Monday March 31 2008

Near Boulder - click to see the gas wells sitting on the horizon of The Mesa. You can also see their lights at night from the highest place on the road to our house, near the Jones'. And on overcast nights when you look to the west, the lights from the oil fields reflect onto the clouds. I hate all the reminders of the devastation that ishappening to our once pristine and beautiful landscapes and the wildlife that live here.

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It snowed all day yesterday and into the night. About 3 a.m. was warm and snowing lightly, but this morning..... surprise, about 3" of new snow and another wind storm blowing it around. Drifts are still growing. We are getting a little moisture at least. Last night at dinnertime saw a coyote chasing one of our jackrabbits in the field next to us. The rabbit came over into the corral and the coyote gave up, not coming near the buildings, trotting off across the field.

Today worked on mail and the birthday cards I got so behind on. Am nearly through the Nancy D. letters, but have another stack of Nancy M. waiting to be done.

If you have never seen the silent movie "Grass", I recommend you to try to watch it. It was on TCM last night and I'm mesmerized every time I see this movie. A classic adventure by the makers of "King Kong." In 1924, neophyte filmmakers Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack hooked up with journalist and sometime spy Marguerite Harrison and set off to film an adventure. They found excitement, danger and unparalleled drama in the migration of the Bakhtiari tribe of Persia (now Iran). Twice a year, more than 50,000 people and half a million animals surmounted seemingly impossible obstacles to take their herds to pasture. The filmmakers captured unforgettable images of courage and determination as the Bakhtiari braved the raging and icy waters of the half-mile-wide Karun River. Cooper and Schoedsack almost froze when they filmed the breathtaking, almost unbelievable, sight of an endless river of men, women and children--their feet bare or wrapped in rags--winding up the side of the sheer, snow-covered rock face of the 15,000-foot-high Zardeh Kuh mountain. Today I ordered Cooper's biography and the DVD "Grass" from Amazon.com .

pinedaleonline says there is more snow in Bondurant now than they have ever recorded since beginning to use the bondocam - 3 1/2 feet - Of course there has been lots more snowfall up there than that in the past.

http://pinedaleonline.com/webcam/bondurantwebcam.php

Sunday March 30 2008

Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby Race

Brent's Race Car for the Special Dad's Race

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Today has been overcast and snowing most of the day. It's warmer again, so the snow is melting almost as soon as it falls. There really is no news to write about. Did a little housecleaning etc. How boring is that? I've been transcribing/typing Nancy D's old letters into Word. It re-opens the world of the past to read what we were doing 30 or 40 years ago.

Beverly sent me some photographs she's been taking, and I wanted to put a few of these on the blog today. This is a correction to what I wrote earlier today: I misunderstood what Beverly wrote to me about the race, thinking Clay was in the Pinewood Derby, but he is a lot further in Scouts and too old for it, so here is the correct info. Brent and Clay went to the cub scouts Pinewood Derby yesterday and then they had a "special Derby" for all the dads. So Brent took one of Clay's old cars and re-vamped it. He was sure he would win! But there were lots of dads with their cars who spent WAY MORE than a couple of days working on them, so they were the ones that won the race.

This is at the baby blessing of my son-in-law Brent's son's new baby Xaviar when he was about a month old. Back: Dad Eric, Grandpa Brent, Step-Bro. Clayton. Front: Mom Amber, Grandma Beverly holding Xaviar. Three generations!

Vincent's Birthday

It's the birthday of Vincent Van Gogh, born in Zundert, Holland (1853). He painted sunflowers, starry nights, wheat fields, and self-portraits, and his work was just beginning to be acknowledged when he committed suicide at the age of 37. When he was 20, he went to work for an art dealer in London, then went off to Brussels to study to become an evangelist, and then went as a missionary to the coal miners in southwestern Belgium. One day he decided to give away all of his worldly goods and live like a peasant. But his religious superiors thought he was having a nervous breakdown. They kicked him out of the mission, and he had to go home.

It was then that he started to draw and paint. He taught himself with art books and by studying the masters. He was especially interested in painting the daily life of peasants, and he began a collection of clothing that had been worn by fishermen, miners, and other laborers.

For the next 10 years, from 1880 to 1890, he painted fast and furiously. He eventually settled in Arles, in southern France, where he said he could "look at nature under a brighter sky." It was in Arles that he began to develop the style he became known for, in which the images of flowers and trees and landscapes are exaggerated by extremely rough brush strokes and vivid colors. He believed that his paintings should convey the mood he was in when he painted them, and he painted extremely quickly so that his mood would not change before he finished. To get the job done, he often squeezed tubes of oil paint directly onto the canvas.

His brother Theo was an art dealer, and for years he had supplied Van Gogh with a small monthly stipend. In return, Van Gogh gave his brother every canvas he painted. He wrote thousands of letters to Theo. "How much sadness there is in life," he wrote. "The right thing is to work." He moved to a small town north of Paris and painted feverishly until insanity overtook him. He cut off part of his own ear and was placed in an asylum at St. Rémy. One of his greatest paintings, Starry Night (1889), was painted while he was confined there. He left the asylum for good in the spring of 1890. In July, just as he was starting to receive favorable attention for his work, he committed suicide. Shortly before he died, he wrote "I feel a failure."

Saturday March 29 2008

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Snow, Aldo" by Kate DiCamillo.

Once, I was in New York, in Central Park, and I saw
an old man in a black overcoat walking
a black dog. This was springtime
and the trees were still
bare and the sky was
gray and low and it began, suddenly, to snow:
big fat flakes
that twirled and landed on the
black of the man's overcoat and
the black dog's fur. The dog
lifted his face and stared up at the sky. The man looked
up, too. "Snow, Aldo," he said to the dog,
"snow." And he laughed.
The dog looked
at him and wagged his tail.

If I was in charge of making
snow globes, this is what I would put inside:
the old man in the black overcoat,
the black dog,
two friends with their faces turned up to the sky
as if they were receiving a blessing,
as if they were being blessed together
by something
as simple as snow
in March.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

This poem was in the Writer's Almanac this morning. And I loved it. Just finding the poem there today was like receiving a blessing, on an overcast day in March. It reminded me that Charm and I were in Central Park on a snowy day in March once. That trip was a wonderful adventure, a memory to savor, a blessing in my life, with my wonderful friend.

