Backyard watching

If I don't answer the phone, chances are we're out back. The kids are likely covered head to toe from the sandbox. Tyler is likely pushing around the pink doll stroller, after repeatedly pulling a pretend string on it's side like a manly lawnmower. The girls have likely claimed to be bored, and are returning yet again to the shed in hopes of discovering something new.

So goes Summer around here.
The kids are outside.
I am "watching" the kids outside.

I am watching them pretend play,
splash into the inflatable pool,
investigate roly-poly potato bugs by the handful,
and inhale Popsicles at an alarming rate,
among other things!

Knowing our majority of time would be spent in the backyard, I recently moved my birdfeeders among the back lilies rather than the front roses. Something else to watch. The two feeders full of a random wild bird seed mix have been found and are covered with feathered friends. By covered, I mean constantly bombarded with petite chickadees and sparrows that dart down at alarming rates. The common brown birds seen everywhere here. At nearly any given time there are a half dozen perched on the feeders' ledge, others waiting within the chain link fence, others picking up from the discard pile on the ground. The feeder remains covered until the pesky jay flies in...or the kids run to close with their screaming tones turned on...or the dog scrambles by while chasing down the thrown tennis ball.

But, once the noise passes and the coast again appears clear, the crowd of birds is back.

We've gotten some good backyard watching in. I from my lawn chair, or from the kitchen window looking out. The girls from army-crawling position on the grass, as they inch slower closer.

I know some people think birds are creepy. Part of me does too. Afraid that they'll peck me, I never get close to them at the pet-store. I'd never want a cage indoors taking up a big chunk of my house. And, a mimicking parrot would likely start repeating what it shouldn't! But, wild birds that only require a bag of seed and a perch are doable. Interesting from a distance. I enjoy trying to identify them and watching their mannerisms. A new hobby, I think!

That being said, we've have been watching the birds for the past few weeks. Me, far more than the occupied kids. One night when Matt got home for dinner I began telling him of this bright blue headed bird that I'd seen earlier that day. "Sure," he doubted. The kids hadn't seen it, so they offered no backup.

Stubbornly wanting to prove my point (and also wanting alone time after a LONG day), I shooed the kids out front with Matt and I headed out back with camera in hand (Yes! This "watching" offers a great reason to be silently alone!). I plopped myself into the kids' red wagon to wait. The crowd of brown birds came. They flew away. They returned. They flew away...

Then I saw it! A splash of blue flew into the nearby tree. Ah-ha! The exotic bird I had been waiting for. Camera up. I zoomed in and caught him on the fence. Evidence A. Then he perched on the feeder. Proof B. Then, what?!? I caught the last picture...

My lens caught TWO! Two have been joining the feast.

Knowing I had my story documented, I continued watching. I wondered if they came just by themselves. Up to that point, I had not ever seen them share space with the common house sparrow. But a minute later, I caught both brown and blue side by side on ground-level. No segregation here!

A few days have past since this sighting. I have researched and found the official name - "Lazuli Bunting." Sounds tropical. However, I was disappointed to see that they are ranked as "common" for our area. Nothing really exotic here. But, I'm not going to let that label diminish their beauty, nor their difference from my ordinary sightings.

Which, gets me thinking (AGAIN) about the "ordinary" verses the "exciting" that seems to be a repeating learning for me.

Because I took time to slow down and wait, I was able to see something different among the everyday. I was able to see something amazing without having to travel past my backyard. And, even at the times when there was no blue head in sight, I was still taking the time to appreciate the simple. I found joy in watching the regular visitors. Even their common color added excitement to the day.

Hmmm...applicable back to my kids in the same backyard. Slowing down allows me to not miss their small moments of doing something different. And, still enjoying the regular moments - the predictable questions, actions, fights - lets me recognize each as a blessing. The "boring" moments of just running around proves to still be a crowd of darting miracles.

Questions "bugging" Paige

Paige (quite concerned): "Why did Jesus let so many spiders be made?"
Meg: "Remember spiders eats bugs."
Paige (after a few moments considering): "I guess that's good, then. We don't want the world taken over by bugs!"


Paige: "Why does everybody call all ladybugs 'lady'? People should call the boy ones 'manbugs'."
Meg: "We don't know which is which. We don't know if it is a girl or boy."
Paige: "Oh."

A little celebration

School is done! One year down. To celebrate the getting to and through the final day, my Mom brought over a personal-sized cake for Meg. Done teaching for the day, she was right alongside Meg in being excited for the Summer. I am excited for the few months ahead that won't include the lunchtime rush up to Kindergarten.

Meg was kind enough to share one slice of cake with Paige. It was handed over with the reminder that "it is just for me finishing school, though." After quickly enjoying three-quarters, the last bit was tucked away to enjoy later. Got to extend celebrating for as long as possible, I suppose.

Paige already anticipates her cake. Color has been requested in advance. Two long years in advance. It'll be two years before her celebration, because Paige is still home all next year with me.

Maple Canyon

Happy hikers make all the difference! Could have been that we hit the trail pretty early in the morning. Could have been that the bag was sufficiently loaded with granola bars. Whatever the reason, you'll notice that our most recent hike, Maple Canyon on our way out of Sanpete County, was filled with many more sincere smiles!

We first attempted the "Middle Fork." Supposedly, an amazing arch becomes visible a short ways in. Well, we passed unique walls that looked like piles of round rocks held together in concrete. We went through shadows and past small patches of remaining snow. We carefully scaled a very steep slope of wet mud. That's when we turned back. Things appeared more like a dead end into muddy trees. Add a 30 lb pack and two girls underfoot, and we called "uncle" before seeing any claimed arch.

