Hope

A pandemic.  Fueled by instant information age caused overwhelming feelings of panic.  I had wrestled with the decision to keep our appointment in Utah.  I had come to the conclusion that we should go.  In the four hours it took to drive, I had second guessed my decision multiple times.  Questioning what was so important that I would risk the health of my children.  And the pandemic wasn't even a big deal yet.... Just wait a week and everything would be different.  Schools weren't closed yet... business were all still operating... And talk amongst friends wasn't only about the virus. ... yet.

We arrived in Utah and ran our errands and went to our appointments.  In between it all checking the latest updates and discussing the potential future.  We began to do things differently.  I wore rubber gloves to the store and carried clorox wipes to clean the cart.  I shopped alone whenever possible.  I found myself sanitizing my keys, my credit card, my door handle, my steering wheel, my phone, the gas pump handle.  We didn't stop for our usual treats or plan any fun activities into our trip.  I didn't want to cause paranoia in my boys, but I was beginning to cause it in myself.  I tried to stick to my shopping list and not suddenly buy items out of fear that weren't on my list.  I also knew of my limited vehicle capacity. 

I found myself not as eager to hold a door for someone else but rather hope that I could slip in to a store when a door was already open or catch it with my foot.  I became flummoxed when handed change after a transaction, realizing that money wasn't something I wanted to handle.  After over 24 hours of constantly checking reports, running errands to multiple locations since most stores were sold out of things and packing my car as full as possible, we spent the night at Channa's and worried.  Early the next morning we had one last stop to make to buy our perishables... the way I've always shopped when I make our routine trips, but as I drove to the store I felt overwhelmed and nervous to be going to the store again.  I questioned if I really needed the salad and butter and cheese on my list.  Could I make do with what I had on hand at home and just forego the stop.  I was feeling my stomach churn with the panic building. 

Subsequently I took a wrong exit and had to backtrack to find my way to the store.  That only added to my worries.  Especially as I saw the lines outside of the stores.  I was looking around for the road I needed to get back on track and stopped at a red light only to see the road I was on. 

Hope Drive!

All I could do, stopped at that red light was call out.. Thank you.  I needed that sign... literal sign.  That hope is not lost.  I can not give up on hope.  I had wrestled with the decision to run our errand and had felt it was okay.  I needed to carry on, not give up hope, and finish my errands and then take my boys and go home, just as planned. 

So as chaotic as this journey we're on is... with no road map or set itinerary, I remind myself regularly that I'm on Hope Drive and I just need to do my best. 

Just a Routine Visit

Every three months we make a trek to Utah for Dr. appointments, visit friends and family, run all the little errands that we can't do in our new rural life... and stock up for the next three months on supplies that have run low.  We were scheduled to do just that next Monday.  Then some conflicts came up (all of which have been cancelled... but not the point!), and we rescheduled for last Monday.  We rearranged a few things and then wondered, up until the moment we left, if we should go at all.  We went.  Unfortunately people in Utah heard we were coming for our regular, routine stock up run and all stormed the stores before we could get there.  (Pandemic may have played a role also.)

We were successful in some of our other errands.. 

We dropped off a bucket of fireplace ashes for a friend.  We kept our distance.  Left the bucket by the garage.. took a photo of where they were and texted when the drop was completed.  

We delivered the glass recycling.. always a highlight of our trip!  No one around but us.

We attempted to stock up at other grocery stores and encountered some overly protected shoppers.

We celebrated Kenzie's birthday.  Played a phone version of Scrabble with each other.  

Sang a Covid-19 version of Happy Birthday.

And then returned home to the official location of 'Social Distancing'.. 

Wyoming.

We were greeted with this... 

The first signs of spring.

I admit, I was grateful we weren't home when these chunks slid off the roof so our car wasn't in it's normal spot.  There are large chunks like this all around the house.  I wonder if they all fell off at the same time.  That would have been quite a noise.  It's noisy enough when the icicles fall.

