Sunday

Fremont Lake is high at the dam. It's ten inches over the staff gauge.

This is the down hill side where it boils out.

We drove up to Kendall to gather up Dale Jensen and take him to dinner at the Place. He'd already eaten, so we had a good visit, then we went to the Place and had shrimp. They were worth the drive!

Elk licence

I drew my elk licence! 97 type 1

Yippee!

Fish on the grill at Brian and Krishna's

The food was wonderful and Hunter kept us all entertained!

Grandpa has great fun with Hunter!!!

Look at those big eyes! I posted this because it's so cute of him..it's horrible of me!

Phototography class at Nancy Espenscheid's

I came away from this fun day without a single worthwhile photograph. Everyone in this is looking a different direction...I mostly was there for the experience...to see Nancy's ranch... The class in the museum was good...worthwhile..and interesting.

Had to chuckle at the old five foot horse drawn mower...I enjoyed Monte Skinner talking about driving one at Carrol Noble's and Sunny Korfonta was there haying too.

Riding up above Meadow Lake

Hank with Nube. He was coming back from his walk as we were just saddling up and heading out.

Our lunch spot overlooking Meadow Lake. There isn't many trees coming back in from the 1988 fires...we noticed a distinct absence of birds and other life. The bugs are coming to life however.

Up over the top where we could see the peaks.

Bob naming off the peaks... We were horseback about five and a half hours...six and a half including our lunch break. We had dinner at the Stockman's on the way back through town, and that was a treat for me!

Friday Bridge at Kim Linn's

Kim's deck affords such a gorgeous "view-scape". We are out here enjoying our champagne while she's busy getting things ready, and waiting for Marg to get here. For anyone who doesn't know the above, they are Grace Anderson, Ellen Reed, Erma Shriver, Tharon Thompson, and Annie Olsen. We had a wonderful luncheon and a fun day of bridge. We drove down via the Paradise road and home over 106 which went by our old place on the river. I drove the gals down there to see that house and how high the river is. It is bank high and roaring.

After dinner, Bob and I drove up to Fremont Lake to check the dam. It's running a good foot or more over the spill way. The other night when we went out to our old ranch to pick up the horses, they were working on the Highland Canal. There was a huge washout where there had been one 37 years ago. Our horses were out of water.

Had to throw this in...the evening was beautiful. And a day without rain! Is that good or bad. I enjoyed it!

Horse sale yesterday!

The lady from Cody who owns this shire showed me this picture yesterday. The little girl is her farrier's daughter, who was also at the horse sale. I loved this picture and asked her to email it to me..which she did. So I present it for your enjoyment.

The horse sale was so so...lots of no sales...a couple really good ones. Mostly though we saw some old timers who were so wonderful to see. ie Bobby Lozier and Cliff Brewer. We do go to visit...and it was fun. The heavens opened up while we were there...the electricity went off...the auctioneer used a flashlight..and the sale went on.

My friend Erma turns 91!

Birthday LunchJune 9, 2009

Today is Erma Shriver’s 91st birthday. I invited her to lunch, and she accepted. Then I decided to invite Ellen Reed too. That turned out to be a good deal, as she insisted upon buying!

As I drove out to pick Erma up, she was standing by her garage, with a cane waiting for me. She stands erect with her purse slung over her shoulder. She is dressed up for the occasion with nice clothes, new jewelry that she got for her birthday and a pretty scarf. I found myself wishing I had my camera.

As we drove into town, I told her how amazing she was. She still lives alone...unless some grand-kid needs a home...and then she graciously shares her home while they find something they can afford. This may take several years. Now, she and her dog are the sole residents. It’s a large old ranch house that was built in the twenties..I think. Erma was born about a mile down the creek, on the ranch her parents, Frank and Lydia Steele, had at the time. She was the third of four children. She was raised there...and after she married Fred Shriver, they bought the Eklund place, where she still lives. She raised her five boys in that home.

Erma came into my life in 1959 when I was going with and later married her second son. Erma turned into one of my true friends. She did not let our divorce come between us. She’s very loyal to her boys...but she’s still my friend.

I learned a lot from Erma over the years. She taught me how to cook, and more importantly, ranch cook, the first summer I knew her. Those were invaluable lessons, that I use yet today. I hope I’ve imparted some of those skills to my daughters.

Back to the “she still does part”, she still cooks for herself, she still plays bridge, and she still hosts bridge parties. That includes baking cookies, or mock angle food cake, or frozen lemon pie. Every once in a while someone, myself included, suggests she just allow us to be the hosts, and she is firm that she wants to, and will do it. She is firm enough that you know she means it. If she doesn’t host, she will quit. That is the last thing any of us wants.

Erma still drives. She has a small blue car, that she fills with gas herself, and drives where she needs to go. That can include going to Big Piney for bridge.

Erma’s walk is slower, but I remember the days when she walked right out. One such time, we were just out dinking around the ranch on foot, and came across my mare Gay Ester. I’d picked up a piece of baling wire along the way, and I caught Gay Ester. I put that wire around her neck and the two of us rode her back to the house bareback. Another time, we were cleaning out a beaver dam. The water was deep, and I’d jerked my levis off to get in and do it. Erma slapped a big horse fly on my butt. That place swelled up to the point I couldn’t get my levis on. We’ve had many good laughs over that. Another time, involved that same mare. I was on Gay Ester in the yard...for what reason, I don’t remember. One of her boys said “She’s trying to ride in the house, and her horse won’t go!” I can remember looking at Erma, and she just nodded. I rode Gay Ester in her kitchen, turned around and rode her out. No one said a word!
Probably more important than these stories, is what a great, meaning good, grandma she was/is to my daughters. She took no guff from them, as they can attest. However, they love her dearly. She is a very important part of their life too.

I just felt compelled to write this up after our lunch on her 91st birthday. After our lunch of good food, and friendship, and much laughter, I dropped her off, at of all places, the school auditorium, where she was going to the kindergarten graduation. More great grandchildren to support.

Go Erma!

Yesterday

Bob adjusting the Lee Ditch headgate...

Hunter comes to see Grandpa and Grandma!

Fremont Lake at the dam..

And yes...this isn't up at the lake. Brian came to use our wireless connection and The Cat thought he brought him a new bed.

The lake is up high enough to be going over the spillway.

I loved the reflections in this.