September

September was a good month for us. The big news of the month was Ken's Century Ride.

Each Saturday, he did a long bike ride, working up to the 100 mile mark.

For our anniversary last month, we purchased a new gel core ice cream maker, so it's been a month of experimenting with gelato/ ice cream recipes. Check our Hungry Hintons post in the future for the ones we liked best.

On Labor Day, we had a fun barbecue with our neighbor, Shawna and we bought a much needed new mattress.

The not so happy excitement of the month was when our neighbor fell through their back deck that they were constructing. He broke his heel and ribs and cut open his head.

We attended "The Little Mermaid" at Tuachan and loved it!

We spent a couple of days in Vegas where Ken had a governmental audit training class. We stayed at The Venitian Hotel. It was very nice. They have canal streets that look like Venice with gondolas and singing gondoliers.

We had dinner at Max Brenners. He's a chocolatier. We shared a turkey burger and each had a delicious chocolate dessert.

We visited a rare book collection museum. You can get this original edition Winnie-the- Pooh book for a mere $7000.

While Ken was in classes, I drove to Prim to shop the outlet mall there. Then, on Tuesday, I went to the Vegas temple. On the way there, I had a run-in with a construction cone. I broke the mirror on Ken's car. I felt terrible.

But there is slight consolation in that I sent one of those irritating construction barrels to the Construction barrel cemetery. We can take them out, people- One at a time! Do your part, do your part!

So that's the highlights of our month. Happy October to you!

103.3 Miles!

Can I hear a Woot Woot!!!! Ken did his "Century Ride+" today! It took him about 6 1/2 hours. He rode up through Zion National Park to the very end- as far as you can go in Zion's (51.3 miles) and back home. He is sore and tired, but very happy to cross "Century Ride" off of his bucket list. I am so proud of him! And I admit that I'm glad it's done. He rides on highways and roads and he's had several close calls with cars nearly hitting him.

His plan was to do 90 miles today and then do his century ride next Saturday, but on the way out, he thought, "If I just go an extra ten miles today, I don't have to do that 90 + 10 next week." So, he pushed it and did it. He took a banana, gatorade, a Pay Day candy bar, and energy chews to sustain him, but he still "ran out of gas" on the way home and had to stop at Lin's Market in Hurricane to buy another quart of Gatorade and another banana to give him the fuel to get home.

I had this sign on the garage when he got home (I talked to him when he was in Hurricane on the way home and found he was going to make the 100+ miles):

I thought it was cute that before I took the picture of him when he got home, he crossed out the 100 and put 103.3. . . .just for the record.

Brian set up a google+ "hang out" with all the kids, so everyone could give him a cheer when he got home. Shonna and Blake and kids are in Wisconsin with Kristen and Jared and family right now, so it was a fun party with them and Brian and Michelle and Gabbi in Washington DC. Hopefully, the grandkids will remember this day and their buff Grandpa!

Brian gets some of the credit for this happening. After his 80 mile ride last week, Ken told me that this goal was just taking too much time and didn't think he would go for 100 miles. When he told Brian and Michelle that on Sunday when we google chatted with them, Brian started chanting, "Century, Century, Century!" Then he proceeded to talk Ken into it. It worked.

I had his favorite treat waiting for him when he got home:

Oh, and you need to know that he hiked 11miles yesterday with his best buddy, Greg Last (they are friends from clear back in Elementary school and annually do a hike together.) He got badly sunburned on that hike, so that's why he wore the "Arab Garb" on his head to protect from getting more sunburn.

Congratulations, Ken!

My Favorite Things- The Hinton Hand Rub

The Hinton brothers (Ken's brothers- there are seven of them) have an endearing little habit they use to express excitement and joy. They rub their hands together really quickly with a big smile on their faces. This is most often used during a BYU football game (Rick pictured above, watching a BYU game at our house after a family wedding) Rick and Jim are probably the most prolific hand rubbers, but I notice when they all get together, they all start doing it. I have a picture of all of them doing it, but it won't upload. I'm sad, because it's so cute. Well, in fact, it's one of my favorite things. Anybody know where this tradition started? I've also noticed that this habit has passed to the next generation, and even the next. Tonight, BYU plays Utah. Please, oh, please, let there be some serious hand rubbing in the Hinton homes or in the stands,-wherever those guys are, this evening. Rub, men, rub! The Hinton Hand Rub- one of my favorite things!

