From the Road

We are up and at it early today. Eric had some work in the northern part of the state yesterday. The girls and I drove up with him. 

Wyoming is beautiful this time of year. The grasses are all yellow and crisp, they stand out golden against the blue Wyoming skies. We passed deer and a bajillion antelope. Eric and I talked the whole trip and the girls enjoyed movie watching and family chatting.

We arrived in Powell and checked into our hotel. Then it was on to dinner with artists and art professionals. The girls were champs, sitting through an adult dinner after a long car ride. I worked like a pro to keep the girls happy and mellow.  They did well for 2 and 5!

After dinner we attended an art opening for Sarah Williams. I stuck around with the girls until their bedtime. We got to listen to much of her talk, which was fantastic, before Elise started loudly asking, "What should I do? I think my arm hurts!" It was at that point that the girls and I made our exit. Eric stayed on in a professional capacity. Once  the girls were asleep I sat in the hotel room and watched cable tv as I worked on a painting.

This morning we are up and on the road before the sun. Eric has to get back for work and we have a beautiful drive home ahead of us.

Not for the Weak

I went to undergraduate school in Missoula, MT. While there I happened to be in a random history class and we were all asked to tell something about our hometowns as a way to get to know each other ('cuz no bond is more lasting than those formed in forced discussion). Anyway, I made note of a girl from Wyoming. She mentioned that in her town, one known for being windy, that on very gusty days the water in the basement toilet would sway with the winds. I assumed that meant that she had some sort of ramshackle home and that the wind wasn't really that intense.

I assumed wrong.


Photo by my hubby E.K. Wimmer

This morning, over a warm breakfast, my husband and I gazed passively at the curtains blowing in the wind. Let me assure you that our doors and windows were closed. I will admit that we need new sliding glass doors, but I am holding out for french doors (when will my french door genie arrive?!?!), and new windows are needed too, but we definitely do not live in a ramshackle house. The wind is so intense that I am pretty sure that the toilet water in the basement is swaying.

Hold on, let me check....confirmed!

While we are grateful that the temperatures are above 0F, the wind chill still makes it feel -5F, so whatever to that. You know, this weather has been weirdly intense. The poor dogs haven't been on a walk in a week, they give up after five minutes in the backyard and do that thing that lizards do on hot sand.
Imagine this, only swap snow for sand and basset hounds for the lizard.



Photo by my hubby E.K. Wimmer 

There are several bright sides to this situation:
1) The remaning branches (broken in an early storm) are now falling from the trees. Bonus, exercising your cat like reflexes as you dodge them.
2) No body image issues for anyone, thick layers of clothing have leveled the playing field and nobody is even kind of thinking about how they look in a swimsuit.
3)Lots of family time indoors. Hot soy chocolate milk aplenty. Tea too.
4) Free defensive driving practice. Everywhere. All the time.


Photo by my hubby E.K. Wimmer 
I think the temps are supposed to rise to above freezing before the end of the week. WAHOOO! Until then, we are snug and happy, thankful for a roof over our heads and 4wheel drive. Truly, while this weather is cold we are in awe of the beauty that accompanies it. Oh, and Wyoming wildlife is hardcore tough. Seriously, they just go about their business like it ain't no thang!


Photo by my hubby E.K. Wimmer 

Photo by my hubby E.K. Wimmer 

The Weekend to End All Weekends (Monster Blog Part 1)

Well, you might as well get comfortable. Sit back, grab a refreshing drink--some snacks and prepare yourself. Honestly, you might as well get into your pajamas, or jim jams as we call them (we got the term from an Australian show about teen mermaids ok?!), because this might be an all day event and I know you have nothing better to do than sit and read this blog... We're gonna be here for a while, because a LOT happened this weekend. Let's jump into the deep end shall we?

Saturday morning started in a frenzy. We knew that would be our only time for a thorough house cleaning so we just hopped to it. There was mopping and sweeping and vacuuming. Then breakfast and personal grooming of the entire family.

Then, at 9:30, I gave an art lesson for an hour. Right as it was ending Eric made a mad dash out the door and headed for a last minute practice with his band, for a benefit concert at the local park. While he was off doing that I took the girls out for some Father's Day prep and then straight to the concert. We arrived at the park to find a huge event. Honestly I had expected a small crowd, but no way. There were bouncy castles and slides, face painting, booths, a flea market, food, animals, fire hoses, people, people in costumes, etc. My parents joined us and we sat back and watched the show. Elise grooved to the music. Cordelia climbed all over her grandfather.



