January Joy

 We'll start out with why I called this post January Joy-- We got a LOT of snow!! Much needed moisture came from the storms putting our area at 70% above normal. 

With the snow came the cold. We've had it real cold, overnight into below zero and single digits. I can't remember ever seeing our car show a negative temperature. BRR!!

The coldest place in the U.S.A, was in our area as well. Not only pretty impressive, but pretty COLD!! This is what showed up on the KSL News Facebook page.....

At the first of the month some of those in Cache Valley felt some small earthquakes too.

This was from an article In Cache Valley Daily dated Jan. 5, 2023:   LOGAN — A small earthquake was reportedly felt by some residents in Cache Valley Monday morning. Officials with the University of Utah Seismograph Station said that the quake occurred shortly after 6:30 a.m. just seven miles north of Logan. According to officials, the earthquake had a magnitude of 2.56 with a fairly weak to light impact. While the quake may have been a small one, it was certainly felt by some residents in and around Cache County. Authorities said they had received reports from more than 40 different citizens who felt the quake. No injuries or damages were reported.

Another article in the local newspaper, The Herald Journal reported this: Cache Valley has felt Mother Nature stir over the past several days. Multiple earthquakes--what is being called a swarm--have been hit since the week began, shaking the ground and causing some consternation among residents who might have felt the trembling. One quake was reported Monday morning near Benson, followed by another quake that night. Another was reported Tuesday afternoon. There was also a 3.2 magnitude quake a little before 3 pm Tues. which was the eighth felt with other small ones also being reported. Kathryn Whidden, a research scientist with the University of Utah Seismograph Stations, said that "the quakes were not aftershocks--smaller quakes following a large one--but rather separate rumblings, each with relative same magnitude and all related to the Wasatch fault system. Although these haven't been too big, there have been a few of them and not in an area that we normally have them".

Some more joy was felt as we read in the local newspaper, The Herald Journal, dated Jan. 10, 2023, the headline: Calming Down -- Experts predict gas prices to level out: Sheila Jensen, the manager of the Welcome Mart in Wellsville, said: "...gas prices at her shop were listed at $3.39 a gallon for regular unleaded -- more than a dollar less than it was last summer -- and $5.05 for diesel. During the summer, diesel was almost $6.00 a gallon". This comes with good and bad news. First the bad; It is unlikely prices will drop to pre-spile levels, said Julian Paredes, spokesman for AAA Mountain West Group. But the good news is that they likely will level out to where there won't be such big fluctuations in pricing, a scenario he said has already started to happen. Gas prices in Cache Valley averaged in the $3.19 per gallon range, which was slightly lower that the statewide average of $3.24 and the national average of $3.28.

Dale and I met up with the majority or his siblings and their spouses at Maddox in Brigham City for lunch and to get together. We missed two of his sisters, Donna and Shari, but it was nice to get together, visit and catch up on everyone's happenings. 

Dale took advantage of the new powder and hit the slopes. He went by himself, and with Andrew, Amie & Jaxson. Utah is living up to its name, as the place with the "Greatest Snow on Earth!"

Dale's also helped Amie out a few more times with ski lessons at Cherry Peak. They've gotten decent snow this year as well.

We braved the cold and went to the USU Men's Basketball home games. We don't park close, so it was cold walking, but the Aggies won against Wyoming, UNLV, and San Jose and the Spectrum was hot!! They were all fun games to watch. I hope they can continue on with their winning streak.

With all of the new snow the deer have been coming lower. We've had two does and a fawn take a break under our pine tree in our backyard. They showed up three different times that we saw. There were a lot of tracks in the yard too. I'm sure finding food is a little easier for them as they get out of the mountains. 

To get out of the cold, we hooked up with the Mallory's and headed south to watch Jaxson play in a soccer tournament in Mesquite, NV. We stayed in St. George at a home of the Mallory's neighbors. It was nice to get away and even though it was cold for St. George, it was warmer than our area. 

