tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-582151644334916542024-03-06T00:48:05.328-07:00Leaf GirlRamblings from a tree lover living in the desertKarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.comBlogger275125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-59460487956971835152012-09-07T12:00:00.003-06:002012-09-07T12:00:36.571-06:00Willie Boy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;">Seven years. On the downside to teenage-dom. This past year I feel like Will grew a lot in terms of shyness. I think school has probably been the biggest factor in that. Although as soon as I write that I'm reminded that there were two times this summer when he sat hesitant on the sidelines watching other kids play, too nervous to go ask if he could join them. So I stepped outside of my comfort zone and went and introduced him to the kids. And what do you know, everyone had a great time together. I guess he is a lot like me that way. He is hesitant to take that first step, but once the hurdle is cleared, he's pretty good at making new friends and being open to new situations. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">meeting new cousins in ID</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> friends on the slip n slide</td></tr>
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This summer I did something else I'm not a fan of and gave into Will's pleading for me to go on a water slide with him. Maybe it was a year of stepping outside of comfort zones for both of us. He is becoming a lot more independent and moving away from some of his "little kid" interests. Gone is Disney Jr and most cartoons, except Phineas and Ferb. Even Legos have become a side interest to Minecraft. This was the summer of Minecraft. If he wasn't playing the game, he was watching videos on youtube of other people playing the game. There is more resistance on hikes and tries to get him up the canyon with me. Although on my birthday his wish for me was more hikes with him, so maybe I still have some hope on that love of mine. </div>
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I've loved seeing little bits of his personal style come out this year. For Halloween he made my year when he said he wanted to be a royal guard. He may never share my love of hiking, but he does share my love of England. </div>
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When Easter rolled around I wasn't too surprised by his choice in an outfit. A sweater vest, bow tie and the beret he requested for Christmas. This kid has his own style. </div>
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The funnest part of this year was probably watching him at the pool. That first summer visit always has a bit of hesitation wondering if he will have reverted some in the off season or if he'll just jump in where he left off. He definitively jumped in this season! Gone are the floaties, gone is the fear. Maybe a little too much gone for mom's liking. He is convinced he can swim. And he is doing really, really good. But I still need to be within arms reach of him even though he thinks he's too big for that. </div>
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As he gets older it's harder for me to not be involved in his everyday life. But I'm trying to focus on all the exciting things we've been able to do this last year and the small parts of school I was able to be involved with. I never imagined the pride I would feel watching my son in his Kindergarten programs. Each time in the midst of kids needing their lines prompted to them and the quietly whispered lines, Will would go up to that microphone and clearly state his memorized part. We might have a public speaker in our future.</div>
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We had lots of fun trips this year that included Zions, Vegas, Idaho, Orderville and local canyons. Lots of new memories this year and time with family. My soft hearted, fun loving kid. Don't grow up too fast bud, mom still needs her cuddle bug. </div>
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Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-12249052978570844022012-07-29T22:24:00.000-06:002012-07-29T22:24:31.520-06:00The Climbing of Mount TimpanogosYeah. So I kind of abandoned my blog. But I have a weekend that I need to document somehow. Someday I need to re-read this, when I've been able to process everything that actually happened. I'll start by saying I realized tonight that I forgot to put the SIM card in my camera. I'm feeling devastated by not having the photos I thought I was taking. So it turns out the memory will be all I have. So here it goes.<br />
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Last Wednesday my good friend Jenny mentioned to me at lunch that she and her husband and son were going to be hiking Mount Timpanogos this weekend. I've never been on that hike and she invited me along. Three days notice to go backpacking (something I have never done), on a 14 mile hike (the longest hike I've been on as an adult was 3 miles). Sure! Why not? I'm up for an adventure!<br />
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I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I was nervous the days leading up, feeling stressed, mostly about carrying the pack since I had never done that. I thought I was a pretty good hiker, so I wasn't as stressed about that part. If I knew what laid ahead, I honestly don't think I would have gone. It's a fresh experience and I'm still trying to figure out if that ended up being a good thing or not.<br />
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The trail has 2 trail heads, Aspen Grove and Timpanooke. Jenny and her husband Travis decided that we would leave my car at Timpanooke and drive down and start at Aspen Grove. Hike up and camp at Emerald Lake, and then hike down the Timpanooke side, completing both sides of the trail. Sounded good to me, so we started off on Saturday at about 3 p.m.<br />
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I wanted to quit the first 20 minutes of the hike. Maybe the first 10. The extra 30 lbs of the pack were making my calves burn. I felt in trouble so early on. Jenny assured me that the beginning is one of the steepest parts and that it would get easier. I'm not sure if easier is a good term, but it did get a little more bearable. I've taken lots of photos of the back side of Timp, but never really knew where the trail went. Three weeks ago I took this photo and commented that I had never noticed all the little waterfalls and wished there was some way up to them. I may be regretting that comment. Little did I know that I was looking at the area of the mountain you hike up, and that I would go by those waterfalls.<br />
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My love for photography revolves almost exclusively around nature and landscapes. The one thing I was really looking forward to on this trip was taking photos. But after taking only two photos, I put the camera away. The hike was getting harder and harder. I really didn't think I could do it. I didn't care about taking any photos. I just wanted the hike to be over, even though I was probably only an hour in at this point. The waterfalls along the way are beautiful, but I didn't feel like I could even start to enjoy them because of the emotional and physical struggle I was having with the hike. I can't thank my friend Jenny enough, because without her support I would not have made it. Of course I also wouldn't have gone on the hike if it wasn't for her, so might be a conundrum there. But she was amazingly supportive. I was swearing a lot, and telling her I didn't think I could do it. I didn't want to do it. And instead of telling me to suck it up and hike, which is what I probably would have wanted to tell myself, she was just very supportive telling me I could do it. That I was doing awesome. That she really struggled the first time she did the hike but that she knew I could do it. Half way up she even switched packs with me, and carried my pack the whole way down, I carried her son's, the smallest of the packs.<br />
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I realized pretty early on in the hike that this was going to be a battle with my inner self. In my head I was telling myself I couldn't do it, that this was the stupidest thing I had ever done, why I was I trying this? I knew that if I was going to finish this hike, I needed to change that dialogue. I've heard enough motivational stories to know that your mind can beat you. Or that it can help you push through physical limitations. So I tried the best I could to become a cheerleader in my head. I would tell myself, you just have to make it to the end of this switchback, just make it that tree, one step at a time. On the steep inclines I would chant go, go, go, go in my head, or you can do it! Just a little further, you're doing it! There were still lots of swear words coming out of my mouth, but it helped.<br />
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The further up we went, the harder it was. Not just because of exhaustion and physical pain, but also because there is about 5,000 ft in elevation change. And my lungs were not happy about it. Even if I felt like I could force one foot in front of the other, I couldn't catch my breath. I would stop for a minute and then after just a few steps feel like I needed to stop again. By the time we started getting towards the top my inner dialogue started changing to things like, Will needs a mom you can't give up. How will they get you down the mountain, you have to keep going. The top is closer than the bottom, don't give up.<br />
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A few miles from the top Jenny's husband Travis and son Dominic came back down the trail to take our packs from us. They beat us to the top by several hours. Even though they had taken a wrong trail and gone out of their way about an hour. I'm really not sure if we would have made it to the top without that help. I know they were both exhausted and the fact that they came back and did that was really special. With the packs removed I thought the hike would get a lot easier. The physical pain caused by it definitely lightened up, but by that time we were so high up that the altitude was causing me to go so slow I wasn't sure if we would finish.<br />
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Finally reaching the crest of the hill you go through a few mountain meadows which were bursting with wildflowers. We also got our first glimpse of the herds of mountain goats that live around the lake. There was a really cute little baby goat that was peaking out from behind a tree at us. The goats are definitely used to hikers and let you get pretty close before they wander off the trail. It was such a beautiful, peaceful setting and yet all I could think of was being able to lay down. I just wanted to stop moving. Jenny had a nice walking stick that she let me borrow for the last mile or so. I wasn't needing if for hiking stability, but actually used it so I wouldn't fall over. Altitude sickness and extreme fatigue was setting in. When I stopped to rest I felt like I was going to fall over and starting to move again was more painful than just moving. So I tried to stop as little as possible. Tried to will myself to move one foot in front of the other. By this point the upper section of my thighs did not want to move more than a couple inches away from my body. Moving my leg up enough to step over a rock felt like such a monumental task.<br />
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When the boys took our packs they warned us that the last little hill up to the lake was pretty brutal. If it was at the beginning of a hike it wouldn't be so bad. But at the end of the hike, it felt almost impossible to climb. The only thing pushing me up it was knowing it meant that we were close and that I could collapse. That I could stop moving. We finally made it to the lake. After seven hours of hiking. I think most websites I have seen about the hike say it takes about 3.5 hours. So that felt awesome. We made our way to where the boys had started to set up camp and I looked for a patch of ground and just laid down face first. I didn't want to move. I didn't understand why there were so many people that we passed on the hike that looked like were just going on an easy hike. I had just hiked one of the hardest hikes in Utah (my own determination) and I wanted to die.<br />
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We eventually got some dinner cooked and our gear set up. Jenny and I squished into the two man tent they had just gotten, along with our gear at our feet. When they say two men, I wonder what two men that base that measurement on. I'm not positive if this is when the change happened, but I blame it on having a kid. I cannot sleep well outside of my bed. Part of my issue is that having a kid I became a very light sleeper waking at every sound to make sure he was ok. Because of this I have to sleep with a fan on, for the white noise. I have a little one I take with me when I travel because I've learned through many sleepless nights, I need my fan. It also had to do with some sort of comfort level though being in a different place. Camping is not conducive to either of these issues. The crazy wind up by the lake at night and through the morning didn't help either.<br />
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After getting some food in us, and being able to crash in bed, Jenny and I did stay up talking for a little bit. Although I was throbbing in pain, I did feel like the near delusion I had been experiencing an hour before was lifting. Except for the many swear words, I hadn't talked at all on the trail. I just didn't have the energy. So we caught up a bit. There was what felt like an hour of sleep and then I laid awake for several hours needing to pee very badly and not being able to lay in a position where I wasn't in pain. I would have gotten up sooner, but the new tent was having zipper issues. We'd really struggled to get it partial zipped up and I knew getting out and getting it zipped back up would be an ordeal. Eventually I figured it was stupid to just lay there in pain and went for it. Sadly everyone else ended up being woken up by my struggle to get out, so there we were all awake at 4:30.<br />
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Travis and Dominic got up at that time to make their way to the summit. When talking about the trip I definitely was on board for trying to hike up there. After getting as far as I did, there was not going to be any voluntary hiking. It was pure survival at this point. I had some pictures to show where the summit was from our camp, but I guess you'll just have to imagine. Or drag yourself up there sometime. After the boys left Jenny and I talked a little bit more and then fell asleep for a little bit until the boys got back. Eventually we got something to eat, filled our water bottles (thanks to the awesome water purifier my dad let us borrow. I'm not sure how we would have made it without that. Hiking up that much water would not have added to the fun.) Another note on the water, on the way up and down I went though three bottles of water and didn't have to pee once. That's what sweat does for you!<br />
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After packing up we headed off to go down the mountain. Starting the other leg of the hike from the lake you hike along a rock slide. It was a little scary in parts in the daylight on a fresh hike. I was very glad we had not come up that route (our first plan) to camp at the lake. By the time we got up there the night before it was dark. And with the pain and altitude sickness, hiking along a steep rock slide probably would not have ended well. Coming down off of the mountain side you descend into a large mountain meadow. The meadow was overflowing with even more wildflowers than we had seen the day before. Jenny has hiked up here several times and never been there for the wildflowers. If you are going to hike up there, go the end of July, it was amazing. Although you have been warned you're crazy for doing that hike.<br />
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Although the altitude was still really bothering me, the descending climb gave me hope that I would survive today. I told Jenny I would regret not getting any photos of this breathtaking area and so pulled out my camera and kept it out the rest of the trip. The hike down was beautiful and after coming through the meadow and to the mountain ridge, you could see the parking lot at the bottom. Although it was really far away, being able to see it was very encouraging. I could do this! I was going to make it through this day! On the hike up and the hike down I was really surprised how friendly everyone was. I've commented before being a little surprised how much people will avoid making eye contact with you on a lot of local hikes. You'll get a few hi's, usually from older people. But everyone we passed was friendly. On the hike up we got lots of comments about our packs, oh that's a big pack! Camping out huh, good luck. You guys are doing great, keep going! Everyone was so encouraging. On the way down we got lots of questions about staying overnight, how was it, how were the flowers, how we were troopers for making it up there with packs. It was a nice break up to the hiking.<br />
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We passed a lot more people again that looked like they were on a much easier hike than we were. Granted we didn't pass many people at all with packs, but still. That started becoming a little frustrating. There were at least three groups of people today that passed us as we were going down, and then passed us again as they were coming down. Of course they obviously didn't go all the way up, but it still was a little discouraging. About halfway down my enthusiasm for the downward hike completely went away. I stopped taking photos, I went into zombie mode. One foot in front of the other keeping my eyes mostly on the trail. Where was that damn trail head! My legs which had eased up on the pain, were back to full throbbing and not wanting to move. The downward hike was taking its toll on my ankles. One couple we passed said that we were an hour from the bottom and yet we had gone more than an hour and still didn't feel much closer. Absolute exhaustion was setting in. Jenny and I were quite except for the painful moaning. We were done. I just wanted to go home.<br />
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When we finally came around the bend and I got a little glimpse of the bathrooms knowing we were almost at the end, I broke down crying. It was over. We did it. It didn't feel possible to make it to the end. The boys again had beaten us by several hours, it took us almost six hours to go down. But we were there. We hiked the mountain. Part of me wanted to turn around and give the mountain the middle finger, but we just drove away instead, hungry and exhausted.<br />
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I have a couple friends that do marathons. I've heard from several people when asked why they do it, they say because of the challenge. To say you did it. I don't think I have that in me, at least not to a great degree. Right now I'm not feeling a sense of accomplishment, although I realize that might come in a few days. Part of me feels like a failure. Yeah I made it, but it was so incredibly hard. I passed so many people that weren't struggling the way I was. There were little kids up on that hike. Now most of them were not at the top, but they were up pretty far. I also thought I was a good hiker. I'm not. I said on Facebook that I now will refer to myself as a mountain stroll walker. Instead of feeling like I accomplished something, I feel instead like I discredited something I liked about myself.<br />
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There is a part of me that is proud that I did it. That was by far the hardest thing I have ever done, and I did it. But big deal. I hiked a hike thousands of people go on. And I'm sick to my stomach that I don't even have the pictures to prove it. I do have this.<br />
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Right now it's painful to stand, it's painful to move. But I'm home and I get to sleep in my own bed. Maybe rest will give me a different perspective on this, but for now I just feel defeated by a very pretty mountain.<br />
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(taken by someone that remembered their memory card)Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-43673070660029263492012-05-05T20:47:00.000-06:002012-05-05T20:47:10.595-06:00Go Forth and ConquerMy older sister Maiken's college graduation was this morning. She graduated from the Graphic Design program at Provo College. Maiken is the first child in our family to graduate from a post-secondary school and I'm very proud of her and the hard work she did to accomplish this. She has her first job in that field and I wish her a long, successful career in something she enjoys, and is good at. Love ya sis.<br />
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I wanted to get her a floral lei to wear at graduation but the places I saw advertising them weren't getting them in till the end of the month. Enter my mom ordering some orchids from work and me feeling adventurous, and a floral lei was made. Not bad for my first attempt.<br />
