More from the coast trip.

Here's another photo from our trip to the coast. Just north of Willits there was this field full of cattle grazing. I don't think any of the cattle were standing next to another one, they were spread out all over the field. Then there was this big herd of elk all together. You can just make them out in this photo. Most of them were just laying there, but a couple were up grazing.

Just east of the junction of highways 20 & 101 there is another ranch where they raise buffalo [bison]. We saw them going out, and thought we'd wait until we came back to photographt them when it wasn't raining. But when we came back not only the rain was gone, but so were the buffalo.

The Redwoods

This past weekend we went to Eureka which gave us the opportunity to visit the Redwoods again. I don't think we have been back together since we first visited there 32 years ago. Here are some photos from our trip. The whole experience of walking around the Founders Grove was incredible. We were pretty much the only one's there, it being a very rainy day (it only let up while we were here in the Founders Grove). It was so peaceful and quiet, with that great clean, earthy smell of the forest. This first photo is of a place that was particularly peaceful.


This is a photo of the Founders Tree, looking up from the base. Those first branches you see way up there are about 200 feet up.

Oh, yes, it also stopped raining while we visited the Drive Through Tree. Here is our little Toyota coming through. We also got a video of it, but I'll wait to put it on if there is enough interest.


And here I am with my new best friend, Mr. Sasquatch. Notice that I have my hat on here - it didn't stop raining when we stopped at this place, a gift store right on 101 with lots of wooden carvings.

And here's the better looking of the two of us with Mr. S.

Back at Founders Grove - here is an interesting sign. I guess this is where they put all the plants that act out, hoping they will shape up and fly right (so to speak).

This is the light house at Trinidad Point. It was pretty neat, but owing to all of the moisture in the air, we couldn't see much.


Here is a short video clip of some kayakers out in the surf by the big rocks - can you see them? i like it because you can hear the crashing of the breakers. There's not much that can put me to sleep faster than the roar of the beach. So soothing.

54 x 54

Today was Peter's birthday - and he turned 21. I remember my 21st birthday, in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Elder Poole & the elders of Ala 2 gave me a party. It was fun, and just a couple of weeks before I left to come home. Well, this year was a milestone for me as along with a host of others I came into this world 54 years ago in '54. This year was pretty special as we had a visit from James & Sabrina, who brought us both birthday presents from Disneyland, where they visited recently I got the cool t-shirt shown below, and mom got a really nice pumpkin.
I also got a new set of scriptures. The last set I got didn't wear very well, and got to be pretty worn-looking pretty fast. I really like the compact size of the last two sets I have had, but the print is getting pretty small, so I have gone to the next size up.

Of course the best thing I got for my birthday was to hear from each of my children.

"Stand Back, There May Be A Large Rabbit Dropping"

This year was a different kind of Halloween. We actually didn't have anyone come by for candy. Of course we were gone for much of the evening lining up Prop. 8 materials for Sunday and preparing for the Radio license test tomorrow. And then when we got home we turned off all the lights and stayed in the family room watching movies. But we broke with tradition and didn't watch Arsenic & Old Lace - rather, we began a new tradition watching a new scary movie: "The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" with Wallace & Grommet. We got this movie as a present from James & Sabrina and it is really funny.

We also began to watch Harry Potter & the Order of the Tucson, or was that Phoenix, I forget. Anyway, we hope all of you had a really sweet Halloween as well.

G'bye Folks.

Trip to Utah

I had a great trip to Utah and had a lot of fun along with the work. I got to go to the choir broadcast with Emily and her friend Whitney.

I went with Paul and Sharon over to Thanksgiving Point and walked around the gardens there. It was just beautiful. The weather was just perfect. There are walkways everywhere you can follow. One day I would love to go when the tulips are out.

I went to a band competition with Don and Jana. Kessler was playing with the Bingham High School Band. There were five bands competing and BHS came away with two of the top honors.

Sharon and Paul were great hosts. It was fun to see most of their grandkids. Here is a pic of three of Tony's children, Abby, Dallin and Lauren.

Best of all, however is to be back home with Dad. He takes such good care of me. It is always fun to visit but there is no place like home.