Carey Family

Sue

97!

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Scott and I traveled to Washington to visit with Grandpa Carey for a few days and were able to celebrate his 97th birthday with him.  We had a great time talking with him and got some stories about his life as well as identifying where his uncle’s homestead was in Grafton, Utah.  The next time we visit the ghost town in Southern Utah we promised to take a picture of the site for him.  Scott took him to play Wii Bowling on his birthday and he opened up presents that had arrived in the mail.  He loves to read so we gave him some books we found at the local thrift store plus some honey roasted peanuts.

We also had fun visiting with Aunt Diane and Uncle Wally and ate fresh corn and blackberries from their garden.  We also attended their ward in Omak and had a great weekend.

Further adventures in Southern Utah

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While we were in St. George for Tuacahn, we headed out to Santa Clara to see the Jacob Hamblin home.  We started on the Indian Mission Trail but it was just too dang hot, so we gave up.  Kudos to us for hiking…….100 yards.

We drove back into St. George and toured the Tabernacle and then over to the Brigham Young Winter home.  We had an interesting tour and Mark talked “Texas” to a sister missionary from Austin.  We learned lots about the home and the Cotton Mission.  It’s amazing to me that those early pioneers were able to make a living in such a hot, dry climate.  It’s beautiful, but it must have been a daunting experience.

 

 

We also did some thrift store shopping around town and scored some finds, did some swimming at the hotel pool, and had a great time!

Tuacahn 2012

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We traveled to St. George during a little heat wave that made it quite hot in Southern Utah, but had a great time anyway.  We took Mark and his girlfriend, Lauren, and saw both shows.  “Aladdin” was awesome and had lots of surprises with a revised script from the movie version and lots of bells and whistles.  They had lots of live animals, a flying carpet, great dancers and singers, flames and explosions, and 3D glasses for the audience.  We really enjoyed the show and the Genie was amazing.  The next night was “Hairspray” and it was also totally awesome.  The actors were great and there were some fun stagings.  The choreography for “I Can Hear the Bells” was simply hilarious and all the dancing was high-energy and fun.  I couldn’t sit still in my seat during some of the songs and just had to tap my feet and shake my shoulders.

My adventures with Shakespeare

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Last week I got a fun treat: I got to tag along with some wonderful educators to the Utah Shakespeare Festival.  I had a grand time.  I was invited by my friend, daltongirl, who was the educator attending the workshop and I got to be the guest because her husband was nice enough to let me go in his place.  We drove down and attended the Greenshow before the evening performance of “Titus Andronicus” in the Adams Theater which is a replica of Shakespeare’s outdoor Globe Theater.  The performance was awesomely staged, the costumes were amazing, and the actors were compelling.  It was wonderful.  We also ran into our friends, alisonwonderland and White Rabbit, which was really fun.

The next day we went to the literary seminar for “Titus” which brought out some interesting viewpoints, some of which I did not agree with, and then we had a backstage tour of the Randall and Adams theaters, which was really interesting.

wagon for Les Mis

Then it was off to a luncheon with three actors who are also college professors.  We got to chat with one at our table about teaching techniques, and then they did a panel discussion which was fascinating and informative.  Then we attended the matinee of “The Merry Wives of Windsor”, which was hilarious!  It was so funny and well-done.  One of the things I love about live theater in repertory is seeing the versatility of the actors as they portray completely different characters.  It’s so fun.  After the show there was a closing discussion for the workshop and then we were free.

But then we got to stay an extra day because daltongirl gave me a ticket to the matinee of “Les Miserables” for my birthday!  It was in the Randall and was so good!  I’ve seen it and know all the music, but I still got misty-eyed when Fontine came for Jean Valjean and he was redeemed.  The actors did a great job and some of the voices were really good.  We were on the front row of the balcony, right in the center, so we could see everything.  It was awesome!  This was my first experience with USF and it was so great!

Wherein I turn 50

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Scott did something truly unexpected for my birthday: he threw me a surprise party.  I had not a clue.  He did it on Monday the 2nd, which was the night before we left for Yellowstone.  Mark came up in the evening to hang with us and spend the night, but that seemed normal because he wasn’t going to see us on my birthday and we were leaving for a week.  The mom and daughter that I read with took me out for frozen yogurt for my birthday.  This also seemed totally normal and the daughter made me a matching bracelet and earring set that’s totally cute!  When they dropped me off, the mom wanted the daughter to come in and see my Willow Tree collection so we walked in the front door and there were crepe paper and balloons everywhere.  I said, “Oh, looks like Mark did some decorating. Fun.”  We walked over to the shelf and then I saw all these people in the family room and they yelled, “Surprise!”.  Honestly, I am so dense.  So I was really surprised and we had cake and ice cream and it was really fun and nice of people to come.

On my real birthday we were in Yellowstone and went to breakfast here:We chose this place so we could have breakfast served to us by this waiter:Now that all the shows are up and running and daily rehearsals are over, Brian works a breakfast shift three days a week at Buckaroo Bill’s.  He rotates between prepping, cooking, and serving.  We ate in the back where each table has its own covered wagon and had some yummy food plus hot chocolate, too.

After our late breakfast we checked out some stores while waiting for Brian to finish his shift, then went back to the restaurant’s outdoor seating to open presents! Yay!  Scott got me a wooden wheelbarrow planter that we left at home, some books, a subscription to a quilting magazine, and then an offer to take me shopping around West Yellowstone.  That was also the present from Brian so off we went.  I got scrapbooking supplies, Wildflowers of Yellowstone seeds, and a framed pressed flower art piece with yellow columbines.  Awesome!

Brian went off to an emergency rehearsal because of a cast member’s accident, and we drove to Yellowstone Lake and did some sight-seeing via the car.  Then it was back for the second show.  Because it was July 4th, the theater had early shows so after the 4:00 show, the cast ran to the start of the West Yellowstone parade and walked the parade route to advertise for the shows.  The town parade was super fun!  Then we saw the 7:00 show of “The Drowsy Chaperone”.  During the variety show the cast brings up audience members with birthdays and they announce their names and sing to them.

I got a special announcement that I was a cast member’s Mom AND that I was turning 50.  Double applause!  I also got a kiss!

The show was great and afterwards we were invited to the cast BBQ.  We ate on a blanket on the sidewalk in front of the theater and watched the town fireworks show which was long and wonderful.

It was a fun day and now I’m officially over the hill.  The best is yet to come.