A Mile A Minute

Winter Rain

2012-02-08T15:58:00.000-07:00

The winter rain glistens on the bare branches, reflecting the limited light that filters through the clouds.

Wyle - One Month Old

2012-02-05T15:06:00.001-07:00

I am a little behind in posting these, from when Wyle was one month old on January 13th. She was having a bit of a fussy day and I couldn't get her to relinquish the pacifier, but she looks pretty cute, nonetheless. This beautiful blanket was made by a great aunt, and the hat and mittens were made by a dear friend. Wyle is so lucky to have such beautiful things made by people who love her enough to spend the time creating for her.

I took these with the flash Brian gave me for Christmas, coupled with some natural light from a window. I have never been very good at portraits, but I am going to get a lot of practice with Wyle, I can tell! Both of these shots have a little bit of shadow that is bugging me, and I need to learn to look for these shadows when I am shooting. They seem so obvious now, but in the moment all I could think about was getting Wyle to pose for me.

The Winter Weather

2012-02-02T23:44:00.001-07:00

Here's another shot from Wheatland Reservoir #10. It looks like it is going to see a lot more snow in the next two days. My husband happens to be in Wyoming right now, and he is settling in for Snowmagedden 2012. He was scheduled to fly home tomorrow, but all flights in and out of the region are cancelled for the huge three-day storm. By Saturday night, it is forecasted that there will be several feet of snow. It's funny that neither of us ever missed a flight due to the weather during the five years we lived there, but the one time my husband is back for a short visit, he gets snowed in! I think this is all the groundhog's fault. For those of you not familiar with America's weather-predicting rodent, read about him here.

Snow at Wheatland Reservior #10

2012-01-26T19:42:00.001-07:00

We have gotten our share of snow here in Pittsburgh recently, but I have not ventured out to photograph it. For now, I am staying inside, staying warm, and going through some of my old files. This is a photo I took last spring near Wheatland, WY, not too long before we moved. I like how the masses of snow seem to undulate around the edges of the water.

Wyle and her Rabbits

2012-01-22T20:58:00.001-07:00

I may have a rabbit collection from when I was a child, and I may have unpacked them all into the cradle and yes, I may have snuggled my baby in the middle of them. But aren't they all cute together?

Wyle is nearly 6 weeks old and I can hardly believe it. She is growing so quickly - she is already nearing 10 lbs - and is awake more and more. She has started really seeing things around her, and it is fun to watch her learning about her environment, like tracking the rattle as I move it in front of her face, and staring at the pictures I have hung above her changing table. She is also sleeping slightly longer stretches at night, thank goodness! I am hoping we get to 5-6 hour stretches soon. She is like a little puzzle. When she does cry, we have to figure out what is wrong. Usually it is obvious, like she needs to be changed or is hungry. But sometimes, she doesn't know what is wrong and neither do we. We have been fumbling through parenthood and we seem to figure out more each day. It is a lot to digest, but we learn one thing at at time, just like Wyle.

P.S. - Isn't that outfit adorable? My mom made it, and, you may notice, there is a rabbit on the shirt! My mom loves to sew, and if you like quilting, you should check out her Flickr.

Yearning For the Open Road

2012-01-11T23:49:00.000-07:00

I have watched the movie "Faster" three times in as many weeks, and though it's a fun revenge flick, it is all the driving (as the name implies) through the open country of Nevada and Eastern California that I can't get enough of. It reminds me of road trips Brian and I would take from Wyoming to California. It would take an entire day to get across Utah and Nevada, and the emptiness would seem endless. But right now I am remembering it with such fondness, wishing I could look through the windshield and see nothing ahead but a ribbon of highway, bounded on one side by snow capped mountains, with the occasional wind farm reaching toward the sky and scrubby brush dotting the plains. I dug around in my files and found this image I took on one such road trip - in Utah or Nevada, I can not remember - and it brought a smile to my face.

Best Photos of 2011

2012-01-06T15:09:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are again, at the start of another year. 2011 went by so quickly for me, I think because there was just so much happening with our move from Wyoming to Pittsburgh, and also because I spent 9 months of it pregnant and had my first baby. I barely had time to think about anything else. Despite that, I managed to get some good photos, just not as many as I would have liked. I made a real effort to take the photos of Wyoming that I had been thinking about before we left. You'll notice there are a lot of cows in this year's selections...that's because there are SO many cows in Wyoming, and because I was lucky enough to go on a cattle drive at a friend's ranch. That was really an incredible experience, and a lovely way to really celebrate my time in the West. I also did my share of deer stalking, both in Wyoming and in Pennsylvania, as you can see. I tried a few more self-portraits and of course found a few subjects for my macro lens to enjoy. All in all I'm pretty happy with 2011, the parts of it that weren't a blur.

I think this year will be about finding a new normal - new place, new house, new baby. I won't be able to spend half of every day working on my photography, but I will be glad to spend it with Wyle, relearning how to live in the moment as she does. I'm going to have to learn to be ok with reduced productivity in my photography. It will equal out to being a productive mom, I know. I think I'm going to have to learn how to be more flexible in my daily life as well. I have always liked my own schedule, but I'm on Wyle's schedule, now. So I guess my only New Year's Resolution is to go with the flow. Whatever I get done, I get done (do you hear that, dirty dishes?) and whatever doesn't, doesn't. May God grant me the peace of mind to accept that every day!

What does this year hold for you? I hope it is everything you imagine it can be.

She's Here - Wyle Katherine Beyer

2012-01-04T21:53:00.001-07:00

Well, here she is! Wyle Katherine Beyer came to us on December 13th of last year. Even though life now revolves around feedings and diaper changes, part of me still can't believe she is here. I heard someone compare their feelings on the birth of their first child to how the Grinch feels at the end of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," like their heart grew three sizes that day. That's exactly how I felt the first time I heard her immediately after delivery. I always wondered how that feeling was possible, and I guess I still don't know HOW your heart can feel like that, but I am here to attest that it does.

I think I could adequately title this post "What I Accomplished in 2011," as this is a time of year for reflection and it is hard to remember what else I did but be pregnant, but I think I will save that for another time. I want to share my best photos of 2011, and I hope to get to that soon. I think slowly I will begin to blog more and I hope to reopen the shop in a week or two. I miss taking photos and sharing them here with you, so hopefully you'll be seeing more of me soon. Until then, I will try not to bombard you with photos of Wyle, but I can't make any promises :)

Christmas Greetings

2011-12-24T22:38:00.001-07:00

Thanks once again for sharing your time with me. I so enjoy sharing my photos with you. I hope you have happy holidays, no matter what you celebrate. I'll see you again soon. Be merry and may your days be bright!

Rain to Snow

2011-12-07T14:01:00.001-07:00

Today I got home from the doctor's office, just as the rain was turning to snow. I see this bush every time I park my car, but today it really looked gorgeous, covered in water droplets, while the snow came down all around.

With less than a week to go before our baby arrives, I doubt I'll get another post in, but this was just too pretty not to share. I hope you all find time to drink in all the small, beautiful details amid the hectic pace of the holiday season. Be well, my friends!

