It Was Memorable!

I wanted to do a year end post but honestly my year WAS SO BIG I couldn't pin it down!! It was an insane year for me! I had so many new experiences, and visited so many fantastic places where to begin?  
I camped 35 days in 8 different states! Traveled about 11,000 miles, roughly. 
Spent the spring in TX seeing all those fantastic birds, and camping on the beach, and at San Padre National Seashore, driving along the gulf coast, and the Rio Grand River peering over into Mexico,  then to Big Bend, and Guadalupe Mountain NP, visiting Carlsbad Caverns NP and watching the bats fly out of the cave,  the Alien Museum of Roswell NM, the Billy the Kid Museum, the Route 66 Museum...and then spending the Summer in Colorado...the absolutely gorgeous landscapes, animals, birds, wild rivers, and scenic vistas...the perfect day trips, the family picnics, the great hikes we took....how could it not be memorable?  Colorado just explodes with beauty...then all too soon my 2 months there were over and it was time to return home.   I took the scenic route...camping in Rocky Mtn National Park, listening to the bugling of the elk as the Rut was under way...then Kansas's National Tall Grass Preserve, finding the Chalk Pyramids...I explored or camped in so many State Parks I lost count,  along with visits to dozens of National Wildlife Refuges, Birding Centers, all the while witnessing some EYE Popping beautiful landscapes from the Mountains to the Sea.The cherry on top was I worked hard and added 77 birds to my life list when I decided to buckle down and move it forward! The first life bird in 2017 was the Nashville Warbler in Lee County, AL, and the last one Eurasian Wigeon in Green Pond, SC (yesterday).  Not like a Big Year in the true sense but for me it was huge!   I also completed some DIY projects too! 

So it's My Most Memorable list of 2017:

1.   Most memorable day in 2017...

...was wallowing in the mud with my sisters at Rifle Gap State Park, Colorado, when we decided to go tube floating.  We are all in our 60's and yes we put on swimsuits and slogged through knee deep mud to float on tubes in murky water! What a hoot! Later found the path we should have taken to avoid the mud..lol

                           Labor Day  picnic and  our towels drying on the fence afterwards 
  

2.  Most memorable photo of the year...

my Mom and I enjoyed so many awesome mornings on the deck of sis's CO house overlooking the mountains and the valley below drinking coffee and watching the sun rise, I treasure each of those morning memories...


            

 
                                                                     July 10th


3.  Most memorable encounter in 2017

...while hiking a trail on the Grand Mesa Lakes in Colorado and coming face to face with this guy:

                       


                                                    July 20, a Pine Marten

4. Most memorable Camp Spot of the year:

...has to be Sea Rim State Park, Sabine TX.  I really hope they are able to recover from the horrid hurricane season of 2017. 

                                               sea rim state park beach Texas, camp April 19

5.  Most Memorable Bird Find:

...is the Red Crossbill I hunted all summer and thought I had not seen until I got home and saw the photos on my computer screen...

                         Sept 14th Routt National Forest, Meadows Campground, Grand Co, CO


6.  Most Memorable Surprise of 2017

Was when the Bull Moose camp trotting through the tourists at the Maroon Bells Wilderness,  and right past us...awesome moment...

 

                                                                 Sept 6


7:  Most Memorable Project:

Hands down the shed building done with the help of my sis Em! 

        

                                                                  ta-da! April 15th

8:  Most Memorable Hike:

Is the most recent where my sis M and I found the last falls on Slickum!  



                                 Dec 2nd, hike to the last falls on Slickum Creek


 9:  Most Memorable Sunrise

 

                                                         Hogback Sunrise.  Garfield Co. CO Sept 7 


10:  Most Memorable Neighbor:

 This sweet California Spotted Ground Squirrel who was out there enjoying the same sunrises that I did at Deer Run.

                                                                        hello friend


11:  Most Memorable Wildflower 

...wild Columbine on a south facing slope in CO... Land's End Road, Grand Mesa.

 

12.  Most Memorable Scenic Drive:


The Switchback gravel road coming down off the Colorado Grand Mesa via Land's End.

                                                  July 20



13:  Most Memorable Moon:

This full moon with the smoky haze from fires to the north left me spell bound!

  

                                                                                  Sept 5 


 14.  Most Memorable Character:

The photo says it all..

                                                     in my homemade bird feeder


 15:  Most Memorable Artwork:

There is a dreamer in each of us, I hope that no one forgets that each person's dreams fulfilled become the memorable moments of their lifetime and anyone who would begrudge someone of that...well... is despicable.
2017 was definitely a memorable year for me... now I dive headlong into 2018...I have to wonder what awaits, and I can only hope it's memorable!

                                             SO get out there and start making those memories!

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.