2014 back to the "Beaten Path" in the Absaroka Wilderness, northeast of Yellowstone National Park, this time with a fishing rod in hand. I assisted taking a group of scouts last year there. This time it will be an adult-only fishing trip. If you have the skills to backpack, this is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Can't hike? Take the car can ride from Red Lodge, Montana to Cooke City, Montana, a breath taking trip up over 10,000 feet. Best time is mid July to mid august. Dine in Red Lodge, really nice town! Be sure you have good brakes, some parts of drive not for the faint-hearted. Be sure to stop at the Top-of-the-World store along the way. If you hike it, start on Cooke City side at about 7500 feet, up over top at about 9900 feet, then down to 6000 feet at East Rosebud, about 26 miles. 2 really long days for super athletes or minimalist light weight hikers or a nice 3 to 4 day trip for the average Joe. Abundant water and nice lakes to camp by such as Russell Lake, Ouzel Lake, Twin Outlets Lake, and Rainbow Lake. Huge waterfalls thundering through many sections of the trail on the north end. 200 folks in the area on an average summer day, spread out over miles of wilderness but lots of side lakes/trails if you want to explore without others nearby. Camping at trail heads is $20 a car per night, parking free at trail heads, and camping is free in the wilderness. Some special camping rules apply, mainly distance from water sources, but very manageable. Check it out on Google Earth, East Rosebud going south-southwest toward Wyoming. Steve

Nothin' better than camping at a good Bluegrass Festival, I'll be camping at the Huck Finn Festival in California next month, can't wait. A couple of friends that play a little music will be coming along as well. Second trip of the season, did a short one out to the desert last month. That was a wild trip! I usually a get a NOAA weather forcast before leaving and it was calling for wind 15-25 mph for the first day then calmer over the next few days. The first night it blew 45 with gusts to 70 that flatten my daughter's nylon tent and blew the door out. I've been in some crazy weather with my wall tent but I think this was real close to the limit. Anyway we had to put the camping on hold while the tent is getting a couple of holes that chaffed through repaired. Hope it gets back in time for that festival.

*Waves at CindyMac* Hi neighbor! jewel, I wouldn't say it ever had to be "brought back to life". It's been well cared for the whole time we've lived in this town (20+ years). The owners before this family did a lot of work to restore it though. This couple have continued that work by re-installing rubber flooring in the kitchen. It's a great old home.

Your plants look good. Nice green color. They need more fertilizer, mainly nitrogen, in order to really grow. Don't apply any now unless you are zone 9 or warmer. Rather start early next spring. Don't apply any more 10-10-10. That probably contains nitrate nitrogen. You need a fertilizer for acid loving plants. That should have mostly ammonia based nitrogen. Something like Hollytone, ammonium sulfate, or Miracle grow complete for acid loving plants. If you go with ammonium sulfate dissolve in water before application. Apply some at least once a month for rapid growth.