Baby, It's Cold Outside

2011-12-02T09:18:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! It is starting to get cold here in Pittsburgh, with an occasional snowflake in the air and frost covering the ground in the mornings. It is beginning to feel like winter. Every year this is enough to make me groan, but this year I am trying to keep it in perspective. I know if we still lived in Wyoming, things would be looking a lot more like the above photo. They have had a few snows and unlike here, I know it has stuck to the ground. It sure is pretty, but it sure is cold. So, when I am bundling up to go out here, I try to remember it could be so much colder! I hope you are staying warm whether it is cold where you live, or COLD where you live.

I don't know how many more posts I'm going to get in this year. Our baby girl is scheduled to come to us three weeks early (which is only a few days away). We have been busy trying to make sure we have everything we need, and that Christmas shopping is done so we can think about one less thing when Wyle gets here. I'm starting to get nervous, but at the same time, I am as ready as I'll ever be to hold her in my arms. I'm pretty sure it will be more comfortable than holding her inside my body! So wish us luck. As new parents, I think we could use some :)

Sculpture at the Phipps Conservatory

2011-11-14T14:48:00.000-07:00

Here are my last few photos from our visit to the Phipps Conservatory a few weeks ago. Everything there was so beautiful, but my favorite sight was these sculptures by Hans Godo Frabel. Their long lines are both whimsical and elegant at the same time, and they seem right at home among the dark water and hanging moss in this display.

Also on display were several glass pieces by Dale Chihuly. My sister and brother-in-law took me to see an exhibit of his in Virginia Beach when I was a teenager, and I fell in love with the color and form of his work. Each piece seems to be a celebration of life, and never has this seemed more evident to me than when I saw them bursting from the gardens at the Phipps.

Plants of the Phipps Conservatory

2011-11-03T12:23:00.001-06:00

I promised some more photos from our visit to the Phipps Conservatory here in Pittsburgh, and here they are. The variety of the plants was incredible. Sometimes the leaves were as interesting as the flowers. The folks there really do a wonderful job of bringing you unexpected color, texture, and form in the plantings.

Vultures

2011-10-31T10:59:00.000-06:00

Happy Halloween, everyone! I'm so excited that next year I will have my own little pumpkin to dress up and take trick-or-treating! I thought today I'd share these vultures I stumbled upon while walking a trail at Cypress Gardens in South Carolina a while back. There was a huge group of them, on the ground and sunning in the trees. I admit they aren't very spooky in the bright blue sunlight, but boy were they large in person! Have a great night, everyone!

Phipps Conservatory

2011-10-24T13:49:00.000-06:00

Saturday the weather was glorious here in Pittsburgh, so we decided to go out and do something fun. We had never been to the Phipps Conservatory, but had always wanted to go. It was the perfect outing for such a pretty day. There are rooms upon rooms inside the conservatory, with different themes such as desert plants, Amazonian plants, and fall color. Here are some photos of my favorites. I'll be back in a few days with some detail shots of the beautiful flowers.

I'm Pregnant!

2011-10-17T11:38:00.002-06:00

Happy Monday, everyone! Well, if you have been wondering why I have been posting so infrequently here, I have a good excuse! Not only did we move halfway across the country a few short months ago, but I am pregnant to boot! My sweet friend Bonnie finally took a photo of me, since I have had a time trying to find my tripod in all the boxes! Today I am 28 weeks along, and believe me, that sweater is making my bump look smaller than it is. I can't imagine getting any bigger, but I still have 2 1/2 months to go, so I am sure I am in for it. I am having a girl, and we are naming her Wyle Katherine. My grandpa is the best example of a human being that I know, so we used part of his name and then also part of my husband's grandmother's name. I think it has a nice ring to it.

Needless to say, I am slowing down around here considerably. I am not out taking a lot of photos, I'm afraid, and neither am I spending much time in front of the computer doing any photo-related tasks. I confess both activities are a bit uncomfortable, so forgive me for the lack of content around here. I am looking forward to when Wyle arrives, and we are able to go around together getting great photos, but that will have to wait until next year. Until then, I'll try and share some photos from the archives when I am up to it. I also am not reading anyone elses' blogs very often, so forgive me for not keeping up with you all. Leave me comments so I know how you are all doing!

Until the next time, take care!

-Vickie

Autumn Trees

2011-10-14T19:32:00.003-06:00

I haven't been getting out too much lately, but I did look up while putting out the garbage earlier this week and saw how pretty the trees looked against the sky. The tips of all the leaves seemed to fade into the white, and I liked the effect.

Fiery Mums

2011-10-11T10:26:00.001-06:00

Hello everyone! Sorry to be away for a few extra days but we've been working on the house some more. With the help of my mother-in-law, we have painted my studio, finally, and my husband assembled the wardrobe that houses all my crafty stuff. We'll unpack about a million more boxes this week, into that wardrobe, and hopefully things will settle down a little around here.

Aren't these mums gorgeous? A sweet friend brought them by and they just look like they are on fire in the golden afternoon sun.

NEW IN SHOP: Leaving Wyoming

2011-10-03T04:57:00.005-06:00

I have enjoyed doing self portraits the last year or two, just here and there, and this is one of my favorites. I took this just outside my front door in Wyoming, just a few weeks before we moved. It is so simple in composition, but it speaks volumes, to me anyway. I wanted to convey a sense of place, with the snow and the boots, though really this could have been almost anywhere. I wanted to take a photo to mark our leaving, hence the suitcase. That seemed to be about all it needed, to me, and even though I took this six months ago, it still fills me with that sense of simultaneous sadness and anticipation that I was feeling.

"Leaving Wyoming" is now available in my shop, in any size print.

Groundhog

2011-09-30T08:42:00.000-06:00

I've been seeing this neighbor lately. He used to feed in the back yard until we put the fence up. After that, it was weeks before I saw him again, but now he takes his lunch in the neighbor's yard. Smart fellow, that groundhog.

NEW IN SHOP: Season of Apples

2011-09-26T09:31:00.001-06:00

"Apple Blossoms"

"Ripening Apple"

"Autumn Apples"

"Apple Harvest"

It is officially fall and I can feel it in the air. The leaves are beginning to yellow and the mornings are crisp and cool. That means apple season is nearly here! When I had my own apple trees at our last home, this was one of my favorite times of year. I had so much fun afternoon after afternoon photographing these trees, which produced the most delicious little apples. When I was done every day with the camera, I would collect all the ones that had fallen to freeze and can them, and I made about every apple recipe I had on hand. There is something really special about the urgency of a harvest, in making sure none of nature's bounty goes to waste. I hope one day we will again have fruit trees of our own so we can experience this all over again.

To celebrate the season, I am now offering these four prints in my shop that show these pretty little apples from blossom to harvest.

Beechwood Farms Flowers

2011-09-19T07:57:00.010-06:00

Happy Monday morning, everyone! I hope the weekend treated you well. We had a lovely overnight visit from an uncle, though my poor husband had to work both days this weekend. I suppose that is the price you sometimes pay for freeing yourself from a desk job.

Last Friday I met up with a friend and her (almost) three-year-old for a nature hike at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, which also serves as the headquarters for the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania. There are five miles of hiking trails that are bushwhacked through the six-foot-tall flowering bushes and the neighboring woods. I was eye-level with these pretty wildflowers when I took this shot.

