After the pumpkin patch

After the pumpkin patch visit, the ladies retired to the dancing room, where the electric piano accompanied them in the traditional pumpkin patch celebration.

If you liked the dance, you can applaud their performance as you watch the next video.

In the pumpkin patch

In October, Melanie, Ben and Mike went to Seattle to participate in Andrew Golden Hale's blessing, and decided to have some fun, too. Here Susannah, Melanie and Diane Hale, Scott's mother, practiced sitting on pumpkins and saying "Oh!"

Mike and Melanie in Washington

Here is Melanie, all set to go. We were supposed to help Dave and Miranda move in, but by the time we got there, they had moved in, so they decided to entertain us, instead.


See their cute apartment! and paternal Dave, taking care of Milo.



Here is Milo, already to go , for a day on the town with Grandmother and Grandfather Anderson



The Four M's (Mike, Melanie, Miranda and Milo) wandered down Alexandria's King Street, which was named that way back when we had a King. Looking for a lunch site, we saw a workman with a good looking burger, but we kept on looking.

Later, we investigated the Torpedo Factory, which was what it was named, and then converted into a building where artists can both do their work and show their work. Here are Milo, Melanie and Mirand celebrating our great parking space by the Torpoedo Factory.





Our next stop, the law school, to pick up Dave, after a long day of learning about the Law.Mike learned that George Washington University was founded with a bequest from the estate of George Washington several years after his death, and is in Washington D. C., close to Georgetown, and The White House. We went into Georgetown, and found a great parking place on the street, close to the restaurant. We were going to eat dinner with Missy, Greg, Megann and Emily at an Ethiopian restaurant called Zed's. We followed Hillary Clinton's suggestion on the pick, who had eaten there before.

Ethiopian food is eaten by hand, without utensils. All at the table wash their hands first, the food is served in sauces, on a large tortilla like bread. We tore off pieces of the bread, and picked up some of the food in the piece of bread, then popped in our moths. The food was delicious and our server was very helpful and friendly.





Melanie and Megann were happy with the idea of frozen yogurt for dessert.



Missy and Jay's family have been wonderful hosts for Dave and Miranda. And, they were generous with their time while we were there, inviting us all to dinner, and then going to Zed's with us.

The next day, we walked down the Mall, headed for the National Gallery of Art. On the National Mall, there was a lot of activity, in cluding the National Association of Negro Women's National Black Family Reunion, with seminars, speeches, music and dance. At the other end of the Mall were the protests against national health care. It was fun to see the demonstrations of our democracy up close, and enjoy seeing the two groups get along well together. We went to the National Gallery, and saw the only DaVinci in America, some beautiful pieces, and a special exhibition of armor and art. The disco tunnel connected two of its buildings underground. Then we met at DuPont Circle for dinner at Crepe's a Gogo


Melanie and Mike had a great time seeing Miranda and Dave in their new environment. They have a nice apartment, a good ward, Missy and Jay's family are great family support. Life is exciting in the nation's capitol, and Dave is busy studying and looking for a summer job. Miranda is a creative and spiritual force. We feel blessed by all the good things happening there.

No pictures today, but Melanie and I had a great time celebrating our 32nd anniversary, by doing suchi at Ichiban. Ichiban used to be the Fontana, where we had our reception back then.

Miriam's 78th birthday art show

My brother Matt and his wife Rachel had this great idea, to celebrate our Mother's 78th birthday with a show of her art. So, we looked at several venues, choose the Colonial Hills chapel where her ward is meeting temporarily. Matt and Rachel put out a beautiful invitation to Mom's friends.


















Then Rachel, with some help from Cherie and Melanie put on a great feast for invited guests.







We arranged the pictures in the Cultural Hall (which we now understand why it was named that way).

And we had the show.












Lot's of people came! Family and friends




... What a great time to honor our dear Mother, Grandmother and friend!

Andrew Golden Hale

The pictures from this post are borrowed from Amy and Scott Hale's (his parent's) blog, but I can't help it. I gotta post!

Andrew Golden Hale, was born to Amy and Scott Hale, living in Seattle. He was 9 lbs, 14 oz, and 20 inches. He was born during a heat wave, reported to be the hottest day on record for Seattle. But, here he is!

Uncle Rob mentioned the Beatles song, "Golden Slumbers," which has always been one of my favorites, so I include the second verse.


Golden slumbers fill your eyes
Smiles awake you when you rise
Sleep pretty darling do not cry
And I will sing a lullabye

Like me, you might like the verse even better when you sing it.

We feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family and to witness such exciting events, like Andrew's arrival, like that of his cousin Milo earlier this summer. I can't wait to get to know them and see where they are going. Look out world! Another generation is coming! I thank my Heavenly Father for the chance to be around to see them.

July 24

What a great holiday weekend! We started out on a hike in our beloved foothills, confirming Brother Brigham's earlier view, and the proof is in our beautiful city below.






Not wasting a minute, Melanie was on the line touching bases with the kids across the country on the trail.

Later that day we had a breakfast at Emigration Market with the kids that are here, Rachel and Ben, and then, the next day, had a wonderful breakfast up the canyon, but have no pictures. Jacob and Mike were celebrated in the traditional great pancakes cooked on an unpredictable propane stove.





The barn at the ranch is apparently in its last days, so Melanie showed us some of the remains of the pool from the site of the old house, now gone many years, and where the barn may go soon. She rang the dinner bell, and we showed Rachel, Maria, Piper and Lucy how to swing on the porch.


















Sunday night we got to see our friend of many years "Tommy" here to visit from Japan. We compared notes, how we had all aged, and enjoyed pictures of his family. Fun memories!

July 19 Sun Valley and Peru

Sun Valley was fun; while Mike was explaining the benefits of the bank's exchange program, Melanie and Miranda could do some walking around the grounds.








Later there was a barbecue on the lawn where the Kaysville Andersons met the Salt Lake Andersons.




















A quick walk into Ketchum revealed the hitherto lost location of the Dollhouse. We cooled off with a trip to LeRoy's Ice Cream, which we liked so much, we came back the next day again.












Milo, David and Miranda's son was the star of the trip. Here he is when he learned he was too young for Ice Cream at the Ice Cream Social.











Here are Rachel and her friend Piper Morgan (who tended Rachel for us at Sun Valley, along with several of the young crowd at Sun Valley).









Melanie also found a Diamond Anniversary edition of Scrabble, guaranteed to not wear out, although we tried.












A quick side trip to Redfish lake revealed the beauties of the Anderson women, and Mount Heybourn of the Sawtooth Mountains.















No trip to Sun Valley is complete without a trip to Despo's (formerly Desperado's) Mexican restaurant.










Milo later submitted this video report of the trip to Despo's (click on the arrow):





When we returned home, we were happy to find a letter from Sarah, in which she had sent us some pictures in Peru. Here she is with her companion, Sister Flores, and a new member, Victoria.

She also loves to walk through this part of Chiclayo, where she is posted, enjoying the colors. She reports loving the food, the colors, the friendly people. But most of all being impressed at how friendly and open they are to each other and to her. She feels that they have something to teach us about becoming part of one's community, and being true brothers and sisters. She also reports that her Spanish is getting better, and her pensione is wonderful!
Thanks Sarah, for taking the time and the energy to share yourself with us, and the world!