Day 3 in Utah!

This was my view for Breakfast yesterday... heaven! This was at Ruth's Diner which is down in a canyon about 25 minutes away from downtown Salt Lake City! Now, if the view isn't enough, the food is delicious, and the service is fast and friendly. If you ever have the opportunity, go check it out!

Then on our way back to the hotel, I saw a sign for the Red Butte Gardens and wanted to go check it out. I knew they held concerts in an outdoor auditorium and thought it would be cool to check it out. Well, we found the gardens and arboretum and it is FANTASTIC!! We ended up spending 3 hours there. You may not know this, but one of my other passions is nature. LOVE it, can't get enough of it! There is a reason we live in the sticks, lol!
So this is just one of the dozens of little hidey-holes they have tucked into the gardens. Wonderful mixture of  cultivated, exotic, native, and wild areas throughout the gardens. The recommended path through it is about 1 mile and you can walk it or take a tram tour. Of course we walked it and went down all of the little side trails. At one point we were literally off the grounds and in the wilderness. Ironically if you take away the mountains, the vegetation was very similar to what we have in our backyard! Minus the mosquitos of course! I can't believe the lack of annoying insects! Now I understand a little better why out of state people go on so much about the pests. They just don't have them!

This is another of the wonderful little water gardens, so peaceful! Apparently arriving just after 9:00 am is a great time if you want the place mostly to yourself!

And this is under the plant roofed area...fantastic view of the city with the mountains in the background. I took 240 pictures in this place. It is really hard for me to chose just a few!

Ok, now this is for Holly (catrules). She says I should use this as my avatar. I don't think so. It does show me in my natural state...talking...but the hair! And the dazed look in my eyes!! OMG! I look like I just came off a bender!!! And I am so not a drinker, lol!

 

And with the hubby :) 

OK, last one of the gardens, for now... heavenly! 

We left the gardens at about 12:30 and then I needed to get my butt over to the convention center and get my bag and stamps and hit Momento Mall! Cute stuff this year! I didn't have time to take any pictures of those yet, because I had the Stampin Addicts Meet & Greet at 2:30. And I left my extra camera battery in the room, so I didn't get many more pictures in before it died...  I promise I will have some more good ones of actual convention tomorrow!!We had such a great time, and talked and laughed! I ended up walking back to the convention center with Holly and hanging with the SA gals at the Kick Off party, and sweet Trina gave me a ride back tot he hotel. Everyone was pretty pooped by then :) Now, I need to get my butt in gear again and get ready to hit the Main Floor!!! Later everybody!