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....

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.

Tired. (or how to recover from a snow day.)

Wildfire decided to test the new futon chair. Seems to pass his rigorous inspection. 

Pillows are difficult.

Snow Dogs! (or what a great day to be off work.)

This was the biggest snow these two pups have seen. Wildfire loves snow, but gets cold and tired of it quick. Wichita however..... I guess the Chow Chow and Akita in her really show on days like this. She eats a lot of snow, and can't quite contain her excitement.