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Because the St. George area is located between the Rocky Mountains and the desert southwest, it features the distinct landscapes of both. It has forested mountain ranges and high plateaus, along with rugged and starkly beautiful red rock desert.
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Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Today was awesome


Oh, what a luscious day it was! For nearly a week our temperatures have been cooler than usual. That generally happens when upper Utah is receiving any type of storms. It was about 62 degrees around 2 pm, slightly cloudy but sunny and nicely warm. When the temperature is like this, most everyone runs about in shirt sleeves...no jacket.

I went for my daily walk this afternoon that I generally take about 10 am. Because of my massage therapy session at noon, I did not go walking this morning. It was so pleasant and tremendously enjoyable for me today. I am fortunate to live within a block of an elementary school that has a track on it. This is where I take my walks. One time around the track is 1 and ½ quarter mile. Because I have neglected my daily walks for over a year now....I have to begin slowly again so as not to over-do. Three weeks ago when I made a new commitment to begin my walk exercise again, I only did one time around the track. Today I did three.

It is a nice asphalt track. With the school field on one side of the track and a very high wooden fence (to protect the privacy of the families living in the row of homes) on part of the other side of the track along with more field, it makes for a type of seclusion. Occasionally, depending on what time it is, the school children might be out on the playground for recess. But about three fourths of the track is away from the children’s play area, even though they play on part of the field closest to the school building.

As I walk around the track, I hear a few dogs barking at me from behind the wooden fence. It is fun to watch the children play, if they are out. But the most gorgeous part of my walk is seeing the mountain range all around me in every direction in the distance. Very, very close and looming up at us is the Pine Valley Mountain....the tallest of the mountains in our area. It is a pretty sight in the winter because it is generally covered with snow. Nothing else around us has snow. St. George as a rule, does not receive snow....we are too warm. If by chance we do get snow, it lasts a couple of hours and melts when it hits the ground....or in a few hours.

So all in all, today’s walk was extremely enjoyable....and I love to think and meditate while I walk. Very good therapy.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Our mountain beauty


Living in a town that is literally surrounded by hills and mountains of all heights, I guess we sometimes can have a tendency to take our mountain beauty for granted.

The other day as I was traveling to the other side of our town heading towards another close neighboring town, the road I was traveling was through the hills...away from any traffic. I neglect sometimes to really take in the beauty that is before my eyes. I love to travel this road as it is always a serene, gorgeous drive with the many different scenes before and surrounding me, of red hills against the side of the road and mountains and other hills in the distance.

We have red soil here and it sure makes for a beautiful landscape against the hills. And the mountains in the distance...so striking with the various layers of hills and other mountains preceding each other in different color contrasts. Definitely a sight to behold!

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Crows


Crows seem to like St. George in the winter, too. While out walking two days ago at the elementary school by us, I saw about five crows ahead of me on the track. Generally in February is when I see more of them. They sit and fill the tree tops and make their wonderful cawing sound.
Click on this link to see a fascinating video of clever crows.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Tuacahn Amphitheatre







TUACAHN is a spectacular natural outdoor amphitheatre just 10 minutes from St. George, in Ivins, Utah. The stage and high stadium type seating are surrounded by gorgeous 1500 foot red rock and vertical sandstone cliffs.


In 1993, Doug Stewart, noted playwright and St. George resident, stumbled upon the spot as he was searching for a location for an outdoor amphitheatre in the St. George area. “The stunning beauty and perfect surroundings stopped me in my tracks,” Stewart recalled. “I was brought to tears when I first stood there, and after taking it in for some time - envisioning an amphitheatre and stage with the awesome backdrop of 1500 foot red rock cliffs, and hearing the sounds of music echoing from the canyon walls - I literally flew back to town and straight to the county recorder’s office to see who the land belonged to.”


Through his efforts, a non-profit organization was established to raise funds for the construction of the Tuacahn Amphitheatre. Built on the 80-acre parcel at the base of Padre Canyon, adjacent to famous Snow Canyon, the facility is 42,000 square feet. The outdoor theater seats 2000 people, and opened in 1995. It is called the Broadway of the Desert, because every summer several musicals are performed on its stage.


The name Tuacahn comes from a Mayan word meaning "Canyon of the Gods."





Click on the link below..to take a unique virtual tour of Tuacahn and see a 360 degree panorama view of the stage and stadium seating area.


Saturday, January 5, 2008

Too many eating places?


With all the heavy construction and building going on here in St. George all the time, it amazes me with all the variety of eating places opening up. At one point I really felt like the community was overdoing it....I mean, do we really need all these myriad of food establishments?! The size, and range of variety of places to stop and eat are shocking, to say the least.

But over the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years holidays it was extremely unbelievable at how packed full EACH drive in and restaurant became. People sure like to eat out a lot!

We have a pretty steady growth rate here in Washington County. And even more so this past year. With so many, many hungry people out and about town....it is no wonder that our eating places are crammed full. Every one has their favorite place to go....and I sure have mine! I am so glad that Bajio, Lucky Buffet, Subway, and Del Taco....to name my favorites.....are here in town and so close to where I live!

With all these people (over 100,000), we need all these places to go and eat out and have fun and enjoy our self. We can shop, shop, shop... and eat, eat, eat...to our hearts content.