Walking among the Hoodoos

Posted on August 30, 2015 by Amelia M.

I recently checked another item off my Utah bucket list: Bryce Canyon National Park.

Earlier that week I injured my ankle, so my first stop was the visitor’s center to buy a walking stick.

Emily was a wonderful hiking companion. She even helped me limp down the hills! We were hot and dusty so this walking stick picture is the closest we came to a hiking selfie, haha

However, we didn’t let that keep us from seeing all the sites. Mostly we got to know the hoodoos. Also known as tent rocks, fairy chimneys, or earth pyramids. Whatever you call them they were lovely to look at.

The park even has a little shuttle that takes you to a couple different outlook points. We saw Inspiration Point, Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, and Bryce Point.

We ended the day with a short hike to a waterfall. The hardest part of the hike was finding the entrance! It was hidden outside of the regular park entrance on the side of the road.

It was a great way to spend the day. I hope to go back and explore it more one day.

Currently: Catching up on Project Runway and trying get to know the new designers.

Only happy when it rains

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Amelia M.

2014 is slipping away and with it so many of my good blogging intentions. I’m going to do my best to do a fast and furious 2014 recap this week and next to bring in the new year. I thought I’d kick it off by showing you the time I got to revisit this cabin. Rainy days are some of my favorite days and this was no exception.

I know rain is a melancholy creature, but I love it anyways. I feel about rain the way Lorelai Gilmore feels about snow. It is the sign of something magical. A catalyst for the cathartic. Whether it is gently lapping at my window or pouring down everywhere, dramatically back lit by lightning and thunder, rain and I tend to get along [Unless of course I am trying to have frizz free hair, but we’ll save that rant for another time].

Many people count down the days to snow, but don’t seem to give rain its due. Rain is there in all the important moments and teaches us so much. Rain helped us understand Lloyd Dobler’s heartbreak [She gave him a PEN guys, His heart for a PEN!]. It told us to love our governesses and not rely solely on the affection of boyfriends who could turn into enemy soldiers at any moment. Rain taught us that kissing upside down is infinitely cooler. It is where Aly and Noah bankrolled NIcholas Spark’s retirement. Where true heroism in the form of Jeff Glodblum bravely distracted a T-Rex so those dumb screaming kids could get away. Where Holly was reunited with Cat. Where 2005 Darcy stole our hearts while alienating Elizabeth. Rain is magical. Let’s leave it at that.

[On a slightly more obscure note, Roswell fans will also note that rain is where Michael finally opened up to Maria despite his terrible childhood and general my-life-is-hard-because-I-am-a-teenage-alien issues.]

Of course, a good rainy day also needs a good playlist of course. Here is one of mine.

The rain I encountered on this day was just a drizzle. A little touch that made everything seem extra lush and gorgeous. After I was done exploring, I spent the rest of my time curled up in blankets, reading, and writing. Something I plan to keep doing as the rain disappears and the snow starts in earnest.

Currently: Wishing you a Happy New Year! Have fun and be safe!

Happy Camper

Posted on October 13, 2014 by Amelia M.

Once, at a single and mingle type event, where I had spent quite some effort trying not to let conversation lapse into awkward silence, this happened:

Guy: [Last ditch effort at finding common interest] I really like camping. Do you like camping?

Me: [Remembers sitting around a campfire eating a s’more once] Yeah!

Guy: Oh great! Where are your favorite camping spots?

Me: [Thinks further] You know what, I don’t really like camping.

[Awkward silence ensues anyway. Some things cannot be helped.]

The point being: I don’t have much experience in camping, but the older I get [and the more I live in Utah] the more I’m learning to enjoy the great outdoors. The gorgeous mountain views continue to draw me in, even though when I announce my good, outdoorsy intentions, family members send me photos likes this:

In fact, felt I would be neglectful not to share some of my wonderful camping and nature adventures this year. In particular I went on a wonderful camp out with my Church group.

It did not hurt that our camp out included access to the Thomas’s cabin [Thank you!!] and that we played several rounds of Heads Up [I cannot get enough of this game]. But before that I did partake of all the natural beauty around me. I promise.

I was particularly enchanted by these lovelies and the view behind them [There is something about that layer of mist].

To be honest, for this camping experience I did not technically sleep on the ground or in a tent. I did, however, sleep on the deck of the cabin, out under the stars. Which, trust me, shows significant personal growth. The next morning I also went out on a hike before we packed it in and headed back to the city.