Zoey is 5-May 28, 2019

I cannot resist sharing pictures of Zoey's 5th birthday even if it's not a trip we made. For two years she has wanted to go horseback riding. She got the wish fulfilled yesterday. She loved every minute. Hannah went along because she had to. Daisy went bonkers. She said she was not scared at all. She had the most fun.

It was a very happy birthday for Zoey.

 

The whole family.

 

Last year was a princess cake. This year was a pink

penguin. (All of her gifts were penguin items). Wonder

what next year will be?

 

Blowing out 5 candles was very easy.

 

All in all it was a great day for little Zoey. All three girls were exhausted by the time they got here for cake, but they pushed through. We cannot believe these girls are growing so fast.

 

 

 

 

 

thinking-May 27, 2019

I am still thinking about this blog. I have decided that I enjoy posting this blog so much I am not sure I could give it up for good.

However, it is a travel blog. We have a very busy summer ahead of us. We are going to attempt to set up a schedule so we can take a couple of days off here and there. Then I could post our travels. So, for now I think I will post less but still post.

I have always loved to write so this blog fills a need for me to do that.

I will try to keep this going for now.

Today is Zoey's 5th birthday. They have taken her horse back riding which she has wanted to do for 3 years. I asked them to take pictures. If they do I will post that. I cannot imagine her sitting on a horse! And I will post pictures of her cake just like I did last year.

Happy Memorial Day! It is a day of appreciation and remembrance.

Last trip-May 18, 2019

We just returned from a trip to WinStar. I have posted so many times about WinStar that I decided perhaps you would not want to see the same pictures again. I will just post what every entrance says.

I love this. It makes me proud to be a guest of the Chickasaw Nation.

 

Once again we had a three room suite with a view from two sides. It is so wonderful to be treated like royalty though we are as far from that as anybody can be. This time we were given 2 free buffets. Usually it's only one and we pay for the rest which is not a big deal at all. We were also given more money in free play than we have ever received. So we really did feel special. And, as usual, we had a wonderful time.

 

Based on what this summer looks like we might not be making any more trips of length until school starts again in the fall. So I am conflicted on whether to continue this blog. After all, it is called Cheryl's Travel Blog. I feel like no one really wants to see my granddaughters. So, let me think this over and I will let you know which side of my thoughts wins.

 

 

Mother's Day-May 12, 2019

We are on the road. Tonight we are at the Kansas Star, a very nice Hampton Inn in Mulvane, Kansas. It is so nicely appointed and everyone is really nice. It's also very quiet.

This is what I was given when we checked in.

So pretty and it smells wonderful.

I was appreciative.

 

We saw the sun all day today. That has become a rare thing. But it was very windy and there was so much construction. However, we arrived safely here and we're praying for a safe journey to WinStar tomorrow.

 

 

 

Deadwood-May 8, 2019

We never saw the sun the entire time we were in Deadwood, but we didn't care. It is such a fun place to be that we never let the weather stop us. This time we stayed at the Deadwood Mountain Grand, on the top of the hill above Deadwood. It is a really nice place but just far enough up the hill to make us walk to get where we want to go. That's healthy. So we walked. The Deadwood Mountain Grand wants to appear to be more upscale than the other places, but it doesn't affect us that way. They have all sorts of artwork all through the hotel/casino.

They always have at least one motorcycle on display. This one belongs to someone I have never heard of. But it is still very pretty.

This is one of the oddest sculptures I have ever seen. The title is "Eleven Feathers". It is made of stainless steel and it is huge so I can't even guess what it weighs. It is actually quite good looking. The price was not posted. Instead you have to call the artist to find out what the price is.

On Monday morning we went to Rapid City to renew our license plates. To Rapid City and back we drove in fog, snow, rain, sleet, graupel and more fog. What a weird day. Still when we got back to the hotel, we went for a walk. The air was so clean I did not want to go indoors. So we didn't.

We are back in the swing of things now, but we have just made reservations to go to WinStar next week. You know we are very fond of that place. After that we are "grounded" until school starts in the fall.

Deadwood-May 5, 2019

We had a fabulous drive to Deadwood today. We made such good time we had to wait to check in. It is raining and it's foggy. We have to renew our license plates tomorrow and run a couple of other errands. Hopefully I will get some nice pictures even without sunshine.

More later....................

Grants, New Mexico-May 3, 2019

Every time we drive through Grants, New Mexico I am so in awe of the scenery that I forget to try to take decent pictures. This time I tried but it was raining and snowing so the pictures are not clear.

 

 

 

Lava Rock. This trip I decided to get information on this area.

 

All of the above pictures are of lava rock deposited by the El Malpais volcano. Malpais means badlands. As far as I can determine this volcano erupted 30,000 years ago. It has been dormant since. It is a massive lava field covering over 114,000 acres. During World War I it was used as a test bombing range. In the 1940s it was one of 8 sites considered for the Manhattan Project. In 1987 President Reagan made it a National Monument. It is open year round to drive, walk, explore ice caves and study lava cones up close. I am sorry we have never stopped there but it is on our bucket list now. As silly as it sounds every time we drive through here I can clearly visualize what this must have been like when the volcano erupted. The lava rock is fascinating to see. I would love to walk around it and touch it. One day I hope to blog about just that.