Mostly about Utah
I thought it would never snow but overnight we got several inches in Kaysville. Out came the snowman builders to construct a giant snowman. Just build him like a regular snowman but bigger. You may need some help to hoist his head so pay attention to the photographs that follow.
1. Pass the snow
2. Compact the snow
3. Lift his head
4. Secure his head
5. Use a step ladder
6. Give him a mouth
The engineers. Dan, Rachel, and Jake
Later in the day our snowman got a nose but lost his buttons.
Kaysville 14th ward members turned out in force to clean up
After Thursday’s windstorm, most residents have not had time to completely clean up.
In preparation, our stake president instructed wards to have their priesthood organize to remove branches and other debris that could become airborne in the approaching high winds. Accordingly, in our ward at church this morning the priesthood were asked to assemble in work clothes at 1pm. There was no asking for volunteers, it was just assumed that all able-bodied men would respond — which we did.
We collected all the green waste and took it to the Central Davis Sewer District where it will be converted to ground wood waste and mixed with biosolids, then composted and sold to the general public. It was quite the operation (follow the link for photographs), with armadas of pickups and trailers.
There were large tree trunks to deal with as well as branches
Chains saws were the weapon of choice
Sister Blair handed out hot chocolate
With the power still off it was a good time to clear away the branches that were stressing the power lines
Dan did most of the work under my skilled supervision
Sarah's ward had an efficient operation in progress
Ever wondered what was inside those Mormon steeples? Nothing, at least now there isn't
Mmm, I was wondering where that chair of ours ended up
The high wind warning was cancelled but some gusts did hit 40 miles per hour.
Working on the roof Saturday with my four sons
Steven with his roof, good as new. The new shingles don't quite match but they will keep the rain out
A common sight all day along Highway 89
Notice the truck on the left carrying what looks like power cables, no doubt needed for repairs
Several trucks headed for the Green Waste Recycling Facility
As we headed towards the landfill there was a convoy of vehicles leaving, having shed their loads
A long line at the landfill entrance
Our power was out from 8am until 2am the next morning. Luckily the temperature was in the low 30s during the day and low 20s at night. We have experienced other East winds when it was below zero. I spent much of the day [Thursday] on my ham radio with emergency responders in the area, sharing information and keeping up to date on what was happening.
It was a good opportunity to test out emergency preparedness plans / equipment. Serious enough to warrant their use, but not life threatening. The Davis County Amateur Radio Emergency Service was the main communication system for cities, police departments, hospitals and other emergency responders. These are hobbyists volunteering their equipment and skills and they did a fantastic job. At one point one of the Centerville Emergency Communications Center responders was heard on the radio saying:
A big spruce fell on a neighbor’s house about 20 minutes ago. The whole neighborhood is there cutting it up right now. I love this community. In some places in this country, we would still be waiting for FEMA!
Connie surveying the damage in Bountiful
A dead tree in the cemetery
This tree was snapped off at the truck
We needed an Armada to move everything out
Jake and Rachel got the keys to their new house yesterday. Today we moved them out of their rented duplex and into their first home. A lot of family members turned out to help them move and I captured the historic moment for Rickety.
When it comes to moving, minivans can hold their own
There was a moment when Dan slowed to a crawl
Bryson, future Elders Quorum material
Sold to Jake and Rachel. The sign comes with a house
Jake and Rachel are moving in. There goes the neighborhood
Moving in. Honey, I need more furniture!
Play for me, "Be it ever so huge, there's no place like home."
Jake and Rachel have been married less than a year so this still counts as carrying his bride over the threshold
Spiral Jetty seen from the shore
Last November Paul and I visited Spiral Jetty at Rozel Point. Then the Jetty was several hundred feet away from the waters of the Great Salt Lake. Yesterday Paul revisited Spiral Jetty, accompanied by Megan, with Julie and Dan. They found the Jetty almost submerged. Compare the photographs of the Jetty from November of last year with the ones that are published here.
Daniel standing on the outer spiral of the Jetty
The graph below shows a year of daily readings up until Paul’s visit yesterday. The water level has risen over a foot from the same day last year and nearly three feet from our last visit in November. NGVD 29 is the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 and is a hybrid model closely representing the mean sea level. Note that the equipment malfunctioned near the low readings and appears to have taken at least two weeks to repair.
