Day 3 – Sheridan, Wyoming

We had made good time on our trip and decided to cool our heels for the day in Sheridan, Wyoming. I had wanted to see Sheridan for quite some time. Three years ago, while performing a job search for the Old Coot for jobs in Wyoming, several jobs in Sheridan popped up. Sheridan? Where on earth was Sheridan? Luckily for me, they have a website with tons of information, and they even have a webcam on certain parts of town, so I was able to learn a little bit about this "Sheridan". When I decided to let “Tom Tom” plan my trip for me, I was delighted to learn that Sheridan was on the route, and I would at last have the chance to check it out.

Although it is not a sprawling metroplex by any stretch, I was surprised to find that it was a little bigger than I had imagined. Their webcam does not do justice to the amount of traffic that goes down Main Street (which is very, very LONG). Luckily we were able to settle in for the night when we got here without having an accident, and we rested up before plotting our adventures for Day 3 of our trip. Dee Dee seems to have a little trouble breathing here, and she has been hitting her inhaler pretty regularly since we have been here. Still, she was ready to check out some things on our driving tour this morning.

When we went outside this morning, we were surprised to find a little snow on the car:


We drove out to see what the airport was like (small, but it works), and were tickled to see that the UPS facility was directly across from the airport (Hello, QVC!):



Although you see the mountains from almost anywhere in town, we wanted to get a little closer:



How cool would it be to be one of the houses nestled down nearby:



Obligatory wildlife shot: Was this taken up in the mountains? No! These little sweeties were actually snacking and frolicking in someone’s yard:


I have always thought that a log cabin was my dream house, but this little “story book” cottage would make me pretty happy, too:




There are lots of “vintage” style houses for sale in town, for those who don’t want to hobby farm:


And of course, I had to visit at least one quilt shop (I even bought something!):



I had wanted to get some pictures of all of the shops on Main Street, but not getting hit by oncoming traffic seemed more important at the time. If you would like to learn more about Sheridan, I would encourage you to visit their website:

http://www.sheridanwyoming.org/

Day 2: Making Progress – From Kansas to Wyoming!

Dee Dee felt much better on the second day of our trip; there had been something in the air that had made her almost cough up a lung all the way from Wichita to Salina. But today was better, and she seemed to enjoy the journey a little more.

Somewhere along the way, before we reached Denver, we caught a glimpse of our first snowy “peak”, and I started to squeal like a pig:

I must say, though, that moving to Denver may not be for me. Traffic is one of the things from which I am wanting to escape, and Denver to Fort Collins was definitely some two-handed driving.

I saw something in Colorado that I had never seen before: it looks almost like what Texans would call a double-wide, but instead of leaving it on its wheels and putting skirting around it, it is mounted on top of what looks like a basement. Neat! I want a basement!


Outside of Wyoming, we saw our first silhouette on a hillside, the first of many:


We wanted to get the Wyoming sign, but there wasn’t a safe spot to pull off of the road, so Alan snapped what he could while I blew down the road at 75 mph (75 mph! – the legal limit!):


This picture is kind of interesting; you almost had to be there to really appreciate it. Driving down the road, the snow that was still in the crevices of the hills gave an optical illusion of making it look like it was a bridge going over the hill, or an overpass, or something. But the “gaps” aren’t really gaps at all -- it’s just one solid hunk filled with snow:


We stopped at a little town that I really wanted to see. When I had been bitten by the Wyoming bug about three years ago, I had talked to an extension agent in Wyoming. She told me that Wheatland, Wyoming, is in what they call the “banana belt” of Wyoming, and that if I wanted to do some hobby farming that would be a good place for growing things. We mostly just pulled off of the road for some fuel and stretching, so I took a picture of the little drag that was down the street. I also was tickled to see mountains/hills just across the way:






I thought it might be “the place” until Dee Dee tried to open her car door – the wind was blowing so hard that she could barely get the door open. Once she got out and tried to make it to the store, it almost knocked her over. I guess all of those stories about Wyoming being windy really are true!

