See 'Em Now!

Last August, The Guy and I met Eldest and Her Guy for some vacationeering in Glacier National Park. A fine time was had by all every single day we were there.

There were bears and mountain goats.  Huckleberry 'something' everyday and also pie.  Lots of pie.  Even if it was the tail-end of beargrass, there was some and there were plenty of other wildflowers.  Mountain peaks at sunrise. Beautiful lakes, creeks, and rivers. A bit of canoeing.

And glaciers.

The Guy and I were last at Glacier in 2005 a few months after I had an ACL repaired so did not do a lot of rigorous hiking.  At that time, the story was that the glaciers would be gone by 2035.  The rangers this time around were saying it seemed they were going faster, and would probably no more in 8 years.  Well heck!  Do the math.  We were last there seven years ago.  If we make it back there in another seven...

It seemed important to make the effort.  Now this effort required some logistical planning as there are bears in Glacier.  Big hungry bears.  We prefer to hike with rangers there, and the ranger led hike to the Grinnell Glacier was on the other side of the park from where we were lodging, leaving about 8:30AM.  We were going to have to leave WAY early to get across Going-to-the-Sun road, with construction, with minimum coffee, to catch the boat across the lake...yeah, logistics, but GLACIERS!  MELTING!

So we tried it.  We made instant coffee with hot tap water (better than it sounds).  We ate breakfast bars in the car. While stopped at the construction, we caught morning alpenglow on the peaks. We got to the boat dock in plenty of time....and the line for those hoping to get on was way way long...(yeah, we didn't have reservations, another story).

After some head huddling, we decided to take the next boat across, and hike on our own, without the protection of fearless rangers.  We determined this hike is well traveled, and probably bear free.  And if not, we had bear spray.  And GLACIERS!  MELTING!

So off we went.  For me, it was probably the best day of the time in Glacier.

Cooling our heels waiting for construction wasn't all bad. We watched the sunrise on the mountains.

We weren't imagining things.  Bears everywhere!

 The glacier melt shows in the run-off lakes a turquoise color.  That's not Photoshop.

 Beargrass. Lewis and Clark named it beargrass, not because they eat it, but because every time they saw it, they saw bears.

 Grinnell Glacier, with Salamander Glacier above.  Used to be one glacier, but with melting, has separated into two. Look here (about half way down the page) for photos from 1938 to 2009 of this particular glacier showing how it has decreased in size.

The change in hue of the color of  the run-off lakes is evident as they descend.

(3.8 x 2) + 1.5 (the little hike between the two ferries) = 9.1 miles. Yes. She is leaning on the pole for support!  But in a good way.

The Trip

(More about Mexico)

Three days before the trip, I realized the last name on my plane ticket was not the same as the last name on my passport. (I use both my unmarried and Wonderful Guys name.  Except sometimes I get lazy.)  Add to list….call Frontier.

Standing in ‘show me your passport’ line, in Mexico, the Guy and I are chatting it up with Youngest and the Bebe Daddy, with whom we traveled.  I hear….from afar…my name…my name…and yet…my daughter’s mouth is not saying anything.  And we realize that Dearest Sister and Middle Daughter are in the same line way a ways in front of us!  We wave, but alas.  Not the time or place to give us cuts!

The tower at the airport. Seriously.

After arriving at our resort, and finding our room, I start to ‘move in’.  After about fifteen minutes, Wonderful Guy mentions the A/C doesn’t seem to be working.  Not good.  He sets out on a mission…and by mission, I mean he goes to the front desk.  Within minutes, we have cool air flow.  Very good.  But we forgot to turn it down (or is it up?).  And we froze through out the night.  But better that than A/C not working!

We had clouds and 'strong breezes' and finally rain the day of the wedding.  Real rain the day after.  But the clouds broke up after that, and….all was sunshine, lollipops, rainbows, and silver linings!

The wedding, the family, the resort, the beach, the food…all of it absolutely the best.

My shawl worked perfectly, especially since the wedding and meal were inside, due to weather.  It is not known whether there are any photos showing exactly how well it worked. Eldest wore her cover-up until it started stretching and bagging.  I told her to take it home and toss it in the washer!  My wrap around the hips/sarong/shawl was perfect for duty as well.  I love it when a knitting plan comes together! 

