Timpanogos Finally

Since our BYU days back in the '80s, we have wanted to hike Mount Timpanogos.  Fifteen years ago we did a part of it and it was beautiful but we had too many little kids and not enough time.  For some reason, wait, I do know the reason I really wasn't excited to hike this popular hike.  It was all the stories about finding people in the spring who had fallen into the icy cravasse and not been recovered until the thaw.  My overactive imagination had a heyday with that one.  I just didn't want to hike up snow fields and slide down like everyone else.

In August, Mark kept bringing up the hike and how he really wanted to do it.  I didn't encourage the idea but one night I heard him talking on the phone to our friends, the Williams and he was planning the hike for the next morning.  I said I would go if he didn't leave me, I could go only as far as I wanted and I could take all the time I wanted.  I looked up the hike on the internet and felt like I could do it.  All of our kids except Patrick have done it many times and they love it.

We left at 6:30 bright and early.  We started at Aspen Grove and after checking in with the Ranger, we headed up the beautiful trail.  My brother Craig told me to at least get to the lake and then just a little further if I didn't want to make it to the top.  After several hours, we came around a switchback and there was the most beautiful lake and steep cliffs.  We stopped and purified some water and had a little snack.  I had the thought that here I am wanting to go to Norway to see the Fjords and there was comparable beauty just a short distance from my house.  I had a very grateful heart for God's beautiful creations right then.

Looking up from the lake, I could see people skiing and sliding down the snowfield.  It was pretty rocky and the snow was measly.  I didn't want to hike up or slide down but I know that it is usually worse than this year with our little drought.  No one ever talked about another way around which was spectacularly amazing.  We could see the meadows and tops of mountains in a 360 panorama.  We started up the steeps and I got a little nervous as the trail was narrow and the cliffs down were very steep.  I just looked to the mountain side as I carefully hiked up beyond the tree line into the shale rocks to the top.  I was pretty sure that going down was going to be worse, but up we hiked.  Mark stayed right behind me in just in case I fell or got too nervous to go on.

At the top there were about 30 people sitting on the steep rocky crest.  There is a little shed on the top that has a place to sign your name and birthday.  We had a little snack and I couldn't wait to get off.  The view was amazing but I didn't want to stand up and really take a great look around.  I was happy that I made it up but didn't want to spend much time on top.

We started down and I was right.  I had to go pretty slow on the slippery rocks and the Williams and Mark got ahead of me.  I didn't care though, I wanted to be sure I got down uninjured.  We got back to the beautiful lake and the rest of the hike seemed to last forever and I learned that my knees and I would rather hike uphill than downhill.  It took about 11 hours and I felt it when we got back to the car.

As we were hiking down, Mark would stop and take off his shoes and sit and tell us to go on without him and he would catch up.  We would hike slowly waiting for him to join us.  He did this several times and the Williams asked me if he was OK.  I said he seems OK to me.  A few weeks later it hit me that he was tired of hiking so slow with me and he wanted me to get head start.  I asked him if this was true and he said, "yes, of course what did you think?" I told him to tell me what he was doing next time instead of thinking I could read his mind.   We could have made it down a lot faster I had known.

It was significant accomplishment that I am very glad we did and maybe I could be persuaded to go again just to view the spectacular scenery.

Best Ever Salsa Recipe

I make this every year in September.  I need about 75 pints to get us through until the next year.  Mark likes it very mild and I like it spicier.  Some years I make two different strengths.  It is a pretty forgiving recipe, just put what you have and like.  It is sweet, so you can decrease the sugar but don't change the vinegar, lemon juice or salt. 

Brower's Salsa 

20 pounds tomatoes

20 anaheim peppers (no seeds)

7 jalapenos (1 or 2 with seeds, the rest-no seeds)

4 red peppers

4 green peppers

4 medium yellow onions

2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups white wine vinegar (for your gluten free friends)

1/2 cup lemon juice

1/2 cup salt

Peel (boiling water for 1 minute, put in cool water and slip off

skins) and chop tomatoes. Let drain in colander into bowl. It is too soupy if you don't drain some of the juice off.  Use juice for minestrone soup later, I freeze it in ziplock bags.  Chop peppers and onions in food processor.  Put it all in a large stock pot.  Stainless Steel is best as aluminum will react with the tomatoes.  Add seasonings.  Cook until boiling, but you can cook it as long as you want.  Put into pint jars and process 30 minutes.  Check to make sure all lids are sealed. This will make about 24 pints.  I am sure you could make a half recipe.  This is a pretty mild salsa.  If you want hotter, add more jalapenos.  I wear rubber gloves, this will save your hands. Don't touch anything after cleaning and seeding the jalapenos as it will burn, especially face and eyes.