Monkey on the ground

Our trip to Utah this month was a whirlwind filled four days.

We took glass to the recycling.

We saw Caleb.

We took Miles shopping for all the clothing and supplies he would need for the next 2 years.

We had Sarah give the boys haircuts.

We went to the temple.

We saw Sarah.

We went to our old neighbourhood annual chili cookoff and visited with friends.

We bought a car.

We went to the library... just because we could.

We saw Jim.

We dropped things off at the thrift store and even did some very fast shopping.

We stocked up at Walmart and Costco.

We bought supplies for this winter's projects at Lowes.

We saw Channa.

We went to chuch.

We took Whittaker to his Dr. appt.

I had the flu.

We drove a LOT.

We also had some fun.

There wasn't a lot of down time but we filled it when there was some.  

We ran (literally) to the old park and played 'monkey on the ground' for old times sake.

We watched the sun set.

We tried each hour to watch the cuckoo come out of the clock at Caleb's house.
It took me coming downstairs after everyone else had gone to bed to finally see it... but I captured it.

Now the boys want a cuckoo clock... and why stop there... how about one that has a train that comes out each hour... and the train track goes all the way around the room... and each train car birds can cuckoo and move and dance...
Dream BIG!

We even raked leaves and enjoyed autumn...

...it forgot to come to Wyoming.

Hit the road Jack...

All good things must come to an end... 

but...

better things come with us!

First stop on the way home is restocking the pantry.

It took three carts. 

One for the little boys.

One for the cello.

And lastly, one for the food.

After a while the cart needs changed.

Elowen is stubborn and obnoxious.  (she may have been still recuperating from her illness and been truly fatigued but....)  She refused to play the cello while we pushed her through the store.  It was an enormous store... biggest Costco ever.  AND.. it's open at 7am!! That means we get an early start to our travels and that is most welcome!

The worry... of others... is always.. will it all fit.

I am an excellent Tetris player.

I also know the limits and abilities of my van.  I will miss it.

This wasn't even a big shopping trip.

With the van fully loaded we were off. 

We were hearing many tales of fun from the long, puffy haired Duncan of his Canada trip.

He spoke fondly of many frosties... so we stopped for a final one of the summer before we left civilization.  I knew what what they needed... I take them there.

Duncan instructed us in the correct way to order with out lids, spoons or carriers.

Less waste.

I carry special cutlery in the van so we were prepared!

Snacks were an integral part of our travels.

We witnessed the craziest sight when we fueled the van.  

This lady was dancing and carrying on while she pumped her gas.  Perhaps she's the sane one... enjoying life... we should all be so fortunate!

The welcoming committee was awaiting our Wyoming arrival!

Traveling woes

Living rurally has been delightful... especially when we have no place else to go.

However.  more often than we'd like.. we have some place else to go.

Generally.. just to town.. which is in itself a trek.

Periodically, we have to really go places.  Doctor appointments, real shopping, and airports are a few of the periodic destinations.

Of course we do our best to take full advantage of every needed excursion and cram as much into a few days on the road.

This last trip was no exception.  PLUS.. I now have a new calling that requires distance travel every other week during the spring to fall months.  So, I've done my best to coordinate the required travel with other needed periodic trips.  Even being as efficient as possible.. it's a lot of driving about.  Vehicles are the bane of our existence these days.  We have a high efficiency car that gets 40 miles to the gallon... but it only seats 5 and is in for repairs more than not.  The other vehicle we have only gets 20  mpg.. but it seats 8 and has cargo space and most importantly, heated seats... BUT.. it isn't able to traverse our dirt road in the winter... so as much as we love it and it's perfect in every other way... we're looking for a new car... Optimally.. 4wd, seat 6-8, HEATED seats!, and awesome mpg since I'm regularly on the road.

But I digress... we haven't found the utopian vehicle yet and we had to make one of our efficiently planned periodic trips.

