There isn’t a rhyme or reason! Here are some of my favorite songs that I thoroughly enjoy! Who knows, you “discover” a band/group here that is new to you and you just fall in love with it as well
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Tag Anna Potthoff
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Wyoming’s First Settlement–a ‘hidden’ gem, Fort Laramie
Wyoming is filled with many “hidden” treasures. Little gems of history and fortitude are everywhere. Fort Laramie doesn’t disappoint. It’s thrilling in its quiet beauty and historical realms.
Fort Laramie is still a small town, population roughly 1,000. Located along the Laramie River in Southeast Wyoming, it’s well worth visiting and spending a full day exploring the fort and the Iron Bridge (located very close together, less than 2 miles apart.)
The Visitors center of Fort Laramie historical site is located inside the old supplies facility. It has been nicely converted into a little museum. The museum is abundant in the historical telling of the fort itself. It also offers wonderful selections of goodies. The visitor center also has a vast variety of postcards and an ample range of postmarking stamps! There is a derelict post office on site. It was once part of the fort’s functional aspects more than a century ago. Yet, the active post office is located in the town. This allows one to write to a loved one about their awesome adventures. They can mail it off from the town itself!
Fort Laramie offers a walk through map of all the grounds, which is outstanding. The fort itself has many buildings that can also be toured. These include barracks, commissaries, Surgeons residents, and the Bedlam. The Bedlam has a fascinating back story of its name and history. There are ruins where edifices didn’t survive the time and plaques of information to enlighten.
The Laramie river runs along side the fort, providing much needed water then and now to the area, trees grow abundantly and the pastures around still don a herd of horses and a small amount of cattle (I am not sure if they are associated with the fort or not but it’s nice to imagine that the Calvary stationed there would still be in need of the horses and cattle if it were still an active fort!)
Fort Laramie was also a major trading post and rest stop for those traveling or living in the region–as well as a huge component in the Pony Express–while it lasted for the 18 months it ran. The Pony express had 120 young riders that delivered and most went through Fort Laramie!
The staff at Fort Laramie are well informed. They are super helpful in the knowledge and guidance of the fort. So please stop by and check it out! The entrance and parking are both free and are open year around, except on major holidays!
Hungry? Try out “The Fort” Bar and Grill in the town of Fort Laramie, 5 minutes from the Fort, great food and easy to find–wonderful selection
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Listen to Stories While Handling Holiday Tasks
We all have the infamous to-do list. It includes packing for a holiday trip. There’s also cleaning before guests come over. And let’s not forget washing the dishes after Thanksgiving meals (and leftovers).
We all want to read more or learn something but chores inevitably come first, right? No longer!
We are prepping for the holiday cheer. We definitely don’t have the wish to spend extra on entertainment if we don’t need to, right? Here are a few short, sweet stories. They are (audio-stories) that are super nice to listen to while busting your hump to get things done. This way, you can enjoy a good story. Be entertained while tackling that inevitable mound of laundry or other tasks!
These stories can also be downloaded and enjoyed while on the plane, train, or automobile while traveling–Merry Christmas!
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Tis the Spooky Season–hauntingly beautiful art
An Original Piece, available for purchase on eBay! https://www.ebay.com/itm/226524842114
The ghostly monk attending to an abandoned monastery, church in Scotland Inspired by local legends of the ruins, nearby, Inverness Scotland, and the cairns. This monk still maintains his garden, even after death, and he hunts the abandoned monastery church that he wants to have added centuries ago
Item is framed, ready to hang. Original Size is 16 in by 20 in but is a bit larger due to the frame. Ready to hang on the way. Varnished with a UV glaze for protection and long lasting. Original oil on cotton canvas. Solid brush strokes and hand painted, one of a kind original. Stories of folklore legends and ghosts. #ruins #monks #ghosts #spiritis #hauntings #paintme #parati #painting #haunted #hauntingseason
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Ayres Natural Bridge at LaPrele Creek, A reprieve along the Oregon Trail-and perfect rest stop for modern travelers and adventures
The pioneers are making their mark again along the Oregon Trail here. It is just outside of Jackolope City, Wyoming. The trail is along the I-25, so it’s easily accessible now!
Looming gently over LaPrele Creek, Ayres Natural Bridge provides beautiful splendor amongst the red rocks of Converse County.
According to the tourist site,is only one of three natural bridges “LaPrele Creek flows beneath the rock formation. It creates one of only three rock archways in the nation that span water.” I feel so fortunate and blessed that I got to see one of them!
While driving up to the location, it’s clearly posted that any animal, leashed or not, is not welcome onsite. Tickets with fines will be issued for those bringing in an animal with them. So please, remember to leave Fido and kitty at home.
The drive is an easy method, with wide open colorful views and spectacular scenery. While most of the path to get there is unpaved, it’s still manageable-just take your time!
