Shepherd

Time's sleigh ride to Christmas has moved apace this season. So many packages yet to wrap and yes, fruitcake to make. Yup, fruitcake. It is one of my deep dark secrets, that I genuinely enjoy. OOh, with a little slice of medium cheddar and a tangerine. YUM. (Just blame my English ancestry, I guess!) There are also chocolate cakebites to make and caramel popcorn balls to hang on the tree. Games to play, dancing in the kitchen and the hope that there will be friends and family to share it all with.
The early part of the month was spent finishing the layout for my cookbook, Baking Outside the Box, which is now up on Amazon. Hurrah! Thanks to my daughter, Angel,I have learned a lot about photographing food and my nifty-fifty lens.
This month I have just a few pictures to share, some I took out on Pasture Road, just south of my neighborhood and a couple from southern Utah in New Harmony.
The music box this month includes "Mary Did you Know?" A song I love. With no baby to cuddle this year, my arms feel a tad empty.
May The Christmas spirit shine bright in your homes and hearts. Love, Laura




Shepherd






I love these peaks. When one is driving up out of St. George on the way to Cedar City, you pass them as you pass New Harmony. But you never see them from the freeway as it hugs the eastern hills. You have to drive west into New Harmony valley before they come into view in the east. How often do we not see or value something amazing because it's not apparent from our point of view?

Summer's Bloom, Autumn's Blush

I found as I was pouring over my photos recently that somehow, I had missed putting up my wildflower pictures from Albion Meadow this year. My apologies, I will share them. I spent a blissful day with friends and my camera. Truthfully, there weren't as many flowers as usual, because of the lateness of summer. In fact many plants that were just coming into bloom late in July, were a month late and others were not to be found at all. But the few that I have, I give to you.

For Autumn's Blush, I have a few pictures that were taken up at Albion Basin a few weeks ago, for comparison.

As an extra, I've also include a shadow subject that interested me. As a side note, sadly, I've captured no rainbows this year, despite the rain. So hopefully one will put in an appearance before winters steals the possibility or perhaps one of you will be so kind as to capture one for me?

Albion Basin late in July

Another view:

This is a fine array of Sedge. It never looks this romantic in my backyard.

Click on the picture to take a close look at this one. I think it is called Elephanthead.

I don't know what this little dainty is called. I can't identify it.

This is a Sugarbowl or also called a Hairy Clematis. This is its Sugarbowl phase. See the picture below for the 'Hairy' phase.

You'd never guess it was the same flower. Such an exotic transformation!

We step into Fall at Albion. The meadow is snuggling down under a brilliant quilt for a winter's sleep.

I found some bright pink 'late bloomers' . Do you know what they are?

'Closing Hymn'

'Shadow Art'.

It appears most early mornings in my room and I finally took a picture so I could have time to study it and satisfy my curiosity about the various shapes on the wall.

Autumn Journey

In September I spent a blissful day in Spring City, Utah. It is a charming dot on the map in San Pete County. It is filled with beautiful scenes and vistas both in town and the surrounding environs of farms and mountains. It is also filled to the brim with artists. The day we were there it was the 'Plein Air' competition and so there were many local and visiting artists outside painting. Where are my brushes? ~sigh~ It was a special day as all of the artists in town threw open their doors and allowed us to see them and their work in their native habitat.

This castle-like LDS church commanded our attention as it sprawled gracefully on it's expanse of green lawn and large trees. It was built by pioneer stone masons and is still in use today.

Church with a turret out in the countryside. Who knew?

This is the spring in Spring City, on Main st. , set with a historical marker.

This building teased us with glimpses of it through trees and behind buildings till we finally found it. Not City Hall, but the Public School building which, yes was also built by stone masons. It is being renovated.

The Horseshoe pottery shop is owned by Joseph Bennion. And one of my pre-planned stops. Joe's pottery is beautiful, sturdy and practical. I came away with a charming little green-glazed 'beehive' salt shaker. My prize for the day.

