WHILE SHARING ABOUT BEARS YESTERDAY...

 I found this one from a summer road trip, August-September 2013 at the entrance of a homestead. We were driving through Wyoming.  

While not able to get out and about, I am very grateful for these old photos to share.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

PRAIRIE DOGS

 To me a Prairie Dog is a delightful little animal.  We came across them a while ago in a Prairie Dog town near Devil's Tower, Wyoming.

We came across several of these on our road trip in that area.

Hi Tom, whoever you are (sign painted in lower right).

 Below is a photo of Devil's Tower.  You can read about it here.  Sci-fi fans may recognize this famous landmark when it was shown in the 1977 movie, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind".  You can see a partial clip from the movie here.

And just as a matter of interest, here is a photo of the model used in the movie.  We found it at the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum, and their website is here.

Thank you for stopping by, and for putting up with another post that I transferred from my old blog.  Hopefully the links are still open but if not I will correct them tomorrow.  I need my sleeps right now. 

A FEW WISE WORDS...

 

The past can’t be changed.

Opinions don’t define your reality.

Everyone’s journey is different.

Overthinking will lead to sadness.

Happiness is found within.

Your thoughts affect your mood. 

Smiles are contagious.

Kindness is free.

It’s okay to move on.

and...

Things get better with time.  

If you have any opinions about any of these, yay or nay, feel free to leave them in a comment.  Always curious about what blogging friends think, and always an education reading others' opinions.   Constructive advice is always welcome on my blog.  

My photo is from a road trip during the month of September several years ago, a view of 

The Grand Teton Mountain Range in Wyoming.

MORE ON ANNIE OAKLEY

 As this very interesting lady was in my December quiz questions and answers, I thought I would share an old post.  On the recommendation of a fellow traveler, we visited the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming, in August-September 2013.   

 I purchased the postcard above in their museum gift shop.  

Here are a few facts:

"Born Phoebe Ann Moses (or Mosey) on August 13th, 1860, in Darke County, Ohio, the woman who came to be known as Annie Oakley, developed her superb marksmanship as a teenager.  She earned money and helped her family by hunting game for a grocery store.  By the time she was 15 she was able to pay off her mother's mortgage. Also at 15 she won a shooting contest against experienced marksman Frank E. Butler, a top shooter and vaudeville performer.  They married in 1876.  When his partner fell ill, she was the replacement and took on the name Oakley.  She would later become a star attraction for Buffalo Bill's Wild West show for years, renowned for unparalleled shooting tricks, a revered global figure.  

When she met Sitting Bull in 1884, he was so impressed with her manner and abilities, that he "adopted" her and bestowed upon her the additional name of "Watanya Cecelia" or "Little Sure Shot."

She and her husband joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in 1885, which they toured with for more than a decade-and-a-half.  She received top billing and her husband worked as her manager and assisted Oakley with her stunning displays of marksmanship, such as shooting off the end of a cigarette held in her husband's lips, hitting the thin end of a playing card from 30 paces, and shooting distant targets while looking into a mirror, and more.

Annie entertained such royals as Queen Victoria and Kaiser Wilhelm II, and shot a cigarette out of his mouth. 

In 1901 she was partially paralyzed in a railroad accident.  She recovered and continued to perform.  

She retired with Butler in 1913 settling in Cambridge, Maryland, and adopted a dog Dave, who would become part of their later shows.

She was the top earner for the Wild West Show and along with additional exhibition work, she shared money with her extended family and gave donations to charities for orphans.  After her death it was discovered that she had given all her fortune away to these two.

During World War I, Annie volunteered to organize a regiment of female sharpshooters but her petition was ignored.  Instead, she helped to raise money for the Red Cross with exhibition work at army camps.

In her retirement Annie pursued such hobbies as hunting and fishing, and taught marksmanship to other women.  In the early 1920s Oakley and Butler were involved in a car accident in which they were both severely hurt, but she did manage to perform again for a time in 1924.

