Last week I did the ski lift at Sundance with my parents. The colors in the mountains are so stunning right now. It's crazy how when I first moved here the Autumn colors put me off a little, looking like fruity pebble cereal, but now I love these colors. The mountains still have a lot of green as well, which is amazing, so paired with the bright oranges and yellows the colors were even more vibrant. Sadly the daily lifts are closed for the season, but next year it would be fun to once again ride the lifts.
This Hawkeye trail sign popped up and my Mom was like, "M.A.S.H!" and I was like, "Marvel"! Heh, different generations. :P
A zoom in of Bridal Veil Falls and that other waterfall (upper or lower falls?) down Provo Canyon. It's amazing how, when looking up at the waterfalls, they look like they're coming out of the top of the mountain, yet when looking from above the waterfalls are so small, and there's so much mountain above them. Perspective.
Have a wonderful day! Love this time of year. Sarah. :0)
Every now and then I come across a scene that must be captured by photograph. Last nights sunset was one such scene. The sky in vivid pastel hues, bright and beautiful. Looking as if a painter quickly brushed the colors on the horizon. It's one of the more beautiful sunsets we've had in a long time.
The air wasn't so bad today, what with all the fire smoke we've been having. Yesterday I took a drive up the canyon to see the fire damage. The north side, at the mouth of the canyon, was scorched. Thankfully the fire didn't jump the rode to burn the waterfall side, which is prettier. As I was coming back through the canyon, turning at Deer Creek, a helicopter was dumping water where the earth still smoked near the mouth of the canyon. After dumping the water the helicopter flew to the river to gather more water for another soak. The road leading to Sundance is blocked off, open to local traffic only.
I hope you're having a nice day. Hopefully the leaves are turning where you are, making that wonderful rustle sound with the wind blows. Autumn truly is a nice time of year.
"A heart that can feel is a heart that can heal." ~ Emily Orton
A couple or so years ago I did the Summer Ski Lift at Sundance with family and loved it, but for whatever reason I haven't done this again. The cost for adults is around $20. Usually when I visit Sundance it's to get a turkey sandwich and walk around, listening to the stream. Getting out of the city now and then is so rejuvenating.
The ride up and down the Mountain is very relaxing. Sound of the wind. Feel of the breeze. Fresh air. Now and then a hawk flying about and just below scattered butterflies. Now and then a Mountain biker rides down a path. The occasional zip-liner speeds down thick cables (which looks scary and fun). Overall the experience is quite peaceful.
I didn't realize my 1001 days were up!! March 4, 2013 through November 27, 2015. Wow, how time flies. So how did I do? I only accomplished 13 of them, but that's still 13! Not zero!! 13 out of 101 = 13%, if you round up: 13/101 = 0.1287. And some of the goals I accomplished are filled with incredible memories which I wouldn't have at all if I didn't set these goals.
1. Enter a Music Writing Contest
I entered a music writing contest in 2013 by submitting the song "How Do I Feel the Spirit" to the church music contest under the children's song category. I didn't win or place, but got a nice letter of rejection in response. My first rejection letter. I've got to start somewhere. I do want to expand the song as both a solo piece and full choral piece. That would be a good project.
2. Get An Original Music Video Online
This was quite the project!!! And it wouldn't have been possible if I didn't have the help of two of my brothers Robbie and Steven. I wrote lyric and melody. Steven and I arranged it, with Steven splashing together all those cool sounds. Robbie directed and storyboard the video, coming up with cool shot ideas, and then edited the whole thing. Steven did all the fancy graphics. My only cringe of complaint is in the chorus where the vocals suddenly get louder then needed; I think we discovered that it was caused by accidentally layering the voice. It's also why I haven't put the single up for download, because I want to fix it, but Steven and I couldn't figure out how. I might have to rerecord it, along with finally getting the piano arrangement version out, which would be a good 2016 goal!!!
Here's a behind the scenes video, with arrangement track only.
3. Eat 1 treat or less a day for 3 months
The whole idea of one treat or less comes from the fact that I love treats way too much, and one treat allows the indulgence without the overeating or depriving. Thing is, I didn't just do the Eat 1 treat or less goal, I went an entire 3 months not eating any sweats, muffins, cereal, etc!!! At all. It was quite an accomplishment.
And then I developed bad habits again -_-;; I'm a work in progress.
