I had to go to Germany in November for training with the Unilux window factory. My week in Trier (the Southwest corner of Germany and an old Roman city) was a real treat. Besides a great old hotel, we were treated to great food and beer (I can only vouch for the food). Even with the cold weather it was a good trip.
We organized a picnic up South Fork before it got too cold. It was a little nippy but fun. It included Jack leaping across streams, Cara sunning herself and Wesley standing around looking grownup. Also Wade was trying to teach Sarah about motorcycles
We are enjoying the bounty of harvest crops. We went gleaning in the neighbors yard where the chickens are and came back with this basketful. We have tomatoes, beans, zucchini, squash, walnuts, fresh eggs and Asian pears. Doesn't that basket look good? Anna got another load just as big to make salsa. We took off a couple of weeks ago to climb Timp but it was raining so we drove a dirt road around the front of Timp and went hiking a little later when it dried off. We hiked for a couple of hours then Peggy & I walked back to the car to drive back around and pick up Cara, Wesley and Nathan at the bottom of Battle Creek canyon in Pleasant Grove. It was a beautiful day. Yesterday we were working on the stucco prep (thanks, Jeff) and had a little driveway lunch while Wesley showed off his "mad skilzz"
After a few weeks hiatus, we got the patio room insulated, sheetrocked and mudded. I got the door installed and tightened so we tore out the sliding door and opened the room up to the house. So far it is keeping cool. With a little more mudding and sanding we will be ready to paint. Peggy is trying to get carpet ordered and we are getting closer to a real sunken living room. The outside is covered with plywood and the goal is to get it stuccoed before winter, funds permitting.
After a fun 3 days we headed for home with a few stops along the way. We got to Palmyra and enjoyed the Church historical sites, especially the sacred grove and the print shop. We sprinted for Niagara Falls and got there about 11:00pm. It was a spectacular sight and we spent the night in Buffalo. The next day we toured the Kirtland temple, spent the night in Des Moines, then straight for home.
After two days in DC we headed for New York. I find it a grimy expensive place but worth a day. Half the day was taking the ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty then we spent the rest of the day seeing the sights in Manhattan. FAO Schwartz and the Apple store, Central Park (incredible), apple cinnamon donuts off a street vendor, subway rides and Times Square.
