Maple "Grave" Hot Springs Tradition (Covid Restrictions)

Our annual Maple Grove Hot Springs get away was beautiful as always! 

The management was cautious of Covid and limited 

the number of visitors through advance reservations. 

Tiny pears were everywhere. 

Loved looking at this view of Oneida Reservoir 

while soaking in one of the pools. 

We stayed in that wonderful water until the sun set and stars lit up the night. 

<3

Maple Grove Hot Springs in the fall...

A bunch of us got away a few weeks ago 

on Friday night and Saturday

to Maple Grove Hot Springs

along the shore of Oneida Reservoir

 in southern Idaho.

Autumn's colors were breathtaking! 

The campsites were complete with picnic tables

and a resident flock of turkeys 

that wandered and clucked. 

This is one of Scott and April's favorite places. 

They found it when looking up all the different hot springs in Idaho. 

A few years ago, 

when Zac was on his mission, 

they invited our family to meet them there 

and we had such a great time together!

First Visit to Maple Grove

And then THIS happened!!!

Paul was one seriously hurting man! 

It's been 4 years since that experience 

and Paul said he was up for going to Maple Grave again 

but would opt out of the hot springs soak this time 

(the wound care Dr. 

suspected he had a break in his skin 

and some bacteria from the hot pots 

wreaked havoc on him.) 

Yes, you noticed that?
Paul affectionately refers to Maple Grove 

as "Maple Grave". 

He sat in a comfy camp chair on the edge of the pool

while the rest of us soaked in the hot springs,

sharing stories and looking 

 at constellations.

We brought kayaks to enjoy the reservoir.

Friday night's sunset was one for the ages. 

Thanks, Paul, for the beautiful picture below!

Saturday more of us went kayaking. 

We all loved having Anna

join us for our get-away.

My favorite spot 

was where the hot springs run-off 

entered the reservoir 

Rascal is not a fan of getting splashed, however,  

so this was NOT his favorite spot. 

Sorry pup. 

Thanks, everyone for the fun time! 

I've thought of our little get-away 

a dozen times since then. 

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."

-L.M. Montgomery

Do you do Dabke?

Our girlie is taking an Intro to Dance 1010

class this semester and that tickles me because
 she might ask me to attend some dance performances with her!

I got lucky this weekend as she asked me to go with her to 

the Repertory Dance Theatre performance of Dabke.

The music was an interesting Middle Eastern Folk and Arab Pop blend 

and was my favorite part of the evening.

Our girlie is the dancer in the family so she could appreciate

the modern dance more than I could. 

A side note - it's been many years

 since we've paid for parking in a SLC lot 

and they've made the best changes

 with these handy dandy little machines! 

They're genius!

"Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances."

-Maya Angelou

Spring break in the nighttime...

This week was the twigs' spring break from school. 

Zac needed to work so we couldn't go south to our beloved redrock.

We decided to make the best of it and play in the evenings.

(photo credit - Jason Carlton) 

We went to the temple 

(all except our poor Paul who had phlebitis 

and was stuck on the couch at home with his leg elevated). 

I went in to do initiatory work 

while the twigs and Meg'n went to do baptisms and confirmations. 

When I came out they looked surprisingly dry...

yup, the baptistry was super packed 

so they hadn't been able to get in. Oops! 

Another night, Paul and I were going to the Layton High School production 

of the Wizard of Oz for the Stake Single Adult group activity 

so we got tickets for the twigs and Meg'n to come along. 

It was a treat to see so many kids we know perform!

In between these activities, 

there was some board game playing and video watching. 

Another evening, our local missionaries came by for a visit.

Sister Christensen is an artist 

and painted this beautiful picture 

that they've made into a card with Elder Eyring's great quote. 

The week's activities ended with 4 hours of laser tag 

and some very sore thighs haha!

We'd like to do it all again tomorrow! 

So grateful for this precious little family.

<3

Monkeys I tell ya, monkeys with markers!

My parents were cutting edge techies - why was that? 

Was it because their sons were interested in it

 or did Dad just really like it? 

I don't know but it made us smile 

to see octogenarians on a computer

 sending emails and posting on facebook.

