It's hard to believe that another quarter of the year is in the books. I think time has a way of escaping and before you know it, the daffodils are in bloom and its time to start into gardening again. Of course, this last year, fall seem to hang around as I was raking leaves in January. It also seems that as I get older, I am doing less travel, but still keeping pretty busy. I'm just as bad as ever at remembering to take photos as I go, so who knows?
In January, I decided to escape the cold for a few weeks and headed to Arizona. Liv Peterson and Ivy Brewer (a couple of grands) were in a school play (Peter Pan), and that gave me an extra incentive to visit.
I was able to make contact with a tennis playing friend from Provo who had moved to Mesa. It was so fun to see Anna Gillespie and play a little tennis with a group she had joined.
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| Anna and me, second and third from right |
I also enjoyed a lunch and visit with long-time Salem friend, Julie Darling, who now lives in Arizona.
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| Julie Darling and Me |
Next on my agenda was a visit to the Scottsdale immersive exhibit of Van Gogh with Kate (granddaughter) and her girlfriend, Bella.
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| Entrance to the exhibit |
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| Kate, Bella and Me |
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| Bella and me observing the exhibit from the balcony |
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| Ivy (a fine pirate), Me and Liv |
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| Liv with her Mermaid friends |
One of the first things I did when I returned home to Provo was to go to lunch with my childhood friends. I call them my "cronie" friends. They are the best. There were just a few of us this time, but with Spring coming, hopefully more the next time.
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| Trell, Ginger, Janie and me |
We had a dinner and farewell party for a couple of Larsen grandchildren. Sofie, a recent high school graduate was going to Finland, and then starting her college in Europe. Josef was going to Germany for a semester abroad experience as a sophomore high schooler.
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| Me and Sofie |
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| Me and Josef (a new driver as well) |
In February, I made a quick trip to Florida for some more sunshine. My sister Kathi, her husband, John, and I flew there to visit our other sister, Julie and her husband, Jeff. We played some bridge and enjoyed walks in the neighborhood and along the edge of the beach. Julie is a great cook so we enjoyed some fabulous meals, too.
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| Kathi, John, Julie and me playing some bridge |
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| Julie, Me and Kathi and an ocean view |
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| Orchards growing in the trees |
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| Me walking the neighborhood streets |
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| Julie and Kathi in the neighborhood |
Back to Provo and my youngest grandson, the snow, a ward party celebrating the Chinese New Year, a basketball game to see Merit play, and more tennis followed by a brunch as Anna was in town.
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Danny likes to play with Grandma's kitchen
things and will sometimes hide them in his shirt |
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| A lovely February snowstorm |
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Gayle, Me, Maxine, Mona and Joyce celebrating the
Chinese New Year |
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| The only masked basketball player doing her thing |
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Me, Juana, Maurine, Patti, RaeAnn,
Anna, and Kathy at brunch after tennis |
In March, there was more snow, and a fun lunch with friends to celebrate a couple of birthdays, Shirley Ricks and Kris Rowe.
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| A much needed snowstorm |
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| Pat, Mary, Shirley, Me, Maxine, Vickie and Kris |
Spring is on the verge, the weather patterns are changing. Grandson Daniel is very mobile and very curious about everything. Jayson took a picture at church of the widow's row. We all look so serious, but we seem to be awake. This is a good thing. JaneAnne came to town for the weekend to participate in a BYU Singers reunion. It was so fun to see her and Alisa on stage performing some wonderful music.
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| My backyard, March 10th |
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| Low hanging clouds on the mountains behind my house |
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| He's moving so quickly now |
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| Danny enjoying the sunlight |
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| Mary, me, Maxine, Pat, Marian, and Joyce |
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| JaneAnne and Me as she was headed back to Portland |
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| The daffodils say Spring is here, but is it? |
I'm looking forward to improving weather, but planting flowers and putting in a garden will have to wait until next month. I love watching the new green coming in the lawns and on the trees. Spring makes me happy and hope it does you as well.
