June 2012

Can it already be June 24^th?  It just seems like yesterday I was attending Art in the Park with Beckie, Max, and Sadie on June 2nd.  

 

 Bringing the doggies really garnered many "oohs" and "how cutes".  Notice Max in the purse I am holding in my left hand?  

But, time sure flies when you spend half the month traveling!  The week after our trip to Indiana, I got a call from my sister telling me that my 91-year-old brother-in-law, Eber Saniger, had passed away after a lengthy downhill spiral in health.  I regret to this day that I did not act quickly enough to buy “reasonably” priced plane tickets to attend my brother-in-law, Bob Bowden’s funeral a couple of years ago so I quickly went to my computer and I actually found some decent tickets that flew me into Ontario, CA (north and east of LA) where I would just have to rent a car and drive two more hours to Mojave where Eber and Judy lived.  I had hoped to fly into Phoenix and drive over to California with sisters Juli and Jerri but, oddly enough, the ticket prices were higher.  And, this way, I had more time at home to shuffle lessons and other commitments into the days I had left in the week.  I left Monday evening, June 4^th as the funeral was on the 5^th.  I am SO glad I made the trip. Here I am with all my siblings.  Jerri, Judy, Jim, Juli.

 

 I saw scads of other relatives – some I hadn’t visited with in over ten years.  And, of all Judy’s many posterity, there were only two grandsons and one great-grandson unable to attend.   

 This is taken at Judy's place.  Eber was quite the "collector" and, as I strolled around the property, I saw many cool antiques.  Antique Roadshow would have a heyday there!

I returned to Kansas City late Wednesday night, the 6^th,  and it was in the wee hours of Thursday that I finally pulled into our driveway.   Later that day, Emily and Noah and Lucy came into town after doing some photo business in Fulton.  They stayed overnight and Friday morning, we all visited Stephen’s Lake Park where there is a beach and a “sprayground”.  LOTS of fun that morning.  

 

 

 

 

Emily and Lucy left for St. Louis that afternoon and Noah stayed to spend a week at grandma and grandpa’s house.  We had lots of plans but it was just three days later, Monday morning, that we got a call from Steve’s sister, Michelle, informing us that his mother, Iola, had died peacefully in her sleep sometime early that morning.  After her stroke a year and a half ago, she just seemed to slowly fade – never regaining her strength to walk, losing her appetite, no energy – and the doctor warned the family that she would not live long.  So, this was not a surprise.  Now it was deciding who and how to go.  We could have just sent Steve out by plane but this was grandma so we ultimately decided to rent a van and drive with Sarah, Beckie, Emily, Julina, Steve, and me.  And so, Wednesday afternoon, on the 13^th, I packed up Noah and drove him back to St. Louis, selected a van at Alamo rentals, picked up Julina (who had driven in from Indiana) and Emily and headed back to Columbia to collect Steve, Sarah, Beckie, and the little dogs, Sadie and Max.  Melanie thankfully was willing to watch all the other animals at our house.  This included Bacon, Steven and Tamara’s dog, because they were on a 10-day trip in Costa Rica!  Elise was with them.  We pulled out of Columbia at 8:30 pm Wednesday night and got to our hotel in American Fork at 4:30 Thursday afternoon.  LONG trip but, thankfully, with everyone helping with driving, it was do-able.  The funeral was Friday morning and we spent the day with tons of Lambson family.  Only three grandchildren could not be there – Steven, Elise, and Jason Killian.  Again, we saw family we had not seen in twenty years.  AND, it was great to spend time with Kirsti and Ryan.   

 

 Sarah, Beckie, Ryan, Kirsti

That evening, we went over to Iola’s now empty house in American Fork (it is up for sale) and picked up some items that Steve had set aside to bring back to Missouri during his visit in March (SOOOO glad he had a chance to see his mother one last time).  Most if the artifacts are family history related but we managed to fit a small cedar chest (filled to the top, of course) in the back of the van as well as a tub of books and journals – oh, and some great gardening tools.  I now have a very fine antique pruner.  Left behind are two remaining tubs of family history that Julina and I will collect this coming week when we drive BACK to Utah for a planned trip to attend Jamilyn’s wedding.  On Saturday, we had lunch at Kirsti’s new place of employment called Malawi’s, a pizza restaurant that actually serves gluten-free options, before getting back in the van for the drive back to Missouri.   

