Four Pines Retreat

My cousin Sarah was in town for a girls' weekend with her Miami friends, and she invited me up to her new cabin east of Park City.  The plan was that I would pick up Heidi's birthday cake at Windy Ridge and meet them at the cabin after their zip lining adventure at Sundance.  I opted out of that.  I'm not brave, and have no desire to be.  The drive to the cabin, in Tollgate Canyon, was gorgeous.  I saw the best leaves of the season.  I had to keep stopping to admire the beauty.

I got to the cabin first, and after admiring all of Sarah's talent on display, (she designed and executed this whole place), I put up my feet and opened my book.  Can you imagine anything better thatn solitude in this setting?

Heidi Chambarlades, the birthday girl!

Later, the women came home and a nice little party ensued, with fake karaoke (the mic wouldn't work) and good food.  My contribution was taco soup, a poor man's pot in comparison with all the expensive cheeses and whatnot.  Nonetheless, it was gobbled up.  It was good soup weather in the mountains, around a cozy fire.  Thanks so much, Sarah!

Shelter Weekend

The last weekend of July was Shelter Weekend at the Scheullers' Park City home.  It's our one weekend a year to bask in friendship through 48 hours of non-stop conversation and chocolatey treats, with a backdrop of  aspens and freshly ironed sheets.  It's heaven, I tell you, and it's never long enough.  I love this little group that coalesced out of an open invitation years ago, to periodic dinners at Robintino's, organized my Michelle, our intrepid leader.  I guess you could say we were that last men standing after all the others lost interest or moved away.  And here we are, still relying on each other for all the little and big things in life.

Manicures for some, pedicures for others.  It was fun!  And one spa treatment a decade won't kill me, right?

Meanwhile, as the Shelter girls were relaxing, so were the Euros.  I dropped them off at my parents' condo and told them I'd come up and take them anywhere they wanted to go.  These kids are so nice, they never called me.  They just relaxed at the condo all weekend.  The only time I went up was to take Olympe to the airport Saturday morning.  We were all sad to lose her!  I would have left Ruby my car, but I was still extremely nervous about having her drive these other people's children around.  Not that they're children, for heaven's sake.  They all, including Ruby, travel around the world on their own.  It's just that I have a phobia of my kids driving, and I think it's because Golda was so timid about it.  Now that Ruby drives all over, I'm getting better at not being terrified.  As much as I wished I could have let them drive themselves in PC, I still didn't have the courage. I was more overprotective of the Europeans than my own kids.

Shelter girls at Sushi Blue

Like all good things, Shelter Weekend did come to an end, and we all went home.  Fortunately, I got to go home to Chloe's cooking!  Her recipes are adorable, in her French handwriting, and her food is delicious.  I can't believe we ever let her leave!  Come back, Chloe!

Scott's Adventures

Whenever Scott and I divide and conquer, you can bet that Scott's group will have non-stop fun.  While we were on our big trip to Mexico, the kids stayed with Coco and Bill while Scott was at work.  Thanks so much, Mom! 

When he wasn't prosecuting and setting up trusts, he and the kids were off on adventures!  I love getting pictures when I'm away, so I can be in awe of what Scott can accomplish.  Not only does he take the kids to restaurants, movies, shopping and swimming, but he throws them in the car and goes on road trips.

Hey, there's an extra in there!

Scott ran into his very best friend in court.  I always knew B would amount to no good.  Ha ha.  He got a speeding ticket or something.

Since we were in MExico, Scott got the kids these treats.  Did I mention he's good with themes, too?

Scott sent me this headline June 16.  Olympe was devastated.  These horrific acts of violence have become terrifyingly common in France.

Scott showed the kids all the pictures I sent him from our travels.

He taught Tziporah to swim.

He sent me pictures of Golda's letters and reminds me about all of our fun memories.  Scott misses his little girl.

He took the kids to The Pie by the U and let them write on the wall.

Love

Then he took the kids to Park City, to their favorite place, Bath and Body Works.  For Ptolemy, trips mean 5-for5 hand sanitizers.  Man, he is easy to please!

Main Street

 

The Ranch

 

Since we don't have an oven at home, it's fun to bake cookies at the Ranch.

Meanwhile, I'm always sending Scott pictures of what I'm doing.  These were from the Mormon Battalion site in Old Town San Diego.  Ruby and Victor are so good with the kids.  I think Victor was showing Ptolemy the gold he found for him.

Scott was already in PC, so why not drive 2 hours east and check out Dinosaurland?  They didn't go to the national monument, which we'd been to last year.  Instead, they checked out all the fun stuff in Vernal that we didn't get to see driving through last October.

Aren't they the cutest kids?

 

 

Even when I'm home, I still get messages from Scott.  He's always sending me links to places I'd like, even though he knows some of them contain dangerous information, like cheap airfare or reasons to go to Ireland, for example.

Scott took the Euros on quite a few adventures.  This one was Temple Square and Ruth's Diner to celebrate the arrival of our dear Chloe. 

Scott astounds me with his capabilities.  Did I mention that whenever I'm not there, the house is immaculate?  Yeah, I slave away all day and all night to keep the house clean, and then I leave and Scott just magically has it clean all the time.  I don't know how he does it.  If I did, I'd be an excellent housekeeper!  He just has an organized mind behind that debonair face.I'm a pretty lucky girl.

Golda's Park City Birthday

Taylor, Lincoln Bazail, Xanthe and Ruby in PC. We went up for Golda's birthday, to celebrate a day early. 

Lincoln and Alex came to swim with us in PC.  The Bazails are here all summer, building a cabin.

It was one of Golda's last days, and the day before the Altieris arrived.  Summer was already slipping by too quickly, especially for Golda, who had so little time.  I'm happy she left on the first possible date after her availability date, but I had little twinges of regret that she would miss things.  Also, YOU try cramming a whole summer into 2 weeks!  She actually had 8 weeks between the time school ended and the time she left, and she wanted to make $3600 for the mission; half the cost.  She worked so dang hard.  She worked all kinds of jobs; mowing lawns, planting flowers, babysitting, nannying, and taking care of a woman who has Alzheimer's.  That last job, she absolutely loved.  A friend in our neighborhood, Laurrie Haueter, procured the job.  It was a gift, and pure inspiration, that Golda could do that.  The husband, Jay, was at the temple when Golda went through.  I still don't know if he came on purpose, of if he was just there, but it was sweet.  Golda idolizes him and his wife, Jo Marie.  She was fortunate to have that job, and to be in their home with such a special spirit about it.  I went over there on Golda's last day to take something to her.  I got to see Golda's interactions with Jo Marie, who is non-verbal and immobile.  Golda said a lovely prayer and I felt what a wonderful couple Jay and JoMarie are, and how strong.  They taught Golda so much.

As I said, Golda worked hard to earn the money she needed, and Scott and I were proud of her.  Some of the jobs weren't as rewarding as working for Jay.  Some of the jobs were terrible, I was relieved to see them come to an end.  The last two weeks, Scott and I told Golda to relax and not take any more jobs.  The only thing she did was the job for Jay and some watering for a neighbor.  I was glad she had the time to say good-bye to friends and to just hang out with us.

This expression on Golda's face says so much.  She was there, but not really there, she was so focused on her mission.  She wanted to go; she was ready.  Everything already seemed so superfluous, compared to where she was going, yet she was trying to cling to her time with us and her friends.  I'm sure it was a challenging balance.  Looking back, I can definitely say I'm glad she's out there on her mission now, instead of preparing to go.  Phew!