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<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-7611805242282937612012-04-05T21:17:00.013-06:002012-04-07T18:55:48.990-06:00The Land of ZionThe other thing I wanted to do last weekend while visiting my sisters, was to go to Zion National Park. People come from other countries to see this park, and my sisters live 20 minutes from the east gate. And yet I've never been. I have a goal to see all the National Parks, and figured I should probably start with the ones within my own state. I had planned to buy a year pass because you go twice and it's paid for. But on the spot decided to pay a little more and buy the all parks pass. If I go to three more parks in the year it will pay for itself. So that is the commitment I am now making. I will make that pass worth it this year!<br /><br />I'm really glad I went that weekend because it was the last weekend of the year that you can drive through the full park, starting in April you have to take a shuttle bus around. It was a beautiful day to be there, although a little busy for my taste. As far as photo taking goes, I was there at exactly the wrong time, right in the middle of the day. Early morning, or early dusk is when you are going to get interesting lighting, but even though I didn't get any amazing shots, it was still a nice way to spend a day. And it's nice to have one park marked off my list. There are so many things that I don't like about Utah, but the beautiful spots I have access to definitely help make up for those negatives.<br /><br />After driving through the park I decided to check out a couple of the easy hikes to see if they would be appropriate for future visits with the kids. My first stop was the Lower Emerald Pools. I have to comment that I was a little surprised by the lack of friendliness on the trail. It's not that anyone was rude, it's just that the vast majority of people won't even look you in the eye. I've had similar experiences hiking around where I live, and have noticed that unless someone is over 60, it's a pretty low chance that someone will say hi, even if I say it first. It made my experience at Best Friends the next day stand out even more because every single person I came in contact with there was friendly to me.<br /><br />Back to the hike. This is the waterfall creating the lower pool.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmTKy8X0FRHZdRGWvHx8AohIQTrBRoGtFIPvs6oebtrOq_SPC4eXWnwLHptjIT_faPx_uo9vnJjmeuXVGMkeRb_FTB-QhaqcgzfIij1gaV5_WF-ajaLkSBph-1cNEq4XgG20TLH6uJQ/s1600/IMG_3913.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmTKy8X0FRHZdRGWvHx8AohIQTrBRoGtFIPvs6oebtrOq_SPC4eXWnwLHptjIT_faPx_uo9vnJjmeuXVGMkeRb_FTB-QhaqcgzfIij1gaV5_WF-ajaLkSBph-1cNEq4XgG20TLH6uJQ/s320/IMG_3913.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728122240733611842" border="0" /></a>From behind the falls<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5SeAxVj0GKQP1OW6GtaOoVbX7NFhiQXx4CIM5FLRh_hu0SD_dIYh1vRtlke7B2TeTLpyCuPVIbrdoNmAFenFXgqeABq47n8ClcWPx9bCIObT55nnKAhKFvmLE1SvWI5faPOdL_C6wQ/s1600/IMG_3894.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5SeAxVj0GKQP1OW6GtaOoVbX7NFhiQXx4CIM5FLRh_hu0SD_dIYh1vRtlke7B2TeTLpyCuPVIbrdoNmAFenFXgqeABq47n8ClcWPx9bCIObT55nnKAhKFvmLE1SvWI5faPOdL_C6wQ/s320/IMG_3894.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728122232769737026" border="0" /></a>Not exactly looking emerald, but I did get a rainbow which seemed fitting<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobzEGK-FAlERPShicYEix4rpoF8GfPfzZ_ne1NbWvZgiU59nLDUnt9HUjsQoYa6EY4LdAXlnworATpoYMveqcG8ajgIQOm3x9tKWydS3NPCCZTT6Px9cbcUfL8xJrnql2a8N9NkOFlQ/s1600/IMG_3877a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobzEGK-FAlERPShicYEix4rpoF8GfPfzZ_ne1NbWvZgiU59nLDUnt9HUjsQoYa6EY4LdAXlnworATpoYMveqcG8ajgIQOm3x9tKWydS3NPCCZTT6Px9cbcUfL8xJrnql2a8N9NkOFlQ/s320/IMG_3877a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728122226248121666" border="0" /></a>I loved this little patch of trees along the side of the cliffs lit up by the sun. I smiled when a family behind me was trying to explain to one of the kids that no, someone didn't paint trees on the cliffs, those are actual trees.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiypGn20P23DCO_OmJGVbLSA5i_f4uq8-8K-mhaYfeCHBud8T_ZCcKdAWFodWhXYkKDllGIPgAh8s4-t6RC2MmhCly1f_V1cMAuckacuHZCiP1DbBrBPBUKebY8L81nuQYBZEF5NWSsQ/s1600/IMG_3922.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiypGn20P23DCO_OmJGVbLSA5i_f4uq8-8K-mhaYfeCHBud8T_ZCcKdAWFodWhXYkKDllGIPgAh8s4-t6RC2MmhCly1f_V1cMAuckacuHZCiP1DbBrBPBUKebY8L81nuQYBZEF5NWSsQ/s320/IMG_3922.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728122244040258626" border="0" /></a>I really wished I had a stronger lens on this visit. And also a panoramic lens.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE49ksDIxs-GQ5YogLs6qfTrVRySh62sNK5yVto5oPGsP7LpkoTSXP1w_TPAwKRjyjQg-tat14ZK-_p_Kcx5sB8L5u43tlSFnslnoGXQGTncG4nN486F4HFfHIjMmqF62x3gf8H1bSWQ/s1600/IMG_3924.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE49ksDIxs-GQ5YogLs6qfTrVRySh62sNK5yVto5oPGsP7LpkoTSXP1w_TPAwKRjyjQg-tat14ZK-_p_Kcx5sB8L5u43tlSFnslnoGXQGTncG4nN486F4HFfHIjMmqF62x3gf8H1bSWQ/s320/IMG_3924.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728122843709818194" border="0" /></a>I thought this looked like some creature ready to take a bite out of something<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniE_zgmroyGhR1n3cBh6k_WtrDAksgvenIkmmmxFqeXgSxo59h4HzpjvjGql1S1K7HYhR_d5Y5_4yIo-AMy6dCZ5GhQLYF7Nr9qHkk_kVtFGpLl-rRuK9E-D21kU7O2cRv6f9f36CWQ/s1600/bite.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniE_zgmroyGhR1n3cBh6k_WtrDAksgvenIkmmmxFqeXgSxo59h4HzpjvjGql1S1K7HYhR_d5Y5_4yIo-AMy6dCZ5GhQLYF7Nr9qHkk_kVtFGpLl-rRuK9E-D21kU7O2cRv6f9f36CWQ/s320/bite.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728122216882901186" border="0" /></a><br />Flowers in the desert have an extra beauty<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGh_5I7zdXG9b6PD2TIJ_8Od7MsFLhab398o6GH77MJhCNLnRzhDm-sKX88Us0LOHno4o1EhIrct5S0XdHhN80TosxhqWQNhg7hlWfE9mKreRkzgudyHftU78FKThavfUQ07j2voTFw/s1600/IMG_3940.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGh_5I7zdXG9b6PD2TIJ_8Od7MsFLhab398o6GH77MJhCNLnRzhDm-sKX88Us0LOHno4o1EhIrct5S0XdHhN80TosxhqWQNhg7hlWfE9mKreRkzgudyHftU78FKThavfUQ07j2voTFw/s320/IMG_3940.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728123057028242114" border="0" /></a>This little guy was taking advantage of the sun and was willing to let a few of us snap his photo<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTH9pk-3y1OS_on10vPldtumsX2x1wgF9B_9YyGxKq9f3pakkDHW4TUK1Haqv81Kn8h0vXfOClsNqnyOU_637s8ix-AZp7YScvNJt2JllnqX6HW5YBL5mmy8uOZw1fN4tV__u2E52DA/s1600/lizard.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTH9pk-3y1OS_on10vPldtumsX2x1wgF9B_9YyGxKq9f3pakkDHW4TUK1Haqv81Kn8h0vXfOClsNqnyOU_637s8ix-AZp7YScvNJt2JllnqX6HW5YBL5mmy8uOZw1fN4tV__u2E52DA/s320/lizard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728123400245121186" border="0" /></a>I looped around to another trail and then walked back to the starting point along the river. Which is a little more green than the water at the pools.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8-5_nrQkD3rmMP4Q38ye4i7KfqS9tImygj4XFrePEta2aBaKLj4GuImyh_KP7I647grqJJaN0casR_UtaqZoanfilh9RIjWnMNcfgv8vGPhvWMPfQEhJKY5ASNDVFwZPdXwXVfaLYQ/s1600/IMG_3950a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8-5_nrQkD3rmMP4Q38ye4i7KfqS9tImygj4XFrePEta2aBaKLj4GuImyh_KP7I647grqJJaN0casR_UtaqZoanfilh9RIjWnMNcfgv8vGPhvWMPfQEhJKY5ASNDVFwZPdXwXVfaLYQ/s320/IMG_3950a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728123065496302562" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBF-CqSwSvcot6Bvm46ckUq7nVcJ9tsNZ9PDLl1EaNweo0kOJFkt2oeyjOjHwA89Cemg9rTm9tKu5ooRYOKpziySCKghzvx3FOAXehEilamalL72ymz5180XBQJ7mx2oxXnmpaW3jHw/s1600/IMG_3958a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBF-CqSwSvcot6Bvm46ckUq7nVcJ9tsNZ9PDLl1EaNweo0kOJFkt2oeyjOjHwA89Cemg9rTm9tKu5ooRYOKpziySCKghzvx3FOAXehEilamalL72ymz5180XBQJ7mx2oxXnmpaW3jHw/s320/IMG_3958a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728123375521686610" border="0" /></a>After a couple hours on the trails I had lunch at the Zion Lodge. It was a perfect spot to sit and relax and view the area I had just hiked.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQF813PIJa4kmXqaF9xVAxGpymCGIA_9Bvq3ZApUI2D2Ea7bvCFRq9wd4hkFAVLfh0eiwiECashiX-kYNzRsJPWEW61iU_W6liHCbEb0MuP5Pat8oNJpAanT3ztZj-9gI9U1paBzgXA/s1600/DSCI0218.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQF813PIJa4kmXqaF9xVAxGpymCGIA_9Bvq3ZApUI2D2Ea7bvCFRq9wd4hkFAVLfh0eiwiECashiX-kYNzRsJPWEW61iU_W6liHCbEb0MuP5Pat8oNJpAanT3ztZj-9gI9U1paBzgXA/s320/DSCI0218.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728138809672462466" border="0" /></a>After lunch I drove the rest of the scenic loop and stopped at Weeping Rock for a short hike. The wall was really cool with lots of moss and plants, but the sun was shinning straight on it, so I couldn't get any good shots. From underneath the ledge<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYOdjKPkVkJIHVWa5KDHmMiDf165YewTOdArd2JqN0jfUA_dsdKvYR_XaIeMfrwNTxKFAzmGXIH8S586umAmSJeCjQP_K_m7HDyiBEv5u8PG-M2CM4MUzOwP6wsDMXnhotAfriMYTTA/s1600/IMG_4021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYOdjKPkVkJIHVWa5KDHmMiDf165YewTOdArd2JqN0jfUA_dsdKvYR_XaIeMfrwNTxKFAzmGXIH8S586umAmSJeCjQP_K_m7HDyiBEv5u8PG-M2CM4MUzOwP6wsDMXnhotAfriMYTTA/s320/IMG_4021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728123383196506306" border="0" /></a>On the way out of the park I stopped to take a picture of the area where you drive through a long tunnel. Which honestly is a bit freaky. My friend Wade had mentioned that it has openings that would be great places to take photos, except you can't stop in the tunnel. Going into the park through the tunnel, there was a group of harleys and all the women riding on the backs were taking photos with their phones as they slowed down at each opening. I stopped where I could see the openings to the tunnel and a raven flew down right over me as I got out of my car and circled around me. My camera was not on a setting right for the bright sun in that spot, but I didn't have time to adjust anything.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGM_nvqDpvcCkek2POb0FN-E50nve2T54od0G6jL8Wg0H6FwcrRTzr8k2XxBkNQVN0Esc7g9oJQAtlbrCZnK6YytvcMrl19pcYOuE-pzbK_1GkvCQP3OT1ZD1_ky1z05AN4mwQ3kkndA/s1600/IMG_4031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGM_nvqDpvcCkek2POb0FN-E50nve2T54od0G6jL8Wg0H6FwcrRTzr8k2XxBkNQVN0Esc7g9oJQAtlbrCZnK6YytvcMrl19pcYOuE-pzbK_1GkvCQP3OT1ZD1_ky1z05AN4mwQ3kkndA/s320/IMG_4031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728144626860133778" border="0" /></a>The significance of the raven the next day at Best Friends was even more special having seen this one the day before.<br /><br />This is the section of the mountain that has a mile long tunnel through it. Pretty amazing to think about when you see if from this side.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91pURIgpVBNWtcdZkV0NfDipyOxsQ2GukZzajqNC2GAKrIv0cZcp3G6LmtDlFtWc-_MV1-pMge8N2wL3K0xWTY3T2FVDUlNPVHm5hCZ6bVc48TuaC-wswD8riDZ6bxtk_CLGcooNj6g/s1600/large+tunnel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91pURIgpVBNWtcdZkV0NfDipyOxsQ2GukZzajqNC2GAKrIv0cZcp3G6LmtDlFtWc-_MV1-pMge8N2wL3K0xWTY3T2FVDUlNPVHm5hCZ6bVc48TuaC-wswD8riDZ6bxtk_CLGcooNj6g/s320/large+tunnel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728150227340811442" border="0" /></a>Have to mention here that I love that the road through the park is a reddish brown with makes it blend in more with it's surroundings than a typical black road. I thought that was cool.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_pY146knVxCpdMibWBFNoQNVeJPttnfOT_UMqKnMNp27B-buEEmUfnUZc54E9XekiYzYOQDKFa0IAq3LOx7Tsb7jtLRicBJrOYKPOpwaBTVQZ3f3zrPtXlQ8m5a4CuPFoFWUQPSpREg/s1600/tunnel+small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_pY146knVxCpdMibWBFNoQNVeJPttnfOT_UMqKnMNp27B-buEEmUfnUZc54E9XekiYzYOQDKFa0IAq3LOx7Tsb7jtLRicBJrOYKPOpwaBTVQZ3f3zrPtXlQ8m5a4CuPFoFWUQPSpREg/s320/tunnel+small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728150254123631778" border="0" /></a>A closer up shot of one of the openings along the side of the tunnel.<br /><br />I really love the beauty that surrounds me here and that I had the opportunity to experience another little section of it. I will definitely be returning to Zions.Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-13213958074395907752012-04-01T17:56:00.013-06:002012-04-01T19:54:04.890-06:00Volunteering at Best FriendsI just got back from a weekend visiting my sisters down south, by myself, which was a new experience, and a nice break. I spent Friday wandering Zion National Park for the first time, but I'm more excited to post about Saturday, so I'm going to post out of order. One of the purposes for this trip was to be able to volunteer at the <a style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);" href="http://www.bestfriends.org/index.htm">Best Friends Animal Sanctuary</a> that my sisters Keeley and Alex work at. Because I've always visited them with my son, it limits what I could do, so a trip by myself meant more options.<br /><br />The trip was pretty last minute, and there was a little bit of confusion about what I needed to do to be able to volunteer, which meant it didn't exactly go as planned. The plan was to be able to split the day and work the morning with one sister and then switch to the other sister after lunch. They have two set shifts that you have to follow to be able to volunteer. It ended up that I hadn't submitted everything that I needed to online, so when I showed up at 7:30 a.m. for the volunteer orientation, I wasn't able to attend. They said I could come back at 11 for the second orientation and be able to volunteer that afternoon. I was bummed, but understand that when you get up to 200 volunteers a day, they have to follow procedures.<br /><br />So after dropping my sister off to work, I decided to wander a few places she pointed out to try and kill a few hours. The first place I went to is called the Labyrinth. It is a meditation area off the main road inside the sanctuary. The fact that there is a meditation area on the grounds, gives you a very good idea about the founders. I wasn't sure what to expect because my sister had never been there either. There is a large flat area that has a circle path winding around itself until you end up in the center. It was a very peaceful, beautiful place to start out the morning.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5gd5olv-NkcN5IO5AfRLUkxZThGsCQDnjgiupQuFxSVngdIboIJXDnLu3GZEFvfxiZ4tg_LVuAfrOdiY8plUZtl7W9YbgQy4e1Zznf1gm9zrHjFhNGBdpms_3JBlgxxFhNvag6x8Sg/s1600/IMG_4069.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5gd5olv-NkcN5IO5AfRLUkxZThGsCQDnjgiupQuFxSVngdIboIJXDnLu3GZEFvfxiZ4tg_LVuAfrOdiY8plUZtl7W9YbgQy4e1Zznf1gm9zrHjFhNGBdpms_3JBlgxxFhNvag6x8Sg/s320/IMG_4069.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726588849433651250" border="0" /></a>To one side of the circle is a tree with prayer flags.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFiTO1O2YCa0_3470HhT8GbwcTe_eN8M7vTe32NS66P3NB_xviKzAiQX5yQgf4oHDq4EpKKB4Yhg9cIlcHzcq21Xr1ScoqObgwSRTxwAKZNugXFoVt8aRtph1-cpqBlD1WB_UYlzLhQ/s1600/IMG_4064.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFiTO1O2YCa0_3470HhT8GbwcTe_eN8M7vTe32NS66P3NB_xviKzAiQX5yQgf4oHDq4EpKKB4Yhg9cIlcHzcq21Xr1ScoqObgwSRTxwAKZNugXFoVt8aRtph1-cpqBlD1WB_UYlzLhQ/s320/IMG_4064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726588828164151874" border="0" /></a>These were some of my favorite drawings<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzytp0_6MzILdnkiOTq_ftlaUGcyJ151nKqaaQSpd9iUe1uh7mQJv1Hc_Nwy8qapIwshHCkocinuR3XprQoxSEqRJCvmONJmsqHAmPjagr9Dwg19Q3pxEqv-y5eF1iNoxbJ_dxjc0RQ/s1600/IMG_4065.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzytp0_6MzILdnkiOTq_ftlaUGcyJ151nKqaaQSpd9iUe1uh7mQJv1Hc_Nwy8qapIwshHCkocinuR3XprQoxSEqRJCvmONJmsqHAmPjagr9Dwg19Q3pxEqv-y5eF1iNoxbJ_dxjc0RQ/s320/IMG_4065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726588830553108034" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmJwdBGhrZpSwshUDZkh-zjpBO-P13EKZqKOcY9l7sikaUKMFXj52lsISLP3l4OorMn8aYFSRquIKEWyQ0rc9QCjAktzdGYnDYZI981Z23sZA3xPhla0HRW1URe3cOi1ahP8H9I2xlw/s1600/IMG_4068.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmJwdBGhrZpSwshUDZkh-zjpBO-P13EKZqKOcY9l7sikaUKMFXj52lsISLP3l4OorMn8aYFSRquIKEWyQ0rc9QCjAktzdGYnDYZI981Z23sZA3xPhla0HRW1URe3cOi1ahP8H9I2xlw/s320/IMG_4068.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726588839761666866" border="0" /></a><br />After looking around the area I walked through the labyrinth. Right as I reached the center I heard a bird squawking behind me and turned around to see a raven in a tree.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNOsZSdGdEoNz5NUYDVcYFATBPg2vRwHEw27zsEZrgvg1Frp8QceiqP2J9-YBGXVMGoEIgUAvGXBMX_XKO_82_VGuBeMQznL9kZuYOLZWRl3Xl2U_1ED4It-7Vm2tTAxfQjYzypefUw/s1600/IMG_4072.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNOsZSdGdEoNz5NUYDVcYFATBPg2vRwHEw27zsEZrgvg1Frp8QceiqP2J9-YBGXVMGoEIgUAvGXBMX_XKO_82_VGuBeMQznL9kZuYOLZWRl3Xl2U_1ED4It-7Vm2tTAxfQjYzypefUw/s320/IMG_4072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726593858974616434" border="0" /></a>I can't say in the past that I ever had any attachment to ravens. But I have a couple people in my life who do, and since learning of their fondness for the bird, I have seemed to notice them a lot more, and always in meaningful times. The raven stayed in the tree for a minute and then flew off down the hill. So I decided I should go wander that way. The labyrinth is near the edge of the canyon, and is a beautiful viewing spot.<br /><br />Just a little bit of the sanctuary land<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7miR8yeO5VwXM5lngtObsTOv2jeXcIjFC6u5vsTtfQYf0e2Wnj0LzDugjw8rdlqYRXTLbPi_SXvM_cOjCsiVirTJFE88mcba9RWo6QCi4Y65yX-w47YAfIvOcKU9Y_J_y58tvOJw2A/s1600/IMG_4078.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7miR8yeO5VwXM5lngtObsTOv2jeXcIjFC6u5vsTtfQYf0e2Wnj0LzDugjw8rdlqYRXTLbPi_SXvM_cOjCsiVirTJFE88mcba9RWo6QCi4Y65yX-w47YAfIvOcKU9Y_J_y58tvOJw2A/s320/IMG_4078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726589598076191266" border="0" /></a>If you click on the picture you may be able to see the greyish green house right in the middle. That is one of the founders homes. The sanctuary has lots of rumors surrounding the founders and practices there relating to cults and such things. This home is the grounds to a lot of those rumored events. Keeley and Alex said they have staff meetings there now and I would love to be able to walk though, it is very intriguing to me.<br /><br />After spending some time sitting on a large rock that overlooked the canyon, I wandered down one of the dog walking trails to the second cemetery, which was created because the main one is now full. Here is a view of part of the main cemetery from near the labyrinth.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSpjMmUbIZ_hofbFaClTlOYM8AXzrmkfJX6nNVyA7u2gbv6YrPqzp7rmmdPRpxTDAMiJGJsGEPv0iaVBtk2RQX0renqeyIrelhfeuSfyK1fRW2N-AJOWC5TNFFzKbzSqCPi-Jfs81iQ/s1600/IMG_4080.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSpjMmUbIZ_hofbFaClTlOYM8AXzrmkfJX6nNVyA7u2gbv6YrPqzp7rmmdPRpxTDAMiJGJsGEPv0iaVBtk2RQX0renqeyIrelhfeuSfyK1fRW2N-AJOWC5TNFFzKbzSqCPi-Jfs81iQ/s320/IMG_4080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726589828870001890" border="0" /></a>The second, smaller resting spot does not have the ornateness of the main one, and unless someone told you it was there, you wouldn't know. Walking into the resting spot, I can't express the very touching spirit that flowed in that area. I'm not sure I have ever felt anything that special in a human cemetery. There are simple paving stones used as markers most with just a plain name plate. But every single one of them has stones and mementos left from workers and volunteers that were touched by each animal. Some markers stand out quickly as a very loved animal.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiMUpBZfRN2246AclyHGCa1qp7XYKjzhOsAh-H8YTGOFlLAp4jwM-2b-_7YMEr9N6mQSvzSRUiyc07pcHEYxCg8P2_2kLe_PvtDQu9H29KhqcX0ssZxJrS-jgckP5gqfTkWw7QKrl_A/s1600/IMG_4116.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiMUpBZfRN2246AclyHGCa1qp7XYKjzhOsAh-H8YTGOFlLAp4jwM-2b-_7YMEr9N6mQSvzSRUiyc07pcHEYxCg8P2_2kLe_PvtDQu9H29KhqcX0ssZxJrS-jgckP5gqfTkWw7QKrl_A/s320/IMG_4116.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726590611423009330" border="0" /></a>But even these little rats were obviously loved.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihV5uSA-LjEEvusrPPRVUYfLuW-LC7H4c1F0KRPDigZ54uyFbi4WH2c2u633MniVSYAWsT0TZmqoFmw0oY0GwDX-M0VEtgRDIJ7KyGPJH-6B8TOuuwolUy8PKzU0jwsU-q24nqRKr3PA/s1600/IMG_4112.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihV5uSA-LjEEvusrPPRVUYfLuW-LC7H4c1F0KRPDigZ54uyFbi4WH2c2u633MniVSYAWsT0TZmqoFmw0oY0GwDX-M0VEtgRDIJ7KyGPJH-6B8TOuuwolUy8PKzU0jwsU-q24nqRKr3PA/s320/IMG_4112.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726590228418601666" border="0" /></a>Both resting areas also use wind chimes as memorials. There was a slight breeze that morning and I sat for awhile listening to the chimes. I have never heard chimes that had such beautiful tones. It felt like my own private concert. The chimes together with the general spirit of love there left me crying and very touched.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHatsMr-00nl65hO9Zd_B76AcZ8HWEwJrTeWhOZHaCjRODuWU9owi_gjZwIm0nWTaGS5-7S4ObuaIlZBit7Ygl515cyDztr-YmqEgMez65T_ZaICbOPTkqoKKe9XgVk8CK4nMqrFZFAw/s1600/IMG_4108.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHatsMr-00nl65hO9Zd_B76AcZ8HWEwJrTeWhOZHaCjRODuWU9owi_gjZwIm0nWTaGS5-7S4ObuaIlZBit7Ygl515cyDztr-YmqEgMez65T_ZaICbOPTkqoKKe9XgVk8CK4nMqrFZFAw/s320/IMG_4108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726590218091252146" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9_bEc9Jpazjn4VJb5ZNvEbpPdQrXAqYx_6F1Vyt92JPPB1gJXRybkQpkQ7ArKMKcPQ3Z-6L28inZdrxF8mkA14hvKjS6fyv-bDKG30-qaLMNPauuxKaolxK-FlcuEcDAVbhoaeEiPQ/s1600/IMG_4097.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9_bEc9Jpazjn4VJb5ZNvEbpPdQrXAqYx_6F1Vyt92JPPB1gJXRybkQpkQ7ArKMKcPQ3Z-6L28inZdrxF8mkA14hvKjS6fyv-bDKG30-qaLMNPauuxKaolxK-FlcuEcDAVbhoaeEiPQ/s320/IMG_4097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726597883536865682" border="0" /></a>The next place my sister had recommended checking out is called Hidden Lake. It's a popular spot with the local teenagers. We were also hoping there would be some horses in the nearby pastures, but no luck that day. Hidden Lake is a water filled cave, and honestly, gave me the creeps.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht64w3_nhSuZgAuhUgZRAZ08v7uBtjjZpMc1IxwYzh0seGBsItqZ_6NCH2YkSBYJZAj_dflNucbnnb_KGIcahOLeH4fZB4BDxP_g-_YSYCMUNpKWSMyPFxdqeUdqHdwZoPlrv9OkzQ2g/s1600/IMG_4122.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht64w3_nhSuZgAuhUgZRAZ08v7uBtjjZpMc1IxwYzh0seGBsItqZ_6NCH2YkSBYJZAj_dflNucbnnb_KGIcahOLeH4fZB4BDxP_g-_YSYCMUNpKWSMyPFxdqeUdqHdwZoPlrv9OkzQ2g/s320/IMG_4122.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726590617949426658" border="0" /></a>The rocks outside of it are beautiful, but it took me awhile to even go near that opening. It's pitch black, you can't even tell there is water in it without getting close. Black cave water, no thanks. I didn't want to regret not trying to see what was inside, but this was the best I could do. I didn't care to try more, I wanted to get out of there. Creepy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSHFFHNuFKSWPFS-gpuYZKwbTeX8Iq127r2DxC931S7EHCSfqxgkEiXvwoBvGP0-OV2GF09CGbBJ-pon7J4y2ZGQF1zKZcWgXslX7VVHXyyC3xsLjxsQ9gBZ7Q3FPD83txkl36529qQ/s1600/IMG_4127.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSHFFHNuFKSWPFS-gpuYZKwbTeX8Iq127r2DxC931S7EHCSfqxgkEiXvwoBvGP0-OV2GF09CGbBJ-pon7J4y2ZGQF1zKZcWgXslX7VVHXyyC3xsLjxsQ9gBZ7Q3FPD83txkl36529qQ/s320/IMG_4127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726599016508751746" border="0" /></a>After I killed a few hours, it was time to go back for my volunteer orientation. There were only three other groups of people in my class, but just being around them for a few minutes was a very humbling experience. One group was three ladies from several different states back east who all work for the same company. One of them immediately came up to me while we were waiting for the class to start, and introduced their group. They were all so excited to be there. They had been planning this trip since August and were volunteering at almost every animal area over the course of three days. The excitement and passion of the people coming to volunteer, made me grateful for the ease of which I was able to participate. One of the other groups in our class was a family that came from Canada and made a vacation out of the experience. From staff to volunteers, everyone I met at Best Friends was incredibly friendly and welcoming. That on its own was a nice change from seems to be an ever increasingly unfriendly world.<br /><br />After my orientation it was off to work with Alex in one of the cat houses. There are over 400 cats at Best Friends. A little daunting to think about. Alex was working in the house called Jill's Diner that day which houses around 30-40 cats I think. It was a little hard to tell because a lot of them are hiding and this might be all you see of them that day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gabjqn16ObExEhUd5QrYWx1U_Rggr_G8MteHB7N_vIlrsEUiRHbsFMsf966Ne7UeWCkf-vI9Nl29RJtwK1gA30ceFdup-aUAgKIzRQCGFKwxN48eKiAptl1xEzSqEEdcww4ucXNldQ/s1600/IMG_4140.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gabjqn16ObExEhUd5QrYWx1U_Rggr_G8MteHB7N_vIlrsEUiRHbsFMsf966Ne7UeWCkf-vI9Nl29RJtwK1gA30ceFdup-aUAgKIzRQCGFKwxN48eKiAptl1xEzSqEEdcww4ucXNldQ/s320/IMG_4140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726590622193290274" border="0" /></a>This house has four runs which all include and indoor and outdoor area for the cats to move freely between. The rafters are open with extra boards added for walkways and houses and bedding in the corners for those cats that want a little less interaction. On the ground there are lots of scratching posts and climbing areas, shelves and other areas for playing and napping. The cats seem very happy there and are definitely well taken care of. I helped Alex clean one of the runs and I have to say, for an area having 30+ cats, it didn't smell. I talked to Alex about some about the struggle between different houses on cleaning procedures and problems and helps that are created just by what products they do or don't use. I was glad I was there on the day she was working in a house where the main caregiver believes in using natural products and cleaners and avoids cleaners that while intending to make the area smell better, end up creating more problems. If I was a cat, I'd want to live in Jill's Diner. Of course you could also get the chance to live in the house where the caregiver has an obsession about all of the bedding and toys being only one color in each run.<br /><br />This is Papa and he is one of the older cats and he hangs out in the lobby where the caregiver works because he prefers some alone time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TgNgk-xZ5blMwrycUYo2PUoxIWA2G3a0l8qvVYte8Snkb3rl_2l6BfUf2ejvmf_p_uRrn2WABIWx-9YCvdGi1bFdA6WGyb1oxvZwwqVt1beJz0bN1qqi-U_7Ls4bFKGzbVe4UAfEGA/s1600/IMG_4152.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TgNgk-xZ5blMwrycUYo2PUoxIWA2G3a0l8qvVYte8Snkb3rl_2l6BfUf2ejvmf_p_uRrn2WABIWx-9YCvdGi1bFdA6WGyb1oxvZwwqVt1beJz0bN1qqi-U_7Ls4bFKGzbVe4UAfEGA/s320/IMG_4152.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726591853457430690" border="0" /></a>I pet kitties while Alex had to give them fluids and helped distribute dinner. One of the cats that is given fluids is Jasmine. She is 20 years old and the oldest cat at the sanctuary. Alex loves her.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEo80ovkjxp2XqJ15AA113LNFYtxs9Egs0aCSwPVAp6DYYoI8LYb2l0Cmg-Qzg2-2tjhRN2VzdeIWyouAr34js2IPZTFohIVZgQlb5ljQGqXH3cRh9z8kIFKhovRvM1k5u9TqNY8jqA/s1600/IMG_4206.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEo80ovkjxp2XqJ15AA113LNFYtxs9Egs0aCSwPVAp6DYYoI8LYb2l0Cmg-Qzg2-2tjhRN2VzdeIWyouAr34js2IPZTFohIVZgQlb5ljQGqXH3cRh9z8kIFKhovRvM1k5u9TqNY8jqA/s320/IMG_4206.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726592658948785490" border="0" /></a>She is pretty much just like a little old lady. Her fur looks like it needs to be combed, her meowing sounds like she's been a smoker for most of her life, she usually has to be shown where her food is, and she walks like every movement in an painful ordeal. But I think she is pretty happy with her home. Besides helping Alex out, I mostly just got to socialize with the cats. There are definitely a lot of cats that don't want anything to do with you, and a lot of the ones in this house are feral. But there were also several that had no problem being affectionate.