Beads Everywhere

There are simply beads everywhere in New Orleans. This is in the Garden District area and you can tell probably some of them have been there for quite some time.

Marie Laveau Tomb

Marie Laveau 1801-1881 renowned practioner of Voudou in New Orleans is buried here at St. Louis Cemetery #1. Born in the french quarter of New Orleans of a white planter and a free Creole woman of color. Visitors draw the three x's (xxx) on it's side, in hopes that Laveau's spirit will grant them a wish.

This beautiful building is located down in the French Market area. All the little doors located on the ground floor are all various little shops. It was close to here that we discovered a great little creation called a "Praline". It's a southern candy confection that is out of this world. For Valentine's I sent my mom a 2 pound box. Was she ever excited to see them!!!!!

Fabulous Homes

My mom and I walked all over the Garden District and some of these homes were just amazing. Notice this great old tree and the roots above the ground.

Market Cafe

Oh yes! I am still thinking about the deep fried oysters and wish I had a big ole platter in front of me.

Street Entertainer

These very entertaining street "persons" are all over down in the French Market area. Most all of them are pretty darn good at what they do and by the looks of his bucket of money he had a pretty lucrative day.

Crazy Times

OK...........so last week I went to the grocery store, bought just a few items maybe 5 or 6. Let's see can I even remember what they were now? Not important and besides I can't remember. Anyway I got into the check out line, put the items on the counter and I'm waiting patiently browsing the people magazines and it suddenly comes to me that.. I needed pretzels. So,I turned my cart around and headed for the chips isle. I'm browsing and eyeing them all in ( all 150 choices). I finally decide on the Chex sweet and salty mix. YUMMY. I put them in my cart and went: "WHERE ARE MY GROCERIES?" Are you kidding me? I got back to the check out and the cashier is just looking at me and said "I knew you would be back!" Who does this ????? I mean really, Are you kidding me? Needless to say I have had some concern about my memory and my behavior. Upon telling my children we have decided that I will definitely be living with the daughter who lives in the gated community when the time comes. We have been laughing about it ever since. Just another sign of "the dwindles" I guess. Please tell me this kind of stuff happens to others?

Life continues to be full of love and adventure around every corner.
God never closes one door without opening another.

Who was "My Valentine"?

My Valentine's day was so nice. My dear sweet wonderful loving children sent me flowers. The card read : " Mom, you will always be our Valentine". I am truly blessed. I stayed home all day and did just whatever I wanted to do. ... I enjoyed my favorite comfort food of Chips and Dip. What did you do?

Zion Blessings.........

I know I am always talking about where I live and posting lots of photos of my surroundings. But, to me it is just one of the most beautiful places in the world. I hope you never get tired of seeing them as I never take it for granted how I am so.......... blessed to be able to wake up here everyday.........

Morning Sunrise

These two photos were taken within minutes of each other the other morning. This mountain is called West Temple. You can see the reflection of The Watchman mountain as the sun rises. These mountains are situated about one and a half mile from each other facing east and west. The little valley between them is where we live. I loved catching the reflection of one into the other. Breathtaking huh?

Morning Sunrise.

A Century of Sanctuary

Zion National Park's 100th Anniversary in 2009.

In 2009, Zion National Park will celebrate a "Century Of Sanctuary". Zion was established as Mukuntuweap National Monument by President William Taft on July 31, 1909. Starting soon the Park plans to have a series of celebrations and events to commerate this historic milestone.

This is going to be a great year for us here in Zion. There will be lots of activities to celebrate our 100th year.

Check it out here: http://www.nps.gov/zion/parknews/a-century-of-sanctuary.htm

My Beautiful Zion Snow Day

Yeah !!!!! It's a snow day here in the canyon. There was about a 30 minute period where it was just a complete white out. Even more exciting!!!

Enjoy my snow day through my photos !!!!

It's a Snow Day.. and you know that makes me happy.

