Our Turn To Feed The Pig!

Our Gila River Ward has us involved in raising a ward garden & pig. The young men & leaders

built the pen. The ward had a, family planting the garden day! Kelly helped ward

families plant the corn. He said it was a bit of chaotic fun!! The kids thought it was

great!!



Last week was our turn to feed the pig! I saved up watermelon rhines & carrot peelings

some fruit & hotdogs & table scraps. Kelly also bought a bag of pig feed to donate

incase we didn't have enough scraps. We visited the farm, fed the pig & checked to

see how the garden was growing. The corn was nearly 3 feet high & their were zucchini

in the vines. The pig wasn't named for obvious purposes. The plan is to harvest the

vegetables & have roast pork for our Ward Christmas Dinner Party! We get to enjoy the

fruits of our labors!! Everyone is taking pictures for a slide show at the Christmas Party!!

An Unlikely Story!

Last night we roasted a peacock in our fireplace!!!! What?????? You say!!! It's true!!
About a month ago a beautiful peacock appeared on my back patio. He wandered around
the back yard & would keep coming back to my sliding glass window & I was quite enjoying
his beauty & presence. I thought he'd go back home after investigating awhile, but he kinda
stayed around so I fed him some scraps. He kinda reminded me of the several beautiful peacocks that wandered around the yard at Uncle D.S.'s big Ranch House on his ranch where my Dad worked & we'd visited & stayed many times. Then one day he sorta dissappeared & I didn't
see him around anymore. Well later on I started hearing this scraping noise around the
fireplace area & mentioned it to Kelly several times. I thought the squirrels were making
nests or playing under the eaves again. Well vacation time came & went & we had Shaun
walking through the house a couple of times while we were gone. He didn't mention anything
unusual. Well about a week after our return I walked into the house & it smelled & I started
checking things. The next day worse & 3rd day, my what a stench!!!! It was hitting us like
a wall!! After checking everything we could think of, I said a squirrel must of died & you
need to check out the garage & attic. After not coming up with anything, Kelly happened
to mention to me that he had seen the peacock roosting on our antenna several times &
couldn't figure out why he did'nt roost in the big tree with all it's branches!! I didn't know they could fly that high! I'd only seen them sit on a fence. That clinched
it & I said we need to look up the chimney!! Sure enough he found a peacock feather!!
And the smell confirmed it! Oh my he must of perched on the edge of the chimney & the
wind knocked him off balance & he fell down the chimney & couldn't get out! I'm surprized
he didn't squawk! Poor fellow he died there. I just can't understand why we didn't smell
it before we left on vacation & why it didn't start to smell until a week and a bit after
vacation!! Either he was up higher & later fell lower when he started to decay!! But thank
heaven we were blessed or we would of had a worse problem!! Somebody was watching out
for us. I suggested we turn up
the air & stoke a big fire in the fireplace!! And my what a firrrrrre we made!!! If somebody
would of come by they would of thought we were a bit crazy!!!! I had alot of sweet smelling
candles burning too!! Then latter we opened all the windows & turned on the fans & let
alot of air out & took in alot of fresh air!!!! The trick worked!! Whew, what a blessing!!

Vacation Tidbits

I forgot to mention that Nanny-Pat took us down near the warf to a restuarant where
she introduced us to "baked clam on the shell"!! Not to bad with spicy sauce & parmesan
cheese. A bit chewy, but good! I felt like I was in old Louisiana!!! They had guys there that
looked like they were right off the fishing boats & were shucking the oysters right there for
us to see! And the shells were part of the outside landscape. We did it Lauren, but not raw
yet!!! The young guys next to us were chowing down on them though!

Also, when we were in Georgia, Kelly went to 8 gas stations that were all empty before
he found one that had gas!! We were getting a little worried about getting back to Panama
City. I guess because of the recent hurricanes & having to shut down some refinieries it
affected at least 8 states back east. Half of the gas stations were out of gas!! I can see
where it would be smart to have extra gas on hand for emergencies!! Shaun said nothing
like that happened here.

Back In Panama City

Kelly spent alot of time working in Nanny's yard & fixing little things in the house. Trimmed
tree & bush branches, dug out tree roots, cleaned out roof storm catchers, pulled weeds &
replanted a flower garden, weed whacked & racked pinecones. Planted some plants, mowed
lawn & he & Nanny shopped for a sit-down lawn mower & he spent an afternoon teaching
Patty how to drive it & get it back through the small shed door!! She hopes she doesn't take
out the back of the shed if she's to slow at hitting the brakes!! Ha! Ha! She still doesn't want
to move out west yet! Seems happy to stay there as long as she can!

We did find time a couple of days to shop at the beach stores & spend some lazy hours on
the beach enjoying the sun, the breeze, walking the beach & getting in the water. The
oceon was a bit of a chill this time of year. Had to catch a few quick breaths entering the water.
I spent a good part of the time enjoying the water. Kelly mostly read, "The Host" by Meyer &
his can of raid spraying the bitting flies. He's easily entertained, I swear give him a can of
raid & somekind of insect & you'd think it was the thrill of a lifetime!!!! I don't ever remember
being bothered by flies before, must be seasonal.

