summertime

Today is the last day of school in these parts. It came with the mandatory Alice Cooper soundtrack and the annual last day of school (in this case, last day of elementary school too) mohawk. He chickened out on the real, true mohawk (hair on the sides of your head shaved off) vanity perhaps? I think it's cuz he hasn't felt the full heat of the summer sun on his mop yet this year- it's been a cold, rainy spring. I'm giving him a week or two before he's begging me to shave off every last golden strand. So, nothing with a serious commitment on the noggin... but he did wear his homemade duct tape shorts.
Speaking of golden locks... M went for the 'hippy' look today. The headband and wavy (french braided all night) hair were an essential part of the look. I love the tights she dug out of the bottom of the drawer, they make me mourn for the days when the kids were little and I could dress them darling everyday. Now they just want to look like everyone else (for the most part). I guess the last day of school hippy outfit is a step toward standing out in the fashion world, hopefully always in a good way- throwing caution to the wind.


Another essential soundtrack for the last day of school. All kids- 8th, 6th, 4th grade and kindergarten graduates rolled their eyes when we put this clip from High School Musical 2 on- then watched the whole thing while tapping their toes. I hope they all start the "summer" whisper just before the bell rings today.

Birch Creek Service Ranch informational gathering

Birch Creek Service Ranch
Cottage Meeting at Olpin’s House
Come hang out and learn some more about one of the greatest investments you can make in your kids.
Birch Creek Service Ranch is a camp in southern Utah- it's for good kids 12 to 15 years old. There are 3 sessions going on this summer, one session for girls and 2 for boys. It was an epic adventure and growth experience for our 12 year old daughter who went last year, she can't wait to go back this summer.
So come by, with or without kid(s), learn about camp, eat some yummy snacks.
Time: 7:00 pm Wednesday May 26
Where: Olpin’s House
1165 South 1080 East
Springville

birch creek service ranch (rough cut #1 march 23, 2010) from Solpin Films on Vimeo.

gonna put my backpack on and walk

I just spent 3 wonderful days in the desert backcountry. I really can't believe I've been coming to Escalante for 25 years and never been to Coyote Gulch, and even more embarrassing, I never knew there was an arch (or 2 or 3) in said Gulch. Duh. Here is the view of the bend in the river, standing at the highest point under Jacob Hamblin arch. We camped just to the left (out of the picture) under a little ledge, right across the river from the spring- where you can drink deliciously cool spring water that trickles from the rocks.

Walk a little further down the canyon, about two miles from Jacob Hamblin arch and you bump right into this natural bridge, I believe it's just called Coyote Gulch natural bridge, a bridge because it was made by water; an arch is made by wind and rain.

Looking down river at Jacob Hamblin arch. It's about a 7 mile hike in from Hurricane Wash, where we parked. This is what comes into view when you come around the canyon bend. Orange globe mallows in the foreground.

We climbed just above the natural bridge to see an indian grainery and an amazing view all around. The area (well, all of Utah really) has had huge amounts of rain this winter and spring making the wildflowers plentiful and stunning. Everywhere you looked there was something blooming- indian paintbrush, evening primrose, juniper, skyrockets, lupine, penstimon, beavertail cactus, orange globe mallow and those were just the ones we could name.

The beavertail cactus flowers were my favorite. The pink was in that hot category and the flowers- papery thin. I couldn't stop snapping pictures of the blooming desert- especially the pink.
I'm planning on making up for lost time, we are already planning a trip back with the big kids (that can carry their own packs) in the fall, sometime when the weather isn't too hot. We stopped at the ever popular Spooky and Peek-a-Boo slot canyons on our way back. Fantastically fun, I'll get more pictures up in flickr soon, when I get a minute between trying to clean my house, plant the garden (before it's too late), last week of school events, yard work etc...
Back to the madness, but it was great to get away from it all for a few days. You've got to recharge your batteries, take some time to ponder the important things in life, slow down and unplug any chance you get. Thanks to my father-in-law Owen for planning and organizing the trip- you're the best.

Adam & Kristen Rex

What an amazing weekend- my brother Adam married Kristen Haering in Escalante today.

It's not very often that we all get together under one roof, to make and eat wood fired pizza (until it hurts), hike around, cousin party down- what a blast.

The setting- Kristen and Adam did a fabulous job jazzing up the desert setting, next to the Slot Canyons Inn. Everything was beautiful.

One of my favorite pictures of the day- getting silly with the doggie BFF's, Izzy and Roscoe sitting in a tree...

This is what 19 wonderful years of marriage looks like...

I get to go off the grid for a few days now. As "The Chosen One" from our family, Steve O is staying home to take care of the kids. I head out into the desert to hike Coyote Gulch with some Olpins. Backpacking is something I haven't done in a while- I cannot wait to be unplugged for 3 or 4 days.

handmade goodies

In a bunch of images, all neatly arranged, my haul from the Spring 2010 Beehive Bazaar.
To see more pictures, get some facts or artists & crafter details- go to my flickr page.

Just one of the many items I picked up at the Beehive Bazaar this last weekend. I'm working on getting pictures up of all my gets here in a bit, but right now, I think I'll take a break and go out to lunch with my fella- get reacquainted after all the harried madness that has been 2010 so far.
Meanwhile, talk amongst yourselves on just how funny Betty White was on Saturday Night Live this last weekend... loved it.

great write-ups

The Spring 2010 Beehive Bazaar starts tomorrow night... The pillows here are by Ruby Market, they'll be at the show as well as about 75 other extremely talented artists and crafters and their handmade wares.
It's been a lot of work preparing for this Beehive Bazaar, the reward is see it all come together under one roof. Everyone involved has literally spent thousands of hours painting, sewing, drawing, gluing, cutting, knitting, crocheting, baking, printing, (what am I leaving out?) photographing, stenciling... working their little fingers to the bone. Oh (sigh) but finally seeing the Bazaar all set up it is a sight to behold and a surreal shopping experience for all who attend- the creativity, uniqueness, originality- the handmadeness leaves me swooning.
Oh, and by the way Salt Lake City Weekly and ArtDuh just published great articles about the Bazaar. View them here and here.