Raspberry Cottage

Adventures along Utah's Heritage Highway

2009-03-08T14:15:00.000-07:00

Bob and I went on a wondrous two-day adventure through parts of Utah. We made frequent stops all along the way to view and snap pictures of whatever caught our fancy. We fell in love with Spring City. We ate pinto pie in Bicknell and visited Indian ruins in Boulder, Utah. We also thrilled at Indian Petroglyphs in Capital Reef, near Torrey. We have always wanted to see a snowy Bryce Canyon, and we weren't disappointed. On the way home, we stopped in Fillmore, the first capital city in Utah and went through the State House. We again realized what a beautiful, diverse, fascinating state we live in.

More fun with Thurop Van Ormans and Hansens

2008-11-02T19:07:00.001-08:00

We had such a wonderful visit with Thurop, Sherri, Leif, and Hazel along with their Hansen cousins.

Fun with Thurop, Sherri, Leif, Hazel, Sophie and Amy

2008-11-02T18:58:00.001-08:00

Apple Pickin' with the Hansens

2008-09-13T20:47:00.000-07:00

Oh, Rats!

2008-09-12T09:16:00.000-07:00

Oh, Rats! And I mean that literally. Our backyard was filled with a symphony of bird sounds this summer until I was lying on the hammock one afternoon and saw three huge rats feasting on seeds dropped from our bird feeders.

We poisoned the rats, but then this week when I was hand watering our tomato plants, a little mouse ran across our garden. Bob set up mouse traps and four were caught. I absolutely love little mice in story books, but in the garden --- Arghhh!

Goodbye doves, quail, sparrows ... We'll miss you!

2008-08-24T20:10:00.001-07:00

We just returned from a fabulous 42nd anniversary trip to Jackson Hole and Yellowstone.

Yes, the first night we slept in a sleeping bag on this tiny bed I am sitting on. The second night we stayed in the cabin Bob is standing in front of in a nice soft bed. This was a spontaneous trip, so we didn't have reservations. So that is why we had such a cozy first night. We had a wonderful time, and yes, the bear was right next to our car!

Visits from Kristen, Noah, Dan and Lisa

2008-08-16T19:51:00.000-07:00

Jeremy Parker Hansen Graveside Services

2008-07-14T08:01:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of the beautiful and peaceful graveside service for Jeremy Parker Hansen.

More Cherry Hill Photos

2008-07-05T11:56:00.001-07:00

2008-07-05T11:45:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of our camping fun at Cherry Hill Water Park this past Wednesday and Thursday.

The Hansen Kids

2008-06-26T19:31:00.000-07:00

Here are some more pictures of our cute grandkids, Ellie, Trent, and Sophie

Silver Lake with the Hansen kids

2008-06-26T17:52:00.000-07:00

Amy's at Youth Conference, so the Hansen kids spent the day and will spend the night with us.

This afternoon we walked all around Silver Lake, then fed the ground squirrels chocolate chip cookie crumbs. Right now Ellie, Trent and Sophie are watching Nemo. After the show we plan to play Clue. Tonight we'll watch the latest episode of Flapjack. Maybe we'll play No Bears Are Out Tonight, so we'll be nice and scared before we retire for the night.

2008-06-22T20:01:00.001-07:00

Mt. Olympus and Silver Lake

2008-06-22T19:56:00.000-07:00

For those of you who live away from SLC, here is a picture that is sure to make you homesick ... beautiful Mt. Olympus. Also a picture of snowy Silver Lake at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, taken last week. It has been a hot week, so hopefully most of the snow is melted now.

Predators

2008-06-10T19:30:00.001-07:00

I was feeling completely confident in my role as an 1865 one-room schoolteacher. Wednesday, May 23, I realized how wrong I was to be so self-assured. I was totally and completely unprepared for what happened on that dreadful day.

I arrived at This is the Place Heritage Park early that morning as I had most week days in April and May. I changed into my pioneer clothes and walked up the dirt road to the red brick one-room schoolhouse. I was joyfully prepared to instruct four groups of eager fourth grade students, who were coming to the park for an end-of-the year field trip focusing on Utah history.

