Saying—So long…

Alas, today is the last day I have my walking companion by my side, urging me onward and forward through the snow, the wind, the cold and even the precipitation.

We were limited in time this morning, as my companion had an appointment in Ft Collins later this afternoon.

We trekked over to Coal Creek Coffee, a 25-minute hike from my house, where we then sat outside and lunched on a wonderful bowl of cheddar tomato soup.

 

With the sun shinning, the temperature hovering around 40 and virtually no wind, we were able to soak up the rays without being cold.

Being outside on days like today is pure pleasure, although being outside here on any day is a real joy, because of the magnificent sky and vistas.

However, I have been hearing quite a bit, as of late, about the Wyoming mosquitoes, which apparently rear their ugly heads during the month of June.

While it appears that their presence is short lived, I hear they are aggressive—much more so than their Mid-Atlantic cousins.

There is always something to look forward to—or not…

The snowstorm that wasn’t...

A winter storm watch was in effect all day Tuesday through Wednesday evening.

[Frankly, I feel lucky that we had what we had, rather than what those poor folks who got hit by tornadoes had to endure this past week.]

TWC had predicted 8-10 inches for Tuesday night, and another 3-5 on Wednesday.

When I awoke Wednesday morning, I was expecting a pile of snow needing to be shoveled.

Thankfully, that wasn't necessary.

While we did have “weather” Tuesday evening and the roads to Denver were closed until 10 a.m. Wednesday morning, it turned out to be "the snowstorm that wasn’t," at least in Laramie,

Other parts of Wyoming did get many inches of snow, as you can see from these photos of the snowies...

taken while walking along the ridge above the golf course, where it was windy.

Last week they were looking like this...

I’ve been fortunate to have a great walking companion, who alas, is leaving for Scotland next week.

I’m going to miss her spirit and her constant need to be in motion, which has helped to keep me up on my feet and traipsing all over town and up at the summit this past week.

Fortunately, she'll be returning come August.

A light in the forest

A friend and I drove up to the Summit today—to cross-country ski territory—for a walk through the woods.

It was beautiful.

I don’t know why, but we hadn’t expected to find snow—deep snow, knee deep in some places.

Neither of us was dressed for the weather, with me in tennis shoes, a hoodie and a little Lands Ends vest, and not a glove between us.

With snow covering the hilly ski trails, it was hard work making our way into the woods, but it was well worth the effort.

After awhile tho, the wind picked up and we noticed the sky turning dark and ominous and then remembered that the morning forecast had called for rain and snow.

So we decided to make our way back to the car before the sky opened up, except that each path looked the same and we weren't sure, with the deep snow, which was the best path out.

For a bit there, with the uncertainty of where in the mountain woods we were—and at an elevation of over 8,000 ft—I felt a slight twinge of fear, wondering if my cell phone would work or if the lightening that had visited the night before would return, with what looked to be an impending storm.

I thought about how both our Legal Dudes were out of town—so no one knew where we were—and that I was at a complete loss direction wise or had no idea which way was out.

Such were the thoughts that mulled around in my mind as I tried not to let my apprehension show.

Fortunately, my companion had been on the trails enough times to have an idea in which direction to go, and after a few minutes, the fear subsided and I begin to feel a bit of a thrill.

The thrill of not having to wander in the wet and the cold, or to have to spend the night, lost in the dark.

The thrill of feeling like a nonchalant western, mountain, or frontier woman, even though I’m anything but.

We had no idea what this tool--left by the Nordic Ski
Club--but figured it might come in handy

Signs of spring, despite the winter weather

The W.C.

Safe and sound as we make our way back to the car

I am, after all, just a city gal, abnormally afraid of bears, mountain lions and anything with four legs and teeth.

I’d do it again—tho next time, I’d take a compass.

Love, from my teenager…

I know I shouldn’t do this, but—

There are some posts, that really should not see the light of day, and I usually keep them under wraps.

However, this is one post that I love too much to keep to myself, and would like to have for “Blog posterity.”

Whatever you do, however, please—please—please, never tell the teenager, or at least not until he becomes an adult.

The reason I LIKE my mom

I like my mom because
Because she is funny and knows some
Stuff

I like my mom because
She likes to have dinner parties
That makes me hide in my room

I like my mom because
She has know it all syndrome
And it is funny to watch her

I love my mom because
She is sweet and kind
And has a big heart

I love my mom for all of those reasons
But mostly because my mom is so nice

I love to love my mom

Remember...not a word to the teenager!

Mother’s Day Brunch

We tried this for Sunday brunch…

Our attempt at Herbed Baked Eggs
a la Ina Garten

Our Herbed-Baked Eggs may not look like Ina Garten’s, but my-oh-my, are they ever delicious.

Barefoot in Paris Cookbook

Even the teenager liked them and said, yeah—he would eat them again.

Ina Garten's Herbed-Baked Eggs from
Barefoot in Paris

Try them!

They are truly delish and I do not think you will be disappointed.

A Frontier Woman’s Mother’s Day…

I’ve been thinking for some time now, about getting a cow gal hat...

so the Legal Dude decided to get me one for Mother’s Day.

I forget what that twined rope thingy is called, but it’s usually hooked under the chin while riding—or as only in Wyoming, whenever the wind blows.  (I'm told this is the way to lay a hat so as not to lose it's shape.)

My hat is from Martindale’s Western Wear in downtown Laramie, where I went to get...

this funky looking little Boot Jack, since I have such a hard time getting my boots off—old age and poor achy lumbar—and have been telling the Legal Dude I want one, besides he could use it too.

My oh my!  What a difference a Boot Jack makes!

More important, however, I wanted to the Legal Dude to see a really sweet pair of Corral boots I'm thinking I might want for my birthday...

The pair I want is tone on tone
w/out the tourquise inlay.

First though, I needed to make sure I could “make them me,” since they are nothing like I have ever worn before.

Yep. No problem—I can definitely make them me.

Believe it, or not...

This is NOT what I expect to see early on a May morn...

8:00 A.M. in the Coe Library Parking Lot

Obviously these cars are parked outside at night

Notice the snow on the cars behind the mini
(of which there are a handful here)