Gateway Series: Five

The dark areas of the wall in this photo are made of stone, which has been carved with the names of all those who had a hand in making the Olympics possible. The second in this series of photos is the North East side of the Plaza, whereas this is the view to the South East.

Gateway Series: Four

Opposite the clock tower is this spire topped elevator shaft. Once again - great imagination and fine execution make for a lovely afternoon or evening.

Gateway Series: Three

What I like about the Gateway is the careful attention they gave to the architecture. It's a great place to be just for the visual interest.

Gateway Series: Two

This area of the Gateway is the centerpiece of the mall. Waterfalls and beautiful grounds make it a gathering place for people all over the city, and the world. Honestly. We have visitors from near and far daily. In the last two weeks, I've met people from Hungary, Italy, Sweden and across the U.S.

Gateway Series: One

This is the clock tower of the Gateway, which is a mall on the Olympic Legacy Plaza of the mall. It's hard for me to believe that there were groups fighting this mall before it was built. It is one of the gems of the city, and a fantastic place to go for fun, shopping, . . . and work - which is what I do there most often.

The Beautiful Blue Beyond.

I think that life is like this a lot of times. The sky is so lovely, but if we are only focus on the leaves right in front of us, we miss it. We need to look beyond, and to the beauty right in front of us.

Mt. Olympus and some cloud companions.

The other night, the clouds were great. I took this from my Mother's porch looking over the top of neighborhood roofs to the mountains beyond.

I'm running out of things to post. I've been very busy with life in general lately and haven't had much free time to shoot. I'll be taking my camera to work for some photos downtown this week. Here's hoping I'll find lots of interesting things at the Gateway!

Another Beauty from Mother's backyard.

I can't remember how many times I've tried to grow Hollyhocks. I do remember the number of times I've succeeded, however. I've never been able to grow a Hollyhock. I don't remember whether or not my mother had beautiful gardens when I was a child however. It's very possible that her prowess in gardening came after rearing her children. I could be patient for that. . .because having great kids is a lot more important to me than my garden right now. I'll enjoy hers until my gardening time comes.

Summer's Beauty

This flower is called Indian Blanket, and it is among the lovelies growing in my mother's backyard at the moment. My mother has a way with plants - they love her.

Clydesdales, Three.

Aren't they magnificent?

While we were at Thanksgiving Point, my kids were able to have pony rides which has sparked a love of horses in my 2.5 year old daughter. While I was making this post, she was standing at my side and said with a grin. . . I wan ride it! I'm a bit animal shy - so I think she's pretty brave. They are such imposing stately creatures. It was enough of a thrill for me to just stand back and take some photos.

Clydesdales, Two.

Mt. Timpanogos' Halo: Sky Watch

The clouds were broken up in big chunks this day, with this gap at the top of the mountain. I'm sure there's a scientific explanation. Personally, I just think it looks cool.

Clydesdales, One.

At Thanksgiving Point, they have a couple teams of Clydesdales. They are beautiful horses, and I will share a few more photos of them on Saturday and Sunday.

From the Wikipedia Article, here is some history of the breed. 

The Clydesdale is thought to have arisen from the mid-18th century cross breeding of local mares with larger English and Flemish stock perhaps originally developed for use as warhorses. They were further developed to meet the practical needs of early 19th century Scotland, where the robust constitution, somewhat shaggy coat, thick mane and feathered legs were suited to the climate.
The breed was well received owing to its agile strength and docility, soon spreading to northern England where it was used extensively to tow coal skips. In the 19th century Clydesdales were exported to Australia, and New Zealand. In Australia, with British Longhorn Cattle, they were an important draft animal. The Longhorn is forgotten in Australia, but the Clydesdales have survived a period of mid-twentieth century neglect to become regarded with the Merino as an icon of Australian rural industry. The Clydesdale is celebrated in one of the most popular images of rural life, G.W.Lambert's painting "Across the Black Soil Plains" which shows a team straining to pull a wagon loaded with the wool clip which is "up to its axle-trees" in mud. Nowadays they are one of the most popular exhibits at the agricultural shows and the Carlton and United Brewery Clydesdales, which are stabled at the Sydney Showground are visited by many thousands of people in conjunction with the Royal Easter Show each year. In New Zealand, apart from general rural work, the Clydesdale was used extensively in the timber industry, to pull from the forest the valuable logs of kauri pine, highly prized for cabinet making.
Clydesdales were first shipped to North America in 1840, and later to South America, Russia, Austria and Italy. Exports peaked in 1911 with a recorded 1,617 stallions trading hands. According to the Clydesdale Horse Society (formally founded 1887), between 1884 and 1945 20,183 animals were exported. Two stallions are recognized as the foundation of the breed: Lord Darney and Prince of Wales. All Clydesdales horses today can be traced back to these two sires. The development of the breed has come a long way from these two foundation sires. There was a lot of focus on developing the hind leg and quality of hair.
As a beast of labor, Clydesdales had been largely replaced by tractors and other heavy machinery by the end of World War II. Through the determination of many small breeders the breed continued through the lean post World War II era. However, the horses are still used in situations where machines are unwanted or inferior, such as "eco-friendly" farming and logging operations. Clydesdales are now most often seen in competitive agricultural exhibitions such as state, county and national fairs.

