Sunday August 31 2008

One of Bonnie's Homegrown Tomatoes

How Awesome is this in country with

one month of summer??

Thank you Bonnie!

This morning started off pretty slow and lazy. then a little before noon Bonnie called and said her son Cheyenne could come over this afternoon and tune up my computer. So after lunch she, Cheyenne and Craig came over. Bonnie brought us another beautiful tomato. Joe and Craig visited about haying, and machinery. Cheyenne got everything I had written down fixed, including switching from Outlook Express to Microsoft Office for my email program (it comes with Office), and reinstalling the scanner so now I can finish the job of scanning all of the family photos that my cousin Maryann loaned me five? years ago. That will be another big job taken off the list. He worked on several other small things too, so I hope now that it's all going to work like it should.

We got the updated artwork history database on a CD which I hadn't done for a long time. And although "it" was telling me I needed to update Trend micro virus and I said o.k. and bought it 2 or 3 months ago for $40 - but I never installed it - I was afraid it would conflict with Webroot which is also in here. So Cheyenne suggested that Webroot was enough and not to put the Trend in too. It came from Best Buy with both installed in it. Thank goodness the computer is taken care of now. Thank you so very very much for taking the time to come over here and work on it, Cheyenne.

And I still have to call again about my TV though. Getting a time scheduled got waylaid a week or so ago so I'll do that next week. And I also promise to take my new cell phone in to Verizon (same guy as the TV) and get that other person and his messages off my phone, whatever that takes.

When Bonnie called, I hurried and whipped up a Chess Pie for us all to have a piece, or for them to take home with them. After the computer was done, we had pie. Craig is a good welder and builds gates among other things, so Joe finally asked him to build us a new gate. He's talked about it for years now. The gate will have our brand on it. I hoped for pack horses and wildlife because Craig does an awesome job with that kind of thing, but Joe said just the brand. That will be nice too.

I fixed us french dip sandwiches and fries for dinner - we really weren't even hungry after the pie. Tonight I'll pay a few bills and get a bank deposit ready. Joslyn called and she had bought Joe a new pair of sunglasses and they are ready for him to pick up - Joe liked hers better than what he's had that the eye doctor gave him. He'll get them next time he goes to town. Thank you so much for doing that for him Joslyn, and Howie too.

Betty called and we had our weekly visit. And also Sheral checked up on us.

So ..... ominously cloudy all day but no rain so far..... only the tiniest of sprinkles, maybe a little in the night but not so you could tell. So much for the hazardous weather warning. Charm said it was raining up at their place at Boulder Lake so glad it's raining somewhere. Maybe it will help put out the New Fork fire, but I bet it smolders until the snow comes.

Isn't this amazing. Gina sent it to me yesterday. This is a hummingbird nest she found in her willow bushes when she was trimming them. And what's so neat is that this is woven entirely from Nube's mane and tail hair that Bob combed out of her last spring!. Gina says the hole just fits her little finger. Horse hair isn't a good thing for bird nests because the babies can get their feet tangled in it and be caught and die that way. She said she saw no evidence that any birds had died. Nube technically is a red roan, that's why the nest looks so pink - that's the color she is in winter and spring, darker in summer. Thank you for sharing this, Gina.

Mural Mosaic of the Horse,

Here's a neat painting project to look at. We should check it again after Sept. 3 when it will be completed. Some of the artists I know have participated, and Elin Pendleton remindedme -she has done two panels.

http://www.muralmosaic.com/Cadeau.html

NEWS FROM THE CITY

SCARY NEWS FROM BEVERLY AND DEBBIE IN VEGAS:

Well for the 2nd time in a week, a plane from NLV airport has crashed into a house. It happened while I was at work about 2:15. I can't tell you how low they fly over our office building to land at that airport. It freaks me out all the time. So this 2nd crash was near Jones and Cheyenne, right by Debbie's house. They are safe though and on the way out of town - they are on their way to Circleville for the weekend.

The crash last Friday killed two people in the house and the pilot. They haven't said yet if anyone was killed in the one today.

Debbie called me to say Felix (her neighbor across the street) had called them, and then she called me to say the power is still out over in her neighborhood (the news says to 900 homes), so I may have to go over in the morning and clean out their refrigerators and freezers if its not back on. I may get up extra early and go over and check it out. Other than that, its been our usual busy week.

Saturday August 30 2008

One of the houses at the Lazy AZ

One of the young owls in the center

Lazy AZ Barn

Zoomed in, but poor quality

Great Horned Owl at the Heninger's

It looks like a cat sitting on the far post

upper left quarter of the picture.

They are about 30" tall.

Sorry not to get a close up but the light

wasn't good anyway.

It was neat to see them fly - they are big!

EVENING UPDATE; Be sure to check Gina and Sally's blogs. They took pictures when they were here this morning and have them posted for today.

Then about 11:30 or so Sheral called and wanted to have us come over to dinner one of these days before they go back to Utah, and after discussion, we decided today was a pretty good day for it after mentioning something about the weather supposed to go bad over the weekend and anyway we ended up going over about 4:30 for a delicious roast beef dinner. They had all kinds of goodies that we don't often have - delicious pickled beets, green beans and mushrooms stewed in chunky pasta sauce, scalloped potatoes AND homemade lemon ice cream. Dick gave the bones and scraps to the dogs too.

We looked at a bunch of their photos - some of Zane and Kerri's new house in Denver, (Good job painting and decorating, you guys! It's beautiful.). And a photo album they've put together about restoring the small cabin they are living in at the ranch. It was a homestead cabin from the early 1900's, and the renovation was quite a project - including moving it a short distance to where it sits now.

Dick showed us some of the newspapers and old calendars that used to line the walls that they have saved - very interesting. The Zupence family were the original homesteaders and there were a bunch of photos of them too from the "olden days". The best ones I liked were them haying with horses, and the horses were wearing homemade fly sheets, kind of like clothes for the horses, even hoods over their faces and ears to keep the flies off.

