Dinner & Dominoes

Dan's cousin Maureen was here staying with Uncle Fred and Aunt Joan for a few days. We spent a lot of time playing Aunt Joan's favorite, Mexican train dominoes, at which Maureen was a natural. Last night Maureen made a multi-course New Mexican dinner. Everything was amazing, but my favorites were calabacitas and bizcochitos, the official state cookie.

Maureen and G making tortillas

The gang playing Mexican train dominoes. (Vanity Fair says it has replaced poker as the "in" game in Hollywood. Aunt Joan is a trendsetter!)

Off to College

This was going to be an entry about four special people. (That would be “special” in a “Mr. Rogers-says-you-are-the-only-you” way, not in the “eats-paste-and-blurts-inappropriate-comments” sense … hmmm, maybe the latter does apply to one of them …) It was going to have pictures and sentimental observations about each of them. But then I realized that would be too cringe-inducing …

So I’ll just say that as they head off to their respective college campuses this year, I don’t have quite the same lump in my throat that I have in the past few years. It is so exciting to watch their “becoming.” They help make me view my own kid’s growing out of childhood with joyfulness, instead of sadness that my Poohtie Pie is disappearing. Here's hoping my four special people have a good year!

(Identities obscured to protect the innocent)

Yes, We've Had a Bit of Rain

Thanks to everyone who's checked in to make sure we're not building an ark! It's been raining here for about two weeks, and until the other day I wasn't too concerned, because we're up on a hill. But on Wednesday we had a storm, the likes of which we haven't had in a while. It had very strong winds, and we got about 2.5 inches of rain in a 30-minute period. It's still raining, but we're hoping it ends this weekend.

The ground was so saturated and the winds so forceful that this tree came up by the roots and toppled over, blocking the driveway (but -- whew! -- missing the satellite dish!)

How They've Grown

The hen who hatched out the eggs while we were on vacation still has six chicks. They are getting really big, and they're still pretty cute. Three from the batch of four from earlier in the summer have made it, despite some keen interest by a red-tailed hawk, and are traveling together, but without their mama hen.

These chicks are mostly black, with the exception of one that has a yellowish face and underside

It's hard to see these scrawny things racing around and not "see" dinosaurs

You Fill Out My Census ...

... like the mountains in Fresno ...

(Actually this isn't an entry about mondegreens, but since it's kind of an entry about John Denver, I couldn't help using the lyrics to "Annie's Song" as heard by two friends from high school.)

G and I whizzed past this sign on our way to lunch yesterday, and she reminded me about the first time I saw it. My BIL Bill happened to be in the car at the time, and there may have been some *commentary* about it.

Fast-forward almost a year: Bill and I are in Central Park with Simon and G. We sit on a park bench. All the benches in Central Park are donated by someone in honor of someone else or something. Any guesses who the bench is in memory of?

At the time I Googled "Friends of John Denver" and found a list of sites dedicated to his memory. Unfortunately I couldn't find it this morning, or I'd be posting the link.

Needless to say, there are hundreds or even thousands of people out there doing good works in the name of John Denver. If I run across any others, I will be posting pictures of them. And if any of you readers encounter one, I'd sure appreciate photographic evidence, which I will happily post with credit!

Ladies Who Lunch

Since my college friend/roommate Patti is visiting family in northern Illinois, G and I met her for lunch yesterday. Patti is the headmistress at a middle school, so I got some good info about what to expect from my sixth grader this year. We also caught up on Hoya gossip, even though neither of us attended our 25th* in June.

I think we look pretty darn good, especially compared to the online photos of our fellow Hoyas at the 25th* reunion!

*N.B.: Originally said 30th. As Marcia so rightly points out, it was our 25th reunion. But we still look great, even if we aren't 52!!!

The Wall

It ain't Fenway, but it's big and green!

Chick, Chick, Chick!

While we were away, another hen hatched out 6 chicks. She has them on a little route that takes them around the yard in search of bugs. They make quite a racket, but they are adorable.

Togetherness

Since we've gotten back from our trip, Luna has not let us out of her sight if she can help it. She even put up with the smell of nail polish when G was giving me a pedicure. Normally she'd have vacated the room at the first whiff of lacquer.

We couldn't believe Luna stuck around, let alone this closely!

Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming

The rangers at Shell Creek highly recommended visiting the Medicine Wheel on 14A, so we backtracked to make the trip. Once we got there, it was a mile-and-a-half hike up the mountain to the site. Depending on which one of us you ask, it either was or wasn't worth it!

Being more than 9,000 feet above sea level, on the way we passed pockets of snow and wildflowers

On the trail to the Medicine Wheel, it looked as if we could touch the clouds if we hiked up the mountain face

It is not known who built the Medicine Wheel. The stories from Plains Indian tribes refer to it as having been there when they arrived

Native American groups still view the Medicine Wheel as a sacred place

Amazing view of the valley below

Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming

U.S. 14 is another Wyoming Scenic Byway. We stopped at Shell Creek (along with a slew of Sturgis riders) and found the rangers there to be extremely enthusiastic.