Cordelia had cotton candy, which she ate like corn on the cob. Afterwards she looked like this.



After that we went home for lunch and Elise's nap. We stuffed our faces and took care of a few loose ends while Elise slept. Then a quick walk with the dogs and we were off again. This time we had a gallery opening to attend. Our appearance was rather quick as by then I had to drop off Eric at a fashion show (he was the event photographer) and skeedaddle home to dress myself and the girls.

When we got home Cordelia had already set out her clothes for the fashion show. She was so crazy excited. I have no idea what she thought was going on, but she was super jazzed. Elise played it cool. We got dressed, I fed the girls and stuffed some random garbage into my mouth as I made my best effort to iron (I am not the ironing type).

We left in a hurry and made it to the fashion show in time for the red carpet.  I should mention that the fashion show was a fundraiser. Eric and I somehow got asked to do a lot for the show and since we are apparently incapable of saying no we ended up with Eric as the photographer, the girls and I walking in the show and two pieces of our art were in the silent auction. It was kind of intense, but it ended up being a fun evening.

Here we are at the red carpet. Photo by E.K. Wimmer (the coolest and most handsome man).

 

The girls and I were shown backstage and given some directions about our catwalk. The lovely woman, Andi, who was showing us the ropes mentioned, in passing, that Cordelia was going to be a star. WHOA! Cordelia said with incredulity, "I am going to be the star of the show." It went to her head folks. It really did. As she has recounted this story to others she has said, "Everybody kept saying that I was the star of the show. Oh and Elise-y too."

After the quick tour we were free to roam while we waited for the show to start. So we went over by the band so Elise could rock out, both girls love music, but Elise is crazy for a good beat----it's like her dad is a drummer or something.

Then it was time for us to head backstage. We waited around and chatted with some of the others for a bit. Oh wait, I should mention the purpose for the walk. We were invited to do the pre-show, locals showing off their own style. We weren't modeling for a designer or anything.

We lined up backstage. I coached Cordelia not to pick wedgies or put her necklace in her mouth. I hoped Elise wouldn't choose that moment to arch her back and scream in fury, she didn't. We walked onto the catwalk and there was Eric smiling at the end of it. We nailed it. Girls were adorable and I didn't fall.



We walked off the stage and out of the building into the dwindling light of a warm Wyoming evening. I loaded the girls up and drove them home, they were asleep a short time later.

That was just the beginning of our weekend!

Here in Wyoming

Here in Wyoming the birds are singing, the grass is growing, the lilac is starting to bloom. Trees are erupting in flowers. The morning dew is drying in the sun. Our little family enjoyed a breakfast of vegan pancakes and fruit. The windows and doors are open. The music is on. A good day lays ahead.

Move?

I believe that the longest I have ever lived in the same town was from 1989-1995 when my family was living in Harlowton, MT. Otherwise I have never made it to 5 years in any one place. I have lived in various locations in Minnesota, Washington, New Mexico, Montana, Colorado and now Wyoming.

No, my family isn't running from the law although I think I could be an awesome renegade (and I am distantly related to Lorenzo Lamas, the real Renegade). I imagine that perhaps I would live off the grid making bark soup and befriending wild animals...you know a cougar (a mountain lion not a middle aged vixen) as a sidekick. I am not sure what my crime would be, perhaps the crime of cool. I would live outside the law and just as authorities were closing in, around the 4 year mark, I would vanish like a ghost with my family and animal companions in tow.

Recently Eric and I were driving around, two girls sleeping in their car seats, and talking about the fact that we never stay anywhere for more than 4 years. Before I became a factor in his life Eric had been living in the same town for 14 years. Enter yours truly and suddenly Eric was doomed for life as a gypsy and hasn't lived anywhere for longer than 4 years since. When we first arrived here in Wyoming our plan was 2-3 years tops! However, that date seemed much less important as it drew near and passed by, leaving us with another plan...4 years and no longer. We  were discussing the fact that we have been living here in Wyoming for 3 years and 4 months. I think that means we should be looking into a move in the next several months. We should be checking the cost of moving trucks, putting our house on the market and thinking about boxing up and moving...except we aren't.


View of our town

We are happy here. We have made some great friends. We have good jobs, a beautiful home, and family. We have made ourselves right at home here in this Wyoming town. We see people we know and like all over town. I remember when we first moved here and felt like total outsiders, thinking we'd never fit in as a family of vegan artists. We were wrong! We have totally found our spot here.We anticipate annual events. We participate in community activities. Heck they even had a parade for Elise's birthday---or perhaps her birthday just happened to fall on parade day, whatever.

