Walk on the "Wild" Side

 It's almost the first of August and I have to ask how did it get here so fast? It seems like we just arrived in the mountains but that was May 8. My Auntie Ruthie who lived to be 102 said the years seemed shorter the older she got. She was right. I'm not 102, but I "feel" her wisdom. To that end, it was time to shake things up. So I did...I had my fingernails painted blue. For me, that's a major walk on the wild side.

Isn't that a pretty blue? I normally do a quiet shade of light pink, so this is a major departure. I also gave my manicurist the baby blanket I made for her little girl who is supposed to arrive early next month. 

She really liked the blanket as did everyone else at the beauty shop. 

It's now time to get ready for Fair. I love seeing what all the kids have been doing to get their critters ready for the big events that happen starting next week. It's August in the high country.

A Morning on the Porch

When we designed our current house at the end of the last century, we included a screened porch in the plan. Everyone, from contractor to electrician opposed the plan, saying they could not do it. The electrician said he had never seen an outdoor ceiling fan that could withstand WY winters. The contractor said, it would be hard to put up a good screened barrier that would not let bugs and other critters in. The only person who thought it was feasible was the man who installed the siding, and he helped us convince the others it was feasible. 

We had screen put under the flooring of the porch, so bugs could not get inside. We had individual screens made for each opening, and we bought a special outdoor ceiling fan able to survive a cold and snowy Wyoming winter. All the trades-men chipped in with their specific knowledge and the porch became a reality. And, what a porch it is. It is the best feature of the house and the place where I spend a lot of each day. The porch is the gateway to solitude in the forest that sings the songs of the "quakies" (as aspens are called up here). The birds and deer inhabit our little hunk of land, and I get to see them from the porch. The porch acts as a "blind" where I can see them and they cannot see me. The animals can hear us, but can't see us, as we are hidden behind the screens.   The porch is a little bit of heaven and I love it.

 

We use the porch all the time. We have meals out here; there's TV and wifi on the porch, so we're connected to the rest of the world BUT we don't have to use any electronics to enjoy the beauty of nature. It's always magical to see a mama deer emerge from the forest with her twins following in her shadow. Or, to see a small herd of deer lounging right next to the porch, as we're eating dinner. I've seen birds up close and personal from my private porch.  My friends have told me it's the best porch and can hardly wait to visit it again.  Priscilla said it best. She came from Florida with plans to see the Tetons and Yellowstone but stayed on the porch her whole vacation.  She said she had never seen a sweeter place than my back porch. I have to agree with her!

The porch after a brief late-spring snow -- and it's still a wonderful place.

Middle Teton

 On July 4, this year, a piece of the Middle Teton tower collapsed. There was no local news coverage about that collapse, but my friends in Tennessee asked if the Tetons were still standing. I had NO idea what they were talking about. Naturally, I went online and found out some information. Sure enough, part of the Middle Teton tower had collapsed and created some minor landslides. One article said the shape of the Tetons was changed forever. 

Yesterday, we went to the Tetons in an effort to see what really happened. As you know, news and reality are not always the same thing. 

I circled the Middle Teton. It does not look like anything had happened. Next I searched my million or so photos of the Tetons to see if I could find a difference. I truly looked...and I know there's a difference but it's not readily evident. Here's a photo from 2 years ago--well before the collapse...can you see a difference? 

The Middle Teton tower might be a smidge different, but did it forever change the skyline?  No matter, the Tetons are a geologically "young" range of mountains, and they will erode, collapse and in time "round down" to something smaller. It's a continuing process. What I do know, this rounding down will probably not happen in my lifetime.

On the other hand, Mt. Moran looked as glorious as ever. One of my favorite places in the world is somewhere where I can see Mt. Moran.

A Quake in the Quakies

Last night, as we were getting ready for bed, we heard a sound. It's hard to describe the sound, but if you have ever been in an earthquake, you know it. Neither of us had heard that sound for a long time. At first I thought the other DrC had fallen down, and then I realized what was happening. The house was moving along with the sound. It's a sound unlike any you have ever heard. It's the sound of an earthquake that is centered nearby.

We are both native Californians and we've heard that "sound" before. The first time I heard it (and I remembered it) was in 1957 in the Bay Area. The sound came first then the house started to rock and roll. The house got a few more cracks in the plaster but there was no other damage. Other houses did not have the same experience. That time I remember my parents telling us kids that it was only an earthquake and all was OK. I still hear the vestiges of my parents saying that when I hear the "sound," more than half a century later. 

