Just completed an 11 day circle. An overniter at the cabin, then up to Ogden area where I had another fun series of reunions with various roommates from my BYU days at 440 E. 700 N. From Ogden/Brigham City to Chubbock, Idaho then over to Twin Falls for a few days with Nathan's family so Victor and Nathan could take an exciting Whitewater trip. Next we headed south and west to Reno to renew Austin/Farrar relationships and see nephew Nick Kovaltchouck graduate from High School. From Reno we made it back through the "glorious" ;-( barren land of northern Nevada home to Vegas.
Everywhere we went we saw powerful water crashing down rivers and streams to an already-saturated valley below. A couple of cabins up in our area have flooded, the Pineview Dam near Huntsville is at peak level and the snow melt expected from surrounding mountains is predicted to fill it another 5 1/2 times!! Even our own Lake Mead level is climbing steadily. The temperatures had not yet soared enough to start the serious flooding, but there could be some huge difficulties within this next few weeks.
Some photos:
Easy to see why Shoshone Falls (in Twin Falls, Idaho) is called the Niagara Falls of the West. So much water was crashing over the rocks that you could not even see the bottom of the river. We got soaked but it made some glorious rainbows!
This year we had our roommate reunion at the guesthouse of the Monastery in Huntsville, Utah with friends Cherie Lundwall, Brenda Thorpe and Ardith Lindgren. Cherie has volunteered & visited up there for many years and is friends with many of the good brethren who have made this gorgeous valley their home for most of their lives. I got the evening meal assignment of a fish and vegetable dinner that was attended by Father Charles Cummings from the monastery. Was a very nice experience to talk with him. The monastery consists of quonset huts from World War II. For many years they managed beehives and made wonderful flavorful honey to sell in the giftshop. They are fazing out that operation so we each bought up a few of our favorites.
Ardith, Brenda & Cherie
I loved my little alcove room where I got to sleep that had a huge picture window overlooking Mt. Ogden. No wonder the monks love this peaceful valley.
When Brenda and I drove home from the monastery we stopped to see another roommate, Carolyn Grey, who was recovering from surgery at her sister's home in Plain City. We are SO glad she is with us. They had injected a blue dye into her in order to image her parathyroid glands. She had a severe allergic reaction so that they couldn't bring her out of the anasthetic for nearly 36 hours! She got the blue hat from her sister to celebrate leaving the hospital (along with a little matching blue skin) and she is perky and optimistic and will heal well from the enlarged gland they removed. Welcome back, Carolyn! We need your cheer and joy of living that you share with us all so abundantly!
After we left Ogden we visited with roommate Sandra Tegland who is now in Chubbock, Idaho. Didn't have the forsight to take a picture, but we had a nice afternoon together in her beautiful home before heading on to Twin Falls.
Victor and Nathan rafted the Murtaugh River which satisfied their need for #4's and 5's! A hearty Spring run-off made the trip better than it would normally have been. All us girl-os stayed home safely and went to the local Western Days Parade (along with Victor's cousin Diane and family). Have come to really enjoy all the little local hometown events we have been able to attend in recent years! The kids, of course, love the candy and chocolate milk (and even Jamba Juice Smoothies) handed out by local businesses!
These kids are sitting on a motorcycle made out of cardboard. COOL!
Amaya - bucket in hand awaiting eagerly the next candy toss!
This was about the only real float the parade had. Most everything else was crazy cars and big fifth wheel trucks carrying people and props. Camera was into the sun so only got the float as it passed, but all the Toy Story characters were on it.
Nicholas Kovaltchouk with Father Andre, mother Annalee (seated), Grandmother Gabriel and half-sister Natalie at the Wooster High School Graduation. THIS boy dreams big. Note the sash, the rope and THREE medals around his neck. Good student. He is going on to USC this fall and is determined to design airplanes. Is that the result of all those lego creations down in his family room? Go Nick!!
