Pioneer Day aka Days of '47

Albion Basin on Sunday...wildflowers galore and smoke from wildfires galore.  It really couldn't get much worse unless the fire was right here in our very own mountains.  We are surrounded by fire once again, breathing smoke, feeling the damage done to our eyes and lungs. There is a good chance of rain today...we are desperate for any amount that comes.

Saturday we stayed indoors, hold up in the dark house as temperatures soared...the smoke had just started to fill the air once again (9 big fires in Utah alone).  We keep the house dark, the windows covered, as it keeps the heat out to some degree. Not wanting to spend the entire day as moles, we headed up to Silver Lake in the evening hours, hoping to find relief from the heat.  Even at 10,000' you can't escape it....while it was cooler, it was still near 90.  The lake was glorious and had a look and feel we've not experienced, as our trips have always been in the morning or mid-day.  The sun was setting behind the lake, which meant much of it was in the mountain's shadow.  The air was delightfully cooler in the shaded groves.

Wildflowers are everywhere in the higher elevations of both Big and Little Cottonwood canyons. Another week or so and they'll be gone.

Today is the day we celebrate Utah. The pioneers arrived via Emigration Canyon in 1847, and as they viewed the valley below, Brigham Young said, "This is the place."   Since I'm a 'daughter' of one of the original settlers, my feelings on this holiday are mixed. While I don't follow the predominate 'culture', I do love this State.  Utah is my home, my heart is here, and I do hope that someday we, who are not LDS, are accepted and respected for our point of view, different though it may be from the 'norm'.  Okay, I'm off my soap-box and ready to go play (knit/spin?) the day away!

Please go and wish Katy a Happy Birthday!

Comments

[Micki]

I was born and raised in Salt Lake (also non-LDS). Although I haven't lived there in seven years, I still pause every July 24th and think about home. Thanks for the reminder. Gorgeous photos!

[Lisa]

I'll be hoping you get some rain. Stay safe and cool.

[Norma]

You're so cute when you're on a soapbox. Heh. What a lovely, lovely state you have...

[Carole]

Utah is beautiful and you should be proud of your roots there. Even if they are a little wacky. ;-)

[Laura]

I heard about the new fire(s) last night on the news and had a tiny twinge of worry but I thought "if she's still posting then surely she's okay, right?" I'm thinking of you and sorry to know about the horrible smoke heat. I'll do a little Rain Dance for you. xoxox

And I love the photo of the fisherman. The trees reflected on the water look like a painting.

[Laurie]

That is one lovely post. The wildflower picture is special.

When I visit Utah, especially last year at the hospital, I got a taste of the prevailing conflict, LDS vs nonLDS. It was enlightening, confusing, interesting, and I could see, also frustrating.

[jackie]

I'm praying that you get a lot of rain soon!

[Chris]

Well, I'll celebrate you anytime! :) I love how lakes look in the evening.

[minnie]

i had a friend who moved to SLC with her mother (due to a job) and was heartily condemned as a tart because of how she dressed. and was abused as such, by an "upstanding" member of the community. sigh.

just makes the whole MS3 thing more ridiculous

[Kim]

I have been hearing on the news how big the fires in Utah are and have thought much about you and Smith. I will be praying for rain in your part of the world.

Beautiful lake picture!

[Vicki]

Not hard to see why Brigham Young said, "This is the place." Lovely pictures, too, Margene.

[Kathleen]

Thanks sweetie. Do you have fireweed in Utah? That was one of my favorites in Alaska. STay cool baby.

[Stacey]

Yesterday, it rained here- the first time in over a year. And it was wonderful! Well, except for the monsoonal humidity that preceeded it. :) Funny what a wimp I've become. It doesn't take much to get used to 10% humidity.

[Marcia Cooke]

I wish I could have sent you some of the deluge we received yesterday! Hope it comes soon....we saw the destruction of the Yellowstone fires this last trip, and do not wish that for Utah. As for the conflict, we hear stories from our son, of course, although he is a bit insulated living up in evil Park City, heh! (I love the shot of the fly fisherman, by the way.)

[Birdsong]

What beautiful photos! I do hope that there will be some respite from fires, smoke and heat for the west, and to let you out of your basement prison.

[Cara]

Gorgeous stuff! I heard about the fires again last night and hoped you weren't affected. We had so much rain yesterday, I'm sure we could've spared and inch or two!

[Beth S.]

I wish we could send you some rain. It's hard to believe how long those fires have been burning!

I'm glad the wildflowers are still managing to bloom, though. :-)

[Meadow]

I know that many LDS are not accepting of other religions and that saddens me greatly :(. I hope you can continue to enjoy it here, you are accepted in my book :).

Beautiful photos and lets hope for some rain!

[Leah]

Who wouldn't love the state. It's so gorgeous! And of course, you love it all the more because it's your home.

Keeping my fingers crossed that you'll get some rain!

[Tonia]

The pictures are so pretty. I just love the unspoiled nature.

[elizabeth]

Your first picture made the theme song to Little House on the Prairie run through my head! Beautiful!

SB and I were talking about the world's problems one day and he said religion was to blame for most of the problems. I said no, not religon, intolerance. Intolerance of other's beliefs, culture, etc. I don't get it but I sure wish I knew how to change it.

[Wool Winder]

I'd love to be at Silver Lake right now. John would be the guy fishing and I would be the one checking out the wildflowers.

[Judy]

Gosh, Margene, I didn't know you were that old. heehee

[marie in florida]

sometimes 'norm' can depend on your geography. your geo is so very beautiful. thanks for showing me that.

[kara]

Pioneer day isn't about conflict...it's about eating lots of green jello.

So go relax and enjoy your day.

[Pat K]

Amazing pictures! I do hope you get some relief from the fires and the heat soon (she says as she swelters in heat and humidity of her own).

[Sneaksleep]

Those pictures are amazing. Hope it does rain today, and that you get to stop breathing smoke!

[Hillary]

I just love your pictures. They set such a lovely tone. today the one with the fisherman is really catching my eye.

[Katinka]

Ahhh, what gorgeous pictures. :)

Enjoy your 24th!

[Kim]

Lovely wildflowers! I didn't know Utah's founding was recent enough to have the founders only one generation away from living people!

[Cookie]

That was a soap-box?! :p

I will have you know there is nothing wrong with being a mole.

[Debi]

Even smokey, your mountains are always so lovely! I don't think Utah has a religion, loving the place you're from is universal and diverse - pioneer on Margene!

[Sarah]

Hope you are able to enjoy your knitting and spinning time as you try to take refuge from the outside conditions.

[Sharon]

Not only are the smoke and heat uncomfortable, it's a jittery feeling with those fires - the unknown outcome and the knowledge there will be loss. Scary~

[Alarming Female]

Thank you for that spectacular photo of the smoky field and wildflowers. Amazing.

Your soapbox was so tiny, I could've only fit about 3 bars in there.

XOXO

[Kim]

It is SO wonderful and refreshing to see your pictures. Across the US, here in NC, even our mountains are hot right now, and the haze hangs over them, heavy. Sometimes I forget how beautiful other parts of the US are, and your pics always remind me. :)