A Day of Reflection

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The official observance of Memorial Day is a solemn occasion with wreaths laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, prayers of thanksgiving offered up, and the playing of Taps. It is a moment for our citizens to thank all of those men and women who have worn our nation's uniform. We especially honor those who gave their lives to preserve our freedom.

It breaks my heart to know that too many of our citizens could care less. Is it really only a day to barbecue and relax with family and friends -- or do some "power" shopping? Don't get me wrong -- I love all of those activities and indulge frequently -- but I also fervently hope every American will take a few moments to remember the meaning of the holiday. Perhaps remember a loved one of their own generation or an ancestor from many years ago who gave the supreme sacrifice for this great nation. I'm thinking today about my great-great-grandfather, a soldier who died in the Civil War.

It's been a most enjoyable weekend, and though it rained off and on most of the time -- sometimes coming down with a fierceness usually reserved for November -- we did have a bit of sunshine. We spent a few moments on the porch when the sun peeked out, chatting and watching the birds and the flag whip in the breeze.

We talked about what the holiday meant. Hubby recalled his big brother [many years his senior] who was a bomber pilot in World War II and how he was shot down and escaped occupied France back to his airbase in England. Shot down a second time a few months later, he was not able to return to Allied lines. His back broken, he needed urgent medical care. The German surgeons saved his life. Barely recovered from his operation, he was then transferred to the infamous Stalag Luft III. Despite the incredible hardships he endured, he was one of lucky ones. He came home.

For more information: Memorial Day, history of Memorial Day, Tomb of the Unknowns, Society of the Honor Guard Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Taps, Taps [music], A Civil War Soldier, Stalag Luft III, USAFA story of American prisoners at Stalag Luft III.

Thank you so much for visiting today!

Traditional Memorial Day

Today has been a relaxing and enjoyable day, the middle day in a three day holiday weekend. But what are we celebrating? Plenty! The freedoms we enjoy today were paid for by the men and women who gave their lives for us. It's not too hard to understand -- freedom isn't free. Without their ultimate sacrifice, our lives might be very different today.

Thank you brave men and women of the past!

God's blessings on you forever!

Summer's Unofficial Start

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Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world.

~Ada Louise Huxtable

Information about the painting:

Edward Hopper (1882 - 1967)
Sea Watchers, 1952
oil on canvas, 76.2 x 101.6 cm (30 x 40)
Artattack Management Ltd.

For more information: Summer, Edward Hopper, more Hopper, Ada Louise Huxtable, Dover Publications.

Thanks for visiting!

Road Trip to Oklahoma: Postcard #10

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The last three postcards, including this one, arrived after our friends returned from their road trip. Even though they mailed all three postcards from California, the postcards took longer to arrive home than our friends! LOL

The back of this beautiful card reads, "The Joshua Tree is not really a tree, but rather a tall yucca. They are found throughout the Mojave National Preserve. The Joshua Tree got its name from Mormon Pioneers who thought the trees resembled the Biblical character of Joshua with his arms raised toward heaven."

Our friends wrote this below the caption, "Hi! On the way home -- the scenery still pretty -- the flowers etc. This will be the last card. So will see you Monday or Tuesday! Til then --"

Here is a map of the last leg of the journey [a bit over 750 miles] from [A] Elk Creek, California to [B] Astoria, Oregon to [C] Tacoma, Washington. Check out the links below to learn more about these stops and some of the other places mentioned.

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Once they hit Oregon, it began to feel like home with the rain and grey skies and cool breezes. Goodbye desert -- heat -- and sunshine! Hello damp Pacific Northwest! They stopped in beautiful Astoria to visit family and to break up the grueling drive, but otherwise wound their way up Interstate 5 without any problems. They were glad to be home and we were happy to know they arrived safely and without incident.

The only little annoyance they experienced was with their GPS. Each night they would remove it from the car and take it in to the motel with them. One night it was accidentally dropped... ooops! It didn't work very well after that, in fact, it was rather screwy. It didn't resort to giving directions and commands in German again, but if they had followed the instructions, they would have gone off in the wrong direction more than once. Luckily, they didn't have to rely on the poor thing because they were familiar with the final stage of the journey and really had no need for it. Get on I-5 and keep going North -- easy!

Thank you so much for following their progress across half the USA and back again. I enjoyed the postcards and messages so much and hope you did, too. I'm inspired to load up the car and hit the road. Maybe the next time I post a road trip here it will be my own! At any rate, if we do get away, I hope it's as smooth and enjoyable as this road trip to Oklahoma has been for our friends. :)

For more information: Mojave National Preserve, Joshua Tree National Park, Joshua Tree [plant], California, Elk Creek, Oregon, Astoria, Washington, Tacoma, previous postcard in series.

Have fun exploring!

Road Trip to Oklahoma: Postcard #9

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This postcard from our friends on the way home from Oklahoma has only "Laughlin, Nevada," written on the back. That leaves a lot of room for a message and our friends wrote this, "Here we on the way home [Mon?] Got out of Oklahoma City one day before the tornado. Just missed our brother's house. Warm in Yuma and here! Looks the same in California. Three stops there: Bakersfield, Fresno & Elk Creek. Car's running. We still got the coughs. Getting pretty old, but feel good. Hope you ate the radishes before they got too big & hot. Slot machines said 'Go home!' No luck. Played it cool. Homesick."

