Happy 4th of July.....

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the national day of the United States.

One of my most favorite 4th of July events is watching the TV special..........The Boston Pops Orchestra, which has hosted a music and fireworks show over the Charles River Esplanade called the "Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular" annually since 1973. It is usually on PBS if anyone is interested.

I love my country!
I enjoy my freedom!
I know things are really in a mess right now with the current state of the economy but I still have to have "the faith that things will get better".

Yep...........that's me! Forever the optimist!

George and Martha

For those of you who know me......know that "I LOVE" American History. If I am not reading it or watching it then I am planning on visiting it. This past memorial day weekend my sweetheart Steven was in D.C. attending his son Danny and Heidi's wedding. Even with his busy schedule he did manage to find the time to take his parents to visit Mount Vernon........one of my most favorite places ever!

These sweet little George and Martha salt and pepper shakers are what he brought me back along with a cute pink hat and T-shirt. How thoughtful is he.

OK.........so when he comes to visit this past weekend I show him how cute I have them displayed with my 4th of July decorations and he says "I bought them for you because you needed new salt and pepper shakers".........EEK......what? You mean I have to use them for the purpose that they are intended?

Well..........maybe after the holiday!
I love them................
Steven......you are the best!

Hot HOt HOT........

Summer in Las Vegas! wow.......I remember all too well when I lived there how unpleasant the daytime temps. were. Oh wait......it doesn't really cool down at night either!

BAby Wynter has figured it all out! She had mom and dad buy her .......her very own pool with a slide ..........just for her!

Nana loves her soooooooooooooooooo much!

Noseeums ......WHAT?

This little jewel has made my life miserable the last couple of days!

Itch......no! Stop itching as it only makes it worse! My poor head, neck and chin areas are in so much pain you would not believe it. If you were to feel my head it is LUMPY. EWE.............

So.......here is the story on this little blood sucker!

No-see-ums or noseeums are a nickname for biting midges. The terms 'biting midge' and 'no-see-um' are synonymous. The word 'no-see-um' is a fitting nickname for the biting midge, as biting midges are so small and very difficult to spot.

The biting midge is the smallest blood-sucking insect on the earth and is about .04 inches (1 millimeter) long. It has two wings and does not have any scales on its wings or body. Like mosquitoes, biting midges have veins on their wings; however, the vein pattern is different. And like mosquitoes, only the females bite. Biting midges are most commonly found along seashores, rivers, and lakes.

( Hmmmm.....The Virgin River is in my back yard!)

Female biting midges may lay their eggs in water, mud, leaves, under tree bark, in soil, or other moist surfaces. Females may lay 30-100 eggs at a time. The biting midge larvae are bright red in color and live in the water until the fully mature and are able to fly. This growth and maturing process can take anywhere from three to ten weeks.

The female biting midges attack humans and feed on blood. The male biting midges do not bite and feed on nectar and vegetation. However, the females may also feed on vegetation and nectar. Biting midges appear in early spring and late autumn. Biting midges attack in great swarms and due to their intense biting, may cause extreme discomfort.

"DISCOMFORT"..........THAT IS USING THE TERM LOOSLEY!

A biting midge will go after any exposed skin. Within a few hours after a bite, you will start to feel acute itching at the spot of the bite. The irritation can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on your sensitivity to the bites. As with all bug bites, don't scratch! Scratching the bite will only serve to increase your irritation and may cause infection if you scratch too much!

Everyone here in Zion Canyon is having the same effect. You ought to see all of us at work now. Red, puffy and scratching!

Zion "Memorial Day" Weekend Photos

Crazy Burns family!

Sisterly love!

Aunt Ivy and Wynter..........check out those beautiful Zion Mountains in the background.

Wynter and Lukie Bear!

Danny and Heidi's Eternal Journey

Memorial Day weekend was a special weekend for my sweetheart and his family. They traveled to Washington D.C., as his son Danny and his sweetheart Heidi were married for all time and eternity in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Washington D.C. Temple.



What a wonderful journey as they start their married life ....and they are both so adorable.



Steven with his sons.... Travis, Cody and Jared. What a good looking bunch!
And sweet baby Sophie, Stevens grandaughter. How cute is she?

Grandpa and Sophie..........

He did get to do a little sight seeing as this was his first trip to D.C. He traveled with his parents to Mount Vernon, Arlington National Cemetery, National Archives and here at the Lincoln Memorial.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."

Family Fun Weekend

We started our saturday morning off with some green eggs and ham! Who could resist?

After all it was "Seussical the Musical" weekend.

Henli loves the park!

She is getting so big...........I can't stand it!

Stop growing up Henni Penni!

Them sweet babies...........

My sweet Ivy and her twins.....Jenny and Claire

Nana and her sweet babies!

Daddy and baby Jenny....

