Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons

On August 4th we set out for our summer vacation to Yellowstone National Park. We actually just kind of picked and left one day with only a few preparations behind us. We camped just outside of West Yellowstone in a KOA where there warned us constantly that we could be dead at any moment at the hands of a bear. It was surprisingly really nice because there were showers and bathrooms! After setting up camp and building an anti-bear environment we started our search for great scenery, adventure, and animals. Here's what we found: 1st Day: Geysers and Mudpots

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At every entrance to a geyser or paint pot there was a sign posted warning parents to watch their children and to keep off the hotspots. We couldn't help but laugh at the sign though. The following picture is just plain funny. It's definitely a clear warning that death looms for the disobedient. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Perfect Smores We discovered some information right before we left on our trip that has led us to the path of the perfect smore. The discovery is that of the chocolate marshmallow (chocomallow)! When in proper use with the fudge shoppe cookie the chocomallow can create amazing sensations in one's mouth. Here's a quick model for proper usage. mmm! mmm! Good! In this next picture Nicky was done with pictures being taken of her. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2nd Day:Little Grand Canyon and Lots of waterfalls

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Elephant Graveyard While visiting one of the paint pots, Nicky noticed that there were a plethora of dead trees that were plastered on the neighboring hill. She quickly referred to them as an elephant graveyard like the one Lion King. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jenny Lake and the Bar J Wranglers I need to thank Spencer Holmgren who was insistent that we visit a place just outside the south entrance of Yellowstone called Jenny Lake. Jenny Lake sits right at the base of the towering Teton Mountains. There were a lot of activities offered there but the hike to the waterfall caught our fancy and we indulged. Well worth it! We then visited the Bar-J Ranch which is always a good time.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The only bear we saw the whole trip Although Nicky didn't get to see a bear or moose we still enjoyed the trip. It's was a nice excursion away from civilization and to view some of this beautiful country around us.

Projects! Projects! Projects!

A few weekends ago while I was home visiting my parents, my mom and I made some bird baths. My Aunt Jeanie and Uncle Gene showed my mom these and we had to try it ourselves. First you take a really large leaf(we used rhubarb leaves). Then you make a cement mixture with less water than you would use for normal cement. On top of a table that you don't care about you dump out a bag of sand. Place a large garbage bag on the sand. Then arrange the leaf on top of the garbage bag/sand, this gives the bird bath depth. The cement goes right on top making sure to have it cover the entire leaf with no wholes. It needs to be pretty thick. Ours is between 1/2 and 1 inch think. You have to let it dry for a few days. After that you can turn over the cement and remove any pieces of leaf that may be stuck in the crevice. My mom painted the leaves(I am not sure with what), it has to dry again. Before you seal the leaves it needs to sit for about two weeks. Last time I was home we sealed the leaves with 3 coats, top and bottom. Here are the finished products. I love it! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This week I spent a couple of days at my parents house. My parents have always had a fluorescent light in their kitchen that is not really very pretty-you can see the rectangular area of different colored paint where the light was. One of the bulbs burned out and my brothers were going to fix it before they left. Eric is a carpenter and Gary is and electrician, they decided they would redo the lights in my moms kitchen-something she has wanted done for a long time. Here's a picture. They did almost the whole thing in a couple of hours. All that is left is one light(the pipes need to be moved first), and painting the ceiling. I had to leave before they finished, but I will put another picture later on. Doesn't it look great!?!

This one's funny too!

Sorry for another clip, but we really liked this one too.

Need a Good Laugh?!?!

Short, but not too Short

I finally did it. I have been thinking for a very long time about cutting my hair, and today I got the guts and chopped it all off. Nine inches later, and here's what I look like.