Yellowstone National Park

On cold winter nights, when my DH and I curl up and watch TV, we will watch the most random things....like the National Geographic channel, or The Animal Channel....or the Idaho Channel.

Well, this week we decided to go and live and see the things that were on TV this winter.
It was also "Get Into National Parks Free" week.  And we live by one. 
Yellowstone National Park.

I pack a picnic and we left the house around 8 am.  Early for me!

We were gone 12 hours.  We loved every single minute of those hours.

I am going to share some random photos I took.  I am still trying to shoot in something besides "Auto" and I am miserable at it!!!!

These are untouched photos....but they are what we saw....

Sit back and relax. 

** disclaimer....**  Some are rated x.  It is just like the animal channel on TV. 
You have been warned!!

Bubbling mud pots are so fascinating to me..... How does the earth stay hot here, and not every where else?  And, for years and years and years.......

You can find gysers all over the park.  Not just at Old Faithful.  But they are smaller, usually.

The water is so blue in places.  But not everywhere.  Why is that???

Yes, that sky is real.  Yes, a storm was coming.  Yes, we got rained on, and thundered on and yes, I loved every single minute.

The roads were virtually bare! There were very few cars, and the best part was when we saw wildlife, we could get right up close to them.  When we walked the boardwalks we were the only ones there.  I have never been to "the park" and had it to myself!  It was wonderful.

Now, I want you to listen to this, and you listen good!  Yes, this is how close I was.  I know...... every park ranger in the world would have me in hand cuffs by now...if they were there.  But, I have never been so close to a wild bison before, and I couldn't resist.

I squatted down , and...focused.....and then I heard my dear darling sweet DH say, "Honey, I think it would be best if you got in the car, now!"  He could have been a park ranger. 

However, I am so glad that I followed his "suggestion" and got inside the car, and closed the door.  If I hadn't followed the "suggestion" I would have missed the next photo.

Close your eyes if you have an  avertion to "mother nature".  This is REAL.



Are they closed.



This is your last chance...!

ummm.  *clearing throat*     ummmm..

I mean really, how often do you get to see this?!!

Oh, stop it.

You would have looked, too.

You would have taken the photo, too.

OK, moving on!!...................

The road to West Thumb is still closed....I guess the road there has snow on it, still.  Or the park rangers are having a party or camping or whatever instead of opening the road.

Hello, are you still here..... quite scrolling back up there!

OK, I will wait.......

waiting..............


What?

oh, OK....I will write more later, when I have your full attention.



Love, Me

Snow On April 2, 2012

In the west, and the east, and everywhere else there are random snow storms.
The past few days the North East has been hit with a dang good storm.

So, I was thinking about our last snow storm.
It was on April 2, 2012.

I woke up that morning, I clearly remember doing that.
I looked out the window, I do that every day.
And I was shocked!  It is hard to shock me.

During the night it snowed.

Our solar lights were still on, and I don't know how, because they were blanketed with snow.
All asphalt or cement was baren of snow.
All grass, trees, shrubs, fences, wires and satelite dishes were blanketed in snow.
 
The dogs were as shocked as me!
I showed you what Zoey did on this snow day....
Now, I am going to show you what Ivy did.
What Ivy always does.

Her instincts kick in and she becomes a rodent killer..... or looker......or sniffer......
She stays Far Away from the cold white stuff.
She finds the warm place where the sun has been shinning.
She sniffs,,,and sniffs,,,,, and sniffs......
Until she gets a random piece of bark stuck on her face.

I don't know if Ivy is giving Zoey a "raspberry" for being in the snow, or if she wants help.
She is an odd little thing, with a warped sense of self esteem.
At any rate, she likes the dry ground, in the sun, green grass and looking for rodents.

Instead of this....................

Today it is 71 degrees and Ivy and I are loving it.
I think I will go and mow the lawn......

Love, Me

PS.  No decision yet on the chicken coop...... but I planted the thought...........  It was really quiet at our house for a while...... I think DH was thinking..........(I wonder if he feels trapped?  Does he want to say no?  Is there a chicken in my future?  Maybe he will build a doghouse?  I wonder who will live in the dog house?)