ducks, part 2

So, when Tag died...Summer got on KSL and found ducks in Lindon.

Sierra was so distraught about Tag, that she thought replacement ducks would be a good idea.

It was a good idea, but the ducks were already 2 weeks old and had not been around humans much.

So, they did NOT like us.  at all.

They immediately became outdoor ducks.  They are so funny.  They don't get more than 2 feet from each other.  And 40 feet from humans.  

So, Rick did some research and found some ducks in South Jordan.

So, in August we got Garfunkle and Simon.

Simon did not make it through the first night (sad).

Garfunkle was a Welsh Harlequin.  

 

Garfunkle was in the house for a few weeks.  

We let him eat out of our hands so that he would really like us.

After a few weeks, he became an outdoor duck.  We weren't sure if the 2 Khaki Cambell ducks would let him into their group, but they did!!

They took Garfunkle under their wings and taught him how to be a duck.  It was so cute.

Hooee didn't care for the ducks much at all.  Unless we said, "Hooee, where are the ducks?"

Then he would run around and harass them a bit, but otherwise, he didn't bother the ducks.

I just loved watching these ducks.  Bert and Ernie were so cute to Garfunkle.  It made me so happy to see them befriend Garfunkle.  

So sad to report that Garfunkle drowned in our pond last week.   I sent Sierra out to feed and water the ducks. She found him.  She told me that raising ducks is too emotionally exhausting.

So, we are back to 2 ducks:  the Khaki Cambells that we call Bert & Ernie.  or Siegfreed & Roy.  or Dezi & Lucy.  or Jeff and Amara.

Tag

on June 14, we had a dentist appointment in Orem.  All of us.  We took 2 cars.  Afterwards Rick and Cole left in one car and went to Sportmans Warehouse and I took the girls and went to the mall.

As we were driving home, Rick called me and told me to stop at IFA and pick up some duck food.

I told him no.  But I did it anyway.

As Cole and Rick were leaving Sportman's Warehouse, they found this tiny duck flopped over in the rocks in the parking lot.  He was half dead with no family at all around.
They claimed to have looked for his family.  But, ended up bringing home a nearly dead duck.
We did a little research and determined that he was about 2 days old.  He could barely move when we got him home.  I thought for sure he would die during the night.  We were force feeding him water.  By the next morning he was doing much better and would follow us around the kitchen.
I have to admit, he was pretty adorable.

Summer and Sierra would walk around the neighborhood and he would follow along about 2 feet behind.  

Then on a sad day on July 30, just as Tag was getting big enough to start eating the grasshoppers in the garden, a dog got into our yard and got ahold of Tag.  Sad, sad day...

To Be Continued.

Then and now in Yellowstone

 When we were in Yellowstone, we realized that it had been 8 years since we had been there.  The last time we were there was right after we  moved back to Utah.  We had only been back a couple of weeks and we were not even close to being unpacked.  But, it was Cliff's 100th Birthday Party in Star Valley, Wyoming.  So, we loaded up and went to Wyoming.  I think we shocked the Bingham Clan that we showed up.  And we made a quick trip to Yellowstone while we were there.  Here are the girls walking in the River.  We made a point to stop in the same spot and recreate the scene.  I don't know why the rocks were there in the 2006 pictures, but they are not there now.

 2006

2014

First Day of School 2014

School started on August 19.  

Summer had to wear her student council t-shirt to school, so she was holding up her dress--her official first day of school outfit.

Last first day of school for this girl.  It makes me crazy to think about that.

8th grade for Sierra.  Last year of "grades not counting".

Here is a view of her cute new backpack.

And this guy.  I have been dreading this day for him. 

And, well, it just wasn't all that bad.  He had met his teacher the week before and he liked her a lot.

This year has not been anything like that past 2 years.  Everything has been smooth.

Prayers for us that the entire school year continues as well.

He even let me pose with him.

I usually walk him to school or drive him to school.

If I'm in the car, he'll still stop and kiss me goodbye.

He's a good kid and he's doing so well this year.

Picture with dad.  Isn't he getting tall?

And here is Shelby with us before her big day.  

She headed off to St. George to begin college at Dixie.

We're so proud of our honorary daughter.  She'll do great!!

Best Friends.

LDS Motion Picture Studio--South Campus

A couple of weeks ago we had the opportunity to go to the LDS Motion Picture Studio South Campus which was basically created to for the New Testament Film Project.

It is located in Goshen, Utah.

This was a combined YM/YW mutual activity.  Rick was working, so I  brought Cole along.  Sierra was with us, but unfortunately Summer couldn't come.  I really wish that they could have scheduled this 4 hour activity a few weeks earlier before school started.  It was unfortunate that so many of the older youth could not come.

As part of the activity, we helped clear out the weeds from around this pump house.

They were nasty tumbleweeds and they were almost waist high when we started.

Then, we got to go over to the set.

This is where the manger scene was filmed.

It's usually quite windy and there are lots of mosquitos, but this evening was practically perfect without any wind or bug.  And the sunset was amazing.

Most of the bricks are actually styrofoam.

And, then my battery died in my camera and the rest of my pictures were taken with my phone.

Towards the west end of the set is the Garden area

Garden of Gethsemane

This was pretty amazing, as well.  I kept trying to manage the youth and get them to take turns standing near the crosses so that those of us with cameras could take pictures without random kids, but chaos prevailed.  

Brother Sundstrom, from our ward, was our guide and had some pretty amazing stories about this place.

They begin each day of work/filming with prayer.

Meticulous attention has been given to the details of the set and the portrayal of the events.

Hollywood filmmakers have contacted the Church to rent the set for various projects, but the Church has denied any of them the chance to use it.  Maybe because of the non-profit status.

Brother Sundstrom doesn't know for sure, but he really hopes that they can use this set for Book of Mormon movies, as well.  There would have to be some modifications to the set, of course.

I did manage this shot without people in it.  

The white rocks in this area were hauled in from the hills to the east of Manti.

These 2 pictures were taken from the room where the Last Supper was filmed.  It was tiny and dark, so this is the best I could do with a phone camera.

So, here is a link to the videos:  LDS Bible Videos