Utah trip - last

 One of the many fun things I did whilst in Utah was have lunch with my college illustration professors.

 My sister and her husband also both went through the illustration program at BYU with these guys, so we all  got together for good food and even better conversation.

 (me with the fabulous Richard Hull and inimitable Robert Barrett). These guys are both still teaching and painting and are still inspiringly enthusiastic about art and illustration.

 As always, it was also lovely spending time in my mother's garden -

(some of my darling nieces and nephews)

Good friends, lots of family, plenty of art. Great trip.

Utah Trip - Shakespeare Festival!

 We spent several days down in Cedar City at the Shakespeare Festival.

 In addition to the plays, there are lectures, play-orientations, exhibits....

 ...as well as a very fun gift store.

The performances were great. Rep-theater. :-) 

 A highlight every evening before the various plays was the 'Greenshow' in the outdoor theater.

 Live performers...

 Elizabethan-esque foodstuffs...

 Artisans...

 And the main performers...

 Dancing on-stage, and off (with audience participation :-).

..

(watching them dance with the kids was the best. :-)

Utah trip - on the road to Southern Utah

We drove several hours down to Cedar City for the Shakespeare Festival - but found things of interest on the way -

At a gas station/rest stop in the middle of no-where, we were surprised by a peacock in the parking lot.. What? Why...?

Turns out there was a petting zoo on the property (who knew?) - full of a nice selection of animals from the exotic -

(baby llamas!)

- to the domestic (baby sheeps and pygmy goats :-)

The peacock was pecking at car tires and even stalking my son. Keeps life interesting. :-)

Closer in is the Parowan Gap -

A rocky out-cropping in the middle of endless looking flat lands...

It's most striking feature is its coterie of ancient petroglyphs..

It's amazing what can be found, even in the middle of seemingly emptiness....

(Sister, the faery-nieces and the son).

Utah Trip - Museums (3)

We also spent a lovely afternoon at the fabulous Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point -

Apparently, it is the world's largest hand's-on, dinosaur exhibit in the world!

Loads of gorgeously fabulous fossils -

Lots of interactive aspects -

And so so many bones! (isn't this a darling skull?)

They have over 60 dynamic complete skeletons -

(Dire wolf skull!)

Cutest pre-historic alligator predecessors ever!

(Many of the complete skeletons were posed in dramatic tableaus.)

Fun, fun day. :-)