Rural Ireland

My day trip into County Wicklow was both relaxing and invigorating...

Ari's Wedding Day

Hiking at Lake Isabelle

This river ran under the glacier and emerged on the other side as a waterfall. Alas I couldnt capture all this!

Skiing... Brian and Marley style...in summer!

Taking a break to pose for a pic and cool off.

Skunk Attack!

So what did lead to Smokey Joe's first bath ever?

It all began so innocently. Marley and Smokey Joe awoke from a nap together around midnight and headed outside together to "check on the neighborhood"

1 minute later, the house filled with a pungent burning smell, Osman and I raced into the back yard to see which of the neighbors homes was on fire.
It wasnt long before the flashlight fell on the problem. A gathering involving Smokey Joe, Marley and Pepe-le-pew was in full swing!

Both Marley and Smokey Joe had fallen victim to skunk spray.... there was no doubt!

I threw Marley into the tub and began frantically shampooing him while Osman went online to find the "cure". The house stunk of skunk! And not the smell you get from road-kill either... a 100x more pungent and offensive odor!

A solution of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and liquid soap was apparently the most popular, so while I snatched up Smokey Joe and jumped into the bath water with him, Osman paid a visit to the local 24 hour supermarket (where skunk was detected on him too!)

A half hour later, me covered in scratches and wet from head to toe, we were mixing the remedy together in the kitchen... in preparation for bath #2 for each of the bedraggled animals currently locked in the bathroom!

By this stage Marley was over his joy of "fun and games in the bathtub" and Smokey Joe had given up all will to live... he lay lifeless on a pile of wet towels... in true drama queen fashion.

It was close to 2am by the time the animals escaped the bathroom, the house littered with wet towels and the bathroom trashed - water and fur everywhere. At least my scratches had stopped bleeding!

The next day we woke to a very soft and clean Marley and Smokey Joe... and no skunk smell (except still in the house!) However as the smell in the house receded, the smell on the critters returned - this is going to be a week of more pics just like these I suspect!!!

Marley... eyes shut tightly, convincing himself it's just not happening!

Surprising Missouri...

Frozen - Delaware Water Gap

Touched with Gold

Jeff and Mina

It's Colorado wild flower time again.





My favorite model!





Ladybug business




Marley and Osman take a breather.

Heading toward Grand Teton Nat'l Park

I took an early start and long drive to try and catch some of the best Yellowstone has to offer...

I love being married to a guy who is handy in the kitchen!
Osman prepares dinner 'progresso' style as I explore the turn-out.

A rare moose sighting... and she was too hungry to be bothered by the 20+ people with cameras and binoc's glued on her.

This little pink house I could happily have called home, is ear-marked for conservation using National Park dollars... and the swallows are very happy to know they dont have to move anytime soon!

The Grand Tetons... and a beautiful day to finish the trip.

Bear Claws!

Check out those claws!!!

So just how close was I to a bear?

Close enough to not need a zoom lens!!