Reflecting Pool Nativity

Half of Temple Square of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be closed due to a major renovation of the Salt Lake Temple and some of the surrounding buildings. There will also be a major renovation of the large plaza to the east of the Temple in front of the Church Office Building. The plans for the renovation show the reflecting pool in the same location, so this display may appear again as soon as the renovation is complete. See https://www.templesquare.com/blog/salt-lake-temple-renovation-announcement/

Last walk around the Salt Lake Temple for four years

You can walk around the iconic Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah, right next to the walls and doors. However, entry to the Temple is limited to qualified members of the Church. Two things are going to happen to change both of those experiences. First, the Salt Lake Temple will be the subject of a huge renovation project starting on December 30th, 2019 that will close the Temple for four years. But then, there will be an open house where everyone who wants to attend will be able to tour the newly renovated Temple for a specific period of time before the Temple is re-dedicated and access is once again restricted to the qualified members of the Church. You will need to watch the Church's websites for information. Here are some of the sites to watch.

• Temple Square
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Newsroom of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Temple Square Blog

Temple Square Renovation, Salt Lake City, Utah

This is another area just north of the Salt Lake City Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that will undergo major changes in the coming four years of renovation. This area will have an entryway and two entry pavilions. See "Salt Lake Temple Renovation – What to Expect."

Salt Lake Temple Entry and Assembly Building

One of the major changes to Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah will be the removal of the two buildings shown above. Here is an explanation of these changes from TempleSquare.com, "Salt Lake Temple Renovation – What to Expect."

Other significant changes to the Temple include the removal of the current temple entry with two new temple entry pavilions and guest waiting areas to be built on the north side of the temple. The formal temple entry or recommend desk will have large skylights above it to provide natural light and a beautiful view of the outside temple above. A new guest access underground tunnel will be built under North Temple Street for temple patrons coming from the Conference Center parking area. The temple will also gain the ability to serve members in more than 86 different languages.

By the way, the above photo was taken with an Apple iPhone 11 Pro using the night vision feature. The actual lighting conditions were very dark and there was very little ambient light. Amazing technology. 

Wintery Weather at Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah

Our recent visit to Temple Square was warmer than in past years and there was no snow. Fully half of the site will be under construction at the end of 2019. However, during construction, there will still be tours and a view of the construction from the Conference Center. You can see renderings of the changes here: "New Renderings Released for Salt Lake Temple Renovation."

A Last look for a while at how Temple Square looks now

There are only a few days left before the Salt Lake Temple closes for about four years for extensive renovation. But more than just the Temple will be renovated. The construction extends to the entire eastern half of Temple Square. We went by the FrontRunner train to Salt Lake to spend an evening viewing all the sights before the changes begin on December 30, 2019. See "Plans Unveiled for Salt Lake Temple Renovation."

We walked around the Temple and talked about all the upcoming changes. Quoting from the above article,

“This project will enhance, refresh, and beautify the temple and its surrounding grounds,” said President Nelson. “Obsolete systems within the building will be replaced. Safety and seismic concerns will be addressed. Accessibility will be enhanced so that members with limited mobility can be better accommodated.” 

The surrounding area on Temple Square and the plaza near the Church Office Building will also be affected as existing buildings are demolished and the area undergoes renovation and restoration. The existing annex and temple addition on the north side, which were built in the 1960s to add needed support facilities and more sealing (marriage) rooms, will be demolished and rebuilt.

Wild Turkeys in South Fork Canyon

These are wild turkeys or Meleagris gallopavo. There are two subspecies in Utah; the Rio Grande and the Merriam's. These are likely the Rio Grande subspecies because they were photographed in the South Fork of the Provo River Canyon. The day this photo was taken we saw two large flocks of turkeys with over 50 individual birds. Here is a description of the Rio Grande turkey from Wikipedia: Wild turkeys.

The Rio Grande wild turkey ranges through Texas to Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado, Oregon, Utah, and was introduced to central and western California, as well as parts of a few northeastern states. It was also introduced to Hawaiʻi in the late 1950s. Population estimates for this subspecies are around 1,000,000. This subspecies, native to the central plain states, was first described in 1879, and has relatively long legs, better adapted to a prairie habitat. Its body feathers often have a green-coppery sheen. The tips of the tail and lower back feathers are a buff-to-very light tan color. Its habitats are brush areas next to streams, rivers or mesquite, pine and scrub oak forests. The Rio Grande turkey is gregarious.

