Bday Party, SLC, and Today -- Island in the Sky, Canyonlands NP

 

Grand View at Island of the Sky, Canyonlands NP.  But before we got here...

 

...Granddaughter Addie had her third birthday party on Saturday.  About 20 adults, perhaps a few more, and ten kids, along with two babies, enjoyed a morning in the park behind my son's house.  People there, besides the parents,  included my daughter Stephanie, Grandma (known as GG to Addie) and her husband Brian, GG's sister Cindy, who lives in Sacramento, a couple of my kid's cousins, Anna's (son's wife and mother of Addie) mother and her sister, and a bunch of friends of Michael and Anna with all of their kids.  Above Addie is kicking her new soccer ball into the new net, both of which "we" gave her (at the request of Michael who said..."She is wanting to kick things now".  Good time by all....

 

So we left Monday for Salt Lake City (SLC), and arrived at "GG's" older sister Debbie's house on Tuesday.  We stayed for two nights, and we visited a Dog Park twice, I helped her with a few things, and enjoyed my visit with a former Sister-in-Law that I have known for 42 or 43 years...however we had lost touch with each other for the much of these past 20 years (my fault, divorce does silly things to you sometimes...)  This year we visited Debbie three times as we went through SLC, and camped in front of her house with our Camper Van.  Above are her two Golden Retrievers...Tucker on the left (5 years old) and Rookie on the right (9 years old).  These two dogs are so loving, and well trained.  I think over the years Debbie has owned five Goldens.

Thursday we left SLC around 1 pm, and drove to a rest area about 35 miles from Moab.  First thing to do in Moab was to go to the Maverik Gas Station on the south side of town to empty our grey and black tanks, get gas, buy some bottled water and get two coffees.  That done, and after a couple of phone calls, we headed to Island in the Sky, the northern portion of Canyonlands National Park. It is a pretty 45 miles drive which, with all the stops to get pictures and such, took us most of the rest of the day. 

 

 

There are SO MANY canyon areas, rock formations, and general landscape shots, that here are just a few.

  

As you can see...the effects of the California and Oregon fires have put smoke into the pictures too.

   

The rocks that have a reddish color are on the south side of "Island", the lighter tan colors on the north side.

If only the smoke was not part of the picture.  I guess you have to wait for a good rain storm, with a good wind, to blow all the crap out of the air to get the real "GOOD" shots. 

   

A few more views from the "Grand View" area.

 

Indy always keep an eye on me when I walk to an overlook to get pictures.  So very happy when daddy gets back.

 Panoramic view of the Green River overlook. 

I did not know there was a mini "Half Dome" like the original in Yosemite NP 

 

This area reminded us of a smaller Monument Valley...

We visited this area of Canyonlands National Park back in 2014.  We visited the southern area between then and now...and I am glad we revisited this area today.  There were no crowds, but the temps were hot...up to 98 degrees in some areas.   Tomorrow we will be in Arches National Park, which we have driven through about six or seven times already...just can't get enough of them Arches!  And Indy even got to visit a Dog Park in Moab, although there were no other dogs there...too hot!

 

Mom, Granddaughter, 4th of July...Time to Go Home

 

I saw mom four to five times per week.  Sometimes we take the Camper Van, put out the awning, and enjoy the outside mornings (although it is a bit HOT now that we are in July), and Mom enjoys these visits the best.  In this picture from our visit today, she is pointing out and talking about all the trees that they have planted outside the "School", which is what she calls the Assisted Living Home she lives in.  Of course...they have not planted any trees.  A few days ago she talked about how when they planted a tree, they also buried a victim of the flooding in Texas.  What an imagination.  Overall, Mom is doing pretty well.  But she is one major UTI from passing away.  Not bad for 95 years of age!

We have seen Granddaughter Addie a few times each month.  On this occasion, we sat out on their patio and Addie was a hoot.  She took this "car" and with her feet (think Fred Flintstone) she drove over to the garage, parked, and started loading stuff up into the car.  "Where are you Addie?"  "I am at COSTCO getting stuff."  She drives back, unloads her imaginary goods, and goes back.  "What are you loading up now Addie?"  "I am getting the Beer!"  My son Michael and wife Anna start laughing...we have no idea where she got that from...can't ever remember her ever saying the word "Beer" before.  

Between Addie and Grandma (my mom) those two are living in a world of their own!

The cul-de-sac that my sister Sandy and husband Arnie live on always seems to have a huge fireworks show.  Poor Indy, even while drugged up on 'ThunderWunders' Hemp Dog Calming Chews, had a hard time.  These fireworks ended around 11 pm...but the expanded neighborhood seemed to party well into the 2 am hour when, HUGE BOMBS went off for the next 15 to 20 minutes.  Needless to say, I finally got some sleep around 4 am.

Saturday is Addie's third birthday party, celebrating just a couple days early.  It will be at a park behind my son's house.  Temperatures are predicted to be in the 90's by the time it is over at 12:30.  On Monday we start the long trip home.