It has been snowing off and on here in the canyon this morning since about 5AM. What a lovely blanket of white and such a blessing for us. Moisture in the summer months here is almost a thing of the past. I am someone who has seen this thing we call "Global Warming". It is a nice reminder that there is still some winter yet to come. If I weren't working what would I be doing? Well...my computer is in for an upgrade and I will pick it up tomorrow. I will now have 1Gig of memory, that is double what I had before. So let's see, I would not be blogging, enjoying my friends on facebook, nor would I be enjoying my ultimate hobby of genealogy. HOW DID ANY US OF EVER SURVIVE WITHOUT THE ALMIGHTY COMPUTER ?????????? Hail to Bill Gates and microsoft !!!!!!So, I guess I am glad I am working especially since I love my job. I will post some snow pictures later in the day. Until then.........many blessings.

THE life given us by nature is short; but the memory of a well-spent life is eternal.

--Cicero

Each New Day is a Blessing !

Zion Weekend

This past Saturday I took a drive up into the National Park. Only the months of Nov., Dec., Jan., and Feb. can you drive your personal car into the park. The rest of the months we have a shuttle system, which is great but I love driving and just pulling over and jumping out to get great photos. It had rained on and off most of the day and I was really hoping for some great waterfalls and this photo to the left was as close as I was going to get. I hope you enjoy the rest of the beautiful photos of my day in Zion National Park.

Zion Lodge parking

During the busy season this parking lot is jammed packed. It's so nice in the winter that there is room to move around. I think last summer we had 3.6 million visitors to Zion Canyon.

Zion Lodge

Lodging in the park

These are the cute little rooms beside the lodge that you can rent on a daily basis in the park.

What A View

This is the trail that I was going up when I happened upon the turkey's.

Wild Turkey's

This was awesome. I was headed up a trail and then all of a sudden I see a group of about 8 turkeys. I was actually able to get pretty close but was somewhat anxious when one of them started flapping it's large wings. They do fly you know.........It was fun to watch them for about 20 minutes.

The Virgin River

The Organ

Court of The Patriarchs

Funny Road Signs

I am a huge fan of Halloween and this would have been perfect for "that holiday". But it seems that this is not the case. You have to admit it is funny and let's hope that no one was hurt with the prank. This is on Yahoo this morning and I thought you might enjoy it. Here is the article that goes with the pics...

Slideshow: Hacked road signs stir worry
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. – Hackers are messing with electronic road signs in some states, warning of zombies and raptors down the road. Traffic safety officials aren't amused. The latest breach came during Tuesday morning's rush hour near Collinsville, Ill., east of St. Louis. That's where hackers changed a sign along southbound Interstate 255 to read, "DAILY LANE CLOSURES DUE TO ZOMBIES."
Similar pranks have been pulled in recent days near Indianapolis and in Austin, Texas.

Tanzania, Africa

I really wanted to share this photo of my daughter Mackenzie when she was in Tanzania for 3 months. She was there 2 years ago in January. She loved these little children and wished she could of brought all of them home. We all have a special place in our heart for Africa and someday I hope to go too. We have all been blessed by her humanitarian work.

I just want to say how grateful I am for my life on this earth and for all my many blessings.

Just us Girls !!!

This past weekend I went North and spent three wonderful days with my daughters family. The grandkids and I have such a great time together. We even had a slumber party where the kids and I slept out in the living room on the floor and told stories. I took along a few Valentine's goodies and we baked cupcakes. Saturday we shopped most of the day and then later we went to dinner at Mimi's Cafe. The big event of the day was that Layni has been talking about getting her ears pierced off and on for awhile but...just out of the blue she decided that sat was the day. So.... after dinner we all went to Claire's at the mall and she picked out some cute pink flower earrings. With two girls and two loaded earring guns we were just moments away and we now have pierced ears. We all thought for sure that she would chicken out. Of course there were tears but she did great. Thanks Reese for enjoying this great event with us!!!!

Baby Henli and her Nana

Henli helping her Nana take pictures.

Our beautiful baby Henli

Valentines' Pluffies

Nana always brings a few gifts!!!! These are "pluffies". They are made by Ty Beanie's. But don't get them confused....I had to ask what the difference was. The pluffies are softer. OK......so now I know.

Valentine's Cupcakes

We make cupcakes for every holiday. So friday night we baked and decorated. I had forgotten how much fun it was to lick the mixer beaters...and the spoons.........and the bowls. We had a great time.

