skunk hollow

Back In The Saddle Again-Antelope Island

2012-02-12T14:26:00.000-08:00

I can barely see this herd of deer with my eyes . But they were very aware of us.

Yosemite Time Lapse

2012-02-05T06:07:00.000-08:00

photos of the day

2012-02-03T07:30:00.001-08:00

Took my mom out to Farmington Bay to bounce around in the mud and the muck and came across this American Kestrel having the lunch special of the day
~Organic Mouse ~
He was quite content for me to watch him devour this little morsel until I tried to get out of the car to get a better picture when he decided to do take out instead.

The American Kestrel if you click on the link you hear the sounds they make.

Still waiting to hear if my external hard dive with my bazillion pictures stored on it has been saved. So until I find out about that I am plugging along waiting to get the computer in to get it fixed. My monitor is making it very hard to edit photos unless I use gentle persuasion that consists of banging, kicking and cussing.

Detour Ahead

2012-01-24T06:31:00.001-08:00

Detour Ahead the computer has been giving us fits for sometime , so most likely it will be heading into the shop to get fixed and I will be taking a recess from life for now.

Dennis and I took off up the mountains over the weekend to see what I could capture with my new camera. We rode out to one point and could see some deer way across to the other side of the mountain and an eagle was up soaring above us.

Dennis got out his dying rabbit call and started to play just like the Pied Piper not only did one eagle get interested in the noise a few more started to hover over the top of us it was fun to see how close they were getting to us but not close enough for me to get some really good shots.

One thing that caught my attention was this big boulder with icicles and frozen ice that was covering it. It was the one and only time I got off the horse to take pictures.

My youngest son Kyle has surprised me twice now with some more of his creative talent. This time round he made me little barn and now this fun little windmill that is made out of scrap metal.

This eagle gets to spend the rest of his life behind bars because some careless person used him for target practice.

Through the window

2012-01-15T05:36:00.001-08:00

Through the window

2012-01-15T05:36:00.000-08:00

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” Albert Einstein

2012-01-14T11:01:00.000-08:00

almost...

UTAH TRAVELS

2012-01-12T08:06:00.002-08:00

This is an on going exhibit if anyone would like to check it out. I think it goes into March. I have two of my pictures there, first time I have entered something like this!

photos of the day

2012-01-11T16:13:00.000-08:00

First real snow storm we have had this winter and the Roan

got a little bit feisty he really put on a show.

The sunsets have been absolutely beautiful

these were taken at my moms house.

I had taken her and her sister Sue out for a ride that day.

The vivid sunset was the perfect ending for our day.

Kacy and I went into the city today and Little Miss Wesley tagged along with us. She did pretty good for a toddler so on the way home she decided to have some of the snacks her mom had packed. The first time I turned around to see what she was up to she had stuck pretzels up her nose, then she followed it up with a yogurt facial. You are what you eat and wear!

Auld Lang Syne by Sissel

2012-01-06T06:45:00.001-08:00

Am I to late for wishing everyone A Happy New Year? This video will surely make up for it.

Back In The Saddle Again-Antelope Island

2012-01-05T08:01:00.001-08:00

Yes we were back out on the island again,

we had company with us this time round.

Kyle and Kari came with us. Kari her with her camera and I with the new camera Dennis had given me for Christmas.

I found out right before Christmas I had broken mine

(what a gut wrenching feeling I had over this.)

To repair it I would have been at least six weeks out of luck!

But Dennis surprised me instead with a new one and a new lens to to boot!

What a guy...love him.

We rode further south , so this was the first time for Kari and I to have seen this rock corral that had been built.

Broke my heart to know what had happened to the wild horses of Antelope Island.

The Appy

2011-12-30T08:08:00.001-08:00

I got this idea from a web site called Dear Photograph.

I took a picture that was taken back in 1979 on the property where our horses are kept today. While holding the picture with one hand I try to line it up with the present day background as if the Appy was still here then I snap a picture.

Dennis bought this horse as a teenager. The Appy was a young colt and still need to be trained so Dennis was able to work with him. And out of all the horses he has had this is the one he talks about the most.

Many an adventure he and this horse had.

So after I got the idea for the picture I set out trying to find a quote about it, hours later I came across this poem by

Jay Snider

and with his permission I printed it up with the picture.

Thank you Mister Snider the words were perfect.

Here is a link to Jay' s cowboy poetry site.

http://www.jaysnider.net/

“Loving is not just looking at each other, it's looking in the same direction.” Antoine de Saint-Exupery

2011-12-28T19:09:00.000-08:00

Who would ever have thought that dancing with a cute freckled face redheaded boy at the Valentine dance in Junior high would have turned into 38 years of marriage?

Back In The Saddle Again-Antelope Island

2011-12-20T06:38:00.001-08:00

It was a hazy day out on the island. Not only was it hazy the bison were lazy , my horse was acting a little crazy and the best wildlife a I came across was this Chukar Partridge. This is the first time I have seen a bird like this he has some very interesting markings on him. It was still a great day to ride as long as the sun shone and I did not have to ride into the wind.

Random photos

2011-12-15T06:32:00.000-08:00

We had a unexpected death in the family that caught every one by surprise these are just some of my favorites from Doug Crouch's service. It was great to have an honor guard and to hear Taps being played by a young gentleman.

The history of Taps follows

"Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh -- Falls the night.

"Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky.
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

"Then good night, peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear -- Friend, good night."

"TAPS is the most beautiful bugle call. Played slowly and softly, it has a smooth, tender and touching character. The bugle call was written during the Peninsula Campaign of the Civil War by General Butterfield, with an assist from his bugler, Oliver W. Norton, in 1862.

"TAPS" went on from its origin as an alternative to "Lights Out" to become not only a signal that day was done, but also to say good-bye to a fallen comrade.

"TAPS" is customarily played at funerals at Arlington national Cemetery as well as at ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknowns there.

Its composer is buried in the Post Cemetery at the United States Military Academy at West Point (even though he did not graduate from the Academy).
*~*

On Thanksgiving we decided instead of eating pumpkin pie we would go out and blast the left over pumpkins from the garden.

I shot a gun that was a little bit loud a little bit scary and I little bit fun. I hit my target at 240 yards. First time shooting a big gun like this.

I also took out some of my Dad's guns and gave them a try.

I'm not a fan of guns but it was a nice day to be out doing something different than adding unwanted pounds to my all ready round frame.

Love Noah and his wooden shot gun learning gun safety .

Snap shots of Southern Utah - Fisher Towers

2011-12-09T03:04:00.000-08:00

Fisher Towers – The towering red rock sculptures of Grand County, Utah

by Carl Ege

Fisher Towers, located about 20 miles northeast of Moab in southeastern Utah, is one of the most scenic landscapes along the Colorado River.

Administered by the Bureau of Land Management, Fisher Towers Recreation Site is a popular destination for hikers and rock climbers. A moderate 2.2-mile (one way) hiking trail takes you along the base of the towers and spires to a scenic overlook of Professor Valley and the Colorado River

Geologic Information: Fisher Towers contains layers of sedimentary rock in various shades of red-brown, red-purple, and maroon. The colors are a result of varying amounts of hematite (an iron oxide).

The upper, darker part of Fisher Towers consists of the lower sandstone member of the Triassic Moenkopi Formation (approximately 245 million years old).

The middle and lower parts of the towers are sandstone, mudstone, and conglomerate of the Permian Cutler Formation (approximately 290 million years old).

When we arrived at Fisher Towers the sun was strong and we did not have time to make the hike to get in a better position to shoot pictures.

So I tried a few things trying to control the sun but in most cases it won.

It was fun to pick out all the interesting shapes among these formations a child with good imagination could sit there all day and make up stories about the characters in the rock.

The rest of the pictures are along the way headed home.

Sequel to Gone With The Wind

2011-12-05T03:47:00.000-08:00

Once again attempted doing live video, I know I should know better by now so if you are not prone to motion sickness try and watch them!

http://youtu.be/gTQUkJEuE-Q

http://youtu.be/mr3aEoiVFfU

http://youtu.be/e_ca7jr7fjQ

http://youtu.be/dc-KbzcFIz8

http://youtu.be/frI_fRFutKU

youtube sorry click HERE and it will take you to all of them

These are some of the pictures of the clean up in our area. Church meetings were either shortened or cancelled so people could be out on Sunday helping with the clean up. The city dumps were open and new dump sites were created to help with the over flow of waste and that is what it is waste, the world is little less greener as the result of this storm.

Residents, National Guard and business owners clean up Davis County | ksl.com

gOnE WiTh tHe WiND

2011-12-03T18:29:00.000-08:00

Pictures taken the on the eve of the big storm.

We had a wayward wind rip through our county leaving a pathway of destruction. I could go all day and take pictures of it all but after a while it all looks the same. Uprooted trees leaving big craters underneath., side walks standing vertical, siding , insulation, it is a mess.

Instead of Christmas carolers being heard through out the neighborhood the constant sound of chainsaws . Groups of people out helping all around our area, I was amazed to see everyone out donating their time .

The golf course right behind me has an estimated loss of 400 trees!

Semi trucks on their sides , the rest are pulled off till the winds die down.

We have had these high wind storms before even as a child I remember being terrified of them then as I got older would love to go out and play to see if the wind could make me fly but with all the housing that is now around you take your chances of being hit with debris. They said on the news tonight that we are going to get hit again possibly on Monday but the winds should not be as strong, but with many trees all ready weakened and roofs that are in need of replacement it is not good news to hear.

We lost a lot of our scrub oak trees a few shingles and my rain gutter with my Christmas lights that Dennis so carefully put up the night before. I realize now just how ill prepared we were and need to get my act together and get some emergency kits ready before the next disaster hits.

Gone are my neighbors 30 FT ponderosa pine trees that all landed softly in my backyard .

One of our neighbors said he went to look out the window

and realized his pickup was missing with his grill!

This is an older home down the road from me it has been empty for quite some time, sad to see it slowly falling apart.

