New York, New York

Yes, Becky and Howard enjoyed a lovely trip to New York, New York... but the main reason for that trip was to travel to Pittsburgh and see Anne Turner get baptized. It was a marvelous experience and we are so humbled by her maturity and sincere goodness... to say the least of her ability to dance and laugh. (For more on this event see Joy's blog)

In the mean time Becky and I ventured to New York with Havalah and Brigg. They greeted us with this giant welcome on a 100 foot high billboard. We dedicated the moment to Sierra.
Times Square was really our first introduction to the energy of New York which really holds nothing compared to the energy of Havalah Turner. She was jumping and dancing like Anne.

These New York cops stopped us to get Becky's autograph and a few tips on how to plant their gardens. We let them take a picture with her.

Other than the opportunity to run / jog through Central Park and the magnificents of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, our experience traveling to see the Stature of Liberty was the most interesting and amazing. We were surrounded on this little ship by people from all over the world..literally. There were Germans, French, Russians, Asians, Mexicans among so many others and as we neared the statue to dock and embark the most interesting thing happened. They all stopped talking in their various languages and turned toward this symbol of freedom and liberty and strained to take pictures. The boat seemed to lean to the starboard (right?) as they rushed that direction to take it in and get a better,closer look. To me it was as if they knew that the liberty and freedom they now enjoy in their various homes and lands started here, in the United States of American and this Stature and her presence represented something to them they couldn't say to us but felt.

I heard in my mind the words Mom taught me for some speach contest way back in 6th grade..."give more your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wetched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door".

Gardens

Over the years this Burton family has planted lots of gardens. The California garden grew the fastest but was eaten the fastest by local critters. In Michigan we planted our first successful gardens. The soil left by the older couple we bought that house from was superb. There are pictures somewhere of all the kids (Dan, Joy and Anjuli) behind huge flowers in that garden.
We've planted lots of gardens here in Washington. The garden plot was placed on the site of the burn pile from the construction of the home. I thought the ashes would add nutrients to the soil. Did I note that our land is also on what was the path of the glacier that melted and became the Puget Sound... when it melted it left behind the rocks!
We kind of let things get away from us this spring and started with this last week end.
This week we weeded, roto tilled and planted. The "teepee" above is becoming an annual tradition as Becky creates a place for the grandkids to play while the beans have a place to grow. Look real close and you will see the string is red, green and blue. Probably the funnest teepee yet.

By mid afternoon tomatoes were planted, beans in, etc. We've added yards of new, better dirt, and really missed older kids that wanted to help. Yes, the best part of our gardens are these planting days when the whole crew is out here helping. I've enjoyed the miracles of seeing married children bring their children and spouses out to the gardens and digging in with enthusiasm and vision. Hearing in their voices stories of other gardens and enough understanding to know that when they have homes and backyards of their own they will plant gardens too.


This is a picture of the flower garden. That's Colby's rock in front and Anne and Andrew's rock from Lake Erie in the planters in the middle of the picture. We brought those back last summer. Not quite as many rocks as Uncle John's (see below) but this isn't Utah. The trees are a bit taller though.