Toy Story 4

If you get a chance to see the latest edition of Toy Story, take it. The movie has a cute plot. The characters are charming. The animation is wonderful. The attention to detail is remarkable. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) teaches yet another lesson in a heartwarming and humorous way. To make the experience even better, our “usual” theater had brand new seats. The “dead” seats of the past have been replaced with comfy leather-like recliners with cup holders and lots of space. The Sunday matinee was a winner.

Bachelor Pad

This morning when I came home from my walk, my house looked like a rest home for the deer. I counted 4 in the front yard, 3 in the back and 2 on the side. As soon as they saw me, most fled, but a few did stay back.

This afternoon we have 2 young bucks resting in the shade on the side of the house. They are completely at ease as they are very protected with forest on three sides, the house to their backs.

Two Flowers

There are two flowers blooming right now: lupine and Shasta daisy

I also saw some wild geranium 

Paintbrush and coneflower. I’ll take pictures of them next.

Visitor

We have a shy visitor in our backyard—a young buck. When all is quiet he’s out back munching on the greenery or resting in the shade. His antlers are still growing, and each day I see him they are a little bigger. Only problem is, as soon as he sees me, he flees.

Yesterday, I was able to sneak a picture of him before he saw me. I was “hiding” behind the screen on the porch, and he sauntered up to the “salad bar” when I took a quick picture. The fun part about a screened porch is it’s also an animal blind. So as long as I was quiet, I could enjoy watching him. Suddenly, I made a sound, and off he fled into the woods. 

I wonder if he was born here? I know from past experience that we have a family of deer that hang out in our little patch of the woods. If they stay in the woods they are safe from cars and hunters when the season comes.

Home

After a great vacation with the family, we are home. There’s still snow on the mountains while the valley floor is lush and green.

Which is a stark contrast to the last park we visited. Zion was a 100 degree basin of red rocks and people. I was surprised at the number of folks visiting that national park.

Everyone had a grand time exploring the wonders of this fairyland of rocks. We even saw mountain goats scampering on the steep slick rocks. What a treat.

Now everyone is home. What a treat to spend two weeks with the people we love most. Folks, if you can, carve some time from your busy schedules and get everyone that you can together for a few days. Renew your family bond and enjoy each other. Our next family adventure will be a cruise. I hope we can get a few more to join us for high jinx on the sea.

Bryce National Park

We visited Bryce National Park before the Grand Canyon, but I forgot to post it. My iPhone did a funny thing...it quit taking pictures...and this is the only picture I have. I’ll need to “steal” from the others. Each of the parks we are visiting this year are beautiful examples of what Mother Nature can do when she’s “feeling frivolous.” We certainly live in a beautiful country.

North Rim of the Grand Canyon

This year, the Grand Canyon is celebrating it’s 100th anniversary of being National Park. Of course, the “big ditch” is much older than a mere 100 years, and I think it takes at least 100 years to understand the enormity of the it too. Today we tried to wrap our heads around the layers and layers of red and brown and beige rocks that make up the canyon. It takes a leap of faith to realize that a mere river carved the landscape for hundreds of miles into a canyon as immense as the Grand.

Belted Galloways

It isn’t often that you see cows that look like Oreos. I’ve only seen them once before. They are “Belted Galloways” and originally they are a Scottish breed. In 2005 most of the European herd was wiped out with hoof and mouth disease and they were put on the endangered species list. They are slowly making a comeback. They thrive in areas with poor weather and soil, and this area of Utah certainly fills that requirement.

Capitol Reef National Park

One of the little known national parks is Capital Reef. It’s a red rock wonderland of domes and castles and strangely shaped rocks.

We have taken a couple of walks gazing (staring) at the color. We’ve seen ancient petroglyphs and enjoyed fresh baked pies at the pioneer cottage in the tiny old town of Fruita, which is in the park. Capitol Reef is a “dark sky park” and last night we took out our telescope and found Jupiter and 5 moons shining brightly in the nighttime sky. We’re having a grand time.

Ogden

I took this picture outside of Soda Springs on our way to Ogden. The sky looked like it was getting reading to rain, but it just sprinkled. We drove all the way to Ogden, still no rain...then the rain came. A great thunderstorm that was deafening in the RV. The hail clattered on the roof and the thunder growled and then it was over. We plan to leave early tomorrow to avoid driving in afternoon storms. 

Traveling in June

We are “on the road” slowly wending our way to Capital Reef National Park where we’ll meet up with our family. We will be a group of 3 RVs traveling to 4 national parks in the western USA. It’s going to be some trip.

We are more or less recovered from bronchitis and now our only problems are getting used to the elevation —and recovering from a sprained ankle (I fell off a step today). Life goes on and we’re going to have fun despite the challenges that we are bringing upon ourselves.