KSL

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=18309646#.TtrfH73j9Ws.blogger

this is the link to one of our local news stations

Back In The Saddle Again

2011-11-27T18:33:00.002-08:00

“Every artist dips his brush in his own soul,

and paints his own nature into his pictures.”

Henry Ward Beecher

And Mother Nature was at her best today.

58 years....... and counting

2011-11-22T09:14:00.001-08:00

I love you Mom

Beautiful Heartbreak - Hilary Weeks - Every Step

2011-11-22T04:23:00.000-08:00

A very touching message.

Many things to be thankful for after the year we have had.

Once again Kyle is strong and healthy and Brent has returned back to work for a couple of weeks now and still gets better everyday.

Many blessings we have had.

Thank you.............

Sunset at Arches National Park

2011-11-20T09:24:00.000-08:00

I am finally winding down on the pictures of Arches it seems like a life time ago we were there.

It was to be our last day to be at the park so we decided we would go at sunset.

Earlier in the day we drove around Moab to look at some of the local sites.

One that caught my attention was a Youth garden spot.

There was a sweet little home that had a beautiful garden to surround it, little enchanting structures for the junior gardeners to to explore with a big old metal rooster to watch over them and the garden.

And I love to visit are the local cemeteries there were so many wonderful carved headstones but it was to close to sunset so I had to cut the visit short.

I like to watch other photographers I always wonder what their view is.

This is a bonus picture a bat just happened to do a fly by for me!

Experimented with some camera settings using a slower shutter speed so I got some star trails

This is truly an amazing area of our state if you ever have the chance just go. I hope to get back to many of the spots that we missed.

11-11-11

2011-11-15T07:58:00.001-08:00

As I was listening to a radio station this morning there was a gentleman telling the listeners how he had made this one moment in time special. He waited for the clock to strike the 11 hour-11 minute-11 second to give his wife a kiss. Now that takes planning. There were a lot of weddings taking place that day and I am sure there were many babies born on this day. It was just another day to me as I went to capture the moon setting in the western sky. Really had no idea it was a special moment in time other than stopping life for one second and enjoying the beauty that was before me.

Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.”

Dorothea Lange

Autumn...........

2011-11-13T15:16:00.000-08:00

Snap shots of Southern Utah Part Three

2011-11-08T06:31:00.002-08:00

Snap shots of Southern Utah Part Two

2011-11-03T07:19:00.000-07:00

This one is from Monument Valley. Everything else below is in Arches.

If you click on the picture above you will see a red arrow that was our starting point I would guess we might be close to half way there. Our shadows look like we are giants.

This little window is right before you get to the arch we climbed up there so we could see the Delicate Arch from another angle. The next two pictures are from that window.

This is me sitting down while Dennis took this picture, because honestly I was not brave enough to go hang over the ledge to get this shot.

I love playing with reflections so from this picture up above this is what I came up with.

It is fascinating to see all the hidden faces.

hALLoWeEn

2011-11-01T08:06:00.000-07:00

Punkin Picin Party 2011

2011-10-27T11:57:00.001-07:00

We held our Punkin Picin Party October 23. The weather cooperated and it turned out to be a picture perfect fall day. As usual the kids line up from youngest to oldest to pick their lucky numbered ticket . So Khloe was first then Wesley followed after her as the other children waited patiently in line for their turns. Little Khloe was fearless has she tromped through the pumpkin patch she went around looking at all the pumpkins till she found the right one.

Then Mom and I ended the day with a wonderful sunset.

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

This was Khloe from last year she was content just to sleep!

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Khloe loves to dump her apple slice into Cream Soda and if you watch real close she does sign language for *more*.

Snap shots of Southern Utah

2011-10-14T15:14:00.000-07:00

a liTTle bit oF tHis a LiTTle BiT Of ThAt

2011-10-11T13:41:00.000-07:00

I am always amazed at how you can go almost any where in the world and find women (and some men ) who love quilts. The love for quilting is universal. I have been following a blog for over a year now called Stitch and Travel that is written by Yvonne. She is from the Netherlands and loves to travel in the United States. She belongs to a quilt group in back in her country and the quilts this little group can put out is amazing. We were finally able to meet on her last trip. My friend Gayle from the blog the Middle Sister came along with me up to Park City so we could meet Yvonne and her husband Alex. It was really nice to finally see each other in person. Thanks for letting me take up a little bit of your vacation.

And I would like to welcome my cousin Teri and her husband to the blogging world they are off on a new adventure. So if you can pop over to see her at Midlife Adventures. She is under the *Fry* section.

It was so pretty up in Park City the day we meet Yvonne that I went back up bringing my Mom and her sister Sue along for the ride. Really these pictures do not convey the beauty that we seen with our own eyes the colors were remarkable

hApPy BiRtHdaY !

2011-10-06T07:06:00.000-07:00

Wishing my grandson Alex a Happy Birthday! He is playing football again this year and it looks like his team is headed into the finals ! They have been undefeated so far this season.

Sunrise at Park Avenue

2011-09-27T12:39:00.001-07:00

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

The quality of the pictures in the slide show is not what I had hoped for if you click on my Flickr site you can see them better.

