Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Mr. Monster elk was back this morning. This time he brought his girlfriends with him.  James bugled and he bugled back but one of the cows saw James and they all left.

We went on a Razr ride and James did some calling but nothing, so we went back home.

I put some brownies in the oven for Young Women's tonight and then James decided it was time for us to go to town.  We had planned on going to get the oil change a little later.  While the brownies were cooking I got ready to go  When I took the brownies out I knew they weren't quite done but I set them out anyway. 

We went to Central Tire for an oil change, and to get the tires balanced and rotated.  While we were waiting we went next door to Persnikkity's and had some lunch.  James had the chicken, green chili sandwich and I had the strawberry walnut salad with poppyseed dressing. 

After our car was done we went to Walmart so I could return two tops I got, we also stopped to get gas.  It was 73 when we left Show Low and was 66 at our home in Vernon. 

As soon as we got home I loaded up the garbage and went back to the dump which is about 8-10 miles from our house.  While I am gone James fixes our back door which has been sticking. 

I made some taco soup for dinner before leaving for Young Women Class Presidency meeting at 6.  I also try to finish cooking the brownies, but they are still a little gooey. 

Our presidency meeting starts late while we wait for everyone to get there.    For Mutual we distributed fliers to advertise for our pancake breakfast on the 21st.  Trenda, Maddie, LeeAnn, Mary and Kathryn ride in my car.  Kelly, Shelly, and Jordyn got with Diana. 

When I get home James and I watch the 200th and last episode of The Walton's. 

Kaeli missed Mutual tonight.  She had her baby today.  Here is the picture of the happy family.

Natalie Jo Nicoll

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

I did my hair when I got up this morning.  It's not nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. 

It rained for about an hour this morning.  I was up reading my scriptures when I heard a noise outside.  I looked out the dining room window and saw an elk.  I went in the bedroom and woke up James and then grabbed his binoculars.  He was huge!  James said he was a 6x6 and that he was a monster!  He was too far away to get a good picture and really didn't linger too long.  He was on his way somewhere. 

I talked to Stacy today for over an hour.  Jared Ammon is behind on his car payments and I can't seem to get in touch with him.  She said she would tell him.  She did, and he took care of it. 

I worked on my young women's lesson today, and also worked on stripping wax off the wood floor with Krud Kutter.

It was a beautiful sunny day with the high around 65 so we decided to take a Razr ride.  I put on two jackets, gloves, and a blanket.  We went to The Falls, they were still running but there were lots of people there, including Stephanie Hunsaker.  We didn't stay. 

I watched the finale for So You Think You Can Dance  They did it right this year, they crowned a girl and boy winner, something they should have done all along. 

Monday, September 9, 2013

A beautiful sunrise and the elk are bugling!

I was working on Personal Progress for Young Women's when James calls me in to wash his back while he soaks in the tub.  What a life!

We took a ride up to Buckelew Springs to see if they were running, and they were.  This time there was more water than ever!

The Falls

The creek bed.

So much water!

Wish it was always like this!

We made it home just before another drenching downpour!  We ate lunch, watched The Walton's, and took a nap.  

I had to mail checks to Zaki and I needed to get a Reeses Stick candy bar for one of our young women, Alex Jones.  It's her favorite candy bar and today is her birthday.  I made a trip into Walmart.  I also went through the car wash which only got the first layer of mud off my car.  On the way home from town I dropped Alex's gift off at her house.  Along with the candy bar she also got a young women's value bracelet.  Alex wasn't home so I left the bag on her front porch and texted her.  

Since it rained last night and the elk couldn't fee, James thought they would be out early this evening so we too off on the Razr to see what we could see.  Well, it wasn't my favorite ride.  I was cold and the new hoodie I bought has no strings to tie it on and we only saw four measly elk, one of which was a small bull.  

When we got home my hair was such a disaster I asked James to please cut it.  At first I hated it.  I thought he cut too much and I look like a dutch boy.  I went to bed quite upset and every time I got up during the night to go to the bathroom I would look in the mirror and almost cry!  I didn't think I would be able to go out in public for at least a month!

Sunday, September 8, 2013

James left at 5:15am for the stake center for his high council meeting with Brother Owen Peeler.  Frome there he went on to Cibecue with Blaine Curtis.  Meanwhile, back at home we had rain and a rainbow.

After I took the picture I realized it was a double rainbow.

I had a slippery ride to Church down our hill.  I also had the muddiest car at Church.  I went a little early to help Diana Curtis put up posters for our pancake breakfast on the 21st.  Since Blaine and James are both gone Diana and I sit together at Church.  

The theme for sacrament meeting was priesthood keys.  The speakers were Jackson Allen, Wes Miller and Chris Skousen.  Jackson is the Teacher's quorum president, Wes the Elder's quorum president, and Chris is the High Priest Group Leader.  

