Meeting Ann's Friends and Seeing Old Friends too.

Monday started out without fanfare or plans.  Then Ann called to say she was changing her Hale Center Theater tickets from Wednesday to Monday.  Since Wednesday's Hale Theater with dinner before always requires me to pay someone to come in for an hour at work, I jumped on it.  We met Ann and her friend Liz for dinner.

During dinner we got talking about various things, and Liz mentioned a missionary from, and serving in the Philippians, who is struggling financially.  Since we've been looking for a missionary to help that way, we struck a deal then and there.  I am excited to get to know Trisha.

I hadn't had high expectations for seeing Sister Act, because I had not enjoyed the play at Tuacan a couple of years ago.  But with the close seating at the Hale, and the energy of the play, I LOVED it, more than I can say.  This young woman played the lead and was just stunning.  So much fun.  After intermission we moved down to available seats on the front row by Ann and Liz, and I felt like I was part of the dance scenes.  Dramatic immersion, at its best. I just love the set up of this small theater, and will be sad when they move to a larger one.

Dad had not seen anyone he knew at the theater, which was plain old weird.  He ALWAYS sees someone he knows.  So I wasn't surprised when afterwards, we ran into a former Finnish missionary in the parking lot.  They are the Youngs and live in a neighboring ward to ours Orem.  At least that's who Scott said he is ...

But I have my doubts.

This cute older actress played one of the nuns and was so energetic, hilarious and coordinated, it was inspiring.

When the sun came up the next morning it found me on Salem Pond, with Ann and yet another friend.  Janey, who is best friends with Liz who I had met the night before.  It was fun to get to know her.

Here I am with Janey. The pond was as beautiful as ever.

Its the absolutely most wonderful way to spend the early hours of the day.  We meet at 8.

Later Dad and I headed up to Salt Lake to watch Van for a bit, and stopped in Orem to drop off aluminum cans for Zach.  We took it as a photo op as well, with the good vibes girl. 

I dropped Dad off at Van's school so he could walk him home (We don't have a car seat and its a half a mile walk).  I then went and did some junking, mainly DI, but I did drop into The Village Vintage, there in Sugar House where Jenn Reed has been selling, as well as others I know, some of whom are now in The Grove Vintage.  I love this cute hanging Halloween decor piece, (I am always a sucker for anthropomorphic moons), I just didn't love it $85 worth. Next I went to a used bookstore next door, where I found a perfect book for Brady for their Christmas basket.  Score!!

Here is Dad on his was home with Van ... The next day on their walk home, Van would have an interesting question for his Papa.  He said, "How do I get some more brothers and sisters for my family?"

That night we watched Breakfast at Tiffany's.  It had been a while for me and Dad had never seen it.  Lots of people love it, lots of people not so much ... I actually liked it better than I remember liking it before.  I did love how kind she was to the older man to whom she had been married in her young teens.  It really made me like her character.  The kick is that I have a phone in the shop for sale that is almost identical to this one, she had in her apartment.  By the way, if your interested, I know where you can find a cut away claw foot bath tub, like the one she has for her couch.  

Wednesday I walked with Carolyn at the cemetery.  She had loaded her car with packets for young children in the hospital that her WeCan group had made.  I've missed meeting with them, it just seems that life gets so crazy sometimes. BTW its maybe interesting to note that I met Carolyn through Ann over twenty years ago.

It was our Nell's birthday that day.  We sure enjoy her in our family.  This of course, is the collage that Dad posts on line, and wants to have saved.  Happy birthday Nell.  We are thick with October birthdays in this family.

At work that day I enjoyed seeing this mannequin head.  Her hair is actually curled newpapers.  I think she's charming.  I thought about bringing her home, but thought that might be pushing my luck.

Here is Van on the playground on Wednesday, when his Papa came again to walk home with him and watch him until his Mom and sister got home.  Dad has really enjoyed the one on one with this dinosaur loving kid.

With no Thursday pictures to add, I thought I'd add this one instead.  It was fun to pick them off  Charley's insta page.  Britt found the skull while junking with me, so its fun to see how perfect it is as a prop.

That day was our Brady man's birthday too.  Again, an amazing individual who we joyfully call our son.

On Friday Dad and I met up with Ann and Matt, and their neighbors Melinda and Mike.  It was fun to get to know them too.

Here are the Walters, he's a retired CPA.

We went up Hobble Creek Canyon to the Wardsworth trail. 

It was fun to see deer Melinda doing some clowning around.

The colors were amazing, and here we see Dad with a rock he chose for our memory wall.  

As we finished up there were a couple of gals on horses.  I thought Darby would enjoy the trail ride pic.

After doing a few chores at home, Dad and I headed to Salem pond for his first time.  It was very warm for October, almost 80 and very comfortable.

