BEEN THERE....DONE THAT....CON'T.

PENNSYLVANIA.....#46

LESLIE AND I STOPPED IN HERSHEY AND ENJOYED THE SMELL AT THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY......WE DROVE ON TO INTERCOURSE, PA. AND STAYED ALL NIGHT IN THE HEART OF THE AMISH PEOPLE WITH THEIR BUGGIES AND HORSES.....HAD GREAT FOOD SERVED FAMILY STYLE....THE HOTEL OFFERED A FREE TOUR OF THE COUNTRY SIDE WHICH WE ENJOYED.....

MASSASSCHUTES.......#47

BOSTON......SO MUCH TO SEE AND DO AND SO MUCH HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY HERE......WE FOUND THE "PLYMOUTH ROCK".....WHERE WILLIAM BRADFORD AND THE MAYFLOWER PILGRAMS ARRIVED FROM PLYMOUTH ENGLAND!.....IN 1620. YOU CAN ONLY SEE THE ROCK WHEN THE TIDE IS OUT.....NOT A LARGE MONUMENT IN SIZE BUT SYMBOLIC OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN OURSELVES.

DID A TOUR OF SALEM MA......LEANED ABOUT THE WITCHES BURNED THERE....THE  MAN WHO STARTED STARBUCKS COFFEE LIVED THERE AND NAMED HIS COFFEE AFTER HIS FAVORITE CHARACTER IN A BOOK HE READ...... ...."DADDY STARBUCKS"

NEW YORK......#48

A TRIP WITH THE GIRLS FOR MY 70TH BIRTHDAY....SAW THE STATUE OF LIBERTY, AND THE SHOPPING WAS GREAT....SAW MAMA MIA!

ANN AND I SPENT A NIGHT THERE BEFORE OUR CRUISE ON THE QE2.....

LESLIE AND HER FAMILY AND I SPENT A COUPLE OF NIGHTS THERE BEFORE A CRUSE TO CANADA....SAW "MORMON MUSICAL" AND" IRON HORSE" PLAYS.....COULD NOT SEE THE TWIN TOWER MONUMENT......NO RESERVATION?

WASHINGTON D.C.......#48 1/2

DON AND I TOOK THE THREE GIRLS TO WASHINGTON TO SEE THE CAPITAL AND THE BEAUTIFUL MEMORIALS......OF OUR CAPITAL.  VISITED FRIENDS ACROSS THE RIVER IN VIRGINIA.  SPENT A DAY IN THE SMITH EON MUSEUM......

ALASKA.......#49

ENJOYED ANCHORAGE WITH IT'S NEARBY GLACIER.  FLEW TO KENI TO DO SOME SALMON FISHING AND ON TO LANDS ENDS AND THE "SALTY DAUG" SALOON WITH THE TWINS.

WENT ON A CRUISE TO JUNO ETC. WITH THE PANNIER FAMILY. LEARNED ABOUT LUMBER, FISHING, GLACIERS ETC..

HAWAII.......#50

MANY TRIPS TO HAWAII WITH THE CHILDREN AND FRIENDS AS WE GOT FREE PASSES ON WESTERN AIRLINES.

ANN AND I MADE A TRIP TO EACH OF THE ISLANDS TO CHECK OUT ...WESTON HOTELS.....FOR THE TRAVEL AGENCY SHE WORKED FOR!!!!

AND THAT FOLKS IS WHERE....WHEN.....AND WHY I HAVE VISITED ALL 50 STATES.

BEN THERE....DONE THAT CON'T.

RHODE ISLAND.....#41

ANN AND I FLEW INTO PROVIDENCE AND RENTED A CAR.....TOURED THE BEAUTIFUL OLD HOMES OF THE ASTERS, VANDERBILT, ROCKEFELLER'S AND J. P. MORGAN AND THEN DROVE UP TO BOSTON AND SPENT A FEW DAYS.

LESLIE AND I FLEW INTO PROVIDENCE....SPENT A NIGHT AND RENTED A CAR AND STARTED OUR 16 STATES IN 17 DAY ROAD TRIP.....ENDING UP IN MARYLAND.

CONNECTICUT.......#42

DROVE THROUGH IN OCTOBER AND THE COLORS WERE BEAUTIFUL.......LOVED THE COVERED BRIDGES AND BIG BARNS.

NEW JERSEY......#43

LESLIE AND I DROVE THROUGH AND ADDED IT TO MY 50 STATES LIST.

DELAWARE......#44

SO SMALL AND LESLIE AND I JUST KINDA KEEP DRIVING BUT ANOTHER STATE WE VISITED WAS ADDED TO OUR LIST.

MARYLAND.......#45

BALTIMORE........LIBERTY BELL, TOWN HALL, AND A FUN "DUCK BOAT FLOAT" TRIP ON THE RIVER.......

WOW! 45 STATES AND 5 MORE TO GO.........

MY WISH......

MY WISH AND MY KIDS FEAR!

JUST APPLIED FOR A RENEWAL OF MY DRIVERS LICENSE......WHICH WILL PUT ME INTO MY 90'S WHEN IT EXPIRES!......AND WHO KNOWS AFTER THAT?

