Comes In Handy

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

HEAVEN!

PEACHES!! Peaches from Manning Orchards are my absolute favorite fruit in the whole world. It doesn't matter if it is eaten cut in half or peeled and sliced with milk and sugar. There are so many fresh fruits that I love: watermelon, cantaloupe, nectarines, plums and any kind of berry. But the best has to be Gleason Elberta peaches. With summer ending and the kids back in school, I am always a little sad but then I realize it is peach time. YEA!!!!

And you can't think of peaches and not think of mom. I think that is where we all have gotten our love of peaches from. I know we 6 Handy kids all have wonderful childhood memories of coming home from school and seeing and smelling the bushels and bushels of peaches that mom was putting up. And that for sure has been passed down to the next generation.

A 1/2 bushel today costs $20. I can't remember what mom was paying back in the day for a full bushel. Maybe $6-10. Does anyone remember?

So for those of you not fortunate enough to have some Manning peaches this year, I guess I'll have to have some for you! YUM!!!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELAINE!

A very Happy Birthday to Elaine! Fran & I spent the day celebrating Elaine's birthday on Saturday, Aug. 29th. We had a great time laughing, opening presents, going to lunch, laughing, bumming around the mall and did I mention, laughing? Here are a few pix of our day.

Elaine loves Michael Jackson and also shares a birthday with Mikey.

E & F

Lunch at the Olive Garden.

Modeling beautiful glasses.

Elaine & Fran enjoying a birthday treat at Baskin & Robbins.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD/GRANDPA GEORGE!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD/GRANDPA GEORGE! We got together for dad's 88th birthday last night in Layton. We all love him so much and are in continued awe at what a remarkable man is he is. He has lived such a great life and is such a pillar of strength to us all.

We love you Dad & Happy #88! May there be many more.

Here are a few images from the party.

The guys. Preston, Dad, Mark & Steve.

The girls. Anne, Dad & Elaine. Wish Sue were here.

The Kids & Dad. Where are you Sue?

10 of Grandpa Georges 22 grandkids; plus 1 great-grandchild of his 15.

Grandpa Steve with Beckett (Brett's son).

Beckett Handy

School Days!!

School started this week for Cole, who is a senior, Brock, who is a 9th grader and Maddi & Merri who are in the 8th grade. It always makes me a little sad to think of them being another year older. But what ya gonna do! This is such a fun time in their lives. I hope it is the best year ever for them. I hope they will grow in ways they never knew they could, learn many new and exciting things and that they will meet new friends.

Brock, Maddi & Merri now.........and then. Wow! Where did the time go?

Monday, August 24, 2009

Bike Safety

This past week, being that it was our anniversary, we wanted to do something fun together. OK, we have gone on many bike rides together, but due to the rainy weather we had last week, when Friday dawned with the possibility of no rain we still thought, "Hey let's go on a bike ride." Done deal.

My cool helmet

I have a pretty cool helmet that Anne gave me for my last birthday and I put it on each time. The miracle is that I've got Kirk convinced that he, too, needs to wear a helmet even when we aren't riding with our little grandchildren (example you know!).
As we were riding, we came to this part of the trail that has a very slight down hill (I mean very little) before this bridge. As we approached this wooden bridge there is a sharp 90 degree angle (I suppose that any 90 degree angle is sharp...right?). We had done this particular ride several times before so we were definitely aware of this bridge.
I was in the lead and slowed way way down and as I rounded the turn I ever so slightly released my brakes a bit. Wow! My bike just went out from under me!! I heard my head smack on the bridge as my shoulder and hip also took the fall. Ouch!!
Kirk was pretty close behind me but just far enough back that when he saw what had happened to me he slowed down a lot, but basically did the same thing as I: his bike went out from under him and bang. Ouch!
The bridge. being wooden, had not dried out completely from the 5+ inches of rain of that week, had a lot of tree coverage and the sun just hadn't been there to help out. So, the bridge was slippery and probably even had some moss on it.

Kirk's "turtle" helmet

My testimony? Well, helmets folks. Even if you wear a "turtle" helmet, it will still protect that old noggin and let you ride again. Any helmet is better than no helmet at all.
So, we will continue to enjoy our bike rides on the most fabulous trails in the country but you can rest assured that there will be a helmet on our heads. Any style will work...just wear one!

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Do You Remember When?

Who doesn't think that the good old days were just the good old days? Are these photos just not such fun? Well, speaking personally for me..I think so!