4. Do a Ropes Course
I went camping with some church friends a couple years ago, and this was the first stage in the ropes course. We had two courses to chose from, and I went for the easier option. I'm really scared of heights!!! Like, I hyperventilated the entire time. Oh my gosh, I was so scared! You have no idea. But I did it :0)
5. Ride the Lift at Sundance and Go on a Hike
This last Summer I rode the Sundance ski lift all the way to the top. I don't know if what I did can count as a hike. I walked around and enjoyed the AMAZING sights! That counts. Heh. But the views really are amazing. And anyone who lives here in Utah has to try it. There's a point on the platform next to the restaurant--they have really yummy nachos and turkey sandwiches--where you can see both Utah Lake and Deer Creek Reservoir, all in one spot, looking left then right. It's really gorgeous. Oh, and the cell reception is the best in the valley because there's a cell tower up there.
6. Send a postcard to myself each month for a year
It seemed silly at first when I decided it would be fun to buy postcards, write a note on it, and then mail it to myself, even in the same city. As in I drove two miles to drop the postcard off at the Post Office and then waited two days to get it back. Sounds really silly. But now I have all these postcards from trips and other adventures sitting in a special box. It's such a fun way to journal, and looking at the postcards and stamps I've collected is really fun.
7. Receive my 100th Postcard through Postcrossing
When I first started Postcrossing the idea of getting 100 postcards seemed like a crazy high number. By November 27, 2015 I didn't receive 100 postcards. I've received over 500 postcards!! From over 40 different countries. And I'm still getting postcards.
8. Get a passport
I had a passport when I was a kid, but it was expired by the time I graduated High School. I wrote down this goal because I really want to travel, and this was the first step. Sometimes the hardest step to take is the first, which is why it's one of the most important steps when achieving a goal.
9. Visit Another Country
I visited Japan!!! That was an incredible goal accomplished.
Here's all the blog posts I've written about this trip thus far. I still have 3 or so more posts I want to write.
In 2014 I visited Yellowstone. Many years before I had visited the Grand Tetons, which are amazing, and only West Thumb in Yellowstone. I wanted to return so badly, just to see all the natural wonders. Walking on top a super volcano is really cool.
Mesa Verde!! A long time ago, when traveling on another trip, I picked up a collection of brochures. And one of the brochures was all about Mesa Verde. As soon as I saw a picture of Cliff Palace I knew I had to visit! And I'm so glad my brothers, sister-in-law, and I were able to make the trip.
Cliff Palace was amazing. Petroglyph trail a highlight. Balcony House scared me to death: That last climb! It's an amazing place to visit.
Having a Mine Craft LAN party totally counts, right?
13. Ride the Heber Valley Railroad
Riding the Heber Valley railroad was just a really fun thing I wanted to do. The train, for this voyage, only went to Deer Creek and back. I really want to ride it again, but this time to Vivian Park and back. And try one of their theme nights. I wonder if they're going to do a mystery train this Summer. Solving a mystery while riding the train sounds really fun.
And those are the 13 goals I accomplished! Now I need to plan out another 101 goals, including many I didn't accomplish last time. If I start the next set of goals on Saturday January 16th, 2015, then it would end on October 13, 2018. These next few years are going to be crazy. Got to have some good things to look forward to :0)
Sundance Ski Resort is a nice short drive from where I live, and since my Grandpa has come to live in Utah, we've been visiting more often then we used to. It's so beautiful! And I regret not taking more advantage of this quaint location in the past.
The restaurants are expensive, so we (my Mom, Grandpa, Grandma, and I), like to look around the gift shop, and then get the turkey bacon avocado sandwich from the deli, along with yummy cookies and brownies. Then we just sit back and enjoy the scenery as we eat. Afterwards a walk around is always in order.
These pictures are from a week ago. A week before that we came up to Sundance as well, and I really wish I got my phone out and took pictures, because the fall colors were so much more vibrant in dazzling oranges, reds, and yellows. The trees around Bridal Veil Falls were particularly enchanting. They lost a bit of colorful oomph last week. And I'm sure even more this week.
Look at the fish!
Right behind the lodge there was a beautifully bright orange/red tree, which refused to show up in the picture. You also can't see the mountains, so you'll just have to use your imagination :0)
I've know about the scenic ski lift at Sundance for years, but never took the time to try it out, thinking it was crazy expensive. But it's not crazy expensive, but quite reasonable, and with 4 or more from the same family, you get 10% off, which is nice. I believe the day lift ends before 6:00pm, but I can't remember. I would love to try out the Full Moon lift.
The prices.
On the way up with my Mom. Grandpa, Grandma, and Aunt Tam were right before us.
The beautiful view. At one point we were right next to a cliff, and ended up eye level with a deer looking straight at us.
On the way down.
Back on the ground.
The total trip time is around 45 minutes, which is a nice length.
I definitely want to ride the ski lift a few more times this year. It's so relaxing and peaceful! And next time I'll have to get off at the top and enjoy a hike :0)
