Winter Came Yesterday!

The snow kept piling up.  Deeper and deeper as the morning crept toward noon.  Sixteen inches accumulated; on the roofs, on the driveways, on the alfalfa fields.  The west wind blew drifts behind fences.  As the sky cleared, cold temperatures whipped around the brave souls at the Afton Cutter Races.  A ground blizzard ensued.  The kids kept digging in the snowbanks, the burger lady kept making her famous Chariot Burgers, and the teams kept racing.  Here are some images from yesterday's event.

 The trailer where the burgers are made.  That bumper sticker is for you, Mom!

 Coralia wins big!

 Burger in hands.

 Look at the light on those horses backs!  Beautiful! The driver in the blue is putting his whip in his mouth right at that moment.

 Ground blizzard.  Mike helps the Robinsons get ready for their next race.

 Winter does not phase.

I love these dogs!!  Next picture, last race of the day.  The man on the left is the timer and teams are just about to cross the finish line. 

Today

Cooking Bliss

There is nothing I love better that amazing recipes!  To find and enjoy something so wonderful as, for example, the hibiscus habenero tequila recipe.  I have savored that amazing drink ever since the ingredients were discovered.

Dishing Magazine is a really great place to find incredible recipes!  Many of you will be getting a copy in you holiday package.  But if not, check them out online!  How easy is this - leaf through the publication and soon you will find a new something to create.  Check them out at the links below.  There is one for Jackson and one for Park City.  Super cool!!

(Click on the tab for the magazine to see all kinds of local restaurant recipes within!)

Jackson Dishing Site

Park City Site

Eat well.  Delicious and beautiful food.

Meteors in the Sky

The next couple of days offer a dark sky and the Geminid meteor shower.  Thanks to the Phaethon comet passing very close to earth, there is a very good chance for an amazing meteor shower over the course of the next few days.  Learn more at this link Geminid Meteor Shower

We have a new hot tub habit, thanks to summer time temperatures.  Who wants to soak in a hot tub after a hot, summer day?  So, we started soaking in the morning, pre-dawn.  Now with cold temperatures, we are finding ourselves enjoying the night sky both in the morning and at night!!  It doesn't happen that often, but when it does, it is a stellar thing to do (no pun intended - stellar, get it?!).

Anyway, look up to the night sky.  This could be darn amazing.  I am setting my alarm clock for 2am for Wednesday and Thursday night.  Let me know if you want me to call if the show is incredible. 

Star gaze away!  Here are some star gazing tips Star Gaze Tips

Wonderful Weekend!

What a great weekend!  Mike and I stayed Friday and Saturday night in Freedom.  We slept in both days until the morning sun topped the eastern mountain tops.  And then we stayed in bed a bit longer!  It was luxurious!

I am making silk scarves again this winter.  Big, warm silk scarves.  They start at 45" square.  Having purchased a used serger, I spent most of Saturday figuring the thing out and getting it set up for the silk I use for scarves.  By the end of the day, scarves were getting sewn perfectly!!  Yeah.  Here are the beautiful silks I'm working with.  Labeled - just in case you might want one or two!

Big news for the house.  We found our cook stove!  Of course, we had to buy one that was too big and may be now destined for the airplane hanger.  Still, this is the perfect stove!  Mike and I love the way it looks in the nook the Shinkles made for Jeanie's mother's stove (moved with them to their new home in Afton).  We are hoping to fire it up next weekend.

Christmas rushes into all of our lives.  Time goes by just too fast this time of the year.  We got out our cards and Mike is working on mailing today.  Remember to find time to pause and enjoy the moment.  It's not easy to do right now!!

A Work in Progress

Most Wednesdays, I make the journey north to the Moran Fire Station to join the fun and committed crew of firefighters up in the north part of Teton County.  Despite just getting home (and really not wanting to!), I joined the crew for last night's training at Jackson Lake Lodge.  As we descended the darkened wide stairway (power is off this time of year) in our bunker gear and carrying tools, I couldn't help but think of our firefighter brothers and sisters climbing stairs just like these up into the Towers on 9/11.  I shared my thoughts with the crew and we climbed in silence, each of us thinking we would do the same thing. 

On the way home, the inky sky was pinpointed by planets and stars.  A meteor shot across the southern sky in front of my headlights, horizontal and running east to west.  A herd of elk dined close to the road.  As I topped the hill at Deadman's, the snow-covered Teton glowed in the rising moon light. 

