Exploring Sonora and Columbia

We took a day to explore Sonora and Columbia while we were out there.  I had been to Columbia once before as a teenager and I don't think I truely appreciated it back then!

We walked through the main street in Sonora, had breakfast, checked out a couple of antique stores and found a store that I fell in love with called "Bella Vie".  I could have spent a lot of money there, everything was just so beautiful!  (the 2 pics are from Bella Vie's Facebook page)

 

Some pictures from our walk through Sonora:

 

 

Columbia was a very fun experience.  We spent hours just walking and exploring.  At the quilt shop I bought some great fabric to make my next Civil War dress.

 

We walked up to the old school house.  It was 2 stories - very impressive!

 

We both love old graveyards, the older the better.  They are so peaceful and full of history.

 

 

We stopped and had a locally made sassparilla at the St. Charles Saloon.

 

The fall colors were gorgeously set against a bright blue sky and made for some wonderful picture taking!

 

 

 

 

American Civil War Association Ball

Bryce and I got to take a weekend getaway to attend the American Civil War Association Ball in Sonora, CA.  It was great to have some time, just the two of us (the boys stayed with Grampy)!

We learned a valuable lesson!  When traveling to destinations unknown to you, always print up a map because it is very possible your navigation system won't get a signal!

But regardless of that minor detail, we made it to the ball and it was wonderful!  It started off with dinner, followed by the Coming Out of the debutauntes, then danincing, dessert and a raffle.  We learned how to dance the Grand March, the Virginia Reel, the Sicilian Circle and a couple others that I can't recall the names.  I loved the dancing!  We even had dance cards!

That's us trying to figure out our dance cards!

The dessert was so good and we won 2 raffles item - some books and a ladies haversack (a bag)!

I am so glad we went, we had such a lovely time and I can't wait til we do it again next year!

While I was Gone . . .

. . . Bryce was busy!

He had to work some days but on his days of he:

He got the final sanding on the stairs done and the first coat of varnish on!  They are so pretty and shiny, and they feel so much nicer to walk on too!

He was also able to take a ride down the coast to Big Sur with his Dad, work partner Brad and a friend of Brad's.  It looks like it was a beautiful ride!

When I came home he had flowers on the table for me, just because.  :)

And even now as I sit here and type he is busy finishing up the trim and caulking on the beadboard in the hallway and painting the doors in the living room!

Austin in Austin, NV

We drove home Highway 50, which I vastly prefer to Highway 80.  Of course we had to stop in Austin so Austin could see it.  It was even more run down than I remember!  Towns like that always make me so sad, but they do make for some great picture taking!

Cove Fort

We stopped at Cove Fort on our way home and I am so glad we did!  It was built in 1867 by Ira Hinckley (grandfather of President Hinckley, I believe.) as a way station and protection for pioneers along the "Mormon Corridor".  The fort itself is beautiful and the history is fascinating.  They had all the rooms re-created and restored - the stagecoach room, the telegraph room, the kitchen, root cellar, and bedrooms.  I was in awe of resourcefulness and talent of these pioneers.  Nothing was wasted.  When clothes were worn out they were ripped into rags, which they made into rugs.  When the rugs wore out they burned them in the fire.  They took the ashes from the fire and used them to make soap.  Everything was made by hand but the level of detail in the hand crafting was amazing and beautiful!

The boys loved getting to climb to the top and look out the gun ramparts and knocking on the trunks of the Black Locust trees, which are hollow and sound like a drum.

And Then on Down to Marysvale

My Aunt Dee, George, cousin Jenn, and her 2 little boys Niel and Ralph also came down for the wedding.  It was great to get to spend some time with them.  They had the room right next to us and it is lucky that the hotel survived!

After all the wedding festivities were over we headed on down to Marysvale to visit with Grandma.  The drive through the Sevier Canyon is one of the prettiest places in Utah!

We stopped at the Big Rock Candy Mountain to let the boys explore a little and experience the yumminess that is rock candy!

Danny giving roses to his Great Grandma!

Danny kept trying to get into the shop.  Hmmmm, he must have some Jukes blood in him!

I took the boys for a walk through town then up to the school to play to help get out some of their energy!

Danny was so excited to find a bus!

Bedtime stories with Great Grandma.

Danny bundled up and playing outside in the 30 degree weather!

My beautiful Grandma!

It was so nice to get to visit with Grandma.  True to form she cooked more than we could eat!  I just wish we could have stayed longer!

The Reception for Amber and Clint

Here are some of my favorite pics from the reception:

Danny dancing with his Auntie Nessa.

Austin decided he was "not a fan of dancing" but Auntie Nessa was able to persuade him to dance just one dance with her!  My flash was acting up at this point but I thought the picture turned out kind of cool!

Auntie Nessa eating ice cream with the boys.

This picture was actually from the night before at dinner.  I love how it capture his constant motion!

And now for some pictures of the happy couple!

I am so glad Amber has found her fairy tale and I wish her and Clint every happiness in the world!