PAM CAME OVER AND HELPED ME GET MORE SOCIAL SECURITY I AM DUE FROM DON'S. MY SWEET FRIEND SHIRLEY.....PUT A BUG IN MY EAR I WAS NOT GETTING WHAT I SHOULD....TOMORROW WE WILL GO DOWN TO THE SS OFFICE WITH PAPER WORK TO CONFIRM......BRIDGE WEDNESDAY......

BEEN THERE....DONE THAT CON'T...

DETERMINED TO GET MY 50 STATES VALIDATED IN THIS MONTH'S BLOG!!!!!

INDIANA.....#36

FLEW TO INDIANAPOLIS WITH THE PANNIER FAMILY TO CELEBRATE......NICCI'S GRADUATION FROM KELLY BUSINESS SCHOOL....JUST ANOTHER DEGREE!!!! ROB RENTED A CUTE CABIN OUTSIDE TOWN AND WE LOVED IT AND THE SHOPPING ALL AROUND. GOOD FAMILY TIME.....MET BILL.

OHIO......#37

CLEVELAND OHIO......JUST PASSED THROUGH

MAINE.....#38

LESLIE AND I DID A DRIVING TRIP BACK EAST AND HIT MAINE......ALSO IT IS A STOP FOR THE SEVERAL CRUISES I HAVE BEEN ON DOWN THAT COAST.....BAR HARBOR, PORTLAND, ARCADIA NATIONAL PARK TOUR.....AND THE FISH IS GREAT......

VERMONT.....#39

LESLIE AND I DID A ROAD TRIP THROUGH VERMONT IN OCTOBER......HOW CAN YOU PUT IT IN WORDS.....COLORS.....WONDERFUL COLORS EVERYWHERE......COVERED BRIDGES.....SOOOOO NEAT!.....MAPLE SYRUP AND BEN AND JERRY;S ICE CREAM FACTORY.....

NEW HAMPSHIRE.......#40

THIS WAS ON LESLIE'S AND MY 16 STATES IN 17 DAYS ROAD TRIP.....AND WE WERE JUST IN AND OUT OF THIS STATE..

BEEN THERE....DONE THAT CON'T.

NORTH CAROLINA.....#31

ANN AND I ON DRIVING TRIP OVER SMOKY MTS. TO A CHEROKEE INDIAN RESERVATION AND SPENT A NIGHT ACROSS FROM THEIR CASINO.....

SOUTH CAROLINA.....#32

ANN AND I DRIVING ON TO EXPLORE CIVIL WAR BATTLE FIELD AND STOPPED AT A MALL TO SHOP A BIT.....

FUN STOP AT "MOUNT AIRY" WHERE ANDY GRIFFITH WAS BORN AND RAISED......CHECKED OUT THE VISITORS CENTER WHERE THEY TOLD US WE MUST STOP AT THE FAMOUS "SNAPPY CAFE" FOR A $2,00 PORK CHOP SANDWICH......WE DID, A TINY PLACE WITH A .......LONG LINE!

VIRGINIA......#33

ANN AND I ON THE ROAD TO WYTHEVILLE.......GOT ON THE WRONG ROAD....DIRT AND GRAVEL AND FOLLOWED A COAL TRUCK TO A COAL MINE...UGH!  PRETTY POOR IN THE AREA WE WERE IN......

WEST VIRGINIA.......#34

WEST VIRGINIA ......SEEMS EVERYONE LIVES IN A MOBILE HOMES....LUMBER, COAL MINES IN THE PART WE WENT THROUGH.........DIDN'T SPEND MUCH TIME HERE.

KENTUCKY.....#35

ANN AND I DROVE THROUGH WILLIAMSON ...THEN TO PIKESVILLE THEN HEADED TO KINGSPORT.   LOTS OF HORSES, GREEN FIELDS .....BIG TOBACCO AREA.

BEEN THERE....DONE THAT...CON'T.

TENNESSEE.........#27

ANN AND I FLEW INTO NASHVILLE AND RENTED A CAR AND WERE OFF TO GATLANBURG....A NEAT LITTLE TOWN BY A RIVER WITH MANY CRAFT SHOPS. TOOK IN PIGEON FORGE AND SPENT A DAY AT "DOLLYWOOD PARK".....DROVE THROUGH THE SMOKY MT. PARK....

LESLIE AND I VISITED MEMPHIS FOR A NIGHT AND DAY.....VISITED ELVIS PRESLEY'S "GRACE LAND'....HIS HOME, MUSEUM ETC.

ILLINOIS......#28

OUR FAMILY SPENT A DAY IN CHICAGO ON THE WAY TO EUROPE ONCE.....THE GIRLS AND I DID A BUS TOUR OF THE C ITY WHILE DON TRANSFERRED OUR LUGGAGE FROM ONE AIRPORT TO ANOTHER......LESLIE AND I STOPPED IN NAUVOO AND TOURED WHERE THE FIRST TEMPLE ONCE STOOD AND WENT THOROUGH THE WOODRUFF AND KIMBEL OLD HOMES.....VISITED LESLIE'S FRIENDS DOING A MISSION THERE......LOVED THE BIG RIVER.......

