Sadie was so clever with her Halloween costume. She and Jessie have celebrated together for many years. D and I came to Richfield and hung out with Mason and Rachael and then Cris and Denise for a minute. Still getting used to the Richfield without my parents. While I’m getting used to it, I don’t have to like it.
I like a good Throwback Thursday. (2010 and 2007)
I also like when I see big horn sheep (even though their horns aren't very big) in AF Canyon.
Today in the temple my thoughts went to my grandma and grandpa Payne. They have been in heaven my entire life but I’ll bet they’ve looked down on my life a little. I wish I had better pictures of them.
Elwood Payne:
Myrle Payne (61 years old):
That son of mine sure knows how to make my day. Got this text and am so thankful he sent it. I'll look at this often.
We took our time packing up this morning before hiking the 3 miles out, eating at The Moab Diner, and driving home to the kids starting Rylie's birthday celebration. (Thanks to Darren for snapping this picture.)
This trip had me thinking of my parents a bit as the echo at Druid was fabulous and I let out a classic Ross yell to hear coming off so many walls. Then on the road to Canyonlands there were so many cattle guards so I made sure to touch the car ceiling for most of them which my mom would have done.
Today dawned clean and beautiful. I caught the sun coming up over Elephant Canyon and also lighting up the needles. Sigh. The shadows of the needles on the other needles was cool. It's so quiet here. It's like you can hear the quiet. D&C 117:16 - Have I not made the earth?
We quickly visited The Joint (this place makes you feel like a kid) and then over slick rock and around needles to EC2. Darren helped me through the couple of obstacles I was concerned about with my pack on. (Me concerned about things? What? :))
We spent some time relaxing at camp and then headed to the spectacular Druid Arch. I don't love getting there but I always love being there. We had the place to ourselves which was incredible. I can't describe how peaceful and resetting it is to be the only ones in a vast and beautiful place. That's my favorite part of backpacking here - the solitude and with it the quiet. Oh, and the stars.
Back to camp for a warm dinner to warm us up and then into the tent as the sun goes down and it cools down. Kindle o'clock comes early with the temperatures dropping and the sun going down a 7:00. The silence is also loud at EC2. Except when we start singing Shadows in the Moonlight by Anne Murray. :)
Time for our last backpack of the year. Needles - Canyonlands for two nights.
We stopped in Moab for some pizza at Canyon Pizza Co. I love this pizza place. We ate plenty of pieces and then headed to Elephant Canyon Trailhead.
We arrived at CP1 to a visitor and ended up inviting her to stay at our site. Somehow she missed her EC1 site and I kept thinking how lucky she was that cool people like us were the ones to share this site.
It had rained just a bit hiking in but we were able to set up camp, eat an Uncrustable (since we weren't very hungry thanks to the pizza), catch a rainbow at the back of our camp, and see the sunset out the front before the rain came back.
We hung out in the tent listening to the rain on and off and heard the flapping of crow wings through our camp. Then the wind came. It blew and blew from about 9pm-2am. It was especially fun when the sand would come up under the rain fly and pelt you a little. Go backpacking they said. It'll be fun they said. Ha ha.
Gratitude formed for this wondrous world in which we live, for the extraordinary beauty our Heavenly Father so freely shares with all who are willing to see. Truly, life is beautiful. - Elder Richard G Scott 4/96
Snuck in another fall hike after the morning rain. Willow Lake is short but boy was it sweet. The color and reflection were fantastic. And the ducks and lake remind me of backpacking with Sadie which totally makes me smile.
Today had a pleasant and pretty fall hike with work friends with a moose greeting us and yellow leaves showing off.
Tonight had an awesome 360 colorful sky. Then the sun would break through and light up a spot on the mountain. It was beauty all day long.
Happy Camrie’s birthday. 21. What?!? She is fantastic. She celebrated with sisters last weekend and then today was a low key celebration that included a KPop store, In-n-Out, Barnes and Noble, sleeping in, and of course The Ol’ Spaghetti Factory. A lot of things have changed over the years but not our enjoyment for birthday mizithera.
General Conference for the win. This conference had such a reassuring feeling. I especially enjoyed talks by Elder Uchtdorf, Sister Dennis, Elder Brown, Elder Eyre, Elder Kearon, Elder Renlund, and of course Elder Holland.
Annual friend fall south getaway time! Driving down to Zion we saw beautiful fall in the Tushar mountains. Then a little Zion tourist playing riding the shuttle and seeing Weeping Rock and Emerald Pools. A delicious burger and sweet potato fries at Oscar’s in Springdale. Stopped by the grocery store to find the best pajama pants that Wendy convinced us all to get because of course we want matching PJ pants. They’re fabulous.
