Angel Moroni - Guardian Angel?

I'm interrupting our vacation recap for a story that I saw last night on the local news.

Because I am technologically challenged I only know one way to do this...

click here

Then click on the camera icon for the story

"Dump Truck Dumps Two Wheels on SUV"

and watch until the very end.

Gunsmoke, Petroglyphs and Ants, Oh My!

Update: Thanks to an ornithologically-inclined younger brother the dead bird has been identified as a female black-headed grosbeak. Thanks Darin! May she rest in peace.


I love it when our schedule is no schedule. One day found us headed towards Kanab and the old Gunsmoke set located east of town. I am starting to think I can justify a better camera than my trusty digital point-and-shoot since so many of the things I want to take pictures of are on private property. Either a new camera or a reckless desire to jump the fence so that I can get closer. There are some nice petroglyphs (yes, located on private property) not too far from the Gunsmoke set. There is also what I think might be Southern Utah's first billboard advertising Jensen and Brooksby Store and Garage.


We found some beautiful fields of sunflowers on our way to the Gunsmoke set and the petroglyphs - so pretty - they would make a beautiful background for photographs. Again the problem of private property. Dinner at the Rewind Diner (we ate with Betty Boop) - yummy! My burger had a creamy dill relish - unbelievable! Cara fell in love with hamburgers and sampled Apple Beer.

Sadly, a bird flew into one of our picture windows on the deck. I was hoping that it was stunned but several hours later there were several signs that it was indeed dead (I will not mention any of the specific signs - but trust me, it was dead). I scooped it into a dust bin and after a prayer in my heart I released its spirit to the great bird heaven in the sky and its mortal remains to the gulch behind the cabin.

I have been trying to figure out what kind of bird it was - a sparrow of some sort perhaps, but have been unable to identify it. Any birders?

Ghost Hunters

Grafton, Utah

Settled originally in 1859 and abandoned in 1921, Grafton is a fabulous window to the past. You really do get a sense of it being a real ghost town. It still feels somewhat inhabited to me. It isn't hard to imagine what life might have been like in this town along the Virgin River.

Visting the cemetary is a stark reminder of life and death and hardship in the late 1800's. There are so many children's graves. Perhaps the saddest is one tombstone for two girls who were friends. They both died when the log holding their swing fell on them.

If you are interested in a Grafton ghost story - this link tells a story regarding the two girls mentioned above. The music is performed by Red Rock Rondo as part of an album that celebrates Zion Canyon. The songs were written based on oral histories of people from the area.

The cd/music and histories are wonderful.

I thought I was a grown up...

When are you old enough not to have your feelings hurt?

Craig is always reminding me:

No good deed goes unpunished!

I have never liked that quote and I always give him

a bad time when he says it...

Why

is

it

too

often

true?

If I could Hi(k)e to Kolob...

Kolob Canyon is a beautiful somewhat hidden treasure that is part of Zion National Park. We highly recommend it if traveling between St. George and Cedar City.

No crowds, no shuttle and amazing scenery...

Remember that one summer when both C and E packed the same pair of tennis shoes to wear on the hikes?

After countless arguments, I think this is what happened...

E put a pair in the shared suitcase (for herself) and C saw them and thought "How thoughtful of E to put my shoes in the suitcase." Needless to say there were fireworks when E came down wearing them on the day we planned to Hi(k)e to Kolob.

Yikes! Seems funnier now than it did then. Note the sad C face...

We had few options:
1) one person wear them and the other go without
2) each person wear one shoe
3) no one wears them and you hike in flip flops

We (meaning I) settled on #3 - (it wasn't a strenuous hike - although shoes would have been both recommended and preferred). I had to smile/laugh to myself when they were stopped by an elderly lady (you knew it would be) on the path who commented on their unlikely footwear.

When will they learn?

Craig had the quote of the day after hiking (yes in flip-flops) to the Timber Creek Outlook.

"I actually think the view is just as good from the parking lot."

Now that A doesn't live in Cedar City anymore the only reason to go there is to see the Shakespearean Festival (and our friends the K's) - particularly since the Sonic is closed. It is embarrassing to admit that we actually drove there just for the Sonic - sometimes you just need a Route 44 Diet Coke with extra ice and vanilla flavoring. Unfortunately we had not been notified that the Sonic was closed :(

Seeing Signs

Signs of our Times...