Snorkeling is my new favorite thing. Unfortunately I have lived in land-locked states my entire life (yes, the panhandle of Texas is a land-locked state).  Once I was in the water, the whole breathing thing came naturally.  Flippers turbo-charged my swimming! Must. Have. More.

I did a shot of tequila. Snorkeling and a tequila shot.  It was truly a day of firsts.

After 6 days of no cell phones, no internet, and no drama, we arrived back in the states, where they let us back in.

It was one sweet trip. Thanks, Eldest and Mr. Eldest (what shall I call him now???), for sharing your good times with us.

Postcard from Philly

Youngest to me to the plane, so I had a bit of time with the grandgirls, before flying back east, leaving sunny Colorado for a cloudy and chill east coast. While we were descending to land, I was sure hoping the pilot knew where the ground was...

So here I am, and we are laying our plans.  The Sheep and Wool  Festival may have slipped in priorities.  May be to far to drive for other deadlines that day.  Oh well...it's just wool.

Today we are heading to the botanical gardens...weather permitting.

Philly

So Eldest Daughter is going to be married this summer.  Living back east, she is making most of the preparations herself.  And there is a bridal shower first part of May.

Back east. Way back east. Far from home.

Poo.

That is...
Until!

I found out recently that at work, everyone (and by everyone, I mean everyone who is a REAL employee) ‘gets’  to go to a very important and special meeting the first week of May, and since no one (and by no one, I mean me) will be left at the site, it will be closed.

So I have a week off.

Unpaid, but off work. (Apparently I will still have a job after two years of being a temporary employee...albeit still as a temporary employee.  But still....getting a paycheck.)  (I do not think temporary means what they think temporary means....)

Anyway...my days off?  Right before Eldest’s bridal shower.

I decided it was fate, and I decided that I was going to back east.  I was going to the shower.

Also?  It happens to be the weekend of the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, so we are thinking to take that in as well.  I was sort of kind of planning a trip to Philly this year, more towards the fall, with my sights on Rhinebeck, but I think this fits that goal.

So look at me…

Going to Philly and attending the bridal shower.  I am Pleased. As. All. Get. OUT!

I like being nobody.

Some Things HAVE To Be Mentioned

So we traveled to Oklahoma for an extended weekend visit with my MIL and SIL.

As previously mentioned, Wonderful Guy’s sister works at the local animal shelter (as one of her two jobs).  It is a job that she is well-suited for, and for which I admire her.  Our visits always include a trip to the shelter to see the current residents, and some of her stories amaze me.  While my heart would be broken, hers fills up for these furry guys.  I leave there amazed at her capabilities and effectiveness at the job she does.

Also, I leave trying to figure out how I can get some of those kitties home with me.

And this time?  While I am usually passing over the dogs pretty quickly, this time one struck me pretty good.  I kept thinking about this guy, and talking to the Guy about how ‘we could manage’.

Except we really couldn’t.  But Montana sure did get into my head.  And frankly, is still there.

85%  Timberwolf/dog mix

Five Orange Felines

Posing Puppies

Friendly Ferrets

Whatcha’ doin’ with that camera??

The shelter is not the only local happening place.  There is also the  Toy and Action Figure Museum.

Oh, yes there is!  Thousands upon thousands of larger and smaller toys and posable action figures, in various scenarios, displays cases, and dioramas.  It was truly…interesting.

Also, it made me want to watch Star Wars and Lord of the Rings again.

South Dakota-ing

Wonderful Guy are vacationeering again, this time in the wilds of southwestern South Dakota.

We have seen much of what there is to see in this neck of the woods, some of it impressive, some of it interesting and okay, and some of it pretty much for the touristas.

We are staying across the road from this place.  Trust me.  If I had known, and if it was open for the season?  We would have so been there!  Look at the Drive-In!  Can you not see the 'Fred Flintstone foot-y-type cars' lined up?  I told the Guy when we were debating on dinner last night that if that place was open?  Dinosaur ribs would be the ticket...the ones that tip over the car...

