Beautiful Utah

Autumn is beautiful here in Northern Utah. 

The colors are beginning to change and the weather is cooling down.

Yesterday DJ and I took the ATV's up to Hardware Ranch and rode for about 5 hours. It was nice to get out of town. There are way to many people here on the Wasatch Front. As much as we love the mountains around here we really look forward to moving in the next couple of years! Hopefully...........

Sheep in the road on the way up to Hardware Ranch.

 I LOVE the vibrant yellows of Aspens :)

I've had my Nikon for almost a year and it looks like I need to get my sensor cleaned. Excuse the dark specks that show in some pictures.

Just Beautiful.

 

 

Hawks ~ amazing to watch them glide through the air.

It was a pretty day.

I sat on this rock ~ what was I thinking? It was really bumpy and not so comfortable. The color is awesome though!

Maybe we''ll just build a cabin right here. That would be heaven on earth ~

Fall Is In The Air :)

Autumn.....just saying it makes me happy.

 There's nothing about fall that I don't like. Warm, cozy colors. Smells of cinnamon, apple, pumpkin, nutmeg, cloves, allspice and leaves on the forest floor. Bluer skies in October. It's all wonderful and brings a new zest for life after a long, hot summer.

 Today I'm sharing a couple of pictures of our fall decorations. I still have more to do this weekend. We painted the kitchen last week. The home office, living room and kitchen are now all the same color. We just have the hallway left to paint that same color.

Camping With The Cows

One of my favorite things about camping at the Burnt River is living with the cows.

 They are roaming the countryside for the summer. It's fun to wander over to the fence in the morning and watch them ~ they are beautiful. 

The little guys were so curious and full of character. The momma's were a little more suspect but hey, as a momma myself, I totally get it :)

My Dani girl ~ I miss her so very much! She's doing very well and just got a job!

It's been a hot, dry week here in Utah. Wildfires going on all over the state ~ not good.

 Praying for a good rain soon!

More of our Burnt River Trip

Mom and Dad enjoyed riding our Sportsman 500 ~ they miss theirs and hope to get another ATV soon!

Heather and Ben were only able to be there Saturday and Sunday. DJ and Dani rode out to the main road to meet them. Ben rode back into camp with Dani.

We were so glad they could join us even for a short time.

Dani was so proud that she learned to ride Ben's motorcycle.

Mom and Dani secretly planned a birthday celebration for Dad and I. It was awesome :) They told each of us separately to take the other for an ATV ride so they could decorate.

I love my dad :)

Our last morning there DJ, mom, dad and I took a little drive up the hill by our campsite.

Oregon has awesome ATV trails!

Heather learning to ride Ben's bike.

The kids headed out of camp for a ride.

The kids with Grandpa and Grandma.

We've been getting fresh spring water here for 37 years. It's just down the road from our campsite.

My next post will be about the cows we camped next to :) 

Tradition ~ Driving To The Fire Lookout

Camping at the Burnt River always includes a drive up to the fire lookout up on Table Rock. It takes about an hour. The drive itself is beautiful.

Dani and Dad rode the ATV's and DJ rode the motorcycle. Mom and I followed with the dogs in my Yukon.

The mountain pine beetle is responsible for these trees no longer being green. It's the most destructive tree-killing beetle in Oregon.

This meadow is about 4 miles from the lookout. We usually stop and eat here. There used to be a big trough that was full of icy cold water. One year my dad, DJ and both my brothers dunked their heads in it.

I love to see new growth.

Between forest fires and the beetles there are patches of bare or brown trees scattered all through the forest. The lookout is ahead of us at that highest point.

The views from the lookout are amazing!

It would be an interesting job manning a fire lookout but I wouldn't want to do it alone.

This lookout is manned from early summer until early fall. Elevation is 7,815 ft.

The dumplings are a little blurry but if you could smell them you wouldn't care! We came back from the lookout and cooked up a pot of chicken and dumplings. Yum! They hit the spot.

I'm grateful for all the men and women who man fire lookouts. It's not always an easy or exciting job but it's appreciated!

It was another great day spent with people I love and soaking in God's beautiful Creation!