Showing posts with label Wild Wild West. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wild Wild West. Show all posts

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Flowers of Montana and Wyoming

I love to photograph flowers.  Especially ones when we travel because they usually don't grow where we live.  So when we went to Montana and Wyoming, I was looking forward to snapping some pictures of different flowers.

Flowers are the perfect subject. Colorful and they don't move.  LOL

Enjoy!

Location: Red Lodge, Montana:



Location: near the Rock Creek Vista in Montana on our way to Wyoming.


Location Cody, WY:


 















Jenny Lake, Grand Tetons, WY



Jackson Hole, WY:




And last, but not least, Yellowstone:



I hope that you enjoyed looking at the pictures and much as I enjoyed taking them.  :)

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Yellowstone National park is just awesome.  It's an geological wonderland full of so many different things to look out, explore and take in.  It's just breathtaking.  One of the main attractions for Yellowstone is the waterfalls.

There are so many waterfalls it's just unbelievable.  But if you go, you have to check out the big daddy of them all: the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.  It's so accessible that there's no excuse for not going to see it. 


There are upper falls and lower falls that comprise the Grand Canyon.  We'll focus on the Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon in this post.


The rock formation of the canyon itself is like nothing I've ever seen before.  It almost looks like a painting, doesn't it?


Stunning.



And the falls go on forever.  Well.  They are called the "Grand" Canyon!


You always have to be mindful of the animals in Yellowstone.  They are wild after all.


Truly a stunning feature of Yellowstone and well worth the trip alone!

Monday, September 26, 2011

Things That Make You Go Hummmm...

There is always controversy where ever you live.

Although you can find a thread of controversy that is common to most communities, there is usually something that is unique and special about a certain region or area that is irrelevant to other areas of the country, US or world.

And I guess that if you've never lived in the area, it's probably something that you never would have thought about as an issue that would need to be dealt with.

But in that area of the country, it *is* a big deal.

Such was the case when we were out west.  People in that area are trying to figure out how to co-exist with the native wolf population.


Wolves are encroaching on human's living areas and it's causing issues with the people who live there.  If you can't read the second one, the mom is concerned about her toddler being attacked by wolves.

And that is truly a legitimate concern when trying to resolve an emotionally charged issue such as animal rights vs. human rights.


Or is it that humans are encroaching on areas where wolves have always lived and they're just trying to survive?  


Or maybe, it's just an economic issue as one person nicely suggested.


Sometimes people aren't willing to address the issue.  If you ignore it, it will solve itself.  Or maybe they're just young and naive.  Like the 12 year old boy below.  :)


Some people are philosophical but don't really offer their opinion on a solution.  That's an easy out.


I guess it boils down to the fact that sometimes although there is acknowledgment that there is in fact a problem, there just are no easy answers.

One of the reasons that I like to travel is to learn about new cultures and this is definitely an issue that I never would have thought twice about.  (I worry more about minor issues like terrorist attacks.  lol)  But it's obviously a huge issue in that part of the country.

But I do find it interesting that of the majority of comments that I read (and there were hundreds posted on the bulletin board), that most were emotionally charged responses where the author had a definite opinion and didn't seem to be willing to budge on it.

And that's why there's controversy and wars everywhere.   Because even if an issue starts out small, people can't work together to come up with an amicable solution that is beneficial to all parties involved without becoming judgmental and accusatory in an effort to "win their argument."

The exhibit definitely did what it intended to do.  It made me pause and think.  About a lot of things.

And it wasn't just the issue of what to do with the wolf population surrounding that area.

You know.  Things that make you go "hum."

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Shot of the Day

Wish I had this view every day.  :)


Location: Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming

Friday, September 16, 2011

One in a Million

This little flower just refuses to die.


Don't let them drag you down little flower!  :p

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Just Because

I love Owen.

He's just so... well, him.

He insisted on climbing down this hill in Yellowstone.  He would NOT be talked out of it.


Just because he wanted to do this:


I totally love him.  :heart:

Monday, September 12, 2011

Picture of the Day

So many good ones from our trip out west.  But I love this one.  The composition is spot on.  :)

Sunday, September 11, 2011

No! Don't Eat Them!

No!  Don't eat them!

Please!




Tee hee.

Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, Wyoming.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

The Buffalo Bill Museum

When we were in Cody, Wyoming, we visited the Buffalo Bill Historic Center.


And can I just say that it  is one of the most well put together, informative and interesting museums that I've been to.  And I live outside of DC so we go to a lot of museums.

The crux of the museum is to educate, inform and get visitors interested in the history of not only Buffalo Bill but also the area and historically how the west was settled essentially.

It's all about fun!

And learning about how the pioneers and Native Americans lived and got around.






Thank God Darrel likes the rifles and weapons.  Shane was impressed with this area of the museum the most.  Boys.  Sheesh.  But...it was mutually beneficial for Shane and Darrel as they kept each other entertained!


The boys couldn't resist taking a shot (see what I did there?) at target practice with the rifles.





While they went through the (yawn) firearm section, I wandered off into the Western art section.  Wow is all I can say!  There was some truly amazing paintings and sculptures in there.


But not all art was done in a serious manner.  I love this!  I don't know if you can see it, but there's a Coors can at the feet of the cowboy, near his dog.


Shane in particular enjoyed the science focus of the museum.  They did a great job educating people on Yellowstone and the surrounding area and how it came to be.



He can not pass up a sciencey-thingey that allows him to look through it.  (How sad that I can't even remember what the name of this instrument is.)


And, of course the focus was definitely on the animals of the region.



All in all, this was an excellent museum and I'd highly recommend it.

A world class museum in Cody, Wyoming.  Who would have thunk it?