From Escalante to Boulder (Utah)

It was a beautiful drive up to Boulder.

Flowers growing out of the rock wall along the highway

Juniper bush

Mormon Tea

We visited the Anasazi State Park Musem. It was a well planned, interactive museum.  We watched an artistic film about "the people."

Replica of a pit house

Replica of a Pueblo village

We didn't go down to Hole in the Rock, but we stopped at a roadside monument to memorialize their incredible effort.

We stopped at a rock shop down by the Petrified Forest. Eldon loves to browse in rock shops, but today I told him if he didn't buy one for a souvenir then I would do it for him. He got a slice of polished petrified wood that is very pretty.

From Bryce to Escalante

We started out the day by doing laundry and watching a beautiful sunrise.

We drove to Kodachrome Basin. There we hiked a steep trail to see Shakespeare Arch.

Shakespeare Arch

Colorful Kodachrome Basin

Then we went to Petrified Forest. Another steep trail and I have to admit I didn't make it all the way up, but Eldon did and he saw some petrified logs.

This petrified log was in a walking garden by the parking lot

The Cowboy Inn in Escalante where we were first customers of the season

Trip to Canyonlands Post 3

Bryce Canyon is stunning, no matter which was you look at it. Arriving in the afternoon, first we walked along the rim. There's still snow on the north slopes and the wind was cold. But there are fewer tourists here this time of year. And the rates are lower. The buffet at Ruby's Inn was excellent.

A limber pine clinging to life

This morning we hit the trail to the bottom to the Queen's Garden about 9 am. We had it to ourselves going down, but coming up there was a large group of people from France. So we heard a lot of "excusez-moi" as they passed us on the way back up.

Queen Victoria

 This afternoon we drove to the farthest southern point of the park--Rainbow Point. It's 9000 feet in elevation. The trail we wanted to go on was covered with snow. On the way back we saw some antelope, stopped at the Natural Bridge, and went out to Inspiration Point.

Natural bridge

Antelope

Inspiration Point

Trip to Canyonlands Post 2

After two days of wandering around the Zion National Park, we are in awe of the wonders of nature. Colorful cliffs, animals, plants, and blue skies. We took two great walks the first day. One to the Emerald Pool, and another up the narrows as far as the trail went. There were intrepid people who went on up wading in the river, but that must have been super cold! There were quite a few tourists even though the season hasn't really started. On April 1st they will start shuttle buses and not let private cars go up the canyon.

We stopped to marvel at the Great White Throne which inspired Uncle Glen in his art. Animals we've seen are mountain goats, deer, and a pretty tame towhee.

Two mountain goats

We also stopped at the museum and watched a film about how the canyon began. The weather has been a little cold but nice in the canyon. Really windy in Hurricane where we stayed. (You must say that without the "e" on the end.)

Temple Cap Formation

Today we headed east on some switchbacks and then through a mile long tunnel. At the end of it there was a trail called Canyon Overlook. That was steep and rocky. All this hiking has been more than I bargained for. I'm glad we didn't wait to do this trip until we were old.

I would follow this man anywhere

Checkerboard Mesa

After we left Zion Canyon we stopped  in Orderville at a rock shop and then the cemetery. There we found the graves of Charles Negus Carroll and his wife, Kezia Giles. They were GG's grandparents and helped settle Orderville.

Kezia Giles Carroll, May 20, 1840 - June 13, 1927, Utah Pioneer

Charles Negus Carroll, Dec. 7, 1817 - May 26 1902, Utah Pioneer

Orderville Cemetery

Tonight we are staying at Ruby's Inn near the entrance to Bryce Canyon. Gail told me that Daddy and Mom liked to stay here when they came down. It's very nice. But Gail, the rocking chair on the porch that you remembered is no longer there!

Next post will be about Bryce.

Trip to Canyonlands, Post 1

We had a nice visit with Neil and Pam's family. Ratatoullie for supper and good conversation. They are pet-less at present.

Then we had a fun-filled weekend at Carl and Velvet's. Their girls are livewires! We were treated to a magic show, a kung fu exhibition, tumbling, Sunday supper with Aunt Gail as honored guest, swimming at the pool, a walk to the green space, playing games, a super fashion show (we and Velvet were the judges) and watching Cosmos on Sunday night. I visited their Primary. Kate gave a wonderful prayer and was the "reverence child." Her teacher was all praise for her.

Monday, St. Patrick's Day, we started on our trip southward. We just went with the flow. We stopped at Cove Fort. The director's wife was our guide. It reminded me of Nauvoo and she said they'd like to serve there next. She knows Susan Easton Black who has a home in Nauvoo. When we were there she came for a few visits and was being courted by George Durrant. Our guide today said he proposed to her at the Kolob Canyons. They were at the end of the trail overlooking a cliff and he said if she wouldn't marry him, he'd throw himself off the cliff! So she did and now they are serving in the Nauvoo Temple!

So we stopped at the Kolob Canyons and hiked out to that cliff. (It's part of Zion National Park.) It was worth the hike.

Tonight we're staying in Hurricane at a Super 8.

Wisdom from our missionaries

From Jason (Elder Dodge):

My new companion is really cool. I think we're going to get along really good. We both believe in the big 3 rules:
Work hard, work smart, and have fun. 

As for my missionary plaque scripture, let me break it down and explain it to you. "Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves..." (we have sweet bikes and mission vehicles) "and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far..." (we missionaries leave our families and friends and travel all over the world) "they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat" (we ride fast to all our appointments and search for opportunities to teach all the time like how eagles keep their eyes open for prey.) I'm pretty sure it's missionary themed.

From Esther (Sister Olsen):

Companion tip of the week. For every bad thing or habit they have that annoys you, think of three things you like about them. You'll quickly find there is a lot more good than bad. (Sister Crandall likes to pop her knuckles. She also makes me breakfast, tells me I'm pretty, and backs me up in every lesson.) Yep, she's a good companion and pretty soon I find that I don't even notice when she pops her knuckles. Don't make a mountain out of a mole hill and even it it is a mountain, talk it through.  Communication can make the tallest mountain into a mole hill.

From Berkeley (Elder Andrus):

So I have a few more thoughts on companionships and how they work. It's just so interesting to me how different it is to have a friend that you don't pick and that you spend 24/7 with. The relationship can be great one night and then the next day you hate each other. But you just keep working hard and you learn a lot from each other. We are doing really well. We've been a lot more open with each other and are trying to be more obedient. We are learning to appreciate our differences and strengths and are helping each other improve.

Quin's blessing day

Quin was blessed Sunday and then Jessica bore her testimony. She said what a spiritual experience giving birth was and how it dawned on her that Quin has chosen to come to earth--that he wanted the experience and that inside that "little life form" there was a large spirit son of God! She also said giving birth made her appreciate the atonement more, how the Savior made it possible to repent and return to Heavenly Father. She expressed appreciation for being in a family. 

 

Jessica came into singing time in Primary and showed Quin to the kids and told them how she sang "I Will Follow God's Plan" when he first came (and also when he was in her tummy) and how he put his head back and looked her in the eyes while she sang. Michael blessed Quin that he would be happy in this life and also in the next. Now see how those thoughts are expressed in the song we are learning in Primary:

My life is a gift, my life has a plan.
My life has a purpose, in heaven it began.

My choice was to come to this lovely home on earth

And seek for God's light to direct me from birth.

I will follow God's plan for me

Holding fast to the his word and his love.

I will work and I will pray.
I will always walk in his way.
Then I will be happy on earth and in my home above.