After seeing a silhouette of a “jackalope”, we stopped at a truck stop in Casper, where once again, the wind nearly took Dee Dee’s breath away:




There was another of those interesting home concepts:


We decided to really push the day and try to make it to Sheridan on Day 2; it meant travelling over 700 miles, but we can spend two nights there before taking Alan to his destination, and I will have the chance to really check out Sheridan. Here’s what it looks like as you are getting closer:

Tomorrow: Adventures in Sheridan!

On Our Way!

Today was the day for which we had waited and prepared: Time to take Alan to Yellowstone to work for the summer. I guess that we could have put him on a plane or bus and sent him on his way, but the thing about your kids is that they will always be your kids, so I felt the need to take my baby boy to Yellowstone myself. And since my former statement is true even if your kid is nearly 50, MY mother did not want her baby daughter driving back from Yellowstone by herself, so she came along for the ride.

We got up bright and early, and Alan was ready to get on the road. Here he is with just his bags, in front of Dee Dee’s Ford Focus (talk about a tight fit!):

Since I could get lost inside of a paper bag, my family encouraged me to buy one of those navigating gizmos, and I let “Tom Tom” plan the route for me. Imagine my surprise when Tom Tom plotted a route that took me through Kansas! I had never been to Kansas, and from all of the stories I’ve heard through the years, I was expecting desolation or something close to it. It’s beautiful! While it’s true that a lot of the land is flat, there are lot of trees and other features:


And the sky is the bluest blue:


I saw a sign along the way that advertised a quilting shop in Hays, Kansas – maybe we should stop there:


We were all intrigued by the wind farm:



We ended up stopping in Hays for the night (maybe the quilt shop tomorrow?), and it looks like we may see a little rain.


The good thing about a Ford Focus is that although it might be a little small, the gas mileage is amazing! It also zips down the road with ease. I was pleased at the progress that we made on our first day – about 540 miles. That’s not too bad for two old women who have to stop regularly to stretch their legs. But I must say that I am not liking that old familiar longing that is creeping back in. As we travelled through miles and miles of beautiful, uncluttered scenery, I realized once again that I am not a city girl. It was okay when I was bringing up children, and I’m glad for the opportunities that living in the city gave to them. But that part of my life is over, and I don’t like the clutter that cities bring.

“But what about shopping?” I’ve been asked by many city girls.

As long as there is QVC, and a whole army of guys (in those cute little brown shorts) who are willing to bring boxes to my door, I’m good! Those blue skies and vacant miles might be worth it.
I just hope I hate Wyoming, or I might not ever want to go home.

Yellowstone Bound!

My son is about to begin the adventure of a lifetime. He recently landed a job at Yellowstone National Park for the upcoming tourist season, and we are all so excited! I must confess that while I am thrilled for him, I'm just a little bit jealous, too. I originally found the job when I was dreaming of mountains and places with seasons, and wanting to be there myself.

I had looked to see if there were seasonal jobs at Yellowstone, and sure enough, there they were! Working in the gift shop appealed to me, and I practiced saying, "Welcome to Yellowstone! May I help you?" as I walked around the house doing chores. But alas, with 3 dogs and a squirrel, the chances of me greeting you at Yellowstone any time soon are slim to none. But Alan is single and free, and when he heard me talking about my "dream" job one day he announced, "I'd like to do that."

"You're kidding," I replied.

"No," he said. "It sounds like fun, and it would give me the chance to go somewhere and do something different."

So he applied and guess which job he landed? That's right! He'll be working in the gift shop at Old Faithful! It's really neat for someone his age because he will be able to live in a dorm setting and there is a cafeteria for the employees with 3(?) squares a day. His room and board fees (about $12 a day) will be deducted from his pay check ,so no one has to worry about running out of money for rent. There are organized activities for the employees during their off-duty time, but I think just living at Yellowstone is enough!

