What’s That Barney Song?

Everybody was cleaning up Drew and Kelli’s house today. By the time I got there she and her mother had finished scrubbing all the carpets and we got down to serious work.

Unfortunately Murphy and his Law were in operation today, starting with Doug’s dog pulling a disappearing act while I was loading the car to leave and putting me even further behind schedule than I already was. Nothing like wandering the neighborhood looking for a runaway when you want to be on the road.

That was followed by problems with the paint color for the bathrooms that required a return trip to Sherwin-Williams, a broken paint roller that required another trip, two layers of wallpaper border in the kitchen that didn’t want to let loose and come off etc. Tenacity prevailed though, and one bathroom is done and the kitchen is ready to paint. Unfortunately, we had hoped to paint two and a half baths, the kitchen, living room, and dining room over two days.  We’re a little whole lot behind schedule.

Bob and Sharon came down for a visit in the afternoon, and he helped get the broken glass out of the sidelight by the front door – where the firemen broke in to assist the previous tenant in some emergency. Those tenants left the place a mess for Kelli’s parents but it is coming together pretty well. The cigarette burns in the carpet in the family room will require an area rug, but the smell of smoke is mostly gone and most of the other damage has been repaired.

Drew and Paul are supposed to be leaving Utah late tonight or early tomorrow to drive home. They have a van loaded with “stuff” and are towing their car loaded with more “stuff.” I hope all goes well on their trip.

I am pretty exhausted tonight after climbing up and down the ladder a million times (or so it seemed) to get that #$%! wallpaper border off. Soak, scrape with a putty knife, repeat, scrub with a cloth and an abrasive pad, wash, spackle, then sand. It had better look nice when it is done.  What I would really like to be doing is yard work, since that is my favorite thing to do and there are some overgrown bushes and some bare flower beds that need some plants.  There are still some nurseries with bedding plants for sale, so tomorrow I may have to take a few minutes and at least do the little bed by the front door.

The house is very nice – four bedrooms, two and a half baths, LR, DR, K, FR, full basement, and two car garage. It is on a busy street, but has a nice yard with a very large screened in back porch – ideal for K~. 

Speaking of K~, nothing humbles you as much as babysitting a 19 month old who is trying to communicate with you via sign language when you don’t know any.  Kelli is studying sign language and is teaching it to the baby. So, out of necessity I am now learning a little too. I know milk, juice, apple, peach, food, more, grandma, pizza, walk, and maybe a few more. She knows more though, and gets frustrated when I don’t know what she is trying to say. To heck with that smarter than a fifth grader stuff – I’m being beaten by a baby.

I am staying at Doug’s tonight and helping again tomorrow, then going home in the evening to get ready for the township cleanup day on Saturday. Nine to one, outside, helping people get rid of their junk. I hope I make it.

Pound Puppy Blues

I took Doug’s dog to a local kennel before we went to Utah, figuring Doug would be gone two weeks and there was no sense in leaving Cole in prison any longer than necessary.  I may not be good for much, but at least I can dog sit.

I sprang him from confinement yesterday and figured he would be excited to see me.  He was, sort of. 

This is a dog with boundless energy and limitless enthusiasm who normally prances through life.  He isn’t that way right now.  When I got him he jumped up to say hello, but after that he just sat in the car and panted.  When we got home he went in the house and quietly laid down and didn’t move.  That is pretty much what he has done for two days now.

He stays in whatever room I’m in, but just lies there.  Talk about your mixed blessing - it’s nice to have him so quiet, but it’s sad to see him so passive.  I figure he will return to his former obnoxious playful self soon enough, but meanwhile he isn’t showing much interest in life.

Maybe he’s trying to be good so he won’t be put back in jail.

Meanwhile, I am sliding back into life and work.  I spent all afternoon and most of the evening yesterday at the township office, working on zoning changes, answering phones and emails, talking with the auditors, and participating in a work session.  I enjoy it all and feel privileged to be a part of our democracy, no matter how small a part it is.

Today is painting day at Drew and Kelli’s house.  I have done a MapQuest on it and hope to find it with no trouble.

I’ve Been To Zion

 

Of all the interesting and beautiful things we saw on our trip to Utah, Zion National Park stands out as the most spectacular.  We were fortunate enough to see it from ground level as well as from the top of te mesa on the day of the funeral.

Speaking of the funeral, you know the guy had a life-long reputation for being a serious pain when his brother said at his funeral, “Everyone has to be good at something, and Wally was one of the finest troublemakers Hurricane has ever seen.”  That was encored by the mortuary director naming all the pall bearers, then adding, “The honorary pall bearers will be the Washington County SWAT team.” 

But I digress from the topic at hand – the park. 

