Family Time

 This weekend I was able to sneak away to Utah for my cousin Tyler's wedding. All growing up our family called us 'the twins' because our birthdays are only 10 hours apart. I am super excited for Tyler and his new wife Sam to begin this new adventure together. 

Randy was able to come down for the weekend and we were lucky enough to spend a few precious days together. Friday morning, mom, Ashley, Randy, and I drove up to Logan Utah for the wedding. Tyler and Sam were married for time and eternity in the LDS Logan Temple. Neither Randy nor I had been to that temple before, so we did an endowment session in the few hours before the ceremony. Being in a house of God with my sweetheart is one of the best things on earth! I love being there with my Randy. 

The temple grounds were beautiful! Everything was in bloom including several large beds of tulips and many flowering trees. 

After picture taking, we hurried over to the reception venue to finish setting up the wedding luncheon. I really liked it. It was a barn that was aways from the parking lot and the guests arrived via horse drawn wagon! So cool! The reception was held in the same location and in a few quick minutes and many helping hands the room was redesigned for the reception. I enjoyed working along side my aunts, cousins, sister, and hubby. I don't get to spend much time with them and it was great to spend time with them while serving another part of my family. 

Saturday, Randy and I spent the day out on the town. We met up with one of Randy's old roommates, Zane,  for lunch at Texas Roadhouse. We spent the rest of the very rainy day perusing an old bookstore, Target, Deseret Book. That evening we played a few games with my parents and brother. 

This morning we were able to listen to my incredibly talented sister Ashley sing and give a talk at church. Besides a few minutes of standing in the rain and blowing wind waiting for my shuttle my trip home was uneventful. 

I am grateful I was able to spend time with some of the ones I love the most. 

Sage Grouse Work

I currently am working with Sage Grouse. We are collecting data to better understand the how the current population is doing. Because Sage Grouse trapping is such a unique experience and people always ask, I figured I would write it down.

Sage Grouse trapping is all done at night when the moon is less than half full. We drive out to the study area a few hours after dark. Once we get near the trapping area we stop and prepare the truck. We tape speakers to the hood of the truck and hook up the spotlight and get all the gear ready. We black out all of the lights on the truck. The only light that is on out there is the spotlight and it is the only light available to the driver.

The speakers are used to blast Rock music into the night. It covers the sound of talking and footsteps, which might flush the birds. But more importantly they keep the trapping crew awake. The spotlight is used to find the birds and also to confuse and blind them once we find them. The spotlighter sits in a chair in the bed of the truck that sits up behind the cab of the truck. They scan through binoculars with truck stopped to find the eye shine of the grouse. The spotlight has been described, in my opinion; fairly accurately as the Eye of Sauron. Once the spotligher spots a grouse the netters jump out of the truck and grab their nets. The bird is usually some distance away and the netters have to walk through the sage, rocks and dark with no headlamps.

Daniel Spotlighting for Grouse

As the truck moves closer to the bird the netters peel off from the truck. The spotlighter keeps the spotlight on the grouse the entire time. Once the truck is about 10 to 15ft from the bird the netter walks in from the dark side and places the net over the grouse.

Once the bird is in hand we start to process it. We weigh it, put a leg band on, age and sex it, and equip it with a GPS backpack or a radio collar. Whether they get a GPS Backpack or radio collar depends on the individual bird weigh. This process is pretty quick. Once done the bird is released off behind the truck with all the lights off. The entire trapping process has been likened an alien abduction with all the bright lights and added devices.

Hen Getting Radio Collar

Hen getting fitted for GPS Backpack

After finishing our trapping we have to track the birds and get locations on them. We try to focus on hens during this period to determine the nest success. That pretty much covers it. We can trap from a truck, ATV, or on foot with a backpack. I'll add a few more pictures following this.

ATV Trapping

Backpack Trapping

Me with a Sage Grouse Male

Hen Getting Fitted for a GPS Backpack

 Hen with Radio Collar

 Hen Getting Fitted for Radio Collar

 Me with a Sage Grouse Hen

Two Sage Grouse Males on the Lek 

Sage Grouse Male with Two Hens on the Lek

For the Broken Hearted

This is for all of us who have felt lost, abandoned, forgotten- whose's souls have been torn apart by unrealized dreams and the pain of disappointments. This is for all of us who have ever been betrayed, broken, or left. 

Here is a message of peace and comfort using the words of scriptures and living prophets and apostles. 

"Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don't come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come" 

"If the bitter cup does not pass, drink and be strong trusting in happier days ahead"

"If for a while the harder you try, the harder it gets, take heart. So it has ben with the best people who ever lived" 

"Wonderful glorious things are in store for you if only you will be believe, obey, and endure" 

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my rightness"

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid"

"Because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone we do not have to" 

"Faith in God means faith in God's timing" 

"Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequenes of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more. He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit"

"Don't give up. Don't you quit, you keep walking, you keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead. You keep your chin up, it will be all right in the end. Trust in God and believe in good things to come"

 There are many many more that could be added to this list. Each of these have brought me comfort and strength at difficult moments in my life. May they bring some relief to you.
Happy Easter