RedBox!

Can you believe it! There's a Redbox outside the Maverick gas station on Main Street in Lovell! Hallelujah Brother!! I was so elated to hear the news I nearly slipped off my swim board. We were in the pool and I was swimming along talking to Agnes when she mentioned she got True Grit the other night. Civilization just got a little closer! You know me, I am the biggest movie fan! And it isn't easy keeping up out here in the sticks!

But yesterday I stopped and got 2 movies. One for me and one for Dad.

The King's Speech

and Red Riding Hood.

Can you guess which one was for me and which one was for him?

Twisted Tasks and Television Timeouts

I twisted my ankle Saturday night when I was shampooing the rug.  Somehow I twisted it in the exertion.In spite of the ankle we set up the bed, cinder blocks for support--in place of a bed frame.

Monday I wrapped my foot and watched TV all day. I am annoyed because I still have so much to do. Every morning I write the day's tasks on the white board in my hall, and then those  tasks dog me all day.

Tuesday  I finished priming the bathroom walls.

Yesterday I rested my ankle.. Today I want to clear the front porch---we'll see how that goes.

Dad is busy finishing up the Shumway corral that we started building a few years ago. He comes in two or three times a day, hot and tired, to rest in the coolness of the house. I tell him not to work so hard, but he says it isn't work. It's fun. He has 3 posts left to dig and has begun erecting the chute. He plans to use it as the loading corral when we separate the calves come September and again in January when we take them to Billings to sell.

The hay is loaded and stacked and the fields are clear. Dad is elated to think he can finally irrigate the hay fields and get the second crop growing/going! We got 175 of those large bales off the first cutting. That should feed the cows for 6 months..

Everything takes longer than you want it to take. But slowly and surely we are making progress, both inside and out. We will take a break next week when Richard gets here and go to Yellowstone for the day. That should be fun!

Painting Myself Into a Corner

I'm going to paint the bathroom today. I wish it could be as vivid as this image. But I already tried that with a bright pink fuschia color that turned out to be a lot darker than I thought. Time for a redo. I'm thinking blue.

Back to Work

Somehow my quilting project escalated, growing with each discovery of squares from 2 quilts to 8! I am glad I did all the tops before I put them together. Had I done them one at a time, finishing each as I went along, I am sure I would have stopped half way through. But luckily it was rather like an assembly line, and last week I put them together, then tied them, then pinned and stitched the edges. I finished the last one Sunday night!

So, now I can focus on something else! Putting my machine away, removing the scraps and quilt frames from the living room, I can get back to work.

Tuesday morning I cleared the guest bedroom, and today I am going to set up the bed and get that room ready for Richard's visit. (Countdown= 14 days)

The next work project will be shampooing the living room carpet! I've been waiting since April to tackle it..waiting for it to be warm enough outside for the carpet to dry. It's supposed to be in the low 100s today--that should do it. I think I'll put on Burn Notice. Michael and Sam and Fiona can keep me company while I work!

To Market, to market to buy a fat pig....

Tuesday we are loading up calves to take to the Billings Auction. yard And Wednesday we are taking more calves to Auction. (Gotta pay for the hay jobs--this cutting and the next should run about $5k. Cutting and baling those big bales doesn't come cheap.)

I'll try to get some video footage of the auction. I like going to the cow sales. I like walking above the holding pens and scouting for some good looking cows beforehand. Then you go inside to the sales ring and sit in stadium like chairs and look at the other buyers there, in their western wear, no two hats alike. I like the authenticity of it. The cowboys are the real deal. The auctioneer is so good at calling the auction. He's fast and it takes some time to understand the patter. When we are buying cows for the herd, there is an excitement in the bidding -- in the pursuit of the best cows at the best prices. And, I never have to dress up! I can wear my work shoes-- necessary when we are walking the pens--and fit right in.

1st Cut!

The engine blew out in the swather and we weren't able to finish cutting the hay..  Then the bailer broke down, and we were not going to be ableto bale the hay we did get cut.  Eventually everyone agreed to hire a local man to cut and bale.  He had a baler that makes those giant round bales.  We measured them, and they are 5 1/2 feet in diameter!  Nearly as tall as Dad.  They weigh 1500 lbs and are approximately the equivalent of 20+ of the regular sized bales.

Today Glen called to say he was nearly finished loading those bales.   Dad was so excited about the hay being cut and baled that he woke me up from a lovely nap this afternoon to go film and shoot the final bales.  He even dusted off HIS camera.  So if you ever wondered how they ever got those big bales on to a truck and out of the field, this video will show you the answer.  Here's the video:
I'm having technical difficulties. Be back with a video as soon as I can.

In the meantime, here are a couple of pics:

You can tell how tall those bales are if you consider that 2 of them are as tall as the tractor Glen is using here.

There are several reasons Dad is so happy about this hay.  For obvious reasons he is happy that it has been cut and baled and stacked...and he didn't have to do it.  2)The weight of completion is off his shoulders.  3) He can now begin irrigating the field just cut for the 2nd cutting/crop of hay.  and last of all:  4) This hay, in addition to being a much bigger crop, is the cutting we didn't even get last summer.  (Apparently we were short a cutting--so it's like a bonus at the start!) 

