Wyoming day 2. (or is this cabin for sale because I will move right now.)

One strange thing did happen in the mornings of Wyoming: I finally made omelets. Over the years I have tried but it either turns into a scramble or some strange frittata. Well: I finally got it!

My view during breakfast.

This has nothing to do with anything except to prove life is better out west.

So day two of Yellowstone. South to get a glimpse of the Tetons. Stopping at some geothermal fields. After lunch by the Tetons back to Yellowstone. On the way back in the road goes by Lewis Canyon. This area was hit by fire in 1988.  There are still tall burnt trees, but there is also strong regrowth. After hiking out a bit, I overlooked the most beautiful place I have ever seen.

Lewis Canyon

After this we heading to Old Faithful. Originally I thought this was not on the "must see" list. But after seeing the geothermal features it moved up on the list. Well we hadn't looked at the times it was erupting but we thought we would try. 

As we topped a hill, there it was..... erupting off in the distance. It was pretty funny.

LOOK! Old Faithful!

So we walked the big geothermal area, it rained, it was all so cool. A smaller geyser erupted. And then we waited for Old Faithful. The visitors center has estimated time, then says +/- 10 minutes. For us it was +20.  I now call it Old Faithful-ish.

Wild Cat.

Wild Deere.

The back to the cabin. One more night on the mountain. 

Now.... I suggest playing this song while you look through the photo album.

(really I suggest you listen to that song while driving in Wyoming.... It is amazing.)

OK Here's the whole day.

Wyoming... (or...WOW)

Well Wichita got what we are calling dysteria while on the Oregon Trail.  So the day turned into a long line of stops. But at least it was pretty. This is also how I found out the sun doesn't set till 9 something up there! We found our cabin; which was amazing. The dogs were happy, we were tired.
The next morning.... I woke up in Wyoming!
Off to Yellowstone of course. Just 30 minutes down the road and I saw the gates. The first part was affected by a wildfire in recent years so it was really cool to see it coming back.
Now I had researched Yellowstone, and asked people who had been there what they recommend. After pouring over pictures and descriptions I realized it didn't matter which direction; there would be something awesome. And really all I wanted to see was a bison.
So off to the northeast path. Barely past the visitor center.... and I saw what I came to see!
And immediately we stopped in a bison traffic jam.

The rest of the day was waterfalls, and 300 steps to the bottom of the falls, and a river, and picnic, and just so much beautiful nature!  

It ended in steak and whiskey back at the cabin.

Instead of all the details.... how about pictures? Here ya go: Wyoming day 1.

Nebraska...(or The Oregon Trail!)

Grade school had a computer room in the basement. It was where I learned the greatest computer game ever.... The Oregon Trail.

Now this game spurred interest in the real trail. I've read and dreamed of what it was really like.

So.

After getting a great book of the maps, I knew I had to go.

Nebraska is gorgeous. 

Most of the way across it the Trail ran on the side on the highway, but there were no physical remains. Until Scotts Bluff. There is a part of the park where swails are visible. This is where the combination of wheel ruts and horse tracks and human feet all made a worn out path.

It was so cool walking the swail. It was humbling to think of the courage it took to follow this trail. It was overwhelming to think of the history of this place. 

More pictures....

Hitting the trail!

Nebraska. 

We spent most of the morning in Missouri. But we got to see parts of the state I've never seen. 

Now we are rolling deep into Nebraska.

So far so good. 

It smells great and the dogs are being wonderful.

About four hours to our cabin for the night. Making great time.

Totems on the dashboard.

Great rest area!

Busy! (or... vacation starts so soon!)

Crazy week behind me, and vacation ahead. I can't even start to get into that.
The biggest thing I want to share is that after a spring of squirrel chasing I FINALLY got a tomato out of my garden!

Green ones!

Baby brussel sprouts!

The first one to ripen! With my basil.



Now: turn on your speakers and listen to the  great John Denver sing out this topic.   You may want to dance too.