And the bowling alley.  Here there are cars of the modern variety parked in front, probably for some maintenancing activity.  Or maybe they are having fun that we want to have, but can't!

So anyway.  Things we can and have done.  Seen the Famous Faces.

Daylight...

and night.

Seen the begging burros of Custer State Park.  They are really a bit intimidating.  We did not feed them, being trained as we are in all manner of not feeding the wildlife.  However we heard from others that once fed, they don't withdraw their head from the car unless otherwise distracted.

I have seen many types of crossing signs in my years, but this one?  I made Wonderful Guy turn around.  Which he did.  Because he is wonderful, and because it intrigued him as well.  Does it mean that it is a 'slow turtle' crossing?  Or slow down....because turtles are crossing?

These are hard questions...

The sign is located in Custer State Park, where most of the animals that live there now are not native species.  The elk are Rocky Mountain Elk, which were shipped in after the Manitoba Elk were wiped out.  Likewise, the Big Horn sheep are Rocky Mountains, instead of the native species which I can't remember now.  There are mountain goats, too, but they were brought in because someone thought they would make for nice 'show and tell (and probably hunting)' up above one of the lodges...and the bison had to re-introduced.  Of course.  Similar with the prong horns.  The herd was teetering on oblivion in the early part of the century until 20 bottle fed babies boosted the population.

The burros are from a herd that used to cart tourists up one of the peaks in the north part of the park.  The herd was...just released.

Obviously there are no wolves or bears (black or grizzlies) and have not been since the 1880's.

But apparently?  There are turtles.

Parting Shots

My last slide show of Yellowstone, which would be the flowers.

The fields were just full.  Plum full.  Fuller than full.

Geraniums were wild!

Lupines in a field of 'standing dead' trees from a past wildfire.

Scarlet Gilia, which is really really scarlet.

Their columbine are different from ours.  But that's okay.  There's room for all.

Bog orchid, which I have not seen, or at least identified before.  So this was cool.

Pretty paintbrush, pretty coral paintbrush...

Purple gentian, the park flower of Yellowstone.

Penstemon, hanging over a bank over the Lake.

So there they are.  Just a small fragment of the total, and thanks for letting me share.  I get to relive the experience all over again.

Last We Saw Of...

Kansas...

I know, I know.  DSis tells me I am blathering.  Not in so many words, but I know what she means.  But see, I have this KnitCroBlogWeek thing, AND some reeeeely awesome pix from the trip.

One might say that the photos will wait, and well they may.

But...I have iris coming on!

So.  In Kansas.  Not only were there lilacs, but there were dogwoods.  Oh I do miss dogwoods, but dogwoods are a tree of my adulthood.  Lilacs are from my childhood.  So...different there.

( I made my father-in-law stop the car for these. He was a pretty good sport.  I think.)

The honeysuckle was blooming.

So were dandylions. I heard on NatGeo TV last night that dandylions were brought here from Europe. (I am a wealth of trivial knowledge.  Seriously, if we ever play trivial pursuit, pick me as a partner.  I win alot.  Or use to.)

And then.  I heard a wren's song, and chanced to see one fly into this birdhouse.  So I grabbed the camera and the telephoto and just sat on the step of the back porch.  I saw her (him?) fly out, away, and back, about 3 times.

It was awesome.

Home Again Home Again Redux

And it was a good vacation, from start to finish.

Lots of visiting.  Lots of laughing.

Things were seen. Places were viewed.  Photos were taken.

Food was eaten.  Slippers were gifted (and all but one pair fit).

A terrific amount of plane knitting occurred.

Tomorrow it's back to my routine.  But!

Spring (and the garden) is a bit closer, and when I got home...

My first issue of Interweave Knits was awaiting me...

And Molly!  Why...whoever could be Molly?

It's Molly, the Marvelous Matchless.  New to me, she arrived Saturday, the day after I left, and has been cooling her heels at the post office until Wonderful Guy could retrieve her on his return from the job yesterday.  (I may have sort of implied that he needn't bother picking me up from the airport if he didn't make it to the PO first...maybe...)