I'll be back with the video once I figure out the magic trick to loading it.                                             

Name our Puppies....

Yes, you heard right.  Dad got a couple of puppies.  Just look at him--he's so happy.

Here they are-- looking for a drink from the hose.

They are 3 months old, They're so small they can both get their entire heads in the dog bowl!

Once in a while one of them comes up for air and they move like synchronized swimmers to another position, 2 puppy bodies revolving around the dish.

They're very cute.  Both males.  What do you think we should name them?  Any suggestions?

Busy, not Boring

I've been busy today.  Though recounting it may sound boring, I feel like I've made a lot of progress!

This morning I updated my blog, finishing off the pics from the parade.  I finished it up, went off to Em's blog, read her good ideas and popped over to Erin's website.  After I took a look at Erin's fab pictures I decided to go back and make my pictures bigger!  There went the morning!

This afternoon I set up the quilt frames and started turning out the quilts I have been piecing for the last few weeks. 

I have 5 pieced and tied so far. Just waiting for the finishing around the edges. And 3 more to go.....

Horseshoe Bend (aka Big Horn Lake) Revisited

Yesterday was the Annual Big Horn Lake Celebration. Several boat owners volunteered their time and boats to give the public free boat rides. Dad and I went down to the lake just in time. We got in on the last run! We climbed onto a small motor boat and speeded through the canyon. The day was hot and skimming down the canyon with the wind blowing and the water spraying was a blast!

Afterwards I took these pictures to show you how high the lake is and so that you can see the improvements that have been made.

The grass is a fairly recent addition..within the last 2 years! And Picnic tables and trees and even playground equipment. I remember when it was just a sandy hill and a rocky beach.

I can't wait for you to go with me to Horseshoe Bend!

Yesterday was the Annual Big Horn Lake Celebration. Several boat owners volunteered their time and boats to give the public free boat rides. Dad and I went down to the lake just in time. We got in on the last run! We climbed onto a small motor boat and speeded through the canyon. The day was hot and skimming down the canyon with the wind blowing and the water spraying was a blast!

Afterwards I took these pictures to show you how high the lake is and so that you can see the improvements that have been made.

Horses, Floats and Marching Bands

Lots of Horses, 5 or 6 floats and several marching bands showed up at the Cody Parade.  There were bands from Minnesota and Tennesee, Cheyenne,  Casper and the local bands, as well as a bagpipe band.  Here are a couple of very short clips.

The Cody Band playing "Rawhide!"

A shoot 'em up float...

Here come the bagpipes....                                                                          

And bringing the parade to a close...the fire engines!

Dont' Forget the Marching Bands!

Best of Show

The highlights of the Cody Parade are the most interesting people there. Here are a few of the characters.....
Uncle Sam tops the list!

Saloon guys and gals---not Lovell's Dollies.

What's the Cody Parade without Buffalo Bill?

Boots are in style in Cody!

Dad in his element: he was much happier than he looks!

The Shriners on tractors!

Cute kid sporting a red, white and blue Mohawk! You can't be much more in the moment than that! Hawking bottled water for 50 cents!

Don't you love a Parade!

4 Ol' Times Sake

Did you miss the Parade? Well, here it is:

The Color Guard...

4-wheeling Clowns...

The local high school band....

Miss Priss and her Poodle....

The forest service coming at you...fore

and aft....
(I didn't intentionally frame this picture...but I couldn't resist posting it.    Personally, I have nothing against the forest service.)

Big wave to you from SMOKEY THE BEAR!

And what's a parade without tractors? 
BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE TO COME...

Cooking with Julia

Hi Everyone. I'm sitting at the kitchen table watching the timer so I don't forget about the pie crust in the oven. It's for a good old fashioned French chicken pot pie. I fixed Dad breakfast this morning--a veggie omelet with avocado, salsa and sour cream atop--and he asked me if I wanted to take a picture before he ate it. It was pretty. And I'm sorry I didn't do it. I was preoccupied with the tart I was making.

Here is a picture of the tart! Isn't it pretty?

I had a lot of help making it. I set my computer on the end of the counter and watched each step as Julia performed it, then I paused her and I did the same. Yesterday when I was making the dough (so I could chill it overnight) Dad said he couldn 't wait for me to start talking like Julia. She had a kind of high pitched sing song voice. A few minutes later when I burst out in imitation of her, the cat, who was crossing the room, startled, jumped, and ran out of the room. Dad and I cracked up! It was too funny!!

Cooking with Julia

Hi Everyone. I'm sitting at the kitchen table watching the timer so I don't forget about the pie crust in the oven. I fixed Dad breakfast this morning--a veggie omelet with avocado, salsa and sour cream atop--and he asked me if I wanted to take a picture before he ate it. It was pretty. And I'm sorry I didn't do it. I was preoccupied with the tart I was making.

Here is a picture of the finished product!