Terry Kew, my local bird expert tells me these guys are Cormorants.  Ann and I have enjoyed watching this family for the last couple of months.

Saturday dawned early ... Dad was off on his fourth run for the week, and I headed out to West Mountain to the March home, this is Saundra Marsh, for the annual quilt house tour and breakfast as part of Payson annual quilt show, at 7:30.

I met Lavern and Julie there.  We had talked about it out at Mosida in the summer, telling sister Smith how Lavern and I go every year, (when I'm not on a mission) and she said she'd like to join us.  I got on line that day and bought the tickets.  It was so fun for all of us, as we are all seamstresses to one degree or another, with me being the least of all.

Giant cinnamon rolls were part of our lovely breakfast.

This quilt belongs to Saundra, but many other quilts were made by other quilters in Payson.

I thought this one was charming, as I love the cabbage rose panels. There was even one there made by Nina's sister Lanae Brinkerhoff.  I later saw her at the donated fabric sale they do at Peteetneet afterwards.  

Dave and Bri were kind enough to send me these pics they took up at Cascade Springs that day.  I thought they were lovely.  Such a cute family, we just love them all.

Dad went to to a Finnish Reunion with our mission president, Ilka Aura, and Paula Aura while I was at the quilt breakfast that morning.  They were hiking up to Bridal Vale Falls, and Dad said there were 30 who joined in the fun.  I felt bad to miss it, but the quilt breakfast comes but once a year, and there were other activities throughout the day. 

In fact they joined again, with others too, at the Farmer's Market at Pioneer Square for lunch.  I thought that was a charming idea.  The house above with the skeletons playing croquet in the yard was across the street.  Talk about adorable.

Here are the Paulas.  You may recall that it was Sister Aura's Pescatarian ways, that lead us into our new life style four and a half years ago. She is in her late fifties and has eaten this way her whole life.  Doesn't she look amazing?

Here's a few missionaries gathered together.

More missionaries and we happened to run into the man on the far right.  Do your recall the American Opera singer that we met in Finland? Adam Walton is the nephew of Tom Walton who lived in our ward in Orem.  His Dad's name is Gary Walton with whom Dad served on the High Council when we were first in Orem.  Well, this man is Adam's father-in-law, the father of Adam's first wife and mother of his first two children.  After her death Adam moved with the kids to Finland, then met a member gal on line who is from Romania.  They married and now have a third child.  They are just amazing, and we loved them, especially when Adam sang at various times for church activities.  Anyway, a fun meeting.

Here's Dad with Elder Sysco, one of our favorite missionaries.  He made us goodies whenever we came to inspect his apartment, so what's not to like.  Here he is with his wife and baby.

His favorite companion was Ian Haws, who is shown here with his wife Hannah nee Kokkola, another of our missionaries on the left and Kaitlyn Kunzler is on his right.

and here I am with Chase Kimball (or Handsome Kimball as he was known on the mission), 

Tyler Davis, who was one of the four missionaries that was followed as a missionary to make a documentary about Finnish missionaries. And of course Phillip Sysco.

We then ran to Salt Lake for a hot minute to attend Diane Dowdle's craft boutique.  She is married to a Finnish missionary, and we met them again at the reunion last week.  She told me about her boutique and I thought it sounded fun.  She is wearing a towel set to be used while cooking to wipe your hands.  I was attracted by the red and white polkadots, but then thought it would make a practical and easy on apron.  Yep, I'm now the proud owner, there were also other cool things that needed to come home with me as well.

I was so glad that I went back to the reunion for a bit, for though most has left, we got to see Anthony Lakotos, whose little sister our Kai once dated, and Andrew Hale, who Dad had seen on the hike in the morning, but whom I had not seen.  He was always my hero in the office when I discombobulated my computer, and my affection for him is unending.

After we got home, I had Dad climb up in the garage and retrieve the bag of plastic pumpkins I made the wreath in the round window with a few years back, and I cut slits in the bottom to facilitate impaling them on the fence spikes.  Yes, I did.  I'm now on the hunt for three more to finish off the fence.

We then went to dinner with the Kews, like for the last time.  Its an era come to an end and time to find another couple to hang out with on the south end of our lives.  Terry had been going through items she does not wish to be  part of their Maryland story, some she has given me, some I have sold for her.  This classy French hat is one she will likely receive the money for eventually.    I thought it rather looked like the hats on the wooden carved German nutcrackers, what do you think?

Today at church I subbed for Aubrey's husband who was sick.  It such a great class.  I have actually taught the class for her before.  The lesson was on fasting and two of the eight year olds in the class had experience with fasting, and were pretty dang knowledgeable about its workings and purpose.  

How cute are they searching the scriptures, and Isaiah, no less.  The cutie on the end was baptized yesterday.