I unpacked her last night to ensure she arrived intact, then set her up this morning and spun some. Oh my goodness.

Fun fun fun!  I barely tore myself away to let KitKatKnit (who generously let me have first crack at buying her) know she arrived safely, and to post here about my new friend.

Now, sadly, I must post that Betsy, the flying Lendrum is for sale. Sniff. She's been a good and true friend, but I cannot, I will not, start collecting wheels.  Off to Ravelry I go.

(PS If one is interested, Betsy is 3 years old, and has been lovingly used.  Comes intact with all parts, plus 3 extra bobbins (orig 16.50 each).  I will include oil and roving as well.  I have the original paperwork (such as it is) and the original box for shipping.  I am asking $450, plus shipping.)

What A Time We've Had

Bags are half packed and we've checked in on-line for our flights home tomorrow.

Alas.  Vacation is winding down.  But what a time we have had.

After an eight hour day at the Flower Show, we packed up and drove to NYC.  Brooklyn, specifically, to see whereabouts Precious Niece is now living and working.  While there, Mary met up with us at the Brooklyn General Store, where we bought vintage fabric and yarn.

Yes.  Real life vintage fabric.  And yarn.  In the same store.  DSis and I were not thinking such a place existed.

After shopping, we had a beverage down the block and chatted it up with Mary for quite a while.  When we parted company, we wondered around the area until dinner, and stumbled across another yarn store named Casita.  Where more yarn was bought.

Our time in the Big Apple was cut short.  We are fighting colds, you see, and were just too punked out to do anything that took any energy.

With a day of rest, however we were good to go today, and made a trek to historic antique row,

the Italian Market,

and Independence Square.

So tomorrow it is time to head home.  I am always sorry to say good-bye to DSis and Niece, and it is hard to leave my Eldest.

However, I do have something special waiting for me when I get home.  Beside the Guy, I mean.

Just wait 'til you see!

Having A Great Time

As usual, when in the company of these accomplices.

Monday was a too full travel day.  Very much too full.  Every seat on both planes too full!

Yesterday we spend eight grand hours at the Philadelphia Flower Show.

DSis, Eldest Daughter, and I have about 700 photos between us.  Different lenses, different perspectives, different settings.  Very interesting!

There was also yarn...

Today we head to New York City to see Precious Niece's new digs in the big city.  Exciting plans we have for today and tomorrow.

In other news, today is Wonderful Guy's birthday.  He is busy busy busy with work, and probably won't be reading this, but, you know, just in case...

Happy Birthday, WG.  Hope your day was a smooth one.

Show and Tell

I manage to stop at three yarn shops on our recent trip, one in Pagosa Springs, in Telluride, and in Durango. We drove by the one in Bayfield but it was closed. We happened by the one in Delores as she was locking up.

I told Wonderful Guy she probably would have opened back up if I told her I had wool market money burning a hole in my pocket!

So I had good experiences at all, with kind and friendly proprietors (or help, at least). In Pagoso Springs, I purchased linen yarn, thinking of knitting some potpourri sachets baggie thingeys.

In Telluride, I decided I didn't need more alpaca, but instead needed another basket. (Everyone who has knows me in real life is now laughing...or rolling eyes...)

In Durango, I bought an Interweave Knits. Not even a new issue, but geez o peez. I really don't need any more yarn and just wasn't swept off my feet.

Now this doesn't mean the linen/cotton was all the stash enhancement I experienced. Wisest Sister bestowed upon Dearest and I some dishcloth cotton. And Dearest had no room to spare, as she was flying, so her choice (first, I might add!) came home with me.

I also found some other fun souvenirs. Look at what I purchased in Mesa Verde!

I bet I am dyeing in 12 months...all natural ingredients, real recipes, all good stuff. And some I bet I have in my back yard.

Wonderful Guy purchased this rhodochrosite in Ouray...we sort of have a gem hunk curio cabinet...


This I chose in Durango. It is for little blooms, and looks perfect all filled with pansies and jupiter's beard, and honeysuckle, and such.

Real old puebloan pottery shards. I think they look cool, and remind me of Mesa Verda.