Kanarra and Hidden Haven Falls

 It has been years since we hiked Kanarra Falls.  Now days you have to have a reservation, so I got us one, and this morning we did it!  It was beautiful and not as hard or long as I was anticipating.  There was plenty of water to make all of the waterfalls look great.  Since the last time we did it, there was a metal stairway to go up instead of an old rotting log at the first big falls.  That made it much better for me.  I never made it up the log last time.  This time we were able to get clear to the "last" waterfall.  To go any further you need climbing gear and they don't really want you doing that.  It was wonderful and walking in the water was very refreshing!  

We didn't see any of these little birds this time, but they do love to hang around waterfalls.  I was glad to see that someone had memorialized them in a poem!  They are so cute.  

After we got done at Kanarraville we drove up to Parowan and then on to the Hidden Haven Falls hike.  It's a really nice hike that ends at what is sometimes a very nice waterfall.  Today, it had less water coming down than we have ever seen it have. You can't even see it behind Paul in the picture. It's this dry summer probably.  After that, we hiked another little loop hike to an overlook and back.  We had never done it before.  Glad we did it.  Even though the waterfall was a bit disappointing, the hike was still very nice.  Between our morning walk and these two hikes we did about 9 miles today.  

July Birthdays - Jem, Beacher, Supe, Kai, Ellie

 It's a busy month for Supe and Beacher's family with 3 of their 4 birthdays happening.  It started with a party for Jem over at Beacher's folks house.  From our family we had Moss and Chrisite and kids and us able to attend.  They started out swimming and playing in a bounce house they rented and then we had picnic lunch and presents and cake.  Jem was pretty excited for this #5 birthday and got lots of loot!  I think his favorite thing was a toy grappling hook!  He loves all things super hero and dressing up as different ones.  Happy #5 Jem!  We love you.  Supe and Beacher's #39/35 come right on the heels of Jem's, so we gave them their present too.  They are such a cute family!  Love them all!  Kaia has to wait until December to celebrate.  

We went ahead and gave Beacher and Supe their July 6th and 13th, #35th and #39th birthday present too.  We gave them an awning in a combined present.  Hopefully they will enjoy using it on their outdoor excursions.  Happy Birthday you two!  We love you!  

Makakai Moss Lillywhite "Kai" is turning 8 this week.  We will be out of town for it, so we took his presents over early.  He's such a cute kid!  Pretty exciting that he's going to be 8 and will be getting baptized.  Times flies!  Happy Birthday Kai!  We love you!  

Ellie's was the last of the July birthdays on the 18th she turned 19 and old enough to go on her mission.  We went up and joined the fun and had dinner and visiting with her and the family.  She got her very own pink luggage to take on her mission (she actually picked it out)!  I made her a leaving home G'ma Poulsen apron.  It won't be long until she has her farewell and pretty soon she be out there sharing the Gospel!  Happy 19th Ellie!  It's a big one!  We love you and we're proud of you!  Her apron is the bright one on the right.  I've made 2 more now - one for Eden and one for me.  

Tushar Campout!

 Monday we got things ready and headed up to Beaver/the Tushars for a great campout...and it was!  I don't know if it was because it was Monday or not, but almost no one else was out there camping.  We saw some people by Lebaron Lake and later found some other people very hidden away, but that was pretty much it.  Of course there were parked trailers around as usual, but no people with them.  The best thing was that our favorite camp spot was not one of those as it has been most every time in the last many years.  We had it all to ourselves!  We had a spot of trouble on the drive in losing a leveling leg of the camp trailer, but it is something that can be fixed and we were able to work around it.  We got set up and Paul made us a delicious pork chop/mashed potatoes and gravy dinner!  After dinner we had time to take an evening walk and enjoy the amazing scenery.  One thing that really stood out on this camp were the amazing purple lupines that were SO abundant and beautiful.  We can't remember ever having seen so many in bloom any other time we've been here.  There were lots of other beautiful flowers mixed in too.  

