212- Changing Japanese Maple

One of the things that I like best about my Japanese Maple is her constantly changing leaf color. I did a quick Google search to see if this was normal and found that there are many cultivars of the Acer palmatum.

This beauty lives just outside my front window sharing the planter bed with ivy (aka deer food), a couple of miniature rose bushes, my Hens & Chicks plant, oh, and don't forget my little baby Christmas tree (I don't know it's real name). It is the center-piece of that bed in all of her showy color.

It always starts out in the spring with crimson-red leaves which fade as the summer progresses to nearly a solid green with just touches of a darker red. Then in the fall it turns bright red again.



What's not to love about this beauty? Last year it even provided natural, yet early, Christmas decorations.

211- Currant Jam (Whatelse?)

So, lasterday, I worked like a crazy woman, or perhaps the Little Red Hen:

• I pick the berries
  
• I cleaned the berries
  
• I de-stemmed the berries (with help from Hanky-Spanky)
  
• I went to a bridal shower (WHAT? when did the Little Red Hen ever get to go to bridal showers?)
  
• I steamed the berries
  
• I juiced the berries and then I collapsed in a heap on my favorite basking chair on the deck and did some star-gazing.

That means that this morning I needed to turn all of that pulp and juice into Currant jam! Boy do we ever love red currant jam here. It is so wonderfully tart, sweet and zingy!

I ended up with 28 pints of that luscious red spreadable nectar!

210- Currant Picking

This day was THE day... I've put off the task of picking currants for too long because it was just too hot and I was just too tired.

Ah, but this day? This day was just right! I woke up to cloud cover and temperatures still in the 70's by the time I could get out there!



This can be such a hot thankless job! I've learned many coping mechanizes that help me out while I do yard work, but this year I really perfected it. Previously I would try to prop up my beach umbrella with my garden cart; that only lasts until the first wind hits it.

Do you know how it is when you think of the solution and all of a sudden it hits you and you say, "What took me so long?" It was one of those moments last week while I was broiling under the blazing sun picking raspberries... duh! zip-tie the pole of the umbrella to one of my camp chair! Viola! Perfect solution!



And I'm not shy with these happy little bushes either... I just get up close and personal with them using my legs and arms to hold the branches apart while perched on the edge of my chair.



With good company, this job goes so much easier. This day it was C S Lewis' The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe read by a fellow almost as talented as Jim Dale.

When it was all said and done, three hours later, I had three big bowls full of currants...



Bet you'll never guess what I'm going to do next!

209- Dandelion

Why is it that this funny little weed makes us smile?


FONT- Albemarle Swash, ACTION- DPMoms Perfect Workflow, BRUSH- RhonnaFarrer_2ps_SnapShot_Horizontal6, FRAME- Hof3_RoundedSquare4FrameRF, TEXTURES- AllHeckBreaksLoose, Beneath the Surface2

I had a good time playing with several different textures and blending modes on this one. I even tried out some filters, but in the end opted to just stay with the textures. I love PhotoShop!

208- Tiny Filly

Yesterday as I was out delivering apricots I saw this darling little filly! I pulled a quick U-turn, dug my marsupial-pocket-camera out of the depths of my ginormous purse and was out like a flash!

This little girl isn't very old. I saw something going on with her that I've never seen on a *baby* horse before... she is shedding her birth coat almost like a little downy chick!



You can easily see the patches around her eyes and on her nose, but standing up you can see them on other parts of her body.



I crooned to her and she got up from her little nap and came to see me... but so did a BOSSY little palomino pony who was determined that this baby didn't get any lovin'! Swine-pony! But before the swine-pony started biting her I did get some rubs in on her sweet little face. Makes me just want to bring her home with me!

207- Drive-by Fruiting...

On April Fools Day I got the worst trick of all... SNOW on my apricot blossoms. This is our 6th spring here and only one year have we gotten any apricots. I was just a bit discouraged by that fact. I did the only thing I knew how to do... I prayed that somehow, someway some of those blossoms would survive.

Then on April 20 I was taking a little explore in the backyard and saw some very encouraging sights... tiny, baby apricots- somehow, someway had survived and were growing on MINE TREE.

Last week when I was mowing I observed that my apricots were nearly ripe! I found one that was ripeish... but still a little tart. Ah, wonderful, beautiful apricots!

So *lasterday* at family dinner I suggested to everyone that they should all go pick a bag of apricots... but they all forgot!

So THIS day found me picking and delivering fruit to my sweet family.



This is certainly not a bumper crop year but what it is is a prayer answered, a gift given and now shared. What a blessing.

206- Entwined

Some Sabbath days are just better than others... this is one of the best ones! I came home from church feeling fed and uplifted.

As I backed into the garage I noticed, once again, my beautiful Japanese Maple that grows just outside my front window. Two of the branches have twisted and entwined themselves; this day I noticed that they have bonded.



I was struck with the idea of how this is like us and our relationship to our Savior. The more we are obedient, follow his example, immerse ourselves in the scripture, pray with real intent, love and forgive freely we find that we are becoming entwined with the Lord, Jesus Christ.

It is my hope that someday I will be able to stand back and observe that we have bonded tightly together... never varying from His path.

