MARCH 2025 - Bentonville Arkansas - Family - Friends and SPRING

 

WELCOME SPRING

This month was a mix of Winter and the beginnings of Spring.  We have had snow, rain and sunshine with more to come this next week.  March is always welcome as we come out of hibernation and begin enjoying the longer daylight hours and the rebirth of nature in all of its wonder and beauty.

Preslee had her last Ballroom dance competition for the year.  She is always so elegant and danced so well with her new partner.  They perform in the all around division which means they draw a dance style (swing, waltz, rumba, etc.)  out of a hat and they have to dance that dance - so she is good at all of them and ready to perform. 

Below picture is when they announced she received a Gold and her team took the overall Gold for the competition.  Great way to end the season.

ROOTS OF KNOWLEDGE - Utah Valley University

Marc C & Deborah H. Bingham Gallery

While we were at UVU for the Ballroom competition, we decided to visit their Library and this amazing Stained Glass Window display.  

The Roots of Knowledge uses storytelling in the ancient artform of stained glass to create a panorama of history and human innovation.  Comprising 60,000 individual pieces of stained glass in 80 panels, the windows represent years of research on events, people, and places that shaped the growth of human knowledge.  

This learning project between Holdman Studios and Utah Valley University is a collaboration of Principal artists Tom Holdman and Cameron Oscarson along with 90 additional artists at Holdman Studios joined forces with President Matthew Holland and 26 UVU faculty members to realize this project.  More than 350 UVU students assisted with the effort as project managers, programmers, designers, artists and writers.  From conception to completion, the project took 12 years.

The windows are stunning and filled with so many different stories - we have been twice and still see new pictures and stories each time.  A few thoughts that had particular meaning to me on our last visit:

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."

"Our Republic and its press will Rise or Fall Together"

"The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty."

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."  Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Rights are won only by those who make their Voices Heard"

"He who puts out his hand to stop the wheel of History will have his fingers crushed"

"We welcome change and openness for we believe that freedom and security go together that the advances of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace."  The Stonewall

The display begins with The Creation and goes through the time from Adam and Eve (mankind) to our current day.  So much history and time periods that show the way of life and living during those times.  We would love to take anyone who comes to our area to see this inspiring art.

MOVIE PIC

I took Emily and Preslee to see the movie RULE BREAKERS

It is the story of girls in Afghanistan and their desire to receive an education.  In spite of strong opposition for girls to learn and to use computers, these few overcame all of the roadblocks and struggles to not only learn but to excel.  They formed a Robotics team and traveled the World for two years competing to eventually  win the top award with their Robot.  Their story was dear to my heart as I have met and taught young women from Afghanistan and other Middle Eastern countries that faced similar struggles.  This is a story of today - not years ago - I am so grateful for the education opportunities I have had in my life.

My dear friend and neighbor Marina is from Peru.  She visited some of her family this month in Peru and brought me this beautiful sweater/poncho.  It is so bright, colorful and warm.  So blessed to have her in my life.

Friends are people who you share life with - the ups and downs, joys and sorrows, and they still like you and stand by you no matter how many miles may separate you.  

What a fun day we had with some of our TEXAS friends - Phil and Lisa Brinkerhoff and John and Denise Sivo.  It is always a treat to have friends come to Utah for a visit and we turn it into a party.  We had lunch at Gourmandise in Draper - delicious food, desserts and non stop talking.  One of the nice things in Utah is having friends whose children settled here and they come to visit or move here to join them.  That's the case of the Brinkerhoff's and the Sivo's.  We could make this an annual tradition!  

The Brinkerhoff's, Grimmett's and Sivo's

MISSIONARY MONTH

This month the youth in our Ward learned about being missionaries and being better friends and neighbors.  At the conclusion of the month they had a dinner in neighbors homes learning about the countries or places they might serve in one day and also leaving a message.

