Forty five years and counting!

Forty five years and counting!   Sapphire stone is the traditional gift, so I decided to present Grandma Zucc with some sapphire/diamond jewelry.  Luckily on a previous anniversary, I had given her a sapphire ring and this matched perfectly the earrings, necklace, and bracelet that I presented to her on this wonderful occasion.

Rachel, a seven year old granddaughter helped me shop for these jewelry items.  In future years, she will probably never remember doing this unless I write it down; and the experience was quite funny, so here it is:

"We had been rained out at the Hill AFB air show, so we decided to visit the Layton Hills Mall, just to have some fun.  Our group was split.  Mike and Matt stayed outside looking at jet airplanes flying over the base.  Rachel was my buddy, and Grandma Zucc with Katie and the other girls, were doing their own thing.  I was in the process of buying the jewelry when Grandma came walking toward us.  Rachel and I quickly ducked behind some clothing racks.  I had her sneak out and spy on Grandma until all was clear.  We then continued to buy the jewelry.  Unawares, Grandma never suspected a thing, and Rachel and I thought we really got away with something.  Ha ha."

We celebrated our anniversary at the Zermatt Resort in Midway.  I presented Grandma Zucc's jewelry to her over a pizza in Matty's restaurant.  I know this doesn't sound like a very romantic way to give a nice gift, but really, it was a nice occasion.  Grandma had a novel plan to present a gift to me.  After dinner we made our way out to the car.  She had me open the trunk, then presented me with a new garbage disposal!  Now all I have to do is install it, so she can use it.  Ha ha.

Our room was really nice, kind of like a nice Marriott hotel, with a very comfortable bed, and nice furniture.

The lighting in the pic below is really cool.  The sun was just to disappear behind the mountain, and was illuminating the inside of the gazebo.  This gazebo was just below our third story window.  The grounds of the resort was very scenic.

Grandma gets jewelry over pizza!

Everything at the Zermatt has a Swiss theme including the above bronze bear.  "This adorable bear statue tells a story about a man of swiss descent who lived in Midway that dressed up as a bear, played the accordion and sang in german every year for the swiss days parade. This is a nice memorial in his name."

I'm sure there is a story that I don't know behind this little Swiss fountain boy, but maybe it is just a cute decoration.  Unfortunately the water was not running in the fountain.

In the morning we ventured across the road and had a wonderful breakfast at Fanny’s Grill inside the Homestead Resort.  We enjoyed both driving around and also reminiscing previous stays in the quaint cabins of the resort, and we vowed to stay in one of them the next time we visit Midway.

After a tour of the Heber Valley Cheese Factory, on our way home, we made our way past this interesting old cabin from the days of yesteryear.

I'm glad we have a nice home, and not a "little house on the prairie."

"May the forth be with you"

As you may know, Nick and Jason were with us last week.  We were giving them room for the week, while they attended EFY.  On the last night they talked in some detail about the trip their family had made to the Saint George air show, featuring the Blue Angels, who all flew F-16's.

"May the forth be with you"

They also talked, with great zeal, about the F-22 demonstration.  I just happened to have recently bought a DVD featuring the F-22, which they watched after Grandma Zucc and myself retired for the night.

Independence Day is almost here.  It is a day we look forward to each year, because of not only the virtues it represents, but also because we have a lot of fun. 

Tuesday the 26th of June is the primary elections.  All I can say is that I believe our country is ready for change, if we want to keep our traditional American way of life, so if you agree, please make your way to the polls.

"Oh man! That twas one heck of a long drive!"

On the way home from Julie's graduation, we decided to stay a night on the Oregon coast, in a nice little town called Seaside.  We had been there before some years past, but had an inner desire to see the ocean again and to smell the humid coastal air.  Tammy told me that she had never been to Seaside, so I told her I would post some pics on this blog.

The beach itself is quite large.  Keep in mind that the tide was out as I took these pics.  

You have probably heard that the Oregon coast line is quite scenic.  "Oh yeah!  It really is!"  The above pic was taken by me, facing south.  The pic below is of the hotels of Seaside to the north of where I was standing.  Along the hotel front is a concrete promenade that is about 2 miles long, I would say.  You can't see it here, but it is used by bikers, walkers, and strollers.  It even has streetlights spaced evenly along it's length.  "Very impressive!"

I did make my way down to the water.  If you know me at all, you have to realize that I cannot visit the coast without touching the Pacific Ocean.  Well, my hand went in and out real quick, then I took the below pic, and was glad the strollers had there backs turned away from me.  This saves me having to make an explanation, ha ha.

Several years ago, we made the trip to Seaside with some friends.  A storm was in full force, and it was dark outside.  The water was almost up to the promenade, and the wind was so strong, my umbrella kept folding inside-out, but I still made my way to the large waves pounding the beach, and quickly touched the water, but I had to be really quick and careful.

Seaside has a quaint main street running parallel to the beach front.  It has lots of nice places to eat, and some good shops for every type of shopper.  We were there in the late afternoon, and not many people were on the main drag, but tourists of all ages were beginning to make their way from the beachfront hotels.

One interesting place on main street was the Seaside Carousel Mall.  This place drew us to it like a magnet, ha ha.  In the center of this little mall was a large carousel, but the cheap shops that surrounded the big turning wheel are what we liked. "If only that hoodie had been the right shade of blue, I would have bought it!  As it turned out, we both left without buying anything.

We made our way down the street to Mckeown's restaurant, where we had a great dinner.  I had the pork chop, and I must say that this was probably the best one I have ever had.  The meat was perfectly cooked, and had the right amount of garnish on it.  Yum!  Walking back up the street, we were disappointed that the carousel mall was closed.  It was only 6 PM, but I guess they fold up shop early here.  I was really going to take a second look at the hoodie.