 

here we are just before heading home....

 

We left 1:00 in the afternoon and arrived in Columbia at 10:00 in the morning on Sunday.  Julina, Emily, and Beckie continued on to St. Louis and poor Juli continued the additional five hours to Lafayette.   That is a LOT of driving in a short amount of time.  

Last week, aside from having residual tiredness, has finally been normal.  I joined the stake R.S. presidency in taking dinner to girls camp Monday night where the leaders and youth leaders were preparing for the rest of the girls to come Tuesday.  I taught all my usual cello/piano/violin lessons.  I watched Iron Lady which was quite good.  I attended my water aerobics class Wednesday evening.  Steve and I drove to attend the temple Friday/Saturday.  Emily and family came to Columbia last night after a wedding that Emily photographed (remember that photo business in Fulton a week or so ago?) and now they are gone after attending church with us this morning.  I prepare to leave for Utah on Wednesday.  And then June is gone!

We went to Indiana to visit Julina for Memorial Day weekend – we meaning Steve, me, and Beckie (and Max).  Here is Max on the ride. 

  (Max actually looked at the camera!)

 He is such a good traveler.  All the of Midwest was under a pretty brutal heat wave so we really did not do much but stay indoors all weekend – first there was lunch at a lovely Italian restaurant right on the square in Lafayette that had delicious gluten-free options.   

 Steve, Beckie, and Julina at La Scala

Steve and me on an artistic park bench in downtown Lafayette, IN

County courthouse in Lafayette

Cute kitty outside a shop in downtown Lafayette

Then, it was to the public library while we waited for our movie to start.  What did we see?????  The Avengers! SO GOOD.  Can’t wait to see it again.  Can’t wait to buy it.  I actually re-watched Captain America last night to tide me over.  

On Sunday, we had toyed with the idea of driving to Indianapolis to visit a lovely park that Julina and I explored last fall BUT, due to the heat AND the fact that the Indy 500 was running kept us in Lafayette to just nap, and visit.  

The pond at Julina's apartment complex hosts LOTS of geese.  Notice the half-grown goslings.

We left for home Monday morning and arrived in St. Louis a little after lunch.  We had heard a great deal about the annual Gypsy Caravan that is held every Memorial Day in St. Louis and so, in spite of the temperatures, we went to check it out.  Oh My!  Think of the hugest flea market, antique store & craft fair all rolled into one and you have the Gypsy Caravan.  We walked and walked and looked and looked and still did not see everything.  

  

Emily looking for artifacts to use in her photo shoots

 some of the booths were in a parking garage - so much more pleasant to be out of the sun!

 Steve, Emily, Beckie, and Kyle at the Gypsy Caravan

Before the trip, it was CIS winding down time – the senior dinner on Wednesday the 23^rd,  graduation on Thursday the 24^th, and honoring the outgoing middle and upper school principals on Friday.  After our trip, I really cannot think of what I did last week except spend time at the computer!  First of all, I spent a great deal of time getting all the Prairie String wedding personnel lined up for all the weddings we have this summer.  I am truly grateful for all the gigs but it seems like at least one of the group is not available each weekend.  Sigh.  Secondly, I spent much time looking for a flight to California to attend the funeral of 91-year old brother-in-law, Eber Saniger, who passed away on Tuesday, May 29^th.  I leave tomorrow and return late Wednesday…..my next blog will tell you all about my trip.  Oh, and I did watch a pretty lame movie – Transformers 3.  Pretty impressive special effects but pretty stupid story line.  I love science fiction but I just can’t buy into the whole transformer premise.  But, I got gig bags ready for the wedding on Saturday and I ironed so it was not a total waste of time.

We celebrated Steven’s 30^th birthday last weekend.  Thirty!?!?  First he and Tamara threw a fantastic Trivia Party Friday night and invited folks from KMIZ, the ward, and the family to participate.  He came up with some great questions to tax all our brains – well, all except for the Voldemort team (comprised of the Lambson family minus Steve and me who joined the KMIZ team) who pretty much nailed every category.  And he and Tamara had some great “door” prizes – wish I had won something.  

