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 20

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

Crossing Wyoming

By Eilene Lyon We’re rolling westward on Interstate 80 in southern Wyoming, on our way to do breeding bird surveys along a proposed transmission line route. The rising sun is adding fire to the stratus clouds hanging low in the sky. Our Ford Super Duty truck passes plains and low hills draped in sagebrush and... Continue Reading →

June 24, 2018 16

The Drought Diaries

Introduction By Eilene Lyon August 1, 1936, Saturday July has gone, and still no rain. This is the worst summer yet. -- Ann Marie Low Dust Bowl Diary May 30, 2018 Free2BD and I decided to take a drive in the convertible up East Animas Road. It was one of those days when the cotton-ball... Continue Reading →

June 17, 2018 23