weekend things

 Ever since we adopted Milton, we just haven't been doing as much hiking in the Wasatch Front as we used to do.  Part of this is absolutely because you can't take dogs into Little Cottonwood Canyon or Big Cottonwood Canyon, so that reduces the hiking opportunities if we want to take him with us.  Part of it, however, is because Utah's population has exploded in the last few years and the trailheads are just crazy-crowded on the weekends.  Of course, we're part of the problem, having relocated here ourselves.  But we've been here twelve years and feel slightly superior to all the more recent relocatees. 

Dimple Dell sunflowers

When we don't go hiking, H likes to get out on his road bike and I like to take Milt on long, 3+ mile walks from our house.  A recent loop through Dimple Dell showed us that the sunflowers are flourishing - as are all the little songbirds who feed off the sunflower seeds.

Another thing that Milton likes to do (us too, of course), is go to bars so he can meet people.  H and I really just go for the beers.  Grid City finally has its dog-friendly roof deck - with terrific views of the Wasatch Front - staffed and open during the day on the weekends.  We took our boy up to check it out (he very much did not like the metal stairs but relaxed into baking himself in the sunshine once up there).  Our friends E and K met us there, bringing along two other friends, and we had a great afternoon drinking pale ales and stuffing our faces with bomb vegan bar food.  Milton decided that those scary stairs were worth it because four different people came over to pat him, plus the bartender brought him a bowl of water before we got our beers.

No dogs on the other side of those kegs tho'

We also stopped by E and K's house on the way home so (1) Milton could see all their dogs and (2) K could load us up with a bagful of gorgeous homegrown scotch bonnet peppers.  They're in the freezer now (you can freeze fleshy peppers like scotch bonnets) while I research hot sauce recipes.  H and I tried one and HOLY MOLY THOSE ARE CRAZY HOT.  The heat fades quickly but while it lasts WOW.

Equal parts beautiful and terrifying

On Sunday, we met up with Ted for a Round Valley MTB session.  It was a really nice morning, with good temperatures, blue skies and not much wind.  There weren't very many people out first thing either, which was delightful.  No photos - too busy enjoying the ride.