The time is nearing for him to leave, and I will be taking him up there. Road trip! Even though the park may not be open for me, just being in that part of the country is exciting. So if you are tired of the same boring entries for our family blog, just hold tight! There are beautiful pictures and fun stories coming.!

Alan will be documenting his personal adventures on his new blog, Alan at Yellowstone. I can't wait to see what happens!

The Bun is in the Oven…And It’s Rising!

Yesterday the mother of my grandbaby came by our house. She wasn’t feeling very well, and since my house is much closer to her office than is her house, Mandy decided to come see her old mom and take a nap before heading home. She was still very dizzy when it was time to go home (even when sitting down), so I drove her home and had her dad meet me there on his way home from work so he could bring me home. We ended up taking her to a night clinic, where she was diagnosed with a severe case of vertigo (just what every pregnant woman needs).

However, before we left, I was able to snap this picture of her and Pod:


I am so excited! (Have I mentioned that before?) I changed my “first quilting” efforts from the John Deere quilt that I had started to a totally new quilt. Mandy and Jeromy seem to have a thing for owls, and the colors that they are using for their nursery have a lot of yellow, brown, blue, etc. (no pastel bunnies and bears for them!), so I found this material:


Here’s the back (it doesn’t show up in the picture as dark and chocolately as the brown material actually is):


We are about halfway to a grandbaby, so I have to hurry up and finish that quilt! I also have been thinking of “grandma” names. I have been threatening to have Pod call me “Beautiful Lady”, but Mandy says that it is way too hard to say. My mother was “Dee Dee”, and my sister’s grandkids call her “Gee Gee”. Should I continue the trend and have Pod call me “Lee Lee”? I have a distant cousin whose grandchildren call her, “Honey”, which I think is just adorable. I also have an affinity for having Pod just call me “Ma”. That’s what we all called my mother’s mother ; she was the grandmother who actually loved us. I guess Pod will call me whatever she wants – as long as she calls me!

Where’s Molly?

It’s hard to believe that Molly has been with us for only about three weeks now; she has made herself so at home that it feels much longer than that. If you have wondered, I will tell you: yes, she is just as soft as she looks, and yes, she’s even cuter than her pictures. We have certainly had a great time with her. We’ve even had a good time with her name. In addition to the obvious, “Good Golly, Miss Molly”, we have other silly things that we say that prove that we have finally snapped. When she’s being especially sweet and perky, we call her “Molly Anna!” (I’m sure Walt Disney and Haley Mills won’t mind.) Also, when she has been playing outside and it’s time for her to come inside, in a flashback to my playground days, I yell, “Molly Olly oxen free!” I know; we are easily amused at our house.

But most of the time, I am heard to ask, “Where’s Molly?” I get concerned when I can’t find her, because when she disappears, you just never know what she’s up to.

Is she plotting to take Toffee’s stick away while he’s still chewing it?

Is she stalking Dee Dee, hoping that my Mom will drop a piece of meat?

Is she aggravating Chewka Marie?

Has she parked her fanny in Dee Dee’s favorite chair outside, while she watches the squirrels and birds?


Is she attacking the water hose while Alan waters some plants, nearly drowning herself in the process?


Has another sandal lost its strap due to her uncontrollable need to gnaw?


Has she snapped another branch off of one of my beloved blue berry bushes?


Believe it or not, she isn’t always causing mischief. I have gained a healthy admiration for her ability to sleep just about anywhere.

So where’s Molly?

She might be under the snack bar in the kitchen…


She might be napping on Toffee’s bed in Dee Dee’s room…


And after watching Dee Dee cook dinner and hoping for a snatchel, she finally gives up…




In an effort to cut down on some of the mud in the yard, Alan and I “worked like dogs” to put in a mulch ring around one of the trees. And where was my little helper, Molly? Toffee pointed out that she was passed out by the storage shed…




And later, she had to try out our handiwork before we even finished!


After my long day of yard work, I’m tired and ready to go to bed. Where’s Molly?

