Cedaredge, Colorado

 Ever since my Mother died in 2011, Maryanne and I planned on returning to the Ranch to complete the sorting of her many possessions.  We made several trips but never managed to finish the job.  Mother (and Dad) saved EVERYTHING! Bob and Maryanne sold the Ranch several years ago.  Finally, this year, we made plans to go and finish that sorting.  Sadly, Maryanne could not make the trip.  But family members soon volunteered to accompany Layne and me.  Granddaughter Rayne and hub Dominic were the first.  Then Chris and Jessica wanted to come, and daughter-in-law Dorothy.  As it turned out Dorothy couldn't come, but the rest did, along with Peyton (C&J's daughter).  That's thanks to online school!  It turned out to be an amazing trip.

We began by driving to Lisbon Valley, near Moab, where my Mother grew up.  My nephew, Brent, met us there.  He is addicted to the beautiful sights of the West and has treked through many places, including several trips to Lisbon Valley and surrounding area.  He met us in Moab and led us out into the solitary country that is Lisbon Valley.  Just about the only interested parties out there are the mining companies.  In fact, Brent told us that the family Homestead is now owned by one of them.  

We spent Sunday afternoon there with Brent, Rayne and Dominic.  It felt more overgrown with brush but otherwise the same as the last time we were there.  We first came upon the early cabin, where my Grandparents Knox settled in the beginning.  Layne is on the outside, I'm in the doorway.

As the Knox family expanded, a bigger home was needed, so Grandfather Knox turned the larger smoke house into a home.  It had two rooms; the kitchen and living space and a bedroom.  The children slept in the main living space.  No electricity or running water was to be had.  Yet my Grandmother called this place her piece of heaven and the happiest time of her life.  Here is what is left of the larger home.

Sometimes when I look at this place I can almost see my Mother and her two brothers as little kids, playng among the rocks and desert trees.  No one has lived here since they left a hundred years ago.  Here are Rayne and Dominic, standing in the corral that is still party fenced in.

Here's Rayne, overlooking the Homestead and below, a view of the area.

This place is full of ghosts.  One of the most haunting sights are the grave sites, where my Grandfather and son Larry are buried.  They both died with in a short time of each other, and with that, the magic of the Homestead ended.  Life was a struggle after that and the family moved away, to Cedaredge, Colorado.

Here are the graves, and Brent, mending the fence that visitors have stretched out climbing into the grave sites. 

Brent led up on a trail up above the Homestead, where the views were lovely.  But the road was rough.

Sunday evening we hugged Brent goodbye and drove to Cedaredge, where we met up with Chris and Jessica, and Peyton.  We stayed in a small cabin, cozy but comfortable and our Colorado adventure began.  We used Monday and Tuesday to sort and, with the help of the family with us, we got it all sorted!  In two days!  I was so impressed.  We used the next two days to make dump runs and get the unwanted good stuff to thrift and antique stores.  Then we divided what was left, making sure that we got all that Maryanne wanted set aside.  Some of the work crew:  Layne and Jessica, in front of the garage.

The room is empty!  Jessica swept up, a task in itself.

While at the Ranch, my Aunt Frances and her new husband stopped by.  She was married to my Dad's half brother, Walt Engel.  He passed away over a year ago.  Frances met this very nice man and they are now honeymooners living in nearby Montrose.  Here are Frances and Dewayne Green.  She is 80, he is 85.

With such quick work of Mom's stuff, we had time to see the sights.  We visited all the family homes in the area, Dad's and great-grandparents Halfacre and Kiser.  Mom's little cottage on the Ranch was torn down by the new owners and replaced with a bigger, metal home.  It's very different, but lovely inside.  All of our direct Cedaredge family are now in the cemetery.  We visited there for a sweet moment or two.  Here I am at my parents' grave.

We visited Pioneer Town, a locally well known place where vintage buildings of the past have been gathered to re-create life in pioneer times.  Mom had much to do with accomplishing its creation.  It was closed while we were there, but we met up with a cousin, Jerry McHugh, who had keys and gave us access to the buildings.  So very nice of him!  Here are some views.  Peyton sits in front of the visitor's center on a bench dedicated to my Dad.

Here is main street, with family scattered throughout.

Near "The Cabins", where we were staying, is a eating place called Aspen Trials.  Beside it is this dandy picture taking opportunity.  Layne wasn't keen as you might tell.  The rest of us were quite enthusiastic.

Rayne is on the left, then Layne, Dominic and me.

The highlight of our touring was Grand Mesa.  It is the largest flat-topped mountain in the world we are told.  It sits above the Surface Creek Valley and Cedaredge.  We made a drive up there one afternoon, under the experienced direction of friends, Steve and Sharon Palmer.  Here they are in front of their cabin on the Mesa.