To Put a Smile on Your Face

Brian and Michelle have had this wonderful video on their blog for a couple of weeks. I know most of you that come to this blog also go to theirs, but in case you missed it, I just had to share. It is filmed here in St. George at Sterling Court where my women's group performs twice a year. We're a little nervous that THIS is the kind of entertainment they'll expect now. Our accompanist is practicing playing the piano with one foot in the air, just so we can keep current. Watch the video at the top of this blog; it's guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

And the Biking Saga Continues . . .

In the words of someone great, "If it's not on the blog, it didn't happen." (see this GREAT post) And this Definitely happened. I can tell by the smell . . . and the moans and groans coming from the other room as we speak. So here I am blogging it: Ken rode 80.7 miles this morning. He rode to Springdale (the town at the entrance to Zion National Park) and back. There's a lot of elevation gain on that ride! It took him 4 hours and 42 minutes- his personal best time/hour: 17.1 mph. It also is the furthest he's ever ridden. He's amazing and amazingly sore. He's cutting up his reward right now- a bowl of fresh peaches!

The proof:

I took this just after he got home. I can't believe he had the energy to get down and pose for this picture. That alone would have constituted a workout for me!

Nice job, Ken!

Fun at Wal-Mart

I know. I know. The very title of this post is an oxymoron. But we did have a little fun at Wal-mart this evening that I want to tell you about. Ken and I went out to dinner this evening. As we ate, we discussed Ken's plan to bike 75 miles tomorrow (yes, you heard me right- 75 miles!) He decided after, can we call it a bit of "nagging", that he needs to take more than one bottle of Gatorade to go that far. So we stopped at Wal-Mart on the way home to get another beverage clip for his bike. Actually, we each had a few things we needed to get, so we parted at the front door, each going our separate ways- because, well, because that's how we roll. (For a more detailed and depressing explanation, go to this blog post.) Sigh.

Later, as I walked by one of the aisles (one of the many, many aisles), I saw Ken bent over looking at something. I gave a wolf whistle (and it was one my loudest, best-ever wolf whistles. It was good!), then quickly ducked around the corner. Ken looked up to see a guy who had been right by me. The guy quickly said, "It wasn't me, I swear. I mean, not that you aren't a good-looking man, cuz you are, but it wasn't me, it was her!" He then pointed to the empty space next to him. Everybody had a good laugh, and frankly, I'm laughing out loud right now, just remembering.. For a trip to Wal-Mart, it was pretty darn fun!

PS Watch for my future post about my strong dislike for Wal-mart. I'm trying to decide what to title it. I'm debating between the prosaic"Why I Hate Wal-mart" and the more imaginative, "Cover Me, I'm Going In."

My Favorite Things- BYU Football!

This is my favorite season of the year. One of the main reasons is it's BYU football season! BYU football is something we both love and enjoy watching together. We are Bronco Mendenhall fans. It's been fun to watch him evolve from emotional, demonstrative defensive coach to stoic Lavell-ish head coach, and now, I think we're seeing him come back to his real self- a little more demonstrative and emotional. We love his philosophies. Saturdays, and this year, many Friday nights, see us in front of our television, cheering on our Cougars. Truly BYU football is one of our favorite things. Go COUGARS!

Winner!

Quite a while ago, Ken and his partner, Dean, signed up to play in the Utah Open Pro/Am tournament held at Oakridge Golf Course. It was held a couple of weeks ago, and as the date approached, Ken was feeling pretty frustrated at having to drive clear to Farmington just to golf. He already had had to go out of town on Tuesday that week for work, so it was hard to get back in the car again on Wednesday. But, since he was signed up, he went up Wednesday evening to play in the tournament early Thursday morning.

