Memorial Day Weekend

We remembered those who gave "the last full measure of devotion" to both their countries. . . and their families. Neither Melody's father (filed artillery in Europe during WWII, including the Battle of the Bulge) or my father (a POW Camp's Engineering Officer in Korea) were called upon to give their lives in battle. But they did give their lives in providing for their families, and in teaching the them principles of truth - especially when it came to loving and serving others.

As you see from the state of the headstone, it was a cold, rainy day. Started out light, then got heavier as the day wore on. We only had brief sunshine for a few minutes late this afternoon.

Melody and I brought the plant. I think Mom keeps the plastic ones looking good.

Mel fixes things up.

Last Saturday, and earlier today, we (okay, mostly Melody) did some more work in the back yard. You can see how it's shaping up. We've had some good sun lately, so everything is getting green and growing.

I really like the way the two-tiered raised garden bed turned out. Melody has done a great job of getting the beds fill in with flowers and things. We got some plants from a friend of ours who grows them in his hot-house. Peppers, tomatoes, kale, cabbage, and beans.

Melody makes a cute face when I take her picture.

HOME 

I had the opportunity to go to Idaho for my nephew's wedding a few weeks ago.  It had been a long time since I had been together with all of my siblings. What a joy to see them!  I have the best brother and sisters in the world, I just wish Cherry could have been there, too.  I think she was in spirit, especially in the temple.

In between wedding fun, Colleen drove us down memory lane and we visited many of the homes  that we remember as children.

This is my Grandma Lillian's house in Boise.  I remember playing in her closet with my cousin Annette.  Grandma had lots of fun dress-up clothes! She always took care to dress nicely (hat, dress, shoes and purse seemed to always match)    I knew I could always call my grandma for comfort and help.

  

This is the house in Kuna where my Grandma Mumford lived.  It has been fixed up, but I think it is the same house.  I remember the delicious meals that we ate at her house.Chicken and homemade noodles and the best apple pie on earth.  Gardening and especially growing lilies was a hobby of hers and she belonged to a Lilly club. She was smart and always loved to learn new things.  My favorite picture of her is at a Lilly convention with the friends.  She is on the Left.  

 

This is the house in Meridian that we moved into when I was 12.  It was brand-new and we were all so excited.  I remember how hard mom worked to decorate and maintain it.  She had a rock garden in the back with flowers and we always helped her look for pretty rocks or drift wood to put in it.

This is the house that my parents built around the time of my birth, it is the first house I remember.  It was a comfortable home and I always felt loved. I remember my parents teasing me about being lazy (and I was)I told them I just didn't like to work!(But was expected to do chores, anyway!) I am so thankful for their patience with me.

My Mother Dorothy Spencer Mumford made a wonderful home for her family. What or where ever the house was, she made it into a home for her family. She filled it with beautiful music and lovely works of art (usually made by herself!) She was always there to help her children and watch over them. She loved her extended family and kept those family ties strong by staying very close to them all.  Feeling the love and support of all of those aunts, uncles and cousins was a blessing to her children, too. Most of all she loved the Lord and his gospel and did her best to teach it to her family by living it in her home.  Thank you, mom.

Moving Forward in the Backyard

We finally had a few hours last Saturday to get some more work done in the back yard. I was able to get the rest of the concrete edging blocks placed, and Mom got to pant the pomegranate tree and several flowers and plants. The photos below show a right to left view panorama of the back yard. The mound of dirt seen in the first and second pictures will become a two level vegetable garden.

Some flowers and the pomegranate tree.

The new mandarin orange tree and the new yellow rose bush.

The new patio, the old trampoline, and various other unfinished businesses