Monday, September 2, 2013

Pilgrimage to Soldier Hollow

Going to the Sheepdog Trials by Heber City feels like a journey to a holy place.  Watching the miracle of what these border collies and their handlers can accomplish in 20 min with 16 untried sheep approaches deep respect.  And as the clock runs low, the hundreds of us watching are holding our breaths in reverent silence as the anticipation of getting that gate closed builds. 

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Cheri and Scott and Keli and Chris and Genna and Justin came too.  I got to see long time friends Bryce and Beverly Bell and Jim and Sandra and Bro. and Sis Baker and a really nice Sanpete man who introduced himself because of the Twins’ t-shirts which touted the Sanpete County Fair.

 

   

 

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We also saw some other creatures – like the red fox up close who reminded us of the vixen and her kit we watched with binoculars last summer in the alfalfa field behind our house.  On the main course, Neil spotted 3 mountain bluebirds, and a raptor bird made some appearances with its handler.

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Men in Black . . . skirts!  Always love the bagpipes and snare drums.

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#1 Top Way to Properly Enjoy a Soda Pop by Kyle Curtis (You’ll never want to drink it any other way):

a) Do not open the can or bottle. Rather, on the top of a can or bottle, pierce a small hole (the T’s pocket knives came in handy for this)

b) Place finger over hole and shake vigorously.

c) Now, place the top into your mouth and uncover the little hole.  The disturbed, unstable carbonation will erupt the delicious foamy spray right into one’s mouth causing a sensational experience.  Repeat until soda is gone, gone.

d) Aim carefully so as not to spray one’s eye’s, ear’s, nose or neighbor.

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After frying the Fair Cait to a tender crisp, we moved the party to Grannies for their popular shakes and burgers.

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Then, it was on to the Dairy Keen where Mark and Kyle indulged in our customary “Wild Cowboy”.  This is easily accomplished by filling your cup with every flavor of pop you wish – all at once.  They also love this machine more than life itself.  Jay and Me?  Not so much.  Priorities have matured a little, I guess.

 

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Heber is home to the Heber Creeper restored train.  This drive-in pays tribute with a representational mural on the ceiling and, of course, an electric train that travels the track above everyone’s heads.

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Before hitting the road home, we stopped at Grandma’s to visit, and enjoy the fruits of her beautiful back yard where peaches, grapes and apples abound.  I feel an October Conference Purple Party comin’ on to capture those grape’s essence in juicy or jammy or jelly jars.

And finally, thanks to Kindle, we began and finished this short novel and really enjoyed a family read aloud in the car.  Such a lovely Labor Day.   Sigh.  Must we go back to school, and work, and every-day routine?

 

Loved today.