Merry Christmas to You !!

Bougainvillea leaves bear the Christmas colors cradling the flower inside.

Some feel they are too plentiful, but can such color ever be too much?

The Japanese nurture them as Bonsai 

 

 If the snow gets too deep let us know.  We can escape to our  flat in Jamaica.  Lots of Bougainvillea there too. 

 

Christmas is a holiday for friends,

However they may be, or not, related.

Remember that the Three Wise Kings were strangers

In search of one remote, uncanny dream

So may we all be far more than we seem,

Together bound for dark and haunting changes,

Lovelier for the loves we have created

Along the lonely paths from means to ends,

Stumbling towards that Star of Bethlehem!

2009

Thanksgiving - 2009

Today is November 21st and its been an entire year since I got a jump re-start and my dear cardiologist installed the latest service pack thus allowing me to stay around to enjoy my family.  Words don't express my love for all of you.  I hope these pictures of our loved ones tell you how much they mean to me and to Claudia.  To each of you I owe my deep thanks for your love and thoughtfulness.  We've been a lot of places this year so we could spend time with immediate and extended family.  Now is the time. 

Enjoy your Thanksgiving and remember I love you all very much.
                                      Dad, Grandpa, Max


So, what did we do this year?   
For six weeks this summer was spent fun times in the cool country north of Arizona.  Montana and Utah were delightful.  We got to spend time with each member of our family.  From Nancy & John in Billings to Peggy & Tim we mooched much food and fun.  They were all fun to see and talk with.  We played as much as possible.  The Boys - Jeff and Mike - and their families were in Utah where we played on the golf course or the swimming pool and enjoyed great food thanks mostly to Jill with the help of Beth and Claudia.  We are proud of each of our children and each of their kids. 

On Halloween we arrived in France to spend two weeks seeing and doing as much as possible.  We had been in Italy for more than a week already so our travels were gearing up to full time.  We saw Rome, Siena, Florence, Pisa, Milan and Como in Italy.  Driving north from Rome we stopped along the way whenever we were inspired by hunger, pit stops, fruit stands or were tired.  The beauty we experienced was better than pictures can ever show. So much good food and history to see with our own eyes was very fulfilling.  Fall is the time to travel.  No traffic (ha) generally and no lines.  The colors were vibrant and so beautiful.  Italy was more 'early fall' while France was about two weeks more 'later fall'.  I put a full blog together on just the travels.  If you haven't seen it the name is Europe 2009.  (Look to the right for a link)

History is so abundant in these two countries.  The Romans immortality seemed out of reach before but now it is right there to witness and read about.  All of Italy welcomed travelers so openly.  Lake Como is something else to see and feel.  Located just north of Milan it surrounds a series of finger lakes.  Houses run from the hills down to the water on each of the lakes. Roads are narrow but very adequate.  Our little Peugeot wagon was a gem.   Ferries await to carry you from one side to the other in many places.  In general, Italy is agricultural and rural but towns dot the map and vineyards cover every foot, even on the hillsides. 

France was full of beauty and history.  Comprehending it was difficult to take in, in a short time.  Paris was elegant and wonderful.  Normandy has always been emotionally embedded and I've read so much about it that to actually be there was a little unreal.  But finally I got to be there and as a bonus it was with some of my favorite people.  We greatly missed those that were missing.  The French people were friendly and wonderful without question. This is such a beautifully green and lush country.  Cheese and bread is everywhere good.  My buddy Austin and I went to the bakery daily for our baguette.  They were baked fresh every hour.  I miss those treks with him. 

Prices for hotels were down and the hospitality was genuine and helpful everywhere.  English speakers abounded.  When you go, be sure to take your camera so you can relive the beauty.  Visit the blog on our travels if you like. http://travelswithsimmons.blogspot.com

 

On The Run

Saturday was filled with seeing most of the sites in Rome including
these Spanish Steps. Piazzas everywhere. The Italian food is good
all the time.

Visit to the Vatican - Friday Oct 23rd

And we're off

Claudia loves to go but not the flying part

Future drivers

Is Austin giving Rachel driving tips. You go BOY.

Tuesday in Tucson

Our meetings got an early start with Claudia and me playing the day at
Ventana Resort. Not the best round we'd played but we did enjoy the
walking....cart path only. Tucson is in the distance.

Self imposed time out

There comes a time when you need reflection and recovery , eh Austin?

Frogman Jake

This little man loves the water

Our chapel is much like yours but in the desert it is nestled into an adjacent hill. Three wards meet there using the overlapping block system of 9am,11am,1pm. Since our ward meets at 1:00pm no wards follow and we hold Priesthood meeting last and in the chapel. Music in PH meeting has always been delegated to the Aaronic Priesthood members to lead.  Seldom did we ever have accompaniment.

