A dutiful and Affectionate WIFE

Anticipating a busy summer...we decided a quick "stay-cation" in Southern Utah would be perfect for The Garlick Press.  

We rented this beautiful home using VRBO (Vacation Rental by Owner). I highly recommend this service. The home was gorgeous and supplied with all the necessities including a private pool and spa. The little people called it our Vacation House.

Southern Utah is filled with unique landscapes and history. 

Who could resist this remote ghost town complete with cemetery.

A Kind Mother. 

A dutiful and Affectionate WIFE. 

A Faithful Saint. 

Awaits A RESURRECTION With the Just.

That's going on my headstone...I don't care what my kids and husband say...

or maybe just "Cedar Pete."

The entire Berry family was killed in a raid. The raid was backlash from an attack by local militia. Life was hard in this Southern Utah community. Land, water, livestock, and agriculture all were critical for survival and the basis for life and death.

Grafton was first settled in 1861 and the Great Flood of 1862 washed the town site away. The town was then resettled on higher ground in 1862.

Although Grafton is a ghost town, its once-thriving community spirit lives on.

The original homes and structures have been restored and are well maintained and cared for.

While visiting...I envision a time when life was tenuous but also a time when residents were strengthened from religious faith and each other to survive.

It's not a bad view either.

Meet my little early settler Olivia...giving me her best "I'm starving and I need to go milk the cow" face.

This is her "I'm a princess and please may I have a gummy bear" face.

Henry fell asleep in the car and missed his twenty minutes of being an early settler.

Downtown Grafton...the school/church building on the left was built in 1886. The building was constructed from donated labor and material. The town folk used this building for many different events beside church and school. Plays and dances were held on weekends, with dances lasting sometimes until dawn. Sounds like the early Grafton residents knew how to work hard AND play hard.

When settlers arrived in Grafton, the valley was a meadow of tall grass with plenty of feed for livestock. You can just imagine how it must have looked.

While it appears that only the physical remnants of Grafton remain, the spirit of the town lives on.

Why did it become a ghost town? Most likely...many reasons. Water...too much or too little of it, depending on the year. And the little town was quite remote from the bigger communities and facilities. Few ghost towns like Grafton still exist. It was fun stepping back in history for a few minutes, imagining what life must have been like for those early brave souls. In some respects...Grafton's fellowship, camaraderie, love and support sounds appealing doesn't it? Ah...but I'd miss the McDonald's drive-thru!

The following day while the boys went mountain biking, Cass found us every child's dream...a giant sand box in this gorgeous setting!

We played...

and rolled...

and dug our toes in this fine, orange sand!


Dione even showed us her mad yoga skills!

These dunes are located just inside Snow Canyon...you can't miss them, first giant sand pile on the left.

Henry made us cookies and Olivia kept messing with them, which prompted a riot. Then Henry decided the sand cookies were good enough to eat. I nearly gagged hearing the grit between his teeth.

What's more fun than being buried in the sand...

having your Auntie Didi do it for you, of course!

Next time you visit Southern Utah...bring your sand pails and your shovels and come play in this orange playground.

Perhaps even visit the Grafton ghost town and cemetery...where you might discover your very own epitaph.