Salt Lake City Temple

Linking to: Friday My Town Shoot Out

and Skywatch Friday,

Weekend Reflections

Oldest Building in My Town, finished in 1893

It took the pioneers 40 years to complete this temple. Originally, sandstone was used for the foundation of the building but when Johnston's Army was on the way to Utah in 1857, all of the foundation was covered with dirt. People set up areas in the homes getting them ready to burn in case they had a war. The pioneer families moved south while leaving their men to fight. With only a few skirmishes with the Army, Johnson found there was no real reason to fight with the Mormons.

In 1858 when tensions had eased of having the US Army camped south of Salt Lake,  the pioneers uncovered the sandstone to find that many of the stones were cracked so it was determined that granite needed to be used.

They cut large granite stones from the mountains in Cottonwood Canyon, a good 30 miles from the site and these large stones were transported by wagon.  Not only were men working on the temple but they had to farm to feed themselves and their families while building this beautiful temple. "Holiness to the Lord" is inscribed over the door.

Reflections of the spires in the fountain across the street.


A large baptismal font being held on the backs of 12 brass oxen is the in basement and represents the 12 tribes of Israel. Many of the measurements were taken from Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem from the Bible.

Salt Lake Baptismal Font

Biosphere II Complex - NE of Tucson

Connecting to 

Sky Watch Friday

Weekend reflections

ShadowSunday Shot 2

Beginning my tour of the Biosphere II complex. The temperature was perfect this day. The tour took about two hours.  This place is immense being 40 acres or about 2 1/2 football fields long.

 First glance.

 Inside Biosphere looking at a replica of ocean life and coral reef. A giant motor keeps the water in motion. To think that they have kept this project going since 1991.

 Water reflections.

 One of the many planted growing areas. The University of Arizona now owns this complex and is studying the air, water and plant life and regular research projects continue.

The tropical area is so dense after 23 years and the plants have reached the glass roof so I wonder what they will do next so that the plants don't push the glass out.  No animals allowed but plenty of tropical plants and insects.

In another section where they have desert fog climate, occasionally they crack a window open on top and sometimes a bird or two get in and help themselves to inserts.

Reflections.

Apparently, there were two missions.  I only remember the first mission where 8 people were locked inside for two years and they all came out rather skinny.  They grew their own food but did not count on the fact that a cloud settled over the complex for nine months and crops failed so it limited their food intake.  They lost 16% of their body weight.

Shadow shot - living quarters - the bedrooms were upstairs. They had TV, books, and occasionally they had dances. Two hooked up and got married after they left the Biosphere.  Two were already married.

Arizona Territory 1863

Arizona territorial lines in red were very different from the current Arizona State back in 1863.

Notice that a northwest part of the territory was given to Nevada. That is the area where I entered Arizona on my trip by Hoover Dam.

This park was dedicated to Arizona Territory (1863 -1912)

Arizona was not admitted to the United States until 1912. 

The park was just closing when I found it so I was not able to spend much time there. There were men and women in period costumes sitting around an open fire which really wasn't needed.

I did ask about the wheel on the front of the wagon - it was their spare tire back then.

Connecting with Ruby Tuesday Too
and Our World Tuesday

Glenn Canyon Dam

Coming home from Arizona, I crossed over the bridge at Glen Canyon Dam. I took photos on the Utah side.

 Visitor's Center at Glen Canyon Dam - car reflections

 Looking east from the dam

 Looking south to the Arizona side (caught an extra reflection from the glass in the visitor's center)

 Looking straight down at the water below the dam.

Anyone up for a boat ride in a pontoon?

Linking up with: 
Friday My Town Shoot Out
Skywatch Friday
Weekend Reflections
Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Samuel Eames Tidbit

Connecting to HodgePodge Wednesday

Preacher Sam holding a granddaughter

1. Do you have an interest in learning about your family's heritage? Why or why not? If you know a little bit about your roots, share an interesting piece of trivia or a fun fact about someone who goes way back on your family tree.

I've been searching my roots for 40+ years. One story that comes to mind is a branch of my Eames family who stayed in Missouri and did not come west to Utah with the pioneers.

