Beginnings

Of a Thanksgiving feast

Two turkeys (Stove Top and Butterball) and five pullets (one named Albert Einstein - because of the hair)





Of bunch of ham and bacon for breakfast

Yes, we built a pig pen. After a lot of soul searching I can now look in the mirror and say, "Yes, I have a pig pen on my property, and doggone it, people like me!"

Of fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, peas.....

And long job charts this summer!!!

Kayak Heaven

Darren, Neil, and Dave standing on the center rock island in
"Pair of Dice" rapid.

This rapid can be seen below the Hansen bridge. Tad (recovering from shoulder surgery) took this picture from the canyon rim. He was with them in spirit. Poor Tad. This photos shows the "small hole." River right of this is the real monster.

This is the kind of rapid, that upon hearing the beginnnings of its roar as you approach, makes you want to throw up. In low water you can run the falls. In high water you better get to the rock or you will spend the rest of eternity being "Maytag"ed.

That being said, this is completely, totally 100 % heaven for Darren and certain friends. The Murtaugh section of the Snake is world famous. Problem is, it only runs when Jackson Lake, Palisades and on down the line are full. We've been in a drought. When word got out that water was being released, the phone rang non stop.

The conversation usually starts with, "Dude." A lot of times Darren has no idea who it is. But they all remember him. He is the Murtaugh guru. In years past when the Murtaugh ran we would have a tent city in our yard. We call them our hippie friends. Many times strangers have slept in our home. Boaters are family. The Murtuagh brings boaters together in a common purpose.

The Murtuagh is that kind of water.

Bigger than the Grand Canyon kind of water.

Quit your job kind of water.

Words cannot express the excitement at our house kind of water.

1997 was the last year it ran REALLY big. They actually closed it to boaters. My husband snuck on at 36,000 cfs and landed himself on the front page of Sunday's paper under the headline "Residents pray, Boaters play."

River water runs in Darren's veins. It is his lifeblood. His spirit draws from it all nutrients necessary to accomplish the rest of life. He is drawn to it at a very innate level. It is this desire, even need, for adventure that initially drew me to him. It has fed our little family well. Ties that bind. River water has done that for us.

This week Darren keeps coming up to me and very urgently saying my name. When I am awaiting what important thing he must have to tell me, he'll say animatedly, "The Murtaugh is running!"

It's that kind of water.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, OH MY!

OK. Just the lion part. Mountain Lion that is. Yes, a real one, about 40 feet away! My fabulous photographer sister in law got a picture; when I can get a copy I'll post it! It was stalking a goose, and boy was it surprised by 10 kayaks floating down the creek! It crouched down to hide, I swear you could walk 3 feet from one of those and not know it was there! Incredible!!! We decided it was time to bring back the annual tradition of floating Salmon Falls Creek in early spring. We have missed the past 4 years. This is the put in outside Jackpot, NV. Notice the storm clouds in the distance. Had we known the fury they held....(Scott, you just may be a little smarter than the rest of us; devil's tooth wasn't the same without you)

Smart girl, had her rain gear on from the start.

Paige, just kicking it.

Darren and kids climbing. I'm glad they had the energy to do it that morning. All five of us slept in our tent that USED to fit us. I think the kids are growing. There was no room for ANY squirming. Paige kept getting mad at Darren and me for talking, Darren finally asked me, "What is your problem?" Then realizing how he sounded quickly asked me really what was wrong so he could help me to "PLEASE STOP MOVING!" Boy was that fun. You think it's bad in the car when someone's toe touches someones leg?

Our little scout. We hit camp and he immediately started making something to hang a clothes line on.

The boys.

Justin, Brady, and Spongebob?

It was a great trip, in spite of the rain. Did I say rain? I mean DOWNPOUR. Complete with flashing lightning and thunder booming through the narrow canyon. Nature at its most natural. Wow.

Spring Break '09!

