Friday Photo Shootout - Weather

Just because I'm so close to Yellowstone, I thought I'd rub a bit of it in your faces with winter weather pics from the park. First of all here's the picture on my computer desktop at the moment. The lower falls of Yellowstone.

My wife waiting on old faithful to blow. Big flakes! And this was October. I won't bore you with the snow we've had since.

We did find evidence of the six-fingered man. (Name that movie!)

 And a parting shot of Hot and Cold.

Friday Photo Shootout - Favorite Things

Some of my favorite things are my son's photographs. He's got a good eye, and this past spring spent several weeks hiking and camping across Utah. Here are just a couple of his pictures.
Indian paintbrush

Choilla? Cactus in bloom at least!

 The peaceful Green River

A view from the canoe

A twisted pine and delicate arch.

Old houses.

New houses.

And adventure after adventure!

Friday Photo Shootout - Faces

Click on the title for more FPS photos.

Just a little late, but I wanted to wait for photos from our annual Christmas tree hunt.

First, a couple of horse photos. Here's Sony with Maranda on board.

Followed by Mango with Lori
















Faces. Here's tree-hugging Caitlin.

And tree-hunter Jason.
















A successful Christmas tree hunt concludes for another year!

Friday Photo Shootout - Premier Attraction

Welcome to Billings. November probably isn't the prettiest time to take pictures in this country, but you do get to see things as they really are. I've lived here for just under 3 years, and there are many things Billings is for long-time residents that I've yet to experience. The thing that stands out for me is the geology. Billings lies in the Yellowstone valley, a narrow valley carved by a beautiful wild river. So When you drive into town the first thing you notice are the Rimrocks. The city mostly sits in the valley, and the rims dominate the view to both the north and south. The following view looks south across the downtown from the rims on the north.

I should have hiked to the top of the cliffs on the south to get a picture of those to the north, but it was a bit cold. We'll go early next summer and get that shot! For now you'll have to be satisfied with a shot from the foot of these rocks.

The other thing Billings would be associated with is the mountains. Sometimes the Beartooth mountains look like they're right outside of town. Then there are times when they are obscured in clouds and moisture. Of course this would be the week they are hiding. So I'll inlcude a shot I took from my backyard early last week. (The large grain bins in front belong to Coors.)

 Hope you enjoyed these half as much as I've enjoyed looking at all of yours for this weeks shootout. Thanks for letting me choose a theme!

Friday Photo Shootout - Parks

I've been bad, I know. It's halfway through the week following, and I still haven't posted for FPS. But I did find some pictures last week for this shootout, and I still wanted to share. When we first came to Montana almost two and a half years ago, one of our first day hikes as a family was to Sioux Charlie Lake, at the foot of the Beartooth mountains.



Here we are early on the trail just a few hundred yards from the parking area.

And me styling with my Montana beard, (which turned so gray I had to shave it). The hike is just a couple of miles mostly following this stream, up till you find the lake.

It's a beautiful, crystal clear lake. It was a hot August day that day, and we did a little wading, but it was too cold for swimming. The Beartooth are at about 10,000 feet, so this lake was probably at 5 - 6 thousand, and even in August, not too far from being snow.

And of course one of my favorite pictures of my kids and their dogs. Here you get to see the dogs when they each still had 4 good legs! To be fair, both doggies are doing pretty good post-op now.

Friday Photo Shootout - Classics of Childhood

I was going to bail on this weeks theme, and then Barry stopped by and prods me into action with the sly comment about 'looking forward to my this week's interpretation'. Argggg!!!! So, I had to dive into my archives for a couple of shots. Nothing to do with my hometown, just my hometown kids, errrr, my kids mostly.

I coached both my kids in soccer when they were ages 6 - 10'ish. Not that I knew much of the game! But I did learn, and once I got started, really enjoyed it. I think my kids enjoyed it too, although at the time, they were always too critical of themselves and of having to be coached by their Dad. My daughter is the pony-tailed one facing away from the camera. I must have had some positive influence cause she still plays in intramural mixed leagues at Missoula.

And don't under-estimate the infuence of taking your kid with you to work. A few years ago I attended a conference in St. Paul, and my son Jason came along for the week. I went to the meetings some, and he hung out at the hotel. I took off a couple of afternoons and we did the touristy things around town, and even did a riverboat tour up and down the Mississippi for a few river miles. We didn't do a lot of things, but it was good bonding time for a Dad and son...even during high school!

Sometimes just letting kids make noise as they did here at a picnic for the Kansas River Festival just might plant a seed for the next great musician. Like Garrison Keilor says, "Nothing you do for children is ever wasted."








Thanks Barry for kicking me into gear!

Friday Photo Shootout - Sunsets

One from the archives for this week. A sunset at the Canyon is hard to beat. We had to make a quick trip this weekend to Grand Junction, as Zip blew out his other knee. He's a sad puppy right now.