Lots Going On End of Febuary Into March

The day Jane left was a very sad day for me. I call her and talk as often as I can. Mon., Feb. 20th was Gene and Lynn's 47th anniversary. That morning we went to a nearby park where Idaho friends, Alan and Lois Sedgwick, from our local LDS ward have been kind enough to teach us, Liljenquists and one other couple dance lessons each Monday morning.

The Sedgwicks are very good dancers and have danced for many years. We are trying to learn the swing and waltz step variations. It is pretty hard teaching two old left feet to dance. Every Tuesday afternoon in the park there is a music jam with park musicians performing and dancing where we can practice.

That evening to celebrate the anniversary we went to the Arizona Opry for dinner and the show (http://www.azopry.com). We had a delicious roast beef meal and then it was on with the show. They have an amazing range of talent among the dozen or so performers that appear throughout the show as well as some unique and interesting musical instruments. One of the songs they played was "Pretty Woman." This was Gene and Lynn's song and their anniversary was also announced during the show. We enjoyed the evening.

On Tuesday we took the Hieroglyphic Spring hike into the Superstition Mountain Wilderness near here. The hike was a moderate hike of about three and a half miles. You somehow wonder how much the ancient makings have to tell you or if it is ancient graffiti. I have a book that gives some insight to what the many symbols might have meant. I had to wonder how they were able to reach some of the points to carve pictures in the rock. The weather was just right to make the hike. My feet could tell that I had been on them a little longer than I should have been . The ankle tells me it's not quite healed yet.

Many Petroglyphs Are In Center Above Spring

Closer View of Some of the Petroglyphs

Several times the last couple of weeks we have played the game of shuffle board. The courts here are waxed to be very fast. The puck goes flying out of bounds with only a slight push. It is a fun game. I can finally score a few points.

On Saturday, Feb 25th, we took another hike of about six miles that starts at the Butcher Jones Recreation Area on the Saguaro Lake shore. The trail follows the lake shore. At Burro Cove at the end of the trail we had a lunch before returning. The trail was generally good and the scenery was nice.

I'm Using the Hiking Stick Lance Made For Me

Burro Cove Where We Had Lunch (4-Peaks Mountain in Background)

Sunday evening we attended a stake fireside where an Elder Jensen, a former mission president, gave a talk on the Book of Mormon. He spoke about some of the symbols and artifacts from that religious history. He had no actual items but had built a personal collection of items represented in the Book of Mormon such as the iron rod, Nephi's bow, the liahona, the sword of Laban and the gold plates.

He also recounted some historical and archaeological finds that support the origin and history of the Book of Mormon peoples including a petroglyph found in a remote location in Mexico that closely represents Lehi's dream of the Tree of Life.

Drawing of Tree of Life Petroglyph

The following Tuesday was cooler and very windy. We took the little blue Elantra in to repair a couple of minor dents, to be painted and to replace a cracked windshield. This fixed much of the gravel damage from the Alaska trip. With the headlight lenses also polished it looks almost new.

That Tuesday evening we went to the "Johnny Counterfit" show in the park (http://www.counterfit.com). This guy is a talented musician who does incredible impersonations of dozens of actors, singers and politicians mixed with a lot of good humor. One of the best imitations he did was of Archie and Edith Bunker from the old "All in the Family" TV series. We alternately laughed ourselves sick and marveled at the voice as well as facial and body expressions of people he mimicked.

On Thursday, March first, we went with the Liljenquists and our Arkansas friends, Dick and Gayle Bramwell to the Mesa temple for an endowment session. In the evening I sponsored a clam chowder dinner for all of us. Lynn and Gayle made contributions and we had a nice patio dinner and then played games for a while. Dick and Gayle left and we watched a movie with Gene and Lynn until a late bedtime. Wow, what a nice day!

On Friday Dad worked on taxes most all day. We also took a bike ride to visit Dad's cousin, Richard Shappart and his wife Jo in an RV park about three miles away. Then on Saturday evening, March 3rd, we went to Barro's Pizza where we had been invited to show up with other people in this area from Pocatello. There were about eight snowbird couples including Dad's cousin and his wife that showed up along with three younger men from Pocatello now living here that sponsored the get-together. It was very interesting to learn that the three younger guys graduated with Laurie from Highland High and one of them, Darren Crone, was our neighbor across our backyard fence while we were living in Pocatello.

Darren is in the Blue Shirt on the Left Foreground

We continue to frequent and enjoy the pool and hot tub at least two or three times per week. We also have found a bike ride we take regularly that was described to us by our neighbor, Peter Campbell. It is about four and a half miles long. When we first started riding it scared me. I was afraid of being hit by cars as they passed me but on this trail I  feel safer as we ride. Dad even has trouble keeping up with me sometimes. The best part is I don't have to stop and get off to take sharp corners in the sidewalks at intersections. I also often just ride around the park to practice a little.