Honoring the Past and Guess That Costume!

Here I am heading home from Hawaii on Monday and through the night.  Becca got two seats and managed to get some sleep. I got home around 10 A.M. on Tuesday. 

 Dad spent Monday getting a colonoscopy, thanks Briahnna for stepping up and doing the driving chore for him.  He also spent a lot of time the rest of Monday and on Tuesday doing Exec Sec stuff, hours and hours of it. We expect that once the Stake is completely organized that things will slow down considerably.

I was back to work on Wednesday and Dad came by to borrow the high gas milage car to drive up to SLC to pick up the insurance check for our recently wrecked car. 

Dad and I both gathered pictures of the grands in costumes this week.  We'll start with Penny.

Eleanor

Eva

Charley

Bekie

Abby

Johny

Benny

William

Mac

Madi

Titan

McKenna

Reagan

Van, Parks and Cam

And I gathered those with crowns together.

At work on Friday at the Grove these gals came in and bought this Tajuana Brass album. They are sisters and their parents loved this album. Then, Jenn Reed, our owner, laughed because the album was a big deal in her home growing up, as it was in my home.  My mom used to have dance parties at the house and they used to dance to this album's music.  Who knew. Of course, who could ever forget the picture on the cover. Dad says his parents had it too.

This is an original painting by Cassandra Christenson Barney that Jenn had for sale.  I guess Cass was clearing her studio and asked Jenn to come buy up some of her old stock.  Lucky for me, I have always liked her work, but an original was out of the question. Talk about being in the right place at the right time! I bought it and it will soon be hanging in our house.  I love the background.

And this, I believe, is a commission I ordered from my friend Kimi.  She posted on her page this week, and I will frame it and hang it in my mushroom arrangements in the second-floor hall.

This is a picture I saw on Insta and loved the mixed background prints. 

Now the last word on art is the two castle paintings I bought last week, and then framed.  They are now hanging for sale at the Grove above the Dutchess tin sign.

On Saturday morning we went up to Aunt Karen's house in Holladay, for her husband Vern's Celebration of Life.  The man who is conducting here, is Ben, Vern's son.  Ben had been a funeral director, and this is how they decided to celebrate his father's life.  I thought it was very nice.

This man is Karen and Vern's neighbor who lives in Grandpa Milt's house.  He gave some inciteful

 thoughts about living by Karen and Vern.

Here is Vern as a young man in the fifties with his 'hot-rod'.

Love this one of him on his motorcycle.

An early photo of Karen and George around 1992 when they married.

A later photo.

Some friends of Vern's, including his daughter Rosie next to Dad.

These folks are friends of Karen and Vern's from their time in the Wasatch Mountain Club.  I felt bad that I hadn't thought to invite Edi and Tom, who also knew Karen and Vern, due to their membership in the same club.

This is Ben and his wife.

Dad took me to shop at my favorite DI (Sugarhouse) while he went to get gas at Cosco.  Because our first apartment is nearby, dad decided to go and take a picture of it. It is on Edison Avenue which was in President Monson ward when he was bishop.  Then he came back and got me and we headed downtown to

The historic, 101 year old Japanese Church of Christ.  This is actually an old picture, but now there is a large tree in front, and I couldn't get a picture of the whole thing.  The fact it does not have the cross proved that it was pre2000.

This picture shows part of front of the church, including the cross. 

We met Edi and Tom to witness the showing of the items that had been found in the Time Capsule that had been removed from the cornerstone of the building that was built in 1924. Edi's Grandfather was one of the congregation that built the building.  It was fun to learn that several other churches helped to fund the building of the church, including the Catholic Church and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Edi's mother actually grew up in SLC, before going to California to marry before WWII.  Of course, they were still in San Franscico, when American Japanese individuals were sent to internment camps.  Edi's parents, still newlywed, were interned at Topaz.  How crazy is that? 

Here is Edi with two of her cousins. 

In this picture in front of the church, to the far left is Edi's mother.

These are items that were found in the time capsule. 

