Estes is the best-es

It's a rare weekend when Todd and I get to go anywhere together.  His work schedule in the summer and fall requires him to be in the field pretty much every weekend.

We had an opportunity to get out of town a couple weekends ago to Estes Park, Colo., for my friend Molly's wedding reception and Todd was able to actually make it happen!

I think the last time I was in Estes I was maybe in junior high and Todd had never been there.  I made reservations at a cute little cabin and we loaded up the dogs and took off!

Truthfully, we didn't walk around downtown as much as I was hoping, but it's only because we were having too much fun at the reception.

And after the reception...

The next morning we had a little photo shoot with the dogs at the cabin before getting on with our day...

Me with the dogs...

Todd with the dogs...

Next...breakfast downtown Estes then the famed Stanley Hotel...!

It is absolutely stunning inside the Stanley.  Here's Todd in the hotel lobby...

Todd and I outside the Stanley with the Rockies behind us...

Game warden Todd with elk just roamin' the hotel grounds...

I asked Todd if it sort of made him crazy that he has to put so much effort into hunting an elk in fall and here they are, lounging at a glitzy old hotel right out in the open.  He said yes...

Come on, now...you know you shouldn't chase wildlife! haha...Doesn't Todd's pose look kind of like he's playing air guitar...?

On to Rocky Mountain National Park!  We had to wait only a little bit at the entrance...

Another elk! This guy and a partner actually stopped traffic as they lollygagged across the road...

About 35 miles out there is Wyoming...

More wildlife!  A young moose...

Another young moose closer to the road.  Unlike his elk buddies above, this one didn't care so much for the cars pulled over to watch him...

On the other side of the park we stopped in the town of Grand Lake for lunch...

And stopped again in Walden, Colo., for a snack.  The funniest thing...that store behind Todd is called Island something or other and was pumping Hawaiian sounding music out on to the street...

After this it was a straight shot home.

Mountains, scenery, fun with friends...  what a great weekend, huh?

Where am I?

In Mexico!

Todd and I flitted off to the beaches of the Riviera Maya on Sunday and have been enjoying the sun and fun for the last few days. 

A girlfriend is getting married at the posh El Dorado Royale this Saturday and we decided to make an extended vacation out of it.

The place is absolutely amazing!  The food has been outstanding, the ocean is very clear and very turquoise, and the resort itself is out of this world gorgeous. 

I can't load any photos right now because Internet in Mexico is...less than reliable.  I've tried loading a photo to facebook and gmail and it's just more than their system can handle.  So, they'll just have to wait 'til I get home!  Which, knowing the cold we'll be returning to, may be never!

Except we don't have Rigby with us...so we've got to get back.

Well...hasta luego!  (See you later!)  A beachy drink is calling! 

Jackson

Kind of like Johnny Cash and June Carter - only we didn't get married in a fever.

But my friend Kara did in Jackson Hole, Wyo., which is where Todd and I scooted up to for the weekend!  I was super excited to see her get married and be with all my old D.C., friends - and for Todd to see this part of the state, something he hasn't had a chance to do yet.

Todd and I had planned to camp Friday night in the Teton National Forest.  We've had a few attempts at camping this summer, but both have ended badly - one with us coiled up in the front of the truck and the last with us laid out in the back of the Subaru.

No luck again this weekend.  We forgot the tent.  Almost to Shoshoni, Todd asks, "We have the tent, right?" to which I replied, "I don't know...we do...right??"  I packed the car, yes, but Todd had piled all the gear by the front door before going to work.  I figured everything we needed was there - not at the bottom of the stairs.

Consequently, we crashed with my friend Lori in her hotel room.  Not quite roughing it...at least not for us.  Lori may have a different opinion.

The Grand Tetons...!  Pretty, huh?

The same Tetons only much more sinister.  Todd snapped this on our way to Teton Village for the night-before reception...

We didn't see a moose.  Or a bear.  I am destined to never see a bear...

Ok, we saw one moose at the Mangy Moose bar in the Village.  But being stuffed and hung from the ceiling doesn't really count...

The next morning we headed to the town square and had breakfast at this great little place called Cafe Genevieve.  It was so cute - and good - and I was crazy jealous of the hostess' clothes.  We went back the next morning too and she looked even cuter than the day before!  I hate how everyone in Jackson is so effortlessly mountain-laid-back with style!  (Translation - I want their closets.)  We meandered through the Jackson farmers market...