Molly’s passed out behind the exercise machine/coat rack in Robert’s office!


I guess being so cute and cuddly is exhausting!

Make Room for Molly! (By Lori)

What do you do when you have so many pets that you have to constantly sweep and mop the floor and you complain that there are too many pets? Simple! You get another one! We would like to introduce Miss Molly Marie Woodbury, a 12-week(?) old Golden Retriever who has come to live with us:

“Good Golly, Miss Molly!”

“How could this happen?” those who know us have asked. “Wasn’t there enough mayhem at their house?”

“I know why you did it,” my sister told me. “It hit me when I saw a commercial for one of those ‘Buddies’ movies on television.”

“Well, you’re partly right,” I confessed. “She did immediately make me think of the ‘Air Buddies’ when I saw her, and I have been singing the song from ‘Snow Buddies’ all week. But, you must know that I did not wake up one morning thinking that I just needed to find a Buddy that day. It just kind of happened.”

That’s pretty much like a lot of things at our house: not always planned, just kind of happen (like Chewka Marie). Here’s the story: We had neighbors move in the house just across the fence of our back yard a couple of weeks ago. I had noticed the two little chihuahuas because they loved to come to the back fence and exchange barks with Toffee and Cookie. And then… I saw her. She didn’t bark like the others did; she just sat on the back porch, chewing on a stick, lolling around and being mellow.

“How cute!” I thought and called her over. She came running to me with all her puppy might, ready for petting. She was the happiest little critter I have ever seen.

Later, when we saw the new neighbors out, Robert and I leaned over the fence and introduced ourselves (I hope they don’t think we are crazed stalkers). They seemed really nice and we got all their family scoop, gave all our family scoop, and then we started talking about their dogs. Long story short, Molly (whom they called Emmy), was supposed to be their daughter’s puppy, but she had something come up where she couldn’t take her, so she had asked them to keep her. Unfortunately, their landlord didn’t have a problem with the smaller ones, but Emmy couldn’t stay.

What can I say? We are just suckers! I have accepted the fact that my white tile floor will forever need mopping and that I cannot just take off on a whim, but this little girl needed a home, and we were the place. Besides, I was not the only one who was smitten with Molly. When Robert and I married, he had a Golden Retriever named Ralph who lived to be 14 years old. I have never seen Robert cry as hard as he did the day that Ralph passed away. I think Molly brings back some fond memories for him.

Ralph and Mandy (about age 5), fishing with Dad:

Molly has been great! She lets us know when she wants to go out and has a great time exploring the yard:

She has taken to her crate:

She definitely feels comfortable:

She loves her chew toys:

And she has found a spot between the sofa and the wall that is a perfect fit:

The only problems: Cookie and Toffee. I knew that Cookie wouldn’t be thrilled, but she usually does her own thing anyway. I truly thought that Toffee would be thrilled to have a playmate, but I was sorely wrong. Her puppy pounces get on his nerves to no end, and he lets her know it.

“Good! You can just stay in there!”

My strategy has been to limit their interaction, except under controlled circumstances, and to relegate everyone to a different part of the house or yard the rest of the time so that no one gets hurt. Molly has learned already not to pester Cookie too much, and hopefully she will soon learn to not pester Toffee and just do her own thing. Hopefully Cookie and Toffee will learn that Molly is not a threat, but she is here to stay, and just learn to like it. I am keeping Chewka Marie out of the whole thing by taking her outside if Molly is inside, or putting Molly outside when Chewka is inside playing. Molly has discovered Chewka, and loves to sit outside Chewka’s cage and watch her. I’m hoping she will someday get to the point that she can interact with Chewka like Toffee and Cookie do, but I’m not going to push it.

So there you go…For anyone who has ever wondered if we were just a little bit crazy, it has now been confirmed. But, like my sister told me this weekend, “Well, personally, I think anyone who can’t love a puppy must have doo-doo in their soul!”

I wouldn’t want that to happen to me!