Fri. Oct. 17th

It was such a beautiful day. Not a cloud in the sky and a brisk autumn temperature. If you sat in the sun it was as warm as a blanket. We put critter food out for the chipmunks and birds and they enjoyed it all day long. We have one little chipmunk who has 1/2 a tail. It's fun to be able to identify him. We call him short tail. There are 3 chipmunks that came for all the food. When there are 2 they get a long just fine but 3 is a crowd and they chase each other all over the deck. Sadie finally realized she's a cat and sat at the window all day twitching her tail. I was afraid at one point she was going to jump through the window. The blue jays and other birds were back too. Mike worked in the garages most of the morning. He caulked where it needed to be caulked (?) I read and watched the animals. I think we made a mistake and took the ATVs to St. George about 2 weeks early. It would have been a perfect day for a long ride. This evening we supported Aunt Sue's and had dinner there. After dinner we went for a walk along some of the roads in Duck Creek Pines. We started and ended at Pinewood Inn. When we got home Mike and I had a billiard game. I didn't lose ;} Now we're watching "Dan In Real Life" We have to go home in the morning.

Thurs. Oct 16th CAUGHT UP

From now on the posts will be current and hopefully submitted daily while we're here. This morning was lazy for me. I come to the cabin to be lazy without guilt. I LOVE to read, nap and watch the abundant wildlife out our windows. Mike can't sit still but he LOVES to rake (you've noticed from the previous posts) He has the cleanest garages on the mountain. Every morning he gets up around 6:30 am and goes for a ride in his jeep or pickup. He probably puts 30 miles on the vehicle every morning. He's out scouting for deer. He adores the beautiful deer in the area. One day (his best so far) he spotted 30 deer. He has figured out where to find them. One cabin really gets to him because they must feed the deer and have about 6 in their yard every morning. He has also spotted antelope and wild turkeys. Here at the cabin we feed the chipmunks and birds. We have a colony of chipmunks in front and one in back of the cabin. As I type this I've been watching 3 chipmunks arguing over the pile of seeds and corn we put out for them. They fill their pouches and scurry off. It takes them about 5 minutes and they're back for more. We also have 3 or 4 Blue Jays who share anything we set out for the chipmunks. We put a suet feeder in a tree in front of the cabin and it has attracted (so far) 3 different kinds of birds. I wish Micah was here to identify them for us. Some are large and gray with black wings and others are small (like finches, I think). Most days we will go for a long ATV ride (2-3 hours), come home for a long hot shower and eat a meal like soup or stew. I love putting a roast in the crock pot for about 12 hours. We've taken the ATVs to St. George for this weekends ride to the Grand Canyon but we'll bring them back next week and ride until the snow piles up. We're talking about snowmobiles but. . . . we'll see.
Right now, outside our front door, there are 3 chipmunks, a blue jay and 2 other birds. Sadie (we bring her up with us everytime)is laying in the sun by the door and the silly, homegrown, cat doesn't even notice them. I guess it's just as well. She'd go crazy otherwise.

Wed. Oct. 15th

Mike and I drove up yesterday afternoon. There were small piles of snow under the trees so it must have snowed more during the week. I made Rueben sandwiches for dinner. We had hot chocolate while we watched the Pres. debate.

Sat. Oct 11th

We cleaned the cabin this morning. Mike assembled the day bed and the rope bed. Now we need to buy mattresses. SOFT Mattresses.
We had to leave for home around noon.
It snowed most of the morning but it won't last this time because the weather forecast called for the 60s by Thurs.

Fri. Oct 10th

Sheri, George and Ella went back to St. George this afternoon. Mike & I went for a jeep ride to Strawberry Point and then to Duck Creek Village and ate lunch at Auntie Sue's Cafe. We brought back a slice of banana cream and a slice of coconut cream to the cabin to eat this evening. We watched "McKenna's Gold".

Thurs. Oct 9th

A beautiful day at the cabin. It feels like Fall with bright sunshine. Sheri and George drove to Cedar City this afternoon for a couple of hours. Ella stayed at the cabin and colored, swept, read books and fed the chickamunks. The whole evening was spent working on Tu-tus. Ella went to bed around 9 pm but woke up ready to play at 10 pm.

