June Morning at the Market

"Salt Lake has one of the best farmer's markets I've seen," Jonny pronounced.  I was impressed--Jonny does not endorse items or events lightly.  I met Jonny and Jenny at the Market at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, June 9, 2018.  Sam and Henry licked popsicles as we wandered past the stalls of early summer lettuces, New Age jewelry, and fresh honey. 

I treated the crowd to mint lemonade, and we settled down on the grass to sip it, as we chewed on hunks of the crusty Crumb Brothers bread that Jonny bought.

 Life does not get any better than this, I decided.

 We meandered on, stopping by an almost-blind lady who made balloon creatures.  "How much do they cost?" I asked.  "Nothing," she answered.  "Whatever you want to give."  I slipped five dollar bills into her hand and, as she felt each one, she murmured, "So much!"  Henry and Sam each chose a balloon sword.

We passed a St. Bernard who weighed 230 lbs and, with his 180-lb. brother, eats 80 lbs. of dog food per week.  That's a lot of dog!  We also ran into Joshua Moreland, Dave's sister Janice's son, with his wife Ashley and sons Finn and Cohen.  We planned a future family party on the spot.

Around and Around with Sam and Henry

Each moment with Jonny's family is precious, since they live away from us so much of the year.  On Saturday, June 2, 2018, Dave and I spent a few hours with Jenny, Henry, and Sam at Liberty Park.  Jonny was in Bettendorf, Iowa, closing on their new home.  After feeding the ducks, ogling the vultures, and splashing in a wading pool at Tracy Aviary, we strapped ourselves in for the Big Adventure--the Liberty Park ferris wheel.

Sam remembered riding a ferris wheel once before, but it was "like being in a box," he said.  Jonny said Sam once rode the "London Eye," a huge ferris wheel in which the passengers crowd into enclosed, rectangular carriages that swing high above the city.  This small town version was even more exciting, since we were swinging in the open air, with just the tops of the trees and the birds nearby as we reached the ferris wheel's peak.  Every time we rolled past Jenny's and Henry's seat, Sam called out and waved, as I grasped him firmly around the shoulders.  No one would get even close to slipping out of that ferris wheel on my watch!

We finished the afternoon at The Spaghetti Factory, with noodles, applesauce, and a few forays under the table!

Marco

We experienced the miracle of missionary work right here in SLC on June 1, 2018.  Our grandson, Spencer, was an LDS missionary in the Spanish-speaking mission which covers East Los Angeles.  While there he met Marco, an immigrant from Guatemala working at a dental materials factory.  At first, Marco was not interested in the Church, but he became intrigued after he saw what faith and Church activity did for his wayward daughter.  Marco is a kindly, gentle man who now feels that his life was transformed by his conversion and baptism by Spencer.  Marco also loves the missionary who shared the Gospel with him.  Spencer and Naomi have visited Marco in Los Angeles, and this week Marco traveled to SLC with a friend.  On June 1, we shared dinner with Marco at Mike's house.  Spencer spent the day visiting the SL Temple with Marco and helping him to find his ancestors at the Family History Library.  We were delighted to share in all the good feelings that missionary work can bring.

Finding Those Dead Cars

"The big draw of coming to your house, for Sam and Henry, is watching Duck Tales," Jonny informed me.  "Duck Tales" is a cartoon starring humanoid ducks which is available at any time on our TV.  "Duck Tales!" my son Mike exclaimed when he heard.  "That was my favorite cartoon when I was little, too."  I had no idea we had such a little kid magnet at 722 Northland Drive.  Thank goodness Dave and I are not home alone, without Duck Tales!

Jonny brought Sam to visit on Memorial Day, May 28, 2018.  After a few episodes of Duck Tales, Sam agreed to go on a hike in the wilderness behind our house, searching for the legendary "dead cars."  Every since Mike and Jonny were little, there have been remains of long ago crashed cars in the gully separating the Upper Avenues from Federal Heights.  How could they possibly have gotten there, with nothing but a narrow foot trail leading to them?  That is part of the delicious mystery.

 Sam walked all the way to the dead cars, but begged his dad for a ride back up the trail.

 We paused for Jonny to find a worm and give it to Sam to examine.

A good time was had by all.

