Traveling with the girls, part 3 - Temple Square

Sunday morning we were up early and on the road again, this time from Provo to Salt Lake City and Temple Square.  We wanted up front seats for Music and the Spoken Word with the Tabernacle Choir.

We planned on it being in the Conference Center where the choir moves to in the summer due to large tourist crowds.  Because they would be leaving the following Tuesday for a tour of the upper mid western United States, they remained in the Tabernacle for the first part of June.  I was so happy for it just seems right to attend a live broadcast of the Mormon Tab in the place which helped to name them.  The acoustics of this historic building are amazing.  It makes one feel as if they are awash in the sounds of the music.  The live broadcast starts at 9:30 am, but if you are in your seats at 8:30 you will also get to hear the dress rehearsal, two  performances instead of one! The girls loved the performance.

We then spent some time touring the grounds and visitor centers.  Alma was so excited to see this building in person.

The sun peaking around the spires as we left the Tabernacle.

The temple, looking much the same except for an Angel Moroni on top, on the east end.

There were no brides exiting the temple on this Sabbath Sunday.

The reflection pool.

A dream fulfilled.

Two friends experiencing a first time visit.

Samantha was responsible for introducing Alma to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We also visited the Conference Center just north of Temple Square.  A guide graciously allowed us to go down to the main floor.

 This is where the choir will return to after their tour.

This building holds 21,000 people.

My granddaughter, Heather, sits next to the rainbow shining through one of the skylights.

Before leaving Salt Lake City, we drove up to the mouth of Emigration Canyon to see the  'This is the Place"'monument.

This monument honors many western explorers but most importantly Brigham Young who lead the Mormon pioneers to this valley in 1847 declaring,"Move on.  This is the right place."

On Tuesday we returned to downtown Salt Lake City to visit more buildings.

We toured the Beehive House.

We also went next door to . . .

the Lion House . . .

where we enjoyed a delicious meal in a booth on the lower level right behind this window.  We also visited the Church Office Building and spent a couple of hours in the Church Art History Museum.  We loved our late in the day visit.  No lines anywhere!

Traveling with the girls, part 2 - Zion's Park

Our big stop on our drive to Provo was showing the girls Zion National Park.  It is Glen's favorite National Park.

First stop, a close up view of Checkerboard Mesa.

We have just traveled through the mile long tunnel inside the rock face in the background. Can you see the window?

Looking back at Lookout Point.

Girls heading out to walk The Narrows maintained trail.

The Virgin River runs through this canyon with tall rock on both sides.  This is a rushing river during run off time in the Spring.

It is a lovely bird call filled walk.

I loved the texture in this growth of snake grass.

Some of the rock walls weep encouraging plant growth.

Hanging gardens in a shady canyon.

More texture.

A diversity of plants.

Including Columbines.

And soon we are at the end of  the trail.

Those going further will be river hiking.

We say many wet hikers going the opposite direction having started earlier in the day at the head waters and hiking down stream.

Alma loved the chipmunks and had a hard time not feeding them, the little beggars.  Thus this picture with  a sign reminding her why is wasn't a good idea.  On the trolley ride back to the visitor's center a woman showed me a video of a chipmunk eating a lizard on this same walk.  Did you know that chipmunks are carnivores?  Shocking!  Good thing Glen kept telling the girls not to put their fingers in the chipmunks faces.

A glimpse of the river looking upstream enticing hikers on.

As the sun sets in the west, a final shot of the rock wall back at the beginning of our walk.  This place truly is awe inspiring and so beautiful.  It was worth the added hours and a near midnight arrival in Provo.

Traveling with the girls, part 1

We had company on our last trip to Utah from Arizona. Granddaughter Heather and two young women from our ward or church congregation joined us.

We were on the road by six, stopped in Flagstaff for breakfast, and after our drive across the Navajo Reservation stopped at Navajo Bridge.

The Colorado River water was a beautiful emerald green. This marks the beginning of the Grand Canyon

I tried the zoom button on my new camera and got this "reflective" shot from upriver.

This bridge was finished in 1928 and served auto traffic for years until the new bridge in the background was built.

The old bridge now provides a great spot for a quick walk and break from the car.  On this trip Glen is learning that girls talk - a lot.

Just up the road a bit, were balancing rocks which apparently needed help.  Next stop was Jacob's Lake for cookies then we were off to Zion's Park, part 2, coming tomorrow.

Mesa Cemetery on Memorial Day

Grandkids spent the night and woke up with us on Memorial Day.  Glen and I always try to visit the Mesa Cemetery on Memorial Day.

We soon learned that this was their first visit to a cemetery.

They had many questions.

Glen and I have a little stillborn son, Nicholas, buried in a section reserved for children.

It was over 25 years ago but the memories of that hard time sometimes feel like yesterday.

After walking and talking about the headstones that we saw as we wandered about, we went to Brown and Center for sweet corn.  This is another Memorial Day tradition.  Surprise! This year they planted alfalfa on that lone section of farmland.  We went to Orange Patch instead.  Their corn was delicious as was the fresh salsa from grandma's garden tomatoes.

We had a lovely swim and backyard barbecue that evening.

Arizona sewing

I finished the 5th block in my own personal BOM for 2013, The Night Before Christmas by Bunny Hill.  This is a very big block, but so far I have managed to finish one each month.  I was finishing up the embroidery work on May 31st.

I made new skirts for my sisterly trio of granddaughters.  They are made from the leftovers fabrics, all from Bonnie and Camille, that I used for their quilts   Simplicity #2356 and multiple sizing  was a great choice with tiers and bands of different fabric.

The waistbands have elastic, but I also went with a decorative bow topped with a decorative button.

There was a different button color for each skirt, all part of a large card of buttons all different but coordinating that I purchased a few years back.

I would show you a picture of the girls wearing them, but some were not so willing having been in the pool for the afternoon.

Arizona beauties

I found some beauties while in Arizona. I first planted hollyhocks at the front of the house.  They have since migrated and if one pops up, it gets watered and we wait to see what color it will be.
 

When we pulled into the driveway after a several week absence, this is what greeted me.

A pink hollyhock which blended nicely with Glen's radiant bougainvillea. So lovely.

So is this little beauty.  But she is also the most nervous she has been in her life.  She is singing her first solo in front of a crowd.  She sang "Sing" and I am so proud of her.

I told her the story about how my Grandma Georgianna told me to think of the color blue before my first piano recital.  She told me that blue would calm me.  It worked!  I'm not sure if it was the blue or my grandma sharing her love and concern.  I hope my story helped Ruby.  I sure do love my Ruby!

Her voice teacher also teaches piano and strings as well as voice.  Those in the recital ranged in age from new high school graduates to four year olds.

That same week, I was invited to another granddaughter's dance recital rehearsal.  This was a good choice as they allowed picture taking right up by the stage.

Cute little dancers waiting their turn.

And then they were on stage sharing all their cuteness.

And their joy.  So fun to watch my little Julianna own the stage.  Love you Julianna!