After dinner we went out to see their great horned owl family that lives in the barn. I got some pictures from a distance - maybe enough to say "See that on the post? It's an owl". We also saw quite a few sage chickens by being out that time of the evening. Dick said there had been about 150 outside their yard earlier in the day. But none of us think there are as many chickens around this year as have been the last several years. Thanks for the nice evening and the dinner, Sheral and Dick. It was very enjoyable.

I just kept thinking that I was a happy camper. It was a very nice day full of friendship and fun. By the time we started home about sunset it looked like a storm was coming from the west and then the power bleeped after we got home.

Barns on the Wood River
8x10 Oil Painting
by Lynn Thomas

THIS MORNING: What a nice warm day. Some high clouds, a pretty sunrise. A little smoky hazy, but not too bad here.

Had a nice surprise phone call this morning and Gina and Sally drove out for a visit. We had tea and chatted and fixed all the worlds problems. Sally's other house down in AZ was struck by a microburst in the last week, and Pete is on his way back from overseeing the insurance procedures for the damage and boarding things up until he can repair it all. Anyway it was a very nice and a little bit emotional celebration of special friendships. We looked at the art show again and they took a few more things home with them. Thanks very much you guys. How nice to have new homes for more of the artwork.

An interesting thing today is that I haven't taken my pain pill for the first time and that feels o.k.!! Just so many other miserable things happening, especially an icky nausea and the big "D" so still some ups and some downs.

Ruth and I will be co-hostesses at the next Mixed Media painting meeting here at my house on September 19. We got our ducks in a row with it all this morning and I'll be sending out both an email and regular mail notices. Depending on the weather, we'll see whether we just stay around the house, or go out for some plein air painting for a few hours in the afternoon. Betty should be here then, and I think she will enjoy joining us for the meeting.

Lunch time now and Joe wants a BLT, so better get busy with that. For sure I am painting this afternoon. p.s. no I never did paint, but did have good intentions. Maybe tomorrow?

Friday August 29 2008

Bull Moose

20x24 Oil Painting

by Lynn Thomas

Boy not a thing to write about. Tired but otherwise not too bad. I've just sat and rested all day except for a bit of laundry and cooking. Time to start dinner now and I think it will be a broiled steak.

It's been warm and fairly calm. But this weekend there is supposed to be a big storm coming that will bring snow by Labor Day. It always seems to want to storm at Labor Day when all the campers are out in the woods and the high country. So we will see whether we get it or not.We haven't had the rains there have been further north, not since that good spring rain here. It's really dry and dusty. So wish it would give us some good moisture. Snow would be o.k. Story is on pinedaleonline.

It's sometimes been in the 20's for lows lately and my flower pots are all frozen and dried up. Only a couple by the porch still have some blooms. It seems like they didn't last long this summer.

Sandra invited me to come down to her cabin at Atlantic City - South Pass next week. I would enjoy going very much.

Gina wrote: "While we were unloading hay...you'll see pix on the blog, if I get that done, we had the horses in the back yard. And darn, I didn't get the camera fast enough...but Nube was drinking out of the sprinkler. How funny. When I first saw her, I thought she was just standing there to cool off, but then I saw her drinking out of it...her nose right down where the water comes out. It was such a hoot. She was all wet, and didn't care a bit!"

Judy in CO is home after her surgery and says she's doing o.k. resting and walking. Get well soon, dear Judy.

Judi and Vicky got to Texas o.k. I see she has posted a new blog so will go and read it to find out how they are doing.

Thursday August 28 2008

Young Buck Deer - Autumn

5x7 Oil Painting

by Lynn Thomas

Off to town in about an hour, me dentist, Joe haircut, grocery shopping, lunch, getting the chemo pump taken off. It looks like it will be a busy time for the next few weeks with appointments and going to town. Trying to get them all organized will be interesting. At least today won't have to hear the convention stuff all day. Slept pretty good, despite many trips to the bathroom in the night. Up early, same reason.

Some friends have mentioned that their eye doctors had suggested washing their eyelashes with Johnson's baby shampoo to help with irritated eyes. Bonnie confirmed that she has tried it too, so I started doing that. Although just doing it a couple of times so far, I think it might help. Eyes are still very irritated, I'm sure mainly from the chemo.

It's VERY smoky this morning, from the New Fork fire which has flared up again, otherwise its a nice day. By the time we got home the smoke is much less, but you sure could see the great pall over the mountains when we were in town.

From http://www.pinedaleonline.com/ (see more pictures) : New Fork Fire flares up -The New Fork Fire reached Pine Mountain and made a dramatic show as it consumed trees on the west face of the mountain. Firefighters are monitoring the blaze, which is burning in the wilderness area. This is the view looking across the valley from Mt. Airy on Wednesday afternoon. Fire danger has been elevated to Very High. Click on this link for more photos of the fire on Wednesday, August 27: New Fork Fire revives . They are calling the size about 14,000 acres. It looks many miles wide north to south and is spreading east to the continental divide, reaching way back from the foothills where it started. It is only 19 miles from Pinedale.

It's very big and burned a lot of country

AFTERNOON UPDATE: Got all the town chores done. I couldn't believe the dentist wouldn't let me pay for my filling. What a special gift. I was just bowled over. Maybe I can give him a small painting in appreciation. Over to the grocery store, and saw Joe's niece Joslyn. She was sitting with Joe having coffee and suggested we go to lunch together. Got the groceries and the checkout was just a circus. I came home with 28 paper bags for a weeks groceries, and about 10 pounds of dry ice to keep the cold things cold!!! I tried to check through the bags for just such a thing, but they still didn't get ice on all the cold things, one whole bag of meat without any ice at all, and milk and cream in with the can goods. I was very close to loosing my patience with it all.

