The Best is Yet to Be

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

It's beginning to look a lot like..............

A while back I blogged about the sad fact that my state of Tennessee was listed as fourth in the most over-weight state. Since that time, I’ve found some pretty nice rankings for my state and city of Knoxville that I’d like to pass along.
How about being ranked number five as a “Best Value” city?! Pretty good, eh? And Nashville was ranked number three. These rankings were published in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine. Their rankings were based on the city that provides the best value, based on low living costs, strong economies and great amenities. Not too shabby.

If it’s team spirit you want, nothing beats the University of Tennessee football season. Now that UT classes have started and the local schools are into their second week, it’s “Football time in Tennessee.” Orange decorates our stores. At first glance, you might think it’s Halloween, but it’s the big orange rolling through town getting everyone ready for a season of UT Football. Yes, it’s beginning to look a lot like football in Tennessee. Go Vols!!

And after all, we are the volunteer state, so we must be good for quite a few things.

One more thought: “The game of football is beginning to gain a foothold in Knoxville,” the Knoxville Journal, November 20, 1891

Our stores are well stocked...........................

Neland Stadium seats 102,455 - Go Vols!

Monday, August 8, 2011

Bowled over...............

The first plan for the back-to-school party this year was to go miniature golfing. But when the temperature was 98 the day before the party, with a promise of more hot, humid weather, we switched to bowling. I think it was a hit and much cooler. School starts August 15 in Knoxville, TN. When does it start where you live? Hope the air conditioners are tuned up and running when they kids arrive on the 15th.

I forgot to take pictures of the kids eating their super-duper homemade sundaes back at our house. Another “cool” idea for a hot day.

We're ready to bowl!

Don't forget your school supplies!

Happy Back-to-School!

Friday, July 29, 2011

Visiting the City by the Bay

“I left my heart in San Francisco…………..” I really did leave a part of my heart and soul in the Bay area. We lived in the Bay area for 14 years---5 in Sunnyvale, and 9 in Walnut Creek, while Russ worked in downtown San Francisco. We’ve been gone for 29 years now, but all those wonderful feelings came flooding back as we returned to “the City by the Bay.”

Golden Gate Bridge

Troy and Dan are the best hosts ever and really outdid themselves on this trip. I wonder if Troy logged how many miles he put on his car from driving us to see everything. Here’s a small sampling:

A Giants baseball game against the LA Dodgers

Touring homes for consideration for a 2012 family reunion – The Broderick House is my favorite
Trip down the coast to Monterey, Carmel, Costanoa, dinner at La Costanera at Half Moon Bay

Exploring Cavallo Point at Fort Baker, across the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito

Viewing Sutro Baths and Sutro Heights (and Cliff House) and walking along Land’s End—always viewing the ocean from wherever we were.

Drove us past every famous and important landmark in San Francisco

Entering the AT&T Baseball Stadium ------------- Dodgers win 1-0

Troy, Dan, Russ, & Sharlene - Giants fans

And while driving in Troy’s Prius was the best, we did take advantage of the great public transportation in SF. We also walked, and walked, and walked so as to see things up close and personal and to reach the most wonderful little ice cream shops. Bi-Rite Creamery and Smitten—two favorites. Also enjoyed a wonderful pie bought at a little stand at the back of an alley and around the corner. Too many wonderful eateries to list them all. Dinner at Dan's parents', Jill and Dan Sr., proved as delicious as any time we ate out.

Lombard Street---Troy, Sharlene & Dan at Monterey---View from Sutro Heights

Dan, Troy, Brad, & Russ view City from Alto Plaza --Troy & Sharlene walk at Land's End

But the trip would not have been complete without a visit to the old homestead - 1523 Wicklow Court in Walnut Creek. We also drove by the Bancroft Elementary School (where most of our kids attended), the shopping center across Treat Blvd., Heather’s Farm (favorite park/swimming pool), and attended church at our old ward. We were thrilled to see so many friends from the ward that were still there. Saturday night, we went out to dinner with Carol and Burt Pett, Janna (Pett) DeLange, and her daughter, Kiley and husband, Jeff. We were treated by Burt and Carol to a wonderful Chinese dinner at Jade Garden. Good company, good food, forever friendships.