Yes, we did eat the radishes -- they were delicious!! Not too hot, just right! LOL I added them to salads, but really, my favorite way to enjoy them was in cool ranch dip with other fresh vegetables cut up for dipping. We watched a lot of baseball games with our "green" snacks instead of chips and sweets. The white radishes added just the punch to our veggie tray that the broccoli, celery, and carrots lacked.

Here is a map of their trip from [A] Yuma, AZ to [B] Laughlin, NV to [C] Bakersfield,CA. The whole trip is a little over 500 miles.

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A few days lapsed between each stop as they stayed with friends and family along the way. From [A] Bakersfield to [B] Fresno and up to [C] Elk Creek, they covered an additional 400 miles and also stopped with friends for lunch or overnight.

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This has been such an interesting road trip! I have enjoyed following their progress along the way and have provided a few more links for you to use as a reference point in seeing the terrain and learning about the states and towns along this leg of their journey.

Have fun exploring!

For more information: Nevada, Laughlin, Mojave Desert, more Mojave Desert info, California, Bakersfield, Fresno, Elk Creek, previous postcard in series.

Writer's Challenge 2010: "O"

Take the Challenge!

The Writer's Challenge 2010 features three pre-chosen themes each week. Your entry will be considered for re-publication online in the first Sunflower Ranch Anthology.

You are challenged to write up to 200 words on one of the three theme words we offer each week. You may write on all three subjects -- but not in the same piece. Please only submit one piece per theme word. Make each poem, short story, essay, or mini-drama a separate reply below in the comment section and remember to keep all your work to 200 words or less. *A note about language appropriateness: no vulgarities, obscenities, or anything offensive, please. Your work should be for general audiences.*

Each week you will have a new group of three words to choose from. At the end of the year, I would like to choose the "best of the best" and publish them in an online anthology at the Sunflower Ranch website.

You are encouraged to write each week. All the challenges will remain online here at the blog and you can add a new poem at any time. Use the search feature on the right to find the series by putting Writer's Challenge 2010 in the search box. Feel free to add your work to any challenge throughout the year. After we reach the last challenge, you will have about a month to add your final submissions. If your work is chosen for the anthology, you will be contacted through your blog at that time. If you don't have a blog, include your Twitter name or email address so we can reach you. For email, use this format: youremailname at serviceprovider dot com. [That should keep the autobots from sending you spam.]

If you have any questions or need any clarification of the challenges, please put them in the comment section below and I will do my best to explain it. Remember, no deadlines, write as many pieces as you wish, and oh, primarily, have some fun with these! Click here for last week's Challenge.

Here are your words for this week: only, open, over

Thank you and good luck!

George Lights The Way

George

We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light.

~Mary Dunbar

For more information: Evelyn Mary Dunbar

Thanks for visiting!

Road Trip to Oklahoma: Postcard #8

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We received this postcard from our friends on their way home to Tacoma from their trek to Oklahoma City. On the back of the card, it reads: Desert in Bloom, Arizona: Often inappropriately described as a barren land, the desert abounds with plant life. Having adapted to the extremes of heat and aridity, desert plants paint the desert terrain with brilliant colors.

Our friends wrote, "Hi! It's beautiful here and the trip down through New Mexico -- also -- we hadn't gone that route before. The cactus flowers -- they had a lot of rain I guess. We're leaving here tomorrow for Nevada, one night at Laughlin then to California. Still enjoying it. Take care."

What a gorgeous photo of the cactus "forest" in bloom! We're still enjoying the trip right along with our friends. It's always been a dream of mine to go to Arizona and see the desert bloom. Unfortunately this year slipped away without being able to go. Hopefully next year? In the meantime, I've included several links for more information about the desert. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. Very interesting!

Have fun exploring!

For more information: New Mexico, Arizona, Yuma, desert, Sonoran Desert, desert life, desert flowers, cactus flowers, previous postcard in series.

Prolific Blogger Award

The Fly in the Web from the French Leave blog graciously awarded Sunflower Ranch with the Prolific Blogger Award!! Thank you so much Fly!! I was just thrilled and honored to receive it!! Fly writes in her commentary, "Sunflower Ranch is always a good stopping over point...everything from scenery to politics and a regular writers' challenge to keep you occupied." I am happy to note that she included this blog with several outstanding blogs that I hope you will visit and follow.

Fly's blog is a source of wonderful stories about "living the dream" in rural France. As an ex-pat Brit, she exposes the good, the bad, and yes, the ugly about living amongst the French. She never disappoints -- and I do so enjoy settling in to read her humorous tales of dealing with the local bureaucrats, lackadaisical workmen, and the police, which come off not much better than the Keystone cops. LOL

Check out this page at French Leave and do have fun exploring that fantastic blog as well as all of those honored with the Prolific Blogger Award. You won't be disappointed!

Thanks for visiting!

