Oh What a Beautiful Morning

It was so beautiful this morning that I was compelled to take these
pictures.  The snow has frozen to
everything and with the sun it just
made it like a winter wonderland.
It is to be about 4 below tonite so
this scene will continue for a
few more days.  

8 inches so far

Scott's a Deacon

Sunday Scott was ordained a Deacon by Cory.
This was taken just afterwards.  Nice thing was CJ was
able to stand in the circle this time. 

Gingerbread Houses

Erin and the kids  came over to make some
graham cracker /gingerbread houses.
We are just starting our houses and it took all
night to finish.  They did a very good job with
them and Erin made one for Carli.

Thanks for coming over for dinner and an
activity.

My Helper

Kitty was playing with the ribbon while I
was wrapping packages tonite.   She is
my little shadow - follows me from room
to room. 

An Overnight Guest

A door to door salesman dropped by last night and this kitty was following him.  She politely decided to stay at my house (can't imagine why) and spend the night.  She just meowed and meowed at the door until I couldn't stand it any longer.   I let her in!
I put a towel on the patio and she slept there until about 5 am and then started meowing.  So, here she is - very much at home.  Right now she is sleeping in Dad's computer chair while I am doing this blog.
He put a sign on the corner post - I hope I get a call today for her.   I think she is a house kitty and well taken care of.   If she were mine I would call her Muffin - but I can't be her Mom. (and don't you girls start begging to keep her)

What Shall We Give?

A Snowy Picture

Snow Slide on the shop

Dad's Corner

(More toys)
This is where Dad exercises every morning for
1/2 hour.  He has his laptop on a shelf where he
reads his scriptures at the same time.
He also has the little tv for a dvd or the
cd player for whatever goes with that.
He's set for the winter~~!!

The Ernie Hat - Who Remembers this Hat?

Who remembers this hat?  I'm
watching Carli today while Erin and
family go skiing.  She walked in
wearing this little hat.  Oh My Gosh!
I haven't seen this for years.  I think
I bought this for either Cory or Andy.
But I have a picture of Andy wearing
it in that blue snow suit when she
was about Carli's age.   Wow -
and I remember loaning it to
Mercer , I think, when you guys
went to Liberty Lake egg hunt.???
It's a good hat.

Dad and his toys ?

This is after 4 driveways and our back yard.    Now I am drying his clothes so he can "go to work".

Here He Goes

Dad with the snowblower.   The  trailer you see  is one  he built
to haul it in plus he can haul a
couple of motorcycles and the
boat on the top.  I think he's in
his 2nd childhood.

So Yummy

This Cranberry-Orange bread is so yummy.   I found the recipe in a slow cooker book and just had to
try it to see if it would actually turn out.   (I was  a little skeptical). Anyway, it did turn out and we
love it.  It's scrumptous.   Just be sure to watch your slow cooker so it doesn't cook too much on
the sides.    I think it would go well for breakfast - maybe with the Christmas casserole and hot
chocolate.   mmmmm

Cranberry-Orange Bread

Cranberry-Orange Bread

2/3 C. Powdered Milk                           1 egg beaten
2 C. warm water                                    1/4 C. veg. oil
3 C. flour                                                2 tsp. finely grated orange peel
1 1/3 C. Sugar                                        3/4 C. dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
1 Tb. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda

In a bowl, dissolve powdered milk in warm water, then combine with 2 (two) cups flour, sugar
baking powder, salt, baking soda, egg and oil.  Beat with electric mixer 2 minutes on low.  Add
remaining flour (1 C.) and beat onlow until combined.  With wooden spoon, fold in orange peel
and dried cranberries.  Place dough in "greasted" 4-5 qt. slow cooker.  Cover and cook on
high 2-3 hours.  (Mine took 2 hours, but keep watching so it doesn't burn on the sides).
Makes 10-15 servings.
Serve warm with butter or a cream cheese spread.
Yum

:Happy Birthday party for Carli

Erin gave Carli a birthday party and
I think she really had a good time.
Her birthday was in Oct. but she didn't know the difference.   We gave her a princess costume and I think she liked it and felt pretty wearing it. What a cutie.

The Princess

This is her princess costume - dress, crown and jewelry. 

# 2 Cupcake

Carli and Papa

Papa asked C to come sit by him, so she did.
I had to snap it fast because it didn't last long.

Another Indian House

It is made with 9 sides indicating the 9 months a woman carries her baby.

The hole in the ceiling is to let the smoke out from the cooking fire inside.

This is the Place Heritage Park

we spent an afternoon walking around the pioneer village.   They have shortened hours in the fall so we were kind of hurrying to see all we could.
There were many buildings we didnt get to go into.  One was the school house where the teacher had been teaching the Deseret  Alphabet. There were old time desks with little slates on each desk.  It was a beautiful day and we just had such a good time.

