Scouting for Food 2017

Cub Scouts doing good in the world.  Every year they have a day for gathering food, which becomes part of the food bank supply in Manteca.

The Binghams Brought Us Thanksgiving Treats

This is very unique and a great Thanksgiving idea I thought I would share.  The Binghams rang our door bell and brought us sweetened popcorn with lots of additives.  It was a very nice gesture and much appreciated.  Here is the explanations:

Thanksgiving 2017

After we were done eating, I thought I hadn't taken very many pictures.  However I made up for it later.  Miranda did a photo shoot with everyone, so I stepped in and took some of my own pictures.  Only one decorating picture, sorry.  Here for Thanksgiving meal were Jeremy Kayla and the boys, Charity Anthony and the girls, Kayla's friend Monique, Miranda's roommate Melanie, Miranda home from school, and Sheri Tony and I.  We had a good time.  We had to wait a while before eating pie.  Anthony and I watched football and grand babies, while the rest played a game.  Annie, Todd and Caleb returned for pie, picture shoot and games. 

Miranda Has Brought Her Roommate Home for Thanksgiving

Melanie is Miranda's roommate at BYUI.  She is from Delaware and also happens to know the McNeil family.  I mentioned that Ken was a very good man, and she agreed and said she enjoyed him as her bishop.  It is a small world sometimes.  Ken is buried in Modesto.  We placed her between Rorie and Walker in terms of age.  She didn't live very close; It must be a very big ward.  However she was familiar with the ice cream shop where the McNeils had taken us when we visited.  She also said Liza does her hair.  She has done ours as well.  I am sure she motivated Charity to study cosmetology.  I don't know why Melanie was doing the dishes.  I guess she volunteered.

Pinnacles National Park: Day after Thanksgiving

Pinnacles National Park is the newest national park, but was a national monument for many years.  Even though we live close, we had never been there.  This is a hiking park, with one campground.  This time of year is a good time to go as it is not too hot.  It is known for some crazy uplifts, which created the pinnacles.  It also has several caves.  We decided this trip to see some of the pinnacles.  We hiked up Condor Gulch Trail.  The condors must have been nesting, or out to see.  They nest in the cliffs, and they travel quite a ways.  The ranger said they mostly eat carrion.  We did see a skinny lizard, and the woodpeckers were very active.  We listened to and saw several of them.

Hiking and rock climbing

Pinnacles

rock

gnarly trees

woodpecker

lizard, just above the small rock in the center