Category: Photo Journal

Sundance Mountain Resort Bluebird Cafe Summer Concert Series

Last Friday, Mountain Dad and I enjoyed the perfect summer evening, complete with good food, beautiful scenery and an unparallelled musical experience at Sundance Mountain Resort’s Bluebird Concert Series.
The evening began with a special summer barbeque where pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad and homemade coleslaw were served under a canopy of pines. Red and white checked tablecloths reminded me of summer nights growing up, and the sound of a gently gurgling river set a relaxed mood.
After we had eaten our fill, we joined the crowd in the Eccles Outdoor Amphitheater to welcome three talented musicians from Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe. Every summer, Sundance Mountain Resort teams up with the Bluebird to bring great songs and the stories behind them out west.
When the concert began, Don Henry, Kim Richey and Jack Tempchin entered the stage to raucous applause. Each sat facing the crowd, their guitars the only thing separating us, ready to serenaded us with love ballads, dance numbers and silly singalongs.
Grammy award winner Don Henry was the first to perform sharing lighthearted songs and easy banter that made me laugh all night.
Although Don Henry excelled at joking around with the audience, he had a serious side too. His award winning song, “Where’ve You Been” brought tears to my eyes.
The best vocalist of the evening was Kim Richey, who has written hit songs for Trisha Yearwood, Brooks and Dunn, and many others. Her soulful serenades; Angelshare, Straight as a Crow Flies and Thorn in my Heart (the title track of her new album), were beautifully tender. Not to mention the stories she shared before each were very entertaining. At one concert, a grumpy girl in the front row sang along so loudly, she took over the lead vocals, leaving Kim to sing back up on her own song.
The third contributer, Jack Tempchin, is best known for his work with the Eagles. He performed his song Peaceful Easy Feeling and Already Gone at the concert, allowing the audience (and other performers) a chance to sing along. Although Jack performed some big hits, his most memorable song of the evening was a silly one titled, “Eat Some Food, Watch TV.”
As darkness settled, the other concert goers and I were mesmerized by comfort of this perfect summer night. The warm music, good stories and beautiful scenery brought us together like a large musical family.
Sundance Mountain Resort’s Bluebird Concert Series was the perfect way to enjoy the summer. I can’t wait till next year!

Tony Grove Lake, Logan Canyon, National Scenic Byway, Utah

What made our trip to Logan Canyon, Utah so amazing was spending the day at Tony Grove Lake. 

Wildflowers ranging from cerulean to coral festooned the area. Little g and I meandered around the self guided nature trail and through some tall pine forest for a little over a half mile, enjoying the many colors all around us.

 Buzzing bees and hummingbirds whizzed around, and the high mountain temperatures were perfect for a summer day. 

Tony Grove Lake itself is calm and beautiful, surrounded by grand cliffs and tall trees. 


 This high altitude lake is located over 8,000 feet and is fed by snow runoff, making it cold. But Big E and his cousins didn’t seem to mind the chill, spending hours splashing, swimming and floating. We brought an inflatable kayak and loved the freedom of gliding across the water.

If you’re planning a trip to this area, be aware there is a parking fee for Tony Grove Lake. The parking lot is located at the end of a winding seven mile paved road, three quarters of the way up Logan Canyon. It was a great place to explore and the scenery was breathtaking.

Rating: 5 stars during wildflower season (June/July)
Length: 0.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Tips: Expect to walk at a toddler’s pace unless you have the strength to wrestle a screaming, uncooperative almost two-year-old into a pack and then listen to her cry all the way along the trail.

Logan Canyon, Utah, National Scenic Byway, Guinavah-Malibu Campground

In the heat of the summer, I love heading up in the mountains to enjoy the cooler temperatures. My most recent excursion was a camp out with the tots and their cousins in Utah’s beautiful to Logan Canyon. 

Logan Canyon has been designated a National Scenic Byway and as such as many interesting sections. The winding Logan river has some beautiful sections that are perfect for floating. The geological features, such as Wind caves and Logan cave, provide refuge for wildlife, including sensitive Townsend big eared bats. 


Big E’s cousin Tyler

This National Scenic Byway winds through the mountains between the city of Logan, Utah and Bear Lake, which is situated on the border of Utah and Idaho. Just driving through the canyon is a great activity, but stopping along the way for camping, hiking or boating is what makes Logan Canyon truly fun.

The tots and I spent the night at Guinavah-Malibu Campground, which is situated directly on the Logan river. It was fun to play in the water, then head back to camp for a homemade dutch oven dinner.  Logan Canyon visitors buereu describes this campground as a “soothing landscape of willows, big-tooth maples, and grassy meadows.” I have to agree, the place was beautiful and the campsite spacious.

We spent the evening around the campfire, telling stories, making s’mores and enjoying one anothers’ company. The tots enjoyed the multicolored glow sticks their uncle gave them, and I enjoyed being able to see exactly where they were at all times thanks to their florescent beacons. It was a great addition to our camp evening, and I plan on bringing glow sticks again in the future.

The campground was great, with flush toilets and easily accessible water. My only complaint was hearing the noise from passing cars on the highway. 

Over all, our stay at the Guinavah-Malibu Campground in Logan Canyon, Utah was a great adventure.

Independence National Historical Park: Liberty Bell

One of the most well known symbols of freedom is the Liberty Bell. This is the real thing, crack and all.
The Independence National Historical Park does a good job of making history come to life. The museum exhibits in the Liberty Bell Center told story after story of people who used the Liberty Bell as a rallying symbol.  In addition to revolutionaries, the Liberty Bell became an icon for freedom from slavery, women’s rights and democratic movements the world over.
Being there reminded me of this quote from Thomas Paine, one of the revolutionary thinkers of the time.

 
“What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated.” 
― Thomas Paine, The American Crisis
It struck me that the feelings of patriotism that I felt while at the Liberty Bell Center and Independence Hall were actually gratitude for all the people who came before me and fought for the “highly rated article of freedom.” I’m grateful to them and to those who fight for it now. Thank you.
Unfortunately Big E was more concerned with riding in little g’s stroller than appreciating national history. Here he is throwing a fit with Independence Hall in the background.  Before taking this picture I had carried him, talked to him, begged, bribed and threatened him, but alas there was nothing that I could do to make him happy. At one point I even walked away, assuming he would stop pouting and follow me.  It didn’t work.
Eventually, to the relief of the other visitors annoyed with my four-year-old’s cries, I just put him in little g’s stroller, pushed with one hand and carried little g at the same time. Thankfully the Liberty Bell Center was a short walk.