Marsh Lake

There are some places on this Earth that speak to your soul. In the high Uintah's there is a beautiful lake that we venture to every year. It is a place of beauty, solice, healing, good food, much fun, and wonderful memories. We missed having Dione and our friends The Chapmans with us this year, but look forward to another time when we are all together.

Early morning on the lake as the night mist is lifting.

My favorite boy preparing for a canoe ride.

The boys brought me along for a fish/canoe trip.

My job was the photos.

Captain of the canoe.

I just loved this reflection of the clouds in the lake.

Bob and Cass came along. Cassandra and her Dad

have an ongoing tradition. She always bakes and

brings a fresh homemade pie the first night we are

up there. This year she brought a fresh

Peach Cardamom Pie...it was absolutely amazing.

She is quite the pie chef!

Look at Me and My Bad Self...

So, I decided to pimp out the blog and go for a fresh new look. Let me know what you think. It took me a while, OK quite a while. I have to say I barely managed to figure it out just before I tossed the pink Dell laptop out the window. I have also been learning how to use my Photoshop program. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks!

This is Mz Maggie posing in her camp attire while

recently vacationing in the high Uintahs with the family.

You can check out her and Professor Sammi's blog at

http://dooduns.blogspot.com/
Deese dooduns is da best!

Fat Mom

Cassandra and Bob decided to give Dean a body pillow for Fathers Day. However, they decided to dress it up like "me" complete with my face. It was hilarious to say the least. We have had quite a lot of fun playing with "Fat Mom" at our house. One thing is for sure...our kids are clever, creative, and full of mischief.

Dean...very unsure as to what this gift is.

Chet loved "me" right away!

A family photo.

There are no words...

The sort of Extreme Home Office Makeover

What to do when the hubby leaves the country for a week...I know, remodel his home office. Wait a minute...what? I have to admit I was a little bit nervous about taking on this project. What if I unplugged a vital cord that took down the entire Dell network? Seriously, it could happen right? I had a week to move furniture, prep for paint, repaint, buy new office accessories, and hang everything on the walls. All by my one-sie I might add. I actually pulled it off. And I think he was pleasantly surprised at my efforts! Go team Lisa!

The moment of surprise...

Notice the beehive candy jar sitting on the top shelf.

It's a new addition, complete with Dove chocolates.

Also, check out the large piece of heavy furniture

standing in the corner...moved it myself...yup!

The new office comes complete with a Pottery Barn

organizer hanging on the wall. It is a pretty cool item.

Look at all the new items I hung all by myself.

179

Do you remember the scene in Legally Blond when Elle Woods receives a 179 on the LSAT exam that easily gets her into Harvard? What you may not know is that 180 is perfect. "What like it's hard?" Dione has been studying at a feverish pace and took the exam last Monday afternoon. On Tuesday morning I took her to the airport for a summer internship at Georgetown University and Law School. She will be taking classes and working for the law school. Pretty cool right? As Friday was her 21st birthday it was a big week for Dione. We had a wonderful dinner with friends and family the night before the big test. I went all out and fixed fresh Alaskan salmon with wild mushrooms in a phyllo crust, warm French Brioche, a lemon and fresh herb couscous and a lovely garden fresh salad straight from the back yard. Dinner was followed by a coconut layer cake with "179" on top. Love you Didi...hope you have a great summer in DC.

Never a straight face out of Dione.

A very common occurrence with the sisters, it's piano
duet time. An all time favorite..."Triple Dip" done
with 6 hands. Missing the "red one" I stepped in
and made my best attempt. Miss you every day Jocie!

Elegant piano player hands, the girls all have them.

Uncle Chi-pod as Cass lovingly calls Chet posing

with Dione...he will miss her this summer.

This is what happens when I say "picture time".

Even Sammi wanted to get in on it.

This is one of my favorite pictures ever of Dean...

there is a rare hint of a smile across his face.

It wouldn't be a family photo without Izzy.