South Fork Canyon, Wasatch Mountains, Utah

You can see how the orientation and exposure of the sides of the hills determine the amount of snow that stays when the weather warms up. This was a beautiful day hiking up above South Fork Canyon in the Wasatch Mountains near Provo, Utah. The South Fork is a tributary of the Provo River and originates at Big Springs near the head of the canyon. We enjoyed the hike while some of our grandchildren sped down the hills on sleds along the snow covered roads.

Seed Drill in Winter

It is not uncommon to find abandoned farm equipment scattered across the southwestern part of the United States. Utah seems to have its share. This old seed drill was horse-drawn and could have been manufactured by Massey Harris in the late 1800s. Some of these old farm implements end up in museums but others, like this one, are left in the fields to rust away.

Behind the Facade

This image illustrates that once you strip away the tile covering or facade, you just might find that the old building construction was not always done by master craftsmen. Another thing to note is that the electrical wiring for the building is on the outside of the stone and construction debris-filled wall. This type of construction was not uncommon and is not uncommon today. There are probably a lot of lessons you could draw from this photo.

Early Construction

We live in a city where the oldest buildings were constructed in the 1850s and very few, if any of them, are left standing. The oldest building in Provo is located in the town's Pioneer Village and was built in 1854 and moved to its present location in 2013. It is quite novel to look at buildings that have a date such as 1571 on them. Although the Cathedral in Segovia wasn't completed until 1577, parts of the building date back to 1525.

Juxtaposition

Looking upward has its advantages. However, in this case, there was no expansive view but merely a narrow glimpse of the impressive architecture of the church. This is the main cathedral in Segovia, Spain from a side street. The view from here only begins to unfold and expand as you walk out into one of the main plaza, but this restricted view helps to focus your attention on the ornate decorations surround the main portion of the cathedral and the view from the plaza right around the corner from this street.

Nativity

LUKE

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the binn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a better New Year.

Walking in Segovia, Spain

I spend a lot of time walking, especially now since that is about what is left of my exercise opportunities. Here is an excellent example of the views I see while walking. I know this blog is called "Walking Arizona" but my horizons continue to expand and who knows where I will be walking next?

Let Them Eat Cake

Despite what you may have heard in a history class, "Did Marie-Antoinette really say “Let them eat cake”?" This quote from History.com explains that it is very unlikely that Marie-Antoinette said anything like that:

It’s one of the most famous quotes in history. At some point around 1789, when being told that her French subjects had no bread, Marie-Antoinette (bride of France’s King Louis XVI) supposedly sniffed, “Qu’ils mangent de la brioche”—“Let them eat cake.” With that callous remark, the queen became a hated symbol of the decadent monarchy and fueled the revolution that would cause her to (literally) lose her head several years later. But did Marie-Antoinette really say those infuriating words? Not according to historians. Lady Antonia Fraser, author of a biography of the French queen, believes the quote would have been highly uncharacteristic of Marie-Antoinette, an intelligent woman who donated generously to charitable causes and, despite her own undeniably lavish lifestyle, displayed sensitivity towards the poor population of France. 

That aside, what’s even more convincing is the fact that the “Let them eat cake” story had been floating around for years before 1789. It was first told in a slightly different form about Marie-Thérèse, the Spanish princess who married King Louis XIV in 1660. She allegedly suggested that the French people eat “la croûte de pâté” (or the crust of the pâté). Over the next century, several other 18th-century royals were also blamed for the remark, including two aunts of Louis XVI. Most famously, the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau included the pâté story in his “Confessions” in 1766, attributing the words to “a great princess” (probably Marie-Thérèse). Whoever uttered those unforgettable words, it was almost certainly not Marie-Antoinette, who at the time Rousseau was writing was only 10 years old—three years away from marrying the French prince and eight years from becoming queen.

