notes
on life

I don’t know of a neat conclusion beyond that. We came naked. We leave carrying none of it. Somewhere between those two facts we accumulate an astonishing amount of baggage. Much of it is necessary, some of it precious. Some of it is certainly ridiculous. I guess the question is what we choose to carry.

These conditions ask something of us - a deeper engagement with our communities, a more attentive relationship to place.

Wallace Stegner and Jack Turner represent two distinct voices in an ongoing dialogue for wilderness preservation.

That journey ten years ago solidified something inside me. I named this feeling “heart places.” It's a tug, something intrinsic...

Through subtle and insightful prose, Rostov endeavors to maintain his dignity and wrest meaning from life’s defeats.

Sinking into a thick and absorbing story is often the best way to pass the seemingly endless winter hours.

It is so easy to get caught up in the business of busy lives and to become blind and deaf to the very things that make life sweet. It is absurd to think that busyness is somehow a measure of a good or successful life.

all photography taken by @shutterfreek Southern Utah is mysteriously sculpted with sensuous curves and rugged cliffs. The colors emote deep feelings. Oranges, browns, and reds, of every hue, constantly change from soft to brilliant. This desert's beauty is inherent and easy to fall in love with. I understand the draw to celebrate the most sacred bond in a couples life in this awe inspiring landscape. The stark contrast of silhouetted figures against expansive views offers fan

The years-long effort to secure permanent protection for the incomparable landscape of southeast Utah seemingly came to fruition in 2016 when the Antiquities Act was used to establish Bears Ears National Monument. Unfortunately the strength of this protection has been and will continue to be disputed. As I write there are active lawsuits challenging the authority of this declaration, and the region seems destined to be a pawn in the predictable political agitations of far awa

It’s always pleasant to notice the subtle changes of the summer letting go and slowly transitioning into fall. The afternoon sun, creeping closer to its yearly sojourn in the southern hemisphere, sends long shadows through the yard. The summer growth begins to bend under the weight of its early extravagance. And the searing heat is finally persuaded to loosen its grip on the evenings. Aware of the shorter days that are soon to come we’ve been sitting out evenings, with cool d

Four or five years ago, the promising world of social media provided a place to be seen and appreciated for intricate work done by hand. My world was opened up to artists who chose slow and intentional construction. I'm thankful for a hashtag, or the rabbit hole of clicking through communities that follow like minded accounts. I'm thankful for the discovery of creatives that inspire and fashion new ideas beautifully. Today I sense a shift. I don't know if you feel it too. It

“Even when I can't get to the backcountry, the thought of the colored deserts of southern Utah…where the little but intensely important human being is exposed to the five directions of the thirty-six winds, is a positive consolation.” Wallace Stegner wrote those words in his Wilderness Letter to the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission in 1960. The ORRRC, established by Congress in 1958, was tasked with reviewing outdoor recreation opportunities available to the Ame

Over the past few years Quiet Shelters has had many conversations about the meaning and importance of opening our homes, and pieces of our lives, to guests. We believe that our home is a reflection of us, our interest in culture, our appreciation of beauty, our love of the outdoors, and our desire for community. This commitment to these core beliefs has guided, and will continue to guide, our curation of the modest libraries in our homes. Each month we would love to share wit