<br /><br />This is Phantom.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0z6qOrOl_xfbqngf9xY6_96SMA5bAvKZIYSxmUvgIyv8_pGaGJ3bDvPgui88j6fG-Q9zCSBO-MGs94ROGQ4b7U9Dsfxd7F70vYkqo5spC_GcGmzGah1CW2_LavTh1B85D5HHbXy2vA/s1600/IMG_4212.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0z6qOrOl_xfbqngf9xY6_96SMA5bAvKZIYSxmUvgIyv8_pGaGJ3bDvPgui88j6fG-Q9zCSBO-MGs94ROGQ4b7U9Dsfxd7F70vYkqo5spC_GcGmzGah1CW2_LavTh1B85D5HHbXy2vA/s320/IMG_4212.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726592667529683506" border="0" /></a> Two of the friendly ladies from the orientation wanted to take a cat out on a walk, they do have some that love to do that. Phantom loves to go on walks and was just as comfortable on a leash as a dog. She ended up wearing out the ladies.<br /><br />This is the beautiful Mojito.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HPHSrslDrjNxrLdEg3m6tprrdUdIL0QeZYsT7ZrbeAdIDPq_ucvStFg2DhnizK2fSOFSlsQXTH6e-NZDPfItXQksHMu74zWW90WlnZuG3CNgkZTP57tjwOGNlq4lWElvQNAtO4tm5Q/s1600/IMG_4188.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HPHSrslDrjNxrLdEg3m6tprrdUdIL0QeZYsT7ZrbeAdIDPq_ucvStFg2DhnizK2fSOFSlsQXTH6e-NZDPfItXQksHMu74zWW90WlnZuG3CNgkZTP57tjwOGNlq4lWElvQNAtO4tm5Q/s320/IMG_4188.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726591866490893314" border="0" /></a>He is a very small, sleek cat. He is very adventurous and curious. He loves to chase wadded up pieces of paper. While in a neighboring run, we also found out he had no problem climbing the wire walls trying to get at a cat toy on the other side.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ePDjcHP-ip6xz4bHeUG772Hr8dCjfzhnNWKaA5trsX5JvUVp6hXbVkr0u7uS3oS2HIjIh06rUvgaXiqUekPClzizgOAZ3WUApNJajz2kzRXAeS8W2shaHeZ7wIyvGwW8Jz97i5AWqQ/s1600/IMG_4200a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 159px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ePDjcHP-ip6xz4bHeUG772Hr8dCjfzhnNWKaA5trsX5JvUVp6hXbVkr0u7uS3oS2HIjIh06rUvgaXiqUekPClzizgOAZ3WUApNJajz2kzRXAeS8W2shaHeZ7wIyvGwW8Jz97i5AWqQ/s320/IMG_4200a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726592655344137714" border="0" /></a>But my heart got sucked up by two sleek black kitties. I've always had a soft spot for sleek black cats, pretty sure I got it from my mom. The first one I met was Jag. I was lucky to get this shot of Jag early on, because after this he was glued to me when I was in the run and it was hard trying to get another picture of him.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWi8IUzEThq4n2XFOf9K5Fx9Lk_YOSUvcazKVTkLS9uRjN1sovJCopfA47tXdmxWrSSnkXLTRBFOd598Zu8Ci-SeIohJaGWfckXCNhOYjOg4XJ6omDbE41U8vWqEImFGviMj8Vfs4gfw/s1600/IMG_4147.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWi8IUzEThq4n2XFOf9K5Fx9Lk_YOSUvcazKVTkLS9uRjN1sovJCopfA47tXdmxWrSSnkXLTRBFOd598Zu8Ci-SeIohJaGWfckXCNhOYjOg4XJ6omDbE41U8vWqEImFGviMj8Vfs4gfw/s320/IMG_4147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726591846719020978" border="0" /></a>Jag and Phantom were both cats dropped off at shelters with notes that their owners had lost their homes or jobs and that they couldn't take care of them anymore. My sisters said that in the last few years the number of animals coming to them for this reason has skyrocketed. Very sad other side to the downturn in the economy. Jag would have easily come home with me if I lived in a cat friendly place. It's honestly amazing that my sisters only have five cats considering where they work.<br /><br />The next little guy to melt me was Exodus.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincgXWjbIMnYJM-hTCSb81eu6MgIpggi_SOwMt-mRhWBMRGLbN4z5jnVlvHouDCIT0RbAWCL2pnAGJXtqXVBZF3ZWklGJPmg9G-4Lix263MTo7XSCIvhuV_2PbZAoTOItoW8QyaDedfA/s1600/IMG_4178.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincgXWjbIMnYJM-hTCSb81eu6MgIpggi_SOwMt-mRhWBMRGLbN4z5jnVlvHouDCIT0RbAWCL2pnAGJXtqXVBZF3ZWklGJPmg9G-4Lix263MTo7XSCIvhuV_2PbZAoTOItoW8QyaDedfA/s320/IMG_4178.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726591861609055554" border="0" /></a> He also came right up to me when I walked in and was very content in my lap, making it hard to take photos of him. Exodus's story was heartbreaking. He came from another shelter with a broken jaw which causes his tongue to stick out on the side. They are pretty sure this injury was the result of being violently kicked. Even with that kind of background, this cat had nothing but love to give. It is stories like that which make you want to fill up your car with animals and take them home. But after talking to Alex about it she pointed out that it is important for people to adopt from their local shelter which is most likely a kill shelter. You will be actually saving that animal's life. All the animals at Best Friends will have a comfortable place to live for the rest of their lives, even if the ideal would be for them to all be in homes. Exodus and Jag were really hard to say goodbye to though. Exodus and Mojito who are buddies, got to go on an overnight with the three friendly ladies though. So knowing the love they were going to have poured on them that night made it a little easier. I'll definitely be watching these guys stories and hopefully visiting them again.<br /><br />Even though I didn't get to volunteer with Keeley this time, I did get to tour where she works and meet a lot of co-workers. I've always been proud of my sisters, but getting to see in person the hard work that they do, and hearing the respect their co-workers have for them, was a great, proud sister moment. Keeley was on-call for the weekend and ended up having to go in very late each night I was there to sit with or check-in on surgery patients. Seeing the animals in recovery and knowing the great care they receive there also made me very proud about the work my sisters help do. Keeley is leaving on Tuesday to go to LA to help in a clinic they have been taking over there. Best Friends is an amazing place, but it can't solve the problem by its self. Other locations like the one in LA, will be a big step towards getting places all over the country that can help do a lot of good things for animals.<br /><br />The work my sisters do is physical demanding. You don't get paid much, and you have to have a passion for the animals to make it worthwhile. I'm glad there are people like them working at facilities like Best Friends, and everyone else out there doing the work they do to help save animals lives. I only helped for a few hours on one day, but it was an extremely touching experience and one I hope to be able to repeat many times. And in a Price is Right closing, please spay and neuter your pets.Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-17685852637879243992012-03-11T21:20:00.000-06:002012-03-11T21:20:17.627-06:00Lava Hot SpringsFinally getting around to posting about my trip to Lava Hot Springs last month. My friend Becky had asked if I wanted to go up sometime while it was still cold. Having never been, I was up for the adventure. Lava Hot Springs is a small town in Idaho built around the naturally occurring hot springs. One of the nice things about these springs is that unlike most hot springs, these have no sulfur in them, so you don't smell for days afterwards. The town has a small main street with a few open gift shops, but not much else. They definitely seem to have been affected by the economic downturn. My only complaint about the place would be that finding someone to eat isn't exactly easy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aoZs6fieWZ6SvM2DvY9km5Xw9U9BsatwjO_BaSzUI0735R25b0UtJNYSfG0kt5FSe57R_FgrCTcPY89f511_YWDC4XJoUUq6f9jLFqcLLSDk7_-7XK4mczl35oO230VqK8j2oobF6w/s1600/IMG_3423.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aoZs6fieWZ6SvM2DvY9km5Xw9U9BsatwjO_BaSzUI0735R25b0UtJNYSfG0kt5FSe57R_FgrCTcPY89f511_YWDC4XJoUUq6f9jLFqcLLSDk7_-7XK4mczl35oO230VqK8j2oobF6w/s320/IMG_3423.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718833986058352466" border="0" /></a>We stayed at the Riverside Inn which was a nice little bed and breakfast. Only suggestion, ask to not stay in the room right next to the lobby. And just plan that your back is going to hurt from the mattress. But you know, minor details on an adventure.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7o19mfsi2GqWhwnzNRviD8PH6LJ1P0DS3YcOOOawkhYWQzZJ4htN4DaTb6yBiITKM8i4Q_hlbOjd_2HfQ2senUboBpi_5VIEQyMPnU9Onlhpwc1QBYwFIRFc1W79vusOangQ7fNF3dA/s1600/inn.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7o19mfsi2GqWhwnzNRviD8PH6LJ1P0DS3YcOOOawkhYWQzZJ4htN4DaTb6yBiITKM8i4Q_hlbOjd_2HfQ2senUboBpi_5VIEQyMPnU9Onlhpwc1QBYwFIRFc1W79vusOangQ7fNF3dA/s320/inn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718829091966764626" border="0" /></a>Most of the hotels have their own little soaking areas, and then there are 2 large city pools, one wasn't open for the winter. Our B&B had 3 indoor tubs, but the thought of sitting inside, in a small room, in the tubs wasn't exactly appealing to either of us. So we opted for the outdoor barrel tub. There was a bit of an adventure involving a hose and trying to cool the water off a bit, but you probably had to be there.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtf4Cmv5jc6r6vC5joOeX9vB2fRkHQceKt9Wp8n_VQ3luM1ILuaEsTtGmnmDPNpfRJSpnU9G1Z21H7nOd4wdhxe9q18kGdO82jb6kpyEaaqgbfVURCe8R-shSdBhjSI_BfE0iFLmP4g/s1600/tub.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtf4Cmv5jc6r6vC5joOeX9vB2fRkHQceKt9Wp8n_VQ3luM1ILuaEsTtGmnmDPNpfRJSpnU9G1Z21H7nOd4wdhxe9q18kGdO82jb6kpyEaaqgbfVURCe8R-shSdBhjSI_BfE0iFLmP4g/s320/tub.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718833325519087602" border="0" /></a>We also limited our water time to night time. We had a lot of fun sitting in the tub under the stars. And I taught Becky the few constellations that I can ever remember. I will note it's kind of hard to point out stars to someone when every time you raise your hand out of the water, all you do is create a large steam cloud blocking any visible stars. There was a lot of head nodding towards them.<br /><br />To fill up Saturday we went driving around to take photos. Becky asked at the front desk (because I can't do stuff like that) for any suggestions of places to take photos. We got the recommendation for a close by little ghost town. Apparently we missed the turn off for it, because we never did find that road, but I'm glad we didn't, because I really enjoyed what we did find.<br /><br />Off the side of the road we saw some beautiful orange willows that I wanted to photograph.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTe3T1QRV5Kilfb2nud_bqV2UhKiw48MRumGD4d3_0Rj42BRJVinyhQetZXvaaqZG_oqMIHoHVsdpn-CeUhoQc5mGp_kif59ql07yKv9HJKtusuD5qKsHyYooYUyae-nP8K9G4KFjyVg/s1600/willows+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTe3T1QRV5Kilfb2nud_bqV2UhKiw48MRumGD4d3_0Rj42BRJVinyhQetZXvaaqZG_oqMIHoHVsdpn-CeUhoQc5mGp_kif59ql07yKv9HJKtusuD5qKsHyYooYUyae-nP8K9G4KFjyVg/s320/willows+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718833333962399378" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_UMniVKLjEwUdifQV4_zsDQQ8PDLoYwQ52QpE-MWGFeBdgt4X9-UB1n-RxE58FGIaaqumDr65IKDpvnp0SR_cM2-su2lyhKX-q85Uc9MBl2Wo-l3nSrrUSCKPTFkVEZizEEg28NaSQ/s1600/rusty+springs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_UMniVKLjEwUdifQV4_zsDQQ8PDLoYwQ52QpE-MWGFeBdgt4X9-UB1n-RxE58FGIaaqumDr65IKDpvnp0SR_cM2-su2lyhKX-q85Uc9MBl2Wo-l3nSrrUSCKPTFkVEZizEEg28NaSQ/s320/rusty+springs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718832922523991714" border="0" /></a>Along that road, we passed a group of horses. Becky suggested stopping because she had never photographed horses before. They were very happy to oblige posing for us.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSovFPQksknQWYddZWZOGNNJGG3JC3PdoSkSyiZYqpoeWsRqyKYgTjwNEqw3_betUC6o51mbfG3hSbgyoFbEENj4CLzNxEzEZQpMfDQ9MCZM6gmE1hwh7Q5eUpHBZudNwR7VVidSv2yw/s1600/trio.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSovFPQksknQWYddZWZOGNNJGG3JC3PdoSkSyiZYqpoeWsRqyKYgTjwNEqw3_betUC6o51mbfG3hSbgyoFbEENj4CLzNxEzEZQpMfDQ9MCZM6gmE1hwh7Q5eUpHBZudNwR7VVidSv2yw/s320/trio.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718832932514055058" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaMII5yPOhPnYcPlG0g_2vQXqYwN67iedMJV0x3vj90vl9vTEwWjv_TYlrjCLHMHo_BRO4Cgzb7WWFpXrlR15ZtsSTOxYM-lfjSiV1MW1dtUMwvEQUS7PZgLmZAgz0Ak8CNqWTEkIyw/s1600/horse+eye.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaMII5yPOhPnYcPlG0g_2vQXqYwN67iedMJV0x3vj90vl9vTEwWjv_TYlrjCLHMHo_BRO4Cgzb7WWFpXrlR15ZtsSTOxYM-lfjSiV1MW1dtUMwvEQUS7PZgLmZAgz0Ak8CNqWTEkIyw/s320/horse+eye.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718828254557797506" border="0" /></a>Three of them were pretty friendly, but one in particular took a liking to me. He took a couple minutes to make sure I was ok, and then decided to take a closer inspection. He started by mouthing my camera strap, then my shirt, and then he started breathing in my ear. It was one of those rare moments when you feel like something really cool is happening, but at the same time you feel like you can't move because you're not exactly sure what is going to happen next. I'm not exactly sure what he was so interested in, but he was kind of like a dog trying to get my attention. I of course completely fell in love and really didn't want to leave, even though it was freezing outside! I would love to go back sometime and hopefully be able to visit the horses again. It was a very special and fun moment.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-S2_SXGjs94yIEAwKxGRSUG1yTAkmjqHLD1BsIjdwnQwsN3lfUnKpR4RaTcDfHZWAUuJ1YvUa2TYgAzIqCZCpDiArZD3L1SBSxNXTDmEQQcvxamSnJERiJvKML1GaA9b-nsI0VdfIg/s1600/karinhorney.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-S2_SXGjs94yIEAwKxGRSUG1yTAkmjqHLD1BsIjdwnQwsN3lfUnKpR4RaTcDfHZWAUuJ1YvUa2TYgAzIqCZCpDiArZD3L1SBSxNXTDmEQQcvxamSnJERiJvKML1GaA9b-nsI0VdfIg/s320/karinhorney.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718838536059325746" border="0" /></a>After the horses we continued our drive and ended up in the little town of Grace, ID. Along the way we passed a very small little town that had murals along several of the now closed businesses along the main road. I thought they were pretty cool.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_IYLq2UE9a7H80hJYZKmCY-QHfhGFGc3bLshzrpm25W3S86TuNEd8hiha0GLkyJYOo8ibVXtih4VZ8tgY5Y-4hwW2k8kLMUaKGsgcJjlFufVO1RJXc5z0xL2RcU58319FLq1Ma4d5g/s1600/mural.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_IYLq2UE9a7H80hJYZKmCY-QHfhGFGc3bLshzrpm25W3S86TuNEd8hiha0GLkyJYOo8ibVXtih4VZ8tgY5Y-4hwW2k8kLMUaKGsgcJjlFufVO1RJXc5z0xL2RcU58319FLq1Ma4d5g/s320/mural.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718829382387198770" border="0" /></a>Grace is a small little farming community, which is pretty much all that exists in that part of Idaho.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM99CYlUi4cQnyArcDnIzeGbNUYNt_VUa7LaCuzlsCZps56c3AECR6r8rIAqLVBJYo244G7ou3tZUKQVI2XAaWyEb0dhGV2RIDD5Obo9ehN8y0pxHWFJCysRDKVbZ3sfEPJS6DjHvQKw/s1600/mill.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM99CYlUi4cQnyArcDnIzeGbNUYNt_VUa7LaCuzlsCZps56c3AECR6r8rIAqLVBJYo244G7ou3tZUKQVI2XAaWyEb0dhGV2RIDD5Obo9ehN8y0pxHWFJCysRDKVbZ3sfEPJS6DjHvQKw/s320/mill.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718829379716172898" border="0" /></a>I just happened to look in the right direction at the right time and see what was one of the oddest things either Becky or I had seen. A very large, wooden pipeline. With some obvious issues made very evident by the freezing temperatures.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPK0OF0aJUL2ZdpUzKIASi3UC2dCGEpNn1SQTcJQNlDjBnI394Br06O5XTm-sAjyI7hxK9VR6EKdS5xjDElso2LVN35URNtDLIxHgfpDGO8ukbUTcVQmk8oEVFDppQ5gmTNINpCOHCng/s1600/pipeline.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPK0OF0aJUL2ZdpUzKIASi3UC2dCGEpNn1SQTcJQNlDjBnI394Br06O5XTm-sAjyI7hxK9VR6EKdS5xjDElso2LVN35URNtDLIxHgfpDGO8ukbUTcVQmk8oEVFDppQ5gmTNINpCOHCng/s320/pipeline.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718832436102343842" border="0" /></a>Leaks all along the entire pipeline causing ice sculptures. I'm still a little baffled by this pipeline. There seemed to be as much water outside of it, as I assume was in it. I seriously could have just stared at it for a very long time, except for the biting cold wind that sent me rushing back to the car after 2 minutes. Both Beck and I commented that the pictures didn't seem to capture the oddity of the situation. So I'm glad I got to experience it myself.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKbxvW-a0uHe-kbQ5qjxMGXKifLbGS7wl_0XukkD7B-_JqAdldjAG77CcXEVSwssgxfDJSfI_rEyy0e-9yoCvFOBb_7ju5anM3YZZYh1HgoymoQ-Mm6W21Gg3XmlsVrVECdnfSj4bPw/s1600/pipeline+close.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKbxvW-a0uHe-kbQ5qjxMGXKifLbGS7wl_0XukkD7B-_JqAdldjAG77CcXEVSwssgxfDJSfI_rEyy0e-9yoCvFOBb_7ju5anM3YZZYh1HgoymoQ-Mm6W21Gg3XmlsVrVECdnfSj4bPw/s320/pipeline+close.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718832432858000482" border="0" /></a>That night we went to the city pool, I didn't take a camera, but you can see pictures on their <a style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);" href="http://www.lavahotsprings.com/hotpools.html">website</a>. I'm pretty sure I would have no desire to be in 100+ water most of the year, but with snow all around you, it was perfect. And walking back the few blocks to our B&B, dripping wet, in swimming suits and towels, with jackets, the towel freezing to my legs and a lady outside laughing and commenting that we were crazy, was pretty awesome, but sadly not photographed.Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-72014997455736162942012-02-26T22:06:00.014-07:002012-02-27T23:04:39.639-07:00For Grandpa<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVJnqQnSqaU1N8ZRurAaYW-OYgkl66p5mxLG_kYx3sdiQ6XHLP0RjhLqtRIL6Tf8A5gicBWPIBWOLrxlT6sjfBB3GX543bws7DLU0Wl4A7jzPIGxr05AImiEwVhZ92DKV6ASrL8vm9w/s1600/Marshall+at+BYU.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 193px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVJnqQnSqaU1N8ZRurAaYW-OYgkl66p5mxLG_kYx3sdiQ6XHLP0RjhLqtRIL6Tf8A5gicBWPIBWOLrxlT6sjfBB3GX543bws7DLU0Wl4A7jzPIGxr05AImiEwVhZ92DKV6ASrL8vm9w/s320/Marshall+at+BYU.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714054308564180674" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEiKgKoA6tPrQWx2RaILC_jL7-Ww_gpJhwRysTV6iFGP-DgYhW6kv-_wS3d0UqJ2e1nVo2sZkI1a5OfIgKLMwvHAJP9vUTpGa-ViZO-QnQfpb1FF_os1ak8Bc1-hX8HqgNcRp_jC2d6w/s1600/Pappa+Daddy+Maiken.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 318px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEiKgKoA6tPrQWx2RaILC_jL7-Ww_gpJhwRysTV6iFGP-DgYhW6kv-_wS3d0UqJ2e1nVo2sZkI1a5OfIgKLMwvHAJP9vUTpGa-ViZO-QnQfpb1FF_os1ak8Bc1-hX8HqgNcRp_jC2d6w/s320/Pappa+Daddy+Maiken.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714053068135534754" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTtoumr1A67TRwVx_jGq3tqP5mAUUgEye8p9m92CQI68WpDsAd3zTAOkRUSbm38ITwJ_HrH62V1TF0bzi4bguLSgR6KQnZtkpoY_vtPhMWQZ_14cMKMdfTTtQHqE1eBn0iwRbhSoVDw/s1600/Untitled-79.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTtoumr1A67TRwVx_jGq3tqP5mAUUgEye8p9m92CQI68WpDsAd3zTAOkRUSbm38ITwJ_HrH62V1TF0bzi4bguLSgR6KQnZtkpoY_vtPhMWQZ_14cMKMdfTTtQHqE1eBn0iwRbhSoVDw/s320/Untitled-79.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714051567616516018" border="0" /></a><br />This weekend was full of lots of family time and was extremely exhausting. Good, but definitely exhausting. Emotional days followed by late nights with sisters, means I feel like I need a few days to recover. I want to get a post done though, or I know I'll never get around to it. And there are some memories I would like to make sure I get down.<br /><br />My grandma Craig died back in 2001. She'd had back surgery that she never recovered from, followed by a stroke, and then just a series of problems over the course of a few months. I spent a few hours with her in the hospital one day. The plan was to give my grandpa a break from being constantly by her side, but he still stayed not wanting to leave. The day I was there my grandma was in a lot of pain. I tried to help rub cramping legs, but I'm not sure I gave her much relief. That day ended up being the last day I saw her before she passed and part of me has always hated that it's the last memory I have of her. That memory is how I picture her, in pain and uncomfortable.<br /><br />When my grandpa had to be put in a care center, there was a part of me that didn't want to go see him at all. I didn't want that to be my last memory of him. I will admit there was also a level of laziness involved there, but the thought of my grandma was always in my mind. So I didn't see my grandpa that much over the last few years. On the 10th I got a call from my sister that I had long since expected, that my grandpa's nurse felt he wouldn't last much longer, and to come and say goodbye. The memory of my grandma flashed in my mind, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to actually say goodbye. There are so few times in death that you actually get that chance.<br /><br />As I was getting ready to head over I knew that it had to be close to when my grandma died because her funeral had been on Valentine's. I pulled up her obituary to check, and yes, she had died on the 10th, 11 years earlier. The thought of my grandpa passing on the same day as my grandma had a sweetness to it. I guess that wasn't meant to happen though, because he did hang on for a few more days.<br /><br />I sat beside my grandpa's bed and was surprised at how well he looked to me. He definitely didn't have the, just about to die countenance I had prepared myself for. Instead he opened his eyes and said hello even though he wasn't sure who I was. I held his hand which was resting on the bed and instead of me comforting him, he patted my hand while I sat next to the bed. He acknowledged a few people as they came in, but mostly just rested. The only outward sign of struggling health was a bad cough. After staying for awhile I went to give him a kiss goodbye and he woke up and kissed me back. I went to the end of the bed while my sister said goodbye and waved to him. My grandpa looked me in the eye, and winked. And I left with the perfect closure. Not a bad memory of failing health, but a smile brought on my a gesture that showed me even though his mind and health were gone, enough of him was still there to reach out and say goodbye.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvzpfrZJIZZZZdkr5W6LymhhaKwGVDXlXBbTBqTQTxD_QF0a6AMfld7O2tRcKzFBVMTcngw5W-SL77Fr0m2qs5-pAaV3VGYLu6oegifm-eJouvhU6qZGN-zXzsjxtYGhIXJ11Z2F3AA/s1600/hand.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvzpfrZJIZZZZdkr5W6LymhhaKwGVDXlXBbTBqTQTxD_QF0a6AMfld7O2tRcKzFBVMTcngw5W-SL77Fr0m2qs5-pAaV3VGYLu6oegifm-eJouvhU6qZGN-zXzsjxtYGhIXJ11Z2F3AA/s320/hand.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713686874867107538" border="0" /></a>While at the care center saying goodbye I was talking to my aunt who was there, and we were talking about the significance of the day and my grandma's funeral. My aunt told me that after my grandma's funeral her daughter, who I think was about 7 at the time, turned to her and said, what a beautiful day for a funeral. A little confused my aunt asked her what she meant. She said, well Valentine's Day is a day to think about all the people you love, so what a beautiful day for a funeral. A few days later Valentine's Day had rolled around again. All day there was part of me that felt like my grandpa would go that day. Or maybe I just liked the significance if he did. I went to bed about 11:30 that night and immediately started crying, I knew my grandpa was gone. It was just over 30 minutes later when the nurse went to check on him, and he had passed away. Because it was pass midnight when they checked, he officially died on the 15th. I'm not convinced though. I'm not sure what happens when we die, but I don't have a problem believing my grandpa left on Valentine's Day to be reunited with the love of his life.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMiSf6R1FvkjF8w8a-jRow8E2ebBEF8BKDrHGGe7O62XRE-PAykDl0O9xlKBeQJKym66eGAZgjV1zcycL1I-SYN3NMTF5VXrmpeXn5UM0iT_6ouw_9iMUTv1T8bSAxXsGrFB2o7BNqw/s1600/wedding2.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMiSf6R1FvkjF8w8a-jRow8E2ebBEF8BKDrHGGe7O62XRE-PAykDl0O9xlKBeQJKym66eGAZgjV1zcycL1I-SYN3NMTF5VXrmpeXn5UM0iT_6ouw_9iMUTv1T8bSAxXsGrFB2o7BNqw/s320/wedding2.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714054327112448850" border="0" /></a>We had a beautiful service on Saturday full of lots of great memories. Some I was familiar with, and some were new. It wasn't surprising to me, but I was proud to hear stories of my grandfather going against the racist norm that he grew up around in the deep south. I felt pride in hearing stories about my grandfather encouraging his children to question the world around them and not to accept things just at face value. Next time my boss gets on me for stirring things up I want to tell him, sorry it's in my blood.