WISCONSIN.....#29

WENT TO APPLETON WITH THE PANNIERS TO ATTEND TIFFANY'S COLLEGE GRADUATION.....WENT TO THE HOUDINI MUSEUM AND DROVER OVER AND WENT THROUGH THE "GREENBAY PACKERS STADIUM"

MICHIGAN.......#30

DON AND I FLEW INTO DETROIT AND SPENT A NIGHT WITH HIS FRIENDS...BEV AND NEIL WILLIAMS ON THE WAY....OUR FIRST TRIP TO EUROPE......THEIR FAREWELL GIFT FOR US WAS A ROLL OF TOILET PAPER.....WHICH DID COME IN HANDY AT THE "CLUB MEDITERRIAN"....IN SICILY!!!

BING THANKFUL.......

I AM TRYING TO BE THANKFUL EVERY DAY FOR SOMETHING......AND MOSTLY IT IS.....I HAVE ANOTHER DAY TO LIVE ......AND THE HEALTH I NEED TO GET THROUGH IT!.....YES, I HURT EVERYWHERE FROM ARTHRITIS, BAD KNEES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND MY EYES ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY.......BUT THANK GOODNESS I CAN SEE, HEAR, AND GET AROUND ON MY OWN......I CAN STILL DRIVE AND HAVE A GREAT FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS......I GUESS I COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON WHAT I AM GRATEFUL FOR.......

BUSY WEEK OF BRIDGE, MEXICAN TRAIN AND YESTERDAY KEN AND I WENT TO THE MOVIE.......THIS MORNING PATTY CAME FOR COFFEE AND THEN I ZIPPED OFF TO GROCERY SHOP....TOMORROW CHURCH AND PAM IS COMING OVER.....WE ARE STILL IN THE ARTIC FREEZE ZONE BUT WITH MARCH ONLY A WEEK AWAY I AM HOPING TO START SEEING THE FLOWERS POP UP.....

BEEN THERE....DONE THAT CON;T..

MISSISSIPPI......#23

DIDN'T SPEND MUCH TIME IN THIS STATE...KNOW IT WAS WHERE ELVIS PRESLEY WAS BORN AND THEY HAVE A VERY BIG RIVER!!  AND THE MAGNOLIAS AND PARKS WERE GREAT.....JUST PASSED THROUGH ON A ROAD TRIP........

ALABAMA........#24

ANN AND I DROVE THROUGH ON A ROAD TRIP.....REMEMBER HOW GOOD THE FOOD WAS WHEN WE STOPPED FOR LUNCH........

GEORGIA........#25

ANN, PAULINE, BONNIE AND I FLEW DOWN AND SPENT A COUPLE OF NIGHTS IN SAVANNAH......LOVED THE ARCHITECT ,,,,THE PEOPLE.....AND ENTERTAINMENT.THEN DROVE DOWN AND TOOK IN THE OKEE-FO-NOKEE SWAMP PARK AND HAD A BOAT TOUR TO SEE THE BIRDS AND ALI GATORS THEY HAVE IN THAT AREA.

JEKELL ISLAND........#25 1/2

WE DROVE DOWN AND SPENT ONE NIGHT HERE IN WHAT WAS THE OLD CLUB HOUSE WHICH IS NOW A HOTEL....THIS WAS THE PRIVATE ISLAND OF THE RICH LIKE THE ROCKAFELLOW;S AND J. P. MORGAN,,,,,,CUTE SHOPS AND THE OLD, OLD TREES WITH ALL THE  MOSS HANGING DOWN ON THEM.....SO INTERESTING.

FLORIDA.......#26

THE CHRISTENSON'S AND COOK'S AND I TOOK THE KIDS TO DISNEY WORLD.

DON AND I TOOK THE TWINS TO DISNEY WORLD....... AND SPACE STATION.......ORLANDO AND MIAMIA SEVERAL TIMES TO EMBARK ON CRUISES.  ONE CHRISTMAS WITH THE COOKS AND WE TOURED THE CANALS.......AND ENJOYED THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.

BEEN THERE....DONE THAT CON'T.

LOUISIANA.....#22

NEW ORLEANS!!!  DON AND I SPENT A NIGHT THERE ON OUR WAY TO VENEZUELA ONCE......AND

MY THREE GIRLS AND I SPENT A NIGHT THERE DURING  "MARTE GRAH"..... BEADS , PARADE'S AND COLORFUL  COSTUMES ........WHICH WAS WILD.....BEFORE A CRUISE ON MY 75TH BIRTHDAY.....LOVE HOW THEY BURY EVERY ONE ABOVE GROUND IN THEIR CEMETERIES.......THE OLD HOMES AND ESPECIALLY 

THE NICE HOT BENAYS WITH ALL THAT POWDERED SUGAR......

YEA ....THE WEEKEND.......

 

EVERYONE NOW DAYS ARE WORRYING ABOUT EVEN HAVING A MEMORY IN THE FUTURE.....AFTER PLAYING BRIDGE YESTERDAY WITH 7 OTHER 80+ YEAR OLD LADIES......I THINK WE ALL NEED TO START WORRYING ABOUT OUR MEMORIES????  AND TODAY AT THE MEXICAN TRAIN GROUP......IT WAS ABOUT THE SAME.....JUST ANOTHER LITTLE GLITCH IN GETTING OLD.

