social event of the season

Such a happy happy day
Just love this shot of the colorful bikes.


In my mind this will always be remembered as the 'emergency family photo'..... It is amazing how hard it is to get us all together in the same place at the same time. I sure do love these people a lot!

This is the fourth time we have had our picture taken under this favorite magnolia tree at a wedding, but this is the first time it has been in bloom! Thanks for the beautiful spring date Gordo and Jessi!

Just thought I would share a few photos from a lovely lovely day!

Springtime in Alaska

We saw some wonderful sights.... lots of glaciers, water, mountains, and the Anchorage Temple. We had an almost private cruise on the ferry to Whittier, and the most amazing Roasted Spring Vegetable and Prawn Salad in this beautiful new hotel in Whittier. You know I am all about the food!




I know you are all dying to see what could be so great to distract us from wedding plans in May. Since we never managed to corral everyone for the slide show, here is a little taste.

We took this trip to see the STOL competition (short take off landing) It was a big deal in Valdez. The whole community shows up. Most of the businesses closed - or moved to the airport for the day. Everyone brings their lawn chairs and huddles in blankets to watch. We had turkey legs and rosemary garlic fries from the vendors. There are hundreds of planes lined up on the flightline, and the pilots pitch their tents under a wing to camp. It is a pilot's nirvana. We strolled the flightline and dad talked airplanes with the pilots. Then the competition started. They line up in groups of 5 to take off..... circle the pattern and then land. It was pretty amazing what they can do - taking off and landing in less than 100 feet. I believe the winner landed in 42 feet. This orange plane from Ultima Thule Outfitters was flown twice, by a father and son. The dad has won for the last three years - Paul Claus. The family lives in the middle of the Wrangell-St. Elias wilderness year round. Check out ultimathulelodge.com for when you have lots of money for a vacation!

They strip the planes of everything not crucial. They handprop so they can take out the starter motor. We watched Claus drain the gas, and add only the quart or two that was needed to make the loop around the pattern. It was also interesting that these planes made it in. The clouds were so low, and they fly in from everywhere..... just under the clouds. We drove the Richardson Highway from Anchorage to Valdez three days before the contest. We talked to someone who drove it the day before, and saw a Super Cub in a rest area at the side of the road. He could not clear the pass under the clouds, so he landed on the highway and taxied to the rest area to wait for the clouds to lift a little. Only in Alaska!

Gordo and Jess

I thought this was worth my once a year post. Isn't this the cutest couple? It snowed here last night (again) and was so cold, but Jessie has these great connections so they had their photos taken at the USU greenhouse and at Edgewood where the wedding party will be. I thought they turned out so well I just had to share a little preview so all you out of town sibs could share in the excitement!

Beekeeping by the wussy watcher

Dad and Lee checking up on all "the girls"

Sorry I am such a good blogger that you will need to read this post backwards.
Home sweet home...... dad now has 4 hives in the backyard and two in Smithfield
It sounded like gallons of sand being poured into the box
Dad and Lee getting ready to pull the bees out of the tree
This is their new home - waiting for occupancy
I think I am pretty brave to go take this photo without a bee suit!


Three days ago I was watering the flowers under the apple tree. I was wondering why there were so many bees buzzing around because the blossoms were gone and the tree is all leafed out.... I casually looked up over my head, and YIKES!!!! this is what I saw; a huge (to me) swarm of bees. I ran in the house and shut all the doors and called my favorite beekeeper. I am including all these photos of the tree, so you can see the dark bowling ball sized swarm in the apple tree.

THE LUCKIEST GRANDMA

This is what we woke up to this morning - April 6...... Happy Spring?
These are my Easter flowers
I know this is really late to post - but this little nugget was just too sweet to keep to myself. You all know that I spent the month of February being a grandma - to my delight! I was sleeping in Abby's basement the first night after I arrived on the train. Early in the morning - still black dark - this sweet little boy came and climbed in bed with me. Henry knows how to snuggle too. He whispered to me..... " you are the luckiest grandma"

Oh Henry... I agree, I agree!

granola and a cute boy who came to visit

The two Gordo's at the Logan bakery starting to mix the secret recipe
Belen was a connoisseur of the finished product and entertainment for the staff

It was a very good year for the Wood granola
Who might you ask is this....... person? And how did he get this cute girl to cut his m0p?
I know you have all wanted a mullet at some time in your life. This only lived for a short moment..... thank goodness
I sure do like this guy - but really no more than before the transformation - it just shows how dangerously handsome he can be.....

Thanksgiving in Burlington

Dad and I rode the train home from our trip. It only had 11 cars which surprised me. It was fun and a different way to travel. I learned some things I would do next time, and it made me feel bad that dad had to travel home last time with no sleeping berth.
The view from our window going through Colorado
This is a reservoir in Colorado
Ben and Henry reverently throwing crabapples at grandpa at the Nauvoo temple. Grandpa started it!
Henry manning the guns overlooking the Mississippi - glad someone is watching out for the invaders.
Nixon, Henry, Cohen and Ben with their new buzzes. The suburban was a big hit as a base camp.
This morning I have loved watching the birds eat the leftover apples on the tree. It was 11 degrees this morning