Tag Archives: visitors

Punting

Posted on December 26, 2013 | 4 comments

We heard on Christmas Eve that family from 1,200 miles away may be coming for a visit. They planned on Friday. Yikes. Then they called this morning and said they’d be here this afternoon.

Oh, my! I didn’t even have my “to do” list started on paper, it was in my head, but no menu or shopping or anything. So here I am awaiting a call and tidying up. Haven’t combed the dog yet, yes Miss Tumbling Tumbleweeds.

I made a list for my husband and called the butcher to have an identical steak to the one we ordered for Christmas day cut and ready to go (they like me, I bring them chili).

Not to worry. I am the Mary Poppins of the day. I’ve a week’s worth of dinner menus planned. Also, a list of the most interesting things our young nephew would like to see. And though we’ve one video game he loves and has almost mastered (age-appropriate) we’d rather he see ice fishermen, old pump house equipment, a science museum and flight museum and sled down the big hill after building a cardboard sled with his Uncle Jim.

Yes, we punt and enjoy family for the few days a year we get to see them. This will be a special treat. Also a challenge as this good cook has a picky eater on her hands and I’ll have to do some Auntie L trickery to hide things he hates (he’s not allergic to anything) and ask him to try it first, then I’ll tell him what’s in it. Culinarily yours, Dee

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Not 100% “Appropriate”

Posted on June 13, 2012 | Leave a comment

I was in the company of a nine year-old yesterday on my first visit to the local art museum. As we walked through a gallery of Rodin, Moore, Giacometti and Lachaise bronzes I was just amazed by the figures.

I’ve been interested in art for decades so the nudes do not bother me. I did keep the young man from seeing some French art that bordered on “bawdy” with women with cleavage entertaining men. This is a public art museum, so nothing risque, but not the kind of art I really enjoy and certainly not for a nine year-old.

We saw some really cool art and he still wasn’t into it, so we’ll try it again for a short visit when he comes back for a week next month.

He didn’t say a word about the nude bronzes until he talked to his father last night, and said, it was not “100% appropriate.” I laughed quietly in the kitchen, as I’ve seen Greek and Roman art since I was younger than he was and never had an issue with nudes in fine art.

I tried to teach him about perspective (medieval vs. renaissance) and compared the soldiers in their uniforms at the War Memorial next door to a Mannerist tomb in terms he could understand.

It wasn’t until we went to the education center that he glommed onto the computers and learned a bit about art conservation. This was his first art museum and I don’t believe in forcing kids to do what they don’t want to do (my parents did). But I love art and visit museums and churches all over the world. I don’t know what approach works best, but as he is not my child, I think dabbling a bit is the best way to go.

I even chose the rooms. A few Renaissance, then on to pop art and new exhibitions. Three million drinking straws. Go figure. Thank you, Tara Donovan!

Thanks especially to the security guard who told us the wings were about to be folded down at noon, then lifted again. We went up to the bridge and saw this remarkable feat created by Santiago Calatrava. A huge portion of the building moves and it’s remarkable.

What a good trip we had. Having guests visit a new city allows us to see it for the first time, because the move itself takes its toll on the new residents (us).

More guests next month, but first we need to get rid of the rest of the boxes and hang some pictures and quilts. When I use my phone here, even though we have furniture enough to make a home, it still echoes. Here’s to family, friends and new adventures. Dee

 

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Four Girls Four

Posted on March 27, 2010 | 3 comments

This girl group (I should say ladies’ group) was composed of Rosemary Clooney, Rose Marie, Helen O’Connell and Margaret Whiting.

They were fantastic singing classic big band and other songs, and I was lucky to see them in the early 1980’s at Chautauqua. Tonight I’m surrounded by Two Guys Two, my husband and a work pal are here, for the weekend for skiing (not my Jim). I’m working on dishes and while they set up a movie, they start into total work mode and start talking tech.

In the midst of the work conversation and had settled on a movie, I broke in and told them I’d been to a seminar this past week. We learned that while the Greater Sandhill Cranes mated for life, one guy asked why the male bird had to show his feathers for the gal every year. I said it was like dinner and a movie. Most people laughed.

While we’ve been together over eight years (seven married) it’s always interesting to meet fellow colleagues. Yes. it is always better to have other guys, gals/wives around for a social event. At home, taking care of weekend guests, it’s different.

It’s always a treat to have guests here, we wouldn’t have had an extra bedroom except to have people visit us in this gorgeous location. Several folks have and it’s always good to see them, cook for them, and see them off.

Now there are folks who want to kick us off this place and we don’t want to leave. What I hate more is that someone who sees me regularly on a public route with my dog on a leash (when his is not) goes home and has wife send a letter saying we’re not allowed to have a dog.

This morning I picked up a beer can that had been buried in the snow and put it in the trash, my dear husband shoveled the trail himself after he got home from work yesterday, and now I’m wondering why we’re such bad neighbors. After all, our dog is six now and we’ve had her six years so why are we supposed to get rid of her to pay a fortune for a lovely home that we care for diligently, and are recognized as great neighbors.

It would be nice to just have a break, to be recognized for being good neighbors and not be ostracized by one couple for having a friendly, special needs dog who does nothing to hurt anyone. Hope y’all are having a good weekend. We enjoyed our long drive today! Cheers, Dee

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Posted in Editorial, Pet, Utah

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Today’s The Day

Posted on September 2, 2009 | 3 comments

Jim’s parents are coming out for a visit. A whole week! Normally I like to have a travel book and local magazines handy for guests to peruse and figure out what they’re going to do, but I think this time they’ll be more exhausted from this “vacation” than if they hadn’t taken off work!

There’s the local showcase of homes at which they plan to spend at least two days of the long weekend. We have to go to the Park Silly market on Sunday because my hairdresser’s relatives are coming down from Logan for the farmer’s market bringing heirloom tomatoes and fingerling potatoes that will be featured on my daily menu.

We’d like to send them on the really cool commuter train to several museums and lunch in Ogden one day that Jim’s at work. And so on. This family doesn’t take vacations, much less fly 1,500 miles to get there. When Jim and I first met, his parents had run a dairy for their entire lives. Shortly before we married I was trying to get the lay of the land on family traditions. I asked Jim what his family did for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter. He replied, “milked cows.” So while his father gave up the dairy he still raises cattle, and Margie got 7 goats last year that now number 35, it’s tough to get him off the farm but he’s cut more hay this year than ever before and can take a week off.

I think they’ll love it up here in the mountains. The home tour will provide additional ideas and inspiration for the retirement home they’re planning in Texas, and I’ve also asked for information on touring a nature preserve for local native grasses. They’ve already done research on native grasses in TX and would like to have these as a feature of their new property. Plus they’ve never been to UT and would like to see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the copper mine so they’ll be busy. No sitting on the sofa reading civil war books!

It’s cool enough at night that we can cook out and eat on the deck, then come in and start a fire. We’re looking forward to it. I’ll finish cleaning, get a table for dining in (I’m not going to be able to move my desk from the dining table, ran out of time) and we can use the chairs. It’ll work. Awaiting delivery of fruits and veg and steaks from the organic farm so we pretty much have breakfasts and dinners covered. The ribeyes from this farm are excellent and we’ll have some tonight, along with organic russet potatoes with all the fixings and I’ll saute some red and gold cherry tomatoes for color and flavor.

I guess we love new places, new challenges, and enjoy sharing them with family and friends. Writing time may be scarce but I’ll try to keep up. Maybe Jim’s mother can do a post! Cheers, Dee

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Posted in Editorial, Travel, Utah

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