Porter's Blog

The last day of what dad tells me is the most extraordinary March that he has ever seen. March 2012 ended on a summer note with sun and 80 degrees. Goodness, goodness, compare this to George’s March 2008.

George must be joyously howling as his Magical White Pasque Flower bloomed today.

They do have George’s magic, no doubt about that.

I hung out at Squirrel Hollow, yes my new name for the lowest point of George’s Pasque Flower Patch, from early morning until early afternoon.

It’s about as perfect as could be with the Pasque Flowers, blue sky, Ponderosa trees, and warm temperatures.

As I mentioned last year, it’s quite the drop to this part of George’s Pasque Flower Patch. On the way down, a basset can get a pretty good view.

It’s the last area in normal springs for the Pasque Flowers to bloom.

This year’s warmth has changed all that, cuz every area is blooming at once. Here’s the highest part of George’s Pasque Flower Patch and the first to bloom.

The warm March weather has brought about a spectacular growth of Pasque Flowers all through out George’s Pasque Flower Patch. Sadly, by the end of next week, the Pasque Flowers of 2012 will be done blooming, waiting for next year.

Oh puppy! Another beautiful morning in George’s Pasque Flower Patch.

It was warm enough to ride the motorcycle too. I’m loving this March 2012.

And the Pasque Flowers are so beautiful that I have to sing with joy.

It was awfully cloudy in the afternoon, but we did get a ray of sunshine in the evening at George’s Magical White Pasque Flower, which is close to blooming those three flowers.

Yea George!

And the clouds led to a gorgeous sunset.

George had a darn cloudy day for his run at Basset Back Ridge in 2006. But it was a good morning to check for rabbits after the run.

And sniff around for all those interesting scents left by the denizens of the night.

Okay, here’s today’s best of George’s Pasque Flower Patch.

Whoa, how about this?

Phlox is blooming out at the Basset Arroyos.

Even way more early, Golden Pea has come up and is showing the first signs of flowering.

One thing that I’ve found is that the 30mm macro lens on the NEX-7 isn’t as sharp as Canon’s 100mm macro lens. But, it does have a real advantage. It can focus down to an inch! Combine this with the small size of the NEX-7 and you’ve got a package that can get low and close!

And what’s this? A Star Lily!!! It’s not even April!

The small blossom will get much bigger in the next couple of days, but for now it shows the advantage of the 30mm macro lens coupled to the NEX-7.

Bark about what a beautiful day in George’s Pasque Flower Patch.

Isn’t it looking fantastic?

No Pasque Flowers yet four years ago. George and dad did spend a nice morning at the Gold Rocks.

It was a decent day to be outside.

Come evening, George, like me, was one tired basset hound.

“I’ll take the whole couch, thank you.”

I need more nap time, but before I go here are another couple of Pasque Flower shots.

Great morning to spend time in George’s Pasque Flower Patch. Thank you George.

I talked dad into resting near the squirrel tree. Dad liked all the Pasque Flowers and read and rested. Me, dog oh dog, I didn’t get much rest as that darn squirrel chattered at me.

George in 2007 had a day of clouds and some sun in Dead Horse Canyon. George wanted to get a photo of the sunlight illuminating Dead Horse Canyon’s steep wall. While waiting he practiced his Sheriff George look-down-stare-down.

That look sure put the fear in the coyotes. Tough sheriff, no doubt.

The sun finally did a perfect dance on the canyon wall for George.

Very pleasing.

Two Pasque Flower photos from this morning to end this post.

George back in 2009 still had winter with which to contend. But it was a beautiful day with the sun popping over the horizon bringing a glow to George.

He and dad took a leisurely walk on Lookout Road in the crisp morning air.

Good way to start the day.

My day started out with plenty of clouds in Edgemont, so dad and I headed to Toadstool Geological Park, where the blue sky prevailed with magnificence. Gotta love these toadstools!

We hiked to the Hudson-Meng buffalo bone bed area. It’s not open this time of year, but we trotted around the place anyway. The only thing close to a buffalo around here is…well…

It’s not often a basset can hike around Toadstool during the spring, cuz the mud can be fierce stuff during the wet months. But, it’s been so dry this year that we had the perfect spring day for hiking through the bizarre formations of Toadstool. I’ll let the photos do the barking…

Dad’s thought about moving from Edgemont, since the cloudy skies seem to have become a permanent fixture of the Edgemont area. We looked for houses around Toadstool Park. Um, not much to write home about (or make into a home!).

“Looks kinda drafty to me,” I huffed to dad about this house, which I thought wasn’t even as good as a modern doghouse.

