Western Regionals Here We Come

Well today we took off for Albuquerque New Mexico for the Western Regional soccer tournament. Last fall Richie's soccer team took second place in State and this winter they received an invite to the tournament. Its nice to have Grandma and Grandpa G with us. Besides supporting Richie we hope to visit Old Town and see some interesting sites.

Richie drove all the way to Moab and did very well. It was a little nerve racking just because it is Richie behind the wheel..... not because of the way he drove. I took over in Moab and we drove to Montecello Utah and were going to stay the night but sorry to say, the town did not impress us. So we drove on to Cortez Colorado. Once in Colorado we saw some nice farms and greener surroundings. On the way back we might stop back here and visit Mesa Verde National Park depending on how Richie feels after all the soccer games.

I did bring my insect stuff and will go collecting once we reach the New Mexico desert. Grandpa brought his generator and we have the light trap if we get adventurous. Can you image running a light trap on the Rio Grand. Cool..... a coleopterist's dream come true.

Wish us luck and pray for an injury-free tournament.

Good night all!

Big Buddha Belly..... BE GONE

Most of you might have noticed my recent (last 20 years) struggle with a few extra pounds. I have officially went to war against my abdominal excess. Actually I am packing extra pounds in the entire thoracic region.

Here is my game face. I mean business this time. A change in my priorities....and willingness to ask for help. A few of my fellow school teachers and I are having a little caloric competition in hopes of a better quality of life. Besides eating better I plan on walking and moving my body more. Richie has kept me busy around the yard with new projects and gardening. Lynne is going on walks with me. Grandma and the rest of the crew is helping me count calories and prepare food. Counting calories has really helped me realize the energy density of some foods. Needless to say the whole family is helping me.

I will post my results from time to time just in case some of you are interested. Week one I lost..... 15 pounds. Yes its the truth... I could not believe it.

Wish me luck! Rich

Monday June 7
Breakfast
1 cup 1% milk, 110
2 shredded wheat biscuits, 160

Snack
1/4 cup of cottage cheese, 50
1 cup carrots, 60

Lunch
1 Slice Bread, 100
1 egg, 70
1 sting cheese, 80

Snack
Yogurt, 80

Dinner
Tin foil dinner, 400

Treat
smoothy 110

Total Calories 1220

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Tues. June 8th
Breakfast
1 cup skim milk, 80
2 shredded wheat biscuits, 160

Lunch
Open face ham, cheese, lettuce, 290
1/2 cup grapes, 31
Yogurt, 80

Snack
Corn nuts, 100

Snack
Cottage cheese, 180

Dinner
Chicken Enchilada,450
Salad, 100

Snack
Popcorn, 100

Total Calories 1571

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Wednesday June 9th

Breakfast

2 cup skim milk, 160
2 shredded wheat biscuits, 160

Snack
1 banana, 105

Lunch
1 apple, 100
1/4 cup of cottage cheese, 50
4 oz of catfish, 175

Snack
Can of beans, 75
1/2 cup of cottage cheese, 100

Snack
1/2 cup cottage cheese, 80

Dinner
Omelet with grits, 500

Snack
Popcorn,100

Total 1605

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Thursday June 10th

Breakfast
1 cup skim milk, 80
2 shredded wheat biscuits, 160

Snack
cottage cheese, 100

Lunch
open face sandwich with chicken and onion, 300
and salad

Snack
apple, 100

Dinner
Lemon Herb Chicken with Rosemary and Pasta, 375

Snack
Popcorn, 100
Smoothy 150

Total, 1365

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Friday June 11

Breakfast
1 cup skim milk, 80
2 shredded wheat biscuits, 160


Lunch
Open faced sandwich ham etc., 375

Snack
1 slice Wheat bread, 120
little dab of smart balance, 35

Dinner
Catfish, 250
Stir Fried Vegetables, 125

Snack
Cantalope 200

Total 1345

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Sat. June 12

Breakfast
1 1/2 cup skim milk, 140
2 shredded wheat biscuits, 160
blue berries, 35

Snack

None

Lunch

Two open faced sandwiches with tuna
and a salad, 520


Snack
little cookies, 100

Dinner
Green Tuna Salad 260
rice 210

Snack
Popcorn 100
jello 20
Total 1545


Wish me luck! Rich

Garden Update

Much time and love has gone into preserving our garden during an extreme spring. Utah weather can be just brutal.

If you have followed our blog you remember the tomatoes under the cold frame / plastic. The tallest of the tomatoes in the image were recipients of that tender loving care. They are doing great even though they have been subjected to freezing temperatures and 4 inches of heavy snow. The snow fell when the plants were not covered.

