SPRINGVILLE'S KIDDIE WATER PARK

Springville, UT is called the art city of Utah. They have a wonderful museum with some excellent permanent paintings, and always a special show that they carry for about 2 months which are equally excellent. Right now they are featuring quilts and they are amazing. More on that in another blog.

I've been taking pictures of the many statues that are here and there around the town (more on that later as well), and I continually find new ones tucked here and there.  

Next to the Municipal Center is a small water park for little children. Around 10a in the morning, it is teeming with children. Last evening I drove by around 7p and decided to walk over to it and take a few pictures. There were still quite a few children there having the time of their lives. There is also a fun playground and lovely picnic areas.

 This is at the entrance to the playground/water park area.

(You can see one of the pools in the back)

 Surrounding one of the pools are these fun statues.

 The (real) little girl is trying to get warm. The statue girl is ready to run in!

 Mom is filling a water gun to get ready for a water fight.

(note the statue on the extreme left)

 This little guy has water coming out of the "hose".

Another view.

Another "girl" ready to take the plunge.'

 Another view.

 When I've passed by here in the earlier part of the day, there are a gazillion kids in this pool. Really, a gazillion!

 The two girls are standing by a waterfall sheet of water. Stick your finger in and it alters the path.

This little guy was just too cute!

TA DA

Remember about a year ago when I was cutting up those Hawaiian scraps to make a quilt?  

 This was back in San Juan Capistrano.

 Here's the pile of rectangles ready to do something with, 

(but what?).

I started working on it again recently. An hour here, an hour there and voila! A finished quilt. It's wild and bright, but I love it.

Now I'm in Springville and laying them out on the floor to see what is going to work. I finally decided on how I wanted to put them together and got the quilt top pieced.

On the island in my kitchen, I laid out the backing and the batting and clamped it taut with some clamps I borrowed from Ken's workshop. 

Then I put safety pins in each bloc. When it is all pined in the center, I shift the rest of the quilt over and pin the rest of it. I leave the pins open until I have them all in and then when I take it off the table, I close the pins. This holds all three layers in place while I quilt it.

Here's a close up of the pins in each block.

I was able to machine quilt in on my home sewing machine. It's a bit like wrestling an alligator, but I managed. I ended up doing a "meandering" stitch.

LADIES WITHOUT HUSBANDS

Shortly after I moved to Utah I was invited to meet with a group of ladies who do not have husbands. All but one are widowed and she is divorced. I really did not want to go. I find it hard to say I am a "widow", but go I did. We meet once a month and visit, have a short message or little lesson and then some dessert. I've grown to really enjoy this group and look forward to our monthly sessions.

This is the whole group. 

The lady next to me, Dana, is our Bishop's wife. She has all the get togethers at her home. (and yes, she does have a husband!)

The lady in the back in dark blue, Carol, is 90+ and delightful.

The lady in the back in pink, Suzanne, as you can see is a young widow.

The lady with the dark hair in the front row, Marilyn, is about 4'9" and Greek Orthodox (I think) but loves coming to our church with her son and his family and sings in our ward choir.

The lady in white, Debbie, is the one who is not a widow.

 In the month of June, we met at one of the ladies houses where her son (who served a mission in Japan) and his wife cooked us a Japanese dinner.

 Rice, pot stickers, and a noodle dish.

 Here's one side of the table.

And the other!

A SURPRISE VISIT!

Last evening I got a call from Aria asking if she could come over for a short visit. YES, of course, I said and so 5 minutes later in walked Aria with a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

Aria is taking a floral arrangement class, and look what she brought me!

Isn't it lovely. Thanks, Aria.

Here's a couple more she has done.

Just like a fairy princess.

Recently she was in a wedding as a bridesmaid. The groom is Indian and hence the saris.

Gorgeous!

The bride is in the gold sari and her twin sister in on the other side of Aria.

A 4TH OF JULY HIKE!

Ken and the family took a hike on the 4th of July to Mt. Solitude (?) somewhere between Big Canyon and Little Canyon (?). I'm not sure of the exact location, but it sure is beautiful where they hiked. The hike was about 8 miles and enjoyed by all.

 Look closely and you will see a moose!

I think this might be where they "camped".

 A pretty pond.

 Gorgeous background.

 Look to the right (per Steven) or the the left (per Sophie).

 Coppelia overlooking a field of daisy wildflowers.

 Relaxing in and around the pool.

 Balancing act.

 Who climbed in the cave to get this picture?

 We ARE having fun1

A selfie. The girl is a twin to the bride where recently Aria was a bridesmaid.

 Too cute!

 Up the hill.

 Beautiful lakes.

 Is that an old tire she is sitting on? 

 Some more beautiful wildflowers.

 What a view!

 Another great view.

 Coppelia is prepared for the hike!

They are up there.

GILA VALLEY'S NEWEST PRINCIPAL

Over five years ago, Eddy got his masters degree in Education Leadership so he could be a Principal.  He has applied for four Principal jobs over the last five years but never got the job (we had decided we didn't want to move away from here to pursue a job so Eddy had to patiently wait for principal jobs in our area to open up).  He didn't let the rejection get him down and when he heard that a nearby district was hiring an Elementary Principal he applied. 

Introducing the newest Elementary Principal in the Gila Valley: 

Principal Carlton.

Can't think of a better man to do the job. I know a lot of 3rd graders are going to miss out on THE BEST teacher, but this is fulfilling his dream. Congratulations Eddy. We're very happy for you.