Boating in Friday Harbor

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The shot above was snapped by my sister on a recent trip through the San Juan Islands of Washington state. She wrote, "I took the shot from the upper deck of our ferry. It just makes me want to become an islander!!" There are several thriving marinas in Friday Harbor. Check out the links below for more information about all the marinas and vacationing in the San Juan Islands.

Most of the boats in the photo above seem to be sailboats, though of course the vessel in the foreground is not a sailboat. Small boating is fun in any kind of craft, as long as you or your captain is skilled in handling it.

When I was growing up, my Dad enjoyed salmon fishing in Puget Sound. He liked catching his limit off the Pt. No Point Lighthouse. We stayed in our camper parked at the Hansville Boat House. Family and friends joined us and we had jolly times. It was quite a motley crew -- we had a collection of trailers, campers, station wagons, and cabins rented from the man who ran the boat house/restaurant/motel. And big parties in the evening after all the work was done. Some of the younger kids would fall asleep even with all the laughter and loud storytelling and raucous card games that went on every night til the wee hours.

The boats my Dad and my Uncle Howard rented were 16' open kicker boats. We had no shelter from the rain and "below decks" was just a funny saying if you had to crawl under the bow or a tarp. We never did, but it was available if we suddenly became ill or frightened.

And sometimes we would become frightened. The freighters and steamships that used the channel left huge wakes that could swamp us if we strayed too close to the middle of the channel.

Many times the Orca pods would swim through and that was a definite signal to head back to the boat house. In those days we didn't go whale watching! I always felt we were intruding on their habitat and heaven forbid they should take a dislike to our puny boat. We'd be upside down in the middle of Puget Sound faster than you could say HELP! We left them alone and gave them plenty of our respect -- and distance.

In those days a few yachts anchored off Hansville and the occupants would fish off the back end of their lower decks. We seldom saw sailboats in the crowd. The sailboats usually confined themselves to the other side of Foulweather Bluff on the Hood's Canal side of the Kitsap Peninsula.

For us kids, boating at the Point consisted of layering up in warm clothes and jumping into the boat and launching at the morning tide change, usually around daylight. Besides coffee, sandwiches, and candy bars, the men sipped from a pint of Canadian whiskey, and *ahem* used an "alternative facility" [i.e. coffee can] to relieve themselves and really didn't like having little girls around. We cramped their style but they were very careful to not use any foul language or do anything inappropriate -- perfect gentlemen! They would take us out, help us catch at least one salmon of legal size, then race us back to the float in front of one of the boat houses and drop us off with our catch [if we could carry it.] They'd come in later. Once the wind kicked up midday before the next tide change, they'd finish that session, come in, clean their catch, eat lunch, take a nap and go out again on the afternoon tide.

It's amazing to me now that they did all that in those small fishing boats, unprotected from the elements and at the mercy of nature and other much larger vessels. It was a miracle their outboard motors never failed and they were spared any life-threatening situations. [If they did experience true danger, I have put it out of my mind. Too scary! I shall have to ask my Aunt and cousin and sister if they recall anything out of the ordinary.]

Those days for me now are like old dreams, fleeting and faded, but not entirely forgotten.

For more information: Washington marina directory, marinas in Friday Harbor, Friday Harbor vacation guide, Washington State tourism, Hansville, WA.

Have fun exploring!

Fuchsia Time!

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This is a closeup of one of my new fuchsias. I only bought three this year, each one different. In addition to the one above, we have a pink/red fuchsia and a pale double pink fuchsia. I chose large healthy plants with an abundance of flowers and buds and thick healthy greenery. Most of the available specimens were full and vibrant. However, a few apparently didn't make the transfer from the grower to the nursery and showed signs of severe distress. They should not have been made available to potential buyers. I didn't see any infestations, just neglect and broken or dried up runners and dead flowers. Pathetic. The three we took home were perfect.

Last fall I originally planned to winter-over my six fuchsias from 2009 and hang them up again this year. They died in the greenhouse. Those plants faced serious stress all season long from the strange weather we endured from May through September. We had approximately 100 days last year over 75 degrees, which is not typical of our cool summers. Many days hit the century mark and it was 106 on my birthday last summer, the hottest day anyone in my family and circle of native born friends ever experienced in Western Washington. On days over 85 degrees I watered the fuchsias between four and six times a day. When it hit 90 I upped it to between five and eight times a day and when it was in the 100s I watered every hour.

In the long run, it did no good. The plants recovered enough to hang on through the end of September, when the months of oppressive heat gave way too quickly to extremely cold nights. The poor things must have expired before they were put into the greenhouse, though we didn't know it. We trimmed them, watered them and kept them from freezing inside the building but when spring arrived last year's fuchsias never revived.

After I recovered from that heartbreak, I vowed to only invest in three plants this year, keep them on the cooler side of the porch and if another terrible summer should hit, put them into the house during the day. Three gigantic plants would be easier to manage than six. It's a plan, but of course we will see what the next few months bring. May has been cold and rainy, unlike last year when we had a week of 80+ temperatures. Only as the passage of time unfolds will we know what to do. For now I am watering and misting twice a day, which is perfect for this cool and rainy period.

I'll keep you posted if things take a negative turn with excessive heat and we must take them inside. I hope not, because after last year, most of us would enjoy a much more "normal" summer. LOL.

For more information: Fuchsia, Northwest Fuchsia Society, American Fuchsia Society, Garden Guide, simple care guide.

Thanks for visiting!

Gardening With George

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My niece's cat George spends most of his time in the house, but once in a while he agrees to go outside and see what kind of mischief he can make. Here he is sprawling in a patch of weeds when he should be pulling them up. But my niece says he's not too bright and just prefers to be a layabout. He illustrates this facet of his personality quite well. What you can't see in the picture, though, is how utterly sweet he is.

If he had an inclination to work rather than to be waited upon, he would pitch in and help get the family garden spot ready. He does enjoy singing at the birds who visit and if he tried a little harder providing things to attract the birds rather than just singing, he'd be able to entice many feathered visitors to the garden. But no, he's quite content to let things be. He doesn't stray too far from my niece and any sound on the street will send him scurrying back into the house very quickly, even though he is completely safe in the fenced back yard. His brother Clifford is extremely afraid of the outdoors and usually never ventures further than the last step on the porch. Their sister, Misty, however, is fearless and loves her gardening duties. She is the designated Official Bird Watcher and warns my sister and niece when any feathered intruder approaches by singing at the poor creature until she is forced to chase it off the premises.

It is too bad good reliable help is so hard to find these days...

For more information: Gardening in the Pacific Northwest, and here, and here too, Birds of the Pacific Northwest, Weather for Western Washington.

Thanks for visiting!

Writer's Challenge 2010: "N"

Take the Challenge!

The Writer's Challenge 2010 features three pre-chosen themes each week. Your entry will be considered for re-publication online in the first Sunflower Ranch Anthology.

You are challenged to write up to 200 words on one of the three theme words we offer each week. You may write on all three subjects -- but not in the same piece. Please only submit one piece per theme word. Make each poem, short story, essay, or mini-drama a separate reply below in the comment section and remember to keep all your work to 200 words or less. *A note about language appropriateness: no vulgarities, obscenities, or anything offensive, please. Your work should be for general audiences.*

Each week you will have a new group of three words to choose from. At the end of the year, I would like to choose the "best of the best" and publish them in an online anthology at the Sunflower Ranch website.

You are encouraged to write each week. All the challenges will remain online here at the blog and you can add a new poem at any time. Use the search feature on the right to find the series by putting Writer's Challenge 2010 in the search box. Feel free to add your work to any challenge throughout the year. After we reach the last challenge, you will have about a month to add your final submissions. If your work is chosen for the anthology, you will be contacted through your blog at that time. If you don't have a blog, include your Twitter name or email address so we can reach you. For email, use this format: youremailname at serviceprovider dot com. [That should keep the autobots from sending you spam.]

If you have any questions or need any clarification of the challenges, please put them in the comment section below and I will do my best to explain it. Remember, no deadlines, write as many pieces as you wish, and oh, primarily, have some fun with these! Click here for last week's Challenge.

Here are your words for this week: near, nip, now

Thank you and good luck!

Riding The Ferry

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My niece sent me this cool shot from the deck of a Washington State Ferry on her way from Anacortes, Washington to Sidney, British Columbia. She and her Mom took a short vacation to relax and recharge. The trip was a blast -- they enjoyed the drive up from Tacoma to Anacortes, the ferry ride with stops through the San Juan Islands, arriving in Sidney, and exploring the Sidney and Victoria areas.

They stayed in an apartment in a private home, visited museums, popular restaurants, pubs, and vast public gardens. They explored art galleries and streets of quaint shops. They covered a lot of ground, but found plenty of time to enjoy tea rooms, a variety of ethnic eateries, neighborhood sports bars, boutiques, first run movies, hockey games, and of course, a lot of shopping. Their getaway week was book-ended by the breathtaking view from the ferry to and from Anacortes.

It's a popular trip many Pacific Northwesterners take -- the only difference over the last few years is that a passport is required by both sides to cross the international border. Americans and Canadians have always had a special bond of friendship and relaxed exchange of goods and visitors back and forth across the unmilitarized border. I'd like to say this freedom was unbroken from the beginning, but there was a time when we had a little dispute called the Pig War, and our relationship suffered.

That was settled through arbitration, no shots were fired, both sides forgave each other for the dispute, and our two nations resumed their friendly and cooperative relations. Our bonds are strong and we respect and admire each other. May it be ever so!

The travelers enjoyed themselves and can't wait to return. What more could one ask for a successful vacation? :D

For more information: Visit Washington State, Washington State Ferry System, San Juan Islands route, Visit the San Juans, Anacortes, WA, Sidney, BC, Victoria, BC, Pig War.

Thanks for visiting!

Mt. Rainier At Dusk

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"For those who wish to climb the mountain of spiritual awareness, the path is selfless work. For those who have attained the summit of union with the Lord, the path is stillness and peace."

~from the Bhagavad Gita

For more information: Mt. Rainier, visit Mt. Rainier, Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavad Gita in English.

Have a peaceful day!

