Artist's Point and Beyond

A wonderful day in Yellowstone. We started the day at Artist's Point at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. It's hard to have a more beautiful start to a day. We saw the falls, and like everyone else, we oohed and ached. They are quite spectacular.

Then we took a sweet drive to Dunraven Pass, Tower Junction to Mt. Washburn.

Along the way we saw bison...lots of bison, but this guy caught our attention. He was BIG!

Last big stop along the way was at Mammoth Hot Springs where we saw a huge bull elk bugling during the rut.

After he bugled, he put his head on the ground...I'm guessing he was exhausted

A fine animal. We have yet to find a moose or a bear...maybe tomorrow when we are down in the Grand Tetons we will get lucky to see them.

A Day in Yellowstone

I'm enjoying a few days of late season camping and it's a blast. It's fun to be back in the RV. It's fun to be on the road. It's even more fun to feel healthy enough to do all that needs to be done. Yesterday we went from Old Faithful to Canyon looking for illusive critters and beautiful scenery. A great way to end the summer season.\\

Old Faithful is still spouting every 2 hours or so

In the woods

Does it get any better?

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Elk worse for wear from the rut

We were on the lookout for grizzly but we never saw any.

Sixteen Kitties

The news is less than perfect, so I'm going to write about crocheting cats...sixteen cats to be particular. I love to make "picture" blankets...these are blankets that have a picture embedded in the design of the blanket. In crochet terms, this is called a "filet" pattern, but I call them picture blankets. (As an aside a lot of folks who crochet will not attempt filet patterns because they are exacting and require lots of counting and concentration to detail.) I find them interesting to make and I love looking at reactions when folks see the picture in the blanket. I made the first one 18 years ago, and since then, I've made well over 100 teddy bear blankets. The teddy bear blanket is my "go to blanket" pattern to make when I'm on shipboard, in the RV or at home. It's cute and there's always a baby who needs a cute little blanket. I always give them away

...then I learned how to embed a heart into a blanket. I even know how to crochet a bunny (but I cannot find a picture of one)

...and now I have created a kitty. 

Unlike the teddy bear blanket where I had an actual pattern to follow, all I had with this blanket was a picture. I printed the picture normal size, then I changed the settings on the printer to increase the size of the picture

. Next step was counting off the stitches. From there, I crocheted a sample square of  one cat.. After several false starts, I figured out the pattern. The last step was to translate the sample into 16 continuous "samples" to make the complete blanket. I tore out nine different attempts at getting this blanket right. A simple kitty proved to be quite difficult...but, I got it right. Please take a look at my latest picture blanket, Sixteen Kitties

I gave the blanket to my niece and she loved it...and that's what it's all about.

Spotty

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Spotty joined the menagerie tonight. He's going to his forever home in CA soon.

Camo was sent to his forever home in Tennessee and Sparky is giving birthday joy at his new home in Nevada. 

You never know when one of these critters will end up on your doorstep. They love to travel (just like me I guess)

Non-Partisan Elephants

I decided to crochet elephants, and I made several...but I finally got the pattern right Here were my first attempts

And while they were nice elephants, they were not perfect. 

Then I saw an elephant I made about 10 years ago, and I made these two fellows. Of course, 

I did not have a pattern so I had to improvise.

Meet Sparky, and

...Camo.

 These two little guys are now my go-to pattern for non-partisan elephants. 

I think they are cute and they are way more interesting that the grim news around the world.

The News: Mark 2

It seems all news right now is bad news. The latest push (if the CA governor is to be believed) is for electric vehicles. I think they are a bad joke and one more threat to American Freedom. Let me explain the last part of that sentence first. 