And took pictures under the famous antler arches...

And more photos.  This was very game warden appropriate, don't you think...?

My friend Kara, the blushing bride...

The wedding was at the Tennis and Golf Club, which was nothing short of amazing.  What a backdrop for the bride, huh?

The D.C., fam!  This picture makes me so happy!  We're missing a few folks though...

Sunday morning Todd and I took a different route home.  On the way to Jackson we took the more northern route through Dubois, Wyo.  On the way back we dipped into Pinedale and Lander.  We stopped for some impromptu fishing outside Jackson...

The Great Outdoors...

I didn't fish because I didn't have a license.  A big no-no, particularly when your significant other is a game warden...

In Pinedale, Wyo., we stopped for lunch at the Wind River brewery...

And had a pretty nice time sampling beers and eating outside - until the bill came.  Our waitress, though nice, hadn't listened to a thing we said.  One order of the sampler - not two.  We got the bill cleaned up and moved along...

As we were heading into Lander, Wyo., the tire pressure light came on in my car.  Come to find out, we had a flat.  Seriously?!

Todd put the spare on in the parking lot of a convenience store...

And we were off!

Linds H. has a photo of this and I've always loved it.  So, I decided to copy her and take one of my own.  The sign is for a house at Sweetwater Station that has a barn full of books for sale.  I really wanted to stop in, but the time we lost fixing our flat meant the place was closed.  There's an interesting article on the ladies who run the shop on Wyofile...

FINALLY we pull into town on our spare and pass this scene on the way to the house...A reminder to Todd that work lurked just around the corner...

The one scratching makes me laugh...  Oh dear...

Happy trails to Oklahoma

Wednesday afternoon was the end of my big trip to Oklahoma.

Wyomingites dominated the plane ride back, easily outnumbering the rest of the passengers.  I love how we travel in packs.

An Oklahoma sunrise. I was on the 9th floor of the hotel and this is what it looked like out my window each morning...

A statue of Buffalo Bill outside the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.  We had a big reception there one night.  It was a pretty amazing museum with lots of gorgeous Western art...

I'm doing a Flat Stanley for my little cousin Ciarra.  Only I've turned her into Flat Stanley-etta and made her into a cowgirl.  I'm not good with arts and crafts so her face is kind of messed up.  Here she is at the Oklahoma City bombing memorial...

The "entrance" to Bricktown, what's billed as the entertainment district in Okla. City.  It was right next to the hotel, so I ate a lot of meals in this area...

Such as this place on the canal.  I had a nice - but rather salty - Cajun meal here...

The American Banjo Museum is also in Bricktown.  I tried to go in to take some photos for my sister Kelly who has a fascination with banjos, but I decided not to spend the entrance fee.  I made up for it in getting her birthday present from there though!

This conference always has tons of tours you can choose to go on if you want.  A few of us decided to take the "Rubbin' Buckles on the Ol' Chisholm Trail" tour - I think the name is funny.  It was pretty interesting and, let me tell you, the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center in Duncan, Okla., is awesome!  Very experiential.  I highly recommend it! 
 

The Heritage Center also had a wing filled with Western art.  This piece was found in a barn and then restored! I so wish I could stumble on something like this!  It was one of my favorites...

One night, a large group of us from Wyoming went to the stockyards and had dinner.  There's a place called The Cattlemen's that is famous and is apparently listed in the book "1000 Places to See in the USA and Canada Before You Die".

So, of course we had to go!

Some Western-style transportation...

I bought this lovely piece at an antique store in Duncan, Okla. I LOVE Western jewelry and turquoise and sterling.  Just guess, GUESS how much I got this for?  $10!!  I've worn it every day since.  Doesn't my dinner napkin make for a lovely backdrop?

The crowning glory of the trip was meeting up with my old boss, former U.S. Rep. Joel Hefley and his wife Lynn.  I just LOVE Mr. Hefley!  He is SO great and I haven't seen him since he retired to a ranch south of Okla. City where he and Lynn raise horses...

Lynn, Mr. Hefley and I at Toby Keith's restaurant...