THE TETON TRIP

We left Island Park on a beautiful morning of only 51F…The forecast was for a thirty per cent chance of rain…We traveled by way of the Mesa Falls and followed along the back side of the Tetons…Passing through Driggs and over the mountains (with ten per cent grade) and passed Teton Village on our way to the South Entrance to the Teton National Park…We arrived for lunch at the Jackson Lake Resort Restaurant…This is a beautiful setting from the picture window inside the restaurant…We were seated next to the window, where the pictures were taken…As you can see the beauty of these mountains are always present…The Tetons are really one of our favorite places on earth…We finished lunch and headed back to the motorhome…It takes about three hours, one way to make the trip…We were wanting to get back by five PM…But first Mary Ann had to get a soda at the old fashioned drug store in Driggs…Of course I had to get a double dip huckleberry ice-cream…Mary Ann got a strawberry soda made with Sprite…We started home, satisfied with a beautiful and satisfying day…Well would you know, the storm clouds started moving in from the south-west and by the time we arrived in Aston rain drops began to splatter on the windshield…The wind began to pick up and the next thirty miles was very stormy…By the time we arrived the rain was whipping across Henry Lake and the wind at about fifty MPH began to whip through the park…We were thankful to arrive home before the big storm…

Well here are some pictures of the trip…Notice how the wheat fields are turning yellow and getting ready for harvest…All the potato fields are in bloom…Really a beautiful time of the year…Mountains in the back ground are the Tetons looking from the west…Talk to you later…Philip

LAST OF MY FATHERS GENERATION

My father had two sisters and three brothers…The wife of one of the brothers passed away last week and I just found out about it…She had been very kind to me when I was growing up…I remember when she and my uncle Clarence got married…It was in the days when the girls in nursing school could not be married before graduation…Well they got married anyway and we had to keep it a secret until graduation…Being about school age that was an exciting time for me to keep a secret…She was always there for me to talk to and even fixed me up with a date with her younger sister when I was just fourteen…My first date…Fond memories will always be there when I think of Aunt Larine…Jerry and Jimmy my thoughts and prayers are with you…

Today we are going to drive over to the TETONS again and have lunch…We approach them from the back side and go around to the East…This will take most of the day, but it is a beautiful drive…There is still snow on the Tetons…I will take as many pictures as I can and publish them in tomorrow blog…Talk to you later…Philip

HEAVY HEARTS

When I got up yesterday morning and looked at the news reports on my computer, the feeling of “ is this really happening”…I can only imagine the heart break of those who have lost someone precious to them…The weeks, months, and years that must be endured during rehab for those who have survived…And yes, the pain must be horrible for the parents of the actor…

This was on my mind while I was doing my morning chores…Unbelief is still within my feelings…We live in a great country and we know that horrible things are going to happen that continually shock our intelligent being…

We decided to get out and go to Mesa Falls, a tranquil place of beauty and serenity…The mist in the air, the sound of crashing water, the cool breeze, and the warming sun cannot be felt with just the pictures…The long walk to the falls, and back to the car is a trying experience for the old legs…With our newly purchased walking sticks was a big help in the last few strides to the car...

It was getting late and we decided to go to one of our favorite restaurant in Island Park…The Boondock is a cabin like in the middle of the forest with excellently prepared foods…

Here are some pictures from yesterday…Talk to you later…Philip

THE RAIN HAS COME

We were watering the grass to keep is growing and green…It has been raining for the last four days…It was badly needed and we are hopeful that it will keep the forest fires from starting…With the lighting, it is possible that a strike could start a new one…With the ground being wet and the trees dripping, it is likely a fire will not get started…

You might wonder what we do when it rains?…Well we have lots of things that we enjoy…Mary Ann is crocheting, catalog shopping, cooking, catalog shopping, and ordering light fixtures for the motor home…She loves to do the installing also…What a woman…I guess a farm girl just loves to tinker mechanically…You might ask what do I do when it rains…First of all, I have learned to keep my mouth shut when she is installing something…Secondly, I am still studying Spanish, working on the computer(playing games), and researching for my wood carving…Looking for schedules on the various lectures that are held in the National Parks…I still am involved with astronomy and bird watching…My only regret is, Mary Ann for some reason will have a fit if I carve in the motor home…Something about sawdust and wood chips all over the place…Well I am willing to compromise, as long as she keeps preparing (fixing to you southern boys)my meals…We go out and have a wonderful dinner when it is my turn to fix dinner…

Yesterday we went to Idaho Falls to get our hair cuts and other supplies…Next week we will be going to Bozeman to meet with family and we will purchase supplies then…We are really looking forward to the trip…It is one of the most pleasant and scenic rides we have in the area…It runs along the Gallatin River and through the mountains with all the variety of pine trees…This is truly beautiful country…

Well today is wash day and it is suppose to rain again…Talk to you later…PhilipEarthquake Lake

Under the rubble are buried, from the landslide, cars, RV’s, and people that were caught in the quake…This happened in 1959…

CRATERS OF THE MOON

I had this account ready to publish and hit the wrong button and as far as I know it is drifting around in cyber space…Well here goes again...