I have an septuagenarian friend 

who daily texts his grandson. 

He says it keeps them talking and connected. 

What a guy! 

I value these examples 

and have a goal 

to embracing technology. 

I don't always love it at first - it hurts my head. 

Does it do that to you?

Katie got me to embrace reading and studying

 my scriptures/lessons with tech 

by patiently showing me how it was working for her

 and now I'm converted. 

Thanks sweet Katie Kate! 

Sarah, Katie and Liz have also converted me 

to blogs and the internet for recipes - it's the best!

There's one holdout in all this tech however, 

it's the "Big Grid" paper calendar 

(picture from the internet)

hanging on the inside of my kitchen cupboard door. 

I've tried half a dozen calendar apps 

but haven't been able to make the leap. 

I'll keep trying so

if you have a favorite calendar app

 please do tell!

The month of October has been craaaazzzy!!! 

My "Big Grid" calendar looks like 

monkeys got a hold of it 

(picture from the internet)

with a pack of markers, 

markers in each hand and foot, 

markers drawing all over those "Big Grid" spaces!

Last weekend 

WSU had a one day fall break on Friday for UEA 

but the twigs were swamped with homework 
and I already mentioned the monkeys with markers

so leaving on vacation for our favorite slickrock,

orange sand, 

and towering slot canyon walls

wasn't in the cards.

We all talked about it as a family

and decided we could escape for a day 

if we went somewhere really close 

and the twigs did homework while we were there 

so we ran away to Midway, Utah. 

While the twigs were doing homework, 

The Mr. and I went for a walk 

and found another monkey 

poking fun at the golf course danger sign.

Our little get away 

was just what the doctor ordered. 

Now we're back 

and ready to take on

the rest of

what the monkeys did with markers to October. 

=D

A week in Alaska, day five and six...

We got to see our

"could not find nicer relatives" 
again on Sunday.

Scott and April saw a friend from Idaho too!

Everyone in the congregation at church was so welcoming. 

It amazes me how the same sweet spirit is present

no matter what ward or branch you attend. 

We got to enjoy 

one last Alaskan

ramble out yonder

on their beautiful trails.

Thanks Scott and April

for the great idea

to visit Alaska! 

It was a winner!

A week in Alaska, day four...whales ahoy!!

Morning four we enjoyed low tide at "Sandy Beach". 

It's a small world!

When we told Grandma we were going to Sitka, 

she said we had a cousin who lived there. 

Thanks to facebook, 

we were able to connect with Rod and Patty 

even before we got to Sitka. 

You seriously could not find nicer relatives! 

One night in Sitka they brought pizza over 

and we had dinner together. 

They also gave us salmon and halibut that they got from their neighbor

and told us how to cook it their favorite way - yum!! 

Scott and April had a connection in Sitka too, 

a family in their church group that

 ran a whale watching tour. 

Scottie made reservations several months ahead 

so day four we got to look for whales!

We headed for Silver Bay and 

I don't know what I was expecting, maybe this?

(photo credit - Rudee Tours)

Turns out that whales are quick breathers! 

They're up, sucking air, and back down in just seconds! 

You can hear them before you see them 

but by the time you see them 

they're back down again! 

Scottie got some fluke shots when the whales would dive.

We saw a little sea lion family too.

Wasn't that so nice of him to show me his teeth! 

He knew I'd like that. ;)

I'd love to clean those teeth if Mr. Sea Lion was asleep.

This fishing boat was interesting...

they spread out a big net, 

then pulled it in 

and dumped their catch onto the deck of the boat. 

The white critters left over in the net are jellyfish.

This little otter was pretty oblivious to us,

just floating along.

Our captain heard there were more whale sightings out in Sitka Sound

and cautioned us that it would be much rougher water. 

Everyone headed inside to watch, 

everyone except these hearty souls that is!

They were hanging on tight, getting totally drenched, 

and laughing the whole time!

After a wave would pummel us, 

the captain would clear the windshield with his wipers

so you can just barely see the whale in the middle of this picture. 

It was a blast!!

Whales ahoy!!