I Want to Suck Your Blood!?

Todd and Kathy wanted to put a seasonal picture over their fireplace, both Halloween and Christmas.  They put together costumes, hired a makeup artist and photographer, and got some amazing shots.  They turned out better than hoped for, even if Tayson was a little less than cooperative!

Road Trip, 2019

Milo and Gale gave me my week for a vacation, but since I had already had a couple of big trips this year, I opted for a road trip to Utah.

Every road trip to Vegas and parts north always begins with a little game.  Just outside of Baker, everyone guesses the temperature on the Baker thermometer.  This has gone on for countless years and has become a family tradition.  Well, not to buck that tradition, I refused to look at the temperature my car was reporting (a luxury we didn't have when the kids were growing up!), rolled down my window, and guessed 75!  Way off, as usual.  I'm not very good at this game!  But it put a smile on my face as I connected with my kids and the past.




Day 1--Wednesday--First stop--Las Vegas
I stayed at Bally's because it was centrally located on the strip and just across the street from the Ballagio.  After I checked in, I walked the strip, visiting New York, New York, the M & M World, and ending with the Ballagio.  The inside is always spectacular and the water show must not be missed.

That evening I attended Cirque du Soleil "O", a blend of synchronized swimming, diving, and acrobatics.  It was spellbinding.  Absolutely amazing!!

Day 2--Thursday--St George
Part of my inspiration for a road trip was the closing of the "pioneer" temples for major refurbishment.  I'm not sure anyone knows what they mean by "major refurbishment", and I didn't want to take the chance that these temples would loose their beauty and craftsmanship, so, I decided to visit two of them on my way up to Provo.  I had been to the St. George temple several times and it was as beautiful as ever.  I tried to capture the beauty of the white temple against the red hills, but failed miserably.

Then it was a drive over to Manti.  I had never driven this stretch of highway, so it was really interesting.  Saw lots of cattle, sheep, and fallow farmland.
And there it was!  Right on top of a huge hill. And much larger than I expected!  It was late, so I just drove by, took a couple of pictures, and drove on to Ephraim where there was a hotel for the night.





















Day 3--Friday--Manti

It was a very short drive back to Manti for a temple session.  I had not been there since I was a newly wed, so it was all new to me.  Such a beautiful, old building.  The session was live and it was so powerful, so full of the spirit.  So worth the side trip for the experience.  I walked around the temple      grounds again, and then headed down the hill to the Manti cemetery.  

It's interesting how this trip all came together.  About a week before I left, I received an email from Family Search with the location of several ancestor's headstones.  Three of them were in Manti!!  Meet some of my family!!

George Peacock
My 3rd great uncle.

William H Peacock
My 3rd great uncle

Mary Elizabeth Killpack Merriam
My 3rd great aunt

Days 4, 5, 6--Provo

Another short drive north and I was in Provo.  Yea for family.  I love being able to spend time with Todd and Kathy and the kids.  Even though I just saw them a few weeks ago, it's always good to be with them. 

Three fun things besides Halloween activities---

 #1--the beautiful fall weather!

#2--gathering eggs from the chickens!!

#3--SNOW!!!

And of course, Halloween!!  Pumpkin carving!!

Can you tell which one is mine??

The mystery dinner--Kathy works so hard and goes all out for this.  Because of the snow and cold, dinner moved into the house.  That was dinner for 70 or so people, not an easy feat!!!

Day 7--Tuesday--Zion National Park
One last stop before I headed home.  I had the afternoon to hike and take in the amazing fall splender all around.  Simple amazing.

Day 8--Wednesday--heading home
Good Morning!!

It's a good thing I had my car!!!

...and 66 loaves of Grandma Sycamore in the
place on honor!!!

craft projects, scrapbooking supplies,
a Bronco's bucket, some Great Harvest bread,
a couple dozen cookies...

Goodbye Stratus

For as long as I can remember, mom always said that Todd would get her car when she died.  As a high school kid, I'm sure this thrilled him.  After she stopped driving, however, she decided to give him the car then, instead of it just sitting in the garage going no where and taking up space.  It needed a new home. Todd was traveling for work every week, so this was a good deal for him...a car to leave at the airport.  One time, obviously in the winter, I flew in just as he was landing.  We met up in the terminal and as we got to the car, this is what we found!  What is a California car doing with all this snow on top of it?!  I'm sure it just didn't know what to think!!
Fast forward a few years and Tayson is ready to start driving.  Mom's old Stratus was just perfect for a new driver.  It became his to go to and from school and to run the kids around after school to dance, swimming and the like.  Then it happened!!  Tayson was going slowly to go around a corner near his house when the entire wheel came off!!  Not just the tire, but the entire wheel!  Luckily, he was going slow, in the right lane, and near home when it happened and no one got hurt.

After some research, and some soul searching, it was decided that the car was not worth fixing...and they really needed a car they could trust.  So, one day last week, I received this  text from Todd.

End of an era :(

Yep!  Gone, but not forgotten!!

Knott's Scary Farm

The kids finally got me on Hang Time!! 
OH MY GOODNESS!!!