 |
| On the road to the AUB church... |
My husband found a Texas Road House restaurant that was open so we can finally eat lunch since there were quite a few locally owned diners closed on Sunday. **frustrating sigh**
After we get seated in our booth, my chatty self started nonchalantly asking our awesome server if she was familiar with the TLC SW show or if she happens to know any of the Browns or anything about them. She told us that she was fairly new to Lehi, but it just so happens that her roommate's mom works at the place where Robyn had her wedding reception.
Yup, my ears perked up then, especially when she mentioned they had to sign confidentiality agreements about spilling the beans before the show aired, etc... Our server said “I could go call my roommate's mom and get the name and address of the place you're asking about.” Before I knew it, my poker face and sophistication all went out the window, and a "Hell yeah, that would be so awesome" shamelessly blurted out of my mouth....LOL
Now I really couldn't remember this place from the Wedding episode so this was a quick and easy way for me to get the info. She smiled and returned to our table with the address to The Gardens at Dry Creek. She told us that during the week, they're open and they offer walk through tours of the grounds. I made sure my hubby tipped her extra. Now since it was Sunday and the place was closed, and ain't nobody got time for all that touring during the week stuff, we decided to drive by and take a few photos of the grounds. 
The AUB church is located in Riverton which is about 23 minutes or so from Lehi...
Honestly, IMO, unless you're a member of this church or familiar with the area, you would never really know that's a church down there or actually what takes place down there, especially tourists like us. Definitely without GPS we would've never found it, because it's way off the main highway. I have to say my husband was leery driving down this long narrow road to explore because if we had to do a quick turnaround for some reason there's no way that would've been possible. So yea it was creepy driving down the narrow curvy road to hell.
Now I don't claim to be psychic or anything, but I couldn't help but feel a heavy oppressive spirit of some sort over me, while we were on that land. Or maybe it could've been the fact that Utah Veteran's Memorial Park is also located in the same area.
As I'm typing my experience now, I can't help but shudder with chills just thinking about it.
THERE'S A REASON IT HAS THE WORD NARROW IN IT
This road starts out straight and then curves downward to the left. The AUB church is basically located down on the mountainside....
That's me throwing a snowball. Even though my hubby was leery just being on the property, I got out of the car anyways for a brief moment just to check the deepness of the snow. It was knee level. Ok, I really just wanted to get my stink on the AUB grounds too...haha! Damn, look at the awesome mountain view behind me!!
Also, this is when the straight road curves left only. You have to continue down the road to get to the AUB church.
This is actually a fork in the road....we continued slightly right to get to the AUB church.
Now I was only able to get photos of the south and southwest side views of the church. The parking lot had quite a few cars and I just wanted to proceed with caution since we were so close to the building.
Well it's now time to say goodbye to Riverton and Lehi. I'm thinking next time if we have another opportunity to go visit again, I'm definitely gonna be video recording the experience. So ya'll can get a much better view and see just how big and spread out the AUB church property extends. I hope you all have enjoyed our journey as much as we did! It's been fun ya'll.
I would like to give a huge special shout out to my husband, Mark for being such an awesome sport and driving me around Lehi and Riverton. Allowing me to indulge a bit in my mini journey of Sister Wives plygy land. Also, a shout out to the SWB admins for assisting me and allowing me to share my experience with everyone on SWB!!
-Caramel Brownie
Here's an added treat: CB's Famous Mac & Cheese Recipe. Enjoy!!
Caramel Brownie's Easy Homemade Mac & Cheese Recipe
(1) Box of Great Value large Shells (or your favorite pasta)
3/4 box of Velveeta Cheese (cubed)
1/2 cup Shredded cheddar/monterey jack blend (or your favorite cheese blend)
1/2 stick of real butter
1/2 cup to 1 cup of milk (stir in as needed...really depends on how creamy you want it)
Salt & Pepper
**Optional** Serve with sauteed lil' smokies, grilled smoked sausages, or browned seasoned ground beef to make it a meal.
1. Cook pasta according to directions on the box & drain (I usually 'shock' my pasta by rinsing in cold water after draining, so it stops cooking the pasta)
2. Over medium heat, Add butter, velveeta & shredded cheeses, stir in milk slowly & as needed to the pasta and stir gently til all cheeses are melted...
