Bounty

On my way home from my sister's 30th birthday weekend I passed this sign outside a very small town in Nebraska.

Isn't it great?

Imposter

The moment I laid eyes on a squash blossom necklace it was the beginning of the end for me - I simply HAD to have one.

This epiphany occurred during my first Frontier Days a couple years ago in the Indian Village.  Everywhere you turn there is amazing Western jewelry and hanging everywhere are squash blossom necklaces.

It's out of control - kind of like my longing for one.  Every time I pass a display case with them in it I stop in my tracks and just want to die with desperation for it.  I lovingly run my fingers over them.  I try them on.  And ultimately, at generally upwards of $700 a pop, I put them back...walking sadly away.

Todd has even said he thinks he might have to give me an engagement squash blossom versus a ring.

The thought gave me pause.

Then one day, a month or so back, Todd and I went to the Eclectic Elephant, an antiques place in town.  And there in the display case lay a beautiful turquoise squash blossom - and a sign saying all jewelry 50 percent off.

O - M - G.

I knew I still couldn't justify the price, but I had the sales lady pull it out just the same.  I just HAD to see what the discount would knock the price down to...

$3.75

$3.75???!!!

I was momentarily stunned - could I have some crazy, CRAZY find on my hands?? - before my good sense came back and I knew, with great disappointment, it wasn't real.

But did I care?  I had to ask myself if I could in good conscience wear an IMPOSTER.  Wouldn't I be a poser?  A total wanna-be?  Yes.

But I told myself I wouldn't wear it around town.  I'd only wear it in states outside the Western ones. Nobody would know then...

I bought it.  I just couldn't help it.  How in the gol-darn world could I pass it up??  I put it on in the car and wore it ALL night long.  Todd told me I was like a kid who couldn't wait to play with a new toy.  I'm ok with that.

And one day...not being able to take it staring at me from my dresser any more...I wore it to work!

I was apprehensive.  What would I say when people inevitably ask me where I got my squash blossom - because people always do.  And they did.  So, I came clean. But nobody judged.  Instead, they cooed over it!  One coworker even told me I should have it examined to see if it's worth more because, she said, she would never guessed it to be a FAKE.

What does it look like...?  Take a gander... The flash lighting is really annoying, but you can still see it.

 

  

I still don't think I'll have the guts to pull it out during Frontier Days, but who knows?  I'm so crazy happy about it I'm becoming almost brazen about wearing it.

Who'll know?

A capitol Christmas

I think one of the neatest things about Christmas in the state capitol is the open house at the governor's mansion.

Each year, they open the mansion up to the public for a very nice spread of Christmas treats, decorated trees, a roaring fire and piano music.

I thought Nancy and Todd would get a kick out of going so we mosied on over and checked it out.


Nancy was tickled. She said she'd never done anything at any governor's mansion, so this was a treat. We tucked an "official" paper napkin from the mansion in her purse. Shhhh...


We've been trying to find time to take a Christmas picture to send, but it keeps not happening. I'm half inclined to just use this one. Only Rigby's not in it...


Merry Christmas from Wyoming!

Good eye

I aspire to take wonderful, artistic photos and maybe one day I will. But I know I don't have a God-given gift to take photos like this artist.

Her name is Jennifer Alnwick and she's one of the photogs that comes to Frontier Days.

I also believe she is a true artist and wish I could buy one of everything she's got!

Some of my favorites?

Under portfolios then people I LOVE numbers: 2, 4 (he's a pick-up man at Frontier Days - and one of my favorites too!), and 32 (I freaking LOVE this one!)

Under ranch and rodeo: 6 (oh man...), 12 (love, LOVE), 15, 16 (so cool), 27 (just look at the detail of the dirt flying!), 30, 31, 33, and 35 (love the movement here)

Under equine: 2 (look at that light), 6, 15, 28 (you can nearly see emotion in the horse's eye)

Under on the road: 3 (beautiful), 11, 12, 16 (I love old Western murals painted on the sides of buildings), 21 and 31

People who have this kind of talent blow me away!

Ag-tivity

Yesterday, I went on a day-long Ag Diversification Tour with the Agribusiness division in my office to take photos and video. The tour takes folks to different ag operations to see how those producers are using innovative ideas and the resources they have to keep a steady income.

It was really interesting.

We started in Douglas, Wyo., at the Wyoming State Fair Grounds with these cinnamon rolls for breakfast. I had already eaten some oatmeal, but I gave one of these babies (and they're about the size of a real baby) a taste. Holy crap! It was amazing! What she does to get these so big and fluffy, I do not know. She's certainly giving my Pioneer Woman recipe a run for its money...


