Hinckley Blog

Granted, our mailbox wasn't exactly in the best shape. The wooden post looked like it might be rotting, the box was dented in a few places, and the door swung open if it wasn't slammed shut. We'd been saying for months that it was probably time for a new box. But replacing the mailbox wasn't exactly at the top of our list of desired home improvement projects. Well, last week Rob was dutifully mowing the lawn with the riding lawn mower and feeling quite confident in his ability to maneuver it around small places. He thought, "Perhaps I'll just get right up close to the mailbox. I can probably do it, and then I won't have to get out the weed wacker." Now, if our mailbox had been in decent shape, it probably wouldn't have toppled. Or at least not as spectacularly as it did! Post and everything came right down. Rob was right - not having a mailbox did eliminate the need for a weed wacker. Now he could just mow right over the cement in the ground that used to hold our mailbox in place. He went to Home Depot to buy a new one. But when he opened the box, it didn't have all the right parts for installation. Then he realized that even if the box were complete, this was a job that was beyond his installation abilities. It required digging out the cement, inserting the new post, and securing it with cement or some equivalent. Neither Home Depot nor Lowes install the mailboxes they sell, in case you were wondering. So he tracked down a mailbox installer close to our house. But the mailbox installer is something of a mailbox snob, and won't install those cheap hardware store mailboxes. He sells his own, and has thousands of them at his store. So off I went on Monday afternoon to choose a new mailbox. The cheapest mailbox Mr. Mailbox Snob sells is, I'm quite sure, more top of the line than anything at Lowes or Home Depot. But what was our choice? Mr. Mailbox Snob promised that it would last us a very, very long time (because eternal durability was really something we were looking for in a mailbox) and that we would be so much happier with the magnetic open and close mechanism and the sturdiness of his box than we would be with anything at the hardware store. I tried to explain that the cheap box at Home Depot would actually make us very happy, if only he would install it. No luck, even all the charm Ellie and I could muster. I sighed, swallowed hard, and bought the mailbox. So now, as you can see by comparing the two boxes in the picture, we are the proud owners of a top of the line mailbox and cedar post. The finest in the neighborhood for sure. It is sturdy and opens and closes like a dream, and I'm certain our mail carrier likes us a lot more than she used to. When we sell this house years from now, we're going to list the mailbox as one of its luxury features.

The leaves are changing, and here's what we've been doing. I'm learning a new skill - running with a stroller. Ellie was very hesitant at first (see pictures), but was quite happy after a couple of miles. It's been a gorgeous couple of weeks, so we've been walking on the Loveland Bike Trail with Dani Jensen and the twins Jacob and Claire, and to the park with the same group, plus Camie and her little Lydia and Clayton. Just yesterday, we met all that crew, plus Nana (Nan Jensen) at a pumpkin patch, complete with wandering turkeys. Then, that night, we all attended the play at Sycamore High School to see Andrew play the lead role in the very moving play The Yellow Boat. Yes, we took Ellie to the play. I RSVP'd to Nan last week that Friday was our best night to go, and on Thursday Rob asked me who was going to watch Ellie. Huh. Never occurred to me that we had a child - someone who might not be welcome in the high school auditorium. Seriously never crossed my mind. Well, by Thursday night it was too late to find someone to spend several hours of their Friday night with our little QE2, so we shrugged our shoulders, packed the diaper bag and hoped for the best. We seated ourselves about 10 feet from the nearest exit in case a quick getaway became necessary. To our astonishment and delight, Ellie slept through the entire thing and never made a peep. Whew. That's not to say that I wasn't clutching a bottle, tense, ready to pop it in her mouth the second I heard anything that sounded like the beginning of a wail. Quite an adventure. This next week is going to be beautiful - we'll keep you posted.

Our little girl rode four airplanes in one week in a most regal fashion. There were no meltdowns and no angry stares from surrounding passengers. Ellie got to see Grammie again, and met Pops, Aunt Bess, Uncle Spence, Uncle Joseph, Aunt Jenni, Aunt Ada, Uncle Chris, and cousins Abby and Sadie. Plus Great Grandpa Hinckley and Great Grandparents Grammie Doll and Daddy Owen. Plus lots of friends. Wasn't it so fun? After a whirlwind Conference weekend, Rob went back to the office to bring home the bacon, and Ellie and I stayed the week. On Saturday night after the priesthood session, we visited the Claytons for a Committee reunion. We ate pie and talked and talked, met baby Q, and saw Jennie and Darrell and their now very big boys. On Monday night, the whole cousins crew met Pops down at the Children's Museum at the Gateway for Family Night. It was quite a zoo! I loved it, Abby and Sadie had the time of their lives, and Ellie tried hard to deal with the noise and crowds. Perhaps when she's older she can run through the market and play in the water with her cousins. On Tuesday, Ellie had her first trip to the Church Administration Building to visit Grandpa. Pops, Grammie and I got flu shots and ate lunch with GBH, Dick and Janie. On Friday, Grammie and Ellie and I drove to Provo for Ellie's first visit to BYU and the MOA. We had a yummy lunch and explored the bookstore. Grammie bought Ellie what has to be my new favorite children's book: Fancy Nancy. Something that ought to be in every collection! Alas, then came Saturday - our departure day. We got up early to go to the Farmers' Market with Grammie and Pops. It was cold and rainy, but who can resist the Farmers' Market? We bought all kinds of vegetables, ate Great Harvest bread, and took pictures. Then, sadly, it was time to go to the airport. Security is so much fun with a diaper bag, car seat, stroller, and baby. What an adventure. Rob picked us up at 10:15 p.m. in Cincinnati, and we drove home exhausted and happy. Yay for vacations!

The following is the full text of Eliza's first book, a non-fiction account of yesterday's most exciting event.

"Once upon a time, there was a skunk in our backyard. So we ran and we screamed. We closed the door. How we found it is that my mom was reaching for a shovel because we were going to the beach and the skunk was right there by her [inside the outdoor cupboard where we keep yard tools and beach toys]. She saw some teeny little eyes and she saw some black fur and a white stripe and a tail. And then she noticed it was a skunk! So we called Animan Control. They said that all we have to do is sprinkle some flour where it is and then check the next day and if we see footprints, then we'll know that it is gone. So what our plan is, is that tonight we'll do it. Daddy will go out there and do it. The end."

I wish you could see the accompanying illustrations! And as for the current status of the skunk situation, Daddy could not be convinced to sprinkle flour to track the wild animal as per the plan, but he did bravely re-open the cupboard door to provide an escape route. We hope this is The End of the story.

Saturday was Folk Night at Greyhaven again. Mommakath's famous chile was a big hit, as always; Burke couldn't get the sound system working until 8:30, as always; and there was a eclectic crowd, as always. Spencer opened with "Santa Monica Pier", that great Christine Lavin song popularized by our own Buddy Mondlock (whose signed poster now graces the wall at Greyhaven), with Joseph singing harmony. Mother and I left after the opening number - 7:00 a.m. comes so early - but when we left there were easily 60 people at the cabin and more streaming in. We counted a dozen cars parked along the highway, and there were an equal number on the dirt road, the Vriens, etc. In the end it was a little ungovernable.

Prior to Folk Night we drove to Orem for the wedding reception of Diana Bodily, whose father, Sam, is the founder of the Bodily Movement. A wonderful visit.

The day started by taking Ellie to the farmers' market, then to the airport. When mother stopped crying we were able to drive to Orem... We will miss the QE2 but it was great to have her here.

And today we celebrate our 33rd anniversary - nearly a third of a century! No wonder we going on a cruise this fall. It's what people our age do!

Happy anniversary to all!