6-29-2008-

Time is going so fast.....we have only nine weeks to go.....we do love Yellowstone and thank you for checking out our blog....We have several new people starting this week so that will help as we have been short-handed.....My knees are doing better after starting on prescription for arthritis....the two injections didn't help much......enjoy the coming week no matter where you are or what you are doing.....live each day to it's fullest.....later,

6-28-2008

As you can tell the racks are getting larger....this was taken at Lava Creek.....

6-27-2008

You usually see eagles sitting in dead trees but he sure was pretty in this green one....taken on our way to work Friday morning......

6-26-2008

two mule deer both itching at the same time......

6-25-2008

Pretty flowers behind the store.....

6-22-2008

This day we took a drive with our friends David & Nadine Coakley up a road outside the park called Jardine which leads to an old mining town....the view is fantastic and the flowers were beautiful.....

Our friends, David & Nadine Coakley from Nebraska....

This is a view of the town of Gardiner from Jardine Road

6-21-2008

Notice the date and they were still able to ski up on Dunraven Pass.....by now, June 29th, the snow is all but gone.....

This is a panoramic picture of a bison herd....love that little camera.....

6-19-2008

Just another beautiful view of the snow covered mountains......

6-16-2008

These two pictures are taken at the top of Mammoth Hot Springs....remember this looks like a little village but actually was at one time Fort Yellowstone. Our store is in the lower left hand corner of the first picture.....

6-16-2008 Happy Father's Day

Hope all the dads had a great day yesterday....we did a short 20 mile total ride yesterday since Loyal had driven so much the day before....we are back to work at 12:30 today as we rotate shifts every week....one week we work 7:30 till 4:30 and then the next week 12:30 till 9:30....we actually don't mind the switch as that give us morning time to do laundry, housework, etc....

It was nice talking to each of our kids over the weekend....and we continue to love them for allowing us to do "our thing" and never make us feel guilty....

Have a great week.....

6-15-2008--Bighorn Sheep on the rocks

This was an amazing sight.....these sheep on the ledges just ourside Gardiner as we were heading into the park Sunday for a short ride.....

6-14-2008-Picnic

Enjoying a picnic with Ken & Cheryl....

6-14-2008-Ram

We saw so many animals on this day including this beautiful ram....

6-14-2008-Sylvan Pass

Also on Saturday we drove all the way to the eastern entrance of the park....this is Sylvan Pass going towards Cody and has been under construction for over three years....we wanted to see it since the completion and it is beautiful....still lots of snow. the first picture is a beautiful view of the Teton's.....such a clear day we had....the next picture is at the end of the pass looking to Cody and the last picture is Yellowstone Lake with the beautiful snow covered mountain....gorgeous!!!!

614-2008---Moose and Rosie update

As you can tell the antlers are growing so fast on the bull moose....they are such an amazing animal.....there was a mom and calf that I had on an older post.....apparently the calf had been butted by a bison and was pretty listless for a couple of days.....the ranger said that one day she stood up, mom nursed her and into the woods they went.....Rosie update.....she is now being spotted frequently, but only has the one cinnamon cub with her.....she was limping, but apparently her gait is much better now.....

6-14-2008-Bears

Saturday was a great day.....we drove over 200 miles with our friends Ken and Cheryl Syndergaard.....Cheryl works with us at the store and they are from this area....we love running the park together.....we saw a total of three grizzlys and three black bears....one of the blacks was cinnamon colored and he was huge....the black bear up the tree was spooked by the crowd he had created..I have seen cubs scamper up a tree but never a full grown bear....

6-12-2008-mule deer

This deer had twins but I could never see the other one.....she had them behind a house that our friend Ken is building in Gardiner and he saw them being born.....so precious....

6-12-2008-twin mule dear

This picture was taken by our friend Nadine Coakley....these babies were just about two hours old and were over by the gas station at Roosevelt junction......by the time we were able to get there mom had moved them.....aren't they cute?

6-12-2008-Two of our five "dears"

Kendall's other grandmother sent us this picture of Kendall Jean taken at a birthday party.....she belongs to our youngest son....Nathan belongs to our daughter and we were so happy to get this picture of him....Nathan will have to tell you about the snakes in the tree in their backyard.....Thanks to Linda and Tish for the pictures.....