Wed. Oct 8th

Sheri, George & Ella came up to the cabin for a couple of nights. We rented a skid loader and Mike and George worked on the property. They moved piles of old wood. I made them leave the biggest pile because we call it the chipmunk condo.
Sheri worked on Tu-tus for her wards Super Saturday. Ella played in the loft, helped sweep, loved Sadie and fed the chickamunks. After Ella went to bed we watched "Hocus Pocus"

Sun. Oct. 5th

It snowed huge soft flakes all night. We left the porch light on and could watch it out our bedroom window. There nothing like lying under a down comforter in a mountain cabin and watching the snow fall outside. (Do I smell hot chocolate?) This morning there was about 1" of snow but it was gone by noon.
We spent the day watching General Conference, napping and reading. We started a new cabin tradition. We made crepes for breakfast and watched conference.
Mike and Joe loaded all 5 ATVs on the trailer and P.U. this afternoon to bring back to St. George.

Sat. Oct. 4th

Mike, Bunni, Joe and Katie up for the night. Katie ran in the St. George marathon this morning - in the pouring rain - We arrived at the cabin around 4 pm.
We drove through snow at the summit (9900 feet) but it's only raining here.
Mike and I decorated the kitchen.

Fri. Oct. 3rd Grandma-Great wrote

Rode up here with Mike & Bunni. I could tell Mike had done a lot of raking. Sadie came too, and she was a little nervous in the car. We've just been lazy. Mike received a call regarding my appointment with a surgeon in SLC area. The definite time is Nov. 20th but the nurse he talked to said there were cancellations so may be sooner. I pray for a time right away. My comfort level is zero.
Nice dinner last evening - chicken and sweet potatoes.
We watched the VPs last evening. Too bad this won't be a shoe-in for the Rep. party but maybe a miracle.
I'm thankful to get to be here. I count my blessings.

Sept. 26, 27 & 28th Katie wrote

Joe and I came up for the weekend. Friday night we watched the debates and ate pizze. Saturday morning I went for a run up to the pond and back. Then Joe cleaned his guns and I studied for my mid-term. It was quiet and relaxing.

Sept 24, 25 & 26th

Mike and I came to the cabin. We installed all the first floor window covering. We put wood blinds in all the bedrooms and 2 kitchen windows. There really isn't a need for privacy but having been raised in town we just feel exposed without something on the window. We'll need to keep the heat in pretty soon. We ate lunch at the new cafe in the village. Aunt Sue's Cafe. They just opened and we want them to succeed so we'll eat there often. Very friendly people. Aunt Sue is the cook and she makes home-made pies. The weather was a little cooler today with some rain clouds. THINK SNOW!!!

Sept. 17th - 19th

Mike came to the cabin alone. He raked and hauled sticks and stones and dirt. AND -- Hurt his back. :{

Sat. Sept. 13th

The weather has been so beautiful. The aspen trees have all turned yellow and they rustle in the wind. The leaves sort of shimmer. Up here at the cabin you first hear the wind then see the aspens quake and then you see the pines sway and then you feel the wind. It all takes about 30 seconds. I don't want to put up a wind chime because the wind in the trees has such a magical sound.
Mike raked again this morning. Our property looks really nice. I'm surprised he doesn't ask to borrow my vacuum cleaner.
Mike, Ella and I went for a ride in the Rzr. She sits on my lap and LOVES it. She always wants to go faster!?! We spent a quiet afternoon working on the jigsaw puzzle. George is getting a little obsessed with it.

Fri. Sept 12th

George, Sheri and Ella rode in the Rzr and Mike and I rode on the ATVs. We rode to Asay Knoll and Mammoth Creek. George and Sheri needed to go to St. George this afternoon so they left Ella here at the cabin. Ella loves to feed the chickamunks and read books. When they got home we ate soup and wathed Fox News coverage of Hurricane Ike.

Thurs. Sept 11th

Sheri, George, Ella and Bunni drove up this afternoon.
(Mike came up yesterday) He comes up on Wednesday come Hell or
high water. I've given his scenarios of reasons he couldn't come
up on Wednesday and stay until Saturday but so far nothing has been
important enough to keep him home. He doesn't care if I come with him
or not. He understands I might have reasons to stay home but that won't
stop him. This is his haven.
Sheri made a delicious chicken pot pie. Her favorite part of coming to the cabin is cooking. We love eating her cooking so it all works out. We watched "Second Hand Lions"

Sun Sept 7th Katie wrote

Joe and I made eggs benedict for breakfast and then rode the RZR to Hatch and back. We watched "Lonesome Dove".

Sat. Sept. 6th

We rode the RZR to Strawberry Point and to Asay Knoll. It was lots of fun. I don't like being a passenger but this is fun because it's so small and powerful. Joe and Katie came up this evening and we went for another ride before Mike, Sadie and I headed home. Katie made Joe a lemon-poppy seed cake for his birthday.

