@Orange Star — it's always fresh!

Today, after running all over town, I was ready for some refreshment. I had ice cream on my mind and when I stepped into Orange Star (just 1 mile from the entrance of Zion National Park). After a quick look at the menu I could see they offer more than just Frozen Yogurt. They also have a nice selection of made-to-order sub sandwiches, smoothies with fresh fruit and blended-in extras, and of course their famous fresh-squeezed orange juice.

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What do I want, I asked myself. I saw they had shakes for $5.00. Perfect, I said to myself. "I take a shake!" Then the girl behind the counter looked up at the menu and asked me what kind of shake I would like... as my eyes followed her eyes, I could see a list of seven or more choices. "I want chocolate...Angle's Landing" I said after a few uncomfortable seconds. Then I heard my selection repeated back to me in the form of a question. Just to confirm I added, "Yes, that sounds good." In a few moments, I found out just how good it was. The feeling lasted for hours--in fact, as I sit here typing up this blog entry, I can still feel the cooling sensation of that wonderful refreshment in my throat. Angle's Landing is the perfect name for a perfect shake!

Orange Star on Urbanspoon

Next door you will find Zion Cycles. Full service bike shop. Stop in for trail info & directions, repairs, logowear, clothing, parts & accessories. Large selection of everything.

The Scarf Mural @The Park House Cafe

Yesterday, I did a search on CraigsList for "Springdale"
and I found this posted under "Rants & Raves"

I think its time to rave about something here in craigslist. I discovered the most amazing place to have breakfast and coffee. Its The Park House Cafe in Springdale (Zion) The service and food is the best I have had any where in southern utah. The view of Zion is awesome. The waitresses are very nice and make you feel right at home. Plus they are some of the prettiest women around! So if you want a great place to eat with great views out side and even better ones inside take your wife or girl friend or just your self to The Park House Cafe!! Awesome Awesome place to eat!!

After stopping by for breakfast today, I would have to agree on all points. I had the best Eggs Benedict ever! I met Sandy, the owner, and asked her about the model travel-trailer that was on the shelf behind bar. "There must be a story behind that?" I asked. At first, she said there wasn't any story--but after a few minutes we both told stories about our experiences living out of a little travel-trailer just like it. Hard times produce good memories!

While waiting for my breakfast I walked outside and noticed an artist painting a mural on the wall. I asked if I could take a photo and she agreed. "What are you going to do with it?" Kristy asked me. "I thought it would look nice on my blog," I replied. Then Kristy informed me she has several blogs of her own. We had a blogger bonding moment. The bond got stronger when I revealed that I too was an artist. Kristy told me how supportive the artist community is here, and stated that was one of the reasons she loves Springdale so much. I thought Zion was a vortex of spiritual energy, and Kristy just confirmed it for me. You gotta love this place!

As we talked, Kristy told me about 'the scarf' which was the inspiration for her mural. She told me another local artist stopped by to help paint (it was his first time painting on a mural) and she had him pose with 'the scarf' for a photo. "When I snapped the shot, he said 'I feel like a rock star!' Later we joked about getting other artists to come down and pose with the scarf." Up on hearing this I was eager to be next. "Get the scarf," I said with a smile. "I want to be a rock star!"

NOTES/LINKS

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Park House Cafe: (435) 772-0100
1880 Zion Park Blvd. Springdale, UT 84767
E-mail: zionparkhouse "at" gmail.com
Reviews: urbanspoon

Artist: Kristy
Conctact: Facebook

FYI - The free shuttle will stop at this location, but it is
by request only, be sure to make that request!

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Eureka! I found it.

Wow! I really live here how. Amazing. As I pulled the U-Haul into the drive way of my new home near Zion Nation Park, I was eager to get some sleep. I have been up all day and all night. By all rights I should be dog tired. On the contrary. I am full of energy, and my mind is racing with the possibilities my new life here in Springdale will bring.

The beauty all around me is too much to take in. After a show ride to the neighboring park, it hit me. I should start writing a blog. I should start today. "This will be the first day of the rest of my life" I told myself.

Never before did I have anything worthy to blog about. Yes, as a writer at heart, the need to blog was there, but all I could seem to come up with in the past was reposting trends and obscure news stories about now bad things had become in the world and American in particular. Looking at my earliest post, you can see what was on my mind then.... and from then until I was trapped in the time warp of watching a train wreck of a government push us in the wrong direction.

This time it would be different. This time I would blog about how positive my world is, not how ugly our government has become. Three years of my life has been wasted on the kind of thinking, and for what? Finally, I had to take a hard look at myself. When I did, I didn't like what I saw... I just didn't like the direction my thoughts had been taking me for the past three years. Now, with my move to Zion all that changes--starting now.

The world is your mirror. It reflects back to you what you are putting out. If you do not like the reflection Life is showing you, then change that which is causing it.