A Winter Walk

Amy and I have been walking on Tuesday and Thursday mornings with Dex whenever the weather is good enough to go outside. (Once she walked with me at the church when it was snowing, but was overwhelmed by the sociality--it was the Relief Society walking group. It must indeed be weird to have ladies you don't know at all ask you about your life--'Mom, what have you been telling them about me?' Nothing, really, I'm actually quite careful.)

The other day we walked to the cemetery above our house. From somewhere came a low soft whistling--finally we realized it was the man ahead of us--maybe the caretaker--who was calling the bunnies and feeding them rabbit food. This was all extremely interesting to Dex. Isn't he being very good? (in the photo above)


Another bunny below:

It's some view, and as pretty at night as in the daytime. Sunsets are awesome.

Here is our Edgemont neighborhood. You can't actually see our house--it's hidden behind the Lovelesses, the Nielsons, and then the Slagowskis, but I think you could see the west half of the garage if you zoomed in.
We live in a gorgeous valley. 'Course it's hard in the wintertime because the mountains trap the bad air from cars and industry during an inversion and we can't go outside to exercise, unless we drive to Sundance or Heber. We haven't had too many bad days so far this season--not nearly as many as Cache Valley to the north.

PS: Dex was naughty on the way home. The road down is through a little uninhabited, open, but protected valley, so she let him off leash to run. We were fine until we passed another darling little bunny warming in the sun under a leafless bush--and he was off like a shot. Since then he's been on leash.

Going For a Walk

...to the cemetery with Betsy and Ethan (and Amy, Jamison, Dex and John). What is a tiny relaxing stroll for them is an aerobic workout for me. I didn't even think to take a photo of the city at sundown, which was very pretty.

But Auntie Amy and Ethan are fun.

We are like an awkward blended family since A&J moved in. Dex and Sinestra feel their way toward detente with our reluctant and jealous kitties. Pretty Sinestra just came into my office and rolled adorably on the floor when I spoke to her and told her how cute she was--and Claudio came running in to hiss at her and chase her away. Big dummy. He's just over being sick and I think he's started to scent-mark the furniture--which he's not done before, it must be territorial--I am nearly desperate. Any ideas of how to handle fearful, jealous kitties?

Winter in Zion Canyon

On the way back from Las Vegas we stopped overnight at Springdale, and visited Zion National Park. Weeping Rock (above) looks very different in the winter. The deer seemed not to worry about us tourists.
Chris, Niels, and John at the bottom of the Narrows.
The vertical hikes were inches deep in packed ice, and we weren't dressed for winter walking. We drove through the tunnels on the way out. I remember parking at the big bay windows and looking out on the canyon from the side of the cliff when I was a little girl.

Red Hollow

I went with my mom and dad to my mom's family reunion in Glendale. We left the day before, in time for a hike up Red Hollow in Orderville. Here Grandpa demonstrates pine gum, which I remember from childhood. It's great if you don't mind burping turpentine after you chew it. And don't drink water with it in your mouth.

A lizard on a rock:Spiny beauty:

Shane and Kendrick on red sandstone:

Grandpa leads the way up the dry wash:

Red Hollow (J.Lynn and Tana):

Me. The rock was as far as I went, since my knees don't bend more than 90 degrees. Everyone else climbed on further and found a ladder and a rope which led them up and out.

Lovely cool red walls with fine white sand underfoot:

More white sand:

Walking

I think I'm going to be OK with the walking required on the trip. I really like my nice new black walking shoes, and maybe that was half the problem with sore knees before--that my shoes were worn out and no longer supportive. Anyway, even though I walk, I'm very slow. Chris was the only one patient enough to walk with me yesterday. When they all took off up Arthur's Seat, I walked back home alone around Calton Hill and up the London Road to Leith Street. It was nice. Remember we used to park the van along this street when we stayed in the Cairn Hotel (and I think you older kids - and Sergene - stayed in the Cairn Hotel too, before we had a luggage van). This time John, Chris, and I stayed there one night before moving into the new youth hostel.