Tuesday was a full day!  In the morning after breakfast we decided to make the drive up to Big John's Flat.  Along the way we explored some other possible campsites and found some good places.  We stopped and "chatted" with a mule and some horses too.  We hiked around a little bit at the top of the mountain.  We could see that there was a forest fire quite a ways off in the distance. We topped out and then found a good lunch spot that even had a picnic table there and then we drove the heinous road down the other side of the mountain to Marysville.  Sadly, most of that side of the mountain/canyon had been burned in a forest fire since last time we'd been there.  So many beautiful trees burned up.  At Marysville we saw some cool sculptures as we drove through town.  We decided to drive up to Boullion Canyon and explored the old mining stuff there.  Then we made the steep hike up to see Boullion Falls...we were glad to get there!  On the way down we found an old cabin/outhouse that we checked out.  Pretty cool.  We got a little numbered guide to sites along the canyon road and did that on the drive back to Marysville.  When we got there the artist of the cool sculptures was out and we stopped and talked with him.  Really interesting.  Then it was time to head back up the mountain to our camp via the Junction road.  We got back and had a great chicken soup/grilled cheese dinner.  We took a little walk and then drove over to check out the Anderson Meadow Campground - very nice.  It was right above Upper Kent's Lake.  We walked around the lake some and it was crazy because the fish were jumping out of the water everywhere to catch the bugs!  It even made me want to try fishing!  Time for bed then.  

Wednesday we slept in a little and then took a morning walk down to Lebaron Lake and came back and had a great breakfast.  Then it was time to get packed up for home.  We got everything stowed and the trailer hooked and left at about 10:30.  We hated to leave the beauty all around, the wonderful cool mountain air, and the peacefulness, but our campout time was at an end.  We stopped in Beaver for some cheese and got home with no trouble.  It was one of the best campouts ever I think!  

Picnic at Lava Point and over the mountain evening

 We had a busy Saturday and then we made the beautiful drive up to Lava Point for a picnic with amazing views!  Then we continued the drive over the mountain and back down through Cedar to home.  It was wonderful!  So much beautiful scenery except for the smoky views of our wonderful Pine Valley Mountain on fire still.  They are making progress on the fire, but what we need most is rain to put it out.  

A Grand "Edventure" with Jem!

One of the presents we got Jem for his birthday was a butterfly house kit.  He turned 5!  Today he came over to have Grandpa help him build it!  They had fun nailing it all together and painting it.  While it was drying Grandpa took Jem out to drive his forklift. They seemed to have a good time.  After that Jem put stickers on the butterfly house, and then we went to Wendy's for frosties and French fries!  After we got back Kaia and Supe and Beacher came over (Kaia had been taking her nap).  We brought them frosties and French fries too! Zade and Trigg happened to come over then too.  It was fun to have everyone come over!  Jem and Kaia had fun playing with our funny toys for a while and then it was time to call it a good "edventure" so Jem could go to karate.  Love having these "edventures".

Escape to Cedar Breaks!

 Today we decided to escape the heat and go up and do a few hikes on Cedar Mountain.  We started at Cedar Breaks.  The Wildflower Festival is going on right now up there and it is so beautiful.  We did the Along the Rim to Alpine Pond Lake hike and it was truly a festival of flowers.  The whole place is just full of color right now everywhere you look.  The meadows are either shining with yellow flowers or have a purple haze of flowers covering them everywhere.  My pictures just can't do it justice.  We loved the hike along the rim and then past the pond and then back.  It's a loop hike and it was so cool and beautiful.  We came home to 109 degrees this afternoon.  Up there we were in the 60's.  I even got a little cold sitting in the shade for our picnic lunch.  Now that so much of our wonderful Pine Valley has burned and is still on fire, Cedar Breaks may turn into our to go mountain place.  After lunch we drove around and hiked to Aspen Mirror Lake.  It was beautiful, but sadly the stream that runs out of it is almost completely dry.  I have never seen it so dry before.  We need the monsoon rains to come soon.  Everything is so dry.  But, it was a beautiful day away from the heat and I loved every minute of it.  Oh, on the way home we also stopped by and hiked up to the Kid's Pond at Wood's Ranch.  I had never been up there before.  I didn't get a good picture of it unfortunately.  

4th of July time!

