Blue Blast from the Past

Yesterday, we took a little drive and saw a very rare car...Can you guess it from these pix?

Any idea?

Here's the model?

Now you know! 

The car is a classic Edsel, the monumental failure introduced by Ford in the fall of 1957. It was supposed to be luxury vehicle, but sadly it never caught on and Ford bailed out of the Edsel market in 1959.

There were 2 models...the Ranger and the Pacer. This is a Ranger -- the "lower" end of the two. 

The Ranger did not have the bells and whistles of the higher end Pacer, but neither sold well.

Along with a "wrap around windshield," cigarette lighter, a cushioned arm rest and a radio, as standard equipment, the car boasted a push-button automatic transmission system called "telematic" that was supposed to be the cat's meow. I remember driving a loaner car, a 196?ish Lancer that had a push button transmission and I thought it was the strangest thing I'd ever driven. According to Wikipedia, about 12,000 of these cars were made in 1958 and 1959--I wonder how many are around 62 years later?

While the car was never popular, it's still making automotive history by surviving all these years.

More Progress

We took a quick trip to check out our new winter home. We had a complete progress report from the Project Manager who showed us the progress that has been made since we were last there on April 30. We learned the double paned windows have a 30% tint; we learned "studer vents" are used as secondary plumbing vents so as not to have too many punctures in the roof; we learned that the roof tiles need to be placed on the roof before the house is "dried in" and before the drywall is installed, so the house will "settle" correctly...and so much more.

Roof tiles on the roof

Studs among studs

We have a bathtub

Specs on the windows

We also learned that it's HOT in the summertime. We knew it was hot, but we experienced HOT. That's one reason it will be a winter house.

AI in the Neighborhood

I grew up in a city, but I'm not in a city anymore. I'm happily in the country. The kids around here, learn very different things...and one of the is AI. Here's one of my "kids" learning how to AI his heifer. This is a big deal. He's learning so much more than a process--he's learning responsibility too. 

I'm so proud of these kids.

1952 Chevy

There is a local drive in with car hops...and they have a really cute 1952 Chevy that is all tricked out with flames, dice and tuck and roll upholstery. Check it out!

I like the dice on the door lock the best.

Fire Sun

There are fires in the west again, and they are affecting our air quality. I took this picture of the sun at 9:15 AM today..

As you can see, the smoke is obscuring the sun. 

Needless to say, our bluebird blue skies are gray today.

Bambis in the Forest

Mama deer are very protective so they hide their babies in the forest understory. I'm thinking, the mamas  are beginning to think their little ones can venture out now, and to prove that theory, I saw another sweet Bambi. This one was following her mama dutifully and a little doubtfully (as it should be).

If you compare the spots on this fawn and the one I posted earlier, you will note the spots are different.

Progress: Windows

I know, when I say "windows" you are thinking PC...but in this case, I mean Real Windows. Windows were installed on the new house this week. Progress is continuing.

We are happy campers.

Independence Day

Happy Birthday USA! Wyoming celebrates this special day with fireworks and parades. The parades are definitely "home made" affairs without the benefit of float designers and fancy flowers...just bunting and streamers and spangles and stars...and lots of candy. Our local RV park had a great golf cart parade which was spectacular. In the evening we had a fireworks extravaganza with great displays and music. 

Independence Day

...as it should be

Hometown folks having a grand time 

Celebrating our nation, democracy and 

America the Beautiful. Long may we be a proud nation standing for freedom and liberty and

justice for all.

First Bambi

It's the 28th of June and I finally saw a fawn. Of course I named it Bambi (is there any other name for a fawn?). This is the first fawn I've seen, yet, I know there are others out there. In addition,  I've not seen a pregnant doe for almost a month. My guess, the mamas are hiding their babies in the forest until the fawns are a bit bigger, hence safer. Mother love is deep.

Progress Again

A bit more work has been done on the "winter" house. The roof has been installed and the scaffolding is down. All progress is good progress.

One day we'll be asked to do the 

"Walk-thru" but I don't know when that is going to happen.

