07/05/10

What a Weekend!

It all started on the evening of Friday, July 2, at the Tetonia rodeo grounds. They dished up the whole works: mutton busters, country music, pole benders, team ropers, budding rodeo royalty, the announcer's obligatory cornball jokes, and more--including, to quote the old Johnny Russell song, "red necks, white socks, and Blue Ribbon beer."

The next morning we were off to Victor for the 4th of July Parade (even though it was only July 3rd). The parade was good; it lasted about an hour and drew what appeared to be a record crowd. (In case you've never been, know this: On no other day of the year will you see half as many people in Victor as on the 4th--or the 3rd--of July.)

After a quick bite, it was down to the golf club at Huntsman Springs to take in a free...

Posted at 01:47 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

06/01/10

Steershead, Gem of the Spring

‘Tis the season to find the beautiful and elusive wildflower, steershead.  Mayo and I were out on a hike over the weekend (between the showers!) and found them in a number of spots at about 7,000 feet.  It is one of my very favorite wildflowers, and each spring we set out on early-season hikes hoping to find new patches of the little flower that looks unmistakably like a steer’s skull.  I’ve heard old timers say that finding steersheads brings good luck.

According to A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers by John Craighead, Frank Craighead and Ray Davis, steershead is a member of the bleedingheart family.  They are tiny and difficult to see because of their size and because their delicate, light pink color blends in...

Posted at 04:08 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

05/24/10

Ever Hopeful

This morning, while I was barefooted on the front porch, taking pictures of big snowflakes landing on daffodils and tulips, I was buzzed by a hummingbird.  It was the first one of the season and, just like the past two years, the diminutive bird hovered where, in summertime, our feeder hangs.  When it didn’t find the feeder, it found me.  Needless to say, I dashed inside, dug out our hummingbird feeder, filled it with lukewarm juice, and hung it in the customary spot.  The hungry bird was back in a flash.  Though I hear little noise in town but murmurs of exasperation with the weather, it is the hummingbird that I really feel sorry for.  I hope he can get through a freezing night.

While it has snowed and rained over the past few days...

Posted at 07:49 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

05/13/10

There's No Place Like Home

My husband and I just returned from a trip to the warm climes of Florida and the Bahamas.  Sounds like we didn’t miss much lovely spring weather here, and I have to admit that I was surprised on our return to find the aspen with their leaves still tightly furled.  It’s pretty hard to come back to rain and snow after the warm weather, bare feet and aqua aqua (the water in the Bahamas makes clear why the same word means water and a pretty color).  

But, on the other hand, there’s no place like home.  I love watching the osprey doing a little nesting and hearing the sandhills making their ratcheted calls.  The tulips and daffodils are doing their darnedest to bring some color to what was so recently a black-and-white world.  And...

Posted at 07:32 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

04/13/10

Some People Lead More Exciting Lives Than Others

On Sunday, April 11, I received an email with the message line "Hi From Kyrgystan" from Molly Loomis (Tyson), a Teton Valley resident and regular contributor to our magazines. I'll reprint it here. (As it was sent to 'undisclosed recipients,' some of you may have already received the message from Molly.)

As some of you may know, Jaime and I came over here to Kyrgyzstan for a ski mountaineering expedition with a woman named Ann who is studying climate change in the Tien Shan. I arrived on Tuesday morning. That afternoon a revolution started. Ann came back from renting kiddie sleds from some seven-year-olds when the Embassy called, saying there were protests in Talas and that they were trying to overthrow the government. Protests were...

04/02/10

Haircut Part 3

The final look -- glad he's grinning! Garth was one of 40 area folks who went from hairy to bald (and in his case, bearded to baby-faced) to raise money and awareness for kids with cancer.

Both photos are courtesy of Carl Oksanen/Alpen Glow Images.

Posted at 04:02 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

04/02/10

What a haircut, part 2

Mid-process photo of Jackson photographer Garth Dowling as a Saint Baldrick's shavee, March 18th. (Courtesy of Carl Oksanen/Alpen Glow Images.)

Posted at 04:02 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

03/25/10

Nocturnal Bliss

If you haven't seen and heard Grace Potter and the Nocturnals in concert, plan to get yerself down to the 5th Annual Jackson Hole Mountain Festival this Saturday, March 27. At the 2008 and 2009 Targhee Fests, Grace and company rocked the stage on fire while knocking off the audience's collective socks. I liken her to a cross between Janis Joplin and Rory Block meets a Mick Jagger-Lowell George hybrid (if that's even a biological possibility). But that's just me. You be the judge

Do not pass go and do not collect $200 ... just plan to hit Teton Village on Saturday and get ready to be wowed. The music starts mid-afternoon, with Rotating Superstructure, underneath the tram dock next to Nick Wilsons. Jet...

03/19/10

Now here’s a way to get a haircut

W. Garth Dowling, whose photography and stories have appeared in many area publications (including the upcoming issue of Teton Home and Living) was shorn Thursday as part of “Saint Baldrick’s,” an international fundraiser in solidarity with kids fighting cancer.

St. Baldrick’s is held each year the day after St.Patrick’s Day. To date, more than 106,000 volunteers have shaved their heads at more than 2,400 such events in all 50 states and across 24 countries.

Not one to be shy, Dowling and Posted at 06:12 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

03/15/10

Crust Cruising is On!

Welcome to spring!  With the advent of such gorgeous, sunny weather, Mayo and I have been out sampling the various crust cruising venues (i.e., everywhere) and have found terrific conditions.  If you haven’t been out yet, get on it.  

Last Wednesday, we headed out to the Snake River from the Taggart trailhead.  It was still a little early, with the crust not completely supportable.  Since then, I’ve heard reports that things have firmed up and the crust is skating well.  The Park has started plowing the road, so it won’t be long until it’s bike season there, too.

In Teton Valley, the crust has been in great shape for a week now.  With Woody’s forecasted warm temps this week, the snow may not last...

Posted at 02:44 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0