Standing Into Danger: 2022

Friday, September 23, 2022

Spectacular Yellowstone National Park + TAD and FFO

Terry and I are back home after a refreshing and encouraging

three-night stay in magnificent Yellowstone National Park.

Standing on Artist's Point Overlooking the Lower Falls on the Yellowstone River

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA

September 14, 2022

After being pandemic housebound for over two years,

it was amazingly refreshing to hike in the wilderness again.

I love my little park along Piney Creek

where I've been observing nature for seventeen years,

but it is not wilderness, and I have been craving wilderness.

White-breasted Nuthatch Along Piney Creek

Aurora, Colorado, USA

April 20, 2019

And the trip was encouraging because Terry and I have improved so much physically

since we had to cut short our trip to Nova Scotia last month for medical reasons.

Terry Sitting Near the End of the Trail to Mystic Falls

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA

September 15, 2022

Our hike to Mystic Falls was the favorite part of our trip for both of us.

We chose to take the shortest trail to the 70-foot falls

which drop from the Madison Plateau.

The trail, a 2.4-mile round trip along Little Firehole River,

passes through a beautiful mixed conifer forest.

The Trail to Mystic Falls Along the Little Firehole River

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA

September 15, 2022

Well, Hello, Little Guy!

Sharing the Mystic Falls Trail

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA

September 15, 2022

The Woolly Bear Caterpillar: specifically, the larva of the Isabella tiger moth (Pyrrharctia isabella)

Mystic Falls

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA

September 15, 2022

This year marks the 150th Anniversary

of Yellowstone National Park.

It was created on March 1, 1872

when President Ulysses S. Grant

signed 2.2 million acres of

Wyoming, Montana and Idaho

into existence as America's

first national park.

Lake Lodge

Yellowstone National Park

Heinrich Berann NPS Panorama of Yellowstone

(as an employee of the National Park Service)

1991

Wikipedia

Park Map

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA

September 14, 2022

I think Yellowstone National Park is one of the most spectacular places on the planet,

especially for someone like me who is fascinated by geology and volcanoes.

Yellowstone sits atop an active super volcano which was the site

of one of the largest volcanic eruptions ever known

and is potentially the most explosive and deadly volcano on Earth.

The park contains half the world's hydrothermal features,

an incredible assemblage of more than 10,000 hot springs

fumaroles, travertine terraces, mudpots, and geysers.

Firehole River with Hot Springs in the Background

Near Old Faithful Geyser

September 15, 2022

Yellowstone is also known for its abundant and varied wildlife,

beautiful waterfalls, meadows, rivers and canyons.

If you're lucky, you may get caught in a bison jam!

An Inviting Path

North of Yellowstone Lake

September 13, 2022

It's a Bison Jam!

North of Yellowstone Lake

September 13, 2022

******

The theme for my friend Rain's Thursday Art Date last week was Silhouettes.

Here are several silhouette photos:

Bison Silhouetted Against an Autumn Meadow

Yellowstone National Park

September 14, 2022

Hikers Silhouetted Against the Grand Prismatic Spring in the Midway Geyser Basin

Yellowstone National Park

September 15, 2022

The Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the United States

and the third largest in the world.

Lodgepole Pine Silhouetted Against the Sunset

Near Old Faithful Geyser

September 14, 2022

This week's TAD theme is Harvest Dinner. Here are several harvest dinner photos:

A Woolly Bear Caterpillar Munches Its Harvest Dinner

Norris Geyser Basin

September 14, 2022

Terry Enjoys a Harvest Meal and Mine Awaits

The Obsidian Dining Room in Old Faithful Snow Lodge

September 14, 2022

Woodland Pine Drops Ready for Harvest

Mystic Falls Trail

September 14, 2022

The pine drops red stems can be eaten raw, roasted, or baked under the fire like mushrooms.

It's ground stems and berries can be used to make a cold infusion

to treat lung hemorrhages and nose bleeds,

while infusion of the roots has been used in the treatment of gonorrhea.

******

My photos for Nicole's Friday Face Off this week:

A Chipmunk Looking for Food to Harvest for Winter

Mystic Falls Trail

September 14, 2022

My Favorite Face in the World

Mud Volcano Area

September 14, 2022

These Furry Faces Were Part of a Bison Jam

Grand Loop Road Along the Gibbon River

September 14, 2022

One of the Super Volcano's Many Mouths

Mud Volcano Area Along the Yellowstone River

20-second Video

September 14, 2022

I'm looking forward to visiting around!