After church Dad asked me if I wanted to see a picture that would make me cry.  He was right, in fact I am tearing up now as I write this.  On our first mission I me Limae, who goes by Mae.  She was a new convert then.  Her husband did not join the church, but would sometimes come with her.  We had them over for dinner on that first mission, and when we left I pawned off some of the furniture we had bought while there on them, as we were closing our apartment.

We didn't see her too often on our second mission because we were in different wards, but she did have us come to dinner once, and her husband was still firmly against joining.  Mae is so amazing that I felt bad that her husband had not interest.  His name is Kai, so of course we always felt that connection.  Anyway, you can imagine our joy at this picture.  

We hope you have all been enjoying these beautiful fall days, and hope that you get to have wonderful reunions every now and again, as Dad has taught me the great joy of reunions. 

 

How Long Ago Was That?

So Monday, I spent the day finishing up items to sell at The Grove in Pleasant Grove. I started to work with Jenn around the time we named my flea market into fleaology, at her suggestion.  That was probably 8 or 9 years ago.  It'll be so fun to work with her again.

We were all loaded and ready to go so when Dad finished up a ministering interview with one of his Elders, we drove to PG, and Dad put the floor down in my space, using the same linoleum he put in the garden house.  Then I stocked the space, as you see above.

 It was fun when Nell surprised us by dropping by.  She had seen the van outside and asked if we needed help.  She made things much easier, which we greatly appreciated.  Then Trevor called and invited us to dinner.  It just doesn't get better than that.

We had a potato bar which was perfect, and got to hang out with these adorable kids, shown here on their great grandmother's gold couch.  Now we're wondering just how long ago their great grandmother got this amazing mid century couch.  Of course Nell had it recovered, to make it the perfect match.  

Tuesday started for me with some kayaking at Salem pond.  Do you know Ann and I have been doing morning exercise together on and off since 1992?  Yep, thirty years.

And here our not so tiny dancer, whose been dancing for five years...

And selling candy for 5 weeks, or so,  to help pay for it.

On Wednesday Dad went out to Mosida to work on handcarts again.  I worked at Treasures and managed to get almost everything I had into the store.  

I got off an hour early so we could get to Genola by 6 for a dinner with the Stake Presidency of the Goshen Stake.  We had about 75% of the missionaries there, along with the Stake Presidency and their wives.  As you can see everything was beautiful.  They also had a potato bar, what are the chances?  This Stake Presidency is relatively new, having been in for around a year.  The President in shown speaking, behind his wife, and our director, Sister Parker sits next to them.

At work on Thursday again, I added the collection of white pitchers that I have gathered over the last 6 weeks to the top shelves of this cupboard.  I found a few at DI, the best ones I got at the antique show two weeks ago, I found a couple of survivors at home from my collection years ago, and found a well priced set of 3 on line. I also got a couple at the yard sale of a dealer who collects them too.  In all, there were 15!  But it was fun.  

Dad enjoyed his normal shift at the temple that afternoon.

When I got home, I ate and then went to the Payson Park for Book Club.  It was established in 1996, but I didn't join it until 2000, after Ann Shumway invited me, a few months after we moved to Payson.

I've really come to enjoy all these great ladies.

Dad, meanwhile, was at the BYU, Utah State game.  The two teams met for the first time 100 years ago.  The winner at each meeting got to keep a wagon wheel.  Well this time BYU took the wagon wheel home, and there is no expectation of another meeting, due to BYU starting with a new conference next year.

On Friday Dad and I headed to Bountiful for his reunion which celebrates the 75th year of the mission.  My brother Bruce came over to bring a large glass water decanter, as the man who had been assigned had forgotten.  He was chatting with Mike Nyborg, who is the uncle of Katriina Adams Jarvis, who lived in our house during our second mission.  He served at the same time as Dad did in Finland. His mother is Finnish and his father was the ambassador to Finland for something like 5 years when he was a child. 

Bruce was telling about the time when he had a Finnish companion in Canada on his mission.  They tracted into a good sized Finnish expat community there, and his companion said, that now he knew why had had been sent to Canada.  Bruce recited his testimony in Finnish to everyone's amazement.  He said he felt that he should be able to help somehow when they were teaching Finns, and had memorized it, so funny, that is something I never knew.  He served his mission in Ontario, Canada mission from 1967 to 68, Dad served his mission from 1972-74.

Here he shares his story with a Finn, who served with Dad in Finland, and who is 6 foot 7, and a Sister Loken who also served with Dad.

It was super fun to see Kati-Susanna Cohen, a Finn I met on our first mission, and Sister London who served as an office missionary on that mission as well.

Here I have a presence as I take a picture of Dad and Veikko Puikkonen.