• We had run out of almost everything in the kitchen... and toilet paper.  
• Whittaker had a Dr. appt. 
• Duncan was returning from a 5 week trip to Canada to see Grandma and cousins... and he had a grand time.
• Boys clothing was all shrinking.... 
• We were picking up delightful house guests!
• I had meetings in lesser known, distant parts of the region that were on the way to SLC.
• We had a box full of glass to recycle and there isn't glass recycling in our area of WY.
• We needed to visit people....  Winter is coming ... again... soon.

We left the house on a Sunday morning at 6am.  After 3 hours of driving the boys were very patient as they waited for 4 hours of meetings to end.  They were rewarded with a fun sack lunch and more driving.  I listened as they watched Milo and Otis for the third time that day.  

We enjoyed a visit with Uncle Jim, who was a wonderful host.. offering constant beverages and snack options.  

We were delighted by Sarah's tales of her recent trip to the Redwood forests in California with Uncle John.

Sarah kindly gave me a much needed haircut and in a surprise moment.. pulled Emerson's tooth!  Now he just needs two front teeth for Christmas.

We were off to Channa's next where the boys ate, again!  Channa shared tidbits from her recent spanish lessons that would be helpful for Miles and we tucked the boys in and ran a few errands.  

A late night and an early morning after a long day of driving and we were off to another long day of driving.  

We had an appointment an hour away and a few errands to run before our next destination in Manti.  Whittaker's mouth guard was cracked and he needed to be fit for a new one.  I thought since most of my errands were generic we could run them in the town where the doctor appointment was.  In theory.. yes. However....  

Most of the stops weren't open before our appointment. 

I'm not familiar with the area and had to look up every location.

The few that we did find that were small satellite versions of the stores we needed and did not have the items we were looking for. 

So running around for two hours before the appointment only availed us of an auto parts store and a car wash.

It was at least a fun car wash!

The boys loved watching the car be washed from the windows while they enjoyed the complimentary popcorn and juice and played with the toys in the children's corner. 

I enjoyed knowing that inches of Wyoming dust and mud wasn't weighing us down anymore.  Also that they vacuumed out the interior and washed the inside of the windows.  

The boys enjoyed many car games with so many more things to see than in our little town.

The odd, 'Beep, beep.. red jeep,' or 'slug bug', or 'bingo', or 'wide mouth frog/ tight-lipped' was called from the back seats... and then... 

it was as though Whittaker was exploding!  "beep. red. um beep , um jeep, um white, um green, um beep jeep... .... BEEP BEEP RAINBOW! JEEPS!.. 

I turned to look and there it was... 'Beep, Beep.. Jeep Dealership!'

Then we pulled into park at the doctor and ... 'Tight-lipped, bingo, slug bug.. new style!"

What an exciting morning!

With the doctor appointment over we ran our remaining errands that were now open and then ate and fueled the van so we could be off for the last bit of driving for a while.  

Two hours later we were in Manti.  We spent the rest of the evening... lazily sitting on porch swings, visiting, and taking a short walk to the park.  We think we even saw an owl fly over us .... it was fast and we weren't certain. 

We didn't have to go anywhere for 36 lovely hours.  

Meanwhile... Duncan's travel woes were just beginning!!

As we enjoyed a leisurely visit in sleepy little Manti, we were kept apprised of Duncan and Jill's lack of travel progress..

Eager beavers at the airport ready for a 6 hour trip to Utah.

After a small delay, they finally boarded and were excited for lift off.

After hours of further delays on what was finally determined to be a 'broken airplane', they even taxied out to the runway to attempt jumpstarting the plane but inevitably disembarked and stood in long waiting lines to re-book flights and find connecting flights and arrange for accommodations since they wouldn't be leaving until the next day.

On a search for some nut free sustenance after a long, long, day of delays and sitting around the airport. 

Finding beauty in the craziness.

After being fed!

A quick sleep since they now had to be up at 3am to catch the new flight.

Next day attempt at travel! 

