Ice Castles...with daylight and Princess

I do realize that there are those who are just sick up to here with winter.
Not me...I am game to enjoy Winter Proper right up until the first day of Spring...just a few weeks from now.

With that kind of mindset, we had just HAD to swing by the Midway Ice Castles again, right after we swam in the Homestead Crater.  If you are one more inclined to seek signs of spring this post might not be for you.

If you are more of a "To every season" type, then perhaps you will enjoy seeing ice, ice and more ice, and e even an Ice Princess to boot.

(A sky view of the castle grounds.)

As promised, the castles had been growing each day the last two months. 

This trip I had my SLR camera, and daylight with which to use for photography.  Those two elements do make a difference! 
Walking through the castles and looking up into blue sky was just as magical as it was looking up into the night sky.






A recent snowfall had served to cap each structure and added a new facet of beauty.

As Brent (the artist/castle creator) noted: They do look different every single day and in every weather change.

The ice seemed more glittery in the sunlight.



The best part about catching a child in the photo is the perspective that is gain.
These castles are really, really big now.

I like this shot....

I was merrily clicking away when suddenly...



This young woman appeared!
She and her friend had decided to do a photo shoot...her friend had a camera and they plotted how to dress her for the scene.



Now that my kind of people!  Go for the whole gusto, find the perfect outfit....

Do some great make-up techniques...

Be inspired...be one with the ice....




Isn't she something?
I was shooting around her friend with the camera, and trying not to chime in with posing instruction.
This angle with her earring and fingers mimicking the ice really did it for me.
Bravo ladies!



Brides have started to come for pictures in their gowns, but this was a first to have someone interpret the castles in costume.
(I was also told they had the first marriage proposal at the castles the other day too.  I could almost hope the engagement ring was a diamond surrounded by aquamarines.  Wouldn't that be just amazing???)

The weather is staying cold enough that the castles will remain open the first week of March. 



We will be out of town over the weekend otherwise I think I would have to make another trip on the last day to see the castles in their final glory.

It just doesn't seem right that these marvels were made beginning mid December and really are only designed to be shown for two months.  After next weekend the castles will no longer be tended, and will be allowed to evolve in the snow or melt according to the whims of the season.

I hate to see them go. Who knows what next year will bring?  Will I ever get to be awestruck by such beauty again?
If the Ice Castles are to be found  next winter in Midway, (or anywhere else for that matter) you can be sure I will be going to see them with camera in hand.  
Photography from my first visit is now included on Brent's website and he is even selling one of my pictures.
Check out his website, my photo is sometimes on the front page, the three "castles" with clouds overhead.

And who knows, maybe next year I will even break out my wedding gown for a photo session too.
Could be fun don't you think? 
Don't you wish you could come too?
Maybe you can...sketch in a trip here next winter and see if it might just come to pass.

Better get this posted: Valentine's Dinner

I FINALLY GOT TO GO TO LOG HAVEN FOR DINNER!!!

February has been so busy I have gotten behind on posting our "doings". 

Valentine's Day found Bernie winging his way back to South Carolina, so we celebrated the day before, on Sunday evening, at Log Haven.

LOG HAVEN!!!

Let me just say it again:  I finally got to go to LOG HAVEN FOR DINNER!!!

The Valentine's Day suggested menu. 
I went for the Alpine Rose cocktail (wonderful!), the first course soup (life changing!  Two strips of prosciutto crossed on the bottom of the bowl with the soup poured over them...an interesting way to present the soup's meat)
The crab cakes were much larger than I expected.  I had almost decided to skip the main course and just make a run for the dessert.
I wish I had stuck to my first impulse; after the crab cakes I was too full to do more than sample the pork based course that I substituted for the Valentine's suggestion.
It worked out OK; I took it home and enjoyed it as an amazing lunch at work the next day.

Bernie was his usual suave handsome self.
I was trying to be discreet and not use a flash at the restaurant.

Bernie switched to flash for my picture, the  rest of the people present just had to deal with it.

Bernie ordered some kind of chicken dish that was plated like an extreme architectural design.
It was beautiful, but honestly, having to "unbuild" food can be a bit of a bother.

My pork dish.  Extra yummy a day later.

The water that was served with dinner was drawn from this mountain side spring.
Our waiter shared that bit of information; city dweller me immediately thought "oh I wonder if it is tested to be safe to drink."
Um, like don't an awful lot of people drink water that doesn't get processed thought metropolitan water districts?
The water was wonderful.  Of course it safe.  Restaurants are checked for safety of course!
In the summer months Log Haven is THE place to go to sit on a deck above the spring trickles, have a glass of wine and watch the sun setting from a deck nestled into the hillside forest.
We'll be back for that option for sure.

Another interesting dining space is the library room.

I would like being served in that room too, although I imagine I would be roaming around checking out the book titles between courses..

From Log Haven's website:

In 1920, Salt Lake steel baron and Metropolitan Opera member L.F. Rains created the breathtaking log hideaway as an anniversary gift for his wife. Logs from Oregon were shipped via San Francisco and hauled four miles up Millcreek Canyon by horse-drawn wagon. Appropriately named “Log Haven” and built at the base of cliffs and flowing waterfalls, the Rains family used the sanctuary as a summer home. The idyllic retreat became a gathering place for many local executives who came to explore the mountains, fish in the creek and sit by the home’s many fireplaces while hatching plans for the future of Salt Lake City and Utah.


During the Depression, an insurance executive named Gleed Miller bought Log Haven and turned it into a year-round residence. He added additional rooms and built an ice skating pond and horse stables across the road. When the Miller children grew up and left their wilderness-near-the-city-nest, the property passed to Stanley Sprouse, who converted the log home to a restaurant. During the late 1980s, Log Haven fell into disrepair and was slated to be destroyed. Luckily, Margo Provost purchased Log Haven in 1994 and completely refurbished and renovated this historic retreat.

(The owner now lives across the road where the ice skating pond and horse stables are.  That property has two mill wheels and I have photographed the scenic property many times.)


 
The restaurant has its own blog, where the chef's latest creations are pictured and events such as a Scottish wedding are documented.  Interestingly, the chef has created a gluten free menu!  For those who need such a menu, his photos may provide some culinary inspiration.
 
It was a lovely way to celebrate Valentine's day eve, especially since my sweet heart would not be with me on the Saint's day proper!
 
Stop here if you do not wish to do some thinking along with me about these modern times.
 
An oddish comment:  Bernie once told me about a co-worker who had his dad come out for a visit.  Wishing to take his dad somewhere very special for dinner, he chose Log Haven.  Later he commented to Bernie that they felt a bit odd eating there together; it was clearly a "romantic" restaurant, and being there as a middle aged guy with his dad felt pretty odd.
While we were there for Valentine's Day eve, we were seated between tables for two, each with a man/woman couple, and down the way were two early thirty something guys dining together.  After I posted these picture I noticed the picture above showed two additional tables with guys dining together.
 
It sort of bothers me that due to the heavily publicized gay life style, I found myself wondering about the nature of the relationship between two guys dining together.  Bernie said that when two "straight" guys want to go eat, they either go to a bar or a "regular" type restaurant like a steak house.  He often dines with other men as part of doing business, as does our son.  Christian family men are being encourage to seek out friendship with other men, which requires putting together either activities (which generally makes prolonged conversation impossible) or going on "man dates" to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner together somewhere.
 
If the men have the means to do so, why shouldn't they enjoy a really great meal like is found at Log Haven?
They should, and yet, because of media agenda, now such a choice gets filtered through a questioning minds.
 
Maybe you or your husband has some thoughts about what is and is not a place appropriate for two guys to dine together.  Or a father and son, or brothers.  (Of course I would suspect that they would avoid foo-foo lady tea rooms or places filled with antique-y shabby chic clutter, and frankly, lately I have found such places unappealing myself.)
 
Fewer women have sexual preference filters to consider when they chose to spend time together, (I think...)but I wonder if the time will one day come when even women will find themselves thinking for a moment before choosing a place to go eat.
 
A few weeks ago we went out to a great Mediterranean restaurant and enjoyed every morsel of our meal.  A few days later we drove by the restaurant again and noticed that they were flying the rainbow flag out in front.  Bernie declared he would not dine there again because of their blatant stance. 
 
It kind of comes down to acknowledging that while "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God", (the "all" part of that verse includes the two of us), we will not stand by or enable those promoting any activity that God condemns.  We usually have no idea if a restaurant owner or chef is having an adulterous affair, is stealing, lying, or participating in any other sort of sin.  However, if the place of business advertises that it thinks such activity is just fine, then we can no longer go to such a place lest our presence lends validity to such behavior. 
 
Is ignorance therefore bliss?
Yes.
 
Should we seek to find out?
The "don't ask, don't tell" actually works for me.
 
Meanwhile, I am trying to work my way back to having only neutral thoughts about men dining together.
Despite what media bias has established in my mind.
 

A few questions

"Have you entered into the treasury of snow?"


"Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water?"


"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?"



"Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that an abundance of water may cover you?"



"Have you entered the springs of the sea?"



"From whose womb comes the ice?"



"And the frost of heaven, who gives it birth?"

"Where is the way to the dwelling of light?  And darkness, where is its place,"



"That you may take it to its territory,
That you may know the paths to its home?"



"Do you know it, because you were born then,
Or because the number of your days is great?"

"Has the rain a father?"

"Or who has begotten the drops of dew?"



"Do you know the ordinances of the heavens?'
Can you set their dominion over the earth?"