Graham School Invasion

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Last Friday afternoon shortly after the last school bus left the grounds, a teacher at Graham Elementary School saw several teen boys carrying rifles inside the building. The teacher contacted 911 and the incident known as the Graham School Invasion began.

My sister lives fairly close to the school and sent me eyewitness photos. I followed the incident on the 'Net via streaming online video from one of the choppers overhead.

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The school is on the corner of Meridian and 204th on heavily wooded grounds.

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As you can see from the top photo, the street was closed off for most of the afternoon while swat officers swept and cleared all the buildings at the school.

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Additional personnel were called in as well.

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In all, nine teens were arrested and detained by Pierce County Police. This photo shows the first seven cuffed and lead away.


For a complete story on what happened that day, read this story from KOMO TV news. The comment section is also interesting. Then read the story at KIRO TV. Be sure to view the KIRO video in enlarged mode. That short video was condensed from the streaming video supplied by the helicopter. The incident continued for hours, snarling traffic and frazzling nerves, but the KIRO video shows several important highlights that tell the story. Here is the most recent update available from the Seattle Times online.

Though the school was swept of all weapons and troublemakers, the investigation is ongoing. I will post links to any additional updates I find in the next few weeks in the comment section below.

Thanks for visiting today!

Road Trip to Oklahoma: Postcard #7

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We heard from our friends who went to Oklahoma a few weeks ago. We had talked briefly the day they arrived and learned they would be leaving in a week or so. About the time of their scheduled departure a series of deadly tornadoes rolled through the Oklahoma City area. We knew if something would have happened to delay their departure we would have heard directly from them or one of their family members. But hubby and I subscribe to the "no news is good news" philosophy while traveling, so we knew they were OK.

Then a couple of days ago we received the postcard above. The caption on the back reads, "Mew Mexico, Valley of Fire State Park. The brilliant formations of eroded sandstone and sand dunes often appear to be on fire when reflecting the sun's rays in Valley of Fire State Park." Beautiful! I love the clouds, too.

Our friends added a note, "Hi! We drove 786 miles today from Weatherford, TX -- my nephew's home. We are in Socorro, New Mexico. Will be in Yuma, Arizona tomorrow. Sorry I couldn't get a card from Texas. Stopped several times. NO LUCK. We weren't on the freeway, so guess the back roads don't have them. Take care. We are tired today but still enjoying the scenery."

Now that's funny -- they took the back roads! The locals don't need postcards since they know all the cool spots in their own areas. The map I have below shows their proposed route via the freeway system. From Oklahoma City [point A] to Weatherford [point B] to Socorro [point C] is approximately 850 miles. That's a very long drive! But we're very happy all is well and they're having a great time. *Sigh* It sure would be fun to go on a road trip about now!

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I discovered that the town of Socorro is home to a very famous UFO sighting in the 1960s. Very cool! Check out the links below for more information. The Wikipedia link on Socorro has a brief description of the UFO encounter -- police officer, space ship & two small men in coveralls -- a most interesting event. According to the freeway route map, to get to Socorro, you'd have to go through Roswell, and for UFO buffs, Roswell has become something of a holy shrine. I'd go in a heartbeat! LOL

For more information: Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Socorro, Socorro visitor info, Roswell, Yuma, previous postcard in series.

Have fun exploring!

High Plains Drifters On The Road: #4

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The High Plains Drifters spent a pleasant few hours exploring the Crazy Horse Monument in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Situated about ten miles from Mount Rushmore, it's a short drive from Rapid City, which is an easy but extremely scenic drive from the Devil's Tower Monument in Wyoming. Crazy Horse turned out to be one of the highlights of the first part of their whole vacation. Here's a map showing their journey from Rapid City.

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The day was sunny and the air bracing as only springtime in the Black Hills can be. But it was brisk enough to warrant sweaters and a windbreaker. As you can see from the photo at the top only Crazy Horse's head is emerging completely from the rough stone of the mountain. Below is a model of the monument at the interpretive center. It is a moving piece of art "as is" but imagine what the mountain will look like with a gigantic version of this heroic man and horse leaping forth from the mountain. Truly awe-inspiring!

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The High Plains Drifters have seen countless marvels of man and nature on their road trip. For more information about quite a few of the features of the short trip from the Devil's Tower to Crazy Horse, do check out the links below. And for more photos and stories of their trip to Minnesota from Tacoma, Washington, just put High Plains Drifters in the search box in the right sidebar.

To see what the area around Rapid City and Mount Rushmore looked like mid-century -- and watch a good old fashioned edge-of-your-seat-suspense movie in the bargain -- check out Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller "North By Northwest," with Cary Grant, shown here in the iconic image from the film.

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Thanks for visiting today!

For more information: Wyoming, Devil's Tower, South Dakota, Black Hills & Badlands, Rapid City, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument, more about Crazy Horse Monument, North By Northwest.

High Plains Drifters On The Road: #3

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Our friends the High Plains Drifters sent these cool photos of the Devil's Tower National Monument in Wyoming. You may recall that some other friends who went to Oklahoma also passed by this impressive natural formation and sent a postcard. It seems to be the "gateway" to the Midwest for our traveling friends! LOL

Here is a map from the nearest large city Billings, Montana, and the route they took to visit the Devil's Tower. This is rugged land along the eastern side of the Rockies, but oh, so beautiful!