The area also hosted a small flock of wild turkey.That is the bird, not the alcoholic beverage, just for clarity.
Bring a picnic basket or other goodies. It is an ideal way to spend a lovely afternoon here at Ayres natural bridge and park. Do you want to enjoy it longer? Camping is also available here. I am not sure if I would want to brave the Wyoming chill in the winter for camping. I would consider it if I were in a recreational camper toy. Nonetheless, I am a princess who likes the amenities, and I might not even brave it then.
Watch this little youtube video I made of the area. I hope you thoroughly enjoy it!
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Welcome to Madison Beach–North Platte River Views!
While the beach is located on private property, it’s open to the public, near Guernsey, Wyoming-
Located along a very full North Platte River, the lovely, secluded location is perfect for enjoying a walk. It’s also a great spot to have a picnic or to take a date with your sweetheart.
There are a few rules and requests made, posted on the sign (read the picture carefully for a good laugh!)
Located not but 2 miles from the Register Cliff historical site, this beach is well worth visiting.
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It’s a sweetly tart pie–with Triple Sec, baking with Mom
A lady friend gave us a lot of frozen raspberries so what are we to do? Bake pies, of course!
Here is the generalized recipe we used but we “cheated” by using Pillsbury refrigerated pie crust instead of the crust in the recipe (click here if you want the see the recipe)
My mom and I didn’t exactly follow the filling recipe to the “T”, either. We added a splash of orange Triple Sec. We also added some lemon and orange zest to the recipe. Additionally, we included extra cinnamon.
The results were spectacular! I forgot to snap a picture of the final products because I was more interested in sampling the pie.
Bon Appetite!
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The Archway Bridge-The Great Platte River Road–Kearney, Nebraska! How the West was traveresed
Traversing the country in an SUV is a long trip. It is even more challenging when traveling alone with a goofy dog. Still, it is cheesecake compared to what the pioneers did to settle this country.Fueling up at easy to find gas station (thank you, GPS!) and packing snacks, finding food is a breeze–but for the settlers that came long before me, it wasn’t easy, safe or simple!
We who are, um, more advanced in years recall playing the game “The Oregon Trail.” It had limited graphics. The features went “ping” when a shot was missed at hunting. The game never highlighted the intense journey. It never truly reflected on the scary, long haul it took on body and soul. This was in the quest to cross the nation in search of space, freedom, and expansion.
The history at the Archway Bridge and museum shares the story of the pioneers. It reveals the truth behind their journey, reflecting in the sculptures and museum. There is much more to express, but it’s too much for here. I think you should visit it and see for yourself. I wouldn’t want to spoil a wonderful opportunity. The Buffalo is nice, and the covered wagon is stationary!
The Museum offers some wonderful postcards. It also has a mail depository. You can share the adventures with your friends and family! Another perk, a pressed penny machine (I call them squished pennies as they are elongated in a squished fashion with a cool design imprinted of the location!)
Want to learn more? Click Enduring Spirit of America
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A Road Side Chapel, Perfect Pit Stop for Prayer
My road trip across the USA continues–and what a truly spectacular country to be living in! The beauty and splendor of this amazing land never disappoints.
I pulled over to take a pit stop at the McDonalds (and get an iced coffee, of course!). Pixie let me know that she also needed a pit stop. As we dismounted our ride, we saw a beautiful little chapel across the way. Of course, we had to make a visit to this wonderful hidden gem!
The small church chapel is easily accessible. It has parking out front, which is ideal. It is also pet friendly, a must in my world.Inside the chapel is a small altar and a few benches, comfortable and accommodating. The interior smells delicious of incense and time, a lovely combination to the olfactory.
It’s worth pulling off to just experience this rare gem of American life and thoroughly enjoy it all!
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Edible and Ugly–Using what you got! A twist on Stone Soup
Anyone who has ever moved knows that meals get interesting as the big move day grows near. This is especially true if you are moving a greater distance versus just across town. Transferring groceries and frozen goods is a breeze when moving locally.
I am doing the greater distance move and thus trying to use up what groceries I have at the moment. Meals are getting creative, hence edible and ugly.
This recipe, while high in fiber, isn’t pretty but it’s quite yummy.
1 can of red Kidney Beans
1 onion chopped up
2 medium carrots, pealed and diced
2 small tomatoes, diced up
1/2 pound of ground turkey, browned
1 can of refried beans
2 cups of water
1 tablespoon of cajun seasoning
Dump everything into a pot together and simmer for about 15 minutes. Serve with Texas Pete and sour cream or whatever toppings you have left in your condiment stash or cupboard.
This recipe can easily be varied to don whatever you have in your kitchen–hence the Stone Soup theory.
I showed my mother my meal and she said “God Bless you, that looks like canned dog food.” In truth, it does resemble cheap, canned dog food but it’s actually quite yummy.
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