Jackson

Kind of like Johnny Cash and June Carter - only we didn't get married in a fever.

But my friend Kara did in Jackson Hole, Wyo., which is where Todd and I scooted up to for the weekend!  I was super excited to see her get married and be with all my old D.C., friends - and for Todd to see this part of the state, something he hasn't had a chance to do yet.

Todd and I had planned to camp Friday night in the Teton National Forest.  We've had a few attempts at camping this summer, but both have ended badly - one with us coiled up in the front of the truck and the last with us laid out in the back of the Subaru.

No luck again this weekend.  We forgot the tent.  Almost to Shoshoni, Todd asks, "We have the tent, right?" to which I replied, "I don't know...we do...right??"  I packed the car, yes, but Todd had piled all the gear by the front door before going to work.  I figured everything we needed was there - not at the bottom of the stairs.

Consequently, we crashed with my friend Lori in her hotel room.  Not quite roughing it...at least not for us.  Lori may have a different opinion.

The Grand Tetons...!  Pretty, huh?

The same Tetons only much more sinister.  Todd snapped this on our way to Teton Village for the night-before reception...

We didn't see a moose.  Or a bear.  I am destined to never see a bear...

Ok, we saw one moose at the Mangy Moose bar in the Village.  But being stuffed and hung from the ceiling doesn't really count...

The next morning we headed to the town square and had breakfast at this great little place called Cafe Genevieve.  It was so cute - and good - and I was crazy jealous of the hostess' clothes.  We went back the next morning too and she looked even cuter than the day before!  I hate how everyone in Jackson is so effortlessly mountain-laid-back with style!  (Translation - I want their closets.)  We meandered through the Jackson farmers market...

And took pictures under the famous antler arches...

And more photos.  This was very game warden appropriate, don't you think...?

My friend Kara, the blushing bride...

The wedding was at the Tennis and Golf Club, which was nothing short of amazing.  What a backdrop for the bride, huh?

The D.C., fam!  This picture makes me so happy!  We're missing a few folks though...

Sunday morning Todd and I took a different route home.  On the way to Jackson we took the more northern route through Dubois, Wyo.  On the way back we dipped into Pinedale and Lander.  We stopped for some impromptu fishing outside Jackson...

The Great Outdoors...

I didn't fish because I didn't have a license.  A big no-no, particularly when your significant other is a game warden...

In Pinedale, Wyo., we stopped for lunch at the Wind River brewery...

And had a pretty nice time sampling beers and eating outside - until the bill came.  Our waitress, though nice, hadn't listened to a thing we said.  One order of the sampler - not two.  We got the bill cleaned up and moved along...

As we were heading into Lander, Wyo., the tire pressure light came on in my car.  Come to find out, we had a flat.  Seriously?!

Todd put the spare on in the parking lot of a convenience store...

And we were off!

Linds H. has a photo of this and I've always loved it.  So, I decided to copy her and take one of my own.  The sign is for a house at Sweetwater Station that has a barn full of books for sale.  I really wanted to stop in, but the time we lost fixing our flat meant the place was closed.  There's an interesting article on the ladies who run the shop on Wyofile...

FINALLY we pull into town on our spare and pass this scene on the way to the house...A reminder to Todd that work lurked just around the corner...

The one scratching makes me laugh...  Oh dear...

Bonnie and Clyde

Todd and I are in Wisconsin!

And wow, does it take a long time to get here!

We left Casper at 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning thinking we would get to his mom's around around 2 a.m.  At about 12:30 a.m. we realized this was a pipe dream and at the rate we were going we wouldn't pull in until probably 4:30 a.m.!

We began weighing our options.  We came prepared with camping equipment for my family reunion at the end of the week, so we started looking up campsites and state parks.  After a wild goose chase or two for parks that ended up being a lot farther off the interstate than what we hoped, we finally found one.

We pulled in around 2 a.m. and stopped dutifully at the entrance station to check rules and campsite prices.  We discovered there were no prices and one of the rules was no setting up camp after 11 p.m.

Huh.  That's not gonna work.

We made an executive decision: We're going to pull in anyway.

We were tired.  We weren't going to be there more than 3-4 hours.  We weren't even going to bother with setting up the tent.  We just needed a slot for some zzz's!

So...we slept and skipped.  I admit it.  And...I stand by it!  I own our rule-breaking decision!

Todd waking up in the truck.  Worst.  Sleep.  Ever.

Foggin' up the windows!  Just kidding.  Too tired for parkin'!  See Rigby peeking up there...?

