Wide Open Wyoming

Bathroom Remodel: Making Progress

2011-07-16T22:45:00.003-06:00

Despite some setbacks with the plumbing, Jason made great strides today with the new tile. I'm so proud of him! His first solo tile project.

I worked on painting the trim around the doors and adding a pop of color to the hallway.

Five more days to go until my parents are visiting. It may not be pretty, but I'm hoping its functional!

Bathroom Remodel: Potty Training?

2011-07-10T14:53:00.011-06:00

We haven't made much progress on the bathroom this week because we got a new puppy! (Technically we are foster parents but we are hoping to make it "official" next week). The little one was rescued with her litter mates from New Mexico via a Fort Collins, CO rescue society. We picked her up Friday night and in between my crazy festival schedule downtown (Jubilee Days) and puppy potty training, Jason has only managed to remove all of the old tile, dry wall and insure the new plumbing is working.

Here is Jason removing the old blue tile.

Here is the little one:

The rescue named all the pups in the littler after birds. She end up with "Chicken" but we are leaning towards Bonney (after William H. Bonney, aka Billy the Kid) or Hatch after Hatch, New Mexico.

Our older dog, Shelby is unsure of the entire situation. Between all the banging in the bathroom and the new dog, she mostly keeps to herself. I was lucky this afternoon and got photos of them together.

We aren't sure what mix of breeds she is or how big she will get (the rescue facility said she was the smallest in her littler). I'm hoping she gets big enough to keep up with Shelby but not so big that she doesn't fit in the Game and Fish truck!

That's all for now. Back to work on the bathroom (we have 10 days to get it done before my folks are in town!)

Bathroom Remodel: Paint

2011-07-02T15:25:00.004-06:00

I've narrowed my paint colors for the guest bathroom remodel to a spa like pallet of blue, green and cream. This is a close up of the shower curtain I ordered.

Here I'm testing out colors we've got on hand (left over from remodeling projects in the guest bedroom and living room). I really like the blue/green in the middle but the color on the far right seems to match the shower curtain better and it is the same color of the ceiling in the guest bedroom so it helps connect the two rooms.

And while I'm at it, I decided to paint the old brown door to the linen closet in the hallway outside of the bathroom. (Again you see what I mean when our remodel projects "snowball"!)

Jason is working the lakes this weekend so I'm left to my own devices. I'm thinking of heading to Target tomorrow to get matching linens (we don't have a home decor store in town).

That's all for now...

Bathroom Remodel: Colors

2011-06-26T20:49:00.003-06:00

While Jason does the heavy lifting, my job with every home remodel has been to pick paint colors and decorate.

I'm super excited about the bamboo floors we are installing and warm golden tile that will go around the shower. I want to pick a color pallet and shower curtain that really shows them off.

Here is what I'm looking at:

Aqua blue (similar to the color in the guest bedroom across the hall from the bathroom)

What do you think?

Blue Bathroom Remodel

2011-06-26T19:24:00.009-06:00

We finally decided to do it… the blue bathroom is getting a facelift. We could have enjoyed the old versions for a few more years but the plumbing needed an upgrade and to get to it we (Jason) had to remove the tile which lead into removing parts of the wall, flooring, etc.

You see how this snowballs. So in the next few weeks, we are going to repaint the tub, sink and countertop (we are on a budget), paint the walls, install a bamboo floor, upgrade the fixtures from old worn gold to bright shinny silver and redo the tile around the tub.

Did I mention my parents will be here to visit at the end of July?

Chop, chop! We are on a deadline!

Thank goodness Jason’s folks helped us with demolition and replacing plumbing parts. They are the unsung heroes behind all our home remodeling projects and we owe them BIG TIME!

This is how the blue bath looked when we moved in, July 2006.

This is what it has looked like since Aug. 2006!

This is how it looks today:

We'll keep you posted...

Confessions of a Workaholic: Coordinator

2011-06-23T20:51:00.002-06:00

A “typical” day for a Main Street manager:

8 a.m. Breakfast meeting with dedicated volunteers to discuss project or event

9 a.m. Check or send emails in office regarding project or event

9:20 a.m. Make an apt. for another project or event

9:30 a.m. Answer questions from the public about project or event

9:50 a.m. Walkabout of Downtown to share information with business owners about project or event

Noon - Lunch meeting with a different group of dedicated volunteers to discuss another project or event

1:30 p.m. Back in office to create marketing material for project or event

2:30 p.m. Post information about project or event to Facebook, website and Twitter account.

