Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Home away from home


We are very fortunate to have a home away from home. It is a townhouse in Provo, Utah at the foot of "Y" Mountain. Both Glen and I attended BYU as have all of our children. Provo really is our home away from home. We rent out the townhouse during the school year, but keep the master bedroom for our use. During summers it is often a place for family gatherings and visitors. Next week it will become wedding central as the Ostler clan joins the Bunker family in celebrating Brittany's marriage to Dane in the Timpanogos Temple.

A great thing about our home away from home is the chance to experience four seasons.


These trees are in bloom at April graduations.


We mostly avoid this season. Summer is the best followed closely by Fall.

These two boys as well as their cousin Ruby were born in Provo and came home to this house. Raymond, currently in extended tourist mode on St. Kitts, stated during his visit in July that this was indeed his home.

One of our favorite places to go while at our home away from home is the Gardens at Thanksgiving Point. In fact we keep an annual grandparents' pass so that we can introduce the grandchildren to the wonders of this place.

We show them the Secret Garden.


and let them play in the fountain. . .

while being watched over by an angel.

We also feed the koi.

Eye candy awaits us around every corner.

And the garden delights change with every visit.

In July we enjoyed "hollyhock heaven."

There are special places to eat lunch near our home away from home like the Garden Cafe overlooking the gardens or

Ruth's Diner up Emigration Canyon. Don't miss their mile high biscuits when in Salt Lake City.

There are many fun places to visit in Salt Lake City, like Liberty Park which also has a bird aviary.

Glen may have had yummy apples to share, but this bird also wanted hair.

When in Provo, we are just minutes from great picnic spots up Provo Canyon.

There are rushing streams and trees of all shades green.

We like to sit on the balcony and watch dusk come to the mountains.

But sometimes sunset comes as we are in the mountains on the Alpine Loop.

There are many benefits to a home away from home.

2 comments:

Vagabond Mother said...

I know that place is both stressful AND fun for you. Looks like from this post, it is mostly fun. :) We love all of our memories there, at Raymond's house. I wonder when we'll make it back again, thanks for taking us this summer.

larainydays said...

Okay, I officially want a condo up there. Can we be your neighbors?