The Scarlet Pimpernel

Ah, sink me! Kevin has been quite busy as of late. Not only is he spending hours every day studying for the LSATs (the test is September) but he is also performing 8 shows a week playing the title role in the Scarlet Pimpernel at the Hale Center Theater in West Valley City, UT, what? In addition, he has been working on some marketing projects for the theater. The show is in its third week and Kevin has already gotten some rave reviews. Here are a few of them:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705323483/Hales-stunning-Scarlet-Pimpernel-almost-perfect.html

http://www.heraldextra.com/entertainment/article_07f44963-4ae8-565b-868f-d22697f21fef.html

http://www.sltrib.com/arts/ci_13093261

Addicted to Quilting

Ever since I returned from NY, there has been one important difference--I finally have access to my beloved Bernina (sewing machine)! I also was fortunate enough to raid my mom's fabric collection for some free materials. This quilt is intended for a baby boy, though there is no specific recipient in mind. I may actually keep it for myself for the future since my mom designed some of the fabrics. You can't really see the details of the prints, but it is an enchanting collection with rabbits. If you click on the pictures, you get much better details.

Same idea, but this one is clearly aimed for a baby girl. It isn't completed yet (I still need to add a border) but I love the combo of pinks, turquois, and black/greys.

I didn't make this quilt recently--I made it when I was 16. My mom was making something like it and I really liked the idea and made my own version. I had just heard a great quote in seminary about sunflowers and stitched it onto the border. "From the early morning hour 'til the sun is at its close, the loyal, steadfast flower seeks the light without repose. And like loyal flower, our course should be as true, the Son of God we follow, each day our whole life through."

Hiking Mt. Timpanogos

My birthday happens to fall on Pioneer Day, July 24th. I decided I wanted to hike to the caves for my birthday. Once we started hiking and got high up enough, Kevin took a picture of our lovely view.













The sign should also warn, "If you are out of shape..."










Kevin and I decided this was Pride Rock. He is pretending to be Simba here. As I thought about it more, however, I think it looks much more like when the Little Mermaid is on her rock. Rock on Kevin, rock on.



















Kevin and I are looking so dapper in the early morning.







I haven't actually been to the caves since elementary school. Kevin had never been. It is really cold and damp in the cave, which is why you get to see stalagmites, stalagtites, and helectites (sideways ones). You are not allowed to touch anything because of the fragile nature of the cave's contents.





















The biggest of them all: the heart of Timpanogos caves. They have a red light behind it that they turn on so it actually looks red.




















These formations look slimier and more caramel-colored. Because the caves are on a fault line, there have been occurrences of earthquakes and mud slides. Mud slides have happened here.



















Many of the parts of the cave look like you should be under water. These walls looks like sea coral.









I thought this was a pretty picture. It looks like there is a little seahorse peaking its head out. I would love to go again, it was a pretty good little workout. We were both sore the next day. That concludes the cave pictures...



















After we went hiking, we got lunch and then went tubing down the Provo river with Andrew Veenstra and Sara Burroughs. We didn't take the camera so this is not us in the picture, but you get the idea of what went on. We rented tubes from a company that drives you up to the top. Once we got on the river, it was about an hour and a half ride. We all tried to stay together and did a pretty good job, except when Andrew decided to be heroic and help unite people with their groups. The water was only a couple of feet deep in most parts, but none of us wanted to get in the water. When we strayed too close to the sides, we all struggled to get ourselves away rather than just getting out and moving. This resulted in some tubes almost popping, Sara getting flipped over, etc. My hair almost got ripped out. And the water was only two feet deep.

Moving

Kevin and I were surprised to find ourselves back in
Utah so quickly after moving to NY last October. Kevin
had been auditioning while simultaneously preparing for
the LSATs. It came as a shock to both of us when we
realized that "the crazy actor" life wasn't in harmony
with what we wanted. We began saving money, knowing
we would have to move eventually . Quite randomly, a
good job opportunity arose for Kevin, and we both
strongly felt that we had to seize the opportunity. So, it
was with mixed feelings and trepidation that we
commenced our sojourn to Utah. We rented a Ford
Explorer and packed all of our precious possessions inside
(Luckily, we sold the big furniture pieces). 33 hours later,
we arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. It was neat to be
reminded of the beautiful country we live in (excluding
Nebraska).

Oh look, it's Iowa, nothing but corn.

Still Iowa, but getting close to Nebraska. Some wind action going on.

Oh, and Iowa also has some KILLER rainbow sherbet.

Project for Mom

My mom has developed some patterns
for really cute aprons. She needed some
pictures (marketing purposes) so Kevin
took some shots next door at Gardner's
Village (which, coincidentally, has an
amazing quilt shop that is going to get me
in lots of trouble!)

Here we are at Kevin's glorious birthday dinner at
Porterhouse. We had a fabulous dinner with friends,
saw our friend Tony Bennet, and even tried some tasty
bone marrow.

Despite our best efforts, the Jewish guy kept upstaging us
in the picture.

Kevin and I enjoying the Staten Island ferry on a windy
evening. We decided to be tourists for once and see the
statue of liberty.