"Who has put wisdom in the mind?
Or given understanding to the heart?"

"Does the hawk fly by your wisdom
And spread its wings towards the south?

"It dwells on the rock, and resides
On the crag of the rock and the stronghold.
From there it spies out the prey;
Its eyes observe from afar.
Its young ones suck up blood;
And where the slain are, there it is."

"Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?
He who rebukes God, let him answer it."

(Bernie cross country skied for an hour while I snowshoed along beside him, photographing Mill Creek after our heavy snowfall last Saturday.  That evening at church we saw an video of a man walking down a paved road and speaking the Job chapters 38-40 in one long shot.  It was so stirring to hear the passages read aloud...and when I looked at the pictures I had taken, the scriptures came back to mind.  If you are looking for some good "read aloud" material for a snowy day, those passages are marvelous.  And no...I don't know the answers to any of God's questions, but I hope to find out from Him in person one day.)

The babies get to visit and wear hats

The neighborhood babies had a gathering at our place.
The almost two and a half year old and almost one year old humans came over to visit with the eight month old kitten.
The three of them hadn't gotten together since last October.
I was afraid I would miss seeing the almost one year old crawling; as it is she is standing without support and will be transitioning into a biped any day now. 
I was also afraid my kittens would prove to be typical "old peoples" kind of cats; that is, would run and hiss at attempted childish interactions.
My fears were unfounded; I got to see the littlest girl's "four on the floor" wiggle butt phase of life and Baby Tate took to being petted and toted about with a steady purr and good kitten manners.
Frenchie chased string and came by to snoopervise the activities.
(Hart and Bitsy hid as soon as they heard unfamiliary footsteps on the living room floor.  They just don't do party very well.)


Of course I couldn't resist dressing up the girls.
Their mother is German, their father is French, and the girls have had a certain stylish air about them from birth.

The oldest girl enjoyed using a flashlight to explore cat hiding places.
Don't you love the polka dots, ermine and rhinestone bobble combination?

I've said it before and I will say it again: it is never too soon to learn the joys of wearing a hat.
A little girl in a hat: Adorable beyond words.

And I wish I had a video of clip of the oldest girl, who already speaks four languages, departing with a sweet "Good bye Frenchie!" in French.

How cute is that?
VERY cute!

Frenchie takes a walk

Frenchie!  Get OFF the table!

Oh wait a minute...

She's walking on the outside of the second story window, on the ledge, which is a scant two inches wide.

"I'd like to come inside now please."

(Now how the heck did she manage to walk from the deck across the window, then turn around on the two inch ledge and walk back?  I didn't notice that part.  It must have been pretty interesting to see, a chubby cat doing a 180 degree turn around on a small ledge. Sorry I missed seeing that!)

"Ask me no questions please.  Just accept that cats have mad skills that humans will never understand."

Four Day Weekend Fun

Feel like guessing what we did this weekend?
The picture above...that was Monday afternoon's adventure.
Oh go ahead....guess what it was all about.



We drove to Midway (about a 40 minute drive from home, past Park City) and checked in at this cute little building.
After signing a couple of pages of release forms we were free to get going on our adventure!



The temps were in the 20's....so of course that was even more motivation for us.

The bags were to hold our clothes after we got changed...

Starting to get an idea?



The white dome in the first picture is actually a crater with a hole up on top, and a natural hot spring pool  has formed inside over the eons of time.
The crater opening is a bit hard to see as hot air rises from the surface of natural spring fed pool and collides with the cold air coming down 45 feet from the cater opening above, and that creates a constant fog.
The pool? It goes goes waaaayyyy deep.  Sixty five feet deep to be exact.
So deep that the pool is explored by scuba divers.

After changing into our swim suits and donning a required floation vest, we were ready to get into the steady 90 degree water for a nice soak and paddle about.
I had my hair clipped up and figured I'd keep my head above water so my hair wouldn't freeze coming home.
Well, that plan went out the window right after I missed the lowest rung on the dock ladder and went ker-splash, glasses, hair and all.
Oh well!
Good thing I had packed a nice ski cap just in case I happened to get splashed.

Bernie and I bobbed and peeked at the limestone formations of the crater walls 

and watched scuba divers far below us use lights to check out the pool's hour glass shaped depths.

The color of the water was an amazing deep azure blue, and the few underwater spot lights let us catch some of the underwater formations from the surface.

Our skin was soon covered with a light air bubble fizz, and we relaxed and just enjoyed the time together.
It smelled nice too...not one of sulfer type mineral springs, the water had a nice blend of relaxing minerals.

A visit to the Homestead Crater has been on our "go see" list ever since we moved to Salt Lake.
We've still got plenty more adventures on our list.

And if we need a nice warm soak inside a crater after such adventures...we know just the place to go!