This is the east entrance sign - we actually see the Leaving Zion sign first and then see this sign in our rear view mirror - when I see it it means we are almost home!

Private property -

on the fence outside the old Gunsmoke Set outside of Kanab (more pics later)

Oquirrh Mountain Temple (pics and post to follow)



In an effort to skirt some obscure law affecting their ability to advertise with a permanent sign - - ZP creatively parked a very movable sign at the North Fork turn-off. All summer we debated the propriety of dropping the girls off for the afternoon and paying them to hang out in the trailer handing out ZP info to passing tourists - maybe they could have sold sno-cones as well?!

This is one of my favorite signs - I've been meaning to take a picture of it for several years. It just seems like a really bad idea to me to be able to buy lotto tickets, guns, ammo and beer all at this Fredonia Gas Station - yes, you can buy highly-flammable gasoline there as well.

Sounds like the beginning of a bad episode of Cops...

...Gee, Officer, I only stopped to buy gas and then I thought, hey, why not buy a gun today. Then I decided to try my luck with the lotto, and with my $25 scratch-off winnings I grabbed some ammo and started in on a 6-pack. On my way to my truck I ran into this guy who used to date my ex-wife and well, things just kinda got outta control...

Great sign - Em took this as we headed toward the airport.

Sadly it seemed a little too appropriate that morning.

2nd Mesa, Arizona

One of our first and possibly favorite trips this summer was to 2nd Mesa in Arizona where we met with Selina and Alberta Weaver at their Hopi Silver Arts and Crafts Gallery. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures while we were there. We spent time with them learning about Hopi jewelry and then designing our own wedding bands. Ever since I lost the diamond from my wedding ring Craig has wanted to have the Weaver's make us silver bands. We both chose the symbols that we wanted and then left our ideas in Selina's capable and artistic hands. Alberta makes superb Hopi coil baskets - I have one on my wish list! We were thrilled to receive our rings later during our trip. (Our rings will be another post.)

The drive to and from their gallery on 2nd Mesa was enjoyable - strangely neither C nor E wanted to get up early to accompany us?! Weird?!

The day included Page, Glen Canyon National Recreation Center, The Hopi Cultural Center (museum and lunch), and a quick visit to Third Mesa. (Brought back memories of attending a Home Dance while working at Jacob Lake.)

The highlight was meeting with the Weavers - they are remarkable artists, generous with their time, knowledge and hospitality.

Pioneer Child(ren)

Pulling Together: A long pull, a strong pull, and a pull all together” - Joseph Smith

Our Stake Youth Conference this year was a pioneer trek. I always describe our stake trek as being "trek on steroids". They try to give the youth a very real pioneer experience - as realistic as they possibly can. I have my own issues with this type of youth conference -not concerns that I am going to necessarily elucidate on my blog - (what is a 12 letter word that starts with M?).

I put some of my personal feelings aside, focused on the positives, remembered with gratitude my own pioneer heritage and helped her pack. We fed all of the youth a "hearty breakfast" that morning at our home - little did they realize it would be the last thing that they ate until 12:30 am (yes, am) technically the next day when they received a roll and broth.

In her own words, "It was great!


She was blessed to be put into a great family group with a wonderful Ma and Pa. I was able to provide transportation home and was part of the group of parents that met them at the end of the trail. I was surprised/overwhelmed by the emotional response I experienced as I saw them coming down the road - they were accompanied by a young man playing "Come, Come, Ye Saints" on the bagpipes - I was teary eyed.

Grateful for a sweet daughter, grateful for willing adults who shepherded our youth through this experience, grateful again for my own pioneer heritage and the blessings that have come into my life because of the hardships they were willing to experience.

This Slideshow (she is in the LaRue Family - close up of her feet #77) gives you a nice overview of the entire experience. Also this to see what they were/were not allowed to bring.

Summertime and the Livin' is Easy

It is hard to believe that we are well into August -

I definitely have some catch-up

blogging to do!

I love summer because:

No real schedule

No real schedule


Did I mention I love the lack of a schedule during the summer?!