Fri. Sept 5th Joe's Birthday

We took a wonderful ATV ride to Mommoth Creek (most peaceful and serene spot I've seen in years) I can't wait to take my family there. It's so beautiful. We then road to Hatch to find the LDS chapel there. We picked up the RZR in the afternoon. We walked around Aspen Mirror Lake to get some exercise. This evening we watched "Nuns On The Run"

Thurs. Sept. 4th

Mike raked the front of the property and checked on the RZR. This is his new best friend. Bunni and Sadie arrived around 6:30 pm. We ate dinner and watched the Republican Convention. GO SARA!!

Wed - Sept. 3rd - Mike wrote

I came up by myself in the evening. Bunni had a Relief Society meeting tomorrow afternoon and will drive up late in the afternoon. The weather is beautiful. I spent some time raking in the front of the cabin. I'm trying to get the old dead wood cleaned up.
Bunni adds: He worked so hard he put his back out. My husband who is 59 going on 29. We need to be careful of the chipmunk nest that have been built in the wood piles.

Sat. August 30th - Sept. 1st - Katie Wrote

Joe and I went for a short ride with Mom and Dad then we came back to the cabin for lunch. A storm blew in so we put the ATVs in the garage and had dinner at the Pinewoods Lodge.
On Sunday Joe went for a drive and I finally finished "Breaking Dawn" The weather was still gray and cloudy so we drove over to Bryce Canyon for dinner at Ruby's Inn.
Monday we went horse-back riding. It was so fun! Joe's horse was "Itchy" and mine was "36". We're sad we have to go back. It was a great 3-day weekend.

Fri. August 29th

Mike and I drove to Bryce Canyon today. We ate lunch at Ruby's Inn and walked a long the rim trail. We drove back to the cabin through Panquitch Lake

Thurs. August 28th

We rode the ATVs this afternoon. It was a sunny, clear day in the hight 70s.

Wed. August 27th

Mike and I drove up this evening in time for dinner. We had BLTs and watched some TV but it was the Dem. Convention and not very interesting. We brought Sadie with us.

August 23rd

We spent a very quiet morning. Mike worked on the ATVs. I read and napped. We watched some more of the Olympics. We always head back to St. George on Saturday afternoon.

August 22nd

Rachel and Tanner went for a 1/2 hour horse back ride this morning. Rachel's horse's name was Skywalker and Tanner's horse's name was Two Bits. We spent the rest of the day quietly. Tanner fed the chipmunks again. The girls watched TV. Around 2:30 we drove down the Cedar City and met Chad. He headed back immediately to Provo with the kids. We took Grandma Great to Pinewood Inn for dinner.

August 22 - Grandma-Great wrote

Have been here at the cabin since Wednesday evening just soaking up the sunshine and crisp nights. I have read Bunni's book "The River of Doubt" about Theodore Roosevelt's journey in to the Amazon area. I'm to Chapter 19 - far enough to think he makes it with his son Kermit. Tanner and I had a mexican train domino game. Jessica and Rachel showed me how to play James Bond or some similar name. This is a 5 star hotel.

Thursday, August 21st - Bad, bad day

Mike, Bunni, Tanner, Rachel and Jessica sent ATVing today. Rachel rode behind Mike and Tanner rode behind Bunni. Jessica rode alone on the yellow Honda. We rode up to Strawberry Point. It was a fun and easy ride. It was Jessica's first time riding alone so we took an easy trail and rode nice and slow. When we headed home we took trail #61. Mike and George rode it a couple of weeks ago and it was easy enough. This time it had some deep ruts from the heavy rains. :{
Not very far into the ride, Jessica it a rut and over corrected which caused the the ATV to tip on it's side. I was behind her and saw the whole thing. Needless to say it scared me beyond words. Mike and I ran to her and helped her lay down. Her right leg was hurting very bad. She didn't want to move it. Mike rode his ATV back to the cabin to get his jeep. Rachel, Tanner and I stayed with Jess to keep her comfortable. Tanner told her it was lucky it hadn't happened in South America. I had to agree with him.
Mike, Tanner, Rachel and Jessica rode back to the cabin in the jeep. I followed on my ATV. We pushed the Honda back upright and left it by the side of the road.
We left Rachel and Tanner with Grandma-Great and took Jessica to the Insta-Care in Cedar City.
She had a large gash on her knee cap. Xrays didn't show a break but her growth plate at thetop of her knee is cartilage and wouldn't show on an xray and that's where most of her pain was.
They cleaned and dressed her gash and put a splint and ace bandage on. It goes from just above her ankle to above her knee. She was in some apin this evening and didn't sleep very good. We got a prescription for Loritab. When we got back to the cabin, Mike and I drove back to the accident site and brought home the yellow Honda.
We watched the movie "Home Alone 2" and ate ice cream this evening.
Mike called Chad and explained everything.
Not the best day at the cabin so far.
RULE #1 - No one under the age of 14 rides alone.
RULE #2 - 14 and over MUST be well trained before they ride alone

August 20th

Mike, Bunni, Jessica, Rachel, Tanner and Grandma-Great drove up to spend a few days. Chad, Sloan and Reed are at BYU Education Week.