We had two Sisters, Aubrey and Lilly and did all things German/Austrian

We dressed in our German clothes and served our favorite Schnitzel with lemon sauce, spaetzle (cheese noodles), asparagus, beets and green salad.  We ended the dinner with a German Chocolate cream pie topped with Cherries and whipped cream.  

The girls were so cute and enjoyed the schnitzel.  It was fun seeing them try all of the different foods.  They left us with a great message on the Plan of Salvation - God's plan of life for us and returning back to His presence.  

We always love sharing our mission experiences.

BENTONVILLE ARKANSAS 

WALMART is the Spirit of Bentonville!  We arrived late Friday night after weather and mechanical delays on our flights from Provo Utah to Dallas and then on to Bentonville.  We sat on the runway for 1 hour waiting for 8 small engine aircraft to land before we were cleared for take-off.  That began the chain of events for the rest of the day.  We were so late into DFW that we missed our connection.  It did not help that we had to go from the annex of Terminal E to the A terminal.  The next flight was at another Terminal and we were riding the sky tram and it had a mechanical and stopped so we all had to wait and then get off and take another tram going the other direction - so we had a nice long ride around the airport.  We boarded our Plane and they said we had a small mechanical and it would be about 15 min.  And we are off - or maybe not.  We taxied to the runway and then the Pilot said we had another mechanical that was more serious and we would need a new plane.  There were 400 cancellations at DFW that day and we were so lucky to get on a plane and then a mechanical!  An hour later we were once again on the new plane and off for Bentonville.  We filled our Saturday will so many things.

It was the Grand Opening of the new Walmart Museum.  It is very well done and so many memories of Walmart through the years.  It is FREE!

The museum is on the city square with lots of restaurants, bakeries and fun shops all around the square and of course a Walmart close by.  

One of the highlights of the museum is the Hologram of Sam Walton. The guide asks him questions about Walmart and he answers in his own voice from real life recordings of things he said over the years.  Nothing like a man his dog and a red and white pick up truck.  They opened an Ice Cream parlor next door and it is worth stopping by.  One scoop is $1.30 and lots of flavors to choose from.  Every experience is family friendly.

"Walmart helps people save money and live better.  We'll lower the cost of living for everyone, not just in America, but we'll give the world an opportunity to see what it's like to save and have a better lifestyle, a better life, a better life for all."  Sam Walton  March 17, 1992

They truly have given back to their community and make it possible for people to come and enjoy the experience.  

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art founded by Alice Walton and open to the public free of charge is more than the galleries - hands-on creative fun with classes, activities and events for guests of all ages.  It sits on 134 acres of ozark nature and offers indoor and outdoor adventures.

Saturday was the opening of a special exhibit:  KAWS

Who is KAWS?  Born in 1974 in Jersey City, NJ, Brian Donnelly (KAWS) began his artistic journey making graffiti.  He ventured across Jersey City, spray-painting buildings, freight trains, and billboards with his tag, "KAWS", which eventually became his artist moniker.  Why KAWS?  He simply like the way the letters looked together.

In 1993 he enrolled in Manhattan's School of Visual Arts, where he received formal art training.  After graduating he took a job in an animation studio but continued doing graffiti throughout the 1990s - an interest that continues to guide all aspects of his practice today.  

Above is a photo of Will and Nora holding the Caricature they had done by a local artist at the museum.  They got to design and paint a cereal box, write a story and paint on big glass boards.  

Left photo is Brian in the lobby of the museum.  

The KAWS Family

Posed in picture-perfect family portrait fashion, KAWS' characters, companion, BFF, and Chum look like they've stepped out of a family photo.  Playing with gesture, pose, and individual sizes of characters, KAWS invites guests to cast his characters as parents, children, and even beloved stuffed animals.  In this sculpture and across the exhibition, it is often the small gestures - a hand on a shoulder or a shift in size - that allows viewers to connect most strength.  Through these choices, the figures become familiar with stories and emotions all their own.  

