. . . How Does Your Garden Grow?

In February Curt decided to make use of the space between the back of our apartment and the fence for a garden. Dick, a friend and experienced backyard gardener, helped him get it layed out and an irrigation system for watering using PVC pipe.





It was soon ready for planting - radishes, carrots, leaf lettuce, peas, onion sets, then as soon as the weather warmed just a little, he planted cucumbers (two kinds), zucchini, chocolate bell peppers, yellow peppers, yellow summer squash, spaghetti squash, butternut squash, swiss chard, cantalope and 2 varieties of tomatoes. I tease him that his 5 acre garden is planted in one 60 foot row.

So far he's only lost 1 plant, but we can't remember what it was!

Soon the radishes were ready for harvesting and he has been sharing them with friends, neighbors and our missionaries. He's planted them 4 times. They are so deliches, very mild, and many have said that they are best they have ever tasted. We also had leaf lettuce in our salads, along with our radishes and onions.

There are 3 varieties of onions and we have enjoyed green onions to eat in his thinning so they will grow bigger. The big squash plant in the picture is now blossaming and the grapes are growing on the grape vines on the fence.

This shows how the garden goes around the corner and along the fence on the west side of our apartment. These are cherrie tomatoes and they already have little tomatoes.

This is our big variety of tomatoes and it is starting to blossam.

It has been a fun project and we already enjoy the fruits of his labors. He takes good care of his "little" garden. He has shown it to many people and they are amazed at all he has growing.

There may be some strange squash, cucumbers and cantalope because they sometimes cross polinate when planted too close to each other. We'll have to wait and see.

This cartoon appeared in the funnies shortly after Curt planted his garden. We hope the you can read it.

Thought for the Day
Learn wisdom from the ways of a seedling.
A seedling which is never hardened off
through stressful situations will never
become a strong productive plant.
~Steven Sigmund

Easter and Conference Weekend

Mike & Cathy came down Easter and Conference weekend, arriving on Friday late afternoon. We went to dinner at the Mandarin Chinese Buffet. We all enjoyed it very much. Good food.

On Saturday morning, we took a ride out to see the new St. George Airport that is under construction. The runway is now being layed.

Then Curt, Mike, Cathy and Monica went to the Art Festival here in St. George on the City Square by the St. George Tabernacle.

In the afternoon, Curt, Mike and Cathy decided to go on a hike on the Desert Tortoise Preserve Trail on the red rocks on the north side of St. George. Mike and Curt both took pictures. I stayed home and watched both sessions of conference since I'm unstable walking on grass and uneven ground. They didn't see a Desert Tortoise but they did see a horny toad that posed for them and an interesting catapillar nest.

On Sunday, we watched the morning session of conference and then fixed a delicious ham dinner with Berry (raspberry, blueberry and Marion berry) shortcake for dessert. After dinner Mike and Cathy headed home and Curt and I finished watching conference. All and all it was a short but extremely enjoyable weekend.

Thought for the Day

Is it so small a thing to have enjoyed the sun, to have lived light in the spring, to have loved, to have thought, to have done ~ Matthew Arnold

Visit to Iron Blosam Lodge - August 2009

We headed north with our friend Monica going to Snowbird for our week at Iron Blosam Lodge. Monica is in our ward, a missionary with us at the Member Location Mission and Curt is also her home teacher. We tell her that we have adopted her as our daughter and she claims Mike, Clayne and Bryce as her brothers. She was excited to go with us to Snowbird as she had never been there. Some of the family met us there for parts of the week.

Monica the Queen of the Bingo game. She was the only one to win at our table--1 can of Diet Coke.

Denece & Monica on Chicken Bench on the trail to the Snowbird Center.

Max waiting patiently for his mom to take to the new playground.



















Mom - we finally made it - It's sure fun!

Max and Rebecca in the swimming pool. Grandpa and Grandma can see us from their room on the 7th floor just above the pool.

Oh here's a Jay bird. I wonder what he's looking for. He seems to be friendly.

Oh boy! Someones left peanuts for me!

Is that someone coming. I had better hurry and finish my lunch!

Just about finished. I'm so full, I hope I can fly away!

I'll spred the word about the friendly people that are staying here.

What a fun week! Monica loves Snowbird and the beautiful mountains!

Curt and I are headed to Snowbird again this year on August 14th! We hope many of the family & friends will join us.

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Thought for the Day!

Is it so small a thing to have enjoyed the sun, to have lived light in the spring, to have loved, to have thought, to have done?

