Nice and cool...

one of the fun things about being in Alaska recently was that it was nice and cool--not to hot not too cold. We were able to do some fun things in Aug that we couldn't do in Oct. one of which was to go out on a boat to see glaciers closer--at portage. We also could bike more. We also could hike and play with the kids more outside--its fun to visit places at different times of the year. Fun to visit places where your family is and see them in there own homes--not just at our home, as the occasions that bring us all back home are generally events with a lot of energy surrounding them such as weddings or vacations, and you don't get to see people in an atmosphere that lends itself to just visiting like you do when you go to the homes of your children.

Alaska-Hatchers (picking berries) and OCEAN

me in the ocean--

fireweed --our favorite alaskian flower--pretty in all stages--this is a pic I took from kerri's pictures cause she did such a great photo shoot and cause it is so bright--by the time we saw it
it was in a different stage but still oh so pretty--

Forrest and I --resting from berry picking at Hatchers

Bryan and kerri and kaci --finding a "jack pot"
as I call it when you get a whole bunch

Fall soccer

loved watching Mayley and Hunter play soccer--its pretty warm out there when its fall soccer and they are running up and down the field but both were go-getters and ran their little hearts out
both dribbling the length of the field--and great footwork...we had a lot of fun being there Sat.

Alaska trip -Aug 2011

us on the open part of the ferry--looking at glaciers
look at the blue lines in the background--
I am so happy cause I couldn't believe I was there

us on the hand pulled tram across gorge
this is the size of the basket you are in

view of the glacier from the ferry--magnificent

part of rain forrest hike --

glacier at portage

kaci being cute and saying cute little things every day --best part of the trip

all you could eat soup and sour dough rolls at a bake shop at a ski resort in Girwood after being all soaked and chilly hiking through the rain forrest (that really was only the one rainy day we had)

picutrue of coastal bike trail we road along

more of glaciers we saw at portage --some of the glacier had just fallen off within the past hour before our boat tour

Forrest smiling and trying to walk and playing peek a boo and blocks and being with us was our favovrite part of being in Alaska --

girl at the bake shop serving up fabulous huge sweet roll for us (I actually found this on the web)
but we did have a sweet roll there and oh yeah --it was good as was the brownie we tasted

looking up at the many huge trees we saw while on the bike trails--such as chester bike trail and goose lake--oh what a beautiful world we have and a bunch of that beauty is in Anchorage Alaska and surrounding parts.
brad stayed home from going with the young men out to the sand dunes--on wed..just to visit with us--hope his family gets to go there some other time.. some other places not pictured were:
*picking blueberries on the mountain side
*library-
*making pie_(thanks Kerri for teaching me to make the filling and so many other things I learned from you--I love to hang around you just to see how you do things)
*we went Ice skating at an in door rink--
*to the park
*on bike trails near their home--and goose lake--saw a moose and calf on the bike trail
*went to a 'greasy hamburgar" type place with homemade onion rings and great food..
*went to see salmon swim in the stream at potter's marsh
* went downtown achorage
*hiked a mountain trail called flat top--and had the view of the ocean and city and surrounding mts and glaciers--it was worth the climb
*stayed home just to enjoy each other and ate in the back yard, played volleyball, hopscotch and visited, and it was all just so fun--I could go on and on--I wish this trip on anyone--brad and kerrri rolled out the red carpet and took fabulous care of us and made us feel so at home --we had a ball.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KcOlHUih8Y link to show how kaci can hula hoop--one of the most fun parts of our trip.
L

At Church today

I love Sunday--ask any of the grandkids--'what is grandma Lynda's favorite day' they'll say --(I hope) ="Sunday" I love working in the nursery I love hearing the hyms, (and singing them too) I love thinking the thoughts I think while I am there. I love the reverence. I love the renewing of covenants. I love the teachings. I love the interaction of people shaking hands and feeling welcome
I hope I always do my part to add to the spirit and to make others feel welcome there.

A stroll up Cascade springs

looking over into the mountains on the way to cascade springs


view of timp on the drive there

rivers are full this year

cute little bridge to cross (


this captures why it is called cascade--the little rivers cascade down
Dear family-
Hayley and her new family the Jacobs (Julia, Sarah, Rachel and kids) and Nancy and kids & I all went up the canyon (by Sundance) and walked around cascade springs--its one of the most peaceful places in the world. I love it there...BEAUTIFUL is the best adjective that comes to mind
I remember going there as a kid---we usually came up a different canyon to get there but I remember being there with my mom and dad and remembering how they liked it made it that much more fun. We (Hayley Bryan and I went a while back right before Hayley's mission). And each time I go I love it more --it is one of my most favorite places in the world--after a picnic lunch we headed home and a what a good day it was.

Organ Concert

I was able to attend a wonderful organ presentation Sat night--in downtown salt lake at the church of the Madeline (a beautiful Catholic church ) it has magnificent stain glass windows and the organ solos were fabulous--some of the guest performers were from the Catholic Church and some were from the Accompanist of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
such as Linda Margetts and brother Clay and others.
Each musical number was a masterpiece. It was free to the public and very packed with people and very spiritual and enjoyable.




ps


http://www.flickr.com/photos/pedrosz/5130160504/in/photostream/lightbox/ (if you want to copy and paste for a more details of the chapel and its beauty.

the joys of preserving ....

love the fruit driers with a fan in them

yes that little black spot is an 'ant' oops I put the leather out in the 93 degree weather extra protein is good for you they say..

the yummy nectar--from the juicer--it was much more fun doing this when you kids were little and here to help with the process...you actually used to fight over who got to do the work of turning the handle on the strainer and who go to help punch the fruit down...it's lonely by myself

the 'ole strainer is leaking and on its last leg but still a goin' (a new one is only like 30 bucks)


all shredded and bagged (squash for quick bread down the road)


aug 14-2011
Dear family
I think of the fable of the ant and the grasshopper often when I standing at the sink, pitting apricots or making something out of the fruit or veggies I've aquired. I've always felt the Lord has blessed us (and you) not to 'miss a meal" and I feel like much of that blessing has come by way of people offering us fruit to preserve. So here's to preserving fruit and veggies physically for a colder day.

here's a thought on preserving: No matter what let's "PRESERVE' our tradition of keeping the commandments, working hard and doing our best at whatever we do. preserving and preparing spiritually for 'colder days' is even more important.
I want the grand kids to know there are all sorts of good things one can "preserve'..(:

sunrise, sunset...(think of the song)

wow --can't get enough of the pretty skies--sunrises and sunsets--woo this summer has been packed with them and I can't resist posting a few of the many that I've shared in

Anna--happy birthday to you --we love YOU

Dear Anna, you are compassionate *(you never like to see anyone hurt inside or out) *you are kind and fun, and patient, *@ school and at dance you wait your turn. *(you are fun) you see the humor in things you laugh when things are funny, or silly. You tell good stories, and draw your grandparents pretty pictures. You have a good heart--always wanting to give things away to people. You make others feel included We adore you for Loving the values and things of this world that are most important, like FHE and scriptures and attending Church. You are a big help to your family--when they need things. You weed and work and play and celebrate. Hope that your birthday is so wonderful --like you.




anna ;.
anna is always up for a good 'silly' picture
anna and I were trying to decide who had the dirtiest feet from the camping trip--you make the camping trips --just that much more fun
anna all set for socer
Anna all cozy in her PJ's for Christmas eve