St. George Snapshots

House Ripples

2011-12-12T19:07:00.000-08:00

And then one day you find out there is a duck pond in St. George, Utah. Drive North on Main Street. Where it dead ends, park and walk up the path to the pond. The autumn colors cast a very pretty yellow glow, great for photos or just to soak it in and enjoy a quiet little walk with the family.

Boy Scout Cave

2011-12-01T20:56:00.000-08:00

This is our second outing to Pioneer Park. Aside from having to command absolute obedience from our children, because I don't want them falling into some chasm, this is a great place to explore with children. It is free and the area is plenty big for many trips back to see another side of it.

Lover's Gate

2011-11-30T19:26:00.000-08:00

This is The Lover's Gate in front of a house here in St. George (on Main, off 200 South). To participate, you buy a lock, a cute double heart-shaped or other, lock it on the gate and throw away the key.

Side-note: While snapping these photos, I was startled out of my revery by an engine full of firefighters, who of course laughed at me for jumping when they honked the horn.

You Are Beautiful

2011-11-30T19:11:00.001-08:00

Pecan Trees and Shed

2011-11-30T19:09:00.000-08:00

California Weekend

2011-11-27T21:35:00.000-08:00

Fog with sun.

Under the oaks.

Failed to harvest the mistletoe, but still got the kiss.

Temple in Autumn

2011-11-21T20:39:00.000-08:00

Layers

2011-11-03T14:57:00.000-07:00

Autumn

2011-11-02T20:34:00.001-07:00

Pomegranate Jelly

2011-11-01T18:56:00.000-07:00

So I asked someone in the know if she knew of anyone in town that might not be using their pomegranates. (Have I mentioned they grow in abundance here? Tons of trees. It's like a decoration or something) She said yes, but I'd have to fight her for them. I laughed the whole time she told of how she won't even let her (adult) children help because she doesn't want them dictating how much jelly they would get to take home with them, and how she hid her pomegranates and her juicer from them when she had to go out of town briefly. Ha ha. Clearly, I have met a soul sister. I don't know anyone outside my parents and siblings who rave about pomegranate jelly as we do.

She also told me there were two kinds of pomegranates here in St. George: the more abundant yellow with pink splotches is pink inside and used mostly in salads, and the red ones with brilliant red seeds inside are the best for jelly. This is the kind I'm familiar with, the kind we had growing up. I've noticed there are fewer of these trees than the pink ones.

I had been eying one tree for a few weeks and gearing up to have the courage to knock on the door and inquire about the fruit, when on my next time walking the neighborhood I saw they had been picked.

I didn't give our conversation a second thought. I know what it is like to love homemade pomegranate jelly. She gave me some tips where to look in town where she thought some trees (of the red variety) might not be being used. And I thought I'd try again to find some.

But she came back the next morning and said she didn't feel right about not sharing. She brought me the most wonderful gift. The gift of making pomegranate jelly with my children.

They loved the experience and may I say, oh yummy. Oh man, that jelly is so good.

Finished Product

2011-10-27T18:14:00.000-07:00

Aside from words like waif and potato sack carelessly tossed around by my husband, I thought the dress was a success. Everyone had a turn helping, and now I'm less intimidated by the idea of making my daughter a dress. I may even buy some real fabric and make her something pink or purple and be loved forever.

Mother Nature

2011-10-19T20:01:00.000-07:00

Snow Canyon is about 15 minutes from St. George. The entrance fee is $6. There are plenty of hikes and land features to experience.

We chose two easy to do with children activities. At the sand dunes they dug right in, held fistfuls of sand, let it sift through their fingers, stuck twigs in it, ran in it, fell in it.

At Jenny's canyon they climbed in and through and on the red rocks that made up the canyon walls.

It was this very physical earthy experience. I think we all benefited from spending the day outside together.

The Dunes. Lizard tracks. Sand Play.

Jenny's Canyon. Wall Features. Climbing.

Morning Reflections

2011-10-17T22:01:00.000-07:00

Faith and Values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: http://mormon.org/

I see this beautiful building almost everyday. I feel confident that God loves me and each of his children.