This gal is Lorraine Crouse, she is the Trustee of the Japanese Church of Christ.  She was once Mike Mitko's Sunday School Teacher.  She is actually the person who started to wonder if there was actually a time capsule, and who arranged for the scanning of the area of the cornerstone that established its possible existence.  She oversaw the chiseling out of the capsule and the stabilization, through the U of U, of the items found inside.  What a great lady, and what an incredible gift she has given the Salt Lake City community.

After the ceremony and presentations, we decided to have our picture taken by this lovely, large Fillet Crochet of a Bible Passage that was done by Edi's Mother.

On the way to our car, we saw these two historical monuments for the Japanese.  This street is now called Japan Town Street and had Japanese markets, laundries and the still existent Buddhist Temple.  The gates shown are on the south end of the Salt Palace, so I am wondering if the Salt Palace was built on land that once part of Japan Town.  

Yep, I just looked it up and two blocks of Japan Town were demolished, dispersing the Japanese population that had been living there for almost a hundred years.  The Original Salt Palace was built in the 1960's.  I am so glad we got to go and honor the Japanese traditions in SLC.

Today we got to attend our new/old/reconstructed ward together for the first time.  They had to open the doors at the back to accommodate everyone.  There were so many wonderful reunions, we loved it.

After church Dad went to the Stake Offices for about three hours, before coming home to share dinner and some Come Follow Me. 

Hawaii Five-O, Brittany Birthday Style.

So last week Brittany and all her willing sisters headed to Hawaii to celebrate her 50th birthday.  Let me share the experience of the girls' trip here. 

And we're off to Hawaii, Becca was my flight mama, buying my tickets and making all the arrangements, she was great and I was so thankful for all she did.  Emily helped out too, as she made the calls to see that I had wheel chairs between flights.  Not only did that make sure we got to the flights in plenty of time, it gave me a chance to tip people who are working hard to earn minimum age. 

                                        

The first morning in Hawaii I went out to the balcony at 6 A.M. to watch the sun rise.

Becca came by to join me.

Later, we started out as a group, Brittany, Bree her friend, Darby, Becca, Emily and me, to walk to the beach.  I loved these flower shaped mushrooms.  Then we realized that it was too far to walk ...

But we got to meet just one of many, many chickens on the island. We saw them everywhere.  There was a little hen with her chicks who came to patio outside the living room of the condo every morning.  They were so sweet to watch. 

After a short drive we arrived at the beach.

and got our feet wet. Becca noticed that there were horse prints across the beach, and she and Darby started googling a place they could ride on the beach while we were there. 

We all wore the matching shirts for Britt's fiftieth birthday.

They both dyed their hair a Cherry Cola color for the trip, but it came out a bit different.

It was interesting to see Halloween decor all around the towns.

Here's a picture we took another day with more decor.

That night we headed to the Smith Family Luau.  

How fun is this?

There were literally chickens everywhere and other birds too, including the peacock on the right.

Here is Darby in front of the lake.

The two oldest girls at the Smith property, with Becca and Emily behind. Everyone was wearing colorful Hawaiian flowered garb, so we sort of stood out.

There was a fabulous dinner before the show. 

It was a lot of fun, and the lady you can see down the table from Becca asked what our occasion was.  I said this is me with my oldest daughter celebrating her 50th, she brought a friend and the others are her sisters. 

Then she picked out Becca as the friend ... so the other girls teased her for the rest of the trip.

And teased Bree about being a Perkins sister.

Here we are back at the condo the next morning.

and some people are still in bed....

Then it was off to a fancy brunch at a nearby hotel. Here we sit one to a swing.

Doubling up to make room for more ... and 

Tripling up didn't seem to work as well.

Here is Darby getting her veggies in a bloody Mary for breakfast.

Brittany got an orchid in her drink.

Everyone loved the Eggs Benedict.  The best I've ever had ... because ... sauteed mushrooms.

There were lots of little friends in the open sided restaurant ... this little guy is trying to get a sugar packet.  No luck so far. 

Here are Britt and Becca getting their dancer on.

People in reviews often call this restaurant Jurassic Park, because some of the sky line from the movie, that was filmed here is visible.  

