The George Rollingson Mine

 In 1902 my Grandfather George Rollingson with his brother John journeyed to Canada from their homeland of Northern England. Coal miners these men were. In fact George had been a coal miner since he was 9 years old. They ended up in Southern Alberta in a place called Coalbanks, later to be called Lethbridge. After grievance with an employer, they returned to England to take on wives and start their families, only to heed the call to once again to return to Canada in 1913. This time to establish their own mines. Coal mining was a life long venture for George till he hung up his pick at the age of 74.

While in Hungary a few years ago I received an email from a descendant of John Rollingson by the name of Bea Crawford. She had heard that I had written and published a book "Oh those Rollingson Boys" and wished a copy which I was only too willing to oblige. She also told me that she had a painting of the John Rollingson Mine painted by my sister Dorothy Peterson and that she understood it to be one of a pair, the other being the George Rollingson Mine (my grandfather). I was totally unaware of such a painting. I remember the mine of which she spoke from my childhood days. I had to track down that painting. My sister had passed on many years ago, however her daughter Connie had her remaining paintings stashed away in a storage facility. It was eventually found and I dibbed possession. Before doing so, I had Connie who is also an artist in the family, inscribe a excerpt from grampa's journal. I have since framed the painting as you see here. It has been a real family project and it is a priceless family heirloom now hanging in my Star Valley home. The painting is of George's Mine painted in 1968, now a ghost mine in the coulee above the confluence of the St Mary and Old Man River in Southern Alberta.

Spring Break with the Lyons Family

Our winter living in Sand Hollow gives us a good central location for a plethora of great activities. One of our favorite activities is a hiking the red rocks. A trip to the Owls Nest is a must or a swim in the reservoir at Sand Hollow State Park which is across the street. Naturally some cliff jumping into the lake was a must.

 A few short miles by car takes us to a recently discovered hike up beautiful Red Cliffs Canyon. Granddaughter Andee will take on any challenge despite her short legs.

 The frogs in mating season provided some curious entertainment for the granddaughters. The canyon gets to a point where continuation can only be done by getting wet, some places up to your arm pits.

Such excursions are of coarse followed up with a trip to the local In-n-Out Burger Joint. Hey maybe we could get a job here. Better keep my day job.....doin nothin!

Hungary Budapest Mission Reunion 2013

2013 HUNGRY BUDAPEST MISSION REUNION was held April  5th. at the home of Pres. and Sister Baughman in Sandy Utah. About 100 former missionaries attended to renew acquaintances with former companions. Many have moved on and taken on new eternal companions. Photo above is Mister and Misses Derek Tracy.

 and Ryan Mullen and his beautiful wife.

 Mason Galland with his forever girlfriend Ally.

 More familiar faces for our Hungarian friends, Mason and Chenney,

 and Jake Weston with friend Alex and Brian Nelson,

 and who can forget Trevor Bouck and Zack Diamond.

And finally the Senior couples of Pecs and Kaposvar, Bob and Brenda Bailey and Norm and Heather Rollingson.

Rollingson's Spring Break at Sand Hollow

Our son Derek Rollingson and his family hiking Zion National Park. Nelson,Owen, Natasha, Auston, Tawnya and Derek. The Rollingson's live in Castle Rock, Colorado, but chose to leave the snow behind and spend a week with Gramma and Grampa in sunny Southern Utah.

Nelson and mom enjoying the view from atop the rocks at what we call the Owls Nest.

 Young Auston loved exploring the caves and the slot canyons. Great place to search for Easter eggs.

Family time exercising our 2nd Amendment Rights with a little firearms safety instruction or what we called  "Plinking in the Desert" I got the impression that Natasha preferred to be home practicing her violin.

Treasure in Death Valley

 Norm: Located in an oasis in the north end of Death Valley lies " Scotty's Castle."

 But Scotty did not own the castle. It was built by, and owned by an insurance tycoon named Albert Johnson. Albert was lured to Death Valley by Scotty,  a con man  who claimed to have a gold mine that needed investers.

