GOOD BYE - HELLO

We arrived safe in Laramie, Wyoming and had a good time there. After a good night's sleep we "did the town" so to speak. Went shopping at CORRAL WEST, and met two cowgirls that were minding the store. Had fun and bought a few things,we were in at CORRAL WEST at least 2 hrs. the longest the man in my life has shopped with me since I can't remember when. If you ask him "did you have fun shopping?" he would say "no, but I found it satisfying". Need I say more? Only that his RIDGE RIDER VEST he bought saved the day today and that's all he talked about. So, in hindsight he did have fun - remember it was a cowboy and cowgirl store. After that, we went to one of our favorite restaurants in Laramie - CORONA VILLAGE - where we both ate one of our favorite Mexican meals. As we were sitting in the booth my husband said "I think we should have bought the western floor mats, so guess what, back we went to CORRAL WEST, and surprised one of our new friends, THE RODEO QUEEN with the engraved belt buckle to prove it, and purchased a few more very special items. I LOVE LARAMIE WYOMING!

Then we headed south to Ft. Collins, Colorado, and took a 2 lane highway to see the country side. As we headed out it started snowing and a storm was brewing. Steve stopped in at the Veterinary College and said hello to some of his old friends, and when he came out it was pouring down rain. Did I say when he was inside meeting friends in the Radiology Department,that it was sleeting outside for awhile? Crazy Weather. But, we are so glad we took the 2-lane highway and saw the beautiful countryside. We saw many ranches, and some ranchers, and the mountains around there were totally different than in Wyoming. Unlike the Wyoming mountains, the Colorado mountains are filled with thousands of trees, fir trees, and cedar trees, and so much forest. Thousands of perfect CHRISTMAS TREES were all around us. What a beautiful place, plus more white snow, AMAZING!!!!!

Our next destination was Loveland, Colorado which turned out to be a bust because we didn't recognize the village it had grown so much. We also wanted to go by the LOVELANDER BED AND BREAKFAST where 19 years ago we had such a good time (on Valentine's Day) but, we were told it wasn't there anymore. Later after we had left we found out that it was still there, and I think the Church we attended 19 years ago when we were there is still there to, we just couldn't find it. Nineteen years can really make a difference. In fact, at that time we had no grandchildren. Wow!

Then on to Denver, Colorado where we spent the night and woke up to snow. As we left we noticed the snow was getting worse and by the time we had driven about one hour WHAMMO- we drove right into a blizzard that lasted pretty much most of the day. It was a total WHITE OUT with cars and trucks off the road and winds up to 70 miles an hr. I was definitely praying by this time and thought we probably would have to get off or pull off for a few hrs. but remember I was not at the wheel and so we pushed through the mess. You could not see 2 feet in front of you and there were times when you couldn't see ANYTHING!!!!! NOT FUN!!!!! Finally we drove out of the snow and arrived at our destination in Kansas for the night. I think we put in 6 or 7 hrs. of driving today and are planning on driving 5 or 6 hrs. tomorrow. However, the girl behind the desk at the hotel tells us that the storm is on it's way here and will hit about midnight. We will see tomorrow when we awake. And as I am journaling in my blog I hear the wind blowing harder and harder outside. Only God knows at this point.

Colorado was beautiful with magic of it's own. What a paradise. There is the Scottish heritage of Estes Park and the Front Range, Pikes Peak, Mesa Verde, the Northwest and it's charming towns and treasures of that region , then there is Vail, and Aspen with their resorts and winter events, beauty beyond compare, shopping, and a million other activities you can think of because you are in the ROCKY MOUNTAINS!!!!! I've heard that Steamboat Springs' beauty,and Boulder's outdoor adventure, and colorful western heritage is a sight to behold also. So, Colorado - ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH - is definitely on our list for a vacation in the future - GOD Willing! There just wasn't time to do everything this trip, as it is I think we have crammed in so much that it BOGGLES the mind. Every time we get outside or in the SUV we have camera's in hand trying to capture the beauty we have seen. GOD IS GOOD, and HIS creation is amazing!
Yesterday we saw so many beautiful horses, and today lots of buffalo. We have also seen eagles in the mountains, and white snow owls, and so many special birds it is unbelievable. The bears are also just coming out of hiding and sleeping for the winter so, perfect time to leave!!!

