Auntie Pat's Birthday

Gram, Ted, Aunt Catherine, Cindy, Chrissy, Katy, Brandon, Marlo, Auntie Pat
These were those who gathered to watch Auntie Pat open her presents and help eat the birthday pie and cupcakes. She got a crockpot and a recipe book, a necklace made by Marlo, and some great books to read. Papa, Gram & Becca put together a photo album of a few of the very best pictures of our family. She was very pleased. We all went out for a super Chinese Dinner. We all ordered what we wanted and we ended up with enough food for twice as many people. Everyone had a good time.

Gramma's Window on the World:Fire

This is the view out my window. Last night the park was full to the brim. There was a little more noise than usual. We understand that there is a race of some kind this weekend. We came home later than usual because we had been out celebrating Auntie Pat's birthday with dessert at Chris' house. Sunday was to be the Cancer Walkathon but Chris announced that because of the fires in the hils, the air quality was a risk to the walkers. Katy reported that at her elementary school where she teaches, the children had been kept indoors at recess all week for the same reason. We were really surprised and upset that after we went to bed, a small group of people gathered around a hugh fire they built in one of the pits in the grassy area. The flames were shooting up about 4 feet in the air. The smoke was carried right to us. We closed our windows and tried to sleep. They were just ignorant newcomers and not criminals. About 11:30pm the fire burned out and we went to sleep.

Fires Wild, Family Safe

All 3 Major local/national channels have been covering nothing but the wild fires. There were at one time 15 different areas where fires were burning out of control. They started when we were driving from 29 Palms to LA. The wind was pretty bad as we drove but when we got here it wasn't too bad. I told Dad you better tell the kids that we are alright. We went out to go to the store and took these pictures. The one with the tree we took before we went in the store and the other when we came out.
It was only 4:30 in the afternoon yet the sun was nearly obliterated by the smoke.


It's really tough to see this tiny stuff that has fallen from the sky and is all over the car. It is soot from the fires. MAYBE we are not as far from the fires as we thought.

Visit With Ganon's First Nursery Leader

When the Nursery was first started for children between 18 months - 3 year olds in 1980, Sister Helen Weech was called to be the Nursery Leader. She loved Ganon and he loved her. I loved her too. Her birthday is in November. She will be 90 yeaers old. I was only able to visit with her for a few minutes but it was great fun. She is wonderful. I wish you all knew her.
Helen is standing in the middle. The other lady is an "old" friend of Helen's. Her granddaughter took this picture. I don't know either of their names. Gramma

Time Out for Friends

Wherever we go, Gramma likes to fit in a visit or two to her friends who "just happen" to be along our route. The Trexler's below were stationed in Hawaii at the Kaneohe Marine Corp Air Station in 1976. The oldest of their 5 children is Kelly Ann's age and their youngest is Amanda's age. Patty Trexler and Gramma did a cookbook together for the Kailua II Ward Relief Society. Her mother was a professional cook and taught her a lot about cooking. When we stopped by to see them in 29 Palms, they were very surprised, but Patty fixed a wonderful meal for us including a snack that she had invented herself. What fun!