3. Salt & Pepper
4. Serve immediately & Enjoy!!
=======================================================================
Update 3/12/13
I was able to get a screenshot of the wedding reception venue shown on Sister Wives for comparison with a photo taken by CB on her recent trip. As you can see, the first photo (featuring Kody's Lexus) shows the signage (under different name) and the building. The second photo (courtesy of CB) shows the same building. Note that the shape of the signs are the same (see the sign above).
The lower building on the left is the Ordinance Building/temple where Kody and his women were "sealed". The bigger building on the right is where general meetings take place on Sundays and during the week. Ah - fond memories - NOT!
ReplyDeleteWow, now you should have some interesting stories to share with us & that would give us a much better insight as to what "goes on" on the inside of those buildings :) I do have a question. Does this AUB church have any type of church sign to identify their congregation? Maybe on the other side of the building that I didn't have a chance to check out? I don't know why, but not having a church sign out front just boggles my mind.
DeleteNo signs at all, AUB prefers not to identify itself to outsiders.
DeleteA church with no signs? Not exactly open to all, now is it?
DeleteWell that does make sense now, no outsiders wanted or allowed.
DeleteSo what's up with the Equestrian set up? Do they actually have horse trainers or what's that all about?
Also, I had taken a few more photos of the property & they looked like they were plyg style homes. Do they have plyg homes set up on the property too?
AUB doesn't own all the land around there- the equestrian center doesn't belong to them. And yes, there are quite a few plyg homes on the property, including the so called "Brown House" that Rulon Allred a former President of AUB lived in before he was shot by the LeBarons.
DeleteYay I'm the first one to post!
ReplyDeleteThanks to CB for sharing your travel experience and pics. Lots of fun to read about, and informative too.
The mac and cheese recipe looks delicious, gonna have to try that one sometime.
Looks like so much fun! Please excuse my ignorance......Can you explain AUB?
ReplyDeleteAUB - Apostolic Brethren They and the FLDS were one group until they split from each other in the 1940s.
Deleteiirc, someone posted a year or so ago about attending (as a one-time curious visitor) the Brown's AUB church in Bluffdale, UT which is a few miles from Riverton. She also said it had a building that was the private school (the one Mariah attended?) They do have an endowment house here as well as an actual temple built in Mexico. Not sure if they perform marriages and sealings in the endowment house as the mainstream mormons perform both endowments as well as the marriage/sealing ceremonies in their temples. They don't have separate endowment houses.
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolic_United_Brethren
There is no separate school. They use the building on the right in the pictures, which is the main meeting house. Yes, they do all their endowments and sealings there.
DeleteCaramel Brownie,
ReplyDeletePart Two was just as entertaining as Part One !!!
Loved it !!! You are the best......
"... Ok, I really just wanted to get my stink on the AUB grounds too"
LOL.......prefect !!! The pics were great too !!
Can we send you to Vegas for reconnaissance too ??!! :))))
Oh..and big thanks to Mark !!!
Not sure my husband would have been that accommodating to my "mission."
Mark, you are an honorary SWB-er.
I know for darned sure that my hubby would not be interested in a SWB "vacation". Glad you went and reported back. Just like others, I wish you could SWB - trip to Las Vegas for us. Ohhhh Come On! We know you want to.
DeleteLol...Thanks Amused! & Mark aka 'Vanilla Bean' gladly accepts being an honorary SWB-er :)
DeleteThat was fun to read! Much more entertaining than watching an episode of SW. I kept wondering if the narrow lonely road was going to end up in a polygamist zombie apocalypse.
ReplyDeleteLehi house is a Lot closer to the street than I thought from watching the show. Much smaller front yard.
Also, I am surprised at how many regular sedans are in the church parking lot during the meeting. You would think that the huge families would have different transportation. Maybe the kids are at home with the wives?
Very entertaining blog!
Caramel Brownie thank you for sharing your trip with us!! I have enjoyed reading and seeing your pictures!!
ReplyDeleteMy sister got married at that same place. We pulled up and throughout the whole reception I was thinking "this is where those Sister Wives got married." She and her husband exchanged vows in the same place Puke-ball Robyn and Cody did.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely place when it's not buried under all of that snow.
FASCINATING, CB. Live long and prosper. :-)
ReplyDeleteWow CB thank you very much for sharing all your fun with us! Please let Mark know we all appreciate him very much!
ReplyDeleteI know that had to be creepy going down the road to their church. I'm thrilled y'all kept going. That place looks HUGE and makes me wonder how many families attend there. Does anyone know if we ever had a guesstimate of the amount of members?