Matthew Arnold

Park Plaza Resort in Park City - July 2009 -Pictures

We traveled to Park Plaza Resort in Park City on July 4th with Mary, our friend from St. George. The family came up later to celebrate my birthday. Our Grandson, Hunter, stayed with us (old folks) most of the week and our Granddaughter Rebecca and Great-Grandson Max spent some time with us too.

In this picture with Bryce and family, Mary is wearing a bow from one of my birthday gifts.

During the 2002 Winter Olympics a herd of Moose were all over Park City.

Hunter and Mary made friends.This is the only one that we could find that hadn't found other homes.

Hunter found himself another friend. He seemed friendly but didn't have much to say.

Max and Hunter had fun playing games and swimming while Max and his mom spent time with us during the week.

Hunter found another friend. We were glad this friend didn't follow him home.

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Hunter and Grandpa went to the 2002 Olympic Village in Park City. There are many atheletes that train year round at the Park City facility. It was interesting to hear that about 1/3 of the participants in the 2010 Winter Olympics train in Utah and some also claim Utah to be their homes.

We had a fun week and it ended too soon!

We're headed that way again

this summer on August 7th!

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Thought for the Day

Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake.

Henry David Thoreau

Why did the Stake Presidency Want to Talk to Us?

St. George Tabernacle

On my last blog I mentioned that we had a call from the Stake Presidents office. I thought that I should let you know that it didn't have anything to do with the shake up of the ward boundaries in our stake.



They had received a letter from the Salt Lake headquarters of our mission concerning an extention of our mission. November 7th we will finish 30 months or 2 1/2 years in the Member Location Mission here serving in the basement of the St. George Tabernacle.



Salt Lake said that if we desired, we could extend for another 30 months. We had been talking about extending, so when this came we had already decided. We don't have to extend for 30 months but we can if we want or if something comes up that we need to be released, that option is open.



When we mentioned to our missionaries on Thursday afternoon about the extention they all seemed to be extremely happy.



We have some of our missionaries that have been serving as long as 15 years. At our age, I don't think we will serve that long. But wow what a goal that would be.



We have found that serving with these wonderful missionaries has been a great privilege. They all seem concerned about one another. As the spirit spreads through the group they seem to bond together as a family. To some it is the only family they have living or in the area.

Thought for Today

I find joy in knowing that no one can

take joy away from me. But the more

I share it, the more it multiplies.

CHANGES +

I've been so busy this summer that I haven't gotten to my blog since July. Sorry about that! Much has happened and I'll slowly catch up.

First Changes - - - - - -

Last Sunday 13 September 2009 - Our Stake Presidency called a special meeting for all stake members for 7:30 p.m. Through the years 11 different ward boundary ideas for our stake had been sent to the general authorities. The 12th one was accepted. We have an aging, land locked stake and needed changes. We had some wards that only had 200 hundred people and were struggling. The closing hymn for the meeting was "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go, Dear Lord." When was announced there was laughter thru all those attending.

There was a complete realignment of all wards in our stake -- two wards the 19th and 26th were disbanded - The two wards were combined with the other wards of the stakes. Most of the wards lost some members and gained some. Luckily our ward only gained. The block where East Elementary is between 4th and 5th South and 6th & 7th East and the block North of the school and a line going East of Dixie State college and going to the freeway was added (which gave us more apartments near the freeway. (I guess that's clear as mud.) But it added some wonderful people, such as Barkers who were our first Mission Coordinators, Alders, who lived in our ward when he was president of Dixie College (Also I went to Elementary School with him) and the Coburns who were in our ward when we lived in Upland, California just before we moved to St. George and many others I had been associated with in music and other activities.

Our High Priest Quorum had planned an Dutch Oven Dinner and Social for Thursday evening when this all happened, so an invitation was extended to the newly added High Priests, spouces and single sisters. It was wonderful how everyone mingled and got acquainted.

Our ward is planning a New 9th Ward Social a week from Tuesday for everyone from infants to 99 years old and 100 years old if there are any according to our Bishop's councelor that conducted our Sacrament Meeting today. Also a member of the Stake Presidency that lives in our Ward announced that next Sunday they would be changing our Bishopric. Neither Curt or I thought it would be changed this fast. They've been in for about 4 years.

Our High Priest Quoum has been asking for over a year for a change since one of the assistants had a massive stroke over a year ago and never will be able to function normally. This probably will be taken care of soon.