Shell Creek Falls

Shell Creek

Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, Wyoming

Highway 296, which runs between Cooke City, Montana, and Cody, Wyoming, isn't called "scenic" for nothing. Just about every vista was breathtaking, including this gorge, but in a very different way! We stopped at the overlook after we'd crossed the bridge ... if you look up "Holy $#*%" in the dictionary, I'm sure there's a picture of this gorge!

The unanimous consensus was that it was a good thing we hadn't looked before we went over the bridge, or we'd still be there!

From the bridge. It doesn't begin to do justice to the incredible drop

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

We spent a day in Yellowstone, trying to hit all the places we missed last year.

Moose Falls

West Thumb

Biscuit Basin. Despite the blue sky you see, it was hailing and there was a cold wind. The heat coming off the thermals felt awesome

Lower Terrace, Mammoth Hot Springs


Petrified Tree outside of Tower-Roosevelt

Lamar Valley. There were hundreds of bison, many of which were on the road

Colter Bay Cabins, Grand Teton National Park

After a week of sketchy plumbing and outdoor water pumps, we began the lodging portion of our trip. In addition to campsites and tent cabins, Colter Bay has cabins of various sizes, many original structures brought in from area ranches. We were quite happy to check in. Dan & G graciously let me take the first shower. We all needed one ... our clothes could have stood up by themselves!

Cabin 612

A bed with clean white sheets!

Hot running water!

Jenny Lake, Grand Teton National Park

After saying our good-byes to Kate, Kenny, Jake, Aaron & Sophie and looping into Idaho, we went back to Jenny Lake. G wanted to go kayaking, and even though the Witte party of 10 was in front of them, they got a kayak pretty quickly. There was a fairly brisk wind and some choppy water, but that didn't deter them. They had a great time.

Heading out

It was amazing how quickly they were dwarfed by the mountains

Posing for Mom

My Own Private Idaho

G's goal is to visit all the states. We added another to her list this trip: Idaho. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision when we got to Jackson, Wyoming, and realized how close we were. We took Route 22, a switchback road with a 10% grade, into Idaho, then turned around and came back.

Looking back on Jackson from a pass on Route 22

G touches ground in Idaho

Gastronomic Notes

During this trip, I learned that national parks cater to a certain kind of people. There were more Priuses and Muranos per square mile than any place I have ever visited. Consequently, you can get just about anything with an "organic" label slapped on it. (Organic elk jerky? Anyone? Anyone?) At a pitstop in the Tetons, I encountered my first "Certified Organic Soda." To me, initially anyway, organic soda seemed right up there with organic Cheetos ... if you are putting crap in your body, what makes the difference? But the fact that "Blue Sky Black Cherry Cherish Certified Organic Soda" was made with cane sugar rather than high fructose corn syrup pushed me to dole out the extra shekels for a can. (Anyone who has ever had Kosher Coke versus Everyday Coke knows what I am talking about here ... What can I say?)

You will not be sorry if you visit these restaurants if you ever find yourself in the area:

Los Sombreros in Mitchell, South Dakota. After several stops, I say: Best. Mexican. Food. Ever. Try the Laredo Chicken

Chippy's in Wilson, Wyoming. Gourmet food in a town so small that if you blink you will miss it. Joy-inducing vegetable paninis

The Traveling Sheepshead Show

Guess it's not just a Wisconsin thing ...

In the car (with "Bendy")

In a tent

At a picnic table

Late at night

Before breakfast

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Last year we fell in love with the Grand Tetons, so we decided this year we had to stay for at least three days. We stayed in tent cabins (two wooden walls, two canvas walls and a canvas roof) at Colter Bay. By luck of the draw, we got a site with an amazing view. We could have stayed here for weeks more!

Exterior of tent cabin; G, Jake and Aaron eating sloppy joes by the firepit

Aaron & G test out the bunks

View from our site: full moon setting over the Tetons

G, Dan & Aaron, early morning, Jackson Lake

Blue relaxing

Kate at Jenny Lake

Dan, Jake, Aaron & G on a hike to Inspiration Point at Jenny Lake

The last group shot!

Ten Sleep, Wyoming

Ten Sleep figures prominently in Dan's family's lore. They camped there when he was a kid, and his brother Jamer and family rediscovered it on a trip in 1996. Kate & Kenny & Co. make it a stop in both directions during their annual visit if they can, because of its stunning scenery and great swimming. The place gets its name from the fact that it was 10 days (sleeps) from major Great Sioux encampments to the north and south.

The rain from Powder River Pass caught up with us while we were in town at "Dirty Sally's." We'd already set up camp, so there was no pushing on to Thermopolis. G had a blast in spite of the rain. I woke up with cold, wet feet because the rain had puddled between the tent and the tarp right under me. Obviously I lived to tell the tale.

Campsite at Ten Sleep

The view of the canyon from our campsite

Leigh Creek from our campsite

Jake, you know what the caption is for this! :)


The camp host recommended a new swimming hole on Ten Sleep Creek. It was a hit with everyone!

Group shot!