Our first stop was a Boer goat ranch outside Douglas, Wyo. They raise the goats for meat, seedstock and 4-Hers. I have always kind of wanted goats. I think they're cool, and cute, and what a great way to keep a yard mowed?!

The group in the corral...

Not the most flattering photo of me - I kind of look like a pirate - but the focus is on the week-old kid I'm holding named McBride...

This was through the windshield of the coach bus we were on. I thought it was a really pretty view...

A Wyoming traffic jam...

So, our bus got stuck in a ditch on a guest ranch about 20 miles outside of Douglas. Thank heavens for tractors!

Consequently, we had to hoof it (this is a post about ag) the rest of the way to the house and corrals on the guest ranch...

These "bales" are made of 100 compressed tires and weigh about one ton. They're used to...

...build the walls for this barn. It's still a bit of an experiment. The "bales" are covered in a layer of cement and provide remarkable insulation. There was a dramatic difference in temperature from the outside to the inside of the barn. And it saves tires from landfills...

The Deer Forks guest ranch above is diversifying their operation with a llama trekking program, and are raising miniature cattle, club lambs and pigs, and boer goats for a variety of uses.

I'm always impressed with how ranchers and farmers can make the most of what they've got!

Welcome to Wyoming

The governor's travel and tourism (T&T) conference and tradeshow has been going on the past few days here in town. The event basically brings vendors and writers from the industry together to show off their "wares" and talk Wyoming tourism.

I went early yesterday afternoon to meander through the tradeshow. I picked up TONS of Western reading material so I can find cool things to do, and had fun drinks from liquor vendors - which makes this tradeshow particularly fun!

The night was capped by a reception and banquet with food made by my friend Annie's brother - he's the chef at the Little America hotel where the event was held.

As an event that highlights Wyoming's T&T industry the food played to our strengths: there was a fried pheasant appetizer, elk quesadillas, duck (instead of ham) salad in little pastry shells, and big hearty buffalo prime ribs for dinner. We sat with sales folks from Backpacker and American Cowboy magazines and enjoyed our fine Western fare.

Throughout dinner there were little presentations like the First Lady speaking, and an award presented, and a rodeo video that showed interviews with big-time Wyoming winners and Chris LeDoux, all of who talked about the sport, and what it meant to be a rancher and to live in Wyoming.

The feeling of pride I get at very Wyoming events like this - and other random times - reminds me I did the right thing in moving here and am in the state I'm supposed to be.

"Press"ing matters

The Wyoming Press Association's winter conference ended last night. It's basically a time for papers and PR people to mingle, "network," and, well, drink.

There are lunches and dinners with speakers like the governor and Tracy Ringolsby, a baseball writer originally from Cheyenne, an awards banquet, seminars, and...drinking.

The opening reception was Thursday night at the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle's printing facility, which was a really cool place to have a reception.

Coming up to the Tribune-Eagle printing facility...


Rolls of printing paper...


A close-up...


Papers printing. You can see on the left how fast they're moving...


Papers really bookin' it on a conveyor...


The room where they sort, stack, etc. the papers. The papers hang from those caterpillar-looking conveyors...


Looking out at the papers moving on the conveyor...


Looking up to where we just were...


A stack of finished papers...


What WPA is really about: the guitar night sing-along and drinks...

Breaking news: Winter is cold

I am watching Dateline right now and have to comment on one of their "major" stories: the frigid temperatures sweeping the nation.

It is very curious to me how this is a major story - as if cold and wind weren't normal conditions in several parts of the country during the winter months.

In Cheyenne, for example, we've had -36 degree temperatures, and frequently I see wind warnings for gusts of 50+ mph. Numbers that, according to Dateline, put us colder than a meat locker or the top of Mt. Everest. And, I'm sure, if any place but Wyoming saw wind like we do, hurricane evacuation plans would be quickly acted on.

And yet, we are completely overlooked.

I guess there's nothing newsworthy in something so every day.

Inaugural - times two

Everyone knows of the upcoming presidential inauguration, but very few know there was a second inaugural event this month: that of using my snowshoes.

Linds, Nate and Sam H. and I went snowshoeing today. It was the first time the snowshoes I bought about a year ago touched "real" snow.

We took the Corner Mountain trail in Medicine Bow National Forest just west of Centennial, Wyo. It was cold and windy and consequently a short trip. It didn't matter - at least I got them out and I was so excited! So much so that I told Linds and Nate I felt like I should crack a bottle of champagne over them.

We followed up the trip with lunch at the Beartree in Centennial, which is quickly becoming a must-stop when I'm out that way.

This was just the first of many outings I plan to take.

The trailhead...


The Hoyts...
Me and Linds...


Me - the happy snowshoe-er...

Ag Adventures Pics

Here are a few additional photos from mine and Matt's AgXpo outing a couple weekends ago...

