July Fourth in America!!

The Fourth of July in Littleton, Denver actually began on Friday the 1st with a firework display at Clement Park.  This was a real family night, with a huge crowd down at the Lake.  There was a band playing, and food stalls.  The kids separated from us, I caught glimpses of them from time to time catching up with friends from both school and church.  The fireworks were impressive as they always are, but what a great night!

With Tom & Sarah both gone by Sunday evening, Rick & I were left to our own devices on the Fourth of July Eve!!  What to do?  We found there was a big event in the city at Civic Park for Independence Eve, so off we went!  Civic Park is in the centre of the city, and during the evening I heard it described as 'a 12 acre oasis' in the middle of the city.  Apparently about 100,000 people were there.  I would believe it! There was an enormous crowd!  We got there in good time, and Rick spoted a small space of grass near the front under a big sprawling oak tree where we squeezed in.  (There are advantages to just being TWO!)  We had a good view of the stage where the symphony orchestra performed for about an hour, also of the stand where the TV channel CBS4 were broadcasting the event, and we were right in front of the County & City Building.  We didn't initially realise how good this was until darkness descended and the building was lit up with lights, especially red, white & blue!!  There certainly was a wonderful feeling of patriotism there!  And of course, the performance from the symphony orchestra was followed by an impressive rendition of 'Star Spangled Banner'  and a display of fireworks!  (I actually know a few of the words now!!)

The military bringing the flag in, preparing for the National Anthem "The Star Spangled Banner"

I alway find the singing of the national anthem stirring.  I love 'Advance Australia Fair' (AUS) and 'God of Nations' (NZ), and the American one is just as stirring. 

The building was constantly changing colours in time with the music or theme..

The fireworks were very spectacular despite my poor photography!

Monday was a public holiday (even though the malls are all open still), and we started the day with a long walk.  It turned out to be a hot day!  The hottest so far, 99F and the local pool was jammed packed!  We ended up going to see a movie at the Elvis Theatre in the afternoon, this is the theatre where the popcorn is more than the ticket!  Movies that have already been shown for a while are shown.  We saw 'The Conspirator' a moving story of the mother of one of the conspirators who assasinated Abraham Lincoln. She is accused also, and despite her innocence, is made an example of in a military trial and loses.  A powerful, true story. 

In the evening, we found another venue in Littleton to go and see some more fireworks.  It was in a large park area, lots of space and very dark.  (I can't remember the directions, except we drove through Old Littleton village) The firework display was excellent, and so was the one in the distance to our left and to our right!!  Only ground fireworks are legal here, but there were rockets going off everywhere.  Great to watch on a balmy, summer's night!  So, three firework displays in four days,  nice work Denver!

On Tuesday, Rick & I tidied up the garden, the flower garden in particular.  This is in the back yard right up against the back corner fence, so in good view of all who pass through the walk way.  It was looking very scrappy, but looks lovely now!! I wonder how our yard looks in Magill, but can't really worry about that, (although I know the roses will need pruning if they haven't already been done..)
We spent the afternoon at the Temple then explored a Shopping Centre we hadn't been to yet..

On Wednesday, we started out early and drove to Colorado Springs to explore a bit there.  It's only about an hour away and we made our way to 'The Garden of the Gods'.  Interesting name you think?  What is it?  It's a parkland of amazing sedimentary and granite rock formations that have been folded and eroded into a vertical postion.  We joined a tour which lasted a good hour and enjoyed a leisurely walk around the area.  It truely is very beautiful with the green conifers and scrub oaks contrasting with the rocks.  There were even rock climbers scaling the vertical sides.  Erosion has caused hollows in the rocks where lots of swallows and hawks dive in and out.  I heard one lady say as she passed by "If I were a bird, that's where I'd live!"  I think I would too!  A really worthwhile place to visit, and it was free!

Garden of the Gods - Colorado Springs

A pretty walk through confifers and spruce oak

This formation is named Hope, Faith & Charity

Rick at The Balancing Rock (Flintstone Country!!)

Next, we went to the Seven Falls.  This is a box canyon, meaning it has three sides, with a water fall that is broken up in seven places.  The climb is steep stairs to the head of the falls, but once up there (now about 7,000ft high) the trail is fairly easy and very, very beautiful as it meanders among the pines and rocks, all the while, you can hear the stream bubbling it's way towards the falls.  We really enjoyed this, despite huffing and puffing our way!  We found another small fall, and had fun observing a little chipmunk!  We had never seen one before, and wow! they sure are quick! Scampering in and out!  I'm sure it was showing off for us!  Incidently, once we were back down to the canteen area, several chipmunks were scampering about trying their luck for a tidbit of food!  I grabbed my camera and took a video, because they seem to be too quick to photograph, and you will have to view this clip below, to see what happens!  After this, I had some crackers handy!!  So very cute, and small!  I'm sure they would fit in a man's hand easily.  This was fun..


Rick beginning the climb.  The high altitude really does affect you here!



One of the falls drops.




This one was called 'Bridal Veil'

 

Once recovered from the climb, this was an immensly pleasant hike..





So very cute!



.. and playful, and hungry it seemed!!

We enjoyed a delicious bowl of chili and crackers each and left pretty tired.  We found a Maccas finally after driving around Colorado Springs city.  It really is a pretty town!  We were looking to see what else we could do, but a thunder storm had rolled in with fat drops and lightening so we just headed back home.  However, this stop could not happen without sampling afternoon tea!  How about two apple pies for $1.00 and a Minute Maid Lemonade with refills for $1.00  (all sizes are the same price!)  Crazy, but yum!!

This storm that came in actually caused some intense flash flooding across the city and caused quite a bit of comment on the news!!  About 2 inches fell in one hour.  Apparently there is a monsoonal band that is slowly going over causing afternoon thunder storms.  We have had one every day since and this is expected to continue until the end of next week!  The temperature still remains lovely and warm with an average of 90F /30C. 

 It really is quiet without the kids at home, but Rick & I have an easy routine going.  He makes lunch one day, I make it the next!!  Ha! ha!  It is very nice to do as we please, and both feel very chilled!  We got ourselves a movie on Wednesday night, that's the life!

Thursday after the gym, I met Bette down at the Family History Centre.  She is really keen to find out more about her dad who died when she was only two.  She was raised by a great step-dad but did not know much about her dad except he was a truck driver and lived in Kentucky.  Well, after a couple of hours, she knew who her great-grandparents were and is one very excited lady.  This was a wonderful experience to share with her.  I also had some success, as this was when I was able to cement the missing links from the Bennallack line, connecting them back to before 1731.  It is very exciting indeed to solve these mysteries!

On Friday, we went for a drive up to Boulder.  Rick hadn't been there yet, and we spent a lovely time ambling through the Pearl Street Mall watching a crazy busker and then lunched at Boulder's Central Park.  This area is very pretty, with Boulder Creek flowing through it, or should I say, rushing through it.  The meltwaters and extra rain, have it swollen and rushing fast!  After experiencing drought for so long, it's very weird to see so much water, constantly flowing.  White water rafting is popular now, so we'll have to investigate that!  The Public Library is built over both sides of the creek/stream so we visited the restrooms there and bought some second hand novels for 'a quarter' each!  You can't be on holidays, and not have something to read!! 

Children playing in the pop-up fountains in Pearl Street Mall

The Statue Mirror Man

The Pearl St Mall has real atmosphere to it.  It reminded us greatly of Rundle Mall in Adelaide.

The Boulder Creek in Civic Park.  Swollen with meltwater that is very cold!

But very pretty!

In the evening, the ward had an activity at 'Pirates Cove' which is a swimming complex with all sorts of novelty pools.  I bought some bathers and enjoyed 'floating' on the 'river' in a tube. No photo evidence however, but very relaxing and refreshing I have to say!  Meanwhile, Rick with some of the other men were smashing the water slides.  Very Fun! (As they would say here!)  That is, if you don't mind the rain sprinkling a little and the lightening going on in the distance.  After a time, everyone had to get out, as the lightening and thunder were getting a bit close and dangerous! 

