Balloon Festival Kanab UT

I asked Fred if we could go to the Balloon Festival in Kanab for something new to do. He said yes. 

We went up on Friday afternoon. We arrived around 5 pm and checked into our hotel room. We drove around the town to figure out where we needed to go for the launch. Also walked through the street festival checking out the food and stuff to buy. We didn't buy anything. It was very cold.

We got to the field by 7 am. It was probably around 30 degrees outside. Fred brought hand warmers and they helped a lot. My feet were cold though. We brought lawn chairs, but never set them up. We just walked around.

I didn't put on makeup or even fix my hair because I knew I would be hidden in all the warm clothing. It didn't matter. I don't like how I feel when I'm not dressed for the day.

There were about 25 balloons. I would say about five actually took off and floated up high and away from the field. There were about five balloons that never left the ground.

The majority of balloons that launched hung close to the ground and didn't stay up very long. I imagine they were mostly trying to drum up business. The wind did kick up so maybe that had something to do with it? They were still beautiful.

We took a drive as far north as Mt. Carmel. Along the way is the Thunderbird Restaurant. It has been there since 1931. Created by a couple that settled there back in those days. 

The founder, Jack Morrison, spelled home made pie as ho-made so the letter would fit on the small sign.  It was not until later that the word "ho" got it's current meaning.  The Thunderbird is built on tradition and family and thus the sign and the spelling has remained.

Fred ordered apple pie with rum sauce.

I ordered the Thunderberry pie. I was hoping it was going to be blackberries, raspberries - that kind of berry. It was strawberry with blueberries. Not my favorite, but still good. 

We enjoyed our time together. It was disappointing that it was so cold because I can't handle being cold. I know we are moving to Colorado, but I'm not going to choose to go outside and stand in the freezing windy cold. I'll stay home bundled up nice and warm. I'll send Shannon out to get me whatever I need. She's still young!!

Beginning Days of my Retirement

 My first project was washing the blinds in our master bath. We actually have two large windows, but by the time I finished the first one I decided the second one could wait for another day.

I went overboard I think. It seemed the easiest was to clean them was to totally remove them.

So I washed them in our soaking tub, dried them and laid them out on my bed. 

After that, I had to thread them back through the strings. Way too much work. 

My goal to clean all the blinds will be over a long period of time. I won't remove them either. 

I saw on Facebook an advertisement for a birthstone ring. I ordered one with all of our birthstones on it. It was $30. Now I see why. It is really a beautiful ring and I'm pleased with it except it is SO SMALL. It is sterling silver so at least it isn't just a piece of junk. I wish I would have ordered a 5 1/2 instead of a 6. I forget what size ring I wear.

I'm slowly sorting through treasures.

This was made by a woman my Dad taught on his mission back in the 40s.

At the time, I don't think she was baptized, but years later they met again when my parents went back to the same area to visit. 

Some years later when my parents were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, this woman sent this doily to them. Dad had it framed.

Here are a couple pictures of my parents when they were in their 20s. 

I ordered these little bears from Home Interiors so many years ago. I used to buy all my home decor from this dealer. I asked Linda Nyland to write our names on the bears. I can't part with them. It's like my people. I haven't had them hung up since we moved here, but I'm still keeping them.

I'm pretty much known within our family to be at the sink washing dishes all the time. When I found this little card from Scott, I laughed that he already noticed I washed a lot of dishes.

I found my Primary bandelo. I was sure proud of myself back then. I could memorize anything.

When Scott was a preschooler, he attended Speech classes. Each day they would work on a new sound and make an index card with a picture of it. For "K" they made a card with a little hole and a tissue pulled through it. It was always one of my favorite cards in his box. I saved that index box for years and I think I finally parted with it. When I came across this picture that I had drawn as a little kid, it made me laugh.

I think I will stop here for the day. I don't want my post to be too long. I'll be back with more in a week or so.