Joslyn and Howie came to the Patio to have lunch with us and that was nice to visit with them. Then to the clinic and got the chemo pump off. We went and had a milk shake after that and it was just too much. Neither one of us wanted dinner tonight but Joe finally ate some leftovers. I guess we got back home about 3:30 or so. Sweet Amy at the clinic called as I walked in the kitchen and said Jackson wanted me to leave the pump at Pinedale so they could get it back up there to use for someone else. She hadn't checked her messages or we would have known when I was there. Amy always calls me "honey" and I just sort of melt while she's taking care of me. I called Carol at the hospital and she said it was o.k., that they didn't need it after all..... thank goodness. But she still wants me to take it to Pinedale Clinic if I go to town and they can mail it. I guess I can mail it, I don't know.

It's the birthday of one of the greatest German writers ever, born in Frankfurt in 1749. He worked on his greatest drama, Faust (1832), for about 50 years. When Goethe was 74, he fell in love with a 19-year-old woman, whom he chased but never succeed in winning. He wrote a long, sad poem about his failed attempt, and died soon after, in 1832. He said, "Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them to become what they are capable of being."

Wednesday August 27 2008

Horses at Silver Creek

coming home the other day

Got up early, showered and got ready for the day. Drove to Bonnie's house to pick her up about 8 a.m. , a little earlier than we planned but she was ready. I still hadn't gotten an answer about where and when to meet the shuttle, so we made a few phone calls and found out that there had been a glitch in the scheduling and it wasn't running today. So we just drove my car to Jackson. Very nice day for driving, uneventful, noticing how the natural gas pipeline is progressing.

Got to Oncology a little early, vitals taken and right into the chair. There must have been gremlins at work today because my port would only let fluid in and they couldn't draw the blood samples needed out. After much time consuming trying Carol took the first samples from my arm, then the lab called and said it was clotted, and she took another from my arm which took two tries to get a vein, same thing, then another in my hand. That made four tries and lots of time and supplies. Received the results and I was good to go for the treatment, but by then it was after 1 p.m. Carol got the chemo drip going.

I showed Carol my hands and how the skin has peeled off my thumb, very sore, and told her now the skin is coming off my feet with deep cracks. I thought I was keeping after them pretty well, but I'm sure the chemo is working on them. The blood test results showed that my protein was low, and I believe it was low last time too. So Carol suggested taking a protein drink supplement. So bought some whey soy protien drink at Smiths later. Food just hasn't been tasting right and gradually I've ended up settling for something carbohydrate, sweet or salty crunchy or spicy, just something with more taste to it. I never know if what I'm cooking tastes good or bad. Joe keeps eating it though. Everything else seemed as usual, so nothing new there to report.

Bonnie and I ordered some lunch at noon. I had an omelet and cheesecake (ate half and saved half for later), Bonnie had a fish sandwich. She was able to visit some with people there for treatment, and other friends out in the waiting room, so that was good. I fell asleep in the chair under the warmed blankets and had a good nap. I woke myself up with those loud snores a couple of times and everyone in the room was laughing. I apologized, but it was pretty funny. That's the longest I've slept there.

Bonnie drove us to Smiths afterwards to get my prescription filled. They had the best price yet for my pain medicine - $1.31 for 2 months. We did a little bit of shopping and I got only the necessary things. Bonnie drove us home and a good thing because I was pretty drowsy. The ride was nice and so good to visit with Bonnie and get to know her better.

Between Pinedale and Boulder, I noticed two horse back riders moving a bull, and before I knew it I recognized they were Gina and Bob. It was a fun surprise. We were past so fast that I wasn't sure if they were riding Nube or not. I will find out.

We got back to Bonnie's place maybe about 6-ish. She gave us more produce from her greenhouse and garden - fresh picked raspberries - which we polished off today - YUM tomatoes, zucchini, new red potatoes just dug that morning, cucumbers. I got to see Craig and their son Cheyenne with his two cute little boys - they came over on their ATV and he said he would come over one evening and tune up my computer. So I was glad to have a plan for that. I'm sure he will be very good at it. Mike who fixed the laptop never did call so this is good.

I guess after picking raspberries and all, I got home about 7. Joe had leftover spaghetti for dinner, and I microwaved myself a plate of that. Went to bed pretty quickly.

Tomorrow Joe has a haircut appointment and I have a dentist appointment to get a filling. I will get some groceries. Have to get the chemo pump off too. Sheral and I were going to dinner and the movie hopeful to see Mama Mia tomorrow night, but its not on after all. So we will go another time. I'm still trying to get all the Harry Potter movies seen without falling asleep though most of it.

Tayler's Off to College

Tayler and Friend Going to Prom

Hi Everyone,

Just thought I would let you all know that we got Tayler off to school last weekend. It was a good trip. Tayler's best friend Angela from Vegas will be her roommate in Reno. We left on Tuesday. Both the girls drove their cars and Curtis and Alan (Angela's Dad) drove our vehicle. All three cars were full, it took about 8 hours to get there.We went to the University on

Wednesday and began the check-in process; 1st line for a student ID, second step getting signed into the room and a room key. Then we were able to pull up to a loading area and the students in the fraternity's and sororities came and carried all the stuff to the room. WOW was that nice, we were so glad for the help. There was plenty still to be done, the room was not very clean and we had yet to get cleaning supplies. So we took inventory and "The Dad's" went off to Home Depot, where they bought a cabinet for the bathroom and two curtain rod's and wall mount for the TV. Jennifer, Angela, Tayler and I went to WalMart, and got the cleaning supplies, and some curtains for the closet, a lamp for the table between the beds and some other items they needed. It turned out to be a very long day, but they have a nice comfortable room.

The following two days were filled with various orientation events for both the students and the parents. Curtis had a meeting to go to in Lovelock on Friday, so I skipped the second day of orientation. Friday night Curtis and I took Jeremy (Tayler's boyfriend)and Tayler to dinner at Harrah's to a Japanese Steak House that was really good, they did the table cooking. We had two other families at our table who had new students at UNR. It was fun meeting and talking with them. Thursday and Friday evening Curtis and I walked along the "River Walk" a real nice path that follows the Truckee River. They had people enjoying the outdoors; kayaking, swimming and fishing. The temperatures up there are so much nicer than Vegas, it was great to be outside.