  

Steven with Tamara, drawing the door prizes

 

 Noah "helping" Uncle Steve with the trivia questions

 Team Voldemort

Beckie and Sarah 

 Gotta include a shot of Lucy

 Here I am feeding Lucy

 Emily and Lucy

 On Sunday, we had the family birthday dinner – omelets, biscuits, fresh fruit, and carrot cake.  

 

 Julina celebrated her 36^th birthday last week, too.  She didn’t get to be with family but she treated herself to a getaway weekend at a bed and breakfast in another part of Indiana. She will guest blog this weekend and share photos of her adventure.

We had stake conference last weekend.  And, we had a visiting authority – Elder Terrance Smith.  It was a glorious spiritual feast both Saturday and Sunday.  Steve spoke on Saturday – he gave a wonderful talk on reaching out to the singles in the ward.  Elder Smith spoke an hour each on Saturday evening and Sunday and he was so captivating and brought such insights to gospel concepts that it hardly seemed like he had begun and it was time for him to close.  A small luncheon is always provided for the stake presidency, the visiting temple presidency member and the mission president and whoever else is a visiting dignitary as well as the wives so it was really pleasant to get to know Elder Smith on a more personal level during that time.  The stake Relief Society presidency helped with both the larger meal for the priesthood leadership Saturday evening and the Sunday luncheon.  Plus, Sarah and I sang in the stake choir Sunday morning.  A busy but a great weekend.

 Tom Mingus, Richard Houseman, Elder Smith, Steve Lambson

Davy, our Frontier (truck) and I both were put to the test last Wednesday and I am proud to report that we both passed beautifully.  Davy had a safety inspection and I confess at 152,000 miles, I was a little worried he might have some repairs but thankfully, no.  And, I had a dentist appointment and my mouth was pronounced beautiful  J

We have a new dog!

Recognize her?????  Doesn't Trissy look amazing?  I giggled all the way home from the groomer.

May musings

Happy Mother’s Day!  So far, mine has been great.  Beckie made an amazing gluten-free peaches and cream breakfast cake for me.  Currently, there is a raspberry cheesecake baking in the oven that she has made for tonight’s dinner.  I am going to miss that girl when she moves to Hawaii……

We went to St. Louis yesterday – starting out at the temple and then going with Emily and family to historic Kimmswich, a little river town south of St. Louis that has cute shops and a lovely restaurant called the Blue Owl.  

 

 This is the bridge over a tributary that flows into the Mississippi River at Kimmswich.  Steve and I are looking over the bridge while Noah and Joe do some exploring.

 

Emily and Lucy waiting for our table at the Blue Owl.

 

Last two weeks were, typically for May, full of music-related things.  I had a studio recital on Saturday, the 29th of April.  CMU wrapped up the first couple days of May – I went there Tuesday to give the string tech final and again on Wednesday to accompany my applied students for their juries.  Done with CMU for the summer….well, except for getting some of their instruments repaired.  Our last errand in St. Louis yesterday was to drop off two cellos and two bows to be fixed.  CIS advanced orchestra played “The Pink Panther” and “Viva la Vida” for their peers Wednesday morning.  They were a big hit.  We also performed at the Candlelight Lodge Mother’s Day Tea on Friday.   My adult string group, the Da Capo Strings, had their performance at Tiger Place (a very elegant senior living facility) Wednesday evening.  Here we all are.

l-r:  Sandina, Tina, Kate, Sam, me, Virginia

Finally, on the music-related news, I bought a bass!   

 

 Ever since I took a semester of bass lessons while at MU and then played bass in CCO for a year or so, I have wanted one.  This had a really good price at a place that sells new and used instruments so I bit the bullet and bought it.  My dream of a family bluegrass band is getting closer to a reality…..

Last weekend was a big event for Melanie.  She graduated from Columbia College with her Bachelor’s degree.  Congratulations, Melanie.

 

 Steven, Steve, Melanie, and Tamara at the traditional ivy ceremony.  (if you look closely, you will note that it is NOT ivy over Melanie's shoulder but fern.....hmmmm)

Below is the Spriggs family who used to live in Columbia (now live in Wentzville) and are very good friends of Melanie.  They attended the commencement ceremonies and the celebration lunch at Golden Corral.