MR. FIX-IT

this is a pix of my favorite handy man.  It seems that there is always something breaking down, wearing out, or coming apart.  Just after the great room TV was brought back to life, the kitchen TV started acting up.  We had to unplug it and plug it back in then push the ON button real fast to get it to turn on.  This lasted a couple of weeks and then we had to unplug it 2 or 3 times to get it to work each time. After a few weeks of this tricky stuff, the TV finally gave up and flat refused to turn on.
I got on the internet and googled the problem.  Just like I did when my little Acer laptop wouldn't take a charge.  Anyhoo, the capacitors were bad (burned out) in the power supply and everybody knows that electronic gadgets have to have a good power supply in order to power up and run.  Chuck took some capacitors out of his parts supply (you know the kind of things you save and hope to be able to find and use someday) drawer and bought a couple at Radio Shack.  He desoldered the old and then soldered in the new capacitors.  I don't know how he managed to get it all back together again. There must have been 62 screws of all different sizes.

Now the kids can watch Dora and once in a while I get to watch parts

of a  Christmas movie, HGTV or a Jazz game.

Getting the Rhino ready to be licensed for the road.

My Acer--it quit charging and would only work when plugged in.  We were about to order a new battery, but I googled  and found that an update to fix the problem was on the Acer site.   Chuck and Zach downloaded it for me and now (knock on wood) the computer is fine again.
What would we do without our guys?

Thanks Honey, I owe you.

Chani & Misty's Boutique

Pass the word.

Tomorrow- Wed. 12/9 at The Studio (East Door)

5 to 9 pm

They have a new supply of the sweater head bands that sold out during the Dickens Festival--plus loads of other good stuff at great prices.

The headbands were shown on Good Things Utah this morning from the Chic Boutique.

FHE in SLC

Last night we enjoyed dinner at Little America in SLC

with our friends Elder and Sister Humphries.

Isn't this a  Christmas Card shot?

It was so fun to be with them and see where they live and catch up on news with them.

Thanks for driving us around to see the pretty lights/sites.

They live in an apartment bldg right across from the conference center.

Their assignment is the Family History Library Center.

--with a list of other responsibilties too--

I told Sis.  Humphries that she needs to do a blog and journal some of their experiences.

She says she can't spend any more time on the computer than she does already.

ROD RUN 2009

Thanksgiving Day is a happy day for Chuck.  He says that Thanksgiving is his 2nd favorite holiday.  I'm pretty sure it is because of the 10 am gathering of friends with motorized vehicles of the "Hot Rod" sort in our driveway to make a drive to and from Sand Hollow Reservoir.  This is the 7th year we have bundled up and paraded happily down the road.
Last year it rained on our parade-really--I took my car with a top and a heater.
I didn't take the jaunt the first year (2002).  It's pretty hard on a girl to take off on a lark while trying to provide a feast for a  hassle of hungry people.  The 2nd year I managed to get away to be the photographer for the group of 3 cars and 3 men. Now I've changed my ways and fix more food on Wednesday. I get up early Thanksgiving day so that I don't get left behind..  The roll dough rises mighty high while we're gone and the grandgirls help me roll it out and fill the pans as soon as we get home.
The turkey roasts almost by itself  and the family is great help to get the rest of the meal together.
This year we almost forgot the potatoes--but we filled that large pressure cooker in the nick of time.
Uncle Reed and Aunt Helen's families came.  We missed having Grandpa this year.  He usually makes the Dixie Salad .  Reed made a giant bowl and so did Helen so we had plenty.  Some traditions are set.
Helen's assignment is always the desserts when they come.
Dinner was scrumptious!  Hope yours was too! 
  We are so blessed!  There is so much for us to be thankful for.

Pushbutton Fingers

I'm working on our home computer tonight and marveling at what I am able to do.

I have just emailed back and forth to Shanghai China about an order we need to ship for GE.

The Chinese work day is in force while we're home sleeping, so night emailing works best for communicating .Phone and fax machines were wondrous and now emailing is amazing.

The things that we can do with a keyboard and a mouse!!

Sometimes I just have to sit back and marvel.

Cruising .GOV's

November 7th we drove to Los Angeles to board the
Norwegian Star
for a 7 day Mexican Riviera cruise.
Chuck & I-- Karl & Terrie -- Laron & Linda -- Lee & Klea.

The weather was gorgeous! Chuck & I were lounging on the deck when I took this picture.

The ship was docked at Puerta Vallarta and we had spent the day touring.

Glass bottom boat in the bay at Cabo San Lucus.
Karl somehow got behind the wheel. We were all pretty happy to be there.
This is my favorite thing to do while at this port.

Can you tell that this one of the pork shops in this large open market in Mazatlan ?
Looks like this little piggy went to market!

It's great being one of the Geezers On Vacation.

---Except for the 7 pounds I gained and I'm trying to lose.
I wonder if it will be 14 pounds when we go on the Panama Canal
Ooh! It goes on so much faster/"funner" than it comes off!

Wild Witchy Women

We're usually wild playing Bunko once a month,
but only witchy the 3rd Thursday of October.

The Pilot's Wife

A ride in "our sky" was an exciting way to spend a Saturday morning.
My private pilot took me over Hurricane, LaVerkin, and Toquerville.
There was another plane up over Hurricane with crazy people in it
who were jumping out into the air with parachutes on.
I would never jump out. I make sure my door is tightly shut.
Isn't this a cute little plane? It's a Cessna 150.

