Wed, Jun 30th, 2021

Summer 2021 - Adventures out West and with hurricane Ida!

 After, After doing a great trip up to visit old friends in Lake Martin Alabama , we loaded up the van and headed out west to deliver artwork, visit galleries, see old friends and have a few adventures along the way. we had a beautiful summer visiting friends and sharing adventures! Driving up to Colorado we stopped in Pagosa Springs to visit my old friend Crystal on her ranch and even got to visit  the Belgian horse I raised from  a colt.  We got to spend a quick night with our friend Paul Silva in  Salina, Colorado. We then went up and visited our friends at Horton Galleries and did a quick show in Beavercreek.

 Next we  drove to Snowmass, Colorado where we delivered a beautiful 6' x 8'  custom tiger piece to  friends with a beautiful new house overlooking Snowmass Valley with a view of  50 miles around. After a quick ,but beautiful visit ,we got back on the road again headed North to Kemmerer, Wyoming- for an incredible fossil safari  digging in a fossil rich sandstone bed in the mountains . What a thrill that was breaking over sandstone layers containing 50 million-year-old fossilized fish, rays, turtles and marine life! Jim having studied oceanography and Marine geology was in heaven as was I as we broke open rocks to discover the secrets within.

 Then on to visit mountain trails Gallery in Jackson hole to drop off artwork and visit our friends at the gallery. After spending the day in Jackson, we crossed the Tetons over to Idaho to visit our old friends from Dallas, Steve and Yancey Sietz and stay at their beautiful new home. Steve is an architect and you can imagine what a beautiful house they built overlooking the west side of the Grand Tetons! We took our first electric bike ride  with them 13 miles across Jackson Valley and the snake River for a beautiful dinner and hikes of the mountains.

  After a lovely visit with them, we moved a few miles north to Tetonia , Idaho  to stay with our friends , Don and Leslie, at Thistledew Cabin. This is our secret hideaway only a few miles from beautiful trails on the west side of the mountains, and a short walk or bike ride from our friends at Earthfire institute.

 What a wonderful week that was, kayaking in Yellowstone Lake, riding horses in the Teton Mountains, sketching bears and wolves, sharing stories over a fire pit at night, and playing with wolf pups at Earth fire Institute. iI was really one of the most beautiful vacations  I have ever had!

 We got home at the end of August, Jim had a minor operation on his foot, two days later hurricane Ida struck with 111 mile an hour winds at our house! thank God there was no  significant damage to our house but  our neighborhood was devastated losing hundreds of trees and losing electricity, gas, stores and services for almost 3 weeks! Especially stressful since we were leaving to guide 10 friends across 3000 miles of Africa only three weeks after the hurricane. We did what we could to stabilize the house and our property and took off for the unknown ,new COVID Africa awaiting us. Just dealing with the hurricane and packing and getting everyone ready was an adventure in itself.