The current batch of electric vehicles (EV) has a driving radius of about 350-400 miles. That's enough range to go to work and back, go to the market for groceries for 3 to 4 days. After that, the car will need a charge. A full charge takes 2-4 hours at a "fast" electric charging station (read that as expensive); or with a "regular" electric charging station (less expensive), that charge might take as long as 6-8 hours. The charging station needs to be in your garage (if you live in an apartment, you are out of luck). Most likely, you will be charging your EV at night when there is no solar power, so you are going to be recharging your EV with fossil fuels from the electric plant. How does this threaten American Freedom. It's simple...take a longer drive, beyond the 350-400 mile radius your EV batteries can go, and you will have to find a charging station. IF you own a Tesla, there are "free" charging stations in selected areas across the country and at that free charging station, you can get a "half charge" which will take about an hour to complete. A half charge has a radius of 175-200 miles. Do the math..in time you will stop using that expensive EV for road-trips as they are too time consuming. (Imagine 2 bored youngsters in the backseat of your Tesla after waiting an hour to get the car charged, only to get back on the road and they are already bored...poor mom and dad). Soon, the EV will be used for short trips never beyond the city limits. Drag this scenario out, and  folks in their EVs will never drive very far, never see what is happening in other places...and "the man" can tell us anything and everything "he" wants to tell us. The thought is downright scary. And, you have just lost your freedom. 

Now for the "bad joke" part of the story. EVs are expensive, at about $18K more than an ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicle. EVs are the toys of the rich and wannabe rich and the folks who want to signal they are green and care about the environment. That's another bad joke. The batteries that charge EVs are made from cobalt and lithium--most of which comes from the Congo where working conditions are beyond appalling. Another "bad joke" is the power grid. Right now the US does not have a power grid that can support all the EVs that the decision makers say we must have. SO, are new power plants going to be created? What will power those power plants? Hydro? Nuclear? Coal? Solar? Wind? Where will these power plants be built, because NIMBY (not in my back yard) is a big deal to many green folks. This problem by the way, has not been addressed. 

Still want an EV? Until all of these problems are addressed, it is safe to say stick to a hybrid or ICE vehicles and enjoy your freedom as long as you can. Maybe, I should stop reading the news and stick to cute little critters. 

The News

I finished reading the "morning news" and decided that the world needed some happy to happen. In case you have not heard, it's UGLY out there. SO here's a silly remedy. I know, it's futile...but too bad!

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Meet my current menagerie...they are coming your way. 

Friends and family will get one or two of them in the mail soon.

I Voted

It's Primary Election Day in Wyoming. Many states vote before WY and a few vote after, but this season we have a big election with many political watchers from all stripes. WY voters are deciding if Liz Cheney, our current Congressperson, will get a third term. With luck we'll find out tonight if she goes back to DC in the Spring of 2023 or another person goes instead. For all of us in Deep Red WY, we are awaiting the results of this election.

At the Ro-De-O

Out here, it's called a Ro-De-O, as opposed to Ro-Day-O in other parts of the country. Last night I went to Rodeo, the culminating event at our local county fair. Earlier in the day, I went to see the animals where the 4-H kids strut their stuff. The Blue Ribbons for Grand Champion swine and steer were fun to see, especially when they were posted on the stalls of the kids I follow.

But the rodeo is saved to end of the fair. This is where we get to see amazing horsemanship as cowboys ride bucking broncs and bulls, cowgirls race around barrels at breakneck speed,  and roping skills are shown off. The cowboys and cowgirls know what they are doing. I liked the bucking horses. Riding a bucking bronc for 10 seconds is no mean feat. You need a lot of bravery, good luck and a strong back to stay on an angry bucking horse.

    

The cowboys clung to their steeds no matter what the horse was giving them. The folks in the stands were cheering and rooting for their favorite riders. 

It's all good American fun. 

Makes You Wonder?

I saw this today, and, except for the addition an extra "to" where it is not needed, you have to wonder why there's a war on plastic?

Something to ponder?? 

Along with the plastic "war" I have a concern about inflation and how additional costs are getting passed to the consumer.  We were told by the last Presidential Press Secretary, Ms.Psaki, that companies do not pass additional costs on to consumers. Well, that is not the case where I live. The garbage company in my town is now charging a $4.77 fuel surcharge; the electric company and natural gas company have added  a $7.00, and a $5.00 per month transportation fee respectively. Again, something to ponder? I'm truly wondering how much the last piece of legislation passed, the "Inflation Reduction Bill" is going to cost me and you and if it will actually reduce inflation? 