Saturday Curts and Alan rented a couple of dual-sport bikes (on/off road) and went on a ride for the day. Alan got stung by two bees and Curtis pulled his back, he is still recovering from that. Jennifer and I relaxed and went to the spa -- a much safer place to spend the day.Curtis and I drove home on Sunday and Al and Jennifer flew home Sunday evening.

Curtis made the comment to me that it has never been just the two of us. In the beginning it was Curtis, Justin and I. So now, I guess, we will see what that is like. I came home and started some packing, as it looks like we may have our house either rented or sold, so we will move onto the property while the new house is being built. That will be interesting; 2 dogs, 1 cat and 2 adults in our trailer for 6-9 months. Life is such an adventure!

.Love, Deb

The "Other" Judy Meyer

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DEAR JUDY

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GET WELL WISHES.
know you're having your surgery today, and sending best wishes for you to get well really soon. You will be on my mind until I hear how you're doing - well ..... after that even.

LOTS OF PRAYERS, LOVE AND HUGS,

.

Judys hair

She just cut it and sent 25 inches

to be made into wigs for Cancer Patients.

PS Judy wrote the Gizmo and Mr. Bumble Bee Murder Mystery.

Her web site is fortmeyer editions on the sidebar

if you want to see her beautiful artwork.

Tuesday Evening

JUDI'S IN WONDERLAND!

OR DID SHE SAY KANSAS?

ANYWAY YOU CAN CHECK HER BLOG.

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It reminded me of this photo I took of her a couple of years ago

at one of our SCAG member's ranch where we met for luncheon

that I had titled "Judi in Wonderland"

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Judi always finds wonder and delight in so many things.

Tomorrow she can say:

"I don't think we're in Kansas anymore, Vicky."

NOTE: Back from Chemo a few hours ago, and everything went o.k. I'll write about it in the morning. Guess it always makes me a little goofy for a while, but I wanted to show you this photo. I didn't take any pictures today. So will talk to you later.

A Monday Update

8x10 Pastel Sketch of Aspens

Out the Window at RHR

by Lynn Thomas

MONDAY EVENING UPDATE; Got my largest pot down and made a big batch of spaghetti sauce today - probably 11 quarts - 7 of which went into the freezer. So I invited Sheral and Dick to come to dinner. We had a nice visit. The dinner menu included MC Key Lime Pie that I've had in the freezer just waiting for a good opportunity for dessert and not having to make anything myself. Sheral made us a salad and we had garlic toast. It was a pretty good meal for me being drastically out of energy. Joe washed up the pot afterwards.

Sheral and Dick brought back more CD's of the slides, the project Zane has been working on. I'll probably stick them in on Wednesday and take a look at what he's done with them. Maybe even more good photos to share now that the slides are digital.

Well, I don't know why, but Raven got sick big time on the carpet after her dinner. I'm sure she was trying to tell Joe she needed to get out, but he was asleep. So then I had to clean up the mess and get the carpet cleaner out, but that didn't take too long.

Then there was a nice surprise phone call, and Bonnie asked if I'd like her to go along with me to Jackson tomorrow, and I said "YES!!" And I'm really looking forward to getting to spend some time visiting with Bonnie. How great is that?? I'll pick her up at her house on the way in to Pinedale in the morning.

One of the phone calls I procrastinated making - to check on when and where to meet the shuttle - didn't get made, so hope the clinic knows in the morning. I'm sure they said 9 a.m. at the Pinedale Clinic. Did not get the list of phone calls accomplished, but did get Joe a dentist appointment.

So now I'm going to bed! I've been trying to watch the three Harry Potter movies, but you sure have to listen to every word to know what's going on and follow the story, so might switch to something else - like Babe or 101 Dalmatians.

Maybe no blog tomorrow.

Monday August 25 2008

Photos taken by Ruth at Round Hill
Thanks, Ruth!

The Round Hill Mixed Media Painting Retreat was wonderful. Being with the artist friends is always such a special blessing. We had a fun and productive four days together.

Attending were Melita (it's through her that we have the opportunity to go to Round Hill), Kay (who did all the shopping and organizing), Ruth, Dee, Justine, Lois, and me. Hank and Tom opened the place up, got the generator, the gas stoves and waterheaters working for us and then came back afterwards and shut it down. Propane and diesel were delivered while we were there, and another friend came up to make sure we got the oven pilot light going, While the men were there the gas hadn't gotten to flowing through the lines yet. So Lois got down on the floor later and got it lit. We were afraid we'd have to cook over a campfire or something.

We all worked very hard. I'm not sure how many pieces the others got done - lots - but I finished two older paintings, got a new small pastel scene of aspens done, worked on one of my commissions and got it nearly finished, and started a large oil painting of a pack trip in the high country. It's probably half done. Several of the artists like to paint outdoors - plein aire - and they did lots of that. I worked inside this time. I'll photograph the new paintings and show you later.

We had our usual gourmet meals, and way too much of it. We all tried our best to get it all eaten and not have to take any home, but it was not possible. Everyone took turns preparing a meal. I took fresh strawberry glaze pies and a big spinach dip in a bread bowl, and the four dozen muffins, two kinds. Everyone brings food to add to the larder.

After painting hours, they played Farkle. Don't know if you ever have, but its fun.

The weather was mostly cool but nice. We had a front go through the first night when the wind really roared through the cabin eaves and trees. A couple little sprinkles of rain was all we ever got, clouds and sunshine came and went daily.

The wildlife is fairly tame. We saw quite a few deer - there were four bucks together in the pictures today - one was big, lots of birds, antelope on the way coming and going, a treat of seeing a weasel, and squirrels who were bombarding the ground with pine cones the large reports sounding through the quiet. Funny that the largest buck deer was already gray and the smaller three were still in the brown summer coats.

Round Hill is a private lodge. Melita's neighbors own it as a place for their family and friends to come and vacation, hunt and fish, and they just invite us to use it nearly every year. We figured we have been coming to Round Hill for ten years now. Very special thanks to them for such a wonderful opportunity. We made them a small book of original art, two pages done by each artist and bound into a book form.