205- *Woosters*

My sweet friend, Sheri, likes to credit me with calling this plant *Hens & Babies*. Each summer about this time my funny little succulent plant sprouts blossoms... which I always think looks a bit silly!

So if this is a *Hens & Chicks* plant, what are these?

I say, *WOOSTERS*!

204- Hobble Creek Canyon Moonrise

We took a little explore up Left Fork looking for *God's little creatures*. It is just such a nice restful drive up the canyon. The sun was going down, turning the sky pink in the west and its partner, the moon, was peeking over the eastern mountains. I love this time of year... long evenings, cool breezes, and contentedness just hanging in the air.



We saw a herd of horses with one that looked like he could have been Blue's grandson. The funny thing is that we had to get almost back to our house before we saw any deer. We saw one big doe still while still in the canyon, but the handsome young buck, with his antlers in velvet, with his little companion were on the steep bank right by 30 Oaks Drive!

203- Governor's Mansion Tour

THIS day I got to tour the Utah Governor's Mansion. Even thought the public is allowed to tour the historic mansion we got a personalized tour compliments of Jeanette Herbert, Utah's First Lady. She just happens to be Maureen's sister!

Jeanette & Maureen

Some of us met at the church and carpooled up to Salt Lake City and others came on their own with their families and met us at the Governor's Mansion.

Not all, but many of us on the tour. All told there were about 25.

What is now known as the Governor's Mansion (completed 1902) was built by Thomas Kearns. He came to Utah and struck it rich in 1890 with his Silver King Mining Company, one of the greatest silver mines in the world.

Thomas Kearns

That same year he married the lovely Jennie Judge. In 1937 Jennie Kearns gave the mansion to the State of Utah to be used as the governor's mansion.

Jennie Judge Kearns

Throughout this beautiful mansion you will find ornate doorknobs with the *TK* emblem.



Our tour started on the west side of the mansion, which is now used as the entry. I loved the beautiful ornate ceiling. Most of the panes were clear and clean, but I loved this tarnished one best.



We toured the exterior first. I've always been crazy about turrets and this one is just lovely. It houses the parlor on the 1st floor, part of the governor's private quarters on the 2nd and the grand ball room on the 3rd floor.



These are the original main entry doors to the mansion, which are no longer used.



The exterior is made of Sanpepte County oolitic limestone which is relatively soft and allowed for much ornate carving. This is Neptune on the east side of the mansion. There are two of these carvings.



The south east turret.



In preparation for the 2002 Olympics some restoration was done to the Governor's Mansion. They added this dormer creating part of the grand ball room. If you look closely you will see that the date 1902 is on the left with a crossed pick and shovel, representing the Silver King Mine and date of completion, on the right, 2002 with crossed skis for the Olympics.



Now under restoration is the Carriage House. Mrs Herbert told the story of how during construction Thomas Kearns' boys took sling-shots and the little tiles being used on the mansion's floors and shot off the poor horsey's ears and nose. Thomas so so angry that he left it that way to teach the boys a lesson. It was latter restored to the way you see it now.



Coming full circle around the exterior we entered on the west side of the mansion; the first room to be toured was the parlor. It was fitted up in turn-of-the-century French decor for Jennie by Thomas. It is a beautiful, peaceful room which invites you to sit and visit.



Detail of the parlor chandelier.



The first thing to catch my eye was this beautifully painted portrait table. It reminded me of the BBC Pride and Prejudice and I just had to have a photo.



I also noticed the beautiful wood inlaid floors. Just lovely.



Much of the main floor has this hand-laid tile floor.



I marvel at the mosaic detail.



This table, original from the Kearns family is in the main entry. In 1993 there was a fire in this entry caused by a Christmas tree which damaged parts of the mansion. It is amazing to see how beautifully restored it is.



Directly over the table is this lovely *skylight*, the top of which is in the entry area of the Governor's private quarters.



Life is in the details... I just love them. This is an entry bench with beautifully restored needlepoint cushions.



This reproduction of Neptune's head resides in the entry hall; it required 600 man-hours. The original was damaged in the 1993 fire.



At the end of the entry there are several carved posts,



and this lovely chair, which reminds me of The Tree of Life. (note the ornate floor vent)



This is the state dining room with another original table, not shown here (bwahahahaha!! how did I NOT get a photo of it?)



Look at the gorgeous gold-leaf ceiling,



beautifully embroidered table runner,



carved bust,



silver eagle punch bowl,



and beautiful silver tea service (I purposefully placed the flag, in bokeh, in the background).



This beautiful silver and crystal chandelier was hand-crafted from metals mined in the Kearns' Silver King Mine. It was specifically created and designed to match the other fixtures in the mansion's family dining room. (which is different from the state dining room)



The grand staircase is probably one of my favorite parts. Looking up...



and down.



This is the only photo from the Governor's private quarters featured here. This was such a peaceful room with Sego Lily carpet, over-stuffed reading chair, and antique desk.



In the back hallway was an old servant's bell call and clock. I was fascinated with all of the different locations.



And here we are again at the end of our tour. What a lovely afternoon with a gracious hostess and good friends.