Hours and hours for naught.

 

Hours and hours of work

and nothing to show for it.

Broken pieces from large Mural.

I can't replace the broken pieces.

The background was hand mixed, it will never look right. 

On the same day, and at the same post office, I mailed 5 packages.  

Three packages had broken tiles, one package was 2 weeks late, but unscathed

and one package is still lost after 3 weeks.  

This has never happened.

What is going on at the Post Office?

Hope your week is turning out to be better than mine. 

Gina 

Re-visiting

 

Come along with me and visit my backyard.

We began our Journey from Spring City, our home in Central Utah,

heading south. 

Our first stop, 2 hours down the street.  Capitol Reef National Park.

Nearby is the historic town of Fruita (1883-1941)

The residents of Fruita planted many fruit and nut trees. 

Over 3,000 fruit trees are still producing heirloom fruits. 

The public is welcome to pick during the fruit harvest from June through September. 

  

Our next stop is Goblin Valley State Park, central Utah.

Can you see the little Goblins?

 Heading south after staying overnight in Hanksville. 

Try not to stay there.  

The wind was howling and ripped at our roof.  

The noise made it impossible to sleep.  

Our little Lucy hid under the bed covers.  

Heading south toward Monument Valley.  

We are leaving the "Valley of the Gods" for another time.
I hear it's beautiful. 

Just before the Valley of the Gods you will have the adventure of a lifetime.

You will be introduced to the most treacherous road you have ever been on.  But Oh how breathtaking.  Once begun you can not turn around.  

It's the dreaded "Moki Dugway 3 miles gravel switchbacks"

If you have survived Moki (there is an alternate route) you have an easy drive to Monument Valley. 

You might recall that 12 western movies (5 movies with John Wayne alone) were shot in Monument Valley.The last movie was shot in 2008.

  

Straddling the Utah/Arizona border you will find the amazingly beautiful Monument Valley and the 

home of the proud Navajo Indian Nation. 

We stayed at the historic Goulding's Lodge.

From here you can take many tours all guided by Native Americans.  

3rd morning, heading back home.

 We stopped in at the Bluff Fort Museum in Bluff, Utah. 

Internet

Still going north we headed for Moab and the La Quinta. 
A dog friendly hotel where you will meet the nicest people. 


Moab has changed.  
Here are some of the adventures in which you can participate: 

River rafting, Hummer safaris, Mountain Biking, Sunset Tours, hiking Tours, Zipline and Ropes, Flights, Horseback, Jetboat, Jeep Rentals AND

Tango Lessons. 

This morning we are heading home.  200 miles to go, 
 the first 160 miles with no services.  Better gas up.

Happy Trails to you.  

Gina 

Soon

 

Soon it will be Mother's Day

Maybe a dozen (or more) roses will be your gift.

                          

Why not enjoy them for years to come 

by making an old fashioned Moist Potpourri.

Loved by Gertrude Jekyll: 

"The dry is much the easier and quicker to make, 

but is neither so sweet nor so enduring".



So, don't waste those lovely petals.  

Making moist Potpourri is very easy, 

it is the oldest way of making Potpourri. 

You will need partially dried rose petals and coarse, non-iodized salt.

Layer rose petals and salt in a non-porous container.

Ratio of 3 to1, petals to salt.

Keep adding rose petals as they are available. 

Keep in dark place, tightly closed.  

As you add more petals and salt over time, 

stir with a wooden spoon. 

 This is my moist potpourri, more than 30 years old.

Still has the most divine and mysterious perfume. 

I know, it's not very pretty.

It is meant to be hidden in a special, perforated container.

You may want to add the following: Lavender Flowers, 

Rose Geranium Leaves, Essential Oils, Lemon Peel, Orange Peel. 

Your moist potpourri is ready to use in about 6 months.

Have a lovely week my dear Friends.

Gina

It's supposed to look like this

 But it doesn't.

They are still sleeping

No flowers for the house. 

Even too cold for pansies.

Not even a Hellebore in sight.

When are they going to show their faces?

There is only this and 

it is very cold. 

Enjoy your flowers, 

mine will come soon.

Gina 

Ghost Town

 Eureka was once a bustling Utah Mining Town.

(dedicated to  my European friends)

Old Mining Headstock just outside of Eureka

From our house there are two ways to get to Eureka.

We can head for Tooele (Too-i-la) by the Great Salt Lake

or we can head west and take the back roads.

Where you will not see another car for hours and hours.

Where you will see sage brush and tumble weeds

 caught along the fence line.

And after three hours you will finally reach Eureka, 

a Modern Day Ghost Town where a sign painted on a brick wall proclaims  "A NEW PAIR FREE if they RIP"

Where you will find the preserved cabin once belonging to 

Porter Rockwell who became the bodyguard of Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon Church.

Joseph Smith advised  Porter Rockwell 

 'cut not thy hair and no bullet or blade will harm you'.

Eureka was one of the quietest mining towns in the West.

In 1910 it was the 9th largest city in Utah, population 3,500.

Today, less than 200 people live in Eureka.

Of course, it has a saloon, I mean bar, 

and possibly, even dancing girls.

And a company store.  (Would love to see the old sign underneath)

Unnoticed, old and new, live side by side, harmoniously.

A glass facade but not a roof to protect the interior.

Why the glass wall? 

Is someone living behind those curtains? 

Didn't see a soul.

Who walked up these stairs?

We call these  abandoned homes "Fixer Uppers."  

 Are you up for the challenge?

Going home, not even a contrail to keep us company.

Take care, be safe. 

Gina 

Partial Repost