Thursday, October 1, 2009

The Thanksgiving Weekend


On Sept. 18th, there was another gathering of "The Sisters" for The Thanksgiving Retreat. Peggy had arranged for all of us to get together at her place for another fun-filled adventure. Of course, we did the usual Sister's Retreat routine of staying up half the night visiting and sharing gifts. We woke up the next morning to Mark making us fabulous omlets for breakfast. Penny put together a rainbow of colors as we visited in Peggy's kitchen Saturday morning
and when we were all ready we headed off to Thanksgiving Point to see The Gardens! Peggy had been telling us that we really needed to get together and take the tour but I had never imagined what was instore for us. I was in awe most of the day. I'm going to just post some of the many pictures we took and let you just soak in the beauty of it all. We had a great lunch on the patio and then...

climbed into our own, private golf cart to take in the sights.

Let it begin....





















Friday, July 31, 2009

Retreating in Logan & Brigham City's Flying J




Another 2009 summer gathering as Harmon sisters -- up in Logan and a month later! Like St. George we hadn't a care in the world and the hands on the clock didn't exist; we just knew we were together to play, gab, and remember childhood days together. Only this time we longed for our sister Sandy to have been with us...

Margie and Peggy stayed at Penny's home from Tuesday July 14th till Friday July 17th. Our plan was for only two days, but the 48 hours were flashing by too quickly, so Peggy found a replacement at work and we tacked on an extra 24 hours.

We began our time together with picking up Mom and Sophie, then Penny for a picnic lunch at a park right next to where Penny works. Lovely little park! Soon after lunch, with a genuine invite of Penny's, Margie and I went to her home and got all our stuff up the flights of stairs (confession here: neither of the two of us like to pack lightly...wouldn't want to go without, ya know!). We entered Penny's home only to find gift bags of lotion, spray, bubble balls, etc. waiting on each of our beds. Her home was filled with all kinds of fun things for us to be comfortable! Melons and veggie tray to all in the freezer! And guess what was sitting on her dining room table!! OREOS!! We couldn't go wrong with OREOS -- or could we!

Then without any rain, thunder and lightning like in St. George, the three of us ate at Costa Vida with Mom, Kelly and Julia. Pleasant evening breeze while catching up, including learning of Julia and her bike accident. Soon after, we all met at Kelly's and played Margie's Mexican Train, a special style of dominoes. Think we had about ten people gathered around the table together. Fun night! Harmon's even passed out a box of Fat Boys. And Julia pulled out her Crystal Light popsicles. Yummy and only 10 calories per. (Just ran out of my first box in or freezer.)

Back off to bed to Penny's -- so we thought. How about 1 am, after talking ourselves to sleep. About nine the next morning, Margie and I are waking up to Penny's freshly baked blueberry muffins and other assorted breakfast items with a lovely table setting and all; she was dressed and ready to head to work! GOOD NEWS: she was able to get off work EARLY, 1pm instead of 6pm!! "Hurray Penny!! We'll meet you at your new Wal-Mark south of town", because of course we had to have plenty of time shopping around town together, trying on this/trying on that, encouraging one another to buy up a new wardrobe -- well begin to. What are sisters for anyway. This is a time of sharing, confiding, learning -- how to add new makeup, how to cook, how not to cook, sharing on facebook -- on and on -- how to live simply, and especially, how to live close with our Heavenly Father all the while. What great sweet connections we have -- particularly since we're each connected to Him, our Father.

Our next few days continued in the same mode. Late nights, late mornings, visits and shopping with Mom -- then we got into jewelry making, thanks to Margie's initiation and organizing items she and Penny had already connected. And NOW, the four of us sisters have five sets of magical earrings we can wear and think of the love and support we feel from each other any day we want.

After gathering with Harmons again at their home Thursday evening, with Kelly so generously providing Panda Express for all, and then enjoying breakfast at Mom's Pioneer Valley Lodge Friday morning, Margie and I were off down the road together to head home. Headed south into Sardine Canyon, that still soft voice "Call Sandy" came to my mind. Only a phone call away! And ONLY a few miles away! She was headed south to Provo to be with Kristi who has had her new baby. She is in Brigham City filling up with gas at the Flying J!! "Hang on Sandy, HERE WE COME!"

Once we saw one another there at Flying J, Sandy was admiring our matching earrings! "Guess what! We got some JUST for you!" After a short visit and hugs galore, we were on our way, almost caravaning down I15. A wave or two through the construction zone and traffic, and it was almost like having been together the past few day -- GOOD days. Not to be forgotten!

