Oh, what to you do in the summer time...

I posted this on Facebook a few weeks ago...

Loved the summers growing up. Besides the pool, my favorite place in the world, was my Aunt Jane's house. Every summer, in my youth, we were invited for a week in the City. Being from a small town like Vernal, we were in awe of the city, and all it had to offer. My Aunt Jane and Uncle Allen would make sure every wish my sister and I had, was fulfilled.

Their house on 10th Avenue was amazing.  It had stairs to bounce down on our behinds, a laundry shoot on the third floor, that we threw things down besides clothes, a basement full of interesting things, side tables with drawers of playing cards for bridge, and beautiful objects placed just right in the living and dinning rooms. Their yard was meticulously kept, with a bird bath placed in just the right spot.

We would always go to Hogle Zoo (train ride included),shopping trips to ZCMI (Tiffin room for lunch), Some fancy dinner buffet (loved the fountain), Liberty Park,,, with plenty of rides on the ferris wheel and carousel, Snelgroves for ice cream on 21st South (the big twirling cones), The Van Winkle's home to swim, the train station, and the airport to watch the planes land.

My absolute favorite times were at night, out on their deck. The sparkle of city lights was an incredible sight for little ones from the country. Uncle Allen's cheese burgers, were the best. In my mind, I can still hear him reading our favorite story, as we were cuddled up in his arms.

One time we visited, and much to my mom's dismay, my Auntie had our hair chopped off. My long golden locks gone. I guess the new dresses (Scottish style) were a peace offering. 

Scottish jig...

ZCMI Tiffin Room.  This is a picture of the second renovation.

Salt Lake's, answer to Bluebell.

Beautiful City Lights.

Liberty Park...

I am thankful for the love my Aunt Jane and Uncle Allen showed me.  Being one, of ten children growing up was a challenge, it was fun to get the extra love and attention.

The Realities of Summer

After living in Houston, Texas for 14 years now, I can still report that I despise June, July, August, and September. Why, you might ask? Its just the abundance of a lot of stuff. Abundance of humidity with the increasing temps, fire ants, snakes, mosquitoes, lizards, allergies, and having to stay inside (that one by choice for me). We have had a beautiful spring for Houston, for which I will be forever thankful, but Saturday brought the reality of the coming days.

I really wanted a pool when we moved down, but the horror stories of snakes in the filters, or just taking a swim in the pools, made it a dream, rather than a reality. Oh, well. So as I anticipate another summer, my imaginary bags are pack and ready to evacuate.

There are a lot of people who just leave. They are gone for a month at a time. We could have never done that with clear conscience, for our church responsibilities, and work, have kept us around. Well, lets just face it, if you work in IT, you rarely can be gone for a week at a time. When you are off, you take your work with you. We have never been on a vacation the last 20 years, without Rick needing to work while he was gone.  So, here is to another summer.

I will look for the positive, I will dream for relief, and I will make it through...