Dear Oh Deer

This picture was taken this afternoon. The family went to Pocatello today. Jared and Kerrie had their baby Dalton blessed today. On the return trip home we saw these deer just south of Afton. Besides the deer in the foreground there are deer on the hill in the background. You may need to click on the picture if you want to see those.

Besides Jared and Kerrie we also saw Susan and Troy and their family, and Grandpa and Grandma Howes. Also Jared's parents were there and his twin brother Jerry and his wife and kids. Not only is Jared a twin, He and Kerrie have twin boys. So yes there are a few sets of twins in our family.

Battling Elk

These battling elk were added to the 'worlds largest elkhorn arch' a couple of years ago. This arch and and the battling elk can be found on US HWY 89 in Afton, Wyoming.

Summers are tourist season here. Often people stop and snap a picture of the arch. Once summer arrives there are more cars on hwy 89 with Utah plates than there are from Wyoming. The locals refer to them as 'U-tards'. Sorry to my freinds in Utah. We still luv ya.

Alec took this picture.

Smoky

I have been asked why I haven't posted any pictures of myself. Usually I am the one taking the pictures. But just to make 'some' of you happy, here you go. These pictures were taken today at work (Smoky Canyon). Above Jed Miller is surveying the water level at the tailings pond.



I am seen here supervising Jeds work! I am not Jed's supervisor, but someone always needs to keep an eye on him. Especially in the elevator.

Scott Donahoo and myself are doing what engineers do best. Standing around and laughing at each other.

Jed Miller. Jed also happens to be my neighbor.

September Maples

These pictures were taken in September of 2005, The top picture is the road to Dairy Syncline. I spent the summer working there and drove this road nearly everyday all summer long.
All of these pictures are in the Aspen Range of SE Idaho. The picture to the right is near Green Basin. I have seen deer, elk and moose on this hill.

The maple trees turn red before the other trees begin to show the signs of fall. They make a nice contrast to the aspen and pine.


The plan is for me to be working in this same area during the summer of 2008. I have been experimenting with picture placement and the text. And as you can see I am not getting the results I would like. Oh well I am learning. However, this has been easier than I thought It would be.

Snow Dance

Another blast of winter has arrived. The kids found the huge flakes thrilling. Oh, to be a kid again and to enjoy such simple pleasures!

Our house happens to sit on a southern slope, so most of the snow had melted from our front lawn; however most of the neighborhood is still covered with 6" to 1' of snow. Most of the houses in our little sub-division sit on a northern slope. When we bought our house we didn't consider which exposure we had, but it sure has been a nice benefit all the same.

Lady and the Tramp

The kids said I needed to include our cat Lady in my blog.

She loves sitting in this window when the blind is open. It is on the top floor and she has a view of the entire neighborhood.

She is the whitest feline you'll ever see, and is very fussy about her appearance. There is an old stray cat that hangs out in the neighborhood, that is pure black. Angela felt sorry for the thing and started to feed it. We then decided he needed a name. Tramp was the obvious choice.

Soccer Stars

The top photo is of Preston and Spencers soccer last summer. The bottom of Ruby playing soccer in 2005.

Notice the way the kids know their spot on the field? Who are the fowards anyway?

Jared the Mighty Hunter

Jared shot this mighty Antelope in Newark Valley in Nevada. He is the only guy I know that hunts in flip flops! I did not take this photo. Not sure but I think Randy took it.

Full Moon Over Star Valley

I have a thing for full moons. This is another picture I took from the front porch. The Salt River Range is in the back ground.

Road Rash

Ruby found out what it's like when your face hits the dirt. She sustained this massive injury while riding her bike, last spring.

A Day of Untangling

Spencer, Ruby, and Alec try there luck. This was one of a couple of trips we made to Middle Piney last summer. The fishing there is absolutely terrible (wink - wink) so I wouldn't even go if I were you!

The Narrows

A view of the Salt River in an area that is known as 'The Narrows'. The Narrows divides Star Valley into the 'Upper' and 'Lower' valleys. This view is looking south into Upper Valley. The Salt River Range is in the background. We live on the west side of the Upper Valley. The Salt River runs the entire length of Star Valley from south to north, where it joins with the Snake River at Palisades.

A Bit of History!

These pictures are of the copper pits near Ruth Nevada. When I was a kid me and my friends would often hike from my house to the rim of these pits. They are close enough to the town that you could here the trains and shovels working, especially at night when things were quit. My father often walked to work. Both of my grandfathers retired from Kennecott. My dad worked for Kennecott for 27 years as a machinist. Makes you wonder how a kid like me ever ended up with a career in mining? (I found these pictures on the internet, they are not taken by myself...)