In the Aspens

We are lucky to live in a small portion of a larger aspen forest. Forest living is something else! First and foremost, we enjoy the trees. Tall, white barked, quaking aspens that sing to you when there's a slight breeze. The old-timers call them "Quakies" and we have discovered that Quakies are a little bit magical. Their lush canopy hides birds, the protective understory hide deer and other wildlife...and in between are a myriad of wildflowers that brighten our day. And, because their tall trunks are white, the forest is bright and airy, so very different from a dark pine forest.

Next, there's the small herd of mule tail deer that live in our little patch of forest. This year, the forest is protecting at least 2 spotted fawns and their mamas, several other does, as well as a large buck, that makes an appearance every so often.

I don't get to see him often, but when I do, I'm sitting in my screened porch, where I can see him and he can't see me. If he sees me, or hears me, he scampers away.  

The drama in the forest is another treat. The other day I was sitting on the porch communing with one of the 2 year old males that hangs out in the backyard most mornings, when all of a sudden, the big guy appears from nowhere, and 5 other young males popped up from the understory where they were effectively hidden by the forest, and ran away. I never saw the other 5 males, as the understory is dense. Once a deer gets into the understory of the forest, it's completely hidden in less than 10 feet. I have no idea why the big guy was a bully that day, but that's one moment of time in an aspen forest. There are many that I am not privy to, but I'm going to sit on the porch as long as I can and try to discovered other secrets the aspens hide.

   

Lastly, are the flowers: Salsify, aster, Indian paintbrush, arnica, wild rose, wild flax, harebells, daisy, wild Bicknell's geranium, acacia...and so many more. They lurk amid the wild grasses waiting to be discovered. Every time I go on a photo safari in my wild garden, I see new and wonderful blooms.

Life in an aspen forest is a delight and a surprise. 

We never know what we will see or hear in the forest, so each day we arise to a new adventure.

Pachyderms

My latest crochet critter is an elephant (non-political in every way shape and form). I researched many elephant patterns on the web, and none were to my liking...so I'm developing my own.

 This is easier said than done.

My first attempt is pretty good, but the ears are rather largel He could give Dumbo flying lessons.

My second attempt has good ears, but the trunk is too large. The size is good...

but I think he is smuggling a vacuum cleaner for a trunk.

And the BLUE elephant is attempt number 3. His trunk is OK and his ears are OK...the pattern is starting to take shape. 

I should have a perfect "pack of derms" pattern by tomorrow. At least that's the plan right now.

Summer Rain

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Summer rain is special...it does not last long and leaves few puddles...but if you're lucky you might see raindrops on the greenery. 

This was my view when I walked my wildflower garden this morning. The air was cool, the sky was clear and 

I have to believe the plants were enjoying the sprinkle of rain.

A Few More Piggies

The menagerie grows then it gets smaller as I give the critters away. I made a trio of piggies that were quite loud and named them Noisy, Noisier and Noisiest, the "tres apigos" (play on words for tres amigos). They were sent out to 3 little girls on Wednesday.

Then Big Pig joined the group--for some reason, he's just BIG, yet he's made with the same number of stitches as the rest of the piggies. He's pictured with his friend "Stripe" to show the difference in sizes.

Tonight "Porkchop" joined the group, but he's camera shy...maybe I can corral him tomorrow.

With all the ugly things happening in the world, I'm escaping it all by making piggies and lambies. If  the politicians would focus on reducing inflation, getting us out of a recession, solving the border crisis, and open the oil pipelines, then I would talk about more important things than crocheted critters.

I found a small ball of scrap yarn that looked perfect for a lamb, so I made a lamb. Meet Fluffy! 

Crochet Critters Continue

I'm making more piggies, and this one might be the best of show. A striped piggy, all proud and perky.

Wildflower Garden

Summer wildflowers are always a surprise as you never know what will show up. This summer the wildflowers are late. I've looked and looked, and nothing was in bloom...and all of sudden all of the flowers were in bloom. A strange summer for wildflowers. I have the "usual" list of illusive flowers and I never get tired of seeing their beauty unfold. Take a look.

     

Queen Anne's Lace, Salsify, Arnica, Harebells

      

Aster, Indian Paintbrush, Lupine, Prairie Grass