6-11-2008-

The lady in brown shirt is our manager Joan....Joan is retiring and this was her last day.....we will miss her and hope the new manager will be just as nice....our uniforms this year consist of a red shirt, a blue pullover (if needed) and a jean jacket....if you want to wear a hat it is this one that Loyal has on.....I don't do hats so mine gets no use....they have gone with a western theme this year.....some people call Loyal "cowboy" doesn't look too bad for a 70 year old!!!!

6-11-2008

This little guy and his mom were along the river as we left Gardiner headed to work at Mammoth....coming home there were cars parked taking pictures of them and I looked up and this eagle was soring above and no one was looking at it....

Fresh snow....6-7-2008

Fresh snow as seen on our Saturday drive.....such beauty......sometimes the pictures don't do it justice...

Bird...6-8-2008

I think this is a Robin.....he was sitting on a post in my backyard this morning.......just posing!!!!

Nesting Sandhill Crane--6-7-2008

Bird watchers are always at Floating Island Pond watching the Sandhill Crane.....

Bison..6-7-2008

It is hard to get a good picture of a bison because they are so dark. And, their eyes do not reflect the light....you don't want to encounter one on the road in the dark......

Afternoon Nap & a little history...

The first 31 years of Yellowstone it was ran by the army and there was a Fort Yellowstone located at Mammoth Hot Springs where we work....all of the fort building still exist and that gives it the appearance of a village.....the park headquarters are also located here.....elk love all the green grass and they don't feel so threatened by predators so you can most generally see some hanging around....they are not tame and we have seen them kick and gore people who get to close....during rut season in the fall it is amazing to watch the bull elk come into the village and vie for their ladies.....one was actually killed by another last year right in from of the store......

Moose Flats-6-3-2008

This area of Yellowstone is called Moose Flats because of the willows....we seldom see a moose here but this was our lucky day!!!

6-3-2008

Such a great view each time we see this mountain.....this was a great day weatherwise for pictures.....

Mammoth Hot Springs...6-2-2008

My favorite view of Mammoth Hot Springs....you can google this and see what they looked like ten years ago before the daily little earthquake tremors.....

Rosie....6-8-2008

Sad news about Rosie.....the rangers last saw her Friday, June 6th and she was very bloody and in bad shape....probably attacked by a grizzly or a male black bear....the cubs haven't been seen and they are hoping she got them up a tree.....There always seems to be a black bear around the Tower area and they are always nicknamed "Rosie".....this Rosie is probably the 4th one....

The weather has been so rainy, snowy and cold.....higher in the park they had horrible weather Friday....cars off the road and some turned over....

We went for a short ride yesterday and experienced snow and sleet in some areas.....that's Yellowstone....

Our first week and "900500 Bob"

We have completely our first week of work.....we have our same jobs as last year....Loyal is the dock man which means he checks in all vendors, trucks, packs and sends all UPS orders and he also helps stock the cooler.....I am the gift lead which means I keep all back stock organized to make for easy stocking and make sure the sales floor is fully stocked....I have several helpers that also stock....sort of a no brainer and to think I am getting paid!!!

I have to tell you about "Bob".....a lady brought a jewelry box to the clerk that had no price on it and wanted to buy it....there was no sticker or upc code.....upon further examination it was determined the box had been laid on the shelf by a customer and they accidently left it....AND, inside the box was a baggie full of "Bobs" ashes....they were probably going to be scattered in Yellowstone, which is against the law.....the supervisor called a mortuary and all creamation have to be registered with a number. So, we have 900500 Bob. Animals do not have to be registered, so that was ruled out.....WOW! what a story!!!!

More later....

Bull Elk....6-1-2008

This is one of the bull elk that will be courting the ladies this fall...

Moose and her calf...6-1-2008

This calf is not very old and never did stand up.....the mother was very attentive to it....you can see the baby in the brush.....they are not a very good-looking animal, but somehow they grow on you.....so far this year we have seen 5 moose.....