A beautiful day, sunshine and some clouds. Above it all the end of the rainbow sits on Fountain Green hills.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Fountain Green ... The hidden Treasure
A beautiful day, sunshine and some clouds. Above it all the end of the rainbow sits on Fountain Green hills.
A beautiful Day in Fountain Green
Another beautiful day in the valley. The feeling of autumn is coming and the maple trees on the West Mountain are turning brilliant red. Before long the Aspens will turn yellow and we will know fall is getting ready to change to winter. Here's a panorama from the back of my field looking towards town and the West Mountain. This was taken during the summer, in the near future I'll be putting up some great autumn colors.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Fountain Green, Utah
Well after spending 20 years in the USAF flying the F-4 Phantom II jet fighter, a life time of traveling the world, and 10 years in business owning and operating five 250 seat restaurants in Texas and New Mexico, I came home to my ancestral homestead. After a few months of preparation and planning we have started to build our new home out behind the old family pioneer home.
We just moved from our last USAF assignment of San Antonio, Texas with it's 1.3 million people to what we hope is a slower, friendlier and more hospitable family orientated town of Fountain Green, Utah with it's 1,000 people.
There aren't any red lights, but a few yield signs, no cross walks, one city park, one small grocery store, an old but well supplied gas station, one elementary school, a few dozen horses, a few thousand sheep, and thousands of turkeys destined for Thanksgiving dinner.
Where else do a large percentage of the citizens drive four wheel ATVs, an occasional riding lawn mower, and a few tractors to the post office to pick up their mail.
This town also has a renovated dance hall and theater that were built in the 1800's, and a few monuments describing the Indian wars and dedicated to the "white men" who were killed during the Blackhawk War in and around the 1860's. These are at the forefront along main street and the city park.
The busiest and greatest time is the Annual Lamb Day, held each July. There are softball games with men, ladies and even the older folks which start the festivities for several days. Friday night is the mutton fry where more than a dozen sheep or mutton are made into steaks and are deep fried in various cast iron pots to serve to the over 750 hungry towns people. Saturday morning starts at 6 a.m when the volunteer fire department sets off a couple sticks of dynamite on the hill above town. Then the fire engine races through town with it's siren blasting calling everyone to the early morning flag ceremony. Afterwards, it's time for a great pancake breakfast in the park,then back to State Street for the parade. Yes, a real parade with floats from the neighboring towns. The big event is the float with the Lamb Day Queen and her attendants. This year there were of course the local politicians, the local store, volunteer fire department, a few antique cars and tractors, the local skateboard "team", high school marching band and pep club. All throwing candy to the hundreds of kids lining the street.
The rest of the day is the lamb show and competition between the kids(where I saw dust scramble), a few music groups singing, and the lamb sandwiches, which are not to be missed. Yes indeed, over 20 lambs are prepared and cooked in underground stone lined pits all night and are ready to eat for lunch. It's hard to believe but the lines don't stop for several hours and it's not unusual for a single person to buy a dozen or more.
One of the state's best fireworks shows ends the day. Fast and furious explosions fill the night air. A perfect ending to a great community celebration.
Oh so much to talk about, the community, the people, the Mayor and the cities councilmen, farmers and businessmen, the politics and the friendships, the mountains and the valley. Yup, we'll get to it all as time goes on. Feel free to add your inputs and ideas. Problems, suggestions, advise, thank yous, congratulations and sympathy; we can talk about most anything. The only thing I ask is that no personal attacks take place here. We can be honest but let's show Utah and this great world how well we can develop friendships and work together to improve our community.
Have fun and let's hear what you think is important in Fountain Green.
Don Despain
We just moved from our last USAF assignment of San Antonio, Texas with it's 1.3 million people to what we hope is a slower, friendlier and more hospitable family orientated town of Fountain Green, Utah with it's 1,000 people.
There aren't any red lights, but a few yield signs, no cross walks, one city park, one small grocery store, an old but well supplied gas station, one elementary school, a few dozen horses, a few thousand sheep, and thousands of turkeys destined for Thanksgiving dinner.
Where else do a large percentage of the citizens drive four wheel ATVs, an occasional riding lawn mower, and a few tractors to the post office to pick up their mail.
This town also has a renovated dance hall and theater that were built in the 1800's, and a few monuments describing the Indian wars and dedicated to the "white men" who were killed during the Blackhawk War in and around the 1860's. These are at the forefront along main street and the city park.
The busiest and greatest time is the Annual Lamb Day, held each July. There are softball games with men, ladies and even the older folks which start the festivities for several days. Friday night is the mutton fry where more than a dozen sheep or mutton are made into steaks and are deep fried in various cast iron pots to serve to the over 750 hungry towns people. Saturday morning starts at 6 a.m when the volunteer fire department sets off a couple sticks of dynamite on the hill above town. Then the fire engine races through town with it's siren blasting calling everyone to the early morning flag ceremony. Afterwards, it's time for a great pancake breakfast in the park,then back to State Street for the parade. Yes, a real parade with floats from the neighboring towns. The big event is the float with the Lamb Day Queen and her attendants. This year there were of course the local politicians, the local store, volunteer fire department, a few antique cars and tractors, the local skateboard "team", high school marching band and pep club. All throwing candy to the hundreds of kids lining the street.
The rest of the day is the lamb show and competition between the kids(where I saw dust scramble), a few music groups singing, and the lamb sandwiches, which are not to be missed. Yes indeed, over 20 lambs are prepared and cooked in underground stone lined pits all night and are ready to eat for lunch. It's hard to believe but the lines don't stop for several hours and it's not unusual for a single person to buy a dozen or more.
One of the state's best fireworks shows ends the day. Fast and furious explosions fill the night air. A perfect ending to a great community celebration.
Oh so much to talk about, the community, the people, the Mayor and the cities councilmen, farmers and businessmen, the politics and the friendships, the mountains and the valley. Yup, we'll get to it all as time goes on. Feel free to add your inputs and ideas. Problems, suggestions, advise, thank yous, congratulations and sympathy; we can talk about most anything. The only thing I ask is that no personal attacks take place here. We can be honest but let's show Utah and this great world how well we can develop friendships and work together to improve our community.
Have fun and let's hear what you think is important in Fountain Green.
Don Despain
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