Missing Apple Trees

2011-09-16T08:53:00.000-06:00

I sure do miss the apple trees we had in our backyard in Wyoming this time of year. I spent day after day photographing them last year, and then weeks making every sort of apple recipe you can think of. I suspect the dogs miss them too...they loved to snack on the ones I didn't pick up off the ground.

Reworked: Wind River Mountains

2011-09-12T10:03:00.000-06:00

Here is another attempt at some alternative processing for a less-than-stellar photo. The original is below:

River View Alternative Processing

2011-09-10T07:55:00.000-06:00

I have been trying to work out a way to digitally process my second-rate photos so as to salvage them. Sometimes composition can be great, but there is nothing minor you can do to fix flat lighting, even in Photoshop. This image is a good example (see original in previous post), and I spent yesterday working and reworking this image. I came up with two versions that I liked, both heavily reworked in Photoshop. I like them both for very different reasons. Do you like the look of either of these?

River View

2011-09-09T08:12:00.000-06:00

Here's another shot from our day at the Allegheny National Forest. I'm not sure what river this is, but it was pretty even in the overcast conditions.

I can't believe it is Friday already. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Allegheny National Forest

2011-09-06T09:20:00.000-06:00

Despite the constant drizzle this weekend, Bri and I decided that we must get out of the house. We had been putting off a trip to check out the Allegheny National Forest for weeks now, waiting for perfect weather or to get things checked off our to-do lists. Yesterday, we took advantage of the holiday to finally just go.

It was beautiful. The rain just made everything look even more lush. I was hoping the rain would also chase away any other visitors, but the area was not as secluded as I had hoped. We did, however, discover lots of cute little towns that dotted the forest that we will have to return to explore more thoroughly.

Still, the fresh air and gentle rain were just the refresher Bri and I needed after so many weeks of doing doing doing. I can't wait to go back.

The Shop Is Open

2011-09-03T08:55:00.001-06:00

I just wanted to drop by the blog today and let you know I have reopened my shop! I'm so excited to be back in business that I am offering free shipping anywhere in the world for a week, on 8x12 prints and smaller sizes. Just use the coupon code "REOPEN2011" upon checkout! The final day to use the coupon code will be September 10th.

Mushroom

2011-09-01T07:48:00.000-06:00

Every time it rains here, pretty little mushrooms pop up all over the yard.

Lioness

2011-08-29T09:32:00.000-06:00

Here's one more from last week's visit to the zoo. This lioness is looking up, checking out a bird, I bet. I loved that intent look on her face.

Tiger Cubs

2011-08-25T11:18:00.000-06:00

Earlier this week I went to the Pittsburgh Zoo. I have been hearing about the tiger cubs since we moved here, and was excited to see them for myself. Even though they are young, they are still larger than a Great Dane, but next to the adult tigers you can clearly tell these two are the youngsters.

One was sweetful in particular, cleaning its sibling.

That quickly turned to playing. The wrestled with each other but managed not to fall off the rock ledge.

Then, it was naptime.

Summer Tomatoes

2011-08-22T08:17:00.000-06:00

I know there has been a lot of green on the blog here lately, so I thought I'd dig around and look for something a little different. And what says 'summer' better than juicy red tomatoes? I wish we had been able to grow them ourselves this year, but with the move that just wasn't possible. But since we live closer to where even the ones in the grocery store are being grown, these taste better than any I had out West, except our own. We have been celebrating these tasty tomatoes in so many ways... tomato pie, tomato sauce, tomato sandwiches, tomatoes on the grill, tomatoes roasted in the oven, tomatoes and cucumber salad, stuffed tomatoes, and hopefully this week, tomato bruschetta.

Backyard Reflected In Dew

2011-08-18T08:05:00.002-06:00

I took these photos one morning when I was up early and the sun was just beginning to light up the dewy grass. I have so many neat photos that I had a hard time choosing just a few, so I settled on the ones where you can actually see my back yard reflected in the bead of dew. I cropped in on the second image of each set so you can see it better. Neat, huh? (You can also click each image to see it just a little bit larger.)

Butterfly Houses

2011-08-15T09:49:00.000-06:00

Good morning, everyone! I've been seeing butterflies not only when I am out in the yard, but through my windows when I stare into the trees. I had no idea they flew so high, up where the birds like to rest. But there or fluttering low to the ground, they are very difficult to capture with my camera. They just don't stay still for long. But there is one place they are much easier to photograph - a butterfly house. I'm seeing more and more of these at zoos and public gardens. The butterflies don't stay still any longer than the wild ones, but there are so many concentrated in one place you are sure to get a shot.

Tangled

2011-08-12T07:54:00.000-06:00

I hope your weekend calls for sunshine, blue skies, and some relief from the heat! I can't believe the nice weather we've been having in Pittsburgh. When I went outside to read the paper this morning, I actually needed a sweatshirt. The slight chill reminded me of waking up on a camping trip in the mountains, and that made me smile. I hope you find something to smile about this weekend, too!

My Babies Are Growing Up

2011-08-09T11:23:00.001-06:00

The eight baby turkeys that walk across my yard daily are getting so big! They are at least half the size of their mommas (the group is two hens with eight chicks) now. Our fence installation was complete late last week, and it has been interesting to watch them adjust. The hens fly over the fence, and most of the young ones follow, but every once in a while one can't remember how to fly, so it gets stuck inside our fence or left behind on the other side. But, the hens are patient and always come back for the frantic young ones, and sooner or later they figure it out. I thought they might just walk around the fence, as there is plenty of room behind it to cross the yard, but they refuse to alter their pattern and that is just fine with me. I love to watch them.

Feather

2011-08-04T07:11:00.000-06:00

I can't believe how quickly this week has been passing. I spent most of it patching plaster in my bedroom. When we removed the wallpaper, I was surprised it was in such bad condition around the windows, but after six coats of patch and a lot of careful sanding, I think I have it looking about as good as it can. I also spent this week researching what I need to do to 'open for business' in this state, and I think I have most of it figured out! Hopefully I will get that taken care of next week, so I can reopen my Etsy shop. My in-laws are coming up this weekend to help us with some more renovations, so we have a full weekend ahead. What are your plans? Have a good one!

New fPOE Book Out!

2011-08-01T06:50:00.001-06:00

I'm so excited to share with you the new book "Still: The Art of Living" from the Female Photographers of Etsy. It features two of my photos, and hundreds more from the talented ladies of our group. We've self-published it on Blurb, and you can head over there to preview the first few pages. The serene images collected here are so very inspiring, and it was really designed nicely as well. I didn't have anything to do with that, but I'd like to tell the select few ladies who produced this work that I am so pleased with the job they have done. I got my copy in the mail last week and it truly is a pleasure to flip through. Check it out if you get a chance. And have a great week, everyone!

Pennsylvania Backyard

2011-07-28T09:46:00.000-06:00

Hello, everyone! I hope you are all having good weeks so far. I'm so excited because this week our fence is going in at our new place here in Pittsburgh. I can't wait for the doggies to be able to run around like they are used to, chasing each other, bounding around and playing fetch. Fetch in the house just isn't the same, and it sure doesn't do enough to expend their energy (and they have lots of it!). There's not much of a place to take a walk around here, so a huge, fenced in yard is certainly the way to go.

