BACK TO SCHOOL PICS

If you know me at all, you know I hate going back to school. When I had tons of littles at home, it was different, but my kids take care of themselves now and they are my buddies and I really miss them when they're gone all day. I also hate going back to a regimented schedule. I love the freedom and spontaneousness of summer and I miss it dreadfully when I get back into the school routine.

My youngest two- C Man 10th grade, Princess P 7th grade.

C Man had a friend take some pictures of he and his buddies. Looks like they're in a band.

Nice socks! I feel a vibe of the 80's...

Our McDonald's opened back up this month after being closed all summer. Here's the girls going in to check it out.

GOING THIS WAY

I was asked to create an artist book for a show at our cute little Main Street Art Center here in Ephraim. It's called the Granary Art Center (click for link). I was so flattered and excited to be a part of it!  They even used one of my images for the show advertising:

My Mom, Dad, older sister and I, circa. 1971 (I was almost 2) with our plane Charlie Cherokee.

Here are some pictures of the opening.

My name on the wall.

My family and I by my work.

Awesome A and I.

Me, visiting with friends at the show.

For part of the show upstairs you could make your own 3X3" work and take some else's home.

Here's Little C and Princess P checking out one of mine. I had my classes participate.

My work- 'Trip Scrolls, ca. 1971-2014'

The scrolls are all photos of trips or vacations I have been on throughout my life printed on Kozo rice paper. I love the way a turned out. One of the few art works I've made that I was able to create exactly a work identical to the one in my head.

Up close view of 'Trip Scrolls...'

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Kim Gordon / Kim Gordon is a bookmaker, watercolor painter, printmaker and educator. She was born in Arizona and has spent her life in the Western United States. After studying art at Snow College and Utah State University, she received a BFA in Art Education and has taught art at the middle school, high school and college levels. Her art focuses on the influence of her cultural heritage rooted in ideas of place, personal experience and family traditions both past and present.  Many of these traditions focus on travel and vacationing with her family.  Spending time together, building unity and memory making are all important aspects of her family life, and these ideas and traditions translate into her art making process. She currently lives in Sanpete County, Utah and teaches art at Snow College.

GREEN RIVER FOR MEMORIAL DAY

We invited lots of friends and family and took off for Green River after Sacrament Meeting yesterday. Green River is one of the family favorites. The river's kind of mellow and sometimes downright boring, but the camping and the 'beach' are always favorites.

Princess P and Awesome A as we drive through the almost ghost town of Green River.

That night we had walking tacos and visited with everybody. It started to rain pretty good after a while, but we lived through it. The boys started to experiment with photography after a while. My good friend A is a photographer and helped them set up the camera for some fun shots.

We call this one 'Multiple Personalities.' A on the left and Little C on the right.

A wrote his name with his phone screen.

The next morning was overcast and a little chilly. No one was very excited to get on the river (except the kids- haha). I ran it the first round, however, and it wasn't bad at all. Not near as cold as the Sevier the week before!

The kids warming up by the fire the next morning.

Uncle D and cousin C helped the kids paddle the raft.

The beach is even enjoyed by the parents!

On our way home we stopped and looked at this strange hippie compound in the middle of the desert. They called it Jenkstar Ranch and it was a Sustainable Living, Art and Music Festival. There were some very strange things there, but it was interesting to investigate.

Tallest bike we'll ever ride- don't sit down!

The red ropes are a 'man' and they were on pulleys to stand it up.

The winged chair of strangeness. haha

SCOUT CAMP

Little C went on a Scout Camp Out last weekend. With the new rules in scouting now, they have to camp out A LOT and can't count family camping either. They went over into the west desert of Utah and did some rock climbing and rappelling. He had a good time and came home tired. 

(I stole borrowed some photos off Facebook).

Little C (in the middle, black tshirt) getting ready to rappel.

 Our bishop is an awesome photographer. (He even took our family photos one year). This is one of his cool photos of the boys with their Air Soft guns. He called it the 'South Forty Army.' I think it looks like something out of Red Dawn. haha

Little C is 4th from the left.

I AM A CANON FAN

I think I am a Canon fan for life. As most of you readers know, I have broken the screen on my G11 twice now. Yes, I truly am talented. I sent my camera in for repairs both times because I honestly love this camera. The first time, they repaired it and sent it back within 10 days. It was amazing and fairly cost effective (for a $500 camera). I was very happy with their service.

This time, however, was a little different. I sent my camera in and didn't hear from them for almost 4 weeks. I finally called and the lady said she would expedite everything and 3 days later my camera was home. Only, it wasn't my camera. They said it was more cost effective to upgrade me to a refurbished G12! So now I have a nicer version for the same money! Needless to say I am very happy!! I <3 Canon! It will be so good to have my nice camera back...

PROBLEM SOLVED?

I broke my camera again. I am so mad at myself I can hardly stand it. I bought it less than two years ago and this is the second time I've had to send it in for a new LCD screen. I sat on it when we went to Green River. Applause, applause, applause. I know.

I love this camera! It's my favorite! And if I'd just keep the screen shut, it would be okay, but I don't. Hopefully I've found a solution to the problem...

... this Pentax waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof camera. All the things my family and I need from a camera! I'll save my Canon for the less treacherous trips, whenever those might be...