The Land of Pokey Things

As you can see, one of the great things (or not so great things, depending on your perspective) about living in Wendover is that a 5 minute drive in any direction will place you beyond the limits of civilization and in a rugged wilderness.

Take, for example, this view from the street next to our apartment. Austin had been begging me for days to take him "into the hills" (his new favorite pasttime). So, I did, yesterday, along with the rest of the family. We drove up around the back side of this peak and went for a walk.

This is what we found. We walked up the road at the bottom of this picture and up over the area in the foreground.

Throughout, the boys diligently put into practice my instructions that they whack boulders and bushes ahead of them in their path with a stick. This precaution is to give rattlesnakes (who like to hang out just under the lips of boulders and wrap around the stems of bushes) the opportunity to announce their presence before the boys walk by.

Speaking of boulders - we found a lovely one that we all climbed and perched upon.

It was upon sitting down on said boulder that we discovered that we live in . . .

. . . The Land of Pokey Things! Ouch! (Behold the surface of the boulder that we were all sitting on)

It turns out that every rock surface out here is painful to the touch, thanks to the erosive action of the lichen that are slowly turning these mountains into dirt.

It did have a nice view of the salt flats, though.

But who cares about some dumb view when there are rocks to be thrown, right?

In fact, why don't we take this rock-throwing business seriously and get down to where all the good projectiles are?

Ouch! Pokey things!

The ground is no safer a place to be, though, as it is armed with its own pokey things (in this case, "spines," as the boys call them).

And finally, the most pokiest thing of them all!

Matthew had the misfortune to squat down in search of throwing rocks right on top of this pokey thing!

Ouch!!!

No matter - rock throwing goes on regardless

And every crevice in the rocks must be explored

Meanwhile, the girlie got left behind with the Mommies

But she didn't seem to mind too much

After about an hour of being poked in every possible place by every possible surface (sitting, walking, even just standing, it didn't matter - poking happened), most members of the party were ready to go home.

What a glorious sight . . . our ride home!

Sisters' Weekend 2010

We had a marvelous time a week ago for our annual Sisters' Weekend! The highlights were the food, the shows, the gifts, and the projects.

The Food

California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chopped Chicken Salad - made by us

Artisan bread - demonstrated by Debby and made by us

Blue Lemon Cafe in Highland - best tastes (in my opinion) were the lemon grilled chicken BLT and the artichoke spinach cheese dip

Dear Lizzie cupcakes: cherry chip and chocolate

The Shows

Little Women

North and South

So You Think You Can Dance

The Gifts

from Mom Newberry and Caldecott Award books and aprons

from me {never forget another} birthday calendar and necklaces

from Debby a LARGE red mug

from Beth fabulous small spatula with all kinds of uses

The Projects

Debby's quilt - finished!

Beth worked on flower clips for HOURS for me and made a few herself

Beth made an apron for her daughter, Rachel, to match the ones my mom gave us for our gifts

Yearly Sisters' Weekend picture, from left to right: Beth, Mom, Debby, me

Let it be noted that although I am usually a huge project advocate, I mostly sat around and relaxed that weekend and was excited to get quite a few Hand and Foot games in. I did work on a few things, but looking back I can't recall what they were. It felt good just to spend time together. I'm already anticipating next year's get-together!

Aaarh Matey!!!

Gentlemen, pick up your weapons . . .

Matthew (in red): "You seem a decent fellow, I hate to beat you"

Austin (in blue): "You seem a decent fellow, I hate to lose"

"Begin!"

M: "You're using Bonetti's defense against me, ah?"

A: "I thought it fitting, considering the grassy terrain"

M: "Naturally, you must expect me to attack with Cape Ferro"

A: "Naturally"

A: "But I find Thibault cancels out Cape Fero, don't you?"

M: "Unless the enemy has studied his Agrippa . . . which I have!"

M: "You are wonderful!"

A: "Thank you - I've worked hard to become so"

M: "I admit it - you are better than I am"

A: "Then why are you smiling?"

M: "Because I know something you don't know"

A: "And what is that?"

M: "I am not left-handed!"

M: "Ha ha!!!"

A: "You're amazing!"

M: "I ought to be after 3 years"

A: "But there's something I ought to tell you"

M: "Tell me"

A: "I am not left-handed either!"

A: "Ha ha!"

M: "Finish me quickly"

A: "I would as soon destroy a stained glass window as an artist such as yourself!"

As you can see, Audrey got tired of endlessly admonishing her two warrior sons to stop swordfighting with sticks - so she went out and bought them some foam swords. (In the interest of full disclosure, I must confess that I, Joseph, am probably enjoying them more than my sons are).

The wisdom of Audrey's decision in acquiring such armament has been repeatedly affirmed by the fact that all swordfights now end with smiles - instead of the tears, bruises, and blood that we are used to. (This is especially reassuring given that the nearest hospital is 2 1/2 hours away).

All for one - One for all!

P.S. How can you tell that you have a swash-buckling pirate-warrior for a son? When he (in this case, Austin) proudly marches into the house and matter-of-factly announces to his mother -"Daddy would come in, but I finished him off!"