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Sunday, September 16, 2007

Home at last....

...after a 10 hr drive.. (about 4hrs of it spent just crawling thru LA!!).. we are home. Home from one of the most beautiful spots in the US! ahhhh...

I told Tim in my next lifetime..I am coming back as a Park Ranger for Yosemite!!! I could sooooo easily spend the rest of my days there..the scenery amazing..the views spectacular..the air clean and fresh.. its like heaven on earth!

We are already planning our next trip there in May for our anniversary. By then the waterfalls will be gushing..the Merced River will be raging..and snow will still remain... a delight to the senses! :)

We saw lots and lots of mule deer, squirrels, noisy jays, dragonflies and butterflies...a couple of coyotes.. and we were even graced by the presence of Bears!! Momma bears with their cubs.. one family strolled thru the wooded area next to our site..and Tim quickly jumped up to take some pictures.. and managed to get a couple. Being in the darker wooded area..they didn't turn out that great.. but its amazing to see them!

At nite..we heard shouts thru-out the campsite loops.."BEAR!! Get Away Bear! " Campers shouting and carrying on..even chasing them out of the campsites! There is so much bear activity now because they are foraging for all of the food they can before they hunker down for the winter.

Because we had a dry winter.. the bears are starting to run out of food..and are getting brave and going into campsites...scaring off campers..and stealing food! So all food must be kept in bear lockers.. and all trash securely placed in the bear proof dumpsters.

We hiked and biked..and climbed and explored...and my poor body felt the effects of all of this exercise the next morning! lol my poor butt cheeks and legs were so sore! lol But what a good kind of sore.. the kind of sore that lets you know just how active and just how much fun you had the day before :) I like that kind of sore :)

Tippy is loving his harness and being able to sit outside with us! The jays kept him busy.. he preferred sitting at the top of our chairs.. and kept careful watch for those pesky birds! They would come and sit on the branch nearest him..just to pester him! He was so cute! But one day..just as it was starting to get dark.... I noticed a coyote on the other side of the road...from our campsite..watching him! Crouching in pines..he sat there watching us! Needless to say, Tippy and Honey were quickly put inside the camper!

I miss it so already.. but am thankful for the photos i took.. and will look at them til May comes 'round!



Other news..

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the Pfatt Marketplace is up for September!! Please stop by to see our new artists..and to do lots of shopping!! :)
Remember..its all USA (and canada!) made.. by hand..and by excellent artists!! Start your holiday shopping now..and help support our US and Canadian Artists!!

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Now for pics...
It started out with us enjoying some Chi Chi's.. (a yummy drink recommended by Christy and Greg! YUM .. pineapple juice.. coconut rum..ice..coconut milk..SLURP..they go down sooooo easy!!)


The Mighty Yosemite Valley


Yosemite Falls.. not flowing right now :( but still a beautiful site..


And a view looking towards Glacier Point


The Valley Floor



The Momma bear that visited...


The little boy who sat patiently waiting for his folks to finish taking pictures...



Branches and leaves showing beautiful form and quilted the sky from the afternoon sun...


A gathering of Bucks.. i think there were about 6-8 bucks all gathered..even a few does and a fawn were in the group..all grazing together. Mating season will start soon..and so the mingling starts lol



Tim and I escaped the few people wandering around..and ventured off to find a secluded part of the river to have our lunch at.. but..it didn't take long for the ducks to find us and want some of our food lol


Our Secret Spot along the Merced


no words needed for this picture..


Exploring up the river..



A beautiful stone bridge that crosses over the river. Its said that in 1997 they had a flood here..and the water rose 5 feet above this bridge!


Stopped for a shot here. this across from the Chapel..


The jay that kept teasing Tippy!


Tippy..




A beautiful tombstone in the cemetary there...



A Yellow field of dreams...


Yep..I think a nice log cabin plunked right there in the middle of the field would work for me ;)

21 comments:

Dana said...

