Point and Shoot? I think not!

On Saturday I was fortunate to take part in a basic photography class using my SLR camera. I love to take pictures (as seen on my blog) and decided it was time to learn all about my camera. I've mastered the auto setting and have now learned the basics and enough about the dial on my camera to actually turn the dial to the manual setting and set the camera to take the picture I really want to take. (Or in theory I've learned that).

I've posted a couple of the pictures I took at the class (not great but I'm learning) these were taken in a field in Draper and our models were really good sports about us being all up in their business trying to get lighting readings so we could take "the perfect picture"

Congrats Hot Rod

For only the third time since I left the Jazz three years ago, Quent and I went to the Jazz game Friday night for the Hot Rod Hundley retirement ceremony. "Hots" had been the voice of the Jazz for 35 years and retired at the end of the 2008-09 season. I worked closely with Rod for the 10 years I was with the Jazz and it was fun to go back and see the new Hot Rod Hundley Media Center.

The game was a lot of fun as the short handed Jazz beat the Kings. After the game we were able to go down to the Jazz guest room where we were able to see a lot of the people I used to work with as well as see a bunch of the players.

It was a really fun night and I'm glad we were able to be part of the ceremony!

In my own backyard!

Ok not literally but darn close! Quent and I drove down to Ogden last night for dinner and as we were driving down sardine canyon about 500 feet from the Mantua on ramp, Quent spotted a Moose and a calf. So after driving countless miles on our trip around Jackson, and only seeing one from about a mile away we spotted one right near our house.

Unfortunately we didn’t have our camera with us and it was getting dark so heading back to get the camera wouldn’t have been worth it but you can bet that I’ll be carrying the camera with me every time I drive to Brigham City.

Nothing new to report...

Quent and I have been home from vacation for a week and he's been busy catching up at work and I've bee plugging along at school.

We have received some much needed snow the last couple of days and we're supposed to get more this weekend. Luckily it's been warm enough to melt off the roads by the time I drie home from school (driving to school was a bit difficult a couple times this week but not too bad).

I did get a couple of new recipes posted on the recipe blog including Morgan's famous Rice Krispy Treats and a Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole recipe. I will be posting Grandma's Famous Cherry Pie recipe soon as well as a few others.

Other than that we're status quo, with the laundry done and the kitchen clean!

Home from Jackson!

Quent and I made it back to Mantua at 5:00 p.m. today. It's great to be home but I'm going to miss sleeping in and not having a schedule.

Before heading home we drove north again to see if we could track down a moose but no success. Today was a great day to photograph the Tetons as there was no haze and it was a beautiful sunny day however, there was a line of clouds hovering across the mid-section of the mountains, as you'll see by the pictures below.

Trip Stats:
1312.2 miles (Quent logged about 100 more miles with Grandpa looking at the Big Horns near the east entrance of Yellowstone)
31 hours, 31 minutes in the car
450 pictures taken
6 days
1 great vacation!

Touring Jackson

Quent and I spent the better part of the day driving from one end of the valley and back. We had a great day viewing elk, moose, more big horn sheep, antelope, swans, ducks, birds and people! We saw two cow moose and unfortunately we were too far away to get a good picture, I've posted what we were able to get. (I'm sad our tour of Wyoming will come to an end tomorrow.)

Below are a few of the pictures we took today.

Heading to Jackson

On Wednesday we drove from Cody, Wyoming to Jackson, Wyoming to spend a few days before heading for home. We were told there was a lot of wildlife around and I was excited to see a moose and we saw just about everything except a moose. We were able to see an american bald eagle perched on a gaurd rail and were able to get within 20 feet of the bird, it was amazing. We saw buffalo, big horn sheep, swans and of course elk. We also saw about 300 elk at the elk refuge. As we were driving to the east of the elk refuge we saw two wolves. We weren't able to get too close to the wolves, about 1000 feet and the pictures aren't great. Maybe we can get a little closer tomorrow.

Top that off with a fantastic burger at the Cadillac bar ... it was a great day!

Big Horn Sheep

Quent and Grandpa took a drive this morning up to Yellowstone (which is closed in the winter to cars) to look for some big horn sheep. Quent was fortunate enough to get several pictures (200 to be exact) of various animals around the area. Here are a few of the pictues he took today.