Friday, July 30, 2010

Stop touching things!

So... I started clicking things, and I've ended up with my blog looking like this. Hmmm. Yeah, not so sure, and the problem is I can't figure out how to backtrack, and am going to come back to it when I have another hour to keep clicking on things to change it. Maybe it's my mood.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse

Mount Rushmore
My dinner at the Lodge. The steak was great, the mashed potatoes needed much help, like lots of butter and cream.

Custer State Park Lodge
The summer White House for Calvin Coolidge
It was beautiful.
Mount Rushmore

Crazy Horse Monument

Lands' End Warehouse Sale- what I got!

Original price 39.50 Sale Price 14.62
Original price 34.50 Sale price 12.75

Navy wool blazer original price 79.50 sale price 15.75
Red cotton pants original price 25.50 sale price 5.00


Spenser canvas tote original price 29.50 sale price 6.00
(I have no one in the family with this name, but I had to buy it because it is the name of my favorite character by my favorite author. It is even spelled correctly! Spenser, like the poet, by the late Robert B. Parker)
I, also, bought a sample tartan belt for $5 and two pair of leather school shoes for J for $13.12 each. I may have to go back, sans children, on Saturday. I couldn't put in the time to search for cashmere. Which is hard to do anyway, when it is 90 plus degrees.




Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Cody, Wyoming and the Rodeo

Sitting on Hollywood. I wonder how much drugs they gave this bull,
because it didn't move a muscle.
The world's best lasso-er. He's 18, I have clothes older than him!

All the kids got to go into the arena and chase three calves with ribbons attached to their tails.
It was hysterical.


And the cowboy goes boom.

It makes my back hurt just looking at it!
If you are ever in Cody in the summer, you cannot miss the Cody Night Rodeo. It was great family fun.

Yellowstone, Old Faithful and Devil's Tower

Old Faithful Inn - beautiful
Plan early, if you want to stay here. I was too late, although we did eat in it's dining room.

S and Flat Stanley see Old Faithful blow.
Go early in the morning, there are less crowds.

We drove all over Yellowstone. Saw Bison, elk, prairie dogs and moose.
There are waterfalls, geysers, mud pots and mountains. The scenery is phenomenal.

A double rainbow at Yellowstone.

S (above) and J (below) were happiest when they were skipping rocks.



We passed through some mighty small towns.
I missed taking a picture of the town with a population of 10!

Devil's Tower
(there was a guy climbing it when we were there)


S loved the Sarsaparilla

Jackson Hole and Grand Tetons

Breakfast to go from The Bunnery, eaten in the town square
Our breakfast guest, who was so fun to watch

Amazing views






The antler archways,
which are on the four corners of the town square in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. All these antlers were collected by the Boy Scouts in the 50's.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Welcome to Wyoming

Hell's Acre, a cool canyon in the middle of nowhere. This, and the things below, are things you would miss if you didn't drive.


At the National Big Horn Interpretive Center in Dubois, Wyoming


I love the many rustic entrances



At the grave of Sacagawea


At the World Famous (I'm not kidding, they sell tens of thousands a year!) Malt Shop in Shoshoni. I had vanilla and it was great.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Natural Bridge Park

We found this gem, near Douglas, Wyoming, just by chance. And it was fantastic!
A free park, in an incredible setting. Grills, playground equipment, everything you need for a great daytrip outing.

This is when the boys are happiest: outdoors, water, rocks and adventure.

The scenery was beautiful, and we sat on a bench and the kids had freedom to play in the water, building with sticks and skipping stones.

After spending a couple hours, the boys still didn't want to leave.
If you have the chance....GO! Take a picnic and relax.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Bridges of Madison County

Visiting a covered bridge in Madison County, Iowa
The architecture was amazing!

Bummer, Clint Eastwood was not there.



Monday, July 12, 2010

If You Build It, They Will Come.

At the movie set of Field of Dreams





Too bad Kevin Costner wasn't there.
And S was disappointed that the voice of Darth Vader (James Earl Jones).




Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Out of the Mouths of Babes

S: "Mama, in the old days there were lots of hamsters in Chicago and New York."
Me: "Hamsters?"
S: "Mama! You know, like Al Capone."

Friday, July 2, 2010

Craft Day with Aunt Gwen, Part 2

S tracing her hand onto muslin
S learning to stitch

M is almost done


J loved this project, and has did a star pattern on a tote bag.
And is now asking for a sewing machine.

Creating their own constellations







Rice, dyed with food coloring, waiting for the next project



Mixing it all up



M is making her I Spy

Some of the things put into the jars


Making stars


And then Aunt Gwen slept!