Have a great weekend!

Till next time ~
Fundy Blue

My next post will be on

Friday, September 30, 2022. 🤞

On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved

Friday, September 16, 2022

First Love: The Art of Making Doughnuts: The Latest IWSG Anthology!

The latest Insecure Writer's Support Group anthology was released on September 6, 2022.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading First Love: The Art of Making Doughnuts.

Escaping into a light-hearted book that raised my spirits was exactly what I needed.

It was a delight, as sweet and comforting as Officer Gina McAllister's

favorite raspberry cream doughnuts, but without the calories.

Goodreads

Typically, I don't read romance books.

I'm more into science fiction, fantasy, mysteries, and historical fiction,

but I read the six previous IWSG anthologies, and I wasn't going to miss the seventh.

The ten IWSG authors wrote engaging stories set in a variety of places and times,

and they showed that you're never too young or too old to experience a first love.

******

The Ten Stories:

Story #1:

"The Art of Making Doughnuts" by Linda Budzinski

Could a fiercely independent cop’s heart be stolen

by the guy who makes her favorite doughnuts?

This story deserved the honor of being featured on the cover.

It is sweet perfection with fun characters, a strong narrator's voice,

and a tight, well-integrated structure.

Definitely cops and doughnuts go together.

The surprise was jigsaw puzzles and Impressionist art.

Luncheon of the Boating Party

Story #2:

"My Heart Approves"

by Melissa Maygrove.

Will a maid who used deceit to snare a mail-order husband

get a dose of her own medicine?

A suspenseful and funny story, with an unlikely couple wed by proxy

after a long correspondence. Can Abby and John find love together?

Story #3:

"How to Save a Princess"

by Katie Klein.

Can her handsome neighbor rescue a modern-day "princess" from a tenacious ex-boyfriend??

This over-the-top hilarious story with an unusual love triangle

kept me laughing from beginning to end.

Story #4:

"My First Love(s)"

by Templeton Moss.

Do you remember your first love?

A married couple reminisces about theirs. Two distinct voices

and an unexpected twist make this story memorable.

Story #5:

"The Real Thing"

by Sammi Spizziri.

Can two strangers in a ride share be honest enough to fall in love for real?

You can change your life by taking a risk.

"The real thing" hits Lola when she least expected it,

and it is someone she would never have anticipated.

Wikimedia Commons

Story #6:

"Paper Faces"

by Sylvia Ney.

Can this journalist get the story or will her big heart get in the way?

An awkward position confronts Helen when her employer instructs her

to get the information to bury an up and coming politician.

A fun story with a good ending.

Story #7:

"Oliver’s Girl"

by Michael Di Gesu.

Will star-crossed sweethearts find a way back to each other?

Olivia spends an afternoon with her great-grandfather and learns some surprising things.

This is a poignant and uplifting story.

Story #8:

"Clyde and Coalesce"

by Kim Elliott.

Can an unexpected collision and some embarrassing assessments lead to true love?

Lizzie knows she lost the right guy for her, and she worries she'll never find love again.

This is a relatable and engaging story with a satisfyingly sweet ending.

Story #9:

"Marmalade Sunset"

by Denise Covey.

What is his grandmother up to a grandson wonders when she invites him

to accompany her on an-end-of-life trip to Greece.

This moving love story is set on the beautiful island of Santorini in the Aegean Sea.

It is well-written with a strong sense of place.

Beautiful Santorini, Greece

Wikimedia Commons

Story #10:

"The Castle of Ohno"

by S.E. White.

Can two lonely, even desperate, people risking everything

for a chance to improve their lives find love?

This atmospheric story set inside the formidable Castle Ohno

is a fitting end to the First Love anthology.

I was racing to the end of the story wondering how this possibly could end well.

******

If you're looking for an enjoyable book to curl up on a quiet evening,

this one will touch your heart and bring back memories of your first love.

First Love: The Art of Making Doughnuts

An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology

The sweetness of first love…

Could a fiercely independent cop’s heart be stolen by the guy who makes her favorite doughnuts? Will a maid who used deceit to snare a mail-order husband get a dose of her own medicine? Can her handsome neighbor rescue a modern-day “princess” from a tenacious ex-boyfriend? Can two strangers in a rideshare be honest enough to fall in love for real? Can you remember your first love? How about your second? Third? Fourth?