August 16

We cleaned the cabin this morning and drove up to Provo to celebrate Chad's 40th birthday.

August 15th

We went for a ATV ride over to Duck Creek Village. We ate lunch at "Handle Bar Hank's" It's good food but so expensive. (1 hot dog = $5.50) We rode to Mammoth Cave and then back home on trails #47 & 46. Very fun ride! It was a beautiful day. Bright sunshine with the temperature in the 70's. Mike put up the drapes in the master bedroom and kitchen. He also tacked down the carpet pads on the steps to the loft. We watched "Evan Almighty" and a little bit more of the Olympics.

August 14th - Bunni wrote

Mike and I drove up in the late afternoon. It was too close to dark for a ride so we spent most of the evening watching the Summer Olympics.

August 10th -Katie wrote

Joe and I headed up yesterday for an overnighter. We stopped at the Steak House at the bottom of Cedar Mtn. It was good. We'll definitely go back for more "tumble-weeds" (?) We did a short ride up to Asay Knoll. It was a perfect day for riding and the view was spectacular!

August 3rd - Katie wrote

Joe and I went out for a ride to Cascade Falls. We hiked over to the falls. The falls drain out of Navajo Lake and create the Virgin River. It was a great ride and a beautiful vantage point. We then went over to the ice cave and climbed down into it. It was so cold inside and next time we need to bring flashlights so we can really explore. It was a great day! We went back for ice cream and ran into Marsha and Andrew (our favorite US Forest Service employees :}) and promised them we would help with trail clean up.

August 2nd - Katie wrote

Mike, Bunni, Joe and Katie went for a great ATV ride. We rode through the Swain Creek and Strawberry Point Communities. It was a great day for riding, the clouds quickly burned off and it was warm enough to just wear a t-shirt. Mike and Bunni left around 1 pm. Joe and Katie headed to town and got some supplies at the True Value. Dough and Sam, the owners, were very nice! Then we headed to Loose Wheels and spoke with Pat. Joe fell in love with a Razor. For dinner we went back to town and ate at "Handle Bar Hank's" Joe had an Elk burger and I had chili. We enjoyed listening to the live band cover classic rock songs. We met and mingled with the locals. Everyone was so nice and friendly.

August 1, 2008

Mike, Sheri and George went for an ATV ride this morning. Ella slept until 11:00 am. Sheri , George and Ella headed home around 2:00 pm. Joe and Katie came up at 7:00. We ate dinner (cheesburgers) and watched "The Great Outdoors.

July 31, 2008

Mike, Bunni, Sheri, Ella and George installed TV and Dish. Hung panels on front doors in living room. Played Rummicube. Ella loves her play house made out of the TV box.

July 23-26, 2008

Mike and Bunni
*Long, fun ride to Elk Ridge
*Beautiful sunny day. Saw an eagles nest.
25th -
*Long, fun ride to Strawberry Point.
*Sheri, George and Ella here for dinner and overnight.
*Sheri cooked a delicious meal and we played "Golf".
*Mike and George attached the cue stick rack.
26th -
*George and Mike went for a 4 wheel ride early morning.
*Breakfast of french toast. Sheri, George and Ella headed home at 11:30.

July 19-21, 2008

Mike, Bunni, Joe and Katie were here on Saturday overnight to Sunday.
*Duck Creek Days - Lots of fun, bought salt & pepper shakers.
*Took a long 4wheel ride, OH MY GOSH!!! We got lost in a huge hail storm. Rode 10 miles on the highway and received a $100.00 ticket. It was a great ride!!
Played games saturday night.
Mike, Bunni, Sheri, George and Ella on Sunday overnight to Monday. Played games, Ella colored.

July 14, 2008

Mike, Bunni, Brooke, Jared, Micah, Emma, Adana, Sheri, George, Ella, Katie and Joe.

*Moved in beds, sofa, love seat, kitchen table and game table
*Played games made "Taco Soup" and sandwiches.
*Perfect weather for hiking and 4wheeling