“Come Fairies, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame!” – William Butler Yeats
Mount Ogden from 25th Street in Ogden. She holds a part of my soul. -- Photo by Pat Bean
Travels With Maggie
I’m in Ogden, Utah, in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains where I lived for a third of my life. It was a quick trip here from Lake Walcott State Park in Southern Idaho, where I’ve spent a leisurely summer volunteering as a campground host and enjoying Mother Nature’s daily gifts.
I know that when I leave Utah today this range of the great Rockies will be denied me for many months. And my heart is already feeling the loss.
Anywhere bluebonnets grow automatically goes on my favorite places list. Among them is Texas' Lake Colorado City State Park shown above. -- Photo by Pat Bean
I sold my home here, the one that got the Ogden Canyon winds each day as the mountains breathed in and out, seven years ago. I have no regrets. I’ve traveled all over the country half of each year, and spent the other half hopping between my children and grandchildren, most of whom are in Texas.
It’s been both great to spend time with loved ones, and great to travel this beautiful country of ours and take in its wonders. People often ask me what’s my favorite spot.
It’s a question I find difficult to answer because immediately dozens of places pop into mind. I’ve found beauty in every state I’ve visited, and that now includes 47. My goal, since I’ve already visited Hawaii and Alaska, is to have visited all 50 of our states by the end of next year.
Meanwhile, when I leave here tomorrow, I will leave a piece of my soul secreted away in the Wasatch Mountains that guard Ogden. .I trust the mountains to guard it well until I return and once again stand in their shadow. Just as I hope the bluebonnets of Texas will still remember me when I gaze upon them once again next spring.
Pat Bean's blog 
Happy trails Pat
That is beautiful country in Oregon. That is so close where I used to live. We used to live in the Tri Cities in washigton. I really enjoyed reading your blog. I look forward to reading more
Which states haven’t you been to then?
West Virginia, Kentucky and Rhode Island
Your picture of bluebonnets is a reminder of how lush the wildflowers here in Texas can be when we’re not in a drought. We had no great floral displays this spring, and the summer has been worse, although it is always possible to find individual wildflowers even under the most parched conditions.
Steve Schwartzman
http://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com
I must admit those bluebonnets are last year’s, although I did see a few small patches of Texas’ special flower, although I did see a few patches of bluebonnets this year on my way out of Texas back in April. Yhanks for commenting Steve.
[…] “Come Fairies, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame!” – William Butler Yeats Travels With Maggie I'm in Ogden, Utah, in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains where I lived for a third of my life. It was a quick trip here from Lake Walcott State Park in Southern Idaho, where I've spent a leisurely summer volunteering as a campground host and enjoying Mother Nature's daily … Read More […]