I don't think we will stay here forever. I can't even fathom such a thing now, but I don't think Eric and I have many more moves left in us. Perhaps one last move to Montana, but that doesn't feel urgent. I do know that I don't want my girls to be gypsies. Don't get me wrong, there is something wonderful about starting over every few years. I think it has made me very comfortable in random social situations and a relatively outgoing person. I do, however,  think another adventure is to see what happens when one makes their life in one place, venturing out to travel and see the world, but always returning home. So I think we are going to break our streak. We are happy to linger here and take what our town has to offer us until it is time to go. For now though I think we are exactly where we are supposed to be.

Wyoming

If you have been reading my blog for long then you know that my love for Wyoming has been a bit slow to warm.  I can recall several instances in my past when vows to never live in Wyoming were made. Vows made while visiting on a windy winter day or after being ridiculed for out of state license plates.Now, don't get me wrong I do like Wyoming, but feel like I am betraying my beloved Montana when I proclaim strong feelings for any other state. Again, if you've been reading long then you know that I tend to attach human feelings to pretty much everything. However I do have a long family history here AND both of my children were born here....so I think Montana will understand that I can love another state without replacing Montana in my heart. Wyoming is so wild, so apart and so full of history. Take this for example...













Where do you feel most at home?

Rain in May

Yesterday was mostly overcast. The clouds hung low and seemed to be slinking over the tops of our mountain only to stall and gather force. Early afternoon the sun broke out for a minute, but all one had to do was cast a wary eye to the hills and it was clear that it was just a matter of time until the clouds would unleash a storm. Throughout the course of the afternoon there were a few rumblings of thunder, but it seemed to be idle threats like a cranky old man complaining about the long checkout line at a grocery store.

It wasn't really until late afternoon that the clouds made good on all of their promises and they didn't disappoint. The winds picked up. The thunder crashed. There were even some flashes of lightning, but that was mostly for show I think. Then, when the production was over we were delighted by a rain that was heavy at first and slowly softened into a mellow shower.

Once the threat of lightning was truly past I decided that it was time to head outside for a bit to let the rain fall on us. I wanted to watch my girl enjoying the simple pleasure of a late spring rain. She didn't disappoint, in fact she reminded me of one of the reasons that I wanted to be a parent in the first place. I got to watch her wonder at the world. The simple joy she found in sticking out her tongue to catch raindrops. Hands held to the sky as though the rain was falling only for her, perhaps it was.















The simple beauty of quiet moments between a girl and the rain.

Dubois

I was so excited to share the big things from Dubois (dew-boyz) that I forgot to share much about our trip. The family went up to Northern Wyoming just for a nice weekend trip/ Eric had a work conference. Dubois (dew-boyz) is located just an hour or so from the Tetons and Yellowstone. Alas we didn't have time to re-visit those beautiful areas, but thankfully the small town had its own charm.

We stayed in an absolutely adorable and spotlessly clean two bedroom cabin. The place was so charming, even the little fireplace was made with reclaimed bricks. Of course this wasn't exactly a rustic cabin, it had direct TV and WiFi, along with a fridge and microwave, so we were all set.

Thankfully I had the foresight to realize that there probably wouldn't be a lot of vegan restaurant options for us. I packed food for the whole weekend and we just ate in the hotel. We saved a bundle of money and most certainly had more balanced meals.

Most of the trip was really mellow. We wandered around the town, following river trails and such. Spring is just beginning up there and it was fun to see the new growth. Here are just a few random photos from our trip.













I think this will probably be the last trip for a while. I am not due until July, but I couldn't help but notice how very far away from...well everything, we were. Normally that is fine and dandy, but I am at that point where I feel a bit more comfortable staying closer to home.

Do you have summer travel plans?

Small Town, Giant Things

We spent the weekend in Dubois, WY (now before you read further please note that the residents of this small town insist it is pronounced dew-boyz---I know, whatever). Eric had a work conference and Cordelia and I decided to tag along for the fun of it. The population of the town is 971 so I think you get a picture of what I mean when I say small town!

We stayed at the Twin Pines Lodge in an absolutely charming little cabin. We had a very relaxed visit, but while we were there we noticed one strange thing about this very small town....they have a lot of large stuff. Spotting the oversize offerings became something of a sport for us. I am here to report back to you with our findings...


Giant Jackalope (for you non-westerners jackalope = antelope + jack rabbit). This bad boy was located out front of a convenience store, vegans should never never enter that store.


Large black bear giving a ferocious welcome outside of an inn.


