Peaceful, Easy Feeling

Sorry for the long absence. 

Things have been a little crazy around here this spring!

Everyone has that "favorite place" -- that place of which they never tire; the place to which they run whenever the opportunity presents itself. For me, that place is Yellowstone National Park. It has been a busy spring, with a trip to Spain, then a move, then a week in Milwaukee for our daughter's graduation. I was more than ready for a day in my "happy place"! 

With the arrival of spring, we can now enter the park through Cooke City. It is still too early to take the Beartooth Pass, but the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway plays a pretty good second fiddle! 

The little ponds alongside the road were undisturbed by even the slightest breeze, and they reflected their surroundings like mirrors. The ducks and geese floating quietly across the glassy surfaces created a "peaceful, easy feeling." The still water also gave away the presence of anything swimming there, and one such V-shaped wake caught Dan's attention. Were we finally going to get otter pictures? We watched for a while, and after getting a few pictures, Dan decided that they were not otters. Maybe muskrats? NO, that couldn't be! They simply HAD to be otters! I studied the pictures as we drove away and discovered the undisputable yellow buck teeth of a beaver! I was still a little disappointed that they were not otters, but beavers have also long been on the "to photograph" list, so I wasn't too upset. 

Part of the reason for going to Yellowstone in the spring (as if I need an excuse) is the likelihood of seeing bears. When one is fortunate, there are even baby bears. We were blessed indeed -- we saw two momma bears with two cubs each! The first bear jam was already so large and densely packed with people and cars that we didn't even try to stop. From my vantage point out of the sunroof of the Subaru, I caught a fleeting glimpse of a black bear sow with two new cubs. Awwww! 

Got an itch!

The second bear jam was just forming as we approached, so Dan let me jump out before he proceeded to an approved pullout to park the car. We got to sit and watch and photograph another black bear sow, this time with a pair of yearling cubs. After a while, we picked up our cameras and moved on. It was dinner time, and I was completely satisfied with another day in my favorite place. 

*** Bonus Pics***