I'm baaaaaack!

Last post: June 17th... from Canada??? That was six weeks ago! I'm not sure exactly how to update. In fact, that dilemma is part of why it's taken so long to get at it. I don't know where this post is going so it might be a little disorganized and will most likely take more than one day to finish. But here goes...

If you know me personally or have read my blog from afar you are aware that summertime is my absolute favorite season of the year. Zeus knows that I will be off playing at some activity from early morning until late at night. This year is no exception, plus a few bonus experiences along the way.

The lack of posts certainly does not reflect the amount of time working on this computer and finetuning the images on the monitor. For weeks the kitchen island was transformed into my workroom. From that vantage point at least Zeus and I could see each other as he also worked at his desk in The Sanctuario. My cameras have been put through their paces recording births, marriages, graduations, birthdays, dancing and summertime activities. Some of my favorite images will be available at the Shooting Blog for those who might be interested. For those who want the abbreviated version, here goes:

THE WEDDING: The wedding of my nephew and his lovely new bride was incredible! The day was perfect and the never-ending smiles on faces were priceless. The breathtaking setting of the Bountiful LDS Temple and the happiness on their faces made photographing the occasion an unforgettable experience. And it was so much fun! You can see more images here.

BABIES: I love to play with newborn babies. In the first week you can fold them like a pretzel and usually they sleep right through it. In May I was excited to play with the newborn baby of some friends whose wedding I shot three years ago. Little Obi is so cute!

A week later I picked on Bella, the beautiful daughter of our close friends. All of that dark hair was amazing! My own daughters didn't have that much hair until they were three!! (only a slight exaggeration.)

Then nearly three weeks ago Little Miss arrived, our newest great-granddaughter (our family tree is very confusing so I won't even try to explain). She is perfect in EVERY way and I fell totally in love with her the minute I saw her. Her mommy was a good sport about letting me play with her! More images here.

THE POSSE: This new found pleasure of riding has become almost an obsession. The exciting part is that since Eris convinced me that I should try it we have now convinced quite a few others to join us. Athena, who never does anything halfway, is now just as nuts about this sport as we are. The Duchess is riding, as are a number of friends who are affectionately referred to as The Posse. Others are talking about joining us and we welcome everyone! Yesterday was particularly exciting for Athena and me as we helped Jubee take her first laps on a bike. She is nearing 14 years old and had never been on one. She was awesome! Little Ms. Eris will be competing in her first mini-triathlon this next Saturday and you can bet I'll be there with a camera! More posse photos here.

Riding vs. ralking, sorry MoneyWalker. In the summer heat there is no comparison. This morning I spent 2 1/2 hours riding the parkway and loved every second of it. I have found a way to continue numismatizing although it will never be as lucrative as ralking. There is a truck stop wash a short distance from the trail that pays out quite well. I'm thinking that in the fall I will go back to ralking at least once a week but for now, it's riding as often as I can.

That's enough for this post. There are a number of other stories left to be told and hopefully it won't take another six weeks to get them up!

(The totals listed below have been collected over the last six weeks.)

$.91

1.71

.93

1.34

1.13

4.52

1.52

1.80

1.16

1.33

6.37

2.41

Night Visions

Walk. Walk. Walk. Then walk some more. Yesterday morning we spent 2 1/2 hours touring the gentle hills and gardens of Butchart Gardens in Victoria. After seeing them in full splendor in September of 2008 we were a little disappointed. The gardens were beautiful as expected but the summer flowers were freshly planted and not fully blooming yet. Fifty five acres of carefully manicured botanical gardens and lawns were filled with people from all over the world.

The afternoon found me walking for another hour on the clean and friendly cobblestone streets of the town.

After a late supper we returned to the Gardens to see them in the evening light. I have bored you all in the past with the qualities of light but let me just say that the 2 hours we spent at dusk and after dark were awesome! There are lights placed around the gardens that give it almost a surreal atmosphere. Topiary sculptures that were not obvious during the day suddenly popped out under spotlights. A large fountain that I had missed on our first trip was suddenly alive with color. I was spellbound and could have stayed for hours.

Today has found us in the Olympic city of Vancouver. They have cool totem poles here but in all honesty, their Olympic Cauldron doesn't hold a candle to ours!

$1.00 (.96 Canadian!)

To market, to market

Shopping is one of my least favorite activities. I generally avoid any kind whenever possible. Except for this place.

When we began planning this trip I knew that the one place I wanted to return to was Pike's Market in old Seattle. We arrived early this morning just as the vendors were still setting up their shops.

I think what I like most about it is the colors that are everywhere, from the fruit and vegetable stands to the rows of fresh floral arrangements wrapped in white butcher paper. I told Zeus that if I lived here there would be fresh flowers in my house all the time.

