Labor Day weekend (Day One)

It was windy today!
Note to self: Keep a hair tie on hand.
I could have entered todays local Sheep Dog trials.


It pays to explore.
We found a very  promising fishing spot.
I clearly need to get off the bank and into the water one of these days.

A lesson learned:
Don't cast into the wind or you will get a tangled line.

On the way home, we finally used a Cubbys restaurant gift card from last Christmas!
Nothing like procrastinating.

Update;
On Labor Day (Monday), We did chores and later went to a movie.

A Drive With My Dad (Mirror Lake and Evanston Wyoming)

Today I went on a great car ride with dad.



Provo Falls:

Hayden Peak in the distance:

Mirror Lake:

Across the Wyoming boarder we stopped to look at these markers (all on the same hill):

In honor of the Pioneers who passed this spot July 12, 1847, under the leadership of Brigham Young.

Pony Express;

Memorial for a member of the Willie Handcart Co.

We had lunch at a Wendys in Evanston Wyoming. It's the same place mom and dad have stopped for years.

It was way fun!

Fly Rod Learning Curve

We went fishing again. (Sat.)
The picture below is at location #1.  Not good.
At location #2,  I found myself in a conversation with a man that looked to be 'in the know'.
Lucky me! I was chatting it up with a fishing guide with 30 years experience.
He was very cheerful and helpful.

Soon after Joe and I were in a tiny Fishing supplies shop and the owner was on hand.
He and a partner personally added a 9 foot tapering tippet and a better 'indicator' to my line.
I was soon back on the river in better shape.

Down the road, at location #3,  I was happy to see my friend the fishing guide again.
From a far distance he watched me, then he was right behind me!
He made further improvements on my rig setup (including two hooks, instead of one). Then he did a demo, explaining lots of things to me as he did so.
Soon I had my rod back in hand and was being coached! (By a pro!)
People pay good money for the kind of help I was given!
I had a free class !!

I came home and learned to tie a double surgeons knot, and a blood knot. I'm going to need those.
So far all I knew how to do was an improved cinch knot.
Fly fishing is a very different ball game than regular fishing.
This is going to be so fun!!

P.S. We are going back next Saturday. It should be pretty interesting, and I will get more pictures next time.

Fly Rod

It's Saturday and Joe asked me what I wanted to do today.
Next thing you know we were in Heber on the Provo River (of Course).
In the afternoon I felt like a total beginner with my fly rod (because I am).
Even so I caught a really big trout!
Only problem is, he was so big I couldn't get him up the bank, and I didnt have my net ready.
I really didn't expect to catch anything, let alone a BIG Monster.
Alas for me (lucky for him) he broke free just as he was nearly out of the water. It was fun.

We took a break and went into town for late lunch.
We returned at about 4:30 and I found some shade on the other side of the river.
I had 4 bites, but no catch.

The main thing is that over the course of the day, I was getting very comfortable with my new Fly Rod.
By evening I almost looked like I knew what I was doing.

We may go back next Saturday.

Three Day Get Away

Joe and I went on a three day escape.
We stayed at the 'Rivers Edge' in the Heber area in a cabin.
Joe found a half price deal through groupon.



The cabin had hot showers, full refrigerator, stove, and microwave.

This creek was just a few steps away:

On this first day we played with our fishing poles out on the Jordanelle reservoir:

Joe untangled my fishing line, which required getting a little wet.
I had been out there too!

While at the cabin we had visitors;
Two friendly Sandhill Cranes looking for a handout.
I gave them some raisins.


                                       



They came by each morning and evening.
On our last morning the bigger bird snapped a few pieces of bread out of my hand.
His big beak was a little intimidating.

On day two we went for a drive into the mountains.

We stopped at Provo River Falls:

We walked around Mirror Lake:

On day three (our last day) we went back to the Mirror lake area and got on a trail.
We went about 6-7 miles.
Along the way we came to this nice place called Bonny Lake.

Our end point was this big meadow, where we had a snack before going back:

The tail end of our hike took us through a little rain, but it wasn't too bad.
We drove home after that.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSAN

Happy Birthday Susan!!

Here are the stats:

Date Of Birth 7-11-82
Weight 7-2 1/2
Length 51 cm
Head 34 cm
Chest 33.5 cm
Babys doctor: Shapiro
Montgomery, Pa.
Fathers name: Joseph Paul Szymanski
Mothers Maiden name: Lesa Beth Smith

Additional stats;
Labor 36 hours (She couldnt find the exit ramp)
Jaundice at first
Collic 6 months (Poor baby)

Also:
Brightest most intelligent eyes I've ever seen.
Winning smile (when not collicky)

Susan was my precious first baby, born when I was 29.

She was a joy to raise.
She was smart and obedient.

She grew into a beautiful woman:

Many happy birthday wishes to my girl! 33!!? Oh My!!!

OakleyRodeo And Family Time

My daughters family has been here visiting. We have played at the new Sandy Splash Park, gone fishing, walked in the hills, done a little shopping and lots of eating.
The highlight for me was going to the outdoor Oakley Rodeo.
This is becoming a tradition connected to the Fourth Of July and my birthday.

We always have a little picnic just down the road from the arena first.
This year we were good and early. The  bleachers did fill up around us.

The Rodeo ended with some fireworks.

On the Fourth Of July, Sues husband, Ben, treated us to a great fireworks show in the street in front of the house. It's legal to launch the kind that burst in the air here. Ben had a big one!