Dragonfly Wings

Yesterday I ventured out into the front yard for a while so my son could get the yard mowed. We have mainly garter snakes that like to visit us around the place we live. My kids are like me in having a very strong dislike for these slithering creatures so they request a parent "hang around" when outside.

At first I thought the flying "critters" were bees going for the overgrown clover and bushes up next to the house. Then I realized for the most part dragonflies were in the air. So I grabbed what has become like a best friend lately -- my digital camera. Well, one dragonfly liked having his picture taken. It took over 40 pictures before I captured him and all his detail. I just love the wings. Also, I find their heads to be very fascinating. I found this diagram online of the different body parts of the dragonfly.

This one was much smaller than the other one I blogged about recently. Also, his coloring was very different. Guess I am going to have to do more research and see if there are different species. I did also wonder where these creatures go when storms blow over as one did a little later. Haven't found much online for this answer, but they must "sense" it coming and find places to hide. Can you guess what my next blog will be about? I grabbed my camera for it too.

Visiting Yellowstone

Natural wonders and experiencing nature was our goal in choosing Yellowstone National Park as part of our family vacation plans. It had been many years since I had driven through Yellowstone. I remembered yet things seemed new. The only let down the kids could speak of was NOT seeing very much wildlife. They had conjured up visions of bears, bison and wolves. We did see one bison sitting on the ground right by the road, but there was a car parked in front of it. We did see many tame looking elk around Mammoth in the park and my daughter took a good picture of this one shown.




The geysers and the melting pots were almost unbelievable sights to tourists from everywhere walking around the trails. So many different languages were being spoken and this amazed my kids almost as much scenery. On lady was even seen chanting and raising her hands. Everyone let her express herself freely.




We sat and waited for Old Faithful to perform on schedule and did a picnic lunch on the tailgate in the parking lot. Everyone had a pleasant time and we are planning on going again in the fall. Yellowstone is definitely a place to put on your list to see.

Explorers at the Portage

Last Sunday in the midst of snow/sleet/rain the family went out for a drive with me behind the wheel. After running a few errands, I didn't let anyone know of my plans to stop by Dairy Queen for an ice cream treat for my birthday. From there we headed to a statue that I had not photographed here in Great Falls, MT. This is located at the Welcome Center off 10th Avenue South. Also, found there is the large flag that can be seen from the interstate. A local radio ad says it costs over $10k yearly to maintain the flag and donations are being asked for currently.






I will have to make another trip to the Welcome Center when there is more time and better weather so I can walk a steep paved trail up to a gazebo that is part of the scenery. There is also an indian statue to photograph that I missed.




Another statue has been spotted at the new Federal Court House by the Missouri River here in Great Falls and I will have to pick a Saturday and explore it more.

On of my favorite photos was taken at Giant Springs with my 11 year old walking across the bridge with his father. He is now over a head taller than anyone in the house!!

Grizzly Encounter

Part of this weekend my daughter, Savannah Rose, and I got to travel to Bozeman, MT to a secluded mountain area called Mountain Top Ministries. We had an opportunity to spend time with some dear sweet friends we have not seen for a long time. One person traveled from California and another from Maryland this year. There were 9 in attendance and we had fun sharing memories and listening to new stories of our adventures for the last 10+ years.



I was only able to stay for one evening and went out to my van in the morning to find it had been under attack during the night. There was a mess of shattered glass everywhere -- inside the van and on the ground. Also, there was very little garbage debris on the ground in front of the van -- Cheese It Box and a couple of small plastic wrappers from Cheese Crackers.


It was obvious, my intruder to the van was a bear. Initial shock set in and it was not until my friends started helping me vacuum the glass and cover the window with some plastic, that we all realized just how big the surprise visitor had been. Only a little later did we hear from one of the caretakers, that a big silver tip grizzly momma bear had been seen around and had caused some damage to one of their buildings recently.


We all laughed acting like forensic specialists -- finding blood spatter and long hairs, following the trail of paw prints on the dusty van door and dirt path on the windshield of two vehicles.

While cleaning up the mess, I placed a call to my husband who replied, "Wonder what the insurance company will say to damage caused by a bear?" Another call I placed to my brother, who laughed and then said, "What year of van is that?" When I traveled my 3 hours back to Great Falls, he already had a window waiting with our shop vacuum. He found there is really more damage done to the door as it is termed "sprung", but for now the new window is in and the fragments are mostly removed -- more does seem to keep showing up inside the van.

A Tree With Character

I had to take a picture of this tree. I love it!!! I think it is absolutely beautiful and has character.

It also reminds me of the Robert Brown poem: The Road Not Taken (with forks in the road).

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth; 5

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same, 10

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back. 15

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 20

Out With Nature

This past Monday, the kids and I took Aunt Trish, visiting from Chicago to Giant Springs State Park to have picnic and do a little walking around in nature. We also showed her the fish hatchery.

"Discovered by the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805 and one of the largest freshwater springs in the world. This is also the site of the Roe River, once listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's shortest river. Giant Springs flows at a 156 million gallons of water per day. The water stays at a temperature of 54 degrees. More than a quarter of a million people, visit Giant Springs State Park each year. Many come to marvel at this remarkable feature, or to view the variety of bird life. Some come to visit the nearby Rainbow Falls Overlook, the visitor center, and the fish hatchery. The Fish Hatchery Program raises about 750,000 fish annually. They are then distributed to areas throughout Montana."

We had fun exploring a dirt trail that led up over a small bridge and ended at an overlook of the Missouri River.

Blackfeet Indian Shawl Dance

This past weekend some out of town family and friends went with us to Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center to see a Blackfeet Indian Dance Presentation and to take part in the 11th Annual Illuminaria Walk along the Missouri River on the River's Edge Trail along Black Eagle Dam.

The evening was beautiful but bright as the sun shown brightly through most of the dance presentation.



I fell in love with the colors of this regalia worn for "The Shawl Dance". It is more modern in design than the usual buckskin most are made out of.



The sun really made it shine and everyone could tell the dancer loved the spirit that flowed through the air with the hand drummers beating the drum and singing their song for her.

Out For A Little Walk

Yesterday evening was beautiful although a little on the hot side for us at 82 degrees. Today we are barely reaching 61 as rain has cooled us down quite a bit.

Some of the family did a some exploring of a walking, biking, and skating trail. It is called River's Edge Trail. Here are some pictures taken along the way -- beautiful, historical and interesting all the way.



Take some time and check out the Rails to Trails Conservancy Organization who helped establish the trail we visited and some that may be in your state.


BEAUTIFUL --





HISTORICAL --

Bambi & Thumper ....really do exist!

This was taken in Alberta , Canada in a back yard...Very cool!
Bambi & Thumper ....really do exist!