Missing Flowers

2011-07-25T08:49:00.000-06:00

Things have begun to slow down around here (a tiny bit) as we settle into our new life here in Pittsburgh, and with that comes enough spare time to miss my home in Wyoming. This house, this landscape, is great, but not being 'done' with anything - renovating, unpacking, landscaping, learning nearby streets and stores - is exhausting. It certainly makes me remember our perfect little house in Wheatland fondly. There are really no flowers in my Pittsburgh yard right now and it is making me think how my highly landscaped yard in Wheatland would look like. The peonies will have come and gone, but everything else will be in high bloom right now, like this purple flower, the name of which escapes me right now. When I get to missing it too badly, though, I try to remember how very nice it is to have air conditioning! It would be 90 in the house during the day in Wheatland by now, and I'd feel too sluggish to do much of anything.

Leaf Raindrops

2011-07-21T09:07:00.001-06:00

We got quite a bit of rain here in Pittsburgh a few days ago, and along with how lovely it made everything, like this leaf, we discovered a leak in our roof! It is just a smaller portion of roof, covering the sunporch, but it is unfortunate all the same. Alas, that's one more thing on the to-do list.

Moth

2011-07-13T08:33:00.001-06:00

While we were working in the yard one day, Brian came across this giant moth. It was resting on a pile of limbs he was chopping up, and it blended in so well I am surprised he saw it. He brought it over for me to see, and then gently placed it on the ground a safe distance away from our activity.

I photographed it right then. When we checked on it an hour later, it was gone.

P.S. Upon further research I think this is a Polyphemus Moth, and it feeds on the foliage of the trees.

Neighborhood Doe

2011-07-08T08:08:00.000-06:00

Hi again, everyone. Sorry to be gone so long from the blog, but I have been so industrious in my absence! With the help of some family, I have removed wallpaper in two rooms, which despite the conditions, seems to never be an easy task. Most of my boxes are unpacked. I have a plan as to paint colors, and we are firming up renovation ideas to get us a new kitchen and a much-needed downstairs bathroom. We'll have a fence up in two weeks, and also will have a teetering old tree removed before nature has the chance to send it through my roof (I hope). So there has been a lot going on.

Despite my busy days, I always find moments to spend with my new neighbors. The above neighbor is perhaps my favorite. She visits my yard about every other day, snacking from the low-hanging branches of the bushes and trees as she goes along. She isn't afraid of me, or the dogs, so I hope once Happy and Little Bear have their new fence that she will still visit when they are safely indoors and all is quiet. I thought this doe was alone until I saw her again yesterday, with two spotted fawns nibbling away in the neighbor's yard. I have great views of the wooded lot next door from my house, and happened to see the three of them through a window. I watched them so long I nearly missed an appointment. I'll try to get some photos next time I see them, but I know that though the doe is not afraid of me when she is alone, she would likely not feel the same way when her young are so near. The last thing I want to do is scare them away.

Speaking of neighbors, I have met both next door neighbors, and even some from a few doors down. Everyone has been so welcoming and friendly, and it has warmed my heart to think we have so lucked out. And I have an update on our other animal neighbors, the turkeys. On the third of July they marched down the hill toward the house, two adults and five babies, surprising my father-in-law who called us out to the back porch. Then they proceeded to fly up into the tree nearest our back porch to roost for the night. They flapped about, beating the leaves of the maple tree as they moved from branch to branch settling in. It was quite a cool thing to behold.

Well, it is time to sign off and get to patching the plaster walls that we found beneath the wallpaper, and when it stops pouring rain, perhaps I will finally get a driver's liscence today. Until next time, be well my friends.

Wild Turkeys

2011-06-29T08:34:00.000-06:00

Hi again, everybody! The posting will be a bit sporadic around here for a few more weeks as we continue to settle in to our new home. We learned quite quickly that we share it with some beautiful wildlife, including some wild turkeys. Usually I just see one pecking around at the edge of our property where we share a line of trees with the neighbor, but some days they walk across the grassy hill of our yard into the other neighbor's property. I caught these two together one day. I know there are more turkeys, because we saw about a dozen together in the vicinity when we were looking at this house, but I've yet to see more than two at one time since we have moved in. But these two are so fun to watch.

Setting Up Home in Pennsylvania

2011-06-23T09:02:00.001-06:00

Hello everyone! I made it to Pennsylvania! The move went smoothly, though unpacking has been a pain. Who doesn't pack the computer with its powercord? I've been looking for that for days, but I digress.

The house is great. See that view? You look into the trees from almost every window in the house - it feels like a treehouse and is my favorite thing about our new place. I do miss Wyoming's open spaces, but when I was in Wyoming I missed trees. I guess you can have everything you want, just not all at the same time. So, for now, I have trees and green hills and I am loving it.

Goodbye, For Now

2011-05-23T09:52:00.000-06:00

Well, it's time to say goodbye, for a few weeks, anyway. Thank you dear readers for joining me in all my Wyoming exploits. I've had a lot of fun here, and I hope you have, right along with me. I'm going to sign off from the blog for a few weeks, until we get moved and settled in Pittsburgh. I've got a busy week ahead of me packing and preparing, then we will take a few days to make our way east. We plan on meandering, a bit, making our way through North Dakota, a state neither Bri nor I have been to, and then through Minnesota (perhaps we'll see some family) and then on to Pittsburgh. I'll check back in with you all sometime in the middle of June. Until then, be well!

Oh, Wyoming!

2011-05-20T10:43:00.001-06:00

Oh, Wyoming, we've had one heck of a time together! We didn't much like each other at first, but slowly we came to really appreciate each other.

You are harsh, but stunning. I think your extreme weather and ferocious winds made me tougher in a lot of ways, though my body has forgotten how to handle humid, hot days, so we may be at a draw, in that regard. I can now drive in 50 mph winds without much trouble, but I have lost all confidence while driving in the rain. Your waters aren't teeming with scary critters, but boy are they cold. I guess I've learned from you that there are positives and negatives about everywhere I might choose to live, and focusing on the good and unique will help me get the most from every situation.

Wyoming, you made me work hard for a lot of things. Being 70 miles from big-box stores and multiplexes, you made me rethink what was really necessary and important. You made me rely on my neighbors and their small businesses, and helped me realize that how and where I spend my money is important. You made me realize that even in a small town, I can get an incredible pizza, find hip clothes, and even find other amazing artists, in addition to all of my basic needs.

More than anything, you made me appreciate space: space between towns, which helps them retain individual identities; space between cars on the road, which makes for easy driving; and visual space, which can seem to go on forever out here. I can't say I didn't miss trees, but after a while I did find beauty in the plains, and of course the mountains.

I can also say your ties to history made me appreciate the modern conveniences. Being reminded of how pioneers traveled on the Oregon Trail, I am so thankful for paved roads and cars! That may sound silly and fundamental, but I think of the suffering of the people who made their way by wagon and horse and foot, on those trails, which are still visible, when I look west across the state. Wyoming, you have reminded me that our history is really not so far behind us.

I will miss you, Wyoming, but I will take all these lessons with me, and I know they have made me a better person, with a more complete understanding of this vast country. I think we both knew I was not going to stay here forever, but even still, I am sad to go. I take much comfort in knowing that change is slow, here, and that when I bring my future children here to visit, they will see Wyoming much the same as I have seen it.