Thank you again and thanks for the M&C recipe too :-)
Your husband is a Saint :) Loved hearing and seeing of your adventure!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being our spy CB! I wish we would have had a spy to see what the new "iconic" Jewelry piece is! Based on the comments above about how great your husband is, I'm glad that we can all see what a sickness our obsession with this family is! I recently contacted TLC to see if I could get any info on when the new season starts and here is the generic response I was given..
ReplyDeleteDear Viewer:
Thank you for contacting TLC.
We appreciate your enthusiasm regarding our programming and for taking the
time to write us. Positive feedback such as yours is very important to us.
We want you to know we will pass your comments on to our program management
and executive producers. Please know that each and every comment is read
and taken into consideration for future programming.
Season 3 of Sister Wives has recently ended, but please continue to visit
www.tlc.discovery.com for updated information on this program.
Thank you again for expressing interest in our programming.
Sincerely,
Viewer Relations
TLC
I wonder if they are having a hard time coming up with new/interesting story lines for another season. The last mini season was already scraping the bottom of the barrel! I'm starting to wonder that even though we know that have been taping, doesn't necessarily mean another season.
iirc, they've been filming for awhile. I think they filmed some of them moving into the new houses and possibly Christmas, too. Whether that's enough for a 'season', idk.
DeleteThey have to winnow through the filmed material to omit the drek and have sufficient to supply for eps, so I would expect that would require lots and LOTS of filming. They don't exactly lead exciting lives. zzzzZZZZzzzz
DeleteAwesome job CB....I really enjoyed reading and seeing the pictures of your trip. I agree with Amused go to vegas for us and report all. Thanks for the recipe too, gonna make it this weekend :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great travelogue! Your descriptions were awesome - I almost felt like you were taking us all with you on the ride down that long, scary, desolate road...as CB put it, "cleverly secluded." Man, that's just downright scary. I heard ominous violin music in my head as I was reading and scrolling. Makes one wonder what would happen if a group of AUB's happened upon a wandering visitor on that road...yikes.
ReplyDeleteGreat job, CB!
ReplyDeleteMakes me want to sing Willie Nelson... On the road Again....beautiful countryside.
ReplyDeleteIKR?? Funny you mention that MS, b/cuz I busted out several times singing this, esp when I was in the car too long & my lyrics went like this..."On the road again, I'm about to go crazy & I'm so over this long ass roadtrip my friends & I just can't wait to get our asses back home again" ...LOL
DeleteThanks Caramel Brownie!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your trip report very much. You are very brave and have a wonderful husband!!
Hey; I'll go to Vegas with you if you'll lead the spying - I hear the sister wives and the slot machines calling us!
Am going to make your mac and cheese this weekend
I was just watching the episode and they were married at Mellor Hidden Meadows in Lehi- unless they changed the name of the place, I think your waitress swindled you.
ReplyDeleteI was just watching the episode and they were married at Mellor Hidden Meadows in Lehi- unless they changed the name of the place, I think your waitress swindled you.
DeleteNope, the waitress was right on...perhaps the proprietor changed the business name "to protect the innocent". Or new owners perhaps.
The reception might have been in a different location from the ceremony itself perhaps...?
DeleteGreat article and I have to say that the photos of the AUB church and en route creeped me out...just goes to show what a wuss I am! LOL :)
oh and I'm saving the Mac & Cheese recipe for when I'm not dieting! Have you tried putting it in a casserole with some stewed tomatoes and topped with panko crumbs and pop it in the oven and let the top get brown and crunchy...?
Correction to my previous post - yup googled and they did change the name! I think "the Gardens at Dry Creek" sounds way more romantic, personally :)
DeleteHey DJ, I sure haven't tried adding stewed tomatoes & panko, but that sure does sound good. I'm gonna have to try a batch sometime. Lol.. I figured my recipe may be a lil rich for the healthy conscious. I suggested in another post, that healthier substitutions can be made as well.
DeleteNow that we're empty nesters for about a year now, I don't make it as often. When my son played football & baseball in high school, I would make it for the team from time to time, plus it got requested a lot at home too by my son & all his friends that were always over at the house :)
I guess I *could* make a healthier version but if I learned back in the 1990s (after eating way too many Snackwells styrofoam fat-free cookies) that I'd rather have a little of the real thing than a lot of the faux thang. :) I really love having a crunchy crust on top of mac and cheese though! Dang...I haven't had Velveeta since I was a kid - it doesn't get a whole lotta respect here, but I remember how much I loved the stuff back then, especially melted on Ritz or Triscuits. mmmm
DeleteYou're right they did change the name! Good catch!