<br /><br />My grandpa had a passion for the written word, and although I can't say I give it the attention I should, after hearing many more great stories about the love my grandpa had for books and reading, it makes me want to re-commit to having that be a meaningful part of my own life. And to make sure it is one I help pass down to the next generation. I definitely owe any interest in Shakespeare to my grandpa and the memories of him explaining the plots and characters around the campfire before going to see the plays at the Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City. I will miss having that.<br /><br />My grandpa had specifically requested that he have bagpipes at his funeral. I remember him talking about it way back when I was in high school and played in the high school pipe band. I never owned my own set of pipes, so after high school, my pipe playing days ended. I had wished to be able to play at other funerals for my other grandparents that had passed away in earlier years. I was never in contact at the time though with friends that still played, and doubted if I still had the skills to even attempt such a thing. I'm now back in contact with my best friend from high school Becky, who does own her own pipes. Upon my grandpa's passing, I asked her if she would be willing to play, which she agreed to do. There was a part of me that wanted to try, but really doubted that there would be any ability left after 17 years. Becky sadly lost an aunt later that week, who's funeral would be the same day as my grandpa's. She wasn't sure if she would be able to go because it was out of state, but I didn't want to take the opportunity away and felt it was the push for me to maybe try it out.<br /><br />I was surprised that I was in fact able to remember the fingerings to Amazing Grace, and did better than I had expected after such a long void, but was definitely far from being able to play in front of people. I had a few days to practice and try and build up some stamina. On Friday while practicing I was feeling a lot more confident. I was no where near the ability I'd had back in high school, but felt like I at least wouldn't embarrass myself. After the funeral I headed down to the cemetery to get warmed up. The wind had really picked up which had also caused the temperature to really drop. Two things that in no way help playing an instrument outside. The time came for me to play and honestly I've pretty much blurred the memory except for the fact that the low note I was struggling with while warming up because of the weather, did not play. But besides that issue, I made it through. The family was all very appreciative of the effort, and knew my grandpa would have appreciated my playing, even if it was less than perfection. I imagine if my grandpa had been there I would have gotten a wink, a slight shrug of the shoulders and a whispered, sometimes that happens.<br /><br />I also have to mention the beautiful casket that my mom helped arrange. When my little sisters moved to Kanab, we noticed on the first trip down to visit, a sign for a woodworking place that among other things, made caskets. Little did we know then, that a few years later, my mom would be driving down to pick up the hand-made pine casket for her father. They did a beautiful job and I'm sure my grandpa would have loved the simplicity of it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnhMUH7uzsaPMI9ESq2EI1HbqFePv45qmuPLeMips_RiZRXsjx6vfoGDgonPxy-cQrtLsSIL12nHJpXE7X54cTK_KCDNT1Fh2nH3SESxnJah3U9RjuIQQ56EIpWR5RIPiOxjRFFga0Q/s1600/casket3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnhMUH7uzsaPMI9ESq2EI1HbqFePv45qmuPLeMips_RiZRXsjx6vfoGDgonPxy-cQrtLsSIL12nHJpXE7X54cTK_KCDNT1Fh2nH3SESxnJah3U9RjuIQQ56EIpWR5RIPiOxjRFFga0Q/s320/casket3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713698315160001570" border="0" /></a>Saturday night my family went out to our favorite restaurant, Bombay House. I found it very fitting because it was my grandparents who introduced us to the wonderful restaurant and owners. And it felt like the perfect ending to the day. Later that night my sisters and I all sat on the front porch, in the freezing weather, singing songs. Singing was another important tradition that is in our family because of our grandparents. And I know it is something that will forever remind us of the wonderful grandparents we had.<br /><br />My mom's generation was missing my aunt and uncle who are serving an LDS mission in Brazil, but my generation had all 21 grandchildren in attendance. Can't say this is the best picture ever, but hey, we're all there! Not sure when that will happen again.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XCKdGgM7jRwHt94xArwiMri5LgfX1en2-fx-4b1YdiQ2XP1XASUVigI5NPKh8vAAU6uSyv_AlQ-CHgdO_WLPL70sfr5zmOdGs22gsqom-j1fd05SBwZgygVKyvhmu8YhFrLIi28vlw/s1600/grandkids.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XCKdGgM7jRwHt94xArwiMri5LgfX1en2-fx-4b1YdiQ2XP1XASUVigI5NPKh8vAAU6uSyv_AlQ-CHgdO_WLPL70sfr5zmOdGs22gsqom-j1fd05SBwZgygVKyvhmu8YhFrLIi28vlw/s320/grandkids.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713694321264788386" border="0" /></a>My grandpa was a wonderful man, who leaves behind a full legacy. I don't remember ever hearing an unkind word, or a raised voice from my grandpa. He was one of those people that made you feel special, just from being around him. He lead a full life and was the kind of man that makes me want to live a better life to emulate the example he was for our family. He will be missed beyond compare, but his memory will never fade from those lucky enough to have know him. I love you grandpa. Thank you for the life you lived.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVODVbl-8nrb0IjNkq595svun3AYq2iPrb3hDR0vDKBYdxGia_VRrMmXoZ7SK3KGRxgLHqSoKnC2hYcZIF1FEOCOiD7H_YnDTmDR4b2BobkLYGK2X_MwJ-dZQfImIw5HF4pZhNPOprA/s1600/B%2526W+MRC+for+obit+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVODVbl-8nrb0IjNkq595svun3AYq2iPrb3hDR0vDKBYdxGia_VRrMmXoZ7SK3KGRxgLHqSoKnC2hYcZIF1FEOCOiD7H_YnDTmDR4b2BobkLYGK2X_MwJ-dZQfImIw5HF4pZhNPOprA/s320/B%2526W+MRC+for+obit+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714055107211188290" border="0" /></a>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-14065496074890180152012-02-20T23:16:00.002-07:002012-02-20T23:26:00.157-07:00Catch UpOh yes. Remember this blog? Yeah it's still here. Being neglected by me. I have a couple of posts I need to do, but I'm pretty sure this week is going to be a bit full because my sister is flying in tomorrow, and then the other sisters will be here this weekend for my grandpa's funeral. I want to do a post for him, but thought I'd wait till after the funeral. Most people that read my blog read my sister's and she did a beautiful <a style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);" href="http://justicegirl.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/for-papa-daddy/">post</a> in which I share her thoughts and wonderful memories.<br /><br />Right now I'm mostly feeling nervous because I'm going to play the bagpipes at the funeral. Something I had a bit of experience doing in high school, but it's been 17 years since I played. I had wished to be able to play at my other grandparents funerals, but it didn't work out because I wasn't in contact with anyone that played, and honestly I didn't think I could do it after this long. In the last year I have become close again with my high school best friend Becky, who is graciously letting me try to play on her pipes. My attempt so far went better than I expected, but it's hard to not realize how much better I was way back when and not feel a little overwhelmed about it. I know that the family will think it's cool no matter what (at least I hope they do!) but it's hard not to want to do a really good job.<br /><br />The second thing I need to post about is my weekend visit to Lava Hot Springs with Becky. It was a nice, close, get away and I had a great time. So just wanted to pop in and say, yes, I'm still here. Please stay tuned for further updates.Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-8538328951386724712012-01-02T17:53:00.005-07:002012-01-02T18:19:15.504-07:00Welcoming 2012I didn't have much planned for today, other than enjoying the day off from work. That was until I took the Christmas tree outside and saw how beautiful the weather was. I went back in and changed and headed out for a hike. I'm really glad I took advantage of the amazing weather we've been having.<br /><br />I do appreciate living in a place that has four seasons. There's something harmonizing about it. As the seasons change, other things in your life change. From what foods I crave to what I do after work. The problem with four seasons, is that I don't like extremes. I pretty much like everything about spring and fall, summer and winter are a different story. I can't stand the heat of the summer and have never lived somewhere that I got to take advantage of air conditioning. But I do appreciate the long days and the escape from the heat that the canyons offer. I like being able to take Will to the pool and enjoy the cool water. I don't like the cold or the snow of winter. It's pretty up in the mountains and on Christmas, but that's the only time I want to see it. But I do appreciate the desire for soups and working on projects indoors that I ignore the rest of the year.<br /><br />Today it was up to about 50. Not exactly normal for this time of year, but I'm definitely appreciative. I know there are negatives to this weather but I for one am going to try and take advantage while I can. A nice cool weather hike is the perfect start to a new year for me. I hope it's a sign of good things to come.<br /><br />The trail normally looks like this is October instead of January<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1T3xlffUHdXs8JfBRkbDAQwMWS1CHa4Zzxzn0ROP0_qY9E1dZA4i2A5QKITj2-wM_NGcvzXi2NviGE2bk3co_Kk-h-eDD3zhcAkDFbUhey0qf8rZXgws2R7FrPe7bs8-__4X_SpTwfA/s1600/IMG_3022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1T3xlffUHdXs8JfBRkbDAQwMWS1CHa4Zzxzn0ROP0_qY9E1dZA4i2A5QKITj2-wM_NGcvzXi2NviGE2bk3co_Kk-h-eDD3zhcAkDFbUhey0qf8rZXgws2R7FrPe7bs8-__4X_SpTwfA/s320/IMG_3022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693206956977494386" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmztONZfMfQ02M_ChbqUyCkYd-QCiEtsMXGQulCgLmVCmYgUKPGNtRGC9FdZEVP24kAZ1_9fmsFMT5gwkJVmaU6F_V6TsihX-zfiJNdImBnDgl76xf21x-0Tlfqwv_dvwkAQX67LLNQ/s1600/IMG_3048.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmztONZfMfQ02M_ChbqUyCkYd-QCiEtsMXGQulCgLmVCmYgUKPGNtRGC9FdZEVP24kAZ1_9fmsFMT5gwkJVmaU6F_V6TsihX-zfiJNdImBnDgl76xf21x-0Tlfqwv_dvwkAQX67LLNQ/s320/IMG_3048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693207203330489938" border="0" /></a>The plants are a little confused by the weather<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KJn4OxFgHCfQ2eiyLQ4NRd6COrhMF0u4SLwyQDRmnkHt3A94wp_UgxeXCOFpbnLKQRXMSlkthelkGitkQAOsjGrBUgem7WlMZNFPueJRu6unwJcDwM57xHBOxT4mGSyXbD6nh9iUAw/s1600/IMG_3039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KJn4OxFgHCfQ2eiyLQ4NRd6COrhMF0u4SLwyQDRmnkHt3A94wp_UgxeXCOFpbnLKQRXMSlkthelkGitkQAOsjGrBUgem7WlMZNFPueJRu6unwJcDwM57xHBOxT4mGSyXbD6nh9iUAw/s320/IMG_3039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693207194593928354" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHiw8cg_1EgZ2FP1p5_PEUe50gk_1Vs0uGop-hcRPVZEY66Xcs1shmMOcFwDbvDwv26UyJ2x_1dXLk2Afa_JORiriKeMGXfggny7jkCLDQ26OYtuIjcyelC4kifF6HED371Jx3lt5Fg/s1600/IMG_3064.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHiw8cg_1EgZ2FP1p5_PEUe50gk_1Vs0uGop-hcRPVZEY66Xcs1shmMOcFwDbvDwv26UyJ2x_1dXLk2Afa_JORiriKeMGXfggny7jkCLDQ26OYtuIjcyelC4kifF6HED371Jx3lt5Fg/s320/IMG_3064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693207555671741906" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8e4W0Ngl0Vn_vdrNIU7XCVwwXd8f3woUTmcCumSH9xSvJVU5WMaFo__ZaDBxJjLbNLI2lMnQqaG29BXILfbpqJTkMTiCsaaxFE9bTHItS9QL3pglZHyR_EgIq8o6aeM7R7F5WgBolw/s1600/IMG_3051.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8e4W0Ngl0Vn_vdrNIU7XCVwwXd8f3woUTmcCumSH9xSvJVU5WMaFo__ZaDBxJjLbNLI2lMnQqaG29BXILfbpqJTkMTiCsaaxFE9bTHItS9QL3pglZHyR_EgIq8o6aeM7R7F5WgBolw/s320/IMG_3051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693207541816526274" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-M1nBfF9B-AX3JAf_VhVOT1YqCR8gYUTFAhbi66jxquJHiu_39lBPTmrSSgnake5xc6y0qpNLxdIYFJD6z8AAvZENnNY2Krlwx2IbOzYk-CBItMg1HqxOJ9EEgPXRZochqn2xKvPhA/s1600/IMG_3062.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-M1nBfF9B-AX3JAf_VhVOT1YqCR8gYUTFAhbi66jxquJHiu_39lBPTmrSSgnake5xc6y0qpNLxdIYFJD6z8AAvZENnNY2Krlwx2IbOzYk-CBItMg1HqxOJ9EEgPXRZochqn2xKvPhA/s320/IMG_3062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693207547509921602" border="0" /></a>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-68032707109806094752011-12-31T23:03:00.003-07:002011-12-31T23:28:47.924-07:00A Child's MindI recently saw a similar idea in Pinterest, and was very happy to see my mother-in-law had done this for Christmas. She asked each of the grand kids questions about their parents and then wrote them up as a gift. I think I might start doing this regularly with Will because I thought it was so funny. So according to Will, answers about me and Pat.<br /><br />~What's mom's favorite food: tortillas and tacos with tomatoes<br /> Dad's: ramen<br />(I do really like tacos, but I'm surprised even Will wouldn't say hamburgers for Pat)<br /><br />~Where was mom born: Germany<br /> Dad: Florida<br />(the funny thing about this one is that Pat's older sister was born in Germany and his younger sister was born in Florida. I was born in California and Pat was born in Massachusetts.)<br /><br />~Favorite ice cream, mom: Vanilla<br /> Dad: Chocolate<br />(not my favorite, I need stuff in my ice cream, but he did get Pat right)<br /><br />~Favorite place to go, mom: Where Aunt B lives<br /> Dad: England<br />(well I do enjoy that, although my dream is his answer for Pat)<br /><br />~Favorite vegetable, mom: mom likes all kinds of vegetables<br /> Dad: cherry tomatoes<br />(pretty close on that one)<br /><br />~Favorite movie, mom: Don't know any movie she likes<br />Dad: Star Wars<br /><br />~Does mom have a nickname: No (I really don't)<br />Dad: the kids in my class call him Pat (totally made me laugh)<br /><br />~Pool, ocean or lake, mom: Ocean (definitely not)<br />Dad: pool<br /><br />~Favorite snack, mom: tortillas<br />Dad: ramen<br />(apparently there isn't a lot of variety in our lives)<br /><br />~How much does mom spend on food/week, mom: $20 (I wish!)<br /> $40<br /><br />~How much does mom's car cost? $200 + $1,000<br />(well that's just more than what I owe on my car...)<br /><br />~How many flashlights are in mom's house: 1 or 2 or 3 or 4<br /> Dad: 5<br /><br />~Best gift mom & dad ever got from Santa: They never told me what they got from Santa<br />(I have rectified this)<br /><br />~Favorite toy as a kid, mom: paper dolls<br /> Dad: action figuresKarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-8518719936579758572011-12-30T10:05:00.007-07:002011-12-30T10:31:42.120-07:00Christmas Wrap UpOne of the things about being so "involved" on Facebook is that sometimes I feel like there is no point in having a blog, because I can just post stuff there. So this ends up being a repeat for most people. Oh well. If Facebook ever goes the way of Myspace, I guess I still have this history.<br /><br />Christmas is over and done with, although those things I needed to mail but didn't want to stress about so said they would be New Year gifts, guess they still need to be done. Overall Christmas was very good except for the fact that I got a 24 stomach bug and was sick all of Christmas day.<br /><br />Maiken and Britta and I all made my dad Monte a set of the 12 Days of Christmas <a style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);" href="http://utahleafgirl.blogspot.com/2011/01/12-days-of-christmas-ornaments.html">ornaments</a> that we had previously made our mom. He's been revealing them online one at a time though, so I feel like I should do a separate post later to highlight some of those. I get Will an ornament each year and the last few years have tried to make one. With the exception of two years, they have always been related to his Halloween costume that year. So I was already planning on making him a royal guard when he saw me working on the ones for Monte and asked if I'd make him a royal guard. I will say the shirt took me way too many patterns, but I was happy with how it turned out.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhme1lj5abVPezzq4R9D35XiRovCvvx_-Y8mkzDiRDDyacnTBGNPTFhGiidA4LYboe2mVEvXH8f4JptWXX73k__nYomQhQa0IWk-e5ZALZ3-JUo8FSEVo9B6L75ctnmGRdjSZOpXkwbeA/s1600/IMG_2810.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhme1lj5abVPezzq4R9D35XiRovCvvx_-Y8mkzDiRDDyacnTBGNPTFhGiidA4LYboe2mVEvXH8f4JptWXX73k__nYomQhQa0IWk-e5ZALZ3-JUo8FSEVo9B6L75ctnmGRdjSZOpXkwbeA/s320/IMG_2810.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691971094162201490" border="0" /></a>On Christmas Eve we had new visitors this year, Santa, Mrs. Claus, a reindeer and Buddy the Elf thanks to some cousins and a friend. They were all really cute and I think the adults enjoyed the laughs as much as the kids did.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDA8GsbSjU4cxRVmE0rDzOETjBgHh9sL0afUqqOVXKwbat1Gfqy3zleuSolRXyaZYr02dOFqN02jrZCAS_HvE58IS-7j4tIQKf-gwkz-uXjiBCMNIIrE8CmO82pLKNSySFI4SPJGLAMw/s1600/IMG_2875edit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDA8GsbSjU4cxRVmE0rDzOETjBgHh9sL0afUqqOVXKwbat1Gfqy3zleuSolRXyaZYr02dOFqN02jrZCAS_HvE58IS-7j4tIQKf-gwkz-uXjiBCMNIIrE8CmO82pLKNSySFI4SPJGLAMw/s320/IMG_2875edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691971813232193138" border="0" /></a>Will promptly told me this wasn't the real Santa because he met the real Santa at school. But I loved the look in his eye of curiosity that they knew his name and one of the presents on his list.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4-FASA2H9y3tkIflrLptIxErXXgQiOFUikzLIVMyrG4NZ8CfOf3za-eT8zGjvQROuaVwdsLZzBLdxKwhmWIW57Tq1J0MgUWJMERVYNZ4JO7DHLfdctY9WuQGrLjEKso6r8oPSt6Wrg/s1600/IMG_2881.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4-FASA2H9y3tkIflrLptIxErXXgQiOFUikzLIVMyrG4NZ8CfOf3za-eT8zGjvQROuaVwdsLZzBLdxKwhmWIW57Tq1J0MgUWJMERVYNZ4JO7DHLfdctY9WuQGrLjEKso6r8oPSt6Wrg/s320/IMG_2881.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691972147000389090" border="0" /></a>I may have been up a little too late last night having fun on Facebook. I'd realized that I hadn't gotten any pictures of Will in the beret he asked for, honestly it was lucky I got any photos taken on Christmas with the way I was feeling. So I asked Will if he'd put on the beret and a scarf I made him. While taking some photos he kept asking if the shirt he was wearing was French and if someone French would wear it. They like Lego Star Wars in France right? Sensing he didn't feel the ensemble, I went searching for a different shirt. Not finding anything I told him he should put on his coat. I will say this is probably my favorite photo of Will from the whole year. Well minus the one from the <a style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);" href="http://utahleafgirl.blogspot.com/2011/03/festival-of-colors.html">colors festival</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cjojx9F9tBi5jQaxOUVrX0pga1brN_NC2-tNvTfBKgg6a3A2Wkp8RIicsAeO6TYqPpddD1dtJ_loZjmyZ4IfyT_EmvFKRuo8_5jkb1xOM4TZPZkb81Tpz6RsBDDYM8pCjsoMPLcgRg/s1600/IMG_2988.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cjojx9F9tBi5jQaxOUVrX0pga1brN_NC2-tNvTfBKgg6a3A2Wkp8RIicsAeO6TYqPpddD1dtJ_loZjmyZ4IfyT_EmvFKRuo8_5jkb1xOM4TZPZkb81Tpz6RsBDDYM8pCjsoMPLcgRg/s320/IMG_2988.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691974160994816802" border="0" /></a>This led to a FB discussion about him needing a mustache to complete the look. He wouldn't let me draw one on, but said I could do a paper one. Man I love this kid.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQN2OXGBgu3k4-sYAc9CxHK5XPPbu8eopbFHOGT5lZyobRxoNMt7g4N4jM3jux_BATtyinju4WdZXmYZh-Qq1vl_sLsW1AO9XHWXrU8KVvq2jrMxWAtCe_bbftghuAaZprEwpc5W2og/s1600/IMG_2994.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQN2OXGBgu3k4-sYAc9CxHK5XPPbu8eopbFHOGT5lZyobRxoNMt7g4N4jM3jux_BATtyinju4WdZXmYZh-Qq1vl_sLsW1AO9XHWXrU8KVvq2jrMxWAtCe_bbftghuAaZprEwpc5W2og/s320/IMG_2994.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691974165495983586" border="0" /></a>I hope everyone had a good holiday and wish everyone the best as we begin a new year!Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-15687373976292516212011-12-19T22:13:00.000-07:002011-12-19T22:13:41.329-07:00BlahIn case you didn't notice, I haven't been in a blogging mood. Honestly I haven't been in a much of anything mood. The time/weather change sucks. It takes away two things that honestly really helped me get through the last year, hiking and photography. I really miss being able to go for hikes after work. Not only does it give me a form of exercise I don't dread, but being out in nature is something I need to refresh my mind and soul. The last two months have been hard for me and I haven't found a good replacement.<br /><br />(I have started going to Zumba with my cousin, which is a good fill in for the exercise part. And it would be more so if I ever get past the part where I mostly just stand there and go, oh wait, what was that, or we're moving on, wait how did you do...oh ok new thing...wait....this is hard)<br /><br />As for photography, the only thing I really enjoy taking photos of is nature stuff. And yeah nature stuff still exists during winter. But it's all cold. And there is snow. And it gets dark early. And yeah. So instead my recliner and I have gotten to be better friends. And then I was going through my photos from the last year and realized, I don't really have that many that I'm truly happy with. I know that just means I need to practice more, but it was a bit discouraging.<br /><br />A few months ago my cousin Katy passed along a thank you card she got from someone where they had printed a photo of theirs and attached it to a blank card. She suggested I should do something similar with some of my photos. I thought it was a great idea for a personalized Christmas card. And like most things, that I idea did not exactly go as planned.<br /><br />I wanted to wait until their was snow on the ground to get a "winter" picture. But that created a situation of wanting to get a picture up high enough in the canyon to have snow on the ground, but timing that with the closing of canyons, finding a setting I like, and actually getting a photo I was happy with. Well what I ended up with was one last shot to get a photo, I either got it on that day, or I went to the store and bought cards.<br /><br />There is a cool place up Payson Canyon called the Pine Forest. I hadn't been there since we had first moved to Utah 24 years ago (holy crap that just made me feel old!), but from what I remembered, I thought it had the possibility of a good photo. I got some directions and headed up there. I later realized what I thought might be the trail head was, but I doubted it and went a different direction following some tracks in the snow. Those tracks did eventually get me to the Pine Forest, but only after a 45 minute hike uphill, through snow, in uncomfortable boots. I spent at least 5 minutes just standing at a fork in the trail debating just turning around, but I'm glad I kept going and got there.<br /><br />Anyone local that hasn't been up there, should go. It's such a peaceful, serene place. And I needed the time alone up there. Luckily on the way back I saw what I figured might be the real trail and was able to take the much easier, 15 minute way back. I have to say that on my 1" preview screen on my camera, the photos were much cooler looking. But I got something to use for a card, so not a waste.<br /><br />Luckily I did get that one task completed, because 2 days later a wicked cold took over and claimed all of last week. Oh you don't feel like you will be able to get everything done for Christmas in the next two weeks? Ok, how about I just take away one of those weeks. Good luck! Thanks Universe. So some people are getting New Years presents instead.<br /><br />(re-reading that, I'm not really as down as that all sounds, well maybe, but that's Christmas for ya.) Merry Christmas to all.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtT1pDNg8JyQytSudjENF5kubviOxS3KpL73cn5UQRbvWTmOOjUkKHvXmS2Hvdf0h9HPlLzEEdBjOEQnUt7_xcOdxcc4BXASvRtTnqXix-t1AtaeMdK_GVTLaWYHOp1W4_ADDvLuNyJA/s1600/IMG_2677.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtT1pDNg8JyQytSudjENF5kubviOxS3KpL73cn5UQRbvWTmOOjUkKHvXmS2Hvdf0h9HPlLzEEdBjOEQnUt7_xcOdxcc4BXASvRtTnqXix-t1AtaeMdK_GVTLaWYHOp1W4_ADDvLuNyJA/s320/IMG_2677.