Wildflowers

When we arrived in the "high country" it was very early spring. The aspen trees did not have leaves and the forest understory was bare. I was worried it was going to stay that way.  Six weeks later, we have lots of greenery and a few wildflowers are starting to bloom. I need to learn patience. Beware, some wildflowers have secrets.

Tiny Prairie Fleabane... looks like an aster, but it is related to a daisy

Meadow Pinks or Pinks or Spinks--the brightest flower right now...and it's related to a carnation.

Cypress spurge or Spurge--sometimes called graveyard weed. It's a toxic weed, that can cause allergies upon touching it. Touch at your own risk.

Black Henbane is sometimes called 

Stinking Nightshade and that means it's poisonous. 

 

Progress: Plywood

 Progress is being made on our new home. Last week we had trusses installed. This week, the house is getting a layer of plywood. 

The house is beginning to take shape. 

Birthday Apron

My friend Debbie loves aprons, so I made here a "jeans" apron for her Birthday. I scoured YouTube and Pinterest for pictures and directions, and developed a pattern of my own combining the best of the lot.

Here's the finished product and...

And here's Debbie wearing it. It's almost as cute as she is.

Newest Critter

I'm trying to increase my repertoire of critters. I've branched out from the basic teddy bear, to a Panda Bear. I have 2 patterns right now, and I'm deciding which one to keep. Of course, I've yet to find a pattern written in English, so these are developed from pictures. 

My Panda is a model, and he has 2 little crocheted buddies. What do you think? (BTW, these little guys both have homes, but more will come.)

Progress

 Progress is being made on our other home. The trusses went up last week. This is exciting to see.

The Great Room 

From the Back Porch

From the Back

The Entry Hall

The Front

And today I was told that a load of plywood was delivered. It's exciting when there's movement. We were given a close of escrow date of September 17. It might happen.

The Heart of Jenny Lake

Last week I took company to the Tetons. We live nearby and the mountains are always beautiful. BUT last week I actually saw the "heart of Jenny Lake." I have heard about the heart for years, but it as clear last week. Take a look

Can you see the heart? The vegetation has to be perfect in order to see it...and it was. The Tetons always have a special treat!

Sorry

It's been awhile since I've added to my blog for which I apologize. For some reason, Google (the "blog"master) won't let me sign in on my iPad and since I use the iPad far more than I use my computer, I'm not adding to the blog. I'm going to have change my ways.

In the meantime, the deer are back in the garden. There seems to be a pattern. The mamas come in the morning and the boys come in the afternoon. I've yet to see a fawn. I know there are fawns as all the mamas are skinny. When we first arrived a month ago, the mamas were definitely pregnant. Right now the all the deer are looking a little shaggy as their fur is somewhere between a heavy winter coat and a lighter summer coat. In a few weeks they will be really pretty (of course I think they are pretty right now!)

The mamas like to hang out in the sunshine on the north side of the house, but the boys like to hang out in the shade on the east side of the house. They never hang out together and never at the same time. Mamas get the morning shift and the boys get the afternoon. If you look carefully, you can see his two tiny antlers. I've been watching this guy since we first arrived and he had shiny "buttons" where he now has antlers. Each day I look for him and I swear you can see the antlers grow. The folks around here say deer antlers grow between 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch per day. By the end of the season, a mature stag will have a rack with 8 to 12 points. I believe this fellow is a yearling, so he will only grow a set of prongs. Yearling males are called "wrongers" around here.

All is good in the mountains.

Flying Fun?

This past weekend I took my first flight since December 18, 2019. For me that's a long time not to fly. The flights were uneventful...TSA was another story. TSA was a nightmare. If you fly, be aware that TSA is going to invade your privacy, decency and your good humor. They did all three to me. I hope I was an exception, but you never know...just be aware.

First problem: I checked in with TSA and the agent said in FULL VOICE.."Next year you will not have to take off your shoes as you will be 75." I don't mind being 75 but did she have to tell the whole airport. 

Second problem: I put all my stuff in the assigned basket and went thru security. I'm wearing a necklace and I was told to wear it on my back. I did...but I was still frisked within a inch of my life for something. Since I'm almost 75, I would like to know what contraband I would be hiding? Of course when I asked, that was not revealed.