Readings from 14 May 2010 to 14 May 2011
The historical average level of Great Salt Lake is 4,200 feet. Spiral Jetty is only visible when the level of Great Salt Lake drops below 4,197.8 feet. The maximum elevation of the lake was 4,211.6 feet, seen in 1986 and 1987. The minimum elevation was in 1963 at 4,191.35 feet.
Megan stands at the center of Spiral Jetty
Great Salt Lake is the largest U.S. lake west of the Mississippi River and the 4th largest terminal lake (no outlet) in the world. It is about 75 miles long and 28 miles wide, and covers 1,700 square miles with a maximum depth of about 35 feet. A remnant of Lake Bonneville, a prehistoric freshwater lake that was 10 times larger than Great Salt Lake. It is typically three to five times saltier than the ocean.
Spiral Jetty is almost submerged
Paul reports that the rough trail to Spiral Jetty has been graded and resurfaced and is now a smooth drive. A parking lot has been built near the Jetty. I suspect that those who do not visit the Spiral Jetty soon will have nothing to see for perhaps another three decades.
This may be the last you will see of Spiral Jetty for a time
Now that Daniel is back from his mission he can concentrate on his schooling and maybe the odd girlfriend. His latest date, Krystal, was somewhat cold and a little flaky but she didn’t talk much so that was a positive. She has no heart for studying but did try a semester at Snow College.
Krystal likes ice skating, snow cones, and being outdoors. Her favorite movies are The Day After Tomorrow, Snow White, and Cold Mountain. I think she likes Daniel because she literally melted in his arms. Daniel’s brother said not to let this one slip away.
Krystal under construction
What do you think of Krystal?
Today in the Past Pictures series I also have moving pictures. In 2007 Daniel ran for Student Body Officer at Davis High School. This is his campaign video which was a big factor in his being elected. If you do not see the video in your feed reader, try here. The inside of Davis High was awash in campaign posters (3.4 Mb image). Dan’s poster is on the railing, 16th from the left.
Elected with Daniel was Danny Anderson, Alex Gerrish, Steve Pitcher, Jon Rose, Mitch Steed, and Cam Turnbow. Notice that these are all young men. The theory goes that the Sophomore girls are the major voting block and so one should produce your campaign video to appeal to them. You also might want a great campaign manager like Daniel had in his older brother Paul.
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Past Pictures: Who’s The Dame?
Past Pictures: Hill Aerospace Museum
Past Pictures: Temple Site
Past Pictures: A Double Blessing
Past Pictures: My Parents
Past Pictures: Richard At Eight
Today Daniel was ordained an elder. This was done by those with priesthood authority to lay their hands on his head and receive this ordinance. Present and pictured in the photograph are (left to right, top to bottom) Derek, Paul, Steven, Brian, Sarah, Jill, Rick (Rickety), and Daniel. Brian is a Stake High Counselor and a dear friend who was present as the Stake representative. I was voice for the ordinance. To have the authority to perform this act of laying on of hands, male members of the Church must receive this authority by the laying on of hands from a priesthood holder who has the proper authority. This has been passed down in the Church from the Apostles Peter, James and John, who received their authority from Christ. These Apostles then visited Joseph Smith as angelic messengers and gave him the proper priesthood authority. From Joseph Smith the priesthood has been passed down in an unbroken line from Christ. Having the authority of the priesthood is different from having the power to use that priesthood:
All of us who hold the priesthood have the authority to act for the Lord, but the effectiveness of our authority—or if you please, the power that comes through that authority—depends on the pattern of our lives; it depends on our righteousness (H. Burke Peterson, “Priesthood—Authority and Power,” Ensign, May 1976, 32).
Daniel has now transitioned from the Aaronic priesthood to the Melchizedek priesthood as he continues his preparation for his mission to Mongolia. The only sad thing in all of this is that there are now no Aaronic priesthood in the house to boss around.
Daniel received his Davis High School diploma on Friday 30th May 2008. The family was there to celebrate the day.
