Goblin Valley

Goblin Valley and the surrounding area has some of the most interesting shaped rocks anywhere. No wonder it has become a state park.

Temple Mountain (first 2 photos) north of Goblin Valley can be seen from a great distance while traveling on I-70, Hwy 6 and all roads in the vicinity. This striking white and red landmark rises thousands of feet heavenward catching the attention of all. Rain clouds frequently cluster around this sacred marker. What feelings does it evoke in the common man? Native Americans must have used it as a point of reference and more. No wonder the Mormons were inspired to settle the state and build temples.

The old rock building my brother-in-law, Tom and I are sitting on, built in the 1800's by early settlers was part of a thriving ranch. Abandoned and damaged by vandals over the years sits quietly at the base of Temple Mountain. It's history and people would be most interesting.

Indian petroglyphs high on the rock walls hold on dearly to its sheer face as hikers snap photos to extend the life of a long forgotten people. Look beyond the bullet holes. What could the indian's message mean? Real artists sharing their talent or telling their story to another generation.

I'd Say It's Been a Superb September

From day one this month has been delightful. Nary a complaint can be found. The weather can't be beat with nights in the 50's and days hovering between the 70's and 80's. Neither air-conditioner or furnace was needed.

Gardens flourished. My second crop of peas and lettuce planted in August have begun to produce or are blooming. While hiking among the mountains, their exquisite fall outfits made Oscar contenders look cheap. The unmatched beauty of our state and federal parks proved God's embrace in its creation.

Words cannot convey the joy a perfect month brings.

Our Surviving Sunflower of Summer

I love sunflowers and wanted row of toddler sized heads of them bobbing back and forth greeting passers by with their youthful radiance in the yard. In my mind I almost waved to them while planting a package of seeds this spring. Alas, it was not to be. Many grew, but few endured the wild winds, lack of water and competition with hardier plants.

Pictured is the lone survivor standing front and center in the flowerbed. When does that ever happen? Watching and waiting for it's full petaled arrival early one morning had us on pins and needles. Like a child, it opened when it was 'Good and ready'.

Unlike a kid the survivor stood still for it's multiple photo shoot. With the summer season clock ticking to an end we will try, try again, next year.

Nuts about Nine, Ten, Eleven

I am nuts about 9/10/11. On this day BYU and Texas are playing football in Austin, Texas with nearly 100,000 in attendance. The U of U is playing USC in LA. Both lost by close margins. I spent the day pressure washing the exterior of my mother's home, attended a 21st birthday party and wanted to do nine more fun things going on in the valley. Our neighbors son is getting married today on 9/10/11. It's a good day for a blog post, to pay checks and repeat 9/10/11 over and over.

At these ages of 9, 10 and 11 we are in the fourth through six grades. Boys and girls begin to notice and tease one another with childhood crushes. I learned to play chess, four square and Polka dance with Dale Butterfield. Mastering times tables, long division and fractions was required and acheived. Mrs. Fine, Mr. Drew and Mr. Johnson were my teachers those grades.

What a carefree time life is at age nine, ten or eleven. We think life will always stay the same and never change, nor do we want it to. Summers are never long enough and friends become bosom buddies. Sleep overs, bike rides and making cookies rule. What a great time of life.

The Greater Green Grass Area

I was on a mission last Saturday to fix our sprinkling system. Something is wrong when several areas of grass beside sprinkler heads are yellow and dying. I was determined to make it more efficient. Turning each set on, I watched the heads struggle to pop up,their spray barely reaching above the shortest blades of grass. Most were too deep in the heavy over growth of grass to do any good. Tilted heads watered the sidewalk and some sprayed inconsistent due to splits in their tops.

I was like a toddler running through the sprinklers trying to find each head, dig down to it, clear the area and jimmy the flexible end attached to it up to the top of the grass. I became drenched with the goal of green grass. Every neighbor driving by thought I was insane. Dirt, grass and weeds flew as each head was loosened from it's overgrown grave. Unfortunately grass grows, but sprinkler heads do not. Grass lumps were shoved under each spot to maintain the proper height.

Most heads were coaxed to a better place. The ones I missed are being marked with my handy yard tool until 'someone' gets their butt outside to finish the job.

Watch for greener grass on this side of the fence.

'The Great Family Get-to-Gether'

Ah, 'The Great Family Get-to-Gether' resulted in a miracle photo that shows how much fun it was with 90% smiles (although photo shows only 50% smiling)of the 65% in attendance. Take one beautiful day, add 13 people, 4 cars, one disqualified softball game, a yummy breakfast and you have a hike to Donut Falls. All of us got a legal parking space and made it to the end of the trail.

10% made it to the top, 5% had walking sticks they liked, 50% waded in the water. Many were fearful of hike fatigue, but snacks at trail's end overcame that. Some saw moose, most got hot, everyone ate and had fun. Several took photos, mountain views were enjoyed, no one complained (to me) and we talked of repeating it again next year. Thank you all for coming because we needed it. Love Mom

Made It to Martin Harris Pageant

With my nephew's wedding in Logan last week, we decided to go the the Martin Harris Pageant, too. Only problem is I didn't buy gas when the tank was low, thinking there was one more station, but there wasn't. Twenty miles later at 7:10 pm, we sat at the crossroads of three towns with an empty tank. Tiny Clarkston, where the pageant was(fifteen miles away,)probably didn't have gas. Logan and Wellsville were our choices. Not knowing how far it was to each town, we turned toward Wellsville. Ten miles later we gased up.

Heading back toward Clarkston I wished for rain to delay it, because the paper said it began at 7:30pm. How dumb, we would miss half of the play, I could only be mad at myself. Arriving at 8 pm what a miracle to see we were actually early. The play started at 8:30. Yeah! Great seats, play & time to relax and forget my fiasco.

Martin Harris, one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, came to Utah in 1870 at the age of 87 and settled in Clarkston, Utah, where he died on July 10, 1875. He enjoyed sharing his testimony with those who would visit him and encouraged them to share his story and testimony with others

On July 10, 1925, the 50th anniversary of Martin Harris' death, LDS Church President Heber J. Grant dedicated a large granite monument on the gravesite with an inscription telling of Harris' role as a special witness and his testimony of the Book of Mormon. Also, a copper box containing a Book of Mormon, a Doctrine & Covenants, and testimonies of many of the people who had known Martin and heard his testimony was placed at the base of the monument.

The pageant became a reality on a hill at the edge of the Clarkston Cemetery about twenty years ago. If you are in the Cache Valley this summer, be sure to see this free play about his life July 30th-Aug 13th. Be smart & buy gas at the freeway exit.