The Narrows of Segovia

Before the Industrial Revolution, there was no real need to waste much of a city's area on streets and roads. In the culture that was derived from the Roman Empire, gardens and open spaces were limited. Wood was relatively expensive and cement and tile were cheap. The streets are paved with "setts" usually made of granite and usually packed in sand. Setts are often confused with "cobblestones." The difference is that a sett is a quarried stone of a specific shape and cobblestone is a naturally rounded stone of a uniform size. The sett blocks are called sampietrini in Latin derived countries. The edges of the streets and roads made of setts are usually larger granite blocks called "kerbs." In American English we call our cement relatives "curbs." But the original kerbs were not always raised. If you look closely at the image above, you can see larger stones set in a line down the middle of the street. If you were standing on this street, you would also notice that the street is built so that water runs to the middle of the street.

Ginger Root

Just in case you don't know, here is a short description of ginger root from Wikipedia: Ginger.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or ginger, is widely used as a spice and a folk medicine. It is a herbaceous perennial which grows annual pseudostems (false stems made of the rolled bases of leaves) about one meter tall bearing narrow leaf blades. The inflorescences bear pale yellow with purple flowers and arise directly from the rhizome on separate shoots. 

Ginger is in the family Zingiberaceae, which also includes turmeric (Curcuma longa), cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum), and galangal. Ginger originated in Island Southeast Asia and was likely domesticated first by the Austronesian peoples. It was transported with them throughout the Indo-Pacific during the Austronesian expansion (c. 5,000 BP), reaching as far as Hawaii. Ginger is one of the first spices to have been exported from Asia, arriving in Europe with the spice trade, and was used by ancient Greeks and Romans. The distantly related dicots in the genus Asarum are commonly called wild ginger because of their similar taste.

The older I get, the more I like spices and spicy food. 

Grass Smashed

Abundant rainfall along the edge of the Wasatch Front produced quite a crop of grass. When the snow came, it smashed the grass into patterns on the ground. Throw in a few rocks, sticks, and other plants and you have a detailed image of the late Fall.

Broccoli

Broccoli is not some people's favorite vegetable. However, I would put it right near the top of my list. I especially like it raw with a dip but I will eat it just about any way it is cooked. I have a very hard time understanding people who like sugary foods over vegetables. I do like cookies, cake, and ice cream but if I am hungry, I will prefer vegetables over sweets almost any day. The only candy I really like is chocolate. 

Icing

We sometimes speak of the "icing on the cake" when referring to something extra special that happens in addition to an already special occasion or event. I think the icing on the cake is special just as it is. In this case, this is seven-minute icing from an old recipe. Some might call it seven-minute frosting. There are dozens of recipes for it online.

The Birthday Cake

I thought I would try a special effect from the camera on my iPhone 11 Pro. I took a Portrait photo of a birthday cake. The only issue is the slight inclusion of the background in the area of the candles. Otherwise, it is a very interesting photo. By the way, the cake was delicious.

Even the Manhole Covers

It is interesting that many of the details of life that surround us go mostly unnoticed. While walking along the sidewalk in Segovia, Spain, I was impressed by the design of these lowly manhole covers. They seem to follow an admonition passed down to me from my Grandfather that I never knew in person, that anything worth doing is worth doing right. Why not make manhole covers look nice?

Orate Door in Segovia, Spain

Doors are ambivalent. They invite and repel at the same time. Here is a quote about the ambiguity of doors.

“The man who comes back through the Door in the Wall will never be quite the same as the man who went out. He will be wiser but less sure, happier but less self-satisfied, humbler in acknowledging his ignorance yet better equipped to understand the relationship of words to things, of systematic reasoning to the unfathomable mystery which it tries, forever vainly, to comprehend”
― Huxley, Aldous. 1954. The doors of perception. London: Chatto and Windus.

Here is another quote attributed to Emerson:

Be an opener of doors to those who come after you, and don't try to make the Universe a blind alley.

The complete works of Ralph Waldo Emerson: Lectures and biographical sketches [Vol. 10]
Emerson, Ralph Waldo, 1803-1882., Emerson, Edward Waldo, 1844-1930, Page 553.

Windows and Walls Patterns and Design

While walking the streets of Segovia, Spain, we saw a huge variety of designs and patterns. This pattern and the window design are sometimes labeled "Moorish" but these particular designs are more gothic than Moorish.  Because this was found in Spain, it is possible that there is a little of both.

Chorizos

My introduction to chorizos was in Argentina. With some traditional foods, it is better to eat without too much inquiry into the origin. Here are some brief descriptions of the two kinds of Spanish chorizos above.