We got back to Edgemont and George’s Pasque Flower Patch with sun, sun, sun. So, I’ll sign off with another Pasque Flower photo; a white Pasque Flower.

Low clouds were hanging over George’s Pasque Flower Patch this morning. Kinda gloomy if you know what I’m barking. But, I thought it a good morning to try out the flash and the NEX-7.

Well, you can judge the results for yourself. As for me, I’m quite pleased.

I was using the 30mm macro lens for these shots. It does nice work with the Pasque Flowers.

The NEX-7 works so well with Pasque Flowers, cuz the camera can get right down on the ground and close up to the flowers…much easier to use than the full frame Canon 5D cameras.

We didn’t get much sun, but when it came out, I basked in it with George’s Pasque Flowers tickling my toes.

And in one of those magical moments, the sun split the tree shadows and ignited the color on this pretty Pasque Flower.

A thunderstorm charged south and east of Edgemont this afternoon. Kinda early for those guys; you know how I feel about thunder. In Edgemont we got a touch of rain, but the strong winds got rid of the moisture and the dust returned.

That wet, snowy weather of March 2006 was winding down on this day. George sure was looking forward to some sun and spring weather. He looked around after his jog with dad and asked, “Do you think spring will come?”

He waited for an answer with eagerness.

The next day came with spring in the air and on the ground.

Everybody loves a Pasque Flower, right?

Just ask this little spider, if you don’t believe me.

Dad and I spent much of the day in George’s Pasque Flower Patch. I had great entertainment as a squirrel taunted me from a tree nearby to where dad and I enjoyed the late morning.

I dare that squirrel to come down and face me!

We also visited Cube Stone Meadow. If you’re wondering how you get to George’s Pasque Flower Patch from the backdoor of Cube Stone Meadow then just head that way.

George was up at his usual early morning time on a wintery March morning in 2009.

Bark about winter yet! Look at this drifted snow near Lookout Road.

My day tomorrow should be considerably different than winter weather. The warm weather will continue with a chance of thunderstorms. (Oh no! You know how much I hate thunder!)

One last Pasque Flower photo for this evening.

They’re blooming in George’s Pasque Flower Patch today! Those Pasque Flowers sure are early this year.

I had to get close and look up to the beautiful sky and thank George wherever he might be.

“Hey dad!” I woofed. “Do I look good with Pasque Flowers?”

“You betcha, you do Porter,” he replied.

No Pasque Flowers yet for George in 2008, but he was looking darn good as he viewed the terrain east of Red Canyon Rim Trail.

Doesn’t get much better than this on a sunny spring day: George and the Yellow Rock Road leading to the Gold Rocks.

One last shot from today in George’s Pasque Flower Patch.

Perfect!

Nasty jog this morning in heavy fog that got dad and me soaking wet as if it were raining…blah!

There was sun in the morning in places higher than Edgemont. For example, we had a darn nice walk on the Mickelson Trail at milepost 28.

And the going was great on Cut Rock Trail, though it was getting a bit warm for this basset.

We stopped at Custer for lunch (DQ!), and then headed home to upper 70 degree weather.

What a contrast to George’s March 23rd six years ago.

You want snow? We got plenty of it near Craven Canyon!

George gave dad his best grimace, as if he hated the snow.

But George was only joking, since he thought this snow in late March was quite excellent.

Would you believe another pristine spring day? Who would have guessed?

I caught the sun just starting to illuminate this Pasque Flower overlooking Basset Bottom Gulch.

No matter how you look at the little Pasque Flowers they do make for a world of difference in the burned area. Look at this color in a blackened world.

And really, there’s no doubt that Pasque Flowers look fine no matter where they’re at, but throw in some big sky, and you’ve got magic.

It’s a comforting thought for this basset.

Dog oh dog, dad and I spent a few hours surrounded by Pasque Flowers as we rested.

Doesn’t get any better than this!

Always up before the crack of dawn, George was looking super sharp while hiking Red Canyon Rim Trail in 2009.

He and dad had a fine March day to enjoy the sun, trains, and motorcycle riding.

Yet again a wonderful spring day. Love’em! Dad and I stopped by the rail yard.

5971 was basking in the early morning sun. These newer locomotives shutdown automatically and restart automatically (for charging air and such). 5971 was in shutdown mode when we said hello, so things were very quiet.

I woofed hello to George’s magical white Pasque Flowers.

And I gave a thank you to George for another spring of Pasque Flowers in his Pasque Flower Patch.

Dad and I camped out near George’s Pasque Flower Patch in the late morning and late afternoon. I’m reading a CJ Box book.

