Friday, December 31, 2021

Fall and Winter 2021

 It's another fall and I'm continuing to enjoy the fruits of earlier labor. I've got to say with the extreme heat and drought, vegetable growing was a bit of a struggle, but I did finally get some tomatoes and actually had my last BLT in December (I picked a lot of green ones when weather changed and they slowwwly ripened). I also find I'm taking less pictures...maybe less activities...or just not remembering to record what has happened, but here goes:

Free peaches, so why not bottle for winter?
I love getting together with my Oregon friends. We've known each other since the 60's. A few of us were able to attend Joe Ferguson's 90th birthday (married to Carole Peterson Ferguson) on September 11th. I'm so glad I was able to go because Joe passed away from Covid in December.
Joe Ferguson at his 90th birthday celebration

Me, Joe, Hope Hyde, Mary Gail Worsley Plothow, Os Hyde

Mary Gail, Os, Hope, Carole Ferguson and Me

I have really enjoyed playing tennis and have a bunch of wonderful ladies that I share that experience with. One of our former players who has moved to Arizona, Anna Gillespie, came to town so we played some tennis and then went to breakfast.
Juana Terry, Anna, Me, Patti Miner, Rae Ann Page,
Patcee Powers
My youngest grandson, Daniel Larsen, continues to delight us with his antics. He is such a sweet baby, but getting busier and more curious every day it seems.
Daniel trying to escape the high chair, just chortling at his cleverness

Daniel entertaining himself with kitchen tools
about 9 months old

I had to have this information in writing so I wouldn't forget.  It happened in September.
Because my tomatoes were so slow in coming on, a tennis friend, Sherry Young, shared of her bounty and I made a batch of chili sauce and bottled some whole tomatoes. Getting prepared for the long winter!!!


The end of September brought some beautiful weather. What could be better than a ride up Provo Canyon to look at the leaves and be in the mountain air? Joann Vogtman came in her "sweet" ride to pick up Maxine and me.
Joann in the Mustang

Maxine and me with the fall colors

Bridal Veil Falls

Fall Colors

In October, I was able to make a quick trip down to Saint George. Some family members (John, Joseph and Anna Peterson) had committed to run in the Saint George marathon. Joseph drove me and the others (including Julie and Emily), flew to Las Vegas and we all gathered at Dave and Connie Peterson's home. It was a successful race (they all finished) and we had some good family time. Even got in some game playing. I also was able to get together with a few of the Armenian Senior missionaries. There were supposed to be more of us, but illness has a way of spoiling the best laid plans.
David Blunck, me, Bob Jones, and Carolyn Blunck
missing John and Gloria Rich and Barbara Jones

John, Anna, and Joseph Peterson finish the marathon

Congratulations, John, Anna, and Joseph...finished!

Julie and Me added to the finishers...nice day!

Back home to get some more of Daniel. He's starting to walk around and get into more stuff, but how can you get upset...he's so cute!
10 month old Daniel

Tamsen Peterson came to Utah for a girls' weekend with friends, but she ended up with a cancelled flight so we were able to see her for a little bit and even get in a game night with some of the Maughans.
Tamsen and me

Jana, Tamsen, David, Mike, Merit and me

It's October and the tomatoes are coming on, but the forecast is for freezing temperatures, so all tomatoes were harvested and that is why I could have BLT's for another two months.


Loved the clouds and snow-covered Timpanogos
taken on the drive back from tennis playing October 11th

A most exciting thing occurred on October 25th. I became a great-grandmother for the very first time. My grandson, Jacob  and his lovely wife, Mackenzie, were blessed with a baby boy, Wesley James Peterson weighing in at almost 9 lbs.
Wesley James Peterson

First time grandpa, John, with Wesley...what
a miracle a new baby is!

First time auntie, Emily, is certainly happy about Wesley

A few days later, I was able to go to lunch with some of my oldest friends (we will all be turning 80 in 2022). We enjoyed the great cuisine of Taggarts and the wildlife that lives there.
Me, Ann Staples, MaryKaye Campbell, Ginger Hucks,
 Janie Yeates, Jean Campbell, and Trell Johnson


Next on my schedule was a quick trip to Arizona. Hewitt was in his school's play of Matilda and he had several roles. The Mesa Temple was open for visitors prior to its rededication and I wanted to see it. There were also soccer games that are fun to watch and the weather is certainly pleasant in November as well.
Me, Tamsen and a friend, Jessica, she had invited

Me and Tamsen at Mesa Temple

Reflecting pool at Mesa Temple

Hewitt and me after his play

Hewitt's Fan Club (Fred and Shar, Tosh, Truman, Me, Liv and Rob

Me and Rob getting a birthday photo

Me and Truman

Dax Reading, Tosh and Me after soccer game

Love the clouds in Arizona

Sue and Me on the way to her home  for a few days visit

The week of Thanksgiving, I flew to Oregon to finally see my new great grandbaby! He certainly is a sweet boy. We were able to get a 4 generation picture (me, John, Jacob and Wesley) and I also wanted to do an "oldest" picture. I'm the oldest in my family, JaneAnne is the oldest of my children, Emily is the oldest grandchild, and Wesley is the oldest great grandchild. I was able to walk some and enjoy the beautiful Northwest.
4 Generations, Jacob, Me, John and Wesley

JaneAnne with Wesley, Emily and Me (all the oldest)

Wesley, one month and growing fast


A well shaped beautiful tree in the neighborhood


Me and Wesley

Wesley seems happy!
Back home, it's time to get ready for Christmas. My friend, Maxine, helps me to create an artificial wreathe to hang on my door. There are ward parties, tennis parties, fudge to be made, and some visiting with friends and family. I spent Christmas Eve with the Maughans but I guess I didn't take any pictures. Christmas Day was spent with the Larsens.

Ann, me, Wiebeke, Patcee, Eloise, Juana, Patti, DawnAnne,
Karen, RaeAnn, Kathy, Melanie...my tennis friends


Visiting Jan Burton, my sister-in-law

My selfies aren't great but here is my sister-in-law, Marlene
Fisher, who just turned 90.

Salem friends who now live in Utah County,
Carl and Joanne Byers, Linda Peterson and me

Josef, Brett, Daniel, Alisa, Lukas and Sofie Larsen

Me and Sofie

Josef and me

Lukas and me

My sister and brother-in-law, Dave and Connie
Peterson and me all decked out in 2002 Olympic sweaters

My backyard on December 31, 2021

Well, Happy New Year everyone! In some ways, I'm not too sad this year is over. It has been challenging as we were expecting the pandemic to be over and lives restored to something of a more normal nature. But that didn't exactly happen. I'm just hoping that 2022 will be filled with greater kindness and love towards all of our brothers and sisters. I hope you all will be blessed with an extra measure of happiness as well. Take care and God bless you all!