In Sunday School Brother Wilhelm taught about Brigham Young becoming the prophet and the Saints receiving their endowments before leaving Nauvoo.

We have some new girls in our ward, Kathryn and Mary Stock.  Della and Loran DeWitt are their grandparents.  They seem like really nice girls and seem to fit right in with our other girls.  The Wilhelm family were gone today.  They are on a family vacation at Roosevelt Lake.  Denice Hall taught the Mia Maids and the Laurels.  The lesson was on using good language and being honest.  We watched a video about an LDS boy who has become famous for starting the No Cussing Club.  

The skies were gorgeous on the way home from Church.

James gets home about an hour after I do.  He eats some lunch and then I take him back to the Church because he has been assigned to do an audit for the Vernon ward.  Another slippery ride up and down the hill.  It has been raining about 36 hours. 

For dinner we cooked pork chops.  We had a contest, I cooked and he cooked.  I am afraid his were better. 

We watch The Walton's and read our scriptures and a conference talk.  James's foot is really swollen.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

It started raining here in Vernon around 11 am and rained the rest of the day. 

Evan and Rowan had their first soccer game today.  Thank goodness for Facebook!

Go numbers 4 & 7!!

Joe and Michael had their first cross country meet today also.  Kim posted this picture of Joe on FB:

Go, go, go Joe!

Today I typed James's talk on Temple Blessings for him.  I also worked on stripping wax off our wood floor with of all things, Krud Kutter.  Kim used this stuff and so did I to get wallpaper off our walls in Chandler. It is amazing!

James and I spent a cozy day at home watching it rain.  I am so grateful for my blessings and a wonderful, loving husband to share them with.  We watched two of our favorite shows, Cedar Cove and The Waltons.

We finally finished off all the bbq beef this evening for dinner.  We also had snow peas and coleslaw.  For dessert James made some chocolate covered stawberries.  They are my favorite!

We got a group text from Jared today.  He also sent it to all of his siblings.  They will be in Gilbert, Chandler, next week for Brianna's baptism and he wants our family to get together next Friday night.  The plan is to go to Oregano's for dinner and then over to Sheri's for dessert.  We will be there!

Friday, September 6, 2013

James and I went to the temple today.  James forgot his temple clothes but now we do know that the Snowflake temple has clothes if you forget yours.  We left a little after 8 in hopes of making the 9am session.  Well, if there was a 9:30 session we would have made it but there is not one.  There is a session at 8:30 and one at 10:30.  I sat and read scriptures for awhile.  I met Jack Pearce's wife and her 90 year old mother and sat by them during the session.  James sat by an old friend from high school, Vern Turley.  As we were leaving we saw Stephen Reidhead at the desk checking recommends.  That's the fun thing about coming to this temple.

We stopped at El Cupido for lunch.  I had a Big Jake burro and James had a mexican pizza.  In Show Low we went to National Bank, the Book Barn and then home.  We were gone 7 hours.  When we left Snowflake it was 88 degrees and it was 77 degrees when we got to Vernon.  We have decided we want to go to the temp 2x a month to put family names on the prayer roll.

The rest of the day was spent in more leisurely activities: reading, napping, watching The Walton's and going on a Razr ride.  This is the most time we have spent together since we got married.  We love it and we love living in Vernon!

Here are some pictures I took off Facebook:

Mary and Joshua.  It was grandparents day at

Joshua's school.  Sorry I couldn't be there.

Joshua at Sweetie's.

He looks amazed, doesn't he!

Ruby in her ruby red dress.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Happy 35th birthday Darrel!!

Darrel and his sweet family.

There is a fire in Yosemite right now called the Rim fire which was started by a hunter on August 17th which has burned nearly 371 square miles.  It is one of the largest wildfires in California history and has cost 81 million dollars to fight.

James and I had our weekly lunch date at LaCasita today.  Afterwards we went to Home Depot to get some shelf brackets for our bookshelves and some Krud Kutter to remove the wax from our wood floor.  While walking in we saw James's Uncle Delbert and so we stopped and spoke with him.   Uncle Delbert is in his mid 90's.  He said he just returned from visiting with Curtis in Iowa. 

After shopping at Home Depot we went to Walmart.  James waited for me on a bench in the front of the store while I did my shopping.  Just outside the store we had seen a woman holding a homeless sign.  James had me get $10 to give to her.

This evening we went on a Ranger ride.  We saw a wild turkey, an owl and a large six point elk near home.  On the way home from town we saw some antelope in the field across from the post office.  James counted 9 does and 6 bucks.  We also saw some archery antelope hunters scoping them out.  Here's hoping the guy is a lousy shot.

Some pictures I took today:

Mary Johnson, Paul's mother posted this picture on Facebook today:

Paul is the youngest, just to Mary's left.