Spring Break Part 2: Day Hike and Up the North Fork

The next day was a layover day so we headed up the canyon in search of more slots.  We ended our hike here where a big pour off came down from above.  Everyone was psyched to hike without their full packs and we explored many wonderful expressions of the land, poking our heads in holes, checking out little side paths and enjoying each others company.  Here at the apex of our hike, Dakota dug a big hole and was able to make drippy castles while Wren explored the upper ledges, looking for cool forts.   Below is the view down on the pool created by the dripping spring and pour-off.  You can see me and Dakota checking out the drippy castle hole.

I got to spend some time drawing most days.  This day, the boys found a dead bat which I got to draw. 

The next day we headed up the North Fork of Robber's Roost.  Here is a good picture of the color of the rock. 


Many of our hiking days looks like this.  Big rock walls towering above us as we made our way through the vegetation down in the canyon bottoms.





 

Spring Break Part 1: Hiking in to Robbers Roost

In search of some slot canyons we headed off to southern Utah for Spring Break.

 As we look out across the mesa everyone is ready to hike.  Wren is looking cool in his shades and I have that peaceful..." I am in the desert look."    Moments later a pick up truck drove by heading down the road that we were planning on hiking down for the first mile of our trip.  I quickly flagged them down and asked is we could get a ride in the back.  The boys were thrilled.  Ride in the back of a pick up truck...no seat belts...and we don't have to hike that extra mile.  Brilliant!

 Out of the truck, backpacks on, headed across the mesa.  Eventually we got to the rim of the canyon where we all got a taste of the gatorade!  YUM!  A treat for the boys and well worth it! 

 From the rim we headed down the "Old Cow Trail" which followed the slick rock down into a White Roost Canyon.

 Here is our first night camp.  We were amazed that we drove from just south of Salt Lake City to the road head, packed up the packs, hiked to camp and still had enough time and energy to head up canyon for an afternoon hike.  We were looking for our first slot canyon.  We found it, but access was so limited that we only got to experience about 15 feet of the slot before we were cliffed out.

 Day 2 took us down canyon to the confluence of Robbers Roost where we lunched up in these cool holes about 10 feet off the canyon floor. 

  Up Robbers Roost Canyon to the confluence of the North Fork and the Middle Fork we found a great bench just off the sandy bottom where we camped for 2 nights.  Happy Wren at the setting of the sun.

 The boys loved setting up Rock Shops.  Here is their first installment.  They set up the shop.  We go around and collect our own rocks and then barter with them for the one's they have collected.  None of them go in our backpacks.  It is a wonderful camp activity during dinner prep and camp set up.

Fun and News

Promptly after moving in we traveled to AZ on a Christmas road trip.  And I will blog out of order about that trip.  But because I have been so tardy in posting, I just wanted to get some current images up for folks. 

We have been having lots of fun times in and out of our new home this winter.  Here are a few images. 

We have been enjoying ourselves and the snow at bluewood almost every weekend.  Keeping us busy but joyful because of the sun.

 We have gotten a bunch more snow down in town this year than either of the previous years.  Here is our sweet little street, Statesman. 

 Wren had a UFO photo project.  He had to take a UFO photo without altering the image after.  Dakota, of course wanted to participate so here is one of each.  Wren's first with the red, UFO.  Then Dakota's with the blue one.

 This is just pure boy fun. 

Big News: the tooth fairy visited Dakota for the first time last week.  Wow was he ever excited.

And then this week Wren visited the Orthodontic fairy and got braces.

Home

We have been in our home since December 7th when a wonderful group of friends came and helped make the big push.  Here are some images.

First Dinner: Pizza

First Fire:

We moved on a snowy winter day.  Here is this outside view in the winter.

 After moving we hosted a pizza dinner for everyone. 

 And the inside. Beginning upstairs.  Master Bedroom.

Master Bath Shower Floor

Dakota's room.

 Wren's Room

Downstairs: Dining Room

 Kitchen

Happy Family in front of the house.

Almost Home: The Inside View

Here is the inside. 

The front door is not on the house yet.  Our contractor waits until the last minute so that the subs don't ding it up.  

View of kitchen and dining room.

View of the living room.  Appliances were delivered yesterday so some are in the still in the living room.

The wood stove with slate.

 Heading up the stairs looking down at the office.

 Wren's Room

 Dakota's Room

Master Bedroom:  Our bed will be centered under these windows.

And our master bathroom.  This is the shower.

 This is the shower floor.  We are particularly proud of this.  All the stones were gathered from the rock bars on the Salmon River over the course of a number of family and work trips.

And then when we went to pick out the counter tops, we found this amazing  piece of stone.  So this is it for now.  I don't think I will post again until we have moved and maybe not until after Christmas.
 

Almost Home: The Outside View

It's been busy around here.  I realize I have not posted since September...


So here is a set of photos of the outside of the house.  It is essentially done.  Our plan is to be sleeping in our beds in the new house by the 15th of December.

Welcome to our home.  This is the front walk up to the house. In the winter you can actually see the front of the house so it was a good day to take a picture.

This is the south side.  The awning is designed to block the sun in the summer but let all the sun in during the winter months.  It is working so far.

This is our north side porch.  A place where we plan to spend many meals in the spring, summer and fall. 

This is the back stoop that faces east out of the kitchen to the linden tree.

This is the view of our "complex" from the south.  The carport has the solar panels. The house has the solar hot water heater.  We hope to paint the carport at some point to match the house which will make the whole place look better.  (A project for later.)