1523 Wicklow Court, Walnut Creek

Dinner with good friends, the Petts-------Dinner with Dan Sr., Jill, Noe, & Siobhan

Bi-Rite Creamery -----------Blackberry White Nectarine Pie

La Costanera at Half Moon Bay--------Plant Organic at Pier 3

So much I could say about this ideal vacation. Perfect weather: 72 degrees and clear blue skies and did I mention the SURPRISE?! While standing in line for yet another ice cream, we heard someone from behind us ask if he could crowd in line with us. As we turned around to see who made this request, we were totally surprised to see Brad standing there with a big ole grin on his face!! Brad had arrived in town (unbeknownst to us) to attend a business meeting, so he and Troy arranged to have him surprise us—literally walking up to us from hiding behind a bush. From there it was talking non-stop, eating our ice cream and more walks around the “City by the Bay.”

Russ, Brad, Troy, & Sharlene

Once again, I “left my heart in San Francisco.”

Saturday, July 16, 2011

GIVE AWAY WINNER

Drum roll……………… Soni Levenseller is our winner. Congratulations to Soni and also congratulations on living in one of the skinnier states. Her comment:

"Here in Oregon our favorite- darnright horrible, but OHHH so delicious!- unhealthy treat is Red Robin french fries dipped in ranch dressing!!!Yummmmm....... "

Thought this cartoon in our local paper was too good not to include. May none of us move to the front of this line.

Friday, July 8, 2011

Weighing in..........

“Obesity rate above 20% in 49 states” – that was the headline in our local paper today. And what makes me really sad is my own beloved state of Tennessee is listed 4th in the ranking for the most obese adults. I must confess: although I’m not officially obese, I am not slender and could always lose a few more pounds it seems. So I’m part of the problem.

Top 10 Sates in percentage of obese adults:
1. Mississippi 34.4
2. Alabama 32.3
3. W. Virginia 32.2
4. Tennessee 31.9
5. Louisiana 31.6
6. Kentucky 31.5
7. Oklahoma 31.4
8. S. Carolina 30.9
9. Arkansas 30.6
10. Michigan 30.5

Bob Greene, health and exercise guru, said:

“Stop comforting yourself by stuffing down your feelings of sadness, regret, fear, and frustration with cheeseburgers, pizza, pie, and potato chips.”

With that in mind, I’ve got my next giveaway. How about a healthy choice? How about a $30 gift certificate to Subway? And if you live in a state that is NOT in the top 10 most obese states, then let’s make it $40.

From a random drawing, the winner will be announced on Saturday, July 16 at approximately 9 p.m. Eastern time. Good luck and watch those calories. To enter, leave a comment telling what state you live in and your favorite unhealthy treat.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Grandchildren Church History Tour 2011

Our Grandchildren Travelers

Emma, Jonah, Connor, Tanner, Sydney, Ben, & Silas

Kirtland Temple Grounds in Kirtland, OH

-------------------------------------

In 2009 Russ decided we needed to take our grandchildren on a church history trip to Kirtland, OH, and Palmyra, New York. We put that plan into place and took grandchildren Trey & Allie Sexton and Carter & Jared Langford in April of 2009.

We just got back from our second trip. This time we took seven grandchildren: Emma & Ben Cruze, Tanner, Connor, & Sydney Sexton, and Jonah and Silas Barber. This required renting a 15-passenger van in order to hold the nine people and all our luggage.

We were blessed with beautiful weather in the 70’s and it only rained once, while we were sleeping. We had no van trouble and nobody got sick. It was just about as perfect as it could be.

The pictures tell the story best. In Kirtland we toured the church history sites including the Whitney Store and the Kirtland Temple. After Kirtland, we took a day to see the Niagara Falls and walk across the bridge near the falls to Canada. We particularly enjoyed the IMAX film about the myths and history of the falls. To get the children across the border, we had to have either a passport or an original birth certificate, and also a letter from their parents giving us permission to take their children into another country. All very official. I’m not sure the children even understood the seriousness of this.

Last on our list was visiting the many wonderful Church History sites in Palmyra, New York. We visited the Hill Cumorah, the Smith family cabin and home, the Sacred Grove, and the E.B. Grandin building where the Book of Mormon was first published. The Sacred Grove was the highlight of our visit and we all enjoyed its special spirit.

When all was said and done and we were safely home, we looked back and were amazed at how well the children did—traveling 1,700 miles in four days and going on tour after tour, watching film after film, and getting very little sleep. Thank you, grandchildren. You’re priceless. Thank you, parents, for trusting us with your children.

--------------------