So today is overcast and warm, almost 35 degrees this morning. What a weather yo-yo, one day below zero and the next so warm. Last night the dogs were just happy to lay out on the porch at 2 a.m. and not even come in. It was calm early this morning, but the wind is blowing again, buffeting around the eaves and the loose screws on the metal roofing are squeeking.

Last night I made some blueberry walnut scones to go with dinner. I've never been that successful with making scones, but these finally turned out pretty good. I have always mixed them too hard, and this time only barely folded the ingredients together. It worked so much better.

Was very tired from not sleeping well since Tuesday, and went to bed about 7 p.m. and got up at 8 a.m. Slept nearly the whole night.

Nanny S. called this morning and we had a great visit. She says its hot there in Arizona. We have a promise to go out and have a picnic together this summer when she comes back to spend some time here. Then Betty from Mesquite called. She and Nancy W. are planning to come up for a visit about the middle of May and I could ride back with them to Nevada and go to Tayler's graduation and spend some time with my family. My sister might come up from Green Valley then. I would like to see my cousins who live in California, perhaps. Beverly also called before lunch, and really enjoyed talking to her. The Pinewood Derby is this weekend, and Brent is working on a car for the Dad's special race. Clay had been on a camping trip. Yesterday Betty P. and I talked for a while. She sounds good and is busy and enjoying her family and friends there. Carl has been gone about two years ago now and she is trying to gradually sort through their things and find places for the posessions to go. Two other of her family members passed away in the last two weeks, so they have had a busy time lately.

Today was our Sublette County Artists Guild (writer's group) meeting. I didn't go.

Friday March 28 2008

Hard to See, But Two Rabbits are Playing

One on Sled and One Just Outside Gate

"Real liberation comes from not glossing over or repressing painful states of feeling but only from experiencing them to the full." Carl G. Jung

Yesterday I saw the first marsh hawk to come back to our field appear out of the wind-blown snow, a female. She flew right past two of the studio windows so I got such a close look at her face, eyes and the pattern and color of her body. Other people maybe two weeks ago have said they've seen flocks of geese flying, but Tuesday I saw my first geese this spring sailing over the highway at Pole Creek. It was a moment of joy in the morning. No one has told me yet that they've had cranes in their fields, but they should be showing up soon too.

Yesterday and the day before we were having terrible ground blizzards. It was a good day to stay in for sure. The snow blows high into the air and obscures everything. If you were out, it would rip the hair right out of your head. I checked the Pinedale Airport online and that report said it was only blowing 8 mph there. March is usually a bad month for wind. The rest of the week doesn't look so great either. Overnight the wind uncovered my two potentillas and there are areas in the yard that are blown bare. I checked some pictures from a year ago at this time and we have a lot more snow left this year than then. Then the snow had gone off except for the remnants of the largest drifts. Now we are still solid white.

Jerry called last evening and asked how the road was after the wind. He thought he'd better come and clean out the drifts or he might not get through it if it blows some more. They get packed down hard from the wind sometimes. What I could see of the road didn't look too bad, but the snow was blowing across from the north side.The drift in back is over my head and creeping across the driveway in front of the garage. So Jerry came with the dump truck and big plow this morning after they fed their cows and got us "unsnowed" again. Joe went out and got the mail after lunch.

Can't believe it is already the end of March, but glad to be getting closer to spring. Recently I wanted to see what date I was taken to the hospital in Idaho Falls, about a year ago now I think. I discovered that I cannot go all the way back to the beginning of my blog, like maybe it isn't all there, been deleted? ran out of space? Does Anyone know how that works?

Thursday March 27 2008

Horses near Boulder Last Tuesday

On this day in 1964, the most powerful earthquake in the Western Hemisphere during the 20th century struck Anchorage, Alaska. I remember that! So it was interesting to read there was a 4.1 earthquake near the east entrance of Yellowstone Park early on Tuesday morning.

Maxine called this morning and says she has a doctor appointment in Jackson next Tuesday, so we are going to drive up together again.

Maxine was knitting a dishcloth while she waited with me in chemo the other day. I remembered I used to knit and have a sweater somewhere in limbo. So this morning I went looking for that, not sure I hadn't purged it a few months ago. Found it right where I left it years ago, and copied the recipe for her. If you'd like a copy, let me know. It is nearly finished except for the edges and the bottom half of the sleeves. This one is green heather acrylic. I made a gold wool one years ago and wore it out, it was so comfortable. It's a neat pattern because it's all one piece. You start at the neck and go down and it goes very fast. The only seams are under the arms. I could probably get it finished while I sit in chemo. It's been so long since I knitted I'll probably have to learn how all over again. Always figured if I was doing something creative I should be painting so quit doing any other crafts or creative things. Hmmm, I'll have to buy some buttons.

This morning the wind was still blowing and has rearranged all the landscape again. It's still moving the snow, but not as ferociously. As far as I can see out of the window it doesn't look like the drifts are bad down the road ..... yet. Big Kahuna is bigger. Although mostly cloudy, the sun is shining right now and temperature is 23. The wind is supposed to blow and be stormy again. I feel sorry for the new little calves to have to endure such awful weather when they are only days old. But I guess it makes them strong too. Tuesday was the first time I've seen the babies out in the fields. So cute.

I've been enjoying reading Billie Jean's big envelope of letters again, sent through the years. There are letters from the 70's nearly to the 90's. Most of them are from when they went to work on a three year contract in Saudi Arabia and their experiences with that, and the traveling they did all over Europe. Bill was an electrical engineer. Billie Jean was an english professor at UNLV and writes poetry. She's the one who first helped me write poetry, and to feel like I could do that. We met in Nevada hiking in the Sierra Club and had a wonderful friendship for many years. We started corresponding more when I came to Wyoming.

The big snow machine hill climb event starts in Jackson today and goes through the weekend. Charm and Gina are going up to watch. Jim and Gina's son-in-law and grandson are in it. It's a crazy thing to me just to see if you and the machine can do it; the contestants are obsessed with it though. They try to get up and over Snow King ski hill, which is VERY steep, without rolling back down and getting killed in the process. So whoever goes the fastest and the furthest wins. Everybody else stands at the bottom and watches the mayhem. I don't have any desire to do either. Or try to even find a parking place. But you guys have a marvelous time. I loved to snowmachine, only slowly enough to see the scenery and enjoy an outdoor experience.

I'm feeling quite good today.