Let me introduce..... Autumn

2011-09-26T08:16:00.000-07:00

Dennis and I took the horses back up to Tony Grove. Gone are the wild flowers that were there this summer. It was a great ride a little longer than usual little more soreness than normal.

Tse'bii'nidzisgai Elementary School Monument Valley Utah

2011-09-24T10:59:00.000-07:00

Dennis and I had the pleasure of attending the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony for the Tse'bii'nidzisgai Elementary School. This is a school my oldest son JD has been the project manager for in Monument Valley, Utah. Once a week JD has been commuting back and forth for this project as well as a few others located in Moab, Utah. What an honor it was to see the buildings that he has been responsible for. We are both very proud of him. There are many interesting aspects of this building, the design and construction with respect to the Navajo culture is the most impressive part, the art work they have on display is spectacular, the quality of the construction is wonderful. One of the fun things the kids do in this new facility takes place in the intersection of 3 hallways in at least 3 places where there is a huge cat track etched into the floor, there is a echo or reverberation point in the very center of these intersections, a half a step in any direction and you don't hear it. You will see the students stepping into and out of the center point where you hear your own voice amplified.

This is a mixed culture school with many native traditions, it was interesting to see how well they blend the education and culture of all the children.
We also went to see JD's other projects that he has been working on in the city of Moab. They have constructed one elementary school, one high school and the most beautiful new hospital.
Moab is one of the most beautiful little spots in my home state. We were able to spend three days in the Arches National Park We had two glorious sunrises and one amazing sunset. I can only imagine how beautiful it would be to see it in the winter months. I am going back.
I have so many more pictures to edit!

Tse'bii'nidzisgai Elementary School, Monument Valley, Utah - free slideshow maker

last day of summer

2011-09-23T16:55:00.000-07:00

I was so impressed with myself that I had made this hike and survived... only to be out done by some senior citizens in their mid -seventies!
Dennis and I took a mini-vacation and I have over 1000 pictures to go through!
Will start to post some soon.

Happy Belated Birthday to Khloe and Wesley

2011-09-18T18:10:00.000-07:00

Well it has been 21 days since Kyle's and Brent's ATV accident, Kyle is back to work still dealing with lots of back pain that is just going to take some time, Brent is till at home healing.

So the party that was put on hold 21 days ago was held on Saturday complete with a bounce house, balloons, cake,

ice-cream, good food, family and friends.

Thankful to God, for the doctors and nurses who helped take care of them both and the family that watched over Brent till the paramedics got there.

Back In The Saddle Again- Lightning Ridge Part Two

2011-09-15T08:38:00.000-07:00

Dennis and I went back up to Lightning Ridge - Monte Cristo Mountains. The bright and colorful wild flowers were disappearing and the long green grasses were fading into brown.

There was this rustic cabin the front door open with a cozy little bed inside for those that need a place to stay if you don't mind a few leaks in the roof.

Then there were the trees and I mean lots of trees with the name of a person carved in them from Peru , he must of wanted everyone to know that he had been there.

My favorite were the turkey buzzards they were all lined up in the top of the dead trees just waiting for something to come along.

Healing Field 2011 - Hope for America - Sandy, Utah

2011-09-12T18:24:00.000-07:00

Today I decided that I needed to go visit the 9/11 Healing Field.
Brent was feeling up to the trip so he Kacy, Hadley and Wesley all came along.
How do you explain to a four year old that all these flags represent a person.
Each flag has a person name attached and something special written about them by a loved one.
They were somebody's fathers , mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, uncles and friends.
As I watched my little granddaughters weave in an out of the flags I could not help but think of the freedoms that they have.
I hope and pray that all my grandchildren will never know the fear that we all felt that day ten years ago.

Flags from other countries were there also they were labeled with the numbers of lives that they lost. So you can see it was just not the Americans that lost so much that day but the world .
Peace be with all those who perished that day and to the families that still struggle with their loss.

20-September-11

2011-09-10T17:25:00.000-07:00

in the garden...

2011-09-09T07:41:00.000-07:00

You know the one?

The little raccoon that I thought was so cute coming on my deck at night to munch on my birdseed?
Well he is not that cute anymore. I don't mind that he loves my tasty tomatoes didn't even mind when he ate what little corn we planted.

But when he messes with my pumpkins that means war! We may have to set out a little trap or throw out some bird seed among the pumpkin patch!

This was my sunrise this morning, love this time of day.

Back In The Saddle Again-Part 2

2011-09-03T07:51:00.000-07:00

So much has happened since this last ride.
The * what if's* of the boys accident can about drive me crazy I try not to let my mind go there for all the emotion that it brings will consume me.
Kyle is still on the slow mend and Brent has an estimated date of being out next Wednesday.

But will still require rehab and facial reconstruction.
Both of them are very humbled that they are still here to watch their daughters grow.
And right now that is all that matters .

On this ride we took our granddaughter Jo .
It is really the first time she has been on a horse other then in a corral

so this was a big jump for her.
We really thought it would be an easy trail for her .