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688071426511490210" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXhJakqd3PhCXm6vCIptJdFHjVb6jdk1TsT1xH8jUzVDhp2idLmyENp8lPhl2qwiB0wak-gFGrsSw4LPqbbxId1GDI0kpB9IH_DFHa3PTdX3TR9as2gRUw_LKRrpkpuzUzIksXZ6Ydg/s1600/IMG_2728a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXhJakqd3PhCXm6vCIptJdFHjVb6jdk1TsT1xH8jUzVDhp2idLmyENp8lPhl2qwiB0wak-gFGrsSw4LPqbbxId1GDI0kpB9IH_DFHa3PTdX3TR9as2gRUw_LKRrpkpuzUzIksXZ6Ydg/s320/IMG_2728a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688072667636350946" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQepXV1VDg0NLhpU1uPFf_T9t6dg4U3IejeXYuFfrwoIs8kAfAmS9DeE0Ox5SmOqNHO-jGTZy7WL7n9PhyphenhyphenGrcXxHFpFtXMdLIx5F1UW-D7EYYbXDbZ0xLFOa53KFgS6M0KH3j6mozGQ/s1600/IMG_2752a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQepXV1VDg0NLhpU1uPFf_T9t6dg4U3IejeXYuFfrwoIs8kAfAmS9DeE0Ox5SmOqNHO-jGTZy7WL7n9PhyphenhyphenGrcXxHFpFtXMdLIx5F1UW-D7EYYbXDbZ0xLFOa53KFgS6M0KH3j6mozGQ/s320/IMG_2752a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688072176170629298" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgipCu1HRN7MpxGGiY04xpasHLhjLdzluA9QirMdZMnauKHqjNiHlVA_YLmQOsWT7W8Col_1IhvHCg95efxBTgsEnfRxFa8JJlzopGNnONEJWo0QVJUkCr0fzFF9sLRk_-jfaV3-rNRDg/s1600/IMG_2730a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgipCu1HRN7MpxGGiY04xpasHLhjLdzluA9QirMdZMnauKHqjNiHlVA_YLmQOsWT7W8Col_1IhvHCg95efxBTgsEnfRxFa8JJlzopGNnONEJWo0QVJUkCr0fzFF9sLRk_-jfaV3-rNRDg/s320/IMG_2730a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688072670508778578" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKXmKLzTxEPo8PHBLO77SJjsKdhTE1GZfagKpNcKjhestlOqwYhX52ixLEl2tpsj6ZZ9jTE9lxRilTLRxi5LiH4Xja328g_YxxeSBUEFC7HbnKS-TBurNdnVoOApYA59XUnG38_cycg/s1600/IMG_2743a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKXmKLzTxEPo8PHBLO77SJjsKdhTE1GZfagKpNcKjhestlOqwYhX52ixLEl2tpsj6ZZ9jTE9lxRilTLRxi5LiH4Xja328g_YxxeSBUEFC7HbnKS-TBurNdnVoOApYA59XUnG38_cycg/s320/IMG_2743a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688072171372138562" border="0" /></a>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-59960919550739825592011-11-18T14:58:00.011-07:002011-11-18T18:55:25.825-07:00For Zen<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUI4EnDvUvldGEOLuT21ErBI7kkN8iu1xOh7-5-UmQNIKyo9TOqnOC3SoRzkDD-Ve4Ph5iWU54X6dYIrqC5tGd03QVPVJo8L83GGECvfQsKYR45Um2dxtF8m-xoN0DV0zo9oxAEdcGHg/s1600/IMG_7514edited.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 236px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676512135293545602" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUI4EnDvUvldGEOLuT21ErBI7kkN8iu1xOh7-5-UmQNIKyo9TOqnOC3SoRzkDD-Ve4Ph5iWU54X6dYIrqC5tGd03QVPVJo8L83GGECvfQsKYR45Um2dxtF8m-xoN0DV0zo9oxAEdcGHg/s320/IMG_7514edited.jpg" border="0" /></a>It's been a rough few days. My family's dog Zen was killed by a car on Wednesday. The amount of heartache I have felt makes me want to go back to all my friends and family that have lost dogs and tell them I understand so much more now, and I want to tell them I'm sorry all over again. We had pets all growing up so I felt like I was familiar with the pain of losing one. And I can't say I always handled it the best (don't ask my sisters about the guinea pig), but a dog is just...different. I also haven't had a pet I was really close to pass away since I was a kid. Maybe it hits harder as an adult.<br /><div><div><div><div><br />I know everyone says it about their dog, but Zen really was the best dog ever. He was very obedient, never jumped on people, never destroyed things (except for that one time when light was shining on the couch, but humans have a bit of blame there.) He wasn't an obnoxious barker, he wasn't overly needy. He wanted to be near you, but would just lay nearby. He was obsessed with chewing on plastic bottles and loved to play tug, chase bubbles and try and catch the grass shooting out from the lawn mower.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXGoBY1xHQ50_BENJK_qSAxQQGzM8Gq8sBpmLEOEfTkJJWvzBFTF9-W0BWH8E_KuSoFzXmHreMalNoyU2PShv6V0xPId6dJjf-dfk7skR0qcSuJXIEGzuZhVDYzu_YEfUL5xU7flULg/s1600/IMG_8261edited.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXGoBY1xHQ50_BENJK_qSAxQQGzM8Gq8sBpmLEOEfTkJJWvzBFTF9-W0BWH8E_KuSoFzXmHreMalNoyU2PShv6V0xPId6dJjf-dfk7skR0qcSuJXIEGzuZhVDYzu_YEfUL5xU7flULg/s320/IMG_8261edited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676518997291645362" border="0" /></a>He got scared by loud noises or people fighting and he would try and climb up into your lap, even though he was really too big. The back of the couch was his favorite place to be, keeping an eye on the neighborhood and letting you know if any of his friends were wandering nearby.<br /><div><div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmomfHHjhFMNWMlqy-b1XDu3K9hTpjqeAlsxn_88LEIn9pIF7y2C5NZGyAzz9-zvCz0iKajp9NicyYyDWbf3NqHBjJQJHG7Vvc7neQKiDPWWq75dh6sdid0zmK0VmdD88I6EOsrHAnZA/s1600/100_1368.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676513858912678914" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmomfHHjhFMNWMlqy-b1XDu3K9hTpjqeAlsxn_88LEIn9pIF7y2C5NZGyAzz9-zvCz0iKajp9NicyYyDWbf3NqHBjJQJHG7Vvc7neQKiDPWWq75dh6sdid0zmK0VmdD88I6EOsrHAnZA/s320/100_1368.JPG" border="0" /></a>I left work on Wednesday after getting the call from my sister and I'm glad I did. I was able to sit on the grass next to Zen and stoke his still warm body and say goodbye. I helped lay him to rest in between the apple trees in my parents back yard.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkeENVyLFnnoeosjdRSnkhelpZkNTsJuBrh4_gnwClMHlEcUmTJhiSE3piujP52HptEtIL7J8M9kLLLpsctUsmmvEbDC4qXeLg-2d3NNTi8j4bWM_s0SG3pGR1sCpbAPJ5J63Yvcnb0g/s1600/IMG_2381.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676510127996864338" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkeENVyLFnnoeosjdRSnkhelpZkNTsJuBrh4_gnwClMHlEcUmTJhiSE3piujP52HptEtIL7J8M9kLLLpsctUsmmvEbDC4qXeLg-2d3NNTi8j4bWM_s0SG3pGR1sCpbAPJ5J63Yvcnb0g/s320/IMG_2381.JPG" border="0" /></a>I know time heals and already I start to feel better. And then I drive by someone with their dog and the tears start again. You were loved and adored Zen and will be greatly missed. I take comfort that you don't have to suffer from heart and eye problems anymore. But I'm selfish and I want you back. I told Will today that he needed to let me know what he wanted for Christmas soon. He said, the only thing I really want is Zen back. Me too bud, me too.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupfVAoicsScus9UhrznwJqDxE4xswi46Y64npAF92imSNGmKeL2T-gpEJSwTwAsZS2VHfHUCtlXzh2STUFEfJMCNCF0xWBYR0uvAp-H0s8Ao-jNn6vrXHBbmWtXxsjC4YVEtMbPWe7Q/s1600/IMG_7374.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676512146311514530" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupfVAoicsScus9UhrznwJqDxE4xswi46Y64npAF92imSNGmKeL2T-gpEJSwTwAsZS2VHfHUCtlXzh2STUFEfJMCNCF0xWBYR0uvAp-H0s8Ao-jNn6vrXHBbmWtXxsjC4YVEtMbPWe7Q/s320/IMG_7374.JPG" border="0" /></a>And whenever I'm feeling sad, I'll remember him in his doggles.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbSgcaLnyMZUCE8tEZXzi043XwdoNpL_xuuLnGH7bzbB56cBfVOLAFOvGe5xdylfh0EvN_2utoLgPQjSqyyLjxG7hcnay1QGp1iNhHg4kMWXix6K64av1XSGjDrcMnufK5twJy7VdkQ/s1600/IMG_0202edited.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbSgcaLnyMZUCE8tEZXzi043XwdoNpL_xuuLnGH7bzbB56cBfVOLAFOvGe5xdylfh0EvN_2utoLgPQjSqyyLjxG7hcnay1QGp1iNhHg4kMWXix6K64av1XSGjDrcMnufK5twJy7VdkQ/s320/IMG_0202edited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676515657042322482" border="0" /></a>Rest in peace Zenner bean<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-2565730557605650642011-10-28T23:11:00.006-06:002011-10-28T23:48:21.057-06:00Foto FridayIf you know me well, you know how much I love dressing up for Halloween. And making costumes. Well, the finished costumes I like, I can't say sewing doesn't come without lots of frustration and swearing. This year I was really excited when Will said he wanted to be a Royal Guard for Halloween. I was a bit surprised, but also happy that some of my love for England seemed to be rubbing off on him. Someone asked him why he picked a Royal Guard and he said that it was because he loved Britland. Guess we need to work on a few of the details. <div><br /></div><div>I'm really happy with how the costume turned out. I will say next to the mouse I made when he was first born, it's my favorite costume I've made him. He got a lot of compliments at the carnival we went to and that helps make it worth the work. But the real satisfaction was when Will first put it on and seeing him pose in the mirror and then telling me he thought it was awesome.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYA27eZZiF2Pr-xsgCQiVrQ2uIa8nP7Gca1yipyKs5asdU8YNJu_9o_znxt0eh21ZvHsYl4Tuu5v_ayBS-DZHyuXyp1ko5_uAKiSiON5mB5WaX8-EqutAdZOoFybga0oJ7CgPZfePCQ/s1600/IMG_2202edited.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYA27eZZiF2Pr-xsgCQiVrQ2uIa8nP7Gca1yipyKs5asdU8YNJu_9o_znxt0eh21ZvHsYl4Tuu5v_ayBS-DZHyuXyp1ko5_uAKiSiON5mB5WaX8-EqutAdZOoFybga0oJ7CgPZfePCQ/s320/IMG_2202edited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668783607773497058" border="0" /></a>He doesn't look happy in these, but it's just him being in character. He took that part very seriously.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrDXNP2jwuiyFZTMzdfjuM_J0VrfLE8I-_-2SM7wicOHKt7syL9jV0uLd7oHyMF3pL_qvczkeT9JzznpXmOVcQtfCA4ea9Qkr0wsDj63RocnFYmI7bkafmXKO75cE0gVIjzPReh6s4Q/s1600/IMG_2221.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrDXNP2jwuiyFZTMzdfjuM_J0VrfLE8I-_-2SM7wicOHKt7syL9jV0uLd7oHyMF3pL_qvczkeT9JzznpXmOVcQtfCA4ea9Qkr0wsDj63RocnFYmI7bkafmXKO75cE0gVIjzPReh6s4Q/s320/IMG_2221.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668783611842937234" border="0" /></a> My dad did get him to crack for just a second<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqp634Ch5Dx8pTNfoDR0hcqAnZVmEbGjx1Uyv7XeuQ97UsFFrNqBtj6QRvfarDalPXPpHtu8VgOK77u-UwedLMPnvX3VptQMqJYQXaIGd2IPjpHZYgvV5rLnki34iDGZiTRvfBQxjFIg/s1600/IMG_2225.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqp634Ch5Dx8pTNfoDR0hcqAnZVmEbGjx1Uyv7XeuQ97UsFFrNqBtj6QRvfarDalPXPpHtu8VgOK77u-UwedLMPnvX3VptQMqJYQXaIGd2IPjpHZYgvV5rLnki34iDGZiTRvfBQxjFIg/s320/IMG_2225.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668783628098192194" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bpnbalMamBPNOgGV7HOLfCJZWkcixO3AREKK8l7QNaom1-ptAB74ZswriHdMkJbFBkrehdugdT3QBzyLNajulFG9sdYRUKVbdWd9MQDfdIC3HWgWPhJsYs_IfXN_WwlZg1zsmAAbfw/s1600/IMG_2213.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bpnbalMamBPNOgGV7HOLfCJZWkcixO3AREKK8l7QNaom1-ptAB74ZswriHdMkJbFBkrehdugdT3QBzyLNajulFG9sdYRUKVbdWd9MQDfdIC3HWgWPhJsYs_IfXN_WwlZg1zsmAAbfw/s320/IMG_2213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668784462637313330" border="0" /></a>Lucia made a great vampire<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdDGQI7VAaeAdEL4Xm_Rb5oFnLxiFKbzOEFh4m64KpoHlyWUL1T3RtKXUHKuwu6o5H_4SxMCzo_s1B1LCa85FpjYtuE_F0Myr1h9fPsNOsh0AGAGaZg1BdOQpo00r6ra1k-Ixw9IbNg/s1600/IMG_2255.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdDGQI7VAaeAdEL4Xm_Rb5oFnLxiFKbzOEFh4m64KpoHlyWUL1T3RtKXUHKuwu6o5H_4SxMCzo_s1B1LCa85FpjYtuE_F0Myr1h9fPsNOsh0AGAGaZg1BdOQpo00r6ra1k-Ixw9IbNg/s320/IMG_2255.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668783634645166994" border="0" /></a><br />This picture sums up so much about these two<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShqV7cjpFJeObZaR3jS-xymBxBcZXjhU3S0-lSkls2Wzycx_ztsktI9tHpiCjurL8XJtTTo7YinfLhYcV8hg8TSoKIy_YwStQr947ugFw1XYNsqKKswis7BrnL7tK79hIiORk-hES5w/s1600/IMG_2278.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShqV7cjpFJeObZaR3jS-xymBxBcZXjhU3S0-lSkls2Wzycx_ztsktI9tHpiCjurL8XJtTTo7YinfLhYcV8hg8TSoKIy_YwStQr947ugFw1XYNsqKKswis7BrnL7tK79hIiORk-hES5w/s320/IMG_2278.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668783974051424338" border="0" /></a>Happy Halloween everyone!<br /></div>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-44322874823941362262011-10-14T18:32:00.009-06:002011-10-14T19:38:50.278-06:00Foto FridaySo many pictures were taken this week! I apologize to those who are friends on FB and already seen most of these. On Sunday Will and I took a drive up to Aspen Grove. And apparently half of Utah County also had the same idea. The road up there is incredibly small and winding which means when there are 100's of cars on the road, it's a bit scary and not exactly the peaceful drive I was hoping for. But I did manage to get a few pictures of my favorite trees, the aspens. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xi93kSwW7eKA6onnvwZawCYlQsP04VNDqwSQgENJ4Wwlrcu5MY9wbC1Dadja-2UwBx6fH-2uzz5Lw0pGFpH6wkVHJ23o65Ln_g9kq6vTqOig-esU-z8pXN7KXnDfxG8xZxPxuAPoEw/s1600/IMG_1774.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-WJX0dPSCTaTDDS2zK1Y-yib1P8n1D3QGEQlLHgg643KqZb3tXQLcQpzmCxlU5Pt_-UBboGb4C8N8fKC5VrWZ6wE7Ow6xiqMlROsM9pYbHNJrPMgxDx5XT0w84W9beUGmO2LtSmEJw/s1600/IMG_1778.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-WJX0dPSCTaTDDS2zK1Y-yib1P8n1D3QGEQlLHgg643KqZb3tXQLcQpzmCxlU5Pt_-UBboGb4C8N8fKC5VrWZ6wE7Ow6xiqMlROsM9pYbHNJrPMgxDx5XT0w84W9beUGmO2LtSmEJw/s320/IMG_1778.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663512010022363634" border="0" /></a>For those not familiar with Utah's bi-polar weather, it was 90 less than 2 weeks before this. And now 6 days later it was mid 70's. You learn that just because you had to take out your sweaters, doesn't mean you should put away your shorts.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ifP7xGeUApFfxqQNCyWTV06JKtsl3nXHi5gTJaJb6_WVR2EbXvFw-XRsMANO9FK0RvQhtdC0PkOjGIl5hhWAPJSTie2PcSjb-sFMXkwYSo6wjN01CwV-fn9djhVuZNE4q2KalL07Fg/s1600/IMG_1782b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ifP7xGeUApFfxqQNCyWTV06JKtsl3nXHi5gTJaJb6_WVR2EbXvFw-XRsMANO9FK0RvQhtdC0PkOjGIl5hhWAPJSTie2PcSjb-sFMXkwYSo6wjN01CwV-fn9djhVuZNE4q2KalL07Fg/s320/IMG_1782b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663512020064238402" border="0" /></a>On Tuesday Will had his first school field trip so I took the day off and Pat and I tagged along. First stop was a huge nursery to visit a pumpkin patch.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMD1GpTiTMu27qFklanIv0MyXO4boleWN-PFhCCTqA3HgXJd88DMh6ZYV43d36pSPoJjWr3t4USzw5UMA64VcOeW57sydb375dF_1h7AIer1sEVIjHPlLaR8k4v1TmqwABI4-Y4E4LQg/s1600/IMG_1785.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMD1GpTiTMu27qFklanIv0MyXO4boleWN-PFhCCTqA3HgXJd88DMh6ZYV43d36pSPoJjWr3t4USzw5UMA64VcOeW57sydb375dF_1h7AIer1sEVIjHPlLaR8k4v1TmqwABI4-Y4E4LQg/s320/IMG_1785.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663512986731230946" border="0" /></a>There were about 65 kids, plus around 15 adults. They were loading people up onto a hay ride, which I thought was just going to go around the nursery. It was really full and multiple trips were going to be needed, so on the first group with Will I decided not to get on because I didn't want to take a seat from a kid. Another dad decided the same thing and stayed behind. After they had been gone a few minutes I started looking at the sign by the loading platform and noticed it said Hay Ride <span style="font-style: italic;">to</span> the Pumpkin Patch. I pointed it out to the other dad and we decided we had probably unknowingly just missed the ride out to pick out pumpkins. We debated trying to walk and find them but decided since there were still more kids we would catch the next trip out. And as we had figured out on the way, our kids were done picking out their pumpkins by the time we got there and ready to head back. So here they are pumpkins picked out.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbpPtYccOiKwXWwUhts12YNOcATMb606lfmBVJum_HwwH0AHqjsNPQtdMBPrH_soTqiR-b5K2jpnGCPCfbM1nkDmP8fDOcXwWnk0G9d6Y4BFrLajlp3fxvGacX93ZBvlM3zG2w26fgA/s1600/IMG_1799.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbpPtYccOiKwXWwUhts12YNOcATMb606lfmBVJum_HwwH0AHqjsNPQtdMBPrH_soTqiR-b5K2jpnGCPCfbM1nkDmP8fDOcXwWnk0G9d6Y4BFrLajlp3fxvGacX93ZBvlM3zG2w26fgA/s320/IMG_1799.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663512994483775858" border="0" /></a> Next stop a park for lunch and then on to a grocery store for a tour. I'm not really sure the manager was expecting the size crowd we had and after awhile it pretty much just turned to a chaotic group running through the store. At which time Will got tripped and smacked face first into the ground and got a bloody nose. I figured with that many kids at some point during the day some kid was going to be crying, just didn't figure it would be mine. It was a fun day though and I'm glad I got to go.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmH8rAvkgT8T9w1tdpK0p3eKbgi0rFGv3yKIeUzw0THi3xCo2AL5gesasZ2sD31jts1juwtXTxmLz9j0W4N64uxAZbAMJw3WJrYu796jvu9JKK5YWLU68M8Qv-g2eR-tnPtkuDfpRcA/s1600/IMG_1806.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmH8rAvkgT8T9w1tdpK0p3eKbgi0rFGv3yKIeUzw0THi3xCo2AL5gesasZ2sD31jts1juwtXTxmLz9j0W4N64uxAZbAMJw3WJrYu796jvu9JKK5YWLU68M8Qv-g2eR-tnPtkuDfpRcA/s320/IMG_1806.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663513004095153090" border="0" /></a>Wednesday night I went to watch two of my co-workers play in their flag football division championships, which they won. I was glad I got to see them play and it was hilarious how excited these men got. Just takes a sports win to take them back to the excitement of 8 year olds.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5nPRmrhHmpIUfpaLQae9XFcpDSfHVmyD2d8uTbfHxQPRk73lkpJCrkVHZYrRcqZMPEzqgFvZOPa4ea9uIKnQV3iJ9ZDKGqJyD32fbJFU2mO8qmszBEE_R5B6Q-XwnsuMvsG-2_O2TA/s1600/IMG_1823a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5nPRmrhHmpIUfpaLQae9XFcpDSfHVmyD2d8uTbfHxQPRk73lkpJCrkVHZYrRcqZMPEzqgFvZOPa4ea9uIKnQV3iJ9ZDKGqJyD32fbJFU2mO8qmszBEE_R5B6Q-XwnsuMvsG-2_O2TA/s320/IMG_1823a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663514016361969330" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7iGf3JX5LJDDzJoQY6qoUxmmAKi8wIAQlylqebwN4u1HyoT9KM4oEnmBUQ_zNUrO7RAPi-6EdIctAy1kjxXMEQKC2KJ5iTzMgsyVxbjph9SJEodvvjxNXx32uo70tlMku7md7PP6iw/s1600/IMG_1827.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7iGf3JX5LJDDzJoQY6qoUxmmAKi8wIAQlylqebwN4u1HyoT9KM4oEnmBUQ_zNUrO7RAPi-6EdIctAy1kjxXMEQKC2KJ5iTzMgsyVxbjph9SJEodvvjxNXx32uo70tlMku7md7PP6iw/s320/IMG_1827.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663514071254566226" border="0" /></a>Today I went for a hike up to Stewart Falls. Last fall when my dad Monte was <a style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);" href="http://utahleafgirl.blogspot.com/2010/10/foto-friday-sundance.html">visiting</a>, we all went up but had the advantage of a special shortcut. I haven't been on the full hike since I was about 6. And the only memory I have of that was that on the way back my sister Maiken was racing our cousin and she tripped and ended up with some nasty road rash on her face. Today ended up being the perfect weather day to go and because it's not the weekend, it wasn't too crowded either.<br /><br />The trail starts out through the aspen groves<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9PR1u7V45qTVnbRLCpbadiKRzLPZVaflJHoOCudmz0iZpWH-1Mmh5HMAN34R7tYCNDhscZQ28HvaRW8wnaNe7P_9iVX1eu7iLlcEibZLzV7frXCUNknOps4yrBopG0I5kOADhElAkw/s1600/IMG_1862a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9PR1u7V45qTVnbRLCpbadiKRzLPZVaflJHoOCudmz0iZpWH-1Mmh5HMAN34R7tYCNDhscZQ28HvaRW8wnaNe7P_9iVX1eu7iLlcEibZLzV7frXCUNknOps4yrBopG0I5kOADhElAkw/s320/IMG_1862a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663524841634770434" border="0" /></a>The colors are absolutely perfect right now<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQTOqPC6zpvBLJu5z8hBo8wa_Lb5Js8823CzHwt1cWfK5p3hyphenhyphenHJp6A7qZBmv43jtwIJ3OkF_fl2X_SSyLJsW1Jo4em2ILPN8WCK5R-FM33skSemSIgsrRMcDqrOhEWLJ1dAVWhEAfSw/s1600/IMG_1898a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQTOqPC6zpvBLJu5z8hBo8wa_Lb5Js8823CzHwt1cWfK5p3hyphenhyphenHJp6A7qZBmv43jtwIJ3OkF_fl2X_SSyLJsW1Jo4em2ILPN8WCK5R-FM33skSemSIgsrRMcDqrOhEWLJ1dAVWhEAfSw/s320/IMG_1898a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663517840614702418" border="0" /></a>The backside of Sundance<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBaegy7F-ty0BmiF07c-2CXESQuube0pI2VU5fQspiHlsVAzr_CzK0BNmnCIP-lqh6bKtEndVhjpbq2aCwEKLjnYdZ8lvdyMpqrb3bXwgpZ5g2gITgNv1vj44kvmwK0IBFla4-_Y67A/s1600/IMG_1874a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBaegy7F-ty0BmiF07c-2CXESQuube0pI2VU5fQspiHlsVAzr_CzK0BNmnCIP-lqh6bKtEndVhjpbq2aCwEKLjnYdZ8lvdyMpqrb3bXwgpZ5g2gITgNv1vj44kvmwK0IBFla4-_Y67A/s320/IMG_1874a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663517815415030946" border="0" /></a>First view of the falls<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwCdPJfR0henww0eJ4gD-wLGNuK85w-pGobFuuH2XubrBQNh6TnVECINMoesFYbuQwun2TnyTDMkdVnJYBOT2pQzB6vlMNxt1FZb-inKbMngROOam_2_qG4BzjYAvWT4rEraGmE289Q/s1600/IMG_1897a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwCdPJfR0henww0eJ4gD-wLGNuK85w-pGobFuuH2XubrBQNh6TnVECINMoesFYbuQwun2TnyTDMkdVnJYBOT2pQzB6vlMNxt1FZb-inKbMngROOam_2_qG4BzjYAvWT4rEraGmE289Q/s320/IMG_1897a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663517839407237138" border="0" /></a>I was really glad I bothered to take my tripod up so I could get some soft water pics.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi21pIcHTOXdbSYd2LWvE7NEPolu2UyI_nYW6KUufInKs8KUVBgPKOqtuGCoEGWFXf2bFW5jnvPgI5-zrgsD0oPoX4BoOcl7zDylrsamlHU6c13Q3ntqkGenozSXojyyVgOIkWHevNtw/s1600/IMG_1919.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi21pIcHTOXdbSYd2LWvE7NEPolu2UyI_nYW6KUufInKs8KUVBgPKOqtuGCoEGWFXf2bFW5jnvPgI5-zrgsD0oPoX4BoOcl7zDylrsamlHU6c13Q3ntqkGenozSXojyyVgOIkWHevNtw/s320/IMG_1919.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663517858079847746" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4LdWYRFGkJPJMNCncC-PoGAMCpT8D1Umy3lTJigsK9SMThXqdecAwyLDCYlA6MWSGA0QGTPU06OS81roZu1-26RBrVK7PiqxBr1xEmHvOBlelRVKL1amY5l_YFHimlzUAslA2U05qQ/s1600/IMG_1921.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4LdWYRFGkJPJMNCncC-PoGAMCpT8D1Umy3lTJigsK9SMThXqdecAwyLDCYlA6MWSGA0QGTPU06OS81roZu1-26RBrVK7PiqxBr1xEmHvOBlelRVKL1amY5l_YFHimlzUAslA2U05qQ/s320/IMG_1921.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663519205899202322" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AAQ-3S2NQmr0_GtYVAiUwmgK4laOHSDlleoMvKFzL1fmb7tcyNF8DE1nOpvRCNShybl92iZflwrPBaQu7Q8DnOX2PcJnAC4IaFMoKQTf0nEftsGFKriluLAJprpPM-QAtSNwpabKuw/s1600/IMG_1930.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AAQ-3S2NQmr0_GtYVAiUwmgK4laOHSDlleoMvKFzL1fmb7tcyNF8DE1nOpvRCNShybl92iZflwrPBaQu7Q8DnOX2PcJnAC4IaFMoKQTf0nEftsGFKriluLAJprpPM-QAtSNwpabKuw/s320/IMG_1930.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663519215770572178" border="0" /></a>I would really like someone to buy me one of these houses right in the middle. My new dream in life is to be able to stand on my porch and look at a waterfall. Because I can't think of anything better.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGm18wOmseU50yclZW4K_jBHke5gSgkjzXf40Uzoi5zFnC5JwwvGdMbsm5kNbjeDKHrKIi9yTYi-wq3zQrlcrei6oqTbymPO9nXbkIPBOuHT2nQyTXTgnVUieoQfi2ZH31OhyogX0uzA/s1600/IMG_1958.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGm18wOmseU50yclZW4K_jBHke5gSgkjzXf40Uzoi5zFnC5JwwvGdMbsm5kNbjeDKHrKIi9yTYi-wq3zQrlcrei6oqTbymPO9nXbkIPBOuHT2nQyTXTgnVUieoQfi2ZH31OhyogX0uzA/s320/IMG_1958.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663519223195961666" border="0" /></a>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-4471094558390228412011-10-06T22:08:00.012-06:002011-10-07T13:33:17.691-06:00Foto FridayOn Saturday I got up at a too early hour to go on a photo shoot with my teacher Wade and a friend of his. We went up to Midway which is extra beautiful this time of the year and worked on shooting in morning light. I have to say when I came home and looked at my pictures I was pretty disappointed. I've had that feeling a lot lately when I look at my pictures. Just always hoping they will be just a little bit different. A little more special. Yesterday a friend posted this quote from Ira Glass, host of This American Life on NPR. It perfectly said what I needed to read about how I'm feeling about photography right now. I've always had a problem with expecting too much from myself, I want to be immediately good at everything. It was a good reminder that I just need to keep practicing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPReRPgUfxr_xeQU8jfUFyRtlGDLpM69_FJIn8ofAIpugIxyAOqizPuyyDbdfYdqcC4Cg3uW3lovGDYWKP-Cnlj1-Rtk1GP2zK8hDwCpQW4uBf5-ZTRF4-SOU8V8xBBgQautngCLbfcw/s1600/293156_10150290719459626_795709625_7387707_7099296_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPReRPgUfxr_xeQU8jfUFyRtlGDLpM69_FJIn8ofAIpugIxyAOqizPuyyDbdfYdqcC4Cg3uW3lovGDYWKP-Cnlj1-Rtk1GP2zK8hDwCpQW4uBf5-ZTRF4-SOU8V8xBBgQautngCLbfcw/s320/293156_10150290719459626_795709625_7387707_7099296_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660830806317788818" border="0" /></a>I don't think I ever ended up blogging about going to see Ira Glass speak earlier this year. It was amazing. I've been in love with him for many, many years and somehow loved him more after seeing him. I really wish I would have had a tape recorder that night.<br /><br />Pigs in Midway<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwCES_BekQeoOY0ttM-kxNLLGKU-lqZdkooEt98eKm5qF9BDPY34p3O51F4B1QvWcwCuvgaoKyeIMmxBWAVnHtHuIeRi6EeJ5P_93iyz6P56DXtWW5mzDpwu_OlIVdAE3gbmXYaC6Dg/s1600/IMG_1540.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwCES_BekQeoOY0ttM-kxNLLGKU-lqZdkooEt98eKm5qF9BDPY34p3O51F4B1QvWcwCuvgaoKyeIMmxBWAVnHtHuIeRi6EeJ5P_93iyz6P56DXtWW5mzDpwu_OlIVdAE3gbmXYaC6Dg/s320/IMG_1540.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660616349433920338" border="0" /></a>This is the kind of thing I still really struggle with and get frustrated about, the focus on this ended up on the fence instead of the pig. But I still like the shot.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzucX6enI8l5Rh2gsF_fSj22WKqw82WoQAgzcv2HWGNwSetjmdPWu65W9n3biZWg4Efazrgajbeaoymhk7j8VDhclwrAiIsQ77VfcSARcAp4r6mssGUjgsBlDo08fPYGadp1Y7Gue0w/s1600/IMG_1521.