Sunday February 24 2008

Road to the Upper Green

Corrals in the Snow

The Place

Road

Cora in the Winter

Gina says it looks just like it did when she was a kid.

Woke up to light snow and a prediction for 4 to 6 inches and wind up to 20 mph - an advisory until 11 p.m. However the sun is trying to shine. It's not very cold. Like Gina says, we sure need the moisture for the country. The old border collie Dell isn't moving around much this morning, and Bob says that means a storm is coming. She is a wonderful dog. You can tell by watching her what a special dog she is, having been one of the best ever cow dogs in her younger years. She's still very dignified and has such an aire about her, even in her old age. She knows she is good.

Today Gina asked if I wanted to go up the Green River to have lunch at The Place. And I said "SURE". It was snowing at the time and not much visibility, but never amounted to much especially here in town. It was disappointing in a way - with clouds down near the ground - not to see the peaks, but the day had its own beauty, a really lovely drive. This is an area where there are lots of homes and cabins. On the way we saw Sagebrush Downs, above Cora, where they are having the snowmobile races this weekend. There were a lot of vehicles there. It took about 30 minutes or so to get to The Place. We ordered patty melts and tea.

Dale and Lynn

One of our neighbors was there visiting with another gal and we had a really nice time visiting with him. Funny thing was we drove all the way up there and he lives right next door to Gina. We got a picture of each us with him, and the one Gina took is the best. We're laughing because the first photo was of he and I looking like American Gothic or something, and Gina said we HAD to smile. So that cracked us up. The one of Dale and her is on her camera so I don't know if she's putting it on her blog or not. (click on horseback41.on the upper right) Dale bought our lunch which was very nice of him. The drive home was just as lovely as coming up and that's when we got the most photos.

Today I used a different program that you can just click to size a photo for the web, and wondered if it would be any quicker, but just as good. So let me know if you find it any different, or if it doesn't work as well. Probably the difference is going to be that it won't show up as big when you click on the photo.

After we got back I worked a little more on the new pastel, and I'm afraid the figure is much too tall. I hate it when that happens. Then I got frustrated with the grid on just where the first horse should be, so I quit for a while. Tomorrow we're going to Jackson for my Dr. appointment. I'm trying to make a list of the questions to ask him, but know I will forget things.

We have been seeing some doves here at Gina's, and Dale told us today that they are ring necked doves, the same kind I saw at the ranch last spring. Why they stay here in the winter and don't migrate, we don't know. They aren't native to here and probably have to depend on bird feeders.

Saturday February 23 2008

Madelaine's House up on the Ridgetop - Click It

Gina and Madelaine

Potluck Lunch

Showered, then did my laundry this morning. Had a big washer load of darks, and a small bit of whites. Pretty early this morning Gina and I did some artwork, she with water soluble oils and me with the pastels. She talked me into doing one of a team and feed wagon with Bob driving and I think I got a fair start on it.

We called up Madelaine and asked if she would be around this afternoon. She said yes to come about 12:30 and have lunch. You might remember a year ago last spring that I mentioned Stan had a terrible horseback accident, broke his neck and was paralyzed. I'd given a few reports on his progress from time to time. A few month's ago Stan passed away, so Madelaine is alone in the new house now. Their son may come and live at home at some point. And a foreman and his family will soon be living in their old home place right at the ranch.

On the way over we stopped by the frame shop again for Gina to pick up the painting she took there the other day, and it looks very nice finished with the frame on it. We went on to Madelaine's to where they have built a wonderful new home high on a hill overlooking their family ranch. The new road is two miles in from their mailbox, she said, and has quite wonderful views and "exposure" going across and up the ridges to the top of the mesa - i.e. there are quite some drop offs and it's very snow packed and a little icy in spots. We had a grand tour of the new house. She is still in the process of getting decorating and furnishings done, and the downstairs is being finished. It's all going to be wonderful when its done. There are lots of big windows looking out over the three mountain ranges, the views are incredible from there. The three of us just visited and caught up since the last time we'd been together. We took some soup I had brought from our freezer at home yesterday, and she made salad, and served us rolls and some cream puffs. I haven't had a cream puff for 20 years or more. Soon we said it was time to go, and we said good bye with wishes for taking care and staying well.

Gina put a few pictures of what we're up to, including a few more of me if you want to check it out.

Called Joe and he's doing alright. The Swiss steak turned out o.k. he said. And his tooth is feeling better. I sure got sleepy this afternoon. Today was another splendid day, warm, calm and sunny. There are some clouds over the mountains, and predictions are for a storm again as there have been all week, none of which materialized.