DeleteI wonder if it just got new management or if it had any connection to the Brown Bridestravaganza and not wanting to be known as the local Plyg Place to Plural.
CB, thanks to you and your hubby for a great travelogue to Lehi. I appreciated your commentary as well as the beautiful photos!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great overview of your trip, excellent job. Kind of makes it seem more real, well as real as the Browns' can be.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad everyone enjoyed part 2 & those of you trying my mac & cheese recipe, bon appetit :) Thank you all for your kind words & we were happy to do it! Afterall, we were pretty much in the vincinity of it all, so sacrificing a few hours on a Sunday was totally worth it, plus I felt like Scooby Doo crew & Mystery machine...lol :) Vegas would totally be a fun trip to do some 'spying' & documenting too! Esp, if a bunch of SWB crew could meet up to site see, hang out, make our 'Brown rounds', & 'investigate' together..lol. We could coordinate with avid SWB posters that already live there. That would be some fun times esp if was during a weekend they would be out peddling their junk to the public.
ReplyDeleteMaybe sometime in the future it might be possible & we just might have to do a Vegas trip. Afterall, my hubby & I did have a vegas wedding in 1/2005 at the Shalimar chapel. I've been telling him, that I wanna go back there to have some fun, visit & hang out since it's been a long while! :)
We live in Phoenix - Vegas isn't that far!
DeleteWe drove by the McMansions the weekend before they moved in, so I understand that "want to see for myself" frame of mind. If we ever meet up in Vegas, we should go down to the zipline on Fremont Street. There have been a couple of episodes of Brown family members flying down Fremont Street. And I've done it - it's a hoot!
And I love the idea of scheduling it during a crap show so we can see the joolery for ourselves!
I love Phoenix!! I was an Air Force brat & we lived on Williams AFB that closed down the summer of 92'(the year I graduated HS)
DeleteEveryone had to move off base way before closing though, so we just moved closer to my high school.
I graduated from Gilbert HS in Gilbert, AZ which was a highly active Mormon community. Our high school campus even had a Mormon temple on site for the Mormon students. I remember a friend of mine, Brigham Cluff, who graduated a year before me, was planning to go on a mission right after he graduated. His family has a law firm there in Gilbert & was very active in the Mormon church. His dad & uncle lived right next door to each other. One had a swimming pool & the other had a damn tennis court in the back yard. Yep, they were big ballers & they threw a couple of big high school parties too..Oh those were some good times...LOL
Hey, CB - send me a note if you're going to be out in the Phoenix area. I'll buy you lunch!
DeleteWe live near Gilbert, so I recognize the places and people you mentioned. And it's just a quick drive up to Vegas from here (through the beautiful Joshua Tree National Monument), so we could do a recon mission on the McMansions, too! And just to make sure we take every opportunity to run into one of the Browns, we could swing by Disneyland on the way back to Phoenix. (Can you tell I'm retired with lots of time on my hands?)
BTW, for those who aren't aware of just how MANY Mormon churches there are in this area (not the temples - just everyday churches), we refer to them as "mile markers." Yep, on the main roads, there's one just about every mile.
I would very seriously consider a trip to Vegas if anyone else was going! Actually, any excuse to go to Vegas is a good one. I love it there.
DeleteCB, my parents live in your current city. I may just have to meet you sometime! I feel like we could talk SW and laugh for hours.
Lunch is very generous of you AXC :) ...if I'm ever in the area, I just might have to take you up on ur offer.
DeleteIt's been many many moons since I've been back to AZ. Since my dad has retired from air force, he settled down in Atlanta. I'm still in touch via FB w/ a few of my friends from Gilbert HS though.
Actually last year, was our 20 yr reunion, but I was unable to make it b/cuz of the timing,etc...To be honest with you, I wasn't too thrilled about the Cowboy/Western theme either. Dinner was held at the Rawhide Western Town Steakhouse @Wildhorse Pass Casino...Lol
Hey Twisted Sister, that's pretty cool that ur parents live in OKC. Yes, that would be fun to meet you as well,so please let me know the next time your in town visiting. Not sure when the last time you've been to OKC, but Bricktown has grown so much! Also, we have a newly remodeled interstate on I-40 East & West bound along the Oklahoma river/canal. They also included a big steel structure that overlooks it, that I guess is supposed to represent a scissortail...LOL Anywho, it changes colors at night & that actually looks pretty. Oh yeah, they completed Devon towers downtown OKC,which is the tallest building in OKC & you can see it from far distances.