I got back home about 3 p.m. yesterday afternoon. I paid attention to about how far it is from home - around 90 miles and two hours straight driving - it's across the Green River Valley over in the Wyoming Range to the west, and very remote.

Joe and the dogs seem to have done fine without me. I've already got the laundry done up and put away this morning and a big chunk of the email taken care of. I need to make us some appointments - Joe needs his teeth cleaned and an eye appointment in Rock Springs, and I need a haircut. Guess I better check on when the TV repairmen are coming, and call the man who said he would come to tune up my computer and get the scanner going. Didn't get the photos from the weekend downloaded yet so will do that and post a few in the next week or so. Today's photos were taken by Ruth when we were out photographing the four buck deer.

I finished the book "Pushing My Shadow" about a lady who spent WW II in the near east and Europe, trekking and teaching at schools. Also "Teton Tales" by Paul Petzolt - interesting about the early climing history. Now I'm in to "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. It's very good and I wish I had read it 40 years ago, and 30 and 20 and 10.

Boy what a wonderful day out this morning. I'm sorry to think the summer is nearly over. Maybe I can paint today. Tomorrow is chemo day again. I'll meet the shuttle in Pinedale. My friend Judi left yesterday on her winter's sojourn to Houston. Hope she and Vicky have a good and safe trip.

Sheral and Dick are coming over this afternoon. They just got back from Denver.

Sunday August 24 2008

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BE BACK FROM ROUND HILL LATER TODAY

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Ponds on Horse Creek

Plein Air Oil Painting

Done at a Past Round Hill Retreat

by Lynn Thomas

Saturday August 23 2008

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WE'RE GONE TO ROUND HILL

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811 Touch of Autumn

12 x 12 plein Air Oil Painting

done at a past Round Hill Retreat

By Lynn Thomas

Friday August 22 2008

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STILL GONE PAINTIN'

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844 - Middle Piney Creek

11x14 Plein Air Oil Painting

from a past Rount Hill Painting Retreat

By Lynn Thomas

Thursday August 21 2008

GONE PAINTING'

810 Round Hill Retreat

11x14 Oil Plein Air Painting

from a past Routh Hill Painting Retreat

by Lynn Thomas

'Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.'

Wednesday August 20 2008

812 - Approaching Storm - Muddy Canyon

11x14 Plein Air Oil Painting

by Lynn Thomas

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A small essay from about ten years ago

Friday, October 22, 1999

Sun Dance

Yesterday I went for a long bike ride with the dogs. It was a beautiful fall day when everything is warm and golden. We pedaled up Muddy Canyon, walked across Doc’s meadow to watch and listen to the creek for a while. Admittedly, I’ve been getting older, so pedaling uphill is hard. Sometimes I get off the bike and walk, pushing it along up the hills or rocky spots.

On the way home its downhill or level, and I wanted to keep pedaling without stopping to get more of a workout. I was facing West, into the lowering afternoon Sun. For some reason it looked like a pole between me and the Sun. I didn’t want to look right at the Sun to try to figure out what the pole was, because it ‘s not good for your eyes. So I just let it be there. I had the feeling of hanging from the pole, looking into the Sun, as if it were the Plains Indians’ spiritual endurance test of the Sun Dance. Of course, I wasn’t hanging for 3 or 4 days by my pierced breasts, but I did have the fascinating momentary image of my own personal Sun Dance. I did vow to try to keep my body, mind and spirit as healthy as possible and not to give up when anything in my life gets difficult.

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Today I'm making 3 doz muffins, spinach dip with bread bowl and strawberry glaze pies to take to Round Hill. Actually making the glaze and taking the rest to put together there, since I don't think the pies would travel very well over the long gravel roads Plus I didn't pack yesterday so have to do it today. I took a little walk again this morning. Looking toward the west was a heavy pall of smoke again, and by 11 am it has reached our valley, making it terribly hazy. I wonder where this fire is?

I probably won't blog for several days because there will be no interenet where we're going, But I will take the laptop just for the heck of it. And then catch up how the weekend goes when I get back. I'll get some pictures to share too. We're all really looking forward to the painting retreat and being together.

Tuesday August 19 2008

Barn on the North Platte

14x17 Pastel

by Lynn Thomas

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This was about my first pastel and I really struggled with it.

That usually shows in the finished artwork, but it's always a good lesson.

Yesterday went fine. I left about 11 and got to town in time to get a few gift certificates from the Chinese Gourmet to give to some of the people who have helped me all this time. It's really hard to choose something to give, because it doesn't even come close to how grateful I feel for all the continued help and support friends have given to us. I'll never be able to make it all up to everyone. But.... it's a little beginning and very belated.

Judi and I had a nice visit at lunch. Rollie was there too. It's the last time I'll see her until she comes back from Houston next summer. She's going to babysit her grand kids while her daughter in law goes back to college. She's planning to get an apartment there, so has to take enough stuff to set up housekeeping. The food at lunch was o.k. They've changed lately according to State rules to more fat free, salt free and sugar free preparation and taste is definitely showing that. They give you a big portion, so I shared some with the dogs.

Went next to the meeting for the Community and Art Center. We talked for almost two hours. The plan is still all preliminary, but we felt we are closer to what the art portion of the building needs. It's changed quite a bit from the last set of drawings we were shown. By the end of the meeting we were all a lot happier with what is being presented now. Even though a lot of square footage has been taken away because of the costs.

The architect had a new still-preliminary drawing of the building exterior, which is needed to do the next stage - presenting the plan publicly. It was way too contemporary to fit into the Pinedale environment. Architects have to put some creative ideal into their design - something of their creative selves -and this one had a beaver slide-like portico sailing out over the main entrance - wish I had a picture of it - anyway nobody liked it one bit. We've always indicated a preference for it to be built from local materials - timber and stone - that will fit into the western lifestyle. Not that a beaver slide (primitive hay stacker from the horse drawn haying days) isn't thoroughly western tradition and not that we couldn't see where the designer was coming from with his thinking. It was just too far out and a big stretch from our more traditional concept for something to fit into the local natural setting. O.K. I'm done with the soap box. Just wanted to explain what we had seen and discussed. I totally forgot to go in and look at the art show that was hanging in the next room that Judi had recommended.