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Here is another photo our friends snapped. They were much closer than the postcard photographer, but not so close they could make an ascent. It's a popular climbing destination and a rigorous workout to test all climbing skill levels.

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I remember one of our camper trips East when we drove through this part of Wyoming to visit some family friends in South Dakota. After a stop for ice cream in Billings, my little sister and I jumped back into the camper. Mom closed and secured the door and got into the cab with Dad. She had a worried look -- not for our safety in the back -- but something else. It wouldn't be long before we all knew something was wrong. But for now, we two girls were totally occupied with our ice cream cones.

Dad fired up the truck and off we went. This part of the trip consisted of a series of short and steep hills with rolling grasslands on either side of the road. We soon noticed that something was terribly wrong with the truck. We'd labor up a little hill, slowly and barely make it, and then coast down to the bottom and start chugging up the next hill. It was getting to be annoying -- this stopping and starting and jerky ride -- it was too hard to work in our coloring books! We put all that away and pretended we were in a covered wagon. [We played pioneers every once in a while.]

The short up and down hills also had a few unexpected twists in them. Over one hill we sharply turned to one side and in the small ravine between the hills we saw a herd of antelope. To our young eyes there must have been 200 of them!! They were the most beautiful animals we had ever seen!! "Oh, look at that!!" we screamed at each other. The noise of the sputtering truck scared them and as one, the whole herd turned and leaped away from us, going forward up toward the next hill in one golden brown wave.

We grabbed the intercom and punched the button. "Mom!! Dad!! Did you see that???" No reply. We could see them through the cab window and Mom was studying the map and Dad was clutching the steering wheel and pulling the throttle. He was very agitated.

"Mom!!" We called again. She had her intercom on her lap and answered quickly, "Are you kids OK? We can't stop now."

We tried to tell her about the antelope we saw. She pushed her button to talk but all we heard was Dad swearing. We watched him bang his fist on the wheel and Mom yelled "Stop it!"

We knew something definitely was wrong. It was scary watching our parents so upset. My sister started to cry a little and I shoved something for her to play with into her hands and pretended to be interested in the magazine we'd left on the dining table. We tried not look at our parents or talk about our situation.

Well... It seemed hours passed on that horrible drive, but we did find a town not too many miles ahead. We limped into town and Dad found a mechanic who agreed to break up his Sunday afternoon to help us. He replaced the fuel pump and we were on our way again.

We didn't take the side trip we wanted to the Devil's Tower that we had planned, but we did meet some nice people in that town who took pity on this hapless family. I've always wanted to return to Wyoming and take that drive again and look for those antelope -- but without the trauma of a breakdown. LOL

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For now, we'll say goodbye to Wyoming and the Devil's Tower!

For more information: Billings, Montana, Wyoming, Devil's Tower, USA national monuments, Pronghorn antelope, additional links here.

Thanks for visiting!

Writer's Challenge 2010: "M"

Take the Challenge!

The Writer's Challenge 2010 features three pre-chosen themes each week. Your entry will be considered for re-publication online in the first Sunflower Ranch Anthology.

You are challenged to write up to 200 words on one of the three theme words we offer each week. You may write on all three subjects -- but not in the same piece. Please only submit one piece per theme word. Make each poem, short story, essay, or mini-drama a separate reply below in the comment section and remember to keep all your work to 200 words or less. *A note about language appropriateness: no vulgarities, obscenities, or anything offensive, please. Your work should be for general audiences.*

Each week you will have a new group of three words to choose from. At the end of the year, I would like to choose the "best of the best" and publish them in an online anthology at the Sunflower Ranch website.

You are encouraged to write each week. All the challenges will remain online here at the blog and you can add a new poem at any time. Use the search feature on the right to find the series by putting Writer's Challenge 2010 in the search box. Feel free to add your work to any challenge throughout the year. After we reach the last challenge, you will have about a month to add your final submissions. If your work is chosen for the anthology, you will be contacted through your blog at that time. If you don't have a blog, include your Twitter name or email address so we can reach you. For email, use this format: youremailname at serviceprovider dot com. [That should keep the autobots from sending you spam.]

If you have any questions or need any clarification of the challenges, please put them in the comment section below and I will do my best to explain it. Remember, no deadlines, write as many pieces as you wish, and oh, primarily, have some fun with these! Click here for last week's Challenge.

Here are your words for this week: mask, miss, muse

Thank you and good luck!

High Plains Drifters On the Road: #2

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Friends sent this photo of the lake above on their drive through Idaho. The panhandle of Northern Idaho is dotted with many alpine lakes, the largest of which is Lake Coeur d'Alene. Northern Idaho is one of the most beautiful stretches of the long drive from Washington to Minnesota -- even from I-90, if you're in a hurry. But if you have time to slow down and spend some time there, you're in for a treat.

