Feb. Camping...Saturday...

We arrived at the Bear Trap camping area Friday evening...as you can see, it was getting late but not too cold!

In the morning, my eyes were pleasured with the beautiful Madison River.

Looking downstream, you can see the canyon withe the highway on the left of the river and Ted Turner's land on the right of the road where we are camped.

We camped in this particular spot because it is close to a great hiking trail. This summer, we plan on floating this river in the raft. (The lower part is float-able on tubes!) This particular wilderness area, as the sign explains, is the 1st BLM wilderness area in the United States...no bikes or any sort of motor vehicle. It's pristine land.


Here I am...ready to go! Warm enough for just sleeves, but I have a coat (which I put on later) in my day pack...along with my pepper spray, snacks, water, mittons and swiss army knife!

And here is husband, with his camera in hand!

Scott made fun of me for wearing my snow packs...but I knew I had made a good decision...this is the FIRST of MANY places we trapesed through the snow! Gus had a great time, too...running up and down the trail several times.


As we walked along the river, I spotted this beaver lodge...so cool, huh?

Here's husband finding a kleenex for me (the only thing I forgot besides matches, sun screen and ...oh, never mind, lol.)


The trail was not always easy walking...and we walked much further than we had anticipated...
But it sure was worth it to see this gorgeous part of the river!

We stopped for a little while so Scott could figure out exactly where he would put the raft when floating through...
It looks like total fun-filled for floating, huh? This was 2 1/2 hours of hiking up...

AND...after a total of 5 hours, we were SO TIRED and sore and my feet were KILLING me. Even little Gus Bob was tired! We met up with Ellen and Derek at Norris Hot Springs and soaked in the natural hot mineral water for a couple of hours under the moonlight and live music! What a great way to end the day!
Finally, went to bed...and here's what the clock and thermometer read when we got up!

Good thing the camper has such a great heater!
Blog on "Sunday Meandering" to come!

And for Scott's rendition and a preview of my post about SUNDAY...go HERE!

Headed for a

weekend of camping! I'll take lots of pics!

Have a super fantabulous friday!

Hand Painted in Thailand!

Here is my absolute GORGEOUS set of salt and pepper shakers Ed and Cathy brought me from Thailand. (pics are blurred because i had to take the flash off...)
The little plate they sit on is beautifully gold trimmed...





I also received some Bali silver earrings with abilone shell. Thanks you 2! They are super duper fantabulous!

Welcome Home, Ed and Cathy!

We decided to celebrate Ed's birthday AND welcome he and Cathy home from their 6 week adventure in Bali!
And we served fresh veggies and fresh pineapple for snacks...and (of course) chips and chipotle salsa.


We had yum yum fresh, hot biscuits and pumpkin pie desert (for the birthday cake).

It went very well with this yummy homemade soup!
Ed decided to pose like he did when he was wearing his pumpkin suit (can be seen on a previous post!)

And Cathy was just her cute little dah-dah self!



We had a nice visit with them and a great time watching a dvd of Ed scuba diving! And we saw lots of pics of the mosaic temples they saw. Also, Ed showed us pics of the elephant park they went to, (elephants painting pictures, throwing darts, riding bicycles, lol) and oodles of really cool things. Welcome home, Ed and Cathy! Love you!