Be A True Beauty

Her sign says
"For True Beauties it's Hard to be Scary".

Bewitched

Gardner Village was a popular place this year. It's on 72nd South in SLC.
The historic homes---transformed into shops were fun to walk around in.
We went Oct. 10th so we didn't do witches night out in costume.
The displays were in creative jest.
The kids had fun too.

Sound--But No Picture

This is the light bulb that burned out on our big screen--much watched -- TV.
I ordered a new one on ebay. It was a great buy at about $150.00.
Chuck took the old one out to get the info off, so I took a picture or two to make sure we (he) could get it back together again when the new light came.
Chuck and I were out on a Rhino ride when the much awaited ebay pkg arrived. Nate and Zach and friend Gary put the new bulb in and had the TV bright and happy again all by themselves. Chuck's question to them was "Did you touch the bulb?".
Beats the price of a new TV.
Now I need one for our projector and I can't find one for less than $250.00. What a light bulb it must be.

Lance and Michelle's Wedding

The weekend of Oct. 10th I rode to Eagle Mountain with Venna Rae, Kristina, Jacob and Ellie and Raelene. Yep, we filled the Town and Country Van. Us and all of our paraphernalia.--and even more so when we drove home.
We stayed at Raelyn's house and that was fun.
Raelyn, Venna, Kristina and I played Canasta 2 nights in a row--after Rae got her husband, Chance, and the rest of the kids to bed.
Saturday we rode to Wheeler Farm to meet with family to celebrate Susan's and Rick's son Lance's wedding. The wedding and luncheon was in the big barn. Lance and Michelle served roast lamb with rolls salad and pies. Yum! Except when Venna found out the beef was really lamb I don't think she could think past the sheep out in the fenced fields beside the barn.

The perfect Fall Wedding Cake variation.

It just would have been more perfect if the Bride & Groom had cut it
before the rest of us started eating it.

Lance and Michelle and Hannah, Elle, Sasha and Valerie

We had a good time. Weddings are better than funerals.

Paul & Teresa, John & Carol, Venna, Me, Susan & Rick.
LaRee was home taking care of her sick hubby.
Chuck was in Lund (Can you believe it?)
and Kenneth was scoping out a deer hunting spot.

Grandpa and Grammy's Pumpkins

Just look at these darling pumpkins. All sizes and shapes.
The orange ones came out of the garden and the kids had fun picking their own.

Homecoming Football Game

For alumni night fun I wore my school sweater.

The opening ball was brought in to the game via skydiver Rick Eddie.

Zach and Shella joined the pep band. The sound was sooo good!

#24---The newer Robert Reeve---a star player!

Does this do your heart good?

Hurricane won ! 52 to 7

We played the Virgin Valley Bulldogs
We stood up many times to sing along while the band played the school song.
1 time for each touchdown and sometimes just for school spirit.

I'm pretty sure we got in tonight with the Senior Discount.
That is pretty startling--if you know what I mean!
How did we get this old this fast?
I'm finding that old isn't as old as I thought.

HHS Homecoming Parade

William & Ellie eating their parade thrown treats

Three Falls Elementary kids through the fence

I heard the sirens and wondered what they were for--I remembered ( too late to grab my camera) that the parade comes by our house. I yelled at Meridy and the kids to run outside and we got there in time to see the band marching and the rest of the parade. When the handsome, tuff/buff football team went by I wished I had knew how to take a pix with my phone in a hurry. Nope, I don't.
I ran into the house and grabbed my trusty red Olympus though and when I ran back outside I got the tail end.
What a gorgeous day for homecoming and what great kids at HHS.

Men's Softball Champs

The Hurricane Valley championship games were tonight. This is a picture of the winning team.

A great game to watch! Just enough gore and excitement to keep us cheering back and forth.
1st and 2nd place teams were both fun to see use their physical strengths and teamwork.

Kolby took a hard hit to the head before the game. Look at his left temple. Jarvis rolled his ankle, Nathan saved a run and left his leg skin on second base and jammed his thumb stopping a heavy hitter's grounder. There were probably more injuries that I didn't see.

All for the love of the game-----just look at those smiles.

Chuck and I were huddled on the bleachers trying to keep warm in tonight's cool turned weather.
I'm going to start carrying blankets in the trunk again. It felt so funny leaving the house with shoes and socks and jackets. Some people were wrapped in sleeping bags and other paraphernalia.

There's Gold in Them There Hills!

Quakie leaves scattered on the ground look like beautiful gold coins.
Chuck and I got up early Saturday morning to travel North on I15 about 62 miles to see some back country.

We enjoyed breakfast breakfast at the Parowan Cafe (it's like stepping back in time) with Don and Teresa, Steve and Susan, Venna and Ken, Newell and Kristina and Jacob and Ellie. They were fun riding buddies. We took an all day trip from Parowan, over the mountain to Panguitch Lake, down through Paragoona and back to Parowan.

Yankee Meadows Lake

Ken/Ven On the drive to Panguitch Lake
I pushed the cancel box at the wrong time and lost the rest of this post.
It's long enough anyway. I did it twice so I'm going to bed before I have to completely start over.