 The week of the 4th included lots of things - a surgery on Wednesday. It went seamlessly and with no after pain.  I'm still waiting for the results of the tests, but hoping for all negative.  The day of the 4th we went for a beautiful drive over Cedar Mountain - it was covered in wild flowers - and then on over by Bryce to check out a possible family camp site for next year.  We stopped and picked up Bean to go with us.  We had a really nice picnic there - Pine Lake Campground/Lake and then drove home again over Cedar Mountain.  It was beautiful again!  That evening Ferf and Torin and a friend of Ferf's and the Randalls came by to watch the fireworks from up on the hill.  Our Blake neighbors put on just about as good a fireworks show as the city did!  We had a great view of both of them!  Didn't get much in the way of pictures.  Oh, yes, it has been a busy week in the yard too.  Paul is working on a small stone patio under the mulberry tree out back.  I have been busy pulling weeds everywhere.  

June birthdays aplenty and other happenings for June

 We celebrated Madi's birthday early so we could see her open her presents.  She's the first of several this month.  This is her 15th birthday!  Wow!  How can she have gotten so grown up already.  It won't be long until she's on her way...flying the coop!  Until then, we will enjoy watching her find her dreams and trying so many things out to get there.  Happy Birthday Madi...we love you tons!  

These two found the Nutella!  Yummy!  

Lance is another one who got his birthday a little early.  They were here to pick up Pippin on their way home from the lake, so we save the postman a trip and had him open his present.  It was a Demotivator T-shirt that said funny stuff!  Happy #47 Lance.  Hope it makes you laugh to wear this shirt!  Love you, the Lillyfolks!  

Another great June happening is that Ferf went to Kentucky to get started on her on-line course for NP school.  She's such a hard worker.  This will be lots and lots of work, but she's an amazing student.  Go Ferf!  This picture shows her with the people who are in her on-line class.  

Another June happening was the appearance of a red eared box turtle on the lawn in our yard.  Paul found it out there one morning.  He called the Red Cliffs Reserve office and showed them a picture of it to get a positive identification on what kind it was (to make sure it wasn't a desert tortoise).  He put it in a trash can and we walked it over to Brooks Pond where we thought if probably came from.  He took it out of the can and it suddenly got very active like it smelled the pond and was wagging its' feet and trying to get away.  He  put it down by the water and quick as a wink it was gone into the water and out of sight.  It seemed very glad to get back home!  

Also in June the little box garden that Paul is taking care of has started producing!  We have had some green onions and some tomatoes so far.  We have some midnight cherry tomatoes this year.  They are green, then black and then start turning a bit red.  We have some regular red tomatoes small and big too.  

And one more great thing - Madi got her learner's permit on the last day of 9th grade!  So exciting!

And next we celebrated Moss's birthday early with him and  his family on Father's Day when they came over to see Paul.  He got to have cheesecake and open his present.  And later on we all sat in the livingroom and listened to old records on our record player.  It was fun and seemed like a really crazy way to do music in today's world.  The kids thought it was very retro!  Happy Birthday #41 Moss!  We love you!  He and his family will be in CA celebrating on the day of and be enjoying a world league soccer tournament.  The rest of us will be at Jacob Lake for Family Camp 2025!  

Derek and I got some celebrating done at Family Camp this year.  He turned 48 and I turned 70!  We gave him his present  late while there.  Happy Birthday Derek!!!  We celebrated mine there on the day of after a very fun day of outings to Navajo Bridge, Lee's Ferry/Lonely Dell Ranch and beach party along the Colorado River!  It was a fantastic day of fun.  That night we had a great dinner cooked by Juge and then cake by Costco!  I even got a birthday cookies from Jacob Lake along with some awesome presents before at home and there.  Thanks to everyone who made it a great birthday! Oh yah, Brynn gave me a birthday crown and sash to wear all day on my birthday!  That was a first!  Thanks Brynn! That's the end of the June birthdays now!  

 

Family Camp #21 - June 22-25, 2025 - Jacob Lake Recreation Area AZ, etc.

