So The Season Passes

 Another Summer passes away -- 

-- and still no new roof.

We'll have to see how Fall Winters and how Winter Falls!

"Living in Large Carnivore Country"

Thanks to the folks at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department for hosting their bear and mountain lion safety workshop this evening.

We certainly learned a lot about preventing problematic encounters along with some worthwhile strategies for what to do if such an encounter does occur.

Wyoming Game and Fish Department  < https://wgfd.wyo.gov/ >

https://wgfd.wyo.gov/wyoming-wildlife/large-carnivore

Oil City News - https://oilcity.news/community/pet-of-the-week/2026/08/03/wyoming-game-and-fish-to-host-free-bear-mountain-lion-safety-workshop-in-casper/

The Twins got to practice triggering a can of bear spray!

Now to get ourselves a canister or two, hoping we never have to use it. Because...

This obscure shadowy shape (lower right) appeared on our trail camera up at our Casper Mountain acreage a few nights ago.

Inconclusive, at best.

But then we caught these shots a few nights later:

Definitely a black bear.

Again, so glad Wyoming Game and Fish performs such excellent outreach and invaluable education.

Two Steps Away From A Quite Snakebite!

 We discovered this fella under the steps to our little shack on Casper Mountain.

The Shack has a Rattler!

Actually, my wife discovered it! Roundabout early evening, she headed across the meadow to the shack to grab an extra water bowl for the dogs, hot as it has been. She started up the steps, heard a rattle, took a moment to rationalise what it was, and hurried up the rest of the steps and onto the porch. Then she screamed. I came a'runnin', just able to hear the last of the angry rattle sink deeper under the shack. My wife was petrified. Unable to see where it was hiding, I threw a log by the steps and received no protest; so, I encouraged her to run back down. She collected her wits, somehow remembered the water bowl, and scurried off the porch and down the steps. We left the snake alone for the rest of the evening, both agape at how close she came to danger.

The next morning, I went to fetch some items myself from the shack. I took a shovel and approached slowly. I banged the spade on the rocks and then on the steps and then even on the wall of the shack itself. Nothing. Not a sound. So, I figured the rattler had moved on. One foot on the first step, and the rattle erupted! I leapt back, just glimpsing the viper right underneath me and the wooden step. What an alarming shot of fright! I retreated a ways and stood absolutely fascinated as the snake slithered from under the step to a spot deeper beneath the shack. I kept my eyes on it and called my wife over with her camera. I am not ashamed to admit I was still shaking as I snapped some photographs.

Now to investigate mitigation strategies of this potentially venomous issue. We'll clear the building materials from under the shack, eliminate as many hiding places as possible, cut the bracken further back, and stop up any holes in the outer walls. We also realise we need a second point of entry and exit for the shack, if only for safety's sake. 

Of course, that's all AFTER the viper is gone. Until then, at least we won't have any rodent troubles.

Venus - Jupiter 2026

 Weeks of watching, and tonight, at closest conjunction, the clouds roll in.

At least we get a nice silent lightning storm over the Mountain.

Coming this Fall...

Beyond Boundless Horizons

A collection of poems and short stories by Devin Hodgins.

Available this autumn.

Appropriate for the End of April

Here are some appropriate links to an appropriate site with some appropriate books.

All appropriate for the date:

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63203

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/70359

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14460

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/811

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14460

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2230

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14591

Happy Walpurgis Night!

Going Solar

After exhaustive research through articles and videos and countless "Youtube Testimonials", we finally decided upon a solar generator kit to get us started this year up the Mountain.

We were going to go all in on a Jackery 5000 Plus. 

Jackery 

We even had the kit in the cart. But one last go round with the candidates, and we thought it might be wiser to start smaller.

Finally, we decided on the Pecron E3000LFP with a full array of panels.

Pecron

Our ultimate rationale was that if it didn't work for the trailer or cabin, it would be more than sufficient for the pop-up. Then we could have working knowledge on how best to upgrade.

This way, we are wading in rather than diving in.

Too bad we couldn't go hydraulic!

Special thanks to the folks at The Solar Lab for all their expertise.

The Solar Lab

https://www.thesolarlab.com/