In 2022 KAWS collaborated with General Mills and their beloved Monster cereals.  KAWS produced small plastic toys that could be won via raffle on the side of the box.  They were transformed into statuesque bronze sculptures of this exhibit.

Russ enjoying the relaxing bench and the good company of the statue beside him.  

Frank Loyd Wright - Bachman/Wilson House

In 1953, Gloria and Abraham Wilson wrote to Frank Lloyd Wright to commission a home.  Gloria's brother, Marvin Bachman, had been one of Wright's apprentices, and they hoped using both of their names would help them secure the deal.  Wright consented, and their home designed in Wright's Usonian model was built in 1954 on a site near the Millstone River in New Jersey.  This style of home was developed as a home to be within reach of the average American family without sacrificing quality or design.  In 1988 the home was purchased and restored.  Unfortunately, it was flooded several time from the Millstone River and in 2013 they contacted Crystal Bridges with the hope of moving the house to Bentonville so it would be preserved for generations to come.  It sits high above the river providing similar vistas to its original location.  

Photo Booth fun

The Pieta'

Sesame Street

MOON GARDEN adjacent to the sculptures.  Moon gardens use white flowers and silver or variegated foliage to reflect moonlight.  This makes the garden seem to glow in the evening hours.  These massively scaled plants delight and astonish with their splashes of hypnotic color and distinctive polka-dots.  Created by Yajoi Kusama, these fantastical flowers assume near humanlike poses.  For Kusama, flowers symbolize the duality of life and death and a balance between the abstract and the figurative.  I would love to return in the summer when the gardens are in full bloom.  

There are several bike and hike parks within the city.  We spent a few hours walking, the kids enjoyed the river and even taking their shoes off and getting their feet wet as they navigated across the river over logs and rocks.  We walked a couple of miles along the trails and enjoyed the beauty of the Ozarks.  It was a beautiful day after their terrible Wind storm and the trails were filled with bikes and walkers enjoying the nice weather.  

Brian and Beth started their morning attending a session in the Bentonville LDS Temple and then we filled the day with all of our adventures.  We were amazed to find out there are 3 Stakes and 36 Wards and 1 Temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in this small community.  

We enjoyed attending Church on Sunday and then headed to the airport for our flight home.  It was a memorable weekend and a great place to meet up with family.  

We ended Saturday night meeting up with our Nephew Gabe and his wife Amy who live in Bentonville.  We went to Pasta Fina - a wonderful Italian restaurant close to their home.  It was so fun visiting their home, catching up on family and sharing so many memories.  So grateful for family.  

Brian & Beth, Amy and Gabe

SAINT PATRICK'S DAY

Home just in time to celebrate our Irish heritage on Saint Patrick's Day!  I made some treats to give to some neighbors with pretzels, Rolo and green M&M's. 

Breakfast was Green egg omelet filled with ham and cheese.  This is one of our favorite breakfasts - just added the green.  Gluten Free breakfast omelet:  1 egg, 1 Tbl. almond flour, 1 Tbl. parmesan cheese, 1 Tbl. soft cream cheese.  Mix together and cook in 8 in. skillet till brown, flip and cook until done like a pancake.  fill with ham and cheese on half and fold other half over.  

 

There is nothing better on Saint Patricks Day than Gogarty's Irish Corned Beef and Cabbage.  It has become a tradition for us and it is so delicious.

3 lb. Corned Beef.                 1 med, head cabbage cored and cut in 

1/2 cup chopped Onion.        wedges.

2 cloves Garlic, minced.       1/2 cup prepared mustard

2 Bay Leaves                        1 Tbl. horseradish

1 cup Maple Syrup

Place meat in InstaPot with onion, garlic, and bay leaves.  Add water and seasoning packet if it comes with your meat - to cover.  Seal with lid and process for 90 min.  Let sit for about 10 min for steam to release.  Remove meat from pan.  

Add cabbage, cut carrots and small red or gold potatoes to pot in reserved liquid.  Seal and process for about 6 min.

