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“Run Around and be Happy” part 2: Enjoy the journey

The few times I have heard the song “When a heart breaks” by Ben Rector, I cry.

I’m not really a person who tears up easily.  I can be emotional and passionate.  I mean, I am Italian. However, I don’t normally start crying randomly over a song.

In part one of this series, I shared some of the things my husband and I were struggling through as a couple and how we were turning it around.  With conscious effort and consistency, things have continued to improve for us.  In fact, the day that this happened I remember feeling content.  Busy, but really content.  We still have all the same day-to-day stresses of raising kids, finances, etc., but we are working on things together.  So on this day of feeling content and being busy, I was bustling around taking care of some of the routine stuff that occurs with running a household and bam– that song.  It came on randomly. Embedded deep in a playlist my husband was listening to while he was working from home and I just started crying.

A flood of emotion came over me because that song is one of the songs used in my friend Mark’s tribute video. If you remember from part 1, Mark passed away January 19th of this year after a hard fought battle with brain cancer.  He left a beautiful wife and two young sons.

I thought of Mark.  I thought of Mark’s wife Jenny and his two sons.  As the song played and those thoughts passed through my mind, I just wept.

I miss Mark and I think and pray often that Jenny and the boys are at peace and are able to find joy in the midst of their loss.

It is interesting to me how the mind works on this journey.  We all, at one time or another, face hard and perhaps devastating life events.

Sometimes you are blindsided.  Other times you are able to brace for impact. Nevertheless, pain is distributed and felt.  Then comes the aftermath.  The results?  It varies from person to person but there is no doubt a powerful resiliency that resides at the core of each one of us. One of the catalysts of that resiliency is the ability of the mind to forget.  And it must be so because despite the circumstance, one fact remains.  Time, although the great healer, waits for no one.  The sun continues to rise as we pass through the rough spots.  Life keeps rolling by.  It gets busy again.  Things have to get done.  Your mind tends to focus in on the business at hand. The human coping mechanism.  You let memories and tender moments get filed away somewhere in the sub-conscience, only to be jostled to the surface by some small reminder like a picture, an aroma, or a song.

Even when good things happen to us we tend to eventually file those memories away as well and get sucked back into our busy existence.  Bills keep coming.  Kids keep growing.  Laundry keeps piling up.

It is easy to let those things take precedent in a relationship.  Only to find that some of the excitement and romance has been worn down by busy lives and mundane tasks. Taking time to revitalize the connection is vital.  Slow down, take a deep breath, and enjoy the journey.  Or in other words, “Run around and be happy”.

My husband and I dedicated 2014 as the “Year of Mark”.  His passing and the way he lived his life had such a positive impact on our relationship that, as mentioned in part 1 of the series, in order to keep our relationship strong and healthy, we would go away one weekend a quarter to discover other charming Utah destinations.

For this trip we chose Boulder Mountain Guest Ranch.

The town of Boulder, Utah is roughly a four-hour car ride from Salt Lake City.

3 miles south of town, just off Scenic Highway 12 (around mile marker 83) is Hell’s Backbone Rd.

Hang a right and travel another 3.3 miles and you will arrive at the hidden gem called Boulder Mountain Guest Ranch.

 

Slow Down!

We meandered through little towns along the way and took in the scenery.  Some of the old buildings, including this out of use gas station was a must see.

 

 

Scenic Overlooks

Just stop. You have time.

 

Holy Mother of National Parks!

BMGR is nestled between some of the most diverse and beautiful landscape in the world.  The Aquarius Plateau, Dixie National Forest, Capital Reef National Park, The Grand Staircase/Escalante National Monument, just to name a few.

 

 

Hell’s Backbone Rd.

Don’t forget to make that right off Scenic Hwy 12 (mile marker 83), 3.3 miles to this sign.

 

 

The Ranch

Owners, Ron Johnson, wife, Brandie Hardman and Patrick Hogle purchased the ranch in May 2008. Ranching is hard on the land and at the time of purchase there was much work to do to revitalize and restore.  Therefore, the trio takes pride in their philosophy of holistic land stewardship.  This includes restoration, preservation, regeneration including alternative energy, organic food production and consumption, education, health care and the arts.