Debbie and her family have gone to Reno this weekend where Tayler will be going to school this fall, and Beverly and her family are going back down to Phoenix to pick up their repaired truck - remember someone tried to steal it out of the hotel parking lot while they slept, and totally trashed it.

Tonight we went out to dinner at the Stockman's and I like the idea of anyone not having to do any work. The place was packed, and they are having the Calcutta there for the snow machine races this weekend. It got pretty loud in there. There are people from 9 states and 3 provinces in Canada to compete. Saw some neighbors and got to visit with them and meet some of their out of town relatives.

Friday February 22 2008

Slide - No I didn't try it.

This is the Current Lane

It makes an oval.

Submarine for Kids to Play On.

They say it cost $250,000, hard to believe.

Gina went in it and down it's little slide, not me.

It sits in a shallow but pretty large play pool which

gradually slopes down to 3 1/2 feet deep,

That is as deep as this whole pool is.

Hot Tub on right, Lois is waving at us. Aren't her little footprints cute?

Another full and fun day. One degree when we went out to the car this morning, but sunny and calm again. By afternoon more thawing and melting. At 9 we went to swim at the pools. We went in the leisure pool which is much warmer than the lap pools. Several of our other friends were there too, so fun to see them again. I haven't been swimming for a long time and knew to be careful not to overdo it the first time. The whole experience was fun and unique. I had never been in a current like that. It has very strong jets. Even the best lap swimmers will only stay in the same spot if the current is full blast. I had trouble even walking against it steadily. So part of the time I just swam with it. Lois met us there, Wanda goes there a lot and we saw her, and later Kay came with her daughter and grandson. There were only a few other people the whole time we were there, but as we left they were getting ready to have baby or toddler swimming lessons. THAT made the dressing room hectic. I was in swimming or walking about 30 minutes and that was plenty, then tried the hot spa. It also has jets, kind of like getting a massage. I really started pooping out by the time we went in to shower and change, more of a blood sugar "thing" than too much acitivity. We came home and ate an early lunch.

Soon we drove out to the ranch to pick up a couple of things and see Joe. We stopped at the post office and got the mail. It was a nice drive, saw lots of deer along the way. The road in was good, but the piles of snow around the place and in the yard were just awesome. We've never experienced that before, since we never cleared the road, and the piles and berms are even bigger this time.

Joe had an infected tooth, and had to go to town yesterday and get some medicine for it. That's just what he needs. I forgot to ask if he had an appointment to get the tooth fixed, but will next time I talk to him. Quick like, I made him a roaster of swiss steak and put it in the oven. That should last him several days. I asked several times if there was anything he wanted me to do, but he said he didn't. After a couple of hours we came on back to town. Stopped at the store for a little shopping. I had brought the bills and paid them online, then made sure all the checks were entered into the checkbook - more than you would think were not. We're both tired tonight, and I'm ready for bed again.

Old Store Near Boulder - Pastel Sketch

Colors perhaps a little stronger than they really are.

Thursday February 21 2008

Gina and Pat

Me and Nube

Gina Feeding With Kizzy (a few days ago)

Gina With Her Mare Toots

We checked out the eclipse last night, at first there were clouds, but Gina saw part of it later after I went to bed. Guess I should have gotten up, but I didn't. Today started off about 0 degrees, then we had a clear, sunny and warm afternoon. More thawing on the streets, but it didn't ever get above freezing.

Another busy day. After scraping the frost off the windshield we were out of here before 9 a.m. and dropped my SUV off at the Express Auto Care for servicing. Gina drove us down to the Retirement Center and we saw Pat before our Mixed Media Meeting started, then over to haul in and set up our art supplies at Rendezvous Pointe. I'd say about a dozen of the members showed up, and we had non stop visiting while we all painted. All the artists accomplished a lot today, and it was enjoyable to see everyone and the artwork they did.

We had lunch there - salad, beef or chicken enchaladas, chips and garnishes, and fruit salad. Some of us, me included, had vanilla frozen NON FAT yogurt. Back to the art room for an afternoon session of creating. I took a photo of my pastel to show you, but it turned out too fuzzy, so I'll photograph it in better light in the morning and put it in tomorrow. We picked up my vehicle and came on back to Gina's. We both looked at our email and Gina fed the horses. Then made us a spaghetti dinner. Bob had flown doing the air quality testing again, so he enjoyed his day too.

I've finished two books since I've been here and about halfway through another one. Right now am reading Teton Tales by Paul Petzoldt, and have finished Hope Rising and The Butterfly and the Diving Bell. Soon will be ready for bed, am all relaxed and sleepy. In the morning we're supposed to meet Lois and Melita by 9 a.m. at the aquatic center to swim.

