Trudy vs. James Hill - October

Trudy 4 - James Hill 5

August and September - I am losing the battle big time now! It's now mid-October and I haven't walked the hill since May. But I can say I have been exercising (occasionally anyway). I went running and to Curves just last week.

July - I lost again in July, I did not do the hill. You would think in the summertime I would be out walking the hill every week, not gonna happen. I still have five months left to catch up.

June - I lost again this month, I did not do the hill.

May 23 - 38 minutes (new PB), temperature about 65 degrees, wonderful walk.

Apr. 25 - 41 minutes (temperature about 50 degrees) It was off and on sunny. Springtime is pretty on the hill.

March - I didn't do the hill in March. I blame it on the weather and busy Saturdays, I know that's no excuse!

Feb. 21 - 40 minutes (temperature about 58 degrees)

Jan. 31 - 39 minutes

The goal is to walk up the hill starting at the Chevron on Central Ave. up to the pedestrian walk-way at the grade school and back down the hill, a minimum of once a month this year.

Halloween Craft

So I'm on vacation this week and it's been rainy. Perfect weather for staying indoors making fun crafts. I found this pattern on a web site a couple of nights ago. This afternoon I made 7 of them.

I think they are just adorable and you can do so many different designs with them. I'm going to put candy in them and give them to some friends.

Here is the website with the template and check out the other great Halloween ideas.

http://www.skiptomylou.org/2008/10/28/paper-witch-shoes/

Utah Trip - October 2009

Day 1 - Thursday 8th
Wayne drove Wally and I to the airport. Wayne is a man of few words so when he said, "sit on the left side of the plane", we listened and were rewarded with this beautiful sight of Mt. Rainier.



Wally and I arrived at the SLC airport and waited for my sister Sue to arrive from Boise. Then Natalie picked us up and we went out for Thai food for lunch. On the way home we also visited Dunford Bakers which happens to be right behind Natalie's house. They have delicious donuts and a really good variety. http://www.dunfordbakers.com/index.html

This turned out to be cousin's day. Our cousin Russell came to Natalie's house to visit us and brought us a great little note book of our Mom's letters and poetry which she had written to my uncle.

Here is a picture of my sister Sue, our cousin Russell and me.

Then later, Natalie's cousin Goldie and her husband Matt and daughter Aleena from California joined us. We ate dinner and dessert and they spent the night with us. It was so much fun to see them.

For dinner we had make your own sandwiches, chips, salad and for dessert some "awesome" eclairs that Natalie picked up at Carol's Caked and Pastry Shop in Sugar House. They were so very good. http://www.dexknows.com/business_profiles/carol_s_cakes_and_pastry_shop_inc-b568084

Emily picked Sue up and took her to Nancy's house in Springville for the night.

Here's a picture of Scott, Natalie, Goldie, Aleena and Matt with Lewis the dog.

Day 2 - Friday 9th
It was nice to have leftover donuts and eclairs for breakfast! Plus toast and fruit. Goldie and Matt left to pick up Serene from the airport and head south for the wedding festivities they were in town to attend.

Natalie,Wally and I ran some errands, grocery shopping and bought bulbs to plant in Natalie's backyard. Then in the afternoon we headed to Springville to pick up Sue to drive to Ephraim for the night. We checked into the hotel in Ephraim and went out for Mexican food for dinner. Then back to the hotel where Sue, Natalie and I enjoyed the outdoor hot tub.

Before driving back to the hotel we drove over to Manti to see the temple at night. Such a beautiful sight.

Manti Temple

Day 3 - Saturday 10th
This was a very busy day. It was the purpose of our trip. The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers put together a day to celebrate my great, great-grandparents Robert and Elizabeth Johnson. My father, A. Errol Nielson's mother was Alice Johnson, her father was Alma Johnson and his father was Robert Johnson.

This is a picture of a Pioneer dug out on the side of the hill which the temple was built on.

My Aunt Margaret delivering a speech at the cemetary as a memorial wreath was placed on the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Memorial.After the cemetary we went to the Manti Tabernacle for lunch and a program. At the Tabernacle was a craft table and also display tables of the ancestors.

Sue, Nancy and I

We then drove back to Nancy's house in Springville where Emily made us home-made chili and cornbread for dinner. It was delicious. It's a family recipe that wins many chili cook offs. Here is the basic recipe. Everyone doctors it up a little bit, their way.

http://pomegranatelane.blogspot.com/2009/10/macho-chili.html

After dinner we drove back to West Jordan where we spent the night at Natalie's house.

Day 4 - Sunday 11th
Sunday morning we slept in and then went to brunch at a place called The Dodo. It was delicious. I had raspberry pancakes. http://www.thedodo.net/

After brunch we drove through the avenues looking at the beautiful homes and reminiscing from when I lived downtown during my college days. We even found an estate sale where we bought a ceramic fish, driftwood and seashell wind chime. Later Scott looked up the artist'same and we discovered that it came from Fresno, CA and retailed for 166.00. We bought it for 15.00!

We also went to Memory Grove park where the leaves were turning and it was a beautiful day for photos.

With my sister Sue. We are the oldest and the youngest siblings of five.

This was just a fun bench so we took pictures at it. Just a casual afternoon in the park.

Wally and IHere is picture of the LDS Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake taken from the McCune Mansion.
After the park we went and visited an Italian deli, where we bought French milk chocolate bars. Then it was off to the airport to drop Sue off for her flight home to Boise. When we got back to Natalie's home Sue called to tell me that her flight was 90 minutes late! Luckily she had a good book with her.

Natalie and I planted the flower bulbs in the backyard. It's hard to believe we have to wait till springtime to see the result of our labor.

For dinner we made home-made corn tortilla's with the tortilla press Wally had made. We had chicken tacos with homemade guacamole and pico and all the fixings, it was delicious. Then we relaxed in front of the TV and caught up on some recorded shows.

Day 5 - Monday 12th

Monday was the day to fly home. In the morning I drove Wally to McD's for some breakfast, that's his treat when we are traveling. Then Natalie and I snuck out to do some shopping at Kohls. We had great success. I was able to get everything packed back into our suitcases, including the fish wind chimes, extra clothes and the binder we got from the family event.

We then decided to go bowling. I love to bowl and haven't been bowling for a year or so. Wally watched as Natalie, Scott and I bowled. Then it was lunch at Johnny Carino's.

After that it was time to go to the airport for Wally and I to head home.

I'm always sad when I leave Natalie behind in Salt Lake. It was so much fun to hang out with her and Scott, to stay at their house and spend time together.

It was fun to see all the family and friends that we did get to visit with on this trip.

It was a great trip. When I got home I remained on vacation the rest of the week and we celebrated Wally's birthday. It's back to work tomorrow!