2:40 p.m. Answer questions posted by public on Facebook

2:50 p.m. Return calls missed during lunch meeting about project or event

3:10 p.m. Running late to another meeting with dedicated volunteers about another project or event

4:30 p.m. Checking schedule regarding To Do List that piles up on desk during meetings

5:30 p.m. Committee or Board meeting

7 something – Get home, kiss husband, cook dinner, watch mindless TV, get ready for bed, read. Goodnight.

Good morning and REPEAT.

I love my job. It is challenging, rewarding, creative and I work with the most amazing group of volunteers… but it is exhausting! I haven’t been home from work before 7 p.m. but ONCE this month! I’ve put in 25 hours of overtime since June 1 and this is just the beginning of the summer rush of promotional events. Sigh.

Thank goodness what I do is so much fun. Each day is varied but includes a lot of coordination, collaboration and information sharing. I’m a “clearing house” for everything downtown. I love being in “the know” and using my empathetic people skills as a “Chat Kathy” to build relationships for the betterment of all involved.

I’m not a party planner, (thank goodness for my volunteers who excel in that area) but I do enjoy marketing all the fun events that go on downtown.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be involved in the following activates:

Brewfest

Jubilee Days

Gem City Car Classic

Update of the Downtown Development Plan

Relaunch a new website for Main Street

Farmers Market

Historic Walking Tours

Upstairs/Downtown Tour

Downtown Kickoff

… To name a few and that is only one component of my job. Besides events and promotions, I coordinate historic preservation and beautification projects downtown, welcome new businesses, help expand existing businesses, fundraise, educate, recruit and train volunteers, manage a budget, attend board meetings, coordinate projects with other non profits, etc. etc. etc.

I’m exhausted again just thinking about it! So now when you see me on the streets dragging my feet with a big smile on my face, you know a little bit about my day. (And why I’m so behind with this blog!)

Looking forward to…

2011-04-07T21:13:00.001-06:00

Warmer days, vacation in New Mexico, a shopping trip with Erin, Historic Preservation Conference, coffee cake at Night Heron, long walks in the park with Jason and Shelby, Thursday date nights and weekends!

We’ve got our taxes filed and vacation planned! Jason and I are headed to southern New Mexico for our five-year wedding anniversary. We are doing a mix of hot springs, historic sites and green chili. I’m most excited about exploring the old haunts of Billy the Kid and the UFO Museum in Roswell.

I can guarantee there will be lots of fun photos!

In preparation, I’m spending a lot of time on New Mexico’s Tourism website and reading, “To Hell on a Fast Horse: Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett, and the Epic Chase to Justice in the Old West”.

What are you looking forward to?

Time in Heaven and Hell

2011-04-01T19:55:00.007-06:00

I don’t like March. Not only does it come in like a lion and out like a dragon in Wyoming (we had gust of winds up to 60 mph yesterday) but something strange and dramatic always happens in March. From massive migraines, to vehicle accidents, to sick dogs, can we skip March next year?

About two weeks ago our hound dog, Tillie started to act funny. She wasn’t eating and was having accidents in the house. We took her to our local vet (who is amazing by the way) and the first theory is that she had a tumor in her tummy. After two sets of X-rays, the tumor was ruled out but there was still something amiss so we opted for exploratory surgery. Turns out Tillie’s intestine was backed up. After the vet “unplugged” things, Tillie had a difficult recovery. She was in so much pain that she started having seizures. Jason and I took care of her round the clock for about a week. She’d show signs of improvement, eating again, good blood work, cancer was ruled out, then, as if she had a stroke or picked up a virus, she adopted some strange mental behavior. She would walk in circles for hours, only turning to the right. After the vet suggested a change in medicine and a lower does of pain pills, she seemed to get better again than bam, 36 straight hours of pacing, pacing, pacing… She stopped eating and drinking and would cry and wine if we tried to get her to lay down or sit still. She wouldn’t sleep. She was burning calories at such a fast rate that her ribs started to show through. After many sleepless nights and inefficient schedules, we made the very difficult decision to say our final goodbyes. In the end she didn’t seem to recognize us anymore and would have starved to death had we let her continue to pace.

