Snowbird at Last

Thank you Micah for escorting me on my first successful ride to Snowbird on Wednesday, she could have easily left me behind. It was as tough as I thought, and as beautiful as I expected. But I felt even better than I anticipated flying down that mountain in 15 minutes flat. 1 hour 55 minutes round trip, I even made it to parent teacher conferences, only a titch late. So today when Matt and I did Clark's Trail on South Mountain, that just seemed a whole lot easier. I never thought I would use any derivative of "easy" in the same phrase as Clark's Trail. I am completely in love with riding in the mountains with the fall leaves everywhere and bursts of bright yellow and red trees. It's like fall fireworks.

Perfect Ride to the Crest Today, We'll Catch the Bird Next Week

I had intentions to ride "Libertad" up to Snowbird, schedules got complicated for my riding partner and we cancelled by noon with the promise of next week. But on an overcast day in the middle of the fall season in Utah, doesn't Suncrest sound more inviting anyway? I have cell coverage up that hill (I don't up Snowbird, and by myself?...not a good idea). Besides, I ate breakfast like I was going on a big ride, and never made it to swim training. So, I just went by myself. I love climbing up that monster mountain with oodles of space in my mind to just think. And I especially love after I've earned the right to race down. It was one of those days when all the world felt right up at the top. My phone doesn't take the best pictures and it certainly doesn't show how spectacular the valley looks up at the top. And there is no way it shows how great I felt up at the top either. Have a safe Halloween weekend!

Portrait of an Artist, My Dad

Forward to the 70th Birthday Celebration post.


Burdell Moody, 2005 (photo courtesy of Roger Hawkins)


Burdell Moody (on right), US Army
Combat Artist for the Vietnam War

What can I say of my father? He turned 70 this month. He is a very talented artist, recently featured at The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia with other works from American soldiers. His painting, "Point Man", pictured below was the painting on the cover of the art exhibit's program handed out on opening night. Can I further brag and say this piece was chosen out of 16,000 works in the entire collection? To see his work printed on keychains and mugs in the museum's gift shop seems like iconic art to me.

"Point Man"

I spent most of September planning a secret surprise birthday for him, so I couldn't spend the time honoring him on my blog earlier. Better late than never. So I'll take the liberty to brag about him now, and I'll post pics from the surprise party even later.

For more details on the exhibit, click here, then click on "Online Gallery" and scroll to the 1960's. You will view 3 of the works posted below.

To see his recent work available at the Belleza Gallery in Bisbee, Arizona click here

All artwork courtesy of U.S. Army Center for Military History, Washington DC
Burdell Moody, US Army
1960-1969
oil


"Killed in Action"
1968

"Night Operation"
1967

"Heavy Lifting"
1967

"Big and Little Fire Power"
1967

The Halloween Season Turns Official

Eye saw Mommy kissing Frankenstein (original artwork by Julie Nelson)

(original artwork by Ann Gardner purchased at Art Market)

Deck the Halls with witches and pumpkins, fa la la la la la la la
(Stackable & Nesting Witch and Cat painted boxes by Barbara Young, Handpainted Gourds by Jeni Gochnour, Wool Pumpkin and Spider by Macey Wilcox, all available at Art Market)





The candy jars are filled of creatures with care, in hopes that the Phantom Ghost soon will appear.



Oh Spooky Tree, Oh Spooky Tree, how fragile are your branches?

And Back in September...

It was Fine Art Night for Art Market. Nanette wanted to serve light refreshments opening night. I wanted to experiment with an artist theme buffet table that I could use for my dad's 70th birthday as well, so this is what I came up with for her buffet. I know, I know, the picture quality isn't the best. I forgot my camera and we just used a phone camera, but hopefully you can get the idea. Some of the trays are actual lucite artist pallettes. A little condensation formed where the clear glass cylinders met the clear trays. The varied sizes of the cylinders were filled with colored water to raise the trays to different levels, in addition to adding color to the otherwise black and white table.

Fright Food Night at the Ferre-nstein's

Well every party must start with an invitation of course...

(Ignore the spelling error, I was out of my mind for this one. "Specimans" of course is "specimen", but they were already sewn and ribbonized, so forget it!)

Then we have the 36 specimen samples on the soapstone lab surface...


Start concocting. I had sample pizza ideas listed on the lab sheets, or you could use those living brains and create your own.

John unable to keep the creature parts out of his mouth any longer



Jean Michel, always a straight A student, got extra credit for siting his research.


Yea, we are telling our scariest moment tales now. Can't you tell?


The couples' Trick or Treat bags filled with guests' favorite treats they brought to share with the group.

Nanette made caramel apples from the freshly harvested apples off her tree. Go Martha, go Martha!

Julie dried us some vulture brains (AKA amazing caramel corn)

Below, please find interesting specimen of the male gender:



Too bad girls, they are all taken.

I Love Small Town USA

My dad owns a teeny, tiny house in the small town of Parowan, Utah. Our family has had the opportunity to retreat there several times this year. I remember a time when I was a little girl and my family would pass through this little town on our way to Salt Lake City. I would wonder what people would do during the day in towns like Parowan, Paragonah, Mt. Carmel, Hatch, Orderville and Panguich.

Since Matt and I have taken on our most recent motto of "slow life down and take time to enjoy," when Virginia called us and asked if we wanted to meet my dad and her in Parowan for the Iron County Fair over Labor Day weekend, we marked our calendars with a red Sharpie pen and gold foil stars to remind us. I washed our best red and white gingham attire, packed our overnight bags, mountain bikes, a market tote full of projects to most likely avoid, miscellaneous food from the fridge, and my running gear. The weather has been changing to that brisk cool air that reminds me on my run every morning that a new season is on it's way.

Four surprises on this trip:

1. I like rodeos and parades.

2. My little sis and her family came. We had no idea. So when Mo Mo knocked on the door, we squeeled when we saw their faces.
3. I found out I really love to mountain bike. I used the bike Matt bought me as a wedding gift 18 years ago. And at the bottom of Brian Head ski resort, I found out from another biker that I might be interested in an updated bike with shocks. A lot changes in 18 years, and with bikes, there are no exceptionsto this rule.

4. Iron County had a 5K as part of the parade on Monday.

So I ran...

I ran as fast as I could.

I brought home a shiny red ribbon for my age group. I love small towns, they make me feel like I'm someone of ribbon worthy.

My girls remind me that I'm probably not. All they could say from the sidelines is, "You run funny Mom!"

Whatever kids.

I already miss you Parowan. I wonder what I'll do during the day without you.

Farm to Table

The Invitation hand delivered in small burlap bags

The Lloyd's Farm Table
The Season's Abundance from Jennie and her neighbor's yard arranged in baskets and dishes serve as the table's focal point.









The Featured Artisans










What exactly was on the menu you ask? Only locally grown or handcrafted food of course. Thank you Brent Morely for hooking us up with some pretty incredible whole fillet of beef. (I'm only sorry he was never photographed, with the task of cooking the meat for this crew, he was never sitting around.)

Homemade Mint Lemonade

Caprise Bruschetta with Homegrown Tomatoes, Sweet Basil & Mozzarella Balls

Blue Cheese, Roasted Potato, and Field Greens Salad with Lemon-Garlic Dressing

Chive, Parsley and Rosemary Rolls

Yellow Squash Gratin, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Filet of Beef with Gorgonzola & Onion Sauce


Berries, Peaches and Cream Pavlova

Jennie's gracious parting gifts - Homemade Basil Pesto

And then take a burlap bag and fill it with shared abundance from guests' gardens