26 January 2025

 

Helen shared this photo of the Grand Tetons this week.

She spent the three day weekend in Bancroft, Idaho with some friends. They took an unplanned side trip to Jackson Hole on Sunday.

Brandan, Becky, Adia and Gibson drove to the coast on MLK Day, We stopped at Stout Grove on our way.

Even the smallest redwoods are massive. Spending time in the grove is always restorative.

We got lucky with a beautiful, sunny day at the coast.

We enjoyed our little get away very much and came home relaxed and well-rested. The next few days of finals were rough as Gibson got sick, Adia had too many late nights studying and Becky spent long hours helping as many students as possible pass math for the semester, but at least our week started well.

On Saturday morning, Brandan and Becky checked out the trails around the White City Lagoons. This area is the edge of the water treatment plant. For over 25 years this has been a popular place for thousands of migratory shorebirds, which means it's become a popular place for birders. Recently the sewer district worked with the Audubon Society and other conservation groups to make improvements for humans to access the lagoons. The lagoons are surprisingly picturesque, especially on a cold January morning with thick frost and patches of fog. Even the power lines are welcome as they provide nesting perches for osprey and peregrine falcons.

As the fog lifted, we had a momentary view of Lower Tablerock. The fog returned soon after, obscuring our view.

Brandan has been experimenting with making porridge from all kinds of grains and seeds. He mixed up a new batch on Saturday. The layers of ingredients the jar are visually appealing.