Call me if you have any questions.

Natalie and Kaitlyn

The second week in July, Natalie and Kaitlyn came to visit.  We missed Jeremy, but we loved seeing Nat and Kaitlyn and we all had a wonderful time together.  We ate sushi, mountain and road biked, hiked, played and laughed.  Kaitlyn was so happy to meet so many people who love her, especially Alta and Ellie.  Natalie and Jeremy just moved to Stanford where Jeremy will finish up his last 2 years of law school.  

Thirty-Two Years Later...

A few nights ago Mark and I took off for our weekly Cafe Rio fix.  As we were waiting in line we started talking to the other people in line.  I kept looking at this one woman thinking, "Is she my roommate from Natalie's art history San Francisco trip, she looks so familiar?"  No, that was not her.  Then she looked right at me and said,  "I used to know someone who looked a lot like you and her name was Lorna."  I said,  "I am Lorna."  She said, "I'm Nancy Noble."  We hugged.  She was my roommate at BYU 32 years ago and we haven't seen each other since 1981.  We caught up as we waited in line for our food.  She lives in Lake Arrowhead, Ca and happened to be on vacation in Utah and stopped in Draper to eat. She thought we lived in Oregon.  Crazy!  


When Mark and I got engaged, there was some trouble between Nancy and I.  Hurtful things were said and there were many tears between us.  Our wonderful two-year friendship was ruined.  She moved out at the end of the semester and I got new roommates for two months until Mark and I got married.   

Nancy and friends at her birthday party, 1980.  I know that the guy in plaid is Jory, I don't remember the other two.

After we ate dinner, we found Nancy and her friend on the other side of the restaurant and talked some more.  It felt really good to see her again.  As Mark and I got in our car, we were talking about it and he said, "Did you hear how many times she apologized to you?"  I didn't hear a single one.  He pointed out several comments she had made that I totally missed.  He was so right.  She had in her way let us know that we had all grown up and learned a lot and we were better people than we were way back then.  I felt even better.  Yes, I think we are much better people and we have learned so much about others and ourselves in the last 32 years.  What a revelation.  I think we would be wonderful friends again, especially if we lived closer.  

Here's Johny!

Our friends from Switzerland, Johny, Barbara and their five-year old boy Simon, came to spend 10 weeks in the US.  They started with 10 days staying with us in Draper.  They toured around our little area, sightseeing, hiking, biking and best of all eating.  We had a great time with them.  The highlight of their time here for me was eating at Stein Eriksen Lodge at Deer Valley.  Johny knows the chef and they just kept bringing out one fabulous dish after another.  I was in heaven.  Every bite was perfect, not too much-not too little.  


Johny bought a used Cruise America motor home and off they went exploring the Western US and some of Canada.  We should see them again the end of August when we join them at Lake Powell and Moab.

Lake Powell with Boys

We took a trip to Lake Powell with the Roberts twins, Parker and Sam, and Landon Smith as guests.  Mal and Kevin, Mitchell and Pat came from our family.  Mal and I were seriously outnumbered on this one. It was quite hot and very windy the first two days which was a bummer but the worst part was both boats needed repairs.  Once those were done, we did have a great time together.  After over a year of making, perfecting and stressing, Patrick's spear gun worked and he caught his first fish.  Kevin made fun of him for getting so excited and we all laughed when Kevin caught one and was even more excited than Patrick.  They cleaned, cooked and ate the fish for dinner.

 Parker learning to surf.

 Kevin showing us all how to do it.

Mitt and Me

Last month Mark and I went to a fund raising get together at the Grand America for Mitt Romney.  I had seen him there last year just walking in the lobby with his wife and two kids.  I didn't want to bother him then, but I looked right at him and he looked at me and smiled.  This time we were about two rows of people back from him as he talked and shook hands with his supporters.  I was just standing watching when Mark shoved me from behind right between two other men and there I was face to face with Mitt.  He shook my hand and looked right into my eyes and said, "Thanks for your support."  I felt a real connection with him at least it felt real and not fake at all.  I have always struggled with people who while they are meeting someone, are looking for the next hand shake and not really interested in who they are meeting.  In other words, I don't like fake sincerity.  He didn't have that feel at all.  It kind of left me a little shaken in how sincere Mitt was with me.  Mark laughed at me.