Jaxson's team played hard won, and tied, but lost in a close game which took them out for the semi-finals. 

To fill in time between games one day we went to a car show that was in Mesquite, NV. It was kind of cool. Dale and I each found a car from the year we were born. It brought back some memories of those good old days..

We had two deaths in our extended family. My Uncle Allan Bastow (Mom's sister, Nina's, husband), who was 96, and a cousin, William Ah Mu (Dad's sister, Norma Watts' daughter, Marcia's husband) who was 84. Two great people that brought joy into our lives and helped create some fond memories. 

Nate and Diana kicked off the year in Puerto Vailarta, Mexico. They took on a new adventure by trying out deep sea fishing. They caught some Mahi Mahi too! 

They went with Diana's mom and sisters family. A great way to get in some sunshine and bring in 2023.

They've had quite a bit of rain and some snow as well and are staying busy running the office. 

The Mallory's have been busy coaching with indoor soccer, basketball, and as mentioned earlier soccer tournaments.

We got to go see Langston play basketball. He played with his heart and that's what matters.

Amie got asked to head the ski school scheduling and that fills up her time as well. She also celebrated her 38th birthday!! She's looking pretty young still I'd say. Happy Birthday Amie!! We celebrated with her when we were in Mesquite. The team tied their game for her too!

                                    Can you tell which one is Amie among her brother and cousins? 

Matt's been keeping the school in good spirits and started a food drive to help the Food Pantry stock up after Christmas.

Kennlyn ended up getting braces! Her smile will be even more beautiful after they come off!!

We also celebrated Lindsay's birthday! She kept it a little low key, because Andrew was at work on tour, but we didn't forget her!! Happy Birthday Lindsay!! 

While Andrew was on tour in Virginia, he had a few down days due to weather, so he and his ground crew guy, Tom, went into Washington D.C. and checked out some of the sites.

Andrew had Lindsay join him at the end of his tour in Myrtle Beach, S.C. for some away time as part of her birthday gift. I'm sure she loved not having to deal with any more snow for a while and loved soaking in the sunshine and beach.

Dale & I watched their kids while they were gone. We stayed a few days at their house because of school and then they stayed at our house. Dale tried to pull them behind the Razor on a sled, but the snow was too deep and soft. They also tried to build a snowman, but the snow wouldn't pack so after the kids had had enough of the cold. Dale stayed out and made a snowman by mixing some of the old snow on the banks with the new snow. I put on the face, and Dale added the scarf, and they got their snowman. However, I never got a picture of them in front of it because it snowed during the night. We got hit with quite a bit of snow over two days.

Garrett had the opportunity to go to a leadership summit for Academy Mortgage. He was able to listen to Captain Scott Kelly share about his journey of how he became an astronaut and spent more time in space than any other human. He also heard from John Volanthen who was a major part of the rescue of reaching the boys soccer team that got stranded in an underwater cave in Thailand a few years back. The next day he heard from Mallory Weggeman who was a US paralympic swimming champion. Then they packed over 1200 meal bags for kids in the local schools who need them. Sounds like he had a couple of great days.

They took advantage of all of the new snow and did some sledding, built a snowman, went ice skating, and tried some hockey. The worked together to clear their driveway too. Many hands make light work. Those banks are pretty high!!

       

       

 

The Hassell's had some fun in the snow as well. They went with Jason's family tubing at Soldier Summit and then went to the ice castles in Midway, UT. From the looks of it, June had as much fun as dad and mom!

The Hassell's also had a Tea Party for the kids. What a fun idea and so fun for June!

Now can you see why I called this month January Joy. Even though it was FREEZING COLD, and we had to clear the driveway and walks about twice a week on average, we found joy in time spent with loved ones and enjoyed this beautiful world we live in. 

Everything may not always be what we may want it to be, but we can find joy, and peace, and love, and know that it will all work out.