Meanwhile mix syrup, mustard and horseradish.  Place meat in a shallow baking pan, spoon 1/2 of syrup mixture over meat.  Reserve remaining syrup for serving with meat.  

Bake at 350* for 20 min. or until meat is well glazed, brushing frequently with remaining syrup mixture.  

SURGERY AND EYE EXAMS

We ended the month with Russ having Cataract surgery.  After 65 years of wearing glasses he is a new man.  The surgery went well - fasted surgery ever - 10 min.  It took longer to check in and get the IV in than it took to have the actual surgery.  We were home in 90 minutes.  He had the right eye one week and the lift eye the next week.  He can't believe he can wake up and see everything around him.  There are a few benefits of getting older - new eyes!

He needs these few days of rest before April arrives and the yard work is in full swing.   We cut down three trees this week and have the truck filled with branches ready for the City Cleanup week starting next Saturday.  The work begins!

I went for my annual eye exam early in the month.  Last year I was diagnosed with Keratoconus that necessitated me getting special scelero contact lenses.  It was definitely a learning curve for me but now it is just part of life.  Part of my exam was with the contacts in the eye and then they had me take them out and do other tests.  The Doctor went over and cleaned up the area a little where my contact were sitting in one of their disposable cases.  When I was done he said I could put my contacts back in.  He had put a die in my eye for further testing and also said my eyes were a little worse this year but not enough to change the prescription.  So I put in the contacts and things were pretty blurry.  I thought it was from the dye and would go away.

Spiritual things in every day life:

Emily and I had plans together so she picked me up from my exam and we went about our day.  My eyes were still really blurry but I was OK.  Saturday - the next day I got up and put in my contacts as usual and went about my day.  Eyes were still blurry.  I tried to drive and could not see well so I pulled over and had Emily drive.  I had a bad head ache by the end of the day.  I was really getting worried that I was going blind and that whatever happened at the eye exam was NOT GOOD.  The first Sunday of every month in our Church is called Fast Sunday.  We fast from Saturday night through Sunday.  I decided to fast and pray that my eye sight would be OK.  I really prayed - this was getting serious and boy did I realize how important seeing is and all that I do in our family that needs me to have good eye sight.  

I got up Sunday and put in my contacts and went to Church.  I could not see the music numbers at the front of the Church and could not see the music in the hymn book.  I told Russ I was going to go to the Eye Doctor first thing Monday morning.  During the night I had a vivid impression to check my contacts in the morning.  The left eye is a blue contact with two dots and the right one is clear with 1 dot.  When I got up I checked and they had been switched in the case at the Doctor's office - he turned the case around when he was cleaning up and I did not notice.  

I put them in my eyes and everything was clear again!  This seems like a simple thing but it brought me to fasting and prayer and a lot of fear and anxiety.  I was so grateful for the prompting to look closer in my case and see the problem.  Monday morning Russ had his Annual Eye appointment with his Eye Doctor - different from mine.  He is a specialist and surgeon.  That is when we found out Russ would need Cataract surgery.  I asked him if he treated Keratoconus - I was thinking of changing to him as my Doctor.  He said it was his speciality as a surgeon.  I told him what happened to me and he laughed as said: "You stay with your Doctor - he is the best for your contacts, I don't deal with the contacts only the surgery when the contacts no longer will work.  He said in this day and age you will not go blind - there are several treatments and also a Corneal transplant if necessary - that is when you will come and see me."  

Again, a tender mercy to have him tell me what he did.  I told him it was the best news I could have heard.  So, prayers are answered in so many different ways.  It is not about an immediate healing but in technology that can make it better and that is a healing in its own way.  So grateful for Tender Mercies in my life.  

This month we had some really special times and experiences.  We are so grateful for our friends and family.  We also got to visit Kristine Green on her 90th Birthday.  The Greens served a mission in Arlington TX 30 years ago and we became friends and spent a lot of time with them during their time in Texas.  Al passed away 8 years ago and Kristin is still living in their home and we have let too much time pass since we have visited.  It was so nice to spend a few minutes with her.