New game discovered during lengthy layovers!

(what is the connection of the 4 photos?)

Finally... over 24 hours later they made it to Utah.  Tired, achy and hot.

So we went straight to shopping...  then spent time running around in SLC, taking Elowen to Cello lessons, dropping off Jill and running quick errands before being accommodated for the night so we could travel some more the next morning!

Efficiency in travel at its finest!

Foxy Kitty Tails

While visiting in Manti an extra guest arrived on the doorstep.

A foxy, furry kitty.

He and the resident cat, Frisby, got on surprisingly.  Whittaker was quite taken with the fluffy  tailed feline.  He and Emerson spent a lot of time observing the antics of the kitties.

In fact... Whittaker insisted on a photo with the temporary furry guest before we left for SLC once again... so he wouldn't forget about him.  

I took very few photos while in Manti...  and most were accidental photos I wasn't even aware had occurred.  

These odd photos I came across on my phone afterwards were of nothing exceptional... 

This one was taken on purpose.  Elowen is talented on both the piano and the cello and you can tell that she enjoys playing music.  I enjoyed listening.   I thought I was taking a video of her playing a song I liked... apparently it was a photo.  I'll just hum the song when I look at the photo. 

Other adventures, that I didn't take any photos of... because when I relax I don't think to snap pics of .... relaxing.... in Manti included;

• a trip to the library in the historic building on main street... as many books in a bag for a dollar.. can't resist!
• a trip to a used book store... I'm not a reading addict... I don't think.
• a trip for Mummy and Amber to the Manti Temple
• lots of visiting and thoroughly relaxing
• keeping tabs on Jill and Duncan's travels... or non-travels as they were

While at the used bookstore, I became engrossed in looking at lots of books... odd that.

Elowen had been feeling under the weather the week before our arrival but was beginning to perk up.  So it was perplexing to discover Emerson -- not sleeping and not feeling sick (his slurred and sleepy words-- on the floor in one of the book aisles.   It couldn't have been from Elowen... we'd barely arrived the day before but he definitely looked sick suddenly.  He was warm and couldn't keep his eyes open.  So we left.  By the time we returned to the house he was feeling better and was hungry.  After eating he was content to go to sleep.  He never became worse as the week went on but he had a lingering cough and sniffles.  

We learned the next day that Miles also had felt under the weather... so Elowen was absolved of spreading the germs.

I was so glad to see the Manti temple... going in and seeing the beautiful architecture and the furnishings, it was like stepping back in time and I couldn't help but consider the pioneers who must have toiled after long days on their own fledging farms to build such an enormous testament to their faith.  Giving time, resources and energy to build this lovely temple.  I am told it will soon be shut down for renovations and retrofitting.  I hope the character is not lost in updates. 

Symphonic adventure

Early in June, we left Winterland and headed south for Summerville!  We only stayed the weekend.  But we always pack in as much as possible. 

We enjoyed a few short visits with Sarah for her TWENTIETH birthday!!!  Our lives are so odd now that we are the ones coming to town to visit our children instead of the other way around.  Daddy took Sarah for a birthday breakfast and then Sarah joined Grandma, the little boys and I at Jim's for some birthday cake and singing.  

We attended a phenomenal concert at the end of Elowen's week long Symphony camp.  We watched the youngest cellist play, and enjoyed an outdoor orchestral playing of the William Tell overture, with full cannon display!

We spent a quick visit to Manti to play games in a favourite alcove and enjoyed the views of the renovating of an old house with much character.  

Whittaker had his quarterly dr. appointment and received a new mouth guard appliance.  

We did LOTS of shopping and stocking up.

We picked up Grandma and returned to Winterland once again.

A trip down South

A picture says a thousand words..

(So obviously more pictures in the blog is best!)

I've been told that if there aren't any photos to tell the story then it never really happened..

(I won't get all historical and logical on that since that would mean before photography nothing ever occurred...)