IT IS SO COLD HERE AND IS SNOWING IN MESQUITE, LAS VEGAS AND LAKE POWELL....I THINK MAYBE WE SHOULD START WORRYING ABOUT THE CLIMATE CHANGE THING AFTER ALL!

SHERRIE AND DARREN ARE OFF ON A CRUISE THIS WEEKEND WITH A STOP IN HAVANA CUBA.......I SPENT A WEEK IN HAVANA IN 1955....WONDER HOW IT HAS CHANGED AFTER CASTRO?

UNDERSTAND I HAVE ANOTHER GREAT-GRANDSON ON THE WAY.....IN AUGUST.

BEEN THERE....DONE THAT CON'T.....

MINNESOTA.....#18

SPECIAL BECAUSE BOTH TIMES I WAS THERE I WAS WITH FAMILY.....

THE FIRST WAS TO GRANDDAUGHTER'S WEDDING.....IN THE OLD FLOUR MILL BY THE RIVER....WONDERFUL MEMORY.   THE SECOND I FLEW IN WITH GIRLS TO MAKE MY TRIP TO FARGO .....TO COMPLETE MY 50 STATE RECORD........AND CANNOT FORGET BOTH TIMES .....A TRIP TO THE "MILLION DOLLAR MALL"....WITH ITS FERRIS WHEEL ETC.

IOWA....#19

MADISON, WILLIAMS BURG, SOUX CITY AND THE AMISH COLONIES.  VISITED THE AMANA R R FACTORY WHEN DEMONSTRATING THEM FOR CHYTRAUS CO. AND LESLIE AND I STOPPED AND TOOK THEM IN ON ONE DRIVING Trip.

MISSOURI......#20

FIRST TRIP TO MISSOURI WAS WHEN PAM WAS A BABY AND WE TOOK HER TO SEE DON'S SISTER....WHOSE HUSBAND WAS IN THE SERVICE THERE.

ANN, BONNIE AND I FLEW TO ST LOUIS....WENT UP IN THE ARCH...QUIET A RIDE, WENT TO VISIT A FARM AND SAW THE FAMOUS CLISDALE HORSES AND DROVE UP TO A NEAT TOWN ON THE RIVER.....ST CHARLES.

THEN LES AND I DROVE TO BRANSON AND TOOK IN SOME SHOWS ......... MELL TILLIS AND BRENDA LEE AND THE YOUNG OSMONDS.....AND THE "SILVER DOLLAR' FUN SPOT.  BIG CUMBERLND RIVER FROM NAVOO TO HANNIBAL......SAW TOM SAWYER'S HOME AND THE FENCE HE PAINTED....AND LESLIE WENT TO THE BATHROOM IN BECKY THATCHER'S HOUSE

MOTHER WAS BORN IN CARTHAGE,MO

ARKANSAS........#21

LESLIE AND I DROVE THROUGH THE CORNER ON OUR WAY TO BRANSON.....MIKE TOLD US NOT TO STOP ANYWHERE IN THAT STATE!!! BUT, WE WERE HUNGRY AND HAD LUNCH IN HARDY.......THE OZARKS ARE DIFFERENT.

PRESIDENTS DAY......

ANOTHER HOLIDAY ......PRESIDENTS DAY.

PRESIDENTS COME AND GO EVERY FOUR OR EIGHT YEARS THROUGH MY ALMOST 87 YEARS.   THE FIRST PRESIDENT I RECALL IS THEODORE ROOSEVELT WHEN I WAS ABOUT 8 OR 9.......THROUGH THE YEARS I HAVE BEEN BUSY LIVING AND RAISING A FAMILY...BUT THEN WE GOT OBAMA......MY LIFE CHANGED......I COUNTED THE DAYS UNTIL HIS TERMS WERE UP.....HE WAS HEADING US INTO SOCIALISM WITH THE GOVERNMENT IN CHARGE OF EVERY THING IN OUR LIVES...NOW WE HAVE TRUMP.....I LOVE HOW HE HAS STEPPED FORWARD AND CHANGED A LOT .....BUT HIS "TWEETING" REALLY GETS HIM IN TROUBLE.......

HAPPY PRESIDENTS DAY....

KEN DID NOT HAVE SCHOOL SO WE HUNG OUT ....PATTY CAME FOR COFFEE AND I HEMMED THREE PAIRS OF PANTS FOR HONH!!!!! GROWN!  YESTERDAY WAS A FUN DAY WITH TIFF AND AARON.....DINNER....PLAYGROUND IN THE SNOW.....AND A CARD GAME WITH KEN.    I LOVE MY GRANDKIDS AND GREAT-GRANDCHILD AND WE HAVE SO MUCH FUN TOGETHER......

GENEOLOGY.........

