Cape Cod for Carol and Terry

Finally the bulk of the plans for Adam’s wedding on May 3rd have fallen into place.

We will leave Hayden (Yampa Valley Regional Airport) on Saturday April 25th, arrive in Boston, spend Saturday night there, and then drive to Cape Cod on Sunday the 26th, with the whole day to make that drive.

We will stay on Cape Cod (a small bed and breakfast near Hyannis) until Thursday (possibly Friday—depending on how much fun we have). Museums, beaches, whale watching are the things I want to do most—lots of beach walking.

Then, up to or near Somerset, where the lovely bride lives, for pre-wedding events on Friday, Saturday and finally, the wedding on Sunday afternoon.

We’ll fly back to Hayden on Monday, May 4th, arriving at 10:30 p.m.

* * *
Preparing for this event has been an adventure. I hate to fly (if God wanted me to fly, God would have given me wings), so I had a hard time getting to the Internet to look for tickets. Finally, after setting a Sunday night deadline (and missing it), I called a travel agent. She took care of everything in a day with a good price (including airfare, hotel, car rental).

Next was the bed and breakfast. I sent a dozen requests for information and finally found a nice one in Hyannis, across the street from a white sand beach for $50/night (off season rates). GoogleEarth was helpful.

I’m done. I’ll figure out where to stay in Somerset and what to do on Cape Cod once we get there. I just can’t think about any more vacation things till I’m on the plane; there is too much to do here (it’s Poetry Month).

I am excited about going east, really excited. I have books to read on the plane (my favorite/engrossing mystery writers Michael Connelly and Jonathan Kellerman) and a Fodor’s Guide to Cape Code.

Only one thing left: the dress I will wear as the mother-of-the-groom. Eeeck!

The 1960s

I am the scrawny girl in the first row. Mrs. Lawton, the 4th grade teacher in this picture, is still in Craig, and I love her dearly.

I only vaguely remember being a Brownie in Craig. I'm the skinny sun right/center. This is third or fourth grade.

Sheepwagons

A row of sheepwagons on the Peroulis ranch just south of Baggs, Wyoming. I snapped this photo one week; by the time I drove by the next week, several wagons had been moved out of the row, and I assume, put to work.

Stella and Phyllis

Stella Craig and Phyllis Bingham at Juniper Springs, Colorado. Stella owned the hot springs for 30+ years and ran a successful and profitable set of businesses. She had the hot springs and pool, a cafe, gas station, and gift store. Phyllis is the mother of my friend Suz who shares my birth date. We all went out to check on the hot springs last spring.

The large outdoor pool is on the right of the picture. The smaller pool is just behind Stella (on the left) and the three small hot pools are inside the concrete building. That building and the walls around the springs have been around since the beginning of commercial activity in the area, circa 1905.


This photo shows Juniper Hot Springs during its heyday along the banks of the Yampa River. The concrete/original building is on the right/center, connected to the large building in the center. There are a series of small cabins on the far right and the cafe/store/gas station on the left.

Lois

Lois Harvey is one of my most favorite friends. She is the bookseller who taught me how to be a bookseller.

I love this picture because of the flowers and the light and her long hair and the hat.

Crooked Wash BLM Road 1509

Many years ago, my grandfather and father held the grazing lease for much of this land for their large herds of sheep. I presume they used this for part of the winter range. This is a vast and empty space, mostly public land and dry as dust.

The long view across Crooked Wash to the Danforth Hills. Further south is a goat trail through the wash that crosses (I believe) a tiny piece of private property and then connects to the road to Meeker.

All across Moffat County are vast areas of wildfire burned tracts. This is at the top of the Crooked Wash basin which burned in the last ten years. The fire often leaves the amazing skeletal shapes of the juniper trees.

My beloved husband considering this spot for a geocache.

Truck

Orignially, a 35 mm photo that I scanned and saved. I loved it when I first saw it; I love it still. It was taken on the Williams Fork ranch.

Early days in Routt County

This is a farmstead south of Phippsburg, Colorado. The building with the green tar-paper roof is the house; the other buildings are sheds for various things: coal, farm tools, small barn/chicken coop with tin roofs.



Wealthy out-of-towners recently purchased the property (2008), and this is probably all gone by now.

Pearl

A photograph of my niece, Pearl Eve Wyman. She was probably five or six in this picture. She will be 10 in a few days.

Pick up the Day

Pick up the day
by Peter Connor

Pick up the day
with both hands and
shape something

out of it.

When you are through,
after the sun has set,
place it carefully on your shelf

of yesterdays,

and clear some space for tomorrow.

Big Gulch

My dear brother, David, asked me to find a few photos of Big Gulch, as he and my father have decided it is time to sell this lovely ranch. It breaks my heart to part with this place where I first lived when I moved here.

This is the wild, lonely place that Sadie dug up voles, tossing them into the air and swallowing them. She swam across the pond, wandered around the meadows, chased foxes and could stay out all night.

I was more lonely living here than anywhere or time in my life; in spite of that, I loved it with a whole heart.