Summer 2014 - Part 3

Summer 2014 - Part 3

We took the next week off from Museum activities and concentrated on the farm (Grover) and fitness (Me).  There's always tractor repair work to be done and haying.  Nothing new there.  And I have been focusing on getting more exercise.  That means walking, swimming, treadmill work, elliptical workouts, and riding my bike in the evenings with my friend, Sharon.

September 2014

On Labor Day we separated the cows and calves, and 3 days later we trucked the calves over to the corral.  So now Grover is on calf duty--making sure they have hay and water and are happy in their new digs.  The cows are still down the road in the pasture.  (They are, after all, grass-fed beef!)  I never knew that was such a big deal until recently.  Funny how advertising labels are used to sell a product.

The next day we headed for Billings to pick up the girls -- Emily and Martha -- at the airport.  They flew in for a weekend visit.  We went to Yellowstone on Saturday and stayed overnight in West Yellowstone, so we could see more of Yellowstone on Sunday.

Waving hello at Yellowstone Lake, on the way to Canyon Falls

  

Aren't the falls magnificent?

 We got some great photos in Yellowstone and saw so many buffalo on Saturday that by Sunday we weren't even interested in stopping to see them along the road.

We hiked to the Fairy Falls -- 5.2 miles roundtrip.  It was a pretty easy hike--mostly flat and we sang and talked along the way--just in case there were any bears nearby.  We were certain that our singing would most likely scare them off!

We had a lot of fun.  The girls made us laugh--they are so funny!  They gave Grover and I a hard time--teasing us about the things we said and did when they were little. 

Summer 2014 - Part 2

July 2014

Two days after everyone departed, I came down with Bronchitis!  Oh phooey!  Not in the middle of the summer!  I had already neglected the gardening while everyone was visiting.  10 days of being sick with bronchitis didn't help at all!  The weeds grew ... well, like weeds!  They were so tall!  By the time I got out there I was really searching for the stuff that we planted.  It was hidden in tall weeds!

The next 2 weeks I spent a lot of my time tearing out the weeds, and hoping to give the plants a chance to grow.  We had a late spring, and a rainy summer.  So, they weren't doing too well, even without weeds overtaking them!

August 2014

In August we were pretty busy getting in gear for the Museum Annual Dinner, and the Election.  I was in charge of putting a slide show together of photos from the 6 towns included in our museum plan.  Just getting the photos was a struggle, let alone fixing them and sizing them and photoshopping them for use.  I spent a good week doing that.  Everyone enjoyed looking at the old pictures though, so I was happy.  Grover wrote a stirring letter to the Editor for the Lovell Chronicle, calling for support for the mil levy to fund our museum.  Several people came up to him at the dinner and thanked him for expressing his opinion.  We were all very hopeful that the people would vote for a museum in Lovell.

But, unfortunately, they didn't.  A huge anti-museum campaign was waged against it by the other 4 towns.  And even Lovell's vote was 60% against it.  Too bad we couldn't get all the people from Kane to vote.  But most all of them have moved away or died.  On August 19th our cumulative efforts to get a museum going in Lovell came to a screeching halt. 

We were surprised and disappointed with the election results, and decided to get away and relax.  So the next day Grover and I went on another hike.  We drove up to the Big Horn Mountains and spent the day at the Jaws.  It was beautiful and peaceful and very pleasant.  It was our 3rd hike this summer. hiking. 

 

You can see the wildflowers are abundant--creating a purple and white haze.  A beautiful day!

....more in Part 3

Summer 2014

I can't believe I am recapping the whole summer.  It's too much to do in one blog.  I'll break it down and use some pics if I can dig some up.

June 2014

At the beginning of summer we decided to start hiking.  We took a day off and went up
to John Blue's Cabin.

The second week of June we spent prepping for Lovell Days and for the kids' visit.  I worked on the museum float. 

 Apparently we were so excited about having the kids visit we forgot to take any pictures.  I asked Grover about that and he said, "Well, we were pretty busy!" 

Rachel and family came to visit us--arriving just in time for the Lovell Parade and an amazing fireworks show at Horseshoe Bend!  Will and Fallon joined us during Rachel's visit.  I think Fallie had a great time with the kiddos!  We sure did get a lot of fireworks going while everyone was here.

With the kids here we worked and played.  Rachel called up REA - the electric company - and asked them to help us with cutting down a huge partially burnt tree because the power lines were near it.  And to our great surprise, they came out and did.  Brilliant idea, Rachel!  Grover and all built/constructed a firepit in the back by the Methusaleh tree while I tended baby Jordan.  We had a great time roasting hot dogs and marshmallows several nights!

 Everyone helped us clear out the farm tools and junk in our garage and transport it to the Trailer Toolshed at the farm.  (We also cleared that trailer--whewww!! what a job!) Thanks for all your help.  It was a big (dirty) job!   Rachel and Jeff also cut down  and trimmed out some trees in our way.  Every time I walk out to the garden now, I think about how nice it is not to be tripped up by the stumps and trees in the path.  Hooray!  You made a difference in my life.

We had some fun too-- we went up to Five Springs twice for picnics and fun at the creek! 

July 2014

We went to the Cody 4th of July Parade 1 day early--on the 3rd.  That was weird, but they had the same floats and a lot fewer people!  We had a nice front row seat! Afterwards we had a picnic in the Cody Park and looked at some of the booths and food stands.  Rachel and family left on the 4th.  Will and Fallie stayed and we drove into Yellowstone for the day!  We saw some fireworks going on as we drove home that night.

...more in Part 2