When my first group of children arrived, I instructed them on proper etiquette in entering the classroom. Girls entered first with a curtsy and "Good Morning, Mrs. V," and the boys followed with a bow. We talked about "paddle" and "dunce cap" discipline and the importance of coming to school on time, so they wouldn't be locked out of the building for the day. I told them I would be spending at least a week at each of their homes during the school year, because I was unmarried and didn't own a house of my own.

I drilled the students on multiplication tables and their knowledge of U.S. presidents. I taught them the Deseret Alphabet, a phonetic alphabet developed in Utah in the mid 1800s to help European immigrants learn to read and write English more easily.

After my thirty-minute presentation I led the 28 students to the door, ready to bid them farewell and welcome the next group. As I opened the door, an old couple stood at the bottom of the stairs shouting, "Don't come down the stairs. Don't come down the stairs." They pointed to a stair three steps down from where I was standing with the students and yelled, "There's a giant rattlesnake up there!" They have to be kidding I thought, so I stepped down to take a look. Sure enough, there was a giant rattler coiled up in the corner of the stair next to the building. Terrified, I hurried back up the stairs, pushing the students back into the classroom. I led them down some inside stairs and let them out the basement back door exit.

If I had been an authentic 1865 schoolteacher, I wouldn't have had Heritage Park staff there to help me. I don't know how they got rid of the poisonous snake, but it was gone when my second group of students was ready to leave. In pioneer times, it would have been my sole responsibility, as the teacher, to handle the problem. I don't think most schoolhouses back then had a back door to sneak out of. I would have had to battle the rattlesnake alone.

What would I have done back then? Stick out my tongue and make faces at it until it left? Cry? Talk to it in my sweetest voice, telling it to please go away? Tell the children to quietly tiptoe around it? Jump out the window and let the students fend for themselves? Pray? Chase it with a stick? Throw rocks at it? Keep the children at school all night until the rattlesnake left on its own?

Today, not many of us face the challenges of rattlesnakes, wolves, and bears. But are our lives any easier than the pioneers? No. Our "rattlesnakes" today come in the form of pornography, war, rebellious children, drugs and other addictions, high taxes, terrorism,sky rocketing gas prices, school shootings ...

Are we prepared for the rattlesnakes lurking outside, and inside, our doors?

David Archuleta and American Idol

2008-05-17T20:48:00.000-07:00

Bob and I have become huge American Idol fans since our visit to Texas with the Milletts. They got us hooked.

Last week after the show Bob spent one hour voting for David and I was on the phone for an hour and a half, voting.

Tuesday we will have an American Idol Party in front of Marged and Mike's big screen TV. We'll all bring snacks and cell phones for two hours of marathon voting.

Go David Archuleta.

2008-01-21T15:19:00.001-08:00

A snowy blustery day--January 21--Martin Luther King Day in Cottonwood Heights. We received about a foot of snow. Bob shoveled snow much of the morning. We both designed and finished Hazel's little quilt square. Note the little bird feeder covered with snow!

A Van Orman Christmas

2008-01-12T10:42:00.000-08:00

2007-12-04T12:09:00.000-08:00

Van Orman Ventura Boys whooping it up for Papa and Grammy!

Ventura Van Ormans

2007-12-04T09:11:00.000-08:00

Woowie! It's been four months since I visited my own blog.
Just thought I'd share a few photos from our latest trip to
Ventura for Thanksgiving, but I'm realizing while I write I
don't know how to add the photos. Stay tuned!

2007-08-29T06:47:00.000-07:00

Amy and I went to the 10:30 P.M. Becoming Jane movie last week. Yes, it seemed like the middle of the night when it ended, and it about was. Amy was irritated over the ending. It took her a couple of days to get over it! My brain was barely clicking at that time of the night, so I didn't really get it all. I 'll be watching it again. Meanwhile, I've put every Jane Austen movie on hold at the library. Now, if I can just find the time to watch them!

Last weekend I finished the book Austenland by Utah author (and Newberry Honor winner) Shannon Hale. I loved it. I thought it was very well written, clever and witty. Shannon is becoming one of my favorite authors.