But it got into some steep switch back trails that

made me and her both nervous.
But she held on like a champ and proved she could do it!
Thanks for the memories Jo.

I like to play wit mirror images this is of a rock formation that had some pine trees growing out of it so duplicated them a few times and stuck them all together

Thankful....

2011-08-31T09:18:00.000-07:00

Update on Brent and Kyle. Kyle is home moving very slowly still dealing with lots of pain and a great deal of road rash on his back. Brent is still in the hospital no idea when he will be out could be up to two weeks they are being told. He is still needing surgery on his face. Memory is slowly coming back. He is grateful to everyone he comes in contact with even with has much pain as he is in he tells all the staff thank you. Kacy is able to divide her time up between him and the girls with the help of Brent's Mom who has spent nights with him so Kacy can have time with the girls. Little Hadley is missing her Dad terribly and Wesley wants to call him constantly.

A loss for words.....

2011-08-28T06:43:00.000-07:00

Back in November I talked about my son

Kyle http://whitey-skunkhollow.blogspot.com/2010/11/man-is-harder-than-iron-stronger-than.html.

We have had another close call with him and Brent my son-in-law. When these two get together they have fun. What I love about them is this relationship they share. They both work hard and play hard between them both they are the fathers to five adorable little girls. Brent was helping Kyle get a washer and dryer delivered to his house, that is how Brent is always willing to lend a helping hand. But in one split second of a moment their lives have been altered for now. Kyles not so much but Brent will be covering for some time.

Kacy wrote this up date.

Just an update: For those who don't know Brent (my hubby) was in a 4 wheel accident. He is OK! He has a concussion, a broken clavicle, and will need surgery to repair fractures in some of his facial bones. He looks horrible, and feels horrible, and as of now we are holding off on too many visitors because he is nauseated and in and out of consciousness, plus it "over-stimulates" him. Me and the girls are good and amazed by the amount of love and support from from every one. Thank you! I will try to update as much as possible.

Also, my baby brother was involved. He is also ok, but sore. He has some broken ribs, cracked vertebra and lots of road rash, but it doesn't seem too serious besides his pain level and he should be home playing Call of Duty soon. (ha ha)

I know many of you have asked what you can do, and honestly...I don't know yet. I'm not sure when we will be home...So just keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Love to all! Kacy

And to you Brent and Kyle may you both have many more sunrises, love mom.

Wesley Ann Turns Two!

2011-08-26T08:41:00.000-07:00

Two years of growth and how you have changed! I love it when you sing the song from *Annie*

PiCkLeS QuiLt sHoW 2011

2011-08-25T10:51:00.000-07:00

These ladies have out done themselves again putting on a great show for everyone to see even if it was blistering hot.... a good time was had by all. A big thanks to these women who go out of their way to promote the art of quilting, friendship and humanitarian projects.

Part Two

Back In The Saddle Again-Part 1

2011-08-22T07:39:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Dennis and I went up Logan canyon to a spot called Tony Grove it was my first time there and I loved it . Once again the flowers were still amazing besides all the rustic wood sculptures and a little buck that held still for me for the longest time. I was able to fire off shots and switch over to my other lens while he stood there patiently and if I had known he was going to stand still that long for me I wish now I would have gotten off the horse and tried to get a shaper image of him. Stay tuned for part two we went back up this weekend also!

Khloe Turns ONE!

2011-08-20T07:22:00.001-07:00

Uinta Mountains

2011-08-13T07:14:00.000-07:00

This is the mountain range my Dad loved .

So it was only appropriate that when we set out that day to go ridding

this is where we ended up .
His birthday.
Up in the mountains that he loved.
Dennis, Kyle and I talked about it on the way up it takes at least two hours to get there so I had a lot of time to think about my Dad.
With Kyle with us I can not help but think of the time that he and Will got my Dad up on a horse not to long before he had passed

(much to my horror when I found out about it later).

Once again the wild flowers were still showing off their colors.

A wonderful day.
As we drove home I snapped pictures of the beautiful scenery along the way.
Why is it I can get better pictures moving at 50 miles an hour and I can not get good ones of a fast moving toddler?
I finished the day off going with Mom, my sister Denice and Dale to the cemetery.
Denice sent off balloons with a message ,
one sunflower from the garden
and sent it off.
Heaven Bound.

Back In The Saddle Again

2011-08-08T09:13:00.001-07:00

Monte Cristo
Lightning Ridge
July -31-20111
We went riding up further north this time I was amazed at how green it still is usually by now the mountains are losing their color from the dry heat but instead the mountain flowers were still blooming. The mosquitoes we not bad as long as you kept moving and there was a slight breeze. It is hard to imagine that school is ready to start and fall is right around the corner.

Middle Fork Canyon

July- 24-2011

One of those great shots you think you are getting then when you get home and download them you find a branch right in the middle of your shot.