Here's my friend Kati-Susanna, setting out the food.

Dad got a picture of Sirpa Jarvis, a  Finn we've met many times at all kinds of Finnish events, with her husband, who Dad met for the first time, his name is Scott.

Here are Dad and I with two sisters from our second mission.McKenna Terry and Kortnee Sanders

Here are Sister Wade with Emili Jones, both from our first mission.

And here is Sister Jones, with her father and grandfather who both served in Finland as well.  Her grandmother is actually a Finn.  Love that.

And here we are with both of the Cohens.  We've only seen them one other time on this side of the pond.  It was fun to see them again.

This young man is a Finn who happens to be living in Dubai, and came to town for conference.  How fun is it that he got to come to the reunion?  Here he is taking home a half gallon of aged lemon aide, called Sima.  It is fermented, until the raisins raise to the top.  Definitely an acquired taste.  I thought he was probably the happiest of anyone who took some home.

Bruce was so nice, he came back to get the water server, and got a chance to talk to Forrest Mottishaw, who Dad and I had driven up with.  He and his wife live in Springville.  He went to high school with me, and to Finland with Dad.  The fun thing is that when he moved to Utah from Idaho he was in the fifth grade, so it would have been 1964,  Bruce was working at the elementary school in West Bountiful where he lived, and remembered meeting him. (He is the son of one of Bruce's high school teachers.) so it turned out to be a reunion of sorts for Bruce too.

I went to this garage sale on Saturday morning, run by 6 or 7 friends around my age getting rid of the cool stuff I like and sell at the antique store. It was a great sale.  I hit two other great sales, so though I had gotten every thing in the pipe line into a store this week, I now have more goodies to work on this coming week. My favorite thing was a sign that says 'Don't Feed the Hippies', which is perfect for my Grove booth where I am focusing on 60s and 70's stuff.

After I got stuff in I went out to move the car to the street so Dad and we could take the van, and found these folks admiring the house.  I wasn't up to showing them the house, but invited them to see the garden house, with a promise to show them the house the next time we spiff it up for a party.

I got Dad to stop by The Grove to pick up a couple of items I'd seen during the week.  Only one of them was there, but it was the one I wanted most.  I also ran into my friend Wendy, there.  She moved into the antique mall in about 2005, for we've been friends for quite a long time. Its to her that I owe my love of Cafe Rio

We headed to Robin's Roost in Bluffdale.  I bought these carriage house doors about a month ago, and we finally found a time she was in town, and we had the time.  Her husband is show loading the last door here.  I've only known Robin for about 3 months, but I've loved her store.

We drove home via Redwood Road, so I could stop at the 3 week old DI there.  Dad came in to pick a few videos, then relaxed in the van until I was done.  

When we got home he stack the doors in the carport.

Can you imagine two of the doors in the middle of that open space?  We can't wait to enclose this patio/carport so that we can gather our whole family any time of the year.

Trevor found this cool framed work of art this weekend to add to his and Nell's collection.  How fun is that.  He's been collecting Colby Stanford's work for more than five years. 

On Instae, this week, I saw a promotion for Joanna Gains new series about how they've redone a castle in Waco, Texas. Chip has been looking at, and trying to get this castle to make-over for 20 years.  I was  thrilled to see she had chosen this wallpaper.  Its the same wallpaper we just hung in our conservatory guest room.  I showed this to Dad, and he found the first of the series on their network.  I loved it and asked to see another episode, but evidently only the first has been released.  In checking it out on line, so see more about the series, I ran across info saying that the castle is done, and they are having an open house for the month of October.  WHAT!  And us just about ready to embark on a trip to Texas.  I found tickets for sale, and we bought a pair for October 25th.  It will require us to leave 3 days earlier than we intended to, so I hope that Emily doesn't regret our extra time with her.  We are so thrilled.

And today is our meet-a-versary.  Its been 48 years.  So hard to believe.  This is the collage Dad made to let the world know.

A fun coincidence for me was picking up this old conference journal that I did on our first mission, and to see that the quote enclosed in the box is by the hand cart pioneer who said he never regretted his choice to come by hand cart.  I love this quote, but this journal was written in 7 years ago.  Now we are hand cart pioneers of sorts, and his story has come to have so much greater depth for us. 

We loved conference, and taking notes really kept me focused.  I hope that if you wanted to, you had time to immerse yourself as well.

I smiled when one of my ladies sent me this happy sabbath picture of her drinking herb tea from the tea cup I gifted her last week.

I felt further blessed when Darby invited us to come to dinner.  Her sweet potato enchilada's were to die for.  So yum... and did you know that these two have been together for almost five years?  Somehow it seems like forever.  We just love Dallas, and we have always loved Darby.

We hope you found great joy in your work this week.