We purchased a number of fruits to enjoy on the trip, knowing that they had to be eaten before crossing the northern border tomorrow afternoon. I don't think that will be a problem.

Of course, what would Seattle and Pike's Market be without the fish stands? I will probably have nightmares tonight.

$1.32 (paper dollar in the airport)

Payday Again.

Yesterday was payday again.

Total collected: $126.62

Only $2 in paper money, both in last week

Canadian coins: $.34

Collection time: Eight months, one day

Of the total amount there is $6.64 in coins that the bank either rejected or was not sent in due to the condition. The photo below shows some examples of what Zeus and I call "coffee coins". Broken coins are rare, most often found in cracks of streets in winter when it is cold. Bent coins are also found in the same place in the hot summer months. Bent coins are my favorite.

The lucky penny jar now contains $.34 in seed money. Totals have taken a severe dip since I began riding. Running is still on my calendar at least once a week and rarely do I return home from a ride without a few coins in the water bottle pouch. Generally, any outing will find some stray coins brought home in my left pocket, the one reserved for found coinage.

$3.13

Never a dull moment

This last week has been a blur. Every single day on the calendar was loaded with places to go and things to do. Early mornings and late nights were the norm. All of these activities were things that I enjoy doing. A number of bike rides were taken and new paths explored. (Future post to come.) We finally got to the pool yesterday to officially begin our summer holidays. (Another future post.) My cameras have been put through the paces on a number of shoots with some of my favorite people requiring many, many hours sitting in front of my computer culling through well over a thousand shots and editing, editing, editing. (Still a few more posts waiting to be written up.)

Zeus has been out of town for four days and is scheduled to return this evening. It's a good thing he hasn't been around because this house is a total disaster! Clothes piled up on my unmade bed, camera gear and computer equipment scattered all over the kitchen and great room, bike gear in all areas of the car and not a thing to eat in the refrigerator. As I returned home from my ralk this morning I noticed a few weeds that have sprouted up in the yard that even I am embarrassed about.


I have ten hours to put my house back in order, clean the car, pull the weeds, fill the fridge with food and hopefully get in an hour of rest on the patio. Until I return with the promised posts I will leave you with a few of my favorite images from the last week.




Have I mentioned lately how much I love my life?

$2.15 (that includes another paper dollar, two in a week!)

$.91

P.S. MoneyWalker, I haven't forgotten. The package is on my list of to-dos for this week.

Siesta sadness

The chaise lounge has been around longer than I have, probably 22 years. It is part of a patio set that by many accounts includes the most comfortable chairs ever made. Countless summer hours have been spent reading, eating, watching the birds and chatting with loved ones and neighbors in those chairs. But the chaise lounge was my favorite piece. Summer afternoons I could often be found stretched out enjoying a siesta with an open book and Diet Coke.


Last week I was surprised when Zeus said it was probably time to replace this furniture that has so many memories woven into the green and white stripes. We were married next to it while a wedding cake waited on the table and loved ones watched from the chairs. Gatherings of families occurred often around the table. Grandchildren had naps on the lounge. We became acquainted with new neighbors on the deck. Countless meals were served and enjoyed while looking at our beautiful Utah mountains.

But Zeus was right. The Velcro no longer held the seat cushions upright and the sun had taken it's toll turning the white stripes a shade of brown. It was also too large for the patio. So off we went to look for furnishings for our favorite "room" of the house. After a day of shopping and much discussion it was done. The table and four chairs were replaced with a smaller table and two chairs. The bulky chaise lounge has been replaced with two zero-gravity chairs (heavenly) and a small portable grill will take over for the huge BBQ that took up way too much space on the deck. (Tested that grill tonight. It's great!)

It will take some adjusting to the new look out the back door. When the old set is taken away this evening there will be some pangs of loss. But change can be good. Now we just need some warm days to enjoy it all.

$3.53 (finally some long-overdue paper money!)

Ground Score!!

I don't know where the time goes. Oh yeah, I remember. It's been a busy, busy week with lots of time spent at this computer (not blogging) and watching it rain outside, which it is doing as I work on this long-overdue post. Lots of camera time, editing, proofing and ordering, my favorite kind of busy-ness.

This morning I managed to get out ralking for an hour before the skies started dripping again. My weekday route takes me across an intersection that is rated one of the most dangerous in our state, and that is without the constant construction work that has dragged on for over a year. This morning the area was littered with broken pieces of motorcycle, a pretty scary sight.

This afternoon as Zeus and I were returning home from dinner I asked him to stop at the scene so I could pick up a piece of the motorcycle, or as the MoneyWalker calls it, a Ground Score. Yup, ten hours later it was still there, a large remnant of a saddlebag from a 2009 Harley-Davidson, complete with a beautiful inscribed reflector. I knew instantly that this would fit on the crossbars of my bike!


Well, what do you think? Kind of classes up the old lady wheels, eh?


$3.02