

OXO

D.

June 2025

After the graduation rush that ended in June, things were very calm. We had dinner at Ostergars, took Meg to the SLC airport in company with SKT and AW, with a lunch stop at Tsunami. Maren and family arrived from the Valley of the Sun. For years Harry has spoken so glowingly about Provo that two of his buddies, Paige and Duncan wanted to see the place close up. They flew to Provo and spent a few days with us. It was fun to have them. Harry recreated his happiest memories for them, and they did, in fact, have a great time. The Calders had an in-law funeral to manage, so we missed our Cousins Breakfast.

Group Dinner at the Ostergars

Tasty Japanese nosh at Tsunami in SLC

La Casita was on the list: it was a hit

La Casita with Emily's gang, the Youngs, and Paige and Duncan

Porch sitting was underway and they were tickled

Harry wanted his friends to experience a Brazilian dinner

A newly discovered taco place: Mi Lindo Guadalajara: good!

This was all prelude to the 4th of July, which will be part of the next post.

OXO

D.

Madeline Alta Ensign -- Class of 2025

This was the final leg of the graduation tour, back in Salt Lake City where it started last month. Madeline completed her intensive training for a certificate as an Operating Room Technician. The program is run and paid for by IHC, the graduate has one year of obligation to work in an IHC facility. Madi is working at Altaview in Sandy. An OR nurse cares for the patient, the anesthesiologist keeps the patient comfortable (and alive), the surgeon does the deed, but OR Tech runs the show from beginning to end. According to everything we saw and heard, Madi smashed it! She was chosen as the student speaker, and here, too, she smashed it. She was funny, articulate, personal, and confident. She did a great job, and this was an excellent graduation.

She represented her class as speaker

Thrilling!

The Ensigns

Flowers, money bouquet, and a money lei

Such a beautiul and clever woman

Waiting at Lindsey Gardens for our 6:00 p.m. reservation

Jayson fêted the family at Wildwood in the SLC Avenues

That's it for now.

OXO

D.