Then we exchanged our old organ for a new more adaptable one. The deacons soon found a way to use the organ on automatic mode. To every one's surprise one young man perched himself at the organ prior to the opening hymn of priesthood meeting. Much like using an iPod, he played a introduction followed by the full hymn.  What we heard was a melodious and 'normal' sound as notes were magically produced. I looked to see who on earth was playing. It appeared as though no one sat there, then a brim of this deacon's head appeared. We were all stunned,,,,and delighted at their ingenuity.  I reached for my iPhone and took this picture just to recall this cheerful event for later. 

During the weeks since returning to the desert we found a mother Bobcat and her twin cubs had taken up residence in our backyard. The kittens are darling and the mother is not small. She has been seen several times and the kits drink from our front fountains. We don't pet them folks...there are still wild animals so we don't approach or let them know we see them.

The mother was seen walking the wall near our house looking for goodies for the kids.   Rabbits and snakes are great protein. 

The kittens played in the water falls at our front door while we watched.  Claudia spotted them as Bobcats while I didn't immediately realize what we were looking at.  One lay down near the front door acting like a sprawling house cat preening itself while the other sauntered off soon to be followed by the other. 

Our hard play paid off as we cashed in our chits for 'stuff '.













Next the park on the north east side of town called our names and we came running. More play especially on this climbing gym, slide and plenty of rocks. We love rocks say Parker and Austin.











Double sliding is the best. Think of all that slide power when we go down it together say Parker and Austin.

Summer Fun

In late August we got to spend a whole day with Austin, Lizzy and Parker playing and talking. This was a special treat for Claudia and me because we would not see these little souls for a while, moving to France was looming within a week. Boondocks in south Draper afforded us the start. I liked it but I think Claudia would have a hard time living there. Miniature golf then lunch then the arcade tested our skills but these three are ready for fun. We need more of them in our life.


Will lunch ever be delivered say Lizzy and Parker?













I wonder too says Austin !















Perhaps we can pass the time playing with the iPhone apps...lots of things for us to do here.

Summertime Fun and Travels

On July 8th, we packed up our Tahoe with all the things we would need for a couple of months away from home and headed north.  Surprisingly, we didn't leave too much behind other than more long pants for me while out of the desert.  It seems the nights are cooler up north.  Our day was a grand one as we drove to Flaggstaff and on north through Page and into Utah.  By nightfall we reached our destination in SLC.  July 8th was great.  On the 9th, we got somewhat organized, called family members in town and did some looking for housing in Utah.  Our son Mike was working in Europe but was set to be home in a week.  Jill and the kids were in ND to see the Reese grandparents so we held down their place.  We celebrated Austin's 3rd Birthday along with the reception for Emily and Joe from Beth's family who came in for the week. 

Of course we had to hit the links and swim with all the kids.

Beth, Jeff - Caroline and Rachel.  What's with the Tat?  

Austin loves birthdays more than most.  He sang happy birthday to everyone for the following week. 

After we had spent two weeks in Utah, it was off to Montana where we enjoyed the high mountain spendor, family and many friends.  Montana is never complete without a stop in Peggy's birthplace, Butte.   Too much history to ignore. 

  Jake loves to ride the mower with Max only after he has swathed about 100 acres with his Dad - Tim. 

One blistful morning we spent moving cattle to a different grazing pasture.  Tim and Peg do great work together.

Montana  - High Wide Handsome

The last week back in Utah joining with Max's siblings and their families was worth it for sure.  This is the "Guess the Crome Dome Contest"

Some of the Fab 50 who attended.  Some young and some younger. 

Mike & Jill         -      Peg and Tim

enjoying the great mountain calm of Utah

President Comes to Town

Pres Obama came to town this week to speak at the ASU commencement. Standing in the east economy garage I tracked Air Force One as it approached then touched down. He gave a good speech and encouraged the graduates to learn and grow above themselves. We watched the speech live from Sun Devil Stadium as those in attendance there endured the 100 degree heat for hours prior to the actual speech. At precisely 5:52 the plane touched down. Everything was punctual, timely and efficient other than the stadium ran out of bottled water half way through the wait period and had to scramble. Note the last photo is a short video.

Capital Tour

While in Alexandria, we had a guided tour of the Capital Building thanks to Emily and her fiance Joe Lambert. It was an historic time to take these kids there for their first visit. So many things to learn that it will take many visits to digest it all with them. We walked the Mall the next day in the rain, visiting the Korean War Memorial where the US lost 36,940 young men and women; the Lincoln Memorial where we stood by the larger than life replicas of men engaged in war. The children can hardly be aware of the shoulders they stand upon but one this is certain, they have to know it sometime to acquire the knowledge needed to avoid repeating the mistakes other paid so dearly to teach.