What I Did on My Spring Break

Our whole family, including dogs, went to one of the prettiest places: The Wave.

It was quite an adventure getting the permit (see L's blog for details)

and took some logistics getting us all into one vehicle.

But it was ALL WORTH IT!

The place was beautiful.

Words can't even describe it all.

At one point, B said it looked like God took His finger

and just swirled it around to make the rocks.

It was a six mile hike with hills and sand.

We shared our Camelback water with the dogs, L, and Baby D.

L carried Baby D on the way in and the way out; she is AMAZING.

D & R loved running through the sand and up the hills.

R told us the flowers' Latin names.

D had fun giving Baby D a ride on those shoulders!

The pictures are from B's camera; he is an artist.

Thank you for sharing.

We had so much fun.

And it finished off with a drive along the Honeymoon Trail,

a stop at the Condor Viewing Area

(we will have to go back sometime for viewing),

past Jacob's Lake,

and dinner at Samurai 21.

What a wonderful day.

I love my family.

At the opening of the canyon.

The two side walls shown together.

What a cute tie-dye group!

"Sliding on the roller coaster" or Mom's idea of a cute picture

What forces of nature are at work?

How long did it take?

Truly a work of art.

And the last thought that comes to mind:

"and all things denote there is a God;

yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it,

yea, and its motions,

yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form

do witness that there is a Supreme Creator."

Books I read this week:

Sonata for Miriam by Linda Olsson

The Spanish Frontier in North America by David J. Weber

Spanish Pathways: Readings in the History of Hispanic New Mexico by Marc Simmons

Key Lime Pie: A Culinary Mystery by Josi S. Kilpack (can't wait to try the recipe)

Dead Wrong by Clair M. Poulson

Back In the Saddle Again

Dwarf Bear Poppy

It has been some time since I have been mountain biking. Almost 3 years ago, I was riding with Lindsay on our road bikes. We wanted to see how long it would take to ride a bike to where she worked. We live in an area that uses irrigation and water runs through the deep gutters downtown. There was not only water in the gutter but also moss. I know better than to ride through a gutter full of water and moss. And I took it at an angle.

Down I went and hit hard. Hard enough to tear the rotator cuff and the long head of the bicep on my left arm. Not to mention scrapes and road rash in various places. I didn't do anything about it for 4 months, but I kept riding my bike. I rode in the ULCER (Utah Lake Century Epic Ride) for 65 miles. Sure it was sore and I couldn't lift my arm or tie an apron on, but I could still function. Then I went on a mountain bike ride on the Green Valley Loop. I barely made it back to the car. I couldn't lift or keep myself steady because of the shoulder. Surgery was the only option. My doctor did a great job. It took some rugged physical therapy but I finally could lift my arm. In the mean time, I stopped exercising because for some reason the big black bulky arm pillow that I had to wear made it so I couldn't balance. Crazy! I did get back on my bike and rode in several long distance rides -- the Mt. Laguna one with the Vermillions, the Little Red Riding Hood with my sis and friends, and I even tackled some of the harder hills around where I live. But they were all relatively safe road rides, no tricky moves other than keeping myself upright.

A year ago I finally got on the mountain bike again. It was a relatively easy ride; my daughter was 8 months pregnant and we had 3 dogs with us. She outclassed me even with her baby on board!

Fast forward to last weekend. I went with my 2 dogs on the Green Valley Loop. I'd been once or twice with limited success on some of the difficult parts. But this time, I felt the mojo and did a few what I considered the challenging spots. Other riders would probably laugh at what I considered challenging, but previously, I couldn't pull up hard enough or I didn't feel strong enough to balance. Well, last Saturday was a bit of a breakthrough. Maybe it was the Bear Poppy in bloom, but I felt great. My dogs were happy, and it was a beautiful day. When I got to the bottom, I ran into some friends and they invited me to ride with them. I'd parked in the shade so the dogs would be okay in their kennel. It was fun to ride with other people, and we rode a new part of the trail I had never been on before, and at the end, I received a great compliment on how well I did. The next day, I took B out to see the Bear Poppy and to ride a new part of the trail.

I went again today. It was a lot of fun.

The Bear Poppy are on the wane,

but there are others in various stages of bloom:

Prince's Plume, Fremont's Indigo Bush

(what I have previously been calling Purple Sage),

Globemallow (my all-time favorite),

Hedgehog Cactus, Paintbrush, Chuparosa,

Weak Stemmed Mariposa Lily (my next to all-time favorite),

and more.

It feels good to be back in the saddle again.

Desert Globemallow

Weak Stemmed Mariposa Lily

Current Books

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

(everyone says read it but some of the things about WWII I just don't want to know or have those images in my head -- sort of like when I read Flags of Our Fathers)

A Day at the Beach by Helen Schulman

(a look at one family during 9/11 attack in NYC)

I Don't Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson

(working woman who is not very kind to her husband

and thinks the world revolves around her. I think working women are able to juggle family and work, but have to be cooperative with their husband. They cannot be a witch that begins with a B to their husband, they just can't)

Vinegar Hill by A. Manette Ansay

(Okay read. The big question is how much to do put up with in life?)

Belongs to Me by Marisa de los Santos

(I enjoyed this even though the outcome was not at all what I expected. It was handled well. There were a lot of stories going on at the same time.)

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

("Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure"

It is full of fable, deep thoughts, symbolism, and love.)

I am currently reading

The Life of Pi by Yann Martel.

Even though I know the outcome, it is still thrilling to read.