We are having lots of blossoms and if you look carefully you will see some tomatoes. Yummy.

Now can you see me (the tomato that is).

Here is a better shot of me. I am growing very big and look forward to the day I can be sliced, salted and peppered. Becoming a delicious part of the Glassford family diet is my only goal in life....... wait a minute am I talking like a tomato?????? I need to take a break from the garden.

Our peppers were also snowed on. We have 8 different varieties of peppers this year. In the past we have only grown a few plants.

Check out our largest pepper. You will never guess its name.....Holy Mole', this is an awarding winning pepper that turns chocolate brown in color. I look forward to some awesome salsa with a warm chili flavor.

Since our soil is heavy clay I find potatoes grow best in containers. I decided to use one of my old bee boxes to house the scrumptious tubers. We used some of the potatoes we bought from the store as our seed potatoes. They were big russets from Idaho.

Our onions and beats are doing great. The soil is very shallow in this location because of the rock wall. The plants along the edge need extra water and and fertilizer.

We are having pumpkin growing contest this year and Jimmy and Richie are inspecting their mounds of giant squash..... also known as jack-o-lanterns. Here are the teams

Richard II and Richard III
Richard I (grandpa)
Jimmy and Rachel
David and Conner

We will keep you posted on strategy and success. Stay tuned.

Richie wanted to grow some watermelon and cantaloupe so we took Grandma H's water troth and filled it with a proprietary blend of unique soil substances. A little extra fertilizer was mixed with the soil and a cover was applied for the first few nights of cool temps. We have never successfully grown these scrumptious fruits here in Utah. We were successful in San Diego but not here along the Wasatch Front.

Up in the orchard Richie and I decided to try growing some winter squash among the trees. They get some full sun.....but deserve much more. There are a few more hills that you cannot see. These poor plants are attacked nightly by soft slimy mollusk (slugs). In this image Richie is applying a natural slug bait that will hopefully put an end to the squash buffet.


Well we hope you are all doing a little gardening, if not you still have time. You can adopt some herbs than eat them as they grow..... Ha!

Happy gardening !

Graduation Dinner - A Late Post

I am so far behind in my posts... We really had a good time at the dinner so I wanted to post a few words and images. After the Heather's commencement ceremony we all met at Los Hermanos for dinner.

Grandma and Grandpa G. share some time with the new graduate.

The only people at the dinner that you cannot see in this image is Jessica, Jacob, Derek and myself. Los Hermanos is one of our favorite places to take the family.

Heather opens one of her little graduation gifts. I am sure she had this book read before she went to bed that evening. Heather is the biggest book worm in the family.

She also likes jewelery and accessories. We plan on getting some more significant gifts at a later time.Waiting for chips and their world famous Los Hermanos salsa was almost pain staking. Grandpa is whispering sweet nothings into Grandma's ear.

Once the chips and salsa arrived Jacob went to work. I did appreciate the fact that Jacob let me have some of his salsa.

It is usually one dip and down the hatch. Gotta love those chips. Little bites chew and chew little man.

Little Derek had a great time with his daddy.

After a long day of work, Dan enjoyed a few moments with his youngest son.

Say awaaaaaa.....Derek is learning very fast and has a good time mimicking the faces of others.

Hey Dad, make that funny face again.

After we arrived home Heather wanted to play with the hummers. They fly so close you can feel the wind generated by those fast little wings.

Good thing these are not vampire hummers.

Heather we all enjoyed sharing this, once in a life time, experience with you. It is now time to take the next step in life. No not marriage... I would not currently support you in this endeavor. What I speak of is more school. Yea !! I think you will make a great teacher so do not doubt, have confidence and look out world here comes my youngest daughter.

One Big Catfish Got Away

Grandma and Grandpa and I wet a hook in Utah Lake this week. Everyone else was busy (soccer practice, doctors appointments, school etc.). We picked up some worms and off we went. As soon as we threw in our lines the fish started biting. Grandma and Grandpa both caught a nice channel cat and I caught a bull head catfish and a large carp. One of the fish Grandma hooked into was very large. It took off up and down the shore line on multiple runs.

Grandma and Grandpa sit waiting for the big bite.

One of the fish Grandma hooked into was very large. It took off up and down the shore line on multiple runs. Once it got close to the edge it lodged itself into the rocks. I reached my hand under the rocks to pull up the slimy vertebrate and it shook free from the line. I was very disappointed with the smooth catfish get away.

I hope Grandma and Grandpa found the experience relaxing. I know I had fun. Nice catch you guys. Don't forget I still have worms in the fridge just in case you want to tomorrow.

