Neighbor Dave

Father and Son
Pointing to a location
That conjures up images of a memorable elk-hunting story...

Indian Paintbrush

I always like spotting Indian Paintbrush, our state flower, in early summer!  I was not disappointed when we stopped at Virgin Lake on the 4-wheeler trip. 

4 Wheeling season has begun...

This weekend marked my first outing on the 4-wheeler this summer!  Yea!  The mountain roads are dry enough to get up in the high country, so it was wonderful to head up to Dubois and north to the Horse Creek area. 

My neighbors were camped there, trying out their new camper, and invited me to come up and 4-wheel.  So, I accepted!  I'd wanted to take one of the new teachers at school on a ride, and she was anxious to have the experience.  So, we arrived at their camp about 1:00 p.m. and unloaded.

I'm on the left, Brenda M. in the middle, and Scot on the right with the new Razor.

My neighbor's son was there too, and he had just purchased a new side-by-side 4 wheeler (Polaris Razor)  that seats 4.  We all took off up the trail to Bog Lake.  About a mile down the trail I realized I left my camera in the pickup!  Rats!!  Bog Lake was beautiful...but I have no pictures.

Then, we returned to camp, I loaded up my two machines, and then four of us climbed into the new side-by-side for a tour of the Burroughs Creek Loop road.  The ride in this new machine was unbelievable... no kidding...smoothest ride I've ever had, and even the back seats were very comfortable (lumbar support and all).  I think each year the improvements on these machines are remarkable.  

Anyway, because Dave has hunted in this area since he was a kid, he knows just where to go to see all the beautiful lakes.  One has to know this area, because there's very little signage.  Some trails have a number, but others don't.  So, if I had to find my way to all these spots on my own...hmmm...I probably wouldn't be too successful.  I'd need to drive it myself and go a couple more times. 

Virgin Lake

The first high mountain lake (we're talking about 9,000 feet) is Virgin Lake.

Rainbow Lake

Dave, the ultimate mountain tour guide!

The next was Rainbow Lake.

Ramshorn Lake

And finally we wound around until we came into a clearing where we could see Ramshorn Lake, located right at the base of Ramshorn Peak.  It was getting pretty chilly by now, and it was time to head back to camp!!

But on the way, we scared a Moose and her year-old calf as we came around a corner.  We got a close look at them;  they are spectacular animals.  Both ran quickly into the dense forest cover before I could get a good picture...but I can assure you there's a "butt" shot of the Moose if you could look closely enough.

Summer Solstice

A Celebration

 From pagan origins

A tribute to the Sun

Clarity, inspiration, unprejudiced love, warmth, life giving energy

That which may be hid by clouds,  but cannot be extinguished

From the ancients at the builders of Stonehenge or 

Egypt’s pyramids

 

To cultures around the world

Mankind celebrates the goddess of the hearth, agriculture, femininity

With midsummer festivals, parades, bonfires, food, music, 

Floating fragrant flower garlands gently down a river…

Thoughts of such celebrations down the centuries entertained me

As I watched the last ray of light from the longest midsummer day 

Offer a promise of Good…in silence.

Summer begins...

Yahoo!  Today is the first day of summer!  Last night the evening the sun didn't dip behind the mountains until nearly nine o'clock, the sky above the setting sun was beautiful...and I was enthralled with the light!!  I love the long evenings of light!  I will try not to notice that the evenings will be getting shorter...until September. 

The prairie flowers on the high plains deserts are still blooming...but are nearly past their glory.  This picture was taken about a week ago and shows off the pretty yellow blooms of our arrow-leaf balsam root.  The wind was blowing, swirling the blooms.

I've got a plump little robin that has been checking for food in the grass...and he's been a very curious fellow.

Knitting....ah knitting....well, I started a pair of socks, just for something portable to take with me for an easy knit.  But I'm STILL working on the Accordion Scarf; I have 21 of 25 repeats finished, so I'm getting closer.  And I'm STILL working on the blue sweater shawl.  That's not coming along so quickly since I can find lots of other things I've been waiting to do...

Ahh...summer...time spent outside...I love it.

Gold Rush Architecture

I just spent a few days with a friend who now lives in Grass Valley, California.  This is a city just north of Sacramento.  I got a wonderful tour of the area, which was built up from the California Gold Rush days in 1850's.  Grass Valley, along with the neighboring town of Nevada City, are wonderful gold mining towns to explore.  The local mines, the Empire Mine and the North Star Mine, are two of the richest mines in California.

Here's the historic Holbrooke Hotel.  I'm guessing there are lots of stories to be told from within these walls. 

The tour of Nevada City was very interesting.  The streets are narrow, winding, steep, and you wonder if the "gal" in the GPS could really be of help here. She might be in "recalculating" mode most of the time. Some streets didn't even have signs.  I think it would take a lot of time to get familiar with getting around on these streets!  But the architecture was really great to look at.  Lot of Victorian style homes.

The house in the picture above was built on the river, although the river sits considerably below the house.  From the street, you enter the house on the 3rd floor, and then, go down to the other floors. 

A most interesting tour! 

When shopping for yarn...

The sign says it all...