I need to do more work, but here is my first try at trying to capture this night time beautiful scene.  The temperature outside was 16 degrees.  It was quiet and cold.  I felt like the only person on the planet.  And I said a silent thanks to those who lost their lives that day.

(I'm pretty sure it's Venus and Mercury to the right of the Grand).

Naples, New York

People think "New York City" when you are visiting New York.  Not so where we sit currently.  The hills roll and are striped with grape vines and corn rows.  The landscape is more acreage than buildings.  It is quite beautiful here.  Long, deep lakes carved from ancient glaciers sit in the valleys.  White caps slicing through their deep, inky black waters.  It is New York winter.  Gray skies.  A cold wind out of the west.  Chunks of glassy salt on the pavement. 

We settle into the Green Farm House.
 

Scott and Stephanie have done so much work on this old house.  It is warm and comfortable.  We settle into the upstairs bedroom. 

  

The Thanksgiving table was set so beautifully.  Remember that big bottle of wine?  Here is it decanted.  We drank the whole thing - of course. 

A wonderful dinner was enjoyed last night at Kindred Fare .  Knowing that we would be connecting with Steven later for chicken wings, it was a bit unusual to eat and think about eating again!  But, hey, we did!  Here are some images of our delicious meals.

Creamy cheesy grits with shrimp.

Scallops - oh, so beautiful!

Calamari and chick peas - who would think of that combination?  Very good.  

Today, we all gather up with Janet for an amazing meal of clams, crab, pie, wine, and festivities.  Thanksgiving.  Family, food, drink.  

Thank you Scott and Stephanie!  

My Favorite Holiday

Mike and I sit in Ohare waiting to board a plane.  The plane will land in Detroit and we will board another which will deliver us to Rochester.  Using our GPS, we will navigate the hour drive to Brother Scott and Stephanie's house in Naples, NY.

Thanksgiving is a holiday to reflect on oh, so many blessings!  I am thankful to be sitting next to my partner, my husband.  A man who can fix anything, helps others, understands how to put up with me, and so many other really great traits.  I am thankful to have good health. I am thankful to have such a great family.  I am thankful to live in a country where you can drive down an interstate, drop off your rental car, check into an airport, and feel safe.  I am thankful to have enough money to be able to travel and visit with family and friends.

Take time to reflect on your blessings this Thanksgiving.  Take at least one day of the year to pause; you have much to be thankful for.

We arrived Monday in time to enjoy a delicious dinner - complete with farm sweet corn! - with Dad and Linda.  The next day, a fine lunch at Soft Tails in Ladd.

Gary and Diana were wonderful hosts and set us up with a fantastic bed for sleeping.  We woke up at 9:30am - in disbelief!- the first morning!!  Mom arrived later that afternoon, safe and sound, from Mattoon and settled in to her "salt cave" bedroom upstairs.  A fine dinner was prepared by the Carlson's and savored by all!! 

The next day Mom, Mike, and myself traveled to ooh and ahhh over the lovely fabric at the quilt shop in Morris.  There are a couple of new projects on the horizon!!  The Morris Fire Department has a beautiful fire truck with a great story. 

This lovely brass truck was purchased in the late 1800s for over $7000.  That's a pile of money back then.  When the town decided to sell the truck to a scrap metal shop, the truck suddenly disappeared.  It would spend the next ten years in hiding.  Thank goodness some firefighters had the sense to do the right thing.  If you ever get to Morris, it's worth a look.

We enjoyed lunch and a beer at the new brew pub in Ottawa, Brew Pub in Ottawa  Good beer, not too great of a ceasar salad. 

The pretzel and wings looked really good.  I love what they did to the old store.  Very neat inside.

Dinner on Wednesday night with the Carlson's and Mom at the Pink Chihuahua check out the menu at Pink Yippie Dog!, Raynette's restaurant in Ottawa.  Drinks and orders and soon the table was filled with food.  My favorite, the blackened duck breast!  MMMMMmmmm!!  All dishes were really delicious.  We left full and satisfied, but without a photo - I regret that.

Diana's business, Salt Tree Yoga, continues to prosper.  I admire Diana's commitment to grow her business, adding new treatments and filling the store with the beautiful salt lamps for the holiday shopping season.  What a beautiful space she has created!  A great gift (or two), consider adding a salt lamp to your gift list.  The lamps glow a beautiful golden color and emit negative ions into the air space - good for you in so many ways! 