Before the "Church Office Building" . . .

This building housed the offices of the LDS church. It is still an office building, though I am not sure which offices are located there. I once heard it called the Sunday School Building. I've always liked the architecture.

Close Up.

Back here, I showed you the tower of the LDS church office building. To each side of the tower is a portion of the building that appears like this, with a map of the world on the North and South side. I've always the bas relief sculpture was very interesting.

Bountiful Temple: Seven

Looking down into the valley and out onto the Great Salt Lake once more. The link will take you to the Great Salt Lake Wikipedia article, which has good photos near the end.

Bountiful Temple: Six

There are two levels of parking at the Temple.  The lower level can access the Temple by stairs coming up to the main level or through a walkway underground which you can see through the windows in this photo. The walkway surrounds a round garden with Japanese Maples at the center ringed with flowers and plants.

Bountiful Temple: Five.

This is from the one flower bed out in front of the building.

Bountiful Temple: Four. Sky Watch

The sky was the loveliest shade of blue this day. This series has a lot of great sky - enjoy!

Bountiful Temple: Three

The gardens at this Temple are much smaller. Being built on a mountainside doesn't leave much room for flower beds. Most of the landscaping is similar to this, which is still lovely.

Bountiful Temple: Two

The building in yesterday's post is literally in the "tops of the mountains". This is the view looking to the South East.

Bountiful Temple: One

This is more from the photos I shot in Bountiful (just North of the Salt Lake Valley) in early June. I almost forgot that I had them. Enjoy!

Light.

In the morning light.

Sky Watch: Independence Day

These clouds were so interesting - almost completely solid, then suddenly a huge gaping hole. 

The flag is very special to my family, with many generations including my father having served in the armed forces. Happy Birthday, USA.

A quiet spot to relax.

Bear Lake from the look out just before sunset.

I have quite a few more that I wanted to post of Bear Lake so I will do that this week. It is an absolute gem, as I'm sure you'll see. My Great Grandmother loved this place. She used to to paintings of it.

July Theme Day: "No" Access.

The top of the Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City is a garden. Seriously. The entire roof  is planted with trees and plants native to Utah and that alone is beautiful. The views from the roof are also quite amazing as they are for the most part unbostructed toward the west. Sunset on the roof is something to behold. I hope to be able to get back up there for some photos, but for now there is no access.

Here is a list of all the other cities participating in today's theme day:

American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by freefalling, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Bandung, Indonesia by Harry Makertia, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Brantford (ON), Canada by Nancy, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Bucaramanga, Colombia by Fernando, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cavite, Philippines by Steven Que, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Château-Gontier, France by Laurent, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Ram N, Chennai, India by Shantaram, Chesapeake (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Corsicana (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Duluth (MN), USA by Sun Dog Press, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Edinburgh, UK by Dido, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA by Gigi, Gaia, Portugal by m+p, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Hanoi, Vietnam by Jérôme, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Knoxville (TN), USA by Knoxville Girl, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lakewood (OH), USA by mouse, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Lynchburg (VA), USA by Timothy, Melbourne, Australia by John, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Misawa, Japan by misawa mama, Monroe (GA), USA by Tanya, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Munich, Germany by Troy, Nancy, France by yoshi, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Delhi, India by Delhi Photo Diary, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, Newcastle, Australia by Julia, Newport News (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Oklahoma City (OK), USA by ananda.tashie, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Palos Verdes (CA), USA by tash, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Posadas, Argentina by Lega, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Reykjavik, Iceland by Vírgíll, Riga, Latvia by , Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Santa Fe (NM), USA by Randem, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Silver Spring (MD), USA by John, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Stratford, Canada by Barb, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Julie, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tel-Aviv, Israel by Olga, Tempe (AZ), USA by angie, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Test City (MA), USA by , The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Toulouse, France by Julia, Trujillo, Peru by Giulianna, Turin, Italy by Livio, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine,