4th Grand Girl Graduate

Another grand girl graduated today.  She plans to go on for a Masters.  Congrats, Juliette! 

Paying it Forward

This past week I paid for a Starbucks order for the car behind me.  Today someone paid for my lunch.   

Feeling Good

 

Epidurals plus shots in the patooti are helping back and pelvic pain a LOT!  Add spinal decompression with chiropractic and this back isn't complaining as much.  Loving my specialized care - makes sleep a much better experience.

Dorothy Saenz Johnston Manuel

I'm working on a tree and having a difficult time finding this woman.  Dorothy Saenz was born supposedly in California (but Mexico and Texas are possibilities) in 1907 (per marriage cert).  In 1927 she married Jesse Bell Johnston in El Paso, Texas, whom she divorced in 1932.  There is a letter from her dated 1939 from the San Francisco area where her name is Dorothy Manuel.  It is possible this Manuel husband is Leonie Manuel, married to Dorothy in 1935 in Portland, Oregon but divorced before 1940.  Leonie later married a Bonnie Bond in Louisiana and had a son in 1944 with her.  Would really appreciate some assistance with this Dorothy Saenz.  

September-October Lock In

HOA is repaving our streets, a few at a time.  Chewing up and getting rid of all the old asphalt and putting down new asphalt.  We were told we would be "locked in" and unable to use the street for 24 hours on the 28th, but it's actually going into the second week with all the pre-paving work and "might" happen on 10/6.

 

Awards Night & Retirement

Sgt. Billion's advice to graduating 2023 Southern Utah Devil Pups

Sgt. Billion is also retiring.  The Rigbys made this awesome souvenir:

"Thanks a Billion."

Eleven Eagles this year - all getting certificates with Vie assisting

Rich Linsday, President of Devil Pups, Inc., came in from

California to surprise me with retirement kudos.

Eleven new Devil Pups getting awards at Pizza Factory, St. George

Sgt. Billion surprising me with chocolate covered strawberries - flowers behind us - and a plaque.

Col. Field of Dixie HS AFJROTC getting an appreciation award of a 2023 Devil Pup pencil holder

Rich Linsday speaks to our 2023 Devil Pup crowd of pups, families and friends

Vie Van Noy is the beautiful person who will be the new SUDP Coordinator.

She gets a shirt to let everyone know who she is!!

Saxton Ballard, who won the Lt. Col. Bill Toole award plaque at camp 

gets the Col. Toole cookie award for 2023.

A spontaneous hug from a St. George Devil Pup is a very special thing!

MSgt. Nina Morris, instructor at Pine View HS AFJROTC assists with awards

Emma Ruesch was the only female in this year's program

Retirement plaque from Devil Pups, Inc.

Special plaque from Southern Utah Devil Pups for co-founding and being a volunteer since 2005

Wonderful gifts and memories for a very rewarding time with Southern Utah Devil Pups

First SUDP to Win Lt. Col. Bill Toole Special Award

Saxton Ballard, a cadet from Pine View High School and a 2023 Devil Pup won the Lt. Col. Bill Toole special award for Persistence.  It's the first time a Southern Utah Devil Pup has won the award honoring our founder. 

Spaghetti Sauce

Making spaghetti sauce today.  I'll be sharing.  It's a great recipe, tweaked by me until it's the way I want it - which is definitely NOT Sicilian, so you won't find any sugar in this sauce.  CLICK HERE for the recipe.  It's an easy fix and makes the house smell wonderful during its crock pot time. 

2023 Devil Pups Scored Big Time

 

22 Jul 2023

Camp Pendleton, California

Devil Pup Graduation

As is often the case, pups are too excited to remember to show up for the group photos, so one pup is missing in this photo.  2023 SU Devil Pups took three out of seven special awards and we had one who participated in the guidon ceremony.  

Click for more pics and names

Birthday Week and Weekend

A fabulous time with many great memories.  It was super fun turning 80, but it didn't stick!!  I was back to 29 the very next day!!  It is what it is!!!

Getting Ready for the Big One

 

Bet you can't tell what birthday is coming up!!  Family will be joining me for the Big Day.  Hmmm, since I've been 29 for a long, long time, it must be 30 coming up . . .

So hope there will be strawberry shortcake . . .

There WAS strawberry shortcake - after a homemade Mexican meal.  So good!  Here we are celebrating at Top Golf.

My Cornbread Recipe

CLICK HERE FOR THE BEST CORNBREAD YOU'LL EVER TASTE! 

Chili Cook-Off

Will it win a third award?  I hope so.  My "New Year's Chili" will be entered into another chili cook-off this weekend.  I fiddled with it for around 30 years to get it just the way I liked it, and then my favorite chili powder was discontinued.  More fiddling until I was satisfied.  So fingers crossed for another win!

Update:

THIS AWESOME CHILI TOOK THE PRIZE!  Sorry, folks, it's a family secret.

Savory Party Bread

This recipe from Taste of Home is one of my favorite appetizer recipes.

CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE

Mother's Day 2023

I had a wonderful Mother's Day.  First were piano preludes prior to second and third services at Calvary Chapel, lunch at Olive Garden, Starbucks and my weekly grocery shopping at my favorite market.  I baked some shortcakes mid-afternoon and spent the evening with my "adopted" family - with 9 kids - and we had a BBQ meal which ended with strawberry shortcake.  (It is my favorite dessert.)  Handmade cards from all the kids were so sweet.  Good thing Mondays are my recovery days!!!  Phone calls and gifts from our kids made it all so special!

2023 Devil Pup Season Begins

The 2023 Devil Pup season is gearing up for another awesome year.  Around 150 applicants and our quota this year is 15.  Should be an interesting training season.  Not all 150 will show up with a parent to get officially signed up for try-outs, but it'll keep Sgt. Billion busy all spring. 

2023 Cold Bug

If you've had the 2023 spring cold bug,  you know the agony.  Wow!  This one was a doozy.  I don't remember ever being so sick I could barely care for myself!  Two weeks later and I have the most gnarly cough.  I was totally planning on a carefree, easy 2023 after putting 2022 where it belongs, but this wasn't a good start!!

 

Words of Jeremiah