Five wonderful days in Jackson Hole and Yellowstone

My memory is getting shorter and shorter and so I have resolved to be more punctual about my blog. This is probably more than you will want but remember it is serving as my substitute memory. :)

Tuesday Sept. 29th 2009
We left Logan at 7:00a.m. We drove via Soda Springs arriving at the beautiful Snake River in the Targee National Forest at about10:30. After exploring the river bed and surrounding area we took a wonderful nap. (Temp.72 blue, blue sky)

We intended to take a ride on the tram at Teton Village but found they were closed for the summer. Most everything closes on the 29th of September. We then decided to take a raft ride on the Snake. They talked us into taking the White Water run. I was scared but we donned wet suits and off we went. For two and a half hours we had the time of our lives. I'd like to do it again when the water is even higher and there is more white water.



That afternoon we drove out to Jackson Lake Lodge where we had reservation. We had dinner in their beautiful dinning room while watching a gorgeous sun set behind the Teton Mount Moran.
Perfect day -weather has been very pleasant. Lodge accommodation very good.


Wednesday Sept. 30th
Weather took an abrupt change. It was 19 degrees last night. It is stormy and cold this morning but still beautiful. After breakfast we drove up to Jenny's Lake & Signal Mountain Lodge. Most of today was spent at the National Museum of Wildlife Art. Oh how I enjoyed my time there. I saw a video of Robert Bateman's life and his approach to his art work. They had just opened a new display of Thomas D.Mangelsen's photographic work- really inspiring. We had a delicious lunch at the museum.

There is a large group of Wildlife photographers at the Lodge. They have come from all over the world and include big companies such as Disney and Discovery. They have made our stay more interesting. We have seen some of their work and attended one of their critique sessions where they were evaluating photos. It was really interesting and I learned a lot. We also saw one of their films about Meerkats.
Very few people get to see a moose at this time of year. I felt really lucky to get this shot.
Tonight we again had dinner at the Lodge and were lucky enough again to have a window seat. We saw a herd of about fifteen cow elk running across a part of the meadow and behind them protecting them a big bull.

Thursday Oct. 1st
We are on our way to Yellowstone. We will be staying at Old Faithful Inn instead of Yellowstone Lake Hotel because a forest fire has made it impossible to get to the Hotel.
Three stops on the way to Old Faithful; Lewis Falls, West Thumb Geyser Basin (no pictures) and Keplar Cascades. Temp at this point was 28 with bitter cold wind.



The river filled with lily pads and frozen. Everything was frozen.


Arrived at Old Faithful.

As we pulled into the Inn property we saw two beautiful elk with two little ones. The little ones are cuddled in the grass and photo didn’t pick them up.


Old Faithful Inn is a fantastic old building. You can't describe it and pictures don't come close to reality but this is a picture of the inside. Built at the turn of the century it is enormous and beautiful in a very unique way.

After dinner we took a ride to see if we could see some of the wildlife we are not suppose to feed :) We did see one big bison, he was right on the side of the rode so it was easy to get a picture.
Another Bison the same trip
.
Right now we are sitting in the lounge, reading, listening to someone playing the piano and enjoying the big crackling fire. It is snowing.

Friday Oct. 2nd
This morning we took the Firehole Basin Adventure tour. It was three hours of exploring and explaining the''underground plumbing'' in Yellowstone. Our guide was fun and very well informed. He showed us good examples of the four types of thermal events and explained them; hot springs, geysers, mud pots and fumaroles. We rode in a refurbished 1936 White tour bus. It was surprisingly comfortable.

Today we have seen fourteen of fifteen buffaloes (bison) and four more elk. No bears, they are high on the mountains feeding on pine nuts and the Moose have gone south for the winter to Jackson.

We took another ride along the Firehole River it is beautiful. We saw the Firehole Fall and Cascades.

What a wonderful four days we have had. Tomorrow we head home. We will go out the west gate and go through Island Park, Idaho Falls and home.

Saturday Oct. 3rd
On our way out of the park we encountered an Alpha 1 bull elk

and his harem of about fifteen females. Most of them are hidden behind the bushes.



Across the road was a young bull with four or five females.



The big bull was most definitely aware of the younger one and was actively keeping his group well collected in a group away from road.

If you ever are passing through West Yellowstone and need some breakfast we strongly recommend Running Bear Restaurant.

We made two stops in Island Park, first at Big Springs& Jake's Shack, and second at Mesa Falls. Both places have the most beautiful water I have ever seen.

We also stopped to see the temple at Rexburg and the B.Y.U Idaho campus.

Well that is it for today. Thanks for your patience.

In the rose garden

Portland, Oregon June 25th- 28

There are a lot of disadvantages to having your children located all over the country but the one advantage is that in visiting them you see a lot of wonderful country. Such was the case last June when Marvin and I flew to Portland, Oregon to see Joe, Jim and John. We arrived in time to have lunch with Joe, Gillian and Gillian's parents Bill and Jan. An after lunch tour of Portland included seeing Joe's condo and Gillian's parents beautiful new home. Sorry no pictures didn't have my camera.

Joe was being very mysterious about what he had planned for that evening. He made reservations for the four of us on a dinner cruise on the Williamette River that goes right through the middle of Portland. It was very enjoyable and the food was delicious.

Friday morning Marvin and I took the MAX and went exploring. We saw a few art galleries that I will long remember because of a couple of artists that I really enjoyed. Arne Westerman, (my favorite artist of the day.) Barbara Denedetti Newton (her work was in colored pencil/ watercolor) and David Carmack Lewis (he did some very interesting things with perspective).



