July 2016, Idaho-Utah-Georgia, Day 13-14

Ahhhh. Indoor plumbing and coffee pots, How do I love thee?  The Residence Inn in Idaho, Falls cures what ails ya. A slow morning contributed to why we didn’t make it to Salt Lake City in time for the Tabernacle Organ Concert. The other Bullingtons could hardly be consoled when they learned that the organ concert was not to be. (Where is a sarcasm font when you need it?) 

But, we did make it to SLC just in time to learn that the entire state is celebrating “Pioneer Day”. Yay! Celebrations are my favorite! It just so happened that the entire state of Utah (or at least the LDS part) was partaking in a big party that commemorated the day that Brigham Young and his Posse’ of Mormon Pioneers made their way into Salt Lake Valley in 1847 and declared in the style of Little Orphan Annie, "I think I’m gonna like it here!"  Bring on the lemonade! And, great things awaited the family Bullington! I discovered this lovely little museum that featured many examples of Pioneer life from yore and yesteryear. And, other unusual items worth mentioning...

Model of a sugar factory fashioned from what? You guessed it! Could I get this in  the style of Splenda? Trying to watch the waistline.

FANCY!

She has a name. It's Mary Todd.

This was a weird stork with a "Frozen Charlotte" doll inside. Frozen Charlottes are typically used to depict death, but it's inside a stork so that says birth to me.  Maybe this was part of Pioneer Health Class???

I'll bet Knute was a hoot with his musical broom! I'm sure it was easy to get swept up in his performances.....

Dang Hilda. Way to be a bad ass. 

I learned about one handicraft known as the  “Hair Wreath”.  Yes, caller.  I said hair wreath.  Among 4 levels of Mormon Pioneer artifacts, the odds were ever in my favor because I discovered this special token of the early pioneers. You see, the Mormon pioneers made wreaths, out of their hair or a loved one's hair, or a friend's hair.  It is actually pretty astonishing when you look at the wreaths because they don’t look like hairbrush harvest. They are lovely and intricate. But, made of human hair.  



The Pioneer museum was a vast collection of handiworks that are fading from our culture. Intricate lace, quilt making, stitch work, antique clothing, and furniture. Plus a hearty offering of things that were a little more “unusual”.  I could have spent a whole day, but Mr. Bullington would’ve rather poked a pin in his eye than endured much more antiquity. We headed to Temple Square and although we'd missed the Pioneer Day Parade, there were lots of folks out and about. It was 103 degrees, (Don't worry it's a dry heat, brrrr!) so the kids enjoyed the water features and I enjoyed wandering in and out of stores.   

Pioneer Chic!

Before we returned the rental car, we had to get our luggage in order.  We rolled into a parking garage outside the Walmarts.

                 

We’d bought some things that we didn’t have room to fly home so I started making it rain in the parking deck. “Excuse me sir, would you like a role of paper towels?”, “ I see you have two girls, could I interest you in a couple of pink camp chairs?” Space is in high demand and I am 28 license plates richer,  plus that potato Christmas ornament. After returning the rental car we settled into the airport for dinner and to await our 11:59 flight. Taking the red-eye. See you next year!

Before I close this installment, I wanted to answer a few questions. Folks always ask us how we plan these adventures. It takes a lot of research online (which anyone can do),  But, I wanted to recommend one resource that we used a lot for this last trip and will be really helpful if you are traveling to National Parks and navigating the lodging options. Here is a link:  http://ww2.valdosta.edu/~dlscott/Scott

The author of this book was also the professor who encouraged Mr. Bullington to work in a National Park for a summer as a college kid.  They’ve reconnected because of this trip and I would propose that the step that got him out of his comfort zone was what made him the man he is today. #thankyourteachers

See you next Summer when we take on Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas!