Museum walk

We took three of the grandsons back to the Museum of Curiosity and Discovery for a Canopy Tour.

Henry was especially excited about doing the tour and so happy that he was tall enough.

Honestly, I thought they were so brave.  Those harnesses guarantee that they won't fall several stories to their death.

And there they go for some tight rope fun with Raymond leading the way.

A close up of this craziness as Toby makes his way across a rope with tiny wood blocks to step on.

Yes, it was Grandpa Glen's idea and Grandma Laurel would have said "NO" if asked.

Fortunately, I wasn't asked and they were so proud of themselves.  Their reward, ice cream cones.

July is here and so is the family!

I've been preparing and planning and cleaning (once they are through the door I always second guess the cleaning) for all the family coming to celebrate a Provo style 4th of July.  Provo for the 4th is pretty special.  They call it the Freedom Festival and we've already heard Laura Bush speak at the Marriott Center on Sunday evening.  There is more, much more to come.

My hubby has been on the Internet ordering supplies to entertain the grandkids.  He hung this find on the railing near my flower boxes.  Ahhhhhh!

Uncle Sam is out to welcome everyone.

The weather is in the 90's for highs but we can still open windows at night.

I've hung the twirlies purchased long ago in Forks, Washington (yes, that Forks), but mostly to keep the birds away.  One tried to get off with one of my peppers!  Hope it got a stomach ache.

This is my bargain of the week.  I went to the quilt show in Midway with my sister and grand daughter last Thursday.  There is a new little vintage store across the street from the awesome pizza place and I purchased both chairs with pillows for $20.  They are so cute and a much better fit for the space.

And a quick update picture of the tomatoes I planted on the balcony.  They are growing well and covered in green tomatoes.  We have harvested a handful of minis.  And I will be picking my first Roma off the one in the pot by the new chairs today.  Basil and tomatoes equals summer eating bliss.

So far I've waited in line twice at Seven Peaks for passes with pictures, been to the Rec Center with little swimmers, experienced the new Museum of Natural Curiosity (see previous post), and skipped the BYU museums.  That is why I have time to post :)  Tonight is the Utah Symphony with fireworks at the Thanksgiving Point Gardens outdoor amphitheatre.  Life is good!

Museum of Natural Curiosity

 The out of town grandkids are in town so it was time for a grandkids' adventure.

We used our grandparents' pass to get them all into the new Museum of Natural Curiosity between the Thanksgiving Point Golf Course and the Gardens for free.

I had heard many good things about this new museum and they were all true.  It truly is amazing.

There were even special play areas for the three and under set.

The play land for those older than three is hard to describe but TJ, the over six footer, liked it, too.

There are platforms to climb and rope walkways and over hangs.  Kid heaven.

Opal giving me her cheesy smile.

Girls walking the walk.

Henry and Raymond waiting on the other side.

There was a bit of everything from dress ups for Julianna . . .

to Kidopolis, a very kid friendly tiny town.

And a water friendly and weather related hands on room.

Henry dropped the ball to send the water up the other tube.

Opal loved the water table.

Back in Kidopolis, Ruby's head floated . . .

and Heather found a place to draw . . .

in the fun art studio.

Ruby and Mabel were back to card tricks in the magic room . . .

which included a multiple of illusions for Sadie.

The older Children's Discovery Garden including the Noah's Ark splash pad is now a part of the museum.  Entrance to this garden is through the west doors of the museum.  It really is a total package for fun loving and imaginative kids.

Warren came along, too, and was all smiles until this picture.  He wanted his bottle, not a photo shoot.

100 years ago today it began, World War I books to read

One hundred years ago on June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg were assassinated in Sarajevo by a teenage assassin marking the beginning of World War I.  It is interesting to note that the assassin had a statue placed in his honor this week in Sarajevo in honor of this 100th anniversary.  Read more about what happened here.  Most things in this world are a matter of perception I suppose.  This event sparked what was once called The Great War because they couldn't believe that it could happen again.  The Great War was fought at great sacrifice with many lives lost and many others damaged forever.  I was able to visit the World War I Museum in Kansas City which gave me a new perspective and greater respect and understanding for my grandfather's experience in France.