Saturday saw us hiking again.  We went closer to home this time, in the Evergreens.  We found a trail up and around the 'Three Sisters'.  This was so picturesque, even with us huffing and puffing up through the pines.  The smell of the pines is amazing.  The scenery of the woodland floor and towering Ponderosa's is very peaceful and lovely. I even spotted an elk staring at us, but by the time I got my camera going, it was moving away, apparently not impressed by the look of us both!  Our trail meandered up and up, then leveled and started down, then wound around and then up we went again, this time over boulder and rocks until we reached a summit of sorts and sat and rested with water and mandarines.  Did I mention, this is the life?  Amazingly, this trail is also used by bikers!  Several people on bikes passed us, crazy!!  It was strenuous enough walking!!  We kept going until we came to the 'Brothers Lookout'  which was really worth the effort giving a panoramic view all around.  The cooling breeze was delicious!  The whole hike probably only took about 2 hours, but it was so good to get off the road and explore the beautiful mountainside.  We are very fortunate we have the time to do this.

Too slow for this elk!  He's just passing a big brown stump, but he really did look magnificent!

The smell of pines is wonderful..

At a summit for a rest!! This last part was quite a strenuous climb!



But the view is excellent.  There is still some snow on distant mountains..




 

What a team! Perhaps not quite ready for 'Amazing Race' though!

The kids arrived home Saturday night, very tired but excited with the past week..  There were four sessions of  EFY (Especially For Youth), each with 500 kids.  Ours were in the 'blue', but there were combined activites such as the dances that included everyone.  So many!!  But they won with their accents, and both Chani and Tom performed in the Talent Night.  It sounds like Tom won some hearts, and probably broke them too.  They also managed to get across to visit Temple Square so Chani could see it.  I'm so glad, it's very impressive and not to be missed.  What a great experience for them.

Tonight, there is a fireside at the chapel to recap the Nauvoo trip from a couple of weeks ago.  There is a video, slideshow presentation of the trip, so I am excited to see that.

Tomorrow is the beginning of a busy time, with Deegan arriving the afternoon.  The kids have a day at Waterworld planned, some snow sledding and white water rafting (can you believe there is still some snow in the mountains in the middle of summer??)   It will be a fun few days, in between which, we need to prepare and pack for our roadtrip.  We plan on leaving very EARLY on Friday morning. (Advance notice to any sleepyheads!!)

Mt Rushmore, Nauvoo & More..

Three weeks have passed by quickly! 
 
While Tom & Sarah were in Nauvoo, Rick & I went on a road trip of our own to South Dakota to visit Mt Rushmore.  This is a six hour drive from Littleton and I have to say, it was great!!  Driving at our own pace, on our own, passing such varied countryside which was all green, listening to K-Love (Christian Rock) and country music, and then from time to time, talk back.  We stopped when we needed to and eventually the farmlands, or rather cattle country (I only saw one flock of sheep), became rolling hill country and then we were in a little town called Custer in South Dakota where we stopped for lunch at Subway.  Replenished, we made our way into the Black Hills of South Dakota to Mt Rushmore and enjoyed that amazing rush of seeing this famous landmark!  It's very memorable.  We were impressed with a wonderful tour given by 'Ranger Jake' about the politics and history surrounding the sculpting of Mt Rushmore.  Fantastic, I still can't believe we got to see this!

  

The Black Hills of South Dakota with huge outcrops of Granite.
The Black Hills were given this name by the Sioux Indians due to the dark Ponderosa Pines,
 which cover the mountains for miles!!



Can you believe this?  Here we are at the base of Mt Rushmore which show the faces of
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

The camp ground where we 'roughed it'.  This is the sun at about 6am. 
A very beautiful spot amongst the Ponderosa Pines.

 We stayed overnight at a camp ground on the outskirts of Rapid City, amongst the Ponderosa Pines and then the next day drove out to explore the Badlands which is a huge area about an hour from Rapid City with amazingly unique rock formations.  This area is so large, it's a National Park.  The formations of rock are sedimentary not granite, and so subject to enormous erosion.  The area itself is a grassy plateau surrounded by these unusual uplifts of rock.  We drove the Loop Road and stopped at most vantage points and climbed one trail.  A great day!

The Badlands is a vast area of sedimentary outcrop.  The pioneers who first settled this area described it as harsh, hence Badlands, unlike the Indians who loved the rich pasturelands and animals that live here.



Now, this is a scary sign!



We stopped at a trail and decided a climb was in order, but I did keep a sharp eye on all those holes and dark cavities after seeing that sign!!  Don't want to disturb anything!
The sedimentary layers give evidence of an inland sea at some point in history.  Quite remarkable..

This ended up being quite a steep, strenuous climb, but the view was very rewarding at the top.