My side of the truck.  Todd was all cramped after sleeping with the steering wheel in his lap.  I asked him why he didn't just turn and put his feet up in the middle of the seat.  His reply?  He's not a 12-year-old girl who can bend like Gumby.  I laughed - a lot...

Pulling out of our hiding place...

The coffee cup I had grand plans of using as a rinse cup for brushing my teeth!  Two things I CAN'T STAND: not brushing my teeth or washing my face before bed.  Neither of these things happened that night.  I was broken hearted when I figured out our toothpaste was in the truck bed.  We each chewed a piece of Orbitz mint-flavored gum instead...  UGH.

Approaching the entrance to the park...  Uh-oh!

I'm not sure if Todd is leaning back for me to get a photo, or if he's trying to not be visible as we pass by.  The office doesn't open until 8 a.m. and it was 6:30 a.m.  We skipped early to avoid our captors!  To bad we didn't have Beyonce and Jay Z's Bonnie and Clyde song playing...

See ya' Willow River...!

Nice knowin' ya!

Head to the hills

This is a crazy thing to confess, but in the time I've been in Cheyenne I haven't taken advantage of any outdoor activities at Curt Gowdy, Happy Jack or Vedauwoo, except one hike...once.

It makes me mad.  I've tried to, but something - weather, other engagements - always seems to come up.

The weather was amazing last weekend, so Annie and I packed up the pups and headed for the hills.

Rigby and Duffer in the back of Annie's car...

Nadi...

An example of the crazy rock formations this area is known for...

Duffer was obsessed with this stick. She carried it with her most of our way in.  I was impressed with how she didn't lose interest...

Annie with the dogs.  Doesn't she look cute pregnant...?

 Me and Rigs...
 

We think beavers must have mowed this area down...

The pups at play...

My little buddy and I back at home.  Rigby was pooped after such an active morning...!

Fair game

This last weekend was opening day for deer season in Wisconsin.

As I promised Todd I would, I sat in the stand with him for a little while on Saturday - or opening day - morning.

A family tradition is for his mom to cook a big hunter's breakfast for all the guys on opening morning. Before we left Wyoming, I made cinnamon rolls and French puffs (with a few of my own alterations) both by the Pioneer Woman. These are winning recipes, folks. I highly suggest them!

We saw NOTHING on Saturday morning, but Sunday morning...now that's a different story! Todd got two "antlerless deer" - the technical term, I guess. No sooner had we sat down in the stand than three deer came whooshing by. About 30 minutes later Todd shot one, and a little after that got a second.

Me in the deer stand...now this is my idea of hunting! I only lasted about 2 1/2 hours on Saturday (my feet were frozen!) and yesterday Todd got his deer so quickly we didn't have to be out long. I just don't have the patience for this. It's a good thing I don't have to rely on this for my food!
The deer stand. Todd built this himself a couple years ago...

The second deer Todd shot...


See the red on those leaves...blood. Todd was trying to track his deer. It's like CSI: Wisconsin...


Todd searching for the first deer. I actually stuck it out during the gutting! I didn't want to at first, but my curiosity got the best of me. I swear shows like CSI and others with autopsy scenes desensitize you! I was so close I was looking inside the deer and Todd showed me all the different organs. Fascinating...


Todd wanted to see how Rigby would do hunting with him in the stand. Only problem is, we don't have any blaze orange for him and I didn't want him killed. Todd's friend Shawn just happened to have a hunting vest for dogs in his car so we put it on Rigs. He wasn't so sure at first, but quickly got over it...


Doesn't Rigby look like a crossing guard?! I laughed SO hard! We think he looks like he's barking orders to kids in this pic...


Oh, the things we do to our animals! Todd didn't try to keep this on - as if Rigby would have gone for that. Doesn't Rigby look so gol' darn cute under that hat??


My felon and crossing guard heading back into the woods...

Annie Oakley!

I had big plans to bake all this snowy Sunday, but then Todd wanted to take me pheasant hunting and all my kitchen intentions flew the coop.

We got me a one-day license and some blaze orange and headed out.

I may not be a quick draw or marksman or any other word that means "good with guns," but I'm not a complete novice either. I took archery/riflery for a P.E. credit in college earning my hunter's safety while at it! And I've shot trap and skeet, which is maybe not something to brag about, but it was fun, so whatever.

Anyway, we didn't see one single bird.

But I look like a pro don't I?


Can't go hunting without your partner...


Aw. A girl and her dog. Look at how adoringly he looks up at me... :)