Wednesday March 26 2008

Following a Gravel Truck

It hauls two big trailers

Eagle on the left - Hills hidden in fog on right

Halfway to Boulder - Fog Bank Ahead

Trees Near the East fork

Yesterday: we had another good trip to Jackson and back. I left before 8 a.m. and the worst time I had was just getting out our lane to the gate. We may have had 3 or 4 inches of new snow. The visibility was not good until I got out to the pavement (about 5 miles). Even though I could see the berms along our lane and stayed right in the middle as best I could, was not sure where the tracks were underneath. But the gravel trucks had beaten down the new snow on the county road so could see a good track there. I followed one of the trucks out.

The light was much better and less overcast as soon as I hit the pavement. I stopped at the Boulder post office and returned a pair of sweats that were too larger to Eddie Bauer, and in Pinedale to drop off the recycling. From Boulder to about where I picked Maxine up the road was dry. The reports we got later were that 8" of new snow had fallen from the Rim through the Hoback and driving was pretty dicey. I couldn't tell that it was that much, they had the road cleared pretty good, much like other trips.

Maxine and I arrived right at the same time at the intersection of 40 Rod Road and Hwy 191. Amazingly beautiful drive on up through the new snowfall. The aspens and cottonwoods were lacy with snow piled in them, and the evergreens were loaded with white. Road was slushy most of the way as the temperatures were warm. Maxine saw some deer but we didn't see much other wildlife other than the elk on the Fall Creek Feedground. They say there are 1500 there right now. (Last time I guessed 700). There are several other feedgrounds in addition to the elk refuge.

Driving was slow again. Got to Oncology just about on time. This time was so much the same as others, I won't bore you with that again. They were very busy today, and were slower than usual getting me hooked up etc. Maxine and I ate our lunch there and it was very good as usual. We had sandwiches with broccoli cheese soup and split a piece of cheesecake.

Then they were slow with getting my prescriptions refills, and Dr. Meno wanted to see me this time. He was in the hospital, but we had to wait perhaps another 30 minutes for him to show up. He had to write the prescription for the pain medicine. We talked about how things are going. The most I got out of this visit was that I probably will keep going with more cycles. This is cycle 5. Then I will have scans and see the Huntsman doctor after that, and go on with cycle 6, etc, etc. I was hoping I might be well enough for a break by now. Dr. Meno and Carol said that eventually the chemo would not work any more and they may be able to do something else after that, I know not what. This is the first time I have heard this, so something new to think about.

Maxine and I went to K-Mart to get the prescriptions and do a little other shopping while waiting. As usual getting the prescriptions involved more time than you would think. I returned a top I'd gotten there last time that was too small. Then we went to Smith's. Maxine had a prescription there, and I whirled through the store throwing stuff in the basket that was near the fish counter and cheaper there than Faler's/Ridleys - got some fresh salmon and halibut.

Maxine drove us on home. I didn't take pictures along the way, because it was too similar to other times that you've already seen, but did get a few coming out this morning as I drove along. I hope Maxine wasn't gone too long, because she left her dogs at home alone. Let her out at her car, and zipped on in to Pinedale to walk through Faler's for things on the list I skipped at Smiths. Then got gas. Now I won't have to worry about coming back to town to shop until next week. The weather is supposed to stay with a good chance of snow all week anyway.

I so much enjoyed the trip with Maxine and getting more acquainted with her. I had the best time and she said she also enjoyed going. I'm beginning to truly realize how much it means to go with a friend as opposed to driving alone. It really takes my mind off all the worries and negative things, even getting there. Although I'm sure I could drive home, even though the nurses say not to, I would probably drive too fast and not relax they way I do when someone is with me. The drive is the best thing I do all week, and is so enjoyable to be with a good friend. Thank you again for going with me Maxine. I loved it.

Got home about 6:30, Joe anxiously waiting and wondering why I was so late. We got the groceries unloaded and I started putting them away. Joe put the car away. He had already eaten leftovers. It was great to see the happy dogs.

TODAY: My night was about like usual, quite uncomfortable with the different side effects going on. This time I could feel my heart jumping around a little, and have had a little of that before. It doesn't last long. Next time will need to remember to tell them during the Q&A session. Sat under the good warm shower for a while to wind down. A very sore thing happens with my eyes, so lay with a warm cloth on them. Didn't sleep until almost morning. By noon I began doing pretty well again. Spent today mostly sitting and reading some of the letters and reading email or goofing off on the computer. We're going to have the halibut for dinner tonight.

Yesterday they held Mixed Media, our painting group, at Rendezvous Point. Charm said about 8 of them went. So was sorry I missed going to that. I thought about changing my appointment, but didn't think I should. Today would have been an awful driving day.

It has been very overcast and its snowing again this afternoon. The wind is blowing and piling up the drifts even more. It's still over the corral, 8' there (pictures in a day or two.) By evening we were having a real ground blizzard with snow falling. I checked the weather online and it said it was only blowing 8 mph at the airport. I was surprised yesterday to see how much the snow had melted around Boulder and Pinedale. Much of the ground is beginning to show there and the brush all uncovered, while ours is still very white and pretty deep yet. I don't know why surprised, since we're usually two weeks behind them in the spring and two weeks early in the fall. I think we're only about 400 feet higher in elevation, but coming into our little valley makes a big difference up next to the foothills. We keep getting an inch or two of snow each time it storms, should be that way all week. But if it does that for 12 days, we have accumulated a foot or more of new snow and some good moisture, so it is welcome. Seems like we've just had an awful lot of overcast days this winter though and that gets old. At least its getting noticeably warmer.

What I came away from the doctor visit yesterday was if I want to go to Vegas I will just be able to take some time off, because they feel that it is important to your quality of life to do enjoyable things too. Tayler graduates from high school about June 5. And high school friend Nancy will be down at Caliente near Betty's in May and we may be able to all get together if we can coordinate the dates. That is unknown right now. Too many unknowns in my life. We seldom know what tomorrow might bring, but at least go ahead with plans. I don't feel like I can make a much of a plan.

Tibbal House

An early 1900s Craftsman Kit House

Tuesday March 25 2008

Washakie Dreams

20x24 Oil Painting

by Lynn Thomas

Yesterday got all the letters from years 1969 through present sorted that have been stuffed in big envelopes and stored, that feels good to have it so neat looking and ready to work from. I typed quite a bit more into the "Timeline" document and its over 60 pages of information organized from letters, receipts and other sources. Much more to go however. I still have several large packets of correspondence to and from a individual friends to be read and the information gleaned. These are going back to them as I finish. And two more years of receipts. Then there will be one more file drawer to do the same way. These are old lodge records. There should be lots in there to work from. Thankfully it is fairly well organized.

