Summer 2017

Dear Family,

With our house beginning to feel very empty, there is time to take a few minutes and share a couple of things.

First, in honor of Mother and Dad, we grew a few gladiolas this year. The bulbs were not of the highest quality, but they did serve to encourage us to do better next year.

The next photo is just a reminder that it isn't always wise to ignore summer squash/zucchini in the garden. Just in case there is any concern about how to use said over grown item, here is an idea. Just so you know, I really will cut, scrape out the seeds, and stir fry them, but this simply makes them a multi usable item. 

Remembering Daddy

I don't remember Dad ever wearing sunglasses , but I do remember that tilt of his head so that the brim of his straw hat or winter cap could shade his eyes from the bright Wyoming sun.  The backdoor steps were a good place to sit and absorb the southern warmth.  He is with Robert and Jay in the spring of 1968, one of our few visits home to Penrose.

This is one of the last photos I took of our father before he left Olympia and returned to Cody and the western sunsets.  There is a peek at the historic "pole chair" to his side.   How I love and miss his smile.

Memorial for Ronald Gage - April 8, 2017

A wonderful service was held at the Henderson LDS chapel on Saturday.  With beautiful music, and heartfelt messages by his daughters, and three special friends: Sid Otton, Charlie Reed, and Stephen Daniels-Brown.  

After days of pouring rain, we had a miracle on Saturday.....no rain in the morning, no rain during the service nor at the cemetery, but one block from there coming home, we had to turn on the windshield wipers.......Thank you........ 

 Elizabeth greeting granddaughter Suzanne before the service.

 Gathering of family and friends at the cemetery on North Street.

Andrea Krull (Ron's daugher) Ross Petersen, Phil and Joleen Harlan, Benjamin Petersen, Grace and Shannon Gala. (nieces and nephews) 

 Andrea and Elizabeth telling her thank you for her help.

 Sweet Julia Carruth ( Ron's daughter) with her husband Mike.  

Ken Krull with Andrea

Remembering Ron Gage

All of my good photos of Ron include Elizabeth.  That tells the story.  This morning at 11 am Pacific time and 12 noon Mountain time, family and friends have gathered in the Preston LDS chapel to say goodbye to Ronald Gage, with tears and smiles, hope and faith, stories of his life and scripture that bears the truth of his eternal reward.

Our family loved the years they lived on Tumwater Hill and we could frequently breeze in and out of the Gage home at will.  Ron accepted into his intimate life Elizabeth's siblings and their spouses just as generously as he did her children.  And he earned a place in our hearts that will last always.

Love is a wonderful feeling that reaches beyond barriers of time and place.  Hold on to that.  Yes,

An Anniversary and the "Penrose Gang"

 As we go through this low place on our life travels,  beautiful flowers are reminders of the many blessings we have experienced during the last 6 months.  The picture above is of a Christmas arrangement that daughters Dorothy and Sara sent to us.  This bouquet lasted over two weeks, and gave us a special reminder of the wonderful smells of evergreens.

  Live has been more than difficult for both of us, but particularly Ron during this past six months.  But there are bright spots.   This week, we observed our 36th wedding anniversary.  Who'd have thought that two people who found each other in the middle of our time on earth could make it to 36?  Many wonderful reminders of the years gone by are present in our everyday life.  These gorgeous roses came last night (via FedEx) and they revived beautifully. They are a gift from the "Penrose Gang", which means my five siblings - 3 sisters and 2 brothers.  What wonderful thoughtfulness to help lift our spirits and give us beauty to enjoy in our home.  Please enlarge the top picture to see my reflection in the tv.

 Aren't these pink roses delicious?

And, last but not all or least, our friends in the next cup-de-sac delivered this poinsettia before Christmas.  Still going strong, and giving us color during this cold snowy time of winter.