Let's Go to Billings!!!

Monday, October 26th was a big day for Buckskin and Noah--they loaded up the pick-up and hit the road for Billings, Montana for a day of shopping in the big city.  It takes about 2 hours to drive to Billings from Cody, but it's always an interesting drive with  many beautiful, interesting and (sometimes) unusual things to see along the way.  One of the first highlights of the drive is beautiful, ever-changing Heart Mountain.  It never looks the same twice--sometimes it's snow-covered, sometimes it's not; sometimes it's covered by clouds; sometimes it's pink in the sunset...it's always something new.  On Monday, storm clouds were building up behind it creating a very pretty effect:

A little farther up the road is the thriving metropolis of Clark.  Actually, the "town" of Clark has only one business:  the lovely Edelweis Saloon which is a very popular watering hole for bikers during the summer:

Heading further north, the road crosses over the winding Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone River several times.  This section of the Yellowstone is named for William Clark of Lewis & Clark and the Corps of Discovery who traveled this river (along with Sacajawea) on his return trip to St. Louis in 1806.  Lewis and Clark separated on their way back, so they could explore more areas of the country, and Clark's explorations took him through this area--pretty cool!

Proceeding even further north, we cross the border into Montana and seize the opportunity to play the lottery!!  Wyoming has no lottery...

One of the biggest towns along the highway is Bridger, Montana--named after famed mountain man, Jim Bridger.  There are several sculptures honoring this famous Wyomingite in town--here's one of them:  (I think that Indian is saying, "You're going the wrong way, white man!")

When driving to Billings, it is inevitable that someone will be driving some piece of farm equipment down the highway.  Not sure what this is, but it might be some kind of sugar beet picking implement--they were picking what is left of the sugar beet crop--there was a lot of damage done when we had our unseasonal blizzard/cold snap earlier this month.  Darn that global warming!!!

One of the more unusual sights is this giant cowboy dude with his scoped rifle outside the Fort Rockvale Casino.  (Note the cannons on the roof behind him): 

You know you've finally arrived in beautiful Billings when you see the oil refinery.  You really need to smell it to get the full effect, but you can use your imagination--it's really lovely (if you like that kind of thing):

When visiting Billings, you musn't miss The Big R--it's the Nordstrom's of Montana & Wyoming--you can get anything there:  seeds, horseshoes, irrigation equipment, guns, bows & arrows, clothing, furniture, bedding, horse supplies...the possibilities are endless.  Here's Noah running inside to pick up some wormers for the horses:

And even after a full day of dining and shopping, there is still more fun to be had:  on the way home we were able to spot all kinds of excellent wildlife, including this nice deer buck and a few of his harem:

That was about it for Buckskin & Noah's trip to Billings.  It was a fun and exciting time as always--you never know what you'll see when you drive to the big city.  See you all next time--bye for now!!

Love,

Buckskin

Sunday Brunch at the Irma Hotel

Hi, everyone!  Well, Noah & I had an exciting day today.  We headed to town for brunch at the Irma Hotel.  The Irma was built here in Cody by Buffalo Bill in 1902 and named for his daughter, Irma Cody.  Here she is:

Anyhow, the Irma has an all-you-can-eat buffet brunch on Sundays with prime rib at the carving, baked ham, buffalo brisket & ribs, and lots of other goodies.  Noah loves it, and we'd go there every Sunday if I'd let him...but I'm good with 1 or 2 times per month. 

The restaurant was originally the saloon, and the original bar is still there.  The bar is a magnificent affair--a gift to Buffalo Bill from Queen Victoria of England.  The original cash register is still there as well, though not used.  The bar is currently decked out for Halloween, but here's a shot of it:

There's something new I've learned about living in a small town:  I need to always look my best whenever I go out, because I ALWAYS run into someone I know--ALWAYS!!  Like these two nefarious characters I saw today at lunch.  That's Lucky Bill & Flatnose George--two of our Cowboy buddies:

And here they are again at the carving station getting some of the prime rib (Noah says the prime rib is excellent, so I take his word for it not being a big prime rib fan, myself):

And here's something I bet you don't see everyday--it's not every eating establishment that has mounted buffalo heads in the dining room, but the Irma does (along with elk, antelope, deer, bobcats, etc. etc....):

So that just about wraps up the excitement from here for today.  Noah & I are headed up to Billings tomorrow, and as promised, I'll fill you in on all the highlights as soon as we get back.  I've got to go cook some dinner...I'm getting hungry!  That brunch has worn off already.  Enjoy what's left of your weekend & I'll talk to you all SOON. 

Love,

Buckskin

Dullsville!