Are you a Jane Austen fan? Which of her books have you read? What about the movies?

2007-08-12T15:43:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago Thurop, Sherri and Leif were here. We had a wonderful time camping in the Uintahs at Sherri's (Anderson) family reunion. We wish Thurop could have stayed longer, but we were glad he could take time off from work and come for the weekend. Sherri and Leif stayed for an extra four days. We had fun swimming with them and the Hansens at Cottonwood Hts. Recreation Center and going to Sherri's brother Jeff's game, playing ball and cars in the bleachers one last time with Leif.

Last weekend we had a busy weekend of hosting dinners. On Friday the 3rd we had the Taylors over for dinner. We were in the MTC together and then served together in the Quezon City Mission. They were going to the MTC in three days because they are off on another mission. This time they will be serving in Indonesia. They were so excited about their new call. We had a great time with them. Then on Saturday night we had Ellen's siblings (the ones who could come), plus her cousins Kathleen and John Macfarlane, at our house for a potluck dinner. We talked and laughed and had our usual rolicking time together. We even played coin after eating and talking.

Wednesday was Trent's 6th birthday. We had a great time at his birthday dinner eating Hawaiian Haystacks and Star Wars birthday cake, and playing with the kids. On Tuesday we also went to the movie Meet the Robinsons with Amy and the kids.

Thursday and Friday of this week, Amy was at Youth Conference, so we had Ellie, Trent and Sophie staying with us. Thursday we read lots of books together and watched Toy Story. Brad came for dinner. After dinner Papa and Brad played tennis at Anzack Park, while Grammy and the kids played on the swings and slides there. Kristen and Noah flew in at midnight on Thursday. Noah fell asleep on the ride from the airport, but was wide awake when he came in our house. Kristen, Noah and Grammy stayed up until after 2 A.M. playing in the book room! We were sad Jonny couldn't come with them, but we had a great visit. Friday the Hansen kids, Kristen and Noah and we went up to Silver Lake. There were lots of ducks and squirrels and birds and even a chipmunk there.

Saturday we spent most of the day downtown at the Family History Center taking classes. It is just marvelous the things one can do in the Personal Ancestral File Program! We learned how to add photos to Pedigree charts, how to merge information from different sources, and how to add life stories and other notes to the program. It is all so exciting!

Today is Sunday. We taught our Family History Class. This week we showed and talked about the books we made for you all three years ago. When we came home we got a phone call from the Milletts who are in Panama City now on a little vacation. We hope they will write and tell us all about their trip. We talked to Tanner first. He said Sis. Rhinehart was his Primary teacher and she said to tell us hello. Then we talked to Sara. At church she saw many of our old friends--the Williams, Aldredges, Pam Bishop, the Hewetts, the Davises (Aaron and Kathy) Randy Davis, Whites, and more. They also drove past our old houses and old schools. Wouldn't it be fun for all of us to meet in Panama City sometime?!! We haven't been there for years and it was such a big part of our lives.

We talked to Lisa a couple of times this week. She and Dan are busy with work and school. Next month they are going to the wedding of Dan's cousin in Washington D.C. We hope they will write us and tell us more of what is going on in their lives. We tried a couple of times today to talk to them today and hope to before the day ends. We are also anxious to hear from Jim, Beverly, Isaac and Julia. We think they will be flying home soon, but we don't know when. We know their summer in Switzerland has been a fabulous experience for them. We got a post card from Margaret, Max and Erin who are also in Switzerland for three weeks.

Mimi's Apricot Icecream

2007-07-31T13:05:00.000-07:00

Mimi’s Apricot Ice Cream

(Double this recipe for 5 quarts.)

2 ½ cups sugar
1 cup water
2 beaten eggs
1 can condensed milk
4 lemons
1 pint cream
½ quart apricot nectar
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon almond extract
milk to fill

Boil sugar and water until sugar is dissolved. Add all the other ingredients and freeze.

2007-07-24T08:51:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Grammy's Raspberry Cottage