Equestrian Trail with Borrowfolks

We are such last minute people, but we have fun even so.  We called up the Borrowfolks bright and early to see if they wanted to hang out today and they were available, so we came up with a plan.  We decided Pine Valley was a good option - not too far away, but quite a bit cooler.  We were happy to be able to share the Equestrian Trail with them.  We did the car shuttle thing so we would only hike it one way.  It ended up being about 4.5 miles.  We just moseyed along enjoying the sites and frequent Lemonhead stops to keep us going strong. When we finished we ate lunch by the stream and then headed back to the house for Sneaky Pete's to celebrate a good hike.  Grandpa and Grandma were then ready for a nap, so the fun had to end.  Thanks for sharing the day with us Borrowfolks.  Happy Memorial Day!  Love this country where we can enjoy the freedom to spend time with family as we choose.

Stops along the trail for pictures and to sniff the vanilla smell in Pondorosa trees

It's pretty hard to see, but there are some little chicks following the momma turkey.  Koen really liked the empty Paper Wasp nests that he found laying along the trail.

Relaxing by the stream for lunch 

School's out celebration camp out at Pine Valley

We had planned to take that grand kids on a camp out for the end of school, but things didn't work out, so at the last minute we just went ourselves.  It ended up being a really great camp at such a beautiful place.  We went up Whipple Trail and then took off on an unnamed spur that we love.  I call it the Waterfall Trail.  This time of year the water is really flowing and the plants are coming out in all of their green and blossoms and just getting started.  We ate dinner at the stream before we headed up the trail.  We set up camp, walked around some to enjoy the sites, watched our movie and then hit the sack.  It was a full moon, but I didn't see it because it was cool enough that I kept even my head under cover all night.  In the morning we finally got out of the sleeping bag and cooked hot Muesli and added yogurt and fruit, cinnamon chip toast and hot chocolate.  It was really yummy and warmed us right up.  After cleaning up camp we hiked down a little trail enjoying all the scenery.  Then we decided to start from the other end of this trail which we have never done before going to the point that we usually stop which is at the Lion's Lodge. We finally found out this trail's name - its called the Equestrian Trail and starts at Whipple trail head and goes to the Forsythe trail head and is about 4.5 miles long.  All told we probably ended up doing about 9 or 10 miles.  It was pretty level so Paul didn't have problema with his knees or just kept quiet about it.   We got done about 2 pm and then stopped at the little Pine Valley Visitor's Center and ate lunch on one of their picnic tables.  On the way home we stopped in at Veyo Pies and got our free pie to have after Sunday dinner.  We had a really good time and enjoyed doing a bit of a refresher course on flower and tree identification while we hiked.  We just think we know them and the season is over and we forget them and have to refresh our brains yet again.  Is that Douglas Fir or Sub Alpine Fir, Rocky Mountain or Utah Juniper, Mountain Birch or Mountain Alder, Lupine or Larkspur, Engleman or Blue Spruce?  We are sure about Ponderosa and Limber Pine.  Whatever they are, we love them all!

Waterfall after waterfall

And more water

Found a Robin's nest, termites, Marcell Annie Schmuts of 1939 and flowers popping up all over the place.

Our camp site and what looks like a scout shelter built for the Wilderness Survival merit badge.

Found old CCC project parts from August 4, 1933.

Beautiful trail and trees of interest.  Found this funny old sign stashed away in a Pinyon tree.

Sat beneath the flag in this beautiful setting to eat our lunch.
So grateful for a free land where the Gospel could be restored.
Thankful for those people who have given their time and even their lives to keep it free.
We need to do our part to keep it that way.

Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written.  Ether 2:12

Zion - Hidden Canyon's arch

Last year I hiked this trail with Lynne and somehow totally missed this arch along the way.  Felt like a real dumb-head. I wasn't going to be satisfied until I did see it.  I tried to go up there earlier this year, but there was so much ice on the trail that it was totally out of the question.  Walking up was bad and walking down was even worse.  So, I decided this would be my get out of school celebration hike.  I just have to keep celebrating and celebrating even though I love school.  Anyway, today after getting a bunch of other stuff done I got a late start to go up there.  I got behind a very timid driver who wanted to go 15 under the speed limit.  I was not too polite and pretty much rode his tail.  There was a long line of cars behind me that I know were feeling the same way and that double yellow line kept me from getting around him.  Finally he got annoyed enough with me that he pulled over and let us all past!  I'm not usually so awful...I hope.   Then the park was so full of cars that you had to park outside.  Luckily I did find a space just outside the entrance and did the walk in thing and caught the shuttle up to Weeping Rocks where the trail begins.  I finally got on the trail at 1:10 pm.  Even though the park was crowded, there really weren't all that many people up where I was going, so it was just fine.  I got to the arch at about 1:50.  It is really a neat little thing.  I got someone going by to take a pic of me there so I can prove that I finally found it!  I could only go a little bit further because they had the trail blocked of due to some species or another.  If there hadn't been a load of people at the end to see me do it, I probably would have kept on until I couldn't go any further.  It does turn technical later from what I have read.  I headed back down and on the way ate lunch up on a rock above the trail.  It was only about 82 and shady in the canyon and there was a breeze blowing, so it was very nice.  On the way down I went over to Weeping Rocks since I was right by it.  It was very pretty with all the water "weeping" down and lots of plants green and blooming.  Then it was back to the shuttle and heading for home.  Got behind another slow poke - I guess all these out-of-staters are here to enjoy the scenery and I should be more patient.  I was able to go around them eventually and made it home close to 5 pm.  It was such a nice day.  Not as nice as if Paul had been there of course.  If anyone wants to do this with me, I would be happy to take them. It has a few places where there are chains to hang onto, but it is not scary.  The info I found says this:  "2.2 miles round-trip to the canyon entrance.  Another half-mile to the arch and then most people continue through the canyon about .6 more miles."  The elevation gain is 1000 feet.  I breathe pretty hard on the way up, but it is lovely on the way down!

The little white spots on the upper right pic are actually water drops falling down.  The yellow flowers are Golden Columbine.  

  

Another year of school is over!

Today another year of school ended.  It's always bittersweet.  Some days you think you will pull out your hair if you hear that, "Teacher, he butted me" just one more time.  Today they all looked so cute all dressed up (except for a couple that forgot and they were cute too) and giving you hugs and telling you that they love you.  What could be so sweet as these cute little kids?  So much growth...so eager and excited and a little scared to go off to 1st grade.  It is so cute how they come back for years to get a stamp on their hand and say how much they loved kindergarten.  I also feel that familiar "school is out - yea it's summer" feeling so that I feel like I just have to do something to celebrate and can't even sleep being so excited for a whole summer off!  Lynne was sweet to give me a gift card to Olive Garden so Paul and I did go out to dinner!  She is great to work with, is patient when I mess up, and is a great friend that listens and understands when I just need that.  Between her and the kids I don't know how I could have a better place to work and I even get paid for being there.  Mrs. Tousa retired and I will miss her kind ways and wonderful example.  I hope she will find something to fill the void I know she will feel when school starts up again.  So until August - let the adventures, and house cleaning begin!

Webelos Day Hike 2013

This was my 3rd and Paul's 2nd year serving as staff on the Webelos Day Hike.  He did fire building again.  I was his gopher.  I was also in charge of the plant identification this year.  We hiked the trail the evening before and marked all of the plants with ribbons.  I love this little hike.  It has so much variety with both desert and wet environments and such a variety of plant life.  We also took samples of all the plants and made a poster so they could check to see if they had properly identified them.  This year I also made a page with a very brief description about each plant.  I enjoyed learning a bit about each of them.  The weather on hike day was excellent with just a few raindrops here and there to cool things down and scare the few bugs away.  The kids really enjoy the chance to learn about  fire safety and are super excited about building one.  They are so pleased when their little fire lights!  Paul does such a good job of instructing them. Hopefully they will remember what they learn about being responsible, safe fire stewards.  

Mother's Day and Zade's #5

I had a great Mother's Day - got to talk to all the kids, Paul cooked dinner and made dessert, church was shortened to just sacrament meeting because the gym floor refinishing made the building reek (got to take an afternoon nap), got to spend time with family...it was all good.  It even extended over to Monday evening when we got to join the Smiths for Zade's #5 birthday dinner/party and throw in some Mother's Day celebrating too.  Thanks to all of you for the great day, presents and most of all for being great people.  As I looked at all of the family pictures that day, I thought, "What could be a more wonderful Mother's Day gift than having such a great family?"  Love you all.  Happy Birthday Zade! You are such a cute kid.  Love you lots!

Here's all the fun plunder people gave to me.  Paul also got me some new zip off pants that are being exchanged for a different size.  Thanks to everyone.  Such fun stuff!