This homemade "chorizo is made with minced meat and pork fat, seasoned with paprika and garlic, all stuffed in natural casings. The red color so characteristic of chorizo ​​is given by paprika. This characteristic is what differentiates Spanish chorizo ​​from other sausages and sausages from other places. The chorizo is stuffed in pork gut, either from the small intestine or from the large intestine (cular), in our time edible skins of non-animal origin are used." See https://www.jamonarium.com/es/cms/33/chorizo-embutido-tradicional-ingredientes-elaboracion-tipos

Chorizo de Cantimpalos PGI. A cured sausage product made from fresh fatty pork, with salt and pimentón (a type of Spanish paprika) as basic ingredients, to which garlic and oregano may also be added, and subjected to a drying and maturing process. It may be presented in thick or thin slices. See https://www.foodswinesfromspain.com/spanishfoodwine/global/food/products/product-detail/PRG2017732663.html

I actually like both kinds of chorizos. 

Amsterdam Canal

With over 19 million tourists and only 850,000 residents, Amsterdam is constantly busy. On average, there are an additional 52,000 people out in the streets and seeing the sights every day of the year. Tourists are both a blessing and a curse. In the next few years, the number of tourists is expected to increase to over 29 million a year. Obviously, with this huge influx, the facilities of the city are spread thin. On the other hand, many of the residents benefit from the influx of tourists. I lived in Mesa, Arizona for many years and there the increase in "snowbirds" was estimated at about 300,000 as compared to the number of full-time residents of just over 500,000. Many of the local businesses focused only on the winter visitors and tourists.

A Very Old Door

A door is both an invitation and a warning. This very old door is in Segovia, Spain. The building is called The House of the Peaks because of the stone carvings on the walls. Here is an old photo of the same building with the door.

Here is a very short history of the building from the Segovia Escuela de Arte y Superior de Diseño.

Towards the last third of the fifteenth century, the Regidor D. Juan de la Hoz, carves out this typical Segovian house "having this façade built in which from the plinth to the ledge, except for the gaps, only ashlars carved in diamond point enter Thus, this ornament does not appear sown here and there by the façade as in that of the Salmantine shells, but rather covers it all, lending it a character of rudeness and medieval sullenness . "
Throughout its history, the building has passed through various owners, both public and private, and in the 1970s it was transferred to the Ministry of Education and Science that rehabilitated and adapted it to install a School of Applied Arts in it, beginning to operate in 1977 .

A very interesting building. Here is another photo showing the carved wall.

Spanish Tile Roofs

I grew up with Spanish tile roofs in Arizona. But if you look closely, you will see a major difference in the construction in Segovia, Spain. The tiles are laid curve up instead of curve down as they uniformly are in Arizona. I can't guess which method is better. It seems like curve down would help remove rainwater more efficiently. It is the differences in the details that make traveling around interesting. This is the Iglesia de San Millán in Segovia, Spain.

Snow in Utah Valley

The amount of snow that falls in any given area is generally related to the altitude above sea level, the general level of precipitation, and the latitude of the location. Utah Valley gets an average of 17 inches of rain a year and also averages 46 inches of snow. Of course, the valley gets less snow than the surrounding mountains. Just a few miles east of Provo (shown in the photo) the Sundance Ski Resort gets an average of 113 inches of snow a year. We live within a few dozen feet of the highest homes in Utah Valley and the elevation of our home is about 5000 feet above sea level. The elevation of the valley floor is about 4700 feet above sea level. For comparison, the base elevation of Sundance Ski Resort is 6,100 feet. We live right next to the slope of the bench and our home is almost completely shaded during the winter months so the snow seldom melts after the first major snowfall.

First Heavy Snow

Living in the mountains is far different than living in the desert. This year, the weather was warm right into November and then suddenly, the weather changed and we had a huge snowstorm. Some of the trees have yet to lose all their leaves. The wintery view is beautiful but it is hard with ice on roads and walkways. I like the contrast.

Winter at the Mouth of Rock Canyon, Utah

After a big storm in late November, we had the first snow that was likely to stay for a while. A week of cloudy skies was followed by a stunningly beautiful day of sunshine. It is hard to tell, but there are either four deer or four mountain goats on the hillside. Unfortunately, they are so far away, the photo does not have the resolution to show exactly what they are. This photo and many of my most recent ones have been shot using my iPhone 11 Pro. The resolution is adequate, but the color is very nice.