LAST WEEKEND LESLIE AND HER CHILDREN WENT TO THE TEMPLE TOGETHER.....FIRST TIME IN 42 YEARS.....
MIKE...KEVIN...DUKANE...KRISTY........  MIKE HAD FOUR CHILDREN WITH LAUREN......CHELSEY, CHASE, CARLIE, AND CADE......KEVIN HAS THREE CHILDREN WITH  TAMI.....TESSA, KIRK AND TAMRI.  KRISTY HAD THREE CHILDRN WITH DANNIEL......KYLI, KELLY, COOPER. AND ONE WITH PHILIP....BRAYLEE.  DUKANE NEVER GOT MARRIED. ......SO WITH 11 GRANDCHILDREN AND 10 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN......HER FAMILY HAS GROWN!......SHE IS A GENEROUS, LOVING, AND CARING MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER AND GREAT-GRANDMOTHER.....AND HAS A WONDERFUL FAMILY TO PROVE IT.

BEEN THERE....DONE THAT...CON'T.....

th BIRTHDAY!

NOW FOR MIDDLE AMERICA........

NORTH DAKOTA......#12

THIS WAS THE LAST STATE TO VISIT,,,,,,PAM, TIFF, SHERRIE, NICCI, BILL AND I DROVE UP TO FARGO FROM MINNESOTA  FOR LUNCH TO CELEBRATE MY 85th BIRTHDAY.....FUN DAY WITH BANNER AND CROWN ETC......FARGO IS A QUAINT AND INTERESTING CITY........

SOUTH DAKOTA......#13

WHAT STANDS OUT ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA IS ...."MOUNT RUSHMORE"! FIRST TRIP UP WAS WITH SISTER JO AND AUNT BETTY.......THEN LATER WITH SISTER LESLIE ON WAY TO BRANSON,MO.    I DID ENJOY THE BLACK HILLS AND HERDS OF BUFFALO'S AND ALL THE NEAT SHOPS.

NEBRASKA........#14

SPENT A COUPLE OF DAYS IN LINCOLN, NB WITH SISTER JO WHEN SHE WAS IN AIRLINE SCHOOL THERE WITH ELAINE RAMSEY.....SO HOT IN THE SUMMER.

KANSAS.....#15

DROVE THROUGH KANSAS WITH LESLIE ON TRIP HOME FROM BRANDSON, MO. ALSO, STOPPED IN HAYS KANSAS ON WAY HOME FROM OKLAHOMA WITH LESLIE.

OKLAHOMA.....#16

THIS WAS THE 49th STATE I VISITED......LESLIE DROVE US TO OKLAHOMA CITY FOR MY 85TH BIRTHDAY......WE VISITED KYLIE HER GRANDDAUGHTER.....FUN  ROAD TRIP TOGETHER....I WENT FROM UTAH....TO NEVADA...TO ARIZONA.....TO NEW MEXICO.....TO  OKLAHOMA.......TO COLORADO (lunch with Kellers)........to KANSAS.....TO WYOMING AND BACK TO UTAH......IN A WEEK.

TEXAS.......#17

IN 1950......OUR SENIOR TRIP WAS TO EL PASO, TEXAS!!!! AND TIAJUNA.

THE FAMILY PICKED UP A CAR IN HOUSTON......ANN AND I TO DALLAS AND DON AND I TO SAN ANTONIO AND ENJOYED THE RIVER WALK.......

BEEN THERE.....DONE THAT CON'T......

CALIFORNIA.......#9

A FAVORITE GO-TO STATE FOR A VACATION.......

DISNEY LAND.....MARINE LAND.....KNOTS BERRY FARM.....UNIVERSAL STUDIOS.....ANIMAL PARK AND THE OCEAN......OH YES, THE GARMENT DISTRICT FOR FUN SHOPPING.  

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK AND THE REDWOOD FOREST......

ANN AND I SPENT THE NIGHT ON THE  "QUEEN MARY"  BEFORE A CRUISE TO ENSANADA,MEXICO......HAUNTED!!!!  MANY TRIPS TO CALIFORNIA.

OREGON......#10

SPENT ONE NIGHT IN PORTLAND WITH THE CHYTRAUS FAMILY.....ALL I CAN REMEMBER IS MARLYCE AND I GETTING LOST AND HAVING TO PAY THE SAME TOLE BRIDGE A DOZEN TIMES.....

WASHINGTON.....#11

SEATTLE SUCH A PRETTY CITY AND JUMP OFF FOR CRUISES TO ALASKA....

TOOK THE FERRY TO CANADA WITH THE KIDS TO THE BEAUTIFUL GARDENS...TOURED THE MARKETS AND CHECKED OUT THE "SPACE NEEDLE" PARK.

GOT TO WATCH THE SALMON JUMP ON THEIR WAY UP THE RIVER TO SPAN...

STAR BUCKS COFFEE HEAD QUARTERS......

THAT IS THE WESTERN STATES AND MY PART OF THE COUNTRY.......

SO FAST......

THIS IS ME LAST SUNDAY AT CHURCH??????  .....

WHEN YOU GET OLD IT IS SO HARD TO GET ALL DRESSED UP FOR CHURCH......AND THIS IS EXACTLY HOW MY NEW "THIGH HIGH SOCKS" LOOKED AS I TRIED TO GET TO THE CAR WITHOUT ANYONE SEEING THEM.....I NEED A GOOD 'OLE GARTER BELT!  IT IS SO COLD I HATE TO GO WITHOUT SOCKS........