Third problem: The detectors found an item in my purse. The agent goes thru my purse and finally discovers a teeny tiny Victorinox "knife." I put knife in quotes because the whole item is about 1.5 inches long and the knife is smaller and it's considered a weapon. The knife has been living in my purse for about 20 years, has gone thru numerous flights during that time and it has never been discovered or considered a problem. Of course it had my name on it and it was a gift from my publisher. It was confiscated because I could hurt someone with it. When I asked if I could leave with them at the airport and pick it up when I returned, the answer was a resounding NO. So TSA got my little knife which I really liked and had some sentimental value.

Fourth problem: The detectors found an item in my one suitcase, which I had decided to carry on. The same agent now gets to paw thru all the stuff that was in the suitcase until finding the offending item, which was a tube of toothpaste...a brand new tube of toothpaste that was sealed and was prescription. Two agents felt that tube of toothpaste like it was a bomb or something and finally relented and said I could take the toothpaste. Now I was left with a suitcase that had to be put back together. 

Now these were problems I could have averted, IF I had remembered to A) remove the knife (which I had forgotten was in my purse) and B) not brought a full tube of toothpaste but a sample size. That was my fault as I completely forgot about the 3-1-1 rule. I've not been flying for over a year. 

On the other hand, TSA could have been polite, which they were not. I was treated like a criminal from the get go. I was frisked, stolen from, and then told to go on my merry way. Welcome to the new world of flying. It's no wonder that folks are on edge in an airplane because passing the TSA test is enough to put you there.

Rocky Mountain Views--Early Spring Edition

It's early spring in this part of the Rocky Mountains. Every few days we get a very light dusting of snow that does not stick but keeps the mountaintops white. The aspens and cottonwood trees are just beginning to leaf out so the forests have a haze of light green leaves adorning the landscape. The streams was swollen with muddy water. The ground is soggy. 

The skies are changeable. Some days we have our famous bluebird blue skies, other days they are gray and ominous. Yesterday we had the "ominous" variety, but a storm never came and it was 71 degrees!

The newly leafed trees are getting "dressed" for summer. The cottonwoods are near a stream, while the aspens cling to the sides of the mountain.

A muted sky with aspen trees amid the conifers. It's a pretty time of year as things are beginning to wake up. 

Most mountaintops are still snow-covered, but the snow will melt soon...

...and the fields will get greener. May is the time to enjoy the change of the season in the Rocky Mountains.

 

In a Real Kitchen

 Don't get me wrong, our fifth wheel trailer has a real kitchen but it's small. It has a three burner stove, a microwave/convection oven and a regular oven. There's a large island for food prep as well as a 12 cubic foot refrigerator. However, a trailer is different from a house; and we're in our home right now. To that end, I've been enjoying cooking again. I've made some veal parmesan; a yummy short rib stew and tonight I made focaccia

We call it pizza (much easier to spell)

Snow in May

 Guess what? It snows in May in the Rocky Mountains! 

Highest temp we've had is 56 degrees...after 102 in the desert, it's a big change.

In the Tetons

We visited my favorite mountain in the world this weekend. This is Mt. Moran and the Oxbows...and if you been following my page for any amount of time, you will see countless photos of this scene taken at different times of the year or day or hour. This is the place where my soul lives and it does not get any better than that.

A "boutique" mountain range, the Grand Tetons, do not compare with the huge mountains you find in Switzerland, but they have a special beauty all their own.

And, I yearn to be here when I'm away. And when I'm nearby, I need to take weekly visits and bathe in their wonder. 

In The Mountains

 On my last entry, I posted a picture that indicated the temperature was over 100 degrees. Today, heat is not the issue, cold is!

The mountains in western WY are covered in snow and the temps are in the low to mid-50s during the day and falling below freezing at night.

The difference is the elevation. Eastern Nevada is at 1600 ft. and Western Wyoming is 6350 ft. The desert country of Eastern Nevada is entering summer, while the Rocky Mountains are entering spring. The aspens are bare, the grasses are brown, and due to the snow melt, there is a lot of mud.

Our poor truck is testament to the mud. That is supposed to be a white truck--mud season is upon us.