Everything But the Food

 It is tough to be both the photographer and the cook.  At my best, I sneak in a couple of shots before dinner, rush madly to get the food on the table, and then, when dinner is over, I take another photo or two of the empty dishes.  No matter.  The most important thing, for any dinner party, is the guests and not the food.  On May 27, 2018, Camille's family joined Dave and me, Janice, Alan Dale, and Shauna to greet Jonny, Jenny, and their little boys.  Mike and Heidi were in NYC, watching "Hamilton" on Broadway.  The theme was "Polish", with borscht, pork tenderloin with plum sauce, potatoes in cheese sauce, cucumber salad, and homemade rye bread.  For dessert, I cooked a traditional Polish poppy seed cake, with a pound of poppy seeds (which nobody liked) and a traditional Polish cheesecake (which everyone did).  My question, at the end of each ethnic dinner, is "Which of these dishes do you want to eat again?"  I am always experimenting, and I would be fine with, "None of them!"

 The littlest Ebert, Mia, loves the little Spendloves.  Henry has a fan club.

 Naomi and Jenny had lots to talk about, including Jenny's new baby, due at the end of June.  Jonny and Jenny will stay in SLC for two months, until after the baby is born.  With the move last month from Miami to Bettendorf, Iowa, and Jonny traveling 50% of the time for his work, Jenny decided to have her baby in SLC, rather than among strangers in Iowa. 

Janice, Alan, and Shauna are frequent and always warmly welcomed guests.  The embroidered centerpiece is a treasure from Poland, via eBay.

Memorial Day

 Memorial Day.  A time to honor ancestors and heritage.  We did both on the weekend of May 26, 2018.  We placed flowers on the graves of our parents, remembering with love and joy their influence on our lives.  We also spent a day at the Ephraim, Utah, Scandinavian Festival.  Although Dave and I have no close relatives who lived in Sanpete County, where so many Mormon Scandinavian immigrants settled, we both have Norse blood running in our veins. 

 Dave and I both love small town parades.  There were just enough Vikings wielding axes and wearing horned hats to support the "Scandinavian Days" brand.

 But this is Western America, so there were also jeeps and trucks bearing festival royalty from each tiny town in the region.  Miss Moroni reigned.

 Dave and I were not above chasing into the road to pick up taffy and tootsie rolls tossed from the passing floats.

 A definite crowd pleaser--shaggy men and their shaggy dog.

 Scandinavian Days hosts an antique car show.  Some of those cars burned a lot of oil.

 An essential part of the show was all the government vehicles in town parading down the street, blowing their sirens and flashing their lights!  Fire trucks, ambulances, police, and the mayor, too--who could ask for more?

 We meandered a few blocks east to the Snow College campus, where food, craft stalls, a pioneer reenactment, and all-day entertainment awaited us.

 I wished I had enough allowance left to buy a real Norwegian bentwood box.

 I was not as excited about a concealed weapon handbag.

 I've never worried too much about bonfire survival, but maybe I'm naive....

We bought plates of Swedish meatballs, served with red cabbage and cucumber salad.  I got ideas for my next ethnic dinner.

 The strawberry marzipan cake was delicious.

 The BYU Folk Dancers sent a contingent dressed in Norwegian finery to perform and teach the crowd to dance.

 And there was bluegrass music, as well, which grew out of the culture of my ancestors, the Scots-Irish, who settled in the "hollers" of Appalachia.

 The entertainment highlight was Peter Breinholt, whose son, Nate, graduated with Jono from Olympus High this weekend.  Peter has the "sound" of James Taylor, who is a special favorite with Dave and me.  We thoroughly enjoyed Peter's performance.

 Norwegian flags adorned the stage.

 I met a cousin, Uncle Dave's granddaughter, Susie.  She is the daughter of Dick and Jane Calder.

 I love historical encampments and reenactments.  A spot on the Snow College campus was reserved for craftsmen showing life in Sanpete County in pioneer days--from the 1850s, when Sanpete County was settled, to 1900.

 Like most festivals, Scandinavian Days was dog heaven.

 Dave and I took a bus tour of historical places around Ephraim.  We enjoyed the guide's stories, as well as the jaunt through the cemetery and past many Queen Anne-style homes.  He told about one Sacrament Meeting when the bishop asked "Brother Peter Jensen" to stand up.  Half the men arose!

 After the tour was over, we walked to our car past pioneer homes with antique cars parked outside.  Dave paused to peer into the motors of those old cars and marvel at how easy it was to see what was inside and even to tighten things up with a wrench.  The motors of today's cars are a complex web of technology.

And finally, back home.