Friday, June 17, 2011

Day #4 Grand Teton National Park

Some of you may have guessed that I had to postdate or predate my posts or whatever you call it (I keep forgetting) because I didn't want it known when we would be away from home. I don't like being paranoid, but I hear too many horror stories.

It turned out to be a good thing that I did this because there was no TV, cell or Internet connection while we were in the National Parks. I felt like we were completely disconnected from the rest of the world. It was disconcerting, but I could then give almost all my focus to my family.

This would be a bittersweet day. Jon had to leave us to return to New Mexico and get back to work. We decided to go to the Grand Tetons and say goodbye there. He would head south and we would continue on to Grant Village in Yellowstone.


I'm totally not sure of this, but this might be a Ruby Crowned Kinglet. Maybe...
Nope. Art insists it's a Cassin's Finch.


This is a Nuttall Violet. I thought it was weird to call this a violet since it's obviously yellow.

My aunt is fanatical about anything that grows. Flowers are her passion. My mother loves them too, but Auntie Grace wants to know every detail we can dig up about them. She loved the name of this flower, Yellow Bell.

I think this is a Cliff Anemone or Windflower. I think. I bought a plant book in Yellowstone and this is what I'm guessing it is.


Spring Beauty is an appropriate name for this flower which mom and auntie felt looked almost like cherry blossoms.


This really does remind you of a Steershead (Dicentra Uniflora), doesn't it?


KC loved helping me look for new spring flowers to photograph.


The Tetons were spectacular!


Tif began teaching KC how to use the camera.

And then came the wrenching farewell. It was fantastic being with Jon again after a year apart, but it was hard to let him go.

We were relieved to hear after a couple of days that he had made it home safely to Albuquerque and was back at work. His visit certainly made our trip memorable and extraordinary!

13 comments:

  1. I suspected that soon your header would change to something from your trip. That is a fantastic picture. I know what you mean about having to say goodbye so soon, but it is so much better than not to have seen him at all.

    Glad you are home safe and sound.

    ReplyDelete
  2. "....no TV, cell or Internet connection while we were in the National Parks"

    that's the way to do it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. nice header, those peaks are beautiful and how fun to find wildflowers and learn their names-you are certainly ambitious and enjoying your family vacationtime...

    ReplyDelete
  4. beautiful wildflowers Kay, so sorry Jon had to leave already.

    ReplyDelete
  5. What wonderful insight a pair of "older" folks provide to a vacation! I wouldn't have suspected that Yellowstone would have so many flowers. That was good Jon could join you for a while. Your time with him prevents him from rowing a kayak across the Pacific! No cell phones in the National Park, eh? Seems they could be a few pieces of equipment up in the tall trees. Enjoy! DrumMajor

    ReplyDelete
  6. It was great that Jon went to all that trouble to join you. I'm still laughing about his surprise entrance! How fabulous that you and Art are able to share this experience with your family. Enjoy the memories!! Your photos are beautiful. Nancy T.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I can just imagine how much of a wrench it would be to have to see Jon get in his car after enjoying being with him so much. I hope it won't be too long before you get to see him again.

    Your header is spectacular Kay and all your photos were so enjoyable.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your pictures are beautiful! So glad you are enjoying yourself!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Being cut off from everything is a great gift!

    I look forward to seeing the photos from Yellowstone.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sounds like a wonderful trip! I'm so happy Jon showed up to surprise you, but sorry he had to go back to work, what a downer after all that wilderness.
    Luv — K

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love it that KC is taking pictures already. That little photographer!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Kay,
    sorry to leave comment on your old articles.
    I haven't read ahead articles yet.

    I live at a place where it takes a half hour from my mother's house.
    so I often see her.
    US is really large.
    so you must miss your son.

    by the way these mountains look spectacular and beautiful!
    I've never seen such a spectacular mountain in Japan.
    (can I ask you a correct english?
    can I say such spectacular mountains not such A spectacular mountain?)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Aya: Yes, you can say, "The mountains are spectacular." If you say spectacular mountains, you mean there is more than one. If you say spectacular mountain, you are meaning there is just one mountain.

    My mom and aunt were very, very suprised at how big the U.S. really is!


    And yes, I do definitely miss my so.... and daughter who live even farther away than my son in Illinois.

    ReplyDelete

I really LOVE hearing from you! However, if you sign in as ANONYMOUS, please don't forget to tell me who you are in the comment box by just writing your first name. We would all appreciate it if you kept your comment respectful and kind.

I’m using Comment Moderation for any post that is more than a day old because of aggravating SPAM. Therefore, if your comment does not go up on an older (more than a day old) post, it's because I need to OK it first. I'm sorry to have to do this, but again... sigh... it's the spam that's driving me crazy.