"June is Busting out all over"

(Song from my favorite Rodgers and Hammerstein movie Carousel, the 1956 version with Julie Andrews singing among other favorites, "If I loved you" and "You'll never walk alone.")

Schools are out, temperatures have risen, swimming pools are filled (few of my lap lanes available), summer camps and other fun activities, and the anticipation of America's 250th birthday on July 4th)

Nick is 22; Kelly (22),and Ming (21) unable to make it today

                 Andrew Taylor (23) in summer tournament 

   "The Orchard" at University mall has fun summer evening concerts

Quick trip to Palo Alto, CA, for the funeral service for long-time dear friend Leanne Giles. So many shared memories

Peter and Leanne (and family) loved Hawaii!

Taylor Giles (center, above) and Adam Giles (pictured with wife Kristy and their son Hunter & family, below, right) gave wonderful tributes to their mom....a great family!

Great opportunity to visit with very long-time close church friends, at Nanci Thomander's.  Back: Alice Miller, Nanci, Miriam, Marguerite Hancock, Wendy Parry; front: Karen Bradshaw, Dawne Hollis, Sue Allen, Sara Gilman

And at Sue Allen's, Palo Verde elementary school moms: Back:Joyce Schmid, Marie Wolbach, Susan Dorsky, Cindy Flynn, Sue; Front: Ruth Carleton (96, 4 of my kids' first grade teacher), Miriam, Trudi Reinhardt, Ruth Cantwell. Our kids went to school together years ago!

I walked around my old neighborhood and checked on the house where our family lived from 1976-2021. Demographics have greatly changed, and homes have turned over and been rebuilt/remodeled.

And I took a long walk to and at the San Francisco Bay Estuary, which is the largest estuary on the west coast of North America, with lots of migrating and 'permanent' birds. An estuary is a partially enclosed body of water with one or more rivers flowing into it and with connection to the open sea (Pacific Ocean). 

I have missed the abundance of California poppies, artichokes, and the familiar smell of fennel along the bay and in town. You can take the girl out of California (5 yrs now in Utah) but not California out of her.

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June 14 was a special day for my youngest grandchild, Phoebe Carlston, who was baptized by her father in Millcreek (South SL)

    With some of her cousins: Lucie, Coco, Taffy, Evie & below: Kelly

After the baptism we had dinner at the Carlstons. Aaron and George help make pizza for the special pizza oven outdoors. 

I started taking a watercolor class at the Provo Rec Center. Can you recognize the Cliffs of Moher, Ireland (my first attempt) (which I visited last fall)? This time last year I was in beautiful Scotland.

View from and of my front door. Wishing you all the festivities leading up to our July 4, 2026, 250th anniversary of American Independence.

Mount Timpanogos is still green, but soon to turn brown in this heat!

Happy July 4th! May we be mindful of our amazing heritage, humble and grateful for our freedoms, committed to correct our many flaws, increase our love and compassion, service and sacrifice to make our world more peaceful, safe and healthy for each and every one of us.