Tillie was cremated and we have a special spot in mind to spread her ashes.

The Christmas photo we didn't use

Loyal hound, always watching out for Jason

Her noise always got her in trouble!

She didn't like it if we would fuss over her. She was very independent and to "mature" for silly things like toys. But if we weren't looking...

Some playful moments

So after a week in hell, it was a nice surprise to experience some moments in heaven. We said goodbye to Tillie on Monday and by Tuesday it was like God had his hand on the nitro button for positive energy (at least for me, Jason’s schedule was still quite hectic). From Tuesday on it has been blessing, blessing, blessing! Complements from coworkers, a job well done, free lunch, an interview on Channel 5, a good night’s sleep, successful work products, time to walk and reflect with Shelby (even if it was windy, it is finally warming up here with temperatures into the low 50s) and, although short, quality moments with each other.

So yes, life is difficult but I refuse to let it knock me down. Life is also a balance, of the good, bad, ugly and beautiful. I might be a closet pessimist but once and awhile, I can shut that door and stand through the storm knowing there is a rainbow on the other side.

Thanks to all our family and friends for calling and leaving messages of condolences. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers and are so lucky to have you in our lives.

I see my husband on the weekends...

2011-03-08T21:14:00.002-07:00

And its not even hunting season yet!

This month is hectic. I’ve over used that word, you say?

Jason and I have a routine each month were we post our schedules on a dry erase board on the fridge. This month is so “hectic”; we just completed this task last night.

Looking at it, I realized that one of us has an evening meeting almost every night this month except for weekends. This leads me to be very jealous of our time together.

Maybe for Lent we should give up saying, “yes” to everything? Yes to longer hours at work, yes to additional volunteer responsibilities, yes to moving and housing strangers…

But that would be very un-Christian like.

So I haven’t decided what I’m “doing” or giving up for Lent (except enjoying evening church services on Wednesdays) and milking every minute of the weekends and my time with Jason.

Although, downloading the Bible on my Kindle would be a good start J

What are you doing or not doing for Lent?

Busy, busy... Oscar!

2011-02-21T18:05:00.006-07:00

It is Oscar week – my favorite time of year and yet I find myself completely overwhelmed with my “to do” list instead of enjoying the glamour and excitement surrounding my favorite indulgence.

This week I have to say goodbye to my good friend, Carlen and her two daughters, our goddaughters. It seems as if we just met in church and now they are headed home to Washington. While we are happy to see them reunited with their extended family, it is also hard to watch them go.

We are already hoping for a summer reunion in Yellowstone!

Work is nuts with a ton of administrative tasks due in late Feb., early March. I’ve got grants to apply for, City money to beg for, conferences and training to register for and accreditation paperwork to complete.

I was hoping Jan./Feb. would be slow after the hectic, but fun activities surrounding the holidays but no luck… With the snow on the ground, downtown shopping has slowed but my schedule is just as busy.

March 15^th will mark my one year anniversary with Main Street. Maybe then I’ll feel like I know what I’m doing! J

Outside of work, I’m answering emails about museum conferences and putting together the annual banquet for the local historical society.

In between work and volunteer duties, I’m still trying to “learn” my new computer and camera. I’m wishing I had the luxury to just “play” and not feel guilty about not working!

Here are a few photos from last weekend that I shot in RAW and JPG (a first for me working with RAW files). We had a nice outing; above freezing with little wind so Jason and I snuck out to one of his hunter management areas and let the dogs run.

2010 Recap

2010-12-30T14:56:00.002-07:00

Happy Easter! (Ok, so we’re late getting the Merry Christmas and Happy New Year bit out again this year)

Jason had his craziest year ever as a Game Warden/Access coordinator for Wyoming Game & Fish. The agency tends to do five year contracts with Private Lands/Public Wildlife landowners he works with and the Commission approved a payment rate increase five years ago for landowners. Of course, most everyone renewed that year (2005), so it seemed like EVERYONE expired in 2010. Instead of having time to work with the usual 30 to 40 contracts, update some rules and maps, Jason had to sort through and renew nearly 200 contracts! A few good leads also culminated this year and he added several new access areas, including one that opened just over 140,000 acres for deer, elk, and pronghorn hunting. Then, after a frantic summer getting signs put up on properties, Jason finally got to do “normal” game warden duties and had more cases than he has had since he took this position in 2006. He is hoping for a quieter year in 2011, even though he was just elected to be the Laramie Region’s “Leadership Team” chair.