Oh my gosh, those are GORGEOUS photos, I can only imagine how much more beautiful Yosemite was in person!!! And Tippy ... what a honey. ;o) I'll bet you'll be dreaming of Yosemite all winter long! I'll be out in Southern CA in late November when my brother and his wife have their baby. Hoping to see some sights, too!

Take care,
Dana

CCs Whimsies said...

Although the scenery is breathtaking, I am drooling over the Chi Chi's! bwahahahaha

I missed you very much. Smooch!

The Smiling Goat said...

WOW!! You lucky dog! You always take the best pics! I can taste those chi chi's from here! Tippy is a hoot with that darn leash! Missed ya too!

Goaty

CraBBy GaBBy said...

Heya Sandy,
Happy to have you back in "blog land" I love living through your pictures and look foward to them with each trip you take...How wonderful of a time you 2 kids must have!
Heidi

Kitty Forseth said...

Ahhhhhh Sammie.. you've done it again! Thank you for your amazing photos of one of my favorite places on this earth!

We'll be there in Nov. I can't wait!

xo Kitty

Kathy's Prims said...

Gorgeous Sami!! I love seeing your vacations through your lens! What a beautiful place!
Kath

Kingfisher Farm said...

Wow Sammi! No wonder you want to go back! Beautiful!! Pam

Edna Bridges said...

Delighted you had a fantastic time and are back home safe. Thank you for sharing your beautiful photographs! Love your kitty babies!!

Wendy said...

How beautiful!! I must get to Yosemite someday, looks like it would be the best vacation ever.

Anonymous said...

WoW Sandy!!

Beautiful pictures!! Sounds like it was a wonderful adventure!!

Tippy is getting BIG! I was just telling Mark that Tippy has been to Yosemite and we still haven't been! He will be a world traveler before us! LOL!

Thanks for sharing!!

Lori said...

Sandy, it sounds like you had a wonderful time and your pictures are just stunning! Tippy is such a cutie, i love the picture of him stretched out in the chair!

Diane Duda said...

I feel like I was there! Beautiful photos! I love that little chapel and Tippy is growing fast.

Anyway, welcome back. :)

Gerushia's New World said...

Sandy:

I live as close to Yosemite as you do and still haven't had the opportunity to visit. I can tell just by looking at your photos that I could live slap in the middle of it all.

I get so overwhelmingly tired of the traffic and noise and general rudeness around here. I dream of a quiet country life!

So glad that you had a good time and I'm amazed that Tippy allows you to put that harness on him. My cat Bonzo would scratch my eyes out if I came anywhere near him with a harness!

Kim
Garden Painter Art

Ricë said...

omigoodness--chi chi's sound DIVINE! and i don't even LIKE rum--but i'm betting that, with enough coconut (food of the gods, you know), i could LEARN.

Ricë said...

i can't believe your cat wears a harness--that's so COOL! and just cuter than anything, too. our fat cats? bet they don't even make cat harnesses that would fit them--even if they would allow us to try to put them on. thanks for the cute photos!

blue bird said...

Well, I just wanted to say thanks for the comment on my blog.

Your pictures from Yosemite are stunning, and Tippy is so cute.

Frankly, that goes without saying, since the photos speak well of this, but I thought I'd say it anyhow. ;)

. said...

wow...your pictures are amazing!! I feel like I went with yah...

Loudlife said...

ABsolutely Fabulous pictures! And as usual, Tippy just kills me...

I'm so glad you had such a good time! Welcome home.

Laurie

FrostingsNSparkles said...

Those pictures!!!! It never crossed my mind that I needed to go there until now!! Looks like you were just immersed in beauty, what a wonderful trip, and WOW are your pictures good!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Sandy,
Welcome home...your pictures of Yosemite are fabulous. We haven't been there in years, but it is on my list to go back and visit. Rodger has hiked twice from Tuloumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley (about 50 miles he says). He has seen parts of Yosemite Ntl Park that most visitors never see. All of it is breathtaking. Did you go to the top of Half Dome?
Sharon

Jenny Carter said...

I love the leash on the cat. Did you have to train him/her as a kitten or did Tippy take to it right away?