“National Public Lands Day keeps the promise of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the “tree army” that worked from 1933-1942 to preserve and protect America’s natural heritage.” ~http://www.publiclandsday.org/about

Saturday was National Public Lands Day, a day dear to my heart. I’ve been away in Colorado and Wyoming for the last two weeks, enjoying the great outdoors. I saw this statue in memory of the CCC men that helped shape some of our great national and state parks at Red Rocks, Colorado. I have previously posted about some of my family and their service in the  CCC in the states of Washington, Montana, Idaho, and Utah, during the Great Depression.

Red Rocks Amphitheater has a lot of history gathered in the museum in the visitor center. Before we visited that morning there had been a 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb.

My husband and I celebrated National Grandparents Day with our two precious grandchildren, our daughters, and their husbands. This holiday has been celebrated in the United States since 1978, and is also noted in many other countries on other days of the year.

After visiting in Colorado with our family, my husband I headed to Jackson, Wyoming. There we settled into one of the historic cabins at Colter Bay Village, in Grand Teton National Park. It was nice to give up TV for the week, and to have very limited cell and internet coverage.

The rain we had the first few days translated into snow on the peaks of the majestic mountains. I was glad I had packed my down jacket and waterproof hiking boats. We stayed out at the marina one evening, and met a few other photographers waiting for the pumpkin hour, when the mountains start glowing with the evening sun.

We went to Yellowstone National Park through the south entrance for one of the days. What an unique place! We had been to the Grand Canyon before, but never the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. The force of water is simply amazing.

The next couple of days were sunny and clear and in the mid 70’s during the day. We saw many wild animals including herds of bison, elk, mule deer, a moose or two, and one black bear. I took this bison photo from the safety of our car. No bison selfies for me!

My husband and I went on many hikes, carrying our trusty can of bear spray.

This photo reminded me of one taken by my mother fifty years ago, below. I have always loved hiking by the evergreen trees. Oh, that heavenly smell!

It is great to be back home in Virginia, but I do miss our family, the  beautiful western landscapes, and clear water. Before my trip out west, I spent one week in New Jersey visiting family and friends. In late August my brother and I met with two of our father’s first cousins in New Jersey. They shared some amazing stories and photographs about their parents journey to America. I learned more about my Irish great-uncle, William John Doran, and his beautiful and kind English wife, Rosina Evans. I took this image of their wedding photograph with my iPhone.

 

After learning more about our Irish roots, later that week we enjoyed some delicious homemade Polish food to celebrate our other side of the family! She also sells at a market in Hoboken, NJ. https://www.facebook.com/MariasHomemade?fref=ts

I’ll post more about my New Jersey visit later, and yes, like all good family researchers on vacation, I visited cemeteries! Happy trails!