Friends - Shelley Beatty

Collins is blessed

January 28, 2015 by shelley

Collins is blessed

Becca and Carl decided to bless Collins when everyone was home for Christmas. It also made it so Carl’s family could be there…driving from Oklahoma is not too far. We coordinated everyone’s schedules and travel itineraries and the only time we could do it and have everyone there was the Saturday afternoon before Christmas. So December 20th Collins Harper Hardie was given a name and a blessing. She wore an adorable vintage white baby dress and bonnet.

Collins Harper Hardie

We had about 40 people come to the blessing. After the blessing we enjoyed a dinner of Kansas City barbecue. We had brisket, ribs, burnt tips and beans from Oklahoma Joes (now Joes of KC) and ice cream from Murrays.

Collins’ baby blessing

Collins and her parents at baby blessing.

We served Kansas City Barbeque

We served Kansas City Barbecue

Collins’ baby blessing

Collins baby blessing

Collins’ baby blessing

Collins and her dad at baby blessing

Collins Harper Hardie

Collins baby blessing

Collins’ baby blessing

Salt Lake City and fun times!

April 28, 2014 by shelley

We arrived in Salt Lake City and knew we would have to wait a few minutes at the airport before our ride arrived. The Salt Lake airport is not a bad place to spend a few extra moments…it is a place you can witness a moment (and secretly share) the joy and happiness of perfect strangers.

We watched families welcome home and joyfully celebrate their returning missionary. These missionaries were returning home after serving a two year mission somewhere in the world for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). They had not seen their families for that entire time. Only Christmas and Mother’s day are they allowed to call home. Weekly emails were their only form of communication. Cheers would erupt as a young man in a suit would appear at the top of the escalator and slowly descend to the waiting group below. The cheering would continue, signs would wave and people would jump up and down. But when the young man reached the bottom, and it never failed, the first person he would embrace was obviously his mother. It was always a long, sweet and very emotional embrace. And then his dad would receive a big hug. And then siblings would “glom” onto him and create a mass hug. Other relatives and friends followed. So very heart warming. We knew no one, spoke to no one, but we witnessed, shared and thoroughly enjoyed, the sheer joy and happiness of perfect strangers watching their sons come home from their missions at the Salt Lake City airport.

Joyful reunions at the Salt Lake City Airport

And then it was on to other activities and a full few days we enjoyed with Jen, Adam and kids in Salt Lake City.

It was a busy time in Salt Lake City.

One of the reasons we came to Salt Lake City was to see the kindergarden production of Mother Goose nursery rhymes. More specifically the Queen in Sing a Song of Sixpence. We had to see her in the parlor eating bread and honey!

The Queen!

The Queen awaits

The Queen shows us her classroom.

We spent a fun day at This is The Place Heritage Park.

First a quick look at the map…

looking at map

One of the things Becca, Henry and Caroline were excited to show us were the baby animals. First stop the baby chicks.

Henry, Becca, Caroline, Bob and Myself viewing the baby chicks at Heritage Park SLC

Becca holding a baby chick

Bob holding a baby chick for Caroline

Henry holding a baby chick

Henry, Becca and Myself at the baby chicks

Becca and myself with the baby chicks

Next stop the baby goats.

Becca and Caroline with baby goats

Becca with the baby goat

Caroline feeding the baby goat

And of course the pony rides!

Craft making:

Making an Easter Craft

Making a craft at This is The Place Heritage Park

Henry’s craft

The blacksmith…

Visit to the blacksmith shop

The rope maker…

Becca and Henry helping make rope

Henry and Caroline watching Becca make rope

Tooling leather…

Becca showing her tooled leather

Henry and Becca working on tooling leather

Jen and Caroline tooling leather

Henry, Caroline and Becca working on their leather.

Train rides…

Jen and Caroline taking a little train ride

Train ride

But we came for gold, so pan for gold we did!

Becca panning for gold

Gold Rush!

Caroline panning for gold.

Henry and Becca hard at work.

Henry finding gold

Henry counting his gold.

Jen, Caroline and Becca at the stream.

And we struck “GOLD”!

Gold!

and Brigham’s doughnuts

Becca enjoying a Brigham doughnut

Brighams Donuts

And then it was time to go.

Jen and Bob

We enjoyed seeing friends.

Lunch with Carole and Sam Cowley

We built recycling trucks at Lowe’s.

Building at Lowes

Becca building at Lowe’s

Henry

Caroline

Building team

Building at Lowes

Henry

Ballet class.

Becca at ballet.

Soccer game.

Henry at soccer game.

Caroline enjoying soccer game.

We checked out Adam’s office.

Daddy’s office

Went to City Creek.

City Creek

And played in the park.

Caroline

Becca

Henry

Caroline

Becca

Bob watching Becca

Adam helping Caroline

Henry and Caroline

Henry

Becca

Henry

Becca

Becca and Caroline

Jen helping Caroline

All in all a busy wonderful time!!

Wedding at Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts

October 21, 2013 by shelley

Add together the first weekend of October (which is almost the peak of fall leaf color in New England), plus Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts (a living history museum), plus a wedding, plus seeing old and very dear friends…it all adds up to a must do trip.

Old Sturbridge Village

Old Sturbridge Village re-creates life in rural New England during the 1790s through 1830s. It is the largest living museum in New England, covering more than 200 acres (80 hectares). The Village includes 59 antique buildings, three water-powered mills, and a working farm. Costumed interpreters speaking in modern language help visitors understand 19th century life.

Old Sturbridge Village stagecoach

The daughter (Christine) of a very good friend, Ellen Riley, used Old Sturbridge Village as the setting of her wedding. Being New Englanders it was the perfect setting for Christine and her fiance Jeff Miller.

