Robin's Family

Andrew - Aubrey - Katelyn - Robin - Ashlyn

I saw this preview of a photo shoot of the Burkhardts on Facebook and snitched it. Absolutely darling!

4-wheelin' to Gibson Lakes

Logan Canyon - Franklin Basin Road - Gibson Lakes = Nice Beautiful Ride!

The aspen leaves were quaking in the mountain breeze,

I could see the swaying of majestic evergreen trees.

A couple of spotted fawns trotted off the trail,

While a squirrel scampered away with its bushy tail,

Wildflowers were abundant in lavender, orange and gold,

And the streams were rushing with water, icy cold.

The surface of the mountain lakes glistened in the sun,

Yes, my ride up Franklin Basin was beautiful and fun!

Niagara Falls

On our day off we went to Niagara Falls. We were told that going to the Canadian side was best so that is what we did. We had also heard about very long delays returning back over the border so we hurried over, did our thing, and hurried back. There were no lines!

Eastman House, Misc. P-day Pics

On P-day the eight of us (all former Heber Valley Camp missionaries) went to Rochester and toured the Eastman House. That's George Eastman of Eastman Kodak. (Kodak was a name George and his mother, who lived with him, made up) George never married and from what was told about him, he was very eccentric. He was very wealthy and gave away millions of dollars.

A portrait of George Eastman:

A closer look reveals that the picture of Mr. Eastman is made up of many, many various images as shown in the picture below:

One of the displays in the museum:

I couldn't resist taking a picture of a camera just like my first camera...a Kodak Brownie. I still remember getting it for Christmas from Santa Claus. The camera box had my name written on top with 'magic marker' in my Mother's handwriting. Hm-m-m.

After the museum portion, we toured the mansion. It had been restored and was very unique. I wouldn't be comfortable living in a home like that. It was more on the order of the White House. I guess I was all shutter-bugged out as I took only one picture in the house.

The gardens were pretty.

I took this picture from George's Mother's 2nd floor bedroom window. She slept in a single bed with her nurse's single bed right to the side of her. The home had an elevator to accommodate her needs.

The following pictures were taken on the Canadian side of the border when we went to Niagara Falls. I thought the city had a Las Vegas feel to it.

More Hill Cumorah, Erie Canal

The stage of the Hill Cumorah Pageant was multi-level. The special effects, props, lighting, scenery etc. were very well-done. Moving the 700 cast members on and off the stage between scenes must have been a monumental task. One of the cast members said there is a grid with lights underneath so they can see where to step in the darkness.

Behind the seating area there are flagpoles displaying the flags of many nations.

Between the Hill Cumorah Visitor's Center and the pageant seating area, there is this large granite book. We never did go in the Visitor's Center so I don't know what information was given. All the parking stalls were always occupied. We could see the Christus statue as we passed by. On the other side of the Visitor's Center was 'Zion's Camp.' It was a campground for cast members who stayed in RVs and tents.

Gary, Suzanne, Reed & Kathy

Erie Canal

The Erie Canal was completed in 1825. The waterway was used to ship goods all over. Towns and villages were built along the canal route. There are locks on the canal through which the boats pass. Many people were fishing from the banks and having picnics. There were boats for hire. It looked pretty, serene and slow.

The Anti's

Everywhere the church had a presence, the anti-mormon groups showed up to harrass, heckle and make their point known. It wasn't too much of a problem at the Smith Farm and Grove because it is all private church property. The main road used to go through between the home and the grove but has since been re-routed. Sometimes we received word that some suspected anti's were headed our way. We were told not to respond to them but radio the Elders, who would call the police if there was a problem. The painted trailer below was towed back and forth on the road by the farm and the driver would honk to get attention. On the sidewalk in front of the Grandin Building the anti's hold signs, shout and get quite confrontational. At the pageant parking there was quite a large anti group badgering the attendees each night. They had yellow t-shirts with black writing to match the trailer. There was a police presence which probably helped keep it under control. One time I saw a yellow and black gazebo set up with the familiar 'What Mormons Don't Tell' next to another gazebo that said, 'What Christians Do Tell.'

Around the Smith Farm

As volunteers during the July 2010 Hill Cumorah Pageant, our area of work was the Smith Farm/Sacred Grove. The vast majority of our time was spent outside in the heat, humidity and drenching downpours. The weather did a number on our appearance and clean clothes. Some areas had umbrellas for protection from the elements. When in the grove we often had to dodge puddles and navigate spongy, wet trails. Our shift managed to get all the rainstorms. We used garbage can liners for makeshift ponchos. The shifts were five hours long and we rotated each hour to a different station. There were ten positions through which we moved, five per day. The morning shift began with prayer meeting at 8:30 a.m. and ended at 2 p.m. Then the afternoon group arrived and worked until 7 p.m. We enjoyed the morning shift best. At any one time during pageant weeks, the Smith Farm always had at least two full-time senior missionary couples, six sets of full-time young sister missionaries, and about 12 volunteer couples present. There were 30 Smith Farm volunteer couples total. During pageant time, it is estimated that 85% of visitors are members of the church. One young sister missionary was fluent in 4 languages. Some young elders came one day to help with a deaf group.

Welcome or Visitor's Center-

This is where the tours began. A young sister missionary told the story of the first vision. The next stop was the canopy by the log home where the group would hear about the home, and the visits of Moroni to Joseph Smith. They had the opportunity to go through the log home. Then it was a walk to a canopy adjacent to the frame home. They heard more of the Joseph Smith story and the golden plates, the problems and challenges of the Smith family etc. After a tour through the frame home, it was time to visit the threshing barn and cooper shop. Walking through the Sacred Grove completed their experience.

Station 8

Vaughn & Susan

On Stafford Road-

walking from one area of the farm to another
with Palmyra Temple in background




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Reed walking to the next rotation

The little stream that runs through the

farm had fish in it at one time.

Dead trees were hollowed out

and used for beehives.

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