DeleteCaramel Brownie, send me an email!
DeleteCB - I graduated from Highland High in Gilbert 17 years ago. That would mean I was a freshman at GHS when you were a senior! Small small world. Now with all of the info on how widespread polygamy is, do you ever wonder about some of those kids we grew up with?!
DeleteHi Anonymous 7:53pm...WOW!! Definitely a small small world! Who knew??..Lol
DeleteI hung out with Marsha Willoughby, if you can remember who she is. Her dad is Dan Willoughby-Murder at Rocky Point case.... This case shook the whole Gilbert community. That was so insane, but I was very proud of Marsha for being able to deal w/ the murder of her mother & all that emotional stress plus still be able to graduate with us on time.
#GoTigers ;)
Thanks, Caramel, Wish I could see it all but certainly enjoyed seeing it through your eyes!
ReplyDeleteI'm up for a Vegas Plygcation! We should go to a crap show and wear our 'I love SWB' shirts.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteI second that motion!
DeleteI never imagined the AUB facility to be so large. I don't know what I was thinking, but certainly not that big and in such an isolated area.
ReplyDeleteI think we should have a SWB convention and rent buses to tour their regular hangouts and all end up in Disney World!! Woooohooo!
ReplyDeleteYou mean Disneyland right? that would be a very long trip to Orlando ;-)
DeleteSounds like you had fun. Was it hard not to "interview"everyone you came in contact with, and try to "dig" up dirt? I am really impressed with your restraint.
ReplyDeleteLOL...well honestly, the only contact I had in Lehi was with our waitress. On Sundays, Lehi seems to be a very quiet town. When we were with all of my hubby's cousins hanging out(explained in Part 1), I briefly brought up the sister wives, just to get a feel on their perception about the Brown's. From what I could gather from all the head shaking, they weren't too impressed by them & they just feel like the Brown's filed the lawsuit just to get ratings. Yes, it was hard to restrain myself b/cuz I had millions of questions racing thru my mind..lol But like I said,that particular gathering wasn't really the time or place to unload all of my SW obsession questions...lol
DeleteI vote "YES!" to the SWB convention, wearing our SWB teeshirts, "Browning around town", renting buses, touring Vegas, and ending our trip in Disney Land!! When do we meet?? (I do need a little time at the slots; my state has no gambling or lottery even!) Never been west of the Mississippi! Don't fly, so just give me a few days to drive, and I'll meet you'll there! (or even pick you up on the way)
ReplyDeleteSounds like u had great time. Wish I went with u. But I'm in hos very sick but u gave me a good laugh. Thanks
ReplyDeleteSending get well wishes and hugs from another SWBSW .
DeleteSlept into Debt
5th Wife, hope u feel better soon!
DeleteCB, I am glad no big 4x4 trucks followed you around. Isolated land is probably also cheaper to purchase.
DeleteMaking mac&cheese for my two year old granddaughter....she is obsessed with cheese.
You could be like Theresa Caputo....I am a medium and I talk to dead people....you could say...I am Caramel Brownie and I spy on the Sister Wives. Maybe you could get a show too!
Slept into Debt
Feel better soon! The best part of this blog is that I think we all really would enjoy hanging out together and touring the McMansions and doing some Brown "nosing around."
DeleteThanks for the recipe! I'm going to try substituting low fat cream cheese for velveeta.
DeleteLoved that blue sky in your pics!
5th wife, sending love and healing thoughts your way.
DeleteHey 5th Wife, hope you get to feeling better soon! Sending lots of positive healing energy ur way! :)
Delete5th Wife - I'm sending healing thoughts your way also!
DeleteHope you feel better very soon 5th wife.
Delete5th Wife - hope you get better soon! We're all thinking of you.
DeleteI can see the t-shirts now...The 2013 Brown-Nosing Around Tour!
DeleteHey 5th Wife get better soon! The Kodster might need you with the new season coming up ;))
DeleteI recall an episode that Kody, on a couch interview, called Lehi a po-dunk town. After seeing pictures and sharing the visual can u imagine Kody and Meri really wanted to move to Las Vegas and used religious persecution as an excuse?