A Trip to the Falls

We made a trip to Idaho Falls today. We usually go there at least once a month to shop. This photo is of Lake Palisades. The lake is mostly in Idaho, but begins in Wyoming at Alpine, where the confluence of the Snake, Greys, and Salt rivers come together. US Highway 23 runs for 16 miles along the shoreline on the left side of this photo. The lake is still frozen over. Ruby calls the hill on the right side of the lake Turtle Mountain. She says it looks like a turtle getting ready to slide into the lake. Below is a view of Swan Valley Idaho, with the Snake River running threw. I'm looking forward to warmer tempratures and greener scenery. It is amazing that when you leave Star Valley all the surrounding valley's are void of snow. I am sure that it will melt in our valley soon also.

All in One.

All six kids in one photo! This is the only photograph I can find that has all six kids in it! Plus a grandkid! This picture was taken shortly after our grandson Wesley was born (September 13, 20o5). In the back are the 3 girls left to right (and oldest to youngest) Melissa, Ashley, and Ruby. The boys left to right Spencer, Alec, and Preston. And of coarse the baby is Wesley.

Ruby Gets a Hit!

Last Spring Ruby played baseball. She is quite the athlete. She also participates in soccer, dance, and Junior Brave Cadets.

More to Crow About!

Crow Creek offers some awesome fishing! But you need to know where to go. Much of the land is private. There is some public access. JR Simplot owns a ranch on Crow Creek, and I being an employee am allowed on the ranch.
Spencer is King of the Mountain! Until Preston knocks him off that is!

Looking down Crow Creek toward Star Valley. The Salt River Range is in the background.

A Snowy Snow Drift

This picture is taken on Crow Creek, in Wyoming. The Snow Drift Range, in the background, is in Idaho. This picture was taken today! Our first adventure to the mountains of 07. The Snow is melting much faster than it has the last two winters that we have been here. Though I have learned in the past that it is not wise to get to excited for spring. Just when you think spring has sprung, old man winter hits us with another blast!

On a Stump at Stump Creek

This Picture was taken in the Spring of 2006, at the end of the road on Stump Creek. The snow melt was on, and the creek was high! This was our first adventure to the mountains of the spring. After a long winter, a trip up one of the local creeks for a picnic is always an occasion to look forward too!

Major League Bound

Spencer and Preston. A couple of future Major Leaguers for sure!

Bachelar Party

A nice 'bachelar' heard of Elk.

Western Wyoming and SE Idaho is a haven for all kinds of wildlife. Seeing big game is a daily event for me. I have a 12 mile drive to work. It would be unusual not to see big game, either going to work or coming home. Often times I see deer feeding next to the parking lot. Elk and Moose are often seen throughout the Mine property. I spent the entire summer of o5 working on a lease called the Dairy Syncline. The Dairy Syncline is located in the Aspen Range of SE Idaho. The animals I saw that summer were truely amazing.

This picture I received from an e-mail.

BIG Kitty!

To see the lion in this picture, click on the picture to expand it to full size. This Picture was taken from the truck! Very unusual to see a mountain lion in the wild, let alone from a vehicle. This was the third experience I have had with seeing a wild lion. Once I saw a lion with a group of Boy Scouts. That was at Strawberry Creek in Eastern Nevada. This cat posed for this picture at Manning Creek in SE Idaho.

That's a Bear Up There!

To see the bear click on the picture and look along the trunk of the tree for his face!

Last fall I went with Jed Miller (a surveyor at Smoky Canyon) to Manning Creek. He was staking the boundries of a timber cruise that I was overseeing. I crested a ridge and heard load scraping noises and grunts. When I looked to where the noise was coming from I saw this black bear heading up the tree as fast as he could. Jed called the office and Chad Gentry (an engineer) came with a camera. Chad snapped this picture.

From the Back Porch

This is the view from my back porch. We often see deer, elk and even moose right from the porch, or out the kitchen window.

From the Front Porch

This shot is from my front porch.

Enjoying a Dip in the Pool

My brother Jared came for a visit last summer to see some of the country. We came across this Cow and Calf Moose in Diamond Creek. (Caribou National Forest in Southeast Idaho).

First Post

I am new at blogging! I have created this blog as a place to post some of my favorite photographs that I have taken, and to include some family fun stuff!

I am having troubles getting pictures to up load so far. I'm sure I will eventually figure it out