Scotty was soon exposed as a fraud but Albert and wife Bessie discovered other riches during their years in Death Valley. Starting construction in 1922, Albert built this technology advanced dream home that provided him and his wife with luxury, beauty, tranquility as well as a desert climate that brough him relief of health ailments.

 After nine years of construction, a survey discovered he built his home on land that he did not own. He had been scamed once again and he faced a government stop work order. By then the money was running out anyway.

 A life long friendship developed with the charasmatic con-man and story teller, Death Valley Scotty.
" We have been partners for a long time. Scotty has a great  appetite for money, and I like to feed it.
He has always repaid me - in laughs." A. Johnson

 The castle was furnished in antique furniture from Spain. Any who have been in our home will recognize this chair as nearly identical to the antique funiture that I purchased in Malaga Spain some fourty years ago. Our funiture was claimed to be well over 100 years old at that time.

Our tour guide described this chest to be over 400 years old. Looks almost identical in style to our hutches although this example is somewhat less elaborate.
 Scotty's Castle is owned, maintained and protected by the National Park Service. A must see should you find yourself in these parts, but should you run into the ghost of Scotty, hang on to your wallet, to this day he is still looking for investers in his non-existant gold mine.

A California Trip and a Birthday Surprise

 Heather: March first was my brother's 70th birthday and Norm and I decided we would take a road trip to vist Charlie and his family. Kristin and I cooked up a surprise for Charlie Friday evening. Charlie and Kristin work in the Oakland Temple on Friday nights, so we decided that we would arrange a surprise for Charlie as he served that night. The surprise worked beautifuly thanks to everyone in the Temple being in on the secret. It was a beautiful evening that gave me great joy.

 Sunday march third we were privliaged to see Jonathan bless baby Benjamin. It was a treat for us to be with family for that special occassion. Jonathan gave a a beautiful blessing to baby Benjamin. This is Jonathan sweet family, Emily holding Benjamin with Anna and Maddy.

 

 On our way home we drove through the mountains covered with beautiful orange, blue, and white wild flowers. The green  hills were dotted with granite bolders.

I am so glad that we took the road less traveled! The drive was absolutly stunning!

Christmas 2012 Park City

 With the Lyons Family, Park City Utah, Karli, Heather, dauther Val with Andee, Jamie, Laura and Dean

 Lighting of a resort entry by Brite Nites, our son in law Dean's company.

The main Town Square. Christmas in Park City would be rather dim without the talent of the Brite Nites crew.

 The entrance to a famous restraunt in downtown Park City, again the work of Brite Nites.

Trip to Castle Rock Colorado

 "Oh those Rollingson boys" Left to right, Auston, Owen and Nelson. (our grandsons) The occasion was Owen's baptism into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at Castle Rock Colorado.

 Owen had just turned eight years old and is pictured here with a big grin on his face.

 Baptism was performed by his father Derek Norman Rollingson. Shown here with proud mother Tawnya.

While there, we indulged in a little family bonding target practise with Dereks arsonal collection. "Don't mess with Grandma"

Trip to Vancouver Island

  Boy are we getting behind on our blog posting. We had two excuses to make a fall trip back to the Island. Took the trailer to Antecortez Washington, unhooked and took the truck only through one of our favorite parts of the world, the San Juan Islands. It was a drizly gloomy day but very pleasant watching the whales and the porpoise greet the ferrie..

 Number one excuse was to see my favorite niece Connie Furgason Card.who that day was hosting a demonstration on caligraphy at a local art store in Sydney British Columbia.

Connie lives in Sydney with a view of the Georgia Straight off her balconey although she has since moved to Lethbridge Alberta. Saw many of our old friends at church which was a real treat.

 Second excuse was a visit with our dear friends Karre and Vida Gronnestad just north of Duncan. View of the Island from atop the mountain behind their property.

 Naturally we had to be introduced to her small herd of cows. "Pleased to meet (meat) you.....poop on my shoe and you're between two slices of bread."

While we were serving our mission in Hungary, the Gronnestads were serving in Denmark and recently returned from a humanitarian project in Haiti.