Thing One and Thing Two

These girls dressed up as Thing one and Thing two were hilarious and they literally stole the show. When Ivy and I got up to go to the yard sales at 7AM the one gal was up and helping at the park sale (in costume) and we visited with her and come to find out that she and my Ivy went to the same elementary and high school, but she was two years older. Funny huh?

Art In The Park

The cast of "Seussical" gave several performances and it was spectacular.

My sweet Layni.........There was a time when she was so shy! Now look at her...performing in a talent show at the park. She did such a wonderful job and she really is talented. I can't remember what song she sang but it was beautiful. Later that evening at the performance of "Seussical" they gave out prizes for the winners and she took 2nd place in her age bracket.

Way to go Layni Cakes!

We had lots of yummy junk food at the park that day, Seussical style. Hot dogs, slushies, cotton candy and soda pop. Oh yeah and I had hot dog flavored ruffle potato chips! Who knew, but they were super yummy too.

After the rest of the family went their separate ways I spent the whole day with Layni at the park. If she wasn't with me...she was within my eyesight. It was "small town USA" at it's best. I simply loved sitting and watching the entire talent show and then the puppet show. The talent ranged from just the wee ones to the senior citizens.

There was a sweet married couple probably in their early 70's who sang a sweet duet that brought tears to my eyes. Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Then there was a sweet older lady who played my favorite LDS hymn on her harmonica, Come Come Ye Saints. Yes, I cried again..... Thank goodness I could hide my tears behind my sunglasses. I found out the next day at church that her name is Twila Porter Rockwell and she is 82 yrs. young. Thank you sweet sister for sharing!

I loved the way that everyone hugged, smiled and greeted each other. It reminded me of growing up in "small town USA" too.

Thank you sweet Lord for "Small Town USA".

It puts everything back into perspective for me.

Northern Weekend

How cute are our twins? Always happy......Always smiling!

Saturday night was Layni's big performance of her Seussical Musical that she has been a part of for several months. She did a wonderful job and we are so proud of her! She is definitely a star in the making. I love it that she loves the theatre and the arts........got that from her Nana!

She is the little dolly in the green skirt!

Our little Claire .............probably hiding from her twin sister Jenny!

Memorial Day Weekend

This past memorial day weekend was special! Mostly because my children and their families were all here in Zion. We had the best time just being together in spite of the continuous high winds! We still managed to have our barbecue but had to eat inside and the grankidos love riding the zion buses.

The other reason was that I was finally granted special permission to go into the old pioneer settlement of Shonesburg, which is located behind the Springdale Fruit Company. This old settlement and cemetery is located on private property and is only opened to ancestors on Memorial Day from 10AM to 2PM.

The owner, Jim Trees passed away in 2008 and his two daughters currently have the property up for sale. It consists of 2,066 acres and the asking price is 30Million dollars............yep.............I said 30Million! Any takers out there?

Upon entering the gate you need to check in and they give you a map and instructions. You also check out upon your exiting.

1. Stay on the main road. DO NOT DETOUR!! Go directly to the cemetery and the old stone house area and then return directly.

2. Please do not enter the old stone house as the back wall is unstable.

3. No restrooms are provided and please do not liter.

4. This time of year, rattlesnakes are definitely present. Be alert and cautious!

WHAT.............THE...............HECK??????????????????????

Please............I am in full genealogy, family history, cemetery sleuthing mode, I don't care about no stinkin rattlesnakes! I even wore sandals and that is my first "no no" rule of visiting cemeteries this time of year.

There were about 5 cars here and about 30 people all roaming around and talking about all their ancestors!

This was one of the coolest days ever in my world!

Thank you my son in law Joe for going on this journey with me! You are the best!

Here he is checking out the old Caterpillar machinery!

Shonesburg Cemetery

Shunesburg (Washington) is located about 3 miles up the East Fork of the Virgin River, at the mouth of Parunuweap Canyon. The name comes from a Paiute Indian Chief by the name of Shones or Shunes. Other names associated with the town are: Shonesburg, Shuenesburg and Shirensburg.

Early settlers and their families, sent by Brigham Young to the area in 1861, were: Oliver DeMille, George Petty, Hyrum Stevens, Alma Millett, Hardin whitlock and Charles Clapper. Because of the unpredictable Virgin River, it took several years to finally come up with an appreciable harvest of cane, corn and cotton (Shunesburg was part of the LDS Church Cotton Mission Project). There were even enough children to merit a school. However, problems with the river flooding and washing away what had been established and the continuing trouble with indians, by 1896 the residents began to move to other areas.

By 1902 founder and holdout Oliver DeMille had had enough and moved to nearby Rockville.
Today, Shunesburg is a ghost town on private farmland. An old rock house and some chimneys as well as a neglected nearby cemetery are all that is left.

Shonesburg Cemetery