The temperature got to almost 40 yesterday so there was some melting and puddles. We've had some icicles hanging in front of the north kitchen window that were over 6' long and they fell off in this warmth. This morning is very cloudy and has been snowing again so may be another day for bad visibility. We're off to Jackson as soon as I finish my yogurt; will leave before 8 a.m., stop at post office to send back too large sweats to Eddie Bauer, and take the recycling to Pinedale. 90% chance of snow up in Jackson, a little less down here, and foggy roads. More later.

Monday March 24 2008

"Altar Rock" in Big Sandy Openings

First thing this morning heard big trucks out on the county road so went to the window check it out and a string of gravel trucks was going by. Joe said he heard 40 of them would be starting to haul gravel from the pit by Big Sandy River to the Rock Springs highway construction. They will probably be on the road all summer now, so we will have to be wary drivers.

Artist friend Joan called me from her home in L.A. yesterday. I met Joan when we were both in WAOW in the early '70s. She was sitting in her back yard barefooted and in shorts listening to the birds sing. It was 17 degrees here. As usual we did a lot of reminiscing about the "olden days". We are both writing up the story about a quite adventurous private raft trip we took together down through most of Utah on the Green River. She said she's about half done with hers. Beverly called after dinner last night. Brent had a blowout driving his company truck. I was glad to hear that he's o.k. She's been doing spring cleaning. I tried to call cousin Iris yesterday, so she called back this morning. It was really good to hear her voice. She sounds great. She's down in Houston now, after her move from Salt Lake, and says she likes it there. Her daughter Michelle and Art are nearby. She has yet to experience Texas summer.

Yesterday I got most of another drawer of old papers and letters sorted and filed in order. This is in order to have facts and dates recorded on a large "Timeline" document I've been preparing which will accumulate all that information in one place. The amount of the letters and such is overwhelming. Guess I've always been a writer. But what a relief to have this at least sorted into folders by dates.

Tomorrow is another chemo treatment. Maxine is going to Jackson with me this time. If we have a long day I may not blog tomorrow.

Today's picture is of a big boulder that sits near the entrance to Big Sandy Lodge in The Openings. Betty sent the link below and it reminded me of these boulders. The boulder is positioned above the ground on 3 small boulders. There are many of these almost the same - big boulder on three small rocks - throughout the Wind Rivers. There is a theory that they were deliberately placed this way by prehistoric Native Americans. And of course another theory is that the glaciers melted away it just happened to leave these boulders positioned naturally. I go for the first theory. There are just too many of them, always on three rocks (discount the ones that have a variety of rocks, rubble or only partially on a rock or two and partially on the ground etc.), they are always in a place with a spectacularly awesome view, where you could say there is a particularly strong spiritual feeing. The biggest reason to discount them being placed deliberately by man, is that its not possible for ancient man to accomplish this. I don't believe that either. Anyway, you can decide.

http://j-walkblog.com/index.php?/weblog/posts/moving_big_rocks

Sunday March 23 2008

Sunset on Muddy Ridge from the Mailbox

The white across the middle is our field.

HAPPY EASTER

This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22) but that is pretty rare. This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above!). And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier!The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones who were around for that!).The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So no one alive today has, or ever will see Easter any earlier than this year!

Hope you all have a wonderful day, and that it is spent just the way you wish it to be. I'm sure missing all my family so far away, but its beautiful here today and am glad to be here. You would love to see the snow and colors on the mountains, and the way the cows looked out in the field this morning strung out walking to the barn get a drink of water. I stood there a long time this morning looking at the hills. Its sure still white though. Still cold too. I'm going to make us a ham dinner with pumpkin pie later. Joe's got the game on TV. Debbie called last night and we got to talk for a while, that was nice. If anything interesting happens, I'll be back later.

Saturday March 22 2008

The Bubles at Mud Lake

Sometime in the 70's

Today's picture is posted because I'm writing about our high school years in The Book. It's a longer story than I would put in the blog, but we had a group of close friends and called ourselves The Bubles. Most of us have kept in close touch all our lives. In the 70s we had a mini reunion at Big Sandy Lodge. Shown in the picture are Lynn, Pat, Doreen and Betty. The dogs are Barney and Chico. I hope I haven't had this on the blog, but think I sent it out email before in case it looks familiar.

After dinner last night we had a fast moving blizzard go through. I thought it was the perfect reason to have a cup of hot chocolate, but before I could get it finished the storm was over. There was a nice sunset and the full moon rose huge and yellow, with another clear dazzling night. It was so bright it had me wondering if you could get moonburn if you stayed out too long. Those rabbits are still carousing around the yard too.

Jerry came and cleaned out our road with his pickup and plow again. The wind had drifted it in a little bit during the last week, and now it should be fine for going to Jackson next Tuesday, even if it might storm a some more between now and then. It doesn't look bad on the weather report though. Jerry, has anyone every told you how wonderful you are?

Joe went to town today to get truck parts. This time he will get the groceries he forgot before. The dogs and I stayed home. Since it is another gorgeous morning but colder again, we took a walk when it warmed up a little. Betty called this morning and we had our weekly visit. I washed the windows inside today. They look better. I sure like using those microfiber cloths to wash glass with. So much easier. And did a little housecleaning.

Today Raven was barking so I checked out what she was guarding us from, and with the spotting scope across the field there was a skunk running along the creek. Haven't seen one for many months. Hope it just keeps on truckin' out of the vicinity.

Then .... I looked out the kitchen window and the Richie's cows were in the field and I never saw them coming. So the cows are back. They will soon be having their calves and stay here until after the calves are branded in May. Then they go out on the desert pastures for a while.

Remember how I removed my name from a bunch of catalogs so they would no longer be sent to us in the mail through http://www.catalogend.com/ ? (I believe we are getting fewer catalogs already - they said it would take a month or so.) Now they have sent me ready printed cards with postage to send to junk mail places to be taken off their lists. How great - and easy - is that? They also sent a web address to go enter my info to get off the list for credit card and insurance card mailings. What a blessing it would be not to get all that stuff in the mail. It is http://www.optoutprescreen.com/ . So I went there and filled out the form to permanently opt out of this junk mail. I DID NOT send my SS# or my phone No. and it worked just fine.