The beginning: We were assigned a car from Travel and Tourism, several of which are wrapped. I was ecstatic!

Matt and I had lunch (ok, and a beer. A big one.) at the huge new Sanford's in Casper so we could download photos and catch a bit of the Wyoming/CSU game. There was a collection of motorcycles I was drawn to...


Ok, this Sanford's location is out of control with kitchsy crap. Outside there are GIANT statues of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck among other crazy things...


And some enormous rabbit turds...??

This is BY FAR my favorite picture of the day. Matt and I laughed 'til we cried (literally) joking about this thing...

Downtown Digs

I love this building.

It's the cowboy clothing shop downtown. This is the building with a moving horse and rider dangling off of it that I also love.

The Wrangler is part of Corral West, who's parent company is being bought out by a company called Boot Barn. The Wyoming stores aren't supposed to be a part of the deal. I'm glad, because even though the Boot Barn sounds like a good company, it's hard to imagine that on the skyline instead of "The Wrangler."

AgXpo Extravaganza

My coworker Matt and I are spending all weekend at the AgXpo in Casper, Wyo., for work. Our Agribusiness Division hosts this "ag"travaganza each year and Matt and I were asked to come along to shoot some video and stills.

It's going to be livestock and tractors all weekend long!

These guys are such characters. Check out the mop on his head! And I love how he's kind of like, "Yeah, you read right. I'm an alpaca."

Well, hello there!

I have a new friend or pet or something in this lil' lady. She really got her moo on at one point. I have titled this photo, Last Moo, since I clicked it as she let one last, long one out.

She was totally into me. Maybe it's because I had this tasty food pellet in my hand. I attempted to feed her unsuccessfully a few times and just ended up getting slimed. Check out my hand...


Finally, success! We are now best friends.


From the youth talent show Friday night...


Cows crack me up. I can't help but give them (and pretty much all animals) human personalities. These are bouncers saying, "You're not welcome here." Not like I haven't heard that before...


And this guy...


...thought he could be sneaky...

Does Wyoming have a problem with dogs trying to break into human establishments or something? See here also...

Fine, then!

Dance Fever Danger

WARNING: Engaging in country swing may be dangerous to limbs and face.

* * * *

I've been country dancing for a long time. I love it. It's fun, it's crazy to watch, and it's a good, clean Western way to pass the time.

Beware, however: All that swinging, flipping, twirling and dipping certainly qualifies country dance as a full-contact sport.

Over the years I've been dropped, smacked, scraped, poked, and accidentally grabbed in places this type of dance doesn't really intend. Given the nature of the dance, I don't think these things are out of the ordinary for anyone who's ever tried it.

Getting a shiner, however, might be. After a pretzeling incident dancing at the Cowboy in Laramie last night, a black eye is exactly what I can now add to my list of country swing boo boos.

Some of you probably believe me because you know how much I like to swing. Others are likely thinking, "Sure, Kim. Way to cover for the bar room brawl you've had comin'." And since both of these are plausible, I'm sure there's a good-sized camp who don't know what to think.

I am thinking it's pretty darn funny. And kind of like a hard-core badge of country swing pride.

That said, I still might wear goggles - and not the beer kind - the next time I hit the floor.

Talk About Trails West

The Annual Pony Express Re-Ride is going on right now commemorating the nearly 2,000 mile route the riders used in 1860 to deliver mail. (This brings to mind the old t.v. show The Young Riders - anyone but my sisters remember this? Another aside, there was a moment several years ago when I was on a horse and we took off across the meadow. My dad was close behind and I always thought we looked rather like The Young Riders riding through the prairie in this clip. Ok, maybe not exactly, but I'm pretty sure the speed of our horses was close...)

Alright, back on track.

You can follow the riders' progress via GPS on this website:

GPS isn't exactly the most historical part of the trip, but it's kind of cool to see where they are.

My goal is to see the rider while they're in Wyoming. Good thing they have GPS these days so I can know when and where to find 'em.

Only in a Ski Town

Saturday night I dragged Tyler out for a night on the town. We, or I anyway, had been planning this all week. We hadn't planned to meet a bunch of famous skiers, however.

The group included folks like Chris Anthony, who stars in Warren Miller movies, and a certain famous American alpine skier, A.J. Kitt. I've seen a few Warren Miller flicks and thought they were cool, but there is no way I would ever have known who Mr. Anthony (or Mr. Kitt) was until it was explained to me.

We also gave a ride to a random gymnast that night, but since we're in a ski town nobody knew who he was. I'm sure there are other towns where he is famous.

And, Chris Anthony was at the table next to me at lunch today, so I'm convinced he's following me. Which would only happen in a ski town, I'm sure.