Then walking dogs, gas (still $4.06/gal regular - at nearly 90 bucks in the tank NO I'm not saying aren't we lucky it's down more than 30 cents a gallon). Then went grocery shopping and got my prescriptions. Home by 5:30. Joe had the leftover pot roast in the oven. I was really pooped and after getting the groceries put away fell asleep sitting in the chair. Ate a pot roast sandwich later. I just got into p.j.s early and went to bed and watched Man From Snowy River and Mrs. Doubtfire. If the TV repairmen don't get here soon, I'll run out of videos.

Today is another wonderful day. No plans to do anything special. Maybe get some things together for Round Hill, because tomorrow will be getting some of the food ready ahead of time. And because I'll have to leave pretty early, will pack the car tomorrow. Yesterday when I went to buy a new picnic/water jug (the old one wouldn't seal and kept tipping over and making a mess in my car) I saw and bought a lightweight "sleeping bag" to take, because we don't want to use the bedding there and have to wash it. It's perhaps 15"x 5" rolled up, looks like microfiber blankets with a zipper all around and will work just perfectly in the cabin with my small down throw and a pillow.

Got the dogs brushed today. Sparky's not quite so fluffy now. Got hair everywhere and it was an hour before I got it all out of my mount. We took a short walk, which they loved. I made Joe German potato salad and garlic toast for dinner.

This afternoon I had to email a few photos of feeding cattle with a team in winter to be considered being placed on a real estate booklet that comes out every six months. So had to look up and edit the photos. It gives a lot of visibility to the artist and is placed all over the county for quite some time . Then the emails wouldn't go to the gals address, she had been having trouble with it and I had to do it again. What a waste of time. Haven't heard if she got them the second or third time.

Monday August 18 2008

MAGGIE GETS NEUTERED TODAY!

GET WELL SOON, SWEET MAGGIE.

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My artist friend Jackie from a wheat farm near Waitsburg WA has a new puppy. It is time for her to be neutered. Jackie tells me all the news about Maggie, and how smart and sweet she is. They lost their old Rotweiler a few months ago and chose Maggie to be a new member of their family. I know she's going to be a special girl.

Jackie has been building her own art studio on their farm. She has had some help from family and friends and workers, but she has done a lot of the work herself. She's been keeping me up to date on the progress as it's happened. The studio is nearly done and here is a picture of it. Her sister Sheri from Ritzville came last week and they did the sheetrock, mud and tape themselves, never having done it before - and it turned out just great. I'm so proud of you, Jackie, because when you first started your dream of a studio of your own, you didn't think it would happen. And there it stands, nearly ready for great artwork to be created in your own space. It's an exciting thing to get your own special space.

JACKIE'S NEW ART STUDIO

I'm going in to Pinedale today to go to the art center meeting with Jo and the artists, maybe the architect. and lunch with Judi at Rendezvous Point - chicken enchaladas today. She's leaving for Houston for the winter in about a week, so I will miss her. She's been my most loyal companion on the trips to Jackson and always fun. Then grocery shopping and drug store so need to get myself going.

Thurs - Sun. I'm going to our Mixed Media Round Hill Ranch painting retreat. We have a wonderful time together and I'm really looking forward to it. Joe's resigned. I'm getting organized for that, what art supplies to take. We all contribute to the meals so I'll have to get something planned and prepared to take along.

Yesterday I got quite a bit more of The Nevada Years section of The Book re-re-re-edited. I think I've got that section about as finalized as possible. Gloria's sending me some old family photos I don't have, so I'll share a few with you.

Sunday August 17 2008

Irish Creek

It's over the hill to the North of us.

Yet another beautiful morning. Sure makes me wish I could be back in the high mountains again. Betty called yesterday and as always I sure enjoyed talking with her. She's going to come back for another visit here in the last half of September and maybe I'll go back to Nevada with her. Then Debbie wants to come back to the ranch in October and she can bring me home. That sounds like a good plan and all the travel arrangements taken care of for me.

All day yesterday I worked on the book. It helps to get other messes out of the way to be productive on something. I reread and edited about half of the Nevada section, and made it more readable. I'm always surprised when I go back and find things not as organized as they should be, as many times as I've been through it already. Part 1 The California Years has 102 pages. I consider it 95% finished, since I'm sure there will be a few additiions and polishing. Part 2 The Nevada Years has 107 pages - it is not finished completely yet. Part 3 The Wyoming Years is the one yet to be written, although all the journals and letters have been typed into the computer. It's going to be mainly editing.

I can't even estimate how much work and how many pages in reference and correspondence and investigation have been written in addition. I bet 25 times that much would be a conservative estimate. It's all organized and all the actual paperwork is sorted and filed, most of that is also copied/typed or scanned. I just need to get to writing the last of it. In fact, the blog will be fuel for the last years. Also many photos need to be scanned yet, and inserted into the proper places in the text. If anyone has any memories they want to share, it would be appreciated.

Gone Fishin' - Irish Canyon

I slept in pretty late today, but am feeling better now after the last chemo. The first few days it feels like I will never feel good again. But then the "sickness" gradually lifts away and I'm better - usually by Saturday. For sure I'm going to spend some time outdoors today, doing one thing or another. Tomorrow I'll go into town to the meeting for the Community and Fine Arts Center. I've missed too many of them. I have to get a couple of prescriptions filled too.

It's the birthday of actress and playwright Mae West, born in Brooklyn, New York (1893). She said, "When women go wrong, men go right after them. "And, "Too much of a good thing can be wonderful."

Saturday August 16 2008

Sacred Dreams of Father Sky

35x45 Oil Painting on Elk Rawhide

by Lynn Thomas

This painting sold yesterday to be placed

in the new Marbleton Clinic.