When I was a child and on one of our camper trips from Seattle to Minnesota, my Dad's goal was to reach Missoula, Montana for the first night. My Mom's goal was to have dinner, quick and not very fancy, I'm afraid, anywhere by a lake in Northern Idaho. Both parents had their wishes granted, and we kids were happy for it. The evening air as the sun lowered in the sky behind us was always welcoming in Idaho. Though some dinners consisted of soup and sandwiches and was over far too quickly, we had a chance to get out and stretch our legs and play a bit -- and listen to the birds, and look for arrowheads. I think back now that it was a game Mom played with us to let her work in peace putting the meal together -- but it was fun for us none the less. I never found that arrowhead. But I often brought back a pretty stone or a huge pine cone or a colorful feather. And I always wished we would meet some Indian children to play with, but sadly it never happened.

Last week our friends crossed over these parts rather quickly, but loved their drive through the area. A week's vacation in this area wouldn't even be long enough. But you can take a day trip and still discover much. Leave from Spokane, Washington, early in the morning and you'll have a full day to explore the lakes and cities and towns. Don't miss the quaint and picturesque town of Wallace. In the evening you can visit a casino, see a show, or just enjoy the stars overhead. [Always a treat for us on the cloudy side of the mountains!]

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This is silver and gold mining country. It's the Old West and high tech all rolled into one very pleasant and interesting package. I can't wait to revisit Northern Idaho. The next time we go, I'll spend more time there than it takes to eat a sandwich and drive to Montana! LOL Check out the links I've included today and get a feel for what you'll find there.

Thanks for visiting!

For more information: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Idaho history, Wallace, ancestral info on Native American tribes of Idaho, Missoula, Spokane, Seattle, previous episode of the High Plains Drifters

High Plains Drifters On the Road: #1

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Our friends on the road to Minnesota snapped this very interesting cloud formation on their first day.

Here is a map of their trip. It's about 1900 miles one way, not counting side trips.

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When they left Tacoma, a raging wind storm with hail, lightning and heavy rain was just arriving in Western Washington. The storm chased them across the Cascade mountains into the Eastern half of the state. But they managed to stay a step ahead of the storm and eventually found some sunshine. Here is a snap of the shadow of their car on the road.

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The Drifters will have more stories and pictures to share when they return home at the end of the month. I can't wait to hear all about their road trip across the country and hope all goes well.

For more information: Washington state, Idaho, Minnesota, clouds, Toyota Prius

A Rainbow For Mom

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Two more of our friends are on a road trip. The husband of the "High Plains Drifters" pair sent several photos from their journey, while catching up on emails at a cafe in Minneapolis. [Mrs. High Plains Drifter was busy shopping with friends. Though I love sipping espresso and catching up on the 'Net, I'm 100% certain I'd be out there, shopping, too. LOL] I will have more on their trip, with maps, and more pictures later this week. But today, in honor of Mother's Day, I wanted to share their photo of a rainbow, snapped a few days ago.

It reminds me of many of the rainbows I'd seen while growing up. When I was a youngster, the whole family would pile into the camper and take a long road trip every few years, usually to visit Mom's family in Minnesota. In the off years, we'd go on several shorter fishing trips into the mountains or the high desert areas of Eastern Washington. Many times while crossing the Cascades, after an intense burst of rain, we'd see a brilliant rainbow pop up against the forest. We all would marvel at the rainbow and continue on our journey until the rainbow faded or we passed out of the sight of it. Mom loved rainbows.

She passed away suddenly about five years ago and I've never "gotten over it." I miss her terribly, and still find it difficult to put my loss into perspective. I was blessed to have such a sweet, compassionate person in my life. She was always there for me with patience and wisdom -- and was probably the most influential person in my life.

This little gem illustrates her approach to raising children, and I think being a Mom in general:

"The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won't wait while you do the work."

I'm taking a break today from my work to enjoy the rainbow and remember those happy times of old, when life was carefree and easy, and the future stretched out in a colorful band like a rainbow and held promise and possibility in every shining color.

With a lifetime of remembrance and love, this rainbow is for you Mom.

Flowers for Mother

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An Irish Mother's Blessing

May you always know...
The fragrance of flowers
The feel of the sun on your shoulders
And always -- the warmth of your child's love.

Have a wonderful day!

Road Trip to Oklahoma: Postcard #6

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This postcard shows a tornado on the plains of Oklahoma. You can see our friends drew themselves in the funnel cloud of the twister -- just for fun -- they weren't really sucked into the vortex! LOL

Here's their message: "Here we go! Be here 7, 8 or 9 days then off to Yuma [Arizona], California and home. 80 degrees and still windy. No clouds yet. Car running good! Gas here is about $2.75 so that's good!"

I'll say $2.75 is good! Gas here is in the $3.10 range at mid-grade stations. You'll pay more at the more "exclusive" brand stations and a little less at the convenience store pumps.

Here is a map of the next leg of their journey.

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The next leg of the trip will be exciting and full of scenic wonders, too, and will cover three additional states before reaching California. From California they will go up the Pacific Coast to Oregon and finally Washington.

For more information: Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, tornado, previous postcard in the series.

Thanks for visiting!

