Small Town Entertainment

Due to some unexpected expenses this month and a depletion of my savings while I was laid off for a few months, money has been tight. July 24th was a state holiday celebrating the day the pioneers made the trek across the US and settled in our state.

Local celebrations for this holiday are celebrated much like the fourth of July independence holiday is across the US. Fireworks, picnics, camping, and other summer activities. This year it fell on a Friday making it a long three day weekend.
A friend invited us up to the small town (pop. 275) that she lives in which is hidden in a small valley in the Rocky Mountains.


They were holding a town celebration complete with parade, picnic and rodeo. Being that I have little time off in this first year at my new job, I was a little slow getting moving. After relaxing with a couple cups of coffee, checking up on e-mail and cleaning up a little around the house, we threw some drinks, hot dogs and fresh fruit in a cooler with some ice.




By the time we arrived at the festivities, the parade was over, the entertainment (a local singer) was just wrapping up and burgers were on the grill and the kids old town races were just about finished. We grabbed some water and headed to the rodeo stands. It was a warm day but not unbearable, at least to me.

The rodeo began with a chase, kids chasing fowl, chickens and roosters. If you catch one, you keep it. Being that I am a suburbs girl, I was grateful that my children were too old to chase. However my friend who has a coop full of fowl was less worried.
Although she had the means to care for fowl captured by her boys, she stated as the race began... " They probably wont catch anything so we wont have to worry."
Famous last words as they say- As two of her four boys came away with a prize. One with a rooster, one a hen. This left but one issue. They already owned a rooster. And you cannot have two roosters. They fight. Thus, he will (and possibly the hen too) become dinner.
Next was the bunny race. My friends words coming back to haunt her, as a third of her boys captured a bunny. This one would be going to their fathers house, with permission.
There was more rodeo to follow however with the newly obtained critters, sitting still was not a healthy option. We headed back to their small farm to drop them off.
The birds were placed safely in a shed away from the other rooster and the bunny was placed in a small cage awaiting his ride to his new home.
My daughter and I hung out for a moment chatting with my friend but I was stir-crazy and we headed out for a ride through the mountains.
An absolutely beautiful day it was in the mountains that day.
While driving through another small town (pop. approx 1500) a little further into the mountains, it was apparent that they too were holding their own city festival. Although it was late afternoon, a parade was about to begin through town. We stepped into a few of the local shops, walked a little through the town then hit the road once more.
Driving the winding mountain roads, a good soundtrack playing familiar tunes, snacking on fresh summer fruits, windows down just my daughter and I. It was so relaxing. I was tempted to get out and hit a trail or two but my daughter wasn't up for it and did not come prepared with appropriate footwear so we drove.



We passed by a couple reservoirs, some great scenery, some beautiful forests of quaking aspen trees, and a few more small farming communities. There were a few small rock monuments placed along the roadside commemorating pioneer travels which I found appropriate for the occasion.



While driving up one road, well into a thick forested area away from the small populated towns, I noticed (and almost missed) a small marker sign pointing to another historical marker.




We turned off where the sign pointed and saw a small gravestone.
Upon reading the stone, it belonged to a Japanese pilot who had crashed approx. 3000 feet from where we stood. He was an amateur pilot on route from Europe. It is a strange feeling looking down into the deep valley below imagining this mans decent. Strange that he died in 1928 and there were flowers on his grave- albeit dead flowers.


I love history- I love biographies- I love finding small tokens of appreciation and tribute.




After a short drive, we headed back to the second towns celebration for something to eat and a rodeo.




We purchased some hats and played dress up for the evening.


Then settled in to watch the show.
There was bull-riding,


wild cow milking (hilarious), and a thing called hide racing.

Crazy stuff where a piece of leather hide is pulled by rope behind a horse and rider and a second person chases and then jumps onto the hide and rides as long as they can.

Fastest time wins.
The rodeo was an absolute great time. Perfect weather, beautiful scenery as a backdrop.
Who says you cant have fun in a small town?


It was a long day and we were ready to head home.

We left before the rodeo was over as we were dressed for hot weather and the mountain air was cooling quickly.



Just after we climbed into the car, the rain began.




Ahhh the smell of summer rain in the country mountains.
was late when we arrived home but I slept very well.

Summer pictures

Since my car has been acting up and I have not time to write here, I just want to throw up a few more photos taken while spending time with my kids.














Short - much too short amount of time.






We had a day in Salt Lake one more time when we picked my daughter up at the airport.


She has already left town I wish I would have had a little more time with her.



My son is still in town for a few more days. Then he too will be gone.


I am grateful for the time.











This girl here, with the pig, her favorite animal is gonna be around a little longer... the baby. I am so glad!












Doesn't matter what you are doing, time with your children is good for all of you.





How would we know that the very next morning on our way to the local theme park, the car would overheat and leave us stranded in the 98 degree heat for the day....


Enjoy every moment, you never know what is around the corner.









Tres Chic.






















This Rainbow is a good sign to see at my cousins wedding ceremony last weekend


Congratulations and wishing you both a long happy life together. Chris and Gracie.

Busy Summer

I have not had but a moment to blog this summer.. Been out enjoying this weather while it lasts. In about one hour I will be picking my daughter up from the airport. We splurged a little on a flight so that she could see her brother one more time before he heads over seas for a whole year to serve our country.
Thought I would pop in for a quick moment to share some photos.
Last weekend my youngest daughter and I went into downtown Salt Lake City for the annual Arts festival. I carried my camera through the entire festival and never took one photo... I suppose it was the fact that there was so much to see and do.. and eat we got sidetracked a bit.
However, being the spontaneous and crazy chick that those who know me know I can be, we arrived at the festival about 2 hours early.
We decided to take a walk around the city. There was a convention of some sort being held in the city and there were women with name badges on everywhere we went. When we saw them looking up at the local buildings in awe, some stopping to pose near statues and in parks, I mentioned how we take for granted the beauty of our own city. It is only when we visit other places when we notice the architecture or the surroundings.