Barack Obama Single ladies Spoof from YOUTUBE

You know you wanna see it.......We have all been waiting for it since it's big build up on the TV the last few days..........So.............Here it is. Enjoy

Remember to turn the music off on my playlist to the left...........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5bBHqVzTQE

Canyon storm

This storm started coming into the Canyon on Monday and I hurried and got out the camera and jumped into my SUV and went down the road about a mile and got these great shots.........I hope you enjoy them. Storms here in the canyon are like no other place I've ever known. The thunder echos off the canyon walls and its entire beauty is magnificent.

Valentine's Ornie Bowl

Well here it is!!!. Last weekend I went to my daughter Mackenzie's and we decided we would create an Ornie Bowl for Valentines. We found all this cute stuff at Michael's and then she created it all by herself. We love the holidays... All the holidays. When the kids were little I always OVERDECORATED for every holiday. There were many a Christmas when we had two trees. One year I left a tree up and just decorated it for every holiday. Now.........that was fun.

Poor Poor Trees !!!!

I still lay in bed at night and hear them crying. Someone cut off their little arms.

Crazy Sliding Car Pile Up !!!!!

A friend of mine on facebook just sent this to me. You have got to watch it, but only if you love snow, sliding cars, crazy people and christmas music.......It is hilarious and we all need a little laughter now and then...........this year I will be needin ALOT.......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfxhlGLOvT8

Christmas 2008 at Kenzie and Joe's

This year at Kenzie and Joe's I sat up the Lefton Christmas Village. It looked so cute.......Joe had bought a train set their first christmas together which runs around the tree. It was darling!!!!!!! We did buy one new piece this year. Notice the cute little "Trees for Sale" piece on the right. It has a darling fence with christmas lights strung on it that light up. Are ya Kiddin?????

My morning visitors

Full Moon Jan 4th.

Another awesome pic of my full moon but a sore reminder that most of these trees have been brutally cut down without my permission. I am working on some forgiveness but being such a serious enviromentalist it is not easy.

Jan. 4th 2008 Full Moon over Zion

Full moon coming up over the mountain here in Zion. This view is from my patio.

Haven't Been Blogging lately

Wow, I can't believe that it has been since Dec 24th that I have blogged. And..........not that I have not had anything to say. It was a very busy holiday with alot of traveling and alot of going's on. I had a great holiday but I am glad that we can now move forward. My family and I had a great holiday and we are looking forward to next Christmas with much optimism.

So let's see. Two things on my mind this morning. First I am having some very interesting thoughts on the upcoming Inaguration and the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ of all this hoopla. I love a ceremony just as well as the rest of us but.........ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!!!!! Would someone please tell these folks in Washington "That we are in a Recession". All this talk about dresses and fashion is just to much. Oh wait, I will be in DC in August again and I will drop by the White House again and have a chat with Barry and Michelle. HA HA. Sometimes in this country we say and do the opposite. WHATEVER..... I'm just going to continue to live my life.

The second thing on my mind is a horrible horrible horrible thing that happened on Tuesday. I won't say much but this "I AM A SERIOUS AND DEVOTED ENVIROMENTALIST". I have a little corner of the world here with lots of beautiful surroundings. I came home from work that day and someone took it upon themselves to take away some of my scenery. I am still in shock and can barely stop crying. This has caused great contention, sleepless nights and a most wanted call to The Utah Coalition of Enviroment. I would never do it but I can't tell you the bad thoughts of revenge I have had. I am working on it but still can't quite understand how I missed the space ship that came by and abducted and changed the brain of some people. OK.......thats enough ranting........Pray for me...I am trying to move forward.

Wham..........Last Christmas

I can truely say this is one of my favorite christmas songs..........and please.... the 80's were the best time ever.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLLNDHB1yE0&feature=related

Video on You Tube

This is hillarious........and my girls say " I never sing the right words".
Well.................MEET THIS GUY.......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YMLXF-q8g4

Moussette's..............

This past weekend I got together with my mom and her siblings and spouses. From the left is my Aunt Sylvia, Uncle Chris, Uncle Paul (standing), my mom Claire (isn't she too cute?) and my Aunt Claudette. It's always fun being together......

Happy Holidays and Ho Ho Ho.................