Fourth of July

Over the river and through the snow to Independence celebrations and Turner's house we go!
This year the snowfall was 200% of normal in many places. The road over the Snowy Range is always open by Memorial day. You can see by the drift we parked beside why it was such a difficult task getting it opened and why flooding was such a threat and reality when snowmelt began. This was Saturday morning and by Tuesday (today) when we came home the melting was pretty obvious. We had a wonderfully relaxing 4th weekend with friends at their new home.
Back to the kitchen remodel. The fridge now sits in it's new home with the doors switched. Not an especially difficult task, but time consuming, it took us a while as some of the screws in the door were stripped. Tomorrow, it will be back to the grindstone.
On Sunday we all trekked up toward Jack Creek and our old campsite. We are hoping to get there with the camper this year, but there is still some snow and muddy areas. A picnic lunch and beautiful weather made the day really nice. This moisture makes everything so green and the wildflowers love it. The Mr. snapped this Indian Paintbrush in her Sunday best.

Back at the house as I walked the dogs out yesterday morning toward the south edge of their property, I spotted a pair of badgers digging at a prairie dog hole. The prairie dogs and ground squirrels are quite prevalent and dig holes everywhere! I have seen badgers crossing a road, but these two just stared at me and I was frantically trying to get my dogs back to the house. Badgers are vicious creatures and I was fearful that the dogs would get curious and check them out. Luckily they didn't spot them. The osprey nest there and we spotted a female sitting on a pole with a fish she had captured for supper and then flew with the remains to her nest to feed the little ones. The hummers are there and put on quite a show at the feeder. One little male in particular declared it his territory and dive bombed the intruders. Swallows were nesting in a bluebird box with 3 eggs. Our hostess who is my gardening Guru, sent me home with several plantings for my garden. I plan to get them in tomorrow and I am so happy to have them. All in all the weekend was wonderful!

"To own a bit of ground, to scratch it with a hoe, to plant seeds and watch their renewal of life-This is the commonest delight of the race, the most satisfactory thing a man can do." ~
Charles Dudley Warner