America and American History
Graduation Gift
One of the perks that I enjoyed as a teacher was the definite beginning and ending of each school year. I loved the new promise of setting up my classroom in the fall and I adored the ability on the last days of the year to look back and see what the students and I … Continue reading
Out of My Grasp
Karl and I took an excursion to the Grand Canyon recently, and I just can’t get it off my mind. I know in my brain that I stood at the edge of the rim, and I know that what I was seeing was a canyon about ten miles across and about a mile or so … Continue reading
Grand Encampment Museum’s Pioneer Women Symposium
I really hate Jane Austen. Well, I never met her, so to be precise, I really hate the female characters in her books. By the same token, I’m not a fan of Scarlett O’Hara or any other petty, selfish, simpering, manipulative, and weak women in literature (or real life for that matter). Nope, give me … Continue reading
Tuesday’s gift
There is something so fundamentally hearty and good about spending time in small towns. For the past several days, Karl and I have been taking a break from remodeling the new Cheyenne house. We hooked on to the trailer and drove to Encampment on Friday to take part in their 58th annual Woodchoppers Jamboree. Saturday … Continue reading
Springtime!
When I’m away from Wyoming for a while, I forget a bit about how magnificent it is. Coming home in the spring has been a joy. The weather is petulant and chaotic – warm and beautiful one day, snow and bone-deep cold the next. No matter, there’s hope and assurance that even the snow won’t … Continue reading
Cats and Deer
I love our mornings here on island, they start slowly. Since our house is tucked safely on the west side of a big hill, the actual sun doesn’t show itself to us until about 10 or so. The result is that mornings seem to linger and relax. Unfortunately, we don’t get to do the same. … Continue reading
My birthday card to America
Dear America, Happy 242nd Birthday! I am praying that you have a beautiful day of celebrating and smiles, counting our blessings and hugging our neighbors and friends, hot dogs and fireworks. I know things are difficult for you right now, your people are not in a good place, but take heart. Things have been … Continue reading
Let’s Save the World…
One of my favorite movies of all time is called Armageddon. It’s a Bruce Willis end-of-the-world flick. The movie begins with NASA discovering that a global killing asteroid is on a direct path to Earth and they have fewer than 20 days before it will hit. It turns out, the decision makers – government … Continue reading
Elk and Moose and Deer, Oh My!
In previous posts I’ve written about deer and antelope, so it isn’t a surprise to anyone that I admire them. In fact, I’ve realized this summer that one of the things I love most about camping is those moments when I encounter wildlife. We’ve just come down out of the Sierra Madre Mountains after a … Continue reading
New Mystery
The main idea for my first novel, Mountain Time, came from two sources: first, the fascinating and rich history of the copper era near Encampment, Wyoming and second, an abandoned cabin. I’ve talked about this cabin before, but just to remind you, when I was probably ten or eleven, my dad and I were camping … Continue reading