Share This Journal Entry

Use the buttons at the right to share Anne's Journal
Early in June,we had a lovely time visiting very old dear friends in Lake Martin Alabama.
Early in June,we had a lovely time visiting very old dear friends in Lake Martin Alabama.
Early in June,we had a lovely time visiting very old dear friends in Lake Martin Alabama.
At Lake Martin we spent a lot of time cruising the lake, swimming, drinking and cavorting with friends
At Lake Martin we spent a lot of time cruising the lake, swimming, drinking and cavorting with friends
At Lake Martin we spent a lot of time cruising the lake, swimming, drinking and cavorting with friends
 In July we loaded the sprinter with artwork and headed out west
In July we loaded the sprinter with artwork and headed out west
Visiting my friend Crystal on her ranch in Pagosa Springs was just what I needed.
In July we loaded the sprinter with artwork and headed out west
We hiked to waterfalls, and enjoyed the outdoors in southern Colorado.
We hiked to waterfalls, and enjoyed the outdoors in southern Colorado.
We hiked to waterfalls, and enjoyed the outdoors in southern Colorado.
I was so excited to see my horse BREVA, doing fine at a dude ranch near Crystal's ranch
I was so excited to see my horse BREVA, doing fine at a dude ranch near Crystal's ranch
I was so excited to see my horse BREVA, doing fine at a dude ranch near Crystal's ranch
Every morning I woke up with horses outside my window at Crystal's ranch
Every morning I woke up with horses outside my window at Crystal's ranch
Every morning I woke up with horses outside my window at Crystal's ranch
  A Beautiful hike Crystal took us on- to a waterfall nearby- did I mention we love to hike
A Beautiful hike Crystal took us on- to a waterfall nearby- did I mention we love to hike
A Beautiful hike Crystal took us on- to a waterfall nearby- did I mention we love to hike
Walking in the woods with Crystal and her dogs was certainly a thrill for me
Walking in the woods with Crystal and her dogs was certainly a thrill for me
Walking in the woods with Crystal and her dogs was certainly a thrill for me
This is a group of new friends we made in Colorado
This is a group of new friends we made in Colorado
We stopped in a small, international antique and boutique shop in a tiny town along the way and ended up making friends with the owner and a bunch of musicians that were friends of hers. While hiking, she showed us a beautiful, hidden trail..
This is a group of new friends we made in Colorado
Is nothing like driving along in Colorado and seeing wild moose in the valley below.
Is nothing like driving along in Colorado and seeing wild moose in the valley below.
Is nothing like driving along in Colorado and seeing wild moose in the valley below.
 In Colorado,we delivered a huge 6 x 8' custom art piece  for a beautiful new home at the top of Snowmass Mountain
In Colorado,we delivered a huge 6 x 8' custom art piece for a beautiful new home at the top of Snowmass Mountain
In Colorado,we delivered a huge 6 x 8' custom art piece for a beautiful new home at the top of Snowmass Mountain
This is a beautiful mountain lake that Jim and I hiked up to one day- absolutely gorgeous and pristine!
This is a beautiful mountain lake that Jim and I hiked up to one day- absolutely gorgeous and pristine!
This is a beautiful mountain lake that Jim and I hiked up to one day- absolutely gorgeous and pristine!
 Jim found a place where you could hunt for your own fossils and 50 million -year-old fossil beds
Jim found a place where you could hunt for your own fossils and 50 million -year-old fossil beds
Jim found a place where you could hunt for your own fossils and 50 million -year-old fossil beds
 It was really  exciting,never knowing what was inside of the rocks you are breaking up
It was really exciting,never knowing what was inside of the rocks you are breaking up
It was really exciting,never knowing what was inside of the rocks you are breaking up
 Here I am hammering at the rock pile looking for a fossilized Tyrannosaurus rex
Here I am hammering at the rock pile looking for a fossilized Tyrannosaurus rex
Here I am hammering at the rock pile looking for a fossilized Tyrannosaurus rex
 We found some really beautiful fish to bring home to grand nieces and nephews
We found some really beautiful fish to bring home to grand nieces and nephews
We found some really beautiful fish to bring home to grand nieces and nephews
We spent a couple of lovely days with our friend Paul Silver in Salida Colorado
We spent a couple of lovely days with our friend Paul Silver in Salida Colorado
We spent a couple of lovely days with our friend Paul Silver in Salida Colorado
 we spent a wonderful couple of days with Steve and Yancey Sietz in their new home in Teton Valley
we spent a wonderful couple of days with Steve and Yancey Sietz in their new home in Teton Valley
we spent a wonderful couple of days with Steve and Yancey Sietz in their new home in Teton Valley
 Stephen and  Yancey built a beautiful home in Idaho in the  in the shadow of the Teton Mountains
Stephen and Yancey built a beautiful home in Idaho in the in the shadow of the Teton Mountains
Stephen and Yancey built a beautiful home in Idaho in the in the shadow of the Teton Mountains
 over the years we had become friends with lots of people in Teton Valley
over the years we had become friends with lots of people in Teton Valley
This is the view out the back windows of Steve and Yancey's home
over the years we had become friends with lots of people in Teton Valley
 We were so happy that my painting fit so well into their decor
We were so happy that my painting fit so well into their decor
We were so happy that my painting fit so well into their decor
 Beautiful sunsets with the Tetons behind us and the glorious sunset in front of us
Beautiful sunsets with the Tetons behind us and the glorious sunset in front of us
Beautiful sunsets with the Tetons behind us and the glorious sunset in front of us
 One of our high points is always visiting our friends at Earth fire Institute
One of our high points is always visiting our friends at Earth fire Institute
