Natural Wonders of the USA Part 7

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Natural Wonders continue to Amaze

Back to the now famous Natural Wonders  list. Coming up we’ll take a look at Maquoketa Caves, Iowa; The Narrows in Zion National Park, Utah; and Connecticut, Dinosaur State Park. First of all I have not been to any of these. You can go back to previous Natural Wonder Posts if you’ve forgotten any so far. Lets explore together. Shall we begin?

24. Iowa – Maquoketa Caves

Photo from the internet

Let me say right off that I am not a fan of caves.  I’ve explored some caves on well planned paths with a park ranger. They have all been amazing but when I see a show on TV where the hosts are  “caving” or spelunking I get uncomfortable just watching. I think it goes back to when I was a kid and the family went to Howe’s cavern and the guide turned off the lights so we could experience total darkness. Caves have made me uneasy since then. 

But these caves have quite a history. They say you can find arrow heads, pottery shards and tools. Maquoketa Caves is part of a Maquoketa State Park and encompasses a 5 mile trail system as a total of 323 acres to explore.

25. Utah – The Narrows

Located in Zion National Park.  Zion is on my  bucket list right next to Bryce Canyon and Arches.  But back to the Narrows,  at the bottom of the narrows flows a shallow river known as the Virgin River. However, water levels can vary greatly and the narrows are prone to flooding. Best time to hike the Narrows is late spring (after the run off) or summer. 

Internet Photo

26. Connecticut- Dinosaur State Park

Now this is a surprise. I’ve been to Connecticut many times. It’s our neighboring state but I have never hear of Dinosaur State Park. I will definitely have to check this out. 

The dinosaur tracks are protected in a Geodesic dome along with interactive exhibits and activities. There are over 750 dinosaur tracks  preserved exactly as they were found.

File:Dinosaur State Park (Rocky Hill, CT) - prints.JPG - Wikimedia Commons

photo: Wikimedia

 

Natural Wonders of the USA Part 6

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More Natural Wonders

I drifted away from the series we were working on for the Natural Wonders of the USA so lets get back at it. 

The List so far

  • Wyoming – Devil’s Tower
  • Vermont – Quechee Gorge
  • Alaska – Glacier Bay
  • North Dakota- Theodore Roosevelt National Park
  • South Dakota- Custer State Park
  • Delaware – Brandywine Creek
  • Rhode Island – Mohegan Bluffs
  • Montana – Glacier National Park
  • Maine – Cadillac Mountain
  • New Hampshire – Flume Gorge
  • Hawaii- Diamond Head
  • West Virginia – New River Gorge
  • Idaho – Craters of the Moon
  • Nebraska- Chimney Rock
  • New Mexico – White Sands National Park
  • Kansas – Monument Rocks

So lets see what’s next

21. Mississippi – Deer Island

Endangered species, Ghosts and seclusion. What’s not to love. No I haven’t been there but I looked it up. If you like nature and beach going then you will probably enjoy Deer Island.  If you love ghost hunting, many claim that Deer Island is haunted by metaphysical beings: the Headless Skeleton and the Firewater Ghost.

 

Deer Island Coastal Preserve, Biloxi, Mississippi Historic… | Flickr

The Ghost of Deer Island is said to be responsible for mysterious lights and strange sounds observed on the island to this day.

The other old Biloxi legend tells of the “Firewater Ghost,” a supernatural blue light seen moving over the waters of Biloxi Bay long before the invention of electric light.

According to that legend, the mysterious light often moves across the bay between Biloxi and Ocean Springs.

22. Arkansas Hot Springs

Another location on my bucket list.  Hot Springs National Park are an ancient thermal springs.  Be careful of the water as temps can reach 143 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

Image Via Pinterest

 

Today you can bathe in the hot springs, go hiking on over 26 miles of trails and find plenty of excellent camping spots.

23. Nevada – Fly Geyser

I’ve spent several vacations and work conventions in Las Vegas. I’ve taken the tour of Hoover Dam. Have you  heard of Valley of Fire State Park? Once if did I added a visit to my bucket list  but fly geyser sounds interesting too. 