The trophy catfish is still in the lake but in Grandma's hands are a few good fillets for lunch. It is nice to see they both still have the passion of fishing.

Heather Walks, YouDaWoman

Who graduated Friday? You can see her in the image below. She is the happy one with a smile on her face. Your right, my little Heather is now on her way to adulthood. Heather has been accepted into UVU and will start taking classes this fall.

Heather's best friend Andrea can be seen to her right. They have been friends since 9th grade.

I walked down to the floor of the Marriott Center and saw Heather and all of her fellow graduates waiting in the tunnel. I was lucky enough to snap this image as she was walking out of the tunnel and into the spotlight.

Each graduate walked out in front of the crowd through the "big M". Many students gave a unique sign, dance or perplexed look. Heather gave her positive thumbs up to a loud cheer of Bruin Fans.

Diploma in hand, she walks across the stage a new women. Her walk and persona exudes confidence. Look out world her she comes. Yes, she is on her way. You go girl !!

Heather and three of her friends or am I seeing double. Hummm!

After the big walk we met for some images on the south east corner of the Marriott Center. We were missing one sibling. Angielubodabinga is in British Colombia on vacation with her hubby.

More family that came to the Marriott Center in support of our little Heather. How did Jacob get up there?

The next couple of images were taken by Rachel. We wanted a few graduations images of Heather. Do you recognize Heather's signature hand sign. Good job Heather. Your thumbs speak a thousand words. Even thousands...

Great choice of background Rachel. Cool color and texture along with the wind on her face. I like it. Oh, and the tree is a tricolor beech. We have to give the tree some props as well.

Rachel chose the front rock garden for this image. Interesting angle, a little wind and a great smile make for a good shot.

Happy Mom proudly stands next to Heather and a giant sequoia. Heather will be living at home which is very nice for us. We love having our kids stay with us.

Nice... we have Spiraea x vanhouttei in the background and a beautiful young lady in the foreground. You take great images Heather. We are all excited you made it through MVHS with a smile on your face. I look forward to working with you this summer in our new family business. Heather is the CEO of a new company called "Tomatoes R' US" You might see her along State Street in Orem Utah or at your door selling 12 different varieties of tomatoes. All cultivated organically with tender loving care. They don't call her Mrs. Lycopene for nothing.

Thanks Heather for a very enjoyable ride. Keep up the good work. We love you !

Richie YouDA Man

High School Soccer season is over and I wanted to post some of my favorite images of Richie.  It is a real thrill to watch Richie play soccer.  The physicality of the game is scary for parents to watch and we always pray for all the boys that they will not become injured.  I was proud he practiced hard and gave all he had during games.  I watch and reminisce about the days I had playing basketball and wonder what it would be like to move like that again (maybe in the next life, if I lose 50 pounds).  I have told all my kids that you have a small window of time playing sports, give it all you have while it lasts.  Don't just enjoy the ride, create it. 

As you read this it does not take long to figure we are Richie's number one fans. 

Richie has a good header.  Soccer players use their head in more than one way.  He scored on a header at least once this season.  

Nice balancing act.... all that hair provides a little protection.

Strength and speed help a striker to get around their opponent.  Richie likes to play attacking midfield and striker. 

Up up and away above the Orem tigers.  Orem has not been victorious against the Bruins in a very long time.  They have a very good team so there will continue to be hard fought games between these two rivals.

 

Richie out in front and on the attach. He had a nice cross on this run.

Check out his hair in this photo.  You can see where the ball was on his head.  Cool !

Richie scored the game winning header against this team (Provo) at home. 

After Richie scored on his header the team chased him down to celebrate.

Staying low on  the ball around his outside helps maintain ones speed.

Richie juked the defender, ran around him and up the middle of the field.

Richie and the defender when up for a header on a free kick.  He has the defenders shirt and looks like he is about to punch him.  No harm was done.  Richie was fouled many times in the box this year as he came within striking distance.

Tapping the ball on the outside of  his foot Richie prepares for a cross.

 Helping out on the defensive end with a slide tackle.

High flying header pass down field.

Looking cool with his big quads. 

It got a little physical a few times.  The kid on the bottom has his hand around Richie's shoulder and would not let him up.  So to encourage him to let go, Richie was just about ready to give him a pop in the leg. Luckily he didn't because he would have been carded.

Sneaking in behind to pick off the ball.  Good old fashion double team.

Richie gets to the ball first and heads out a cross.  Nice technique shown with hooking his opponents arm.  Richie runs from the striker position and plays defense during corner kicks.  They need his height and hops to clear the ball.  With his speed he can get back into offensive position .Thanks for a great season Richie.  

Don't forget:  Train, Train, Train,  Love Dad