golden afternoon

I'm not sure which was more miraculous . . . this serene slice of heaven I found just beyond Dog Lake at the top of Millcreek Canyon before heading into Big Cottonwood, OR the fact that I can wake up on the first day of October and send the kids off to school, post a little something on the blog, get laundry started / straighten the house / clean the kitchen, go help at the school for an hour and then be HERE, taking in this breathtaking scenery just an hour later . . . and then back to pick up the kids from school after an invigorating 7 mile hike.

I find that quite miraculous.

Thank you Utah.  I don't think there are very many places on earth where nature and a major cultural/economic center are found so close together.  Plus, the options within our canyons are boundless . . . I haven't even begun to scratch the surface on all the available trails along the Wasatch.

My hike on Monday was going to be a "no camera / stay in the present moment and breathe it all in" type afternoon. Well, that lasted until I got to the top and found myself in a peaceful meadow at the crest of the hill leading down to another canyon.  It truly took my breath away and out came the phone, and before I knew it I was snapping pictures, with each one outdoing the one I took a moment before.

So, since I just LOOVVEE to share my nature loving moments, here ya go . . . our glorious mountains, bejeweled in brilliant gold:

I have to say that my iPhone takes some pretty great pictures. These photos capture the scenery just as I saw it . . . every bend more breathtaking than the last.

OK, so I have to share this little interaction I had with a fellow hiker.  As I was heading up the mountain, I came upon a portion of the trail that was lined on each side with these towering golden aspens.  The sky was bright blue overhead with the sun streaming through those blinding yellow leaves, the view of the canyon to the west was magnificent, and the leaves were fluttering and drifting onto the trail due to a slight breeze. It was truly one of those "catch your breath" moments.  

While I was in the midst of the trees, soaking in the magic of it all, a woman and her dog came around the bend.  I motioned at the majesty surrounding us, and barely above a whisper said, "oh my gosh, isn't this just magical . . . ?" Her response:  "Ya, I guess it's pretty nice."  Are you kidding me??  I wanted to give her a smack for so casually dismissing my reverie.  Seriously, it was the understatement of the year and I wonder how much it would take to impress that woman.  As for me, it was much more than "pretty nice."  But then again, maybe I'm just easily impressed :).

I even took a video for your enjoyment . . .

a little change

With all the change in the air and our Utah fall revealing it's magnificent beauty with each crisp, cool morning, I feel the need to switch things up on the blog to keep it interesting.

Anyway, I ran across this brilliant photo a minute ago and had to share:

I found it here, isn't it just lovely?

Oh, how I love autumn!

summer

I just can't open this blog one more time with the intentions of catching up and then write absolutely nothing.  Also, I just can't look at those British actors anymore (as lovely as they are).

So, I'm posting a picture from Caroline's facebook page because it was taken at a place dear to my heart - our hiking trail up Bell's Canyon.  The girls snapped this pic during an early morning hike after a sleepover a few weeks ago.  We all spend so much time up and down that mountain that it seemed like the perfect post to kick off my blog writing once again.

Early morning summer trail runs up Bell's Canyon are probably reason #2 why I can't move from the neighborhood (reason #1 = 21 kids under the age of 12).  Where else can you jump out of bed, lace on the running shoes, and jog to the trailhead within minutes?  One day I'll take my phone for some pictures of the place that fills my emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical tank.  But for tonight, this sweet picture of my daughter and her best friend will suffice.

as of late

This poor, neglected blog.  I begin to feel the longing to write again, a gentle tug pulling me back into the world of writing.  Hopefully I still remember how to write, how to capture the moments and feelings that are so dear to me, even if they flit in and out of my mind so quickly and grasping them to put on paper almost seems an exercise in futility.

