Funny picture-October 31, 2016

 

Does this look comfortable to you? Not to me. Zoey was tired enough to need a nap but wanted to see Wallykazam. So she put herself into this weird position between chair and ottoman and was almost asleep when I took this picture. Bless her heart. Toddlers are so lucky to be so limber!

Still here!-October 30, 2016

I have been very busy so please let me share with you the reason why you haven't heard from me in a while.

I had to make this cat costume for Hannah. It was not

easy but I got it done. It was made a bit big so I don't

have to sew another one next year!

 

 

We were able to buy Zoey a cat costume.

But it did not come in Hannah's size so I had to make hers.

They are a little bit similar but definitely not exactly alike.

 

And while I was pouring over a hot sewing machine I made curtains for the kitchen. I'm happy to have that done, too. And I found something I want to sew for the girls for Christmas. That in addition to babysitting here and there is what keeps me busy. I was very wrong when I thought retirement meant I would sit around and watch television.

 

 

 

 

 

Rain?-October 19, 2016

This interesting sight is rain. However, it evaporates before it hits the ground. It is called Verga. To my friends who live where there are trees everywhere you don't get to see this. I absolutely love this and it is not uncommon here. I just had to share it with you.

Recent trip-October 15, 2016

I would like to share a few pictures with you of our trip to South Dakota last week. It was the perfect time to visit our home state. I am going to try to hold the pictures to just a few for right now.

It looks like the road to nowhere. But it is headed to South Dakota,

Deadwood, more specifically. The color is drab and almost

monochromatic unless it snows. As you get into western South Dakota trees and

mountains start to appear.

 

 

It was windy in Colorado and Wyoming, but it was very nice in South Dakota.

This is where the Black Hills begin and it is so pretty.

 

As we kept heading east the weather changed.

That's not smoke or fog. It is snow. It was not at all predicted

for that day. Right after this we encountered more wind. The snow

did not get bad at all. But the temperatures definitely dropped.

 

Lots of pine trees in this part of the country. That helps keep

it from being so barren during the long winter months.

 

I should have posted this first. This is rural Wyoming.

There are a number of vistas in Wyoming where you can see for 100 miles.

This is not quite that far, but it is a distant view.

 

The western part of South Dakota is so pretty and restful this time of year. Not quite the same when heavy snow falls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deadwood, SD-October 11, 2016

While in Deadwood, SD last week we decided to eat at a highly recommended restaurant.

I think the name was probably leftover from the days of the wild west.

You have to walk through a bar of sorts that has sawdust all over the floor

because they do a shoot out reenactment in front of the bar.

You go to the back of that long building and you are greeted by a sign at the elevator.

 

I think it might have been wiser to put the number of pounds allowed,

not the number of people. When one other person got on with us, we

crossed our fingers there wouldn't be anymore, just in case!

 

What a great meal we had. Excellent service and food. We had a view of Aspen trees outside the window. It was really nice. We'd definitely eat there again.

 

 

 

 

 

Mt Rushmore-October 8, 2016

I do not have adequate words for what Mt Rushmore means to us. We enjoy it more every time we go. This was our 5th or 6th time to experience this beautiful sight. It has changed so drastically from the first time to this past week that it's hard to describe. 

In the 25 miles between Rapid City and Mt Rushmore you reach a

point on the highway where the carvings come into view. You feel like

you have seen it and you might as well turn around. Wrong.

 

Once in the park, depending on where you park you may have a lot of walking to do. We have finally figured out where to park and walk right into the monument. It is a stunning walk.

 

This is the first thing you see when you start walking toward the faces.

 

Then you get a full view as you walk the Avenue of Flags.

All state flags are displayed along with the date of admission.

Example:

 

 

Once in the amphitheater you can sit wherever you chose and just relax. It is the most peaceful place you can imagine. Crisp clear air, beautiful blue skies, lots of room to vegetate or meditate whichever you prefer. Then you take in the magnificence of this art. And then you can try to imagine what it was like to work on this carving, the danger involved and the pride of a job well done.

 

When it is time to go, you leave almost in silence trying to etch in your mind's eye what you have just seen in case you don't come back.

 

 

If you leave headed toward Hill City instead of returning to Rapid City you get one last glimpse of Mt Rushmore.

 

Good old George looks quite majestic from this point of view.

 

The entire park has changed so much over the years that it is hard to imagine it has not always been like it is now. You used to park in a rocky parking lot wherever you could find a spot and you walked on rocks to see the faces more from an angle than straight ahead. Now you can walk about a two mile loop which puts you directly under all of their noses. Then you realize how big they are. We have done that walk before but did not do it this time. We just sat and took it all in.

 

Of all the magnificent places we have been on our travels I rate this one in the top three along with Glacier National Park and the Grand Canyon. We are so blessed to have seen these places. We are also blessed we chose South Dakota as home. 

 

I hope you get to see this one day.

 

 

 

 

 

Home-October 6, 2016

We have just returned from a quick trip to South Dakota. I have over 150 pictures to go through before I post them on this blog. It was a great trip though quick. I love South Dakota. I find peace there that I cannot find anywhere else. The scenery is so diverse it is almost too much to grasp. The trees were at peak color in that area and it was beautiful to see the "gold in them thar hills". I'll share one picture now and then I'll sort out the others. In the next few blogs I will share the great time we had there.

This is one little sample of what we saw on the road between

here and there. We ultimately ended up in Deadwood, South Dakota.

Look at this for a moment and see if you feel sense the serenity.

 

 

We did experience weather like this but we also drove in rain, snow, slush, hail, wind and icy roads. In the matter of 350 miles we saw all of those types of weather. Never a dull moment on our trips.



New Member-October 3, 2016

Please allow me to introduce the newest member of our family, Daisy Lynn Hoffman. She was born in the wee hours of Thursday morning, Sept 29. She weighed in at 9 pounds and 10 ounces, close to double what Hannah and Zoey weighed. She stayed in NICU until Sunday. Now she is home. We got to meet her today. Because she is so much plumper than the other two she is not as cute as they were at birth. But she will change quickly.

We don't know where the name Daisy came from.

Lynn is my middle name and it was my maternal

grandmother's maiden name. It's been in the family for a while.

 

 

Zoey wanted her picture taken, too. It is important to give equal time.

Both girls seem to think Daisy is a toy. They are rough with her. So she

is going to have to be strong to survive both of them. How she will sleep

through all the noise, I will never know. This family has a huge

adjustment to make now.