This is a snake I seen, he was up in the tree right above our heads.
We came across another rattle snake, Dennis seen it first and started yelling at me to get my camera out. As I fumbled with it trying to get it out of my saddle bag , trying to focus on what he was seeing in the brush , I was down to 3 pictures on my memory card and the camera started acting funny so the first few pictures I got did not turn out. So once again trying to fumble with my camera on top of a horse that is dancing around trying to change the memory card and worry if the snake was going to bite my horse, Dennis started yelling at me again to get off the horse and go after the snake and my first thought was NO then *HELL NO! * so then HE SAID "Throw ME the camera so I can get the pictures!" What are you crazy? I like my camera to much. So I told him no again!

Warming up in the morning sun.

photos of the day

2011-08-04T14:08:00.001-07:00

HoMe oN LeAve

2011-08-02T06:49:00.000-07:00

Our niece Hannah was home for a short visit from where she is stationed in Germany.

The street where she lives was lined with flags, yellow ribbons and balloons. And a big family waiting for her.

Kari and I were asked to shoot some family pictures while everyone was here.

What fun it was having this big family together .

They are an amazing family each and everyone of them.

"I'm late, I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!"

2011-07-26T09:49:00.001-07:00

I feel like this summer has gone by so quickly I feel I am running late on life.
We have yet another birthday to celebrate.
When it was time to plant this summer I had some restrictions of what I could do put on my by a doctor.
I could not to lift anything over ten pounds.
Do you know how impossible that is?
That meant no grandbabies, no gardening, or housework (YEA) but very frustrating.
So my granddaughter McKaela came over and took on the load for me and helped Dennis to get our garden going.
The flowers that she planted are beautiful and blooming.
Well our sweet young lady is turning 15 and it is hard to believe I have a grandchild that age.
When she entered our lives all those years ago we did not know what to expect.
She came into this world under some hard circumstances and has had more obstacles than the average teen.
But despite all she has endured, she has blossomed like the garden she has planted.
*Bloom Where You Are Planted McKaela*
you
are
loved
by
many.

We celebrated Paige's birthday on the 24th of July.
Lots of cousins, food, fireworks and cake .
Paige learned not to have Aunt Kacy
behind when you are trying to blow out the candles!

Kacy really isn't pushing her face into the cake she is simply there to hold her hair back.

I know.... I'm a stinker

Wesley loved the fancy Jello that Jennifer made for the party.

It was quite festive with all it layers and sprinkles on top.

Payton was a lucky girl this summer not only did she have one birthday party she got to have two!
The second party was over the top. Payton has a cousin on her mothers side of the family that have birthdays close together so they threw a big combo party for them.
Kari's dad had connections with rock and roll band called Melodramus.
They were kind enough to play for all the little punk rockers who came with colored hair and shirts made up for the special occasion and rock star passes.
Then her grandfather surprised both kids with their very own electric guitars singed by the group.
Pretty cool for them both.

Back In The Saddle Again, Mueller Canyon-Fernwood

2011-07-22T11:04:00.000-07:00

Summer is going way to fast I am all ready two trail rides behind though these were mild in comparison to the last one. The one up Mueller was cut short due to the huge trench that has been cut into the mountain it was a big disappointment we had hoped to ride all the way over into City Creek Canyon. The next ride was up Fernwood which sits east of Layton it was pretty rocky in some spots that caused my knees to quiver a tad bit but what a surprise we had when we came across this cabin. I had heard about it but thought it was up Adams canyon once there we turned around and came back down I wish we could have finished and gone the rest of the way to the top of the mountain but JD had his boat out on Willard Bay with the rest of the family and I wanted to go and watch the kids do their tricks on the water.

BuBBleliCioUs

2011-07-20T07:59:00.000-07:00

I love it when I can get one of the grandkids to play with me. Connor and I experimented with bubbles and he was willing to put up with my shenanigans.

Love this fourth picture the effect around the bubble is just when it is about to pop!

One Woman Quilt Show !

2011-07-14T07:53:00.000-07:00

These quilts all were made by my good and long time friend Kathy with the exception of the *Old Mother Hubbard Quilt* which they think was made by her husbands great-grandmother.

I think I have known Kathy for over twenty years now.
We have been in quilt groups, exercise groups, walking companions thru good times- bad times, rainy days and sunny days.

She has four children and has recently became a grandmother for the first time. Her oldest daughter is a nurse and the one who herself is a first time mother. She has one daughter who is a return missionary who served in Indonesia and one son that is about to come home from Washington state mission. Her youngest son recently graduated form high school.

She is a devoted wife, mother and friend to many.

She has been a Bishops wife and has held many callings in her LDS church.

She has been a volunteer on many occasions giving of her time and energy to many.

Really there is not enough I can say about this friend of mine other than I lover her dearly!

So sit back enjoy the quilt show , her lovely garden and her beautiful back yard.

Snippets of Summer

2011-07-09T18:16:00.000-07:00

Parades
Veterans
Fireworks
Sprinklers
Cousins
Best friends
Hugs
Sparklers
Treats
Giggles
Bubbles
Horse back rides

Let The Show Begin!

2011-07-05T14:17:00.000-07:00

Camera-check
Tripod-check
Notes-check
Memory cards-check
Flashlight-check
Battery charged-check
Glasses-check
10:00 PM-check
Let the fire works light up the sky!

