Happy Birthday America!

What a fabulous country we live in!

The traditional baseball game

And of course my favorite part, fireworks!

Yellowstone National Park

An awesome wonder of the world. When I was in Europe last year people would ask me where I was from in America. I'd say Idaho and they would just stare at me. Then I'd say Yellowstone Park. Suddenly they knew exactly where I was talking about.

This place is really fantastic in both scenery and wildlife. My family went and we had a fabulous time.

(Yellowstone Falls)

Did you know Yellowstone has a Supervolcano location in it. It's call the Yellowstone Caldera.

(My sister and her family at Upper Falls)

Did you know Yellowstone was the first national park in the world.

(Elk)

Did you know Yellowstone is 2,219,789 acres. That's bigger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined.

(My brother's buffalo selfie)

Did you know a male buffalo can weigh up to 2,000 pounds (900 kg) and run up to 35 miles an hour (55 kph). In other words, buffalo selfies should be taken several yards away from the actual buffalo :)

(Buffalo herd coming through)

Did you know Yellowstone has 5 entrances in two different states; Montana and Wyoming.

(Norris Geyser Basin)

Did you know the temperature of the hot pool determines the color of the  bacteria that will grow in it.

(This was my favorite color. How vibrant is that green!)

Did you know Yellowstone has 12 campgrounds. That's over 2,000 campsites.

(And yes Yellowstone is a kid/family friendly place)

Did you know "Old Faithful" received it's name in 1870. It is one of the most predictable geographical locations on Earth, thus it's name. It erupts every 63 minutes.

(Old Faithful erupting)

Did you know Yellowstone had 9 visitors center throughout the park.

(One of my favorite sites, the Old Faithful Inn)

Did you know the Old Faithful Inn was built in 1903-1904 and is the largest log hotel in the world.

(My wonderful sister)

Yellowstone National Park is an incredible place to visit. 

I highly recommend it.

Facts and information taken from the website http://www.yellowstonenationalpark.com/

That Was Kinda Neat

Walking my dogs listening to my latest playlist when I got this shot. 

These five crows all posed, I took the shot, then in unison they all flew away.

Another "that was kinda neat" life moment.

Name that Hot-Spring

 (1) This hot-spring is unmarked and can "only be found by those who already know where it is." It is big enough for about 6 people and is covered in green moss. It's comfortably warm all year round and is right next to a major lava rock formation. 

What hot-spring am I?

(My fabulous adventure buddies, Steve and Stephanie, March, 2015)

(2) This hot-springs has been converted into two different pools. There is a volleyball net, two slides and a super fun log-roll toy. It is open year round.The cost for both the pool and hot-springs is about $18. There is an RV park, tent and teepee camp as well as lodge rentals available. 

What hot-springs am I?

(November 2014)

(3) This hot-spring has several pools with several different temperatures. It is open year round for $8 and has locker rooms and changing rooms available. It has a red canopy over some of the pools and some of the pools also have a pebble floor.

What hot-spring am I?

(My friends Adrijan and Camille, March 2015)

(1) Carrie, Idaho hot-springs

(2) Downata hot-springs

(3) Lava hot-springs

Happy 80th Birthday to my Grandma!

New Japanese Restaurant opens in Idaho Falls, Idaho

Check this out, a new Japanese restaurant opened in Idaho Falls, ID where the old Game World arcade use to be. It's difficult to get a feel for the place from the outside for it's just an ordinary building with tinted windows. That impression changes dramatically once inside. Fantastic backdrops, classy dish decor and welcoming seating accommodations bring a kind of elegant, oriental atmosphere to the place. 

Here's how it work. We walked in and were welcomed by a smiling hostess who showed us a menu and asked if we wanted sushi or Hibachi. Not having a clue what Hibachi was, I went with it. I was surprised to sit down next to several other people in a half circle seating arrangement in front of what appeared to be a giant flat-top stove. We ordered our drinks and waited to see what would happen next. A few other people were seating in the half circle with us until out line-up was full. Then a man, dressed in Japanese clothing, appeared pushing a cart full of savory looking food. 

He said his name was Danny and he was the entertainment for the night and wow was he ever. I loved it. He chopped and diced, flinging egg yolks and knifes around in a kind of dance. He would flicker flames and crack jokes interacting with us as he performed, flawlessly, his gourmet skills. He told us he had come up from New Orleans to work here and he had been cooking Japanese style foods for many years now.  He was hilariously talented as he cooked up our individual dinners. We all applauded and laughed enjoying everyone's company around us. 

He served rice with  two different sauces first, then the main course and finally the vegetables. The flavors were fantastic and unlike any I had tasted before. I had the salmon and shrimp which were cooked to my preference right in front of me. I liked the variety of sauces and the drink refills were right on. 

It was fantastic food with fantastic entertainment. It was a different kind of dinning experience but one I will definitely do again. What a wonderful venue for a group dinner for 10 people could easily be seated all together. 

I am now a fan of Japanese food and of the Fuji Hibachi Grill & Sushi Bar.

(Thanks to my friend Lyndsey for a super fun evening)

An Easter Sunrise