The cold came quickly this year. Maybe it comes quickly every year but my mind just can't remember it. But it was 70 degrees last week and now it's, well, I don't know the exact temp, but there is a soft blanket of snow covering the mountains and a constant drizzle of rain/almost snow. I think it looks breathtakingly beautiful. I work right in the foothill of the mountains, and I love looking out the windows and seeing the marvelous mountains softly dusted in white. When I drive home I look out on the Oquirrh Mountains, bathed in the light of the setting sun and the shadows it creates. It really is amazing, and makes me grateful for this wonderful world I live in.
But I'm also glad that there are places like Las Vegas, where one can go for a few days to get away from the cold and chill in the desert! Viva Las Vegas!!
Showing posts with label mountains. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mountains. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Saturday, August 15, 2009
A Weekend in Salmon
My friend Nicki invited me up to her aunt's ranch in Salmon, ID last week. Here are some pictures from the four days in the mountains. And even though there are pictures of horses, and even one with me on a horse, I am in no way a cowgirl. I tried to get the horses I rode to listen to me but they sadly knew that they were the master.
I was also able to participate in "piping," which is moving pipe to water the fields. I've never moved pipe before and there were little kids running circles around me! Apparently it's a tradition for the Barton family when they go up to the ranch to help with the pipe moving. I can definitely say that when I drive down the freeway and look out on the fields and the sprinklers watering them I'll look out on it with a different perspective.
Saturday was the Rodeo, where everyone (except me) participated in rodeo games such as barrels, rescue rider, flags, and toilet-paper (where two riders each hold one end of a line of toilet paper and have to ride down and back up without it breaking). I had a good time watching, cheering, and playing with the all the kids. I also got a pretty nice tan while standing there.
We also rode out on our horses and picked berries for jam. I guess I should mention that on the way home, as my horse decided to throw caution to the wind and gallop much faster than I wanted despite my repeated pulls on the reins, most of the berries fell out and were crushed between my thighs and the saddle. I eventually dropped the bucket when I decided I should be using that hand to hang on. While I walked back to the scene of the crime to pick up the lost bucket and berries, Nicki and her oh-so-adorable cousin Bridger were thrown off their horse, Banana. This was not a result of Nicki not knowing what she's doing on horse, because she is quite skilled, as are all the other kids, but a result of a few different factors that when put together ended with her and Bridger on the ground. Nicki and I each saw each other cry this weekend, therefore solidifying our friendship.
It was a great weekend of family, food, s'mores, sun, rain, kittens, work, playing, horses, dogs, berry picking, napping, cards, and enjoying the beautiful mountains. I love when I get the chance to experience all the different things that make this country so amazing. As much as I am a city girl and love being in big cities, there's also a part of me that wants to just stay up in the mountains forever. I find beauty in the crazy, crowded streets and skyscrapers of New York just as I do in the serene, open land and sky of the mountains.
I was also able to participate in "piping," which is moving pipe to water the fields. I've never moved pipe before and there were little kids running circles around me! Apparently it's a tradition for the Barton family when they go up to the ranch to help with the pipe moving. I can definitely say that when I drive down the freeway and look out on the fields and the sprinklers watering them I'll look out on it with a different perspective.
Saturday was the Rodeo, where everyone (except me) participated in rodeo games such as barrels, rescue rider, flags, and toilet-paper (where two riders each hold one end of a line of toilet paper and have to ride down and back up without it breaking). I had a good time watching, cheering, and playing with the all the kids. I also got a pretty nice tan while standing there.
We also rode out on our horses and picked berries for jam. I guess I should mention that on the way home, as my horse decided to throw caution to the wind and gallop much faster than I wanted despite my repeated pulls on the reins, most of the berries fell out and were crushed between my thighs and the saddle. I eventually dropped the bucket when I decided I should be using that hand to hang on. While I walked back to the scene of the crime to pick up the lost bucket and berries, Nicki and her oh-so-adorable cousin Bridger were thrown off their horse, Banana. This was not a result of Nicki not knowing what she's doing on horse, because she is quite skilled, as are all the other kids, but a result of a few different factors that when put together ended with her and Bridger on the ground. Nicki and I each saw each other cry this weekend, therefore solidifying our friendship.
It was a great weekend of family, food, s'mores, sun, rain, kittens, work, playing, horses, dogs, berry picking, napping, cards, and enjoying the beautiful mountains. I love when I get the chance to experience all the different things that make this country so amazing. As much as I am a city girl and love being in big cities, there's also a part of me that wants to just stay up in the mountains forever. I find beauty in the crazy, crowded streets and skyscrapers of New York just as I do in the serene, open land and sky of the mountains.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Stars, cars, mountains and hair
Now that I'm back in the city, this is what I miss most about being back in Utah:
STARS
I was standing in my brother's backyard one night and just stood there staring at the stars in the sky for like ten minutes. You see, I don't actually see stars in the city, there's too many city lights competing. Even when I'm on someone's roof for a party stars are pretty rare to see. So when any of you are out at night be sure to wish on a star for me!
