The temperatures are coming down. We may have seen the last of the 70's. I still have tomatoes on the vines, but when the first freeze comes, that probably will be the last of the flowers and tomatoes. But, before the leaves are all gone, I should recount my adventures the first couple of weeks of October.
Dave and Connie, my brother and sister in law, came up to spend a few days and they invited me to go to the play at the Hale Theater in Salt Lake. It was a wonderful production of "Around the World in 80 Days".
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| Me, Dave and Connie Peterson |
I had wanted to take a drive up to the canyons to look at the beautiful, fall colors, but we almost didn't get to see them. Nevertheless, we did take that drive and took a few pictures. It was a very slow drive as a lot of people had the same idea!
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| We went up the South Fork |
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| Some color, just not quite as brilliant as the week before |
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| Maxine and I by one of the red bushes we saw |
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| I loved the reds this year, just beautiful |
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| The long line of fall observers on their way home |
I've got to say that I've never seen such brilliant, beautiful fall colors. I'm thinking all the rain we had in the spring (and some snow, too) probably had something to do with it.
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| Tree in Leslie's yard |
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| Looks like a yellow carpet in my back yard |
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| November 8th picture of Timp, so beautiful! |
My sister, Kathi, and I made a trip to Houston to celebrate with our cousin, Janette Bowers. She had published a book about a friend and mentor, Ginny, who had been of great influence in her life and so many other women. It was also her 90th birthday and friends were coming to her book signing. It was a lot of fun meeting so many of her "old" friends.
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| Kathi, Janette, and Me |
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Kathi, Me and John Warren Smith,
a noted author himself |
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Making cards with Janette at one of the Abbey's
weekly activities |
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| Kathi made this large card for Janette's 90th |
A few days after returning home from Texas, I attended the Orem Temple Open House with a couple of friends. It was beautiful!
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| Susan, Me and Maxine |
Not long after this, I took off (via Allegiant) for Arizona to celebrate Thanksgiving in warmer climes. It was wonderful to be with Rob, Tamsen and their children and Sue and Duerk and their kiddoes. Alisa and Brett also came down from Mount Pleasant with three of their kids (Josef, Lukas and Daniel). We managed to play tennis a couple of times, watched Liv and Vicky in their first JV Basketball game, went to the temple, played games and ate lots of yummy food.
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| Burke, Tamsen and Me getting in some tennis |
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| Rob, Liv and Me at Liv's first b-ball game |
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| A cute turkey hors d'oeuvre |
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Another "turkey" appetizer
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Brett, Alisa, Sue, Duerk, Me, Tamsen, Rob, Burke, Ivan and Karlie
at Gilbert Temple |
Upon my return to Provo, it was the beginning of all sorts of musical activities and celebrations. We attended a clarinet recital by Nick Rowe, my next door neighbor, who will soon be graduating from BYU. Next was a Christmas party for our literary group. I had an opportunity to sing a little bit of German and wear the dirndl that I acquired this year. It's been about 60 years since I lived in Germany. My mission leader, Mike Smith, and his wife, Sue, from Kent, Washington ( where I served 2013 to 2015) were at the MTC in Provo prior to leaving for their 3rd mission (to Chile this time) and dropped by for a quick visit. Next on my schedule was a luncheon with my Oregon Soiree friends. It was also the occasion of Mary Gail Worsley Plothow's 86th birthday. The most recent add on to our group are Don and Karen Springer. They moved this year from Beaverton to Lehi. Karen and I grew up together in the Parleys 1st area of Salt Lake City, so I've known her for over 70 years.
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| Me, Shirley, Maxine, Susan and Isabella with Nick |
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Barbara, Rosie Stevenson, Shirley,
Me (concentrating on words, it seems)and Linda |
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| Shirley, Barbara and Me |
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| Me, Sue and Mike Smith |
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Ruth Anderson, Karen Springer, Shirley Nelson, Don Springer,
Becky and Parker Fuhriman, Janet Pollei, Oz Hyde
Carole Ferguson, Mary Gail, Hope Hyde, the Oregon Soiree Group |
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| Mary Gail blowing out her 86 candles |
One more party scheduled for the same week, but a snow storm caused it to be a week later. It was so fun to gather with my BFF.
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Mary Kaye, Janie, Jean, Karen, Me, Ginger and Trell enjoying
a Christmas time lunch at Olive Garden |
This same weekend, a year ago, is when we lost our sweet Anna. Her BYU ward hosted an evening get together to remember and share. John and Julie with family and friends gathered in Portland to also remember.
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| Family and friends gather at the cemetery to remember Anna |
I took a few other photos or borrowed the pictures to remind me of the love that surrounds me. I do love this time of year!
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Jana made me an early Christmas present so I
could hang it on my tree...a replica of my tennis racket |
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| My youngest grandchild, Danny, with Mr. and Mrs. Claus |
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| Attending a school Christmas choir program to watch Merit |
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Lucky to win the lottery for tickets to the
Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert |
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| A little Dirndl/German Christmas at church |
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The JDP Clan on Christmas Eve: Wesley, Jacob, Kenzie, Joseph
Julie, Emily and John |
Then there was Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Provo with the Maughan Family
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| Me, Stuart, Davis, Mike, and Merit at Christmas Eve dinner |
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Lining up from youngest to oldest Christmas morning
Merit, Davis, Stuart, Mike, Me |
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| Jana wearing her Christmas present finery |
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| A funny meme to end the year |
I lastly want to tell my friends and family how important you all are to me. I'm so grateful for my many blessings. I'm grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ and for my Heavenly parents. I'm so grateful to have the Christmas holidays to remind me of what's most important in life. I hope you all have a fabulous 2024. Keep in touch and let me know how you all are doing.
