"everybody needs beauty as well as bread..."

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike"

-John Muir (speaking of Yosemite) We decided at the first of last week that we would make a day trip to Yosemite. Then the Congress couldn't come up with a budget solution and it looked pretty sure that all the federal government, including National Parks, would close starting on the Saturday we had planned our fun day trip. We were coming to the terms that we would just have to work in our yard on Saturday instead of playing in Yosemite. Late on Friday night we got the good news that Congress did remember what they should have learned in kindergarten and came up with a compromise. We woke up way early (for a Saturday) and spent the day hiking, photographing, and relaxing. I was feeling very Ansel Adams-ish, thus most of the black and white photos. However, the atmosphere really lent itself to the black and white feel.

One thing that I was extremely interested in seeing was the frazil ice. My mom had sent me a clip (click HERE to see it). We didn't see any, but it is still worth the trip to Yosemite in Spring. It is beautiful and the falls are amazing! Bridal Veil Falls. The water froze before it hit the ground. My hair got a nice ice layer, just standing there for a few minutes. A pleasant view of Yosemite Falls I knew it!!! Wes is a tree hugger!I think this picture is really cool...it's kind of like death intertwines with life...or something. What is this, you say?! Another picture with both Wes and Jen in it! Our drive home as we left the Yosemite Valley "No synonym for God is so perfect as Beauty. Whether as seen carving the lines of the mountains with glaciers, or gathering matter into stars, or planning the movements of water, or gardening - still all is Beauty!"-John Muir