In March, Trey became the Executive Director of Laramie Main Street, a non profit that works to revitalize the historic downtown through historic preservation, special events, and the success of small businesses. Trey has already received numerous accolades in her new position and enjoys working with the business owners that make downtown a fun place to work, shop, and play. (You can follow Laramie Main Street, via Trey on Facebook by “liking” Downtown Laramie, Wyoming.)

When she isn’t working or taking photographs, Trey continues to serve as President of the local historical society. She is also the Social Ministry coordinator for our church, is on the board of the Laramie Plains Museum, and is the newest committee member for the National Council for Public History’s “New Professional” award. Yep, she has finally cut down on some of her volunteer responsibilities!

The dogs, Tillie and Shelby, continue to entertain us with their antics, and Cooter, the horse, has been training Jason. We lost our “tough” New York City cat, Rocky, this fall. The house hasn’t been the same without him—and not just because there are fewer hairballs.

We also lost Trey’s Grandpa, Charles “Chuck” Beyer on October 20th at the young age of 90 (he had a youthful, energetic spirit). He slipped away peacefully in Powder Springs, Georgia surrounded by family. Trey was able to take a week off work to say goodbye and help with funeral arrangements. Grandpa Chuck was a wonderful Christian man, mentor to many, a great encourager, and always wore a smile. We all miss him very much.

A recap of other highlights of 2010:
• Enjoyed our fourth season of broomball, injury free;
• Purchased a new truck after we were hit head on in the old one, injury free;
• Discovered the joys of homemade smoked meats;
• Became Godparents;
• Got to meet, kiss and hug the twins from Ethiopia;
• Great lunch of black eyed peas and lemon ice box pie at the Silver Skillet in Atlanta, Georgia with Trey’s parents;
• Purchased a chromed out Harley Sportster 1200;
• Jason graduated from Game & Fish’s Leadership Development One;
• Trey got a new camera!

We wish you all happiness and joy in the New Year. Remember, our guest room is always available; reservations recommended but not needed so please stop in anytime you are in the area.

God’s blessings,

Trey and Jason Sherwood

A new outlook

2010-12-20T23:19:00.008-07:00

Auh… deep breath, things are good! Hunting season has come and gone and Jason and I are getting to spend more time together. Work is going well; I’m finally hitting my stride and feel more confident about the daily ins and outs of operations.

Jason got me a new camera for Christmas (let me open it early) and I’ve been shooting photos downtown and took pictures at a friend’s wedding. I forgot how much I enjoyed running around with a camera in my hands!

Jason’s big Christmas gift was a new scope for one of his guns. I’ll let him tell you more about it in a later post!

We are looking forward to Christmas. Not sure where we will end up. Guess it depends on the roads and winter weather but we hope to see the Sherwood – Hoffman clan sometime soon. (We miss you guys!)

For your viewing enjoyment, some random photos with my new Canon 7D:

DOWNTOWNWEDDING:
For more wedding photos, visit: http://wyomingphotographer.blogspot.com/

Waiting for paper...

2010-11-29T22:59:00.003-07:00

Just one itty bitty piece if paper that will confirm what I already know (but can't count because it hasn't hatched). Hope to get it before I process payroll tomorrow!

A week of flattery…

2010-11-23T22:28:00.004-07:00

So maybe I deserve it, I’ve had a rough year.
Last week Laramie Main Street received Business of the Year from the Laramie Board of Realtors. Last night, we were recognized for our work constructing and landscaping the First Street Plaza and received a cash award from the Laramie Beautification Committee. Tonight, I got the most flattering email from an M.A. student at George Mason University stating, “I am writing today because I will be leading a class discussion on your article: "From Farm to Factory: Transitions in Work, Gender and Leisure at Banning Mill, 1910-1930s" ... My peers and I have been trying to learn both about historical topics and historians. Would you be willing to share two bits of information with me for my discussion?
First: What prompted your interest in this topic?
Second: What are you working on right now?”

