More signs of fall....

October!

Pumpkins, pumpkins, and more pumpkins.
(I heard there was going to be a shortage this year. Is it really true?)

Grasses. Who doesn't love them in a flower bed?

Berries. All the colors of fall.

Mums. So pretty!

I love this time of year!

(I know it isn't quite October, but I never was very good at waiting!)

What are your favorite fall things?

♥
JoAnn

Fall arrives in Utah.....with splendor!

I have ALWAYS wanted to visit New England in the fall. I've heard about the brilliant leaf colors and the hillsides covered with trees. I love the small, quaint little towns with the covered bridges. It is one of my unfulfilled dreams. Sigh.....

However,
Utah has some pretty amazing fall colors, too!

Today I picked up my in-laws and we took off to see for ourselves just what the season has to offer.

We drove through Emigration Canyon, Parley's Canyon, Park City, and Midway.
We saw leaves up close and from clear across the valley.
We marveled at the beauty of the mountains, lakes, and valleys.

Pretty, right?

We had a great time!

The sun was shining right in my eyes for most of these pictures, but I think this one has a fun look to it!
If you are looking for a beautiful drive to see the fall colors, we found the best views at Wasatch State Park, just up the hill from Midway.
Be sure to get out before Wednesday's predicted snow storm!

"There is a harmony
In autumn, and a luster in its sky,
Which through the summer is not heard or seen,
As if it could not be, as if it had not been!"
-Percy Bysshe Shelly

♥
JoAnn

It's a cookie contest party.....

Maddie helped her mom make cookies for their
cookie contest party last night.
It sounded so fun.
(I'm waiting for the picture report,
but by the look on Maddie's face it must have been pretty good.)

"A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand." -Anonymous

A solution to the beaver problem????

(photos from Google.com)

Just so you know- I think we found our solution to
the beaver problem.

Comment from Michelle (who just happens to be my daughter):

Michelle said...

You could chain yourselves to the tree and stage a "sit in". That way you could shoo away the beavers when they attack... Ha Ha. It's kind of funny that we live in the city but have so many critters to deal with.

September 23, 2009 7:54 PM

My response....

Michelle, You are the grand prize winner with your idea! So....Sheila and I will be chaining ourselves to the last three remaining trees (we are looking for one more participant?) this coming weekend. We will be accepting any support such as Cafe Rio delivery, cool drinks for the day, hot drinks for evenings, etc. Any help will be appreciated!
Love,
Mom

P.S. Do you think I should get my hair done first?

For those of you who do not know me,

Just Kidding!

Leave it to (the) Beaver....

This summer my friend Sheila and I have spent a lot of time walking around this little lake near our houses. Actually, it is more like a large pond.
It is a kind of wetland area completely surrounded by "city" things.
Most of the water comes from storm drains in the area.

So where did the beavers come from?


(beaver photo is from Google.com)

(note: We saw a little guy who was sitting just like this, right next to a tree, but we didn't get his photo. It was getting dark and he was too far away for my flash to work. Thanks, Google.com)

During the last few weeks
we have seen at least two of them working away at the nearby vegetation surrounding the lake.

We have watched at least eight of these big, pretty trees go from this

to this

then this......
and finally this.A tree can be completely destroyed in just a few days.

We LOVE trees!
(We live in a desert and trees are precious!)

We have made some phone calls to the local agencies and contacted our neighborhood boy scout troop, but no one seems to have a solution.


I'm sure the beavers are respectable animals (just not in my back yard), but in this environment they will soon run out of trees. They will need help, too.

Any ideas out there?

We thought about setting some traps. (Environmentalists would not be happy.) We considered putting up some chicken wire. (Expensive, plus who has time?)
Hopefully, you won't be seeing either of us on the news (as we resort to drastic measures)!

Imagine the headlines:
"Local teachers arrested in illegal beaver trapping!"

Help!

Fun at Gardner Village.....

One of our favorite things to do every year is go to
Gardner Village and enjoy the fall decorations.

Gardner Village is a quaint shopping and entertainment area with fun stores and restaurants in a rural, country atmosphere.

Little walkways weave through the village, past a small stream with a covered bridge,
a big red barn, an old flour mill,

and little specialty shops in restored old houses.

Our Aunt Mardene came with us. (She is the one on the right.)

Michelle, Maddie, and Kate admire some witches.
Maddie is wearing her new finished costume- just in case her mom has the baby on Halloween and she won't get to go "Trick-or-treating" with her.

Melissa and Michelle take a break.

Karl, Maddie, and Liz watch the witches play ball.

Irene and Andrew strike a pose.
(Yes, Andrew, I always insist on taking pictures!)

My sister Linda's family came with us.
We ended the evening with home-made chicken noodle soup and scones.
Yum!

Even the sunset was decorative!


**************

We enjoyed having Mardene here!
We had so much fun!

JoAnn

Random thoughts as fall approaches.....

