Blink and you'll miss it ...

Before we left for our Yellowstone adventure, I spent some time photographing hummingbirds on the deck outside Mom & Dad's place.

I managed to take some nicely posed pictures of several hummers, but this photo still has a certain charm, I think :)

SPS: The Opposite of Parks ...

... is very private space, the home. Last evening, Justin and I signed all the necessary million papers to come into possession of our first place! So, SPS goes out the window just for today and I celebrate our entrance into a long phase of packing, moving, redecorating, coordinating both major and minor repairs, and ultimately, settling in to a new rhythm of life.

The house we chose needs some serious TLC (and possibly even some tough love!). But its bones are great, for being 120 years in service, and we have high expectations for the place. Today begins a weekend of cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, then painting, painting, painting. If my posts are a bit more infrequent over the next two months or so, then just know I'm probably up to my eyeballs in paint/dust/sanding/packing/moving :)

SPS: Now for those pictures I owe you ...

I think the Tetons must be one of the most stunning things you can lay your eyes upon. Unfortunately, our second foray in the park was spent trying to outrun rain clouds. However, the swirling clouds did provide for some unique photo opportunities.

Here, rain on the mountains is moving up from the south, while dark clouds blow over the range from the northwest, below.

The Rolling Photo Safari

A new approach to capturing the action!

Yellowstone rocks in all sorts of ways ...

I have to admit, Yellowstone is one of my favorite places, if not THE favorite place, I have ever been. Because of my feelings, I have managed to finagle trips there AOAP (as often as possible). This recent trip was my 3rd visit, and it was great to share a place I love, with people that I love, people that had not been to visit before. Each time I visit, I leave feeling like a kid again, thrilled that nature has come up with things I could not have begun to imagine, and I think my travel mates felt the same way.


This trip, we had the luxury of more time to explore, and I used this opportunity to visit places a little more off the beaten path in the park, places I hadn't ever gotten to. One of these places was Harlequin Lake, a small body of water that lies on a ledge above the valley of the Madison River.

Here's the sunset from Harlequin Lake. Mom, Justin, and I took the short trek to Harlequin while Dad was busy with elk. The lake was very peaceful, but we were able to observe a number of ducks, and what was most likely a beaver. A great finish to our first foray into the park!