Once back at the starting point, the day was still young and the kids wanted to try the trail "across the bridge." Better titled the "Left Fork Trail." Rock climbers from all over come to this area to scale these mountains. Left Fort offered more close-ups of the strange geology. We passed many climbing clips that remained mounted and left behind. We did some careful rock jumping across a small creek (not deep or rushing speeds, thank goodness).

This trail felt very much like Spring to me - moss covered rocks, petite wildflowers trying to grow, and random runoffs dripping from above. It turned out to be a hike where hands could be put into pockets and the flat path could be enjoyed (at least for the small portion of it we walked, who knows the size of boulders one has to scale once in the "box canyon" section...).

Visiting: the Manti Temple

Once unloading and visiting for a bit, we made the short twenty minute drive to see the Manti temple. I remember several summers sitting below the hill, watching as my cousins performed in the annual Mormon Miracle Pageant. Matt also remembers coming down to see it with his youth groups. The last time we made it down was to see my cousin married, eight years ago. Both of those occasions were among large crowds. This day, as we wandered the grounds as a family, things were much more quiet. A beautiful way to spend Memorial Day's afternoon!

MANY pictures follow. Those included would have certainly filled an old-fashioned 35m roll of film. Thank goodness for the digital ability to take COUNTLESS shots and choose the few that turned out. But, even then, this visit has a large load. Too many sweet moments and cute memories to not include. So, either enjoy as if you are a friend stuck on a couch as I flip slowly through a family vacation album, or scroll thru quickly and make the visit yourself someday. Although, after so many angles, you may just be content visiting vicariously through us. For now...

We parked up around the side of the temple, and started from there. I thought it was interesting how this wall just butted right into the mountainside. I also thought the multi-colored stone, quarried from the hillside it sits next to, was especially beautiful up close.

There were MANY stairs to climb. This large case lead to the upper side. There we found two smaller staircases. The girls were quick to the top of the left stairs. Brother not far behind. Matt and I tried to take a break atop the right stairs. Brother, again, was not far behind!

Returning back down to ground level, the girls found a rock area to sit atop. Each smiling in front of a beautifully crafted window. We continued around the other walls, and back.

I love this picture of Matt and Tyler. Sweet boy. He has become especially clingy lately. He did find a secluded corner of the walls to wander independently into, tho. Wasn't long before his hideout had to be shared with his sisters. Second picture shows him gesturing "come." Third shows all three "surrounded by the temple" as Matt pointed out.

Then, of course, a visit to the Manti temple cannot seem complete without rolling down the large grass hill. The girls were off as soon as we said go. Tyler took their actions in and then made an attempt of scooting down the slope backwards, as he does stairs. Matt ended up helping his to the bottom.

I sat midway down the hill. From that vantage point, I could see the girls start again from the top (Can you see them as itty-bitty spots in the lower left of the second picture below?). I could also watch as they ran wild on the flat field below. This visit turned out to be wonderful. Beautiful weather. Up close angles. Open space to run and laugh. And, nearly alone!

Utah Temples to Tour:

Bountiful

Brigham City

Draper

Jordan River

Logan

Manti

Monticello

Mount Timpanogos

Ogden

Oquirrh Mountain

Payson

Provo

St. George

Salt Lake

Vernal

(*On our drive home, we stopped for a park and lunch in Payson. We found the overgrown field that has been announced as the spot for Utah's 15th temple. Over half already visited! This whole temple-visiting-challenge we've set has given me the chance to better understand exactly where the temples in Utah are and the numbers of local members they each are serving. Also, I'm realizing random details like the fact that the Manti temple sits on a spot once infested with rattlesnakes.)

Spring City's Farm

I wanted to get away over Memorial Day this year. We couldn't leave for the whole weekend, since Matt had the on-call phone. But knowing that Monday's holiday could lead into his normal Tuesday off, I started making plans. I found some cabins in Palisade State Park. I figured those would be safe with all the rainy weather. I started asking cousins from near the area for opinions on hiking trails and things nearby. Their advice turned into "I know a really pretty place called Spring City. Stay there. Mom and Dad would love the visit." I had considered it. It was familiar to me (Growing up, I had spent several Summer weeks there with cousins.). But I think it took a phonecall directly from my Aunt Katie for me to take up the invitation.

Yes! A free and warm place to stay would be wonderful. A place with home cooked food and family conversation would be a welcomed break. A place where my kids can leave the city and get a feel for farm life would be a perfect spot. A place that is close to both a temple and a hiking trail is exactly what I wanted for the quick get-away.

So, to Spring City we went! The kids were immediately interested in the cows (the little guy is just a month old!) and chickens behind the fence. Being able to help feed the animals the table scraps worked as definite incentive to eat quickly and head outside.

While it was still light, Tyler went to sleep in the crib and the girls were content on twin mattresses in front of a movie, so Matt and I were able to take an unusually slow walk around the block blocks - plural! Quiet, quaint, beautiful blocks! Spring City is marked all along the highway as a "scenic city" to visit. Slow driving cars taking in the views are common. I completely enjoyed the change of pace. Matt immediately claimed aloud that he'd move down and live there in a heartbeat!

Aunt Katie and Uncle Gary's house is pictured below. Trying to not take too much advantage of relatives' hospitality, it served as the perfect bed and breakfast Katie told me to treat it as.