To-hell-an-back

2011-06-29T13:31:00.000-07:00

Yep I can cross this one off my bucket list been there done that, all though at the time I did not know I was going there or I may have had second thoughts. I have not been on a horse now for over six weeks so over the weekend Dennis and I headed off to the mountains. The usual place up to Pretty Valley sounds pleasant right? Well once in Pretty Valley the next question is to you want to go the Hells Hole? I told Dennis I didn't like the sound of it, but once again I put my big girl britches on and away we went. It was not to bad till we got to a steep trail that had slippery wet dirt , very tight sharp turns and exposed roots that you needed to maneuver over. Well I watched Dennis go down and I thought NO WAY! I know - I KNOW - I KNOW horses are like a four wheel drive, they have four legs to balance on but at the time it did not matter. So I chose to dismount then tried to get out of the way of the horse in case he went tumbling down. I gave Dennis the lead rope so he could pull my horse behind him then I slid down the rest of the trail on my butt holding on to what ever little brush I could grab to keep me from tumbling down into back-end of my horse. Of course I have no pictures to prove just how scary this was for me. One day I would love to take pictures of some of the scary situations I have been in but for some reason I think holding onto life is far more important than pictures of probable death. Once down the trail onto some flat land I got back up on the horse then the next thing to come out of Dennis's mouth was "Do you want to got see the waterfall? "

Well of course who does not like a picture of a water fall until I seen the trail that led to it. Cowboy boots are not the best thing to hike in is my opinion, but one more time he talked me into following him down this trail which was pretty steep , then this green rope appears ( not a good sign) so the next task at hand is to grip onto the rope , hold on for dear life and slowly but surely move on down. Yes the waterfall was nice but by the time I got down the trail I was shaking so hard from the effort it had taken me to get there that the picture was a disappointment, and I am not going back. They say when you come close to death and your life flashes before your eyes you see the world differently. As we came down the mountain I was feeling lucky that nothing had happened. I could not help but notice all the wild flowers were blooming so I stopped along the way to snap pictures, usually by this time of year they have dried up, but due to the longer than normal wet summer they were still beautiful.

Yes life is good!

When one of my sons found out that Dennis had taken me there he wanted to know if I had been taken to Prayer Rock?

No I told him, but why on earth is it called that?

JD's reply

"You need to say one before you go over it".

I think I will skip that one.

Do not know what these little bugs are but they looked like a black ladybug with heads that looked they they were made of gold.

Does this not look like a Tiffany glass lamp shade?

Scottish Festival

2011-06-21T19:24:00.000-07:00

Was able to attend my first Scottish festival on June 11th . I was not feeling to well that day and by the time I got back home I was hit with the chills and spent the next three days down and out. I have not been sick for at least three years and this hit hard. Still have it, the doctor says it will take two weeks to get over it. It was still fun to hear all the bands marching around playing their music it was really neat. Then there was another band that we listened to quite a bit they were called the Wicked Tinkers really enjoyed them also.

Kyle & Khloe

Alex, Justin and Noah

No this is not snow blowing around in the video it was from the trees and it was making everyone miserable

photos of the day

2011-06-05T07:33:00.000-07:00

Pictures from over the Memorial weekend, I visited the Bountiful cemetery three times , Eden, Layton and two of the Morgan cemeteries it was cold and snowy for the most part. We even had some lake front property for a short time with the spring run off .
Looks like we might be getting some warm weather finally I am not going to complain to much after the devastation of the tornadoes that have hit some of our states. It is unreal to see just how much damage has occurred.
Evan has pulled his first tooth he called me with the news so I asked his Mom to bring him over so I could get some pictures of him. From the time of the first wiggle to being pulled was a day, unlike Paige's first tooth that took at least one month!

Busted!

2011-06-01T20:05:00.001-07:00

May 28 2011 Operation Bandit
Success
Memorial Holiday weekend
Every thing was in place
Camera
Lights
Baby monitor
Camouflage
Bird seed
Apple slices covered with peanut butter
At 2300 hours I was awakened by the perpetrator as he entered the premises, triggering my in depth alarm. I jumped out of bed and tiptoed oh so quietly as not to be detected by this little varmint. When I approached the window I could see the trespasser gorging himself on bird food. My heart raced as I approached my camera, with fingers crossed in hopes that he would not hear me . I worried if the settings that I picked out for my camera ahead of time would work. For the next hour I witnessed the delinquent stuff his little cheeks, snapping pictures, gathering evidence. Then I got to work processing the pictures until 3:00am

May 29 2011 Another night of surveillance weather forecast rain (yes it still is raining) would it detour the critter? Same M.O. Once again like clock work the bandit struck again.

Memorial Day

2011-05-28T10:08:00.001-07:00

My Mom's three brothers Wayne , Keith and Tom followed by my Dad.

64 years ago...