Featuring the talents of Linda Budzinski, Melissa Maygrove, Michael Di Gesu, Sylvia Ney, Katie Klein, Kim Elliott, Templeton Moss, S.E. White, Denise Covey, and Sammi Spizziri. Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these ten tales will touch your heart and rekindle lost feelings. Prepare to return to that first love…

Print ISBN – 9781939844880, $14.95

eBook ISBN – 9781939844897, $4.99

Romance - Clean & Wholesome / Contemporary / Historical

186 pages, Freedom Fox Press, an imprint of Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C.

Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database; articles; monthly blog posting; Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram groups; #IWSGPit, and a newsletter.

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo /Goodreads /

“…a refreshing read! This is a gem of a book that I highly recommend.” - Rebecca Boerner M Ed., reviewer

“…this collection nailed the little bites of cute romance… recommend to anyone looking for an uplifting collection of sweet romance to fill an evening.” - Hayley Reese Chow, author

“This was a sweet, warm collection of love stories.” – Angie Titus, author

******

Up, Up, and Away!

February 22, 2022

Please Note:

I had no idea when I signed up to do a review of First Love, that I would be flying today.

Furthermore, I'll be without my computer until I arrive home late this afternoon.

I look forward to reading your comments.

I will be late responding, but I'll reply to each and every one!

Till next time ~
Fundy Blue

https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com

My next post will be on Friday, September 23, 2022. 🤞

Wikimedia Commons

Google

Friday, September 9, 2022

Walking to Ittoqqortoormiit +TAD and FFO

I missed posting last Friday, so I'm determined to post today!

I was derailed by a number of things including Terry's and my 38th Wedding Anniversary.

Just Married

Parker, Colorado,USA

September 1, 1984

Terry and I with Our Beloved Niece Deirdre

Parker, Colorado,USA

September 1, 1984

Last week's theme for my friend Rain's Thursday Art Date was Mazes.

I wasted way too much time down a rabbit hole on Colorado's scariest maze:

the fictional Overlook Hotel in Stanley Kubrick's classic movie The Shining.

The movie was based on Stephen King's breakout horror novel The Shining.

I should have just posted my maze photo.

A Maze of Streets ~ from the Top of the Duomo

Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower)

Florence, Italy

September 21, 2018

This week's TAD theme is apples, one of my favorite things to eat.

An Apple Pie in the Works

Aurora, Colorado, USA

November 25, 2014

My photo for Nicole's Friday Face Off last week:

An Eagle on a Totem Pole

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

November 25, 2014

My photo for Nicole's Friday Face Off this week:

My Grandmother Myrtle Pratt (upper left)

My Great Grandmother Annie Nicholson Pratt (lower left)

St Peter's Bay, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Date Unknown, Circa 1900

I finally had a chance to catch up on my retirement walking data.

I know, I know! ~ Another rabbit hole.

I fell so far behind during the last two years with everything going on.

I started walking on June 9, 2012, three days after I retired,

and I recorded my walking distance each time.

I had this goal of "walking" from my home in Aurora to St. Anthony, Newfoundland.

It's at the northern tip of the Great Northern Peninsula,

and it has always whispered to me when I look at maps of the province.

I "reached" St. Anthony 1933 days later on September 23, 2017

after walking 2423 miles/3899 kilometers.

I had visited St. Anthony for real in 2011,

and I have promised myself I will return.

My First Time in St. Anthony

Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

July 15, 2011

My sister Barb said she would walk with me to the sign

from five miles out when I return ~

Perhaps, now, we'll settle for one mile

and go to Timmie's faster for coffee and a treat.

Me, Barb, and Bertie Thawing Out at Timmie's (Tim Horton's)

After Chasing Icebergs in St. Anthony

Newfoundland, Canada

July 15, 2011

Terry Chasing Icebergs in St. Anthony

(Technically Ice Pans)

Shortly Before Hitting Timmie's

July 15, 2011

Okay, now what? I had reached my goal.

I decided I'd "walk" to Greenland.

A year or two later my blogging buddy Pat Hatt mentioned

Ittoqqortoormiit, a community on the eastern coast of Greenland,

in one of his posts, and I thought it sounded pretty cool.