We have one of these trees (crab apple) in our yard.
It is a beautiful tree with bright pink blossoms in the spring.
It is a nice shade tree during the summer.
It is even pretty in the fall with its reddish orange apples.

However,
the tree can produce thousands of little crab apples -
and yes, they pretty on the tree, but not so nice on the ground.
It takes a lot of raking to keep up with the fall harvest.
They often get tracked inside on the bottom of shoes,
or cover the sidewalk.

Is there anything productive to do with the apples?
Should I be making jam?
A garland?

Every fall I debate why I keep the tree. but every spring I remember why.

**********
The costume is almost finished.
Somewhere under this cute hat is a little person we sure enjoy and love.

Good job, Liz. It looks great!

Fall is coming quickly....better get ready

For those of you who LOVE fall like I do,
it can't come quickly enough.
Today, with the rain, thunder, and overcast skies it feels like it is right around the corner.
Time to start planning some great costumes.

Someone has already been busy. Can't wait to see the finished project, Liz!

A day we need to remember...9-11-01

(photo from Google.com)
Eight years ago today most of my students were either little babies, or not born yet.
They don't have any memories of their own of the events that took place on
September 11, 2001.
There is no recollection for them of the emotion and pain of the horrific loss.
No swelling pride and gratitude for the people who sacrificed so much,
or
for the every day heroes who worked tirelessly searching for survivors.
They missed the bonding and patriotism that came from uniting after a tragedy.

September 11, 2001
was a day that changed the history of the world.
Hopefully, we will never have another day like it!

But...
we need to teach our children to love and respect the flag that represents our wonderful country and the many freedoms that are afforded here.

We all need to rally together and support our government.
It isn't perfect, but I wouldn't want to trade it for any other.

"I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know no way of judging of the future but by the past."
-Edward Gibbons

Today was a day of bittersweet memories.
I know I will never forget them!

♥
JoAnn

Beautiful fall gardens.....

There is nothing quite like a beautiful flower garden!
I love the bright colors spilling over, the variety of shapes and textures mixed together.
The sweet aroma from the blossoms is soothing and pleasant.
Plus, who doesn't like bronze statues?

The tall grasses seem to demand attention, while the soft color beneath them
sometimes steals the show.Can you believe that someone planted all these flowers?

The old stately building is softened by the huge hanging baskets.

The Lion House in down town Salt Lake is a gardener's dream!

How do they keep things so pretty?

Even the hollyhocks are still blooming!

We enjoyed ourselves last Saturday as we celebrated with family a 50 year marriage
at the beautiful Lion House.

Congratulations, Carolyn and Ron!

Good company.

Delicious food.

And the flowers!!!

♥
JoAnn

(photo from Google.com)

I will soon hit my one year mark as a blogger (October).
Looking back.....
It has been a good, learning year for me and I have enjoyed the experience.
I have learned a LOT about my computer, even if there are still a ton of things I don't know.
I have created a history of some of the events of the year.
Maybe I'll even print things in a little book (after I figure out how)!
I have made some new friends (Yeah!).
It has been fun reading others' blogs and getting new ideas from them.


So...

I will continue on for another year (unless I run out of things to say).

Oh, by the way, I LOVE reading your comments!

If you don't know how to comment, it is pretty easy:

1. At the bottom of the post click on the word "comments".
2. Type your message in the little box ("Leave your comments").
3. Choose an identity (If you are a blogger it will show up as your own blog. If your are not a blogger choose "anonymous".
4. Click "Publish your comment".


"My friends are my estate."
- Emily Dickinson


JoAnn


P.S. We had a great Labor Day.
We spent some time helping Liz and Karl in their new house and we had a BBQ with old friends.

I should clarify that. We ARE all getting older, but we have known each other for many years, hence, the "old" part.

Thanks to Stan and Winnie for hosting us at their beautiful house!

(I had my camera, but completely forgot to take any pictures!!!!)

Hope you all had a great holiday, too!

Fun at Swiss Days....

Yesterday I went with my friends Sheila and Peggy to Midway, Utah,

to the Swiss Days Festival.

Midway is a beautiful community in a valley surrounded by mountains that reminded the early settlers of their beloved Switzerland. It is a mix of farm land, resorts, cabins, old pioneer buildings, and expensive new houses. It is rural living at its best.
(My husband's family settled in near by Heber City.)

(photo from Google.com)

This picture was painted by Eric Dowdle, a local folk artist.

The Swiss flag.

Sheila and Peggy

There were lots of craft booths (and a lot of people window shopping).

Food booths included Swiss tacos (on hot scones), brott sandwiches, Swiss chicken, Swiss hamburgers (?), pie and ice cream, home made candy and fudge, etc.
We had a hard time deciding what to eat, but enjoyed the Swiss tacos we ended up choosing.

We saw some fun Halloween and Christmas decorations.

One booth had a huge, giant bow on top to draw people in.

There was entertainment and a lot of "people watching" opportunities.
I think they have thousands attend.

I bought his witch's shoe. I think it will look cute on my mantle, or in a wreath.
What do you think?

It was a fun day.