Back in the Saddle

After spending a few weeks away from the "Hole," I am back in the saddle and blogging again!

We were in Fort Worth to get Ashley from TCU. Then it was a road trip to KC for a quick visit with my Mom for Mother's Day, and then back to Dallas for Derek's graduation from SMU! It was all amazing - so proud of our kids and all they have accomplished!

Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful Mom!

I know they are mine...but they are great kids!!!!

A Very Happy Grad!!

A Happy and Proud Family! Way to go Derek!!

Grandma & Grandpa Ernie

Grandma Harriet & Grandpa Jack

Celebrating Graduation!

 After lots of fun celebrating with family and friends; wonderful restaurants; fabulous shopping (oh how I have missed shopping); and spectacular weather, it was time to return home to Jackson Hole. Ashley joined us and will be here for the summer. Derek is touring through Europe for 31/2 weeks before he comes home to Jackson for a short visit and then he will be on his way to New York to work.

How to be sure you are back in Jackson Hole.....

ELK FEST/ELK ANTLER AUCTION

We got back in town just in time for the Annual Boy Scout Elk Antler Auction...not quite as exciting to me as Nordstrom's Semi-Annual Women's Sale that is going on now! The Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and their their parents (thank goodness we did not live here when Derek was young - can't imagine Barry doing this) converged on the National Elk Refuge for "Collection Day," which this year netted nearly 500 antlers!

I think I'd rather take an adorable boy scout home instead of elk antlers!!

So many antlers, so little understanding of the "beauty"

Just too many choices...we came home empty handed!
First time that Barry has taken me shopping and had that happen!

In addition to Elk Antlers, there are also plenty of Moose Antlers for sale!

For those of you not familiar with this "hobby," it is quite interesting and definitely has a following out here in the wild west. Male elk usually shed their antlers one at a time (therefore finding a matched set/pair of antlers brings in lots of money) in February and March. They begin regenerating their antlers as the days get longer and the sun triggers the production of testosterone. A new set, usually longer than the previous set, forms in just three to for months - one of the fastest-growing living tissues. The antlers are popular with furniture makers, other craftsmen, decorators and Asian merchants (notice that I don't fit into any of those categories).

Not quite my style, but kind of cool!

Antler arches are found on our town square (previous year's unsold antlers??)

For those wanting to actively participate in the hunt instead of purchasing antlers at the auction, the Monday following the Boy Scout Collection Day, droves of antler hunters are permitted to line up on the National Elk Refuge for the annual dash to collect the remaining valuable headgear. The morning was reportedly reminiscent of the an old western movie as the hunters, many on horseback, galloped up the hills and across the creeks with "yips and yeehaws" echoing in the canyon. Many of the finds of the Antler Hunters are also sold at the Elk Fest.

Ashley and Bella attending their first Elk Fest!
Bella just saw it as a bunch of bones we wouldn't let her have ;)

 Jackson Hole attracts visitors from across the region for the Elk Fest and Antler Auction held on the Town Square. Most of the proceeds from the auction go back to the forage production program, which maintains the native grasses on the 25,000 acre Elk refuge. This year over 7,750 elk wintered on the refuge, over half of the Jackson herd.

Oh yes, we are back! Actually happy to be reporting from beautiful Jackson Hole. Spring is on it's way - green grass, flowers, birds, and buds on the trees. Now if we could just get rid of the intermittent snow showers!

Jackson Hole Interesting Fact:
The National Elk Refuge was created in 1912 to protect the Jackson Hole heard from starvation.
The migration of Jackson Hole elk is the longest herd migration of elk in the lower U.S.