A Memory with Brent and Janet!

Janet and Brent at Shoshone FallsGreg and I at Shoshone Falls

On April 23rd, Greg and I met up with Brent and Janet and headed to Boise to enjoy a little time together...just the four of us! We have talked about doing something together for almost 20 years but have never done it! Well, Greg and I decided a few weeks ago that we wanted to go see and Ian Tyson concert and we knew that Brent and Janet love his music, too! We found one in Boise and with little discussion, just booked the tickets and room and hoped that Brent and Janet would actually be able to get away to go! Talk about a leap of faith because we know life on the ranch! But it worked out and we had a ball together! We had the best time visiting on the way to Boise and then checked in and cleaned up a bit before heading out to eat. It was somewhat of an adventure to find a place to eat, but we finally did (pretty swanky for country folk at heart!). It was called Chadwicks. We then headed to the concert where I realized I had either lost my camera, or more probably left it in the hotel room when I was cleaning out my purse! I can't believe I didn't have my camera! The concert was at a little theater called the Egyptian...an old renovated movie theater so very intimate and fun for a concert setting! We thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful authentic cowboy/rancher music. Just Ian and his guitar and two other members of his band backing him up with vocals and bass and acoustic guitars. I could have listened to him for another couple of hours! Very enjoyable! We were hoping he would sing his Bill Kane ballad but he did not. Greg and Brent did talk to him afterwards at his CD signing and he said that Bill had sent him a hackamore in the mail that week but he has never met the man. Bill is a legend in the ranching world! He is a family friend and a very humble nice man! He was a bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and when asked about it, he would say (about interviewing): "I just backed 'em in a corner and made 'em face me!" Spoken like a true cowboy! Anyway, due to lack of camera, I did not get a picture of us! URG!!!

And then to top it off, when we arrived back at the hotel, we got stuck in an elevator for about 5 minutes and I missed another photo op! You should have seen Brent pushing the alarm over and over! He has a little claustrophobia like Greg! We were laughing and a little panicked at the same time! After calling on the elevator phone, someone FINALLY answered and said they would send help. Brent punched the buttons again, and like magic, the door opened! Guess where we were? On the first floor! We had not moved at all, the door just stuck shut (heaven only knows why!) It reminded Greg of Italy when they got stuck in elevators on a daily basis! Anyway, funny memory! We changed into our jammies and talked for a couple of hours before heading to bed. In the morning we got up early and drove to Mountain Home for breakfast at AJ's and then on to Shoshone Falls. These are the only pictures I got of the trip! We had a wonderful time laughing, reminiscing, and just visiting...really the traveling time was the most wonderful part of the mini-vacation! Every person should have a brother-in-law and sister-in-law they love this much! Janet and I had a special "connection" from the first time we met and spent many wonderful hours together when we lived on the ranch. We paid the ranch bills together (THAT's another story!) and have some pretty humorous memories in that regard! Her oldest, Bill, is the same age as my youngest, Julie! But the age difference was never an issue in our friendship. She is my "sister" in every sense of the word. Greg absolutely adores Brent and it is a pure joy for me to listen to them visit with each other! They are both a wealth of information and humor! We love you, Brent and Janet. Thanks for going with us!

A Three-Day Whirlwind Tour!

Friday, March 20th, Greg had business in the Downy/Preston area. He needed to meet with a new customer and count his cattle which were in three or four different spots from Downy to Preston. We decided as long as we were going to be that close to Montpelier and Logan and inasmuch as we were planning to go to Park Valley on Saturday for the weekend, we would make a three-day weekend of it! We had been working on our years supply of food and had put together an order for Walton Feed just the day before. So this was a perfect opportunity to go to Montpelier and see this place that I have heard so many people talk about! We were able to pick up our order as well as some things for Sister Cook, Lori and Cindy. That place is amazing! They have about anything you could possibly want to order and more! Check it out if you have not already been on their site.http://www.waltonfeed.com/. We were impressed how orderly and accurately they processed our orders, especially considering that Mary and I called and changed/added to our orders about three times...every business's nightmare! But they were courteous and let us add and subtract even after we arrived! Since Greg has a wheat allergy, I have been experimenting with and learning about other nutritious grains to cook with, one of them being quinoa (a grain that is a complete protein!). I had been trying to find a place to purchase it, but it is SO expensive! Waltons had it for about 2/3 the cost of anywhere else I had researched. Anyway, it was a very successful and fun food storage trip and we came back with the back of the truck loaded! Now I am actually USING the items we purchased and will rotate accordingly! Yes, I am becoming connected to my food storage! I do not want to find myself in a time of need staring at my #10 cans and wondering what I am going to cook with all of it! This has been very fun! I completed my three-month supply of meals Greg and I eat using the wonderful food storage calculator Lori posted a few weeks ago. It is very user friendly and makes you think "yes, I can do this!" 3-month supply calculator.

