Moist and tender beyond belief

The turkey this year was the best -  moist and tender beyond belief.  Grandma claims I say the same every year.  Haha.

Grandma

According to Snoops.com, George Washington proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving; however it was Abraham Lincoln that proclaimed the last thursday of November be the day of celebration.  

It doesn't get any better than this.

Grandma and Sherry were the only females this year.  After dinner the men huddled around the table glued to their computers linked to a game.  As for me, the piano room couch was put to good use.

After cleanup, Sherry and Grandma entertained themselves by chatting.  Sherry had made a beautiful quilt - a work of art, for sure.

Grandma looks very comfortable.



To top off our Thanksgiving time together, Jeff and son Greg opened a couple of birthday gifts.  Nothing like tools to make men happy!

The job was a service project

After lunch today, Mike, and three of his friends showed up at our house with work clothes on and chain saws in hand. They wanted to finish taking down the fir tree in the back yard. This caught Bev and I by surprise, but we wished them luck, and in a couple hours the job was done. I offered them some money, but they refused payment, saying that the job was a service project. That was very nice of them, but we are considering several creative options to thank them for their generosity.      

Anyway, for the first time in several decades, I was able to see Lone Peak from the deck.  What a thrill!

They used a one-man lift to reach the upper limbs.  The trunk of the tree was cut into approximately two foot sections.  All the the scraps were transported to the curb where they could be hauled away by the city; however, the "scavengers" got the large sections, which was fine by me.

42 years ago, I planted this tree.  How do I know?  Because
 Rachel counted the rings on the stump.  Bless her little heart. 

A great worthwhile event

The Sandy Visual Art Show was open to all.  Grandma being encouraged by her art instructor, entered an original watercolor into the competition.  

Bev and Anne Jewett, her teacher.

Anne, an accomplished artist/poet, and has recently published a book of poems called:  

Whispers from the Heart  Paperback - August 27, 2018 by Antoinette Jewett (Author)

Go to amazon.com to order!

Now, I was privileged to have been invited to the Gala showing.  To be in the presence of all the artists for the awards presentation was indeed an honor.  Miss Sandy was there to help with the accolades.

Even the city mayor was present, by video.  He was very proud of the artistic accomplishments of the community.

Mayor Kurt Bradburn

After the ceremony, all were invited to review the art display, and I must say that as I went from room to room, I was impressed as to the artistic quality of each work.  Needless to say, I will be interested in attending next year.  This is a great worthwhile event - believe me!

Kind of kooky

I know it seems kind of kooky putting a cemetery photo on social media.  But really now, the last time I checked I saw pics of:

• just the whipping cream on a slice of pie, 
• a bathroom selfie, 
• and a totally weird guy standing on a beach holding a pistol.  

Located in Vernal.

Oh, the guy with the gun had 24 likes, 7 comments and 1 share.  Interesting, huh?

Anyway, please do not "defriend me,"  for I really do enjoy the playful "monkey business" that goes on.

Okay, how did the Rock Point Cemetery get its name?  My guess is from the above rock outcropping located really close by on the north boundary of Vernal.  Notice the flat slab in the middle.  It is loaded with petroglyphs, most of which are simple as pictured below.  To me they look like ladders, or perhaps humans with six decorative markings on their breastplates?

Joe told me that he and Andy discovered these while biking.

Located in a gully, on the same road just east of the outcropping, is more artwork.  It looks to be a little more advanced.

Pictograph - painted on rock surface.

Petroglyph - carved or pecked into the rock surface.

Do you like dolls?

Do you like dolls?

One of the most fascinating shacks on the McConkie ranch is the doll house.  All four walls are literally covered with cuties of all kinds.  The one featured below is reported to be over 100 years old. 

It was really kind of eerie being in the presence of all those inanimate little things looking at me with their little beady eyes.

In another shack were various items from the past.  About this time my camera started acting up, so I didn't get pics of either the painting or any Indian artifacts which were in another shack.

But I did get a closeup photo of the old coffee mill featured below.

I Love the eagle on top.

Please take note of the wooden skies.

An old wooden snow sled is balanced up against a kid's wagon.  Things like this adorn the ranch's landscape.  

Time to leave.

Bev prepares to go.

  This is rugged country, so desolate - a land of mystery.  

On the way out, we passed by a sheepherder's wagon.

A virtual wild west museum

 A short drive up Dry Fork Canyon and we arrived at McConkie ranch - an interesting place.  Joe informed us that some great Indian art is on the sheer Navajo cliffs.  We didn't actually make it to the cliffs, thus no photos. 

Below is the only pic I got of a glyph, but for some strange reason, I don't think the artist is an ancient Fremont Indian.

A visitor parking lot is provided along with a visitor's shack.  Inside this is a few artifacts and a guest register.  

  

On the south side of the parking lot is a line of deer antlers.  Andy informed me that these are probably "sheds."  Each spring they shed their horns and new ones begin to grow.  

Below is one of the out-shacks.  

What one person views as useless, another person might highly value.  This is what Jean told us as she led us through the shacks.  All of the items on display have been saved by the family throughout the years.  In reality this ranch is a "down-to-earth" virtual wild west museum. 

The bar.

Across the way from the bar is a pump organ.  Jean insisted that I play it, and it didn't take long for my legs to ache with pain.  

 On a wall hangs an old meat cleaver.  The blade has a word of warning for drinkers.  "The bartenders friend.  Think twice before skipping out on bar bill."

Bev and Jean socially connected almost instantly.


The next posting will contain more interesting items that may of interest to you.  So please check back in a day or two.  Thanks.

A real Indian kiva

On the McConkie ranch is a real Indian kiva.  Andy, with her slim and fit frame, easily descended the ladder.  My descent was another story.  My shoulders just would not co-operate, and I got stuck.  This experience definitely proves that the Fremont Indians were very small people.     

Andy was shouting words of encouragement from inside the kiva, and Joe was overly enjoying the spectacle from the outside.  

   

"Come on, John! You can do it."  "You're almost there!"  "Only a little bit farther,"  she kept saying.  

My foot helplessly dangled between the rungs as I squirmed.  I finally gave up and reversed direction.  Jean McConkie, trying to be informational, said that 21 kindergarten kids made it to the bottom.   

Inside the kiva.

Jean took us on a tour of the out-shacks surrounding the kiva.  They contain all kinds of antiques and artifacts of which I will describe in the next posting.  You will find this very interesting!

   

Autumn in Sheep Creek

 This fall we were treated to a showcase of color and wildlife.  The trees were "showing off their stuff" for sure.  

According to Joe, the Kokanee Salmon spawn each year during this time.  They make their way up Sheep Creek from Flaming Gorge to do their thing; then they die.  (Poor things, but what a way to go.)

I took the above pic from a bridge, the same one that Joe and Andy are on in the pic below.

Grandma & I are standing on the same bridge, but facing the opposite direction, so the background is a cliff scene.    

Totally unexpected was a little herd of big horn sheep feeding in a beautiful pasture.  One of them posed for a great photo.  

Wildlife was abundant.  In addition to the big horn's we saw wild turkeys and deer.  Below are fall colors in Sheep Creek Canyon.

The road was mostly paved.

The Madison Limestone, I think.

The ranger station.  I understand this beautiful spread with its cabins can be rented for family gatherings etc.  Maybe this would be an interesting spot for a reunion?