Boy do I need a break. We just went on a whirlwind spring break tour and had a blast! We started out in Provo, spent time with family, skiied Sundance with Grandpa, celebrated Justin's 13th birthday and headed for Moab!

You should have seen the truck - we looked like the Clampetts. We had skis, we had bikes. We had helmets of the ski variety, helmets of the bike variety. We had clothes for cold, snowy weather, clothes for hot biking weather. We had church clothes. A cooler full of food. We had ski boots, we had chacos. I am in unpacking hell right now.

But, boy was it fun! Here is some sort of synopsis of what we did - minus the ski pics. They didn't turn out.

Dead Horse Point

The trail we are going to ride down. Do you see a way to get down those cliffs? Apparently there is one, we were about to find out. The trail is in the shadows in the center of the picture. Yes, there.

Start point in Canyonlands National Park. The plan: Start out on the White Rim Trail, descend Shafer and head out toward Moab via Potash.



Can you see us? We are the three specks clinging to the inside of the road. It was truly breathtaking! We knew we were alive, we could feel our hearts pounding!
We are in the right third of the picture, specks I tell you. Red rock country is so vast, it almost looks like it can't possibly be real, that it might just be a picture plastered out there on the edge of the world.

Looking down the Schafer trail. Yep, there was a way down, afterall. Just stay on the road!

Darren drove the truck and Paige rode along with him on this part. There was no room for "Mom, I can't find my brakes!" I decided I would be more nervous driving, Darren said I made a wise choice.

Paige

Riding along the Colorado River near "Thelma and Louise" point.

Ducks all in a row.

Brady, after a crash, hanging in there.

Finish at the Colorado! 18.5 miles! What a beautiful ride!

Tuesday morning we went out on Slickrock. Justin rode up everthing! Me, not so much.

Paige getting a little help.

Jumping for joy to be in Moab!

Peace on Dusty's Trail

The ride on Dusty's Trail has been a little bumpy for the past few weeks. But when it counted, at Music Festival, the ride went without incident. SUPERIOR! Way to go Brady! Hard work pays off again!

Go 'Dawgs

Friday we were out of school because the B0y's basketball team at Kimberly was playing in State (don't worry, we got out two weeks ago for the girl's team).

And since we are such HUGE fans and never miss a game..... we went skiing! We have SO got our money out of the season passes.

We were one of the first cars up there that morning, driving on fresh snow. It snowed the entire time we were there, the sun breaking through just as we drove away.

The kids had their gear on by the time we hit the parking lot (they start dressing at Third Fork, wouldn't want to waste a second, you know). As soon as they took off, I got my snowshoes on and headed for the top of the mountain opposite the ski resort, Pike's peak. This is my tradition, I DON'T have a season pass, you see.

It seems like forever to the top, reaching the crest of one hill, only to see another. This time it was a total blizzard. The closer you get to the top the stronger the wind gets. I pretend I'm attempting Everest. It feels like a daring adventure, then I rememeber I am in the South Hills, HILLS, as in not mountains. I kept checking my bearings - I am famoulsy directionally challenged. If I wasn't exactly sure of the way back down I could easily end up at the buffet at Cactus Petes. Once at the top I considered it, I was really hungry. The banana and water in my pack didn't seem like it would do the trick.

My hands were colder than my stomach was hungry, so I left the snacks in the pack, along with my book, and headed down to the shack at the top of an old abandoned ski lift. Darren says this is a perfect reading spot. You see, he doesn't have a season pass either.

The shack scares me, I have yet to go in. It looks like lots of spiders could live in there. There is a really cool, old chair in there though. I head down, and because I am insane, when I get to the bottom I turn around and head back up. Not all the way to the top this time, I'm not THAT insane.

And lest I feel too tough, Darren kite skiied close to 60 miles on this day! Heaven on earth.

The Big 4-0

Yep, it's the big one today. 40!

Happy Birthday Darren!