We reached out to our dear friend Suzanne Sadler on her Birthday and missed seeing her but left a note.  We only live about 10 minutes from her and look forward to visiting her soon.

This week at the Eye Doctor I came out of the room and saw a lady sitting in the lobby who looked familiar.  I got closer and asked are you Valene?  She looked at me and I told her I was Linda Haney - she was my neighbor in Twin Falls, ID from the time I was born until I was 13.  She has always been a very special lady to our family and what a reunion!  We caused quite a stir in the Doctors office.  She is 97 years old and moved to Utah last year to live with her daughter and son in American Fork.  We waited for her son and daughter to come out of their appointments and had a really fun visit.  We also look forward to visiting with them soon.

Sherry Neaves our friend and daughter-in-law Julie's mother came and spent the night with us this weekend.  We love it when Texas friends come to visit us.  We talked and talked and managed to get in dinner and a breakfast before she was off to a wedding of a longtime friend and some time with her cousins.  

Oh how we love the people in our lives that have blessed us and made life the wonderful adventure that it is.  These experiences and visits took away the Winter Blues and have truly been a blessing to us.  

This picture and quote was sent to me by a friend in Germany, Henry Kosak.  

He said, "Never to be forgotten - Auschwitz-Birkenau.  We need to continue to teach our children and youth - Elie Wiesel said, The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference . . . "

"For each petal on the shamrock this brings a wish your way:  good health good luck and happiness for today and every day."

The Grimmett's

FEBRUARY 2025 - Birthday, Valentines & Travels

 

AMTRACK TO VANCOUVER , BC

February was filled with celebrations, holidays, friends, family, travels and so much in between.  For a short month we sure filled it with many adventures.  We just took down our Winter decorations today and it seems like yesterday we were enjoying the Christmas Season.  

The Lindon Utah Temple for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is nearing completion.  They took the scaffolding off of the two spires this past week and just have the entrance granite to finish for the outside.  We are hoping for the Open House to be sometime between July and September of this year.  Visitors are welcome and our home is always open.  

When the property was purchased it was farm property and there were about 14 different varieties of trees.  A few men in our area were allowed to go in and cut the wood and use it for projects.  Several wood bowls have been turned and other items that will be used as gifts for some who have worked on the Temple Building Project.  This month they offered a wood turning project to make Ball point pens from some of the Temple Wood.

We went and each got to learn how to use the lathe and make the pens.

Rectangle of Wood turned into smooth cylinders

We were each given two rectangular pieces of Maple about 5 inches long.  We then put them on the lathe and started shaving the wood slowly to form the cylinders.  Then you work on making it the shape you want and getting both pieces to match where they will come together.  Then we sanded with 4 different sizes of sand paper and then put oil on the wood and with a cloth worked it in on the lathe to polish.  The final piece was to insert the ball point pen pieces and then imprinted with the Lindon Temple.  

Alan and Gloria Stratton - former Arlington Texas friends are in our neighborhood in Lindon - are amazing craftsman and woodworkers who taught the class.  We love the memento, their willingness to share their talents and renewing friendships.  

The Stratton's

Finished Pens

THANKSGIVING POINT - TREE OF LIFE

"I believe the Savior Jesus Christ would want you to see, feel, and know that He is your strength.  That with His Help, there are no limits to what you can accomplish.  That your potential is limitless.  he would want to see yourself the way He sees you.  And that is very different from the way the world sees you."  Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Oct. 2022

This series of sculptures tells the story of Adar, a fictional woman created by artist Angela Johnson, whose journey reflects the struggles we all can face in life.  While Adar can be seen in the great and spacious building where she is sad and oppressed, she can also be seen on the path of redemption along the rod of iron.

Adar's faith is tested as she encounters challenges, but her story of rebirth and redemption shows how even in the darkest times, there is hope.  Like Alma the younger from the Book of Mormon, Adar finds her way back to the light through humility and faith.  

As you walk, you see several depictions of Adar's journey.  

Great and Spacious Building

Adar experiences moments of hardship, isolation, pride, and eventual redemption.  She feels the same struggles, doubts, and hopes that we all do, yet she discovers joy as she moves forward in faith, closer to the Tree of Life.

Adar's story symbolizes that regardless of past decisions, challenges, and struggles, we are never beyond the reach of God's love and grace.  His arm mis always extended to us and through faith and trust in Jesus Christ, we too can find healing, hope, and the peace that comes as we draw closer to Him.  

Along the path to the Tree of Life the Life of Jesus Christ is intertwined in the story.  The journey to the Tree (Jesus Christ) is what it is all about so it depicts His life journey and then our life journey in returning to Him.  It was so spiritually moving and more than I could have ever imagined what I would see and experience.  It is a portrayal of Lehi's Vision from the Book of Mormon, featuring 130 larger than-life bronze figures.  It is a soul-touching exhibit and an unforgettable experience for all that see it.  

"And the world, because of their iniquity shall judge him to be a thing of naught:  wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth  it and they smite him, and he suffereth it.  Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men."

1 Nephi 19:9

The Garden Tomb

The Tree of Life - Jesus Christ

Russ and I had such a wonderful time together as we walked the mile trail through the Ashton Gardens to this display.  It was a beautiful Winter day to walk and take in all of the nature along the way.

HAPPY 69TH BIRTHDAY

Back to Thanksgiving Point and The Butterfly Biosphere

We toured the Butterfly gardens- not as peaceful as the week before at The Tree of Life - filled with so many preschool kids you could hardly walk the paths.  It was a fun hour of seeing the wonder of the butterflies.

Garden Pond - find the Blue Butterfly!

Off to Cheesecake Factory City Creek, Salt Lake City to celebrate with Nikki (a former student at Cumorah Academy) who is now in the United States attending school in Salt Lake.  We share our birthdays and we joined her for lunch to celebrate together.  It was a festive afternoon.  We DID NOT eat Cheesecake for lunch so that we could go out for ice cream later.  

We ended the night at Handle's Ice Cream with Emily.   Russ and I shared their 4 scoop sampler - our favorite!

It was an all day Celebration and so enjoyable.

My Sister, Pam and I share February Birthdays and we got to celebrate together a few days after our actual Birthdays.  We met in Salt Lake and went to the Church History Museum and then to lunch at a local favorite -  Gourmandise - so delicious and festive!  I can't believe I did not take a picture of us together to remember the day.  

Two pictures from the Museum:

This stained glass window came from the Salt Lake 14th Ward chapel, which was torn down in the 1960's to make room for the Salt Palace.

Below is a Sign that was from the late 1800's in Salt Lake.  It says,

Mormon Creed

Mind Your Own Business.

Saints will observe this:  

All Others Ought to

Mormon Creed

VALENTINES DAY

With my Birthday only a few days before Valentine's Day we usually only celebrate 1 day.  This year we had the VERY BEST DAY.  Russ really came through and planned ahead with some fun surprises.  He gave me a box filled with paper butterflies that when I took the lid off the box it opened up and all of the butterflies flew out of the box - Impressive and a lot of work for him to have wound up every butterfly and put in the box for me to see them fly!  

We then celebrated with our dear friends, John and Carol Homer who invited us to attend the new Ruth Theatre to see the premier performance of RAGTIME.  It was Fantastic!  

If you don't know the story it was very profound and relatable to today.  A good friend stated after seeing the show: "We left more determined to truly SEE the needs of those around us, stand for what is right despite the consequences, not be apathetic to injustice and how to do the right thing even if those around you are standing by.  In summary, to be better humans."  Amanda Wilkinson

We invited the Homer's to dinner before the Theatre and it was such a memorable night. We started with  Pumpkin Butternut Squash Soup and Green Salad.