Thank you!

Shown before, but thought you'd like to see which one it is.
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No snow, although it could have powdered the mountains and we wouldn't have seen it from here. Deb said 108 in Vegas and Gloria said hot and humid in Green Valley. The wind came up strong from the north and nearly tore the back door off the hinges every time we tried to go out. It cleared off by evening and the full golden moon was exquisite shining through the dark remnants of the storm clouds.

Carrie and Lorraine came over late yesterday afternoon to see the art show. They had been interested in the painting on rawhide of the tipis in an aspen grove for the reception area of the new Marbleton Clinic. I'm very pleased to have it go there. It will be interesting to see how it is displayed - we discussed possibilities for framing or how it will be presented. They also took some prints.

Carrie also kindly brought us homemade soup, bread and jam. We had the bread for dinner and it's absolutely delicious. It tastes wonderful to my out of kilter taster, so I really enjoyed it. And so did Joe. Carrie gave me such a caring hug in the yard, it seemed like a special blessing out under our Wyoming sky. I enjoyed seeing her again, and meeting Lorraine.

For dinner I had made chicken and noodles for dinner from a Ridley's roasted chicken with Carrie's bread and Melita's fresh lettuce and Bonnie's greenhouse tomatoes. Nothing tastes as good as home grown tomatoes. The dogs got all the chicken skin and scraps so they had a good dinner too. Puttered around with different chores today, mostly still taking it easy. I got the last pile of scrap reference filed away into the file cabinets. It was tempting just to throw it in the trash, but I went ahead and saved them. The stack had been waiting ever since before I went for surgery. Another thing to scratch off the list. HA!

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Leaves in Late Summer

Cousin Iris called from Houston this morning and it was really nice to talk to her. Clayton is getting braces on his teeth next week. It's already time to go back to school and they have been shopping for new school clothes. Tayler will leave for college in Reno in a few days too. I think they said she wants to be a publisher. I know she's going to do well with her schooling and college years. They are all going up together, and Debbie and Curtis will stay several days until she gets all settled. There are lots of parent meetings and get togethers. She and her high school friend Angela? have a dormitory room together, so they will get that all fixed up too.

Last night I watched Lawrence of Arabia. I just can't imagine what it took to make a movie like that. Where ever did they get all the camels, wonderful horses and Arabians to act in the huge group scenes. It said they thought it would take 5 months and it took two and a half years. How would they feed and house all those people? Tonight it's Casablanca and then Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

On this day in 1977, Elvis Presley died at 42 in Memphis, Tennessee. Elvis Presley said, "Ambition is a dream with a V8 engine."(I didn't admire his kind of ambition, but he had a good voice.)

Friday August 15 2008

Horse Creek - Near Dubois

12x16 Plein Air Oil Painting

by Lynn Thomas

Hmmm, here I am ready to blog with nothing much to say. August is half over. Not feeling the greatest this morning, but hopefully that will improve. Yesterday's blog was long enough for several days. Anyway got it started for today and will come back to write later. Carrie is coming over this afternoon to look at some paintings for the new Marbleton Clinic. We're trying to set up a meeting early next week with the artists and Jo and maybe the architect for the Community and Art Center. It's pretty cloudy, but not really suggesting rain. Cool enough for a sweatshirt to start off with anyway.

Was just thinking it's feeling like fall and then Sally had posted this so I copied it for you. Thanks Sally! This is us. - - -THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN AND CENTRAL WYOMING..DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SNOW SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED IN THE BIG HORN...SOUTHERN ABSAROKA AND WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS TODAY. THE BIG HORN MOUNTAINS WILL BE MOST STRONGLY IMPACTED...ESPECIALLY THE EASTERN SLOPES...WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR 2 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW ABOVE 8500 FEET BEFORE SNOW TAPERS OFF THIS AFTERNOON. LIGHTER AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED IN THE ABSAROKA AND WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS WITH 2 TO 3 INCHES POSSIBLE THROUGH THIS EVENING. MORE ISOLATED THUNDER STORMS ARE EXPECTED EAST OF THE DIVIDE THIS AFTERNOON WHICH MAY PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN AND SMALL HAIL. THESE HEAVIER SHOWERS MAY ALSO TEMPORARILY LOWER THE SNOW LEVEL DOWN TO AROUND 8000 FEET IN THE MOUNTAINS..

Thursday August 14 2008

Big Horn Sheep

20x24 Oil Painting

by Lynn Thomas

One of the newly scanned paintings.

The darks are too dark and I haven't figured out how to

just take that out. The scenery is Shadow Lakes.

Yesterday I made Joe the recipe book he has asked for - some of his simple to make favorite dishes. It turned out to be about 50 pages. There are a few empty pages in case we think of something else to go in there. I can think of one of his mother's salad dressing recipes that I had forgotten about. I had bought a special notebook and plastic envelope pages to put them in. He wanted them to have large bold print so he could read them. I printed them off letter sized with size 18 font. That is another thing to cross off the list!

After I cleaned the carpet last week I cleaned my upholstered office chair which was absolutely filthy. It took about an hour going over and over it, and I finally sprayed it with Clorox kitchen cleaner which routed out a lot of the stains. It's so much nicer to sit down in now and looks quite good again. I was ready to trash it and get a new one, but this will do for a while longer. Off the list!

Today I got through a very large pile of paperwork that had been haunting me for months, What a good feeling that is. I have some bills to pay and then can go on to other things without that hanging over. Scratched off the List!

I sorted out all the art magazines that have piled up and will give about 50 away if I can find someone to take them. Guess there's always the Rendezvous Pointe art room. This will be the first time I haven't gone through all the magazines to clip out "scrap" for my reference files. It's hard to leave it alone. That is something I've done and saved since I was a kid but I don't need to do that any more. Scratched it off the list!

I waited until 2:30 for the the TV repair men and then called the TV place since I had to go to town. He hadn't heard from the repairmen recently. They were doing some installation. We will set up another appointment for them to work on the TVs next week. I need to be here when they come.