Boy did I give her an earful! My life story in fact. Felt like a real historian again…

It is good to be recognized for all the hard work, dedication and tears I pour into my projects. Now if I could get some time off to reflex and relax!

Laramie Main Street is gearing up for a bunch of new holiday events downtown. We’ve got something going on from Dec. 1 to the 20th. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to a very quiet Christmas with Jason and the Sherwood-Hoffman clan. It will be good to have some down time.

No big plans for Christmas this year. It is our turn to get snowed in in Wyoming. (Someone remind me to get a good book from the library so I don’t have to venture out…)

I’m currently reading, “When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Woman from 1960 to the Present” a very feminist portrayal of the women’s movement between 1960 and 1990. It is based on oral histories and is an enjoyable and approachable read. (Did you know women could not open a checking account without a co signature from their husband or father?)

I’m also addicted to Mad Men and am leaning towards going as a 60’s housewife for our New Years Eve costume party! (I just started season 2 so no spoilers please).

Open door invite on the party, New Year’s Eve, friends, family, and little ones are all invited! Come as your favorite historic figure or couple!

P.S. Hunting season is almost over!!! Yah!!!

Do Bad Things Really Come in Threes?

2010-08-17T19:06:00.001-06:00

This year has been an up and down of good, bad, good, bad, etc. Weeks were we just feel hammered by life. Instead of living life in full steam ahead mode, I keep wondering what’s around the next corner?

You already know this week has been hard with the passing of our cat, Rocky. Yesterday we got a call from the boarding facility that has our horse Cooter. They informed us he got himself stuck in his pen and beat himself up pretty bad. Jason took him to the vet who kept him overnight for observation. His face was swollen and he was breathing funny. This afternoon Jason was able to pick him up and take him back to the “ranch” but we’ll have to watch him carefully the next few days.

Then this evening I got a call from my mother letting me know my Grandpa Beyer is in the hospital in Cobb County, Georgia. He is dehydrated and has little to no appetite. He hasn’t been feeling well for the past month. The good news is his heart is healthy and he started to perk up after the first IV. They will be keeping him overnight and will be running tests in the morning. We are hoping for good news by the end of tomorrow.

Please keep Grandpa and the entire Beyer-Sherwood family in your prayers. For as many blessings we receive daily from God, this last stretch from March on (since the truck accident)has been really hard on our family. Please lift us up so that we can be strong for our loved ones.

Hunting season is upon us and Jason and I won’t see each other much the next few months. It is comforting to know that you are thinking of us.

God Bless,
Trey and Jason

RIP Rocky

2010-08-13T14:43:00.006-06:00

Rocky, our rescue kitty from New York passed away this morning. He was a big 12 lb. cat who LOVED to eat. Earlier this week, when he didn’t let me know his food bowl was empty, I knew something was wrong. (He typically cries VERY loudly when he is hungry!) I made him a vet appointment last night and this morning, when I got ready to put him in his carrier, he cried when I picked him up. He was very uncomfortable. Turns out he had a large mass in one of his kidneys.The vet was great, she was gentle and kind and did everything she could to help him. In a short 30 min. we went from planning surgery to remove the infected kidney to discovering that both kidneys were failing. Even though he was in a lot of pain, Rocky sat very still for X-Rays and blood work. Afterwards, he was visibly grumpy. He is typically a very sweet, mellow cat that lets our friends’ children pet and play with him. He was also a VERY good snuggler. This was a very sudden event but Jason and I are grateful that we got to say our goodbyes in person and that our vet is a warm, caring individual. Rocky did not have to suffer long and he was loved and appreciated by many. Even the dogs will miss him! Rocky came to Wyoming in the fall of 2004 and spent time with me at the Territorial Prison. While there the entire staff spoiled him with extra food and attention. Within a few months he was at his “fighting weight”! Rocky was rescued in the summer of 2004 by our dear friends Alana and Alex, who at the time, were living in New York City. They found him starving on a roof top in Rockefeller Plaza. Thus the name “Rocky”. Alana flew out with Rocky in October of 2004 and it was love at first sight. Rocky was “my first kitty” – the first cat that I was responsible for caring for and who I could call mine. He rode with me the 4.5 hour roundtrip every weekend to Casper when Jason and I were dating. He taunted Jason’s dog, Tillie until we moved into our house in Laramie where they called truce and have put up with each other ever since. He endured being licked and chased by Shelby and was never tempted to eat our fish. He enjoyed spending time with Jason’s parents in Elk Mountain and grandparents in Wheatland. Rocky was well traveled and well loved.