Here we have the classic blonde, red head and brunette.

I thought Becca looked charming in her natural fibers outfit with like decor. 

Emily and I join her.

Another day we went into a small town for lunch at a bakery place.  We sat outside at a picnic table, a common use for extra seating here .  I found a little antique store and thought it was interesting. fun and retro.

I bought repro Hawaiian Post Cards, one of which I have hanging next to the framed post card I got in Sitka. I can see them from where I sit in my room, a fun memory of my October vacations.

Here we are at dinner that night back in the small town.

Condo time was a mixture of watching TV shows and movies.

This picture is spa night, were we sat with foot masks on (Plastic booties with skins softener inside), and facial masks, watching movies.

The girls thought they looked like aliens.

Becca and Darby made their arrangement and got to go riding on a beach, which neither of them had done.  Most of the beach on the island is public and horses are not allowed, but this place is an operating plantation that owns a length of beach, and has horses for the farm work, how smart are they to monetize this way.

They told the girls it would take an hour and twenty minutes to ride the beach, but then when the guide realized how experienced they were he let them cantor, and Becca even galloped a bit.  But that meant they finished in just 50 minutes.  Oops.  They did get a bit of free time, but the guide said they had done the distance faster than anyone since they started operating this riding opportunity.

They got so excited about their shared activity that Becca found a place in England that allows experienced riders to ride from castle to castle, like 5 hours a day, and then stay in nearby lodgings.  They are now planning to do this for Darby's 50th in a little more than 3 years.  The fun thing is that Reagan has been taking riding lessons at a nearby stable, and if she keeps at it, how fun would it be to take her too, as she would be 15 by then.

Such beautiful pictures. 

Looks like they had a great time!

The next day, these early girlies went for a hike.

Emily holds up a tree here...

while advising Brittany to take off her sandals for a better purchase on the muddy trail.  Brittany, who had already had the same thought shouts back ... "Bare feet are NOT better,"

Yep, having muddy fun for her birthday trip.

Back at the condo it was icecream for breakfast for these too.  I mixed mine with spinach and blueberries ... yes I did.  And I saved dishes by eating out of the food processor jar.

And there was the beach day too.  Here they are thinking about snorkeling.  It turned out to be just a little too chilly ....

But the water was fine for playing.

A bunch of bathing beauties.

Then there was the birthday cake.  It sat on the counter all week.  You know how we are about eating cake in this family.  They are a great prop for birthday photos, but to eat .... not so much.

Bree brought candles, so we got to sing to Britt, and then she blew out the candle.  Then no one ate it.  Until the last day when a couple of people took a taste and then ... 

On Sunday the girls all went to do a tubing adventure that was not suitable for senior citizens.  I had intended to go, but when I saw the video on the website I knew it wouldn't work.  This is one of two pictures that I ended up with, since I was not there.  They're on the shuttle headed to the top of the waterway.

And here they are all ready to go.

 After they came home, Emily packed up to head home.  Becca and I drove her to the airport, stopping for Taco Bell in remembrance of Ben, besides, Emily had been craving some

On Monday we packed up the rest of our gear and headed out. Becca, Bree and Britt went out on a helicopter for an hour.

Looks like fun!

Meanwhile Darby and I were meeting up with an old friend of hers from her time at Iggy's. The gal is now managing this restaurant on the beach that is 5 minutes from the Helicopter pad.

Darby and I spent some time on the beach before having lunch there.

and I even took off for a nearby souvenir strip mall because Dad needed a new Hawaiian shirt.

When we reunited, I got these girls to pose with some public driftwood art, that Darby's friend says shows up on the beach from time to time.

She said this arch has been here for months.

I thought they were charming.

Then we all went to the souvenir strip mall, and this is Becca resting with her feet up on a cement bench thing.  It makes her look very, very short. 

And that is the long and the short of our travels to Hawaii to celebrate Brittany's 50th birthday.  We all had fun and did a lot of interesting stuff, and generally enjoyed celebrating with Britt.

We headed to the airport, with Darby on a different flight, then Britt, Bree, Becca and I headed home via Delta. Yawn!