Wildlife in the Tetons

Recently, we journeyed to Jackson, Wyoming for an art festival held annually in September.  The galleries showcase amazing artwork in oils, watercolors and photography as well as bronze statues.   Much of the scenery in this area is captured in these artisan creations.  When your view the actual Tetons, it is awesome how these mountains become personified by the movement of weather giving a different mood in landscape.  I kept my camera busy and it was difficult to pick out several photos out of the many taken for this post.  The second photo is a popular scene that you see in many paintings with the barn and backdrop of the mountains.  This picture was taken just as the sun was setting in a mix of cloudy sky.  Of course, God's art festival was constantly surrounding us in the grand display of the Teton Mountains, crowned by clouds, blue sky and sunsets.

There were visitors at the campsite - three bull moose!  They are accustomed to people but caution needs to be taken since they are still a wild animal subject to agitation if they are bothered.  Park rangers are usually vigilant to make sure that camera happy photographers don't get too close.  They are a huge animal and can move fast, up to 35 miles an hour and it would be quite a chase if there wasn't a tree to hide behind.  Most people are respectful and keep a safe distance.  You can admire and also be intimidated by their massive antlers, also called paddles that are used for territorial fighting and courtship.  The antlers can weigh up to 40 pounds and are shed annually in the winter, making room for new growth. 

I don't know what is the most unusual sight - the moose or the photographers.  When word spread of a wildlife sighting in the campsite, you'd see photographers hustling down the path with their gear to capture that one great shot.  Some looked to be weighed down by extensive camera equipment slung over shoulders and in backpacks with tripods and super long range zoom attachments.  Others would have compact cameras and simple smartphones to take that one picture for personal satisfaction.    Cameras and people would be in a cluster.  I wonder what the moose thinks as he looks at this spectacle of humanoids and things that go 'click'!!

These are just a few photos of the many taken.  Perhaps I can share more in a later post.  Meanwhile, I hope you will come back to the Turn-Up Patch in a few weeks for another visit.

I leave you with this simple truth in a quote from Aristotle...."In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous."

The Storm and God's Song

The end of June brought a spectacular storm with clouds that developed over the region with jaw dropping color, formation and lightening.  The clouds, shaped within their own movement, danced across the sky in blends of gold, orange, pink and blue.   Lightening added to the drama and made it a photographer's delight if lucky enough to capture it's bolt piercing through the storm.  

It is during times like this in the presence of such awesomeness in nature, that one can feel very small.   Words cannot begin to describe the unfolding scene and one can only appreciate how truly great our God is, the Maker of the universe.

This summer has brought some unusual opportunities to photograph and most of it has happened without having to travel.  Often, there is beauty awaiting to be discovered in the silent subtlety of a flower or the roaring motion of a storm.  September will soon be here with its own surprises in the season of Fall and the beauty it brings.

Nothing can be more wondrous then God's ultimate creation - when He breathed His breath of life into man and man became a living soul.  I like to think that man and woman were originally created to be God's song.  In the redemptive sense, as we breathe or take in God's breath, we also release this breath back to Him and our life is the voice that becomes a living song in praise and intimacy with the Almighty Source of Life to whom we belong.


I hope you will join me at The Turn-Up Patch in a few weeks.  Until then, here is a beautiful quote by John Powell.... "God sends each person into this world with a special message to deliver, with a special song to sing and with a special act of love to bestow."

Silver Spur & American Flare at our County Fair

The Grant County Fair in John Day will be celebrating the longest running annual county fair in Oregon - 110 years!  Various businesses in the local communities have decorated in accordance with the theme entitled 'American Flare at our County Fair'.  The streets of Mt Vernon have summer flags that add color and patriotism on display for all to view as they travel through on Highway 26.  It fit right in for the Fair's theme this year......

A local restaurant in Mt. Vernon did a splendid job in the 'American Flare' decor.  Owned and operated by Jackie Osborne, the Silver Spur is a popular eating house for locals and tourists alike.  Jackie, with assist from a few friends, created the flag horse and sign advertising the Grant County Fair and Rodeo visible from the highway.  The forefront of the building greets customers with ample flowers and varied western motif emanating a hospitality welcome.