Jacqueline Winspear, who's father fought in The Great War, has written many books based on or just following this war.  I have loved reading her "Maisie Dobbs" series of mysteries.  I just finished her latest book which will be officially released on Monday.  It is not a part of the Maisie Dobbs series.

• Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and Sophie, Duchess of Hohenb

The reason that I have already finished "The Care and Management of Lies" is that it was loaned to me by my book blogging DIL who received an advanced reader copy or ARC of the book for review.

Jacqueline Winspear's book is the story of a young couple married shortly before the war begins.  The new wife has also been a long time best friend of her husband's only sister as they were school mates.  The new husband is a farmer in Kent, his sister is a school teacher, suffragist and peace protester, while the new wife is former school teacher now farmer's wife who is struggling in her new role.

Jacqueline, in describing her inspiration for the book, cites the incredible mail system that was created during this war.  Tons of mail made its way to France and Belgium from England in a couple of days.  Much of the book is based on the letters between the young couple after the young man decides to join up leaving his wife to supervise the farm which now will also be used to help with providing food for the effort.

I love the British version of the cover for this book showing two people in completely new roles.  The letters to the husband at war include descriptions of wonderful meals the wife would like to share with her husband, while he writes sanitized versions of his experience, both trying to protect the other.

I also recently finished this book, " A Star for Mrs. Blake," which is the story of Gold Star Mothers, who through a government sponsored program, are provided a journey to France to visit the battle fields and graves of their now deceased sons.  The ships carry a diverse group of women from different parts of the United States which makes for great story telling as do the stories of those who accompany as guides and helpers.

So one hundred years ago today, as it states on the side of a museum at the corner where the assassination in Sarajevo to place, marks the beginning of the 20th Century.

Quilty Fun Sew Along finish

My Quilty Fun Sew Along sampler quilt is back from the quilter, the scrappy binding applied, and I've hung it on the wall above my sewing machine.

It says "Bee Happy" and that is what it is, a happy quilt.

This is the first quilt top that I have had professionally quilted.  It made me very nervous to drop it off because I was no longer "the boss of my own quilt."  However, it was the right decision.  All over quilting was what was needed for this quilt of everything.

I'm so glad that I went with the less dense version of all over.  There you have it, scrappy everything.  Scrappy back, scrappy binding, and a bunch of leftover fabrics from other projects on the front.  I even had the white background fabric on my shelves.  I had bought it for some smocked dresses and then decided that it wasn't the right fit.  The only thing I purchased specifically for this quilt is the scalloped red inner border.  I just didn't have enough of the dotted two tone red fabric that I had used in the sampler blocks.

 This was such a fun sew along.  Thanks to Lori Holt of "Bee in My Bonnet" for her creativity and simple to follow sharing.

So glad my quilt is finally home after a month at American Quilting in Orem.

Ola Joseph Jenson and Nancy Morrell

I was finally able to access histories of Ola Joseph Jenson and Nancy Morrell in the book,  "Ancestry and Descendency of William Wilson Morrell" which was published by family members in 1987.  I found that the book had been scanned and was available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.  Nancy was a daughter of William Wilson Morrell, but was raised by a step-father and other family members.  You can read about her mother, Dorthea Hansen, and William Wilson Morrell here.  To read the history Nancy Morrell, just click on the history pictures as they are jpg. files.

Ola Joseph Jenson was the oldest son of Ola Jensen and Anna Carlson.  Read more about Ola and Anna here.

Both Ola Joseph and Nancy Morrell are buried in the Peoa Cemetery, but they spent the last of their married life in Talmage, Utah where they homesteaded in the early 1900's.  Nancy was a midwife and delivered over 800 babies through out the west Unita Basin.
 

Cemetery marker in the Peoa Cemetery.

I was able to find both of their death certificates.

This is a photograph of Nancy's half sister,  Dorothy Jorgenson , who married Ola Joseph's younger brother, Swen Albert Jenson also known as Bert. Nancy and Ola Joseph, welcomed Dorothy and Bert into their home for a time after their marriage in 1901.  Dorothy thought highly of her oldest half-sister, Nancy.