Strange Happenings

We have all experienced this, buying something for one reason and ending up using it for something else. Case in  point. For the past several weeks we have been shopping for a good used tent trailer. In the meantime we decided to by a hitch for the truck so that we would be ready when that special one became a reality. Well, so far that special one hasn't shown up yet. So we have had the hitch on the truck just making the truck look real cool. More like a man's truck. Then last Tuesday Dave's truck broke down on his way home from Salt Lake. When he called for help I couldn't think of a way to get him home or helped. Then it came to my mind that we had that "cool"hitch on the truck. So we called U-Haul and they had towing dolly. "Walla"!Filled out the paper work, hooked up the dolly and headed for Salt Lake. So the towing dolly was the first thing towed by the truck with the new "cool" hitch and the truck felt like it was a real truck now. We hooked the dolly to Dave's truck and headed for home.  Thank goodness for that "cool" hitch. We were able to help someone out of a pickle and at a lot less cost than a tow truck. So, even though that isn't what we intended to use the hitch for in the first place, we sure were glad to have it when some one was in need.

"ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END"

There is this old song I know that has the phrase I used for the title of my blog today. And true to what it says, all good things do seem to come to an end from time to time in our lives. The important thing is not to get so caught up in them that you cannot adjust to them being gone and move on to new and maybe better things.

Such was the case last Sunday. During our Bishopric meeting the stake Executive Secretary knocked on our door and when we answered the door, he stated that the Stake President wanted to see me at 11:30, just twenty minutes before our Sacrament meeting. When a Stake president wants to meet with you, I have learned, that it means only two things, that he is going to issue you a new call or he is going to release you from your present one. Well, in my case it turned out to be the second one. And even though I knew it was going to happen someday the announcement still stirred up some emotions that I hoped I could control, but didn't. So at our Sacrament meeting last Sunday, I was released from being the Ward Clerk. It had been my pleasure to serve there for three and a half years. Now, not knowing what lies ahead, I move on to new things and challenges.

There have been periods of relief and periods of sorrow. But I must say that the time I have served in the singles ward has been one of the highlights of my church service. Personally, I would rank it almost equal to my missionary experience. I am going to miss driving in to Orem each Sunday.

The other good thing to come to an end this week is that I paid off the remainder of the loan on the Toyota. Only joy and relief has accompanied this one, no sorrow. It is a great feeling to have these things out of your life. Now, just the mortgage remains. And next summer is the goal for that one. Oh happy day!!

Yes, all good things do seem to come to an end, and we just move ahead to new and hopefully better things in the future.

Camp Out in Mantua

Hi, I didn't realize it had been so long since I posted a blog.

August the 8th was the annual Olsen family party in Millville.
The night before we camped out with the Jensen's, the Olsen's and Jamie and John at a nice camp grounds in Mantua. We had lots of good food to eat. After eating and cleaning up, we played the numbers game. That was a lot of fun as we all got silly and sometimes strange prizes.At the end of the game we could trade with others if they would. This gave us a chance to get rid of something if we didn't want it for something that we wanted that someone else didn't want. When it got late, we bedded down for the night. Rodger had us sleep in their new trailer bed. The bed was nice and comfortable but sleep well we didn't. The next morning we woke up to rain. Jamie, Monica, and Shannon slept out in a tent Concerned that they might be cold and wet, we got up and helped them into the trailer. Later we decided to drive up to Logan and have breakfast at the Jensen's before going to the family party. The party got moved to the College Ward church because of the rain. It was well attended and I think every one had a good time. It was good to see everyone and visit with them for a few minutes. When that was over we drove home. It was so good to get home to our familiar beds and surroundings. Other that being extremely tired from not sleeping well we had a very good time.Will we do it again next year? We will wait for next year to determine that.
Family is great isn't it?

Memorial Day !

Last Monday was Memorial Day. A day for us to remember and honor those who have gone before us, and especially those who gave their all for the freedom of this great country in which we have the privilidge to live. That was the purpose of the holiday set up by Congress in the first place. Now we include everyone, but especially those who have given their all for us.

I have several in my family tree who have served during time of conflict.
My dad, Roy B.,(MP in Washington DC), Uncle Spot (Leo Olsen)(Europe), Uncle Scott Jackson (Pacific). Uncle Glen Jackson was in the Navy but released early be cause of health issues. Uncle Carvel Jackson was in for a few weeks before the war ended. My Uncle Mike (Walter Olsen) served in the Korean conflict and was wounded while there in Korea. To my knowledge he was the only one that suffered any wounds while serving. All of them are now gone, except for Uncle Scott. But he is getting up there in years.