And yes, it is Friday the 13th, a sign that Rocky had a sense of humor. He will be missed.

Land Owner of the Year

2010-07-27T21:25:00.005-06:00

Jason and I got up VERY early last Sat. morning to take picture for the Land Owner of the Year program for Wyoming Game and Fish.

We traveled the back roads of Albany County, about two hours from Laramie, looking for wildlife, scenic landscapes and examples of habitat improvement projects to document for the project.

I’m still going through all the photos but I will share with you some of my favorites. I’m working on sorting and editing now, the final shots are due by the end of the month.

Someday this white cow will be picked up by a UFO...And someday soon, this cow is going to catch a fish!

Historic Photo Exhibit Downtown

2010-07-27T17:48:00.002-06:00

Fathers' Day at the Pig Farm

2010-06-21T21:48:00.004-06:00

We spent Fathers’ Day in Wheatland with the Sherwood and Hoffman clan. It was Grandpa Sherwood’s birthday so there was a lot to celebrate. Uncle Don and Nancy Sherwood were in town visiting from Oregon so it was a mini-family reunion. Three generations: Corky Sherwood, brothers Bill and Don and grandson Jason Dee, the picture perfect, down-to-earth Wyoming gal! The Sherwoods live on the “pig farm” just outside of town. There are a lot of old barns, sheds, chicken coops, and manly storage areas to explore.

Laramie River Flood

2010-06-21T21:03:00.004-06:00

Last week the Laramie River overran its banks and caused quiet a stir in West Laramie. There were flood warnings and volunteers sand bagging but in the end, no one was hurt.

You might be wondering if we are having some strange weather but historically, during years of high snow melt and “typical” spring storms, this would be normal.*

*The Laramie River use to meander through West Laramie but when Snowy Range Road was installed between the prison and West Laramie, the river was “straightened out”. So historically, the winding water would overflow at sharp corners but now there is no where for it to go but out. Thankfully, the Laramie Rivers Conservation District is working to fix that by restoring habitat and the natural flow.

Like most of the residents in town, Jason and I were curious to see just how much flooding we got so set out to take some photos.
Picnic area at Optimist Park
The "Big House" across the river, as the newspaper use to refer to the Wyoming State Prison

Backyard BBQ

2010-06-04T23:28:00.001-06:00

Our first outdoor BBQ turned out great. The food was AMAZING, thanks to Jason!!! And the weather was just right. We sat outside and visited into the early morning.

Previous Post: We are having a party tomorrow. A “thank goodness we made it through the month of May party”. It has been a good excuse to clean up around the house and finish some small home improvement projects.

We are looking forward to smoking the all natural, happy beef brisket we got from the food coop.

If we misplaced your invite, we apologize – stop by anyway! Drinks on at 6!

Boy this thing is getting dusty!

2010-05-12T01:51:00.002-06:00

Yikes, I'm falling behind (not that anyone reads this anymore? Right? Is anyone out there?)

I'm recently back from OK City with the National Main Street conference where I met 49 other Wyoming Main Street supporters, managers and board members. (Pictures are still on the camera). There were 1,200 attendees at the conference and Wyoming, by far, out numbered participants from every other state. We are very lucky to have both financial and community support for our small historic downtowns. (Oh, did I mention, I'm the new Executive Director for Laramie Main Street!!!)

I returned home from OK to discover:
1) Jason is repairing our roof (if it ever stops snowing)
2) Laramie Main Street hasn't filed its 2008 taxes!
3) The dogs were good.
4) I have 130 folks registered for the Colorado Wyoming Association of Museums conference, of which I am in charge. (It is this weekend, Th. thru Sunday)
5) I'm TIRED!
6) A vacation would be nice.

