Unexpected Snow Storms

This morning my Mom and I got up all nice and early to hop in line at the Disney Store to grab limited edition Frozen dolls (more on that tomorrow).  Yes, there was a line before the store even opened.  And no, I didn't mind a bit.  We had nice conversations with the people we sat next to, and found creative ways to answer mall pass-by-ers why we we're there in the first place.  Dolls.  Dolls are cool!  And guys were in the line, too, but mainly as a favor for their wives.

It was amusing watching all the people who come to the mall early to walk laps.  Sounds like a fantastic idea, really.  The mall opens its doors at 8 am, but the stores open up at 10, so 2 hours of temperature controlled walking without the temptation of buying, unless you're there past 10, of course.

But on the way to the mall just before 9 the weather was nice and pleasant.  Cold enough to need boots and a coat, but nice.  No hint of any weather changes to worry about.

When the morning excitement at the mall ended, dolls claimed, we headed to the exit doors only to be greeted by white.  A full on blizzard in the works!  And all the mall guests getting ready to exit, horror struck.

So glad I wore a coat and not a sweater, which almost happened!

Even my phone didn't get the blizzard message.

I know the East Coast has been super hard hit this year.  Hasn't Boston received somewhere around 20 feet of snow?  But here in Utah it's been abnormally warm.  February 2015 is officially the warmest month in recorded history.  Several sweater days that felt like early October.

But now it's all melted, and you would never know there was a snow storm this morning, unless you look at the mountains which are gorgeously dusted with snow.  The sunset this evening was so beautiful.

Flash Flood in Orem UT

(Photo I found on the internet.  

I don't know who to credit)

You never know where you're going to be when tragedy strikes.  I was spontaneously in Salt Lake City and missed all the action last September 7th, a little over 4 weeks ago.

A week before that I was in Southern California when a flash flood hit Riverside.  I was in Ventura at the time, but my Uncle told us all about it, warning us to be careful on the drive back.  Apparently the Riverside Community College suffered some flooding.  Then, driving home, we had to take the long way because there were flash flood warnings in Palmdale, Littlerock, and Victorville CA, which is the path we take to merge unto the I-15.  My Uncle called later and said that there was a flash flood in Victorville, around the time we would have passed through.

Then on the 7th my Mom got the sudden idea to go to Salt Lake, when we were going to originally hang out near the University Mall.  There was a light rain in Salt Lake, but nothing major.  Just nice and warm.  But as soon as we headed back to the Valley my Mom and I were hit with all these stories.

There was a green sky and the beginnings of a tornado, but thankfully, thanks to the mountains, it didn't completely form.  My brothers went out to watch, high winds and flashes of lightning every second.  There was a game going on at BYU, and according to a couple people it was super scary.  And the next day I found out a lot of people suffered flooding in their basements.

We were lucky. 

The following week there were flash floods taking place all over Colorado.

Crazy, slow storm.

The New H&M Store at the Orem University Mall

Last Thursday was the grand opening of the new H&M store at the University Mall in Orem UT.  It's a pretty big deal here, and my brothers and I thought we'd check it out.  (I think my brother Robbie was more excited then I was . . . he actually bought clothes.)

There was a promise that the first 100 in line would get a gift, and people started lining up 6:00pm the night before.  I never saw what they got, but I heard notebooks were involved and one lucky person got a $300 gift card.

I mainly stayed on the outside of the mall, waiting in the line that enters the store there, but I thought I'd quickly check out what was going on inside.  There was a lot of noise, shouting, and dancing, sound echoing the walls.  It was amusing for a bit, until I fled outside where the Autumn air was cool, and everyone more subdued.

They handed these wristlets out to those of us in line, and the texture was really weird.  The clothe felt like a diaper, so I won't be using it.  Maybe I'll put some emergency stuff in it for my 72 hour pack. 

When the store opened I did head inside, and after peaking my nose around a little, and pausing frequently for large crowds to pass, I left to join my Mom elsewhere, who didn't want to bother with the crowd, and bought some things at the Disney store.  I thought it would be fun to head over to Archiver's and look at scrapbook stuff . . . and thanks to a sale I bought a few cute things, which will go into Christmas presents.  (I'm making scrapbooks, which I better get started on soon because it's really time consuming, but rewarding.)

Colonial Festival at the Scera Park in Orem UT

The Colonial Festival at the Scera Park in Orem UT by the Colonial Heritage Foundation.  This is the seventh annual festival they've done, and sadly it's my first time attending.  It's like a Renaissance Faire, but early American Colonial style.

 

The Festival was amazing!!!

 

 The Isaiah Thomas printer was finished just 3 weeks before the festival, and was recreated through blueprints from the Smithsonian and the printing plate is also from the Smithsonian.

 

 I loved this demonstration from the Bethlehem Bakery, a bakery out of Provo.  Very interesting, and the bread was really good too. 

This is a video highlighting what the festival is like.  I can't wait to go next year!!

Biking Along the Information Highway

I biked along the Murdock Canal Trail for the first time today.  My brothers have been raving about it, having biked along the nicely paved path a couple times in the last two weeks.  I had never heard of the biking trail before, and as I was biking along today I couldn't believe I hadn't done this sooner.  The trail is amazing!  It's set up for walking, running, biking, and riding horses.  So beautiful and relaxing.  And there's rest stops, picnic stops, and drinking fountains along the way.

Anyway, as I went along the path today I noticed these orange polls, and that it mentioned Fiber Optic Cable running under the path.  I don't know what they're used for, but there's been a lot of talk around here about high speed internet via fiber optic cables.  So, as I biked, I was literally biking along the information highway!  At least the thought gave me a giggle.

Any who, when I got home I looked up the Murdock Trail, because I wanted to see how long its been around  Turns out the trail is so new it hasn't officially opened yet!  There were a lot of people going along it, though. No signs were posted stating the trail was closed, though according to the website they don't want anyone on it just yet.

The official opening is this Saturday, May 18, 2013!  The Murdock Canal Trail Website has a list of all the events going on, and there are so many!  It looks like the first of many ribbon cuttings is at the Orem 800 N point, and the celebrations, passport stations, more ribbon cuttings, etc, continue onward up through Lehi, at different times so you can go along the trail and enjoy each one.  All I know is what's on the site.  There doesn't seem to be more information then that.

Kinda cool to discover the trail right when it's been finished!  I think biking has just become my Summer addiction.   

Orem Summerfest

Last weekend was Summerfest in Orem UT.  It's part carnival, art show, car show,
music performances, baby contest, 5k, parade, all leading up to
an epic firework show.     

This is one of my most favorite parts of Summer.  I look forward to it each year.  

Actually, the firework show is my favorites, even, 

in my crazy opinion, besting 4th of July's Stadium of Fire.

(It's free, and the parking isn't insane!)

There was a chance the firework show wasn't going to work out this year.

It was supper windy, crazy windy, and cold.  Thankfully my Dad was Volunteering 

with his Ham radio group, and my brother and I were getting up to date information

on what was happening with the show.  The winds were suppose to calm down around

ten, so they were going to shoot a couple off to see where they go.  Thankfully those

running the show decided to go for it.

(I think these look like palm trees).  The whole show was epic.  4 or 5 of the fireworks

exploded on the ground.  That was honestly really cool. 

My brother Steven.  We shared a funnel cake (my first, as sad

as that sounds) and it was hard not getting the 

powdered sugar everywhere.  (Did I mention

how windy it was?)  It was quite a mess!

Doing the good ol' "taking a picture of myself" pose.  

Proof of how cold I was!  You

wouldn't think it was June.

Have a great day!!

Sarah