I am thankful and proud of those of my heritage that served their country when called. I don't think any of them wanted to go, but they went and served and helped to keep America free and strong.

So Memorial day holds a spot in my heart for all of those who have given their all, and for those who were fortunate enough to return home and carry on with their life as well. God bless them all!! And God Bless America !!

Just a quick report on our garden project. There really are things growing where we planted. They are just not big enough to tell what they are yet with out the grid plan for reference. We haven't told them where they are living so maybe they will keep growing and give us produce.

Last week we put up a hummingbird feeder that Grandma had bought. It is outside the window by the dinner table. We didn't see any activity for several days. Then suddenly presto there was this little hummingbird feeding on our feeder. A day or so later there were two and this morning while I was eating breakfast before going to Orem there were several fighting over the feeder. It was real neat to see them dive bomb at each other and contend with each other to get to the feeder. It was also really cool to watch their shadow through the blind as they fed at the feeder and dove at each other too. How they can hover there and feed at the same time is simply amazing to me. It has been a lot of fun. In fact we catch ourselves looking out the window to see if there are any hummingbirds at the feeder when ever we walk past the window.

Have a great week. Grandpa O.

Planting time

Yesterday was planting time at Grandma and Grandpa O's.



I laid out the grids. Grandma got out her grid plan
and decided where she wanted to plant her seeds
and starts.




Then she planted them in the grid that she had
planned for them.
She then wrote down where each different plant
or plants were to be
so that we would not forget what was where.




As the last picture shows we already
had some
tomato plants.
They are dwarf tomatoes and they
already have a few small
tomatoes on them about
the size of a marble.

We first put cardboard underneath
the box to keep the weeds
from coming up through the mixture.

Each box contains a mixture of compost
(which we got at the city dump),
some peat moss, and some vermiculite.
We mixed it all together and that forms
the basis of our plant food.
There is no soil.



Now we hope it all grows and gives us tasty results!!

We are still alive.

I don't know why some of this blog is underlined. So you will have to just put up with it. A couple of weeks ago we were outside taking a few sun rays. Dave put the tail gate down and tried to get Sadie and Bejing to jump up in the back of the truck. Sadie didn't have a clue as to what to do. But to our suprise Bejing put her front feet up on the tail gate like she wanted to jump in. Which is unusual because she normally will not have any thing to do with getting in the truck bed. Any way, I picked her up and put her in the truck bed. She was pretty excited after a few seconds of unsurety. Dave had to pick her up and set her out because she can't jump with her bad hips and all. What a doll!

You may not be able to see them from this picture, but the apricot tree was loaded with blossoms. The bees also found them before the last cold spell so we are hoping that there will be a good crop of apricots come next fall. The flowering plums out in the front lawn are very pink with blossoms now that the sun has warmed things up again. Real pretty.

Grandma wanted some gardening boxes this year. So I made good use of the boards from the old decking. I made three boxes that are four feet square. They can be divided up into several areas for different types of plants. We only wanted a couple of boxes so Marcia's family is going to use the third. We just need to get the compost and other stuff needed to fill them. It makes kind of a potting soil. We won't be using any soil in them at all. We will be using a weed barrier in the bottom to keep the weeds out. (hopefully) Now if it will just stop snowing and get warm enough to do it.

Helping Grandma fix breakfast. When Rodger and family were down one week end for a sleepover last February, the girls had to help Grandma cook some french toast for breakfast. They are real good helpers.

Bed time . Bejing and Sadie have taken to each sleeping on the red comforter. It has taken a bit of time but they have finally learned to share. It used to be who ever got to the comforter first took it all. They still do that some but more often than not the share. Some times it is only a corner or a narrow part of the edge. It is kind of cool to see them sleeping together.

Update

Yesterday, Dec 13th, we received our first snow just like every one else in the state. About four inches or so at the last measurement on the deck. And for now we are removing it the old fashion way, we shovel it. Have been looking on a deal for a good snow blower though. That is a definite for the future . David, bless him, cleaned the driveway first and then I did it after a few more flurries had come through. This storm ruined our plans to go up to Logan and attend Jamie's Graduation. It was so bad up there that she didn't even go herself. Janis was not feeling well either. So between the two things we stayed home and did a bit of Christmas shopping. That was a bit harmful to the bank account, but a lot of fun. Then we just sat around the fire and watched it snow all day.

I hope the weather is good enough that you will all be able to come to Grandpa's Christmas party next Saturday. Hope to see you all there!

Thanks for coming to Thanksgiving dinner.We had a good time and hope you all did too.