No habla Russian

Josh just showed me this very cool Google site that translates phrases or even entire web sites.

The other side of the world

Yekaterinburg is exactly 12 hours different than Mendon.

Five Star Ranch

Salem and I spent a rainy Monday together, at Antelope Island and then mostly in Grantsville. It's so fun to be there not only because it's green and replenishing, but because they make us laugh. Aunt Janet is taking care of GG and she manages to laugh about the situation.

After Gary showed Salem all over their great property with all their creative, beautiful improvements Salem said, "You know how some women hate Martha Stewart? Well, Gary is like that for men." The sun came out long enough for phone pictures. Salem misses his family a ton.

Memorial Day

Yekaterinburg !!

Thanks, everyone for the links here and here and here and the good wishes. Anyone who reads this blog already knows that we'll be serving in Russia, reporting to the MTC September 8. We're so excited!!!

Gardner Village

This shopping spot south of SLC is fun. Roger liked the historical buildings and I liked the pioneer-houses-turned cute stores--especially the "Whites Shop." So feminine.

Flower beds

Nice to have a yard this time of year. These were the undersized tulips that didn't show off well outside.

View from Ensign Peak

Not exactly a peak--more like a rocky lump above the city capitol. This would make a great family hike, 1/2 mile long.

Shoes every day

Thanks to Josh and Erin's Christmas gift, last week we heard Bach's Brandenburg Concertos performed at Abravanal Hall, and the next night we saw Mozart's opera, Don Giovanni at the Capitol Theater. Loved them both. Dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse was another highlight.

Linda Sappington in SG: "We're gettin' so much culture the next thing you know we'll be wearin' shoes every day."

We've had a busy week or two. Besides helping GG move to Fawson's, we've been trying to help out with Jim and Tiff, taking a turn watching their kids, etc. Little Grayson has had his fourth surgery in his six months of life, but things may be improving. Jared went up to Primary Children's to help Jim give the baby a blessing.

I like this little music/history lesson:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMF_24cQqT0

(I couldn't download the video.)

When a Tongan baby turns one the parents give a luau. We were asked to bring fresh fruit to the party last weekend. We covered a snow saucer with plastic wrap, folded Napa cabbage leaves all around the edge and poured in 2-3 bags of crushed ice. A pineapple in the center acted as a brace to heap the fruits against--piles of cut oranges, grapes, watermelon, etc.

I'm in my last days at the University. I've been grateful for this ideal little job which culminated with the annual conference I hosted last month. It's been fun to put on party-with-a-purpose, spending someone else's money. At the gathering I was presented with a gift from the Department--a framed print of the Wellsvilles--and the teachers I supervise gave me a gift, too. Very kind.
Besides seeing classes, I liked driving around the valley.


(Pix from classroom visit: Discussion w/ great teacher; student w/ braille computer brings his essays on a card so other students with laptops can peer review his work; checking out novels the class is reading.)

Papers are in.