Lion Door Knocker

As I frequently observe, life is really in the details. I noticed this ornate door knocker while I was walking down a narrow street in Segovia, Spain. Our homes in the United States seldom have door knockers in the age of electric doorbells. I have knocked on a lot of doors in my life and I appreciate someone who invites a visit with a door knocker instead of an electronic security system.

A Glimpse at the Construction

We spent quite a bit of time walking around Segovia, Spain. Some of the buildings date back thousands of years to the Romans and even to the Celtic population before the Romans. The entire city is a World Heritage Site. I was fascinated by the glimpses we got into the history of how these very old buildings were constructed.

The Stillness of Winter

We live in a world of images. Perhaps it is a good time to go outside and take a look at what surrounds us. Granted, I live in a city that is a few steps away from near-wilderness. In between the wilderness and the city, I find places where the two meet in beautiful ways. We often find people taking sides for and against development. Since I live so close to a thick forest and a few more steps from a busy street, I can enjoy both worlds without constantly worrying about the intrusion of civilization.

Christmas in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, Salt Lake City, Utah

On our annual visit to see the Christmas lights on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, we warm-up for a few minutes by cutting through the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (formerly the Hotel Utah). We don't usually spend much time in one spot and so our time inside is limited to a quick view. At the time of this post, we are getting into January of the new year and Christmas memories are fading away with the reality of a return to our more normal busier times. Maybe, we will pause a little longer the next time we visit?

Walking by Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah

Thousands of people visit the downtown area of Salt Lake City, Utah to see the gorgeous display of lights on Temple Square and the surrounding area. This is a photo of what used to be Main Street and is now a walkway between the Church Plaza and Temple Square. The large building on the left is the former Hotel Utah, now the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. This is part of the area of Temple Square that includes the Salt Lake Temple that will be renovated during the next four years. See https://www.templesquare.com/blog/salt-lake-temple-renovation-announcement/

Christmas Lights at the Salt Lake Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah

We loved our recent visit to see the Christmas Lights on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. Since we live about 45 minutes south of Salt Lake, it is a trip. We like taking the FrontRunner train so we don't have to worry about parking, but most of the time we drive. This was a beautiful night with rather warm temperatures for December.

Lion Sculpture on the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City, Utah

This is a sculpture design that is repeated on the ground floor outside walls of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City, Utah. The photo was taken at night with the available light with my iPhone 11 Pro Max camera. There was no direct light on the sculpture and it was quite dark at the time.