 

 

The Main Lodge

Located in the main lodge is check-in, a general store, 3 lodge rooms, 2 bunk rooms, an upper suite, a large sitting room equipped with long range telescope, books, and games, Sweet Water Kitchen, and WiFi if you feel the need to check your email.  The deck was a main attraction for us in the evenings.  Sit outside and take in the panoramic view.  Most of the furniture (like the chairs shown below) inside the main lodge and on the entire ranch for that matter was hand built by local craftsmen using native Aspen.

 

 

The Native American Tipi

Inside this traditional Native American Tipi is a queen bed, two chairs all a top a decorative inlaid stone floor. $55 per night, including continental breakfast.  I’m sleeping in here on our next trip.

 

 

The Cowboy Tent

Stocked full of a queen sized bed and a set of bunk beds, the Cowboy Tent comfortably sleeps up to 4.  For $55 per night, you can’t go wrong.

 

 

The Outdoor Solar Shower

What’s not to like about outdoor showers?

 

 

The Cabins

There are 3 cabins in total.  My husband and I stayed in Cabin 3.  Fully updated on the inside. Comfortable and spacious.  We could have easily fit a family of 6 with room left to stretch out.  Brandie Hardman has done an amazing job paying attention to small details.  The showers are stocked with eco-friendly shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel from Aromaland Natural products (which are incredible by the way!).  In fact, in it’s entirety, BMGR is a non toxic product use ranch.

Each morning we would sit on the front porch overlooking a small valley filled with grazing horses, a large, lone oak tree and the soft sounds of the Sweet Water Creek. Before Ron, Brandie, and Patrick took ownership, Sweet Water Creek was a mere trickle.  Thanks to one of their revitalization projects, which includes maintaining and supporting an abundant and healthy beaver habitat, the Sweet Water is flourishing.

 

 

Hiking

The beauty is overwhelming.  We were in awe.  You just feel small amongst these creations.

 

 

“Grown with Love”

“Grown with Love” the organic garden is part of BMGR’s native tree, food forest and multi-crop planting program. Herbs and veggies grown here go straight from garden to the meals prepared by the Sweet Water Kitchen staff.

 

Sweet Water Kitchen

Sweet Water Kitchen is one of the highlights of Boulder Mountain Guest Ranch.  The food blew our minds. With over 20 years honing his craft, Scott Ashley, Managing Partner and Chef, is a true artisan. Inspired by the local flora and fauna as well as Scott’s many travels, each dish is hand crafted to perfection.

Fresh veggies courtesy of the on site organic garden.  “Grown with Love”.

 

The braised pork was ridiculous.

 

Goat Cheese Cake with homemade raspberry drizzle.  Are you kidding me?  Still dreaming about this dessert.

In addition to providing fresh, healthy and mouth watering meals during your stay.  SWK can take care of your wedding, retreat, family gatherings and corporate event needs.  They also cater off property for events in and around the town of Boulder, UT.

 

We had an unforgettable time at BMGR.  The ranch became our short-term home away from home.  The staff felt like family.  We are already planning our next visit.

 

Each day, in the beautiful surroundings, we took time to think about Mark and his family.  We continue to feel him smiling.

 

Before Mark’s passing he chose three organizations for people to donate to if they chose to do so…

Checks to the W & C Education Fund can be mailed to Educator’s Credit Union at 1400 N. Newman Rd., Racine, WI 53406

Checks to the MCW Brain Tumor Research Fund can be mailed to the Office of Development
Medical College of Wisconsin
8701 Watertown Plank Road
Milwaukee, WI  53226

Checks to Zilber Family Hospice can be mailed to:
1155 N Honey Creek Pkwy Wauwatosa, WI 53213

If you have any suggestions for Anna’s next weekend getaway, email us at contact@24saltlake.com.

All photos credited to: Anna Pocaro Photography and Anna Pocaro.