October is about History

We had a fun visit with Heather, David & Carter













Carter went on the 4 wheeler with great grandpa and REALLY seemed to like it!

We spent a couple of weks in Las Vegas helping Steven & Erin get ther house ready to move into. We painted it throughtout. This is the loft @ the top of the stairs.... one of the many recieving a new look.













Merrill hung a few lights & did a bunch of other maintance work to get it brand new looking.













plus laid tile in 2 bathrooms & in a big closet area.









Then there was the--cleaning,
cleaning the kitchen,


& the kitchen,hallways,
& entrance tile & grout....

We left as Erin started finding
places for all her kitchen items

And the big moving day on the 23rd

Raegan was starting to feel @ home in her own back yard going in or out as she felt like it. Before long they hope there will be grass back there even. It was so fun playing with her & Brock... he's quite the 1 year old.

Now its trunk or treat @ church & October will bring on November!!!!

End of September--End of Summer!!

How sad to think that Summer is almost over. It has been soooo good!! These last few days have been focused on the wind up of the activities of Summer time. We went out to the orchard & sorted pears.... brought some of the ones that didn't make shipping grade & bottled 32 quarts of pears. We still have a whole bunch of grapes to juice.







And what to do with bucketssss of tomatoes and 8 of these big guys!!!!!!

Merrill has been trying to get in a

few more rides before the snow flies.

To recap September......

At age 94 Uncle Claud joined the rest of Merrill's Aunts & Uncles on the other side. Left now is only Merrill's generation of Mangum descendents. It was good to see many of the cousins & families at the funeral of Aug 29th. It was another one of our one day trips to Salt Lake. It was a beautiful day.

Kent & Jill Jolley (cousins)

Austin & Linsey stopped by on their way to Rexburg so Lanae brought her new 'friend' over to visit for a few. (Deb too)

Look out food network...... we have a new star on the horizon!!!

Merrill gave a bread making demonstration for a Relief Society Enrichment night. About 35 sisters showed up for tastes & fun. Merrill made 4 batches of his whole wheat bread recipe. It makes 6 loaves each..... however he baked some in small loaves so there could be "take home" bread too..... It was a delightful night cause people think it is fun to party at the Bastians....

Speaking of parties.... one of Merrill's councilors is moving out of the ward so we had a 'good-bye' dinner for him & a 'welcome to the labor' to the new councilor/family night on the 21st.

We are grateful for family, friends, good health & happy happy days of Summer..... and I guess Autumn will be a great time too.......

Lots of visiting & happy reunions

Linsey and Carson came for a fast visit on their way to Washington

We went to Provo..... Merrill's brother Lewis passed away due to injuries sustained in a biking accident. Pictured is Gerry and their family at the mortuary

Family assembling at the cemetary. There was a bagpiper as part of the services.

Congratulations to Anne.... She graduated from BYU!!

Roger threw a pizza party to help her celebrate.........

Reed, Erin, Brad, & Trisha waiting for the goods......

Gerry & their family enjoying the meal...........

More eats..... more family.... Stan, Kathy, Merrill,

Richard, Gayleene, Michael, Kim, & Roger

We went to the "This is the Place" monument and checked out the "John Clark Dowdle" tree that is planted near the parking lot by the pioneer village. It is doing well..... Looks healthy & is nicely shaped!!!

We were able to visit Bob & Linda and had a great visit..... thanks again!!

Also Sid & Louise, dear Santa Rosa friends, such great people!!

June & July/Summer activities

Our days were filled with fun & activities this summer

as the Homer's showed up the end of June. The kids spent

a few days in Riggins & a few days in Hailey when they first came

The rest of the time they were here to join in the daily routine.

Karissa dressed in white waiting to be baptized After the baptism we had dinner for the family & friends

@ the house. The night was warm but enjoyable.

Our cute 'little' car had a milestone event on the way to Hailey!

Our garden always looks like a jungle with humungus

plants which causes Merrill to say, " Next year we're

not going to plant everything sooo close together!!!"

But we have had fun picking berries, peas, carrots, finding

potatoes, & of course, zuchinni !!!!

One of our pea-days...................

We celebrated the 4th of July & Kyle's birthday, they went

on 4 wheeler rides, rode bikes, swim & water dates

neighborhood kids, & former friends & neighbors.......

They got a chance to ride horses & go to the Snake River Stampede.

There was always something to make fun & messes!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was fun to

have those little people around.

The Ward's back yard at an enjoyable picnic

So Homer's left us & we have a quiet house..... but there are still lots of comings

& goings, meetings, & projects. Life is right down wonderful....

Graduation Time

Stewart & Danyiel graduated from ISU.

They have a lovely new home too!!

****************************************

Big rewards for much time & effort!! Steven

@ his "Pinning" ceremony before graduation

May 15th. You will have to see him in his robe

& hood on their blog as I somehow didn't

get that picture to show up here.

Raegan had her ballet performance....

Oklahoma City... Time out from our trek

to see The Murrah Building Memorial.

Very interesting.

We found fun spots for lunch time along

the way. This one was much better than

the blacktop area in Santa Rosa where it

seemed all the 18 wheeler trucks decided

to come & turn around while we were there.

Awesome Hoover Dam road project!!!

Hey, we are almost to Las Vegas!!!!

We're Here!!! I see Palm Trees!!! Raegan

was rewarded for being happy in the car

during the trip with a much ancicipated

swim.

Great Lilac year !!

Even though some days are rather cool Spring is promising to come. The blossoms on the fruit trees are fading & the tulips are rather spent, but the Lilac bush is just grand!!

We have most of the garden planted & a net over our peas until they get bigger. We are tired of sharing 100% with the birds.

Large Easter party

Saturday our ward held an Easter party. It was to be at a park in Winsor Creek subdivision...... It was rainy... what shall we do!!! I guess have it here.... We took the cars out the garage & set up 9 tables for eating the lunch... a couple of canopes on the driveway... they had a raw egg toss on the back lawn....

The eggs were all over in the front & west side...

There was only about 160+ people here.....