Desert east of Leeds, UT

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Desert east of Leeds, UT. Looking toward Zion National Park.

This view of the desert is from an old mine dump that my boys and I hiked up to. I had stopped to take the previous picture of the caveman Batman figure, so we didn’t find the mine shaft right away. My kiddos found the opening right before me. It had been closed off with a wall of mortar and rocks from the dump. I wonder what they were after?

Silver Reef is only about 5 miles to the north of me from this spot. Silver Reef is the only place in the world that they have found rich silver deposits in sandstone. That may be what they were after over this way as well. Silver Reef was once a booming mining town because of the silver. At one time they even had a china town area. Now it is a rather artistic community where people go to retire. The famous sculptor, Jerry Anderson resides up there. I am sure this desert is an inspiration for his many creations.

Frank Lloyd Wright designed a house near here. I know the couple that live there. They gave me a tour once and it has high shelves all over inside with plants hanging down. The high windows and walls were inspired by the desert cliffs surrounding the area. It is a beautiful home that is much more interesting to look at than your standard run-of-the-mill suburban stucco house.

The desert never ceases to amaze me. The colorful landscapes are even more colorful up close. The reds turn into many shades of red, orange, and white streaks. The sandstone in areas is what they call picture sandstone because of all the beautiful striations that make it look like a desert scene itself. I am glad I have the opportunity to live in such a beautiful part of the world and that I get to experience it with my boys on at least a weekly basis. When my other kiddos get a little older we will be able to get out and enjoy this expansive place together as a family!

February 5, 2017February 5, 2017

Me hunt beast food all day

Caveman Batman Hunts beast — Me hunt beast food all day

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Out on the hunt for Lego photography locations!

Yesterday, I took my boys with me to sell Wowflutes at the Tuacahn Saturday Market. There were a few vendors there enjoying the perfect weather. No wind, no rain; just sunshine and some whispy clouds.

After our morning of selling we headed over to target so they could pick something out with the money they earned helping me. Target had no Lego Batman Minifigures… 🙁 They had a whole bunch of the series 16 CMF though. I guess they were trying to move those before putting new stuff out.

So we went over to Walmart and they had the big display in the aisle with a bunch of Batman Movie CMF. I picked up this Clan of the Cave Batman (above) along with the Mime and a Catman.

We then set off to find a good hiking location and photo spot. We drove around Quail lake to a spot on the north end I used to raft when I was a kid. Quail lake catches the runoff from the Pine Valley Mountains to the north after it has carved it’s way through the slot canyons of Redcliffs desert reserve. The water flows slowly into the lake through a covered lazy river. In the summer it is heavily shaded and is the perfect swimming hole. There was about four inches of dead leaves covering the entire area. We hiked around a bit and then headed towards Redcliffs.

Redcliffs was blockaded for construction on the access road so we headed down a dirt road north of Leeds, UT. It was such beautiful scenery all around. I love taking my boys out in the hills where they can hike without trails and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. We hiked up to a mining dump and I was hoping to show them what a mine shaft looked like, but the opening had been sealed with a rock and mortar wall. My boys were still curious about it.

While up on top of the mine dump we heard what sounded like distant barking – lots of it. We looked everywhere for dogs, but then the barking slowly morphed into honking. It turned out to be a flock of geese flying over the desert. I snapped a quick shot. Overall, today was a nice relaxing Saturday!

geese flock over the desert — Flock of Geese over the desert, Leeds, UT

January 16, 2017February 1, 2017

Glowing Mossy Path

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The glowing moss lit the way; Jim wasn’t sure what adventures were ahead, but it was definitely the path for him, the path less traveled…

What is an adventure?

I’ve been thinking a bit on this today. What really constitutes an adventure? Is it danger? Is it a change of plans? Is it just something unexpected?

Dictionary.com defines adventure as

1) An exciting or very unusual experience

2) A bold, usually risky undertaking

I agree with these definitions and I think they go hand in hand. Unusual experiences usually come after taking some kind of risk. The excitement of adventure leads Jim into an unknown area to explore the wilderness around him. The moss is unusually soft on his feet as he hikes and he has come across this new experience through taking paths that are not worn.

I find that my own life has been somewhat like Jim’s adventures. I don’t want to follow the predefined path that most people take. I wasn’t always this way. When I was growing up I attended public school like all my friends, I got a job in high school, like most my friends, and I had a truck, like most of my friends. I followed a set answer to the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I always answered “An Engineer”, although I never really knew what engineers did or why it would be so cool to be one.

After High School I served a full-time Mormon mission to New York City. Coming from a small southern Utah town to the largest and most diverse city in the world was very eye opening. But I still had this idea in my mind that I will go home after my mission, got to college, become an engineer, and live happily ever after with a family and lots of money.

I don’t know when I woke up.

I can’t really put a finger on it. I think it was all the business books I read in my free time and all the self-help books about improving ones thoughts and actions. It was a gradual understanding that I was following a direct path into the rat race. The race to get lots of money. The race to keep up or surpass the Jones’. I went through college and got a degree before I woke up. I followed the whole resume building plan to spruce up my hire-ability. I worked hard to become this idea I had in my mind of an engineer designing things and having a blast. But it was not a real thing. Engineering turned out to be rather boring for me. It was all about making my boss wealthy and the company wealthy. It was all about money. Engineering was all geared towards finding the cheapest option that would work and not fail and lead to other liabilities. It was about following rules and set guidelines that were already established at the companies I worked for. I found that as an engineer I was given all the projects and work that the owner himself did not want to do.

I guess it’s like that in most professions. You have to follow this set standard. I also found how our money system revolves around this system of the rat race. Marketing and buying and selling and getting more and more stuff. Get a promotion at work? Get a new car! Match and exceed your income! Get paid a lot? Buy a house!

These things are not necessarily bad, but the why is missing.

I have since left the rat race and have focused on building my own character through taking on risk and adventure. It is still hard work, do not get me wrong. All those folks that paint getting out on your own and starting a business or entrepreneurship as easy are feeding a lie that is so easily accepted through the rose colored glasses of seeing the finished result without the effort.

I like Jim’s adventures because they are a true adventure away from all the troubles of society. They are adventures in self reflection and pondering, where one can appreciate all the things God does without us. The beauty of nature and light. The beauty of colors and growth. The beauty of the mountains and the valleys. The beauty of forests and deserts. I sometimes envy Jim as he can drop everything and go. I also at times feel sad for Jim because he does not seem to have anywhere to be.

All in all, Jim has a great time out in the hills and I also get to get out in nature to recharge my batteries for the adventure that is life!