"TO THE MOON, ALICE!"

When John and I discussed going to the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, we had no idea what to expect.  It just sounded interesting. Off we went to the area in the Snake River plane between Barry and Arco, Idaho. 

Interesting, it was.  I imagined that it would be similar to Amboy Crater in southern California that we visited in 2011.  It was not the same.  Amboy is a postage stamp compared to the five counties containing 750,000 acres of Craters of the Moon.  

Someone described it as "weird and scenic."  Had I not been there, I would have called it unbelievable. There is no way to grasp the concept of the power that would erupt from the core of the earth and cover over so many acres inside and out of the Monument area.

The diverse multitude of volcanic features displayed include rifts, cinder cones, splatter cones, lava tube caves that can be explored with a permit and shield volcanoes. 

The Visitor's Center is one of the best educational centers that we have visited.   If you have the opportunity, take a few hours and visit the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve.

 

Pahoehoe

Lava Tubes

Lava Tube Interior

 

 Cinder Crags

 Cinder crag with lichen growing on it - close up

Tree Molds

As the lava struck and knocked a tree and to the ground, the lava made a mold of the bark.  

How deep this crack was before the wind filled it with debris?

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Black soil on  Inferno Cone

Splatter Cone

Our hike up a Splatter Cone

Looking inside the Splatter Cone filling with debris after 2000 years.

 A Lava field as far as we could see

Natures Art 

Holes in the lava

Can anyone identify this white mountain on the road to Arco Betty Graffis is the first to identify these as the Twin Butes. These are also sleeping volcanoes. Thanks so much Betty.

Was there rain or a pot of gold waiting in Idaho Falls?

Thanks for stopping by.  Next ? Grand Teton National Park.

God bless 

HOME SWEET HOME

Last November when we purchased our new to us Tiffin Allegro Bus, we were thrilled with it.  We still are a year later. 

It was not much later when we decided that the brass nobs on the cabinetry looked dated.  We purchased just under one hundred dollars worth of knobs.  Those nobs, as some of you will remember made a huge difference.

Last Thursday John set to work to finish the task of making all light fixtures and rings around the lights match the cabinet nobs.                                               All rings and light fixtures had to come down.  Some wires were harder to get at than others.

See the brass at the bottom of the light fixture....and all the parts?   The fixture had to be completely dismantled to gain access to the brass portions. 
 



Do you think he will remember how to put all those parts back together? 

Yep he did, but had two extra parts left over, but all the lights work.  

And here they are:

Then we hung some artwork that we purchased at the Mission gift shop.  I blogged about that trip earlier.  

I retrieved a ceramic jack-o-lantern that my mom and dad made back in the late 1980's. Ole Jack rides on the dashboard. In September, he rides with his face facing inward.  Then in October, we fill him with little lights and turn him outward.  

We are missing our straw scarecrow. We cannot remember where we stored it.  How, can we misplace something in such a small space? 



Saturday, Jim and Sandie Dixon came to share our campground here at Stanton Crossing BLM on the Big Wood River
.  
Jim and John put a new part on our awning.  Good work guys.  And thank you Jim.  
 

 While Jim was  on the top of the motorhome, he checked out our search light.  We now know how to open the light and what kind of sealed beam we need.  


Jim also found a spot that needed caulking removed and re-caulked.  We had a small water spot in one of our cabinets last week.  Those two items John will take care of just as soon as we get the necessary equipment.

When we visited the Guajome Ranchhouse in Vista, California, I found this artwork for our kitchen.  Finally, we hung them.  More and more, this motorhome feels like home.  These personal touches make such a difference.  

When we leave Stanton Crossing BLM, we will be driving to the Craters of the Moon National Monument then on to Yellowstone National Park.

Every stop is taking us a bit closer to Indianapolis and Doctor appointments, check up and best of all F.A.M.I.L.Y.  I talked to grandchildren Lucy and Ross yesterday and told them we are on our way and will be there in a few weeks.  

I am looking forward to going to gymnastic competitions where Lucy will compete. And then there is grandparents day the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.  

Daughter Karen is having a birthday October seventeenth. Granddaughter Megan is pregnant with our second great-granddaughter.  Big sister, Harper had hardly any hair when we left and was not talking.  Now she has long blond hair and is talking up a storm.  Oh, my, I can hardly wait.  

I have rambled a bit too much, but family is on my heart this evening.  

John has made a campfire and I am going to go sit with my honey and dream of family.  

God bless .....till next time.