Grape Hyacinths are some of the earliest flowers to bloom in the Spring, often even before all the snow has melted. We have quite a few in our front yard but ours are usually eaten by the deer that live around us long before they bloom. Despite the annual persecution by the deer, the plants continue to come up and try hard to bloom every year.
Every once in a while, someone in my family bakes a stupendous birthday cake. This particular cake tasted as good as it looks. This was for a grandson's birthday.
Desert rose is the colloquial name given to rose-like formations of gypsum or baryte crystal clusters which contain abundant grains of sand. The ‘petals’ are crystals flattened on the c crystallographic axis, fanning open in radiating flattened crystal clusters.
The rosette crystal habit tends to occur when the crystals form under arid sandy conditions, such as a shallow salt basin becoming evaporated. The crystals form a circular series of flat plates that give the rock a similar shape to a rose blossom.
This is a closeup of one of the specimens that we have in our living room. This is a gypsum mineral with sand.
A lovely birthday cake with colorful candles. If you look closely, you can also see the chocolate covered strawberries.
Looking east out the window at the front of the Brigham Young University Museum of Art, you get your own artwork with the hanging mobile and the mountains at sunset. I like to take photos out of windows because it automatically frames the subject and gives you an interesting viewpoint.
On Saturday, May 12, 2012, ground was broken for the Provo City Center Temple in a ceremony presided by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve. "What an absolute stunning site!" said Elder Holland. He confessed to being deeply touched by the occasion. "You can tell people Elder Holland was downright giddy today about the temple groundbreaking." After the Provo Tabernacle was tragically lost to fire, Church leaders contemplated the future of the building's empty shell and spires, and a decision was reached. "It is inspired to build a temple out of the ashes of the tabernacle," said Elder Holland. Having two temples within miles of each other is a "tribute to you that the Brethren would approve another temple here. That says very much about you."
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, "Ground Broken for Provo, Utah's Second Temple," 12 May 2012.