Takeing on "The Wall"

 Our grandaughter,Jaime Lyons, a recent UVU graduate in athletic science has instigated a family fitness program that many of us are victims of. While she is sluffing off and teaching in the Ukraine, we are puffing our way into shape in various locations back here in North America. The way it works is simple enough. Eat right and exercise, go to bed early, read your scriptures and drink mega glasses of water. Our weekly exercise program consists of 6 x 1.5 hours of alternating walking, biking, working out in the weight room, swimming for Heather and hunting  golf balls for Norm.

We have a favorite place close to our house for biking, however till now we were limited as to how far we could go because of "The Wall" ( a steep mile long hill). Last year we had convinced ourselves that our 71 & 72 years and our 7 speed bikes were a limiting factor.

However now that we are perfected in our fitness, I for one have been whitling away at the hill for weeks, just a bit at a time. Today was the day for the full montey. I reached the top in jubilation, only to look back and see Heather coming close on my tail.    

The Wall is a favored route for bikers as it is on the St George Sand Hollow Triathelon route. A sign at the bottom just beyond the cattle guard reads "You Can Do It". About half way another sign reads "Almost There".At the top.......well the picture says it best. 

Here's Norm, the skiney guy in the black and blue jersey. What is all this silleyness doing for me? Well losing weight is good. (6.2 lbs since Jan.1) Doc says the high blood pressure has evaporated. Blood sugars remain normal and life is good.......and yes going back down the hill was a piece-a-cake.

Maja Enchanted Part ll

It was a beautiful fall day in Manti, UT, made all the more beautiful by the marriage of our Maja and her sweetheart, Matthew! Maja looked radiant in a lovely white gown that she brought form Hungary. She said it was made in Komlo.

Norm and I were so happy to share Maja and Matthew's wonderful day as surogate grand parents! Norm and Matthew's father were the wittnesses to their marriage. I just cried with happiness.

The Manti Temple is a very old and lovley ediface built on a hill. We were able to go up the spiral staircases in the towers to the sealing room. Bettina Feketa came all the way from Jersey, England to be Maja's maid of honor. She also took 100's of pictures! Brian Neilsen drove Bettina from Provo and we were so glad to see him there. This beautiful wedding was the long awaited blessing that came form many prayers and the faithfulness of both Maja and Matthew. We are grateful that we were able to share in their joy. The couple honnymooned at Sand Hollow Resort in Southern Utah.

Corena runs "THE BEAR"

 

 

 

 

 In our family we have IRONMEN, TRIATHELETES, MARATHONERS and ULTRARUNNERS.
They say it's in their genes, but Heather and I say not in the genes that we wear. Our third daughter has run several 50 mile races and she just completed her second run of "THE BEAR" It is a 100 mile endurance run from Logan Utah to Fish Haven Idaho  starting Sept. 28th 2012.. No the run is not up the canyon on the highway. This is a wilderness race over the mountains and through the woods. And no this is not a relay. They run the race completely on their own start to finish.......no tag team woosy stuff. Lowest elevation is 4,860 ft. Highest elevation is 9,060 ft. above sea level. And get this. Going over the ridges gives them a total of 21,980 feet of climbing. And no....they don't stop to sleep. Start is 6:00 am and through the day and through the night and through the next day with a 36 hour cut off.

Some 250 of the best ultra runners from U.S. and Canada were entered.  166 completed in the 36 hour allotted time. Interesting too is that Ultra Runs have no divisions, classes or gender separation. All entrants are equal and on their own. Corena placed #60 with a time of 28 hours 35 minutes  This time was better than 10 minutes faster than 4 years ago when she was 4 years younger.
The above photo was taken as the trail passed through a recreational lake area over a man made groomed dam. Trails in the wilderness are not this way. They are raw and hazardous strewn with logs, rocks and the occasional bear, wolf or mangy moose.

 Every runner has a back stage / pit crew. This is Corena's support crew. Cassie, Norm and Heather.

Corena's Pacers were borrowed from the Star Valley High School Cross Country Team. Hannah, Hailey, Cody and Ben. Corena is the assistant coach of the team. Ty Drayney the coach placed an impressive 5th in the race.