Wow...Where have I been... Where am I going?

It is now the end of May, and it was the middle of April since I last posted on my blog.  I can’t believe how busy my life has become. As I get older, it seems as though it is harder for me to stay on top of things. I am trying to put things onto a schedule to help me stay on top of my blog and all the other things I have been neglecting. Does this sound like a theme for me? Perhaps! April slipped away from us, and May seemed to fly by. It’s amazing how fast time flies.

 In celebration of our anniversary, this year, Bob and I decided to get away for a bit. In years past, we have enjoyed the small towns of Wyoming. This year was no exception. 

Fifty-one years ago, Bob and I spent our honeymoon in Jackson Hole. Back then, it was just a small town, but now it has become a major tourist destination. The number of visitors has increased so much, but Jackson Hole is still lovely. There was no question in my mind that I needed to take a photo of the Grand Tetons. I never get tired of looking at these grand old mountains. They truly are majestic.

After admiring the beautiful mountains, we visited Lander, Wyoming. It is a small town that is tucked away in a beautiful little valley near the highway. There's a wonderful pioneer museum there that we highly recommend visiting. We saw lots of pioneer artifacts and Indian relics that fascinated us. I took a lot of pictures, but I’m only posting a couple of them. This beautiful quilt was particularly impressive, as was its preservation. I always marvel at the dedication the pioneers and other folks from the past had for their craft, and how they would save little pieces of fabric to make these lovely quilts.

I find relics of the indigenous people of the area to be especially interesting. I have always been a student of the history of these amazing people, so I loved seeing and learning more about these artifacts.

This buffalo hide is one of my favorite among the things I saw. The story on this buffalo hide seems to be preserved really well. Typically, these paintings would depict the events of a war or a hunt. This one looks like a buffalo hunt.  Most of the objects on display were from the 1800s, yet they look like they were made just yesterday.

I think it's important to remember that history isn't always pretty. I saw some things at the Lander Pioneer Museum that reminded me of that fact. One artifact in particular stood out to me: a skull with a hammer through it. This man was apparently murdered by Native Americans for disregarding warnings to stay out of a certain area. A farmer discovered his remains in the 1990s. I think this case illustrates that even though people in the 1800s may not have had to deal with modern-day problems like the internet or cell phones, they still had to face a lot of scary, dangerous stuff.

Our overnight stay in Lander was followed by a trip to Cody, Wyoming. The highlight of Cody was the amazing museum known as the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. The museum is a place one can easily spend days exploring. I, for one, could have spent at least a week there and still not exhausted my interest or gotten bored.  

In Cody, I took hundreds of photos. I want to show you some now. But I'm keeping a few to post later.

Buffalo Bill is not just a historical figure anymore.  He's a hologram!  Here, he'll tell you all about his  life.  See how many fun things you can see from this experience at the museum?!

After Cody, we visited Dubois, Wyoming, a small town located about 100 miles from West Yellowstone. Both the town and our stay were delightful. Located 5 miles outside of Dubois, the National Museum of Military Vehicles was one of the most captivating museums I have ever had the opportunity to visit. Do not be fooled by the name ;0) The owner of this collection, a generous and knowledgeable individual, hosted a two-hour personal tour of the WWII section alone! All the vehicles in the museum were lovingly restored to their original, magnificent splendor, and each one remains in working order. This unforgettable experience, which moved many of us to tears, was a gift to behold.

 It is clear to me, having observed my own reactions, that the hardships and heartaches endured by veterans, both past and present, were and are real. I encourage all those interested in military history to visit this museum, where you can experience them directly. Even if  you are not that interested in it, I promise you will enjoy it.  This museum contains military vehicles, a gun gallery, including the gun that fired the first shot that started the American Revolution. Visiting the museum was moving, and I found myself weeping when I left. I didn't get a picture of that shot gun, which is okay, because it gives me an excuse to go back.

 

When you buy the tickets for the  museum in Cody and in Dubois, it's good for two days, and trust me, you will need it.  

Memorial Day is always a tender time for me. Because I was born and raised here in Idaho, I ,have a lot of family here. One of my favorite cemeteries contains a large number of my relatives, including my parents and grandparents on my mother's side.  In fact my great and my great-great grand parents are buried there. It's a beautiful, peaceful place for me to visit.

The next thing on my mind is where my blog is going. Like many other blogs, mine has evolved into more than just an online diary. It also serves as a family journal.

When I first started my blog, I intended to keep it updated with a lot of posts, including a lot of daily entries. But, I’ve not been able to keep that pace. And as much as I like updating it and interacting with the readers, it's become a real source of stress and anxiety for me.

I do want to continue my blog, but I will no longer update it with any kind of regularity. In general, I’ll focus mostly on family-related topics with a splash of other things here and there. You are certainly not obligated to read, comment, or do anything. Please don’t feel bad if you don't. It’s hard enough to find the time to blog as it is.

 

I’m going to do my best to keep an eye on this site, comment when possible, and return comments when I can.   I so appreciate all my wonderful, kind, and supportive followers, you are more like good friends. Even during some of my darkest days you were there.  And please know that your support and love makes and made a world of difference to me.  

This is not goodbye, but... See you later...

Much love, 

Barb