I have the perfect setting of Ponderosa trees and Cheyenne River View looking out over the High Plains for reading Box’s murder mysteries. (Just hope no bad guy is sneaking up behind me…oh wait, bring’em on, I’ll rip’em to shreds!)

2006 had that spring weather in January, but the middle of March, well, that was a different story. George once again braved the snows of March for his early morning jog on Basset Back Ridge.

When he got home, he and his pals got in front of the electric heater to warm up.

Dad would be bringing the fig bars any second. Ah, the basset life…

Greetings to the first day of spring! For most of the day we had a beautiful sky and pleasant spring temperatures. It’s dry dust out there, but dad and I aren’t complaining about that!

Dad and I went to the south edge of Basset Bottom Gulch to see how the Pasque Flowers survived the fire. It’s kinda strange seeing the color amidst all the blackened burn area.

There aren’t many Pasque Flowers blooming yet, but it’s nice saying hello and welcome to spring to the ones blooming now.

Up on Robinson Flats there were even more Pasque Flowers springing up to catch the sun. Isn’t this one beautiful?

By the end of the day, dad and I had hit the 3,000 mile mark for jogging, hiking, and walking since July 13, 2011. Makes your paws ache just thinking of it, doesn’t it?

I can’t bare to post the photos from March 20, 2006. George and dad were tromping through knee (human knee) deep snow.
Instead, I’ll show George in 2009 feeling rather blue cuz the sky wasn’t showing any blue.

“We’re not getting much sun this year, huh dad?”

In the afternoon, George did get some sun, but 2009 sure was a year of clouds (though 2011 has to be the worst).

It was a bright…

and windy…

morning at the Basset Arroyos.

It’s neat here in Edgemont when you can get up on a lookout and see birds flying at your level like these ducks did while I was looking around at the Basset Arroyos.

Oh puppy, what a beautiful big sky afternoon. Dad and I took some rest at Cheyenne River View. Then we tiptoed through George’s Pasque Flower Patch to see how those beauties are growing. They’re coming along. The big excitement is that in the heart of George’s Pasque Flower Patch the magical white Pasque Flower has three blooms this year!

George, George, George!

Woofing of George, well, he had another snowy day in March of 2006.

It sure was the snowiest March for George and dad.

But ya gotta admit, George looked darn fine in that pure white snow.

Tomorrow’s the first day of spring! Hope the beautiful weather continues.

Wonderful sunrise on our jog this morning…

but even better, a fully blooming Pasque Flower on March 18th! Astounding!

Ya just gotta get close to ‘em. Enjoy, enjoy.

They’re early on the full sun Red Canyon Peninsula. Pasque Flowers and a stupendous view…sweet!

George didn’t have our summer day weather in 2009. The clouds ruled the sky.

George thought about his day and decided that an evening of flash on trains would be quite fine.

One of George’s evening shots:

Dog oh dog, ya gotta give George two paws up for this one.

I’ll finish today’s post with a couple of shots of the Pasque Flowers.

Oh puppy! When you got a summer day like today then you’ve got to get the motorcycle out and go riding! Um, dad are you listening to me?

He did listen to me. Good thing. We headed to Wind Cave National Park.

Rode our way to Custer State Park.

AND! We stopped at the Hot Springs Dairy Queen for ice cream! Afterwards we snoozed at Cheyenne Rive View under a beautiful sky.

George didn’t have it nearly so good in 2008. “This would be more March snow, huh dad?”

Didn’t have it nearly so good, did I woof?

I think that I’m wrong on this one, cuz George had a great time in the snow.

On a early summer like day, it was a training day for dad and me; training as in watching trains.

5971 has been hanging out in the Edgemont yard for about a month now. It’s been the workhorse of yard switching. Wonder if it has found a home here in Edgemont?

The trains paraded by Igloo Bridge this morning, busy, busy, including the airplane train.

We only have three or four flights a day that come into Edgemont and all those planes come by train (this keeps the airport free for us canines to use for a dog run).

Naturally, the coal trains thundered by too.

We did go to George’s Pascal Flower Patch in the afternoon.

George’s Pascal Flowers are peeping up all over but no blossoms yet.

Back in 2006 George could look around without seeing snow, snow, snow, since the big snowstorm that hit on March 12th.

George and dad had ended their jog on Basset Back Ridge. George was not at all tired from the workout and was alert to further adventures.

George had a pretty nice sunrise in 2008 as he and dad jogged the ponds.

I took this photo of dad and me as we jogged the ponds today.

Dad and I are good pards even in our shadows.

This is exciting news!!! Some Pasque Flowers are already blooming!!!

