Thursday Morning Sunrise

The morning, of course, was beautiful.

A year ago, we couldn't have even called this a garden.

Landscapers have been working diligently.

Last year, there wasn't a lot of dirt to work with.

It was nice to step up to the new gate and take pictures today.

Progress is abundantly evident.

The temple didn't get gablets until last fall.

Workmen at the east stairs had plenty of sunlight this morning.

I don't think this is for the exterior.

Carpenters worked just a few feet from the temple.

I believe the trim is for the tower doorways.

The north staircase is beautiful.

Nearby, new gates are being painted.

The south stairs are hidden a little by the fence around the stairs to the garage.

I am still looking for a good place to catch a clear picture of the new transom window.

An obstacle in my way on the west side turned out to be a stepping stone.

I love the look of the painted pavilion.

My ability to resist peeking is currently at zero.

Masons are working all over the temple site.

There appears to be a lot of work left to do.

This glimpse inside the southeast tower doorway shows us where the marble is going.

After last week's visit, I wondered if I could see the art glass in the northwest tower.

Yes, it's there!

I decided another attempt to look in the southwest tower was in order.

The new banister rail wasn't obvious until I got home.

There is always something beautiful to see these days.

And there always will be.

All The Better To See

I held my breath at the driveway on Second South and managed to keep my camera still enough to capture another view of the new Holiness To The Lord window.

On my last visit, my camera caught the inside of the southwest tower entrance.

This morning, I paid attention.

While I had a straight shot, the actual opening is narrow from this perspective.

Do you ever talk to your camera?

Mine responds well when I whisper, "Come on, Betsy."

Much of the construction fence has disappeared since Monday.

To say I was delighted would be an understatement.

Without the customary barriers, I was a little hesitant.

The Jersey barrier on the right is still in place, but the construction fence is gone.

It was easy to watch painters working on the pavilion.

It took about four seconds for me to work up enough courage to stand at the open gate.

I've tried to see in this entrance before, with no luck.

I had all kinds of luck today.

This area used to be a complete mystery to me.

For a long time I could not figure out the stairs down to the garage.  This morning, my camera had a clear view.

Gardeners and painters worked this morning.

Rich, green grass fills the wide strip between University Avenue and the temple.

These east stairs will be very beautiful when completed.

I would have had a better view if I'd backed into the street where I used to stand, but I wasn't moving.

New grass has been planted this week.  It's everywhere now.

These blooms of oakleaf hydrangea are in a corner of the northeast garden.

The construction fence used to block the sidewalk from the bus stop on the left all the way south.

Now it only blocks the walk from First South to Second South.

The fountain was easy to see from the east as I stood in the open gateway.

I stood in an open gate on the west side, too.

Cole Robinson took these two pictures of the underground garage for us yesterday.  He was standing directly below the west gate.

His gate wasn't open.

The north gardens are beautiful.

The lintel stone from the old tabernacle is held in place with quartzitic sandstone.

The original tabernacle stood in front of where the lintel stone is now.

Much of the foundation of the tabernacle is still below ground.

Placing the lintel stone here makes the ground feel more holy.

The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum has a silver sacrament service.

These four pieces were used in the old tabernacle.

Water from the pitchers was poured into silver cups which were shared by members of the congregation.

These pieces were donated by bishops from the Third and Fourth Wards.

The lintel stone is near the Ten Commandments monument, which has been in place for six months.

The two monuments are along the walkway on the right.
New bollards are in place to keep track hoes from returning.

I have asked if anyone has seen oxen.  No sign of them yet.
A bronze statue is being cast for the planter in the north garden.

I am hopeful that all the barriers to the temple will soon be removed.

Preparations for paving Center Street are underway in anticipation of the open house in January.
Downtown merchants and restaurant owners are making plans for the event, too.

We all are.