The patio in the rear of the building is set up for the summer season and offers ambiance with flowers and cozy country scenery.  Next time you visit Mt. Vernon, stop in at The Silver Spur to enjoy some of Jackie's fine cooking or gather with friends over a cup of coffee....

Until the next time we meet at The Turn-Up Patch, here is a great thought from John Wayne to leave you with.... "Tomorrow is the most important thing in life.  Comes into us at midnight very clean.  It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands.  It hopes we've learned something from yesterday."

Horse Insight

My last post was about the mechanical horse that housed some baby birds for a short time. Once hatched, they quickly found their wings and eventually escaped the nest, all under the protective care of Mama bird that I called 'Tiny-Might'.  She was constantly flying back and forth to forage and feed her little ones and quick to scold me if I came too close.  Since the bird family has left, I rather miss my little friend and her scolding chatter.

Life has a way in defining moments whether it is a hobby horse with birds on the porch to real horses with humans in the pasture.  Here are several photos of them in their personal gathering.  Since horses are herd animals, you usually find them in a group.  They form attachments within their own species as well as with other animals and humans in companionship.

They also have an inquisitive nature as evidenced by their curiosity to check out the ATV vehicle we were in.  We kept our distance but they did not.  These beautiful animals decided to find out what this peculiar red object was all about that made noise and had two oddly shaped creatures in it that could make their own noise!  However, they are familiar with the human hand that has cared for them.

Have you ever wondered about the placement of the horse's eye?  That is a whole study in itself but I will give you a short explanation since horses are categorized as a prey animal.  They have some of the largest eyes of any land animal and are located on the side of their head for wider range of vision.  Eyesight is at nearly 360 degrees and have blind spots only in the immediate front and behind their bodies.  They have the ability to use monocular vision (both eyes used separately) and binocular vision (having two eyes arranged to produce 3 dimensional vision).  That is the physical aspect of their sight.  Horse lovers can attest to the eye in the soul of a horse that is intuitive, instinctive and responsive.  The meaning of  'becoming one with the horse' is all about connection  between a human and horse in a bond of trust and love.  This is a shadow of a simple spiritual principal... relationship in connection of becoming one with God in the bond of trust and love.

Until next time at The Turn-Up Patch.... check back in a few weeks for more words and photos.  I leave you with a quote from Peter Gray that states..."We have almost forgotten how strange a thing it is that so huge and powerful and intelligent an animal as a horse should allow another, and far more feeble animal, to ride upon its back."

Tiny-Might and the Mechanical Horse

Welcome back to The Turn-Up Patch!   I took a break from my blog for personal refreshment and to gather new material in photos and words to share with you.  I hope you will continue to visit my site as we begin anew.....

Tiny-Might

I'd like to introduce you to a little bird with a lot of resourcefulness and spunk.  This bird caught my attention with her loud chattering and flying back and forth to the deck of the house.  What really peaked my interest is that she would fly over to the mechanical riding horse situated on the deck.  I call her 'Tiny-Might' because she is bold with purpose and doesn't hesitate to scold if we get too close to her domain, being the horse.  She  usually carries a small twig or stem in her beak as she flies from fence-post to fence-post, making her way to the house.  Trying to be invisible, I would wait on the deck for her and try to take some photos as she would fly to her horse.  She became used to my presence and I was able to capture a few pictures as she made her way first to the reins and then to the bit.

the rein

the bit

It occurred to me that Tiny-Might was building a nest but where???   When she flew away, I grabbed a flashlight and looked deep into the horse's mouth and noticed a few twigs that were tucked way behind the bit.  Now how did she ever discover such a place to build a safe haven to hatch out baby birds.  It's not a very glamorous photo of an old hobby horse's mouth, but if you look close enough, you will spot a twig or two in the darkness behind the bit.

This is an unfolding story.  Of course the mechanical horse will not be in operation for awhile.  It  definitely has another purpose by providing shelter for a little bird's ingenuity in her quest to nest.