I can’t remember all the particulars of the geology, but Lolly’s dad explained how this section of Utah is where the Hurricane Fault (bigger than the San Andreas), the Colorado Plateau, and the Great Basin (I think I have this right) all meet, and the topography is wildly different just by looking off in different directions.  He said the locals have an explanation of why there is desert, mesas, sheer cliffs, etc. so close together, and that is:  when God was finished creating the world he had lots of left over stuff stuck to his hands, so He just shook it all off in this area.  Sounds as good as anything to me.

Geology students come from far and wide to study the area.  I learned a lot while I was there, like how rivers create big gorges by eroding outwards through soft underlayment rock and then the rock above shears off vertically due to lack of support.  This would explain the Grand Canyon, which is only a few hour drive from Hurricane, as well as parts of Zion National Park that have been carved out by the Virgin River.

I brought books home for some grandkids explaining some of the forces that created the park area, and maybe I will read them before I pass them on. 

 

About 1930 a local boy and a visiting Methodist minister decided the formations should have names, so they went through the park naming them.  The photo above is the back of one called “The Great White Throne.”  Unfortunately, my batteries died when I tried to get the other side of it. 

I also didn’t get “Angels’ Landing,” which may be the one you see on commercials with people standing on top of a narrow mountain precipice.  The guide said the walk out the last part of it, a horizontal path with sheer drops on both sides, is only about four feet wide.

No way.  We saw people walking back and forth up there though – teeny, tiny people about 1,000 feet up.  Teeny, tiny crazy people.

Below is “Brigham’s Wives.”  It is called that because it looks like women standing there with their long dresses, or so they say.  It is outside the park.  Lolly’s dad commented that poor Brigham did have some mighty homely wives.  Yeah, but he also had those others…

The last evening there we rode about eight miles out into the desert to see the dinosaur tracks.  They were discovered about 1980, and there are over a dozen of them from two kinds of dinosaurs.  I included feet in the photo to give some idea of size.

 

We flew in and out of Las Vegas and didn’t even drive down the strip to see what it looked like.  Neither of us cared – we had better things to look at.

You Might Be a Large Utah Mormon Family If…

 

YOU KNOW YOUR SON IS MARRYING INTO A LARGE UTAH MORMON FAMILY WHEN:

1. The first day you are there they fix breakfast, and cook four pounds of bacon and three dozen eggs.  There are no leftovers.  Most of the family isn’t there yet.
2. They send someone out to buy milk and say “Just pick up four gallons, I’m short on refrigerator space.”  There are two refrigerators.  They pick up milk almost every day you are there.
3. There is a funeral the day before the wedding and they fix food for both without breaking a sweat.  Food keeps appearing from their kitchen, like the miracle of the loaves and fishes.
4. No matter how often you run the dishwasher and hand wash dishes, the dishes are NEVER done.
5. The silverware drawer looks like it could supply a ward dinner.
6. There are 49 grandchildren in the family.  The groom’s four children make 50-53, and 54-57 are on the way. 
7. If you are a kid, no matter how old you are there is someone your age to play with.  Probably several someones – maybe even lots of someones.
8. There aren’t enough beds, couches, or floors for everyone to sleep on, so some of the kids sleep outside on the hill.  They think it is great fun.
9. Twelve of the 16 children have served missions (two are still too young), and they have served on every continent except Antarctica.
10. Everyone gets along, helps with the work, and is proud of the family.
11. The sealing ceremony is for immediate family only and there are 60 people in the room – including the officiator, who is the bride’s uncle.
12. You gather the immediate family on the steps of the temple for a photo and this is what you get (most of the grandchildren aren’t here because they stayed home – they couldn’t go in the temple):

                         

The wedding went well, the bride was beautiful, the groom was happy, his kids are thrilled with their new extended family, the reception was wonderful – what can I say except I think everyone on both sides of the family is thoroughly pleased that Doug and Lolly found one another and are starting a life together.  It really seems like a marriage made in heaven.

I want to blog more about our time out there, but tomorrow is another day.  

The Wally-Lolly-Palooza

Or as Doug suggested, Wally-Lolly-Doodle all the day.

Yesterday was Uncly Wally’s funeral and today is Doug and Lolly’s wedding. There is never a dull moment here, with innumerable people in and out and all about. When you run out of beds, there is still plenty of space in the yard. In fact, some of Doug’s kids have been sleeping there since we got there – because it’s different and fun.

The video of dune hopping is going to have to wait for later, as Doug hasn’t gotten it done yet and I’m guessing he won’t be caring about it today.

Meanwhile, here is a view from the mesa where the funeral was held with the Zion Mountains and Zion National Park in the background.  The picture on the right is a view of the mountain right behind the family farm.  It is called Molly’s Nipple, and I~ says he thinks that is just wrong to call it that.  The locals don’t know who Molly was, but I bet there aren’t many girls in this town with that name.