ReplyDeleteNope...money, money, money
DeleteYeah, Lehi is definitely a small town. Now I'm not knocking small towns, I'm just saying that it's not for me, only b/cuz I'm more of a big city girl..lol After the Brown's have been exposed to fame, TLC $$, & Vegas living, I truely believe they would definitely struggle as a family dynamic if they're forced to return to the Lehi house when their 15 minutes of fame is finally over & there's no more big $$ coming in for them to afford those mcmansions in Vegas. Of course, this is my own opinion though.
DeleteLOL CB - Everytime I read your comment above, I think of that John Cougar Mellencamp song! (sorry had to say it!) "I was born in a small town..."
DeleteI'm glad you enjoyed your trip CB. Yeah in some of the smaller towns in Utah, you cant even buy beer on sundays.
ReplyDeleteWhat size box of Velveeta do you use for the Mac and cheese?
ReplyDeleteHi Karma,
DeleteI use the 1 lb box
To Caramel Brownie: Which part of OKC are you in? My daugther and her husband live in Moore. He is in the AF stationed at Tinker AFB.
ReplyDeleteHi MrSpock,
DeleteI'm in NW OKC, close to downtown/Bricktown area.
That's cool...I also have a friend that lives in Moore & her husband is stationed at Tinker. They moved up here from Nebraska....
We haven't been downtown yet. Plan to do that when we visit sometime this summer---I want to see the memorial.
DeleteI think the first leg of our SWB tour needs to be in OKC! Mr. Spock, you let us know when you're in town visiting your daughter. I visit my parents (who live in West OKC/Mustang area)there frequently, so I can be there anytime.
DeleteAnyone else live within driving distance of OKC?
I am I live in dallas I would so be up for it!
DeleteI live in Alabama, and will be on my way in a flash!!!
DeleteThat would be so much fun :) TSW, my hubby's parents live in Mustang too.
DeleteWe better stock up on our SWB teeshirts - these can be our secret undergarments by which we know each other
DeleteI am a 13-14 hour drive from OKC but we do it in a day----probably early summer
DeleteCaramel Brownie,
ReplyDeleteMade your Mac N' Cheese tonight...and added grilled sweet Italian sausage !!!
It was a huge hit on a gray rainy/snowy day.
Bloggers, she wasn't kidding....this recipe is the bomb !! SO easy !!!
Mmmmmm, sweet italian sausage! I'm glad it was a huge hit & I'm glad ya'll enjoyed it! Sure does hit the spot & definitely comforting on a cold rainy/snowy day :)
DeleteCB, thank you it was fun reading your post!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all well wishes, hope to find out something today. Caramel when u go to vegas take videos u are so entertaining I
ReplyDeleteknow you would get a lot of mileage out of that. Waiting for future installment. Mary
Well...ten days until St. Patrick's Day, and still nary a sign of that "special holiday item" on MSWC. they better get on it - I'm still betting it's going to be another cheapass graphic item like another apron, or maybe a potholder or a beer stein with the logo made into a shamrock or something. Or maybe they'll just wait til Easter...
ReplyDeleteIts up there now!
Deletewow - that's kind of another fugly piece of jewelry so I guess it fits right in with the rest of the "collection".
DeleteAlso not to be petty, but Meri could use some makeup AND a tooth whitening before she poses for any of these pics, ya think?? kind of detracts from the picture - I kept looking at that yellow tooth.
They did in fact photograph this piece on their own. You can tell the difference in the quality of photo. Can't really see the detail, just Meri's big face. Her description of the necklace kind of disses Robyns design. Its priced too high like the other pieces.
DeleteThe description says that Meri designed this piece.
Deletewhy is Meri in the picture? it detracts from the jewelry. Just like the shows they do they smother the things they are selling in lights and fabric and crap. Poor merchandising. Meris ego maybe the answer for being in the pic? she could have at least included her wet bar in the pic. its more popular then she is.
DeleteAs an American of irish descent (100%), I am sooo insulted at the way the Brown's have userped(sp) the claddagh design!!! I wish someone could sue them!! My mother wore a claddagh ring as her wedding band, and I was given one as a teenager. We Irish wore these proudly!!
DeleteHow dare the Brown's claim "designing" the bastardized pieces of ugly jewelry they are harping based on this special Irish design. I wouldn't wear their pieces if they gave them to me!
Thank you SWB. End of rant.
Where is meri's pic???
