I went on some hikes up in the Silver Lake area this Fall, they were only a few weeks apart, but the difference in the colors is pretty amazing. I also ran into some friendly fauna whilst admiring the flora.
Well hello there Mr. Moose. I used my telephoto lense on the moose, because even though he was just mildly munching, they have signs all over the place about being wary of charging moose. I wasn't in the mood to be trampled to death that day.
I also saw some skittish deer.
Yes there is a deer in this picture, can you spot her?
More munching. I was less afraid of being charged by this particular little guy.
Same scene, a few weeks later. Check out all the yellow. Those are the aspens. Soooo pretty.
And a bonus shot from my trip to the Symphony last weekend. This was taken from the first tier balcony at Abravanal Hall. The Dale Chihuly sculpture which we got during the SLC Olympics is just breathtakingly beautiful in my opinion, but I also love how you can see the lit up Salt Lake Temple across the street.
Whew....I just got done uploading 392 pictures from my trip to Shutterfly. Now I need to figure out which of those get shared here, but until then I thought I would do a very quick recap of my Summer up until the time I left on my trip.
These pictures are out of order also, sorry. I wish Blogger had an easier way of managing pictures, but they don't, and I don't have enough time to monkey with them.
I drove into California and my car registered 105 degrees. I drove out in a torrential rain pour and my car registered 41 degrees (scroll down for pictoral proof of 41 degrees). How's that for some extremes?
On my way I decided to stop at Donner State Park. It was so beatiful, that I had to take a little hike/walk around the nature trail.
Did you know that Walt Disney was the Chairman of Pageantry for the Winter Olympics held in Squaw Valley? I didn't. But this flag pole has taught me otherwise. You just never know where you will find a little gem of knowledge.
This monument stands 200 feet tall (I think) and represents how high the snow was during that fateful winter.
Ahh, here it is.
I spent some time with my favorite girls.
Kylie Chillin.
Delaney dressed up.
3 Cowgirls. Yee haw. I like the rakish angle that Kylie has chosen for her hat.
I finally learned the name of this sculpture in the Salt Flats. It is not the Tree of Life as previously thought, but it is actually called - Metaphor: The Tree of Utah. Yah I don't know either. It is a bad metaphor if no one gets it...I am guessing.
My dear, dear friend Jenny got married. Isn't she so pretty?
I attended my beloved Highland games.
I went to a few concerts.
Keane
The Shins
I saw some baby ducks.
And a pretty tree.
The end!
(soon to be followed by too many pictures of Denmark and Sweden, rest up)
Hooray for the Olympics! I hope you all plan to watch the opening ceremonies tonight.
Here are a few thoughts I have been having about the Olympics today.
First...To dip or not to dip? That is the question. Honestly, even Olympic historians cannot agree on why in 1908 the flag bearer for the United States Olympic team refused to dip the flag as he passed by the King of England. Most say it was because he was of Irish descent and he was trying to make a political gesture. For whatever reason, it CAN be agreed upon that in subsequent games the flag was dipped. But not always. Obviously not in 1936...because of Hitler and all...but sometimes...in other years...who knows? Anyway, it is not necessarily an American tradition as some have been erroneously saying. My two cents....the Olympic games are not the right venue to get your political message across. Also, it is just good manners to acknowledge and honor your host. So I for one would not be offended to see some flag dipping tonight. Also, I am now craving some chips and dip.
Second...did you know that in years past there were literature competitions as part of the Olympics. With Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals being awarded in things like poetry, art, architecture...right along with wrestling, rowing, and soccer? I didn't know that, and I consider myself to be somewhat of an Olympics expert. :)
Here is the Gold Winning poem from the 1948 London Games, by Finnish poet Aale Maria Tynni’s.
“Laurel of Hellas”
Laurel of Hellas noble-born,
most celebrated tree,
gazing to your lofty crown
the mind must dazzled be.
Third...I am not a big Michael Phelps fan. Sorry. Ryan Lochte...now that is another story.
Fourth...I will cheer for another country in some cases. I am not so USA patriotic that there isn't room in my heart for a few other people. Case in point...Roger Federer. I hope he wins a gold. Love him.
Fifth...I wasn't sure I liked the official London 2012 song by Muse (and I LOVE Muse) until I saw it set to this video, now its growing on me.
Finally...I am sad I will miss all of the games since I will be in the Netherlands starting tomorrow for 14 days and then in Denmark and Sweden for 4 more days. I hope you will all double your efforts to watch every little sport (and yes that means trampolining too) to make up for my absence.
Yesterday I woke up to snow on the mountains and when I walked to the gym I could see my breath on the air. Ohh how I love Fall and the colder weather. I really do. But it would seem that 90 % of the people who live in Utah do not love cold weather like I do. I have heard nothing but complaints for the past 2 days. Almost as if everyone is suddenly surprised that it snows in Utah. Umm...people...it snows in Utah. If you don't like it, move somewhere warm. But I suppose that isn't very charitable of me.
Anyway, here are a few things I love about Autumn.
Storms...
Fall Leaves...
Honey Crisps...have you tried these apples? They are like eating candy. I kid you not. I was so happy when I went to the store last weekend and saw the first shipment of Honey Crisps for the season.