Take care, and don't ever change!

-Vickie

May Snow

2011-05-19T10:18:00.000-06:00

I know a lot of you wouldn't believe that I woke up to snow today, so here are the pictures to prove it. It rained all night, and sometime early this morning it turned to snow, and is showing no signs of stopping. If I didn't know better, I would think Wyoming was trying to tell me to leave :)

Speaking of leaving, in preparation for moving, I will be closing my shop on Saturday, May 21st, so if you have been thinking about placing an order, now is the time! My shop will be closed probably through the end of June, as I will need to figure out Pennsylvania's complicated business requirements. Wyoming was a dream state to start a business because everything is so much simpler when you don't file state taxes. Wish me luck figuring it all out!

Cheyenne Signage

2011-05-18T10:05:00.000-06:00

As my time in Wyoming comes to an end, I have been making sure to photograph those things that have been on my list. These really neat signs in Cheyenne were on that list, and I happened to catch them about a month ago on a great day with saturated blue skies. There seems to be a lot of cool signage out West - vintage or made new to look like vintage - and it adds such character to these towns.

Pretty Little Spot

2011-05-18T10:01:00.000-06:00

Now that spring has sprung around here, I was wondering what this pretty little spot was looking like. Are the trees leafing yet? Is that stream's bank greening up?

Deer Expressions

2011-05-17T10:40:00.001-06:00

A few weeks ago I came across a good-sized herd of deer and they let me get very close to take some photos. For the most part, they didn't seem to mind my presence, but here are a few shots where you can see what they are really thinking. This one seems to me like "Oh crap!"

This young one is thinking "What ARE you? I'm getting ready to bolt."

And boy, howdy, if looks could kill, I'd have had it.

Popo Agie River

2011-05-16T10:07:00.000-06:00

Good morning, everyone! I hope you all had a nice weekend. I've been feeling sick for a few weeks now, and cabin fever is setting in. I was going through some old photos of the Popo Agie River in Lander, and they are making me itch for some sunlight, the sounds of water rushing over rocks, and the chirping of all the spring birds. I almost want to put my feet in that river, to feel those smooth stones under my feet and the water between my toes, until I remember just how cold mountain streams are!

Robinson Crusoe

2011-05-13T11:24:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope you all have a great weekend! My husband is finally home from working in PA and AZ for several weeks, and it is so nice to have things feel normal around here, even if it is only until we move in two weeks. We'll have a busy, but happy weekend, I'm sure. See you on Monday!

Prairie Hawk

2011-05-11T09:16:00.001-06:00

I caught this Prairie Hawk circling overhead recently, looking for a meal, no doubt.

Spring Reading

2011-05-10T09:31:00.000-06:00

Here are several shots I took for "Spring Reading," and I will choose two to sell as companions to "Autumn Reading" and "Winter Reading." I think I've chosen the two I like best, but as I sometimes do, I am taking my time to think about it. The first shot is a clear winner, but as for the shot that will be a stack of books, well, I'm still deciding on that one. What do you think?

Crab Apple Blossoms

2011-05-09T09:19:00.000-06:00

I've been feeling really under the weather lately - sneezing, itchy eyes, haywire sinuses. I think I have found the culprit - these pretty crab apple blossoms. Spring has just arrived in Wyo and all the trees are coming alive, and this is the first to flower in my yard. It is SO pretty, but, I'm afraid, I'm SO allergic to everything pretty this time of year. I think I may just have to wear a respirator to mow the lawn. And forget sitting outside to read Jane Eyre. I'm afraid we'll have to settle for looking out the window.

Whitetail Doe

2011-05-06T08:40:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone! I wish you all a good weekend, and Happy Mother's Day to all of you ladies. I'm so grateful for mine! I only wish I was closer to celebrate. Well, really I wish I was closer so she could nurse me back to health. I've got one heck of a sinus infection/allergy attack, and I'm missing my mommy right about now. I hope my illness subsides and that you all have an allergy-free weekend!

Taking A Dip

2011-05-05T09:38:00.000-06:00

It's starting to warm up, and the cows are starting to venture into Greyrocks Reservoir, now that the ice has melted. I spotted this one taking a dip the other day.

George Washington in Profile

2011-05-04T09:30:00.002-06:00

I forgot to share this side view of George Washington that we got as we drove away from Mt. Rushmore, back to Custer. It was such a surprise to see him appear in the cliffs!

Apple Branches in Spring

2011-05-03T09:06:00.002-06:00

Spring is really here, even in Wyoming! There are young little leaves on the apple trees, and the sight of them in the afternoon light warms my heart.

Wind River Mountains

2011-05-02T09:34:00.000-06:00

As Mom and I were driving away from Lander, we passed by the Wind River Mountains, which had received a fresh coating of snow during the night. The storm clouds still hovered close above them, and they were so beautiful we had to stop and take some photos. The water in the foreground is the Boysen Reservoir, looking a little low this time of year.

Ayers Natural Bridge & Hell's Half Acre

2011-04-29T09:58:00.001-06:00

As mom and I drove northwest toward Lander, we passed a few places that you just have to stop at when on a road trip. I had always wanted to stop at Ayers Natural Bridge, but never had. I'm glad we drove the five miles off the interstate to see this pretty little spot, which arches over Laprele Creek. We drove straight into the clouds, so the sky was overcast when looking at the bridge, and bright blue when looking the other direction at these cliffs.

They really are this saturated. They were stunning to behold. On the way out of the park, we drove past the "Old Power House." This gray concrete building was constructed in the early 1900s by the North Platte Irrigation Company to supply power to pump water from the North Platte River for irrigation. The company went bankrupt before the project was completed.

Next we stopped at Hell's Half Acre. The name of the place is a misnomer, as this ravine with sharp rocky formations encompasses more than 300 acres. I know you can't really tell how severe the terrain looks in this small photo, but it is so interesting in person. It looks absolutely unnavigable, but Native Americans used to herd buffalo off the cliffs during their hunts. How they retrieved them, I'll never know. This used to be a roadside attraction, complete with hotel and restaurant, but those have since been torn down, so all there is to mark it is a sign along the side of Interstate 25.

Lander, Wyoming

2011-04-28T10:27:00.000-06:00

Hello, everyone! I'm back. Sorry to stay away for a few days, but my mom was out visiting and we packed a lot into the three days she was here. It's not often that I get to see my mom, so it was a real treat. I picked her up at the Denver airport, and we had lunch with an old friend of mine from middle school. My mom remembers her of course, and I think they had fun seeing each other after so many years.

Easter Sunday we took it easy, though I am ashamed to say I was so exhausted from the trip to pick Mom up (a six hour round-trip driving, plus a few stops on top of that) that I overslept and we missed church completely. So we took it easy, and had a chance to catch up and cook some halibut for Easter dinner (that Bri caught in Alaska) and she got to see my house. Since I am moving in a month, and she had heard me talk about how much I loved this place, she had to see it for herself. She agrees - it's pretty perfect.

