October's Bright Blue Hour

There's a poem shared by President Packer:

O suns and skies and clouds of June,

And flowers of June together,

Ye cannot rival for one hour

October’s bright blue weather.

Although I do really like June, I have very much enjoyed the beautiful fall we've been having.

This photo was taken after we had some snow in the mountains.  I should have zoomed in better.  I was out jumping on the trampoline and felt such a goodness of light and color.  I tried to capture it.

Trying to recap some of the events of this month.  I realize I still haven't shared anything about trek, or even our trip to California almost a year ago.  I'll try to just work backwards as I'm able.

EksAyn and Patty came to visit the Wednesday before General Conference.  That same Wednesday morning, Esther, James and I went to the temple early.  We took Danielle and Sarai.  Esther and I waited in the comfortable waiting room.  (Esther enjoyed a short nap) while the girls and James did baptisms and confirmations.  We took them to school, then Esther and I did the female initiatory of those just baptized. 

Eks and Patty stayed overnight on their way to Yellowstone and then to Missoula to visit the Lindsays.   We served elk stew which they both raved over.  We gave them a care package for Myrisa with granola, bottled applesauce, bottled peaches, and some canned soup to supplement her meager college diet. (Which we learned when we were there over Labor Day was a dozen eggs and two cans of chili).

The next morning after Andersons left Esther and I went to Idaho Falls for mission shopping and a final ortho appointment to be fitted for a retainer.  We got a few items at Wal-Mart, like an alarm clock, camera, toiletries, etc.  It took us about an hour and a half, at which point Esther was done with shopping!  Then we had a quick stop at D.I.  We ran into Shirlei, Heather's and John's Brazilian friend, who works there and her English is much improved.  She recognized Esther from a baby shower, although Esther recognized her before Shirlei came up to us.  We found a bathrobe, two khaki skirts, and two tops there for Esther.  Then over to the orthodontist.  I waited in the car.  Dr. Randall was impressed with her before and after which all of you saw on the what's app.  He asked her for a positive review.

Next we went to one of Esther's favorite places, Chick-fil-a and ate lunch: chicken nuggets.  Our next stop at Downeast, Esther's former roommate, Chelsea and husband Tanner, met us there to visit with Esther while we shopped.  There was a great sale there.  We got a super cute dress that when Esther put on she exclaimed, "I look like a Sister Missionary" - navy, with white embroidery around the neck and pockets!  Two other tops, a  long skirt and two demi-tees to wear for layering - all for about $80.

After a trip to Winco, we headed home.  It was one of our more productive days, which helped us both to feel closer to getting things done for Esther.

We enjoyed all of conference.  Grandma and Grandpa came for the Saturday and Sunday morning sessions.  Their TV has died.  Saturday evening Esther, Grandma and I attended the women's broadcast.  Grandma appreciates rides, especially at night.

Sunday morning along with G & G, we had a new neighbor, Doug Harrington, over for conference.  We had oven baked french toast with buttermilk syrup and scrambled eggs supreme (eggs with sausage bits, peppers, tomatoes and cheese).  Doug is not a member, but very interested.  He is retired military.  He's married.  His wife has MS and was not feeling well enough that morning to come.  

We had lunch at Bart and Janet's and enjoyed the second session with them and G&G too. 

Esther left with Amori and Frances after that final session to do some mission photos with the fall colors and the sunlight just right.

This is one of my favorites, but she doesn't like the circle of hair on her shoulder.  So she's tried to edit it out, but here it is in fully unedited form.

After the photo session, we went as a family to the Egberts.  Esther's friend, Russ.  We played games.  Catchphrase was fun with lots of charades on the part of the Egbert brothers that were quite comical.  We also introduced them to Oink Piggy Oink, which produced hilarious results, and Mixed Up Fruit Basket.  

We've had several times looking for cattle.  The Monday after conference we went out and the weather was so nice, so pleasant and beautiful.  We went after Dad got home from work.  Dad, me, James, Esther and Russ.  We parked a 4 wheeler and motorcycle, at the mouth of Strawberry canyon, and then James used the other 4 wheeler to start at another end.  But when Dad and I were on the side of a mountain and he received a call from a guy giving us a lead where the cattle might be, we walked back to get the motorcycle and 4 wheeler, but James had taken the keys, for a security precaution. So we walked a ways to above our land until we connected with the rest.  We didn't see any cattle, but we did see some elk and heard some bugling.  The 5 of us rode the one 4 wheeler back to Grandma's.  While the others picked up the other bikes, I put dinner on the table.  I really enjoyed being out that night.  The outdoors were beautiful, I appreciated seeing a small slice of all the effort Dad and James put into finding cattle, and helping Grandpa.  

This photo is from another time when Esther, Dad and Grandpa were out looking for cattle, again with no luck.  The Monday of Elk season opening, Dad, James and Esther were all gone.  Grandpa called looking for help because of a tip call he'd gotten.  So I went behind him on our 4 wheeler.  After 2 hours, again, no luck.  But we finally did get 6 of them last week.  Dad thinks that is all of them, but we need to do a final count.

Another outdoor project we've had is preparing an electric fence on our land to pasture horses.  

Our neighbor, Cynthia Lummis, her foreman, Nick Aullman contacted us about pasturing horses from outfitters in the off season.  We will be paid, but more than that, we felt it was a good opportunity to start using our land.

Dad pounded more than 70 of those posts.  James was gone to Provo to visit Jared and go to the BYU v Hawaii game so Esther and I were Dad's main helpers.  We order the electric wire about a week ago, and hopefully it will come today and we can complete the fence.

I think it was the end of September or first part of October, Copper was killed by a car.  I felt it was my fault.  It was the first time I had taken him on the road.  I had him sit each time a car came by and he was listening.  But one thing he didn't listen well was when there were other dogs around.  He saw some dogs across the street, kind of by the mailboxes.  I called him back.  We were almost home.  Then a car came as fast as could be, hit Copper, didn't even pause or stop or slow down or anything.  He was gone that fast.  I was grateful he didn't suffer the way Buddy did.  A neighbor helped me put Copper into the back of her pickup and we brought him home.  I left then and spend most of the evening at the library (since I don't drink in a bar, ha, ha). Dad was so kind about everything.  He had the kitchen all cleaned up when I got home.  He hugged me and helped me.  He, James and Esther, had buried Copper by Buddy.  This was the rose Dad brought me the next day.  The photo is when the rose is about 10 days old.

The next day Cody came for a couple of days.  He was on spud harvest.  Dad met Chrystal part way to pick him up. We enjoyed having him here.  He was very sad for us about Copper.  He helped pick apples at Grandma's one afternoon while James was at school.  James had that Friday off.  They did go out hunting a little, but no luck.  They did have fun with Esther to go to a shooting range, for archery in Afton.  A virtual type of screen.  Cody enjoyed the mountains too.  He was also here when we got most of the cattle the first time, about 45 or so of them.  We were glad for his help.  

Well that's about all I can do now.  Thanks for enduring this long post.  There's so much that's been happening.  I think of all of you and try to savor things I want to post.  Now I've done one.  I'll keep trying for more!  I love you!  Mom