Camping, hiking and chocolate

I tried to post some wonderful photo's of Havasupai, but it's just not happening today. Hubby and Daughter V, along with her best friend C, left for the girls graduation trip to Havasupai (Arizona) It's north of the Grand Canyon. Havasupai means "people of the blue-green water". It's down in a canyon area with lots of waterfalls, red rock, hiking and camping...paradise for my family. I bet the three of them are having a blast. They called to say they were having fun and had stopped for the tour at Hoover Dam on the way thru to Havasupai.

So what about me....I stayed home! This is V's trip with her dad and best friend. I took oldest daughter E on her graduation trip...room at the Marriott at a ski resort, shopping for clothes, and dinner at her favorite Mexican restaurant at the resort.

So, what did I do alone, so far. I went to the Family History Center with my friend T yesterday for about 6 hours. She had never been to the Center in Ogden (Utah), where I use to work, so we did a quick tour, lunch, and about 5 hours on the computer. And guess what we found out...we're related! After knowing each other for about 15 years, growing up on opposite US coasts, we found out we are part of the same family tree.
Her KELSEY family and my WILCOXSON/WILCOX family married, back in Vermont, about 400 years ago...we're cousins! Okay, cousins from wwwaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy back! It was fun to find that out.

In closing:It has been interesting to be all alone here at home. I got to thinking when the last time I was alone. It turned out I was about 18 years old, and my parents had gone away for a few days of alone time as a couple. My entire marriage, I have never been alone. If I went somewhere, hubby or a child cam with me....if they left, I still had a child with me. It's been a different experience to not have to think about or worry or take care of anyone else but me. Of course, I have some major sewing/quilting planned. I stocked up on the videos to watch/listen to as I sew, plus a new Susan Witting Albert book. Suzanne, what do you want for dinner? Chocolate, thank you! Can you let the animals out for a break? Sure! Do you want to go to bed? Nope, gonna stay up and read for a while.

Oh, oh, I'm already talking to myself! Not a good sign....

So what haven't you done for a long time, or ever? What would you like to do away from your usual routine? Please, share with us....

Summer Garden

Hubby and I got the garden planted this evening. We've had most of the plants for a few weeks, but did not plant them directly into the ground because of our Utah Spring....warm one day and snowing the next. I'm glad the garden is planted though....I'm ready for some yummy tasting produce. We planted our strawberry patch a few years ago, so it is doing great. Not alot of plants, but enough to keep we three in fresh berries on our oatmeal for a few weeks. Our strawberries are only June baring type. We planted them in the front flowerbed by the front door.

We planted the usual in the summer garden:a few varieties of tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, green peppers, pumpkins, green beans, onions and various hot peppers (for my hubby)

This year, we are also trying watermelon, cantaloupe and lemon cucumbers.

Daughter V graduated from High School last night...hopefully, I'll have photos to share soon!

In closing: My favorite quilt stores:

Locally-Threads of Time in Centerville (Utah). The store is on it's third owner and keeps getting better. Whenever I need a quick boost, I take a mystery class there to keep me on my toes.

I also like Quilt, Quilt, Quilt, Etc. in Sandy (Utah). I only go there when I am in that area of the state, but they always have things to tempt me....about 14,000 bolts of fabric, too many patterns to finish in a lifetime, plus....across the street are two connected shops....one is their quilting services with discounted fabric/kits and the other is embellishments and needlework related kits.

For all the good shops in Utah, go to www.utahshophop.com for a list of stores participating in the June 25-28 shop hop.

Not local-The little quilt shop in Nyssa, Oregon. I don't know the name of it, but Nyssa is a very small town, so it is probably the only one. I found it on the way to the Sisters, Oregon show last year. They did not have a huge inventory, but the staff made up for it in friendliness and helpfulness. If I ever go back to Sisters, I will definitely stop by Nyssa again.

How about you....your favorite locally and not locally? Share, please!

Time to post!

I installed Windows Vista along with a new printer for my camera. I had planned all these great posts with fabulous photos, but something is not working.....so, I stole these three photos from my daughter's V blog and I am going to blog about her!

I love her. She is an amazing kid...okay, almost adult women! She graduates this week from High School. She's crazy, but it is the good kind of crazy only a parent could love. She's incredibly creative in many parts of her life. She is strongly loyal to her family and friends. She has faced some scary obstacles in the last two years in her education and health and overcame them all like a winner. She loves completely. I am so proud to be her mom.

Top photo: The graduate

Middle photo: V with best friend, Chelsie

Bottom photo: V with boyfriend N