Another fun Month, February, gone by....

BYU choral concerts by women's and men's choirs, always fabulous

With former Palo Alto friends, the Sweats and Shirleen Willis, to hear Jim & Deanne Welches' return report from their Sao Paulo mission. (Deanne was visiting with some of their former Jerusalem friends )

We're all sad to have the original Provo Temple gone, and impatient for the new one to be finished in its place.

We've had less snow this year, but I'm always excited when it snows!

Cordelia (near the back on the right) and a few third graders dance to "Footloose" as part of the middle and high school ballroom and other dance groups performance....such talent!!

       Cordelia and friends after the performance

The three puzzles (of some of my favorite places Alsace, Paris, National parks) I allowed myself to do during February. When people ask me my favorite places I have a hard time saying. I love them all for different reasons. I realize how much I appreciate our national parks and am anxious to see more of them. I've visited maybe half pictured.

Kelly Taylor, my oldest granddaughter, and Luke Amsden, who met on their missions, are engaged to be married May 31st! We're thrilled for them. Here they are on their way to a masquerade party.

Giselle, beautifully performed at BYU, has always been one of my     favorite ballets

I was sad to see the passing of a friend who used to go to the Oakland Temple with us. She and her family from the Philippines, were in our Palo Alto, California ward for a few years.

BYU has a fantastic "Special Collections" in part of the college library. Included are valuable manuscripts and other artifacts. Below is an example of "fore edge" paintings on the unbound edge of old books.

The Book of Mormon was first printed in 1830, in "novel' form. Later Orson Pratt structured it according to chapter and verse.

I loved the display of William Wordsworth's life and poetry, which has inspired Taylor Swift. His English Lake District, where I visited his home, as well as that of the Brontes and Beatrice Potter, is close to my heart. What a beautiful part of our world!

Among the Western art display are (mostly) reproductions, many of which originals are in the BYU Museum of Art. Above, The Native by Arnold Friberg (1913-2010, best known for his 1975 George Washington at Valley Forge ) . 

   I've always loved The Round Dance by Maynard Dixon (1845-1946) 

The Scout and The Medicine Man by C.E. Dallin (1861-1944), posthumous castings.

as well as Mahonri Young (1877-1957, grandson of Brigham Young) sculpture of the Pony Express Rider

This is a 1961 printing of the  Gutenberg "Cooper Square" Bible facsimile, which, like most old books, was originally unbound) . It was bound only in 2010.

There is a nice Audubon collection. I was thrilled to discover that the first Audubon Society in New York was founded by my 4th cousin 3 times removed.

With the middle name of Bird, G.B. Grinnell may have been destined to become an ornithologist, among other things. He grew up in Audubon Park in Washington Heights, Manhattan, on the 20-acre estate of John James Audubon, author of Birds of America.

I was intrigued by the egg collection. Above is the Chipping sparrow, with small blue eggs on the left.

Celebrating Emily's 52nd birthday at delicious Benihana's in SLC: Kelly, Luke, Emily, Lucie, Andrew, Aaron (missing George and Ken)

And for her birthday the family came for dinner, games and sharing of our appreciation for Emily (only missing Aaron, Neil & Anne)

Julie, Emily, George, Hannah, Fernanda, Simon, Nick and Andrew playing Bananagrams, a family favorite, at least mine. We have a hard time competing with George's quick brain, so we give him handicaps, like only using one hand or playing wearing my glasses!

Please pray for a change of heart and mind of our many autocratic, misguided government leaders, many of whom would undo much we have worked for and accomplished in past decades, that vital jobs and international and national organizations will be reviewed, improved and repaired where there is waste, but not destroyed. America has flaws and can always be improved, but only when employing respect for our precious democratic institutions and principles. We must allow, create and support just and equitable opportunities for all, both recent arrivals and long-time residents and citizens. We need our allies at this challenging global time. Everything everywhere on this planet has repercussions for all of us. Let us be more inclusive and thoughtful.