One of our high points is always visiting our friends at Earth fire Institute
  There is nothing like riding a bike up to a moose just a few feet off the bike path
There is nothing like riding a bike up to a moose just a few feet off the bike path
There is nothing like riding a bike up to a moose just a few feet off the bike path
 Elephants and lions in Yellowstone Park????? April fools!
Elephants and lions in Yellowstone Park????? April fools!
Elephants and lions in Yellowstone Park????? April fools!
 JJm and I did a wonderful hike up into the Tetons overlooking  Jackson Valley
JJm and I did a wonderful hike up into the Tetons overlooking Jackson Valley
JJm and I did a wonderful hike up into the Tetons overlooking Jackson Valley
One day we did a great hike with Steve ,Yancey and friends
One day we did a great hike with Steve ,Yancey and friends
One day we did a great hike with Steve ,Yancey and friends
 The beautiful antler arches in the town square in Jackson
The beautiful antler arches in the town square in Jackson
The beautiful antler arches in the town square in Jackson
 While staying in Jackson, Granite waterfalls is one of the most beautiful hikes we  enjoy
While staying in Jackson, Granite waterfalls is one of the most beautiful hikes we enjoy
While staying in Jackson, Granite waterfalls is one of the most beautiful hikes we enjoy
 I'm so proud to be a part of  mountain trails Gallery- really the best gallery in Jackson!
I'm so proud to be a part of mountain trails Gallery- really the best gallery in Jackson!
I'm so proud to be a part of mountain trails Gallery- really the best gallery in Jackson!
 I so enjoyed visiting Dr. Susan Ehrlich at Earth fire Institute- we have so much in common and she is quite inspiring
I so enjoyed visiting Dr. Susan Ehrlich at Earth fire Institute- we have so much in common and she is quite inspiring
I so enjoyed visiting Dr. Susan Ehrlich at Earth fire Institute- we have so much in common and she is quite inspiring
 Leslie and Don at Thistledew Cabin  shared a beautiful meal with us with the Tetons in the background
Leslie and Don at Thistledew Cabin shared a beautiful meal with us with the Tetons in the background
Leslie and Don at Thistledew Cabin shared a beautiful meal with us with the Tetons in the background
 Each day I visit Earth fire Institute  wildlife sanctuary to draw their bears and wolves
Each day I visit Earth fire Institute wildlife sanctuary to draw their bears and wolves
Each day I visit Earth fire Institute wildlife sanctuary to draw their bears and wolves
 Thanks to our friends at Shurr adventures, we shared a beautiful day on Yellowstone Lake
Thanks to our friends at Shurr adventures, we shared a beautiful day on Yellowstone Lake
Ali and Justin Shurr are old friends of ours that we met when they were doing kayak trips in the Everglades. Partially due to our encouragement they opened another summer adventure on Yellowstone Lake.
Thanks to our friends at Shurr adventures, we shared a beautiful day on Yellowstone Lake
 it was incredible getting to kayak right up to the geysers and geothermal waterfalls
it was incredible getting to kayak right up to the geysers and geothermal waterfalls
it was incredible getting to kayak right up to the geysers and geothermal waterfalls
 We really had a blast with all our  friends in Yellowstone that day.
We really had a blast with all our friends in Yellowstone that day.
We really had a blast with all our friends in Yellowstone that day.
 Susan has such a wonderful point of view about the conservation and protection of endangered wildlife
Susan has such a wonderful point of view about the conservation and protection of endangered wildlife
Susan has such a wonderful point of view about the conservation and protection of endangered wildlife
Jean  is the Wolf whisperer and bear whisperer at  Earth fire Institute
Jean is the Wolf whisperer and bear whisperer at Earth fire Institute
Jean is the Wolf whisperer and bear whisperer at Earth fire Institute
 Did I mention that I love Wolf pups??
Did I mention that I love Wolf pups??
Did I mention that I love Wolf pups??
 With jeans help, I get to sketch wolves behaving exactly as they do in the wild.
With jeans help, I get to sketch wolves behaving exactly as they do in the wild.
With jeans help, I get to sketch wolves behaving exactly as they do in the wild.
 Did I mention that I love Wolf pups??? I guess I have!
Did I mention that I love Wolf pups??? I guess I have!
Did I mention that I love Wolf pups??? I guess I have!
 In case I didn't mention it- there is really nothing like hugging a wolf pup
In case I didn't mention it- there is really nothing like hugging a wolf pup
In case I didn't mention it- there is really nothing like hugging a wolf pup
 sadly leaving Idaho, we returned to visit our friend Paul Silver- an artist and writer friend in Colorado
sadly leaving Idaho, we returned to visit our friend Paul Silver- an artist and writer friend in Colorado
sadly leaving Idaho, we returned to visit our friend Paul Silver- an artist and writer friend in Colorado
 Paul does all kinds of weird and wonderful sculptures out of metal and wood roots like this one
Paul does all kinds of weird and wonderful sculptures out of metal and wood roots like this one
After a couple of days with Paul, we drove home- not knowing two days later we would be hit by a hurricane in our neighborhood destroyed.
Paul does all kinds of weird and wonderful sculptures out of metal and wood roots like this one
 Jim sitting on one of the smaller piles of debris in front of our house- unfortunately all our photographs of the hurricane are from the iPhone which I can't copy here
Jim sitting on one of the smaller piles of debris in front of our house- unfortunately all our photographs of the hurricane are from the iPhone which I can't copy here
I guess you can imagine what happens to your neighborhood when a hurricane force 111 mile an hour wind blows through- it certainly not pretty and the worst part was no electricity, or civilization for 19 days afterward!!
Jim sitting on one of the smaller piles of debris in front of our house- unfortunately all our photographs of the hurricane are from the iPhone which I can't copy here