Thursday, November 5, 2009

Weekword HOLE--as in JACKSON

Jackson HOLE, Wyoming is, without doubt, one of the most beautiful places in the world. Not that I have been EVERYWHERE to confirm this, but I am not alone in my belief. The place is a little more than an hour from our house and a favorite spot to visit. The valley was named by the fur trappers and mountain men who inhabited this area in the early 1800's. A "HOLE" was their name for a high valley amid mountain ranges, and the valley here was trapper Davey Jackson's territory, hence it was originally named Jackson's Hole, and then later shortened to Jackson Hole.

View of Jackson Hole from Teton Pass, elevation: 8,431 ft (2570 m)

Jackson Hole is the name of the entire valley beginning at the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park and running 60 miles south through Grand Teton National Park.

The town is called Jackson: home of high end art galleries and two outstanding ski resorts.

Downtown Jackson last January

Some of the buildings surrounding the Town Square were the first stores built when the town was established in 1897. In 1920 Jackson elected a mayor and town council consisting of all women, which was the first all-woman town government in the U.S


The Grand Tetons from Jackson Hole, Wyoming

The Grand Teton Mountains rise from the valley floor to 13,770 feet (4198m) and are a scenic wonder that often stop me in my tracks.

View of the Tetons from Pierre’s HOLE in Idaho
 
The word Tetons, as I understand it, is a French word for “breasts” given to the mountains by lonely trappers. Often local businesses add “Tetons” to their title such as, “Teton Water Works,” “Teton Vision Center,” “Teton Truck Stop.” And then there is the City of Teton. Given the origin of the name I find such labels amusing.

See Linda Sue at ALL I EVER WANTED for more Weekword posts.
 

My version of Sunset at String Lake in Jackson HOLE

Monday, November 2, 2009

TIDE AND TIME


Time is sifting through my hands
Salt and sugar colored sand
Cotton clouds, green bamboo,
Warm sky.  Ocean tastes so blue.


But not today
Today the sky is gray.
Cold hard trees
Are frozen in an icy breeze.
The only palms are on my hands
Reaching out to stop clear time
Running through the salty sand.


Top photo--The Caribbean near Tulum--Bottom photo--Grand Tetons, Jackson Hole, Wyoming

And HOLE is the word chosen by Linda Sue at ALL I'VE EVER WANTED for Weekword.  If you wish to participate let Linda Sue know by commenting on her blog.  More information is there on how Weekword works.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

ARTISTS IN THE HOUSE--Grandkid Photo Alert

I know, grandkid pictures, but this is MY BLOG so brace yourself.  There was a gathering at our house because our neighborhood is still relatively Halloween friendly.  Plenty of preparations ensued.

There are other artists in the family.  This one has red hair AND red hair.

Daughter 1 painted faces.  This is THE ALIEN in progress.

Finished and prepared to attack.

UNICORN under way

Unicorn ready for flight

The artist goes to work to create a Fantasy Gypsy.

I know, I know, I am too young to be the grandmother of such a young beauty.

A LION underway


She brought home a LOT of candy


Now a very flashy PIRATE MAIDEN

ARRRGH!

The final masterpiece

THE SKULL!

The whole lot ready to terrorize the neighborhood.

(Note to family--a CD of ALL the photos is being prepared for distribution)