So yes, posts are far and few in between but we will come up for air soon (won't we?) and then there will be more posts. More calls, more texts, more letters, more time to visit, more time to bond.

News on the Home Front

2010-03-11T11:07:00.002-07:00

Which of late has felt a little like a battle ground…

Some good news first, Jason got notice this morning of a raise!!! I’m so proud of him. Game and Fish took a long hard look at all their employee’s salaries and brought everyone up to “market value”.

Now I’ll have to work extra hard to keep up with him!

“What will we do with all this extra money,” you ask? We both agree, save for our groove retirement! (Anyone know of a good investment banker in Laramie?)

On the not so cool front, Jason and I were in an accident Saturday evening. Our truck might be totaled and even though the driver that hit us got cited by the police officer on the scene, her insurance has yet to claim fault. (Surprise, surprise!)

We are waiting for adjusters to take a look at our 2007 Ford F-150 and make a decision: fix or total. In the mean time, Jason and I have both been to the chiropractor for some heat therapy and stretching. I’ve got some pretty dark bruises from the seat belt but I’m not complaining, it did its job!

Passanger side of truck (these pictures were taken at the tow yard)
Driver's side - Jason was driving but has less bruising than I do! (Thank goodness)

Here you can see the black bummer jammed under the truck and how the impact shreaded the front left tire.In the mean time we are sharing my little Honda Accord when Jason isn’t using his Game & Fish truck for work. So far that seems to be working but… looking out the window today and watching the snow come down heavy makes me miss the four-wheel drive on the truck!!!

In other good news, I will be starting a new job with Laramie Main Street on March 15. I will be the non-profit’s Executive Director and will be in charge of organizing meetings and events, fundraising, supervising and recruiting volunteers, applying design guidelines to the historic structures in downtown, filling empty store fronts, economic development… and the list goes on and on and on. This isn’t a typically 9 to 5 by any means. There will be early board meetings, lunch board meetings, late night board meetings, etc. Best of all, I get paid to go to the Farmers Market this summer, every Friday afternoon. Main Street has a booth so be sure to stop by and say “hello”.

Check out the March newsletter for Laramie Main Street.

I’ll be able to provide more information about my job after I start. I get two weeks to shadow the current Ex. Director before she moves to CO. Then I’ll be attending training in Cheyenne before they ship me out to OK City for two weeks the end of April/first part of May for an intense training conference. I’m looking forward to all of it!

Looking back on this week it is easy to point out our “highs” and “lows” but through it all we had the support of our family, our dear, dear friends, the Big Man upstairs, our church and each other. What more could you ask for!

Oh, and the Oscars were the perfect distraction!

Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers,
Trey & Jason

Erin and Trey in front of the "red curtain" dressed up for the Oscar party

Christmas Letter 2009

2009-12-19T23:37:00.001-07:00

Merry Christmas 2009!

Trey and I have greatly enjoyed sitting by the crackling fireplace to read the numerous holiday wishes and newsletters from many of our friends and family members each evening for the past few weeks. Oh, for all the laughs we’ve enjoyed, the quiet moments of reflection, and the glaring realization that we should once again take a moment to write everyone. (Keeping our promise of writing once a year—whether we need to, or not!) Being the hip, nature-conscious types, we decided to send our letters via the electronic superhighway this year. (Sorry Mom--hopefully this won’t close the post office!) Yeah, we’re probably more “frugal” than “hip,” but one of us did find the need to do our part to create a job opening for some deserving recession-ee.

Okay, I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start at the beginning—or as close as I can remember. . . .

In January, we started stocking up for the biggest remodel of our marriage, the kitchen. As things started to fall into place, we took a February trip to Georgia and celebrated Trey’s 30th birthday. We were able to visit with friends and family and watch the locals rush to buy bread during a “blizzard” (the ground in some places was almost white!) before returning home and starting on the kitchen remodel.