                                                                Join me back at the Turn-Up Patch in two weeks.  
Since we will be celebrating July 4th this week, have a blessed one with family and friends in remembrance.....

Alone in a Crowd?

Have you ever felt alone in a crowd? 
 

A few years ago, a pig wandered into a pasture where we kept yearling colts.  The colts quickly gathered around this little 'piggy', giving him (or her) a thorough checking out since they hadn't seen anything quite like this before.  The pig seemed unafraid and actually appeared to enjoy all the attention.  The colts took their time sniffing out this odd creation with a different look and smell.  Eventually, they became disinterested and left the pig to find its way home.  I took a photo while all this was happening and captioned it... 'alone in a crowd'.  I was reminded of this again, only through a different variant of life.  My eye caught sight of one lone white tree that stood out in a forest of junipers, all stoic against the green hillside.

Nature has a way of presenting a story that we can relate to our own lives...  in this case, being alone in a crowd.  I would venture to say that we all have had this feeling at one time or another in a particular type of gathering.  It can become a matter of paradox - to be alone and to be lonely.   It is good to be an individual, one who is confident of his or her own person, not to be swayed by the crowd. These ones recognize their own worth in their difference and do not yield to intimidation.  Solidarity with God gives an inward assurance to be true to self.  This is a strength but it is not without moments of loneliness, for it is difficult to find connection when there is disconnect in perception and understanding with another or others.

I decided to end on a humorous note.  It's not exactly profound but it is a proof in point -  it's good to laugh at yourself, with yourself or by yourself and occasionally with someone who has the same sense of humor....

Until we meet again at The Turn-Up Patch, have blessed days ahead......  😊

Magic - Worthy Brewing - Hopservatory

Magic - Worthy Brewing - Hopservatory.... a strange title for this post.  Actually, all three of these dynamics were experienced in one setting.  Let me introduce you to the first dynamic - his name is Magic.  I learned that he is a Bernese Mountain Dog, one of four breeds originating from the Swiss Alps.  Imagine discovering this 110 pound dog in a brewery setting in Bend, Oregon.  Managed by his owner, he was quite social making friends with patio patrons and occasionally being rewarded with pizza for his good behavior.  I understand why the owner calls his dog Magic because of the distinct charm and appearance that sets this breed apart from the canine population.

Moving on to the second dynamic -  Magic was at the Worthy Brewing Company socializing with young and old alike in a patio setting where people gathered for food and beverage. Since it is a brewery, there are different types and flavors of specialized ale as well as wine and non-alcoholic drinks.  The atmosphere is cozy with fire pits and lighting in the cool of the evening.  Occasionally, they have live bands to entertain the crowd through listening and dancing.  For more information, check out one of their links: https://worthybrewing.com/about-us/

And now the the third dynamic - the Hopservatory!  Quite a clever way of distinguishing it in name from observatory, which is what it is.  There are stairs on the outside of the hopservatory that take you to the inside viewing area.  A guide is there to explain a star gazing event that you can look at  through the dome's telescope.  For more information with viewing days and times, check out this article.... https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/eat-drink/beer-breweries/stargaze-at-worthy-brewings-hopservatory/

Inside Hopservatory Dome

We are blessed to live in Eastern Oregon where high desert country meets the Blue Mountain range.  However, the downside to residing in a small community are frequent trips to Central Oregon for specialized doctoring and shopping.  It is a three-hour drive (one way) to Bend.  Highway 26 with its curvy mountain two-lane road becomes a familiar route.  The lure of Bend with city amenities can also bring new discoveries such as 'Magic - Worthy Brewing - Hopservatory' that makes the trip worthwhile.

A quote from Anna Vasily - "Be a seeker of everyday magic".  Magic comes in many forms in God's creation.  It can be a beautiful sunset or sunrise, a fresh flower, the smell of rain, a child's smile, the pleasure of sound or sight or touch or.... a dog that licks your hand who bears the name of Magic.


Until we meet again, hope you will 'travel up' and meet me at The Turn-Up Patch in three weeks on Monday, April 29th.