While we ate the first course the RiverBend Ranch Sirloin Steaks were being cooked to perfection - if you like medium Rare!   It was served with Baked Sweet Potatoes with butter and cinnamon and green beans.  I made gluten free bread and we ended the dinner with German Sweet Chocolate Cream Pie.  

It was so nice just eating and visiting in the quiet of our home and then racing off to the Theatre  - in the Rain.  This will be a night to remember!

The picture on the left is my leftover steak the next day served on top of some leftover salad.  It was almost as good as the dinner the night before.  

PORTLAND OREGON - VANCOUVER BRITISH COLUMBIA

February 20th we were off to Portland Oregon to begin a trip with Josh and Julie.  We love our trips to Portland and spending time with family.  Josh has been off work due to some health issues and we wanted to go visit.  He is so talented and continues to amaze us with all that he comes up with.  When we arrived he was in the middle of 3D Printing a stand for his new IPAD.  It turned out really nice.  He also constructed additional train tracks and now has a track that goes around the ceiling of their living room and kitchen with about 14 train cars on one track and several others that sit on a side track.

It is powered by a steam engine - smoke actually comes out and he has painted some of the cars to make them more authentic looking.  He has loved trains since he was a young child and now the hobby is just a littlel more expensive.  He loves his trains.

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

Josh and Julie really like visiting Vancouver BC and we thought it would be good for them to get away for a few days and for us to visit a new place.  

We took the City Bus from their home to Union Station in Downtown Portland.  We stopped for lunch on our way and were ready for our 8 hour train ride on Amtrak.

We have been on many trains in Europe but never have taken Amtrak in the USA.  

We started at Union Station headed to the first major stop in Seattle, WA.

Each car had one section with two seats facing each other with a table and we were able to get that seat so we could sit together and visit.  We were on an old Italian train called the Cascades.  It had larger windows than some of the newer trains and made for a great view of all of the sites.  

We had a 30 minute layover in Seattle and we got off the train and went into the station.  It had been restored to its original beauty and it was nice to see.  

The trains in the US are limited to 79 miles per hour and we managed to go about 72 mph between most stops.  Lots of little towns along the way.

We arrived in Vancouver BC at 10:00 PM. Upon entering Canada there is a passport inspection and the train slows to about 25 mph the rest of the way.  Canada does not maintain their tracks as well and with the curves and water 

they take it really slow.  We did not see much because it was dark at that point but on the return trip home it was so beautiful to see the ships, tugs, tankers, yachts, fishing boats, birds, seals and all of the other things in nature.  

It was very relaxing and worth the experience.  

We stayed in an AirBnB on the edge of China Town and close to the Waterfront Train Station.  We started early the next morning at a wonderful bakery that Josh and Julie had found on previous visits.  It was so delicious and a great way to start the day.  We then took the city train to see a broad view of the area.  We hit the water in a water taxie to Granville Island for Lunch.  It is basically a large market and shopping district.  So many choices for eating and Russ and I settled on ----German sausage and a Reuben on Rye.  When we left it was pouring rain as we hurried to the water taxie and back to our apartment.

We ended our day at DANBO Ramen House - another favorite of Josh and Julie.  It is a small local restaurant that we stood in line outside waiting for a table.  They have a very efficient system where you fill out your order while you wait and when they have a table for your party size you are allowed in.  The food comes very quickly since all they serve is Ramon.  The broth was so rich and delicious.  It was just what we needed on a cool evening.  Russ started getting a cold/flu and so we took things at a slower pace.

Bowl of Ramen

This is the view of Vancouver from our Apartment.  We were close to the Science Museum, The Sports Arena and even a Costco.  

Sunday was a beautiful day and we left Russ home to rest while we ventured to Chinatown, Gastown, Olympic Park and a Train ride around the city.  We did a lot of walking and it was nice to be on the train and getting a rest.

The Chinatown is very old and run down.  Most people have moved outside of the city to a suburb with new shops and better living conditions,  It was sad to see how majestic it had been and how it is today.  