CARS
This one seems pretty obvious; you have no idea how much of a luxury it was to be able to get into a car and be in control of where I was going. Also, I could control the temperature, the smell, the music, the people I rode with. The fact that it was raining my last two days there didn't worry me because it was a short walk from the back door to the car--no walking in the rain with an umbrella that gets blown up by the wind. And, it's a great place to store purchases bought throughout the day instead of carrying everything around like a bag lady!
MOUNTAINS
This one seems kinda obvious too. But I always get this feeling of awe and amazement when I drive along Bangerter and see the Wasatch mountains in the East and the Oquirrh in the west. Being in the city is great, but it's very much closed off; there aren't open spaces where you can see everything. So I'm always just looking at the next few blocks ahead of me and at the tall building around me. Mountains and space are awesome!
HAIR
I definitely miss the way my hair looks in Utah; it's not made for this moist, humid air in New York. It's not as if my hair holds curl very well anyways, but now it's practically nonexistent--it's always flat and frizzy!
Man did I eat well when I was in Utah (eating out is also a luxury that I don't partake of here in the city). A few times I booked get-togethers with friends a little too closely and ate way too much food in way too short a time. Where I ate: 5 Buck Pizza, The Red Iguana, Red Robin, Village Inn, Sconecutter, Chili's, Cafe Rio, bbq at Wal-mart, hot dog/chips/nachos at Delta Center (I refuse to call it Energy Solutions Arena).
But more importantly, I did some awesome things: was greeted at the airport by a "Welcome Home Aunt Julie" sign being held by Ivy, Elliett and Moses, saw cousin Rachel and her new baby Kitt, attended a book signing, went to the last Jazz game of the post-season (which caused me to miss the actual signing of my book!), went to Pammy's baby shower, hung out with Lindsay-loo, celebrated my brother's 29th birthday with cheesecake and ice cream, lost my sunglasses, watched CMT, had face time with my luvah, played Yahtzee with two cheating boys!, hung out with my dad, bought pink shoes, saw Tina and David's adorable daughter Teue, got a new driver's license, felt really cared for and missed by my friends at Wal-mart, and all around had a great time! I know I'm forgetting tons of things, but my memory really is that bad.
So now you all have to come out and visit me!!! I have a new couch that is much more comfortable, and non-smelling, than my other one so you'll even have a place to sleep that's not the floor!
STARS
I was standing in my brother's backyard one night and just stood there staring at the stars in the sky for like ten minutes. You see, I don't actually see stars in the city, there's too many city lights competing. Even when I'm on someone's roof for a party stars are pretty rare to see. So when any of you are out at night be sure to wish on a star for me!
CARS
This one seems pretty obvious; you have no idea how much of a luxury it was to be able to get into a car and be in control of where I was going. Also, I could control the temperature, the smell, the music, the people I rode with. The fact that it was raining my last two days there didn't worry me because it was a short walk from the back door to the car--no walking in the rain with an umbrella that gets blown up by the wind. And, it's a great place to store purchases bought throughout the day instead of carrying everything around like a bag lady!
MOUNTAINS
This one seems kinda obvious too. But I always get this feeling of awe and amazement when I drive along Bangerter and see the Wasatch mountains in the East and the Oquirrh in the west. Being in the city is great, but it's very much closed off; there aren't open spaces where you can see everything. So I'm always just looking at the next few blocks ahead of me and at the tall building around me. Mountains and space are awesome!
HAIR
I definitely miss the way my hair looks in Utah; it's not made for this moist, humid air in New York. It's not as if my hair holds curl very well anyways, but now it's practically nonexistent--it's always flat and frizzy!
Man did I eat well when I was in Utah (eating out is also a luxury that I don't partake of here in the city). A few times I booked get-togethers with friends a little too closely and ate way too much food in way too short a time. Where I ate: 5 Buck Pizza, The Red Iguana, Red Robin, Village Inn, Sconecutter, Chili's, Cafe Rio, bbq at Wal-mart, hot dog/chips/nachos at Delta Center (I refuse to call it Energy Solutions Arena).
But more importantly, I did some awesome things: was greeted at the airport by a "Welcome Home Aunt Julie" sign being held by Ivy, Elliett and Moses, saw cousin Rachel and her new baby Kitt, attended a book signing, went to the last Jazz game of the post-season (which caused me to miss the actual signing of my book!), went to Pammy's baby shower, hung out with Lindsay-loo, celebrated my brother's 29th birthday with cheesecake and ice cream, lost my sunglasses, watched CMT, had face time with my luvah, played Yahtzee with two cheating boys!, hung out with my dad, bought pink shoes, saw Tina and David's adorable daughter Teue, got a new driver's license, felt really cared for and missed by my friends at Wal-mart, and all around had a great time! I know I'm forgetting tons of things, but my memory really is that bad.
So now you all have to come out and visit me!!! I have a new couch that is much more comfortable, and non-smelling, than my other one so you'll even have a place to sleep that's not the floor!
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