Autumn Colors

I have enjoyed living where there are four seasons, but spring and autumn typically are the ones preferred with autumn probably my favorite.  Autumn weather is usually not too hot or too cold, the extra work of tending a garden and taking care of the produce has slowed down or even ended (in former years), being outdoors is usually enjoyable with pleasant temperatures and no mosquitoes or bugs, and there is the anticipation of family get-togethers for celebrating upcoming birthdays and holidays.  For Sam, it is football season!

With Ethan and Joshua following their flag football game

Thursday, September 28th.

Their team won 13-0.

Ethan did a good job as the quarterback.

Joshua scored a touchdown and had an interception.

They both played very well.

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On Friday, September 29th, we went with Hal and Christy Smith

for a ride through Hobble Creek Canyon to see the fall colors.

We were pleased to see the timing was pretty good for color on the maples.

Sam and Narene 

Hal and Christy

Here are some of the views we enjoyed.

 

   

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I am looking forward to the messages and music we will be blessed to hear this weekend as we watch General Conference.

I was pleased to see this photo on lds.org
and recognized the Tong family  
who used to be in the same ward
with us prior to a couple of ward divisions.  
Sarah and Derek bought their home
from the Tongs, who now live near Hal and Christy.  
The Tongs are a very nice family. 

New Beginnings

[written Sunday, September 24] Our weather changed this weekend from the sunny days of summer to somewhat cooler temperatures and a nice autumn rain.  In the last three days, we have had about 2 inches of rain. 

We welcome a new addition to our Ireland family and are happy that Judd and Amy's baby daughter arrived safely.

   Claire Elizabeth Ireland

born September 22, 2017 at 5:07 a.m.

7 lbs. 2 oz. and 19 inches long. 

Daughter of Judd and Amy;

granddaughter of Scott and Kristine.

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

On September 23rd, I enjoyed going with Beth and Megan to watch the Runway Show at  
Mountainland Cosmetology College where Amanda is enrolled afternoons 
each school day following her mornings at Spanish Fork High School as a 12 grader.  
The theme for the show was heroes, 
and each cosmetology student went at 6:30 Saturday morning 
with the person they brought to showcase their skills.  

Amanda's makeover was her sister Rebecca to look like "Mulan."

The "Runway Show" began at 10:00 with 47 entrants.

Rebecca as "Mulan" with Amanda

Rebecca, Amanda, Megan, and Gramma Narene

Rebecca and Megan

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Thursday, September 21st, our ward Relief Society had an activity night.  I was on the committee and made a pan of chocolate peanut butter bars for that.  

It was a nice event and I appreciated the good ideas presented, but I would have been more motivated and enthused about following up on things talked about 
if I were younger and still had family at home.

The Relief Society Women's Conference for our church was Saturday (September 23); and since it was raining and I hadn't made arrangements to go with anyone,

I opted to stay home and watch the broadcast on our TV

while Sam was upstairs watching a football game.  

It was a very good conference with excellent talks and inspirational music. 

 

Sharon Eubank, 1st Counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency

Women's Conference  

Saturday evening, September 23rd

All the talks were excellent, and I especially enjoyed Sister Eubank's.

She is also the director of LDS Charities,

the humanitarian arm of the Church,

and the person in Salt Lake City I communicated with somewhat regularly

from our office in Moscow, Russia, while serving on our mission in Europe East Area.

Here is an excerpt from Sister Eubank's talk:
"Use your voice and your power to articulate what you know and feel--on social media, in quiet conversations with your friends, when you're chatting with your grandchildren.  Tell them why you believe, and what it feels like, if you ever doubted, how you got through it, what Jesus Christ means to you.  As the Apostle Peter said, 'Be not afraid . . . but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:  and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you.'"

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

 We had a sad loss last week when our cat, Carl, got run over.  

He has been a good pet for us, and we have enjoyed having him. 

This photo was taken last December

about a month after Carl changed from

being the wild cat he seemed to be in the

preceding months when he first started

showing up in our yard.

December, 2016

Carl and Sam 

The summer of 2016, we watched this black cat stalk 
and catch a vole in our lawn,
which encouraged Sam to start setting out cat food for it
when we started seeing it hanging around during the winter.
At first the food was placed in the playground and then
gradually brought closer and closer to the back patio.
After this had gone on for several weeks,
Carl decided we were okay and began a routine of
showing up each evening to eat.

Carl became more and more affectionate as he got used to us,
so it seemed he must have been someone's pet at one time before being abandoned.
He ended up being a very nice pet
who liked being with us but still ventured around the neighborhood.

Just the week before he died, we took these recent pictures of Carl.

Carl liked to follow Sam around when he was working

in the yard or garden, and Carl would climb onto our laps

when we were sitting outside.

We have not had any vole damage in our lawn 

since Carl adopted us, or we adopted him.  