Linda Dobrusky Esplin (another very close and dear friend) and I decided to make the effort to attend Christine’s wedding. We have all been friends for years and years since the time when Linda (and Cordell), Ellen (and John) and I (and Bob) all lived in Medfield, Massachusetts. (Linda and I were friends even before this time at the University of Utah.) My children were all born during this time. (As was Linda’s oldest child) Both Cordell and Bob were doing their residencies. Riley’s moved into Medfield with their three daughters; twins Jennifer and Christine and Karen. (Karen has been a life-long friend to my daughter Jen-and Karen was a bridesmaid at her wedding.) And the rest has been history…not just friends but kindred spirits. We make the effort to attend Women’s Conference at BYU every year to renew and catch up. (Visit previous blogs on Women’s Conference 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010)

Old Sturbridge Village outdoor history museum is located on Route 20 in Sturbridge, Massachusetts and is easily accessible by car from I-84 and the Massachusetts Turnpike, I-90. It is about 60 miles outside of Boston.

Map of Old Sturbridge Village

Becca joined us for the weekend. We all flew into Hartford and drove north to Sturbridge. Since the wedding was not until the evening we spent the day visiting the village.

Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts

Cobbler shop, Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts

Unglazed pottery, Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts

Becca picking apples at Old Sturbridge Village, Linda watching on

Becca with picked apples, Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts

Indoor plumbing! Old Sturbridge Village

Old covered bridge, Old Sturbridge Village

Carding Mill, Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts

Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts

Cider Mill, Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts

One event which occurred on the day we visited was a real treat. They had heirloom apple tasting. We tasted varieties of apples that are only grown by antique apple growers and not available to the public. These varieties would be extinct except for the specialty growers. Some were sweet, and some tart (I had no idea apples could taste so different with so many “apple” flavors) but all freshly picked at Old Sturbridge Village and very delicious!

We got to taste apples of the heirloom varieties of: Esopus Spitzenburg (Thomas Jefferson’s favorite apple, dates to 1817), Roxbury Russet (Boston Russet, dates to 1600’s), Baldwin (Butters Apple or Woodpecker apple-the most widely planted apple in in the United States 1852), Rhode Island Greening (Green Winter Pippin- considered to be one of best cooking apples, dates to Rhode Island before 1800), Dyer (Golden Spice Apple-originated in France in 1600’s), Pomme Gris ( French Apple or Gray Apple-brought to St. Lawrence River Valley by French immigrants about 1803), Sheppard’s Sweet (Originated in Connecticut in Connecticut, introduced 1850), Swaar Apple (Originated in Dutch, New York, ca. 1804, considered a favorite among home orchardists), Pewaukee (a cross between Duchess and Northern Spy apples, first recorded in 1870), American Beauty (Sterling Beauty-Originates from Sterling Massachusetts, first noted in 1854), Titus Pippin (Hang On, Hangan, Timothy-Originated in New York, dates to 1842), Mother’s Apple (Queen Anne, Gardener’s Apple-a dessert apple, developed in 1840’s Massachusetts, widely grown in England), Sheepnose (Black Gilliflower-Prized for baking, dessert and drying, believed to originate in Connecticut in the 1700s).

Heirloom Apple Tasting at Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts

Fall Leaves, Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts

Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts

Horse drawn carriage, Old Sturbridge Village

Church, Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts

The beauty of autumn at Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts

BEFORE the wedding:

Karen Riley, Christine’s sister and bridesmaid.

The bride Christine Riley

Karen and Jennifer Riley sisters and bridesmaids.

Christine, the bride, getting ready.

Ellen Riley, mother of the bride.

Ellen Riley,mother of the bride.

Ellen Riley

AND THE WEDDING AT OLD STURBRIDGE VILLAGE MASSACHUSETTS

The Church

Old Sturbridge Village greeter

Transportation to the church

The church

Lanterns lighting the way

Greeters Old Sturbridge Village style

Flowers

Becca and Linda sitting in our pew.

Front of church

The wedding.

Candles provided the only lighting.

Seating charts

Wedding Cake

The dinner

Visiting the Cowleys and celebrating Bob’s birthday

September 14, 2013 by shelley

We first met the Sam and Carole Cowley when we moved to Kansas City in 1984. We became close friends and they have been good friends ever since. They moved to Salt Lake City some years ago. So every time we visit Salt Lake City we try and see them and catch up with all the latest. This year we also got to celebrate Bob’s birthday with them.

: Carole, Jen holding Caroline and Shelley

: The Boys: Adam, Sam, and Bob with Henry in front.

: Front row: Henry and Becca. Back row: Bob, Adam, and Jen holding Caroline.

: Sam Cowley, Adam Long, Bob, Henry and Carole Cowley

: Becca and Grandpa

: Bob and his birthday cake

: Bob cutting cake with Henry and Becca watching

: Bob cutting birthday cake with Henry looking on. Becca and Adam watch closely.

: Left to right front row; Shelley Beatty, Henry Long, Becca Long, Back Row Left to Right: Bob, Adam and Caroline held by Jen.

: Bob’s birthday cake with everything he loves; medicine, tennis and fountain pens.

: Becca ready to celebrate grandpa’ birthday

: Carole Cowley and Bob

: Caroline and Jen

: Henry, Becca, Caroline, Jen, Carole and Sam lighting birthday cake.

Wedding!

August 15, 2013 by shelley

Everyone came home the first weekend of August for the wedding of our friend and neighbor Clay Duckworth, son of Bob and Ellen. It turned out to be a very nice weekend in Kansas City. They were married at Shawnee Mission Park.