Lack of Connection

Devil's Gate, one of the rock formation and land mark that marked the Mormon Pioneer Trail.

I know I promised to post photos, etc from my trip two weekends ago weekend in Wyoming, however unfortunately there was really no wireless connection I could use.  So I apologize from the bottom of my heart, it was completely out of my control.

Anyway without further ado, here is my report.

My trip's primary purpose was to visit my grandparents who are serving a service mission for the LDS church at the Martin's Cove Historical Site in Wyoming.

The trail into "Martin's Cove," a rock formation that forms a natural cove out of granite, that provided protection form the weather for the Mormon Pioneers in the Martin Handcart Company.  Many that died from exposure and starvation were buried here.

Visitor and humanitarian center and Sun family museum.

This is a historical site dedicated to the preservation to a section of the historic Mormon Pioneer Trail.  There is also a museum and out buildings displaying artifacts of the Sun family that previously owned the ranch land the site sits upon, as well a replica of the Fort Seminole.

Families and youth come here to participate in pioneer trek re-enactments, in which they dress, and live as a pioneer in a handcart company for three days.  Camping out and eating what would have been eaten at that time, they get to experience first hand what physical trials and sacrifices were made by our predecessors. It acts as a way to understand as a people the members of the Latter Day Saint church were willing to save everything they had and give up so much for their faith and to come to Zion in the Salt Lake Valley.  It's a very spiritual and building experience, especially for the youth. 

The missionaries live in a small "village" of mostly their own motor homes and campers as well as a few mobile homes.  Last year my grand parents lived in their motor home the entire time, this time they were able to live in one of the mobile homes, and only had to stay in their motorhome for one week while they were helping out at the other property in Rock Creek Hollow where the Willie Hand cart Company stayed.

My grandparents are in charge of the 45 bathrooms located all over the Martin site and property.  They make sure the bathrooms are stocked, manage and delegate the cleaning schedule, and power wash the bathrooms and monuments around the property once a week.  I have a lot of respect for them, this is not an easy job.  In addition when not attending to their "bathroom duties" they fulfill their shifts in ferrying visitors in the rovers, serve shifts in the humanitarian center making quilts, clothes and toys;  as well as the facts that my grandfather helps to serve as a fix-it guy for the property.  An LDS missionary's day is always full.

Thankfully they serve in shifts and so that allows them to have a little free time in the afternoons, and we were able to visit some of the local sites like the amazing waterfall created by the spillway at the Pathfinder Reservoir.

It was breath-taking, and the hike down over smoothed granite spans among the juniper, sage and cactus was really something.  The geography in that area is mostly flat lands with rocky outcroppings, like the famous Independence Rock, as well as the cove part of Martin's Cove. 

Most of this is a pretty pinkish granite that's been rounded though time.  The rest of the buttes and topographic anomalies were hills that looked like they had been formed underwater and then covered in grasses. 

It's interesting to see how the water shapes the granite, rounding it and creating odd depressions in the rock that probably create all sorts of little pools during thaw and run-off.  It's a very solitary feeling environment.

There were antelope running around and bunnies that frequented the little village of campers and trailers that make up the area that the missionaries live while they stay there.  I thought it was funny that an animal like an antelope that can jump so high would chose to scoot under the fences instead of jump over them.  Sort of like like the quail that live around me house, who chose to run rather than fly to get away. 

Then there were the bugs.  Anyone who has been to Wyoming, knows about the bugs.  My grandmother told me that they had been putting down stuff in that area to keep down the bug population.  However I've never seen so many crickets.  I can't even begin to imagine the bugs that the kids who come up there for a handcart trek get to enjoy.

Down stream from the Pathfinder Reservoir spillway.

We also went to the Alcova Reservoir to look at how full they were.  We were amazed to see so many sail boats in such a land locked place.  We stopped for lunch at the lake marina and I had the most yummy, crunchy fish and chips I've had in a long time.  It was really fun to go out to lunch like that with my grandparents and parents.

"Split Rock" was another rock formation used as a landmark of the the Mormon Pioneer trail used by pioneers to orient themselves.

In short, it was a nice, relaxing, and delightful little vacation.  It's just too bad that my husband worked that weekend!

I hope that you've had a fun time with some sort of vacation this summer. *^^*

~Fraise

Ferris Wheels and Fun

A couple of weeks ago Marina and I took the girls and a neighbor boy to Taylorsville Dayzz, sort of a "state fair" for the city of Taylorsville.  They bring in rides and food, have competitions, a petting zoo, an outdoor exhibition area for vendors and artisans that want to sell and promote their stuff, a concert for the adults and fireworks.  We've gone before but the girls were a little too small to ride on the rides.

This year however Mirna rode on everything they had for the little children.  We even all rode the ferris wheel together.  (I will say that though I enjoy ferris wheels, this one was not as fun during the loading stage, as the seats would swing back and forth as they moved the ride slowly backwards to load the people on and off).

Mirna had a blast though.  Gabby even rode two rides with her sister.  We had a good time riding the carousel together as well, though for some reason, Mirna chose to ride on the fancy bench they had on the ride, as opposed to one of the animals.