After dropping Caroline off at her friend's this evening and making my way back to Wasatch, I was greeted by one of our breathtaking sunsets . . . the entire eastern sky above Mt. Olympus was painted pink and the western sky blazed of winter rose and orange.  It was simply stunning, and true to form, I suddenly stopped the car in the middle of the street (making sure no one was behind me) and jumped out and took a picture with my phone, obviously not capturing the scenery as lovely as I saw it, but nonetheless a moment I needed to keep because it made me write again:

This evening's sunset reminded me of the brilliant "winter wonderland" I stumbled across a few weeks ago as Liza and I were heading up Big Cottonwood early on a Saturday morning for ski team.  As we approached the meadow just east of the Spruces we were greeted by a scene like no other . . . the trees, the ground, and every branch on every bush glistened in the morning sun like crystal.  It was simply one of the most beautiful sites I'd ever seen, so of course, I stopped and took another phone picture:

Here are another couple phone pics from the last week.  I suppose I take these pics when I'm at my happiest, when mother nature gives me an unexpected surprise, a gift, to remind me that life is good . . . all you have to do is take a moment and look around:

 getting out of the smog and taking the kids and friends sledding in BC

getting myself out of the inversion for a hike up and around the reservoir

Happy New Year's Eve!!  Who knew we'd be playing tennis outside on December 31st . . . while the big kids don't mind hitting the slopes, the little girls and Lucy thought it would be more fun to go to the park :-).

yosemite

"Everyone needs beauty as well as bread, 

places to play in and pray in, where nature 

may heal and cheer and give strength 

to the body and soul alike . . ."

John Muir

 Giant sequoias in Mariposa Grove

 1800 yr. old "Grizzly Giant"

 Yosemite Valley - beautiful morning for a hike . . .

off we go . . . straight up from the valley floor 3.8 miles/3300 ft. elevation gain

on our way to to the top of these granite walls

 getting closer

LOVED these trees 

we made it- time to SIT!

 aahhh, yes - taking in the views while eating lunch!

Minor freak-out from Chris as I walked out on this rock . . .

 this is as close to the edge as Chris would venture

 The river right before it heads over the cliff

 Yosemite Point - unbelievable, majestic, breathtaking - best views in the park!

 heading back down - the sun reflecting on Half Dome

 El Capitan . . . next trip we'll hike to the top and watch the rock climbers summit!

I don't think I'll ever be able to aptly express how I feel about Yosemite.  Obviously, I haven't visited all the national parks our country has to offer, but out of the parks I have been to, Yosemite is and probably always will be my favorite.  There is a spirit here that touches my spirit and rejuvenates my soul.  The place seems to me a living, breathing entity, which, like a person is constantly changing as the day progresses from early dawn, to bright afternoon, to dusk, to blackest of night.  We were privileged this trip to not only hike to the top of the tallest waterfall in North America, but descend by a full moon (thank goodness just the last 1/3 mile) and then witness that moon rise over half dome from the meadow and light up the impressive, towering granite face of El Capitan.  I will NEVER forget the view of Yosemite valley that night from "tunnel view" as we were departing the park and heading back to our hotel . . .

and hope to return to see it again.

my passion

"as life is action and passion, it is required of a man that he share the passion and action of his time, at the peril of being judged not to have lived."

Oliver Wendell Holmes

In action last week up Millcreek Canyon.

perfection

i thank you God for this most amazing day, 

for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, 

and for the blue dream of sky and 

for everything which is natural, 

which is infinite, 

which is yes.  

e.e. cummings

on top of the world

Nothing revitalizes and stirs my spirit like a morning spent in our glorious canyon.  It took me all summer to make it up to my favorite trail and I was thrilled to see the flowers were as abundant as ever.  

It was well worth the wait.

Sunrise, sunset

Blessed is the day that begins with a breathtaking sunrise in the desert, and ends in central Utah with the sun descending below the horizon while painting the sky brilliant hues of pink, yellow, and orange.  Also, having the privilege of watching the sky eventually fade into darkness and realizing that a sunset this spectacular lasts for over an hour. 

That would be the one grand benefit of a long drive home this evening with not much to do but look out the window and take in the scenery of an amazing sunset while listening to Simon and Garfunkel on the i-pod.

  Just something I want to remember :-).