Shakes and Shivers

Dave and I took a drive on Saturday, September 30, to see the fall leaves.  As we headed through Kamas up into the Uintah Mountains, to Mirror Lake, we drove through fall and into winter.

 Mirror Lake was ghostly and beautiful.

Whenever I stop by Mirror Lake, I always think of my father and the picture taken at Mirror Lake in 1940 or 1941, as Dad captured a few of his friends enjoying a drink (hot? cold?) and the mountain air.  There are more mysteries in that picture than the temperature of the drink!  Who's the guy?  Who are the girls?  Is this a date?  And which one is Dad's special friend?

We paused by the trailhead to Fehr Lake, where Dave and I hiked several summers ago.  In a few weeks the area will be accessible only by snowmobile.

 Driving back out of winter, we stopped by the waterfall over the Provo River, which winds its way from its headwaters in the Uintahs, all the way to Provo City.

 This is the Utah I love!

 As we entered the lower elevations, we passed through patches of golden and red fall leaves.

 What a Utahn picture--ranch gate, mountainside covered with pines and maples.

 On our way home, we passed Hi Mountain Drug in Kamas.  On our way to Mirror Lake, we stopped in to buy an "everything shake," filled with pieces of a whole array of candy bars.  It was a day's worth of calories, but so luscious!  Jonny introduced us to Hi Mountain Drug on a recent trip home to Utah.

At the 'Bird

For more than 20 years, we've spent the week after Labor Day at the Iron Blosam Lodge at Snowbird.  From September 16 through 23, 2017, we partied up the canyon, enjoying Octoberfest and inviting family members to join us.  Mike and Heidi came, on Monday, September 18, for supper in the condo--bratwurst sandwiches, hot German potato salad, and a homemade Black Forest cherry cake.  They brought us gifts, as well--fresh corn from the Bastian farm!

On Sunday, September 17, Dave and I relaxed in the big, white Oktoberfest tent, home of Bavarian music and dancing.  There are always several tables filled with old-timers, dressed in dirndls and lederhausen, dancing the polka.  The party reminded me of how much my father loved Bavaria and its music and scenery.

 After 30 minutes, Dave asked, "Isn't this enough?"

 Not quite.  I needed a few more minutes of admiring the Bavarian hat of the man in front of me, filled with pins from the towns he'd visited.  One summer, as my mom and dad drove us around Europe, they bought Kent, Scott, and me hats just like that one, and we filled them with pins as we traveled.

 Dave and I finished that Sunday evening with dinner at The Aerie, the elegant restaurant on the 10th floor of The Cliff Lodge, with huge picture windows looking out at the granite face of the mountain.

 We got a table next to the huge windows and the view.

 It turned wet and cold, during our week at Snowbird, but it was still spectacular, with dark clouds rolling in over the mountains..

I leaned far out on the porch of our condo, Room 618, and captured views of the mountains and the winding, scenic road leading to SLC.

On Friday night, September 22, Camille, Steve, Ezra, and Mia joined us for dinner at The Lodge Bistro.  Afterwards, Steve, Dave, and Ezra watched football, while Camille, Mia, and I explored the game room at Iron Blosam.

Camille and I played shuffleboard and air hockey with Mia.  Mia took great relish in beating her mom.

 We then returned to the condo and Camille, Mia, and I played Bananagrams. 

 Ezra loves sports, like his dad and grandpa.

 Steve draped himself in Mia's purple parka. 

 And Dave floated off, even during that exciting game!

Mike and Heidi joined us, after the Friday night symphony, to spend the night and eat brunch at The Cliff Lodge the next morning.  When we awoke, the mountains were speckled with snow.  Of all four of us, Michael, the snowboarder, was most excited to see winter coming!

 Heidi was spiffy in a hat and jacket at brunch.  We enjoyed the granola, sausages and hashbrowns, yogurt and eggs Benedict, muffins and fruit.  We also enjoyed the view.