Gingerbread Party

So tuesday morning I decided that it would be fun to all get together and make some gingerbread cookies. Hard to believe I have never decorated a gingerbread man before. So after I alerted Lichen to the news she went into event planning mode got the whole party together while I went to work. We had quite the evening of runaway gingerbread men, fajitas, laughter and just a general good old time. Thanks Lichen you are so awesome!!

Emily with her cookie creations

Brian thought he better hold down the chair

Lichen our awesome hostess

Ermina

Dan and Sam going to town on their cookies

The whole crew

"Oh give me (let me borrow) a home..."

"...we're in Buffalo, and on the roam;
There are deer and antelope in the way.
All over are heard, encouraging Special Meeting words,
And the temperature's below zero all day!"

Welcome to Powder River country... once described as "A mile wide, a foot deep, too thin to plow, too thick to drink." Buffalo, Wyoming...where at one time the BISON were a-plenty. Although they are now basically confined to ranches, there is still a lot about this country to easily classify it as the Wild West.

There are many "attractions" in the Northeast Wyoming/Southeast South Dakota area for one who is desiring a touristy day. For example, Mt. Rushmore - the first dedicated National Monument. A visit to this massive carving phenomenon is known by locals as "going to see the faces."

Of course, this involves talking the carload into stopping at the border as we enter - yay! - a new state!

Me, George, Ralph, Tommy, Teddy, Joy, Abe, Agnes, Dustin

Inside the Visitor's Center I found my muse... one I've been looking for since starting in the work. Aha! I knew that somebody must have a secret book!

The next day we had some open hours, so a Wild West Pioneer family, the Pilchers, had us all for lunch, and a tour of Wyoming license plate inspiration...dunt, dunt, duh!!!....Devil's Tower! We had a great sunny day full of sunny spirits, and a hike around the Tower for some much needed exercise.

Group Pictures are Funny...


Kaitee, Twila, Robert, Craig, Michael, Dirk, Royce, Ralph, me, Dustin

Alaskans might recognize this famous peak as "Devil's Thumb." It is one of the most treacherous mountains on Earth, and close to my home town.... so I grew up with it's name. So, you can see how, when suddenly thrown into "Devil's Tower" territory, one might confuse the name?!
Anyway... here's my personal proof that this rock should be renamed - Devil's Thumb II.

We finished our fun day with a beautiful sunset and a great moonrise (pictured above). Roy Pilcher gave a little demonstration of chainsaw carving, and then on our way... back to business. Looking forward to Buffalo special meeting!

The Fledgling in Eastern Wyoming

My life has become a bit of a yo-yo between independant and completely dependant... and I've been thrown from the nest once again... onto this thing called Special Meeting Rounds. Finding my wings is proving to be a challenge, but once in awhile I make a good solid flap and avoid disaster.

Anyway, a couple of weeks, muchas miles, lots of stories, cookies, and some news friends are now between me and Cheyenne.

North to Montana!!!

Thanks to Loren and Justin, what started as a joke has now become fascination... uh-oh... anyone know where I can find some green apple colored leather? I want to make a purse.

Shawna and I left early one morning to meet the crew in Billings. We stopped here in Bridger for an A.M. car swap, and the sunrise was awesome!

On a schedule free morning in Eastern Wyoming I was able to take one of the visiting sisters, Joy Widel from Oklahoma, across the Nebraska border to see some culture. We went to the Scotttsbluff National Monument, and drove the steep snakey road up to the top of this bluff. It overlooks the well known section of the Oregon Trail between Scottsbluff and Chimney Rock.

A Conestoga wagon abandoned along the trail...

The perfect place for a bit of culture, and a brisk morning run... what can make you feel more All-American than The Oregon Trail?! Due to the windy nature of this area, the actual ruts are no longer visible on this section, but this sandy path is right where the pioneers came through!

So... looking forward to Lusk Special Meeting tonight, and then we're... "On the road again...".

Thanksgiving

The Score: Buckinghams 6 Sandersons 15
I think we need Beth, and Sue to help even the score out a little bit we have you guys toasted in numbers and we were still missing Lisa and Nanners.

Cody and the dinosaur Aunty Tarebear bought him at Quinn's...it was going to miss him

All four boys were matching on Sunday...so cute

They look like angels until about 8 am

I think we might starve

We sent Uncle Burt and Dad to the dump and they came back with a new heater..hmm

Mandy and her buck

Dad carving the turkey

Buckinghams vs. Sandersons Football

The ones who started it all....

So last Wednesday night found me absolutely ecstatic driving to Montana in the middle of the night. Mouse and I left at 7pm and other than a minor incident with the cops in Umatilla, OR we had a fairly uneventful trip. We arrived in Thompson Falls at 4 am ready for another rousing party with the Sanderson/Buckingham clan.