Window Display

2011-10-16T20:14:00.000-07:00

One Man's Trash

2011-10-10T20:56:00.000-07:00

My sewing adventures have included jammies and a blankie. I had this beautiful idea floating around, however, that I would like to make dresses for my daughter. Someday. Maybe when there is a stellar deal on material, I will buy some and not worry if I ruin it.

And so it happened one day hubby showed me a hole in his pants. In the past, holes of this kind meant pants in the trash. This time I thought, "that's material."
The realization of a dream has begun. How it will turn out is a complete unknown.

It's been a group project so far. Children have each helped with cutting.

Here hubby sews a button for the center of the flower on the pocket.

St. George Marathon

2011-10-03T19:21:00.000-07:00

October 1, 2011

I can't imagine what it must be like to be in shape to run the distance of a marathon. Or what it can possibly feel like to recover from one after running it. We saw runners after the race stretching, some conked out on the lawn in the runners area, some walking around like it was no big deal, and other hobbling about as if ancient injuries were screaming at them. Runners old and young. I don't plan on ever doing this. However, it makes you think about your own fitness goals, and I would like to get back to my old 3 miles a day routine. I would jog out a mile and a half and walked back. Not a bad way to feel good. It's so easy and now that I'm quite recovered from my last baby, I'd like to get back to a healthier me.

This photo is of my niece and her husband. I was so happy to see her. I'm very impressed by her accomplishments.

Pine Valley

2011-09-25T20:53:00.000-07:00

We visited beautiful Pine Valley, Utah yesterday (about 45 min. from St. George).

Historic Pine Valley Chapel. The architect was a ship builder, who designed the roof like the hull of a ship.

View of the roof from the chapel.

View of the roof from the attic.

My favorite piece from the artifacts room. So pretty.

My little ones listening to the rehearsal of the Dixie State Orchestra.

Imagine listening to Copland's "Hoe-Down" from his ballet Rodeo in these surroundings. Yay, outdoor concerts. Oh, and the sound was fantastic, did not get swallowed up by being out of doors. And they actually rang the church bell in Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture".

Want to go next year? They hold the concert the last Saturday in September. Free Admission. Visitors welcome, but have mercy on the hospitable ladies of Pine Valley and bring a dish to the pre-concert potluck.

Lost Track of Time

2011-09-22T19:33:00.000-07:00

My Son, the Photographer

2011-09-21T20:29:00.000-07:00

We went to Zion again. We turned the camera over to our five-year old. We gave some instruction on how to turn it on and off, zoom, focus, and talked briefly about composition and point of view. Later we looked at them together on the computer and had a critiquing session. He deleted ones he didn't like and with his permission I am posting my favorite of the 99 shots he took that day.

Wildflowers

Cliffs

Weeping Rock

Cottonwood

Up, Up and Away

2011-09-19T21:39:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a boy wears all his superhero gear to the park. What? Don't your children do that too?

St. George Tabernacle

2011-09-12T19:42:00.000-07:00

Spiral staircase.

Be sure to interrupt the tour guide when she tells your very literal five-year old that this is the eye of God. "Son this is NOT the eye of God. It is a representation or symbol of the eye of God." And watch all the strained muscles in his face return to their normal resting places.

Pipes.

Hoover Dam

2011-09-09T18:44:00.000-07:00

On the road, as we moved from AZ to UT we saw the Hoover Dam. About 2hrs 30min from St. George.

Pomegranates

2011-09-08T21:13:00.000-07:00

They grow here, in St. George, Utah, as do cantaloupe, peaches, pears, almonds, tomatoes, peppers, and grapes (reportedly 40 kinds of grapes). I'm sure there's more produced here, but that's what I've seen so far peeking into gardens on my neighborhood walks. *sigh* ...someday, a garden.

