Summer is forest fire season in the west and this year was no exception. Fortunately, none of the fires was close to us, but smoke from these fires often travels hundreds of miles. One day there was so much smoke that it was as if we were in a thin fog, with a smell sharp enough to make me feel that the fire was just over the ridge. This is what it looked like later in the day. The peak just to the left of center is Black Tooth, a bit over 13,000′ high and still adorned with patches of snow in August, as were a number of other peaks this year.
A number of years ago, a fire got close enough to the cabins for us to see the flames, forcing all of us to evacuate. The fire jumped part of the Red Grade Road, but thankfully, our cabins and almost all others in the area were spared. I never want to be that close or closer to a forest fire again.
Once I’m at the cabin, I don’t have much of a desire to leave. This year however, on the first Sunday, my parents and I bumped down the Red Grade Road to visit The Brinton Museum not far from Big Horn, Wyoming. In addition to a wonderful collection of western art, both old and new, and American Indian art, the historic Brinton ranch house can be toured. No photography is allowed in the museum and I simply forgot to take a shot of the house, but this wonderful sculpture is outside the museum door.
As I’ve mentioned before, Thursday is the horses’ day off, so that’s the usual day to go into town, get groceries, and, in my case, return and get new library books from the excellent Sheridan Fulmer Library. 🙂 Outside, this cheeky blighter was so enamored of this plant that I was able to put my phone almost right next to him/her for a shot.
While riding, there are often things I spot on the ground or elsewhere that I just can’t get photos of or bring back. But the day I spotted this deer jawbone, I had my fanny pack, so I was able to bring it back to the cabin. It’s about 8-8 1/2″ long.
Here’s a shot of Lacy grazing right in front of our cabin in the afternoon. She’s a beautiful palomino with a blonde mane and tail.
This, that and the other thing 
🙂 This looks so peaceful, Janet!
But the jaw bone somehow looks like something from a criminal tv show.
Fires are terribly scary. I remember one from when I was a child. Horrible. It came so close.
Have a wonderful week!
Claudia xo 🙂
It’s usually very peaceful there, Claudia, so quiet that you can hear trucks or other vehicles on the road high above us. The jawbone looks rather normal there, but yes, a bit like CSI or something.
Hope your week’s off to a great start.
Lacy is gorgeous!
I spent my teen years in a timber town and we always felt a bit on edge during summer / fire season. Forest fires, as you experienced, are so unpredictable. I’m glad your vacation wasn’t affected by anything worse than the smoke — that’s bad enough!
Remember that Leonard Cohen song, “And who by water, and who by fire?” Looks like one or the other is after us this year. Amazing violence of weather. Stay safe. I love your “finds”–the dragonfly and and jawbone both treasures. I was supposed to be in Sheridan right now but found my passport has lapsed. Perhaps later!
I have to remember to get my passport renewal going, as it expires early next spring. Yes, water and fire, good in their ways, can be devastating as well. The dragonfly was just wonderful and so concentrated on being on the plant the it ignored everything else, including me and my phone. 🙂
janet
I’m glad for that. Love that photo. There is one season where for a few days dozens of dragonflies swoop down on my pool and mate in the air or in chains on the plants around the pool. I always try to be in the pool during that period.
Horses are just so pretty. Thanks for including Lacy
My pleasure, Dan. 🙂
janet
I like the statue — so much expression in his face.
That caught my eye, too, Joey.
janet
The Big Horn mountains and the surrounding area look gorgeous, Janet — enjoyed seeing your miscellaneous musings.
Thanks for stopping by, Jet. It’s certainly a beautiful area, one I haven’t seen most of as I tend to just stay in this part of it.
Great statue. Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure, as always. Thanks for sharing a bit of your day with me.
janet
Lacy’s color is beautiful. I do not get to see many palominos in the Warmblood world so thank you for sharing this photo.
I’m happy you liked it, Anne. She’s the first palomino we’ve had and she’s definitely a beauty. When my dad bought her, he didn’t realize she’d only been shown at halter and rarely ridden, so she had a lot to learn. Still trying to teach her to do gates, but I’m not there enough to really work her on it.
janet
That’s a great dragonfly shot, Janet! They’re rarely still for long. Easy to tell that this is your feel good place. 🙂 🙂 Have a great week!
You, too, Jo. 🙂
Oh, I want that life; horses grazing in the front yard as you watch from an early morning cabin porch, coffee in hand. A few years ago, there was a major fire in California that colored the sun red all the way here in Nevada. I’ll never forget that. No smell of smoke, though.
LOL, I see you like to collect the sorts of things I do when I’m out and about 🙂 Glad you didn’t get any close encounters with the fires this time. I’m sad to hear of all the forests under fire right now. Loved your photos.
Yeah, I was pretty excited about the jawbone and glad I had some way to get it back. Holding it in one hand while riding some distance would have been a pain. 🙂
janet
A nice look into your life there. The deer jawbone is interesting. What predators do you have in your area?
Recently they’ve been doing preventative back burns here in preparation for bushfire season. The smoke can be choking, but it’s for a good cause.
In Wyoming, there are bears, cougars/mountain lions, coyotes, and maybe wolves in some places, although I’m not sure about the wolves.
Preventive burns are an excellent idea, but there’s so much downed timber in the mountains that a fire can be a disaster if not stopped quickly. Not much that can be done in many places as there’s no access big enough to get in and there’d be so much wood, I don’t know what they’d do with it all.
janet
Lacy is gorgeous! And I love that regal sculpture. Beautiful photos all Janet.
Thanks very much, Madhu. Lacy’s a lovely lady, that’s for sure.
I have never been to Wyoming yet. I saw beautiful scenery in movies so far, and it is on my Buclet List. I’m glad I stumbled upon your blog. I consider this my first ( digital) visit. 🙂
It’s a beautiful place and I’m glad I could introduce you to it. 🙂 Thanks for visiting.
janet