Wednesday Febraury 20 2008

Field at the Ranch Last Week

This morning was spent looking at the email. While the computer was slow it wouldn't even open most messages so I hadn't read anything for 2 or 3 days. Then got more photos on the blog. Now I want to take some pictures around Pinedale so you can expeience some of that.

Showered and got ready to "go to town". Took a box to be mailed. The post office parking lot was jam packed, but oddly there was hardly anyone in the building. I didn't have to wait in any line. Next went on down to the Patio where Joe wanted to have lunch. He got there a few minutes after I did and had been over visiting with Tom at the saddle shop. He looks like he's doing just fine on his own. We both ordered the chicken fried steak, and there's always plenty left over for the dogs to have lunch out of the white box too. They sure seemed glad to see me.

We went down and fed and walked the dogs by Joe's beauty shop, and then sat on the porch on a bench in the sun for about 45 minutes. He seems to be agreeable to whatever I will need to do after seeing what the Huntsman doctor says next Monday, and we both agreed that unless I didn't need any more chemo treatments for a while that I should not come home yet. He went in for his haircut and I went and shopped for him and got a few things for us at Gina's too. After he was done he drove down to the store and I gave him his groceries and some instructions about cooking a few of the things I'd gotten for him. Then they went on home.

I drove up to the clinic to give them a set of my recent medical records for my files. That is the first time I've been in the new clinic and it looks very big. Then went through the car wash. Boy was the SUV filthy. I was glad the wash worked better than it has lately. I hardly wanted to pay for a car wash when it left such a film and streaks, but it did a good job this time. After getting back here I wiped up the dust inside the car a little and used some window wipes on some of the windows and brushed out some of the gravel and dog hair. Put the very few groceries away. Have put the dog and cat outside. Gina has bridge today so in a little while I'll get some tacos ready for our dinner.

Tomorrow is the Mixed Media meeting and lunch at Rendezvous Pointe, so Gina and I are looking forward to that, and I will get to see a lot of the friends.

Tuesday February 19 2008

Snake River

North Bondurant

Let's see! We did a lot of things today. Not sure I can even remember it all. I've gone out a few times with Gina to feed the horses and love on Nube. She gets plenty of treats from her new mom.

Uninstalled that mouse software, thinking it might be the cause of the laptop running slow, and it is much better now. The laptop recognizes the mouse, so don't even need any software. (Not sure I want you to know, but I had the mouse upside down, so the arrow was moving backwards..... Now, I thought there was something terribly wrong or maybe I had bought a left hand mouse..... That took me a while to figure out..... actually not until Gina said the cord comes out the top!!)

Called the Boulder PO and asked Debbie if she would separate my mail and I will drive down once in a while to get it, she said they would. We got ready and went to town. Dropped by the lawyer's office, Stopped to make an appointment for an oil change for my car and getting it all serviced on Thursday. We went to the new multi-million dollar Aquatic Center to take a tour of the facility. Boy is it fancy, with two huge pools and spa, moving current, a climbing wall and a walking track on the 2nd floor, LOTS of other stuff. I did pack my swimming suit so we might go there to swim one day.

We had lunch with Judi at Rendezvous Pointe. They are leaving in the morning to go to Arizona and other places south to see their family and be gone for a month or so. She is certainly relieved not to worry about winter and shoveling their driveway for a while. It will probably be close to spring when they get back. Was glad to see Judi before they left. Rollie won a certificate for an ice cream cone at Rock Rabbit by answering a question on the radio, and gave it to me. So one of these days I'll go have a treat. Saw other friends there at lunch time too. I took a bunch of Joe's change - from when he empties his pockets after going to town - to the bank and turned it in for cash - got $115 in real money back.

Some people might think this is weird, and maybe even the funeral director did, but this afternoon I got an appointment to go visit with Curt about plans for my funeral. It wasn't upsetting or anything, just like doing business. Gina went with me, and asked some really good questions that I would never have thought of. Joe and our girls and I will visit a little bit about all the information and I'll probably get it paid for now so everything will be pre-arranged. And it will be set up in the paperwork for any possibilities that might happen, including being in Vegas, Salt Lake or wherever. Judi had researched and found out lots of information about death and dying. She asked a lot of people, the coroner, a lawyer, a doctor, an EMT, Curt, probably more, and used all her information to put on a seminar and panel disucssion titled ___I'll find out____. So we had the benefit ahead of time of all her work, do's and don't's etc.