I took pictures at the funeral, but somehow it seems inappropriate to post them.  Let’s just say it was definitely another Napoleon Dynamite moment though.  It was held on the mesa on top of the mountain, and the trip up and back was quite the ride.  The road is a series of switchbacks on a one lane road with no guard rail.  It didn’t help that halfway up Lolly told us, “This is where my uncle Elliott was killed when he was 16, when the car he was in rolled off the edge and down the mountain.  He wasn’t driving, but he was thrown from the car and killed.”

Napoleon Dynamite Makes SOOO Much More Sense Now

It started out innocently enough, with Lolly asking Bud and me if we would like to ride out and see the lake on the four wheelers.

Sister Shelley said, “You can’t go out to the lake on the four wheelers anymore because they changed the law and you’re not allowed to ride them on the highway now.”

“I can get you out to the lake,” long-time-friend Matt chimed in.  “We can go on my sand rail.  It’s licensed”

My first warning should have been seeing the sand rail – a homemade dune buggy powered by a Corvair engine, equipped with roll bars and seatbelts for five.  No muffler or windshield, though.

My second warning should have been the harnesses he strapped us all in with, tightening them securely to make sure they fit properly.   Everyone was saying not to worry, that Matt was taking Jamie, his wife, with us and she would keep his driving controlled.  Besides, she was the sixth passenger and didn’t have a harness so he would have to be careful.

I now know what the windshield of a car feels like – wind, sand, rocks, bugs and all.  Four words of advice – keep your mouth closed. 

I also know why the grandmother in Napoleon Dynamite was out jumping sand dunes when she broke her leg, and it totally makes sense.  I am now a dune-jumping grandma and I loved it.

We had a wild ride out to the dunes and drove around and over them for a little while, with Jamie pointing to all the biggest ones for Matt to climb.  Then Matt had us all get out to lighten the buggy and took us on some serious dune hopping one at a time.  What a rush!  He told me I can tell people I caught about fifty feet of air jumping one of them.  (Check back for video – when Doug gets back later I will download it from his camera and post it.)

We all came back sandpapered faces, covered with fine red sand. 

Sadly, I somehow messed up my pedicure from earlier in the day during the two hours of jostling around out there.  The pedicure itself was awesome, with an hour of foot pampering which only included a few minutes of actually painting nails.  I had hoped to keep it nice for as long as possible, but I guess four hours was as long as possible under the circumstances.  Besides, it’s only one toe.

Doug and Lolly got their marriage license earlier today, Doug picked up his tux and left his ring to be sized, they got massages, I got the pedicure, Bud acted as chauffeur, and we all went out to lunch.  I am now pretty familiar with St. George, and it is a very pretty city.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch (literally), Lolly’s mom lined the coffin, handmade by an acquaintance at church, for Uncle Wally’s funeral tomorrow; her father and brother went up on the mountain with the backhoe and dug the grave.  There isn’t actually a cemetery up there, but Wally wanted to be buried on his land and he sent away for the paperwork to dedicate part of it as a cemetery once upon a time, and, well, they’re just going to go ahead and do it and worry about the niceties later.

Wally died unexpectedly on Monday and seems to have been the family trouble maker.  His obituary mentions how in his youth he was well known for the trunk full of dynamite that was usually in his car and the “community services” he provided with that dynamite.  According to the family those services included annoying everyone and evading the police.  It also mentioned his love for fishing, where he “developed his talent for exaggeration.”

We’re going to a funeral Friday and a burial up in the mountains.  I wouldn’t miss it.  But first we are going to Zion National Park to see some sights.

The Waltons, Writ Large

That’s what Lolly’s family and Doug’s new in-laws are like.  Wow, am I impressed.

Our flight to Vegas was uneventful, but we didn’t have a chance to see the sights because we had to leave immediately for Hurricane.  I saw enough slots in the airport terminal, let alone go to a casino.  We drove by the city on the interstate and saw a lot of the casinos and cranes building more, and all I could think of was how it is all financed on the backs of people who lose their money by gambling.

Breakfast today included bacon and eggs from their own chickens and hogs, along with whole wheat pancakes.  There are so many relatives and kids in and out that I can’t begin to keep count.

The day looks full, with all sorts of activities on tap.

All Dressed Up With Somewhere To Go

             

Doug and the kids are on their way to Las Vegas, and Bud and I leave early in the morning.  I am packed – and ready to go.

I took the dog to the kennel this afternoon, and he was very excited with all the new sounds and smells.  He kept dancing around on his hind legs trying to see over the counter, which was very cute.  He didn’t even mind going with the kennel personnel, but I suspect he wasn’t happy when he got put into a cage.  I hope he does well in there – it’s his first time in prison and I feel sorry for him.