YESTERDAY KEN AND I DID OUR VALENTINES LUNCH........AND HAD JUST ORDERED WHEN SHERRIE SURPRISED US AND SLID INTO THE BOOTH WITH US FOR LUNCH.  SHE HAD TEXTED KEN ON WHAT HE WAS DOING AND WHERE HE WAS HAVING LUNCH BUT NEVER TOLD HIM SHE WAS IN TOWN!.....IT MADE OUR DAY.

NEED TO HEM THREE PAIRS OF PANTS FOR THE NEIGHBOR AND GET READY TO HAVE TIFF AND AARON FOR LUNCH TOMORROW......IT SNOWED LAST NIGHT BUT IS COLD AND SUNNY TODAY.......SO NO BIG PLANS.

BEEN THERE.....DONE THAT CONT.

NEVADA.....#5

CLOSE BY NEVADA KNOWN  FOR FUN LAS VEGAS, GAMBLING AND GOOD SHOWS.

TAHOE A GREAT SKI AND SUMMER RESORT......HOOVER DAM AND CAN'T FORGET ......CANNABIS IS LEGAL! HAD SOME GREAT TIMES IN THIS STATE.......

IDAHO......#6

A CLOSE NEIGHBOR TO UTAH AND KNOWN FOR THE TONS OF POTATOES THEY RAISE.

IDAHO IS THE WEST ENTRANCE TO "YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK"....WE CAMPED, FISHED AND ENJOYED SUMMER VACATIONS THERE....ALSO THE PANNIERS HAVE A CABIN IN ISLAND PARK I LOVE TO GO TO..

WYOMING...#7

FAVORITE THING IN WYOMING IS "YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK".....AND OLD FAITHFUL.  THE ANIMALS AND STRANGE FORMATIONS.  SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN JACKSON HOLE AS WE HAD A CABIN IN ALPINE......JUST DOWN THE ROAD......THE RIVER FLOATS AND THE CHEESE FACTORY.

MONTANA......#8

WHEN I WAS A STEWARDESS.....BILLINGS WAS A LAYOVER PLACE.  WE VISITED "CUSTER'S LAST STAND" MONUMENT.......AND ENJOYED THE PRETTY COUNTRY SIDE.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY......

TO ALL MY FAMILY, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.......A HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
HOLIDAYS ARE A GOOD TIME FOR GOOD MEMORIES.......LIKE SHOE BOXES DECORATED FOR THE VALENTINE DAYS SCHOOL CELEBRATION WHEN YOUR MOTHER BROUGHT COOKIES AND EVERYONE COUNTED VALENTINES TO SEE WHO GOT THE MOST???........"ONLY BY GIVING ......ARE YOU ABLE TO RECEIVE MORE THAN YOU ALREADY HAVE",,,,,,,
NO PLANS FOR TODAY UNLESS KEN AND I GO OUT TO EAT......STILL COLD AND WINDY AND WINTRY.......MY KNITTING AND THE FIREPLACE SOUND BEST TO ME......

BEEN THERE....DONE THAT...CON'T

ARIZONA.......#3

ARIZONA IS ONE OF THE FOUR CORNER STATES NEAR HOME.

I HAVE BEEN TO THE GRAND CANYON WITH THE FAMILY.....SEEN THE FAMOUS CRATER NEAR WINSLOW......ENJOYED LAKE POWELL ON A HOUSE BOAT......GREW UP WITH INDIAN RESERVATIONS ALL AROUND COLORADO AND ENJOYED THEIR INTERESTING CULTURE......INDIAN JEWELERY AND NAVAJO RUGS A FAVORITE!...HAVE MANY RESERVATIONS IN THE FOUR CORNERS AREA...I HAD MY PICTURE TAKEN....."STANDING ON THE CORNER IN WINSLOW ARIZONA",,,,,(a song)...ON ROUTE 66.  MY FATHER WAS BORN IN PRESCOTT, ARIZONA.

NEW MEXICO.....#4

THE FOURTH CORNER.......LOVED TAOS AND THE INDIAN VILLAGE AND SANTA FE WHICH IS A GREAT ARTIST CENTER......SHIP ROCK, INDIANS AND RESERVATIONS......AND LOTS OF RED DIRT...

BEEN THERE.....DONE THAT!

IN MY ALMOST 87 YEARS.......AND WHILE I CAN STILL REMEMBER??? MY CLAIM TO FAME IS I HAVE BEEN TO ALL 50 STATES.....6 OF THE 7 CONTINENTS, (not Antartica).....AND AROUND 120 COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD.......MY CHILDREN KNOW THIS.....BUT SOME DAY MY GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN MIGHT BE CURIOUS ABOUT MY TRAVELS......

OF COURSE MY TRAVELS STARTED IN OUR COUNTRY....ADDING A STATE OR TWO AT A TIME.