Sunday, June 14, 2009

The 3rd Annual Sister's Sweet Retreat-2009


In case you don't know, every year my sister's and I get together for a few days and call it a Sister's Sweet Retreat. You can read about the previous retreats on this site but today I'll tell you about the 3rd annual retreat.
This year we made reservations at the World Mark Resort in St. George, Utah. It was close enough to get to quickly and still somewhere new for us. Some family members have stayed there before and it came highly recommended. We booked the 2 bedroom, deluxe suite. Then we got the sad news that Penny wouldn't be able to be with us this year. Although we totally understand, we were also very sad.
Margie was with some of her children in southern Utah for a grandchild's baptism so on Monday morning Peggy and I drove down together from American Fork. We had such a nice visit going that I was really glad I had decided to drive and not fly down. In St. George we met up with Margie and headed to the resort where we got our things unpacked and ourselves situated. Peggy surprised us with gifts that she had brought with her and we love the bags and scarf. Thank you Peggy! You are so sweet! She had also send one to Penny. You might also recognize the pillows that were gifts from the 1st and 2nd Sister's Sweet Retreats. Later that evening we headed out for some dinner and ended up at a Mexican resturant. We took our dinners outside and enjoyed a wonderful summer thunderstorm. Most of the people on the patio left. I wonder if it had anything to do with the metal tables and chairs we were sitting on? After that we went to the store and bought some groceries for the week. We found several books to share and lots of yummy food to eat. (Most of which we were trying to get rid off before we left the resort). *See Root Beer floats for breakfast on Thursday morning. We stayed up late and visited and visited. That's what you do most on a sister's retreat. Come to find out on Tuesday morning, Peggy had been sick most of the night and was in no shape to get up early in the morning. No pictures needed!!! Margie rested, too since she had been up with Peggy most of the night and because I was in another room and had slept through it all, I was up and at the pool first thing in the morning. I was aching for some of that hot summer sun. I read my book while I sat until Margie came to join me. We decided to stay close to the resort that day and let Peggy regain some of her strength. So, Margie and I went back to the store and got her some soups and ice cream (for root beer floats) and things we thought she'd enjoy. Mostly we sat and visited. On Wednesday morning we decided to venture out and find Zion's National Park. I can't even begin to tell you how beautiful everything was. I'll include some pictures but... wow! We drove into a little town just outside the park and then took the tram to the entrance. From there we took a park tram and visited several of the stops along the way up the canyon.
At the end of the tram ride we found a shady place to have our picnic lunch and then we hiked the last trail of the park. It was called the River Walk Trail and it was very refreshing to walk along the waterfront. We stopped and played in the waterand a squirrel actually got inside my bag and grabbed a "Dove" candy. I looked at him and he looked at me and I decided he deserved it. He had to eat the foil wrapper before he ever got to the chocolate. So sad!! I wonder if he had any fillings? We loved the park, the walk and all the beautiful sights but decided to leave a bit early so we could make the trip to Overton before it was dark. It had been about 13 years since I had been there and since both our Harmon Granparents are buried in Overton, I really wanted to visit and put some flowers on their grave sites. We always do that on Memorial Day for the sites in Idaho but seldom do we get to do it for Granma and Granpa Harmon (Sam and Veva). It turned out to be a highlight of the trip because we were able to call Aunt Lorraine (Sam and Veva's youngest daughter) who lives in Logandale, right next to Overton. She met us at the cemetery where we pulled a few weeks and and placed our flowers on Granpa and Granma's graves. We visited with Aunt Lorraine and enjoyed a beautiful sunset on top of the plateau where the cemetery is. After a bit we went to Aunt Lorraine's home to visit with Uncle Gail. They had just gotten home from their LV Temple shift by they took us to dinner at a resturant in Overton. We got to drive by the "old" house and up and down the streets. I had spent several summers as a young girl in Overton with Granma and Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Ruel's family and I have the most wonderful memories of being there. What a amazing treat to spend some time there again with Aunt Lorraine, Uncle Gail, Peggy and Margie!!!!
We headed back to St. George around 9:30 and had a very peaceful ride back.
On Thursday morning we got dressed in our Sunday clothes and went to do a session at the St. George Temple. Again, I remember stopping at the temple on my way to and from Provo as a college student and I remember thinking it was so beautiful. It was wonderful to enter the doors with 2 of my sisters. We enjoyed the session and took pictures afterwards.
Margie took us to the Bear's Claw for a bit to eat before we headed home. The food was good and the company - the best.
We had a nice ride home that afternoon and got to see Margie's beautiful yards and home when we dropped her off in Delta. I wish I had a camera handy then but I'll always remember the flowers that bordered her yard, her rose garden, large vegetable garden, columbins and irises. It was like a piece of heaven on earth.
Peggy and I finished out the trip in American Fork where her husband and sweet granddaughers were all outside waiting for her. And, although I spent the night in Provo with Gracie, I was ready to come back home the next day. If you haven't read my www.thetallandtheshortofitall.blogspot.com site this is what I found when I got home. These are the first flowers of the summer from our yards and Dan had a bouquet all ready for me on my dresser. A wonderful end to a wonderful Sister's Sweet Retreat. Until next year... love you girls!!