Bud checked the weather and it is supposed to be 103 in Vegas tomorrow.  He is such an Eskimo – he loves cold weather and doesn’t tolerate the heat well, and I am just the opposite.  I keep telling him it will be a dry heat, but he spent over two years at Nellis Air Force Base just outside Vegas and knows that when it is that hot it doesn’t matter that it is dry – it is hot.  They used to have contests to see how long it took to fry an egg on the sidewalk.

We’ll be leaving Vegas as soon as we get there though and it lookes more promising in Hurricane, with highs forecast in the 80′s.  Up in the mountains and more than tolerable. 

I got some results from my annual physical today, and my cholesterol is 222.  It’s supposed to be below 200 and the doctor talked about maybe putting me on medication for it, but I don’t know.  Is it that serious if your blood pressure is low?  This time it was 114/68, but it’s often lower.  I’m going to try eating healthier for a few months and have the cholesterol checked again to see if I can bring it down naturally.  I hate taking medicine.

Now is the opportunity for Elaine to say, “I told you so.”  He said to cut out white rice and pasta, and eat more fresh fruit and vegetables.  Lots of salads, chicken and fish, not much beef, pork, or shrimp.  Maybe I will finally take your advice, since that is what you have been promoting for how long now?  That thing about the shrimp hurts, though.  I thought it was a better alternative for the red meat – and such a tasty one.  Oh well, it was tuna steaks tonight and they were mighty fine.

Tonight’s township meeting was actually collegial.  We had a lot of residents with complaints, many of them from one short street with a speeding problem, but even with all the concerns everyone seemed to be in good humor and trying to work together to solve the problems.  The meeting didn’t take quite as long as normal – perhaps because we were down one trustee. 

At the end of the meeting when people asked if I had to drive up to Doug’s tonight I grinned and said no.  It felt oh, so good.  After three years I don’t have to drive up after late meetings any more.  The next time I see his kids I will just be Grandma and not a pseudo-mom.  I will still love them and visit them, but it will be different.  They will be a complete family without me.

I have my camera and will take lots of pictures of the bride and groom, the scenery, extended family, Vegas, and everything.  Life is good..

Pit Run and Puppy Prison

Almost four hours in a meeting with a representative from the township’s architectural firm this eveing.  Gaaahhh! 

Not only was it long, but it was not good news.  We have been so happy to have a piece of ground that is flat so we don’t have to pay a lot for site preparation, now he comes along and tells us there will be drainage problems and we will have to elevate the fire station about four feet.  And just how many square yards of pit run gravel will that take?

All together now – prohibitively expensive.  I don’t know if this is a stake in the heart of the project or just another problem to be dealt with.

I got a call from my future daughter-in-law near the end of the meeting asking if I would rather have a manicure/pedicure this Friday or a massage.  Hmmm.  Tough decision.  She has been given certificates for two manicures and pedicures and one massage, and is sharing them with her mother and me.  Looks like she will get the massage and her mom and I will get beautiful nails.  Should be fun.

I need to pack early tomorrow in case my meeting runs long again.  I also need to take Doug’s dog to the kennel, or “puppy prison” as we have been calling it.  I’m sure he won’t be happy, but it can’t be helped.  I will take him late in the day and then retrieve him early next Tuesday.

Tadpoles, Bullfrogs, and Cows

We spent the afternoon in Radiator Springs and had supper with Elaine and her family.  Katie, et al, were also there.

The kids spent the afternoon swimming in the pond and cultivating their sunburn (it was the second day in a row in the sun for all of them).  It looked like fun but I had better things to do.

I checked on Elaine’s tadpole collection, which is now buckets with leopard frog tadpoles, toad tadpoles, and bullfrog tadpoles.  Some of the toads have completed their transformaiton and are the tiniest little amphibians I have ever seen – maybe 1/2″ in length.  The leopard frogs are just beginning to develop little legs, and they will also be tiny frogs.  One bullfrog is already a frog, and he is a respectable size although not nearly as large as he will be when he finishes growing up.  Later we saw clusters of eggs and even tinier tadpoles swimming in the pond – probably younger leopard frog tadpoles.

Late in the afternoon we heard two big bullfrogs talking back and forth from the south end of the pond and went over to check them out.  The one hopped in quickly, but the other just sat there while we studied him thoroughly.  They are good sized, but not that big considering the size of the noise they make. Their heads are very green, which I guess camouflages them better among the algae and water plants against predation from birds and other animals. 

Elaine said she asked G~, age 5, if she heard the bullfrog when one was vocalizing a couple days ago.  G~ said, “Oh, is that what that is?”  Elaine asked her what she thought it was and she said, “I just thought it was a drowning cow.”

The crazy thing is, I can hear it - not that I have ever heard a cow drowning.  It’s what a child might imagine one would sound like, though.