For years the county population has been about 2000 and recently growing. Sublette County's population grew by 9.4% between 2006 and 2007, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The estimated population is 7,925 permanent residents as of July of 2007, up 684 residents from July of 2006. Census Bureau data shows that Sublette County was the 5th fastest growing county among the more than 3,000 counties in the nation between 2006 and 2007. The county was also the second fastest growing county west of the Mississippi River, and the fastest growing county with a population under 19,000.

Two nights ago, astronomers observed a cosmic explosion so intense it was visible to the naked eye from a distance of 7.5 billion light years. I have never heard of the scientists being able to see something like this, until now.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/21mar_nakedeye.htm?list953085

Friday March 21 2008

Autumn Jewels

9x12 Oil Painting of Muddy Canyon in the Fall

by Lynn Thomas

GOOD FRIDAY

Pretty day here, warmer. The last week or so has been around 30 to 34 in the days, with a little of every kind of weather, including off and on snow flurries. If it weren't for little skiffs of snow, we would be getting no moisture. We sure would take some of that excess rain the Midwest is getting right now. Interesting and beautiful to watch the weather as it changes moment by moment. If you look one direction it is snowing and misty across the foothills. The opposite direction is sunny and mostly clear. It's almost unbelievable how in a matter of moments we will be in a whiteout snowstorm and then it is totally gone. The cloud shadows roll over and give constantly shifting light and shadow. We're also getting big towering thunderheads from time to time. Breeziness makes it cool and at the moment is moving a little snow. I didn't get a walk in before that started. Last night was so dazzlingly magnificent with a clear sky and a nearly full moon. The brightness of moonlight on the snow was awesome. By morning we had another inch of snow fallen.

Just now I'm watching about four jackrabbits just outside the yard chasing each other full speed over the drifts and across the hay sleds (which are still more or less buried in snowdrifts). They are delightful. Must be mating season or something. They have begun to get some of their darker summer color mingled in with the winter white. I tried to get a few pictures but couldn't get it zoomed in fast enough for a close one. They're not one bit worried about the dogs. The dogs just watch.... or not. I could use a dog that would chase them away, as they have eaten down a lot of the shrubs in the yard, including my willow bush that had grown to about four feet tall. Its nothing but stubble now.

Got a new book in the mail the other day - The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton. I still have to finish the book I'm into right now though before I start another one. Got the bills paid online and a few other business type things caught up.

Thursday March 20 2008

Sublette County Spring - Horses near the Wind Rivers

WELCOME SPRING

Emily Dickinson said, "A little Madness in the Spring / Is wholesome even for the King."

Today is the first day of spring, the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. On this day, the north and south poles are equally distant from the sun, so we will have almost exactly the same amount of daytime as nighttime.

Harriet's Trivia for today: The common lilac blooms when the sum of the squares of the mean daily temperatures (Celsius) since the end of the previous frost equals 4,264. Huh? Another spring time thing is there is often an outage on the satellite TV signal, usually doesn't last long. But we are having that this morning. Or it could just be a storm going on blocking the signal between the dish and the satellite.

Last night when I let the dogs out it was just balmy that I checked the thermometer and it was 34 degrees! It's hardly been that here during the day. It had begun snowing with those big fluffy wet flakes. Sparky led me right to the towel when he came in. Like - "I'm all wet, dry me off and get me my cheese treat. Extra rubbing will be o.k. - get the tummy." Tell me they aren't smart. Anyway we got a couple new inches and there was enough wind that everything is plastered white this morning. The storm came from the east, which is unusual. It's about 28 now, so it's not melting off too fast. That's nice because its kind of a feast for the eyes. The sun is trying to shine a little now.

Gina called this morning and we had a nice visit and caught up with what's been going on in our lives. Also Jo called to say that both the county and the town had joined in a joint powers board to direct the planning for the new Fine Arts Center. I had stepped back a little from being involved for the last several months. Not sure if I can do much except support to help things along, but this was sure good news. Judi and Rollie got back from a vacation in Arizona a few days ago and she's off to see her daughter in Ohio today. Have fun and be safe, Judi.

More writing on The Book yesterday. I got a chapter done about my best high school girl friend Doreen. It sure brought back a lot of memories. She was a true friend all these years, even babysitting my girls after my divorce. When they moved to Logandale, we would go out and spend weekends with her family there and had such a good time. I never repaid her for any of that, and would like to think of something unique to do now. Any ideas? I also have a large chapter pretty well along about going to Basic High School in Henderson. What a lot crazy and fun times we had.

I haven't been writing much about this ozone thing that's happening here now, except to tell you Jim and Bob are flying the plane that they are measuring the stuff from, but i do just HATE what is happening to our air. If you want more info you can read as much as you want on pinedaleonline. What a terrible shame that our beautiful clear vistas are being trashed, as well as it is so unhealthy.

http://www.sublette.com/roundup/v105n10/v105n10s7.htm

Daffodils by William Wordsworth - 1804

"Daffodils" (1804)

I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretch'd in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

By William Wordsworth (1770-1850).

Wedensday March 19 2008

Daffodils in Nancy's Yard, Coos Bay Oregon

Today's picture is a break from photos of Bondurant and Snow. Nancy sent it yesterday. It's becoming spring in other places. Nancy says they have been getting a lot of rain lately. Usually when the northwest gets rain, we get more moisture too, but we're only getting small skiffs of snow, just enough this morning that we know it snowed a little in the night. That skiff of snow melted off the roofs and dripped off the eaves when the sun first hit it. Although our prediction for today is 70% chance of snow and wind, the sky is brilliant blue and its warm and sunny this morning. That may change. And I wanted to note that several days ago the lows were still below 0, this morning it was almost 30 when I looked at the thermometer.

I'm sorry to hear of all the flooding right now, especially in Texas. I hope all of you down there are doing alright and not having any damage.

Betty and I talked yesterday, and her flowers are also blooming there in Mesquite. She has quite a wildflower mountain meadow in the big rock planters in her front yard. It all entails huge amounts of effort with watering, keeping the sprinkling system in repair, and planting, weeding and trimming. But it is beautiful during certain times of the year, including part of their mild winter there.

