Justin, Your Book is Now In Print!

I've been wanting to read Justin's new book, but don't enjoy reading large files on the computer. 

So I took his file this morning to a copy place and had it printed and spiral bound.

Justin, your book is now in print!

And I'm the first one with a copy.

(Maybe now I'll be able to win the contest for the first one to read it, cover to cover!)

And a few random things...

I had one more picture of Don from last summer as he let Connor ride with him on the garden tractor.  I'm so glad I ran out to the orchard to get the picture.  I had no idea it would be the very last picture I took of Grandpa Bailey. I wish I had been able to get their faces.

And now, just some random things from the past couple of weeks. 

First, I mow a pathway for Elizabeth to walk the short-cut to school.  It helps cut down on the amount of dew soaking through her shoes on the way to school in the morning.

The missionaries also use it when they go to the rest home for service.

And for some reason, my eye is always drawn to photos or paintings of pathways.

I want to follow them and see where they go. 

Secondly, I needed to mail a book to Nicole Bailey in Orem and was digging through my stash of boxes when I came upon this gem.  On one side was Catherine's address in Utah (after her marriage) as she sent a package to Justin on his mission in France.

On the other side, Justin re-used the box to mail something to us.

And when I found that the book I needed to mail fit perfectly, the box got mailed back to Utah--after I took pictures for the memory.  The stories that box could tell in its world traveling!

I love the frugality of the Bailey family.  We're just "saving the earth's resources" (and our own pocketbook, of course.)

Then, thirdly, we got to repay another family's kindness (they took care of Lily last September when we went to Idaho for Grandpa's funeral), by taking care of their dog, Stormy.

I'm not sure what the mixture of breeds is, but there is definitely a dachsund in there somewhere.

She is a sweet-tempered dog, about the same size as Lily, and we were thoroughly enjoying her visit until about the 3rd day when we began to notice little black hairs floating around.  On our clothes.  On the sofa.  There was even one or two in the food!

And we remembered why we have a dog that does not shed!

It's good to remember...

Over the past week or so, with autumn-llike weather arriving and a few leaves beginning to turn, my thoughts have moved more and more to this time last year when we received that unexpected phone call, and how much I miss my father-in-law.  And when I think about Don, my thoughts then move on to missing my own dad.

But it is good to spend a moment and remember some of the good times we had together.

Like the float trip on Warm River...

Or spending time with the great-grandchildren...

I especially love to remember the wondrous experiences he enjoyed relating.  How often would family scripture reading take a detour into one of Don's experiences in Mexico or South America?

Or just remembering him as the man of integrity that he was.  

And I wonder, what he is doing right now?

Vacation Wrap-up

Just had to post a few more pictures...

The Bandanna Gang...

The wrap-up-in-a-blanket-to-keep-warm gang...

Miss Sunglasses... (at the splash park),

and

 

the backyard games gang.

It certainly was a great time with everyone.

Let's do it again next year!

Almost done with vacation...

For at least 2 years, we have looked forward to going to Redfish Lake.  This is a big part of what I look forward to when thinking about summer vacation.  We packed the innertubes and the swimsuits for enjoying the water during the normally hot August days.

 

Unfortunately, somehow August served up 3 days of very cool temperatures, and they happened to coincide with the 3 days we were at the lake.  With high temperatures in the 60's, suddenly that crystal clear water didn't look quite as inviting for swimming.   It was great for canoeing though!  And we still enjoyed the inner tubes (though trying to stay as dry as possible.) 

We were glad we packed the sweatshirts and warm clothing, because, even when the sun was shining, it was coool! 

And without as much playing in the water, the youth figured out other things to keep them occupied.

We watched a lot of heavy storm clouds go by, pouring rain, but the rain missed us.  We heard a lot of thunder as well but never close by.

We were prepared for the worst, though.  We put tarps over all the tents.  There was always water warming over the fire for hot chocolate.  We all drank a lot more cocoa than usual!