Shortly after we returned from our meetings today, the Stake Executive Secretary called and asked to meet with Curt & I. At first we thought maybe it was to let Curt know that the change in the High Priest Group was going to be made and that he would be released. (He's served in 7 High Priest Group Leadership, but never the Leader.) But then we thought that they wouldn't nessessarily ask for me to be thereif that was the case. So now we are wondering.

It will probably take more than one week to make all the changes in the wards. During our married life we have gone through Stake and Ward divisions but never a complete realignment of the wards in a stake. There is much growth through change and new friends to be made.

Thought for Today

Give thanks for unknown blessings on their way.

Native American Proverb

4th of July +

We'll be heading out of town on the 4th of July to Park Plaza in Park City. We've had this Timeshare for many years. We're interested in selling it and using the money to pay on our debts, but in the meantime we will enjoy it with our family. We've enjoy using it since I was given it after my father died. It's really a nice facility and fun. Anyway we're hoping that they have some fireworks or something to enjoy after we get up there. Mike and Cathy and family are following us up and having dinner with us. I was sent the following article for the 4th of July. I found it very interesting and touching.

4th of July, What is it all about?

· Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

· Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.

· Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.

· Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

· Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

· They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?
· Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

· Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

· Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

· Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

· At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

· Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

· John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.

Remember: freedom is never free!

The 6th of July is a Special Day!

I get to share my brother's birthday with him. I was born on his 6th birthday and he didn't appreciate having me on his birthday and especially that I was a girl. He had two older sisters. He stated years later that he would have rather had a train. It was hard but he eventually learned later to love me. A while back Leslie and her family came through on the way to Las Vegas. Our granddaughter Crystal noticed pictures of my brother and I in our hallway on the Wall of Fame. She said that she wanted copies so I scanned them for her. Now I'm sharing the pictures with you of a brother and the bratty little sister that is pouting because she doesn't have as many candles as he had on his cake.

The pictures were take July 6, 1934.

Thought for the Day

Long may our land be bright . . . With freedom's holy light.

Protect us by they might . . . Great God, our King.

(My Country, 'Tis of Thee - last two lines)

Memorial Day Museum Pictures - 25 May 2009

(No this wasn't taken at the Museum)

Here are the pictures Mike & Curt took at the Dinosaur Museum here in St George. We've been visiting the site ever since the first prints were put on display, but this is the first that we had visited the Museum since it was finished a few years ago. It's definitely a place to visit in St George. Really interesting with the displays and films that they show.

Our Granddaughter Rebecca and our Great grandson Max near the entrance of the Museum.

This is an overview of the museum. The crowd was large being a Holiday.

Inside the building along one of the walkways among the displays.

This is the largest one piece block of foot prints in the world. It was discovered close by when they were building the Middle School north of the museum. It has a trail of small footprints clear across the surface.

Ourside the building - Denece, Mike, Rebecca, Max & Cathy. (This is a 4 generation picture).

Another picture in front of "Dinosaur Discovery Museum. Denece, Curt, Rebecca, Max and Cathy. Below an overview of the front of the museum with same family.

Wooden boxes of left over Dinosaur discoveries. There have been many specimens sent to other museums all over.

Thought for Today

What we learn of the Past can help us understand the Present and Future! Unknown

Big Mud Puddles and Sunny Yellow Dandelions

I found this is my document file - It's one of my favorites!

Big Mud Puddles and Sunny Yellow Dandelions
Author Unknown

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take - but by the moments that take our breath away."

When I look at a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my yard. My kids see flowers for Mom and blowing white fluff you can wish on.

When I look at an old drunk and he smiles at me, I see a smelly, dirty person who probably wants money and I look away. My kids see someone smiling at them and they smile back.

When I hear music I love, I know I can't carry a tune and don't have much rhythm so I sit self-consciously and listen. My kids feel the beat and move to it. They sing out the words. If they don't know them, they make up their own.

When I feel wind on my face, I brace myself against it. I feel it messing up my hair and pulling me back when I walk. My kids close their eyes, spread their arms and fly with it, until they fall to the ground laughing.

When I pray, I say thee and thou and grant me this, give me that. My kids say, "Hi God! Thanks for my toys and my friends. Please keep the bad dreams away tonight. Sorry, I don't want to go to Heaven yet. I would miss my Mommy and Daddy."

When I see a mud puddle I step around it. I see muddy shoes and dirty carpets. My kids sit in it. They see dams to build, rivers to cross, and worms to play with.

I wonder if we are given kids to teach or to learn from?

No wonder God loves the little children!

Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.

