seLdom liKed

Happy Birthday to me...on the day before my 64th birthday. Just had to have a photo record, because this is my last year before retirement lol. And I like this pic. (I hardly ever say that...just ask Scott.)

PaRk CitY - to ski (or not to ski)

We love Park City - and try to have one ski day there each year. This time, I was too nervous about my knee to dare to ski (which is ridiculous because I had the arthroscopy 18 months ago lol). But I just know that if I fell and it bent back, it'd hurt so badly that I'd embarrass my self with crying. So Scott had to ski alone and darn it, I had to go to the outlet mall.

It was a beautiful weekend - surprisingly warm, but like all of Utah this winter, there was lots and lots of snow. The best part was that baby Ivy came for a sleepover. Oh, and Mike and Sierra too. It was fun to have them hang out and entertain us.

EasTer weeKend in St. George

There were several Cache Valley artists in the show. This Michael Malm painting had a long list of bids on the bid sheet. It really was lovely. 

St. PatRIcK's DaY at Epcot

     

We had a half day to see Epcot and wondered if it would be worth it. We knew the "Flower and Garden Festival" was going on, so that helped us decide. It was amazing. The flowers and Disney-themed topiaries were creative and colorful. We ran from country to country, but paused for awhile to take time for Scott to sketch and me to eat lunch. It was St. Patrick's Day, and lots of people were wearing green. The topiary characters were wearing green - in fact, they were green. 

gLiding over FloRida

The timing was perfect for our quick trip to Orlando last week! We got texts and pictures from home of rain and snow. Meantime, we experienced temperature shock as we stepped off the plane to 89 degrees! Doesn't take long to get used to that wonderfulness.

As is his tradition, once we were checked into our hotel, Scott went straight to the hotel's "tourist pamphlet" display and picked up an advertisement for airboat rides in the Everglades. Wait a sec. I thought the Everglades are way way south. (?) Come to find out, this place called Boggy Creek is at the northernmost point of the Everglades system and so, before I could say, "Real alligators," we were on our way to the Florida countryside. It was a short forty minute drive to go from mouse country to LakeTohopekaligo. (Short drive but worlds apart.)

Airboats are fast, loud, and fun. They skim the surface of the water powered by...not an airplane engine as I expected, but a Ford truck engine. The driver was friendly and knowledgeable and had a great twangy accent. 

I gave up trying to spot alligators within the first three minutes. Best thing to do is just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. 

The scenery is incredible. The sky, the water, the beautiful plants. As the lake reaches the horizon, the fluffy clouds come into view and take your breath away. 

            There were birds and ducks everywhere. We saw at least a dozen different types of birds. 

And HERE is our one and only alligator. The guide stopped the boat in the tall grass and gently floated with the current. Then he pointed and said, "There." Everyone saw it before me. It's right in the middle of the photo - a dark green spot that kind of looks like a tire. That's all we saw. No head, no eyes, no teeth. 

Although the alligator viewing was less than spectacular, the afternoon was amazing. As we drove, we saw cattle grazing in green fields - everywhere - and realized we were traveling through the boundaries of the LDS Florida ranch. We remembered a past trip when we toured the headquarters of the ranch. We tuned into the local country radio station and rolled down the windows to enjoy the warm, humid air. It was just one of those perfect days. 

 

ToNy Grove LaKe

A patient said to Scott, "The wildflowers at Tony Grove Lake are spectacular right now." The sun was shining when Scott told me so I said, "Let's go! Right now!" And we did. And they were.