Giant fish and fishing reel in front of gas station


Monster elk outside of the KOA


Giant birthday cake for the 10th anniversary of the town library.


A giant cow skull over the entrance of a laundromat.

I wonder if this phenomena is specific to Dubois (dew-boyz) or if it is something that happens in other small towns. Further investigation is required.


Oh and I don't know how this fits with the theme, but I just felt like sharing.

We really loved the unique and personalized touch that the residents of Dubois (dew-boyz) brought to their town.

Road Trip: Wyoming Through Colorado

Yesterday we made it about halfway to our destination. Normally the trip from WY to NM is about 13 hours, but that travel time increases exponentially when you factor in a toddler and a pregnant lady. So we decided to break the journey into two days that seem less taxing on all parties involved.

Yesterday morning we left our house and animals in the care of my family and hit the road by mid-morning. We cruised along at a pretty good pace. Cordelia was entertaining herself in the backseat and Eric and I talked and talked. We stopped for lunch in Cheyenne, taking our sweet time.

Finally making it to Colorado which is green and beautiful this time of year. We followed the interstate ever South, stopping for the night in Trinidad, CO which is just a short distance from the NM border.

Before we could do anything else we had to reward our amazing traveling toddler with some swim time.







Since I am not the owner of a maternity swimsuit, nor do I intend to be, I opted to take photos and watch a little father daughter time in action.

We went and grabbed a few supplies and had dinner in the hotel room. Eric ran off to get his hair cut (what you don't have your hair cut at random roadside salons?) and then we retired for the night. Now we are going to grab a bite to eat and head to New Mexico. We will continue to drive safe and sanitary. Hope you are well.

Have you ever been to Colorado or New Mexico? If so what did you think?

Love Letter to Wyoming

Dear Wyoming,

I think I should start off with an apology. I am sorry that I always compare you to Montana when I know you never could be my homeland, it's just not fair to compare you two. With that said, I would like to tell you that in the nearly three years (!??!) that my family has been living here I have found that I love you in a way I never anticipated. While our relationship may not last forever I just want you to know that I am thankful for every moment we do spend together.



Thank you for giving me a home and a community that is far more accepting than I ever expected. Honestly when Eric and I moved here we fully expected to feel like outsiders, but the exact opposite has happened. Our community has embraced us in a way we could never have dreamed; friendships and opportunities seem to fall into our laps.

Thank you for giving my family a place to wave our freak flags. I have never felt limited, restricted, or judged for being who I am. I had anticipated something of a negative reaction to our veganism, but the Wyomingites really do have a live and let live policy. I mean where else could a person feel comfortable wearing a live snake on their head like a turban (true story) or to wear pajamas exclusively (not my thing, but kind of a trend in some circles here)?



While there are parts of you that I can never accept (rodeos, ranching, etc.) I appreciate that you have given us a place to raise a family. A place where the natural world is always close at hand: turkey walking down the street, sure---raccoon hanging out in downtown sewer, of course---deer tracks in the yard, always. A place that nurtures an independent spirit. A place with people who are focused on their family. A place with more generous people than I have ever experienced in such close proximity.



Thank you Wyoming for being our first family home.
Sincerely,
Maria Rose

Winter Hath Arrived!

I had vague dreams of snow and cold last night. Small wonder considering the arctic blast we've been dealing with the past couple of days. The snow started falling on Wednesday night, lightly at first, but by yesterday morning the snow was laying in a thick blanket across the ground. The thermostat isn't expected to even flirt with the 30sF.



When the weather gets like this I often wonder about homesteaders, those folks who thought this was a good place to make a go for it. Sure, they probably found Wyoming in the spring or summer, but one winter here is enough to give you a decent education in cold. I know that my great great grandparents homesteaded here and I just shake my head in wonder that I've come from such hearty stock. I'm afraid that I wouldn't have made it in Wyoming back then....I would have wimped out and headed for the Pacific Northwest, because heaven knows I would never survive the heat of the Southwest!



Thankfully I was made for here and now. So, I am equipped with the powers to adjust the thermostat, curl up under a blanket, drink soy hot chocolate and have my husband sit on my feet when I become desperate.



Today, as the cold settles in we will be indoors. I plan to visit with a friend, write, play with a toddler, hang out with my husband and be so thankful that I have all the conveniences of the modern world. I will just enjoy looking at the crisp white layer of snow that covers our yards. I can marvel and the sparkle of snow as the cold wind carries it through the air. I can just be thankful for a warm day indoors.



What do you do on snow days?