Around noon Joe and Gillian joined us to go see the special showing of M. C. Escher's work at the Portland Museum. It was fantastic!
Then off to Portland's famous rose gardens!! Wow were they wonderful. (Pictures on future blog)

Then Gillian took us to a favorite cafe for lunch- I can understand why they like it. I ended up gaining three pounds in the three days we were in Portland. :[

Saturday morning Jim came down to Portland and we went to a Kosher restaurant named Kenny and Duke for breakfast, very kosher. We went down to the Street Market but found it not worth the walking effort. We drove east of Portland to see the Multnomah Falls which is the second highest year round waterfall in the nation. It plunges 620 feet. Then we visited a fish hatchery. I guess I will always be a school teacher but it was really fun to learn all about the salmon and trout industry. I had my lessons plans all made by the time we left. :) Actually it was very interesting.

On the way back to Portlland we discovered an art gallery full of the wonderful works of Rip Caswell. He is a sculpture that reminds me of Jeff. Same good attitude and wonderful talent. His internet site is www.caswellsculptures.com Wonderful experience!!!

We then went up to see Pittock Mansion. The estate includes a 16,000 square foot, 30 room mansion and 46 acres of land. How the very rich spend their money.




We had lunch at Lauralwood restaurant with Jim and Joe, another one of Joes favorites. Then Marvin and I "took our meds". Our way of saying we took a nap. :)

That night we went to Water On The Desert. John and Misu's special program of Butoh. This was an art form that we had never experienced before. It was especially fun to see Misu on stage and feel her warm connection with the audience. Her dance explored the feelings accompaning a migration from one country to another. In her own families case from Italy to the U.S. Another number was an expression of the cycle of grief that I related to and recognized some of my own feelings in it.

Sunday we drove up to Kalama, Washington where Jim and Lita live. Lita was in Pocatello so we didn't get to see her but it was fun to see their apartment. Jim went with us to see Mt. St. Helens. What a beautiful drive!

Sunday night we drove back to Portland where we had a nice visit and dinner at an Italian restaurant with John and Mizu.

All in all a wonderful time!!

Major catch up from March to June

This will be a hodge podge of photos from trips to St. George, Redding and Edmonton Alberta Canada.

March 15th: Marvin and I decided it was time to see our new little Great Grandaughter in St. George. We had a wonderful visit with B.J. and Amber but the focus really was on beautiful little Haylee.


Remember this is a photo of her that was taken three months ago. Can't wait to see her at the Fifield family reunion July 20th-23rd.

On April 10th we went to Salt Lake City with Bryce and Laurie to see "Wicked". Before the show we ate at P.F. Changs. Extra delicious!!!


The show was super fun. Well done in every way. A must see.

Couldn't resist slipping this one in. Kyler and Grandpa working hard.

On April 24th I flew to Sacramento to meet Marvin who had been to New Mexico for a site visit. From there we drove to Redding to attend Terry's graduation.



We can't wait for you to meet Roxy, Terry's sweetheart and wife.


After graduation we did some touristy type things. Went out to eat, took pictures, got a tour of the Fun Park that Terry manages, went out to eat, took a nap, went out to eat:) and played with Mitzi. Who is Mitzi? She is the newest Fifield hound. Look closely and you can see her with us.

Below is a picture of an impressive bridge that is in Redding
We drove down to the coast to see part of the Redwood Forest. The words "huge and magnificent" now have new meaning for me.

And finally the trip to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. We lived there for twenty three years and it has been twenty four years since we left to move to Texas. I have never been back but I have promised regularly that I would go back for a visit. Well on June 2nd I kept my many promises. The following are pictures that probably won't mean much to the Fifields but to the Schaellings they will stir a few memories.
This is the home that we called the green house. It was white with a little green trim and when we lived in it, it was a few years short of 100 years old. Still standing they are putting new siding on it now. The pink is insulation.


John Mark's bedroom windows and the back yard. Notice the picket fence is gone put they still have to paint the new one!


Driving up the drive way to our log home.
Picture doesn't show it but the logs were in really good shape. They are adding on a garage on the left side.



Very disappointed that there was no one at home so I couldn't see the inside.

Do you remember the Linbrook store? Didn't look like this then but this is it today.The biggest surprise was the Church in Tofield. We were the first members in the Tofield area. They organized a branch there shortly after we moved in and we attended church in the library of the elementary school. Now 24 years later they have this beautiful big stake center in Tofield.
It was wonderful being with Lorne and Linda. So many happy memories. I was able to see Kristie and Stew and their families. I went to church in Edmonton where we attended for so many of those 24 years. There were still a lot of the same people that we knew and worked with back then.
Well that about brings me up to date............... We leave for Portland next week :)

April 14th 2009

On the 14th of April my mother peacefully passed away into the arms of her eternal sweetheart. Mom has had a very difficult two years. She has missed Dad incredibly. It has been three and a half years since he passed away. She had a cerebral hematoma that robbed her over a period of time of her ability to communicate, dress or feed herself or a million other things she had always been so careful about doing for herself. I thought I would only feel joy when Mom was released from all of this. I have been very happy for Mom but it has been surprisingly hard for me as well. There is a huge hole inside of me.

We were able to have all of Grandma's children, grandchildren, their companions and a number of great grandchildren here for the funeral. We had some wonderful visits with each other and saw and heard from many cousins and friends that we haven't seen for a long time.

The other good part of this time was the increased focus on memories and our years with her. My appreciation of mom's life, all she accomplished, her strength, her love of life and kindness is magnified. I realize at this point ( as I should have realized long ago) how much I owe to Mom.

Thank you Mom.