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzucX6enI8l5Rh2gsF_fSj22WKqw82WoQAgzcv2HWGNwSetjmdPWu65W9n3biZWg4Efazrgajbeaoymhk7j8VDhclwrAiIsQ77VfcSARcAp4r6mssGUjgsBlDo08fPYGadp1Y7Gue0w/s320/IMG_1521.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660615360528191618" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhAAINvhWuKwL3o3kybwMbjNkY8wD2NJcvJvrNUkvPR1JxArGi3CGUBoeZHeFptS6lTklx8K1NyUNPJnTqXy-b8PMTDi9pI45OfnGqkxoCevUNIUtGfoQyOYYtApO_U5uxAWRgl3e-A/s1600/IMG_1585.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhAAINvhWuKwL3o3kybwMbjNkY8wD2NJcvJvrNUkvPR1JxArGi3CGUBoeZHeFptS6lTklx8K1NyUNPJnTqXy-b8PMTDi9pI45OfnGqkxoCevUNIUtGfoQyOYYtApO_U5uxAWRgl3e-A/s320/IMG_1585.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660616354399280610" border="0" /></a>The handsome teacher letting me practice portraits and light<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUGrQMIkcW8CooXd0A6HRpFOIuUCRCHwe0PlhDgX_kyNSkB0uLVdDs5rDsyZAYC0MhX0OZiMnbsr_hGEHPA94AJ4YpSl53GANOn6_hgK4fWs95bDPMKzr5hcG3OI4ihUBmu-jolk7dg/s1600/wade.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUGrQMIkcW8CooXd0A6HRpFOIuUCRCHwe0PlhDgX_kyNSkB0uLVdDs5rDsyZAYC0MhX0OZiMnbsr_hGEHPA94AJ4YpSl53GANOn6_hgK4fWs95bDPMKzr5hcG3OI4ihUBmu-jolk7dg/s320/wade.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660618249611327250" border="0" /></a>On Sunday I heard two different flocks of geese loudly flying over our apartment. We see a lot of canadian geese this time of year on their way south. There is a little pond and stream system near my house that is a popular resting point so we decided to go see who was stopping by and feed the geese.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5D5h1u4fpd17u-AkvaD7K2ABpm4pdv_52fthNzK93piAGVcqaMzuxtX85Wg1c5JbpI1OjDK5y1s0hY8maJ7sUk9T1zY_ZeyHGiwqoO_rGoL4wrgPpn_6qohJqtLQVrE1kJrh-GlbVg/s1600/IMG_1671.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5D5h1u4fpd17u-AkvaD7K2ABpm4pdv_52fthNzK93piAGVcqaMzuxtX85Wg1c5JbpI1OjDK5y1s0hY8maJ7sUk9T1zY_ZeyHGiwqoO_rGoL4wrgPpn_6qohJqtLQVrE1kJrh-GlbVg/s320/IMG_1671.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660612349558722770" border="0" /></a>There were two humungo catfish (I think) that were fighting the geese for their share of the bread. I tried to get a pic where you could see just how big this guy was, but they were too fast and stirred up the mud a lot. He was about the same length as the geese though.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Sjuf6QSi_NKvvJ-NwnZ85DMExjELtHby1Z4pvHAvdwD2R7o0qHdQJXzhBgEUnxi-PNYGrVWDLaw84QjNPcmvingPIUA_08gT3SHXCuXeSLz4FFTlfld5u_FBrff01XMgDhbcGKzIBw/s1600/IMG_1653.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Sjuf6QSi_NKvvJ-NwnZ85DMExjELtHby1Z4pvHAvdwD2R7o0qHdQJXzhBgEUnxi-PNYGrVWDLaw84QjNPcmvingPIUA_08gT3SHXCuXeSLz4FFTlfld5u_FBrff01XMgDhbcGKzIBw/s320/IMG_1653.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660597802909885186" border="0" /></a>Wednesday was my last night of the photo class. We practiced a few kinds of different lighting which there is almost an infinite amount of stuff to learn about. We also had a model there who very graciously let us pose her and set up shots. It was actually really hard for me. Something I'm definitely not comfortable doing. It was fun to see how everyone else did their shots though and get some different ideas.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRlDzTi0x0E9jCyNVswHJCRPPEvGDvXp99zkAfTgXL_qyDwLZSBMejfAoBnTkXELi1VWqtah6HOaXuo1nqobN69q6htPHF7TAYHFD4MOBw4UU42i5T4lheTz2C7PeSR3X5-SZq4rrVw/s1600/IMG_1700a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 187px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRlDzTi0x0E9jCyNVswHJCRPPEvGDvXp99zkAfTgXL_qyDwLZSBMejfAoBnTkXELi1VWqtah6HOaXuo1nqobN69q6htPHF7TAYHFD4MOBw4UU42i5T4lheTz2C7PeSR3X5-SZq4rrVw/s320/IMG_1700a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660621437957261090" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMeNSM2r2YqQzGGKN4MHbsWfiJ2jOqJB0in674fahCiqTpnP4ITv0U2ZeZHN4cvAPLByh5WB_NzOKMXPHNC9SqYnxvlJVZXCjMVPe9NA-1-2d4WZMFiooiSaYnQ2npWSZAHgCbjBpBA/s1600/IMG_1741edited.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMeNSM2r2YqQzGGKN4MHbsWfiJ2jOqJB0in674fahCiqTpnP4ITv0U2ZeZHN4cvAPLByh5WB_NzOKMXPHNC9SqYnxvlJVZXCjMVPe9NA-1-2d4WZMFiooiSaYnQ2npWSZAHgCbjBpBA/s320/IMG_1741edited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660622772201260402" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwRXWzgoU-r5fQ1hwGvM9z61MUWrD8raJGdq72hyphenhyphenH-nsFtCDpBCGwJn7TBsOECYO8veOxgXv8pWhwsbcoMwS1z-0iZHOLltQ18jRZpIT8GnFFYOkkrzDJzSetrTM_AR62-0rILo1JiA/s1600/IMG_1744.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwRXWzgoU-r5fQ1hwGvM9z61MUWrD8raJGdq72hyphenhyphenH-nsFtCDpBCGwJn7TBsOECYO8veOxgXv8pWhwsbcoMwS1z-0iZHOLltQ18jRZpIT8GnFFYOkkrzDJzSetrTM_AR62-0rILo1JiA/s320/IMG_1744.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660622777246043922" border="0" /></a>I've had a lot of fun and I'm really going to miss the class. Wish it had been a lot longer. Wade set up a Facebook group for all of his friends that are into photography and hopefully we will encourage each other to go on shoots and keep learning from each other. I'm actually hopeful that this group of people might be more of what I was looking for when I signed up for the Meetup.com photo group, which hasn't really panned out to be something I like yet.Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-16459804835292967932011-09-30T18:09:00.006-06:002011-09-30T18:55:15.392-06:00Foto FridayFirst a little photo catchup. I forgot to post this from our commune trip. When Will and Alex worked at the coffee shop, they became friends with the group of old guys that come in every morning. One of the guys invited them over to his house and ended up giving them a bunch of records from his collection. I should have spent more time looking through them because it's fun to see all the covers, even if you don't know the album. I picked out a few though that I liked to take a picture. I love that the commune prefers records and it was fun to listen to them while we were making dinner.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCYLj0UWqUI_LZDcZIJg0Yuh0YtIcpMqqi6JYJThyphenhyphenogTvuSf1HSpae3NESVLbkLwSxYZ9KwoGXsn30z8-P4b0ug-NHQ7G-btzEHBHImCFlEqQRqtm16u0D6mnfty9kYBJab8Cn_30nw/s1600/IMG_1183.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCYLj0UWqUI_LZDcZIJg0Yuh0YtIcpMqqi6JYJThyphenhyphenogTvuSf1HSpae3NESVLbkLwSxYZ9KwoGXsn30z8-P4b0ug-NHQ7G-btzEHBHImCFlEqQRqtm16u0D6mnfty9kYBJab8Cn_30nw/s320/IMG_1183.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658313097876946962" border="0" /></a>This sign is in the bathroom at a restaurant I sometimes go to and it just makes me laugh. Because if you have to be told that something is common decency, a good chance you don't give a shit.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOkJWKZvQrIp0MWN-8-83wx5Pe4p8zA0Lwdmd9A35T8Ozccto5pf14g9RnZcDtvyKktNjcGLC8YtXvg7S89AICtelyhgMyPeRPJ2mLMTJ5E111j4VeO_VL1XrSK5_MhV2d77mER1lTA/s1600/DSCI0008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOkJWKZvQrIp0MWN-8-83wx5Pe4p8zA0Lwdmd9A35T8Ozccto5pf14g9RnZcDtvyKktNjcGLC8YtXvg7S89AICtelyhgMyPeRPJ2mLMTJ5E111j4VeO_VL1XrSK5_MhV2d77mER1lTA/s320/DSCI0008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658311113220690050" border="0" /></a>Last week in photo class we talked about leading lines and using them to draw focus to something in your photo, or to just lead your eye through the photo. It was actually harder to go out and just find something without setting it up than I thought. The examples Wade showed us in class were in an orchard and of train tracks so I wanted to avoid using the same thing. So of course where I went I was surrounded by orchards and train tracks. These are what I got.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7HMlSkBdmJaEPY8rGh2GHvKcqiCGdM6iQjLFcrtJiBoIO37UXXSSQiN_fJPs6dpapB8Uv4WaW-RXtDondWLFsDeS6aES8o23CKsxBewuc0cb0BVbVuaZ4Va8GDvmqNCLho6gij7EaQ/s1600/IMG_1371.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7HMlSkBdmJaEPY8rGh2GHvKcqiCGdM6iQjLFcrtJiBoIO37UXXSSQiN_fJPs6dpapB8Uv4WaW-RXtDondWLFsDeS6aES8o23CKsxBewuc0cb0BVbVuaZ4Va8GDvmqNCLho6gij7EaQ/s320/IMG_1371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658312710704818610" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4INWS8NHfYXV_lbg2Q9cZBjJ6l5kpOXLNhc5spWsnK6ANktzBkXcdjNVfm66b2ozhqh25E7tZxdhe5VhmXY_mR7mKKBVN5sB7ecoQ1SNCIiLFJi1vY8ykbTAdx8BL59A3XuP9ZDrIzg/s1600/IMG_1386.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4INWS8NHfYXV_lbg2Q9cZBjJ6l5kpOXLNhc5spWsnK6ANktzBkXcdjNVfm66b2ozhqh25E7tZxdhe5VhmXY_mR7mKKBVN5sB7ecoQ1SNCIiLFJi1vY8ykbTAdx8BL59A3XuP9ZDrIzg/s320/IMG_1386.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658312713828855026" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDJTWV_qvp3YEtVNgF_lUipu4qKCX3vg1wCeubfzXJ-OkUuVPMQhMm8XerGY5HXmbMXRTBzUHIspfpu5ajwSoWgyHdvjVjTGw0blCdiUvEQPB5WNC2MMNZntla_4tB9SFlmJHXw1tSg/s1600/IMG_1404.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDJTWV_qvp3YEtVNgF_lUipu4qKCX3vg1wCeubfzXJ-OkUuVPMQhMm8XerGY5HXmbMXRTBzUHIspfpu5ajwSoWgyHdvjVjTGw0blCdiUvEQPB5WNC2MMNZntla_4tB9SFlmJHXw1tSg/s320/IMG_1404.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658312725139913234" border="0" /></a>The other thing we talked about is the rule of thirds. As with most photography rules, there are definitely times to break them, but a lot of times your picture will be more interesting if the main focus is not in the middle, but at a point horizontally or vertically broken into thirds. Our assignment was to take one photo with the subject in the middle and then the same photo using thirds. I think this is a good example of how the thirds picture is more interesting.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7COAv2ZlcwEyZh3HBPe2LLV4BMDWhcdJ6KllIlkim-q1bVc8bcaYOPb10ULkT4zKFRJdvkqWaHelTcy4P3IrXvtCAVdRIJBKnWV5DQkfbmyb778ii9SQKKc9a8kWfpySaiAUYWN99_g/s1600/IMG_1390.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7COAv2ZlcwEyZh3HBPe2LLV4BMDWhcdJ6KllIlkim-q1bVc8bcaYOPb10ULkT4zKFRJdvkqWaHelTcy4P3IrXvtCAVdRIJBKnWV5DQkfbmyb778ii9SQKKc9a8kWfpySaiAUYWN99_g/s320/IMG_1390.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658312720554017586" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOn3psUh6rg6l_txx1b0Z6f7q0vJBnXySEPcFN1mTWuF5hMQgDBRJhCj2eOkrcoK6Q0vYzW5BWgNlNK8r-GHvGeAymuQ7a_pYnrkuAZ-SYj1UPAomGjyw0ehbiiIGgkGLFB6cWCJo5w/s1600/IMG_1396edited.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOn3psUh6rg6l_txx1b0Z6f7q0vJBnXySEPcFN1mTWuF5hMQgDBRJhCj2eOkrcoK6Q0vYzW5BWgNlNK8r-GHvGeAymuQ7a_pYnrkuAZ-SYj1UPAomGjyw0ehbiiIGgkGLFB6cWCJo5w/s320/IMG_1396edited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658312718846868850" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNR3F9_OeB56gi7IEVKeA7LGu6jxhE1OFJH9G-m4ghdqGjzOBU4zetdos9jUAGHao5-AZVLSlTxyKi61824ubDFtElYQMWn6YyXXiCpkyvVPmKTUDxlKHGbi_J1XfcNOTFaRqWL0xvdQ/s1600/IMG_1482.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNR3F9_OeB56gi7IEVKeA7LGu6jxhE1OFJH9G-m4ghdqGjzOBU4zetdos9jUAGHao5-AZVLSlTxyKi61824ubDFtElYQMWn6YyXXiCpkyvVPmKTUDxlKHGbi_J1XfcNOTFaRqWL0xvdQ/s320/IMG_1482.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658311121152244882" border="0" /></a>This week I was a bad student and bailed on class because I got invited last minute to attend an Erasure concert. Luckily I think Wade forgave me and we are going on an early morning shoot tomorrow up the canyon. Maybe that's my punishment for missing class, having to get up at 5:30 a.m. The concert was awesome though! I can't say I'm a huge Erasure fan, but we had The Innocence album growing up and regularly listened to it on Saturdays while cleaning. It will always remind me of that. And hearing it at Lagoon in jr high while waiting for my friends to go on the roller coasters because I was too scared to go.<br /><br />I wasn't able to take photos in the concert, but we went to Bar-X after just for a few minutes and I loved their glowing wall. The bar was bought by Danny Devito and re-done. I'd never been to it before, but it's a cool little bar now. And from what my friends said, a great improvement. They didn't have any of the kind of drinks I usually order so I asked the bartender if I could just have something girlie (I'm such a lame drinker), and she came back with something she just sort of threw together and it was really good. Sign of a great bartender! Overall it was a really fun night. And worth getting less than 4 hours of sleep before work for.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFILVKfAci_TwZDN1-ZxInTiqVz-szM86Jhwryn5DxeiFQ8Rx1yrObU8skoxFH8NoqJ5kTYZhnkXIM44f9-zN36kL0OwW2M4N2Sf1qbEgTF52UvkrS0lJD5RBcFBjrfaYbHr2_vodU5w/s1600/DSCI0045.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFILVKfAci_TwZDN1-ZxInTiqVz-szM86Jhwryn5DxeiFQ8Rx1yrObU8skoxFH8NoqJ5kTYZhnkXIM44f9-zN36kL0OwW2M4N2Sf1qbEgTF52UvkrS0lJD5RBcFBjrfaYbHr2_vodU5w/s320/DSCI0045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658311119233454466" border="0" /></a>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-81460892060213068362011-09-23T16:30:00.011-06:002011-09-23T17:15:31.626-06:00Foto FridayWrap up of the last day of our weekend trip. On Sunday we went with Will to feed the animals he was house sitting. A friend of theirs has 40 acres just outside the east gate into Zions National Park.<br /><br />Their spread<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK27opD4Y4tm1pqIxFYiYuY7OdBOE44C_p-3hm4xNPsEGXFYrqGLaDrGqvPxpqeon9qRUo-LKtF6TkvDXIheQqIQQhxoGOyX7rMV7JkyU45sVoXMg4EHfsFMhSDifipF6kEkUJGaBNHQ/s1600/IMG_1294.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK27opD4Y4tm1pqIxFYiYuY7OdBOE44C_p-3hm4xNPsEGXFYrqGLaDrGqvPxpqeon9qRUo-LKtF6TkvDXIheQqIQQhxoGOyX7rMV7JkyU45sVoXMg4EHfsFMhSDifipF6kEkUJGaBNHQ/s320/IMG_1294.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655689681797074546" border="0" /></a>When we turned onto their road, someone was trying to make a run for it. Luckily Will was able to get Feather to come up to him with the temptation of an apple and get him (or her not sure) back behind the fence where he belonged.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKQy2UXlfMd3MgpeZyP-Lc2c-U0lXaoBUmGlmApF7vJQrf-IKA3Vgjroy4YAhcxYEy9Gm-CtjculNhwqUoHFkiyCwPFtoDw3mWH6XFmqm45NhJZ6oTKvEjsVduOht87bpxOqR-XEwpA/s1600/IMG_1251.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKQy2UXlfMd3MgpeZyP-Lc2c-U0lXaoBUmGlmApF7vJQrf-IKA3Vgjroy4YAhcxYEy9Gm-CtjculNhwqUoHFkiyCwPFtoDw3mWH6XFmqm45NhJZ6oTKvEjsVduOht87bpxOqR-XEwpA/s320/IMG_1251.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655687574274740066" border="0" /></a>Also running around was Wacko one of the alpaca's. But apparently you can't keep him locked up so he is left to roam as he pleases. While we were there he decided to go into the fenced area and made it clear he was ignoring us.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvujHS-27jSyXE17RDFVwHXgal0uS4ov5h6msjJP7Bh99o2iWStpa1Ne823scAIN64gpOM5lf2bEVi_H5lKB8GKQwqA_77BrsAoApcPzYEWl9QE1jG-OTf8fx6AfWYr6oU-kEb6yZoOQ/s1600/IMG_1242edited.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvujHS-27jSyXE17RDFVwHXgal0uS4ov5h6msjJP7Bh99o2iWStpa1Ne823scAIN64gpOM5lf2bEVi_H5lKB8GKQwqA_77BrsAoApcPzYEWl9QE1jG-OTf8fx6AfWYr6oU-kEb6yZoOQ/s320/IMG_1242edited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655687566492661826" border="0" /></a>Alpacas do love showers though to cool off. So he did come up willing to Will to get drenched with the hose.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EuFNnJHM5ngIRDCaMcpE2_LdvfZSx0b2Xy_K4nWE-PmaF_hVnTpyHm1qJ0mmzCGhsXOuImvTvMKpD4nqWT1x9-qk_wE2I2-05cFcDryIx3CTb-YRnbOOI7H7Xoti9FzBa0A6mIiXyw/s1600/IMG_1271.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EuFNnJHM5ngIRDCaMcpE2_LdvfZSx0b2Xy_K4nWE-PmaF_hVnTpyHm1qJ0mmzCGhsXOuImvTvMKpD4nqWT1x9-qk_wE2I2-05cFcDryIx3CTb-YRnbOOI7H7Xoti9FzBa0A6mIiXyw/s320/IMG_1271.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655687583160850418" border="0" /></a>Long Legs wanted some water too. Apparently he broke his neck and it's not quite right. He couldn't lift it much higher than you see in this picture. He was one of the saddest animals I'd ever seen.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-WI711Cx-E3i5fvXKH1xmmOA2vUpqcwpBRxt7hYN2rOV77HpisRx7eanEKFUKDiKPsDKX__tNcKPrrVv7z1tv-FW88zG-WzMnbPVayg-8bYSjweC-dj483kzHLSMT_jqwNrxJtYjqg/s1600/IMG_1277.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-WI711Cx-E3i5fvXKH1xmmOA2vUpqcwpBRxt7hYN2rOV77HpisRx7eanEKFUKDiKPsDKX__tNcKPrrVv7z1tv-FW88zG-WzMnbPVayg-8bYSjweC-dj483kzHLSMT_jqwNrxJtYjqg/s320/IMG_1277.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655692659833096466" border="0" /></a>The other two horses. The closer up pics all had sun spots, but the white horse is covered in brown freckles and is very beautiful.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwj3EsZXtA4J0HQoihHqgEac9YYEyZpYdoIVeJ_cbhviOLuWHupZeMBhlAEbTNnX6AEWiChEVI5-ByWuYfpcbdevHt0BcacdZuMDbBCeb28Hp3UXDFW2KjHW2P7zLS6slVdSmuXoL9xg/s1600/IMG_1254.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwj3EsZXtA4J0HQoihHqgEac9YYEyZpYdoIVeJ_cbhviOLuWHupZeMBhlAEbTNnX6AEWiChEVI5-ByWuYfpcbdevHt0BcacdZuMDbBCeb28Hp3UXDFW2KjHW2P7zLS6slVdSmuXoL9xg/s320/IMG_1254.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655687578142774050" border="0" /></a>One of those times when I really wished I had a longer lens<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNg40NeQR05DI_Bl_y8qRCHo6tZVio9aaz_7kck8om6IQ-bHCk1kJnuvemIprvg8W1xpmaRPPPY57hyo3PAtdTKmIgn4gHhIIP-8fDSMd6g9Q6ArUAhnA0Nj1ScAiy0VxgvVhM0GHMQ/s1600/IMG_1299.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNg40NeQR05DI_Bl_y8qRCHo6tZVio9aaz_7kck8om6IQ-bHCk1kJnuvemIprvg8W1xpmaRPPPY57hyo3PAtdTKmIgn4gHhIIP-8fDSMd6g9Q6ArUAhnA0Nj1ScAiy0VxgvVhM0GHMQ/s320/IMG_1299.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655689683973445330" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6hBx8I3UBlvf6su_UHGTqlpgdf2Ta_BwvKXaP0vS6MXX25T9u6RL8fS62RMT5iPXvwVyzrd1S4uc3z3vUsj_1WV1C_3_1TNYX_4FIc8c79JahlHpElniaTZrJ1RLur60_YH94L1aZA/s1600/IMG_1308editededited.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6hBx8I3UBlvf6su_UHGTqlpgdf2Ta_BwvKXaP0vS6MXX25T9u6RL8fS62RMT5iPXvwVyzrd1S4uc3z3vUsj_1WV1C_3_1TNYX_4FIc8c79JahlHpElniaTZrJ1RLur60_YH94L1aZA/s320/IMG_1308editededited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655689685747706290" border="0" /></a>It was a great visit and I'm really glad we were able to go down.<br /><br />A little country fun on the way home<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3oH0_sotXHOdQ7SAlLzvLF0tRbQ9U-GwcoN1H5WC1IB4VxaBPEwuXiMYDUQmmE5KMwTYRY_eqcapKKHOhZ2qfMER99o7J29aRoCPil52r8rWZUx9JwlvxPrznk8xDKyi8dS70bBXdg/s1600/IMG_1313.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3oH0_sotXHOdQ7SAlLzvLF0tRbQ9U-GwcoN1H5WC1IB4VxaBPEwuXiMYDUQmmE5KMwTYRY_eqcapKKHOhZ2qfMER99o7J29aRoCPil52r8rWZUx9JwlvxPrznk8xDKyi8dS70bBXdg/s320/IMG_1313.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655690293886692386" border="0" /></a>My dad Monte had asked if we would stop in Fillmore on the way home and get an updated picture of a Huntsman family home. Our pioneer ancestors settled the town of Fillmore which used to be the state capital. The home happens to be on the market which meant we were able to look in the windows and walk around the back yard. It's a beautiful home which I would LOVE to own, except that it's in Fillmore.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinz_PdUsOFB-wIRNfTmi94WD3JGMlsO7hrHSevgNjhYEGGDSDfst-895anNN0Sm78NgohszGP31JTOK-annA6d6JLnL-TMNWwZAkoMN9oNsvB74hNmTew_KWp6_dX9ITPQRuljS0URvA/s1600/IMG_1318edited.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinz_PdUsOFB-wIRNfTmi94WD3JGMlsO7hrHSevgNjhYEGGDSDfst-895anNN0Sm78NgohszGP31JTOK-annA6d6JLnL-TMNWwZAkoMN9oNsvB74hNmTew_KWp6_dX9ITPQRuljS0URvA/s320/IMG_1318edited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655690294099985378" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVoMk9y7TesFWs4jS9LKbvw6JKjo6VOARZ-5k7cZFCx49To0OIt9T5yHUI1EC3qeJpqR72MBNoxuDo7Bv4OiLb7f34vk0_nC2-lA0JAzYLUQW7expOnCBPqny5RJPnXDTkklIXPz0tg/s1600/IMG_1323.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVoMk9y7TesFWs4jS9LKbvw6JKjo6VOARZ-5k7cZFCx49To0OIt9T5yHUI1EC3qeJpqR72MBNoxuDo7Bv4OiLb7f34vk0_nC2-lA0JAzYLUQW7expOnCBPqny5RJPnXDTkklIXPz0tg/s320/IMG_1323.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655690302394271026" border="0" /></a>I had my second photo class being held by my friend Wade. I'm going to be sad when it's over. Our assignment last week was to take the same shot but adjust the F-stop to learn more about how that particular setting works. The F-stop is basically the field of focus. A low number will have a limited field of focus, the higher the number, a larger field of focus. Out of the 3 main things you need to adjust when shooting in manual, the F-stop has been the one I haven't really figured out. This assignment actually really helped me to understand it better. These were one of the sets of shots I did, and it's just a cool van so wanted to post them. See if you can tell the difference (click on it to see larger.) The first one has the lower F-stop of a 4. The second one is moved up to an 11. (the tree and back hub cap are good places to see the difference) (actually now that I look at it posted, much easier to tell with them printed than on here. Just take my word for it :)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5qVVINGgYrYxc-4oaEQmu5Y8XsbvMxkmqbsraSzETu4w3PPnZeafwLntJ4L_mi4rY0QS9aj1ggBHJt1cpBvNWU-DV5mPnY62HA_sm_63yye17Hl4ObAfFYjIMqL_CaldUAUhHKIPvQ/s1600/IMG_0994.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHMYB6f0wrpiK535FZFHz2hyuJXdJpLuegv3iST7JYpAgOBjY6FelxYNp-zbcIY2dnvCqgwgHFaNgyXKdjmueLWlS-Ev47S1pGBgu2OJAYj8n3RHoljCf84-Or5av705F1oR5jEsuzA/s1600/IMG_0993.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHMYB6f0wrpiK535FZFHz2hyuJXdJpLuegv3iST7JYpAgOBjY6FelxYNp-zbcIY2dnvCqgwgHFaNgyXKdjmueLWlS-Ev47S1pGBgu2OJAYj8n3RHoljCf84-Or5av705F1oR5jEsuzA/s320/IMG_0993.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655696048997170706" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5qVVINGgYrYxc-4oaEQmu5Y8XsbvMxkmqbsraSzETu4w3PPnZeafwLntJ4L_mi4rY0QS9aj1ggBHJt1cpBvNWU-DV5mPnY62HA_sm_63yye17Hl4ObAfFYjIMqL_CaldUAUhHKIPvQ/s1600/IMG_0994.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5qVVINGgYrYxc-4oaEQmu5Y8XsbvMxkmqbsraSzETu4w3PPnZeafwLntJ4L_mi4rY0QS9aj1ggBHJt1cpBvNWU-DV5mPnY62HA_sm_63yye17Hl4ObAfFYjIMqL_CaldUAUhHKIPvQ/s320/IMG_0994.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655696052447503618" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5qVVINGgYrYxc-4oaEQmu5Y8XsbvMxkmqbsraSzETu4w3PPnZeafwLntJ4L_mi4rY0QS9aj1ggBHJt1cpBvNWU-DV5mPnY62HA_sm_63yye17Hl4ObAfFYjIMqL_CaldUAUhHKIPvQ/s1600/IMG_0994.JPG"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHMYB6f0wrpiK535FZFHz2hyuJXdJpLuegv3iST7JYpAgOBjY6FelxYNp-zbcIY2dnvCqgwgHFaNgyXKdjmueLWlS-Ev47S1pGBgu2OJAYj8n3RHoljCf84-Or5av705F1oR5jEsuzA/s1600/IMG_0993.JPG"><br /></a>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-66121276123467135462011-09-17T15:02:00.010-06:002011-09-17T15:56:11.204-06:00Foto Friday. On Saturday.We are down in Orderville visiting the commune to celebrate my sister's birthday. Today we ventured out on a hike which we have yet managed to do on any of our visits. We weren't sure how well the kids would do, but beside the point when Will slipped into the mud and immediately claimed he wanted to go home, they did really well. <div><br /></div><div>The hike Will and Alex chose to take us on was to The Crack.<br /><br />This is what first greets you off the road. Maybe a warning?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYYVew5YALw3FkCdtWsMHTUPbI7zQBuSVILWS4ixiw3QWhLv5smuKn77_eg0kYsxEwf95_XIjNkm0x3jbDipQRBTlnzznQpP_hyphenhyphen5zdI1WjnaMBZbxHSTY0_9BG1-sLH0AWTW3s6ki5A/s1600/IMG_1002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYYVew5YALw3FkCdtWsMHTUPbI7zQBuSVILWS4ixiw3QWhLv5smuKn77_eg0kYsxEwf95_XIjNkm0x3jbDipQRBTlnzznQpP_hyphenhyphen5zdI1WjnaMBZbxHSTY0_9BG1-sLH0AWTW3s6ki5A/s320/IMG_1002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653439016880298802" border="0" /></a>Merely a suggestion<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtuiTKoZZqgqxiaxtcTKNutBJLrUE_5kmtZMA0ZKPufvb2vsmV4RuMCFN8yGtHS09X2g3BRnC6Chy2YB9j8fNU68Z4Yo_A9XQV8jlmAuSRuSMF07Qd1ZnXwCakMUc3a-fFJUDS56a7Q/s1600/IMG_1011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtuiTKoZZqgqxiaxtcTKNutBJLrUE_5kmtZMA0ZKPufvb2vsmV4RuMCFN8yGtHS09X2g3BRnC6Chy2YB9j8fNU68Z4Yo_A9XQV8jlmAuSRuSMF07Qd1ZnXwCakMUc3a-fFJUDS56a7Q/s320/IMG_1011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653439483918659986" border="0" /></a> I was squatting down trying to take a picture of a plant for my mom when something nudged my back. This guy came up to say hi<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjh_9dx8_NxyPkTX_BDnT2lGwmddKRCDM3lOA-d3BU3ZjpAbNxNjH5wFHikDPa5je3ROLTlfNYG89mfp1ALWpMaNMXxzPnddNJZFK843gGgSx-G_SfquQWHJa0aTzT461YHuLnOapCtA/s1600/IMG_1017.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjh_9dx8_NxyPkTX_BDnT2lGwmddKRCDM3lOA-d3BU3ZjpAbNxNjH5wFHikDPa5je3ROLTlfNYG89mfp1ALWpMaNMXxzPnddNJZFK843gGgSx-G_SfquQWHJa0aTzT461YHuLnOapCtA/s320/IMG_1017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653439487084019026" border="0" /></a>The first part of the hike is just meandering through the sagebrush and junipers until you get to the riverbed. This is the part where is starts to get interesting.