Unlike 1957, I went to earthquakes.gov and found the epicenter was less than 3 km from my house. No wonder I heard the "sound." About 20 minutes later there was an aftershock, not nearly as long nor as close, as there was no sound...just a thud as the earth moved. This morning, all the aspens are still quaking, as though nothing has happened. 

We live in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Yellowstone is an active volcanic region. Yellowstone Lake is a huge caldera. Earthquakes in the GYE are common as there are several very small quakes on any given day. The small quakes are rarely felt. The quake we had last night measured 2.8. While definitely not a "big quake" it was noticeable. If you are not used to earthquakes, you might ask if it is dangerous living in the GYE? When the big quake strikes, it will be dangerous to live here, but until then, I'm not very worried at all. There will be lots of warning signs before the big one happens. We'll skedaddle when that happens. In the meantime, I love living in the Rocky Mountains during the summer time, listening to the song of the aspens.

Asters: Truth or Legend

The asters are blooming. I saw the first patch on July 7. If local legend is correct, fall will arrive in about 8 weeks. That's probably correct...because fall generally arrives right after Labor Day in the high country. Truth or legend; the asters tell a story about the cycle of life in the mountains.

Seeing the asters in bloom can be either encouraging or discouraging. For me, it's means we have at least 8 more weeks of glorious summer weather. Summer weather where it's not too hot and not too cold; where the flowers are blooming; where the skies are bluebird blue; where there's very low humidity; and lots of time in the sun in the long summer days. For some it means that this glorious season will soon end. I'd rather think on the positive side than the negative side. Eight more weeks of glorious weather in the Rocky Mountains. Does it get better than that?

My answer to that question is NO. At my home in the desert, the temps are scorchingly hot at 110 and higher...the best time of year there, in the desert. is NOT the summer. On the other hand, when it's pleasant in the desert, it's mighty cold in the mountains. If we want to live in great weather year round, we need to migrate from south to north, which we do.

Whatever you think, this is the best time to be in the mountains. The wildflowers are blooming. There is a new crop of fawns bounding and jumping in the forest. Our resident herd of deer grace our   backyard with beauty and delight. The aspen forest is lush and green and sings a sweet summer song. Does it get any better than that? I'm looking at the remnants of a robin's nest that successfully held 3 tiny baby robins earlier in this summer--already they are fledged and on their own. It's the cycle of the seasons. The asters are at the end of the growing cycle and we still have 8 more wonderful weeks of summer.

Sad

Today we went to the funeral for the 21 year old daughter of our dear friends. It was beyond sad. We loved her. We miss her. The town was there for her family and friends; and we were there for her family and friends too. Good bye sweet girl. 

Happy Birthday USA

249 years ago on the 4th of July our founding fathers bravely signed the Declaration of Independence. They created a new type of country, one where freedom and liberty reign. As you know I've traveled to well over 100 countries, and there's no place like the USA. I'm a proud American!

Nowadays, we celebrate our founding with fireworks and parades. But, I don't know how much fireworks there will be tonight in the Star Valley. We are having lots of thunder, lightening and rain. Yesterday, our local market was getting ready for the town parade. They had a huge shopping cart in the parking lot. 

Look closely--it's a hot rod shopping cart. If the rain stops, there should be a parade and tonight there should be fireworks throughout our valley...but right now, none of us know what is going to happen as it's stormy.

As a Teddy Bear lover, I'm concluding with a noble Teddy Bear wishing our country happiness, peace, prosperity and a Happy 249th Birthday!

Twin Bambis

 

One of the best parts of summer is watching the fawns grow. I was fearful there would not be any fawns...but one showed up. Today twins showed up. They are little and cute. I drank my coffee watching these two explore my backyard. 

Mama was in the background watching her two little trouble makers as they jumped and played and sniffed out grasses and flowers. If she saw them get out of line, she gently raised her left front foot and put it down again. I did not hear a noise. I barely saw the motion, but the little ones knew they had gone too far. They jumped back in line and went back to doing things that fawns are supposed to do. 

It's fascinating watching the dynamic of mama and fawn. The twins stick together and stay within ten or so feet from their mama, but not any more. She lets them know how big their territory is and they are not allowed to stray far from it. If only that worked with little humans. I wonder how many more fawns are hiding in the understory. Last year we had 5--this year there are 3, and I hope there's more to come.