Here are a pair of artists I captured as they painted out of doors and the cowboy posed patiently with his somewhat feisty horse.

We dodged in and out of many tiny gallery-studios and met many of the town's artists.

This was my pick of the day for a subject to paint. But alas no time and no paint so...

I allowed the computer to give it a try... Though it may find it's way to a real canvas yet.

Cave of Wonders--Marooned part 2

Here are the long promised photos from my experience at Antelope Canyon near Lake Powell. Actually the mouth of the canyon is in Lake Powell and ends somewhere out in the desert in the Navajo Nation. The slot canyon we visited is about in the middle of the canyon. The 'tour bus' was an open air ride in the back of a big truck fitted with wooden benches. The slot canyon was an amazing experience well worth repeating. I took a couple of hundred pictures, so narrowing it down to these few has been very difficult. I will let the pictures speak for themselves. Enjoy!
Our tour group approaches the mouth of the slot canyon. I fancied I could see the profile of a pharaoh's head on the right side speaking to Horus, in his falcon form, on the left.

This is just inside the entrance. For the most part, the sunlight came from above, but also peaked in at odd angles along the sides.

Our guide called this the 'Wheel of Fire'

The varying textures in the stone fascinated me. Vertebrae in a backbone?

This wall of stone appeared to be a curtain waving in the breeze. Check out the pattern woven into the 'cloth' stone.

So close.

The cavern had a surreal dusk-like quality and changed from moment to moment.

Yes, this picture is the same place as the one above it and I oops and it is motion blurred. I love it. Somehow, it captured the feeling of movement one feels in the stone itself.

A captive.

A cresting wave.

Prelude.

Marooned, Part 1: the Elements

My week at Lake Powell was unusual. It was spent mostly at dockside at the Antelope Marina. (Technical difficulties with the boat.) There was however some joy-riding in the run-abouts and the annual try to get up on the wake board which I nearly did this year!!!! (Which included the annual bruises and drink-half-the-lake contest by myself.) Sigh. I did however take enough pictures to fill two separate entries. The first is of a mixture of elements, the second will be a study of Antelope canyon -- both ends. It was an unexpected wonder of wonders to visit.---And I hope that intrigues you enough to take another look when I get the second set up. Enjoy. And remember, the pictures are clickable for a better look.

This is the view from the back of the boat, it was in constant change under sunlight and clouds.

Just before sunset.

Close-up of the three hills across the channel.

The sky was a constant source of interest and concern. Monsoons came every afternoon, along with high-winds.

The mornings were crisp and calm...placid enough to capture the sky on the water.

Here, the sky prepares to tie-off and leap ashore.

The afternoon storm opens into a fiery sunset against the silhouetted desert hills.

Sunset Praise

Last streams of sunlight fading
Singing the evening hymn
Stars join in the chorus
Hills echo the grand amen

Laura
July 2011

June at last, but it's nearly July

I have only a few photos to offer this month. Both the weather and work have conspired to keep me indoors, but I did manage a few walks and a special trip to the Zoo. In July I hope to come home with some prizes for your perusal of Lake Powell. But for now here is what I gleaned from June:

Of Course I didn't take this one, but I am trying to find a new blog-intro photo.

This little fellow looked so wistful. He was irresistible.

Curt and Lani shared their Stay-cation with us and we accompanied them to the Zoo and were treated to feeding the Giraffes. Their tongues are black, long, prehensile, but not too slobbery and they are very gentle and a little shy. Delightful.

I'm certain you can guess what skin this is. One of my favorite childhood books was the 'Saggy-Baggy Elephant'.

Curtis and the tiger sharing a moment.

Sweet William and I having a rock while his folks ride the train. I love babies!

Oquirrh Lake when the sun finally came out

A very pink sunset over Twinpeaks. I adore pink sky. I am told I would enjoy the 'pink light over Paris' in the morning. Someday I intend to find out.