Exploring!

We live in the heart of the California gold country.  People come from all over the world to see some of these places.  So we took a little outing to do some exploring in the Sonora area.

We visited:

"Columbia was only one of hundreds of settlements that sprang up during the exciting years when the cry of "Gold!" brought Argonauts from all over the world to seek their fortunes in California.  Columbia yielded $87 million in gold at 1860's prices." 

"Unlike many of these settlements, which have long since succumbed to fire, vandalism, and the elements, Columbia has never been completely deserted. Through the years it has retained much the same appearance as when miners thronged its streets. So, recognizing an opportunity to preserve a typical Gold Rush town as an example of one of the most colorful eras in American history, the State Legislature in 1945 created Columbia State Historic Park."

We saw rock outcroppings like this all over the place! They are left from the hydraulic mining

"Hydraulic mining was important at Columbia. Using monitors, or nozzles, to shoot water at high pressure, miners blasted loose the gold bearing gavel and washed out the gold. This method was very destructive."

The lovely place we stayed:

Grounds in the back:

We also visited Railtown 1897 in Jamestown.

"The railway's Jamestown locomotive and rolling stock maintenance facilities are remarkably intact and continue to function much as they have for the last 100-plus years."

We got to take a train ride on this steam train:

Here I am seated with our docent for the ride:

It was a beautiful spring day in the foothills:

A favorite was this water tower.  The trains, depot and this water tower have been used in many TV shows and movies including Petticoat Junction, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, High Noon and Back to the Future.

On our way home we stopped at this cabin which was off the beaten path. It is a replica of the cabin where Mark Twain lived for about a year and wrote "Jumping Frog of Calaveras County."  This 1865 short story was his first great success as a writer, bringing him national attention.

It's fun to go exploring and learn new things!

Posing at a  frog statue in Angel's Camp where the Jumping Frog story took place.

Who Doesn't Love Pink Flamingos!

Sara posted this interesting photo on Facebook with the caption:

My birthday surprise!

 When I asked her about it, this is what she explained: "A girl in our ward is raising money to go on a humanitarian trip.  So people can pay to have the "flock" set up in someone's yard.  Ours was sent by anonymous!"

Isn't that such a fun and creative idea!

But when I looked again at the picture I noticed an interesting expression on 2 1/2 year old Bethany's face.  Take a look.  She is such a character!

Here are some other recent photos Sara has posted of her:

"Mommy, you're sick!  I gotta feel you better!"

 "She's been wearing these all day, including to the library!"

"I really hope this isn't her idea of babysitting!"

Love this picture of little Sunbeam Aubrey in the rainbow dress posing with her Primary and Sister Wixom!

Thanks to Sara for sharing!  Hope she had a very happy birthday and will have fun with her parents visiting this weekend!

She Made It!

Wow!  Julia must have been excited when she went online and saw her name on the list of those who had made it into Madrigals!  She just auditioned last Friday.

Madrigals 2015-2016 School Year! (just part of the list)

Name		Section
Alex Allen	Sr	Soprano
Lisa Vogel	Sr	Sop II/Alto
Elizabeth Budd	Sr	Sop/Sop II
Kiana Hao	Sr	Soprano II
Julia Harrison	Jr	Soprano II
Madison Monson	Sr	Soprano
Mary Flanagan	Sr	Soprano
Natasha Hartvigsen	Sr	Soprano

Here is what she had to say about it:

"Madrigals is the highest choir at Clearfield. It has a reputation as a great choir and performs at a lot of events. This year they performed for the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve! I'm super excited to be able to sing a lot of challenging and beautiful music."

We have had the chance to watch her perform a few times.  This was back in 2008:

Congratulations to our beautiful and talented granddaughter!

First Field Trip!

 Sophie is in kindergarten, and she went on her first field trip on a school bus!

 They went to the Gateway Discovery Museum in Salt Lake City!

 It was fun!

A Sunny Day at the Park!

And it looks a little windy too, but of course this is in Kansas!

New and Different!

We always have a great time at our coastal retreat!  We have been going to this area since the 1970's.We love watching the ocean crashing on the rocks!

And walking along the bluffs!

But on this trip there were a few unique things:

1. Wildflowers in bloom!

2. The sheep which are moved daily at this time of year.  They are fun to find and to listen to.  

Sheep versus weedwhacker?  No contest!

3. We drove to the Point Arena lighthouse, the farthest place jutting out into the ocean so we could watch for whales.  We saw some!

(No pictures; we were too busy watching but I love this picture Dan took of the lighthouse. It could be a postcard!)

4. We walked on some new bluff trails at the farthest end of Sea Ranch and into Gualala Regional Park.

5. We rented a different house.

6. We met a couple when we drove to the Point Arena lighthouse.  Dan offered to take their picture.  We talked briefly.  They were staying at Sea Ranch as well.  Sea Ranch is 10 miles long.  But strangely enough, we ran into them 2 more times while out walking!

7. We watched General Conference there.  Here we are all dressed up for the Sunday sessions.

(Side note: On Saturday evening after watching conference in our jeans and T-shirts, Dan went and put on a white shirt and tie.  When he came out he said: For 53 years I have been attending the Priesthood session in a white shirt and tie and I'm not going to stop now!)

8. And of course the baby seals and wild animals which I already posted about!

Spring Carnival!

The Melanchuks had a 2-week Spring Break. On the last day, Kathryn had a Carnival. It was lots of fun!

We were each given 15 tickets to spend.

There was a water balloon toss:

A coloring contest: Get ready, get set...

...Go!

Even Nathaniel joined in!

And then some outside games including:

Coin Toss:

and Ball Roll:

There was a snack.  Michael thought it was yummy!

We had so much fun we did the coloring contest again!

Great time, Kathryn!