This was taken at another 'overlook'

Driving back to Rapid City, the green, rolling countryside was very peaceful.
 This shack on the hillside reminded me of a screensaver photo..

Later that evening, we drove back to Mt Rushmore via the town of Keystone, where we killed some time, to see Mt Rushmore lit up at night.  This was a very patriotic presentation and very stirring for those present especially from the United States.  Overseas visitors were not acknowledge though, despite the objective of the monument being to attract visitors from overseas, as well as from all over the country.  When the MC was getting people to cheer when he called out different parts of the States, this women a couple of rows in front of us yelled out in her British accent, "What about England?" I was amused by that since we are from Australia and were sitting next to people from China. So that was the only critique, we have found Americans very friendly and helpful, but sometimes a bit ignorant and arrogant when it comes to people or knowledge outside of their own country.  It makes me wonder how foreigners perceive Aussies in Australia??  Something to consider..  Anyway, once again it was wonderful to experience Mt Rushmore.  It's an amazing sculpture.

A fine view of George Washington through some Granite.

The overcast skies cleared for a very pretty sunset. 
After the presentation, cloud covered the whole mountain. We were very lucky!

The ampitheatre where a movie presentation is presented nightly.
 A very interesting and patriotic event!

The faces lit up after the presentation, but after about 10 minutes was very quickly covered by misty cloud.  Quite a sight!

The next morning we made our way to Custer State Park which is directly next to Mt Rushmore.  It took us about 3 1/2 hours to drive around this park beginning with Sylvan Lake and The Needles Highway, which twists and bends its narrow way around the mountainside.  The scenery is truely beautiful, with the towering needle like forms of granite giving it's name.  We stopped a few times and explored a little, then again took a Loop Road and drove and drove until we came across the Burros, which belong to the donkey family.  They are so tame, and were looking for food.  Chloe and Zayla would have loved this stop!!  Driving on and on (this is a huge park), we saw a herd of Buffalo, they were over the opposite side of the road in a gully, however there were some at the top of the ridge next to the road and obligingly crossed the road in front of us, which greatly satisfied Rick!  They are very powerful looking animals!  This is a really beautiful park.  You could easily camp here for a week and really relax, but keep busy with things to do and see.

Sylvan Lake, Custer State Park



The highway forms a single land between these rock formations!!


This is one of five tunnels on the Needles Highway.  The single lane is pretty narrow, I'm sure some of the big vehicles we see on the roads would not fit through here!

We stopped by a creek and wandered and climbed the trail for a bit..



The pines are amazing and so is the smell!!

The Burros.  Very tame and keen for any tidbits on offer!

They didn't seem to mind a crowd, so long as there was food!

The elusive Buffalo.  But actally very obliging for us tourists!

Another beautiful lake, a final stop regrettably, before leaving the park.

We next made our way to the Jewel National Monument aka the Jewel Caves.   They were on the route back to Denver so we took the opportunity.  The tour took about 90 minutes, and at first took us three stories down in an elevator then we wound and twisted our way up and down and around a further seven stories down!! The caves are an amazing display of crystals, stalagtites, stalagmites and other formations formed by water mostly dripping through limestone.  It was excellent!! Quite something to see!

A bit dark, but you can see the steps and tour group moving through the caves.

Our drive home was very relaxing, sometimes a bit too relaxing as the country cowboy songs got very slow and drony! But what a great getaway, we were very glad we went..

"Oh, give me a home, where the Buffalo roam..."

Back in Colorado, near the top of the State for a beautiful sunset.

The kids arrived back home very tired, but very excited on Saturday night.  Tom got me to cut his hair a few hours later, and hadn't stop talking about their journeyings the whole time!  They had some amazing experiences visiting the Nauvoo Temple, Carthage Jail, Adam-Ondi-Ahmen, the grave site of Joseph and Hyrum and Liberty Jail.  How grateful I am that they got to experience these places and the wonderful spirit that is there, and especially thankful for our ward who fundraised and organised, so this was all possible.  Sometimes, I am so overwhelmed by the good fortune and blessings that have come to us.

Tom & Sarah outside the Nauvoo Temple, rebuilt in exactness to the original that was destroyed by fire in the mid 1840's.  Tom & Sarah were able to do baptisms for their Nana's family, the Schenck's.

At Adam-Ondi-Ahmen. They both said the Spirit felt at this sacred place was like that of an outdoor Temple.