This afternoon I had to go in to Pinedale Clinic and get the chemo pump taken off. I sure didn't feel like driving in, but it turned out it was a good thing to just get out and take the drive.

While in there I got another long pending chore done, and that was taking all my paperwork on the book collection back to the Museum of the Mountain Man for a small correction in the agreement. I've had the paperwork since January. About 2000 they started putting a phrase into the contract that the museum could sell or dispose of things that aren't of interest to them in order to raise funding. But my wishes for the collection, books, slides and art reference, was that it should all stay intact. So Laurie the director and Peggy? the curator in residence and I discussed what is the best way to word the contracts and also what actually is the best disposition of the collection. That is fixed now to reflect my wishes for it all to stay intact. They were very helpful and agreeable. I'm sure the proper thing will be done. They are also happy to hear that Zane is getting all the slides onto the DVDs. At the same time we straightened out some questions about paintings that I had donated, and that should be in order now. A few more things to cross off the list!

We made a provision that IF the new Community and Art Center has a place for the collection , which is primarily an art reference collection, such as a library - and they want the collection there, that it can go from the Museum of the Mountain Man to the Fine Arts Center Library. By that time, I may no longer be here so I wanted to make sure that the right thing happens with the collection. When we started this process in the '90's I didn't think a Fine Art Center would be built in Pinedale in my lifetime. But of course now it is quite likely to be built and finished within three to five years probably. So my collection will either stay at the MMM or go intact to the Center, depending on currently unknown circumstances that will happen in the future. So far the plans for the new art center don't name a space for a library although the artists have requested one.

I took two paintings in to Melita's so she can keep them for Dawn who called and said she wanted them after they had visited last week. That was nice to have a reason to go see Melita. She gave us some fresh leaf lettuce out of her wonderful garden. I saw her spectacular flowers and the delphiniums on the south side of her house are as high as the roof. I got home about 5:45 and Joe was having cereal for dinner, so that's what I had too. And some strawberries.

Another really lovely day here - cool and some wind. Maybe some chances of rain in the next couple of days. But it sounds like that will be further east and south. Maybe only in the 50s for highs. We recently had a couple of nights below freezing already, and the flowers in the pots wilted a little, but seem to have come back.

Even though feeling very fatigued, I'm not feeling all that "bad". Same things going on that are usual. Food is tasting awful, but I eat it anyway.

Wednesday August 13 2008

What the Flower Bed in Back Used to Look Like
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Joe went to town early for his blood tests. Sure another nice day out there. I got up about 9 - I'm feeling better this morning than I did after the last treatment, although my eyes are still so sore. It's real hard to want to do anything that I have to use them. Even so, Joe has asked me to make him a recipe book with large print of some of his favorite recipes. So I might just work on that. He probably will never really use it, but he wants it so I'll go through all the recipes and pick some out. Otherwise, I will just take it easy today, but come back if anything interesting happens later.

IT'S JUDI'S BIRTHDAY!!

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR JUDI

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

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We've done lots of hikes and outings together.

Judi

Tuesday August 12 2008

Big Round Bales

Cinnamon Teal Family

on Muddy Creek.

It's mostly a marsh through our place.

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Cattle in the Field in Back of Our House.

House is to the right.

Muddy Canyon in the background.

Click for details - the shadows aren't quite right

but you can see the Muddy Canyon

Mare and Colt rock formation in the center.
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Up early to get ready to go to Jackson for Chemo. Joe got the car out for me and I loaded in the rest of the recycling. Took my juice and yogurt with me for a to-go breakfast. Judi and I met the shuttle at the Pinedale Clinic at 9 a.m. A really beautiful day for the ride, never tire of the scenery, the summer rivers, lots of wildlife. We all had a great time visiting all the way up and back. They are really working on that natural gas pipeline along the highway, lots more equipment, workers and much dirt and rocks moved. Reclaimation on the upper end is looking good and should have vegetation growing back by next summer.

It was just much like other days in the chemo department so this time I'm not going to write all the details. Very nice of Virginia to come in for a few minutes and check on me. The lunch was good - I had a patty melt and Judi had her favorite grilled turkey Ortega. Bob, who has been on the same schedule as me and rides the shuttle doesn't have to go back for a while now - I hope he feels good for some time to come. His cancer is not curable either.

We could clearly see where the New Fork Fire had burned, and in the morning many smokes were rising over a large area, but it was clear this afternoon. The rains must have done a good job putting it out. Al thinks it will smolder until the snow comes though.

I'm not even sure what time we got back to Pinedale, 4-ish, but I recycled and did the grocery shopping. Thought I'd only get a few necessary things, but went ahead and got the whole big list. Enjoyed the evening drive from Boulder to home and took time to get some photos. The ranches are in the midst of haying, looking like they are well more than half finished.

Joe unloaded the groceries and I put them away. Glad that chore is done for a while. I will go back on Thursday to get the pump taken off. Also Ward called and the TV repairmen are coming on Thursday. Perhaps the timing for that will work out so I can be here, maybe they will come early and I can go to Pinedale in the afternoon.

Not feeling too bad this time. The last session I got pretty sick while I was still in the chair so I was kind of dreading it this time, but am doing fine. Paige said it the chemo does build up over time, so it's not unusual to feel worse as time goes by. Anyway am having my usual first night insomnia, so decided to blog. I'll stick in a video and lay down and get cozy and hope to sleep.

Took my laptop along again today, but I didn't use it. The battery was low so Judi charged it up and did some things on it. She rearranged my blog addresses - now they are listed so the ones that have been updated most recently are always on top. Kind of neat because now you can see who has updated with something new and who hasn't for a while will be on the bottom. She also changed the blog listings to read the person's name instead of their blog address. It can be changed back if I don't like it that way. She also taught me how to play soduko, and at least I got the gist of it. That may be a big mistake - I've avoided it so far.

Thanks, Judi. And thanks so much for going along with me again today.