Road Trip to Oklahoma: Postcard #5

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This lovely card arrived from our friends on the road to Oklahoma. The back reads, "Kansas State Symbols: American Bison - State Animal; Sunflower - State Flower; Honeybee - State Insect; Western Meadowlark - State Bird. Inset into the shape of the Ste of Kansas is a field of ripe wheat, Kansas' #1 cash crop."

They included this note: "Hi! Still having a good trip -- could do with less wind but otherwise good. Finally found our favorite restaurant in Kansas, 'The Cracker Barrel.' Got to my brother's around noon today in Oklahoma! Take care,"

We're very glad they have arrived at their destination!! They phoned later that afternoon and we chatted for a few moments. Everyone is happy to see them and they plan on staying a week or so before starting their journey home. We've got special instructions to check out their vegetable garden and thin the radishes if they need it. With the cold temperatures and stormy conditions we've experienced since they left for Oklahoma, the radishes won't be too far along, but will benefit from thinning as they absorb the heat and sunshine coming this weekend. [And they will be very tasty and add a bit of zest to our salads, too! As long as the bunnies or the deer haven't invaded and nibbled the tops off everything!]

For more information: Kansas, Oklahoma, Western Meadowlark, song of the meadowlark, American Bison, sunflower, honeybee, wheat, The Cracker Barrel, previous postcard in the series.

Thanks for visiting!

Writer's Challenge 2010: "L"

Take the Challenge!

The Writer's Challenge 2010 features three pre-chosen themes each week. Your entry will be considered for re-publication online in the first Sunflower Ranch Anthology.

You are challenged to write up to 200 words on one of the three theme words we offer each week. You may write on all three subjects -- but not in the same piece. Please only submit one piece per theme word. Make each poem, short story, essay, or mini-drama a separate reply below in the comment section and remember to keep all your work to 200 words or less. *A note about language appropriateness: no vulgarities, obscenities, or anything offensive, please. Your work should be for general audiences.*

Each week you will have a new group of three words to choose from. At the end of the year, I would like to choose the "best of the best" and publish them in an online anthology at the Sunflower Ranch website.

You are encouraged to write each week. All the challenges will remain online here at the blog and you can add a new poem at any time. Use the search feature on the right to find the series by putting Writer's Challenge 2010 in the search box. Feel free to add your work to any challenge throughout the year. After we reach the last challenge, you will have about a month to add your final submissions. If your work is chosen for the anthology, you will be contacted through your blog at that time. If you don't have a blog, include your Twitter name or email address so we can reach you. For email, use this format: youremailname at serviceprovider dot com. [That should keep the autobots from sending you spam.]

If you have any questions or need any clarification of the challenges, please put them in the comment section below and I will do my best to explain it. Remember, no deadlines, write as many pieces as you wish, and oh, primarily, have some fun with these! Click here for last week's Challenge.

Here are your words for this week: lash, line, lore

Thank you and good luck!

Road Trip to Oklahoma: Postcard #4

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This gorgeous postcard from our friends on their way to Oklahoma features two of my favorite living creatures -- the meadowlark and a wild goldenrod in full flower. The back of the card reads, "Nebraska, State Bird: the Western Meadowlark; State Flower: Goldenrod; State Motto: "Equality before the law." [Too bad that motto isn't always taken to heart across the whole United States.]

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I made an adjustment to their route map. They avoided the main roads into Colorado that would have diverted them toward Denver. They continued east into Nebraska, then cut south toward Kansas. It's a short ride from Salina, Kansas, into Oklahoma City.

This postcard included this note from her: "Hi, Saw lots of wild turkeys." Then he took the pen and added, "Stopping in Salina, Kansas, for the nite. Windy as H---! All day 30 - 40 mph side winds til South into Kansas. Now a HEAD wind! Saw a few deer and pheasants. Flat country, but still nice. Be in OK City about noon tomorrow. Are we having fun yet?"

I should say yes! :)

In their honor tonight I'm watching a classic John Ford Western on TCM, "Cheyenne Autumn." It covers much of the area our friends have crossed and the scenery will take your breath away. The story is good, too.

For more information: Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Western Meadowlark, song of the meadowlark, Goldenrod, Wild Turkey, Cheyenne Autumn, previous postcard in the series.

Thanks for visiting!

Road Trip to Oklahoma: Postcard #3

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The impressive rock formation above is the Devil's Tower. Here's a short informative note from the back of this postcard: Devil's Tower was the nation's first national monument, proclaimed on September 24, 1906, by President Theodore Roosevelt. For centuries, Devil's Tower played an important role in the legends of Indian Tribes. It became, and still is, a landmark to explorers and travelers winding their way west from the Black Hills.

Our friends included this handwritten note: "We didn't stop in Utah. Tonite [4/27] almost into Nebraska. Wyoming is beautiful. rock formations etc, snow on caps. Drove at 8000'. Roads clear but some snow along the freeway. Lots of antelope, and lots of trucks. Weather is still good. Still being good."

Wow! What a cool trip this is turning out to be! Lots of scenery and history rolling by those car windows! Glad to hear from them again!

Stay tuned for the next installment...

For more information: Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Devil's Tower here, and here, President Theodore Roosevelt, previous postcard in series.

Thanks & have a wonderful day!