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Week#12 (12/01/2024): Our first snow in the Valley . . .
This week saw the first snow of the season in the Valley. There really are no adequate words to describe the beauty of Yosemite when you see it in person. The mountains, the trees, the wildlife, the power in how it all comes together is spectacular . . . truly a sight to behold. Here…
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Independence Hall – Philadelphia
My new assignment is beyond words. I will be in Philadelphia for our 250th birthday celebration. I couldn’t find a more historic site to be on this fabulous birthday. I, along with my daughter Melissa, arrived here on Tuesday, May 26, to settle in. She came along to make certain all was well…
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Back home in Texas
I left my home in Yosemite with a few tears but was also anxious to get home to my friends, family, and my pups. So long Cabin #9. . . I spent my first night on the road in Fresno, then on to Orange County and a visit with my…
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Week#13 (12/08/2024): My time in Yosemite ends with a bittersweet mood.
I certainly hated to see my final week end in Yosemite. It was a beautiful week with cool mornings and warm afternoons. Yosemite Falls was flowing with water (the first since soon after I arrived.) In fact, my final day, Thursday, ended with a rainbow shining over the middle of it. Madeline and I spent…
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Week#11 (11/24/2024): Wawona was the word of the week . . .
Wawona gets their library back! Many months ago all the library books from Wawona’s branch of the research library were moved to the Valley while much needed physical building repairs were made. Our top priority this week was to re-establish their library. We started this project last week by hauling the old books down…
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Week#10 (11/17/2024): The rewards of our labors came to fruition this week.
Monday this week was Veterans Day so the library was closed. A belated thank you to our service men and women, past and present. A special thanks to the Interp staff for allowing me to help out at the Welcome Center this Veterans Day. We were advised at the morning staff meeting that a…
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Week#9 (11/10/2024): Why I stay 3 months. . .
Why do I stay 3 months? I visit a specific national park as a volunteer to hopefully make a difference and leave an impact of some sort. I also visit the park, one I have never been to previously, to learn more about that park. How did it come to be, what is its history,…
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Week#8 (11/03/2024): We are at full speed.
I learned more about our new volunteers this week. As I mentioned, they arrived late last week and this week was our first full week working together. Elizabeth Schwartz is a volunteer from Austin, Texas! She spent her working career in the tech world and since retirement has been volunteering with the Forestry Service and…
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Week#7 (10/27/2024): It’s been a very busy week here at Yosemite!
This week has been a super busy one. Madeline and I kicked off Monday with the removal of 5 (yes, I said 5) 4-drawer filing cabinets from the 2nd floor to an area outside the building. On our drive into the park Monday morning she said we were going to get these out of the…
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Week#6 (10/20/2024): Making real progress in the Research Library as we get ready for the arrival of two more library volunteers.
This week has been a good one. Feeling back at 100% and giving it my all. We made great progress in the Research Library as we cleared the table and prepared for the arrival of volunteers Elizabeth and Laura this coming week. Take a close look at the before and after pictures. We really worked…