On Monday we took a little road trip up to Lander, WY, to see the cute town and to exchange some of my art in the Global Arts gallery. I dropped off some of those new post cards, a few paintings, and a framed 12x18 of "Dandelion Sails." Lander is the sort of place that gets a summer crowd, so here's hoping they find new homes in the coming months.

We got to visit some of the other galleries in Lander, too, which helped my mom fulfill some requirements in the recertification class she is currently taking (she has to take a class every two years to renew her teaching certificate). We had really nice weather while we were there, which was really great because there is so much to see in Lander. There is a foundry nearby, and the town is just covered in these amazing sculptures that are produced there. This elk was at the entrance to our motel. Stunning, don't you think? I wish I had taken more photos of all the bronzes, we only spent the one night in Lander and were in a rush to see everything before we left. You'll have to go see them for yourselves.

New In Shop: Post Cards

2011-04-25T09:30:00.002-06:00

Hello, everyone! I hope you had a lovely Easter, if you celebrate, and a lovely weekend if you don't. I am so excited that my mom is in town for a couple of days, and we have quite the busy schedule. I'm afraid I'll be playing hooky here on the blog until Thursday; I hope you don't mind.

I am so excited to share with you today my new post card packs. I had two made - "Wyoming Landscapes" and "Favorite Flowers." There are five of each in each pack, and are for sale for $5 in my shop. I just LOVE post cards and have been wanting to print some for a while. I love having something to jot a note on to include in a package I'm sending, or just a fast way to say "Hi!" when I'm thinking of someone. I also love other artists' post cards, because they are like little gems bundled up together in my stationery drawer, and I smile every time I flip through them.

They are five to a pack and come in a cello envelope to keep them safe. I will be taking some of these to Global Arts in Lander when mom and I go switch out some art of mine later this week. I think they are so darn cute I can't wait to share them!

Mt. Rushmore

2011-04-22T10:33:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday, everyone! I can't believe it has been a week since I was in the Black Hills of South Dakota, visiting Mt. Rushmore, with my mother-in-law. Since I am moving back east, I wanted to make sure I saw this incredible monument before I left. We traveled up through the town of Custer, S.D., so we didn't see Mt. Rushmore until we were right in front of it. It sort of surprised me when I did see those faces, looming above me.

We were shocked again when we came up the steps from the parking lot, and saw this mountain goat. If the shock of seeing this gorgeous wild animal only a few feet away wasn't enough, then watching him graze right beside the "Keep Off Grass" sign was! It had a whole lotta nerve.

The carving was begun in 1927, and the faces were completed in 1939. Each president's torso was also initially to be depicted, but lack of funding forced the project to end. Still, the massive faces of some of this country's greatest leaders is quite impressive to view.

George Washington, 1st president

Thomas Jefferson, 3rd president

Theodore Roosevelt, 26th president

Abraham Lincoln, 16th president

"The purpose of the memorial is to communicate the founding, expansion, preservation, and unification of the United States with colossal statues of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt."

- Sculptor Gutzon Borglum

Springtime Snow

2011-04-21T09:34:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I woke up to a thin layer of snow atop the green grass in my backyard. The dogs were thrilled, and ran around chasing each other and kicking up the white powder everywhere they went. When they were done, they hopped up onto the picnic table and ate the snow. That makes me laugh every time.

Method Press

2011-04-20T08:32:00.002-06:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More art

Today I wanted to share a project I have been working on with several other ladies. It is a new magazine called Method Press, and is overflowing with gorgeous art and artist interviews.

My contribution is a photo spread I complied on pages 10-17, highlighting the work of the Female Photographers of Etsy. There is so much talent in fPoe and I was so pleased to explore hundreds of shops for just the right images for our theme, "A Blank Stare."

But enough from me - take a look yourself.

Crazy Horse Memorial

2011-04-19T09:33:00.000-06:00

Only three hours from my house is this impressive feat of man - the largest mountain carving in the world. Crazy Horse Monument is far from complete, but when it is, it will be 563 feet tall, and tower above an American Indian university and medical center, as depicted here.

Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski and Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear began work officially in 1948 on this memorial, which they envisioned would honor the culture, tradition and living heritage of North American Indians. They chose the Lakota leader Crazy Horse as a subject because they felt he embodied the spirit of all Native Americans through his ferocity in battle and his dedication to preserving their way of life. He was murdered by a soldier after surrendering, and thus became a martyr.

Ziolkowski worked on this monument for the last half of his life, and when he died in 1982, his wife and seven of his ten children took up his work. The monument is entirely funded by donations and admission fees, as the sculptor felt it would compromise the integrity of the project if federal or state funds were used. Because of this, and the mercurial weather of the Black Hills, work proceeds slowly, and no one knows when the monument will be completed.

In this photo you can see the white outline of the horse's head, with his ear pointed back toward the face. The long, flat surface that stretches out from the face will be Crazy Horse's arm, stretched out in front of him. Ziolkowski depicted Crazy Horse with his left hand pointing in answer to the famous question asked of him, "Where are your lands now?" Crazy Horse replied, "My lands are where my dead lie buried."

The Black Hills of South Dakota

2011-04-18T09:56:00.002-06:00

Happy Monday, everyone! I am quite busy today, taking my mother-in-law to the airport and getting my windshield replaced in Cheyenne, but I wanted to drop in for a quick 'hello.' Mrs. Beyer and I had a full weekend, not only getting ready for my impending move but also taking a day to visit Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse. I'll have photos of the monuments tommorow, but today here's a peek at the landscape of South Dakota's Black Hills.

Bird Trio

2011-04-15T08:23:00.000-06:00

I'm starting to see buds on the tips of the trees. Even though we got a little snow yesterday, spring is on its way! Have a good weekend, everyone!

Win This Treasury!

2011-04-14T10:23:00.009-06:00

Good morning, everyone! Today I have a special treat for you. You can win EVERYTHING in this beautiful Etsy treasury! It features work from 16 members of the Female Photographers of Etsy team, including me.

Orange Ranunculus Flowe... KBuchananPhoto... $20.00	Set of 12 Postcards. Wa... eyeful $12.00
Into the Lily - 5x7 Col... ArtByAmarose $10.00	Rustic Shadows - 8x10 p... AngelaMichikoD... $22.00
Horseshoe Bay Montagyoo $15.00	Kayaking Weedon naturethruthel... $
The Old Slide - Nostalg... tammiebowden $36.00	Photograph Venice Gondo... henatayeb $22.00
A Trio of Roses Fine Ar... AGiftofGrace $10.50	Rockport Rowboats-2 5x... JudiFitzPatric... $30.00
Chrome Key Chain Hot Ai... SunshineLaRose... $7.50	In Between- Signed Fine... cmjolley $35.00
Starfish - Glass Tile F... gildinglilies $10.00	Lone Zebra- Original fi... menuchaprints $15.00
Mums The Word - 8 x 10 ... VioletSkais $30.00	Wide Open - 8x12 or 8x1... milemarker $30.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Here's what you need to do to enter:

Log in to Etsy, or create an account if you don't have one. Click on this treasury, and leave a comment. That's it! In two weeks, a winner will be named and contacted (so check your email or your Etsy account).
Each artist will send you the item they are offering in this treasury, so you can look forward to 16 lovely little presents in the mail, including my "Wide Open" print.

P.S. - Please don't leave a comment here on my blog to enter. You must visit the Etsy treasury and leave a comment there. Good luck!

