Shattered

This is the rear windshield on the Westy.

We can't blame this on Michelle - thank goodness.
#3 on Ashley's chore list really is - walk the lamb.
At least he isn't wearing a tutu
And the princess!

Disclaimer

Sam and I came up with this disclaimer after a not so nice call from TT.

Gokiburi Longboards are for general cruising and slalom-type riding. The person using this product assumes all risks and liability. Flaking of the grip material is normal and the grip will become permanant after initial use.

Sorry Mal.

Redneck Jokes

I know you've all heard them, redneck jokes. They started like 15 years ago but for some reason they keep cycling through my inbox despite the constant efforts to delete (thanks).

Well, this morning I had a revelation, an epiphany of sorts. Don't you think that most of the jokes are written by observers rather than the rednecks themselves? I mean if they were written by actual rednecks, the wording and spelling would be way different. But then, just about that time in my epiphany, I came up with a few of my own.


1. You know you're a redneck when..... All of your pants (and even some of your skirts) have holes in the same spot where they got ripped climbing over the barbed wire fence to beat the crap out of your buck (named Noodle) because he rammed you AGAIN.

2. You know you're a redneck when.... Your son and your sheep drink out of the same container.

3. You know you're a redneck when.... Number 3 on your chore list is to walk the lamb.

4. You know you're a redneck when... Your neck is totally sunburned but your back is flourescent white. Now, this is where Sam redeems himself, he is actually a dark bronze all over (or as my neighbor Erika told me one day, "Sam is the tannest mormon I know"). In fact, she thought he was naked one day when he was walking around in tan river shorts (well, actually, he was naked but she doesn't have to know that).

So, I was wrong. Rednecks can have decent wording and spelling.

Bipolar Express

I stole this from another blog, thought it was funny, and sounds a lot like Canadian Post.......

If you don’t get your package in time, try to understand, we’ve had a bad week
At Bipolar Express we guarantee your package delivered the next day – or in a month… depending how things go. Look, we may not be the most reliable courier service, but what we lack in reliability, we more than make up for in customer service. Or at least we do half of the time. We admit it’s a struggle. We take things day by day. Some days are just better than others. If you don’t get your package in time, try to understand, maybe we had a bad week. That’s all. You’ll get it sometime... Or not...
We’re not making you any promises.And that is a guarantee we can stand by.

Wonders in the Backyard

I came to love my rows, my beans, though so many more than I wanted.

They attached me to the earth, and so I got strength like Antaeus.

~Henry David Thoreau

The garden is a wonderful place. I'm always amazed at what grows and its' beauty. I've never been successful at growing flowers (TT and Marissa got that gift) but when it comes to veggies, they grow and grow (sometime to overwhelming proportions). I often feel like I'm working hand in hand with God when I'm planting, weeding and harvesting. It's a very personal and spiritual thing to me that those who don't till, plow, plant, water, and weed don't understand. When others enter my garden and tromp and pick and take as they please I always feel so violated. Yet the joy of giving something you helped grow is great. I often think of Grandma Spencer when I'm in the garden and feel a closeness I never felt. I also think about the Robinson's garden behind Devona's house - mine is puny compared to that!This year I decided to try and do most of the planting by seed (vs buying plants). To me, it is kind of cheating (and too expensive) when you buy half grown plants from IFA or Wal-Mart. I started in March indoors with the tomatoes, peppers, basil, pumpkins, etc. - 90% of what is growing now I planted by seed. A lot of the seeds were left over from last year and some are heirlooms - next year I want all of them to be heirlooms and I will save all the seeds. My favorite is the basil (mmmm pesto and brushetta) and corn is my least favorite (yet cost me the most - $9 for seeds). I have over 40 tomato plants - 4 different kinds - and so far we have eaten radishes (of course), spinach, lettuce, peas, and a pepper or two. Hopefully the rest of the harvest will be good.

BAD LUCK!!

I don't mean to complain but I'm on a pretty hardcore bad streak right now. If I talk about it, does it go away? If so, here it is..

It's been almost 4 weeks exactly since I (Michelle) broke my leg (2 fractures on the fibula). This photo was taken a few days after the break. I had just taken the kids and friends over to Maple Canyon to do a bit of hiking. We hiked up Box Canyon to the waterfall and back and then had a picnic. Once we got home I started watering the lawn and while talking to Sam on the phone, I slipped on wet grass / mud and "snap" there went the leg. Six weeks to heal.

Then two weeks later, I'm out in the garden weeding and some unknown object flies in my mouth. Not a big deal, right? Wrong! What ever it was (weed, bug, UFO) scratched or stuck or got lodged in the back of my throat. I proceeded to cough uncontrollably for the next 3 days. Worried that this would be my fate if I didn't have it taken care of, I hobbled to the Dr. Well he wasn't amused and told me I had allergies (I've NEVER had allergies). Since then, I've been coughing, sneezing, stuffy runny nose, watery eyes, etc but the Singular he gave me hasn't helped a bit. I'm miserable.