I finish this posting sitting in Scott and Stephanie's kitchen in Naples, NY.  We got in safe and sound, had a wonderful farm-egg breakfast, and treated ourselves to a brisk day-after-Thanksgiving walk down the water front of a finger lake side - complete with a heart-pounding hill.  After that - mimosas in the new hot tub, of course!!  This is what vacation is all about.  Turkey #2 is in the oven, brother Steven is headed north, and a giant magnum of Schug Pinot Noir 2009 is in our very near future!  So many things to be thankful for!! 

Let Vacation Begin!

This is Evan and Dani.  Aren't they a handsome pair?!  Evan is Mike's nephew.  Standing over six feet tall, he sports a "Tom Hanks" look with the long beard and hair.  Evan is a wildland firefighter.  Dani spends summer doing the same.  We are so proud of these two!  Such a great pair.  Dani, an omnipresent optimist, smiles and laughs and keeps all around her upbeat and happy.  Evan, sweet and thoughtful, carries on Trumbower traditions keeping eating and drinking top priorities.  They came to visit this last weekend and made their way to Dani's family's home on Sunday - while the weather was still good.  As we lifted off the runway this morning in Jackson, the gray ominous clouds backdropped the horizon behind the snow capped Teton range.  The weather is about to get lousy.  I'm glad they "got out of town".  We look forward to their return during a spring break visit!

Staged now in the Salt Lake City airport waiting to make the jump to Ohare.  Dad's house for dinner, Diana is housing us during our Illinois stay.  Inspired by Stephanie's disciplined blog posts with awesome images from Africa, I commit to make postings often on this Thanksgiving jaunt.  It already feels good to be taking a break.  Check out her blog site at Stephanie's Blog .  You can sign up at the bottom of the blog and get her blog postings.  Talk about going out of your comfort zone!!  I love watching her posts and seeing the amazing pictures!

Thanks to friend Russchelle who is keeping the house, dogs, cat, chickens, and fish.  She drove all the way over from Kaycee, Wyoming and got up early to deliver us to the airport front door!  Now that's service!!  

Travel Adventure

Ah the holidays!  After a long dark and gloomy day of rain yesterday, I must admit, I am looking forward to "getting out of town" for a break.  Had it snowed, we would be buried today!  Instead, things are wet and cold and muddy. 

Mike's nephew Evan and his gal Dani are here for a visit.  As they will not be back east for the holiday gathering, it will be good to hook up and see them a bit.  They spent the night in Freedom last night; it's great to have some room to put visitors up!  I'll get some pictures and post on this site soon.

It's time to start thinking about holiday gifts.  Need you ask what my number one choice for this year would be?

My Favorite Appliance

If you are going to get one and click on this link, I actually get $$ from Amazon for you doing it!!  Crazy, right.  Well, thought I'd give it a try.  You'll see more links to come.  And really, if you are not a Prime member yet, what are you waiting for?  For those of us in the NE corner of Wyoming, Prime is awesome.  No shipping charges.  Order and it's here in two or three days.  Easy peazy.  Shopping opportunities are somewhat limited.  This is a great resource for us here! 

Safe travels.  Warm and happy holidays!  Stand by for more posts; I'll actually have time now!!

Hunting 2017

Day 2.

I arrive to the parking lot at the furthest most place in the elk refuge.  There is one vehicle parked, a pickup, the hunter already gone.  Shooting light is 15 minutes away and things are lighting up.  To the east, I see Jupiter and Venus rising above the sun and in very close proximity of each other.  Check it out - this morning was a special day to see these two planets!  Rising Planets  It is still and quiet.  Only the sound of Flat Creek, down below, can be heard. 

The half mile flat land hike takes me to a straight-up hill.  Over the course of the years, a path has been stomped out by wildlife and predators up the hill just north of a slight drainage.  The ground is frozen but bare so traction is good.  I step, step, step up the steep path, pushing to get my heart rate up.  I pause and pull up binoculars, glassing the hillsides beyond. 

There are tracks up top.  Elk tracks, deer tracks, and a couple of big dog tracks - wolf.  They were here and now they are not!  The landscape continues to light up.  I hear a shot off in the distance on forest service land.  Then a few to the north off the hay fields.  Someone is seeing elk.

My climb culminates on a prominent knob in the refuge.  The north slope is thick in dark evergreens.  This is a great place to see acres and acres of the elk refuge.  And to see the sun light up the magnificent Teton Range.  I catch a glimpse of a lone bull elk below running.  This bull is all the wildlife I will see today.

It is a short morning.  No need to hang around.  The elk are not moving yet.  I got a good walk in, saw two planets gracing Sleeping Indian Mountain, and watched an amazing sunrise. 

