Enjoying the coolness again...

Abandoned farm field and old pickup in Central, Utah near Pine Valley

Pine Valley Visitor's Center offers a cool respite from St. George's hot weather.

This is one big pine tree as shown with hubby standing by it.

Ah, the smells of mother nature are a welcome respite after a long hot summer.

This is Pine Valley that survived a wild fire that lasted several weeks

So much shade and coolness, so inviting...

Not a lake but a reservoir to trap water for irrigating crops.

Lazy cows eating weeds near Veyo, Utah

Old HOUSES have character

Whenever I see an old dilapidated house I want to stop and take a photo. There is so much history in how a house shows the living that took place. I'm alway amazed by how small the houses of the past were compared to today's homes where we could fit an old house in our 2 car garages.

Boat Building Report

Working on the inside seating looks simply but it's not with all the angles to measure.

Everything must fit exactly for this boat engineer builder. He's a perfectionist!

Beautiful mahogany wood will be stained to make this boat beautiful!

Off to the THEATRE

Got invited to Shakespearean Festival by a poet friend Marie.

Southern Utah University in Cedar City is where we went.

This is their new Art Museum among the many theatres.

There are several different theatres presenting different plays.

This is the newest theatre built after the original design of Shakespearean outdoor arenas.

It's quite impressive and  is open air so only used during the summer months.

Our seats were near the front with the open ceiling above us, but it didn't rain!

Those clouds are friendly, but after dark the wind came up and we were nervous.

We attended The Three Musketeers show complete with period costuming.

Lots of sword humorous fighting scenes kept the action going.

Back to SCHOOL time

Well, it's that time of year for the kiddos to head back to school. This year I have twin grand daughters heading off to COLLEGE away from home for new EXCITING-SCARY experiences. Plus a young grand daughter starting FIRST GRADE and her little brother going back to PRESCHOOL. I used to teach and work as an elementary school librarian before I retired in 1994 when I remarried. Wow, that been 22 years ago. I'm amazed at how fast the years fly by...but I CONTINUE TO SEEK learning and knowledge in my life. How?

1. READING: newspapers, blogs, scriptures, good books.
2. TEACHING: mostly in my church-gives you an opportunity to learn new things, explore new topics and LEARNING more about topics that interest me like COMPUTERS.
3. WRITING: blogs, journals, emails, and poetry.
4. COMMUNICATING with loved ones and friends through spoken words.
5. SERENDIPITY: exploring new opportunities/hobbies/experiences that come along.

How are you furthering your SCHOOLING?

Coolness returns briefly

Cool photo from my Alaskan cruise last August...such beauty!

Interesting how during summer we long for fall.

This morning after a refreshing monsoon rain

the air is cool again with that promise of fall.

June and July are the hottest months of our summer

then comes Aug with its tease of coolness

followed by Indian summer with more heat.

Seems like life somehow––it is life I guess.

Just when you think your problems are solved,

new ones come to challenge you to grow.

Surviving the SUMMER

It's been 100+ degrees for two long so it's great when the cooling monsoon clouds come to signal fall is ahead.

Time for the Saturday Farmers Market with fresh peaches and sweet tomatoes...

Off for a cool AC drive in our redrock hills just to get out of the AC house.

Pine Valley mountains draw the first monsoon clouds then cooling rain.

Memoirs-LOOKING BACK

Interesting as  you age to look back on your life to see what you were doing in past years. From my journals I've extracted this info.

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Wed, Aug 5, 2015 DAY FIVE: in Skagway got up early at 5 am, thought it was 6 am-went to breakfast buffet alone. it takes too much time before the family esp. the boys are awake to go as a group to eat.  I like the peace and quiet of the morning alone. I’ve scheduled a train ride today for the girls-Tina, twins and me-one on one time with family is invaluable.

Three hour train ride to White Pass then some shopping and off to the historical museum alone to learn more about the Klondike Gold Rush. This is where my ggpa Wm. Marion Johnson came in 1897 looking for riches. After 2 years here, it was a bust for most gold seekers. Saw an interesting film on history of this area. Twins and Tina just wanted to shop so they did. I tried to find my way back to the ship but got on the Norwegian Pearl rather than the Norwegian Jewel. They look the same but are quite a distance apart in the port-a long tiring walk to find the right ship loaded down with souvenirs and coat, etc. So tired, glad we are at sea tomorrow. A day of rest, then Victoria and home. More photos and journaling see http://lettersfromlin.blogspot.com/2015/08/day-five-skagway-alaska.html

QUESTIONS:

1. Do you journal? (Blogging can be journaling.)

2. IF so, how can it help you?

3. IF not, why?

A New Book by a FAVORITE AUTHOR

from Amazon.com

“The book you hold in your hands is the distillate of a quarter century’s teaching. It is my attempt to answer, ‘What next?’ for students who are embarking on their ‘second act.’”—Julia Cameron

Julia Cameron has inspired millions with her bestseller on creativity, The Artist’s Way. In It’s Never Too Late To Begin Again, she turns her eye to a segment of the population that, ironically, while they have more time to be creative, are often reluctant or intimidated by the creative process. Cameron shows readers that retirement can, in fact, be the most rich, fulfilling, and creative time of their lives.

When someone retires, the newfound freedom can be quite exciting, but also daunting. The life that someone had has changed, and the life to come is yet to be defined. In this book, Cameron shows readers how cultivating their creative selves can help them navigate this new terrain. She tells the inspiring stories of retirees who discovered new artistic pursuits and passions that more than filled their days—they nurtured their souls.
A twelve-week course aimed at defining—and creating—the life you want to have as you redefine—and re-create—yourself, this book includes simple tools that will guide and inspire you to make the most of this time in your life:

-  Memoir writing offers an opportunity to reflect on—and honor—past experience. This book guides you through the daunting task of writing an entire memoir, breaking it down into manageable pieces. (new element)
-  Morning Pages—private, stream-of-consciousness writing done daily—allow you to express wishes, fears, delights, resentments, and joys, which in turn, provide focus and clarity for the day at hand.
-  Artist Dates encourage fun and spontaneity.
-  Solo Walks quell anxiety and clear the mind.

This fun, gentle, step-by-step process will help you explore your creative dreams, wishes, and desires—and help you quickly find that it’s never too late to begin again.