And Grandma Beth and Terry had found the perfect spot for our group.  They left home at 5 a.m. to arrive at Redfish by 9 a.m., and got the site as another group was leaving.  The rest of us came in waves, and I'm glad we got there by 11 a.m., because that first afternoon was the only time it was warm enough to swim.

And thanks to Uncle Kim, we had a huge tarp to put over the tables and fire pit.  Although it did rain a bit, we were able to keep dry for meals and evenings around the campfire.

With Jeannine's family, Kim's family, our family (including Catherine and her kids), and Grandma Beth and Terry, we made a big group.

As we packed up to leave, the weather looked to get warmer--tempting us to remain and enjoy the beauties of this area. 

Or just inviting us back next year.

More family gatherings...

Somehow, we ended up with only ONE hot dog roast.  (Typically, it seems like hot dogs are consumed several times during the course of the vacation). 

Of course, it required some major furniture moving, which looked like a bit of fun, what with the four-wheeler and all.

And this time, there was no stormy weather to blow plates and food around,

or baby raccoons to steal out of the little ones' hands.

***

And with so many family members around, Ryan and Jamie chose this time to have Nellie Mae blessed.

It always is great to have family together.

It's especially great to have a new sweet baby, and to celebrate her coming to join the clan!

When It's Reunion Time...

A highlight is ALWAYS the Beazer Reunion.  Grandma Beth  had the largest number of descendants in attendance.  It was held at the ancestral home in Lorenzo, the home where Grandma Beth was born and which is now home to the area's Cub Scout Day Camp, "Scout Hollow". 

 

There was a noon pot luck (with LOTS of fried chicken), and lots of chatting,

and the kids played on the lawn.

But the event that everyone was waiting for was the Beazer Line Train Ride.

I am consistently amazed at how Uncle Kim works his charm on the little ones.

He always has a trick up his sleeve to interest even the most reluctant child, whether it's a balloon he just "found", or horses in the pasture to go visit, or showing his phone.

And every child secretly enjoys the weird nicknames he bestows,  like "Bellydonna", "Aloysius", "Lemly" or "Wilbur". 

Happy Birthday, Elley!

It's hard to believe, but true!  Elley turns sixteen today.

But she had her birthday party yesterday.  

Taking advantage of the holiday, some girls came up from Cedar Rapids and some girls were from around here, and with the big group, there was a lot of laughing, eating chips and pizza, and just having a good time together.

The deck was all cleaned off and ready for hosting, but it was a very windy day.  No one wanted to play backyard games.  No one wanted to watch a movie. 

They wanted to just talk!  And laugh.

(That made for a very easy day for me!)

More Vacation Memories...

A great part of vacation is being with cousins--even second cousins, like Magen.  (With the heat and a stuffy house, eating supper out on the lawn in the shade was someone's brilliant idea.)

And being with grandparents...

Doing projects...

Goofing around...

Playing the Bailey version of Bocce...

Or resting to catch up on the traveling, and late nights...

All are part of a Bailey Family Vacation!

In Idaho...

The great thing about vacation is doing something that you've never done before, or at least doing something you don't get to do during the rest of the year, such as bicycling in Teton National Park.

Terry was kind enough to add on a bike for me, and I LOVED the trip.

We got to cool our feet in the outlet from Jenny Lake before turning around and bicycling back to the park entrance.

And of course, floating the canal is a must.

"Oh!  That's cold!!"  It's the same statement every year as we set off, with some variations such as, "I don't think it's quite as cold as the mountain stream in Colorado..."  

And then comes the slightly terrifying check.  We got smart this year and paired anyone with a small tube with someone with a large "river rat" tube, so no one flipped out of their tube.  Much safer!

And for the little ones...

Aunt Carol brought her water slide (all the way from Oregon!).  It was a hit!

I think the kids made hundreds of trips, climbing up, sliding down, running over to climb again.  And again, and again.