New Joann's Fabric Store

Our new, big Joann's opened on March 11.  I went to lunch with Renee, Lisa and Shirley that day, and after we went over to check out the new store which opened that morning.  The whole parking lot was full of cars.  It was crazy and absolute proof that there's not much going on in Idaho Falls.  The Grand Opening for the store is a 3-day affair (Thurs-Sat), and the first 100 customers got a $10.00 gift card.  So I went down to the store about 15 minutes before it was due to open.  I couldn't believe the line of people.  Some women were so clever that they brought their husbands along so they could collect 2 gift cards.  I didn't think of that, and Kurt wouldn't have come with me.  The painters were arriving at 9 am, and he needed to be at the house.  It took 2 pictures to photograph the whole line, and many more came after I took the pictures and got back into line.  I'm happy that there are so many people in Idaho Falls that like to sew.  After all, there's not much else to do in Idaho Falls.

Stake Relief Society Conference

Dixean Grimes (far right in purple) wrote an amazing song that she performed at our Stake Relief Society Conference, along with Taneil Serr, Jana Lee Nelson, Hayley Richards and Bev Beck.  The picture that I had with Bev was blurry so she got left out of this post.  The Stake had classes for us to take in the morning, followed by a luncheon and program.  It was a nice event and seemed well attended.  I was happy that there were about a dozen from our YSA branch that went. I attended a class about hair and nails that was taught by Bridgett Empey, from our branch.  Next I went to a class by Bonnie Hoover about teaching FHE lessons from "For the Strength of Youth" booklet.  It was awesome.  Then I went to one on skin care and makeup by Tiffany Farmer, also from our branch.  It was a worthwhile activity, and then I went shopping, which may not be worthwhile, but was fun nonetheless.

New Valentine's Day Quilt

Haylee and I made little Valentine's Day Wall hangings.  I don't think she got hers finished yet.  Something about having two little girls makes it hard to find time to sew.  Anyway, we had fun working on them, and I think it is quite cute.

Bird troubles

 

This is a Sharp-Shinned Hawk.  We noticed him hanging around starting in December.  At first I thought a hawk might be a useful bird to have around since they eat rodents, and we get mice and voles in the field by us.  Then Ethan saw it swoop down one day and catch a sparrow in our yard.  Kurt also saw it go after a bird one day.  Now we rarely see any sparrows or finches.  I guess they don't feel safe.  No wonder. The hawk is perched directly above the bird feeders.  Kurt hasn't had to worry about keeping the feeders full anymore, and he used to refill them every other day.  I will be so sad if we don't get any gold finches this spring!

Mule Deer

There have been lots of deer all around our area the last few winters.  We have had one or two in the yard this winter, but the other day we had 8.  They were nibbling on dried flower leaves around the deck.  Then they all moved over to the south border of the yard and curled up for an afternoon rest under the trees.  I just watched them for quite awhile and took some pictures.  I love being out in the country.

Happy New Year

I regret not keeping up the blog after we returned from our mission.  I finally got the mission blog published into a book that we could look at and enjoy.  Since I am not a good journal keeper, I realize that more than a year's activities have elapsed with no record kept, other than my memory.  That means that basically there is no record kept!  

I guess the debate going on in my brain is not whether or not to continue with the blog, but do I go back and try and catch up last year's activities or just start with this past Christmas and more forward?  For today I will at least  do this post and change my background.  Maybe that's enough action in the day for me.  I don't want to go overboard and burn myself out!

Butchart Gardens

Mary, Sandy and I took off early in the morning and drove to Anacortes, Washington, to catch the ferry going to Victoria.  It was a fun ride over with a beautiful view of the San Juan Islands.  The ferry docks at Sidney.  We then drove down to Butchart Gardens that evening and toured the gardens for a few hours.  We got an inexpensive 2nd-day pass and spent more time there the next day.  We drove down to Victoria and spent the night in a fancy Marriott Hotel.  We walked about some the next morning.  I'm sure we could have spent a whole day just checking out Victoria, but that wasn't on our agenda.  We went back to Butchart Gardens to get our fill of flowers.  I wish I could go there 3 or 4 times a year so I could see every different type of flower they have there.  It is such an amazing place.