So a few more days pass and I'm outside doing our favorite summer past-time, chasing sheep. They had gotten out on the road and Ashley was having a heck of time. As I'm trying to get them to back to our property, the Buck, AKA Noodle, rams me from behind. Whammo, I was practically knocked unconscious and I re-injured my leg. I thought I had broken my ankle this time but x-rays revealed it must be a sprain. Six more weeks to heal.

I'm feeling pretty sorry for myself by now and the "allergies" have developed into a full blown sinus infection with constant sneezing and coughing. Then yesterday, as I'm driving through Thistle, I start feeling tremendous pain in my right ear. A few hours later my ear drum ruptures and the gunk begins to flow. Just like I've never broken a bone, never had allergies, I've never had earaches or the like. It's horrible. I now have a new sympathy for all those little kids with chronic ear infections!.



I wake up this morning and realize I've got to take the kids to the 24th of July parade. Not quite knowing what to do, I take a few pain meds, a few antihistamines, and an antibiotic. Off to the parade we go. While sitting at the parade (in a daze) I realize there is something crunchy in my mouth that shouldn't be there. Upon further inspection I find that my back molar and filling have crumbled!!!!!

Okay, I'm not that superstitious and besides bad luck comes in 3 and I'm wayyyy beyond that point. But ten years ago my sister, Melinda, gave me a scarab necklace and told me that it was supposed to bring good luck. I've worn it almost non stop since then, not for luck but because I love it and I love scarabs. Well, about five weeks ago I took it off to wear another necklace and lost it. And the bad luck started rolling. As soon as I got home from the parade I decided I would have to find it - and I did!!!!! Rest assured I'm wearing it now - for luck. As for everything else, a lot of good has come out of it. Linda and Jamie have helped me so much. Jo worked her wonders through touch therapy which helped with the pain. TT and Marielle came down and cleaned my house and weeded. Ashley has been my constant hero. And today Ashley W and Jamie's dad mowed my lawn. I'm so grateful.

And this is how Luke has helped.

Isn't He Lovely

Oh, the things that go with an ice cream cone. No, this wasn't dress up. Luke WANTED to wear the bikini and of course, matching shoes. I get the feeling we will be discussing this in therapy in 20 years.

The Shop That Sam Built

So, here it is...... Just hours away from completion - our new shop. Or, as the kids call it, "The Flower Shop". Sam's the man! He did 95% of the work all by himself! He did have a little help (thanks Todd, Tom, and Ed) but mostly it was Sam out there laboring away. Michelle did contribute, shortly after all the sheeting was hung, she plowed into the shop with the Durango. Yes, damage to both. Like most things she ruins, Sam was able to do a little fixing (thus the ladder in the photo).


So why the new shop, you ask???? SKATEBOARDS!! Okay, okay, we did need a garage / storage space since we almost have all the rooms completed in the basement (thus limiting our storage area). But the main focus for the shop is to build custom skateboards. Sam has partnered with a great guy in Manti who is building killer boards. With the existing company - Gokiburi - Sam and Michelle are building and selling these cool boards. Check them out at http://www.gokiburilongboards.com/ (not operating right now but hopefully next week). Right now we are concentrating on getting an inventory built and online selling. And heck, with the high cost of fuel, who couldn't use a longboard to get around. Seriously, these are cool boards and all are handmade here in "The Flower Shop."

Sam in action!!!!

So if you're in the market for a new board or want to give it a try, let us know and we will hook you up.

Flashback

Whoa, talk about a flashback.

So we were riding around Colorado the other day and spotted this killer bus. Michelle was so convinced that it used to be our bus that she followed it for miles - hoping the driver wouldn't get too paranoid and bail (paranoia and VW's somehow go together). Finally the guy pulled over and let us check it out. Not our old bus but the same year and definitely one worth watching. We offered him our 1970 bus, two 1965 bugs, and a Ford Explorer but he wasn't willing to trade. He didn't want the Durango either (I don't blame him). I guess if we win the lotto or sell enough boards we will be able to wheel and deal properly... Too bad for now.

4th of July

It was 3 years ago that we moved into our house in Spring City. The 4th of July that year was pretty traumatic. In true Schoppe style, Sam insisted that we should paint the entire upstairs of the house (we closed on 7/3/05). So instead of festivities we worked and worked.

This year, in true Spencer style, we celebrated it the old fashion way with a parade, BBQ, and great fireworks (THANKS Grandpa Carl!!). We missed having any other Spencers or Schoppes around but had a lot of fun with the Cruz clan.




"Where's the parade?" Luke loved the Mt. Pleasant parade. In fact, it has gotten so big it almost (yes, almost) rivals the Richfield parade.




Charlotte got her fill of sno-cones and cotton candy.








Sam and Ashley sporting new and matching shirts for the 4th - what can I say, I'm my mother's daughter.