It's retirement season...

Graduations and retirements in education... yes, it's that time of the year.

Renee, honored guest, is seated at the left.

Renee retired...and of all of us who were hired the same year, she has stayed with it the longest (41 years!!).  Don't know how she did it.  But, I say, you know when it's time.  And this spring she's throwing in the towel.  However, the event didn't go by without a surprise party -- a surprise that worked out really well.  And of course, her friends and cohorts told funny stories about events in her career, and our music teacher wrote a song (sung with a back up group) that highlighted many funny/embarrassing moments.  It was good fun. 

Chalk the Walk

I understand that "chalking the walk" or putting one's artwork in chalk on a sidewalk is an activity offered in many cities...and well, we're just catching on.  Last night's event in front of the public library, was a first, and it was well attended by art and music lovers.  I sat in a lawn chair, sipped water, ate popcorn (thank you, Cheryl), and visited with friends. We thoroughly enjoyed watching people, viewing the art as it progressed, listening to blue grass music provided by the Low Water String Band, and (of course) knitting in the shade.  Another perfect summer evening!

Low Water String Band...and a little girl in pink, dancing to the driving beat.

Here are some pictures of my favorite finished squares of art.

Wedding in the rain...

Oh, it was a beautiful outdoor wedding on Saturday in Lander...but in the rain.  It was a hot afternoon, and the bride was actually open to anything that would make it cooler. The wedding party thought they could wait out the rain shower and start the service just a few minutes late.  But the rain persisted. Finally, the bride said she didn't want to wait any longer, so she gave the go-ahead to start the procession.  Yes, it rained on the wedding party, the wind picked up, and it was hard to hear, but it was memorable! 

Many of my retired teacher friends were there, and we had a great time visiting at the reception.  And of course, by the time the reception was underway, the rain moved on, and the weather was great for an outdoor celebration!

Flowers, birds, and tires...

One last picture of my Amaryllis shows both stalks blooming.  These flowers have been such a welcomed burst of color in January. 

On another note, while I was having coffee with some girlfriends Saturday morning, it was discovered that my front left tire on the pick-up was going flat.  OH NOOOO...

My friend Julie took followed me a couple of miles to Plains Tires, and I asked if they could fix it.  Sure enough.  They were not  busy and could get right to it, but it would probably take 45 min. to patch it.  No problem.  While we waited, Julie took me to WalMart, where we both needed to pick up a few items.  I mention this only because we saw quite a site as we pulled up into the parking lot. 

I counted at least ten little birds sitting on the windshield wipers of a nearby car.  Whoa.  Really?  I thought I was lucky to get a picture.  Were they just trying to stay warm?  Perhaps the vent from the motor below was allowing a little warmth to rise up and give them relief from the frigid temps.  It was an interesting sight!

Meanwhile, back at the tire shop, I saw my pick-up sitting out front, and Julie just dropped me off.  When I went in, the guy behind the counter handed the keys to me and said it was ready to go.  As I began to pull out my wallet, he said, "Oh, there's no charge." 

Shocked, I said, "Really?" 

He said, "No, there's no charge."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes. There's no charge."

I thanked him!  I'm quite sure I'll return!  In this day and age...that doesn't happen very often.  And yet, I'm so grateful when I hear of such generosity and am thrilled to experience it too.  Makes you want to pay it forward for others, doesn't it? 

Visitors at Lucy's Sheep Camp

On Saturday, Leane accompanied me to Lucy's Sheep Camp (north of Thermopolis) to buy some wool table-runners and roving for a couple of needle-felting classes I'll be teaching soon.  I enjoy going in and visiting with the owner, Billie Jo, who is very artistic and usually jump-starts some new creative endeavor.

While we were elbow deep in fibers, our head spinning with color combinations and project possibilities, we suddenly heard an unexpected noise outside the open door to the shop.  We all turned to look...and there was Little Joe!  He was ready to walk right in and  join the search for wool treasures too!

Leane is quite a horsewoman in her own right, and she gave ol' Joe a welcomed scratch on the neck while I slipped out to get my camera for this photo op.

 I have to say, he liked the attention and was not a bit camera shy.  So, when you live in the country, you never know who might drop into the shop on the first day of Autumn... 

Homemade Pie

If you stop at the Cowboy Cafe in Dubois, and you have room for a piece of homemade pie Al-a-mode, you can't beat it!  Delicious. Covers the whole dessert plate!  It's enough to share with friends.

How's the pie in your favorite hometown cafe?

Another Summer Wedding...

The aisle leading to the arch.

Dad escorting the bride down the aisle.