Remembering my mom this morning. This would have been her birthday. Today she would have been 100. She passed away about 1980 from complications of diabetes and the same kind of cancer that I have. I've written quite a bit about her in The Book.

Lately I am enjoying just being very quiet and relaxing. It seems like I'm getting lots closer to an inner peace by letting go of everything else. It's not a bad trade-off.

Tuesday March 18 2008

Got Cookies?

Joe went to town again this morning, this time to get his radio fixed. Neither of us could believe he waited nearly 2-1/2 hours at the dealer repair, and all that was wrong was it needed a new fuse, something he could have done himself if he had known the problem. It cost $115. He got back home about noon. While he was gone Bill with the big co plow called to see how our road was and I told him we were fine right now. He said to let them know if we needed them to come in. The wind blew again yesterday and there are little tongues of snowdrifts licking out into the lane, but nothing we can't drive through easily at the moment.

While Joe was gone I got a little housecleaning and vacuuming done, actually very little. But everything seems to be staying pretty straight. Joe is still helping with some of the chores, and just a few things I don't have to do seems to make a big difference. I wrote more on the book this afternoon. Boy those high school years were difficult, weren't they?

The small painting group was thinking of coming out today, but it didn't work out this time. They might come later this week when everyone's not so busy.

The very nicest thing that happened today is that Zane wrote and offered to scan all of my slides into digital format, he says they will be on DVDs or a large external hard drive. He and his cousin are going to buy a good machine to do it. Well, not just mine, but their slides too. I'm just flabbergasted about this. Like ask and you shall receive, except I hadn't gotten past just thinking it was something that should be done. The slides themselves have been offered as a collection to the Museum of the Mountain Man and they have accepted. It will be a big job, as you who know are aware I'm a photo junkie. I estimate I have about 70,000 slides.

Tonight I just couldn't stand it any longer and have to have a snack. I can only go so long without something sweet and chocolaty. So I made some chocolate chip cookies. Sparky and Raven said "Yum". So good. Yes, they got small bites.

Remember I asked why I didn't think to record the Ansel Adams program last night? Well here is the answer from my friend Judy in CO, also an artist. And as soon as I began to read, this hadn't occurred to me but I knew she was so right!!..... "I can tell you why you didn't think to record the program until it was nearly over ... When you started to see the beautiful photographs, your eyes got big. When your eyes get big it causes your right brain to engage. Once the right brain has been turned on everything else is turned off, and tunnel vision becomes enhanced. When in tunnel vision mode, there are no locator sensors available to you rendering you unable to find the remote for recording. Even if you have the remote in your hand already, your vision would be unable to look past the sides of the tunnel, and finding the right button to push would be impossible.That is why you didn't think to record it until it was nearly over."

Monday March 17 2008

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Scenery from Afton,

About the greenest thing I could find in the file.

This was July a couple of years ago.

Hard to write when nothing happens! So will just check in and see if anything inspires me to keep writing. The wind did blow and moved a little snow again. Did a few more pages on The Book. I got my nails done today - I do it in stages anymore. Doc's cows got here. I watched out the back window where I can look far down the road without going outside. Never saw them coming, then there they were in the field. I wanted to maybe go out for the mail and take a couple of pictures of the cattle as they arrived. It's quite a sight to see 300 cows trailing along Richie Road. It's always a change when the cows arrive, and gives us signs of life where it has been so barren of any for so many months.

They cleared a road across the fields up against the hills to Norm's far haystack with the snow blower. It took quite a while to get there and was something to see the big plume of snow shooting out downwind from the tractor. That's about it for excitement here.

Guess Joe will go in to Pinedale tomorrow to get the radio in his truck repaired at Wolf's. I've made him a grocery list with a couple things on it. The small Tuesday painting group may come here if all looks good for it in the morning. Lois isn't feeling so well, Melita has taken off for her 6 week trip to Switzerland. So it will only be a few of them. If they decide to make the trip, I'll just put something into the oven for lunch and make a salad. I made some homemade strawberry frozen dessert the other day and that will be good.

Tonight I watched a program about Ansell Adams on PBS. It was wonderful and why didn't I think to record it until it was nearly over.

Sunday March 16 2008

Berm on Lane - Still As High as My Head

Butte in the background.

Front Gate

HAPPY BIRTHDAY YESTERDAY JACKIE

HOPE YOUR DAY WAS GREAT!!

Another quiet day. I slept a little later and am feeling better today, the usual time for getting over the effects of the chemo. It snowed tiny flakes most of the morning, then started trying to clear up. No more than another skiff fell.

For several days I've been writing on The Book. And am working on the high school years. This is the main part - including up through being at the lodge - that isn't done. Everything except editing before and after this is finished. After I get started I get into it, but this part seems more like work than the other parts have. And its pretty slow. My memory isn't as good as it was just a few years ago either.

Jerry came in with his dump truck and plow and cleaned the small drifts out of our road again yesterday afternoon. How nice is that??!! This morning I saw them bring some feed over with the tractor. They usually spread that out for the cows the day before they come. So I'd guess that the time for the cattle being driven over is imminent. Maybe they will come tomorrow.

The dogs and I took another walk yesterday. I was outside for an hour or more. I took some photos of the snow in the corrals. It's still plenty deep. It was a little muddier walking to the gate than the last time. But warm and pleasant .... in my down coat and knit cap. I wish you could see how much the dogs enjoy running and leaping through the snow. Raven found a soft fluffy spot and just wallowed and buried herself in the whiteness.

Saturday March 15 2008

Mud

Sitting down to write with a hot cup of tea with honey. Today is the infamous Ides of March. I never knew the exact meaning so today I finally looked it up. Always thought it was something complicated, interesting or exciting, but .... no...... it's really boring. In the Roman calendar, the term ides was used for the 15th day of the months of March, May, July and October, and the 13th day of the other 8 months. The term has come to be used as a metaphor for impending doom - i.e Beware the Ides of March (as in the quote from Bill Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar). Two thousand fifty-two years ago on this day, in 44 BC, the Roman emperor Julius Caesar was stabbed to death by senators who called themselves the Liberatores (Liberators) and claimed they were preserving the integrity of the Roman system. And I found out that Brutus was the son of one of Caesar's lovers.