I found an article from a local Newspaper (Hannibal Journal):

Yesterday (March 28, 1895) Clark Duncan and Miss Ada Owings of Olney, Missouri were united in the holy bonds of matrimony on the Short Line train while running between Troy and Moscow.  It seems the bride’s parents objected to the marriage. She eloped with her lover and they boarded the train at Silex. As was pre-arranged, Rev. Samuel Eames got on the train at Troy and united them in marriage. 

They called him Preacher Sam and he was not about to let his niece run away without being married - he was a first cousin to my great great grandpa.

2. Branch Rickey, the baseball exec credited with signing Jackie Robinson, is quoted as saying-

"Luck is the residue of design."

 Agree or disagree? Why?

I agree.  I think it really takes an amount of energy to be lucky.

3. In the town where you currently reside, what's your favorite green space?

I enjoy taking a ride up a canyon into the mountains - green trees are everywhere.

4. Who is your favorite comedian? 

Bob Hope was always a favorite of mine.  I remember one year in Anchorage, he put on a show and the only place large enough was the high school gym and we had to cross a picket line.  Never done that before or since.

5. March is National Nutrition Month, and almost everyone needs to improve their diet in some way.  What about you? How can you improve your nutrition on a daily basis? Will you try?

I try to eat healthy most of the time especially as I age, it is more apparent how nutritious food is needed for this old body.

7. Where is one place you don't mind waiting?

In the self checkout stands at the grocery store - the lines are always short.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Yesterday we had an inch or snow in the morning and a blizzard - in the afternoon it had all melted into the grass. Today is a gorgeous warm wonderful spring is coming day!

Lunch at Sedona

While traveling in Arizona, I could not resist going through Sedona again on my way home. 

I stopped at the Wildflower Bread Company and had a delightful lunch.  I chose the mouth-watering pulled pork with feta, pickled red onion, whole grain mustard aioli (seasoned mayo with garlic) on a grilled Ciabatta Roll, served with sweet potato chips. Lip smacking good, I ate every bite.

This eye-pleasing glass sculpture was in the middle of the Wildflower Bread Company. It sure looks like Chilhuly.

 Little creatures greet you in Sedona.

 There is always another shot to snap.

Sedona in winter is just as beautiful as summer.

Linking to: Ruby Tuesday Too
and Our World Tuesday

March 10 Monday Mellow Yellow

Odd assortment of windows in the little adobe apartments at Biosphere 2.  Did you know that Biosphere 1 is our earth?  I didn't until I toured Biosphere 2.

There are green plants in the desert.

Clever idea to make coasters from Mardi Gras beads.

Linking to Monday Mellow Yellows

Desert Museum and Old Town Tucson

For more  Skywatch Friday, push link - watching birds of prey at the outdoor Desert Museum northwest of Tucson, AZ

 Cactus everywhere

Shadow Shot Sunday

Reflections in Old Town Tucson

Brambleberry Cottage

Biosphere 2 Art

Linking to Ruby Tuesday Too today and
Our World Tuesday.

Northeast of Tucson is a complex called Biosphere 2 that was built in the early 90's. They now have a small community of students from the University of Arizona who help with continued experiments to help understand our environment. There are numerous small adobe apartments on the grounds where they stay.

San Luis Rio Colorado City

I did not bring my passport because I had no intention of stepping into Mexico. Yuma is very close to the border (about an hour's drive) so I drove to San Luis Rio Colorado which is on the Mexican border to take some photos.

Parking in a lot for visitors, I walked toward the gate to get photos but the problem was that the sun was right in my face so I went a little farther.

Now I ask you, where on this sign does it say you are in Mexico?

 This is where the cars pass under and is considered Mexico. I got close enough to take some photos and turned around heading back the way I came when a guard stopped me and said that I was already in Mexico and that if I wanted to return to the US that I had to walk past the gate, walk two blocks west and enter the US customs building.

 This was next to the building where you enter the US.

After explaining to the guard that I just wanted to take some photos and did not realize that I had past the line of no return (there was absolutely no sign saying, you are in Mexico) I was able to get back to US soil with just my drivers license but boy did I get the third degree.

On the American side, there was a small park with these unusual trees.  I wonder if these trees are trimmed in this shape.  Does anyone know?

Linking to: Shadow Shot Sunday 2