Life on the High Plains

 Today I spent the day searching my trailer finding the masks that I am able to wear with my uniform here in Yellowstone.  I had thought these days were behind us (unless I go shopping in Idaho or Montana where non-believers outnumber the believers.) I just want to start by thanking all the idiots out there who think they know more than the scientific world, and those who are still "doing their own research", and those who think the government is tracking them with the vaccine, and the evangelicals who practice some kind of Christianity other than what I was taught, and those who are following their highly intelligent leader, Trump, etc., etc., etc. Because of you all we are back in this situation.  One or two simple injections in the arm would allow us to return to normalcy.  But no, you idiots are so self-centered and narcissistic, and so completely dumb and uneducated that we are back to wearing masks. I'm not mincing words anymore.  I have no patience or tol...

 Last week I took the time to visit the Great Fountain Geyser in Yellowstone National Park. This geyser erupts about ever 9 to 15 hours.  The Park Service does publish predicted times for it.  The eruption window is about four hours and that's why I've never stuck around for it before. Last Friday, however, I loaded up drinks, snacks, hat, and a book and went to make the long wait. This geyser is surrounded by these beautiful pools of many colors thanks to the microorganisms that live here. I chose a seat on the benches and was treated to an eruption of the White Dome Geyser that is a short distance down the road.  If you've never been to Yellowstone in the summer, these geyser fields are hot especially when the sun is beating down on you.  I took some breaks in my truck to get out of the sun. Before long I could see that it was starting to bubble which means an eruption is coming soon. Then it started spurting more and more. Here it comes! There it goes!  ...

 There are lots of wildfires going on in the west.  This is what the sky in Yellowstone looked like a few days ago even though aren't any wildfires in the immediate area. Wildland firefighters are heroes as far as I'm concerned.  President Biden recognizes their dedication and is getting them paid better.   Let's hope this fire season isn't horrific and that our firefighters stay safe. Linking with Skywatch Friday

An artist friend from Colorado Springs was visiting the area last week and we met up to do some plein air painting at Harriman State Park in Idaho. Harriman has some beautiful views.  We walked around for awhile looking for the perfect spot and decided on a spot right beside the river.  You may notice the wide brim hats.  Why?  When you're painting you can't wear sunglasses and you need to have your eyes shaded to view the colors properly.   This was my chosen scene.  So beautiful. Here is my painting in its beginning stages.  Plein air is supposed to be quick without too much detail.  If you know how I paint then you know that goes against everything I do while painting. It was a beautiful day to be outside along the river.  We used tons of mosquito repellant.  There was a high school orchestra camp going on and we were serenaded by their wonderful music all day.  Some of the kids came over and said such nice things about our ...

 I've just finished a new painting--one that is unlike anything else I've ever done.  Let me start by giving a definition of surrealism that I found on britannica.com: "Surrealism was a means of reuniting conscious and unconscious  realms of experience so completely that the world of dream  and fantasy  would be joined to the everyday rational world in “an absolute reality, a surreality." When you think of surrealist art you probably think of artists such as Dali and Picasso.  Someone close to me wanted a piece of art for her house that was outside the box.  So I put on my thinking cap to come up with an idea for a piece of art that would be unique and personal to her. This is what I came up with.  This person is a unique thinker who finds happiness in her garden, with her hummingbirds, with her friends and through the many books she reads. This was my first attempt at painting a human.  It definitely isn't meant to be a realistic portrait of...

Yesterday I received a surprise call from my long-time Yellowstone hiking buddy who isn't working in the park this year.  She is visiting the park and asked if I was available for a hike today.  Heck yes!  We agreed on DeLacy Creek trail in Yellowstone. I got an early start to make the 1 1/4 hour drive to the trailhead.  I couldn't resist stopping at Fountain Flats to get a shot of the ground on fire.  When it's early in the morning and cool, the steam rising from the geysers looks so mystical. Since I was running a little early I also made a quick stop at Keppler Cascades. Here's the view from the opposite direction of the falls.  Yellowstone has so many hidden jewels. Before long I arrived at the trailhead and my hiking buddy was already there waiting for me.  We started on the mostly tree covered trail that goes through an old growth forest that wasn't devastated by the 1988 fires.   The 1988 fires burned about 800,000 acres or 36% of the ...