Historic Cold BRRR

 Thermopolis is experience a rapid freeze front and it is COLD! Last night we got down to -37 and we could get that low again tonight or even lower! The river that flows through town has actually frozen over which is pretty amazing since we have an actual hot springs that flows into it!!! This is one for the book people! I am so grateful for my warm house and family to share it with. We ventured out for a few to try and see how frozen bubbles work and it was a super fun 8 minutes lol! Our high today has been -14 so we didn't stay out long! Here was the results- I am sure we will try this again! It was so cool!! 

Merry Christmas! Stay warm!

100th Post

 How fitting my 100th post gets to commemorate my first professional PHOTO SHOW!! 

It was held on October 22, 2022 at The Historic Arapahoe Ranch. That place is GORGEOUS! I was in love with the mansion- just in love. I will be taking pictures of it at a future date. 

I had three photos selected by the State of Wyoming to keep in their archives as part of a community awareness photo documentary project. :) I am feeling pretty proud of my photos that were chosen. They are doing a little tour around the Big Horn Basin before they head down to the capital and then I am not sure if they are going to be displayed before they get put in the archives or what. Either way it is a pretty neat honor to say I now have a piece of my photography in Wyoming history! 

Here is my photo write up:

"Welcome to Thermopolis" the stoic banner hangs from the light posts up and down the historic downtown, beckoning visitors to visit. Beautiful, old architecture stands as echoes of a grand tradition of merchants is now reduced to a small handful of shops, a restaurant, a bookstore.....mostly "For Sale" signs. The evidence of past ventures is seen by the left over signage also beckoning 'welcome' or 'enter'  with the current merchandise of dust and empty glass.  Others warn 'No Trespassing' and yet we are still drawn to know more of what happened here. Thermopolis suffers from what most small communities in Wyoming are suffering from- lack of commerce. The economic downturn from Covid-19, high gas prices and lack of competition leads to local prices being high and selection minimal. This causes the already small amount of shoppers to flock to the portals of online and bigger box stores hundreds of miles away. The Chamber of Commerce does its best to offer incentives for locals to shop her in town by hosting contests and seasonal shopping events. As signs turn from 'For Sale' to 'Sold' hopefully, we can work as a community to keep our commerce growing. 

Here are a few snaps of me at my show :) 

Next Door

 

Mint Bolt and Butterfly's

 

Old Signage

 Old signs are just so cool! They sure beat the digital ones that get put up today! I love looking ate the details on older signage! 

Downtown

 Downtown...

My favorite place

 Pine Valley Utah- the most beautiful place in the whole world no matter what time of year! I love the place! I was so happy to spend our last 24 hours camping, hiking and enjoying the beauty of this hidden --not so hidden anymore :( -- place! 

Dixie National Forest

 Pine Valley Utah is my favorite place in the whole world! We took a nature hike and I found the prettiest things! A visit to the St. George Botanical gardens was also a beautiful site to find gorgeous plants! 

The Crack on the Wall

 Now known as the 'Pioneer Park Narrows' but will always be knowns as the crack in the wall to me :) 

I climbed through the entire thing as a child but with my terrible ankles I never even attempted to get close to it....until this year! Thanks to my ankle surgery, I was able to climb around and I even got about six feet into the crack before stopping- I didn't want to get stuck! LOL I am NOT a kid anymore. It was definitely a great day!

Zion Cacti

 I grew up in Southern California and so I grew up round cacti. Wyoming has cactus to but it is not near as pretty as this!! I just had to take some pics! 

Zion National Park

 I finally crossed an item off my bucket list- I took my boys hiking in Zion National Park! This national park is dear to my heart because my grandpa is one of three people who were born in the park!! Campsite C1 of the Watchman Campground still has the cement pad of his home's back porch (show later down in the photos!) I got to camp in C2 where his family garage used to be! So exciting to camp out under the looming Watchman mount and to stand under the black pecan tree that my grandpa planted as a boy.... one of only two trees that remains of the vast orchard his family used to have in the Watchman campground area. It has sure changed since he was born 88 years ago! 

and of course the best laugh.....

Hidden in the Back

 you never know what you will find behind an open gate...

Brick by Brick

 

4th of July Air Show

 Lander, WY- the weekend of the 4th we headed over to Lander for an amazing air and car show! I love the sounds of flying planes- growing up next to China Lake Navel Air Weapons Base will do that to a person -lol All the flying tests and drills were the sounds of the my childhood. Nothing makes me feel like a kid again like the the sound of a plan breaking the sound barrier- sadly that was one sound missing from the Lander event but it was a blast anyway!!!

There was also a car show will some pretty cool old cars- this Edsel was my favorite photo

- summer days are the best!