Blessed With Beauty

I had a cute friend invite me to a little get-away to her cabin up at Bear Lake this week.

Three of us spent two days stitching our hearts out...chatting and laughing and eating!

It was a heavenly, rejuvenating and very productive two days.

I was up early enough Wednesday morning to watch a beautiful sunset.

Magical.

For Mother's day the kids chipped in on gift that melted my heart.
Last year a sad thing happened when a spring snow storm took
down three of our big trees in the back yard... 

you can see photos here.   

 Today was the day we got to go pick out the tree.  

A Royal Red Norway Maple was what we brought home.  

She is beautiful!  What a pretty contrast against all the green in our yard.

The sweet presentation on Mother's Day most definitely needs to be documented.
Camber printed off this beautiful prose that Janell had written and Mark read it to us.  
I really think it is the most beautiful thing I have ever read.
Janell is a gifted writer and a beautiful daughter.
We say this a lot....but we are certainly blessed to
overflowing with the most amazing family!
We love every one of them!
Thank you for such a sweet gift! xo

Maple

I recall a morning in no particular memory
yet resides within every lovely place of my mind,
where maple syrup is drizzled on golden breakfasts,
 warm with a mother's sweet enthusiasm.
Where outside beneath the shade of a maple tree,
kind hands light lively imaginations

as flattened wings of papery tree tissue
spun between fingertips and dropped down
to bright eyes looking on in wonderment,
watching small flurries of tiny seeded helicopters
fall to the cool grass above the maple's thick roots.

Leading us through exciting adventures,
supporting us through discouraging trials;
it was under your motherly branches
we sought safety and comfort,
learning to stretch our own dense roots down deeply,
to hold us strong for when weather becomes rough.

Encouraging us to stretch our branches out and up,
guiding us always towards the light,
it was you who challenged us to grow, to know
we could go further than thought possible;
to embrace the change of seasons,
for it brings colorful beauty and a chance to grow.

Can't wait to watch this tree reach for the sky, grow strong and watch over our family.

Block Printing...Chanting Optional :)

This little film was made by very talented photographers.  The craftsmanship in the art 

they are filming is absolutley remarkable. Hope you enjoy it.

Mark has a lot to look forward to! Creating is wonderful.

His first lino carving and print.

Apes Rex (King Bee)

We Can't Keep Him Down

So crutches are old school folks - the new way to be mobile when you are listed on the injured reserve list would be on this nifty little knee walker, or as Mark calls it, Jamaica the Scooter (because it is f a s t like their bobsled team was) OK. Whatever. He just doesn't want to sit still. The scooter has a hand brake that he has already deemed no good. :) He worked a 1/2 day today and did pretty well. He is quite surprised that he isn't in more pain. That's a good thing. We all know that rehab will be making up for that in a few more weeks. He is a trooper and still smiling.

Denver

This past weekend, Mark & I enjoyed another little get-away. September has been the month to go for us! He had a Hospice Convention in Denver and I was lucky enough to get to tag along. Here is a very longish post about our 3 day immersion on a pretty fun little city!

We checked into the Hyatt Regency right next to the Convention Center, where Mark's conference was being held. Nice place. We had a little mix-up with his luggage, but things were soon sorted out. For some great comedy, be sure to visit Denver whilst they host a National Beer Festival. Pretty entertaining on the streets at night.

Denver get Kudos for wonderful art to be found everywhere you look!

They have done a beautiful job with their fair city.

Just for Reed - it's another wonderful souvenir for his collection from his Fav Auntie!!

Spent a gorgeous fall day exploring a little bit. I headed for Pearl Street (South Denver) to hunt down a couple of shops I had read about on a blog. What a great little area. I loved The Green Monkey Baby, Jewelers Gallery (all local artists), 5 Green Boxes (My favorite), Bell Studio & Gallery (They even had a beautiful hooked rug in the gallery!), Paper Talk and Polkadot. It was just one of those perfect days to savor. And lunch was the cherry on top!! Gaia's bistro. There is sooo much good food in this world and I love to sample it ALL! I had a scrumptious Roasted Tomato & Fresh Mozzarella/Pesto Toasted Sandwich with the most divine Carrot Coconut Ginger Soup. It is my mission to re-create that soup! I may even make a phone call and ask for the recipe. I don't usually choose or enjoy dining by myself, but this time it really was an easy thing to do :)

We are Foodies....and it is the joke at our house that I am always taking photos of yummy food. I don't know why I like to do that. I just do. It makes me happy. I guess it could be kind of like a photography diet - take more photos, eat less food. Only it doesn't always work quite like that.

