I've got a case of . . .

the winter blues

Enough already!  There is just too much snow and it is just too darn cold.  Somebody, please, make it all stop!

Wyoming Winter Roads

or aka, my hell on earth.

Don't forget about the blowing snow.  Sometimes the snow blows high in the air right at your windshield making it impossible to see.



My personal hell would be nothing but snowy, icy roads that I would be forced to drive on all day. 

I'm pretty sure I've decreased my life expectancy by all the stress I have caused my body from driving on these roads.  I'm considering celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas in July so during the winter months, I won't have to leave the house.  It actually might work out quite well....a parade in the morning, presents in the afternoon, turkey, potatoes and stuffing for dinner followed by a grand fireworks display.  It just might work. 

the little engine that couldn't

This is old news, but nonetheless, it is definitely worth sharing.

A few miles south of Thermopolis is a beautiful canyon called the Wind River Canyon. Many times throughout the year, this canyon will have a falling rock advisory, especially during the wet season.

This spring has been particularly wet. A few weeks ago a huge rock fell on the railroad tracks that run through this canyon. The result was this:


The rock was the size of a pick-up truck and caused a train to derail into the Wind River.


The locomotive engineers (I know my train vocabulary) had to climb out and swim to safety. They were alright, however, they did suffer minor injuries and hypothermia.



Several thousands of gallons of diesel fuel (I've heard 8 to 15 thousand gallons) leaked into the river. Crews worked to contain and siphon what fuel they could from the river. Luckily the town's drinking water was secured.


Pretty crazy, eh.

Here's a video clip of the canyon. It's really quite spectacular.

I never did show you . . .

what my awesome husband got me for Christmas! Aren't they snazzy? I love 'em!!


It's official. I am now a true Wyomingite...and I've got these boots to prove it.


Here are some funny jokes about life in Wyoming.

YOU KNOW YOU ARE A TRUE WYOMINGITE WHEN . . .

1. Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor on the highway.

2. "Vacation" means going up north past Worland for the weekend.

3. You measure distance in hours.

4. You know several people who have hit a deer more than once.

5. You often switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again.

6. Your whole family wears brown and gold to church on Sunday.

7. You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard, without flinching.

8. You see people wearing hunting clothes at social events.

9. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.

10. Your dogs go to town with you.

11. There are as many bars in town as churches.

12. There are 7 empty cars running in the parking lot of the store at any given time.

13. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.

14. Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.

15. The rodeo is the social event of the year.

16. You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction.

17. You have no problem spelling Meeteetse.

18. You consider Cheyenne exotic.

19. Your idea of creative landscaping is a statue of a deer next to your blue spruce.

20. You think lingerie is tube socks and flannel pajamas.

21. Down South to you means Denver.

22. Your neighbor throws a party to celebrate his new machine shed.

23. Your 4th of July picnic was moved indoors due to frost.

24. You have more miles on your snow blower than your car.

25. You find 0 degrees "a little chilly."

26. You actually understand these jokes.

Kind of funny, huh.

Reminder: Email me your recipes to jennycheney[at]gmail[dot]com. Go HERE for details.

an afternoon get-a-way

Last Sunday Curtis and I took an impromptu drive to Ten Sleep, Wyoming. Ten Sleep is about an hour away from us, and with a name like Ten Sleep, how could we not stop by for a visit?

Here's a tidbit about Ten Sleep:

It's a small ranching community with a population of about 300. The town website says that "Ten Sleep is a true example of western lifestyle" and that "travelers are welcome and greeted with friendly smiles" ...both of which we found to be true.

Ten Sleep has quite a history. It is "recognized as being the site of many historic battlegrounds between Indian tribes and the white man. Among those sites are the Bates Battlesite, an engagement in which the Arapahoe were defeated by a coalition composed of U.S. troops and the Shoshone. At the Dull Knife site, Dull Knife and Wild Hog were defeated leaving the Big Horn Mountains under the control of the white man." (Information found here)

Ten Sleep got its name because it was ten days (or 10 sleeps) between the Great Sioux Camps, the Platte River and the northern camp near Bridger, MT.

The town was a very quaint little town and we will be sure to visit again soon.

It's also quite picturesque. See . . .

prairie-doggin'

What do you do in rural Wyoming while waiting for the road to open?

You torment the prairie dogs.

Up close and personal:

The Showdown:

And yes, we are in a cemetery.

I apologize for the shakiness of this video, but it's pretty funny nonetheless. You'll have to have your volume turned up pretty loud to hear it.