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1PFQHXviudU6IuAeEyyNa8AkR8tH-cY-iKHqf48yw91cHkRn6GpVcer7xWoBa8nf9grfACV9L0OBjvYb2kR-nOdXgYiuYHT8iGd7AJvkQQ753gnyg0GUCcRgoMBoMAhFM25kx5rRRQ/s1600/IMG_1038.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1PFQHXviudU6IuAeEyyNa8AkR8tH-cY-iKHqf48yw91cHkRn6GpVcer7xWoBa8nf9grfACV9L0OBjvYb2kR-nOdXgYiuYHT8iGd7AJvkQQ753gnyg0GUCcRgoMBoMAhFM25kx5rRRQ/s320/IMG_1038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653440195308545890" border="0" /></a>Normally it's a dry creek bed that does involve a lot of rocks but nothing too bad. Yesterday it rained though. A lot. And there was lots of mud to try and maneuver around. After Will's slip in the mud, I was warning Alex who was behind me that it looked like this part was in danger of sliding off into the river bed so to be careful. And as I'm saying it, of course right where I stepped broke off and fell away. Along with me into the mud. I was fine but my camera did get a little muddy. Luckily it doesn't seem to be damaged and once it's all dry I think I can get it all brushed off.<br /><br />The walls on the far side of the Crack, are lined with graffiti carvings. There are so many though that it actually looks kind of cool.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrXmozsqAit_AiSiQBPs8HASUyIPogbUVUv9gObxHbt7G3HB2laf-ufrqkspqQIZ7H_DNlzISE8B9f_Zzwt6C97pwIKSZ0gVfrW4Ejo6mCURVCQeIatPF4SrNIImWDJocPgwrokQ26Q/s1600/IMG_1064.JPG"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOw7uVlUlVEnwE4q116M-oyWlf4LRNMVNrSu3I4HdAoqvNwthGb3TSkjX6N6RiN18oK3T_ej_QBhZXFiQiitGTkU-nV6L90sLiTRGquGNqXKg7r5ci2X-4riqAUYkC7LGGa4msrSZ2w/s1600/IMG_1064edited.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOw7uVlUlVEnwE4q116M-oyWlf4LRNMVNrSu3I4HdAoqvNwthGb3TSkjX6N6RiN18oK3T_ej_QBhZXFiQiitGTkU-nV6L90sLiTRGquGNqXKg7r5ci2X-4riqAUYkC7LGGa4msrSZ2w/s320/IMG_1064edited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653450379667523442" border="0" /></a>Will challenging the wall to a duel<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOOfAt22ogpeQQiWRaGNG6ZtKGRpVSE1UjecfLerFrc6QCZMQGIhBk13aroTRU5jvc8bTvs9991b1EJH_fvXAYkGygP18BtVpKfxazWRQkcr5uSuHvfr4hFG30QLOSpKumWhdWE_9KA/s1600/IMG_1075.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOOfAt22ogpeQQiWRaGNG6ZtKGRpVSE1UjecfLerFrc6QCZMQGIhBk13aroTRU5jvc8bTvs9991b1EJH_fvXAYkGygP18BtVpKfxazWRQkcr5uSuHvfr4hFG30QLOSpKumWhdWE_9KA/s320/IMG_1075.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653440958951897586" border="0" /></a>Behold, The Crack<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4S9sP1wT4GGtACXk-hpJXQlkgxSmWF5jbJSCSNdA2s54FUVwDVe7Ws3LAc9aVKmTQtc76prLo9sxor6xlgZYY8xXDWhGZPnf_AGb8Aad2VroOks7mZjOX2fbnyHuJpDPOhCjIeoMRyg/s1600/IMG_1082.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4S9sP1wT4GGtACXk-hpJXQlkgxSmWF5jbJSCSNdA2s54FUVwDVe7Ws3LAc9aVKmTQtc76prLo9sxor6xlgZYY8xXDWhGZPnf_AGb8Aad2VroOks7mZjOX2fbnyHuJpDPOhCjIeoMRyg/s320/IMG_1082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653440965215119490" border="0" /></a>Alex scaled up into another crack on the left of where the people are. If you click on the picture you might be able to make her out on the left by the trees. Will has also shimmied up there, but the rest of us decided to just enjoy the view from below.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjTXc6Ps_jy65XV7H-c-kGAl1f-ligleY5zNuCatB2mMkJn1q7Kj6gZ5Qwk9sU6a4sjT1lacDtV1hJb0-ZrNOsKUspsAlAG3pGqV7oU2VWNkyGWzOk__V4uIfQvs2Xqvi59FxW8aYfQ/s1600/IMG_1097.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjTXc6Ps_jy65XV7H-c-kGAl1f-ligleY5zNuCatB2mMkJn1q7Kj6gZ5Qwk9sU6a4sjT1lacDtV1hJb0-ZrNOsKUspsAlAG3pGqV7oU2VWNkyGWzOk__V4uIfQvs2Xqvi59FxW8aYfQ/s320/IMG_1097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653447324339236018" border="0" /></a>In the spring a waterfall fills up this small pool<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrm2n7SGYP9yXV4_L7gY18vB977zF0A5DQdrvNVP0wSKt7MO4GHLUbkfyEH9xOdekNodhwnjYySVQwxDByFu-5Eb96DSUDBSkPnFHCwkiYPRs37hXFchUpwICusctOh-A4WSC47EQNg/s1600/IMG_1086.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrm2n7SGYP9yXV4_L7gY18vB977zF0A5DQdrvNVP0wSKt7MO4GHLUbkfyEH9xOdekNodhwnjYySVQwxDByFu-5Eb96DSUDBSkPnFHCwkiYPRs37hXFchUpwICusctOh-A4WSC47EQNg/s320/IMG_1086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653441749698007250" border="0" /></a>Playing in the mud. Because it's ok to poke in, just not to land in.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORsX1_CWXvfIwfCvYzx6LOZrlMa9UefVz5mfyPto96DtS0L9pWXTunIGXL4ik3EllR1HvT3zhIJpgr0-VYHg9HmDnR4xE9ilyHMTI5VenN7cI_k4DL9ZUTfmq0htk-ya-1RwB6mEmuA/s1600/IMG_1123.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORsX1_CWXvfIwfCvYzx6LOZrlMa9UefVz5mfyPto96DtS0L9pWXTunIGXL4ik3EllR1HvT3zhIJpgr0-VYHg9HmDnR4xE9ilyHMTI5VenN7cI_k4DL9ZUTfmq0htk-ya-1RwB6mEmuA/s320/IMG_1123.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653441755982758018" border="0" /></a>Mud bubbles<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHG8bdThwcpZG_Eo2vUVBvkpuuVtf0TGKxeGIUgEF4NrioscsN9ufBhedlAMUTky1_Bq8nOeLzvfXQih85eFNjqcESWM4H4gAJZP5NRuW0tG4FUD4qP_ATDIpk92jZoY4ADmBw7LrpGw/s1600/IMG_1140.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHG8bdThwcpZG_Eo2vUVBvkpuuVtf0TGKxeGIUgEF4NrioscsN9ufBhedlAMUTky1_Bq8nOeLzvfXQih85eFNjqcESWM4H4gAJZP5NRuW0tG4FUD4qP_ATDIpk92jZoY4ADmBw7LrpGw/s320/IMG_1140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653442674285527330" border="0" /></a>It was a beautiful little hike and the end has a very special feel to it. Maiken commented that it felt like we were walking into a temple. I'm really glad we got to go.<br /><br />Throughout the hike crows circled above the high canyon walls. And of course every time I pointed my camera at them, they disappeared. When we got out of the canyon, there was a swarm of them, joined by a few vultures. All the pictures I tried to get of them with something else interesting in the shot didn't come out with more than one or two birds. So just a sky full of them. For Wade.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWHa4UG-mpD9kEHjIO4BkwuDzuA8yoX4PsrFed4qtxKQp0qETTEmuIv6-CYAY9jVxvSpTUTQARRuGr7U1Yp9aLZ4SSbbON5sy65e718mjFYqY1waCWL4V4IrFMsoGVtFcYJ753AYBiQ/s1600/IMG_1142.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWHa4UG-mpD9kEHjIO4BkwuDzuA8yoX4PsrFed4qtxKQp0qETTEmuIv6-CYAY9jVxvSpTUTQARRuGr7U1Yp9aLZ4SSbbON5sy65e718mjFYqY1waCWL4V4IrFMsoGVtFcYJ753AYBiQ/s320/IMG_1142.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653442675519685570" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-18289173752381785072011-09-10T10:20:00.006-06:002011-09-10T10:55:16.897-06:00Foto FridayThis week I heard a <a href="http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kuer/news.newsmain/article/184/0/1847314/RadioWest.%28M-F..11AM..and..7PM%29/9511.Farm.City"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#003300;">radio show</span></a> about a book <a href="http://farmcity.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#003300;">Farm City</span></a>. It's about a woman's experience running an urban farm in Oakland, CA. One of the things she talked about in regards to the problems our country has with food was the disconnect most people have from how their food is actually grown and the amount of work that goes into that. I'm grateful for growing up with parents that always had a garden. I'm grateful to know the special taste of a garden fresh tomato and the sweetness of a vine picked strawberry.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Pat and Will have been growing some plants in Gil's garden and Pat had asked for a few photos of my mom's garden. Because of the weird weather we had this year, some things have not been doing as well. But as you can see, there is still a lot of plants. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_Ba_7F9RKr4VLVSAiAl6ADShrfWpZNzvMGuRzcjqM1XHeEfm8JjWzz1GtG0CYMUJDkFNVh8ytlzO472NnFrlbLKZ4ACEjenJ-33SrOysR7XQWZRmvalbUv3xvgRExHLs4-hgr69PQQ/s1600/IMG_0591.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_Ba_7F9RKr4VLVSAiAl6ADShrfWpZNzvMGuRzcjqM1XHeEfm8JjWzz1GtG0CYMUJDkFNVh8ytlzO472NnFrlbLKZ4ACEjenJ-33SrOysR7XQWZRmvalbUv3xvgRExHLs4-hgr69PQQ/s320/IMG_0591.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650768855849699250" border="0" /></a>Grapes<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5HwawUmcug3o0VTMi90hlMb8G41DDDxXZ_ezd-0CFAbF1q8fK2LRj7mSpH8bKgUcF8ntJlFbeXMq3dbM5vbtW3I4U7BZcJvHBMUw03ClHtSGPS5YsY9xHDzVCQTr1nyEH8RIP64iEQ/s1600/IMG_0596.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5HwawUmcug3o0VTMi90hlMb8G41DDDxXZ_ezd-0CFAbF1q8fK2LRj7mSpH8bKgUcF8ntJlFbeXMq3dbM5vbtW3I4U7BZcJvHBMUw03ClHtSGPS5YsY9xHDzVCQTr1nyEH8RIP64iEQ/s320/IMG_0596.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650768857758274482" border="0" /></a>Cabbage<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9gABkK2ie_Jj9b140UhIs9lhBbCfm4P4r_qaoNIYY5xwhqEFAOMUJxGeGN57ONw0C50VG3q-MkB4ESm0t5SswUVEjGD7XjK-n7b1EoQU6XzSJMHVlh4DzSPhlqFV-MgSAhJte9DCjkg/s1600/IMG_0616.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9gABkK2ie_Jj9b140UhIs9lhBbCfm4P4r_qaoNIYY5xwhqEFAOMUJxGeGN57ONw0C50VG3q-MkB4ESm0t5SswUVEjGD7XjK-n7b1EoQU6XzSJMHVlh4DzSPhlqFV-MgSAhJte9DCjkg/s320/IMG_0616.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650768862665852562" border="0" /></a>Peppers<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj29NzmD6fEsVx22Dqi7J1hu1ckmUl6wNqJO9Najx-PBOvDYvvi5z9Oc98XgWMmlIKNQOW-92Q5v6zr_7D9ukABPkfw0nuoR09RtmNAAMQ_bhEcYlNtEfQJUSDLWQ1aF5QRnm9t9vWYg/s1600/IMG_0603.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj29NzmD6fEsVx22Dqi7J1hu1ckmUl6wNqJO9Najx-PBOvDYvvi5z9Oc98XgWMmlIKNQOW-92Q5v6zr_7D9ukABPkfw0nuoR09RtmNAAMQ_bhEcYlNtEfQJUSDLWQ1aF5QRnm9t9vWYg/s320/IMG_0603.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650769925525653330" border="0" /></a>Voluntary sunflowers<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZIquOxw7Ys1xwOlN6pdH0J5bCChyphenhyphenvBydrf3I7s6sZlGOIGVci_DAQDS6coUiuzwCgVQRV5bBcWCElDLiODpyyi6tmpiSsr46vCZ2fTeXmCRs_QiCXrvRyRtRBh1Y8SugvtIMrhfGrQ/s1600/IMG_0622.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZIquOxw7Ys1xwOlN6pdH0J5bCChyphenhyphenvBydrf3I7s6sZlGOIGVci_DAQDS6coUiuzwCgVQRV5bBcWCElDLiODpyyi6tmpiSsr46vCZ2fTeXmCRs_QiCXrvRyRtRBh1Y8SugvtIMrhfGrQ/s320/IMG_0622.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650769931330716658" border="0" /></a>This thing<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDtUM5hfwVNO5cqoOvsGm1Yp1Y8WvlH1fI3NQz2cwjvzquyoA0V1hyphenhyphenYbNHRQz0xc6Z0-1mgj_eTzx1t4wS_BOOptPX9l2oKu2DvYU_L-6HBjAF-BIxMK-x5MiHnO_4AIpmNuEUFJbCQ/s1600/IMG_0583.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDtUM5hfwVNO5cqoOvsGm1Yp1Y8WvlH1fI3NQz2cwjvzquyoA0V1hyphenhyphenYbNHRQz0xc6Z0-1mgj_eTzx1t4wS_BOOptPX9l2oKu2DvYU_L-6HBjAF-BIxMK-x5MiHnO_4AIpmNuEUFJbCQ/s320/IMG_0583.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650768840188629314" border="0" /></a>I don't remember what it's called<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBl8Y-pKmW2yF_PhZ69uYBZ3lUL6EAHxGIrYl_cp56sWCVHOK_1JGaQoN9QNpvTzy-3pUFooU-KF5bFm_oTBjMRhi51GJRFO-k5cPtn_TsOXZgMfhto0sDov97OA5PKfohJ0dE3Q3uTw/s1600/IMG_0584.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBl8Y-pKmW2yF_PhZ69uYBZ3lUL6EAHxGIrYl_cp56sWCVHOK_1JGaQoN9QNpvTzy-3pUFooU-KF5bFm_oTBjMRhi51GJRFO-k5cPtn_TsOXZgMfhto0sDov97OA5PKfohJ0dE3Q3uTw/s320/IMG_0584.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650768846309338530" border="0" /></a>Tomatoes<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-juoA7CxqWxj3qvtj_uLAPCrZNKF_hun5bjrfVECrpne-4xs3LxBPbMMoxZgRt0znVo0z-k1STvkvJCO5cmjdrI-_Ldgs0gWkr8PS0Io3EeHxvISX3gvb7xkOq2Q7hFxNVkD2bbypw/s1600/IMG_0599.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-juoA7CxqWxj3qvtj_uLAPCrZNKF_hun5bjrfVECrpne-4xs3LxBPbMMoxZgRt0znVo0z-k1STvkvJCO5cmjdrI-_Ldgs0gWkr8PS0Io3EeHxvISX3gvb7xkOq2Q7hFxNVkD2bbypw/s320/IMG_0599.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650769929071470322" border="0" /></a>And more tomatoes<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycyaVZIcqJlv3ExedXUs0kKAQE24uhocB26AXufZU2p_ho_SHhE-2uq25G0a54aBfaSpv38Dx_fvt1WRsXcW-CZXDqr1DxYuchq3LcpBeTBsP3jqFhszsqHivnHxhoDzyjIsmCJsyLg/s1600/IMG_0617.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycyaVZIcqJlv3ExedXUs0kKAQE24uhocB26AXufZU2p_ho_SHhE-2uq25G0a54aBfaSpv38Dx_fvt1WRsXcW-CZXDqr1DxYuchq3LcpBeTBsP3jqFhszsqHivnHxhoDzyjIsmCJsyLg/s320/IMG_0617.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650769920537603922" border="0" /></a>Tomatoes have always been a large part of my mom's garden and get canned into salsa and stewed tomatoes. As well as enjoyed throughout the summer. My mom has been working part time at a local garden nursery this summer, something I always thought would be a perfect job for her. Today she is teaching a class on salsa. Last night Lucia and Will wanted to help cut up the tomatoes for today, but had to take turns because the British apron was the only one they both wanted to wear.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZjAqJ9GZaurtkTs0w_-ks8r1ovOdo1nGYhjDiHujppuSTTxhaLi7k56JlgexerdX-QeNst2KKMqpwWL3K0OZmHkrzGkDn41LablJulX3c91WUjPq_pRUJgb1MkX7FREmr_MNHg2Umg/s1600/IMG_0937.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZjAqJ9GZaurtkTs0w_-ks8r1ovOdo1nGYhjDiHujppuSTTxhaLi7k56JlgexerdX-QeNst2KKMqpwWL3K0OZmHkrzGkDn41LablJulX3c91WUjPq_pRUJgb1MkX7FREmr_MNHg2Umg/s320/IMG_0937.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650769938800246850" border="0" /></a>They are really good helpers. For about 5 minutes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjmPr3KfeCCuWE37cOtxoiFCFj0QQXLGpw5hGuWpDjiOozfYTZ1Spq2Pd5q2k7jwcU1TKj2n6gFw0f9-H5IGxZoURs_bvf2DlyP_nGd1imFLnkLc1gpAwiGEwXCofTS0AmHLerf3SdQ/s1600/IMG_0947.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjmPr3KfeCCuWE37cOtxoiFCFj0QQXLGpw5hGuWpDjiOozfYTZ1Spq2Pd5q2k7jwcU1TKj2n6gFw0f9-H5IGxZoURs_bvf2DlyP_nGd1imFLnkLc1gpAwiGEwXCofTS0AmHLerf3SdQ/s320/IMG_0947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650770291988082066" border="0" /></a>I'm very thankful that our kids are growing up with knowledge about the experience of growing your own food.<br /></div>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-17116207000768578682011-09-07T21:48:00.008-06:002011-09-07T22:42:28.193-06:00Willie Boy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHTUxp8De4GwdLwz_WgwxaYM_A_7pEmhZV7rPjfoLcnricx7Ob23kJeFXe8ShLv89sSEEKmiiWcv3TNMZOt56_tEgV9v-c-TtONfsjJDJLbuSL1OSjjjaPJwXCiDkNM1Hbs9gWYxN2w/s1600/DSCN0681.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHTUxp8De4GwdLwz_WgwxaYM_A_7pEmhZV7rPjfoLcnricx7Ob23kJeFXe8ShLv89sSEEKmiiWcv3TNMZOt56_tEgV9v-c-TtONfsjJDJLbuSL1OSjjjaPJwXCiDkNM1Hbs9gWYxN2w/s320/DSCN0681.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649838767376344930" border="0" /></a>When Will was still very tiny he would try and grab my hair while I was curled up in the recliner feeding him. I started making sure I had my hair pulled back because without fail it would end up tangled up in little baby fingers. As he got older the uncontrolled grabbing changed to soft rubbing and it went from an annoyance of getting my hair ripped out, to something that made me smile. When he got even older you would pick him up for one of his famous hugs and his little arms would immediately go to the back of your neck and start playing with your hair.<br /><br />Will turned six today. I can still remember that precious alone time the two of use had in the hospital. Will wasn't figuring out how to nurse and their only guess was that it was because he was a few weeks early. One of the suggestions they had was what they called kangaroo time. I would strip him down to his diaper and place him under my hospital gown so we had skin on skin time with his tiny body curled up on my chest.<br /><br />Until you have a kid I don't think you can understand the crazy hormones, the stress and feeling so unprepared. But those moments with him curled up, our breathing matching each other, nothing felt stressful or unprepared. It just felt natural.<br /><br />On the weekend mornings I usually get up a little before Will does and make my way into the recliner. Will sleepily comes into the living room and curls up in my lap to finish waking up. And after a few minutes I'll feel his arm slide up and reach back to pull my hair over my shoulder. And his still small hands wind it around his fingers. And it just feel natural. And makes me smile.<br /><br />No changes this year as far as his likes (obsessions) go. His loves still revolve around dogs (especially Jackie), anything army and legos, with a particular attention to star wars. But this is a big year in that he started school recently. I'm so proud of my little inquisitive guy. He still gets his feelings crushed very easily. But that comes from him having such a huge heart that he wears for everyone to see. And I would never trade that.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNF-e2FR2bRe4JUP3vtL8OUZE0bFmfUe3Q4rFUGfQ7A6YBuOddNCsEzPNsOZAHWn2rCm0YZ2qCnXW614Ji9qBzKSiALNDkKXclyDTHv8vHBzbWaqlzd4Ycl9Bi1cQmjxpIVKp2IsF1kg/s1600/IMG_0817.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNF-e2FR2bRe4JUP3vtL8OUZE0bFmfUe3Q4rFUGfQ7A6YBuOddNCsEzPNsOZAHWn2rCm0YZ2qCnXW614Ji9qBzKSiALNDkKXclyDTHv8vHBzbWaqlzd4Ycl9Bi1cQmjxpIVKp2IsF1kg/s320/IMG_0817.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649839423089753490" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_x2l-hkdhqPERbAHaF2TQiQj4TrVh0HGzMz1zKQi1ElBm1Clx2Y1fKgdEOUTnfkNE3nZ7JO0y7bE-yCSQzA0QkaMScPe5Df4BylKgBuzZH94LEclqxntyPQwmiPYXBY35A5OJEchUQ/s1600/IMG_0812.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_x2l-hkdhqPERbAHaF2TQiQj4TrVh0HGzMz1zKQi1ElBm1Clx2Y1fKgdEOUTnfkNE3nZ7JO0y7bE-yCSQzA0QkaMScPe5Df4BylKgBuzZH94LEclqxntyPQwmiPYXBY35A5OJEchUQ/s320/IMG_0812.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649839421205994706" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGz8m0DvpEgXw5bsZHKmbJFZqMgtmc42UVuxK_1RFCf8eHOcqVFkM1J4xS2_zKrqUre5JRnbsPApQyMgCLj5gWIbjD_N8m3H4tPF0ztQBSYnRZSC8v3MnxYBXcNrBQz8CdAsGj5aUh1A/s1600/IMG_0530.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGz8m0DvpEgXw5bsZHKmbJFZqMgtmc42UVuxK_1RFCf8eHOcqVFkM1J4xS2_zKrqUre5JRnbsPApQyMgCLj5gWIbjD_N8m3H4tPF0ztQBSYnRZSC8v3MnxYBXcNrBQz8CdAsGj5aUh1A/s320/IMG_0530.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649838776971130034" border="0" /></a>As much as I miss my tiny little guy, I'm excited to see him grow and learn new things. And someday I know he'll out grow wanting to curl up in my lap and play with my hair, but he'll always be my little kangaroo bug.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3zzbq_dDmvIwI7eOul0ZKfRV7kdirAybaJKNkiL7e0Nc-Hx6KJkRpp5NvM8BqQ-m5bsMMXGa79MXWpc4j9q9nm1LhgvXZs8pquhshAWNhoVnQbe26fpadQEyJYbp34WXtau9tFV-KA/s1600/DSCN1031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3zzbq_dDmvIwI7eOul0ZKfRV7kdirAybaJKNkiL7e0Nc-Hx6KJkRpp5NvM8BqQ-m5bsMMXGa79MXWpc4j9q9nm1LhgvXZs8pquhshAWNhoVnQbe26fpadQEyJYbp34WXtau9tFV-KA/s320/DSCN1031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649838771029696114" border="0" /></a>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-54082918543815080612011-09-03T00:42:00.005-06:002011-09-03T01:21:26.546-06:00Foto FridayOn Tuesday a friend of mine suggested looking on meetup.com after we talked about needing to get out more. After about 2 minutes of looking I found a local photography group that looked like something I would be interested in. They were having their next meetup on Thursday at the Payson carnival. Seemed perfect. I signed up and RSVP'd for my first meetup. Stuff like this gives me panic attacks so I knew I needed to make a commitment right away or I would likely back out. <div>
<br /></div><div>So Thursday I went off to meet my new group and hopefully learn from the experience of the group. Sadly there was some bad info and although the carnival was setup on Thursday, it wasn't running yet. We agreed to go at different times during the weekend and hopefully still be able to get some good shots to share. Although I was a little disappointed our shoot didn't work out, it was nice to meet some of the people so I won't be as nervous next time. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>I then realized that while putting my purse in my trunk so I didn't have to carry it around, I had put my keys in my purse. And my spare was also in my purse. Awesome. My mom and dad came down to help and after a valiant but unsuccessful effort, embarrassed I called the police for assistance. With the use of their fancy tools (and my mom's spatula) we were able to get my car unlocked. Thank you police! Later that night my computer crashed (I'm having to borrow Will's), so not exactly an awesome night.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>We took the kids to the carnival tonight and thanks to Maiken entertaining the kids, I was able to try some shots on my own. After a call to my dad for some tips, I did walk away with some nice photos. There were some things like my carousel in motion shots that all failed, so I would like to go another night this weekend and try again. But not bad for one evening. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>And my friend <a href="http://crazywadee.blogspot.com/">Wade</a> is going to be teaching a beginner camera class that I am extremely excited about! Helpful tips to be showing up in future foto friday shots.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSEaHvnPjKfCv9r0DD4Ivg8s_MsLVTpzEQoJo-vO6_0E2_NCwBaQkvZbMfZYJ26IMHCjIAocfMO2FhczBGL53NpwvU5RHzqSWqYUSjal9YRQk0qRAYdpjESenUccWj7ccII_yDI7VUg/s1600/carousel2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSEaHvnPjKfCv9r0DD4Ivg8s_MsLVTpzEQoJo-vO6_0E2_NCwBaQkvZbMfZYJ26IMHCjIAocfMO2FhczBGL53NpwvU5RHzqSWqYUSjal9YRQk0qRAYdpjESenUccWj7ccII_yDI7VUg/s320/carousel2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648020437516640258" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KNwApYqDUYPc_kINKLM6d4yarMgVgdzRyYFkYBed6kefLzPdqmewCCvLx6j-NKAtOUQLIf4MiYM_1el52K3unwRe2XinKu5e0CL2G1HNN2vL7XfzNn1hFqMuMxzZlkCVWDHyxQ8yHg/s1600/IMG_0696.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KNwApYqDUYPc_kINKLM6d4yarMgVgdzRyYFkYBed6kefLzPdqmewCCvLx6j-NKAtOUQLIf4MiYM_1el52K3unwRe2XinKu5e0CL2G1HNN2vL7XfzNn1hFqMuMxzZlkCVWDHyxQ8yHg/s320/IMG_0696.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648023020005567106" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjTfMYqiC9oBGjgtsXlf4n636jkJDHriwBx6HGeFnGxPB_EMFaFpCpNISqSx-XOZlv8qckYL-9n4Grmm70zUCgSbwnX_9wxZLUW7hp09jgNpfI_zPyF2tpz2BxsP0wlBMwAD9FX-LNg/s1600/IMG_0698.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjTfMYqiC9oBGjgtsXlf4n636jkJDHriwBx6HGeFnGxPB_EMFaFpCpNISqSx-XOZlv8qckYL-9n4Grmm70zUCgSbwnX_9wxZLUW7hp09jgNpfI_zPyF2tpz2BxsP0wlBMwAD9FX-LNg/s320/IMG_0698.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648023024517268514" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQE_LWMpeuUbmmrAyjDwB9M0Ku9ltaYsap-3PuyTiD79l6zaZcr0kMD_bWQiiOxB8c3HKdO0MxTlqdD8IVE36YVFk1DWXpcqXWA1f8Ix2ptx3wejQsyyLqXAyyFuyCS1aw0CLE1tS-UQ/s1600/fireball.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQE_LWMpeuUbmmrAyjDwB9M0Ku9ltaYsap-3PuyTiD79l6zaZcr0kMD_bWQiiOxB8c3HKdO0MxTlqdD8IVE36YVFk1DWXpcqXWA1f8Ix2ptx3wejQsyyLqXAyyFuyCS1aw0CLE1tS-UQ/s320/fireball.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648020445783569010" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5y5EKkFhPuIEDYoQ0ZZOjngA7EeSAq2HeLh37kW4icGqYDFLwRcZG0MfGFRMQmkZ8gLrCtqJmZTYjJJ7ZXPdsUmHdCYGgIBzwx1x1FYG0Vvb0biHf26r62MjL3d93rtAesGskouJxBw/s1600/starship.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5y5EKkFhPuIEDYoQ0ZZOjngA7EeSAq2HeLh37kW4icGqYDFLwRcZG0MfGFRMQmkZ8gLrCtqJmZTYjJJ7ZXPdsUmHdCYGgIBzwx1x1FYG0Vvb0biHf26r62MjL3d93rtAesGskouJxBw/s320/starship.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648023028125266242" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZExaz_o0Ux9Fk0E8EskUfSZzRsXExLlpgkmPNKo6kVKaY7FJ_M1oO5KhA8l9P9uPLXkJ_1jjbfPgynPtwrGsDT9aO8Mt48vnBqzZHorbAkpKlC3yzIVpec9dnAiNSZwZ9VFL6MC6eA/s1600/IMG_0766.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZExaz_o0Ux9Fk0E8EskUfSZzRsXExLlpgkmPNKo6kVKaY7FJ_M1oO5KhA8l9P9uPLXkJ_1jjbfPgynPtwrGsDT9aO8Mt48vnBqzZHorbAkpKlC3yzIVpec9dnAiNSZwZ9VFL6MC6eA/s320/IMG_0766.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648024897015015954" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzZlFLfmmfqwk-FTPCRcyMB9wksMuYm5LmaIQobcpLcboP1_T5K90Owj9iD0P70ybdksdCwN4EWTvh_MVhKwpnDRgsBgBv0VxE3u8DTBqUBCaxcG-V4JoKB8BVgpoPRsVe3ZeQbf0Cw/s1600/spinning+wheel6.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzZlFLfmmfqwk-FTPCRcyMB9wksMuYm5LmaIQobcpLcboP1_T5K90Owj9iD0P70ybdksdCwN4EWTvh_MVhKwpnDRgsBgBv0VxE3u8DTBqUBCaxcG-V4JoKB8BVgpoPRsVe3ZeQbf0Cw/s320/spinning+wheel6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648023037111416306" /></a>
<br /></div>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-5271372675178800332011-08-26T16:12:00.005-06:002011-08-26T17:21:24.376-06:00Foto FridayI apologize to my internet friends that I have been a little scarce online. Work is kicking my ass right now. There are a few reasons but one is the starting of our new recreation center we are building. We had the official ground breaking ceremony on Wednesday and it's a lot of work putting something like that together when really all it is, is a photo op.