The evolution of a lawn mower (or... the frog.)

Cute puppy with a bad habit.

Wichita is a sweet puppy. But this puppy had a wicked chewing phase. She had many victims. One big one went unnoticed for months, but this spring it was found out that she in fact had killed the lawn mower.
First some history: I hate gas mowers. I believe gas should be left for my SUV. So the hippie in me lucked into one of those old timey push mowers.

My old timey push mower.

I cut the grass exactly twice with this and realized it was over rated. Motors were added to lawn mowers for a reason. So. Enter the electric mower. It is like a vacume cleaner with a blade. Once in the groove of swinging the cord it is actually really nice. Until Wichita. Apparently the dangling cord was too inviting and at some point this winter she chewed it off. And I assure you, the electrics inside that housing were way more complicated than I ever could have thought. I was hoping she wouldn't chew one again, and was wishing there was a way around the long cord.

So the neighbor let me borrow her loud polluting mower, and I drug out the old timey push mower, while I pondered electric models. 

And, because she felt bad Wichita tried to eat the grass to a reasonable height.

She loves her greens.

A solution was found; there is a new thing.... battery operated lawn mowers! No cord, no gas! But it seems it is an east coast thing, so I was afraid I would never find one in St. Louis. A trip to Home Depot was planned.... when a miracle at work occurred.

From across the back dock it looked like an electric lawn mower. I was so excited! Then I got to it, and started inspecting, and low and behold I could not find the plug to try it out. I opened the weird lid, when I saw why..... It was a battery operated lawn mower!!!!

It is everything I thought it would be. Quiet, light weight, NO exhaust throwing rocks or sticks. It has power, it has grace! It carries its own tools! And there is no cord for the puppy to chew. And there will be more gas for my SUV.

It's cute too!

The battery weighs more that the machine.

The growling, fur cover, dog I love (or Wildfire)

Two years. Wildfire officially became my dog two years ago today. He was my first dog, and truly  he is the dog that I judge all dogs by. He sets the bar, and for being a dachshund mini poodle mix he sets the bar extremely high.

He is so handsome.

Far and away this little canine is braver most dogs out there. He came from a bad breeder, and a very bad dog-mother. He had a rough first month. Then he met me.

River fun in Gatlinburg.

Vacation. He is so great in the car.

Unfortunately under my care he has survived an attack by a much bigger boxer mix. And I will never know what he encountered the day of the break in. I know he was at the very least fended off with a Swiffer. I hope he bit. And I still thank the force in the universe that reminded me to take the key out of the key to key deadbolt in the back door. That action alone kept him in the house. And probably kept him in my life.
If the police ever catch the person(s) that did break in, I only want to ask them one thing. What did they do to my Wildfire?

But he has also been to may restaurants and Ted Drewes. He goes to the parks, and loves the local farmers market. He is a great shopping companion. He loves picnics, farms and snow. He is amazing in the car. He was an angel for the 8 hour rides on vacation. Vacation with him was great, this little boy was so excited and so adventurous. I am so excited to bring him out west this year. But his favorite road trip will always be his Oma and Papa Wright's house. They have a big back yard, and a deck and a big dining room table to hide under.

Nap under Oma's table.

Exploring he favorite back yard.

Visiting Great Grandma Wright

He is the guard dog. He taught Wichita very well. After all our hard work training  he still has rough edges and probably always will. But he also has let go and shown his soft cuddly side. He is sweet and he is so smart. And he has given me smiles every day for the last two years. He is my little brave boy. I am crazy about him. And I look forward to so many more great years with him.

Sharing his bed with his little sister Wichita (when she was actually little.)

He is clearly the one taking the job seriously.

Happy boy.

He always picks the biggest stick to chew on.

One month after the dog attack. Fur on his neck was growing back.

He loves this shirt. He think it makes him look like his Papa Wright. (It does.)

Him with the sweet Ripley.

My landshark.

His sweet raincoat.