I decided that I had to go Ittoqqortoormiit.

It's one of the most remote villages in Greenland,

but you can get there from Iceland.

I actually flew close enough to it returning from Iceland

in September 2018 that it popped up on the in-flight map.

I was really excited! Terry not so much.

He was pretending he didn't know me,

because I was embarrassing him with my excitement.

Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland

Flying Home from Reykjavik, Iceland, In-flight Map

September 25, 2018

Ittoqqortoormiit

Ittoqqortoormiit means "Big House Dwellers" in the Eastern Greenlandic dialect.

Wikimedia Commons

So I "turned around" in St. Anthony on Day 1934 and started hoofing it

for St. Barbe, Newfoundland, the ferry to Labrador,

and on to Red Bay and Labrador City in Labrador,

and then on to Killiniq in Nunavut, Canada.

The Ferry to Labrador

St. Barbe, Great Northern Peninsula, Newfoundland, Canada

July 2011

Finally, a Lifelong Dream Realized!

Standing on the Ground in Labrador, Canada

July 2011

Google

Wikimedia

By August 15, 2020, I had "crossed" the Labrador Sea

to Prins Christianssund, Greenland and "reached" Sisimiut,

after "walking" 1053 days and 3231 miles/5200 kilometers from St. Anthony,

or 2987 days and 6657 miles/10,713 kilometers from my home in Aurora, Colorado.

Sisimiut, Greenland

The old Bethel church (1775) and Sisimiut Museum in the foreground

with Kangerluarsunnguaq Bay and the Palasip Qaqqaa mountain (1784 feet/544meters) in the background.

Wikipedia with License

I'm currently slogging across the top of Greenland.

As of Saturday I'm two thirds of the way from Qeqertat to Station Nord:

1,781 days and 4471 miles/7678 kilometers from St. Anthony,

3,715 days and 8194 miles/13,184 kilometers from Aurora.

Qeqertat to Station Nord, Greenland

Google Maps

Qeqertat, Greenland

Wikimedia

Station Nord, Greenland

Google

My two Aurora and St. Anthony distance calculations

over time are within 3 miles of each other,

probably because of rounding numbers.

That works for me! I wouldn't want to be too OCD ~ lol.

Google

Over the years, challenges like bad weather, changing stride lengths,

illnesses, and a pandemic have forced me to adjust where I walk and my calculations.

I've even dragged my IV stand up and down the hall

when hospitalized to get a little walking in.

Dogged Determination

Aurora, Colorado, USA

Can't find the date! 😱

Forgive me if you are bored by my calculations

and map plotting on my walking journey.

I'm over ten years in, and I'm too invested to stop.

On to Ittoqqortoormiit!

(I still can't spell the damn word without looking at it!)

Guaranteed, if I reach it, I'm darn well going to go there

with a stop in St. Anthony on the way.

Have a great weekend!

Till next time ~
Fundy Blue

My next post will be on

Friday, September 16, 2022. 🤞

Books Read 2022

"The Border" by Don Winslow
"The Eye of the World" by Robert Jordan
"My Magic Summer with the Moon Maidens" by Brian Carmody
"Kiss of the Assassin" by Joylene Nowell Butler
"Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
"Closing Time" by Joseph Heller
"Before the Fall" by Noah Hawley
"Shattered" by C. Lee McKenzie
"Galileo's Error: Foundations for a New Science of Conciousness" by Philip Goff
"Corksure" by Mordecai Richler
"The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig
"CassaDark" by Alex J. Cavanaugh
"There Are Places in the World Where Rules Are Less Important Than Kindness" by Carlo Rovelli
"The Lincoln Highway" by Amor Towles
Grandma Gateway's Walk" by Ben Montgomery
"Reluctant Genius: Alexander Graham Bell and the Passion for Invention" by Charlotte Gray
"A Good House" by Bonnie Burnard
"The Art of Memoir" by Mary Karr
"Wish You Were Here" by Jodi Picoult

Pages

Friday, September 23, 2022

Spectacular Yellowstone National Park + TAD and FFO

Friday, September 16, 2022

First Love: The Art of Making Doughnuts: The Latest IWSG Anthology!

Goodreads

Friday, September 9, 2022

Walking to Ittoqqortoormiit +TAD and FFO