SCAG is scheduled for today over in Big Piney, the writer's group, but although Charm has offered to drive and encouraged me to go see everyone, it just doesn't seem like something I want to do. More effort than reward or something. This is the first morning I've felt pretty good since the last treatment, so think I'll just stay home and take it easy. Bet you get tired of hearing the news of what I DON'T do. ......O.K. Today I did the laundry!!

Joe took the dogs and went out to get Friday's mail. We had such a wind yesterday afternoon he didn't go out for it. He said the lane is drifted in some, but the rest of the way to the mailbox is o.k. Big Kahuna is over the top of the corral now and the front two corrals seem level full of snow maybe 5' or 6' deep. We haven't tried to get in the barn all winter. The kitties sure have an obstacle course getting back and forth to their dinner. (Oh -I saw Tigger today sitting in the sun.) The field is all leveled and rearranged with ripples like sand on a beach. This morning is calm, warm(er) and sunny, even though a chance of snow is predicted again.

Nancy called me from Wickenburg this morning. She sounds great. We had such a nice visit about all that philosophical stuff, and how we dispose of our stuff and get our stuff in order. We decided we really don't have the answers except just to have fun doing something we like. And she is nuts4rocks!

Wow! Sheral sent me a passionate pink "ooooo feel how soft" sweatshirt. It just came in the mail. Also some souvenirs of Zane and Kerri's wedding, which was another thing I was sorry to have missed. The menus just made me drool. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, you guys. Have a good time in Arizona.

Zane and Kerri in New Zealand on their honeymoon.

http://www.komando.com/videos/3-1.asp

Friday March 14 2008

Clothespins

10 degrees

Icicles that caused drips in the kitchen


Frosted Tree

Yesterday it was almost raining and was about 40 degrees. Snowing today with that silvery misty look across the hills. Getting the moisture is good. It snowed small flakes for most of the morning even when the sun tried to come out. We had wind moving the snow all afternoon today, but I think the road is still o.k. Big Kahuna is over the top of the corral now and the front two corrals seem full of snow. I suppose 5 or 6' deep.

Joe spent some time out in the garage this morning cleaning up his truck and finding more damage or missing items. The big tow chain is gone, also the tire iron. The radio doesn't work. There is something else he told me too. So all that will need to be reported to the insurance.

I've been getting nice phone calls and emails lately. Its great hearing from everyone It's been in my heart to thank everyone again for all the prayers and good thoughts sent our way. It is just beyond belief how caring and wonderful everyone has been to help and send acts of compassion, emotional support, or sympathy - which means to suffer together. I'm thankful for such friendship. So many people are showing special kindness and we're very appreciative. It is now I really understand how precious friendship can be. Also I'm thankful for my Heavenly Father, for my Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit, who are such a treasured part of my being. They give me strength and joy in life.

Thursday March 13 2008

This is a photo of the ranch Gina and Bob took from the plane a few years back. It has been on email back then but never in the blog yet, so thought I would put it in today. The right angle track is our snowmachine trail out to the county road. The other tracks are from the horses wandering around. You can see them at the right of the house on their feedground.

Yesterday we drove to the Troy's auto repair place and picked up Joe's truck. The repairs are finished, except for the paint job. It will be done in a couple of weeks. They are busy until then. So he drove his truck home. He asked me if I wanted to go to lunch in town, but I didn't feel like eating much. I sure don't turn down many offers to eat out.

On the way back I stopped at Dr. Susie's and got the dogs their checkups, shots and worm medicine, and their glands cleaned out. I was sorry to hear that heartworm, which we haven't had here in the past, is being brought in by dogs from the south with people who are working in the oil fields. So now our dogs will need heartworm medicine during the mosquito season. It is given once a month as long as there are mosquitos, about six months. If we do this as a preventive measure they will be able to stay free of this awful disease. Sparky is still about 15 pounds overweight. He gets very little at dinner time, but somehow manages to beg or steal (from Raven's dish) more food than he needs. Joe insists on dropping pancakes down their throats and I try to adjust for that, but its not working. He weighs 57 and should weigh about 40 pounds. Raven weighs 80 pounds and is doing well. She behaved so well with her checkup this time, but Sparky was a big sissy, crying the whole time. He never used to cry.

Today is very overcast, and looks like it wants to snow. The weather report says we should get some, maybe one or two inches. It looks about the same through the weekend - chance of snow. There is a breeze but it doesn't feel very cold. This morning Joe went in to Pinedale to get his haircut, so will probably eat lunch in town. I'm watching a John Wayne movie, and want to size some of my photos of the snow here at home from when I walked last Sunday. I'll put a few on the blog into a photo essay.

Beverly wrote: "Today I went to Debbie's after work and right when I turned onto her street, there was a lady passed out cold on the sidewalk and part of the street. I ran over and someone had already called 911, Debbie came with me. We waited for the paramedics to come and they took her to the hospital. I said, man! A lot of excitement happens on this street, that's where Tayler's car burned up."

http://www.e-water.net/viewflash.php?flash=irishblessing_en

Wednesday March 12 2008

From the Bondurant Weather Cam

HELL

- by Dele Ball

They say hell is a firey place,

With heat and flames like furnace blast,

And temperatures too hot to face,

Where demons live and you can't last.

I say they're wrong. I know a place,

That's cold and lone, piled high with white.

Where frigid breezes skirt the drifts

And, like the mind, sometimes takes flight.

For months on end, the piled up snow

No matter how you rave and rant.

Lies four feet deep on top of fence

Oh, hell, they name is Bondurant.

Dele was a friend of mine and a wonderful poet. She was also an artist, and made many of her own colors from colored Wyoming earth. She created unique scenes of her country with those paints. She passed away a few years ago. I love this poem, as well as many others she wrote, and since we've been doing so much "Bondurant" lately, and experiencing the deep snows there, I've been thinking of this poem and decided to put it in the blog. I hope her family won't mind that I've used it. I'd like to share another of her poems or two, maybe later. Dele and her family ranched over on Cottonwood at the foot of the Wyoming Range, relatively close neighbors to Joe's brother Jim.

Tuesday March 11 2008

Snow Shoveled Off Roof - A Winter Job

We're baaaaccckkk! Today's trip to Jackson went well, and much like most other days. Started off about -5 and mostly cloudy, but not stormy. We met at the Boulder post office and I parked over in the corner there and Charm drove her Tahoe. When she drives I really relax both up and back. It was warmer in the afternoon, and the roads were dry all the way. Snow depth was lessening in some places, still deep in some. A new look was where wind had blown some of the ridges bare and then dirt had blown downwind over on the snow making it all brown. Good for the deer and animals that some of the ground is baring up to make it easier for them to find food. We saw about 6 or 8 moose and a couple of bighorn sheep today, and one elk in the river. Plus the 700? elk on the Fall Creek? Feed ground. I saw a lot of deer both going and coming near home.