 

File:Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada 01.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Wikimedia

I saw loads of geysers while I was in Yellowstone but none of them had the colors shown in the pictures of Fly Geyser. Of course Yellowstone’s geysers are all natural. Fly Geyser is, at least in part, man made. Residents in 1916, seeking irrigation water, drilled a well at the spot. When they discovered was too hot for drinking, they abandoned the well. Another geyser was created when a geothermal power company drilled a test well in 1964. Because the wells were not properly capped, water started erupting from the holes and calcium carbonate deposits began forming, thus creating Fly Geyser.

Fly Geyser- Internet photo

More Wonders to come.

The Joy of Pet Ownership

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The Joy of Owning a Pet

Oh the Joy of Pet ownership. Well maybe not ownership when the pet is a cat. Any cat lover will tell you that we humans are only here as pet servants for cats. They are planning to take over the world.

It sounds so nice to think of being gently awakened by a soft purr each morning. Ha! Want to hear the reality? And I do mean “Hear”.

A Typical Morning

Today was a typical morning in my house. It’s still dark out (5 am) when I hear the dreaded sounds of a cat barfing. Balboa is curled up next to me in bed so I know it’s not him. 

It’s hairball season and despite getting brushed daily, Banner my fluffy, feline companion has started suffering from that nasty affliction. He usually throws up in the tub making it easy to clean up but sometimes he just doesn’t get there in time. I’ve just changed his food and treats to hairball remedies and if it doesn’t improve I have the yucky cream to put on his paws. He’ll hate that!

Banner’s Innocent Face – Photo Credit Deb Neumann

Lights on, I search for the evidence but looks like a false alarm. I’m going to try to go back to sleep. Balboa has taken over the center of the bed so I’ll have to try to move him to make room for me. 

Balboa in a Don’t mess with me Mood Photo Credit Deb Neumann

Round 2

I’m just about drifting off again. I try to catch the dream that was so rudely interrupted when I hear a “scritching” sound. You know that sound of something being pushed along the floor or maybe a shelf?  It’s Banner again and my souvenirs from my travels are being pushed across my dresser top and off the end into a pile on the floor. Lights on again. Banner calmly saunters away and I pick everything back up.

Banner- Photo credit Deb Neumann

 

Round 3

Back to bed. I move Balboa again. He gives me a disgusted look and plops down on my arm. Guess that’s the position I’m going to have to try to sleep in. Turn off the lights and just as I drift off I hear scratching. Banner is digging in the litter box…and digging and digging. He must be almost to China by now. 

I try to ignore it but since that didn’t get me up Banner moves on to “The Chat”

Morning Chat

Usually it’s Balboa that likes to “talk”. One of his Knick-Names is “Sir Talks A Lot” but this time it’s Banner. He is roaming from the living room to the bedroom and back all the time complaining and crying. He sounds so pitiful. (He’s not really- he’s just a good actor) So at 5:45 am I give up. I put the lights on an start the morning routine.  Another day of sleep deprivation but Banner is happy. 

In spite of the above complaints I do love my little furry family. I’d just like to get a full nights sleep someday!

Welcome 2023

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 A Warm Welcome to 2023

Happy 2023. How many of you stayed up to Welcome in the New Year? Watch that shiny ball drop in Times Square? According to my Fitbit I made it to 10:30 pm before I fell asleep in my recliner. No ball drop for me.

Resolutions

Looks like my resolutions are a bit of a struggle in 2023. Normally I would promise to be more consistent with my blog posts but I am struggling to think of interesting topics when I am not sure how much or even if I’ll be traveling this year.  No Hawaii in February this year. 

I was watching  Nat Geo and a show came on with pictures of a mountain range. I said to the cats, look it’s the Grand Tetons right before the moderator said we’re in the Grand Tetons outside of Jackson Hole. Later they showed a geyser and I identified it as Old Faithful. I was right! Same with the elk horn arches in Jackson Hole.

Old Faithful Erupts

Old Faithful 2017 – Photo Credit Deb Neumann

 

 

Elk Antler Arches Jackson Hole 2017 – Photo Credit Deb Neumann

I hope I am not going to become an arm chair traveler. There is too much to see and experience!