Guernsey State Park

2011-04-13T09:52:00.002-06:00

My mother-in-law is here in Wheatland with me for a week to help me pack up and get ready for my move to Pittsburgh. She was kind enough to dogsit for two weeks while Brian and I looked for houses, which was so very nice. It really put my mind at ease to know my doggies were being looked after so well.

It looks like we have some rain and snow in the forecast, so yesterday we decided to go out and enjoy the last bits of sunshine. We drove up to Guernsey State Park and spent the afternoon exploring the western side of the park, which has gorgeous views of the reservoir like this one. I was amazed to see that spring green on the trees looked a little like autumn gold. The grasses are still brown, but they will spring to life here in a matter of weeks.

The First Daffodils

2011-04-12T09:27:00.000-06:00

When I returned to Wyoming from Pittsburgh, these lovely little daffodils were here in my backyard to greet me. I planted 10 of them last autumn, and I was so worried I might never see them bloom. These will be the very first to bloom, and hopefully the others will follow suit, soon.

Return From Pittsburgh

2011-04-11T16:01:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone! I returned from my trip to Pittsburgh successful - we found a house, put in an offer, and it was accepted! It's a pretty two-story home in O'hara. This isn't it - this is just a photo of one of the brick buildings that populate the city's downtown.

The house will be ten minutes from my husband's office, but it feels like it is much farther from the city. We will have almost an acre of land which I am sure the dogs will love, plenty of space for my husband's woodworking shop, and of course a studio for me. There's even enough room for all our books. Let's hope the home inspection doesn't turn up something crazy!

Best of Winter Photography

2011-04-06T17:21:00.002-06:00

I know we are a few weeks into spring, but since I have been in Pittsburgh house hunting for a few weeks, I am a little behind. I love taking time each quarter to reflect on the work I have done. It gives me a sense of accomplishment, for sure, and also gives me a visual indication of what sort of work I have been doing. This quarter I can finally say I have some good snow shots. I have always been rather fond of staying indoors when it is cold, but I ventured out quite a few times this winter to get some of the shots I wanted. No matter what you do, it is good to step back from time to time to see how far you have come.

As for the house hunting, we put an offer in on a place today. Now we sit back and see if comes through. Either way, we are headed back to Wyoming this weekend and I will be back to blogging on Monday. I wish you well until then!

Meandering Stream

2011-03-25T09:35:00.005-06:00

There are so many little streams that criss-cross Wyoming's rolling plains. They are like veins, delivering much needed water throughout the state.

I hope you all have a great weekend. Today I am off to Pittsburgh to begin a two-week house search. Wish me luck. I am not sure if I will keep up with the blog while I am gone - I know I will be very busy and away from my much-loved desktop computer. If I don't, well, I'll see you again around April 10th. Don't worry about the doggies. We have some family over to care for them so they don't have to be kennelled. Thank goodness! They will have all the love they can stand between now and the time I return.

Until then I'll be meandering like this little stream.

-Vickie

The Picnic Spot

2011-03-24T09:20:00.000-06:00

Leah and I found the prettiest little stream on Sunday. Only when we got close to it could we hear the hollow tumble of water spilling down the rocks. There was something green growing there, and I think we were both glad to see something green, amid all the winter colors in the landscape. We photographed it, and then went back to the ATV and got our lunch, and trekked back to this idyllic little spot to enjoy our meal. It was such a peaceful little picnic.

Bare Aspens

2011-03-23T10:23:00.000-06:00

Here are some more shots from Sunday. These little aspens are bare but still so pretty.

Birthday Adventure: The Cliffs

2011-03-22T10:46:00.000-06:00

Leah snapped this picture of me on Sunday when we were out and about exploring.

Little did she know I got a picture of her, too!

Here is how those cliff faces looked close up. We marvelled at how smooth and sheer some of the cuts were.

And we thought about cougars watching us from their cliff caves, though it was such a sunny morning it was hard to imagine anything bad happening. It was the first day of spring, after all.

Birthday #31

2011-03-21T10:06:00.000-06:00

Good morning, everyone! Well, it happened. I had another birthday! I feel like I was just blogging about this, but it turns out it was an entire year ago! My, how time flies.

This year my husband was away from home, but thanks so some sweet friends I had a great day anyway. Leah had me over to the ranch, and we went exploring on the ATV with our cameras, of course.

We drove up over the grassy hills, to a little stand of aspens. It all looked very barren, at first, but as we hiked around, we could see the first signs of spring in the buds on the trees and the hint of green growing up through the flattened grasses. Even the cliffs that angled in around us looked alive with vibrant orange and green lichen. We enjoyed a picnic lunch, along with the pound cake Leah made for me, by a little babbling stream. The sunny spring weather made it so perfect. We even saw the first butterfly of the year.

There was a little bit of adventure to end the day. We were riding back to the ranch house, when we came to a gate we had passed through earlier in the day. It was wide open - not how we left it - and we knew some nearby bulls had jumped a fence and we didn't want them to be even more lost than they were. So we hopped off the ATV and I pulled the gate closed while Leah inspected the lock. We were of course worried that it had somehow popped open and that it was our fault! But just as we were doing that, I spotted Leah's cowboy come rolling over the hill on his own ATV, trying to push the intruding cows back through the gate to the land they were supposed to be on. We instantly realized that he had left the gate open, and the bulls were starting to trot toward it. There I was - right were the bulls wanted to be - so I swung that gate back open and ran to the ATV and managed to not get run over by those huge, intimidating animals. We had a good laugh about it over the steak dinner Leah and the cowboy made for me.

As for the photo, it wasn't taken yesterday, but I do always try to do a self-portrait on or close to my birthday. I took this one about three weeks ago, out at the Greyrocks Reservoir. The lake was frozen over as you can see, and lit by the golden afternoon sun. I really like this image for some reason...it probably has to do with the fuzzy warm hat.

Weekend Sunshine

2011-03-18T10:33:00.001-06:00

I wish you blue skies and sunshine for your weekend! See you Monday!

Green

2011-03-17T09:45:00.000-06:00

Here's a little bit of green for St. Patty's Day, all the way from lush West Virginia. Have a good day!

Cattle Drive: Part X

2011-03-16T10:38:00.000-06:00

After we wove our way through the cottonwoods, we crossed a creek. Of course all the cows wanted to stop and take a drink. It took a little convincing from the cowboys to get them to move across it.

As soon as the cows were up and over the creek, they needed to pass under the highway bridge. I worried this might be the most difficult part, imagining some strays walking out into the road, but I worried for nothing. With a little guidance, they funnelled right through the correct place.

Once we crossed the highway, we didn't have far to go before the pregnant cows reached their birthing grounds, and could finally stop for some of that tasty grass they had been yearning for. Once we got them through the gate, our day was done. We loaded up the horses and the ATV in a trailer and rode back to the main ranch in the truck, eager ourselves for some lunch.

Cattle Trailing: Part IX

2011-03-15T10:35:00.002-06:00

We headed toward the cottonwoods, another place where it was easy to see the advantage the cowboys had on horseback versus the ATV. The horses could pick their way through the landscape with ease, skirting the dry remains of huge trees, and the thick web of branches that hung down from the living trees. We were less graceful in the ATV, powering over rocks and downed limbs and through the lowest branches, causing quite a bit of noise in the process. The cows just plodded along.

