Friday, June 9, 2017

Miscellaneous May

 I still need to post about our Memorial Day adventures, but other than that I'm almost caught up blogging for the month of May. Except for this assortment of photos. It covers the gamut, from rural life to city life, annual events to once-in-a-lifetime events (you'll know it when you see it), and a little bit of wildlife and fun kids.

The cowboys were moving the heifers at the beginning of the month, and that involves moving them right next to the highway, so I got a few shots. I liked the one above best.

The WHOA sign was put up to stop drunk drivers who kept running a stop sign and crashing into the fence. Since then, no one has crashed the fence. I like to think that the WHOA means a lot more--like stop and take a moment to appreciate this amazing landscape!

The cafe at Lehman Caves has opened under a new name, The Great Basin Cafe, and new management. We've been in a couple times to enjoy their good treats.

Even though it's only May, we got called out to a wildfire. Fortunately it was very small.

A few hours later, we were all dressed up and in Salt Lake City.

It was time to go to the Utah Symphony! They played George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, which was absolutely amazing.

The next morning we wanted to go to animal shelters to look for a dog, but we had time before they opened, so we went to the Planetarium. This bike is just outside. It didn't go anywhere, though.

They've redone the planetarium since the last time we visited. The exhibits are more interactive. This one was to find black holes.

They had the planets to scale, which of course I really liked.

I looked at this smaller part of the exhibit for a long time, as it includes moons and dwarf planets and more that's found in our solar system. There's so much more than just the planets!

Then we went for a little trip to Io, one of Jupiter's moons. The kids liked moving the rovers.

One morning I went for a run and one of my regular routes had been flooded out. Water is high!

Desert Girl just had to go to school as a unicorn one day. I helped with the hairspray. She came home as a unicorn, too, which surprised me that her hair would stay up all day. Later I learned that she had even done her part of the class exercise video with the hairstyle. I guess unicorns can do it all.

One day at work I was in the lab and got to witness mouth-to-glottis resuscitation of a rattlesnake.  It was successful. I'm not sure if I could have done it.

Even though the water is high, which means the snow is melting rapidly and the creeks are cold, we've been to our little swimming hole a couple of times. The water is cold, but the kids still get in!

I've gotten to do a little caving, including this fun cave that required some stemming. It's fun to challenge people to go beyond their comfort zone and watch them succeed.

The school's annual field day included sack races,

three-legged races,

 and long jump, plus lots more fun events.

The days are getting so much longer, so I don't see as many sunrises or sunsets, but occasionally I get out and see the terrific colors.

Isn't this a beautiful trailer? I sure would want to buy hay from it!

Here's the view from another angle. Hay is at sale at many Cal-Ranch stores in the West.

We went to get some hay for our lambs with our new au pair (live-in babysitter) from Indiana. It's fun to show someone around who's never been out West.

The curlews are back!

And even though we're on the cusp of summer, we had to go back to winter by driving up to 10,000 feet and playing in the snow. Desert Girl couldn't wait to throw snow balls at me.
Hope you had a good May! And good June. I still can't quite process that we're so far into it.

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

A Trip Up Lexington Canyon, South Snake Range

 One Sunday in early May we decided to go up Lexington Canyon and check it out. This area burned several years ago, and subsequent flash floods had washed out the road in places. I was surprised to see a culvert back in place and relatively easy travel (meaning we didn't have to use 4 LOW, high clearance and 4 HIGH were sufficient).

We drove to the end of the road on the Lexington Arch spur. ATVs can go farther, but we didn't want to risk damage to our truck, so we got out and walked.

Our new dog was happy to go exploring with us.

Desert Girl is very much into entomology, so she was noticing the colorful beetles.


I was enthralled with the flowers, like this scarlet gilia.

After awhile, we turned around, and Desert Girl wanted to walk back in the old creekbed, so we went over there. To my surprise, we soon saw water emerging from the rocks and were following a little creek.

When we got back to the truck, Desert Boy and I got on bikes and biked down the road. Desert Boy didn't think he was going to like it, but he soon changed his mind.

We stopped periodically to photograph flowers (maybe an Agoseris?)

As we were preparing to cross the creek on our bikes, I heard a rattling. We went back and found a rattlesnake!

Some areas have recovered well from the fire, and others not so great.

My husband and Desert Girl went up the north fork while Desert Boy and I continued whizzing down, almost no pedaling required.

The riparian vegetation is coming back great, especially the cottonwoods and rose.

The wildflowers were gorgeous. Here's a pink penstemon.

We stopped at the cabin and thought about what it would have been to live in this area 120 years ago.

Then to more flowers. (Maybe Penstemon pachyphyllus?)

A buckwheat, I believe.

More penstemon.

And more penstemon.

Here's a view of the culvert. Water was trying to creep around the side, so I don't know how long it will last.

A blue/purple flower, but it's not penstemon!
 This is larkspur.

And something bright and orange to finish: globemallow!
I haven't been to Lexington Arch in years, maybe this will be the year to get there! As you can see, there's lots more to see than the arch in this canyon. 

Sunday, June 4, 2017

Upper Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive

The Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive opened to Mather Overlook the beginning of May, and I couldn't wait to go up there. I woke up early one morning and headed up the mountain to enjoy the sunrise.

There were beautiful clouds in the sky, and the sun was just peeking out.

Since the road was closed, I figured it would be a great place for a brisk walk. This sign didn't make it through the winter.

The birds were singing, mountain chickadees, red-breasted nuthatches, Townsend's solitaires, hermit thrushes, and Cassin's finches (below).

I had to walk half a mile before I found enough snow to cover the road, right at the 9,500 mark.

Someone had ridden bikes through the snow and on up the road. That gave me an idea about returning.

I turned around there and headed back down, enjoying the solitude and the views.


I checked out the RAWS Mather Station. It often has some of the highest wind speeds in a couple counties.

On the way down, I had to stop and get a photo of the "Heart of the Mountain."

It was so much fun that we went back up a few days later with friends and bikes.

The kids really enjoyed playing in the snow. I think the adults liked it too!


It's great to be outside!
The road has now opened up to trailheads, so soon we'll be out exploring the trails.
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