Small towns - The same everywhere

Frannie, Deaver, Cowley - all towns in Wyoming.  All small, proud communities that want to do what's best for their citizens.  We have seen some beautiful museums, parks and Community Centers.  Some of these towns list 50, 72, 122 as their populations; but they still want to provide for their communities.  In this area of Wyoming there is a lot of farming.  These are beautiful examples of the pride these folks have.  Then I must share a little humor about small America Towns.      First you have the used car dealership as seen here from Frannie.  Then there is the guy going home for lunch with the tractor and harrow, taking up the entire road - but who cares and the local long horn herd and it's not even Texas.  The really neat thing we have found is the areas that honor the veterans as shown here in Lovell with the mural  on the building and a beautiful park.  The other thing about small towns is the pace.  My dad used to say that "Time means nothing to a cow."   I've thought about that and he was right - if you're feeding cows or irrigating the crop it gets done when it gets done.  Finally over a year after I retired, I'm slowing down.  Hmmmm on to Emblem, Wyoming tomorrow.

Boys are cuter than dinosaurs. We now have a different view out the winder!

We went to the Dinosaur Museum Monday. The boys thought it pretty impressive.  Grams thought the boys were cuter.  (Sue me!)

This morning we leisurely got ready and headed out to Powell, Wyoming.  It is in the middle of a huge agricultural area to the east of Yellowston NP.  We have lived 28+ years in Wyoming on the NE side and think of WY as being very rural with towns being far, far away.  Up here in the NW side of WY the towns are about 5-20 miles apart.  It reminds us of the Treasure Valley in NE Ore/Central Idaho.  The other similarity is both of these valley's had Japanese Internment Camps in them.  Heart Mountain is the one near Powell.  It was declared a National Historic Landmark.  Click here to learn more. 

We are staying at the Park County Fairgrounds.  There are full hookups and you can stay as long as you want as long as it isn't in the month of July when the fair is here.  We stayed here several years ago.  The other nice thing is it's cheaper than other places in Park/Teton County.  Still high; but up here that is relative.  And finally the new view out the winder!  

Memorial Day and Dinosaurs

We had a great weekend even if it did rain Monday.  We swam Saturday and Sunday and went to the Dinosaur dig on Monday.  KaCe learned to go down the big slide by himself.  It was VERY slow.  We finally just let him climb up by himself, yell at the top and com on down.  When I'd see him I'd yell "Shut your mouth and swim!"  and he'd barrel on off the slide.  Ethan wanted to come down alone; but that wasn't possible.  He's not THAT big.  They both love the water. We'll head out to Powell tomorrow.  

Saturday we went swimming taking both vehicles.  The park we are at does "self check-in"; which in some ways is good - less hassle.  As we were about at the swimming pool Ken said; you know we didn't leave anything at the second site, we better go back and leave a chair in the drive.  So we went back, put the recliner in the driveway and went swimming.  Two hours later about dark we come back.  Leaving the chair in the driveway did no good.  There was a Colorado vehicle all setup - grumble, grumble.  I had rent the second spot so we would have enough room for the weekend; but we didn't put the tent on that spot.  Just a small little stink :)  We compromised (we got our money back) as the other folks were leaving the next day.   The next day we left the pickup in the driveway.  :)

Moving up

Made it to Thermopolis yesterday.  We are staying at a small park on main street.  Whitney, Travis, KaCe, Ethan and Kaycee will be here for the weekend.  Looking forward to it.  Travis and KaCe will sleep in the tent (there's money on whether KaCe will actually manage it.)  We'll BBQ, swim, sleep and generally have a relaxing weekend.  Going to Meeteetse today and then work Worland Tuesday.

O how I hate the Sinus Cavity...

A sinus infection...........I hate being sick.  And of course it always settles in my sinus's.  cough and blow; cough and blow. This is getting old.  I'm tired, crabby and complaining............what's new.

We went up the canyon to see if the moose had gotten together.  Nope.  The cow is laying by the river.  We took binoculars today and there is no calf in view.  Darn! Nature can be hard.

May In Wyoming

For the second year May is starting out cold and rainy.  No snow thank you very much. Last weekend was Mother's Day.  Travis did a seafood boil for us mothers.  Friends of theirs with a son Josh that is KaCe's age came over.  We spent a great weekend playing games and enjoying one another.  We came to Lander today to begin the Wyoming tour and attend the installation of Kevin Green as the Wyoming State Elks President.   Last year was very tough to travel moving the bus every single day so I have changed how we are going to do it this year.  We'll stay a week in a central location and I can wagonwheel spoke it out.  I'll go to Dubois and Riverton from Lander.  We stay at the Pioneer RV Park.  It is just out of town, very neat and clean and the owner's name is "Phyllis".  You can't beat that!!  Today was 85, so we can now gripe about the heat.  :)  Ohwell - can't win them all.  We went up Sinks Canyon this evening just before dark.  We saw two different sights.  We rounded the corner just before getting to the State Park and there was a Big Horn Sheep Ram charging a small pickup.  I don't know what they had done to get him upset, but he just kept charging the vehicle.  

We watched and watched.  We then went on up the road and turned around where the road was closed.  Coming back down the canyon Ken saw a moose.  We stopped and watched for a long time.  It was acting wierd.  Not moving, throwing it's head.  We kept hearing a mewling and we finally came to the conclusion that it was a baby moose.  We finally saw movement down by the rushing water of the river.  The baby was caught in the river.  We hated it.  No way to help.  And it was getting too dark to go get someone.  The mama would charge anyone that got close and the river was rushing too deep and fast to go that way. So we watched helplessly.  And then..............it was dark.

Hayden's Shower and visiting Madison's Garden

Vanessa, Keith Jacobson's wife, Keith and Lori

We all went to Gillette for a shower for Hayden.  While we were there we attended the ceremony at Madison's Garden on Warlow Drive.  They have renamed it but it will always be Madison's Garden to us.  Madison was killed at this spot a few years ago.  The garden is dedicated to all fallen youth.  Chris Clark bought a tile for K.C.  We always visit when we come to Gillette.

Keith's little boy

Introducing the cousins.  Kevin's brother Dale is holding Hayden

KaCe trucking up the stairs

Brothers Dale and Kevin

Vanessa and Erick

Kim's boyfriend Phil

Grandma Schram

Kevin's mom and dad and Lori's dad - Adeline, Sam and Jack

KaCe is finally warming up to Uncle Kevin

Madison's Garden

Getting ready to let the balloon's go

DeeBee Worthington greeting the attendees.