After a delicious lunch at the Butch Cassidy Restaurant in Montpelier, we headed to Logan to spend the balance of the day and over-night with Julie, Stanton and family! We didn't give them much warning, but they were kind and let us come anyway! It was fun to visit, to see Julie's wonderful craft room, and to play outside with the kids. I could tell they were so excited to be able to run and play outside once again. Such adorable children. We love all four so very much! Looking at the weather today...well, let's just say that we only caught a brief glimpse of nice spring weather! It is a blizzard outside right now! I will still not complain about receiving moisture, however. It is too precious and too needed! Anyway, Greg was also able to help Stanton and Jim hang a hoist in the garage to hold the Jeep top when not in use. That evening after the kids were in bed, we watched the movie Australia...a very good movie if you haven't yet seen it! Long but good! After a good night's sleep and some reading and snuggle time with the kids Saturday morning, we headed to Park Valley. Oh, by the way, I once again forgot my camera so I purchased a disposable one! What a waste...the few pictures I took were terrible! I will never do that again if it means I carry my camera in my purse all the time! This picture of Greg with Brigham is the only one that turned out at all! I am still kicking myself! Speaking of Brigham, Julie and Stanton have an appointment at Primary Children's Hospital for him this week. Little Brigs, you are in Grandma and Grandpa's prayers every day! We love you so much and can feel Heavenly Father's love for you as well! We await more information! Thanks, Julie and Stanton, for a fun visit!

We arrived in Park Valley in time for Greg to help Brent, Bill and Dad with some of the chores. Mom Rose was very sick during that week previous to our visit and though she was feeling somewhat better, she was far from well. Each time she gets sick, we wonder if she can possibly fight it off one more time. But she is a wonderful woman of faith and we are so grateful she is pulling through this once again. We stayed over with Brent and Janet so as not to wear her out and cause her any stress. We did go over and visit with her for a few hours and then got out of her hair so she could take a nap. Janet and I visited all afternoon reminiscing and catching up on our families, etc. How I love my dear sister-in-law. She is truly a sister to me in every sense of the word. We enjoyed fixing dinner together and were thrilled that Mom and Dad Rose came over to eat with us. While Janet and I were having a ball together, Brent and Greg were enjoying the same experience. Though the ideal is always when we can have our kids and grand kids with us, this was a weekend when none of our kids were able to be there. So I guess we just revelled in each other's company. We stayed up until 11:30 pm which is not usual for us old folks! The next morning as the guys were out doing morning chores, we prepared a pot roast and all the fixin's and put them in the oven before church. Mom wasn't feeling good enough to speak in church though she did go and stay to all the meetings. We were grateful to see her on the mend. Greg and I were glad we were there and had been asked to speak so that Dad did not have to worry. What a blessing it was to be to Church in Park Valley again. How we love these wonderful, faithful people! Part of my heart will always be in the valley! I am so thankful for the time we were able to live and raise our family there as I know that our wonderful children are partially a product of their time on the ranch. Park Valley...we love you!

I must mention what a fantastic Gospel Doctrine teacher Bill is! He is a perfect mix of humility, humor, and teacher of doctrine in a "bring the scriptures to a personal level" kind of way! We all learned so much and were uplifted by the teachings in Section 25 of the Doctrine and Covenants. Thank you, Bill, for your prayerful preparation...a lesson you had obviously thought and prayed about all week!

After church, we headed home to get a wonderful dinner on the table. I just have to ask, does anything smell better when you walk in the door after Church than pot roast and vegetables? I think not! Mom and Dad Rose came over and ate with us once again and we enjoyed some more wonderful time together. Janet and Brent, you are the most wonderful host and hostess! Thank you so very much for your time, friendship, love, hospitality and food! We had a great weekend. Our Park Valley family...we love you!!!!