2011-05-27T10:47:00.000-07:00

A young couple snuck off to Elko, Nevada to elope. There they met up with a Justice Of the Peace who just happened to be a hunchback. All he really even seen of this very young couple were the shoes that they wore. In fact he remembered the shoes so well that when my Dad and Mom returned to Elko to be witnesses at another elopement about a month later the Justice of the Peace said "I think I recognize those shoes".
Even though Dad is gone I can not help but think about them both today.
Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad.

This is the wall quilt I made for them on their 50th wedding anniversary the link to the quilt and its meaning is here.

http://whitey-skunkhollow.blogspot.com/2008/08/golden-wedding-anniversary-quilts.html

Think Spring !

2011-05-26T08:47:00.001-07:00

a liTTle bit oF tHis a LiTTle BiT Of ThAt

2011-05-24T08:25:00.000-07:00

One Mile

2011-05-21T06:31:00.000-07:00

One mile is about the distance that my mom lives away from me. You would think with that short of distance that we would pretty much have the same birds at our feeders. Mom has been telling me about a pheasant that has been coming up to her back deck so I spent the other day over there waiting patiently for him to come and he never showed up until I had arrived back home. Even though I did not get the pheasant it was a good day to see the other beautiful birds that she attracted to her feeders. And of course it rained and rained and rained it has been non-stop for at least five days the mountains are saturated, rivers are starting to flood and we have had some mudslides.

The roan loves bird seed also as soon as you are out filling up the bird feeders he waits at the fence for his share.

Is It Spring Yet?

2011-05-18T07:14:00.000-07:00

The humming birds have finally arrived but where oh where is spring?

photos of the day

2011-05-17T07:21:00.001-07:00

This little bird has some type of a growth on on it's head.

Dennis promised the kids that when we had a bit of good weather he would get the horse out for them to ride so we took advantage of the one day at the first of the month to do so and it has been cold and rainy since.

Wesley waiting her turn.

I was really surprised that Wesley even got on the horse she has been a little frightened of them in the past but once she got on she loved it.

photos of the day

2011-05-09T12:27:00.000-07:00

A Daughters Love

2011-05-07T06:50:00.000-07:00

When I started blogging I never thought in a million years I would become friends with people from other parts of the world. I became acquainted with Yvonne and her blog called Stitch & Travel through a quilting blog that we both visit. I guess you could say we have been pen pals for a while. She is from the Netherlands, but loves to come to the USA. She recently lost her mother and asked me if I could do something with a picture she had taken of her holding onto her mothers hand shortly before she died. I told her I would love to try so along came a picture and a poem to go with it. So for this Mother's Day I thought it would be a nice tribute to the mothers and daughters out there that love and support each other in times of need.

Happy Mother's Day .

Train

2011-05-04T10:03:00.000-07:00

I have tried since seven this morning to get this to load talk about frustration .

skunk hollow

Back In The Saddle Again-Antelope Island

Yosemite Time Lapse

photos of the day

Detour Ahead

Through the window

Through the window

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” Albert Einstein

UTAH TRAVELS

photos of the day

Auld Lang Syne by Sissel

Back In The Saddle Again-Antelope Island

The Appy

“Loving is not just looking at each other, it's looking in the same direction.” Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Back In The Saddle Again-Antelope Island

Random photos

Snap shots of Southern Utah - Fisher Towers

Sequel to Gone With The Wind

gOnE WiTh tHe WiND

Back In The Saddle Again

58 years....... and counting

Beautiful Heartbreak - Hilary Weeks - Every Step

Sunset at Arches National Park

11-11-11

Autumn...........

Snap shots of Southern Utah Part Three

Snap shots of Southern Utah Part Two

*hALLoWeEn*

Punkin Picin Party 2011

Snap shots of Southern Utah

a liTTle bit oF tHis a LiTTle BiT Of ThAt

hApPy BiRtHdaY !

Sunrise at Park Avenue

Let me introduce..... Autumn

Tse'bii'nidzisgai Elementary School Monument Valley Utah

last day of summer

Happy Belated Birthday to Khloe and Wesley

Back In The Saddle Again- Lightning Ridge Part Two

Healing Field 2011 - Hope for America - Sandy, Utah

20-September-11

in the garden...

Back In The Saddle Again-Part *2*

Thankful....

A loss for words.....

Wesley Ann Turns Two!

*PiCkLeS* QuiLt *sHoW* 2011

Back In The Saddle Again-Part *1*

Khloe Turns ONE!

Uinta Mountains

Back In The Saddle Again

photos of the day

HoMe oN LeAve

"I'm late, I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!"

Back In The Saddle Again, Mueller Canyon-Fernwood

*BuBBle*liCioUs

One Woman Quilt Show !

Snippets of Summer

Let The Show Begin!

To-hell-an-back

Scottish Festival

photos of the day

Busted!

Memorial Day

64 years ago...

Think Spring !

a liTTle bit oF tHis a LiTTle BiT Of ThAt

One Mile

Is It Spring Yet?

photos of the day

photos of the day

A Daughters Love

Train

hALLoWeEn

Back In The Saddle Again-Part 2

PiCkLeS QuiLt sHoW 2011

Back In The Saddle Again-Part 1

BuBBleliCioUs