I wish you Big Mud Puddles and Sunny Yellow Dandelions!!!

Thought for Today

Every Soul comes to earth with Gifts!

Memorial Day 2009

We've had a great weekend spending part of it with Mike, Cathy, Rebecca & Max. Two of Cathy's brothers and their families were here. It's a tradition for them all to come and spend Memorial Weekend here.

We finished their weekend by going to the Dinasaur Museum on the Johnson Farm where Dinasaur tracks were found several years ago. It is really a great facility and very interesting. A no miss attraction here in St. George and well worth the time and money. The building is built over the original area where the first tracks were found. We've been there several times through the years, but this is our first visit since the museum has been built.

I want to share the pictures and poem that I had on our Ward Bulletin yesterday in honor of our veterans.

I have been the banner of hope and freedom for
generation after generation of Americans.
Born amid the first flames of America's fight
for freedom . . . Planted firmly on the high pinnacle
of American Faith my fluttering folds
have proved an inspiration to untold millions.
Men have followed me into battle with
Unwavering courage . . . They have prayed that
They and fellow citizens might continue to
enjoy life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.
M/Sgt. Percy Webb 1879-1945

LEST WE FORGET,
FREEDOM IS
NEVER FREE

VIGILANCE - HONOR - SERVICE - SACRIFICE

The above is part of the Tonaquint Veteran's Monument
in the Tonaquint Cemetery, St. George, Utah
Dedicated 26 May 2003

Vandalism in St George

We loaned my Hyundai to a friend to use on this past Wednesday. Curt had taken it to him on Tuesday afternoon and it was parked on the street in the shade of the trees to keep it cool rather than in hot driveway.

At 8:00 a.m. a knock came on his door and in answering it, he found a policeman. He was told that during the night a drunk had gone up 600 East with a rock, breaking the headlights in about 15 cars before someone on the street heard a crash and called the police. They responded immediately and apprehended the drunk with the rock in his hand. He is now in jail at Purgatory (good name for our prison here) on the way to Hurricane, UT from St. George.

With the age of my car (1989) it was hard to find the parts that were needed, but Curt went to Dixie Auto Salvage and he searched on the computer and found what we needed some place up north. With his computer he can search all over the country. Hurrah for modern technology! The parts will be here the first part of next week and my car won't be blind anymore.

Also in our immediate area there have been 5 vehicles torched. Who ever is doing it will drive by dowse the vehicle with gasoline, light it and leave quickly with it burning. We had one of our ward members that lost his work truck that was parked on the street and there was another car parked in the parking lot at Dixie High School that was torched.

We don't know where the other 3 cars were. This the first vandalism that we have been aware of in our area.

Thought for the Day

Each Soul comes to Earth with Gifts!

You Never Know What You'll Find on the Net When Looking for Something Else.

I was trying to find the origin of the phase "Live honestly, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly & Leave the rest to God." Can't find where or when it started, but I did find it at the end of the advise below. Interesting! It was on someone's blog. I'm wondering if I google Dixie Bears if something would show up.

An Old Farmer’s Advice:

* Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight, and bull-strong.
* Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.
* Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
* A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
* Words that soak into your ears are whispered…not yelled.
* Meanness don’t jes’ happen overnight.
* Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
* Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
* It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge.
* You cannot unsay a cruel word.
* Every path has a few puddles.
* When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
* The best sermons are lived, not preached.
* Most of the stuff people worry about ain’t never gonna happen, anyway.
* Don’t judge folks by their relatives.
* Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
* Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.
* Don’t interfere with somethin’ that ain’t botherin’ you none.
* Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
* If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.
* Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
* The biggest troublemaker you’ll ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin’.’
* Always drink upstream from the herd.
* Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
* Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back in.
* If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around.
* Live honestly. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly & Leave the rest to God.

Thought for Today

Live so those who know you

but don't know Him,

will want to know Him,

because they know you!

Mother's Day Tribute

I had a telephone call from one of our ward members today asking about a story that they remembered and thought that I had it in a ward bulletin at some time. As she searched for it several people told her to contact me that I probably could find it. It only took a few minutes and I found the right story. I want to share it here on my blog.

God's Promise to a Child

Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. The child asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

God replied, "Among the many angels, I chose one. Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."

God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you everyday. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again the child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"

God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"

God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."

"I've heard that on Earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?"

God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."

"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."

God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."

"Her name is not important. You will simply call her "Mom."

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Thought for Today

Grandchildren are God's compensation

for Gray Hair and Wrinkles.