I MAY NOT KNOW WHAT... BUT... I DO KNOW WHO

This will be a very short post..... all I have to say is this.....

I may not know what tomorrow holds

but

I know WHO holds tomorrow.

I hope you know WHO holds your tomorrows...

INDIAN SUMMER HAS COME TO VISIT

Early Morning - Lake Yellowstone

Well - as hoped for - Indian Summer arrived in West Yellowstone yesterday.  We do not know how long it will stay but we will certainly enjoy it while it is here!

The snow of a few days ago has pretty much all disappeared - except for a place in the back yard where the sun does not get to.

It is chilly in the morning but warms up during the day and then turns cool again in the evening.

This is a beautiful time of the year to be at Yellowstone - too bad that the government has decided to disrupt the year with their shut-down.  I can tell you - most of us here in West are not at all happy about it and - like the majority of the nation - feel it is simply a battle between some spoiled children in Washington DC that is messing up these last few days of fall for us all.

Hopefully they will get it resolved soon.  So sorry that you are not able to visit YOUR national park at this time.

TEMPORARY HOME FOR THE CLOTHING BANK

First Baptist Church - West Yellowstone, Montana

Pictured above is the First Baptist Church.  This has now become the "temporary" home for the local clothing bank here in town.  Plans are to keep the clothing bank at the church until April 1, 2014.  After that - we do not know what will happen with it.

When the new town offices were ready to be occupied, the city fathers decided not to move the clothing from the existing Social Services offices to the new city office building.  This leaves a lot of our local population with no place to get winter clothing for their children and themselves.  There is no charge for any of the clothing.  It is all free to whomever.

The church decided to try to make room for it in our building and we have done so successfully.  It is a bit crowded but we are going to do this.  We feel that this is a ministry that our town needs and that we are being led in that direction.

The clothing bank, unfortunately, will not be open every day because we do not have the personnel at the church to staff it every day.  The hours are Monday 1:00 - 4:00 and Thursday 4:00 - 7:00.  However, the folks at Social Services do have a key in case of an emergency situation.  We are going to see how it goes and then determine if we need to either change or expand the hours.  Unfortunately, with winter coming on and our seasonal people leaving - that leaves about 6 to 12 of us locals to deal with the staffing.

We did manage to secure a small grant from the West Yellowstone Foundation to help with the financial end of it.  We are going ahead full steam and trusting that God will provide.

WEST YELLOWSTONE TODAY

Snow On The Park Mountains

Today is Saturday, October 5, 2013.  The early morning temperature was almost 22 degrees.  The sky this morning is overcast.  I was hoping for another day like yesterday was.  We had a beautiful day with bright blue Montana sky and just a little breeze.  I am really hoping that we are headed for at least a week of Indian Summer before winter truly sets in.

This afternoon we will go to the Museum and enjoy their free day as well as $5 brats.  

Yesterday evening was the Halloween celebration at the local Bunkhouse Barn Interiors which is combined with the Book Peddler.  Lots of fun...saw lots of locals as well as got great deals if you went in costume.

The ladies from the local Chamber of Commerce all dressed as witches and paraded down the main street!

See...we do find our own way of entertainment here in West!

WINTER ACTIVITY SCHEDULE FOR WEST YELLOWSTONE

Fun Things To Do

If you are wondering if there is anything other than snowmobiling - in West Yellowstone in the Winter - here is a part of the planned activities for our little town this winter.

November 16 - West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation Ski Swap meet.

November 25 - 30  - Yellowstone Ski Festival

November 27 - Thanksgiving Biathlon

November 20 - Kids 'N Snow at the Trailhead

December 12 - Christmas Stroll and Parade of Lights

December 13 - 14  Rodeo Run Sled Dog Races

December 14 - Spam Cup #1

December 14 -  Christmas Bird Count

December 15 - Yellowstone Open for Winter Oversnow Travel

December 15 - Biathlon Cup #1

December 15 - 31 - Christmas for the Critters at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center

Will post January - February and March list later.  Stay Tuned.

WINTER IS ARRIVING

Yellowstone Bison

Woke up yesterday morning to a world of white.  Our first snow of the season has arrived.  There was not a lot of it - maybe a couple of inches - but it is sticking.  The roads have melted off but it is sticking on other places.

Soon we will be hearing the snowmobiles and snow coaches becoming active - not only in Yellowstone - but in the surrounding National Forest as well.

Winter is approaching.  Maybe we will have a week or so of Indian Summer - or - maybe winter is here to stay for a few months.

That is the wonder and beauty of being a year 'round resident in West Yellowstone.  You just never know what you will see weather-wise when you look out your window in the morning.

HIS MAJESTY

RESTING UP 

Saw this big fellow in the park last week.  Evidently he is taking a rest from gathering up his harem.  The elk rut is in full swing and the bugling elk can be heard in almost all sections of Yellowstone National Park.

It is amazing to me how these magnificent creatures can grow antlers this size in one spring and summer.  Also amazing to think that they can hold their heads up with all that weight resting there.

They will lose these in the spring and grow a complete new set by fall.  Isn't Mother Nature a wonder?

EAGLES IN THE PARK

A PAIR OF EAGLES

On our way out of Yellowstone last Sunday we had the opportunity to see a pair of eagles resting in a dead tree.  I hope you can make out their white heads in the picture above.

I do not often see eagles in the Park and was thrilled to get to see a pair of them.  I wonder if they are a couple looking for a place to build a nest?  I sure hope so and I hope they build in a place where we can watch them.

It was a day of rain and overcast skies - but - the Park is magnificent no matter what the weather.  I suppose it all depends on your attitude.  You can either complain about the weather or - you can just take it in stride and not let it ruin your day.

WE HAD A "BEAR" OF A TIME

Yellowstone Bear

Last Sunday, September 29, I spent the day in Yellowstone with some good friends.  We were fortunate to see this grizzly bear.  She was on a carcass and we watched her for quite a while.

There were some cars parked on the road just above her.  At one point, she left the kill and went up to the road where the cars were.  We were at the bottom of the hill (and glad to be there!).

We were told by one of the Rangers that there were actually 2 bears on the carcass but one was all we saw.  I suspect it was a grizzly sow and a cub as bears do not usually like to share their food with another adult bear.