Hummers & Blooms

I have these 2 cheap little hummingbird feeders on the back porch every year:

I have had 5 to 6 birds through the year & fill them every week or so, but the middle of August was a new story:

It is hard to get a good photo of the cute little guys here with my camera, but they came in the big groups - I think we counted 17 on the day we took these pictures.  They came so fast that we were filling both feeders every day...sugar bucket was emptying fast.

I just love to watch them out my kitchen window...that is when they are being nice.  We had a couple of bullies again this year. 

They are just so tiny...makes me wonder how they fly south, but they are gone again & I took the feeders down on Labor Day.

My other favorite summer activity has been watching these bloom.  The flowers had a good year...no frosts until just a couple of nights ago.  I'm afraid the snow in tomorrow's forecast will be the end of my gardening, but that is good because the weeds have taken over since harvest started.

I'm really not ready for the birds to leave & the flowers to freeze, but what can you do when you decide to build a home at a 6500 ft. elevation.  Gotta love Idaho!!

Huckleberries

Ahhh....my favorite place to go - headed toward the huckleberry patch.  The picking came early this year... first time I think we have started in July.  I didn't even go out after Labor Day this year.

As you can see from the stains on our hands...the hunt was successful:

We spent a little time scoping out some new patches this year...Mara went to extra effort down the steep bank & over the creek to find....nothing....haha!  You don't know unless you try.  We did find a new good sized patch that we will keep an eye on for next year.  It is just as you go up......LOL you thought I was going to tell your right?  I might take you there next year if it turns out to be good pickin!

Success...not as many as some years, but we picked enough to keep us in berries for the year.

As long as I don't make any more huckleberry pies for the ward auction!!!!!

Countdown!!

O.K. I know I'm a dork,but I couldn't help myself.

Plus I'm super excited about blogger's new update to their app - I will actually be able to use my Ipad to post now - YEAH!!!  Get ready for a ton of posts!

just look at that though 83 days!!,

Labor Day 2013

Labor Day came too fast this year, but we took advantage of a day off and played with the girls.  We had plans to take the backroads up through Brockman & over the hills to Swan Valley, but the rain spooked us a bit and we chickened out.  Good thing too,  we heard about several hunters that didn't make it over the mountain.  We drove over around Palisades & took the new bridge over the river.  Drove past Little Lemhi & around the back way until we got to Swan Valley.  It was a really rainy, but beautiful day to do a little exploring.  Don't they look happy to be there.......

Who knew there were waterfalls on the other side of the river???  not us, but we know now!

Aren't they beautiful...can't wait to see them in the spring:

This is the rainy view from the top of the falls:

We then headed to buy a square ice cream cone ....of course!  I should have take a few pictures of those.  We headed up the divide between Swan Valley & Victor, making a little stop to see where the girls went to girls camp at Big Piney Campground.  That place looks like a blast...especially the enormous slide.  Too bad it was raining because I want to try that one out someday.  I didn't take the camera, but just type in Big Piney slide on youtube & you will see what I'm talking about.  If we are still doing the family reunion by the time it is my turn again, I have found the place!  Huge lodge...big enough to even big fit my family!
Then we headed from Victory to the Pass.  Here is the cool sign that is on top...look close at the hole in the clouds & you can almost see Jackson Hole:

Howdy Stranger....haha...the girls had to pose:

The Tetons - too bad it was so rainy - couldn't see them at all.

And of course our favorite summertime activity in Jackson is the Bar J Chuckwagon:

Those guys really know how to put on a show - the girls had seen them 3 times this year.  Tim asked Megan how she liked the show after & when she said it was her 3rd time...he laughed.  Then he joked with her that she must know the jokes better than him!  It was a fun day spent together exploring some new country & laughing together.  I love those days with my family - too bad we were missing 2 of them.

elk

I love stepping out on the front porch at night & listening to this guy...or one like him.

It was right at dusk so the pictures are a little fuzzy looking, but you can see how big this guy is and he had quite a following of cows & calves.

He spotted the girls & I at the end of the driveway & started to gather his herd to get back up in the trees.  It is fun to hear the cows & calves & their funny sounds.

I love watching them & hate to see hunting season on its way.

I'd much rather just "shoot" them with a camera!!