Mountain Magic

Here are a few pictures from our trip from Nampa, Idaho, to Livingston, Montana. I hope you enjoy!

Our chosen route took us past the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park, so we detoured through the park via West Yellowstone, Montana, so that C & D could buy lifetime park passes before the price goes up. I had previously experienced the southern section of Yellowstone - this was my first trip through the northern end.

After refueling in Idaho Falls at a Walmart that had, believe it or not, a fly shop, we headed north. The further we drove, the more trees we saw. Trees! Trees! Beautiful, luscious, gorgeous trees! Thank you, thank you, trees! (Can you tell I miss living with trees?)

View through the front windshield, north of Idaho Falls.

TREES!

The drive through the park was enjoyable with many breathtaking views. In this shot, you see the Madison River exiting a gorge.

Madison River in Yellowstone National Park, MT

As night approached, I caught this shot of the moon rising over the river. (Not sure which river, we crossed more than one.)

Moonrise Over River in Yellowstone National Park

Near the north entrance, we stopped at Mammoth Hot Springs to view the travertine terraces. From Wikipedia:

Mammoth Hot Springs is a large complex of hot springs on a hill of travertine in Yellowstone National Park adjacent to Fort Yellowstone and the Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District. It was created over thousands of years as hot water from the spring cooled and deposited calcium carbonate (over two tons flow into Mammoth each day in a solution). Because of the huge amount of geothermal vents, travertine flourishes. Although these springs lie outside the caldera boundary, their energy has been attributed to the same magmatic system that fuels other Yellowstone geothermal areas.

Flowers Blooming in the Runoff at Mammoth Hot Springs

More from Wikipedia:

"Terrace Mountain at Mammoth Hot Springs is the largest known carbonate-depositing spring in the world. The most famous feature at the springs is the Minerva Terrace, a series of travertine terraces. The terraces have been deposited by the spring over many years but, due to recent minor earthquake activity, the spring vent has shifted, rendering the terraces dry.

August Moon Rising Over Terrace Mountain, Mammoth Hot Springs

 Here is a view of the travertine terraces:

Travertine Terraces, Mammoth Hot Springs

Standing alone by the travertine terraces, is Liberty Cap, a dormant, 37-foot hot spring cone marking the northern portion of Mammoth Hot Springs. Liberty Cap got its name from its resemblance to the peaked caps worn during the French Revolution. Source: Waymarking.com

Liberty Cap, Yellowstone National Park

Last, but not least... Olivia's Cloning Gel! No, seriously. Cloning gel. We found this at a sweet little shop in Livingston, MT, Woods Rose Market. No, I did not buy any. Yes, I wish I had. 😆

Olivia's Cloning Gel

That's all folks. Hope you enjoyed this little pictorial of my trip to Livingston, MT.

~ That Rebel, Olivia J. Herrell writing as O.J. Barré

P. S. If you are interested in camping in Yellowstone, check out Brian of OutsideHow's article.

O.J. Barré is the author of the AWEN trilogy. Books One and Two, AWEN RISING and AWEN STORM are available through Amazon, and Book Three, AWEN TIDE, will be out by late 2021. The Awen prequel, THE DRUIDS OF MARDUK, PART I, is also available.

Weekend Respite - Montana Bound

This morning we leave for Livingston, Montana, for the 2017 International Fly Fishing Fair. My brother-in-law, Don O, will be tying and dubbing flies and presenting his wacky denizens of the Bait's Motel.

2017 International Fly Fishing Fair

The man is a fly-tying genius.

I will be there to video and photograph Don in action, and to get us lined up for future events. My sister does everything else.

Sofie and Masie, their Shitzus, are traveling with us. Thank goodness for puppydog drools and sloppy kisses. And SUV's.

I'm looking forward to being in the mountains for a few days. Surrounded by green, green, green, green, GREEN. While the Treasure Valley, where I live in Idaho, is irrigated and lush, the surrounding area is not. Think tan. Beige. Ecru. Sere. Hot. Dry. Arid. Think high desert rimmed by boring, brown mountains.

While the temps in Boise are hitting triple digits, the highs in Livingston are topping in the 80's, dipping to the 40's at night. Ahhh, blessed relief.

So, yes. I'm excited. For the Fly Fishing Fair. To meet new people and see new sights. To be surrounded by trees and varying shades of green. To laze beside the Yellowstone River. To meander through the upper third of Yellowstone Park. To hang out with my sister, my bro-in-law, and the pups, poke around shops, listen to music, and have a relaxing few days away from work.

Yes, I will miss my Bugsy. But, he'll be waiting to greet me when I get home in a few days.

As will AWEN STORMS, Book Two of the trilogy.

~ That Rebel, Olivia J. Herrell writing as O.J. Barré

O.J. Barré is author of the upcoming AWEN trilogy. Book One, AWEN RISING, is complete and in query. The first draft of Book Two, AWEN STORMS, is nearing completion, and Book Three, AWEN TIDE, is swirling in the mists of creation.

New Title? Thank You, Muse!

Although I haven’t officially typed a new title into my manuscript, it is apparently changing. And it’s a done deal.

The other day, while reading through the table of contents of Book One, a chapter title grabbed my attention, and wouldn’t let go.

Awen Rising.

The two words dogged me, meandering in and out of conscious thought, diddy-bopping through my brain cells, refusing to cede ground, or depart. I pondered and mulled the two words for days, loathe to relinquish a title I’ve treasured for the last six years. But, the more I agonize, the deeper the proposed title burrows in.

Sitting down with pen and paper, I search for an answer. Awen Rising? Why?

• It is active, leaving the passivity of Blessed Are the Peace Makers cowering in the dust.
• It’s shorter, snappier, and more personal to Awen, the driving force of the trilogy.
• It implies that something, or someone, good or bad, will be rising, or increasing in awareness and power. Something, or someone, that must be reckoned with. Awen.

So, basically, Awen Rising captures the essence of Book One. Even better than Blessed Are the Peace Makers.

But if Book One's title changes, then so must Book Two's.

"Awen Storms", the muse whispers.

Hmmm. Awen Storms hints that Awen will be challenged, or conversely, bring challenge upon others. Again, this title captures the heart of Book Two, if not perfectly, then pretty darn close.

And what about the finale? Book Three?

"Awen Tide", la muse moans softly, rocking me gently to and fro. I consider the meaning. 

A tide is relentless, never-ending, always encroaching, consuming, constant. It can cleanse and heal, bringing life from sea to shore, or it can rip the land to shreds. And, like Awen, a tide is ruled by the heartbeat of this fair planet, as she is influenced by Earth's elements and the moon.

So three new titles. Woohoo!

"But why change your titles, after all this time?" you ask?

Because the muse says so. And when la muse speaks, I must needs listen. Else my muse will go mute, and a writer is naught without the sweet serenade of her muse. But, get on board with her "suggestions", and she will gladly stick around. At least, until the next kerfuffle.

Plus, the shiny new titles have catapulted me back into the thick of Awen’s story, soaring high on the wind beneath my wings.

Thank you, Muse. I've missed you so.

~ That Rebel, Olivia J. Herrell writing as O.J. Barré

O.J. Barré is author of the upcoming AWEN trilogy. Book One, AWEN RISING, is complete and in query. The first draft of Book Two, AWEN STORMS, is nearing completion, and Book Three, AWEN TIDE, is swirling in the mists of creation.