Beautiful Waterfalls, Scenery near Sheridan, Wyoming

Today we really enjoyed driving around Sheridan, Wyoming, voted the #1 Western City in America. It is a beautiful little town and has so many wonderful art pieces everywhere--in hotel lobbies, restaurants, etc. We figured this was because the atmosphere is so conducive for painting. The light is beautiful here, there are so many amazing vistas, flowers, wildlife--everywhere one is immersed in nature. We were in snow that was 4-5 feet deep, in a rainstorm, in the middle of fluffy white clouds high up in the Big Horn Mountains--then we saw the Shell Waterfalls, the Big Horn River, lakes, rock formations, deer crossing the road. Down near our Super 8 we were in 70 degree weather. All in one day. It was lovely and we also watched the new Terminator movie at an old movie theater in Sheridan, then went to dinner at a Country Kitchen. Tomorrow we head for home, after a 12 hr. drive. It was a wonderful 4-day weekend!

Prairie Dog Village

That was a prairie dog in the picture posted below. A huge village of them exists outside of Devils Tower (really called Bear Lodge by the Indians). Devils Tower was one of the most special spots we have ever visited. There is a feeling of sacredness there. It was always considered sacred by the Indian tribes, and a white explorer named it "Devils Tower" which definately does not fit. Legend has it that a family of children were out playing in the woods one day, and one of them turned into a bear. The others ran off trying to escape and came to a huge flat rock. The rock lifted them up towards heaven creating this huge monolith. The bear tried to catch them and his claws scraped the walls of the tower. The children lept into the sky and became the Pleides system (the big dipper) with the bear still chasing them.

Hello South Dakota and Montana

We are on a long-awaited vacation to two states I have never seen. We left Thursday night right after work in a rental car that is birds-egg blue and oohhh so nice, a 2009 Toyota Camary. We have had great adventures--a huge rock was thrown up from a truck and struck our windshield, but we suffered no damage and we don't know how because it was a really loud "thud". We were pulled over by a Wyoming highway patrolman for speeding (we were desperately looking for a bathroom--there was absolutely no place to stop and we were in the middle of nowhere and it had been over 4 hours of nothingness!). When he asked us were we were headed we said, "to any bathroom" and he just gave us a warning, not a ticket. (whew!). Then, yesterday we were in the middle of the Big Horn Mountains on a really remote dirt road, up in high altitudes and ran into horrible road conditions with snow and muck and ice and we had to turn around and come back down. But the views up there were amazing and even though we were practically biting our fingernails (how ARE we going to turn around on THIS road???) we made it and it was well worth the journey. We have driven over 1000 miles already and plan to double that by the time we get home, but we love driving. It is not the destination that is important to Grady and me--although that is always nice--it is really the pleasure of the journey itself. We have such a good time laughing and talking and seeing the prong-horns and deer and scenery along the way.

Grady: On The Road Again

Grady had to go back to Vernal this week because some vandals pushed some pianos off a stage and they need checked out. So he left today, and sent me some photos and a drawing he made of the trip. I thought they were cute and interesting. He is a good artist. He will be back on Thursday. Today I went visiting teaching and shopping and changed sheets and baked cookies and talked to people on the phone and it was a very busy day. It was good to push forward--I was starting to act like and feel like a total slug. Today was very productive and I feel better.

My Beautiful Daddy

Yesterday my dad passed away, having lived a wonderful and happy live for almost 96 years. He was such a sweet man and a good and tender father. On Monday Oct. 6 he suffered a massive stroke and went immediately to the hospital, where family gathered and comforted him. Yesterday morning, Oct. 8, he slipped quietly away and just stopped breathing. Those with him said it was a beautiful parting. He had no pain. We will miss him so much--there is no one who can ever replace such a giant.
Today is my 52nd birthday and I am still recouperating from surgery and cannot travel to West Virgnia for the funeral. It is sad but my terrific siblings are including me in as much as possible via cell phone and webcam. I so appreciate their love. Here are some photos I love of my dad.

Home from the Hospital

Thanks everyone for the beautiful flowers. As you can see, they are colorful and wonderful! The whole apartment smells like flowers (which we love). We also received a beautiful Unicorn from Edith and Willis but Uni is too shy and is hiding in the bedroom with Boney and Skinny, and cannot be photographed at this time--but she is cute with purple hair and hooves and talks just like the other horses we have in there, with a feminine touch. The big bouquet with orange is from work; the blue and gold is from Grady and the assorted pastel carnations (sorry but I printed this one sideways) is from Joyce and Steve, Carolyn and John, and daddy. It was also so good to talk to everyone on the phone and to know you had me in your thoughts and prayers. I can tell you prayers really make a difference. I feel so much better than I thought I would feel after such a big operation. HIP-HIP-HURRAY FOR BEING HOME!