Our Life Well Spent: Dirt & Roots

The boys have been loving their time in Southeastern Utah. More specifically, they have loved getting dirty.

And, eating the apples off my grandmas trees. I must say that Red Delicious apples taste no where even close to what the original heirloom variety does (which of course is one of my grandma's trees) it makes me, and Bronze, wonder why they ever changed it.

We went out to the farm to post a sign

While Craig, my brother, welded away

Triton and I meandered,

Ate pizza,

Looked for Lizards,

And finally got my boots dirty.

Bronze slept in the car,

and was rudely awoken by his mother so he could join us in our push through the trees.

During this excursion, Triton decided that those dang chipmunks are pretty dang scary. Craig had to carry him, so the "squirrels" wouldn't bite him... not that they even tried. It looks like Triton is well on his way to developing quite the imagination.

I decided packing Bronze on my shoulders was much easier than carrying him. Though he isn't afraid of the chipmunks too, he doesn't walk very soundly - the thought of him falling into a wild patch of cactus was all the incentive I needed to carry him the whole way (I'd guess two miles)

You can kind of see the remnants of the old Pony Express station at our place. I'd love to go out there with a metal detector one day and see what I could possibly come up with.

This is what Triton looked like half way through our tree push. I wonder if how dirty a boy is, is a good indicator of how much fun he's having? Dirt was everywhere, even blown in his eye by the wind. My personal favorite is the fact his eyelashies are dusted with dirt.

Triton also likes to give himself tattoos on the forehead - while, of course, wearing safety glasses to make sure he doesn't slip and get himself in the eye.

And he likes it when his Mama is a little goofy

AH, this picture gives me the most perfect idea for a Halloween costume, Gene Simmons from Kiss...now i need to figure out where I can get 12 inch platform knee boots...

Bronze, on the other hand, is not beguiled by his mother's craziness, and is happy to destroy his great-grandma's chair by pushing the chair back out.

I was so excited to watch the special between Sunday General Conference sessions featuring the story of The Hole in the Rock trail. My ancestors were on that trek. More importantly, I was so proud to see my grandma talking about it, and about the Bluff Fort she's been working so hard to restore for most of my life.

It was awesome to go back and see what she's been able to do. Obviously, these pictures do not do it justice.

This is my several great-grandpa's house who came with the pioneers in the Martin Handcart Company, and then on through the Hole in the Rock Trail to settle Bluff. Its always humbling to see what people went through for the sake of offering something better to their posterity. I am honored by their sacrifices.

Next door to the fort is a giant Black and Tan Coonhound that I have to admit, I am completely smitten with; all the more so, for its constant bawling. Triton and Bronze shared my love, and spent most of their time admiring the magnificent animal. Truth be told, I always wanted a black and tan coonhound, specificially when I was a Sophomore in high school. Perhaps this dog may have just reignited my desire for this creature. Poor, poor John is all I can offer him for the upcoming begging sessions he''ll have to endure.