We had fun watching a dace troupe, do everything from little girls standing on stage trying to follow their teacher on the ground in pink tutu's to adults clogging and doing various line dances.  Mirna told me she wanted a pink tutu like the little girls had.  Gabby had fun on my shoulder, I was moving to the rhythm of the music that the adults were line dancing to and, when I went to put her down she wanted back up again to watch the ladies dancing.  It makes me wonder if these little girls will end up in dance in the future.

We had a good time, and it was fun to see the girls try new things.  We kept laughing because Mirna always had such a serious face when she was riding the rides.  I think it's amazing what things you can see about a child's personality, based on what they want to see and do.It makes you wonder what the future brings, and how those little personalities and characters will develop.

Hope to enjoy this weekend with my grandparents.  I'll be posting from Wyoming!

~Fraise

5 Years *^^*

Hard to believe it's been five years already since we got married.  Also hard to believe it will be our last "Harry Potter" anniversary too.  Every year since we were married a Harry Potter movie or book release has fallen on or around our anniversary.  The year Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (book 7) was released, (and our second anniversary) we spent the entire day hanging out at Borders and Barnes and Noble getting our books, and then listed to the audio book together almost all night.  That was really fun to do together too.

This year since Harry Potter came out on the 15th we decided to wait an see it on our anniversary, since this was the last year we would be able to do continue this tradition.

We had a good time at the movie.  I wish they could have included some more of the details from the book, but I know I was lucky they kept what they did. My husband says he's gong to get us both halves of the Harry Potter 7 movie for Christmas this year.  Amazing that it's finally over.

We continued another tradition too, in that we went to Takashi, the same sushi restaurant that we go to every year as well.  That started the little "stay-cation" honey moon of a few says that we had after we were married since we had to wait until my husband's finals were done to go on our real honey moon three weeks later.

 

It's our favorite sushi and the one I took my husband too while we were dating, that go him to love and appreciate sushi.  It's a place we've taken numerous family and friends to and one that our cousins and his wife, Sachiko go to whenever they can make it up to Salt Lake to get away.

It was so yummy and we had a good time reminiscing about past years when we've gone and the change of decor for the seasons as well as some of the various chalk paintings we've seen on the Specials menu on the wall.  I think this restaurant will always hold a special place in our hearts.

I'm happy and blessed to have found the man I have.  It's been a rocky five years and I know neither one of us has had a stress-free time, but we're continually pressing forward, hand in hand.

I'm only too proud to look back at the terrain we've covered together, and to see our hard work paying off in all aspects of our marriage.  It makes me excited to see what we can accomplish together in the next five years.

Happy Anniversary Sweetheart!

~Fraise

Happy Independence Day!

 
We decided to keep it low key this year since we have to go to bed so early usually and we had Mirna and Gabby over, who are scared of the big fireworks.  So it was quiet but nice family party consisting of us, my brother, parents, father-in-law, and Marina's family.

Unfortunately due to the fact that my father-in-law's grill died, we were unable to barbeque, but the chicken still turned out nicely in the oven and we were able to make a salad from the garden.  It was nice to just enjoy a meal together and to talk and spend time together.

The girls got their own table, with chairs their size and plate to match their chairs.  I think it was especially relaxing for Marina since she really didn't have to do anything except feed her kids. (They brought their own macaroni since she didn't think the girls would eat what the adults were eating).

It was also fun to introduce the girls to sparklers.  They were a little scared at first, but we had a lot of fun after we showed them how neat they were.

I think my mom had a lot of fun interacting with the girls too.  I think it would be fun to start doing a family night all together, once a month.

So while the men talked about freedoms we enjoy in this country, we girls had tea parties, and read books and went on a walk around the backyard. 

In all the freedoms I was most thankful for was the freedom to spend time with my family, no matter that we are different.  I hope you had a fun 4th and that you were able to enjoy the company of your loved ones.

~Fraise

Horsey, horsey, on your way.....

We got to take the girls to feed horses for the first time on Tuesday.  Some one has a pasture whose fence lines the the corner of the park near their house.  We decided to go look at the horses and when she saw me feed some grass to the horse Mirna of course wanted to try.

At first she would hold it out long enough for the horse to smell it but if he got his mouth any closer, she would squeal and drop the grass.

It took me having her hold the grass with me and show her that the horse wasn't trying to her her by allowing the hose to nibble the grass from my fingers and touch my hand with his lips.  After I explained that she had to hold the grass steady so that the horse could take it from her she was so excited to try again and a gain.  She kept insisting that I procure more grass for her to feed the horse.

Each time she successfully fed the horse a handful of grass, she would say, "Sisi, I did!" and then give me a hug.

I tried to do the same thing with Gabby but even when she was holding the grass with me she would still jerk her hand away when the horse's mouth got close.  Marina ended up feeding the other horse in the pasture while Gabby looked on, wandering between us.

Oh well, I suppose even though for the most part Gabby, who is the more fearless of the two, still has her own reservations.

Well, I hope that you find something today to give you a smile!

~Fraise