Sheep Parade, continued

Boy, am I frustrated! I couldn't edit the end of the first blog I did tonight, so I made a new one, complete with pictures, and it has flown off into outer space, I guess. Anyway, it has disappeared. I will try once more - but that will be the end. I guess I need some 'blog lessons'.

Here they come! They had several men with coiled whips(which they didn't use) who controlled the sheep. They kept the dog on leash, but he was anxious to round them up.

All in all, it was a fun parade!

We had an interesting day yesterday. Keith & Sherrie were here in the morning to watch the 'Sheep Parade' with me. There are only 2 sheep parades in the U.S. now: one here and one in Ketchum, Idaho. Jason was driving the Stagecoach (belongs to the Iron Mission) and Ryan was riding shotgun.

There were literally dozens of sheepherder 'wagons': from very old ones to very modern ones. the first sheep we saw were riding on a float.

There were handcarts, bagpipers, and old and new farm equipment. But, of course, we were waiting anxiously for the 1500 sheep.

The first arrivals ran ahead of a couple of parade entries, and they had to be stopped to let the vehicles go by.

They had several guys (with coiled whips in their hands - which they didn't have to use ) who walked along to control the sheep. I was surprised how easily they kept them together. Their sheep dog was unloaded from a pickup, but kept on a leash. Look how anxiously it is to 'get at 'em'.

DUP Decision

Well, I have decided NOT to volunteer to work in the Museum. I am not as sharp as I used to be, and I am afraid that I might make some embarassing mistakes. I think I will leave that job for the young kids who are in their 60s and 70s., and I will just enjoy being in my 80s. Is that a selfish or wicked idea? It kind of feels that way, but it is so nice to just sit down and read a book and not have to worry about having to go somewhere and be useful!

When my kids were still living at home, and I was working in the Library, I remember how good it felt to come home on a Monday afternoon and think, "Oh good! It's Monday, and I don't have to go anywhere tonight." Our Family Home Evenings weren't perfect, by any means, but time has dimmed the sharp edges now, and I remember them fondly. (Even when I remember that sometimes one of the boys would be sitting, reluctantly, on the stairs, instead of on the couch, and not taking a turn reading a few scriptures. Ah yes, the teenage years!) Oh well, the refreshments were always good! I feel better when I remember hearing President Hinckley's daughter saying that their FHEs were not perfect either when they were growing up. Take heart, but keep trying.

DUP

Yesterday, I attended my second DUP (Daughters of the Utah Pioneers) meeting. I have been thinking about joining for years, but I kept thinking I could wait until I retired and my life was a little less hectic. After Bev and Rene told me how much they were enjoying DUP in Ephraim, I decided that this was the time. I’m hoping to make some friends there who are close to my own age. So – at the first meeting in September, I saw a lot of older ladies; I recognized several members of my ward, so I felt a little more secure. When they passed out a paper with the officers’ names on it, I noticed that they didn’t have a chorister. I volunteered to fill that position. (My Jazzy can raise me high enough for those in the back to see me.) I’m not so sure that I did the right thing, though. I think they usually just sing without a director, but of course I didn’t know that at the time. So yesterday, I met the accompanist for the first time (she missed the 1st meeting), and I struggled a little. For instance, they like to sing a lot of verses, but they sing 2 verses and then the Chorus, and then 2 more verses and the repeat of the chorus. Well, I can adapt to that. The practice song (one I had never before seen – nor had the accompanist!) was something else. I tried to teach them the first verse. Why, I will never know, because they probably will never sing it again! (FYI: in DUP, the music is chosen for you. And it didn’t coordinate with the lesson about the old Salt Lake Theatre. I’m not sure whether the music is chosen locally or is decided in Salt Lake. But that is OK, now I have a list of all the songs to be sung throughout the year, and I can prepare myself.)

After the meeting, Steve took me to the DUP museum, where I intended to purchase a songbook. But no one was there, even though we were within the posted hours. I think they staff the museum with only volunteer help. Steve suggested that I might like to do that. The Museum is open from 1-4pm, and I could maybe go twice a week. I have been thinking about it all day and wondering if that is something that I could do. I have mixed feelings about taking on an away-from-home job. I am just getting really comfortable with living sitting down, and do I want to take on something like that? Steve thought I could use my laptop down there – for sources of information, etc., and I could take one of my “grabbers” to reach high or low objects. But gosh, life is so nice when I don’t have to leave the house more than Church on Sunday and my hair appointment on Wed. What do you think? If I were 10 years younger, I would jump at the chance, but now? I haven’t called anyone about volunteering for the museum yet – I am still mulling it over. Your ideas are welcome. I will let you know when I decide, OK?

My First Post

Well, Keith has 'held my hand' to get this set up. We are getting ready to go to dinner at Jason & Joni's house. We will be celebrating Kailee's 13th birthday. Should be fun.

Keith has been here this weekend while Steve & Kris attended her aunt's funeral in Southern California. We have been doing online genealogy almost all day with both of our computers. I'm not as sharp as I used to be. 'Getting old' is a good excuse though, isn't it?