The Cloud Shroud

The Mountains of the Wasatch Front continue to amaze me on a daily basis.  These huge, awesome, beautiful mountains with their rocky crags, sharp points, crevices and caves tower above everything here in the Ogden Valley.  Sometimes I forget just how tall they actually are. I forget, that is, until I start driving toward them and begin to feel like an ant!

I am amazed by their beauty, the variety of landscape and color they afford and the wildlife they support.

But, as huge and powerful as the mountains appear, they are often defeated by a soft, white fluffy float of clouds.

These clouds sometimes creep up from the back side of the mountain and crawl over the tops and then slide down the nearer side, looking so much like a giant cottony shroud.  Sometimes a snowy white peak will appear out of the top.  Sometimes they seem to disappear entirely in the cottony misty mass.

They never seem to look the same two days in a row.  I am so happy to have a home at the mouth of the Ogden Canyon, where I can sit on my porch with my coffee and look up at these powerful, beautiful mountains.  They remind me of how infinitely small I am in the scheme of things.  Their age, power and beauty are timeless.

Whether we are hiking the trails up to Timpanogos Cave, driving one of the beautiful roadways through Utah, or riding the Gondola at Snowbasin, these mountains always have something new to show me!

So this girl who will always remain an Okaloosa Girl at heart, has also found the beauty and peace, the joy and exhilaration of the mountains has room in her heart also!

Between the Shore and the Shelf!

I find myself living on the Wasatch Front right now.  It is a beautiful part of the Country that I had never seen until this past June.  Fortunately, I have had the time to travel around quite a bit and enjoy the beauty of this land.  Amazing vistas surround me, and now as the snow begins to fall in the Mountains, and the colorful leaves are abundant in the Valley, I have developed a love of the wilderness that surrounds us here.

I live in the "Valley" in Ogden.  If you are a little higher up on the mountain (not actually on the mountaintop, but at the higher elevations of the bases) it is said you live on the "bench" or the "shelf."  Interesting terminology.  The Mountaintops and the Benches have already had snow and many of the tops are already allowing skiing!  I will probably remain a valley dweller, as the snow doesn't fall as often or as deeply in the valleys, and it tends to be quite a bit warmer.
I sometimes find myself torn between this gorgeous place, and my first love...the shore.

In particular, the gorgeous Emerald Coast of Florida.  Sometimes I long for the salty air and the sounds of sea birds.  I miss my friends the dolphins playing along the shore.  I miss the sugar sand of Okaloosa.  A part of me will always be the Okaloosagirl, and so I hold on to my condo at Island Echos.  I hope I can visit there this Spring. 

For now, I will continue to enjoy the beauty of the land here and the time I have with my granddaughters while they are growing up.  Thanksgiving is coming up rapidly and we have made plans with family to have dinner atop the mountain at Snowbasin.  It should be beautiful, and the menu looks absolutely amazing.  In the park across the street from the hotel (we will be in the hotel for about 10 more days before moving to an apartment) they are already wrapping the trees in lights, moving in 40 - yes 40 - little houses that will turn the entire city block into a magical Christmas Card like village!  They seem to do everything in a BIG Way here!   

I love the people here as well as the beautiful scenery.  We haven't had the time to explore the southern part of the state yet, and I am looking forward to seeing more of this amazing State of Utah.  We have a cruise planned to Alaska in May, and that should be yet another bucket list experience.  I have never seen whales in the wild, and am excited about that as well as seeing glaciers.  What an amazing and beautiful country and world we have.  Make sure that if you have the opportunity to step outside the box and see some of it, that you take the opportunity. 

I grew up in a tiny town called Marbury in Maryland.  Two churches, two country stores and not even a stop sign!  I always loved to read, and those books took me places I never dreamed I would see.  But somehow, deep inside me, there was always that desire to travel and to see what was outside that small town.  I have really been extremely fortunate and have traveled in Europe and Asia as well as South America.  I still haven't seen all of North America, but I'm working on it now!  There is such beauty the world over. 

But for now, as I sit here in my hotel in Utah, my heart is somewhere between the Shore and the Shelf.  Part of me loves it here, but a large piece of my heart will always be in Okaloosa. 

Where is YOUR heart?   Where would YOU live if you had a choice? 

PEACE, LOVE & JOY

Linda

 Waking up this morning I couldn't help but miss my beautiful Emerald Coast and the dolphins who play in front of my condo in the morning.  I guess a part of my heart will always remain on the beautiful white sugar sand beside the crystal clear emerald water of the Gulf Coast. It is difficult at times for me to think about selling the condo in Fort Walton Beach where I have spent such glorious sunny and stormy days by my beloved sea.

But, my new home in Ogden, Utah has also captured a large part of my heart.The cool mountain air coming through the canyons and the incredible views here are incomparable.  I am actually looking forward to Fall and then to the snows of Winter.  We have only witnessed Summer here so far, so we have quite a lot to look forward to.

We have visited Park City where the Olympic training area is located.  It has been fun to watch the athletes practicing on the jumps there, but I can't even imagine what it will be like to watch the skiers on the slopes and the athletes jumping once the snow has fallen on the beautiful Wasatch Front!

I have never even been to a Ski Resort, so I have only watched on television or movies what actually occurs. This Summer was actually the first time I have ever ridden on a ski lift.  I am kind of a warm weather person, so I do have a little trepidation about the cold and snow coming in a few months.  I have spoken with a lot of the people who have moved here from other locations from California to Ohio, and they assure me the Winter in spite of it's chill is quite bearable.

I am sure we will be witnessing a White Christmas, and the little girls are really looking forward to that.  If it gets too bad, I guess I can always take off for warmer climates for a while.  We have put a deposit down on our new home here along the Ogden River.  It is close to the Ogden Paved Trail, and the view of the mountains is incredible.  It will be fun to watch the changing seasons reflected on the mountainside. 

Antelope Island, which is just minutes from Ogden is having an event next weekend which involves all kinds of flight.  There will be Hot Air Balloons, Competition Kites and so much more.  Sounds like something we might need to witness.  Antelope Island is located in the middle of Great Salt Lake which has nothing alive within its waters but Brine Shrimp...you know, those things kids call Sea Monkeys!  I haven't been out there yet, but I understand there are Buffalo and Antelope and some really neat displays there, so I guess next weekend we will take a trip out there and check it out.

We are praying for all those in the West who are dealing with wildfires and their aftermath.  The fires have been bad enough, but now in Southern Utah, we have had quite a bit of rain and the barren slopes are washing ash, rocks and mud down into the surrounding towns.  Most of the fires have been caused by lightning, and we have definitely had aplenty of that.  Hopefully the fires will be over soon and the snows will come to replenish the reservoirs for next year.  We don't have tornadoes or hurricanes here, so I guess our concerns will be for fires and water.   Every area has its own problems.  But, I must continue to say that this is an amazing place to live and we are quite happy to be here learning all there is to learn about the American West. 

I want to share a recipe I tried last evening with you all:

Honey Lime Cod

Two Four Ounce Cod Filets
Tajin Seasoning (this is Chili Lime seasoning available in Hispanic stores)
1 Tablespoon Honey
Juice of one Lime

Oil a large frying pan lightly and heat until sizzling.  Season Cod filets with Tajin and place in pan.   Cook about two minutes on each side, or until fish flakes easily with fork.
Just as fish is nearly done, add honey and lime juice to pan and spoon over the fish for a few seconds until coated with the mixture.  Add salt and pepper to taste!

I served it with Avocado/Corn Salsa and brown rice and quinoa for a healthy dish.


PEACE - JOY & LOVE

Linda