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<br />It was nearly 100 that day and I feel like I'm still recovering from being outside for half the day.
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<br />Ready for shoveling
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiF3PDfvggotL6duzgCYyZhDpliT5Z-cyQWsblcsMVodwel_fkumx5bPUwUBkPshU3BQNzlgIBwx1Jtwi8ursbV77e4EIA4q_W-wFvEKil_itHcYYfnTvVBRhaWweM3WnoGN2foOshg/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiF3PDfvggotL6duzgCYyZhDpliT5Z-cyQWsblcsMVodwel_fkumx5bPUwUBkPshU3BQNzlgIBwx1Jtwi8ursbV77e4EIA4q_W-wFvEKil_itHcYYfnTvVBRhaWweM3WnoGN2foOshg/s320/DSC_0015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645293274193187538" border="0" /></a>The crowd. One of the things that make an event like this hard to plan for is you could just as easily have 20 people as you could have 100. We were estimating 50, and had over 200. I was not exactly prepared for that amount! But it was fun to have that many people there supporting us.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vKERhh2qEo_HPZXc4bm8prfkT2PsaN5pxdYPUgsTcKf9r7IMlGeYcparUKkbYpez1XlE0WkHXiKuC3DJL6i0wTJnhT61PHGextA0e16aR2wL0J1m3bSKOalSG0t2yi4JKo2telVGzQ/s1600/DSC_0056.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vKERhh2qEo_HPZXc4bm8prfkT2PsaN5pxdYPUgsTcKf9r7IMlGeYcparUKkbYpez1XlE0WkHXiKuC3DJL6i0wTJnhT61PHGextA0e16aR2wL0J1m3bSKOalSG0t2yi4JKo2telVGzQ/s320/DSC_0056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645293277685221282" border="0" /></a>One of the fun parts of our events is seeing the reaction our mascot Zippy gets from the crowd. This little guy immediately came running over and followed Zippy around for most of the event.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTpNvh94BTl_EbntgdS-ShO2ZUpI3fPprlVJXftDelsOpYseJu1R21WVmYM0KHLy77Ana6w8lb8G5BG1mT7v8CHDw6DCDhv1U3N86no6-K4ib1SdBmsGa11rFsp7gXHg6au8TDEX7Yw/s1600/DSC_0089edited.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTpNvh94BTl_EbntgdS-ShO2ZUpI3fPprlVJXftDelsOpYseJu1R21WVmYM0KHLy77Ana6w8lb8G5BG1mT7v8CHDw6DCDhv1U3N86no6-K4ib1SdBmsGa11rFsp7gXHg6au8TDEX7Yw/s320/DSC_0089edited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645293284017139634" border="0" /></a>Zippy can even get the contractors to smile
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhea5E1_oBQJrSYCUGwMFxkZAKBGLnUy5B0LZ_1IzNI5hF9_VhdhlGWlSi6crg0CoiEU_wID71WLwiiDOS14qg0nc5NodMuKQhhZm72xWmYiwj5CeJ-hCBm47rtz0kyh7G2nCfHQW__Xw/s1600/DSC_0110edited.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhea5E1_oBQJrSYCUGwMFxkZAKBGLnUy5B0LZ_1IzNI5hF9_VhdhlGWlSi6crg0CoiEU_wID71WLwiiDOS14qg0nc5NodMuKQhhZm72xWmYiwj5CeJ-hCBm47rtz0kyh7G2nCfHQW__Xw/s320/DSC_0110edited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645293280839682866" border="0" /></a>Time for the traditional ground breaking. (there was actually a lot of people there taking photos/filming so we were all each others way and I was a little bummed I couldn't get any shots of the full circle of people)
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLM1QO7paebdJU8J-u_2AOJcVhchFcRkAbs8B2KlIkYzljpj1fWMydwm98bFERAcbFKfU5qKt4kGsR21PktJ9Nhep4psK_Cx6Z92Aw7VdpF-AWC-8aqMmxMj4FkTNxhKjHwYugO2p6A/s1600/DSC_0139.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLM1QO7paebdJU8J-u_2AOJcVhchFcRkAbs8B2KlIkYzljpj1fWMydwm98bFERAcbFKfU5qKt4kGsR21PktJ9Nhep4psK_Cx6Z92Aw7VdpF-AWC-8aqMmxMj4FkTNxhKjHwYugO2p6A/s320/DSC_0139.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645293968114640050" border="0" /></a>My boss couldn't be satisfied with just your average ground breaking though, so he planned for the Mayor to kick it up a notch from just your average shovel.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_qQkxvG5_BNnVhFh6kDCtbJj7Q_FijLJgUUPtxXZ3Lxx-BLb2UDd0Rb0_tneeLUh1HrpfFmPlE4pVOipB35K2pwCt3wJP9m6nIhUlaB5heFJ3EEZIpFQDwPfdULAF2CWAetV6WBEOQ/s1600/DSC_0166.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_qQkxvG5_BNnVhFh6kDCtbJj7Q_FijLJgUUPtxXZ3Lxx-BLb2UDd0Rb0_tneeLUh1HrpfFmPlE4pVOipB35K2pwCt3wJP9m6nIhUlaB5heFJ3EEZIpFQDwPfdULAF2CWAetV6WBEOQ/s320/DSC_0166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645293974607580066" border="0" /></a>Overall it went really well and I'm glad it's over. But afterwards you kind of go through event let down. It's kinda like the day after Christmas. Except you didn't get any gifts. So now back to our regular job. And the start of construction which will be interesting, but I'm guessing just a bit more stress ahead for the next 18 months.
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<br />In some non-work news, the canyons are starting to show signs of fall approaching.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MBldtd8T0lBM-wz8q4M74vnkZIXRjwbe8fuI30BoiofMT8TgY8-hCyiat7lJHyeBnzEQzwp8-IyZKbdQFxab8erbQJwBHHBLKx-B-TbggR1UiH9OsiRwuUlVDo4iLm55S0ggK8ZVtQ/s1600/IMG_0441.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MBldtd8T0lBM-wz8q4M74vnkZIXRjwbe8fuI30BoiofMT8TgY8-hCyiat7lJHyeBnzEQzwp8-IyZKbdQFxab8erbQJwBHHBLKx-B-TbggR1UiH9OsiRwuUlVDo4iLm55S0ggK8ZVtQ/s320/IMG_0441.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645296839489300082" border="0" /></a>As much as I love fall, it's my favorite season, I'm sad about the days starting to get shorter which really affects my ability to go on hikes after work. I need to make sure I take advantage the next couple of months before my sanctuary is covered in snow.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jnfa6Ar7XFSC1YDEtiRf1DwVGnCM4nTbzdWOND4LaP0d5ZFHUbprhuIjBsJKdw9xbe5By7HlVPMKzD72rBXLuNmK0fzztq-kNU2yGX7iRUrvquE_oqkb946TW9SizDuE3KyDsHdNMw/s1600/IMG_0436.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jnfa6Ar7XFSC1YDEtiRf1DwVGnCM4nTbzdWOND4LaP0d5ZFHUbprhuIjBsJKdw9xbe5By7HlVPMKzD72rBXLuNmK0fzztq-kNU2yGX7iRUrvquE_oqkb946TW9SizDuE3KyDsHdNMw/s320/IMG_0436.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645296835318267458" border="0" /></a>I got a late birthday present from my sister Britta in mail. She made me a beautiful little lidded clay container.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrDkxk9E398cxgu8fCNpnM8DzUjYj4mXWe8ZtdIL8XunghtjJSJ1VpWIDg-oKyE7wjMCN_fqqe-KL2IzU3_pD3J5t5vtNdfmkiCVtkUKwraFLlTBEOq-ulDnnypH2GwZSc0gRlV3yboA/s1600/IMG_0469.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrDkxk9E398cxgu8fCNpnM8DzUjYj4mXWe8ZtdIL8XunghtjJSJ1VpWIDg-oKyE7wjMCN_fqqe-KL2IzU3_pD3J5t5vtNdfmkiCVtkUKwraFLlTBEOq-ulDnnypH2GwZSc0gRlV3yboA/s320/IMG_0469.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645296871314026306" border="0" /></a>While she was here visiting she was working on a clay tiki mug and teasing Will that it was his face that she was carving. He told her it didn't look anything like him and that he would draw his face for her. She saved the picture he drew and said that she would put it on something. Inside the container I have Will's little drawing of his face. And I love it.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguYHXRizw_-7VIksIucnzpS9PDoMBC1jnAdeUV8Hu3LKF1_ukKS6gtgIDyf3kjHzBzPtDqth7dypSuP4RTNECXzf2LIYazWwiM0ojAKqgqUd_GKl8PVGkgiD_l1urQeppHUYJ6NW-U2Q/s1600/IMG_0461.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguYHXRizw_-7VIksIucnzpS9PDoMBC1jnAdeUV8Hu3LKF1_ukKS6gtgIDyf3kjHzBzPtDqth7dypSuP4RTNECXzf2LIYazWwiM0ojAKqgqUd_GKl8PVGkgiD_l1urQeppHUYJ6NW-U2Q/s320/IMG_0461.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645297483972778002" border="0" /></a>And lastly my baby starts school on Tuesday. I always figured I would be one of those parents that loved my kid going to school and was surprised the wave of anticipation I have about him going. I'm not an overprotective parent, but I'm feeling the desire to just want to be able to watch over my guy a little bit more before sending him out into the world of school bullies and teasing. Here's wishing him luck! He's showing off one of the squash he helped grow with his dad. I sure do love this kid.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VwA-i1YOkmsHOesfsCUW8BmrZJpaQWbV9tNbv7F4mSswQTKYCo_5oFGMNJBHDoC81HDSVs9zHeXUYqAvfve0fpzjgcw-OLxKotgslMR2HKpIwfIRO1d4FpS2C__tIL1iHNZs7zuMKg/s1600/IMG_0473.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VwA-i1YOkmsHOesfsCUW8BmrZJpaQWbV9tNbv7F4mSswQTKYCo_5oFGMNJBHDoC81HDSVs9zHeXUYqAvfve0fpzjgcw-OLxKotgslMR2HKpIwfIRO1d4FpS2C__tIL1iHNZs7zuMKg/s320/IMG_0473.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645296874472326290" border="0" /></a>
<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-84455372706111197192011-08-19T21:32:00.004-06:002011-08-19T21:55:33.372-06:00Foto FridayWe hung out at the county fair today. The fair is always an interesting place. The fair is the place to see fat pigs (which was all Lucia wanted to see)
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKQB2tPevScpzVF_UAxg9QjWwvE-7SX05rNBNPJQI4nvKKiD7kkNALZeHGloXzslyp5VsctFqKeC19QaMUv4fI2jqS19oTxvK6BDU5W0iusurcyxe54H3owUC-YRVe9uEYyfmotJeQw/s1600/IMG_0339edited.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKQB2tPevScpzVF_UAxg9QjWwvE-7SX05rNBNPJQI4nvKKiD7kkNALZeHGloXzslyp5VsctFqKeC19QaMUv4fI2jqS19oTxvK6BDU5W0iusurcyxe54H3owUC-YRVe9uEYyfmotJeQw/s320/IMG_0339edited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642777512925144866" border="0" /></a>Family of frogs made from dough
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIqgWA9L_rgZWAH8kDweJtmrEIalNJ2oCXm7LLL0BfuKZ2qu6bCSzmAplx9GmwxkyejZ-mAkDPAbetkgQCGn9eeuh22o1WXXXz9j434yDQbYFUYKPq-eGyTcNLG19FedwO7wH3a4JkQ/s1600/IMG_0359.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIqgWA9L_rgZWAH8kDweJtmrEIalNJ2oCXm7LLL0BfuKZ2qu6bCSzmAplx9GmwxkyejZ-mAkDPAbetkgQCGn9eeuh22o1WXXXz9j434yDQbYFUYKPq-eGyTcNLG19FedwO7wH3a4JkQ/s320/IMG_0359.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642777526875633922" border="0" /></a>Running chickens
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeKkjAzK9qPQtN9o9DXlrNegvf3Fn8zYhKeE6uTU5gSN-KCfTSoiphdzh-xEuBmxnc4PKk42in4TQxJBf-2gLhYgPv2PIiIf2jmFYUXBMcpbssLE9lcFhMxjVgxjtmPrjvcOaEnLACg/s1600/IMG_0404.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeKkjAzK9qPQtN9o9DXlrNegvf3Fn8zYhKeE6uTU5gSN-KCfTSoiphdzh-xEuBmxnc4PKk42in4TQxJBf-2gLhYgPv2PIiIf2jmFYUXBMcpbssLE9lcFhMxjVgxjtmPrjvcOaEnLACg/s320/IMG_0404.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642779279709957154" border="0" /></a>I know that most animals at the fair are raised for food. I just don't want to be reminded of it in such an obvious way
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOV-4VboeKud6mNExziWG_JRzft1M6h3J3mF8l02gWzV9ATmOPTdUvfxyWBljdQT1nrq1lH305MEq6hsps388MdBekMI0gMHPA17ascEiREJppUV2RzEiu03Mo7XeDU1RtETKqC7c8lw/s1600/IMG_0340.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOV-4VboeKud6mNExziWG_JRzft1M6h3J3mF8l02gWzV9ATmOPTdUvfxyWBljdQT1nrq1lH305MEq6hsps388MdBekMI0gMHPA17ascEiREJppUV2RzEiu03Mo7XeDU1RtETKqC7c8lw/s320/IMG_0340.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642777517628653858" border="0" /></a>Lego displays (Will is so going to be one of these guys in 20 years)
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9g6zSuePiG1J2p0DE0t4i7-cYi1-uPvtvygQRumHMEI9Nw-SpMurKTapZQUCrwHLHohfHB34PZdAz0HbB274Si4rQtfjfu5wDC5o-8wV8dF68eTPTvAIdim-x7yflm7IrMSLQmP1MA/s1600/IMG_0346.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9g6zSuePiG1J2p0DE0t4i7-cYi1-uPvtvygQRumHMEI9Nw-SpMurKTapZQUCrwHLHohfHB34PZdAz0HbB274Si4rQtfjfu5wDC5o-8wV8dF68eTPTvAIdim-x7yflm7IrMSLQmP1MA/s320/IMG_0346.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642777523909756562" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGIcpfPQUcFy_pOhptC7sQcuRA2vh5hiWuuPYrCU2YyISd8BwWO9CvO0uCCKuoRqqttYlWXGO7M8ByJT5kfKNITN6EGbrgtWcgPoqPA2pZLz6WqKfY6KjBu9dW0xTL7R47Z5OW2WizA/s1600/IMG_0357.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGIcpfPQUcFy_pOhptC7sQcuRA2vh5hiWuuPYrCU2YyISd8BwWO9CvO0uCCKuoRqqttYlWXGO7M8ByJT5kfKNITN6EGbrgtWcgPoqPA2pZLz6WqKfY6KjBu9dW0xTL7R47Z5OW2WizA/s320/IMG_0357.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642777526447484530" border="0" /></a>Exciting rides. Our kids have gotten to that point where they are bored after about 10 seconds on the kid rides, but too small for the big rides.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrhwaXJyV37XENugkAxKRdeB8f3PmG709o9RWV2039NtkkR4Fml-uWBGrSqWJq6fwb8MrupRQ-LNboH1Y6xKPwJBVgWB0XX6Owi0wujPZg2lPAWdxOgq0tcxtYacUw29abpdebh4enpQ/s1600/IMG_0382edited.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrhwaXJyV37XENugkAxKRdeB8f3PmG709o9RWV2039NtkkR4Fml-uWBGrSqWJq6fwb8MrupRQ-LNboH1Y6xKPwJBVgWB0XX6Owi0wujPZg2lPAWdxOgq0tcxtYacUw29abpdebh4enpQ/s320/IMG_0382edited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642779275988159890" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoX3VuAA5bN0fxA6kdhR7QW8uBW2BVw7Xn7MFBF-u-RDVMKDzU48C6L4lvSnN4Iz8ofdpzZe2Pb_EAZ6T1lzYsxAvtsj054Lpggwc0b1a8NVuwOgt2vP1hU_gVfO3QU3hD3N-50Db7A/s1600/IMG_0412edited.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 174px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoX3VuAA5bN0fxA6kdhR7QW8uBW2BVw7Xn7MFBF-u-RDVMKDzU48C6L4lvSnN4Iz8ofdpzZe2Pb_EAZ6T1lzYsxAvtsj054Lpggwc0b1a8NVuwOgt2vP1hU_gVfO3QU3hD3N-50Db7A/s320/IMG_0412edited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642779281202104578" border="0" /></a>I think we will try the state fair this year and hope the excitement level is bumped up a bit.
<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58215164433491654.post-14684367388606101492011-08-07T22:43:00.000-06:002011-08-07T22:43:35.009-06:00SurrogateRain is a sign to me from the heavens that everything is going to be ok. I realize this may sound like a very narcissistic thing to say, but it doesn't matter, that's just how it is. Now that doesn't mean that every time it rains it's a sign for me. But it does mean that I do feel a connection to the heavens every time it rains.
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<br />This evening I went to my sanctuary, the canyons. In need of some soul fulfillment, struggling with a question, I sought out my refuge in the quite of the mountains. I made my way down a trail I have started before but never gotten far on. There was nothing extremely special about this trail, nothing that made me stop to pull out my camera which swung along my back. I've never made it far on this trail in part because it's steeper than my cardio level considers enjoyable. But I kept pushing along making sure the hike was at least long enough to be considered a workout.
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<br />Nearing my designated minimum time, I stopped to catch my breath and take in the view. A short ways off of the trail there was a clearing with two trees. They had a very inviting air around them. A place that you would like to lay under and dream away an afternoon. I headed through the tall grasses towards them to find out that the canyon grazing cows had also found them inviting which meant it wasn't a place you would want to lay. I continued past the trees which lead to another small meadow lined by a grouping of aspen. Aspen have been my favorite trees for a long time. And I'm not sure if for some reason I never noticed this, or more likely it escaped my memory, but the leaves fluttering in the gentle breeze sounded exactly like a rain storm.
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<br />I closed my eyes. Standing in the mountain meadow feeling the roughness of the waist high grasses running through my fingers. And on this hot August night without a cloud in the sky, I got my rain. And carried by the sound, the comforting feeling still washed over me. Every thing is going to be ok.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-kiAn5ZVwWHUIVGAxhj3Da_6Mn2j7xKW0mCj7dyXZSfz9pgC6S0k8Ki_QPftWZVtD-0UhyphenhyphenfL6CwbpkWXPdXlV2GcPc40EWMgo7YyBQoNIQDaA6WJaiGizZlmYQNWoA5xIcwS3S2pfg/s1600/IMG_0317.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-kiAn5ZVwWHUIVGAxhj3Da_6Mn2j7xKW0mCj7dyXZSfz9pgC6S0k8Ki_QPftWZVtD-0UhyphenhyphenfL6CwbpkWXPdXlV2GcPc40EWMgo7YyBQoNIQDaA6WJaiGizZlmYQNWoA5xIcwS3S2pfg/s320/IMG_0317.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638338156450518898" border="0" /></a>
<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314822395755434920noreply@blogger.com6