Everneath Book Launch! Go Brodi!

Brodi Ashton's book launch was January 24th. I am sorry that I am a week late with my pictures, but I have an excuse--we moved! Again! Yea! Most people move around the country or the world, we move within a 4 mile area. Anyway, another tale for another day, because this blog is all about my sister-in-law, The Amazing Brodi (sounds like she's a magician--well she is--with words!). It was actually one of the most exciting evenings I've ever had. I wish that said more, because I am a little boring, but I know it would have been exciting even for Evel Knievel.

The King's English in Salt Lake City hosted the launch at it's neighbor the 15th Street Gallery.  It was packed and quickly became standing room only. Brodi gave a wonderful and very funny presentation about the publishing process. She wrote about the launch on her blog here and here. She then moved over to The King's English and signed and signed and signed.

I've watched Brodi through this whole process and she's amazed me with her dedication, tenacity and writing ability. She is going to have an amazing career and she's earned it!

Waiting in the wings.

The King's English supplied the cake.

Brodi's family on both sides provided the food.
We love to bring food to any occasion.

The Book

The Crowd!

Yep, I waited in line to get a signature!
Yep, I look like and am a crazed stalker!
You go Brodi!

Utah State Capitol Roaring

My daughter had an extra credit assignment that involved locating various architectural styles around town. I saw the assignment on my desk and made her promise to take me with her. So, when we had a little time after Christmas we went around town taking pictures. It was so fun and I got a little carried away. I thought I would start with Utah's State Capitol Building which I think is beautiful.

This is a bronze sculpture of Massasoit. It was made by Cyrus E. Dallin a notable Utah sculptor. Dallin was born in Springville and is famous for this sculpture of Massasoit as well as the Angel Moroni on top of the Salt Lake City Temple.  I found this out when I became very curious as to why Massasoit was greeting visitors to the Utah State Capitol.

Massasoit was the leader of several Wampanoag groups located around where the Mayflower landed and where Plymouth Colony was founded at the time of the arrival of the Mayflower. He probably helped save the pilgrims from starvation and has a very interesting history. While the history didn't match up with Utah at least the artist did.

After we paid our respects to Massasoit I spent a little time with the lions. As you can see I especially liked the lions!

















Majestic,

















Timeless,

















Different light, different color,

Great down to the detail of paw and fur!

I had to include the mural of seagulls as well. What is a the Utah State Capitol for if not to immortalize Utah's great stories.

What would it be like to live here. . . Castle Valley Outdoors

My Uncle Glendon passed away this fall.  He was loving, generous and so good to us as his extended family.  I haven't been able to write about his funeral yet--I will, but not yet.

My sister-in-law Brodi wrote a really beautiful account of his funeral that made me cry--here's the link.

Here, I am going to write about something he created in the high desert plateau of central Utah--in Emery County, Utah to be exact. It might just be my favorite place on earth and we have been able to spend our Thanksgiving there for years and years. This Thanksgiving I was extra grateful to him for allowing us to be part of his family.

You can get to Castle Valley Ranch from I-70,

from the Moore Cutoff Road (this is a nice little drafty cottage),

















and from Utah State Highway 10 that goes from Price to Emery--my favorite highway in the world and I have to drive it in the daylight. If I don't get to see the scenery in the light I get a little cranky. This is a must because when I drive out of Spanish Fork Canyon and turn on to Highway 10 the sky opens up and I feel free! With only 8 inches of precipitation a year it is incredibly dry but the flip side of that it is also ecstatically sunny!


















Here is a long view of Castle Valley Outdoors--Castle Valley Lodge on right, Muddy Creek Lodge in the middle and Pioneer House on the left (hidden by trees).

 Views, view everywhere

 Camaraderie in the cold

 Sparse and hardy vegetation

There is fish in that thar pond!

Fire pit for s'mores

 Seriously, someone in our family left gasoline out--just so my son's eyebrows could almost get singed off.

Breakfast view

Windy walk around the lake

 Sunset on the fields

 Sunset on the plateau

















Time to go home. I hate to go back home.

Thank you Uncle Glendon for a life well lived and great memories we all treasure.

Cheers to people who. . .

Sometimes I get tired. This may be proved by my lack of blogging, lack of cleaning, lack of gumption and today by my lack of mascara.

When I'm tired I like to try and be inspired--on my walks here are some things that inspired me.

People who plant grasses and let them be. . .

People who put swings over sidewalks. . .

and people who don't rake their leaves. . .

Goodonya people!!

What if I lived here. . .

One of the main reason I like to write stories is that I like to imagine what life is like in different settings with different people. I can't pass a house for sale or even rent without wondering what would it be like to live there. I can see possibilities in grand mansions and little apartments. So the other day I drove through the avenues and I saw this house.

When I was little and lived just a few blocks away I loved to walk by this house. I think it was yellow back then and I imagined that this was a good witch's house. There are a lot of witchy houses in the avenues, one in particular I would cross the street to avoid. I'll post a picture of that later. It was black with turrets and I thought it was very scary (now it's baby blue and really well maintained--disappointingly un-scary!).

Send a picture if you have a "What if I lived here house too."

Ode to Fall

Last week I realized that I was dreading winter so much that I was not enjoying a truly beautiful fall. Fall is probably my favorite season--especially this fall.  It has been warm and the leaves have taken their time changing.

I immediately repented of neglecting fall and decided to take walks at my lunch hour.

I love kicking the dry, crunchy leaves,

remembering sunflowers,

and sun bleached grasses. .

 

This is your brain--No, this is your brain on drugs!

Maybe it's because this building is in Vegas, or maybe it is because I've read too many post apocalyptic and dystopian society books lately, but does this look like a building or the aftermath of some catastrophe.

Maybe this angle is better,

or this one,

maybe here,

Nope--still disturbing. It makes my heart palpitate a bit just to look at the pictures!

Are you wondering what this building houses--something like a casino, a trendy restaurant, or maybe art, well, you would be wrong because this is a brain institute--a brain institute.  It is the Cleveland Clinic and The Lou Ruvo Brain Institute in Las Vegas.


The clinic has incredible goals:

". . . the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute, have collaborated to create a highly specialized clinical center to advance the research, early detection and treatment of neurological diseases including Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

The goal of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health is to prevent the disabling symptoms of chronic brain diseases and to prolong healthy, vital aging in people at risk for dementia or cognitive disorders." 

Hopefully the quirky nature of the building helps raise awareness. Go brain team!


I am actually a fan of Frank Gehry--I think his architecture is interesting, fun and thought provoking. With the brain institute he definitely succeeded on the thought provoking!

Here are some Gehry buildings I love:

Disney Concert Hall in California

Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain

and look at the amazing Star Wood Hotel in Spain

But a brain institute--that looks like a very, very disturbed brain--is well, disturbing!


Hopefully those goals are achieved--and people can actually think in there.