Of course I always say I’ll lose weight. That’s a standard resolution but usually that means that I’ll add 10 lbs by year end.

 

May be an image of cat and text that says 'Think you better get started on your New Year's resolutions. So many improvements needed, and so little time. IGANHASCHEEZBURGER.COM'

Financial Goals

I can say I don’t want to get a real job but I need to have something to do to supplement my retirement fund if I’m going to take even short trips. But I don’t want to have to punch a time clock any more. I’m enjoying that part of being out of work. A few hours on the computer would be a comfortable work schedule. My cats might even leave me alone that long. I wonder if anyone would pay me to travel? 

I got my year end E-Trade Statement. Very scary. While at Redfin I took advantage of their profit sharing employee stock plan. At it’s height of almost $100 a share I was well on my way to a secure retirement.  Today my stock sits at $4.00 a share. I own 468 shares. You can do the math. Its not worth much right now. Maybe in another 2 years it will rebound. Fingers crossed.  My 401K wasn’t much better but I had to close that out when they laid me off. So we won’t even think about that. 

Lets get Going 2023

So 2023 is going to be interesting to say the least. I have no real direction yet. I’m hoping for clarity as the year gets going. How about everyone else? Are you as confused as I am?

Merry Christmas from our House to Yours

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Merry Christmas

Here’s a Merry Christmas trip down memory Lane from Christmas past. 

I love this picture of Rocky. He was the best cat. He only let me get this one quick pic then he went after the costume to get it off. 

Santa Rocky 2013 photo credit Deb Neumann

 

Meet the Snow Family. My little photo experiment. 

No photo description available.

The Snow Family – Photo Credit Deb Neumann

2014 Christmas House

Added a little Photo magic to the house in Taunton, Turned it into the 2014 Christmas House. All your favorite characters are visiting.

 

Christmas House 2014 Photo Credit Deb Neumann

A Christmas Fantasy

Here’s Rocky again in 2017 with his little friend, the Christmas mouse. 

Rocky & the Christmas Mouse 2017 Photo credit Deb Neumann

Is That Santa in the sky?

Taunton- The Christmas City

My city is proud to have the nick name- The Christmas City . Every year they try to out do the previous year when the set up displays on the green.

Taunton Green 2013 Photo Credit Deb Neumann

A Merry Disney Christmas

Disney world 2016 – photo credit Deb Neumann

 

Christmas Present

Things change and life goes on. This year I’m trying to get used to my new life of retirement. Rocky passed over the Rainbow Bridge a couple of years ago and even though I swore no more cats I am once again living with two tiny terrors. No Christmas tree this year. The Kids are too young and would make short work of any tree or decoration. 

 

Their names are Banner and Balboa and both are insanely funny, affectionate and royal pains. Banner is more of a gentleman than Balboa. Banner is sneaky in his destruction. Balboa is in your face. Banner steals my keys, my fit bit right off the charger and miscellaneous other items. But Banner is also willing to watch the birds out the window for hours and is content to sit near me, a quiet companion.

Banner Guarding the printer 2022 Photo credit Deb Neumann

 

Balboa has many aliases. He is Sir Talks A Lot, and Wreck it Ralph to name just a few. If he can’t find something to get in trouble with he will create it. I find cat toys in my bed. He likes the high road. Banner likes the floor. As frustrating as he can be, he makes me laugh because his antics are just over the top. This is just one example. It wasn’t “posed” I just hadn’t put the bowl away and I turned around to find he’d stuffed himself in it.  You can see the “insanity” in his eyes!

Balboa 2021 Photo Credit Deb Neumann

Like I said, Balboa takes the high road

Balboa 2022 Photo Credit Deb Neumann

Christmas Future

 Unlike the Spirits in Dickens, I don’t know what the future will hold. As the saying goes, nothing is certain except death and taxes.  So as we head into 2023 I wish for good health and prosperity for all my friends and family. Maybe next year I can have a tree!

Santa at Busch Gardens 2018 Photo Credit Deb Neumann