Grand Mesa, in my opinion, is at its loveliest in Fall.  The Aspens are full of color.  Our drive up surrounded us with them.  

Sights from the top were breath-taking.  We took a long time taking it all in.  Here we are at the top.

Chris and Jessica

Rayne and Dominic

Jessica and Peyton

Dreamy view

I thought we may never return to Cedaredge, but the kids with us loved our time there and would like to return again.  So we may!

We returned home, via Salt Lake and a brief visit with Bob and Maryanne, grandson Chase and Morgan.  We arrived back home last Sunday night.  This Sunday grandson (son of Reed and Dorothy) gave his missionary farewell talk.  He was superb!  I'm not just saying that because he is my grandson; he spoke so well and offered some very thoughtful ideas.  Loved it.  Here he is with his folks, Reed and Dorothy, and with us.  He is assigned to Australia but will serve somewhere stateside until it opens up.

 

Tucson and Stuff

 For over a year Layne and I have been promising one of our Mongolian daughters that we would visit.  Finally, we decided to just pick a date and stick to it.  So several months ago we picked this past week.  Tuesday, early, we flew to Tucson to visit our Brynn and her family.  All airlines require masks now and the Phoenix and Tucson airports were vacant of shops and eating places.  No food served on the airplanes either.  It was strange indeed,  

Roy and son Tyler picked us up.  Tyler is 4 and was, at first, very quiet.  But he soon warmed up and became quite an animated boy.  We were greeted by many welcome notes by the two boys and lots of general enthusiasm.  Brynn's two boys are darling (4 and 6) and very eager to play.  So that's what I did most of the time.  Early morning walks took me to the LDS chapel just a few blocks away.  Down the road from there sits the beautiful new temple, with a dome top and Moroni beckoning on top.  That would be such a blessing to our Returned Missionary Brynn.  Except she has walked away from the Church.  So thorough has it been that she has forgotten much of the gospel and wonders about God as if she had never known any different.  That was a major surprise and disappointment.  Her sons know nothing of God.

But in spite of that disappointment we enjoyed Roy and Brynn and their family.  They treated us like jewels, giving us the best of what they had.  They live on an acre or so of desert in an older development, away from the density of the city.  I found it lovely, but Layne was assured that he would not like to live in the desert.  Here's the front of their house, with Tyler barefoot in the gravel, followed by a scene from their yard.

I found the desert scenes beautiful.  It isn't my favorite look but I could be happy in the desert I think. 

Early during our stay Layne made the boys, Eric on left and Tyler on right, some paper airplanes.  They played with them, inside and outside, all day long. 

 

Brynn is a wonderful cook. She fixed amazing meals, always delicious.  On Wednesday night we picked up grandson Miles, who is beginning school at University of Arizona.  He had dinner with us.  Then he made the boys paper airplanes after the pattern of winning racers.  Wow, what a hit those were.  He was engaged for the whole of the evening making those planes and racing them with the boys.  Miles is happy at U of A even though all classes are remote right now.  Here we are with Miles.  Roy and Brynn are below.

Roy and Brynn are very embracing.  We had a sweet time with them.  They prepared a lunch to delight for our last meal on Thursday.  Roy fixed King Crab, served with melted butter and Brynn baked salmon.  Served with cabbage, it was all so very good.  I guess I've ever had King Crab before because this was so delectable and worth the effort it takes to get the meat.  I'm definitely going to fix that at home!  Our flight home went through Phoenix again and got us home late.  It was an interesting flight.  The cabin was in the total dark the whole flight.  I've never experienced that before and I wonder what it was so.

The kids were in good shape when we saw them Friday morning.  They go in to school half of the time now and the other half is online at home.  Masks are required at school.  They just had school pictures taken and we have them already.  

Friday evening we hosted our CA dinner group.  We featured Layne and gave him a little birthday celebration.  Buddy Lisa made him a delicious cake.  We watched the video on his life that I made for the family reunion in August.  Here's Layne with his cake, followed by all of us being served cake and homemade ice cream.  Yum.

I love this group of 10.  They are such good people, with uplifting conversation, and are all faithful to the gospel.  It is a joy to hang with such a fine group.  We are blessed.  And I'm tired!

 

A California Wedding

 Grandson Isaiah planned to spend this past summer on own in Rexburg, working remotely.  But Audrey talked him into coming home to Mountain House instead.  He was a little reluctant but he did it.  While at home he experimented with a dating site and found a cute blond named Avery Banks that lived nearby.  They began corresponding, then talking, then dating.  It was a major "click" and as the summer progressed they moved into a serious relationship and then an engagement!

Very soon after that a wedding date of August 29th was chosen and a scheduled at the Sacramento Temple.  But soon after that the California governor closed Churches and Temples back down.  So the wedding and reception was moved to Audrey and Cliff's house.  The family kicked into high gear to get ready.  Avery's mom ordered the flowers.  Isaiah's family took over all the rest.  Rayne planned the house arrangement and decorations.  