Just like my EUROPE TRIP this WESTERN TRIP has been the trip of a lifetime!!! I hope the love of my life has had as much fun as I have!!! I am so grateful to him for all the planning and everything he has put into this trip. What can I say? - - STEVE KNELLER is the BEST!!!!! Thanks honey ( or should I say big hunk) for all the MEMORIES - I LOVE YOU!!!!!

Pictures will be added tomorrow because it is now 1:24 a.m. and I want to go to bed. So, GOOD BYE to the WEST and HELLO to the MIDWEST. Over and out, and more later y'all!

NAPA VALLEY AND BEYOND

Crossing the Sierra Nevada mountains, here near Squaw Valley in California, we reminisce of the past few days; my love and I. Even though the vineyards in Napa Valley were not in bloom they were breathtaking; a site to behold. Never disappointing , Napa Valley lives up to it's reputation and we were amazed at it's beauty. The vineyards grow on the flowing hills and as we dove across the mountains we saw many flowers in bloom. As we drove through a vineyard we also saw fields of tulips in bloom, and they were beautiful, so many gorgous colors. Wisteria was in full bloom, fields of lemon yellow mustard, poppies, hot pink azalias, spirea bushes so full they fell to the ground, magnolia trees in full bloom, and grass as green as velvet. It is so hard to believe we are really here and at times you feel like you are in a movie watching it.

Reluctantly we had to leave Napa Valley and wine country and were able to head out to Placerville, hometown to Thomas Kincaid and his art career. This is a happening place and so busy we could

hardly believe it. Placerville is very picturesque and the homes are all built on the mountains and rolling hills. We visited the T.K..Gallery and viewed some of his original paintings that were valued at $300,000 dollars and up. The lady that helped us with our questions knew Tom and Nanette personally and told us about a movie being made of his early years that will probably be titled HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. The interesting thing about this is it will be a movie, or on television, but is not being advertised as being his story. It will probably come out around the holidays, or maybe before. We purchased a painting of Napa Valley and the big yellow house - where the last time we were in California 19 years ago we had lunch and it was a very special time for us but, could not find it this time because we were in a different part of the valley. We wanted a painting to remember our trip and it was perfect. It looks exactly like where we were this time, plus it has the big yellow house that is such a special memory for the two of us . God is good and as my better half says Life is good!!! After Placerville we continued the memory hunt in Davis, California. We did find the Davis Inn location where we spent our sabbatical 19 years ago, but guess what? - now it's a bank. We had lunch in a quaint resturant and then found the library, where I spent a lot of time 19 years ago, unfortunately everything else in campus town and Davis looks different. The Veterinary Collage looks much the same and it was easy to find, but they have added to it and it does look great. Steve was able to go in and spend a morning there with old friends and that was fun for him.

This morning a new friend told us about Old Town Sacramento and being curious we couldn't miss that, so, we headed out. My husband and I seem to have discovered a lot of "old towns" on this trip and that has been a great blessing. The LORD has really guided us and blessed us with many surprises. We have really looked to him and each day had our time with him and prayed and HE has totally blessed us and we know HE is the navigator of our lives.
We ended our day near Squaw Valley California to find ourselves again in a rustic, western ski village. We left Sacramento and it was 70 degrees. Here it is 40 degrees and dropping, and yes many people are skiing, and unfortunately we have seen several people on crutches and with broken bones. The goal for tomorrow is Salt Lake City, Utah, and that is a BIG ORDER. As I close for this night my thoughts and prayers are for home and all the family and people we love. As an end to this day we send this scripture to all of you with all of our love. "Let the rivers clap their hands. Let the mountains sing for joy together." PSALMS 98:8.