Great suggestion from Janell! "VESTA" What a nice place. We had reservations after the game on Friday night. (Don't share a footlong hot dog before coming here to dine - there will never be enough room for all the morsels you will want!) This is probably some of the best food we have EVER had. It's a dipping grill so you choose your entree and it comes with 3 suggested dipping sauces. You may swap them out for any of the dozens offered. I had the Smoked Chicken and Mark had Scallops. The service was top-notch and the atmosphere was perfect.

What a lucky find! Thanks, Janell!

The photos aren't too hot, but a nice reminder for us. They served crusty bread with a head of roasted garlic. mmmmm. Please try it out if you are ever in the area. We say it's worth the splurge. We shared a salad with the best roasted onion dressing. Sadly there was no room for dessert that night. Darn hotdog!

The Denver Art Museum is a work of art in itself. wOw. Talk about every possible angle. Check out this link to see some very cool photos of this gorgeous building. A true work of art... & filled with so many treasures - it makes your head spin.

The collections they had in this place were really remarkable. We were overwhelmed trying to take it all in. The 6th floor with all the European Art was closed for remodeling. Thank heavens! I can't imagine try to absorb all of that as well!

We only had about 3 hours to spend here. Guess we'll just have to make another trip back. The best part was we happened to be there on a "FREE" day!

*Mad Greens* for a delicious, light lunch. Why can't EVERY city have one of these??

I was thrilled to find pieces from civilizations that I studied last year in my World History class. The pieces right below are from the Tang Dynasty (619-900 BC) and the wooden horse from the Han Dynasty (206-220 AD)

I just love this guy. It's all in the way you hold your toes.

He is worth a double click!

People have been around for a very long time. What a treat to see the talent and interesting ways they have interpreted each other over the centuries. We loved the happy expressions on so many of the creations. Life must have been very hard for so many, but they still found ways to experience joy.

Ok, Liam - Look at these foxes!! They were all over the place. This exhibit was fascinating! Can you spot Papa? Can you spot a red fox? (Double click for a bigger view)

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

Is there anything more American or more fun than watching a game in a beautiful stadium

with a lively crowd, fresh roasted peanuts, a foot-long hot dogs, friends and the ball players!!?

We were treated to a game at the Coors Stadium - such a beautiful place. We were about 20 rows up behind 3rd base. Great seats! We were thinking about our cute nephews who would have loved this game...as well as our favorite neighbor, Iva Lou. What a blast!!

• Yorvit Torrealba hit a walk-off sacrifice fly scoring Troy Tulowitzki in the bottom of the ninth. It was the first game-ending sacrifice fly by a Colorado player since 2007.

Thank you Denver for a great weekend visit! We'd love to go again.

Marathon Runners Inspire!

"You have to forget your last marathon before you try another. Your mind can't know what's coming."
Frank Shorter

"To describe the agony of a marathon to someone who's never run it is like trying to explain color to someone who was born blind."
Jerome Drayton

"I always loved running...it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs."
Jesse Owens

We can't all be heroes because someone has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by."
Will Rogers

"Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible."
Doug Larson

"We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon."
Emil Zatopek

"The woods are lovely dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep."
Robert Frost

On the same day as the Cache Valley Century, our valley also hosted the Top of Utah Half Marathon.  (and Top of Utah Marathon in September)  

Marathons are great - they are more than great, they are inspiring to the core!!  The quote that best matches me at this minute would have to be that of Will Rogers.  The others I ponder and think hard about and wonder what I should and could be doing to become a stronger person.  I am surrounded by many who inspire me in so many ways.  The best immediate and extended family anyone could ever hope to acquire.  We have friends who are like family that teach and nurture and carry us when  

we can't walk on our own.  

Life is good and life is hard.  

Mark tells us that those two things make joy.  

We have joy in every day if we look for it.

My sister-in-law, Lisa, and my sister-in-law Lisa (that's right.) and her husband - my brother, Scott  (whew) are ready to catch the bus to the top of Blacksmith Fork Canyon.  It's early, dark and chilly.  They have goals and are ready to do it!  

We love them and are so proud of them.

Lisa met a new friend - runners do that, you know.  

Runners help each other out.  

It's just the way it is.

Running teaches us many things in many ways.  

Even if we aren't a runner (me)... yet.

Greg is watching those who followed him. 

He is a good friend of Brady.

Scott & Lisa are nearly finished.  

I wonder what their quotes would be....

Liam raided the runner's snack table.  

He didn't waste a droplet of the sweet goodness.

Julia Barrett.  A gifted woman.  Strong, humble, clever. A writer, a mother, a sister, a daughter, a wife, and auntie, a new widow... a friend and inspiration to more people than she may ever know.  We love Julia!  She has run dozens of marathons and will most likely has dozens left to run.  When I am 78 I want to be just like her.  

I better start running!

Congratulations on another feather in your cap!

It was a good day.

Thank you for teaching us and letting us share in your triumphs!