Sunday, October 2, 2011

Fall Colors in Star Valley, A Week of Color

The reds were a surprise to us as we are use to the bright yellows and golds of the aspen in the Black Hills of South Dakota, but not the reds. Yet here and there were bright reds from maples and lesser reds from scrub oaks and it was all so pretty. We used to live back east, Iowa anyway, and so we had seen their brilliant colors before, but not in Wyoming.
It was almost time to head south and run before the winter snows, but we have an unfinished doctors appointment and we did want to check out Star Valley and the Star Valley Ranch Rv Resort we had heard so much about. Calling ahead we made reservations to stay at a place where Brenda and Dave own two sites and rent them out. So we called ahead and made reservations.
Crossing the Wind River Mountains we saw beautiful aspen in full color but north of Pinedale and Matt and Patty's we started to see the beauty of the Hoeback, The Gros Ventres, and the Tetons. Heading west toward Alpine we encountered the Salt River Range and entered Star Valley. There we passed through Etna before following the sign to Star Valley Ranch and saw why so many people rave about the park.
Our spot was so nice and the park so large that we even took a tour of lots for sale, but not this year. We met John and Revy who invited us to lunch with them at the Senior Center and later that day we showed Revy how to wire wrap pottery pieces, or tried to before she received a phone call which stopped everything till another time.
Another day we drove to Afton to check out the town and its Elk Arch that spans the main street. Its billed as the largest elk horn arch in the world and I am sure they are right. Driving back we stopped at the Star Valley Cheese Factory for curds and local cheeses and of course I had to try their huckleberry ice cream cone.
Another day and a trip to Jackson to resupply, ( it is a long way to anywhere from here), and on the way back Renita noticed a local Art Store/Gallery in Alpine that advertised local artists. We stopped and the manager Barbara noticed Renita's pirate china pendant and we soon arranged a showing of our work for the next day. Barbara handed me a fossil ammonite pendant and asked me to wrap it for her.
The pendant was a challenge as we had never wrapped a heart shaped piece but I resisted the urge to look up others work on the Internet and came up with my own design. It actually worked the first time!
I am sure there are similar pieces,  wire wrapping is an art that is over four thousand years old, but it is my piece and the pattern mine.
The next day Barbara raved about the heart and raved about our pieces. She gave us the ultimate compliment and purchased  a custom Nambian Blue Lace Agate pendant and sterling neck wire, along with a large tiger eye pendant. We discussed her consignment policy and we agreed to leave some of our work at her store.
So now if you are ever in the area of Alpine, you can see some of our lapidary and wire wrapping at the Outback Art Gallery. Heck its worth the stop just to meet Barbara, a kind and gentle person with an eye for art from local artists. Its unusual to find such a shop anywhere as the so called art shops are often filled with imports from Bali and China, and yes I am talking of some of the shops in Jackson, Sedona, Petosky, and so many other places we have traveled. Clear skies.

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