Cattle Trailing: Part VIII

2011-03-14T09:30:00.001-06:00

On our cattle drive, we came over a rise and could see a different set of mountains ahead of us, the ones that lie on the other side of the highway (the one I drive to go to Laramie). We headed right for them.

There were mountains on two sides, which made for an amazing view.

The cowboys herded the cattle through the draw, which held patches of snow still in its clefts, and toward the bare cottonwood trees you can see in the distance.

Cattle Trailing: Part VII

2011-03-11T10:21:00.000-07:00

We moved the cows up and over the rolling plains. Mostly, they stayed together, but occasionally one needed to be pursued by a cowboy, and brought back to the herd, like in the above photo.

Always, the mountains were to our right.

And always the big sky stretched out in front of us.

Stay tuned! I'll finish up our cattle drive adventure next week!

Cattle Trailing: Part VI

2011-03-10T11:13:00.000-07:00

This may be my favorite shot of the day, of the cowboys following the cattle through another gate.

Here's Leah, shooting some video of the cows moving along.

The ladies enjoyed a little bit of grass along the way, although sometimes they needed to be reminded by the cowboys that this was not an all-you-can-eat-buffet.

But, once the cows were going the right direction, the boys could sit back and enjoy the view, too.

Cattle Trailing: Part V

2011-03-09T09:46:00.000-07:00

The mist lifted as the cows made their way through the first gate, and the mountains began to be visible in the distance, crowned with a beautiful blue sky and sunshine.

Cattle Trailing: Part IV

2011-03-08T09:22:00.000-07:00

Leah and I rolled up to the first gate in the Rhino, and sat back to watch the cowboys round up part of the herd that had decided to go the wrong direction. Soon enough they rejoined the rest and lined up to pass through the first gate. Once together, the cows did not stray far from each other.

Cattle Trailing: Part III

2011-03-07T09:02:00.000-07:00

Soon after we left the ranch house and crossed the bridge, the cowboys split up and left the road, flanking the cows to herd them together. This one was all on her own, but she realized what was up when she saw this cowboy in the distance (look closely in the second picture), and joined the rest of the cows.

Cattle Trailing: Part II

2011-03-04T09:27:00.003-07:00

My cattle trailing adventure began early in the morning. I left town a few minutes after 7:00 a.m. and drove for half an hour through heavy mist to get to the ranch. Though I couldn't see too far in front of me, I did spot a coyote running through a field before he disappeared into the fog.

I met my friend, Leah, at the ranch house, and we loaded up our camera gear and snacks into the Rhino, a little two-seater ATV. We spent some time scraping the ice off the windshield, though the temperatures were quite comfortable when you compare them to the negative temperatures we have frequently suffered this winter. We were bundled up, though, ready for the wind to kick up.

Leah's cowboy hired two other fellows for the day to help move the cattle. They mounted their horses and we were off, through the lifting mist, just up the road and over the bridge to where the unsuspecting cows were munching on a little morning grass.

Cattle Trailing: Part I

2011-03-03T09:45:00.002-07:00

Yesterday I had the greatest adventure. I have a friend, Leah, who lives on a cattle ranch outside of Wheatland. She and her cowboy were kind enough to invite me along to move 355 pregnant cows from their home pasture to the 'maternity ward,' a fresh pasture where they will give birth in a few weeks. It was a real treat to ride along and watch these cowboys go about the business of herding so many animals for miles and miles through the gorgeous countryside in an almost spring-like day. I took LOTS of photos, of course, and I'm sorting through them right now, so there will be lots more to come.

Bouquet Detail

2011-03-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd share a pretty little detail shot from the "I'm sorry I'm asking you to move again" bouquet my husband brought home when he told me about his job offer.

Pronghorn

2011-03-01T08:26:00.000-07:00

One of the things I will miss the most when I leave Wyoming will be seeing pronghorn (antelope) nearly every time I leave town. They are almost always grazing in the fields, and they are so plentiful that you see them every few miles. Even after four years, they still seem like such an exotic animal to me, and looking for them as I drive has been one of my favorite pastimes.

Moving On

2011-02-28T09:34:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday, everyone. I hope you all had a lovely weekend.

Today, I have some big news to share. I can hardly even believe it myself, but my husband and I will be leaving Wyoming to move back to Pittsburgh, PA, in a few short months.

My insides feel twisty-turny even as I type this. I have always known that Wyoming was not the last stop on our journey, but I really never thought we'd leave so soon. It has been four years and counting. The first two years were hard. I missed my family and my friends, and I missed green trees and sushi and I missed my job. But then we found a house - not just any house - my dream house. And I fell in love with my small little town, and began to thrive as a photographer on my own. I began to appreciate the mountains, and the vast open spaces, and the laid back Western lifestyle. I didn't adopt it all, but I found a comfortable place to be myself in Wyoming, and I found happiness.

But there are two people in every relationship, and when I found out that my husband was growing unhappy at his work, we both knew a change was in the air. He supports me as I work for myself and do what I need to do - photography - to satisfy my soul. So as much as I do love it here in Wyoming, there was but one solution - to go where my husband can be happy every day and satisfy his soul through work. A wonderful opportunity will take us back to Pittsburgh, where he can do the work he loves, testing and user interface for robotics, without the relentless stress that management brings. I know that may sound backwards to some, since a lot of people work toward management as a goal, but in this household, we work toward happiness and satisfaction.

It will be a few months before we move, though already the to-do list is growing long and I am already aware of experiencing things for the last time out here. Time is short, but I am going to make the most of it.

NEW IN SHOP: Winter Forest

2011-02-25T09:38:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday, everyone! I feel like a lot has happened in this short week. Sometimes they slip by, but not this one. I hope you have some fun plans for this weekend. I am doing a bit of work on a brochure (I do graphic design to fund my photography habit) and I'll be looking through historic photos of Platte County on Saturday. Getting a glimpse of the past is a really fun part of my job.

Anyway, I wanted to let you know I added this print, "Winter Forest" to my Web site and my shop. I took this in North Carolina in December, but it is looking this white here in Wyoming again today.

Thunderbird Lodge

2011-02-24T09:21:00.000-07:00

There is a lot of great vintage signage out west, and it really adds a lot of character where ever it is found. This great sign for the Thunderbird Lodge is in Laramie, WY. I wish it had been a nicer day - the sky is all grey - but I wanted to make sure I got a shot of it, regardless.

And Then It Was White

2011-02-23T09:18:00.000-07:00

When I crossed through the pass on the way to Laramie, this is how everything looked. It is about 3,000 feet higher here than the photos in the previous post, but I am always surprised when I emerge from the pass into snow when there was little to none for most of the trip. The sky here was also bright blue in places amid the hazy grey clouds.

Highway 34

2011-02-22T09:14:00.001-07:00

It was a warm day on Friday, and the snow was melting off right before my eyes as I drove from Wheatland to Laramie through the hills.

Deer Hunt

2011-02-21T10:04:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I drove to Laramie and had a great time looking for wildlife. There were so many young deer and does out grazing, enjoying the warm, sunny day just like I was.