July

July was a quieter month for us - no traveling this month, so we've been able to catch our breath a bit.
I celebrated my birthday away from my family this year, but got calls or texts from everyone but Brad.  I thought.
The next morning I looked at my texts and there was one from him saying that there was still 26 minutes of my birthday left, so he was still a good son.

Indeed, and I am blessed.

We stayed home on the 4th.  Wayland had to work, and didn't feel like going out or anything - so we cooked up some good old American hamburgers and called it a night.  Didn't even stay up for the fireworks.

The 24th is a pretty big deal in Utah, but it's not a holiday here.  There was a little celebration down at the old Mormon fort, though, so we went down to check it out.  We arrived too late for the celebration (which included Pioneer games, etc.)  And the place was pretty well dead - but I think I enjoyed the tour more that way - we really dislike crowds.  Had the place pretty much to ourselves, which was great.

I didn't expect to find any family connections in this place - mine all come from Utah and Arizona, but lo and behold, one of the first names on the list of Mormons who were sent here was James T. Sanford Allred, who ties in to those Allreds who settled Spring City.  Don't that just beat all!
I've had some fun reading about the history of the area - the Mormon "occupation" was short lived, but still an important part of the beginnings of Las Vegas.
*Side note; the pioneers only lasted 2 years here, and we've made it 2 1/2, so we could leave any time now with honor.  Ha ha

 List of first residents in Las Vegas...  Allred tops the list.

 Wooden Barbie...

 Wayland relaxing in the shade...

 Flag that hung over the fort

 Only a small portion of the original fort still exists...  At one point, the government leased the fort, and used it for a headquarters during the building of the Hoover Dam.

 Ancient moving van...

 Honky tonk, Pioneer style...

The gate

 Ms Stewart - her husband purchased the ranch from the Mormons when they dissolved the mission, and turned it into a working ranch.  Mr. Stewart was killed a short time later, but his wife continued to work and expand the ranch on her own, making it a successful venture until she sold it to the railroad many years later
.

 A brief history...

Replica bower

All of the wards here strongly encouraged members to visit the fort this month, because it is a state owned park, and it hasn't been very successful lately, so there has been talk of removing the "Mormon" name from it and making it a wine tasting venue.  :(

Later that same evening, we had dinner and a pool party with some friends.  Nice way to spend a hot summer day.  :)

The rest of the month has been pretty uneventful - done a lot of reading, a little crafting, some scrapbooking, and a lot of laying around just surviving the heat.

2/3rds of the Summer is over, and so far, we have survived.

Yay!