Looking Toward the Sun

Goodbye Jericho Dunes

I took this picture yesterday at the Little Sahara Sand Dunes. I hadn't been here for several years. It's a state park in the middle of Utah. Seems like yesterday it was $10 to enter. Now they've raised the day pass to $18. We just wanted to stop for a few hours at the Jericho Picnic Area to play in the sand. 

I remember the days, probably about 30 years ago now, when the parking lot at the picnic area was mostly empty. Now it's full of RVs of all shapes and sizes with their accompanying four wheelers and motorcycles loudly zipping around. In recent years, I've been able to more or less ignore those once I've climbed up into the dunes. No more. Things have changed. Yesterday was probably particularly busy because of spring break and the upcoming holiday weekend. 

There is a fence that separates the safe play area from where ATVs can go. When did they move the fence?!? The area is probably only a third smaller, but visually, moving the fence has changed everything. See those trees on the right? It was the high point of the play area. The fence was several hundreds of feet down on the other side. At the base of those trees was my favorite place to sit and overlook the vast expanse of sand dunes. I could almost ignore the fence and feel part of the emptiness. Rocks below the trees provided a place to sit off the sand and in the shade. I'd relax there for hours and watch everything-- my children playing in the sand and the beauty of the dunes. Yesterday I wanted so much to cross that fence. I probably would have if I'd been alone. I'd have found a safe way to get there. But another reason not to cross was the thought that any ATV coming my direction might not see me climbing up the dunes below the trees.

The ATVs have acres and acres and acres of land. Yes, the sand is still there. The view can be found. But to me, without that place under the trees, the magic is gone. 

I know where there are better dunes-- no entrance fee, no ATVS, views and trees included. I blogged about them here a year or two ago. Next time I want sand dunes, I'm heading north.

But the children still had fun. Children can be so resilient. 

Pictures

My youngest daughter took these. I like them. 

We live in a beautiful world.

Second Day of Spring

 

At the Urban Farm

"What kind of beast is that?" I asked.

"'Beast' is a good word for it," he answered. 

"I think it's an ox," I said.

As we got closer we saw gnats buzzed all around him (or is it her?) and near its big, heaving belly.

After a cold winter, 65 degrees felt warm to us humans. 

I can't imagine what this animal in its warm winter coat was feeling.
There were actually two of them. One was hiding in the shade of hay.

Igloo in the School Library

After my son's parent-teacher conference, we went to the library to see this. I really wanted to get a picture of the inside. They left all the caps on the milk jugs so the inside is colorful. They have a rug and bean bag chairs inside too. What a great place for children to curl up and read. I almost want to make one.

Sad  note: Turns out the igloo was a fire hazard-- according to the local fire department. 

They had to tear it down! :'(

Snow Shoeing is Awesome

Today I went snow shoeing with my little sister and my oldest daughter. 

It was incredibly beautiful, excellent exercise, and lots of fun.