Carl enjoyed being by us when we were outside

and would come running to be petted and loved.

In the early evenings, it was typical for him

to return to our yard from wherever he had been,

and he would meow at the door waiting for us to

come out and give him some love and attention.

Beth, who has always loved cats, knew we were sad about losing Carl; 

and so she wondered if we would like a stray kitten

that had recently shown up in their neighborhood

and was needing a home.

This evening, when Beth's family came over,

they brought this young kitty,

which now seems to be content in our laundry room with the door closed

and in the new bed we had recently bought for Carl.

Picture Beth took of this kitty to show us
before bringing him to our home.
  We now have a decision to make.
Do we keep the kitty?
Will it be okay as an outdoor cat?

What do you think?

End of Summer Activities

We have had some hot days this August and very little rain, but it makes our pool a popular place to be.  We enjoy having our pool and backyard available for family and friends.  

Sam especially likes the autumn time of the year, as it means there are football games to enjoy.  Although it is more comfortable to watch on our big screen T.V., being at the game offers a fun atmosphere and planned activities on the field to watch during the T.V. commercial breaks.  However, the day of the game between BYU and Portland State, it was uncomfortably hot and the game not very competitive. 

BYU vs. Portland State
20-6 win for BYU

A view of the "Y" on the mountain
seen from our seat in the stadium.

Looking toward the other end of the stadium

we could see the Provo Temple above the trees.

Beth had tickets for Sam and me for the game.

She and Joshua and Ethan wore their

blue BYU shirts for the game, and

Ethan wore his wild blue hair in spite of the hot temperatures. 

We were fortunate that in the third quarter

we were sitting in the shade for the rest of the game.  

Those sitting across the field from us were 

in the hot sun the whole game.

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

It was nice having Doug and Shannon's family here for one last time

to enjoy the pool this season before we put on the winter cover.

Fun in the pool and keeping cool.

(Rebecca, Brynlee, Jacob, Isaac, Ethan, and Mason)

A view from the past to show how our pergola and surroundings

looked the first summer we lived here

with all the landscaping new.

Seeing the preceding photo before this one helps us to realize

how much the trees and shrubs have grown

during these four years.

Jacob and Ethan made a short-term "seaworthy" raft

on which they gave rides to the others.

Mason is on the raft with Ethan holding the rope,

Brynlee is in the pool waiting for her turn on the raft, and

Rebecca and Isaac are waiting in line for another turn.

Now Mason gets back in line while Jacob gets in position

to pull Brynlee across the pool.

(Mason, Rebecca, Isaac, Ethan, Jacob, and Brynlee)

It is Rebecca's turn.

(Ethan, Mason, Brynlee, Rebecca, and Isaac)

Jacob takes his turn holding the rope to bring the raft

back "home" after Ethan, who has traded places and now is in the water,

propels the raft to give Rebecca a ride.

(Jacob, Isaac, Mason, Rebecca, Ethan, and Brynlee)

Jacob has a turn on the raft now.

Mason diving into the pool

while Joshua watches from his spot in the tube.

Joshua in the tube and Mason going back for another dive.

Mason and Rebecca take a break from swimming

to do some jumping on the trampoline.

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

Wedding Reception for

Matthew Nelson and Kateryna Palchykova

at Mt. Timpanogos Park

Tipanogos Bowery Pavilion

August 26, 2017

K. LeRoi (Matt's grandpa and my brother),

Kayleen and David Nelson,

Matthew and Kateryna

Brother and sister

(K. and Narene)

One of the centerpieces

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

Timpanogos Storytelling Festival 

at Thanksgiving Point

 

September 9, 2017

Dave and Kayleen's son Jarrett telling his

story at the Festival on Saturday morning.

Their son Mckay presented his story on Thursday.

The flowers were very pretty at

Thanksgiving Point.

It was a cool day with only a short time

during the lunch break when raindrops fell.

(Sam, Narene, and K. LeRoi)

It was a pleasant day to be at Thanksgiving Point.

Donald Davis was one of the visiting

national storytellers who was a favorite performer.

Most seemed to be from the southeast,

but another one we liked was

Sam Payne who was from Utah.

We especially enjoyed Bil Lepp who kept the audience

laughing with his tall tale.

We were at Thanksgiving Point for the

storytelling, but we also enjoyed the scenery.

Four large tents were set up with seating

where the storytellers performed at

Shepherd's Hill, Monet Bridge, Creek Garden, and Rose Garden.

We appreciate being invited by Dave and Karalee to be their guests

at the Storytelling Festival.

We enjoyed going last year as well and hearing Jarrett.

This year was his fourth year to perform,

and it was Mckay's first year.

They both are talented and did very well.

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

On Monday evening, September 11th, we had Empty Nesters meet at our home for a potluck "supper," visiting, and sharing memories of 9/11.

It is always nice to be with good friends.