Genghis Khat - in fond memory

Unless you are a cat lover, or lover of any pets for that matter, you probably won't be able to identify with this.  I don't know that this post can be classed as a present good time, but it is an acknowledgement of past good times that will be remembered with fondness.  Last Tuesday morning, May 7th, was the last time we saw our Genghis Khat.  It was a rushed morning and I asked Paul to bring him up from his chosen place to sleep in the garage, missing our usual good morning pets and purrs and the over the shoulder ride up the stairs.  He was in a hurry to get outside and get on with his business, so I didn't get to greet him before he headed out the door.  I remember thinking at the time that I missed saying hello, but would catch him on his next pass. Looking at this logically I realize that he was with us for longer than most cats I've had.  He joined the family in the fall of 2007 when he was about 3 months old. For nearly 6 years he added his personality quirks to the house and brought a lot of laughs, peace, expenses, worries and love to us.  We will miss him and will wonder how he left us, but we will remember him as the crazy, grand cat that he was.  Good hunting Genghis. I hope there are plenty of people around to turn on the water in the sink for you to get a drink. 

Paul took me out for Mother's Day!

He took me out camping (at my request) to Pine Park.  It couldn't have been any better.  No one else was there, the weather was not to hot and not too cold, the bugs weren't out other than bees buzzing, it was absolutely peaceful.  We set up camp and while dinner was cooking we took a walk.  After dinner we took another one and then enjoyed a movie by the fire before heading off to bed.  It was cool enough that we needed that extra sleeping bag on top, but it was perfect sleeping weather.  In the morning after breakfast we walked down the canyon/stream where we saw loads of polliwogs, fish and evidence of beavers recently at work.  Looking on the map, we found that this stream empties into Beaver Dam Wash - thus the name.  There were several little dams just in the little way that we hiked down the stream.  Wish we would have seen one. After driving over to Beaver Dam Wash Camp Ground (just to see what there was to see) we drove home stopping in at Marv's in Enterprise for lunch.  It was such a relaxing, beautiful trip. Thanks for the great Mother's Day outing Paul!

Fun with the Randalls at Red Cliffs

Paul had a court of honor to attend, but Supe and I got to go up and join the Randalls at Red Cliffs for dinner and a little hiking.  It was a beautiful evening at a beautiful place with some of our favorite people.  They had been camping out  up there and provided a great dinner.  After that we hiked up the canyon.  A little rattlesnake along the trail added some not so welcome excitement, but other than that it was spectacular.  Supe, Bryan, Brady and I went up the moki steps and on up the canyon a little ways.  Felt a little guilty leaving Lou behind to make sand castles with the girls.  Hopefully she will get up there another time.  After the hike we had a fire and s'mores.  Ahh, that fire smelled so good and the s'mores were yummy.  Thanks for sharing you fun with us Randalls.  It was a great time!  (I forgot my camera, so hopefully I can get a few more pictures from Lou to add to this one.

Got this picture of Afton with my phone before it died.

I love this place.  It is so pretty!  

Ironman, visiting & birthdays

It was a fun, busy weekend.  It was the Ironman 70.3 and Paul and I got the plum job of being on the dock at the finish line with Moss again this year.  Very few people needed to be pulled out, so mostly we were just there to enjoy the beautiful morning and the excitement of the race.  It seemed pretty tame after last year's terrible weather at the lake.  We went out Friday evening to check in.  We didn't camp there this year because we were lucky enough to have Jay and Brynn come for a visit this weekend too.  They just had to take care of themselves until we got done at the lake in the morning.  We hung out and enjoyed visiting and seeing how much Madi and Tahlia have grown.  Saturday night some of us went out to dinner at Benja's.  Very yummy as always.  

First pro male to come in - 1.2 miles

First pro female

Evening and morning at the lake

Sunday we had the family feast of the fast over and celebrated Kaebri and Trigg's birthdays too.  It was a fun weekend with some of our very favorite people.  Happy late birthdays Kaebri and Trigg.  We love you!

  

Date night at Lamb's Knoll

We have been wanting to get up to Lamb's Knoll for quite some time after hearing about it from Supe.  Tonight we took our dinner and went.  We found a great camp spot where we ate dinner and then went on to see some really beautiful things to explore among the rock formations there.  We didn't want to hike too  far because of Paul's knee, but ended up doing a bit more than we planned.  We found a cool  little slot canyon and went up it as far as we could.  Paul couldn't get past one point, but helped me get past and I went up just a little further until that was all without ropes.  In the process I scraped a hole in a pocket which my phone fell out of.  Didn't figure that out until a little later and backtracked and found it buried in the sand just below that scraping spot, thank goodness.  It was a very tight squeeze right there.  That is such a cool area that we are going to get back out there (after Paul gets his knee brace) and have a better, longer look around.  

Views from the camp spot

Left picture looking down the canyon.  Right pictures looking up - bottom one from above the hard to get past spot where it widens out and then ends...unless you want to go up.

Other sights in the vicinity