Julie's Blog

I recently went up to the Browns Park Utah area hunting garnet. We hiked up the partially dry creek bed and up a draw to search through the rocks. We didn't have to much luck. We may have been in the wrong area. My Sister found a large piece we think is garnet. I did get some photos to share.

This is the draw looking down from halfway up.

Here is the draw looking up

It was tricky going up the draw and even trickier going down!

Possible dangerous landing spots!

Snakegrass

Great View

Soft Carmels Donna Chilberg

1 3/4 c white Karo

2 c white sugar

2 c cream

1 c butter

1 t vanilla

Put sugar, butter, karo, 1 c cream in pan. Cook at medium heat until mixture boils. Stir in 1 c cream cook and stir until mixture reaches 245 degrees. Add 1 t vanilla and pour into buttered 8 X 8 pan. Sprinkle with nuts. Cool and then cut into squares.

I took this picture while on a trip to find garnets in Utah. I loved how serene this pictures looks. It makes me just want to get away and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature. Away from the demands of daily life. To remember that there is more to life that bills, work, and stress.

I think most of us have seen pine cones. These pretrified cones found at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History are amazing. I can not imagine how big the trees would have been to have cones like these. The Museum can be found downtown at the National Mall. There is something for everyone to see at the National Mall from space to plants. Plan a few days to see all of the sites.

If you are planning a trip to Washington D C make sure you stop in the US Botanic Garden at the Nation Mall. The flowers and plants are incredible.

Saturday August 16th is One Planet Ours Family Day from 10:00 am -4:30 pm. There will be cooking demonstrations, tours, and activities.

 The US Botanic Gardens got it's start in 1816. It contains a collection of plants from all over the globe.

 Here are a few pictures of orchids that you can see in the Conservatory.

I had the opportunity to get a picture of Starvation Reservoir near Duchesne, Utah. It got it,s name because a rancher tried to raise cattle in this area and they all starved. In 1970 the reservoir was built and now there is more irrigation water to that area. If you enjoy fishing for wall eye and small mouthed bass this is the place to go. The area also is great for swimming, water skiing, boating, sailing, camping. It is about an hour from Vernal coming from the east side of the state, or 2 hours from Salt Lake coming from the west side of the state.

Here is a new picture to help you see part of the size of the reservoir. You can not see the end in this picture and it also extends behind me farther than you can see if I took a picture of that side.