Nothing Ordinary About It

Hi all.    I have been wanting to post to the blog for a while, but... well... you know... I'm not Wandering with Waddles, for obvious reasons.     I had planned to go to the Ladd Marsh Bird Festival last weekend; cancelled.   I planned to go to the Montana Association of Weavers and Spinners Conference in June; cancelled.   I'd hoped to get an early spring trip to the Southwest; not happening. And I am hoping to drive the Beartooth Highway, but that won't even be a consideration until July or August, and who knows what our situation will be then.

I am sad each time I see Waddles idle in the garage, and think I need to take her out for a spin, just because.   When the weather improves I will do that.  Right now it is a cool, wet spring, so I am waiting.

In the mean time I am thinking about how to get out, responsibly.   So I am going to post some good resources to determine what is open and what restrictions exist.

National Parks - Lists what is open and what is not

Forest Service - FAQ's

BLM lands - Searchable by State

Campendium - This one links to all kinds of information resources.

The Dyrt - Another page with links to all kinds of information about closure status

Dispersed Camping on National Forests - this does not list closures, but has links to local offices which would have that information.

If you follow all these links you should be able to get whatever current information is available for using campgrounds and public lands.

How are you passing the time?

Stay well, stay happy, wear a mask and wash your hands.

I have gotten out to do some birding and photography close to home, so I give you some photos.

Fox Sparrow

Rufous Hummingbird

Old School

Old Church

Arrowleaf Balsomroot

Columbia River Gorge

All Good Things Must Come to a (temporary) End

Well, it is fall, there is no doubt.   The snow is moving down the hills, we are waking to frosty mornings and the vegetable garden has mostly been put to bed for the year.

And Waddles and I had to make one more trip before calling it quits for the summer.    We took a jaunt over to La Grande for the weekend to attend a Marimba Workshop.     The drive over was sunny and mostly clear until we got close to La Grande.   Then things turned to rain/snow/sleet.

There was fresh snow on the hills around the valley, and it was darn cold cooking coffee in the mornings.    My little Heater Buddy did a fine job of keeping the chill off in the evenings and mornings, and I had plenty of blankets so was toasty warm sleeping.

The workshop was amazing, as expected.   Two full days of learning, laughing and love.   It was about so much more than playing notes.   It was about the spirit of the music, the spirit of the musicians, the one-ness of the band.    I come away renewed.

Sunday evening Waddles and I headed back over the hill to Pendleton to spend the night with friends.   It was a beautiful sunset dropping down off Cabbage Hill.

Today we headed home.    It's our final outing together for the year.   Waddles and the car both got a good bath (it was a BEAUTIFUL day today), Waddles is now completely cleared out of camping gear,  and she is neatly tucked into the garage for the winter.

I'm sad.   I still LOVE Waddles, and whenever she is in my rear view mirror it makes me smile.  I have the winter to plan my adventures for next summer.   I can't wait!