Just wanted to let you all know that we're alive and well here...there hasn't been much going on lately.  Noah's been busy framing the basement guestroom (soon to be our bedroom, I'm thinking--it's going to be NICE!)  I've been working.  We've been walking a lot, because the weather has improved somewhat during the last 10 days or so, but the weatherman is predicting snow again starting Tuesday and going on and on and on and on....Noah and I are planning a big day tomorrow:  lunch at the Irma and maybe a stop at the BBHC.  On Monday we're heading up to the "big city" i.e. Billings, to pick up our mirrored closet doors for the new bedroom--they finally came in after we special ordered them.  That's about it.  I will post some pics and tell you more about these exciting doings after they happen.  Life is pretty fast-paced up here in Wyoming!  We really know how to live it up!!  Bet you're all jealous.  Anyway, we're still alive & I'll have some news for everybody SOON!  Enjoy your Sunday!  Bye for now...

Buckskin

Buckskin & Noah Go Hunting

Well here's how it is:  Noah's the real hunter, I just like to go look at the critters and take pictures.  So we headed up the South Fork Highway yesterday around 4:00 p.m., so I could spot some wildlife and take some snapshots.  We live "on" the South Fork i.e. the South Fork of the Shoshone River ourselves, though we only live about 10 miles outside of town.  However, the South Fork Highway goes about 30 miles southwest of Cody straight into the Shoshone National Forest and some of the best wildlife viewing anywhere.  We've been having this freaky winter-like fall, so everything has been covered with snow and ice--including the road.  Actually, the road was nice and clear except for maybe the last 10 miles, so it wasn't all that bad.  It was cold outside, but I was bundled up and warm as could be in the truck.  Here are some of my best shots--I managed to get photos of everything we saw:  deer, elk, Rocky Mountain big horn sheep, even a baby moose (without his mama); the only thing I missed was the coyote, because it was too dark.  Anyway, here they are.  Enjoy!

Buckskin


Noah driving the Southfork Highway.

Buckskin all bundled up & wearing her hunting cap.

      


Some cowboys & cowgirls pushing cattle.

          A trio of Rocky Mountain big horn ewes.

A nice buck.

A female mule deer checking us out.

The sun setting on the Carter Mountains.

A lone moose calf--we couldn't see its mother.

A female elk getting ready to run.

The Aftermath

Well...it snowed all day Monday, but Tuesday was warmer (mid-40's) and sunny, so most of the snow melted away "down" here (we're at about 6,000 ft.), but left the mountains looking beautiful.  I went out for a walk today & tried to capture the scenery on film.  I got one shot I'd like to share with all of you, along with a poem I wrote a little while after we moved up here--inspired by the ubiquitous wind--which was blowing yet again today, as I took my walk.

"Wyoming Wind"

The wind's been blowing for days

Sweeping off the mountaintops from the West

Out of Yellowstone

Where it whistles past the bison & the elk

Through the lodgepole pines

Making them sing

Then along the tumbling Shoshone

50 miles downhill

To Cody

Where it ruffles the horses' manes

And lifts their tails

Like spreading fans of

Chestnut, sorrel and black

& Stirs the sparse, sere prairie grass

That waits for spring

Along the jagged, saw-toothed Carters

Rugged and mottled white

Where the powdery snow rises up

To swirl about in pale cold clouds

And yes,

It blows against my little house

Making it creak & rattle

Shudder & groan

Till I think it cannot stand

But must come tumbling down

Around my ears

A pile of matchsticks

Yet still it stands &

Faces the whistling wind

Sweeping off the mountains

From the West

--Buckskin Lily

The Blizzard of October 5, 2009

It was wild!!  It just kept snowing all day long.  Here are some more photos from later in the day--we had quite an accumulation.

Good Morning, Wyoming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Talk about an early winter!  Jeez!  Last Tuesday it was in the 80's and now it feels like December!  The snow started yesterday morning, but it wasn't sticking.  It continued overnight, though--and this is what we got.  It's snowing steadily now & is expected to keep doing so all day and into the night.  The 10-day forecast is not looking warm--we'll be hovering around freezing for highs and a few nights are expected to get down into single digits!  I hope this is only a temporary condition--it's barely fall!!  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some more nice weather before winter really hits--but this has spurred me to get busy planning our tropical getaway for January!  Anyway, I'm glad I get to work from home today.  That is a blessing.  I don't like messing around on the roads when it's like this.  To all of my friends in sunny Southern California:  WISH YOU WERE HERE!!!  Talk to you all soon...

Love,
Buckskin Lily

So  much for the garden this year...

And here's the view out the front window...(I'm not going outside!  Are you crazy!!)