Charm had a mammogram scheduled today and both our appointments were set at 11 a.m. Yesterday Carol from oncology called and asked if I could come at one instead because they had changes in their patients, and I said yes. She said to still stick my head in the door when we got there and see how they were doing. I did that and fortunately there was an empty chair, so I was seated about 10:30 and we were out by 12, pretty quick. My port (and two other patients at the same time BTW) were blocked and had to have heperin before, as well as after, to thin what probably was a small clot there. They had all of us leaning over one way and then the other, and then Paige had me recline in the chair. Well, that led to them asking if I wanted a warm blanket and next thing I knew I napped nearly through the whole treatment. All the patients but one were sleeping today, and I heard one of the nurses ask if they should put on some soothing relaxing music. Someone else said no, or they'd all be asleep next. I'm off next week, so don't go back until the 25th and will start my 5th month then.

We went over to The Bunnery for lunch. It was really hard but I resisted all the bakery things there. Charm needed a necklace repaired so we went into a jewelery store next door where they make all their own BEAUTIFUL jewelery, to have it fixed. LOVED seeing the lovely designs and such great workmanship. Then we went on to KMart. I needed to get my pain pills refilled although had enough left for a while. When you're out in the boonies you don't want to run out. The pharmacy was closed for lunch until 2:15 so while we waited I got a few other things, and we both shopped for greeting cards. The pharmacist told me the generic version had been recalled, and my Humana Part D probably didn't want to pay for much of the brand name. Actually I believe the last time I bought the generic it was about $9 and the brand name today was $96. I said I would wait a while and see what happened. So that was a waste of our time. Then we went for groceries at Smith's (where I bought irresistible giant bakery muffins) and came on home.

When I got in my car at Boulder the temp read 51 degrees!! In about 10 minutes it was 48, and 15 minutes later was about 27. The county road was good; Richie Road and our lane were sloppy slushy ice. Arrived back home about 6 p.m. This morning had left some pot roast in the crock pot, and that was ready for dinner.

Well, while I was putting the groceries away, I saw water on the window sill above the sink and thought I'd splashed it up there. Wiped it away and in a few minutes the puddle was back again. I told Joe, "Uh-Oh, Trouble!" Water melting off the roof and icicles had leaked back under the eaves and was coming down through the wall and somehow under the cabinet over the sink without any water being in the cabinet. I sure hope it isn't backing up doing damage inside the wall or ceiling. We've had very little trouble with that, but Joe has always cleared that off more often than he has this year, since it seemed to be coming off on it's own pretty well. So he got out there on the ladder with his tools and got a lot of the ice in the roof valley knocked off as far back as he could reach. The drips lessened up right away.

Charm called and said a few of my groceries had jumped over into her bag, including the dog's jerky treats. I had missed those but not the other stuff yet. They will have to do with biscuits for treats until I see Charm again.

Got in jammies right away. Am tired, but so far not feeling too bad. Will see what tonight and tomorrow bring.

Monday March 10 2008

First Redwing Blackbird - This Morning -

Spring is Near

Gorgeous morning, and should get above freezing today. It has still been below 0 in the nights. We were really socked in with fog this morning, and it left everything frosted. Joe went off in the mists to get his blood tests this morning. He thinks he is getting shingles again, but forgot to ask them to check it out at the clinic.

Later I noticed that a big tractor with a snowblower on it came into Norm's clearing out their road, another sign of spring. They do the road and then go in and clear out the haystacks too before they drive the cattle over. Was surprised to see that their two dogs came all the way in to our yard checking things out. Mine were asleep inside so no confrontations.

Had calls from Sandra and Mary. Sandra's old cat, Cat Man, is sick and she might loose him soon. She's had him ever since they moved here from Michigan. Mary also called from Rock Springs. It was nice to talk to her. She said they had 8" of snow south of there, where they winter their sheep, about the time we had that last 2".

This morning I tried again and was able to download my latest photos. Maybe I'll do another small photo essay to show what the snow looks like now. Crazy tempermental computer. I need to call Best Buy just to tell them it still isn't working and see what they say. Later I sat and updated my address book, now that it is working. Gradually I'll have to make sure that everyone's new email addresses are correctly in there since it's been a long time since I've been able to do that, and I know there have been changes.

Tomorrow Charm and I will head back to Jackson, so may not blog tomorrow.

LETTER FROM DEBBIE RECEIVED LAST NIGHT - Now we've all had our vehicles trashed: We had an interesting afternoon today. I was working in the yard and Tayler decided to go get us a sandwich. She got around the corner form the house (on Torrey Pines) and smoke started coming out of her air vents. She tried to call the house, but I was in the yard with the blower on and didn't hear the phone. She parked her car on the side of the street and walked home, told me what happened and I asked if her car was parked in a safe place, she wasn't sure.

We got in my car and went to where her car was and I told her I would see if I could pull it into the parking lot on the other side of the street which belonged to a church. When I opened the car door smoke came pouring out and there were flames coming out of the dash. Two guys across the street where going into church and noticed what was going on and the yelled at me to get away from the car (Tayler was in my car). I asked them if they had a fire extinguisher, and then remembered I had one in the back of my car, ran back to get it.

One of the guys called 911, for the fire department, they both came over and one of them knew how to use the extinguisher, so he doused the flames.The fire truck came and they made sure the fire was out and disconnected the battery. I called the insurance and then we waited for the tow truck to show up. Curtis came home from a ride he had gone on while we were waiting for the tow truck. He followed the tow truck to the VW shop for repair(?) We will wait to see what they say about the damage.

We are thankful that 1) Tayler didn't get hurt, 2) She was close to the house, 3) Those two guys helped us out, 4) The fire department came, 5) We have insurance, 6) We get a rental car. Although we don't have Tayler's car right now, there were many blessings. I think this was probably good for her to see what to do in an emergency situation.

I was going to just leave the car there until Curtis got home, the only reason we went back was because she wasn't sure it was parked safely enough. I guess it would have been totally burned had we not gone back. Other than that, it was a beautiful day today. Love, Deb