Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness

By Eilene Lyon When you think of wilderness, do you conjure a deep grove of majestic, old-growth trees surrounded by fuzzy pick-up-sticks of fallen mossy trunks? Waterfalls thundering and spongy, leaf-strewn ground cushioning your every step? Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness is nothing like that. This is the Badlands. Some might call it barren, but that would be... Continue Reading →

February 13, 2019 15

A Secret Mission

Week 50: #52 Ancestors – Naughty By Laurence M. Smith (May 7, 1985) At times there are unusual experiences involved in being an Electrical Engineer. It was the time of World War II. I had just transferred from Portland to Spokane, Washington, to work on the design of the Spokane Army Air Field. It was... Continue Reading →

December 9, 2018 26

The Grand

By Eilene Lyon My inbox had an unexpected surprise in the spring of 2014. “Only 4 slots left!” I hurriedly forwarded the email to The Putterer – “What do think? Should we go?” He just as rapidly fired back – “Hell yes!” I placed a call to the rafting company, only to be told that... Continue Reading →

October 14, 2018 19

BWCA: Into the Wilderness

By Eilene Lyon It’s exactly a year since The Putterer and I went on a trip through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota. Since I use a photo from that as the blog header and one in my About page, I probably should get on with a post about the trip. This had... Continue Reading →

September 5, 2018 21

The Drought Diaries: Too Little Water/Too Much Water

By Eilene Lyon Too Little Water August 12, 2018 The Animas River is at an all-time historic low (and they are still drawing irrigation water – sorry, New Mexico!). As of Friday, it was running at 131 c.f.s. The average for this time is about 600 c.f.s. I don't normally stand in the "river" As... Continue Reading →

August 14, 2018 15

Alpine Treasure

By Eilene Lyon The gold we were seeking was not mineral or animal, but plant. Draba graminea (grass-like draba; Rocky Mountain Whitlow Grass) Near the end of July, I went on a Colorado Native Plant Society field trip to Black Bear Pass in the San Juan Mountains. We were fortunate to have in our group... Continue Reading →

August 12, 2018 17

Kauai Refuge

By Eilene Lyon A Bountiful Gift Around 2010, I picked up the book Waking Up In Eden by Lucinda Fleeson and learned for the first time about the Allerton Gardens on the island of Kauai. I never really expected to see the place myself, but a great deal showed up on Travelzoo and away we... Continue Reading →

July 31, 2018 21

Rude Awakening

By Eilene Lyon I decided to have lunch on the deck today - apparently I don't open the umbrella often enough! Cautiously peering up inside before opening it, I was expecting perhaps some paper wasp nests. This little guy probably didn't appreciate such a rude disturbance to his/her midday slumber. I swear I heard and... Continue Reading →

July 13, 2018 28

The Drought Diaries: Insects

By Eilene Lyon Mosquitoes July 10, 2017 Today was my turn to walk the dogs. The Sarah-Palin-bugs (“Drill, baby, drill!”) were out in full force. By the time I got home, the back of my legs looked like West Texas. I almost wanted to jump in the ditch with the dogs. Despite essentially no rain... Continue Reading →

July 6, 2018 2