Deletehttp://www.mysisterwifescloset.com/product_p/charmed-pendant-and-box-chain.htm
DeleteClick on the photos of "alternate views"
Dang...there's that yellow tooth again. :(
LOL.....!!
DeleteI get the need for a tooth whitening...maybe some makeup too (as long as she doesn't borrow Janelle's showgirly, ultra-long-shiny-black false eyelashes)....
But Meri, Meri....How about just getting your picture taken with "washed" hair ?!!
She almost always has greasy hair.
It DOES look greasy but I'm guessing it's from improper use of hair products - like hairspray etc - she's overloading it just like Kody does with his hair, and it doesn't help any.
DeleteThat equestrian center/stable - I know of them, since I follow the Arabian horse world still (also leased an Arabian show horse for about 5 years - it's a very pricey hobby). They've been at the Scottsdale show - I've not been myself, but my former trainer is there every year, and I follow it via the official show website/live feed and so on to see how my trainer is doing :) and I've seen those trainers' names pop up as well, I believe they also participate on one of the Arabian horse forums I lurk/occasionally post on.
ReplyDelete(for people who don't follow the Arabian Horse show world, Utah is part of Region 7 - which is also the same region as Arizona - and the Scottsdale show in February is not only the spotlight of Region 7's show calendar, it's one of the biggest, most prestigious Arabian horse shows in the world.)
http://www.keystoneteam.com/
http://www.scottsdaleshow.com/
As far as whether they're affilated with the AUB - I'm kind of going to hazard a guess that they aren't. I'm not even sure if the land they are on is owned by the AUB - there are a lot of horse farms in Utah due to the large amount of relatively cheap open space.
To CB: I live in Norman. Beautiful days. Thanks for the travel log.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda!
DeleteYay then I'm assuming you're a Sooners fan!! ;)
#Crimson&Cream
Cute story, so thoughtful to share and let us enjoy Caramel Brownie. I hope your next leg is LV~and I hope you get nosier and get someone out there to really give you dirt!! I imagine it's hard to face to face, when to push and when to not. I love your pictures. thanks!!
ReplyDeleteFor the tour everyone should ware foam kody hair hats
ReplyDeleteThank you SO MUCH for sharing your trip. Your husband earns extra 'brownie' points for indulging all of us. LOVE it!! THANK YOU!
ReplyDeleteFavorite line:
"So yea it was creepy driving down the narrow curvy road to hell."
a new piece of fugly claddagh joolery. too late to order and receive by St. Paddy's Day and overpriced to boot. Shocker.
ReplyDeleteYou know, the wives all seem happy. They are shopping, traveling, going to concerts. Children seem to be ok, at least Janelle's. they are living a fun life in Vegas. No mention of their religion or indications of any kind of regular worship. They obviously disconnected from FLDS and turn a blind eye. Don't care about them anymore. Seem like phonies. Hope they enjoy their new lives. I won't watch anymore.
ReplyDeleteTrust me, when the money is flowing, most people are happy, particularly when they're not used to having money. Of course, the parents and teens are all in a good place right now. When the money and reality show and lawsuit coverage is gone, that will determine just how strong a family they are. Not saying they won't be happy then, just saying the happiness right now seems to be based on circumstances.
ReplyDeleteOk, I'll say it...I thought the piece Meri "designed" was quite beautiful. Relative to the other pieces, of course. Big, big improvement on the skeleton hands...hahaha.
ReplyDeleteOn Wikipedia a claddagh looks "shockingly" like their "new design". They're such a farce.
ReplyDeleteThats not where the reception was.....They were at Thanksgiving point,north of lehi,but close to where the initial endowment and sealing was at the AUB.I will try to get pictures from my sisters wedding....u will be able to see the similarity in the trees and surroundings,her wedding was 10 months before theirs.
ReplyDeleteThey were members of the United of Apostolic Brethren,is in Riverton,the building is also used for their "charter" school their kids attended,not far from it is the AUB colthing store,its where they can purchase the garments to the calves and 3/4 length sleeve. the LDS do offer a 3/4 length garment,usually to be worn if chosen when its cold.its required length for AUB. they do also offer Armed service garments that are made thermal and beige or army green,,,its not about the color its about the markings on the garments.to remind u of the promise you made to Jesus Christ...... some where yamicas or turbins as their symbols to their god,,,,such is the same meaning of garments.