We have recently moved and found enjoyment in simpler times... including enjoying the moments of our lives completely.  Perhaps what I'm trying to say is... we took a trip to visit family and friends and it really did happen.. We just were so caught up in the enjoyment that we didn't snap any photos.  So before there were photos there were lovingly hand drawn pictures.  We've decided to try our hand at capturing memories the old fashioned way!

Oh.  except this one and only photo that I took of the boys from Sunday morning.  We stayed with some friends who had this great old pinball machine in their basement.  The boys were entertained for literally hours!  They are the ones who handed me the camera and said take a picture so we can remember.  

(They should perhaps be in charge of all photography in the future!)

Other memorable (in my opinion.. even more memorable) events that took place. 

The little boys and Duncan spent the first night having a sleepover with Caleb.  Caleb's new truck was exciting enough to want to go for more driving... after being in the car all day.
 

Duncan even joined him on a trip to the DMV to register the truck. 

Errands..  all the shopping that is unavailable in our little town. Groceries.. clothes... books..

We combined having lunch with a great visit with Uncle Jim and Lorrie.  We ate lots of Greek food and laughed and chatted.  It was delightful to catch up on all the news of family. Must visit more in future trips to Utah.  The dog.. Jackson was extremely excited for us to visit! 

We had two quick visits with Sarah.  Once on Saturday when we saw her new little car, met her friend C.J. and picked up her 'no longer wanted' items after she unpacked in her new place.  Then we met her again Monday as we headed out of town when we stopped for some cocoas for the road!

We made an extra little trip to Manti to see our friends in their new house.  Always too short a visit!  Always a fun time!!  Their house is in a state of remodeling and chaos... We felt right at home!!  The house is also .. a-Maze-ing.  hee hee.  We took a tour but still found ourselves turned around and lost!

The kiddos played games and games and more games in many different nooks and crannies of the house. (literally)

All together now

For over a year there were moments that I tried to capture in case it was the last time we were all together for a while.  Knowing that the move was 'any time now'.  I was not excited to be moving away from my oldest children.  Children are supposed to leave the nest one at a time, coming home for a home cooked meal, advice and respite from the adult life they thought was going to be so much easier.  But instead the nest was packed up, sold and moved to a remote and frigid location.  Mama bird left as well.  Two were launched in unceremoniously strangely done circumstances.  

So began my let's take a group photo while we're all here mantra. 

I do come by it honestly.

Mum is still trying to grab group shots, whenever she can.

First and great chance was visitors!

Jill, Bailey and Sybil came.

So an evening of fun was planned.  Silly was definitely on the menu!

Patrick was already living in Wyoming so our trip to the Ranch for the eclipse was a fabulous opportunity for some photo taking.

Especially a rural setting photo to prep us for our new digs.

They've grown up way too fast!

It's so obvious that this princess is surrounded by protectors... and jesters!

We seem to have more success getting everyone to give a silly look than everyone smile at the same time.

All together again only a few months later for Whittaker's baptism.

Silly wins out the day again.

All together plus..

Surprise!  Grandma!

Christmas in Wyoming was another photo op.

Oops.. Caleb didn't come straight home from church.  He went to feed Elk with Sam.

Almost everyone.  We'll take what we can get.

Springtime in Utah.

The move is bound to be any day now.

Duncan was home for Spring break.

Better take photos.

Even better.

Take photos and include the Connolly three.

No Photo shoot is complete without all 9 kidlets!

Okay so Patrick was still in Wyoming, so it's a complete kiddo photo.

Any opportunity with most of us warrants a photo!

Off to get a free meal at Chick-fil-A on a HOT July day.

With our cow, sock puppets no less.

"Well this is really it.  The last shot of us all together.  We live in Wyoming now."

I was almost teary eyed.  

It could have been the early hour before Caleb and Sarah left for Utah.  

It could have been the exhaustion of days of packing and moving.  

Then Caleb said, "Yup... all together.  Too bad Miles isn't here. hmm"