It was a bramble tournament(or Las Vegas Scramble), where everyone tees off, then all play from the best tee shot, but everyone plays their own ball from there and all scores count. The teams had five players: one pro and four amateurs. Ken was put on a team with a pro from here in Bloomington, a young man from here who was a really good player, his partner, Dean and another guy from Southern Utah. They played well, but he was surprised at the luncheon when they announced that their team had won! He said he didn't contribute much, but had good teammates. They gave them gift certificates to spend in the pro shop, so he came home with lots of loot. He felt a whole lot better coming home than he had going. . . and it was a worthy cause, so that always feels good. This is one of the shirts he won:

As my dad was so fond of saying, "He's a natural borned ath-e-lete!"

Biking Fool Addendum

Ken just got home from this week's monster bike ride: 68.2miles! He rode up to Andersen's Junction above Leeds, down through Toquerville, LaVerkin, Hurricane, Hurricane fields, around Sand Hollow Reservoir, Washington, Washington Fields, out to Bloomington Hills Stake Center, then home. 68.2 miles! He's a bit spent, but he's already planning next Saturday's adventure. Pray for wind, people, pray for wind (it's the only thing that stops him- you just can't ride a bike in wind.)

Celebrating 34 Years with "The Music Man"

Last weekend, Ken and I celebrated thirty four years of marriage. As we often do, we celebrated by going to the Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City. We went with Pam and Roger and had a great time. First we went to my favorite Rusty's for dinner. The coconut shrimp is SO good!

We decided to forgo the restaurant dessert, because it seems that our anniversary is the same as Dairy Queen's, and they were celebrating with two for one Blizzards. We wolfed down our blizzards, then headed to the play. We saw one of my two all-time favorite musicals, "The Music Man." I love that show. When I was in high school, I played the part of one of the "Pick a Little" Ladies. Being in a show makes you love it. It was so fun to be with Pam and Roger who love it as much as I do.

This couple could dance! They were so fun to watch.

It's impossible to beat Robert Preston as the Music Man, but this guy was really, really good.

I'm still on a bit of a high from the evening! Thank you, Pam and Roger for a wonderful evening!

He's a Biking Fool

Ken enjoys biking in the summertime. He's always gone on long bike rides, but the last couple of weeks, he's really pushed himself beyond his furthest previous limits. He gets up early on Saturday mornings and rides before it gets too hot(though it's still in the high 80's). The picture above is of him with his mountain bike. The last couple of weeks, he's ridden his road bike- last week 54 miles, and today, 61.85 miles. He did the Gunlock/Veyo loop. He's a biking fool. Last week, he did it on water alone, but this week I insisted he take gatorade and some calorie chews. He did great, though he's a little sore. We won't talk about where! I'm proud of my biking fool!

The proof on his biking odometer:

Rehydrating:

He's already making plans for next week's even longer ride. I'm hoping summer ends before he does!

Vicarious Joy

Last Sunday, baby Lily was blessed by her Daddy and some of her uncles. Kristen, Jared and family drove from Wisconsin to be there and Michelle, Brian and Gabbi drove from Washington DC. So, they had a little reunion. It was kind of sad not to be there, but Brian was good to immediately send pictures, so we could experience the joy vicariously. Here's some of my favorites from those he sent:

This is the morning of Lily's blessing- my precious family:

Pretty darn good shot considering it's using a timer.

I love the red stains on every little face. Obviously those kids loved Blake's homemade pizza:

The girls:

Brian, Michelle, and Gabbi

Blake, Shonna, Caleb, and Lily

Kristen, Jared, Jacob, Brielle, and Nathan

On Saturday, they visited a farm. I love this shot:

And this is one of my all-time favorite pictures. Our four oldest grandchildren:

Aren't they cute? I'm so glad they could be together.

My Favorite Things: Fiestaware

I know I've told you before about my love for fiestaware. I love, love, love these dishes. I've had some of them (the red, orange and yellow) for several years and added the other colors last Christmas. There really is no difference between the older and the newer in appearance. The older show no sign of wear. I've only had one piece break. And yet, there is no lead in them. But what I like most is they are gorgeous. Every single day the beautiful colors make me very happy. As you can see, my dish cupboard is full to the brim, which is a shame because if there were more room, I'd want to keep buying more and more of these beauties. My favorite color, you ask? I've pondered this question way more than I should. I vacillate between the apple green, the red, and the purple. Can't choose. Which do you like best? I love Fiestaware.