They should be charging me a fee for this!! 

So, 2017 hunting for me scores a big, round zero!  It's not the first year I have been skunked and I'm sure it won't be the last!  Mike still has a tag for the refuge for when we return.  There is still hope. 

Hunting 2017

The fall has been busy.  Topics re-prioritize our lives in various degrees of importance.  We finally went hunting today.  I have an elk refuge tag.  We saw 32 bulls (they tend to come first to the refuge in large guy-group herds), 9 wolves (really, not kidding), and 68 pronghorn antelope (they need to get out of here!!).  A couple of herds waaaaayyyyy off in the distance were too far to do anything more than watch them through binoculars.  The morning temperature was 17 degrees, but I would guess 12 to 15 up at the refuge.  A mid morning walk was needed to warm our cold toes. 

Cosmo and Gus did the work today, both mules fat from standing around doing nothing and eating Mike's hay.  I have one more day tomorrow and will go for an early morning walk before I head to work. 

The week before vacation.....much to do!

Musings and Photos

Carpe diem.  I keep thinking about this Latin phrase.  The definition, as defined online, is "used to urge someone to make the most of the present time and give little thought to the future."   I feel like we have been succeeding quite well at this phrase running around like crazy, doing this and that and getting ready for the big weather event this weekend. 

We will be travelling.  We'll see how that goes!  Pretty good storm coming our way this weekend.  Check it out!

Here are some photographic musings from the last couple of weeks. 

1.  We drained and cleaned the hot tub, preparing for the winter soakings ahead!

2. Hibiscus margarita with straw, needed for full lip surgery recovery!!  It is a beautiful thing, you have to agree!!

3. Mike's new barn door!  This is so beautiful!  He used some old barn wood found in the barn and made this AND put it up by himself.  What a great addition to the beautiful barn!   

Quick Update

My sincere apologies.

Thinking there would be any time to do anything other than drive, look, hunt, sleep, drive - well, that was unrealistic. 

No pronghorn for the freezer, but a very good hunt was had!  More to come.  Phew!  That was a fast weekend!

72 Hours. In the Life Of.....

As we prepare to take a kind-of long weekend break (both of us need to work the morning hours tomorrow), I will photo and word document our eastern excursion.  As I watch friend Stephanie discover all the fascinations of her new digs (Bamenda Africa) there are places as remote and strange just across the Teton County Line!  Stand by to see and learn more as we venture to the rough and tumble wilds of Kayce, Wyoming where we will meet up with Antelope Guide, Russchelle Jones and seek the elusive, yet lovely pronghorn antelope. 

Peaceful Sunday Afternoon

Michael is puttering in his shop.  I have the mess of lunch cleaned up - fed eight today here in Freedom.  Benni moved cattle, Mike helped, and the whole gang feasted to beef stew and smoke sausage white bean soup.  Yes, there is an Insta Pot at this location now too! 

The horses and mules are full and bored.  Playing "bite me" across the fence from each other, they enjoy the warmth of this afternoon.  The skies are dark and ominous.  A storm is moving in from the west.

I scored some great planters while Mike was visiting his mom.  Check out this monster culvert!!  There are two smaller ones stuffed inside too.

The story on how I scored these culverts is rather laborious.  Let's just say it started with a grass fire, a doctor tried to sway my influence by giving them to me, and I ended up hauling them away after giving him a check for $200.  My influence is not for sale. 

You might note the snow plow parts and pieces as well.  As the doctor and his friend helped me load the trailer, he offered these up as well.  Keeping in mind that Mike was looking for a plow, I hesitantly accepted.  "I bet it's not the first dog you've brought home," the helper exclaimed.  Never heard that said before, but yeah, it's not!!  Since then, Mike has bought another snow plow - a pretty good deal, except just as worthy of being called a Project as these shown above. 

I woke up today with a feeling of nerves jangling in my fresh cut lip.  Turns out, the stitches, dis- solvable, are starting to dissolve.  Strange and somewhat disturbing feeling.  I've kept a serious lip all day.  

Yesterday, we helped work cows at the Walton Ranch.  There was absolutely nothing for me to do expect jab an unsuspecting cow with a hot shot every now and then.  I grabbed my camera, taking pity on the old black girls. 

"Where's my calf???!!""

The chute.

This is a picture of Ken preg testing.  He checks each cow (well, unless it's a steer - a couple came through yesterday - oppos).  It's a nasty, thankless job.  With plastic glove sleeved up to his armpit, he reaches way up the stinky hole to feel for the swelling of a fetus.  I hope he gets paid alot for the chore. 