She passed away on November 3rd, 1926, in Greenville, Ohio of pernicious anaemia.  Her husband died soon after, when he was so heartbroken he stopped eating, and he too passed away on November 21st, 1926.

Photos taken at her exhibit.  Annie Oakley is standing on the right-hand side of the photo holding her rifle.  Click to enlarge for a better look.

One of her costumes inside a display case.

Next is a photo of her in 1922.

You can learn more if you click here.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your day.

POST CARDS FROM OLD ROAD TRIPS

I picked these up on a few road trip, going back as far as 12 years ago.

One of my memories on one of them was hearing wolves howling in the distance just before dawn.  We were staying at the Lake Jackson Lodge, and I stepped out on the patio with a blanket wrapped around me. I curled myself up in a chair sipping on a hot drink, with the sight of those magnificent mountains, and listening to this ethereal sound.  An amazing moment, one which I didn’t want to end.  

So many memories from Yellowstone.  On one visit, later than when I bought these postcards, memories of a huge bull elk running toward us.  We had always been warned about staying a safe distance away from wild animals.  This fellow, however, covered three, almost four hundred yards at a fast trot in no time at all, and ran between the back of our car and the one parked behind us.  Why?  Because he wanted to get to the other side of the road!  I just remember him coming towards us, looking as though he was going to jump over our car, only to turn on a dime at the last minute to squeeze through the space behind us.  He disappeared as quickly through the trees beyond.  It was a moment of sheer terror but incredible excitement at the same time as Gregg and I looked at each other wide-eyed.  Moments before I had been thinking about getting out and taking a photo along with dozens of others.  I had opened the car door, had my foot on the ground and when I saw what was happening, put that foot back and slammed the door.  All the other photographers scattered and I heard a lot of car doors slamming.   That bull elk at full tilt was an incredible sight to see, but I was glad that no one was in his way, except for our cars parked alongside the road.  

This is an amazing place.  I was lucky enough to find an empty chair in front of the fireplace.  This one was in mid October, and sitting there and watching the flames, feeling the warmth of a log fire, so toasty!

I enjoy sending postcards to family and friends. It is something I have done ever since I was a little girl. Mum was always very conscientious about sending them, to grandparents in particular.  Whenever I have traveled I never fail to take my list of addresses with me.

Another memory, this time from Seattle and it is to do with a small restaurant we visited.  We were looking across the water at the city skyline.  I can't remember what our main meal was, but what I do remember is the sour dough bread that came with the meal.  It was the best I had ever tasted.

When Gregg used to travel a lot on business (he has been retired several years now) he never failed to bring me back a few, usually from the airport when he was waiting to board. 

Just like looking at other people's photographs, and browsing through my old collection is like armchair traveling. Instead of a suitcase in my hands I have a cup of tea. 

Enjoy your own traveling my friends, be it on the road or via your armchair, and thanks for dropping in.  Stay safe, healthy and happy!

COWBOY'S GRACE...

I am spring cleaning a little early, and going through old boxes I came across mementos from a road trip.  One was an old post card I picked up from the museum we visited in Cody, Wyoming, on our trip across country a few years ago.  The other was the Cowboy's Grace.  I put them together for today's post.

Dear Lord,

Yer lookin' at a man who never learned to cook, 

Unless you count pork and beans.

And a flowery grace like you'd read in a book,

Is really beyond my means.

But you can believe I'm a thankful man,

though it might be undeserved.

And I'll eat whatever comes out of the pan

No matter what's been served.

I don't take it lightly if it's real good,

'Cause I'd eat it anyway,

See, I know there's people in all likelihood

That maybe won't eat today.

So count me in if yer needin' grace said, 

And bless those who provide it.

The farmers and ranchers, the bakers of bread,

The loving hands who fried it.

But most of all Lord we give thanks to You,

'Cause we who work on the land 

Know how much our harvest and bounty is due

To the graceful touch of Yer hand.

So bless this food and the life we embrace,

And please forgive us our pride,

When others with tables a'plenty say grace,

For what we've helped You provide.

Baxter Black - 1994