What a treat to be a guest of yet another summer garden wedding!  Saturday’s wedding united two wonderful young adults, Laura and Cody, and I was blessed to have worked with them both in high school.  They love working with horses and are fortunate to be launching into careers that put them in the horse arena!  The song sung at their wedding by the groom’s mother identified the bride and groom as the “Cowboy and the Angel,” which fits them perfectly.

See the picture of the two dogs? One served as flower girl; the other, as ring bearer.  

It was the cutest thing ever when it was time for the rings to be exchanged.  Cody gave a whistle, and the faithful, four-legged “ring bearer” bounded down the aisle and laid at Cody’s feet while he untied the rings from the dog’s collar.

   This sweet companion led the couple back up the aisle after the vows were spoken and the kiss sealed the deal.

Clever Signs

Does this sign "lure" you in?

It might... if you were a fisherman looking for a new pole and some fly-fishing equipment in Dubois, WY. 

I really enjoy seeing creative advertisement and interesting architecture; I plan to take more pictures of those kinds of things.

Summer Musings...

In the past few weeks I have been reminded that...

Salmon and BBQ chicken and BBQ ribs taste FANTASTIC when prepared (slow cooked) outdoors in a smoker... thanks to my brother...

Live music sounds wonderfully majestic when played under a canopy of tall evergreens and cottonwoods in city park...   and it doesn't hurt to have a beautiful sunset as a backdrop...

Attending an elegant garden wedding in the shade of tall trees on a 90 degree July evening in the company of many old friends and colleagues is a grand event...

Antelope

My neighbors and I have spotted antelope hanging-out down "over the hill" when we've been riding our 4-wheelers (ATV's).  But this summer they have boldly come up to graze on the grass and sage surrounding our houses.  Perhaps the reason is because it has been so dry. 

Four antelope on my driveway.

When I first saw a doe and buck sauntering through my property in June, I was pretty excited to see  big game so close.  So for the sake of conversation with my neighbor, I decided to name them Annie and Lope.  Since then, we've had a few more brave visitors:  a younger buck, which my neighbor named Fonzi, and three more does, Thelma, Louise, and ... well, we haven't settled on a third name yet. We're stuck on ... my other sister Thelma...for now.


It's been fun watching them.  I tracked these four in the picture above as they headed straight to another neighbor's yard, apparently looking to see if anybody was home.  I was hoping they wouldn't start eating their landscaping!  I know that deer can be very destructive, but I don't know about antelope...yet.

Nostalgia - a Card Party in the 1950's

Mom and Dad holding me and my brother for a picture on the doorstep.

Growing up in the late 50’s, I have fond memories of my parents going to card parties once a month on Saturday night. Eight couples regularly met to play pinochle, and each family took their turn to host the party in their living room. Sometimes it was a pretty tight squeeze to find enough room to set up 4 tables for cards, but they always found a way.

 At my house, the routine started with getting the house ready for company. The card tables were set up and covered with pretty tablecloths.   Mom always set out a bowl of candy on each table, and she made a dessert which was served on clear, cut-glass dessert plates that have a spot for a matching coffee cup. She set out matching sugar and creamer sets. Oh, and there were fancy napkins too. At an early age I began to associate the rich aroma of brewing coffee with hosting company, as my parents were never big coffee drinkers at home.  I always loved the smell, but never asked to taste it.  Also, when we were young (preschool age) Mom told my brother and me that the candy was just for adults, and we were OK with that.  (Can you believe it???)

It was fun to be at the kitchen door and help welcome everyone in as they arrived.  The men were usually attired in nice dress shirts, often with a bolo tie, and either casual slacks or new blue jeans.  The women wore short party dresses, some rather fancy and some more casual.  It was a social event!

 I can remember that all the adults enjoyed getting together, relaxing after a long week of hard work, loving the opportunity to share some stories and kid around.  Ray used to accuse my mom, who was quite a good card player, of having a neck like a goose because she could see his hand of cards from just about anywhere.  Phyllis’ husband would call her “Toots,” and I found that hilarious.  Sometimes the bidding would get interesting and cause for loud reactions, and sometimes a whole table would erupt in laughter or whoops of victory.  Inevitably, there would be someone who was having a tough night:  the good cards just wouldn’t fall for them. 

Maybe half-way through the party, it would be bedtime for my brother and me.  I have vivid memories of listening to the conversations and laughter, muffled through the closed bedroom door.  It was the “white noise” of the 50’s which lulled us peacefully to sleep.

Test

Welcomed rains have cleared the skies in Wyoming.

Blue skies are a welcomed background for my geodesic dome.