Walton Ranch Crew getting 'er done.

We pointed our noses south later yesterday afternoon.  After a fine meal and bottle of wine, a bit of reading was had while the gas stove flickered its warming flames.  We hit the sack at 8pm!  With such a early night, getting up at 6 am was easy.  No elk in the meadows this morning.

All summer, I have a fountain in Hoback at the front door.  After last summer, the fish that made it through the season were transplanted to the inside aquarium.  This year, I had a problem.  All the fish survived and grew in their summer quarters.  As the fountain got drained for the season, the fish got netted up and transported to Freedom where they now reside in the (heated) horse tank.  They are doing great in their new digs. 

As the weekend comes to a close, the peace and solace of this place surrounds me as I write this blog, Bach's piano music sounding out its rhythmic orderly measures.  We begin to pack up and think about heading north for the week ahead.  

May your week be productive and a good week.  

The Sun is not Your Friend

I love the feeling of the warm sun on my face.  Eyes closed, feeling the heat warm my skin; I recall so many places and times I have soaked up the sun.    In Illinois, laying on the fresh spring grass, my head on my old dog Precious belly, looking up at the clouds and forming animals out of their white floating shapes.  In Tucson under the desert sky, pulling soil samples from the hot, dry Indian reservation - dead cattle lay under most of the scraggly desert bushes.  In the high mountain wilderness, sitting in a low hunting camp fabric chair, soaking up s the morning warmth from the sun which has made its way to the southern side of the horizon. 

Sunshine, on my shoulders, makes me happy.  John Denver said it so well.  I've used Carmex with no sunscreen protection, on my lips most of my life. 

On Wednesday, I spent the majority of the day having a squamous cell carcinoma growth removed from the bottom lip on the left side of my face.  Using a procedure called the Moh's procedure, the cancer is cut out (I was given copious amounts of lidocane throughout the day; lidocane is our friend!) and examined under a microscope to ensure the margins are clear of cancer.  After the third time round of getting margins clean, I listened to some options from the doc on closing the gaping hole in my lip up.  He ended up making an incision starting at the middle of my chin and up to pull the two sides of lip together.  Here is what it looks like.

Did it make you wince when you saw this picture?  Don't worry, the whole thing was really quite painless.  Even today, >36 hours later, I am only taking Advil when needed (none yet today). 

From what I've read, there is a 94-99% chance that this cancer will not reoccur.  I'm hoping to be in that percentile, but will remain vigilante to sores that do not heal or nodes that start to hurt and/or whatever else freaks me out. 

I'm now a member of the Cancer Club.  The day I went in for this procedure, a friend of mine, ten years my junior, went in for a mastectomy.  I thought of her all day.  She put my procedure into a different dimension.  What happened to me is pretty minor; however, like her, I am aware a cancer is a significant threat. All of us in this club feel the change in life.  The brush up next to mortality.  The longing for the joys of living and the desire to continue living; sharing one's life with the amazing partner I call husband, friend, and love of my life.  More now than ever, these things are so precious and important.

Cancer can kill.  So can a car crash, a horse wreck, a structure fire, and an avalanche.  Be careful out there, my friends.  And wear sunscreen on your face and on your lips. 

Dear Joe

Dear Joe:

I went to your auction yesterday.  It was a fine day for an auction!  I went to your auction so I could give you a big hug - you are one of my favorite people in the fire family.  But you weren't there.  Once we started going with the auction, I understood why.

Many of your friends were there.  We crowded into the dining room/living room space, speculating on where you were going.  Dave, the auctioneer, started promptly at 10am, standing over the lovely kitchen table made just for your home. Around the room Dave went and soon, we were all moved outside to a trailer.  As I watched snow shovels, chaps, bridles and bits, tank heaters, and electric shears being sorted out and held up, I thought, this is what my estate auction will be like!  I am glad you are still amongst the living and moving south to join your family.

I heard the last of your sheep all died this spring.  My step-dad Raymond used to say sheep are just looking for a way to die.  I don't think his thought is original, just the first time I had ever heard this about sheep.  Later, your sheep shelter would sell, be loaded up, and hauled away for another's try at this furry creature.

Of course, that beautiful serious-looking snow plow was the main attraction.  In seasoned auctioneer style, Dave took us through the entire course before we got to the plow.  I stood next to the young man who won the bid on your New York City police belt; holster, cuff holder, baton, key to the cuffs but no cuffs present.  He was fascinated by the thing.  Admired it and pondered your wearing it on duty.  You would have enjoyed that moment.