Can you believe it?!!! It was another day of warm, spring like temperatures with lots and lots of sun. Puppy oh puppy, the warm temperatures are pushing all the plants to start early this year.

Interestingly, the 18-55mm lens on the NEX-7 did a reasonable job of capturing Pasque Flower detail.

It’s a strange lens; can’t be trusted; but occasionally produces a decently sharp photo.

Dad and I compared the Canon flash (using the 50D) and the Sony flash (using the NEX-7) at Portrait Rock. The sky wasn’t the deep blue of yesterday morning so we’ll have to try it again to see how much difference there is under a totally clear sky. Here’s the Canon:

Here’s the Sony:

I had a great afternoon on the motorcycle!

George’s day in 2008 continued nicely after the beautiful sunrise. He and dad hiked Mathias Peak. Using the extra sharp 200mm lens coupled to the Canon 5D produced a photo of astounding sharpness.

Great combination for preserving basset memories forever!

Met up with my petite basset friend, Anne, as dad and I were nearing the house after our early morning jog.

She’s pure basset, no doubt about that. You’d never guess the deep woof heard in the neighborhood comes from a 35 pound female basset. Anne and I always share some treats when we meet, so we’re best buddies.

Dad and I took the Sony NEX-7 to Portrait Rock on a fine spring morning…a Ponderosa Sky morning. We had received a new Sony external flash, so it was time to try that out to see how the colors come out when using it.

Superb!!!!
I just wish the 18-55mm lens was up to the standards of the camera. That lens is pretty bad.

Dog oh dog, the start of the motorcycle season is always exciting as George would tell you in 2009. Grab a sunny day and a camera and your favorite basset…well, it’s perfect.

And the view as you’re going down the road can’t be beat!

Under a Ponderosa Sky dad and I hiked to Summit Tree Camp to compare the colors again between the Sony NEX-7 and the Canon 50D. I’ll tell ya that it takes a lot of concentration, but I’m up to it. Here’s the NEX-7.

And here’s the Canon 50D.

Paws up to the Sony NEX-7 on this scene. That magenta in the sky of Canon is too strange.

The Ponderosa Sky left come the afternoon and the wind came up. The Canon 50D shows what it does so well…action! And the basset ears show what they do so well…action!

Despite the wind the over 70 degree temperatures sure made for another spring day.

George was looking mighty handsome on Howling Rock as the sun came up in 2009.

He and dad had a fine hike and a fine afternoon watching trains on Fiddle Creek Road. The Canon 5D Mark II was only two days old, and George was finding out all about its excellent image qualities.

Another magnificent spring day! Just keep’em coming is what I woof.

Dad and I basked in the sun at Cheyenne Valley View. While there I compared the size of the Sony NEX-7 to the Canon T2i, which is smaller than the Canon 50D.

The NEX-7 comes up smaller, no doubt about that. Not having an optical view finder sure helps. The 200mm lens on the T2i looks massive, doesn’t it? Imagine it hanging off the NEX-7!

Earlier we hiked to the Gold Rocks where I made a color comparison between the Canon 50D:

and the Sony NEX-7:

I do love that Sony blue sky, but for the gold in the Gold Rocks I think that I like the Canon color better. I’ll have to think about some more.

Back to the spring day of today. Yup, it was a great day to ride the motorcycle and watch trains.

Keep’em coming!

George’s jog in 2008 made George very happy with the fine cold morning.

Come the afternoon it was ears to the wind on Ears to the Wind Ridge.

Look at those basset ears fly!

The Meadowlarks were in full song this morning on our jog. Welcome back to them!

It was another spring day here. Dad and I had a sunny morning, but the clouds rolled in for the afternoon. We hiked Circle View Point and Robinson Flats to give the new NEX-7 another workout. Did I mention how small the NEX-7 is? (I know that I did

Next to the Canon 50D the Sony NEX-7 looks positively lightweight, which it is physically, but underneath the hood is a marvelous camera a generation ahead of the 50D.

It’s still depressing to see the devastation around Circle View Point.

Dad’s having a hard time with this, since he and George loved this area so much.

Even though the fire had reached Robinson Flats much of the MiniMaze area south of Robinson Flats survived the fire.

The rugged, rocky terrain of the MiniMaze kept the fire to a minimum.

Little did George and dad know as they tromped through a new inch of snow that the next day would bring more than a foot of the stuff back in 2006.

George will tell you that an inch of snow is perfect for hiking and running.

On the way to their jog on Basset Back Ridge, George snapped this lovely scene of Elbow Canyon Rode riding through the fog.

Those weather folks predict a sunny day for tomorrow.

Sigh…I hope they get this one right.