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Monday, May 23, 2016

Work Hard, Play Hard

After buying our old schoolhouse last summer, we knew it was going to take a lot of work to make it what we want and to fix it up.  
schoolhouse, work hard, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2016/05/work-hard-play-hard.html
And while we are far from doing EVERYTHING we want to do, after spending several hours this past week and weekend working on the sprinkler system, weeding (yes, these monsters are weeds!),
greenhouse, weeds, work hard, play hard, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2016/05/work-hard-play-hard.html
and prepping the 1200 square foot greenhouse (which included clearing out all my wood we had stored in there), we spent Sunday in Yellowstone National Park.
Yellowstone, bison, work hard, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2016/05/work-hard-play-hard.html
We saw five bears--this one was the first one, a two year old.

Yellowstone, National Park, bear, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2016/05/work-hard-play-hard.html
We saw a mama bear with two cubs.
yellowstone, black bear, mama bear, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2016/05/work-hard-play-hard.html

mama bear, YNP, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2016/05/work-hard-play-hard.html
Peek-a-boo!
peek-a-boo, black bear, Yellowstone, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2016/05/work-hard-play-hard.html
And a cinnamon bear in the wet snow.
Yellowstone, snow, bear, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2016/05/work-hard-play-hard.html
The petrified tree in Yellowstone.  It was a redwood which is unusual for Montana.
Yellowstone, petrified tree, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2016/05/work-hard-play-hard.html
Basically all of Yellowstone is a caldera--or a volcanic crater. 
caldera, Yellowstone, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2016/05/work-hard-play-hard.html

Yellowstone, Mammoth, Hot Springs, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2016/05/work-hard-play-hard.html
Hellooo...
Oh, give me a home... Fun fact:  there are no buffalo in the US, or at least ones that aren't native.  Buffalo live in Africa and Asia, bison in North America.
bison, YNP, national mammal, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2016/05/work-hard-play-hard.html
Elk in velvet
elk, velvet, Yellowstone, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2016/05/work-hard-play-hard.html
Tower Falls
waterfall, Tower Falls, Yellowstone, rainbow, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2016/05/work-hard-play-hard.html

rainbow, waterfall, Yellowstone, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2016/05/work-hard-play-hard.html
And no trip to Yellowstone is complete without some ice cream.  My daughter, me, and my mom at Mammoth Hot Springs.
We are thankful to live so close to so much beauty and happy to be able to play a little after hard work!

15 comments:

  1. This looks like a great family time...and I love the wonderful family photos!

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    1. Thanks Linda, we are thankful to live so close to Yellowstone!

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  2. Those falls are amazing, Becky! Beautiful. I bet you had an awesome time. I'd love to go there someday.

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    1. The falls are very pretty. Yellowstone Falls are even more amazing, but we didn't go there this trip.

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  3. Your photos are gorgeous, looks like you saw a lot of the park, so beautiful. Glad you got to see it, how fun for you girls to see it together.
    After living in western MT (just south of Helena on south side of Canyon Ferry Lake) for seven years we did not get to actually visit the park as you did. Hubs used to be trucker so we got to drive thru one part of it one time. Got to see lot of MT tho and states around MT. If we could move back there would be so happy if we had 20 acres as we did before.
    We left MT (really stupid) in April of 1999 to move to western KY where oldest son/family lived at time. Only stayed there for 5 years as climate didn't agree with my allergies/arthritis and asthma. Did love our place there, few miles north of Bowling Green, had 1 1/2 acres and oldest son completely redid house inside/out before he sold it to us, loved that house and land, still miss it.
    We now live in western Co, few miles west of Grand Junction out in rural area. It's ok but I still miss MT so much. Of all places we've lived and there are a few, MT is still my very favorite. Before MT we lived in San Diego area for 21 yrs. We've been here in CO since late August 2004.
    Hope you truly enjoyed Yellowstone. A lot to see, love shots of bears.
    Have wonderful week and Memorial weekend

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    1. We definitely feel blessed to live here and try to get out and appreciate it and not take it for granted. Colorado is pretty beautiful and amazing too, but it would take a lot for us to leave Montana!

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    2. We definitely feel blessed to live here and try to get out and appreciate it and not take it for granted. Colorado is pretty beautiful and amazing too, but it would take a lot for us to leave Montana!

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  4. Fantastic pictures - I've never been to Yellowstone - After reading this I think it will be on my list of places to visit. Sometimes a change of scenery and inspire that next list of activity.

    Carole @ Garden Up Green

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    1. Yes, you need to see it at least once! I recommend going in early summer or early fall when the tourists are a little less thick! It is colder and everything is not open yet, but it is a little more natural then too and easier to navigate!

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  5. I love this post, great pictures! I would love to see more house pictures too!
    Marti

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    1. Thanks! You can look at more house pictures in July 2015 posts. I will be sharing more house and our progress this summer for sure!

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  6. What a beautiful group of girls! Yellowstone is such a unique place and I hope to take my own kids here someday. I went only once in Wyoming as a child, and though I had pink eye at the time I still was amazed by it. It's a world inside of a world:)

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  7. That's an adventure…thanks for sharing your beautiful pics of Yellowstone!!! #onthelist

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  8. Yellowstone is another bucket list trip for me. Can't wait to go there.

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  9. I've been to Yellowstone and that part of the country is just magnificent! Can't wait to get back there. I also look forward to seeing more of your renovations.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, I really appreciate your kind words!