In front of a monument of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum.

Liberty Jail. Terrible conditions were endured here by the Prophet and his companions during the cold of winter.

Inside the room of Carthage Jail where Joseph and Hyrum lost their lives.
 The original door with a bullet hole also remains.

The following week was not surprisingly a lot quieter.  Tom & Sarah were really worn out after their journeyings, and Rick & I were happy just to stay put.  We did however, spend quite some time organising and finalising our roadtrip to California and our trip to New York!  I can't believe we get to go to these places!!  Accomodation is the hardest and most expensive part, but we are finally happy with our itinery and need to just sit back now and let it happen.  We leave for California on the 15th August stopping first near the Grand Canyon, then Las Vegas then on to Southern California.

I have also been spending quite a bit of time researching some Family History.  Something that started with me finding some names for the kids to take to Nauvoo, but I confess, I have the bug. I have always said there is a time and season, so I guess while I have some time this is my season!!  I am currently finding out about the BENNALLACK family and have discovered some really interesting information about the lives of these hardworking people from the mines and villages of Cornwall thanks to the online parish records and Census Records.  It is so nice to know where our family came from, and a little about the lives they lived.

The kids meanwhile have been enjoying the warmth too, taking advantage of the local swimming pool which is only about 4 houses away.  They seem to find something to do and manage to keep busy! 

I have also been dabbling in watercolours and experimenting with different techniques or elements that make up a piece of work.  There is lots to learn, and it all takes time, patience and lots of practice, but I really  enjoy the challenge.

A study on reflections

A monochromatic study.  One colour to learn depth and light.

Shape painting. Using negative shapes to create depth.

The last week of June, began with organising the house and keeping things in order.  Chani Bramford, Sarah's 'bestie' from Adelaide arrived on Wednesday the 29th!  I have never seen two girls more excited to see each other! (That was one way to get a room clean!).   It proved to be a busy day, starting with us all going out with Bishop Smith and his wife on their boat on Chatfield Lake.  We left very early and it was so beautiful out on the lake early in the morning.  Bishop and DeAnne were both very good on their skiis, as was their good friend Kiersten.  Tom had snow boarded a few times now, and mastered the wake board very quickly and had some great rides.  It was also the first time for the rest of us, and Sarah impressed us by getting up on the board and staying there for a while, Rick & I however were a sad story.  We couldn't master it at all!  It seems I have absolutely no upper body strength, but did some spectacular face plants into the water!  Rick has since said that if I can do 10 push-ups he'll buy me a new dress!! (I can do 3!)  After the fun on the lake however, I had sore muscles all over for a few days!!

Sarah looking like she belongs there!  The calm before the action!!!

Sarah's first experience on a boat and wade boarding.  I think she is a champion!

Tom, looking very good!

DeAnne and Bishop Alan Smith

Bishop doing his best to dislodge Tom from the biscuit.
 (Now this was something Rick & I did have success on! Great fun!)

In the afternoon, Tom went with Kelland and his Dad, Dana on a hike to the summit of Mt Evans which is just one of the 54 '14er's' here in Colorado.  This translated means there is 54 mountains over 14,000 ft.  They drove most of the way and hiked the last couple of hours.  Afternoon storm clouds came across while they were fairly high, and both boys felt 'stings' on the tops of their heads, and all their hairs were standing up on their heads.  Recognising they were in a bit of danger from lightening, they scrambled to shelter under an outcrop about 200m above them, and sure enough they watched rain and lightening around them until it passed.   Quite the adventure, but they were very lucky they weren't used as a lightening rod..  This would have been the same storm system that caused Chani's plane to be delayed for over an hour, circling until it was able land.

Looking at America through Chani's eyes has been very nice, and makes us realise how settled and familiar we are with our surrounds now.  We have had fun showing her around, sharing our favourite take away and even shopping at Costco's.  I think going to the supermarket here for the first time is especially fun! Three tacos for $1 at Taco Bell's and $1 DVD movie from a Red Box, which is a movie dispenser found at Maccas, or the supermarket.  You just have to love some things in America!!

On Saturday morning, Tom left for EFY in Provo, catching a ride with the Mercer's and then the girls left on Sunday with the Hansen's.  They are in for a great week, and Rick and I find ourselves once again' empty nesters'!  Yay!