We stopped by the P.O. where we saw Sue for a few minutes and came back "home" for a little while and then went back at 4 p.m. Gina went to see her friend Pat in the nursing wing again and I went in for my haircut appointment. I like the way the stylist cut my hair, and it is pretty short just the way I like it, but will be easy to take care of. We considered a spiky look, but didn't quite do that..... yet! What do you think? She is in the retirement center and only charged me $12. We went to the store and got Pat some mouthwash and took it to her. Back "home" and I called Debbie to tell her how everything was going and that I'd been to the funeral parlor and what we found out.

We had hor d'oveures - smoked oysters and crackers. Told Gina I thought this extra activity was good for me, though I am tired this evening. Tomorrow I'll have lunch with Joe, and see if he would like for me to grocery shop for him.

Today it got very warm with no wind to speak of. There were lots of puddles in the streets and melting snow and ice. Hard to think on a day like today that spring isn't here, but we know better. I feel unsure thinking that now I could drive in at home, but know its not going to stay that way. I was very tempted to go home for a while today, but went with the plan that we had for today. There was another beautiful sunset on the mountains. We've seen some colorful sunsets in the west the last several days. Talked to Joe again after dinner.

Monday September 18 2008

Road to Jackson

Don't Know The Name of this Mtn.

Where the Bighorns Roam

The wind seemed to blow pretty hard all night since I could hear it each time I woke up. I didn't know if it was drifting snow on the roads or not. Got up in time to see Bob before he went to work. He went again to plow at the airport. It dawned a nice day and was much warmer.

Gina and I visited a while and after pills, OJ and Activia, I got ready to go to Jackson. Charm was driving today and we had a good weather day. One good thing is that from Gina's it's a lot closer to Jackson, so its a shorter trip. Scenery as beautiful as ever, deeper snow, and the rivers 85% open or more. Charm and I had a good visit on the way and I had to start drinking the Berry Smoothie barium contrast at 10 a.m for the scans. We got up there about 45 minutes early and went into Staples where I bought one of the cheapest mice for the laptop and some batteries for my camera. The mouse is almost identical to the one that's on my PC.

Then on over to the hospital. We saw another Pinedale friend getting her treatment and talked to her. We were a little early, but I was soon in the chair getting an IV into my arm which they would use to put in the "contrast" for the CT scan. They couldn't use the port because the contrast they inject could ruin the port, and I said I sure didn't want that to happen. However she took blood when it wasn't necessary this time. The CT technician came right on time, just as I was finishing the last of the drink. Charm waited. The scan took maybe 10 minutes, was able to just keep my clothes and shoes on. She told me the machine takes between 50 and 75 pictures per second, and perhaps 3500 views or something like that. It was quickly over with, and back to oncology to pick up Charm.

We went to KMart and got a few things. Then went to lunch at the Virginian - althought I ordered breakfast. The food was pretty good and since I could only eat lightly early this morning, was hungry. Charm gave her a call and we stopped by Kathy's new studio south of Jackson for a tour. It was great to see Kathy again. She is such a nice person. She is having wonderful success with her art. We are all so glad for her, as she has worked very hard to get where she is. Love her artwork too, and she had lots displayed that we were able to see. She is an inspiration. They are building a new home there and Kathy's new studio is beautiful.

Back on the road "home" with a stop at the Hoback Market for a rest stop. Seemed funny not to have to grocery shop.

Gina's family had gotten back from a trip hill climbing with their snowmachines, and had picked up Kizzy, their dog that Gina and Bob have been babysitting. Gina had run down to Big Piney for a prescription today. She popped a BBQ seasoned chicken in the oven with some dressing, and we had some more pie.

Called Joe again, and he said he is doing fine there. We made a date to have lunch together when he comes in for a haircut on Wednesday. His hearing aides could be here then, but she hasn't called him yet. I hooked up the mouse, and although Gina said don't, I installed the software and the laptop started running even slower, so didn't accomplish much answering email or blogging.

More of Gina's day from her journal - this happened while we were gone to Jackson: "Went for a walk. A Mexican (who seemed not to know much English) ran off the road and buried his pickup. I walked home, got the car and went out and pulled him out! He was sure I couldn't...but it worked. Got him streightened out with the world, and told him I'd hit him hard. It worked." Her description was a lot more fun than this and we just laughed over a guy getting pulled out by a little old gray haired lady.

If you want to check out Gina's blog, where she has posted a couple pictures of me too, it is in the list on the upper right - horseback41 is the address - you can click on that link. She has a very interesting blog and great photos. She also described how Kizzy and the cat have been having a love affair. It's been pretty hilarious and entertaining to watch them.