It was another great time at Family Camp.  We reserved a very nice group campsite at Jacob Lake Recreation Area in Arizona this year. It had a great covered gathering area with tables, water and bathrooms and many level areas under the ponderosa trees to camp and play.  We used it as a base camp to go on some other nearby adventures that we did earlier in the day and then came back to visit, play games and eat some really great meals.  We were a little worried it might be too hot, but weather at camp was perfect and it even got cold at night.  This year we had Paul, Bean and me, Lou, Ellie, Afton and Joel, Jay and Brynn and girls - Madi, Tahlia, Essie and Clara, Ferf and Torin came for part of the time, Derek and Kaebri, Tasia, Zade and Trigg (Tasia had to leave early for work), Juge and Lance and Eden, Noah, Sarai and Zion (Eden had to leave early for work), Supe and Beacher, Jem and Kaia came for part if the time. We missed quite a few, but it was still a blast.  Our total was 30 overall.  Paul and I brought our camp trailer.  Derek stayed at Jacob Lake Inn to be able to use his C-PAP and his kids camped.  Juge and Lance brought their camp trailer.  Supe and Beacher brought their truck camper. The rest stayed in tents.  Oh, Juge and Lance brought their kitten, Pippin, and he just hung out in camp and charmed everyone.  So cute.  

Monday morning after everyone got ready we went over to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and saw the sights.  It is such an awesome place and everyone seemed to enjoy it.  We went to the Lodge and some of the overlooks nearby it and then we stopped off for a picnic lunch overlooking the canyon.  

Next we went to the cave near where the Widforss Trailhead begins. Here's the history of it.  "James T. "Uncle Jimmy" Owens, a former Texas cowboy and Yellowstone buffalo warden, was requested by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 to transfer to the North Rim to manage predator populations in the newly established 727,000-acre Grand Canyon National Game Preserve. Owens spent the next 23 years at the Grand Canyon and . This cave, however, was not his residence. Owens actually lived in a cabin on the rim during his tenure as a game warden. He is thought to have smoked meat in this cave.  During this time, Owens and his dog, Pot Hound, claimed to have eliminated over 600 mountain lions between 1907 and 1919 as part of the preserve's wildlife management strategy. This predator removal had significant ecological consequences. The deer population exploded from approximately 10,000 in 1906 to between 30,000 and 50,000 by 1922. The overpopulation led to widespread overgrazing, affecting both livestock and the deer themselves. The landscape bore witness to these changes, with quaking aspens and just about anything else the deer could reach suffering severe defoliation. The effects of the deer overpopulation suppressed foliage regeneration for over a decade. Much has changed since Uncle Jimmy's time on the North Rim."

After that, we went on to Crown Point and Imperial Point overlooks.  It is all SO GRAND!  It was quite a day!  As long as people were fed in a timely way, they all stayed happy and had fun riding in each other's cars and just hanging out visiting with the cousins. Then it was back to camp for games and good food.

Tuesday morning we went over past the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument to the Historic Navajo Bridge and the little visitor's center there.  We all got to look down upon the mighty Colorado River.  Unfortunately there weren't any condors there this time.  Then we moved on to Lee's Ferry and had a picnic lunch at the Lonely Dell Ranch.  It was pretty hot.  There were some ripe plums in the orchard that we could eat.  After we were all fed and very hot, we went on down to the Colorado River and had such a fun and very cool beach party playing in the sand and enjoying the very cool river waters.  It was so refreshing.  Then it was time to head back to camp.  

That evening after dinner we celebrated my birthday with singing, presents and cake!  It was lovely and the cake was good and the presents too!  It was  my 70th! What a great place to celebrate it with so much family and in such a beautiful place and just relaxing!  We also gave Derek his late birthday present another evening.  It was for his #48! I forgot to say that in the morning that day Brynn presented me with my "birthday crown and sash" and said I was supposed to wear it all day...and I did!  People probably wondered about me when they saw me all decked out, but it was fun!  

Wednesday was check out day, but we had until 1 pm, so after breakfast and getting packed up some we took a little side trip to see the historic ranger's cabin and the actual sink hole of Jacob Lake.  Then we went on a short drive to find a climbing site that Supe wanted to check out, and it was a cool place and a great camp spot for future use.  

Then we headed back, finished packing up and had lunch with lots of leftover lunch stuff.  That worked out very well for Brynn and me not to have to worry about trying to take it home and try to keep it cold.  

It was a GRAND Family Camp!  Next year will be #22. Lou and Bryan will be in charge!  Looking forward to another great one then!!!

We missed Bryan and Brady, Brynnli, Tavin, Kennis and Koen, Moss, Christie, Brenden, Eliza, Kai - 11 people.