This is a Chinatown memorial monument of the Railway worker and the World War II Veteran that represents the sacrifices made by Chinese Canadians in building a united and prosperous Canada.  The main column is a Chinese character "Centre" which symbolizes Chinese culture.  It reads:

"Rich legacies of Chinese Pioneers shining bright as the sun and moon great deeds of noble forbears zeal entrenched as mountains and rivers. "

GASTOWN is the location of the Canadian Film Industry where many movies and TV shows have been filmed.  Julie even spotted one of her favorite actors as we were walking down the street.  

This is a picture of the Gastown Steam Clock.  The World's first steam powered clock.  The live steam winds the weights and blows the whistles.   Every 4.5 minute one steel weight will travel by steam power to the top of the clock. Each quarter hour the clock will sound the Westminster chimes.  The large whistle will sound once on the hour.  The steam is supplied by the underground system of Central Heat Distributors Limited.  The clock weighs over two tons.  

In the early 1900's this area was the Commercial Centre of Vancouver.  By the 1960's it had become the centre of Vancouver's "Skid Row".  In the early 1970's it was rehabilitated to its former stature.  It is a thriving area of the city today. 

The Waterfront and Convention Center in Vancouver.  We had a beautiful day on Sunday to see the sights and walked a lot.  This is the area where the Cruise Ships dock with trips North to Alaska and South to San Francisco.

Stanley Park

We watched the Sea Planes take off and land from the water.  It was fun to see so much activity on the water with sea planes and ferries coming and going.

The picture on the left is the Olympic Park Flame from the Winter Olympics.  

It is next to the Convention Center where they were hosting FAN-X while we were there.  It was a very festive time with some amazing costumes and some not worth writing about.  

There was also a National Rugby Tournament in the Sports Arena with people attending in costumes.  They were a little more tamed down with clowns, Santa Clause, Cartoon Characters, ext.  

FAN-X

NIKE Statue

There are many statues around the city and this one was in the middle of an intersection.  

Nike is named after the Greek goddess of Victory or Unconquerable.  .  It aligns with the Nike Company's focus on athletic excellence and triumph.  

Vancouver Public Library

This is an amazing building.  The Library is 9 Stories and was filled on a Sunday afternoon.  They have 1 floor or computers and every one of them was filled.  The have 4 Sound Rooms and 1 Recording Studio.  All of them were filled.  Everything from podcasts to musicians.  The top floor goes out onto a garden plaza with tables and chairs.  It was fascinating to see the topics of the displays on each floor.  We went to all 9 floors to explore and it was well worth it.  

We ended the night at A&W - for dinner and a good nights rest before a very early morning catching the Train back to Portland.

The Train engineer was very talkative and shared his knowledge of all of the sights along the way.  It was daylight and we could see for miles.  

They still do logging by sending the logs down the river.  Several areas along the way had holding places for the logs along with saw mills.  

Again, in Canada the train traveled about 25 mph and they even slowed down to almost a stop when we would come upon something to look at.  The Engineer pointed out Bald Eagles, certain ships and vessels, historic spots and all things nature.  

This was one of those places where he slowed down for us to see a reef filled with sea lions.  They look like rocks in the middle and then one would slide into the water and you would see it swim.  

Below is a place called White Rock - not sure the meaning of it.  There were two lighthouses but we could not see them.  It was slow and steady but along the water the whole way to the Canadian border and so beautiful.  

We said good bye to Canada and hope to return soon.  This was our first time ever in Canada - WHAT took us so long.  Side note;  I spent $14. in Costco.  I paid with a $50 US and received $54 in change.  

 

We end the month with the Planets aligned in the Heavens and a gorgeous sunset.  We were able to see the sliver of the Moon and 5 planets lined up.  It was too expansive over the sky to get in one picture so I will settle for the Sunset and 1 planet.  

"REMEMBER, THE WORTH OF SOULS IS GREAT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD"

With Hope and Love,

Linda and Russ