A Different kind of House

Indian Hogan  (I think)
Mercer was so excited to see the Indian houses.   There is a little train ride that takes you up to this part of the park.  That was a good thing.

Wishing this had a horse to pull it

It takes strong muscles to plow the
garden.   There were all kinds of chores for the children to try doing at Heritage Park.  It was so fun to watch the kids.  They got to wash some clothing with a washboard, hang it on the line to dry with clothespins, and beat dust from a rug and then plow the garden.  

Afternoon at Temple Square

We visited with several missionary sisters on Temple Square.  One took our picture.  There are 200 sisters during the summer but when winter comes they don't need that many so some are sent out to other areas and cities.  One had just been to Everett Wash. 

Guess Who?

Around the courtyard of Zions  Bank in St. George are different statues and plaques.   This was one I had to take advantage of.    Kind of gave me a
weird feeling but  it was very comfortable sitting next to Brigham.

St. George Temple

This was on Sunday when we visited to
Visitor's Center.  The next morning we
did a session - the Temple is open on
Monday mornings there.  Were chosen
to be the Witness Couple also.

Jacob Hamblin's Home

There are Senior Missionaries here
that give tours.  In front of the home and down at the front of the yard are
some cotton bushes.  They grew
cotton when Jacob lived here and they
still grow and harvest the cotton.  They
have missionaries that do that and then in the spring they replant it again.

Brigham Young's Winter Home

St. George

Brigham Young's Winter Home

Glen Canyon Dam

This was a small hike to get up on the top here.  This is by Lake Powell.
The dam is in the background. They have a nice vistor's center that tells about the dam.  There were several greyhound busses here and tons of tourists.  This was on our way to
St. George the next day.  Stayed here one night at a KOA (again)

Four Corners

We took this one just for CJ

Four Corners

All of the flags from the four states.
There were open windowed buildings all around the area where native americans were selling their different wares they had made.   I did purchase a little hand made pot from a Navajo
lady.  She was making them on the spot and she told me what each symbol stood for on my pot. She was very nice.  

Four Corners

Standing right on the spot where the four states meet. 

Look at the blue sky

This was on our way down the mountain from seeing Mesa Verde.
This was a fire outlook area and it has the most gorgeous view of the valley below.  You can see mountains in the distant and a few different towns.
The post also said you can actually see Four Corners on a clear day.

Mesa Verde National Park

The spectacular cliff dwellings and mesa-top villages were built  between 450 AD and 1300 AD.
It is very ancient and it is amazing to be able to see and walk where perhaps the Lamanites have lived.
The visitor's  centers and museums were excellent sources of information and providing help for
the stories of these peoples.  I have had to pick and choose from our pictures because I don't want to
bore you with too much of the same stuff.

Sun Temple

Sitting by Sun Temple.  You can walk all the way around this building. 

Sun Temple

I wanted to get this post to remember the facts about this place.  This is on the same side of the cliff as Cliff Palace and just on the top of the hill.

Cliff Palace

All along this cliff there are several dwellings but this one is the largest.  Tours actually climb down to this dwelling.  I think Andy has done this one before.
We talked to people who did the climb and it is a hard one.  We were across the canyon and could see and hear people on the other side.

Kiva

This is the remains of a kiva I think.
They would live, and cook etc. in here. I think it was actually built up on the sides more than this originally.

Spruce Tree House - Mesa Verde

It's hard to imagine what life was like here.
They were busy people just living from day to day.
The guide told us that they made their dwellings from the rock and urine because what water they had was needed for drinking.
This is Spruce Tree House and was constructed
between 1211 AD and 1278 AD.  It contains 130 rooms and 8 kivas built into a natural alcove.  It is thought to have been the home to about 60-80 people.  It was closed for repair so we couldn't walk down. This was taken from the museum porch. 

Cortez KOA

The  morning we left Cortez we asked the
KOA manager to take our picture out by the front door.  We stayed in Cortez while touring
Mesa Verde cliff dwellings

Just a Sign

This is the beginning of the trail to Upheaval Dome which may have been  the remains of a volcano at one time.    Anyway, sorry there are no people in these pictures but all I could think about was getting the picture at this point.  This was after we came back down and I thought we needed this to remember the hike and it's name.   Kind of boring I know.

Walking up the trail

This is walking up and I think we are almost 1/2 way to the top.   When you see the top you think you are almost there and then the trail just keeps going forever.   But, you pass people coming back down and you know that they made it so I can too.

Hiking down from Upheaval Dome

We were about 1/2 way down now and I wanted a picture of this hike.  You can see how small the vehicles are at the bottom.   Whew!

Canyonlands

The day after Arches we ventured into Canyonlands.  The formations are a little different but still awesome.

North and South Windows in Arches

Standing inside the arch at North and South Windows

Awesome view