Thats not where the reception was.....They were at Thanksgiving point,north of lehi,but close to where the initial endowment and sealing was at the AUB
DeleteIt's quite possible that Kody and Robyn's actual reception was held at another location privately, but the reception venue shown on the show was the one CB visited.
I've added a photograph provided by CB for comparison with a screen shot from the wedding episode...except for the name, the place is the same.
I'd also be willing to bet that there were very few AUB people at the TLC "reception". I gather that AUB isn't really big on publicity so there is no way they would even allow still photographs at something going on at their church or what have you. And remember that the Browns have not ONCE mentioned AUB by name on their show at any point.
DeleteI can picture the AUB unfilmed reception: Fruit punch and cookies while attendance limited to AUB members only for oh maybe an hour or so - then off to the TLC-financed reception.
But Kody sure was quick to mention that Christine was polygamy royalty...while making her celebrate Hanukkah instead of Joseph Smith's birthday...a tradition in her family. The AUB probably prefers that he not mention their name.
DeleteInstead of holly woods version "Starline Tours" you could run a
ReplyDelete"Brownbus Tour". We will take people everywhere the Browns are!
Special offers... Polyg-4-day! We will bring in actors who you could swear are the real thing! You'll be treated to a celestial ceremony, green jello and punch! You'll get to babysit sisterwife number 4's children while she goes out to dinner with your new hubby on your wedding night... Guess you should of picked the third Wednesday of the month to get married!
You'll be given a McMansion (1 room for each child you wanted to have, unless you come with children, in that case you'll get 4 bedrooms. But leave one for the Mr. Because he might need to use it to store his extra clothes.) you'll receive closet full of used clothing... don't worry hun, you'll fit into the plus size clothing soon. Also you'll be given the standard box per day of Kleenex brand puffs plus!
SisterWife #2 will come talk to you about your finances, so please have 7 years tax papers and your FICA score ready. Also your business idea plan, be creative... Jewelry sales... Aren't going as well as planned.
SisterWife#3 will come over to discuss cooking and how to dress. Please do not unwrap any of your gifts as she will need to sort them and confiscate any toasters you may have been given for your wedding, after all she doesn't want you burning up the man she loves. She will issue your socks and sandals.
SisterWife #1 will come over to remind you if it wasn't for her, you wouldn't be married. She will discuss family planning and possibly give you an injection so you can start the process of giving her one of your eggs. She may also need to borrow your uterus for say 9 months. You will need to give her 3 boxes of your tissue during this visit. 4 if you have a wet bar, have ever had a wet bar, or will ever want a wet bar.
Just when you think it's your turn to see your hubby SisterWife #4 will be ovulating and your dashing hubby will need to go over there right away. But don't worry there's always laundry and shopping to do. Remember our motto "Love should be multiplied, but don't expect any" want a pastry?
Also caramel brownie please let me know when you come to Utah again, I'll take you to the store where they got their rings. I live in American Fork.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Caramel Brownie. I enjoyed your antics!
ReplyDeleteI'm curious as to wether you really felt the oppression that is there. Did you see the, Oh I am not sure if it was 20/20 or another show, where they staged a gal wanting to escape and who would help her? Did you ever see a situation where you felt you step in?.
ReplyDeleteI am from Lehi, though I don't know the Browns. If I really asked around, I'm sure I know people who do know them. Where is their house here located? My husband and I have talked about it often, but can never get a sense of where it is from the show.
ReplyDeleteAs for the reception center, the one that they showed on the show is the same one pictured here. It has changed owners recently. The previous owners (the Mellor's) ran it family-owned for years, but are now too old to bother with it. The pictures were taken in the garden behind that building. The front of the building doesn't look all that great and the neighborhood is a little sketchy, but they have a lot of land out behind the building (why they call it the hidden garden or hidden meadows). It is really pretty back there.
Sorry! We do not publish the addresses of any of the homes.
DeleteAnon... Right at the round about when heading west. That shoud be enough for a lehi'an.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the interesting trip!
ReplyDeleteIt dawned on me after looking at the old house again.
If you made a large house, you would be minus 3 kitchens, 3 dining areas, and 3 living rooms. That's 9, yep 9 rooms that could be bedrooms.
Come on folks, if you are going to be polygamists, live like it. Have your children grow up in the same home.
What a fun trip that must have been! As bad as I am I would have been busting at the seams trying to get the locals to talk about the Browns.....I have a feeling, many would talk.
ReplyDelete