August is half over . . .

It's been a great summer so far as it draws to the end.

We got a good start on the deck refinishing. Matt and I have got all the sanding done and are mostly ready to paint. We had to replace a couple of 12' boards due to dry rot this year. They are $10 a piece. That brings the cost in lumber alone for the deck to over $2000. Knowning that makes me feel a little better about painting these old boards to preserve them a little longer. Last year's got rain before the paint cured and got all pocked up. We are hoping to paint on Labor Day weekend as a family. This year we are adding antislip strips to the high traffic paths that get slick when it rains, and also to keep Koda from scratching them up so much as he runs in and out. Its amazing what dog claws can do to a deck, particularly an old deck that is getting a little soft.

I helped with cub scout camp this year as a volunteer, going up on Friday, and then staying through the picnic at the end. It was very fun to see all the cub activities, like the water bottle rockets. They sure do make it fun for the boys. They also LOVE going to the trading post with a little money in their pockets to exchange for trinkets and junk food. Not much nutitional value there. We had a lunch packed, but Johnie left it on the kitchen counter, where I though it was in his backpack (teach me to double check), so at lunch, John and I abscounded to McDonalds (which I later found out is NOT acceptable without checking your cub scout out at the admin table). John tried to warn me, but I thought they couldn't have a problem with me taking my own kid to lunch . . . WRONG. I also found out that it is not acceptable to take a pocket knife and whittle on your walking stick at a cub camp. Something about blood circles, being a bad example for the boys, not displaying a toting chip, etc. I just put the knife away and smiled. The cubs all loved my wood spirit carved into my walking stick (at least as far as it was done to that point anyway). It is a work in progress I started on a slow fishing trip to Payson Lakes in the Utah Uinta mountains on the Mt. Nebo scenic loop. Fishing was great, catching somewhat less great. Appearently, only the very early or very late day fisherman catch there during the summer cause the shallow lakes get too hot and the fish pout in the deepest coolest holes they can find when the suns out. So, anyway, found this great stick that reminded me of Gandalf's staff in LOTRs Trilogy and just started carving a wood spirit into it, and that is the staff I was carving at cub camp.

Mom and Dad's 50th wedding anniversary at Bear Lake was awesome. Bryan created a very cool slide show that had pics of Mom's family I had never seen. Aunt Helen had shared some of her archives with us. There were also some great family pics of all the siblings as newlyweds (when we were all good looking and much more fit that we are now). Rodney and I got lots of hoot calls (I guess folks don't think we look much like those photos anymore).

I have now lost over 40 lbs. My lipids and thyroid all came back in normal ranges (thank you Dr. Aldanda and "The culprit and the cure"). I continue to loose about 2 lbs a week - more during vacation when we could exercise more (hows that for a switch).

Traci and I have been invited to hunt on the Navaho reservation with Bryan and DeAnza in October. We are SOOOOO looking forward to this. Our hunt will be with telephoto lenses, capturing the hunting action and the wildlife, and enjoying nature. Bryan and Dee did not draw tags this year, so will also be on the sidelines, but will still teach us about the hunt and how to clean and dress the game (we plan to hunt to eat, not for sport, when and if we ever get to hunt on our own).

Matt is going back to public school this fall. He wants to try out for the swimming team, and experience the social scene at Skyview. His education will not be as tailored as it have been at VHC, but, it will be good for him to see how the rest of his peers have been doing it. I am worried about the abrupt change in social environment, but Matt is now nearly my height, and trained in martial arts, so I think he will fair better than before in public school.

Kristi is finishing up her bachloriate from BYUi remotely. She moves to Provo in a couple of weeks and will be living and working there while she decides if BYU is the right place for her Masters.

Hazel Dell ward is starting to shape up. Most positions have now been called. Folks are learning their duty. Home teaching is way down, but will improve as folks get back from summer persuits. We couldn't even get appointments with our families in July. August is looking better already.