Heather's Harmony

For the first time ever…

I'm finally going to Lake Powell! I've been wanting to go since I was a young teen and now I get to cross it off my long 'places to go list'

 

I can hardly wait, it can be rare to find a Utahan that hasn’t been to Lake Powell and after this weekend I am proud to say I will be part of the majority! I love playing in water, which is one of the many reasons I love the ocean but living in a land lock state calls for the saying “beggars can’t be choosers” so we settle for lakes and reservoirs.

I’ve got my swim suits, summer dresses, and tanning lotion ready to go for a long vacation at the lake! It’s fun to have an exciting weekend trip planned and my tan is ready for an update!

For the first time ever…

I'm finally going to Lake Powell! I've been wanting to go since I was a young teen and now I get to cross it off my long 'places to go list'

 

I can hardly wait, it can be rare to find a Utahan that hasn’t been to Lake Powell and after this weekend I am proud to say I will be part of the majority! I love playing in water, which is one of the many reasons I love the ocean but living in a land lock state calls for the saying “beggars can’t be choosers” so we settle for lakes and reservoirs.

I’ve got my swim suits, summer dresses, and tanning lotion ready to go for a long vacation at the lake! It’s fun to have an exciting weekend trip planned and my tan is ready for an update!

Today, one of my million reasons to smile is called a long weekend at the lake!

 

 

 

Photo from: Weheartit!

Today, one of my million reasons to smile is called a long weekend at the lake!

 

 

 

Photo from: Weheartit!

I prefer to think of it as a celebration of life... not a funeral

In college I took a course titled Death and Dying taught by Nancy Rushforth and Reba Keele at Utah Valley University. This was an amazing semester experience for me and has and its effects will continue to produce new and lasting ideas and opinions about death and dying. Not just in my educational career since most of my research has been on genocide in the twenty first century but will also be incredibly valuable in my personal understanding of death and dying.

Today I received an e-mail from a website called Daily Grommet on alternative funerals and memorial keepsakes that I thought was really interesting and totally worth passing on and sharing.

 

Of course this subject is wildly personal I have decided that a conventional burial and funeral is not for me. I have a few ideas of what I would like to be done with my body when I’m gone, but it turns out there are dozens of ways my life can be celebrated in less common ways that are still personal and special.

heather

I prefer to think of it as a celebration of life... not a funeral

In college I took a course titled Death and Dying taught by Nancy Rushforth and Reba Keele at Utah Valley University. This was an amazing semester experience for me and has and its effects will continue to produce new and lasting ideas and opinions about death and dying. Not just in my educational career since most of my research has been on genocide in the twenty first century but will also be incredibly valuable in my personal understanding of death and dying.

Today I received an e-mail from a website called Daily Grommet on alternative funerals and memorial keepsakes that I thought was really interesting and totally worth passing on and sharing.

 

Of course this subject is wildly personal I have decided that a conventional burial and funeral is not for me. I have a few ideas of what I would like to be done with my body when I’m gone, but it turns out there are dozens of ways my life can be celebrated in less common ways that are still personal and special.

heather

snapshot saturday: a shout out to the strawberry guava!

If you were to ask me the top three reasons I travel, one of the three would hands down be the food, drink, spices etc. of each place I go and since the world is about balance this particular counter balance is that once you try that delectable new food it nearly impossible to create that same taste and enjoyment again. It can be difficult to find foreign ingredients, fresh ingredients, recipes, the cultural know how, and simply someone to enjoy it with you!

 

One of the many experiences I have had with this culinary balance is that of the Strawberry Guava. Call me naive but I hadn’t even realized there were several kinds of guavas. While visiting the island of Kauai, Hawaii I was introduced to this seriously delicious fruit by a local, unfortunately unless they are eaten or made into a jam or preserved right away it is difficult to enjoy this fruit. It begins to ferment the moment it is picked from a tree and makes it extremely difficult to store, sell or buy any Strawberry Guava.

snapshot saturday: a shout out to the strawberry guava!

If you were to ask me the top three reasons I travel, one of the three would hands down be the food, drink, spices etc. of each place I go and since the world is about balance this particular counter balance is that once you try that delectable new food it nearly impossible to create that same taste and enjoyment again. It can be difficult to find foreign ingredients, fresh ingredients, recipes, the cultural know how, and simply someone to enjoy it with you!

 

One of the many experiences I have had with this culinary balance is that of the Strawberry Guava. Call me naive but I hadn’t even realized there were several kinds of guavas. While visiting the island of Kauai, Hawaii I was introduced to this seriously delicious fruit by a local, unfortunately unless they are eaten or made into a jam or preserved right away it is difficult to enjoy this fruit. It begins to ferment the moment it is picked from a tree and makes it extremely difficult to store, sell or buy any Strawberry Guava.

Concert in the Park

In many ways Utah is so behind on city culture but I feel we’ve made huge progress in the past 5-10 years and it keeps getting better. One of the many improvements has been  the Twilight Concert Series, where for the low low price of FREE you can meet at Pioneer Park in Thursday nights to watch a free concert in the park.

It is regrettable that last night was my first time going EVER but it was so much fun, I will be going every chance I get in the future. My friends Ryann and Amanda invited me to join them to watch The Decemberists. I don’t know their music very well and this seemed like the perfect time to see what they’re all about. If you’re in the area its definitely something fun and local to do!

I have been to more intimate concerts before and loved the mood that settles in on the crowd. Last night The Decemberists had all 20,000 guests (who stayed to cheer for an encore) sit on the grass, being so close to the stage it was difficult to find room for everyone but sure enough we all sat down and listened to them play. I tried to snap a quick photo, it was pretty amazing!

 

Thanks for stopping by,

 heather

Concert in the Park

In many ways Utah is so behind on city culture but I feel we’ve made huge progress in the past 5-10 years and it keeps getting better. One of the many improvements has been  the Twilight Concert Series, where for the low low price of FREE you can meet at Pioneer Park in Thursday nights to watch a free concert in the park.

It is regrettable that last night was my first time going EVER but it was so much fun, I will be going every chance I get in the future. My friends Ryann and Amanda invited me to join them to watch The Decemberists. I don’t know their music very well and this seemed like the perfect time to see what they’re all about. If you’re in the area its definitely something fun and local to do!

I have been to more intimate concerts before and loved the mood that settles in on the crowd. Last night The Decemberists had all 20,000 guests (who stayed to cheer for an encore) sit on the grass, being so close to the stage it was difficult to find room for everyone but sure enough we all sat down and listened to them play. I tried to snap a quick photo, it was pretty amazing!

 

Thanks for stopping by,

 heather