SPAGHETTI SAUCE HEAVEN!!

Definingˈbyü-ti-fəl.......

It has been a while since I have posted anything. My thoughts are constantly running full steam ahead but rarely do I get a chance to slow down and put those thoughts into words.
We recently returned from a wonderful family vacation to the thriving metropolis of Marysvale, Utah, population....maybe 300. This is an amazing town filled with deep rooted history of mining, religion and the Bertelsen family.

We went with a group of family and friends, about 15 in all, and enjoyed amazing rides on the 4-wheelers, great food and fun conversation. It was on one of these rides that I found myself thinking, "That is the most beautiful.....". After thinking this so many times I wondered how one could really express the word 'beautiful' so that someone else feels in their heart and soul what you feel.

William Shakespeare said..."Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Was he totally correct? Can I look at something that, to me, is utterly gorgeous and to you is merely average? Is there beauty in everything? Really, everything?

As I was able to putter my way slowly through more than 100 miles of the Paiute Trail I found myself cresting a hill and seeing such an extraordinary scene that I would stop my machine, pull the camera out of the protective case, take several shots and just hope that I had captured through the lens, what my eyes and heart and mind had experienced in that one moment.




Feeling confident that I had, I would continue on down the trail only to be stopped again at another sight that seemed to be competing for my vote on "Most Beautiful".


If that wasn't enough to keep my mind busy, I found that the actual 'smell' of sunburnt leaves and dusty trail was beautiful! Un-scarred white bark on an aspen tree, one vibrant oak with shimmering red leaves in the midst of lush green pines, the sun glistening on golden aspen leaves. Could anything be more beautiful?

My senses would not give my mind a rest. Soon I was listening to the water rushing over rocks and cascading into a river. The sound was calming. The scene was peaceful. What was the most beautiful thing?

Upon our return to camp I found beauty in other things..... our friends children, Claire giggling and Nate roasting marshmallows or asking if we could go through "Roller Coaster Alley" again, seeing Dani and Bryn enjoying each others company on a camping trip they yearned for. Having Ralph and Cher, Rob and Karen and Todd and Anna see Marysvale through our eyes. Even Cher's gourmet carrot-cake pancakes that never could cook all the way were beautiful!


Needless to say, I haven't discovered or defined beautiful. I am, however, so blessed to live in such a place that I am inspired to continue searching, knowing full well, that it is one thing and everything.

Please let me know what your definition of beautiful is........

Just a little game of tag!
Here are the Rules:
1)Post rules on your blog
2)Answer the six "8" items
3)Let each person you tag know by leaving them a comment

8 Favorite TV Shows
1. What Not To Wear
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. Desperate Housewives
4. So You Think You Can Dance
5. American Idol
6. Brothers and Sisters
7. News
8. 48 Hours

8 Things I did Yesterday
1. Went to work only to pull into the parking lot, have my boss call and say that
I had plenty of hours and could go home!
2. Had smoothies (made by Kirk) for breakfast with my Honey and My Baby girl!
3. Scrubbed basement floors
4. Cleaned the litter box (Cheese must have been thrilled as we were treated to
a wonderful dead mouse offering this morning.
5. Made Bread...this made everyone happy!
6. Removed an embarrassing amount of hair from my floors that could possibly
create another dog! (How can crazy still be so furry?)
7. Did laundry.
8. Listed my motorcycle for sale.

8 Things I'm Looking Forward To
1. Having Kirk home for Sunday dinner for the next two months.
2. Tomatoes from the garden.
3. Seeing my Favorite Uncle at the end of this month!
4. Bryn's dance review of the classes she teaches...July 15th!
5. Sunny beautiful days.
6. Heaven.
7. Having some time to finish a book.
8. That's about it.....

8 Favorite Restaurants1.
1. Gloria's Little Italy
2. Ottavios
3. Bombay House
4. Ruby River
5. Applebees
6. Miner's Cafe in Midvale
7. Tucanos
8. Sizzler

8 Things on My Wish List
1. No Debt
2. Low gas prices
3. World Peace...seriously
4. Extra time
5. Cool summer nights
6. Another trip to Italy would be pretty nice.
7. Some shoes that look good and feel good after running around at work all day long.
8. A fur free existence that still included my dog Crazy.

People I Tag
1. Dani Lou
2. Bryndi Boo
3. Shana Gardner
4. Chris Pyne
5. Kayleen Sheppard

Summertime, Sweet Summertime.......

I love all of the seasons of the year but summertime is probably my favorite. To see the fruits of your labor (or your hubby's labor), the flowers blooming, even to mow the lawn, I look forward to it all.

I feel so blessed to be in the home that my grandparents built. I cannot wake up without thinking about them, missing them, hoping I am living up to what they wanted of me. They were such a wonderful influence in my life and I hope that I can pass that on to my girls.

I thought I would just post a few pictures of my favorite summertime hangout ~ the patio (pronounced Pah-Tee-Ooh for those of you who know and love anyone in Marfa, Texas;)



Kirk has worked so hard in the garden this year and we are going to have a bumper crop of tomatoes!



My sweet Crazy. She is squinting just a bit, too light outside for those tender eyes!



I can hardly believe that Jazz is 14 years old! She still acts like a little puppy.



The Patio. A refuge from the daily grind.