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.

Bud to Bloom

It felt as though all the flowers and trees would stay tightly budded forever. As though nature (and I) were holding our breath waiting for winter to cease, without regard to the calendar. Things started to bloom despite the coldness and then I had to exhale and took in a deep breath of warm, sweet Springtime. There truly has been precious little sun (or) moon this spring, but I found a little to share with you.

These are the buds on my 'Twisted Lilac Redbud'. We planted it last June. I have been waiting an entire year for it to bloom. Please, Please bloom little tree.


Then I noted early one cold May evening, she began to open the edges of her blooms under the light of a distant moon.

And the next day she burst into bloom. Thank you little tree, you were worth the wait.

The Saturday before Mother's Day we accompanied friends to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving point. It was warm and sunny and the company was delightful and the tulips were amazing. The buds above are lilacs. They bloomed this last week. I'll add a picture if I find a friendly lilac bush.

This picture now graces my computer background. Click on it to get a close-up. I love all the color striations in it. They look like brush-strokes.

Baking Outside the Box Video

Hi All,
I thought you might enjoy seeing the project I've been working on. It's my dessert cookbook now dubbed "Baking Outside the Box". I had a meeting with a publisher recently who was intrigued and asked if I could do a little info-video and start a blog for it. And of course what does one say but, "Yes! I'd love to do that!" My darling daughter, Angel, expertly filmed and edited the video for me. The Lady on camera has quite a bit to learn about standing in front of the lens. (I am much more comfortable behind it.) But one does what is needed to move a creative project toward a contract! (Blogger clips the side of the video so click on 'Meeting Baking Outside the box' on the little video to view in full width.) The May pictures will be up later this month.

April Foolish

I don't know why I always expect it to suddenly be warm and sunny in April here in the Rockies. Perhaps it's all those years of living in the desert. St. George is amazing in April. Gorgeous. Warm and showy. South Jordan can be amazing in April, but is more subtle than the southland and has to be examined closely. Last Sunday it snowed again. It was shocking because it had been a lovely 72 degrees on Saturday. I awoke to a world that looked like January again. Sigh. By late afternoon the storm began to clear and my lens and I (eye) found some rarities to share with you. I've chosen 'Ordinary Miracles' as the music this month. I love the lyrics and I have found myself humming it all week. May the wonders that April offers, in her mercurial way, embrace you.

After a long day of snow, the clouds to the east

cleared off leaving powdered-sugar mountains

and a frost-blue sky.

The little buds on the trees still possesed a sprinkling of ice crystals.

In the west the sun hazily peaked through the retreating storm.

A dance of fire and ice.

The sun grows more billiant as it burns the clouds away.

And the golden orb lazily clears the sky as she bends toward her nightly sleep.