Slick Rock Park

2011-09-07T20:17:00.000-07:00

My son found this quite a bit more challenging to climb than other climbing walls (he's tried quite a few). The park also has a ramada, bbq, and a path my son rode around on his bike. We went here a couple weeks ago and the children have not begged to go back. So this is not a favorite. Pioneer Park, on the other hand, "can we go back there? When can we go back there?" If they want to do it again, you know it's a hit.

Brigham Young Winter Home

2011-09-06T20:41:00.000-07:00

Love gardens? Old houses? Old things in old houses? Try the tour of the Brigham Young Winter Home in St. George, Utah. Something about listening to the history of a place and its people leads to thinking about where you are in your life. I like that opportunity for contemplation.

Pioneer Park

2011-09-06T20:18:00.000-07:00

Love that red backdrop to the city of St. George? Get up on the bluff, walk on, around, through the red rocks, even do a little rock climbing at Pioneer Park. Photo opportunities abound. The children loved it and want to go back. I clung to my two-year old in spots where I questioned her maneuvering abilities, but we will definitely go again (on a cooler day).

Burger and Fries

2011-08-19T19:13:00.000-07:00

I guess this franchise is all over the states, but does your Five Guys have fry sauce? Ours does.

Celebrating 60 Years

2011-08-18T19:47:00.000-07:00

Washington County Fair, $3 parking + $5 if your child begs you to allow him to walk on water + $2 each to enter the animal education area (which includes petting zoo, and a pony ride, and a glimpse of the largest pig you ever saw). Other opportunities to spend money: camel ride, bumper boats, and of course, fair fare.

Highlights: sampling the salsa and cookie contest entries, viewing work of local artists, locally grown produce, and the animals

Parts

2011-08-17T11:56:00.000-07:00

Haven

2011-08-16T18:58:00.000-07:00

This is pleasure. This is adventure. Red cliffs tower above you. The Virgin River runs near your camp. The last thing you see after brushing your teeth and walking in the starry night back to your site are bats, "butterflies," your two-year old daughter insists. You go to sleep in the evening and it's warm. At some point in the night or early early morning the wind picks up and you waken long enough to pull up a cover. When sleep fades, you wear a jacket while you cook breakfast until the moment the sun comes up over the cliff, bright and already hot.

A good morning trail in Zion is Riverside Walk. One mile on a stroller friendly path takes you to the mouth of the Narrows. My husband and I continued up through the river nine years ago and saw the narrows, a kind of quiet you never forget; you wade in the river, in the shadow of rock walls that scrape the sky. This trip we are a family, three little ones. We stop at the end of the trail, let the children splash in the river with their daddy, and defend our lunch from squirrels. The mile back is difficult for our five-year old, typically resilient. I think it is the heat. We drink water all day. They play in the river by our camp site after dinner.

For easy to strenuous hikes, restful camping, beautiful nature, great photo opportunities, have I mentioned this is one of my favorite places in the world?...

Zion National Park, Springdale, UT (a 50 minute drive from our apartment in St. George)

$25 for a 7 day pass, $50 for a year pass, $80 for an inter-agency year pass

The Circle Game

2011-08-11T18:05:00.000-07:00

St. George Carousel at Town Square, approx. 100 West 100 South

Not so much into spinning around and around myself, but my children loved it. Their dad got on with them.

$1 Adult, $0.50 Child

Library Card

2011-08-10T19:43:00.000-07:00

St. George Branch. 88 w. 100 S.

Our five-year old was excited to get his very first library card. Story Time was good and appeared to have the same CD of children's songs our library in Tucson had and the same pattern for story time: a story, a song or two, another story, repeat.

For myself, a $1 barely used hardcover copy of Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking (an odd read at this time of transition in our life, but a great find).

P.S. Remember to bring swimsuits for the little ones on hot summer days...the splash pad is right behind the library.

New in Town

2011-08-10T14:39:00.000-07:00

Our family has moved from Southern Arizona to Southern Utah. Now we begin to explore our new home, the city of St. George and the surrounding area. A woman we met outside the school district office said, "There's nothing not to like about St. George." Well, aside from some dead and dying cockroaches in our new apartment, so far so good.