Important Milestones

Song - Dances with Wolves by John Barry


Seldom in life do things go as planned but I just returned home from a wonderful birthday trip for both me and my son, Andy who also had a milestone birthday this month.  Oh yeah, and just for fun we brought along Mr. B and Andy's girlfriend (so darling and funny) Ashley!

Now, Ashley and I are not happy fliers but we enjoy where those crazy airplanes can take us....

...especially after we have our Breakfast of Champions!  A double Bloody Mary for Ashley and a double Gin & Tonic for me.  It gets us right on that tarmac!

We arrived at Salt Lake City and then took a little puddle jumper to Idaho Falls.  Jumping in our rental car we take off for Victor, Idaho.  On the way there the guys spot a Mama Moose with her Baby as well as a Bald Eagle.  Two points for the guys and zero for the girls.  Don't worry we do catch up!

 After a day of touring and relaxing at Teaton Springs, we have a reservation for a fly fishing float trip down the Snake River.  The guides split us up with Mr. B and Andy in one boat, while Ashley and I head down the river in another boat with a different guide.  Ashley is a first time fisherwoman and I am just taking photo's and painting on the front end of the boat.  As Ashley is being taught how to cast, she actually catches a fish.  Go Ashley!

Ashley must of caught 20 plus fish on her first day of fishing.  She actually could of caught 30-40 fish but she got so excited that she forgot to set her hook.  It was all catch and release so it was all good fun.....well, maybe not so for the fish.

Our three person fishing boat.

Tanner, our guide and Ashley

Ashley's first Cutthroat Trout

The next day we head on to Jackson Hole, Wyoming for two days.  Unfortunately Andy and I got food poisoning and are in bed for two days.  But Mr. B and Ashely enjoy the town.

No one we know but a great shot of the Antler Arch in the town square.

On Tuesday we head off to the Teaton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. 

That would be a Glacier in the middle of the shot.

 

 

We headed North to Old Faithful ( see photo above) and the Old Faithful Inn (below).

What an amazing place, you kinda feel like you are on another planet with the ground bubbling and changing colors beneath you.

While heading North towards Livingston, Montana we encountered a tremendous amount of beauty.

We even picnicked near some.....

"Hey, what's in that picnic basket BooBoo?" - Yogi Bear

As we found our way up to our next destination, Chico Hot Springs, Montana and we realized that we had crossed the Continental Divide three times.  That's were the water decides if it will flow East or West.

As we headed into our last days in Chico Hot Springs, Pray, Montana, I meditated on the joy of this trip.  

The four of us in a car for 8 days and not sure if we would still be speaking near the end, but instead we got to know one another just a little bit better and found we can have fun together! 

A lot of beauty, laughter, great meals, lightening storms, heat waves and celebration.  

Being together.

Thank you Mr. B and Ashley for a wonderful birthday celebration!

"There is certainly something in fishing that tends to produce a gentleness of spirit, a pure serenity of mind."

Washington Irvin

Birthday's Do Travel

Song - Buffalo Soldier by Bob Marley

I know that I have been missing in action lately but I just returned home tonight from a week long trip with my son, Andy and his girlfriend, Ashley as well as me and Mr. B.

We had a blast.

I will send out a post tomorrow with more details but meanwhile, can you guess where we have been?

Mika Musings

 Video - Talking Animals

Mika is one of those wonderful spirits who is happy 99.9% of the time, is a total Tom-Boy, loves to eat, likes to chase squirrels and crows, adores Mr. B and will great anyone with a tail wag.


However if you are new to her, she will great you with a little secret present.  She will follow you around until you notice that she has something in her mouth that she wants to present to you.  Usually it's a leaf, or pebble, an acorn or a little piece of dog turd.  Yup, that's our Tom-Girl.  So beware if you come to visit. I just sayin'.....

Mika & Max watching mom water the front yard

I thought she would miss Max, her best bud for 13 years. But because she lives in the moment she is happy.  Now occasionally I have noticed her looking around the house like something is different and she just can't quite put her paw on it - maybe mom got a new haircut or they painted the living room a different color. As long as she has her food, can get a few hundred hugs per day and can sleep on the bed with Mr. B & me, she is content.

For the last year, I have been taking both Max and Mika to both a great Western Med Vet and to a wonderful Holistic Vet, Dr. Rettig at Alternatives for Animals in Lafayette.  Mika suffers from Westie Lung Disease (Pulmonary Fibrosis) so there have been days when she is struggling to breathe.  Since being on Western meds & Eastern supplements and getting acupuncture every 6 weeks, she is a new girl.

Mika kinda bored with the whole thing but willing to wait it out for a treat at the end

Are we almost done?

Ahhh, good ol' liver treats!

"The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too." - Samuel Butler

Max

Max finally succumbed to kidney failure on Tuesday.  He was a good and proud dog until the very end.  He loved his backyard which he watched over diligently for trespassing squirrels or geese landing in his pool.  Max loved his morning meal with his best friend, Mika.  So much so that he would chase her around the kitchen island and she would in turn chase him until all of the throw rugs were up against the cabinets and finally his food was placed before him.  He also loved his evening strolls around the yard, watching out for mom who was watering plants and standing beside his dad, looking out over the creek habitat.  Miss you bud.

Max

Sept. 7, 1999 - June 25, 2013

"Don't cry because it's over.  Smile because it happened."  -- Dr. Seuss

Woodies on the Wharf 2013

 Song - Surf Medley by Jr. Brown live

Over the weekend Mr. B and I went to the 19th annual Woodies on the Wharf in Santa Cruz.  Although I am not a big car fan, when it comes to something vintage I can enjoy the history and wonder about it's survival up until now.

I spent a lot of time in Santa Cruz during my youth and I remember seeing woodies on Highway 17, with guys piled inside and surf boards on top of their car, on their way to Santa Cruz for a day of surfing.

Above is one that we passed on Friday, heading over the pass on 17 and reminiscent of a day gone by.

There were about 180 woodies there to great us at the end of the wharf. 

It was difficult to take photo's as there were so many people checking out the engine, interior, wood detail, etc.  But Mr. B taught me an exercise in patience that morning.  (yes, I know, hard to believe....) But he would be my lookout and let me know when there was a clearing in the group so I could take my shot with as few people as possible.

Loved the stickers in the windows.  Some were timeless.

They also had a beautiful surf board demonstration with Floyd Smith making handmade surfboards.

Some of the cars were quite old but still in great shape.

Pontiac hood ornament.

Edelbrock was and is famous for making specialized carburetors.  But before you think I really know my car parts....don't get excited, I only know this because my middle son, Jon, works for them in Torrance, CA.

Now who knows what this little handle on the steering wheel is?


Have you ever heard of a Necker Knob?

I have but only because my dear sweet dad had one! 

Wiktionary -
necker's knob (plural necker's knobs)
(idiomatic, slang, dated) A knob attached to the steering wheel of an automobile, especially before the widespread availability of power steering, helping the driver steer with one arm and leaving the other arm free to provide romantic attention to a companion.

 Daddy!!! Or maybe I should say MOM!  I am shocked at you two!!

The beauty of the wood was amazing both inside & out.

 

Does anyone remember these canvas bags hanging from cars?  Desert Bags.......for you young people out there, it carried water for the car so if your car overheated (and they often did) you had water handy when ever you needed it.  I am beginning to feel very old.....

This was one of my favorites.  I loved the color, the white walls and the outside sun visor - very sweet.  Mmmm.  It could hold a lot of painting supplies.....

My quote for the day is.....

For more information on Woodies on the Wharf - http://www.santacruzwoodies.com/june-22-2013-woodies-on-the-wharf/