We did enjoy a dinner cruise around the bay one evening! Great food! Beautiful night lights
& we had a live band who played a couple of our favorites & we did a bit of dancing!!! Uh-la-la!!
Good time! Much more enjoyable than last time when Kelly was hobbling around on his crutches!

I had to coach Paco a couple of times but soon he was saying Shaun! Shaun!!! Shaun again!
Sorry Ashley! In the short time I coudn't get him to say you name! You'll have to plan a
visit!! I tried to find the little turtle Nanny Pat nearly ran over with the lawn mower but
couldn't find him. I was going to take him home to Annika!! But, no luck!

Vacation was over to soon & friday we drove back to Jacksonville, had a nice steak dinner at
"The Longhorn", wish they had one here! Then caught an early flight back home! We were
shocked to hear it was back up to 105 degrees in Phoenix again. I thought we'd left that
behind!!

Last week I watched Jathen & Brylee while Michelle & Jon were off to New York! Sorry!
I locked myself out of the house & had to call Michelle right while she was trying to enjoy
the sights from the Empire State Bldg. OOps! Ashley & I had worked on tying a quilt
while I was there & I was helping her & Emmery back out to the car to take her home &
I had one set of keys but not the other & that day I had'nt left the back door unlocked.
One night I took Jathen to his Karate class & watched him earn his Yellow belt!! Go
Jathen! I heard alot of "Back Off"!!!!! He did great!

Trip to Florida & Georgia

Our long awaited vacation finally came on Tuesday Sept. 16th with Shaun arriving bright
& early to take us to the Airport. At the check through stations they promptly took away
1 lrg. & 2 small bottles of lotion, 1 can of mousse, 1 new bottle of cream rinse, 1 new bottle
of shampoo, 1 new tube of toothpaste & 1 new can of hairspray & trashed them!!!! Wow are
they strict! I'd forgotten, next time I check them instead of put them in my carry-on!!!

We flew to Jacksonville, Florida then rented a car & drove down to Panama City on Weds. A 5 hr
trip. After the greetings & visiting, Kelly layed down for a nap on his Mom's bed. When he
woke up and rolled out of bed, the bed broke down & fell on the floor!!! Glad I wasn't in it! Ha! So we spent the afternoon taking the bed apart trying to fix it! Gave up for the evening & decided to go out to Pineapple Willy's on the beach
for dinner & try again the next day! Decided the whole base of the bed had to be replaced so
several trips to Home Depot for wood, braces, measuring & sawing etc. with a few mistakes in
the making. Most of Thursday was spent putting the bed back together & wha-la!! Bed finally done! Hurray!! We can get some snooze again!!!

Friday we took Nanny- Pat with us & drove up to Brittney's in Atlanta, Georgia with a few hair- raising road events along the way & alot of map reading we arrived safely intact! Patty seemed
to manuever Brittney's 17 stairs to the 2nd floor ok which I was kinda thinking we'd have to
just carry her up. So we were good! Now she know's where Brittney lives & can picture where
she's at & what she's doing. After the Hello's we took the family out to Chinese.

Saturday mornng we were up bright & early & loaded everyone up to go see C. J,'s football
game. Kelly, Chris & C.J. went ahead earlier. Of course the woods & scenery is gorgeous &
green back there & the weather was perfect for watching a game. Funny though, they had
almost as many dad coaches, as kids on the team!!! They even had twelve little cheerleaders,
& Brittney says it's costs a pretty penny to be one. Even more than the team players.
With alot of cheering, C.J's team won 24-0. Brittney says she's not very competitive! She
thinks we should of let them get one touch-down! I got some cute shots of C.J. Chris &
the Bulldog mascot. They say he's a decendent of the Atlanta teams Mascot. Go C.J. &
team!!!! He's so small I was afraid he was going to get crushed! But he seems to get on ok &
likes playing!

In the afternoon, we loaded up again & headed for the church for C.J.'s Baptism. Brittney did a good job putting a little program together. We'd practiced with
the kids to see if they could & would hold still long enough to sing, "When Jesus Christ Was
Baptized. In practice, not so good! , infront of the audience, cute as could be with Macey between
the two boys. I was glad we went for it! One of Chris's non-member co-workers came & I'm
hoping he felt the spirit there. Pretty special to attend C.J.'s Baptism! Patty played the piano,
I led the singing, & Kelly got to confirm him. Auntie Cathleen & cousin Tanner gave the talks.
We got a few good pictures. I loved the picture of C.J. being kissed on both cheeks by Chris
& Brittney & him inbetween lit-up like a light bulb! Nice turn out of ward members & Brittney's
friends. Especially since there was a big football game later on that afternoon after the Baptism,
between Atlanta team & Arizona's Sun Devils! Some were transplants & rooting for ASU!
But we lost big time that night! We adults did make time to go out to Macaroni Grill for dinner
before the game.

Sunday we enjoyed services with the family & especially, a talented family quartet,"special
number" in church.They sang,"My Sheep Hear My Voice." beautiful!! The best I've ever seen performed at a Sacrament Meeting! So
professional! Chris said they did perform professionally before they had families.