Okay, first things first. My old camera was a 35mm Canon Rebel XSi. Without the ability to really research cameras from the road we just replaced it with the next generation: a 35mm Canon Rebel T2i. If you bundled the camera together with a nicer lens (55 to 250 zoom) you got the nicer lens (normally a $400 lens) for only $150. A sweet deal for a sweet lens. I normally use the 18 to 55 lens and fill in with my big zoom (75-300). This new lens will bridge the gap nicely.

I had to get a camera on the road. I just had to. Not having my camera (and especially up here) is like having only one arm. I would probably prefer to break my arm than be without a camera.

And, I am loving my new keyboard/cover for my iPad. It works great! A little on the expensive side (from Brookstone) but worth every penny. The keyboard is removable so I don’t have to use it with the cover. Very cool.


After settling in yesterday and giving the dogs a short walk we sat down to a glass of wine and dinner. We sat on the front porch even though it was on the chilly side and listened to the hermit thrush singing. It’s one of my favorite birds and we’ve only ever heard one up here. No owls though and no coyote concert.

I’ve put out bird food and peanuts for the stellar jays but as yet have not seen even one. Usually they show up right away and greedily carry off all the peanuts.

Rick put out the hummingbird feeders this morning and within one hour of hanging them we had hummers. I had forgotten how much bigger this species of hummingbird we have up here (broad-winged) is than the tiny ones that visit our house in New Jersey. Plus, they make noise when they fly and ours at home are pretty much silent.  He’s out there on the front porch steps with the slow motion camera we brought along trying to get some footage. We’ll see how many show up. Usually we have to fill the feeders every day due to heavy drinking at the sugar bar!

This morning he made bran muffins for breakfast. They were delicious! Here they are upside down cooling straight from the muffin tin. They have so many good things in them: yogurt, golden raisins, brown sugar, bran cereal, molasses, vanilla.



After breakfast we took a walk to the top of the sage-covered hill opposite our driveway. From up here you can see pretty far, all the way to the Snowy Range.



This section of land is almost like tundra. Little flowers grow here that don’t grow in other places. It truly is an alpine environment.





This tiny cactus is about to bloom soon.



There were several of these moths flying around. This one landed and we weren’t sure if it just didn’t like flying in the wind or it was at the end of its life cycle.



Happy free range dogs!


These evening primroses love disturbed soil along the road.


The furry seed pods of pasque flowers that have finished blooming.


We have tons of larkspur!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Guess you got there in plenty of time for the wild flowers after all.  The bran muffins sound wonderful!  Save one for me. 

I completely agree about the camera. I couldn’t survive without a camera.

What an amazing landscape! I’m glad your internet is hooked up and functioning and you can share it with us. And the dogs look so happy out there on the “free range”!

Glad you made it ok.  Looks pretty.  Our plans are to head up this weekend….fingers crossed!

Wow, what a spread, like the Ponderosa only higher. I love the “free-range dogs” shot. It looks like they could run forever. But, they are good about not going too far, right?

Carolyn, the flowers are pretty sparse still. Only a few are blooming compared to what will be blooming in another week or two. Yet, they are still pretty!

Steve, glad you are enjoying our vacation as well! The landscape here is very variable and you will see in photos yet to come.

Debra, Oh good! We finally get to meet (I hope!) It’s very green and the wildflowers are just starting. A pretty time to visit!

Bigsis, the dogs stick close to us and don’t take off. They are very good dogs off leash and know the boundaries of the land. Not to worry!

Gosh what a fantastic view and such freedom for the dogs.  I love the wild flowers and would love to see photos of the humming birds.  Breakfast looked exceptionally good.