I won some cookies a couple of years ago from the Sweet Tooth Fairy Bakery.

Sometimes I go for years and never win a thing. Sometimes I win several things at once.
This year I signed up at Good Reads to try to win a book. I won two. One is a novel and one a history of the English Monarchy. I also signed up to win some clothes on a friend's blog and won that. Thanks Nancy!!! I got a beautiful black satin blouse and a red T-top. I ended up getting the clothes and the book on the same day....kind of like a mid year Christmas bonus. I am headed to the Idaho Lottery Office.

Cove Fort

Outside Entrance to Cove Fort

On of the wings inside the fort walls

The Blacksmith Shop of Ira Hinckley

Wayne and I went to Cove Fort in central Utah a couple of weeks ago. It was freezing and snowy but we decided to venture out to get to see this historic place. This was a fort that was established by the LDS Church in 1869. It was built of volcanic rock and limestone and was used as a way station for pioneers traveling along the Mormon corridor from Idaho to Nevada and also for government business travelers and immigrants. It was connected by a network of roads, telegraph lines and postal routes. Ira Hinckley was called by Brigham Young to take charge of the project so he left his home in Coalville, UT to take up the assignment. When the fort was done the walls measured 100 feet long and 18 feet high. The Hinckley family then moved in.

It was a lively functional fort for 20 years with two stage coaches passing by daily and giving rest to weary travelers, while Cowboys tended to their horses. Many people were treated to dinner each night and ate alongside the family. The Hinckley's were so good to the Indians that trust was established and there was little need for a fort for protection from them.

They were very self sustaining here growing their own food, caring for cattle and weaving their own fabrics.

After they had woven their fabrics, they would make their clothes. When the clothes wore out, they made rugs from that fabric in these looms. When the rugs wore out, they would use the fabric to kindle the fires and when the ashes were gathered they used them to make soap. Waste not, want not.

These are the telegraph wires in the telegraph office

and here is the original telegraph.

Many, many meals were cooked in the stove. This is not the original but an exact copy found in another state.

The toothbrushes were made from boar bristles. The block of soap is like the kind made from the ashes.

The laundry room

More laundry facilities

A original coverlet and as you can see it was woven in 1855

This was the kitchen. Remember those pie safes with the tin punched fronts? Did you know that they always punched the tin from the inside out so the insects wouldn't get in them? Bugs don't like the sharp points on the outside.

There was one room with a large cellar where they stored the veggies for the winter. I still think they are a good idea except I wouldn't go down there. I am too afraid of spiders.

Every bedroom had a fireplace, dresser and pitcher.

This was the dining area with home-woven tablecloth. Sister Hinckley insisted on using good china for every meal. Nobody was turned away who really needed help and a place to rest.

Cove Fort was sold at one time and then repurchased by the Hinckely family who gifted it back to the church hoping that it would become a way station once more. Only this time, as a reminder of sacrifice and obedience, dedication to duty ,the value of hard work and faith and as a reminder of the faith of our forefathers.

Alex's Birthday

Happy Birthday on the 25th Alex, you are special!

The birthdays just keep on coming. This is a special one for me. My first grandchild, Alex is turning 16. He has had some very hard medical problems lately and it's not over. He has been in the hospital for 8 days now and will likely have surgery in the next few weeks that will be life altering we hope. He has been in much pain and had so many hard trials to endure for a long time but is the sweetest and most loving teenager I know. Get well Alex, you are a precious young man. 16 is so much older than 15. Come to Utah and we will have a fun spree. Woo Hoo!!

May is a big month for special occasions in our family: Mother's Day, and the birthdays of Colett(4th), Amy (9th), Alex (25th), Greg (5th), Debi (10th), Jem(21st), Kymbre' (18th), Matt J.(30th) and two of my favorite men, hubby Wayne (20th)and son-in-law Wes (21st). Whew, what was in the food of their mothers in August? Then... my nephew Ammon is getting married on the 22nd and Colett's and Matt's anniversary is on the 6th.

It's constant "party time" and "spend the money" time around here. We celebrated Mother's Day and Colett's and Amy's birthday on the same day, and now Wayne and Wes will have their chance together. Same party, separate cakes. What lovely men these two are. Caring, hard working, and just plain wonderful. Happy birthday to them both, You are truly loved!!!!

I better head to the store.

Fun House

We traveled though Richfield, Utah on our recent vacation and drove by this house. I just had to go back for a picture. The front of the house is covered with lava rock. The floral decoration on
top of the rock is also lava rock as are the statuettes standing in the front of the house. You will need to enlarge this to appreciate. I don't think I would ever do this to my house but I love those creative people who do. You can tell they are artistic and have a good sense of humor.