1.  THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT WAS MY OWN HOME STATE OF COLORADO.

I WAS BORN IN MANCOS,COLORADO BUT DID NOT MOVE THERE UNTIL I WAS 7, AND MY FOLKS BOUGHT A RANCH......IT WAS" WEATHERAL RANCH"....WHICH WAS FAMOUS FOR THE FAMILY WHO LIVED THERE BECAUSE THE SONS DISCOVERED THE INDIAN RUINS OF ....."MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK" WHILE HERDING THEIR CATTLE ON THE MESA ABOVE.....MANCOS IS THE EAST ENTRANCE TO MESA VERDE........AND ABOUT 70 OR 80 MILES FROM THE ...."FOUR CORNERS" MONUMENT WHERE COLORADO, NEW MEXICO, ARIZONA AND UTAH ALL TOUCH.....YOU CAN PUT ONE FOOT IN A STATE....BEND OVER AND PUT ONE HAND IN EACH STATE AND BE IN ALL FOUR AT ONCE......

THERE ARE MANY FUN THINGS TO DO IN COLORADO...RIDE THE NARROW GAGE TRAIN FROM DURANGO TO SILVERTON.....THERE IS ESTES PARK.......ASPEN FOR SKIING.....CENTRAL CITY A FAMOUS OLD MINING TOWN OUT OF DENVER AND PIKES PEAK NEAR THERE......I COULD GO ON MANY PAGES ABOUT MY STATE WITH IT'S BEAUTIFUL ROCKY MOUNTAINS AND GOOD FISHING AND HUNTING.

2....

UTAH IS A CLOSE NEIGHBOR TO COLORADO AND HAS BEEN MY HOME FOR ABOUT 65 YEARS.....I LOVE THE MOUNTAINS AND WINTER SNOW SPORTS AND EVEN GOT TO HELP WITH A "WINTER OLYMPICS".......HELD IN SALT LAKE CITY......A FEW YEARS BACK.   IT IS FAMOUS FOR THE LDS TEMPLE AND TEMPLE SQUARE AND OUR GREAT SALT LAKE AND SALT FLATS.......AND KINDA FOR OUR JAZZ?

OUR NEAR BY PARK CITY IS VERY WELL KNOWN FOR WINTER SPORTS AND OLYMPIC TRAINING AND A SUMMER RESORT......AND WE HAVE SO MANY NATIONAL PARKS LIKE.....ZION, BRYCE, HOLE IN THE ROCK ETC.  WE HAVE THE GOLDEN SPIKE MONUMENT WHERE THE EAST AND WEST TRAIN LINES MET AND" THIS IS THE PLACE MONUMENT" BY THE GREAT ZOO. THIS IS WHERE I RAISED MY FAMILY AND WILL SPEND MY LAST DAYS.

A BIG FAT LIE!

I GUESS YOU CAN"T TRUST ANYONE NOW DAYS......I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN THE GROUNDHOG DIDN'T SEE HIS SHADOW AND AN EARLY SPRING" WAS FORECAST???? NOW HERE I SIT WAITING FOR OUR THIRD BIG SNOW STORM TO HIT IN THE LAST 10 DAYS.....AT LEAST THIS GUY IS HONEST........THE WIND IS SO BAD AND IT IS VERY COLD TODAY.......

I LIKE THIS......"EVENTUALLY YOU'LL END UP WHERE YOU NEED TO BE ...... WITH  WHO YOU ARE MEANT TO BE WITH,......AND DOING WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING...PATIENCE IS THE KEY."

SO

DON'T CLOSE THE BOOK WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN IN YOUR LIFE,,,,,,,,

JUST TURN THE PAGE AND BEGIN A NEW CHAPTER.

T.G.I.F.

MY BEST FRIEND.........

T.G.I.F......SHE WOULD SAY THANK GOODNESS I AM FABULOUS!

I NEED HUMOUR IN MY LIFE TO KEEP GOING.......

NEVER REGRET ANYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN YOUR LIFE,.....IT CANNOT BE CHANGED, UNDONE OR FORGOTTEN....SO TAKE IT AS A LESSON AND MOVE ON....OF COURSE WE ARE NOT PERFECT AND WE ONLY LEARN BY DOING....SOMETIMES GOOD AND SOMETIMES NOT SO GOOD.....

I HAVEN'T BEEN THIS EXCITED ABOUT WEDNESDAY.....SINCE LAST WEDNESDAY....ONLY ONE MORE DAY HAVING TO GET UP AT 6:00 TO GET KEN OFF TO SCHOOL.....OR NOT.....IN THE SNOW THIS WEEK.......

NEVER LET SUCCESS GET TO YOUR HEAD, NEVER LET  FAILURE  GET TO YOUR HEART.......AND THIS I SAY TO CHASE RAMSEY!!!!!!  YOU OWE YOUR DAD AN APOLOGY IN MY BOOKS.......YOU ARE DOING GREAT......BUT NEVER FORGET WHY?????

A SNOW DAY......

WHEN YOU GET TO BE ALMOST 87.......EVEN THE MENTION OF A SNOW DAY SENDS YOU INTO HIBERNATION!!!!!!

WE HAD  OUR FIRST SNOW DAY IN 19 YEARS TODAY....ALL SCHOOLS IN THE SALT LAKE VALLEY CANCELLED.....STAY HOME UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY......SO KEN AND I HAVE JUST VEGS OUT TODAY.....HE DID SHOVEL ABOUT   3 AND I SWEPT THE PORCH OFF ONLY TO HAVE IT KEEP SNOWING.....FIVE O'CLOCK NEWS SAID MIDVALE HAD GOTTEN 14 INCHES SO FAR......THAT IS OVER A FOOT!!!  AND THE LAST TIME I LOOKED OUT......IT WAS STILL COMING DOWN!!!!
OF COURSE THERE ARE PEOPLE LIKE MY BOYS WHO DO THE SNOW DANCE SO THEY CAN GO SNOWMOBILING.......AND LOVE IT.  THE CHRISTENSON'S AND THE LABRUM'S UP BY STRAWBERRY LAKE LAST WEEKEND.......FORGET IT?????

HOPE.....A SUPER POWER

YOU NEVER GET TO OLD TO HAVE HOPE......

EVERY SINGLE SUCCESS STORY STARTED WITH SOMETHING YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF.....HOPE.

IF YOU CAN PICTURE YOUR FUTURE, YOU CAN PLAN IT.....IF YOU TAKE ONE STEP TOWARD MAKING IT HAPPEN, YOU CAN TAKE ANOTHER......AND ANOTHER.  AND IF YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN AND WILL LIVE YOUR DREAMS, THERE IS NO STOPPING YOU.  HOPE IS YOUR "SUPERPOWER."

WELL.....IT SNOWED AND SNOWED AND IS STILL SNOWING.....KEN DIDN'T GO TO SCHOOL TODAY....IN FACT THEY CLOSED ALL THE SCHOOLS IN THE UTAH VALLEY TODAY .....THE FIRST TIME IN 19 YEARS.....HE GOT ABOUT HALF THE DRIVE WAY SHOVELED......NEEDED TO REST HIS BACK AND WILL GET BACK OUT LATER TO FINISH......GLAD I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING I NEEDED TO DO TODAY......OR TOMORROW!.......AS IT HAS STARTED SNOWING AGAIN.  WINTER YA ALL????

GOOD DAYS ...BETTER DAYS.....BEST DAYS!

WELL SOME DAYS ARE GOOD....SOME DAYS BETTER AND SOME DAYS BEST!

MONDAY HAD AN EYE APPOINTMENT AND THINGS ARE LOOKING GOOD.....PLUS THE ASSISTANT FILLED OUT A EYE REPORT AND FAXED IT TO THE DRIVER LICENSE BUREAU FOR ME AND PAM CAME OVER AND FILLED OUT THE ON LINE RENEWAL FORM AND MY NEW DRIVERS LICENSE WILL SOON BE ON IT'S WAY....NO LONG TRIP TO THE POINT OF THE MOUNTAIN TO RENEW WITH IT'S LONG LINES,,,,,,,AND

ABOUT NINE THAT NIGHT I GOT A CALL THAT I AM GOING TO BE A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER AGAIN IN AUGUST!!!!  THIS ONE WAS REALLY A SURPRISE....BUT A GREAT ONE....NOW TO GET BUSY EMBROIDERING BLOCKS FOR ANOTHER BABY QUILT.....AND FINISH THE SHAWL......NEWS LIKE THAT REALLY MAKE A DAY!

WINTER...UGH

I WAS HOPING WE WERE THROUGH WITH SNOW DAYS....BUT THIS IS MY KIND OF SNOW-WOMAN!!!!!  I GUESS MOST THE PEOPLE I KNOW MY AGE COULD USE A GOOD "BOOB-JOB".......

LESLIE CALLED ABOUT 10 TO SEE IF IT WAS SNOWING....BUT THE SUN WAS SHINNING HERE......GUESS THE ROADS WERE CLOSED AROUND CEDAR CITY.......SO I SHOWERED, GOT DRESSED AND RAN DOWN TO COSTCO TO GET GAS AND PICK UP A FEW SUPPLIES BEFORE THAT STORM HITS US.......WELL, SHERRIE JUST LEFT......IN TOWN FOR THE DAY....AND IT IS COMING DOWN PRETTY GOOD NOW AND FORECAST ABOUT 3 INCHES,....OH WELL....IT IS ONLY FEBRUARY IN UTAH.....WHAT DO I EXPECT????

WHEN THE STORMS COME ANYMORE.....I JUST HIBERNATE.....WINTER ISN.T FOR ME.

SUPER BOWL......

MAXINE SAYS IT ALL!

PAM CAME OVER YESTERDAY AND WE TURNED ON THE ...."SUPER BOWL"......BUT IT TOOK THEM THREE INNINGS TO GET A TOUCH DOWN.....AND WE DIDN'T LIKE THE HALF TIME SHOW EITHER......SO.....A SUPER BOWL IS TRULY A TOILET THAT CLEANS ITSELF IN MY EYES!

WENT IN FOR AN EYE APPOINTMENT TODAY.....HOPE I CAN GET THEM STRAIGHTENED  OUT...DRY EYES...UGH.

NICE TO BE MOVING ALONG INTO FEBRUARY ALREADY......BEEN FORECASTING A BIG STORM ALL WEEKEND AND ALL WE HAVE GOTTEN IS RAIN.......MAYBE TOMORROW.