The sun was beginning to draw close to the horizon, so we drove just 6 miles south to the next little community called Cannon Beach.  This town is a little more - Woops! - A lot more uppity, than Seaside.  This is really a resort town, sort of like Carmel, California.  But the beach is fantastically scenic, as you can see by the pics below.

Grandma Zucc used to buy wonderful bread, called Haystack Bread, from a store on main street, when she was in her youth.  We wanted to bring some of it back to share with family, but sadly found out that the little bakery had  gone out of business.  In it's place is a tourist shop that sells candy, ice cream, and trinkets, so not to be totally denied, Grandma Zucc bought some candy.


                                      

We drove back to Seaside to stay the night.  I told Grandma Zucc that the next time we come to Seaside, we need to pay the price and spend the night in one of the beachfront hotels.  I think I could actually talk her into it, but who know when we will return?

The next day, we drove to Portland, where Grandma Zucc spent her childhood days.  I took a pic of the old house located in Westmorland, where she was raised.  I love the green in Portland, and luckily the sun was out, so we could really enjoy the beauty.

Not to far from Bev's old home, is the home of her Grandma Smith.  The Smiths are long gone from this life, but we still use Grandma Smith's recipe for buttermilk pancakes, especially for family gatherings.  They were delicious 100 years ago and are still so today!

Llewellyn Elementary School is Grandma Zucc's old stomping ground.  I thought it was interesting that right next to the school is a crematorium.  I guess this is where they send naughty kids to get rid of them!  Ha!

Just a block away from the school, was a five and dime store.  Now it is a colorful Mexican restaurant.  An old, 'beater' pickup truck was parked in front, proof positive that this restaurant is the real thing.  Someday we will eat lunch there, but on this particular day we made our way over to Bob's Red Barn to have one of their healthy but delicious sandwiches. 

Grandma Zucc told me that so many kids went to the five and dime store, to buy candy that the school officials had to put it OFF LIMITS.  I wonder if Grandma ever got in trouble?  You will have to ask her!


Do you believe in UFO'S?  As we drove up the Gorge, we saw a couple of them, and we even got a picture of them in the daylight.  You may say that you think these strange looking objects are just freak clouds, but I would guess the clouds are just smoky camouflage surrounding actually physical spacecraft!

The wind blew so hard in the gorge, that we got almost 37 miles per gallon.  There must have been hundreds of windmills, especially on the Washington side of the gorge, but this one suddenly appeared, almost mysteriously on the Oregon side, then all of a sudden they were all over the place.

Yes, finally back into Utah, between Snowville and Rattlesnake pass, a wildfire was happening.  No firefighters were there, so we just drove by, at 75 MPH.  I put my camera on the sports setting, for fast moving action shots, and was able to capture the actual flames.  I think the pics are pretty cool, but hope someone came to put this thing out.

We thought the new Brigham City Temple was really cool, and plan to come back someday for not only a session, but an 'overnighter,' and a good meal of old-folks food at Maddox.

You can always tell when you are in Utah, as Mormon churches are more plentiful than McDonald's restaurants.  We stopped to change drivers, and I caught a great pic of a spire!

"Oh man! That twas one heck of a long drive!"

We will have these moments to remember!

We will have these moments to remember!  How proud we were to have been invited to our oldest granddaughter's high school graduation ceremony!  Timberline High School was a better place because she was there, and I am sure she feels she is a better person having been educated there.  When I think of Timberline, I envision devoted teachers, dedicated to bringing out the best qualities of a diverse student-body.  Julie was no exception, having received honors galore on the graduation stage.  The graduation was held at Saint Martin's University in Lacey, WA.

All smiles

Hannah and Julie

Julie makes the "big screen" as she receives her diploma!

Only at graduation can you make bubbles!

Julie showing off honor medallions!

Our graduate with her parents!

It was a family affair, for sure!

At home, a little friend greeted her!

Graduation present!

A new printer with laptop yet to come!

New luggage for college!

In addition to graduating from high school, Julie graduated the next day from seminary, a four year course of private religious training. I am proud of her receiving her diploma from the educational department of her church. This course of study was held before school, requiring total dedication because of the early hours.

Two great ladies.

Michelle and Julie.  "When other nights and other days, May find us gone our separate ways, We will have these moments to remember."

Julie sings with her class members.

Seminary diploma and good book!

Now that my firstborn granddaughter has graduated from both high school and also seminary, with both new luggage and guitar in hand, she is truly ready to embark on the next great adventure - BYU.  By the way, even though she has an official drivers license, she is taking her bicycle to college, to help her get around campus.  Both Grandpa and Grandma Zucc are looking forward to spending some time with her at some before-game tailgate parties.  We will, for sure, be rooting for our Cougars!

Julie performs an original song! 

How happy he was!

How great is it to be 11 years old?  I don't know the answer to that question, as my 11th year celebration was way to long ago for me to remember, but the smile on Sam's face, definitely indicates how happy he was to be recognized.

Sam crosses over!

A few day's ago, Sam endured the "Crossover" ceremony.  I don't know if these kinds of graduations are held in all troops, but in Sam's troop it is a big deal for a cub to become a scout.  I'll bet his Mom was proud!  I know I am.

The following pics show what Sam got for his birthday.

It was hilarious to watch Sam as he eyed his packaged loot!  Even funnier was the fact that he preferred to sit on the floor with his presents, than sit on the couch.









During the actual opening, he preferred to lay on the floor.

Perhaps the gift he will enjoy the most in time to come, will be the guitar his parents gave him.

Greg already plays, so Sam has a good example to follow.  I know that playing a stringed instrument well takes time, as one has to learn how to hold it first then figure out how to properly place one's fingers on the strings.

It was a fun gathering for a special young guy.  Everyone there had a great time!

Even the cat!