She also made the cake!

Isaiah and Avery gently shared it.

Cliff, being a bishop, has the authority to marry, so he married his son in a sweet and sometimes emotional ceremony. 

The newest Mr. and Mrs. Adams-Hart.

 

The audience was small; only 40 of us were allowed to meet together for the ceremony thanks to the virus.  We transformed the living space into beautifully decorated tables for the meal that followed the ceremony.  Cliff made all the food and it was delicious!  Cliff's deacons served us.

Not all of our family was able to be at the wedding, but, happily, Reed and Dorothy and our Jessica were all there.  Here's Jessica and me.

Layne was happy to connect with Avery's grandfather, who worked in the Oakland Temple with us.

The wedding party made up just about half of the attendees.  Avery's bridesmaids L:  Amelia (cousin), Allegra, Rayne, Emily (cousin), R:  Eden (sister), Alli (soon to marry Avery's brother), Morgan and Makayla (stepsister).

Isaiah's groomsmen L:  Avery's older brother and younger brother (Ben), Dominic, R:  Chase and Avery's brother-in-law.

Here are the bride and groom with both sets of parents.

Audrey with her girls, Rayne, Morgan and Allegra.  Below she kisses her granddaughter, Hazel.

It was a lovely wedding.  We arrived a week ahead to help but also found time to connect with some precious people.  We visited our Sunol neighbor, Beverly Trutner, and one of the ladies we home taught, Anne Kelly.  It was good to see them.  Here we are with Anne.

We checked in with our foster daughter, Michelle and her daughter Kelsey too.  Michelle has been losing tons of weight.  She looks so lovely.  Take a look; here she is with Kelsey.

We dropped in on Ben and Jessica and kids too.  We shared dinner with them in their back yard.  They are very careful because of the virus.  We only stayed an hour and a half but it was so good to see them.  Here's Jessica with Abigail, and Ben.

Dorothy rented a house in Tracy for us to share the weekend of the wedding.  Our Jessica was there and Scott and his Jessica also.  Being with them was such fun.  We enjoyed a home Church meeting on Sunday, with everyone sharing insights on the scriptures.  We flew home on Monday with Reed and Dorothy.  So fun to be with so much family!

This weekend the newlyweds spent a couple of nights with us on the way back to school in Rexburg.  We celebrated Reed's birthday on Sunday.  He is such a fine man!  Dorothy, Angelica and I took Avery shopping today and it was such fun.  We gave them a goodbye dinner and sent them on their way. 

School starts tomorrow!  Online only for now.  The kids are primed with laptops from the school and priesthood blessings from Layne.  And so the school routine returns, after what seems like an eternal summer.  Bring it on!

 

Home with a Pandemic

 We are recovered from our reunion trip and enjoying continued time at home with no obligations.  I like this time, even though I basically feel it is unnecessary.  This feeling grows with each day our society continues to be somewhat shut down, masked and afraid.  Fear is the big issue with me.  If we are fearful enough we become willing to let go of freedoms in return for safety.  It seems a foolish exchange.  Especially if the fear is unfounded. 

Son-in-law Chris sent pictures of our reunion group that I didn't have for the previous post.  So here is one that he sent.  Back row L to R:  Dominic, Rayne, Vincent, Peyton, Jessica, Miles.  Front row L to R:  Bruce, Seth, James with son Alex (missing is his wife Alejandra, who was there but not present for the photo), Timothy, Layne, me, Audrey, Angelica, Reed, Chris, Isaiah and his love, Avery.

I am bunches of grateful for these wonderful people who make up part of our family.  I'm also terribly fond of the rest of them who didn't make it this year.

August 10 is our granddaughter Carmen's birthday.  This year she would have been 20 if we hadn't lost her to cancer 11 years ago.  Each year Reed and Dorothy and family celebrate her on her birthday by remembering her and releasing balloons in her memory.  This year we joined with them in our yard.

Dorothy handed out the balloons.

Timothy releases his purple one, Carmen's favorite color.

Vincent watches as Layne releases his.

Reed, offered sweet thoughts of his only daughter Carmen, before releasing his balloon.

It is a lovely moment to watch together as our balloons lift to the skies, disappearing before our eyes, as we imagine Carmen receiving them and knowing that we are sending her our love.

Angelica fills her days with carefully planned goals and activities.  Seth has been working all summer on his 4 online classes.  Between that and basketball he keeps busy.  I too, try and organize my days for accomplishment.  Sometimes I'm successful.  

Our next big event is Isaiah's wedding to his lovely fiance, Avery.  California temples are closed, so they will marry in Audrey and Cliff's home.  After they return to Idaho for school, they will be married for Eternity.  That will be 5 grandchildren married!