We decided to go to the Craters Of The Moon yesterday…This is a national monument located 20 miles west of Arco, Idaho…This is a totally different scenic  tour with a difference in elevation of about 3 thousand feet…It is much cooler in Island Park than the craters…We knew it would be summer temperatures and would be very uncomfortable for us…Our highs have been in the 70’s all summer…This trip is about 400 miles round trip…So we got up early and was on the road a little after 8am…

Mary Ann had worked hard on a baby blanket for a new grandbaby that is baking in the oven…She finished crocheting is Sunday and needed to mail it so it would arrive in time for the shower…So we are on our way to the craters and now must find a post office on our route…Well Mary Ann gets to pecking on the GPS and finds one close by in Rigby…Well we got it mailed and was on our way again…

Our plan was to eat lunch in Arco…We arrived in Arco and started looking for a place to eat…Not any of the places looked appetizing, so we decided to just have a picnic at the monument…We always carry extra food just for emergencies, so it is always easy to go to plan B…We found a picnic table and went for the emergency rations…

We toured the craters and headed back to Idaho Falls…We had planned on stopping at the Texas Road House and get a steak…As usual we ate too much…

When you look at the pictures look closely at the sign above Mary Ann’s head and this will tell the story for every husband who has ever traveled with their wives and needed to stop about the time you get started…than about every 25 miles…

By the way the stakes were good at the Road House but not as good as the ones Mary Ann cooks…They will melt in your mouth, after a few chews (for you southern boys it is not tobacco)…

Don’t anyone tell Mary Ann that I bragged on her cooking…She will get the idea she has some value…

Well here are some pictures of the craters and of course Mary Ann…Talk to you later…Philip

FINISHING THE OWL

I have been working on the owl that I started about a year ago and have all but finished with the paint…I will need to let the paint dry for a couple days and put the final finish on it…I will show you some pictures of the final product when it is completed…Time seems to fly by when I am carving…I am glad Mary Ann has some hobbies to keep her busy…Although she seems to be occupied constantly with things (she thinks) must be done… She is deeply into genealogy, crochet, chewing me out, washing clothes, telling me what to do, cooking, sending me on errands, house cleaning, and reaching on the computer to show me where I am wrong…Well what can I say, NOTHING…

I do believe this has been one of the most pleasant summers, so far, that we have spent…Each day has been an adventure…Each day we meet someone with very interesting backgrounds…I believe every retired pilot has a motorhome…It is amazing to listen to the various political and religious views that are presented…I have learned to just listen…I have probably learned that from just being married…When I finished high school, I was going to change the world…I had all the answers…Now I realize that I really know very little…Lets see, can you help your grandchildren with their math?…The atom is not the smallest particle…Man can walk on the moon…

The most important thing that I have learned is you are really not going to change anyone’s opinion…Learning this has made life easier…If you keep your mouth shut, people don’t know if you agree or disagree with their views…And this my friend makes life more interesting…Talk to you later…Philip

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA

Yesterday was a day that I really enjoyed…I got the new 50 foot hose that was purchased from Wal-Mart on Monday, from in back of the Jeep and hooked it up so I could water the grass…The wind has dried the land out and the grass needs a fresh drink…After lunch (Mary Ann made a fresh banana pudding) I took my nap and then got my carving equipment out and carved on the owl that I started last September…It is coming along very well and I hope to finish it in a couple of weeks…The feathering is the most detailed part of carving any bird…I am taking my time and enjoy seeing it develop…

Today is going to be very active…We are having an afternoon party and tonight is the fireworks show…The fireworks will start after it is dark, which doesn’t happen until about 10:30 tonight…It will probably be around mid-night before we get home…I have fresh batteries in the cameras and hope to capture some of the activities for the blogg…I know, I have promised before, but my intensions are good…

Talk to you later…Philip

WE WILL GET SUPPLIES TODAY

We try to go to Idaho Falls during the first part of the week for supplies…We will probably have lunch at Famous Dave’s BBQ…Sunday is Mary Ann’s birthday and they send her a buy one and get one free every year…We do love their ribs…

We also have to get ready for Wednesday (the 4th)…We are having a get-to-gather and everyone is bringing some kind of dish…Mary Ann makes the best potato salad and of course this is what she will be bringing…We are trying to get an early start this morning, so we can make the return trip by late afternoon…The days are so long that is doesn’t get dark until about 10PM…It is not as bad as it was in Alaska, when it was about mid-night before it was dark enough to have the fireworks…And still it was twilight during the performance…The display will not happen in West Yellowstone until about 10:30PM…

I will try to talk to you later tonight and hopefully have some pictures of todays adventure…Philip

CLEANING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT

Something I have never done is clean the engine compartment in the Jeep…Well what do I always do when looking for advice…Tell Mary Ann, and of course she always has answers for any project…Next I go to the computer and research Google…I wind up with YouTube and watch some clips…I learn about all kinds of cleaners and that you can take the water hose and squirt with a light spray and not destroy the electrical system…I am not convinced…So I take some terry cloth towels and start wiping the dust off…Well after a while, I realize that I will need some sort of cleaner…Alright readers, give me some advice…Don’t tell Mary Ann that I have asked for your advice because she knows hers is the best…By the way…She has never cleaned an engine compartment before…If she reads this I will be sleeping out on the picnic table tonight…

Went down to the antique car show just down the road and was very disappointed in the quality and number of autos being shown…Today they are having a monster truck competition and a tractor pull…I have never been to one of these and I don’t know what to expect…I am underwhelmed with excitement…I really want to carve and just sit back and relax…Mary Ann is getting the clothes ready for the laundry…At least I want have to listen to her advice for a couple of hours…

I have got to think of something to get her for her birthday on the 8th of July…She has everything that a 72 year old grandma could have…And beside she has me…Gosh…That means I am sleeping with a grandma…Some pictures of the local area…Talk to you later…Philip