We ambled on, item by item.  Wooden duck decoys, a cast iron tea pot, enormous wrenches and sockets, feed bins, salt feeders, a chicken coop, white tail deer hides.  I believe it was one of your neighbor's who won the book collection off your book shelf.  My favorite title, as I gazed through your books, "Practical Farm Shelters".  Those kind of books never go out of date.  Her son, here visiting from California, helped her load her wins.  She bid on much and took home much.  Your stuff isn't going far from your mountain home. 

I should have bid more on your banding irons.  That's a nice brand, M lower J.  I bet you would have transferred it to me.  But I have a brand and owning two seems more than somewhat silly.  I hope the person Carey got them for carries on that brand and thinks of you every time he pushes the red hot iron onto the hide of a critter.  It's a nice brand.

I did get your bed.  It will be a wonderful guest room bed in our Freedom house.  My husband is out of town right now, but I managed to wrangle bed frame, box spring, and mattress out of the horse trailer, into the house, up and around two flights of stairs, and got it all set up.  For a bit there, it was a battle and the bed frames was winning.  The frame fought me and I cut my ear.  Blood dripped down the battle wound and I became more determine to win.  When I left this morning, the bed was fully set up, made with your clean linens, and I walked away from the battle ground a real winner. 

I also won the bid for that beautiful piece of cabinetry in the kitchen the other women there were calling a "side board".  I'm pretty sure I paid too much for it, but I was determined to out-bid the gal across the room (dammit!) and I figure this is kind of like a donation to Joe's moving fund.  Use it well, my friend!

I also bought your boot scraper.  Right?!!  I love that thing.  It's like the industrial-type boot scraper.  No excuses for muddy feet now!!  That thing is awesome!  The country you lived in there isn't very wet and you can tell - that boot scraper is practically untouched. 

Driving south, I thought about how sad you were going to be to return to your spot on the hill looking east to the glorious Wind River Mountains, wind in the grasses and sage, and know you will be leaving this place.  The people around here are going to miss you Chief Joe.  You are kind and big-hearted.  You are serious and sincere.  You were someone they could count on.  I heard that in the eleven years you were around, there have been two structure fires.  Finding volunteers is really tough  up in that wind-blown retirement community.  You will be missed.

At Daniel Junction, I stopped to eat dinner.  Why not.  Here's to you, Joe.  I raise my gin and tonic (only one, still a long drive ahead) and wish you safe travels to be surrounded by your family soon in balmy Florida.  I celebrate the chance to have met you and known you - albeit, our relationship was brief, I got a glimpse of the kind of man I know you are.  May you find warmth in your new surroundings, less wind, no wolves, and certainly, no sheep.  You, Sir, are a hero of mine, indeed. 

Wednesday Post

Mike gives me an update this afternoon.  He spent the day at his mother's bedside.  Exactly the reason he made the trip.  Janet is tired.  And who wouldn't be?  She made it through a round of dialysis today, as Mike observed.  He washed her hair and combed it, urged her to eat some lunch, and sat with her.  The entire day. 

Okay, I know I am biased, but that, folks, is a good, good man. 

Have I ever told you the story when I knew I was totally in love with Michael?  We were on a pack trip.  It was the first day and Lucy, his loyal red heeler, chased squirrels the entire way in to our first night's camp.  That night she had a stroke and we ended up putting her down the next day (which is why I will do anything veterinarian Ken Griggs ever asks of me - or his wife, Cyndie, for that matter). 

Lucy lay there next to the grave site Mike began to dig.  She looked so peaceful.  I stroked her fur as he began digging.  Tears rolled down both of our cheeks.  Lucy was a good, good dog.

He dug and he dug.  We were in grizzly country.  The hole got deeper and deeper.  I asked him how deep he was going to go (might have said something about China....) and he assured me it was important to get deep enough that the coyotes and bears couldn't get her.  That was the moment.  That was the moment I knew this was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. 

The sun slipped over the horizon.  We laid Lucy in her deep, deep grave, said goodbye and covered her with rocks and earth.  Goodbye Old Girl.  You were a good, good dog. 

With tear stained cheeks and reddened eyes, we walked back to our group, hand in hand, and joined them for a dinner of fried chicken.

And now he sits by his mother's side with that kind of love and care.  You are a good man, Michael Earl Trumbower.  And I love you deeply.  I am glad you can spend time with your mother.  Please let her know from me - she did an excellent job!!