Then and I took a few candid shots of the truly amazing sites most may not notice in our own back yard.






Here I share with you, my backyard:







Salt Palace Convention
Center. (Above right)


Sidewalk Cafe






Are these Bouncers?

Resting Spot

This last photo is the same 'pond' that we went Ice Skating on this past winter.

Road Trip!!!!!

In the next few weeks, the third born of my mothers 4 younger sisters, Karen, will be turning 60. So her husband Jim and her daughter Summer, planned a huge surprise party with guests from 300+ miles. My younger daughter was attending an acting/ thespian workshop that weekend (more on that later) so it was a road trip for just my older daughter and I.

Some people hate driving....I am not one of them. Maybe it is because I am stir crazy this time of year. Or that we have not been able to afford many trips and road trips have often become our vacations. Or maybe it is just that I love the open road.

My children always behaved well in cars. Many a Sunday my ex husband and I would set up a makeshift 'bed' in the back of our explorer (before seat belts were law) and pick a small town on the map and drive. We saw so many things in those days. We would crank up the radio, cassettes, then CD's to favorite music and belt it all out karaoke style with the kids.

Well, this weekend was no different. We quickly packed on Friday afternoon, gassed up the truck, grabbed a soda and hit the road. Some funny things happened...

First stop, Gas fill up. Not too unlikely, however, a good friend of my mothers and of mine, Tina happened to be at the next pump... quick hello, status updates on ailments and job status, a request to tell my parents hello and we were off.

Silly us, we forgot to get a drink, pulled into station number two... a friend of my daughters is there with her new husband. - more updates.. fill our cups and we are on the road again.

Driving and singing- well to most of the songs- my daughters Ipod has quite an interesting mix. We were two girls on the road- ready to face what life would bring. Ready for warmer weather- in more ways than one!

I was so proud of her! She made it a good 212 miles before she had her bladder moment. Usually she waits until she is about to burst before she tells me to pull over, by the time we get to a town that would have services, she resembles the woman in the incontinence ads... gotta go right now!

The small town that we pulled over into just happens to be the town that my childrens grandparents and two aunts live in. Their fathers family. I am not a bitter divorcee and I get along well with his family, however we had not planned to stop in to see them on this trip. The trip was a short one, I had not seen my parents in months and we just didn't have time. I tend to run at the mouth and if we stopped... well lets just say, we wouldn't have made it to our destination.

As I waited for my daughter to run in and use the facilities, I was a bit humored by the small town character, and characters. There is a whole different kind of person who lives on a farm or ranch and gets to town only once in a while. Granted, there were people of all walks in this store that day. But some of them, I'm just not sure that they knew other people could see them... ratty hair, dirty overalls, some looked as though they were headed out to catch them a bear. - OK I will be nice from here on.... I promise!

A cute couple stepped out of the station, and I noticed them right away, they looked more like the city folks I was accustomed to. Then, I saw him! The male of the couple was my own ex-brother-in-law and my exes sister. Getting into the car parked in the next stall... what are the chances of that? We chatted for a moment, caught up a little until my daughter came out. Seems that they were headed to the same place we were (just an hour from their place) for a seminar. We had a good chuckle and set off again.

The weekend was a blast! Texas hold 'em on Friday night- until way passed my bed time.

Then the party on Saturday.
What a great time!












We have the kind of extended family that gets along well. We laugh and joke, and love each other dearly. My daughter had to babysit that night as it was an adult only party but she made out like a bandit and loves to babysit anyway.

On Saturday we went shopping at a vintage furniture store. They had the most amazing fun stuff in there. Good thing I'm out of work or I may have bought more than I did...which was nothing. Who would think that we would find a used but pristine pair of black Prada boots in downtown St.George... too cool! (didn't buy them either). We walked down the street to a tiny little used book store. I love love used bookstores. There were some awesome finds in there also. A small poem book of Robert Frost poems copyright 1920's. Another book of 'love stories' they were called, were also poems copyright in the 1800's. Beautifully written. I would have loved that book, just didn't have the $23.00. Another book that caught my eye was an old Dr. Seuss book also from the 1920's.

A small 'learn to draw' book I found interesting as it showed the difference between the 1920's and the present day. Pictures of little girls always in cute little dresses and boys with suspenders. Mom did buy me one book, Speaking of Operations by Irvin S. Cobb. Which seems (based on the few pages we browsed) to be a hilarious account of one man's view of surgery. and since this was written copyright 1915, I can imagine it is quite a tale to tell. I have not yet read the first page but I shall keep you posted.

The weather was great, in the 70's. It was nice to feel free of our heavy coats for a short time. It sure helped to take the job hunt off my mind for a couple days. No worries, no stress. But it was all short-lived. Sunday morning we went to breakfast with two of my aunts and their husbands, then we packed it up, hugged mom and dad goodbye, and headed home.

Here are some photos of the trip home. That is Mt. Nebo in the distance, very near our destination- Home.

Waiting at home was my younger daughter, some Superbowl Bingo, a very close and sweet football game, some really bad for us appetizer-like foods, some comfy sweats, some young teenage boys company, and then bed.
All-in-all great time to clear my head.