After tiring of the nightly games of “guess what the real oven temperature is” and “no, you can’t leave the kitchen until I close the fridge door,” we decided that gutting the kitchen and starting over would be a good project and investment. Aside from help my Dad, Grandpa, and our friends bravely provided, I tackled most of the re-wiring, tile removal, drywall, and dealing with the *$&@! building permits while Trey fretted over colors and cooked our meals on a hotplate amongst all the boxes of cabinets and layers of concrete and drywall dust. Months later, the kitchen IS much more functional, the cabinets aren’t falling apart like the old ones, and it looks like we might even finish it someday! Being the eternal optimist, Trey says the project taught us many good things, such as the proven knowledge that our marriage is as secure as my chiropractor’s retirement, Applebees has a great 2 for $20 deal, and sometimes its best if you can just find a reason to visit Rhode Island while your husband remembers why he went to college to study Wildlife Management instead of going into construction.

Anyway, Trey had a great time speaking at the National Council for Public History’s annual conference in Providence mid-April with a dear friend from graduate school. A few weeks later, she graduated from the Leadership Wyoming. Through that program, she has been able to grow personally and create friendships with a diverse group of professionals throughout WY. Luckily, it was not an election year, so we may be able to hold off her gubernatorial bid a bit longer!

In June we took a well deserved vacation to Yellowstone with some local friends. Trey even decided it was time she learned to “rough it” with me. Despite my qualms at calling it “camping” (the campground had hot showers and a laundromat) she earned her camping badge of honor by keeping the complaining to a minimum—despite sleeping in a tent for the first time—ever, in grizzly country, with a summer snow storm greeting us for the first couple days of the trip! Luckily, the beautiful scenery outweighed her cold toes. We even bought a tent of our own so Erin and Alex could have theirs back and took Tillie and Shelby camping again later in the summer (in a much less developed area!). Watch for Trey’s upcoming book on “wilder-peeing”!

As I alluded to earlier, Trey made the very difficult decision to leave her job as curator at the local state historic site. After many months of seeking resolution for growing problems and feeling her personal ethics had been compromised (not to mention having a headache from February until antelope season), she turned in her notice and started seeking new opportunities. The time “off” made it easy to take a quick road trip to Minnesota for a cousin’s wedding. I got to meet more of her family, be pop-quizzed on the identities of many of the Treptow clan I had apparently met before, watch the cousins have a chugging contest (don’t compete against Jennifer!), and enjoy some romantic chicken-dancing with my wife.

This fall, Trey started co-teaching a Public History class at the university. She also keeps BUSY by serving on the board of the local community museum, teaching confirmation class at church, planning a museum conference for 2010, crafting, and walking the dogs. The dogs say it is mostly the other stuff that keeps her hopping! She may have to find a “normal” job so she can get some rest again. . .

When my busier seasons started picking up, Trey took another trip to Georgia to do some more catching up. She even got some extra human-socialization at home this fall (hunting season) when her Mom came out for a quick visit in October.

The local co-rec broomball season was moved up a few weeks this year, so our season is already over. Either the other teams are forgetting what they know, or we’re starting to learn a bit: despite three of our players on “injured-reserve” for the last game, the “Fire Monkeys” took third place this year. Trey says broomball is “way funner when we win”. She even body-checked a guy who was getting a bit pushy with me earlier in the game! Sure makes a guy feel warm inside when he knows someone cares enough to look out for him!

We feel very blessed to have the caring support of our wonderful family and friends, through all our ups and downs, trips and travels. We are looking forward to 2010 … Merry Christmas and happy New Year!

With love,

The Treysons: Trey, Jason, Tillie, Shelby, Rocky, and Cooter. And introducing: Blue, Red, and the Cories (unfortunately not a soon-to-be famous rock band).

New Craft

2009-12-18T13:17:00.005-07:00

Some of you know I’ve been super secretive about my new hobby. It is because not everyone has opened their Christmas gifts! This year I decided to try my hand at making jewelry. I decided a good way to practice was to make gifts for my girlfriends. I’m pleased with the way things turned out and I found the process very therapeutic. Next year I hope to donate some items to my friend Alana through her online website: Molasses.

Here is a small sneak peak at some of the things I made. I’ll add more pictures after the holidays!

Broomball 2009

2009-12-18T13:02:00.003-07:00

This year's broomball season started three months early and ended this month. We finished in 3rd place which is a huge improvement over our first year (when we lost every game)! Because this season overlapped with hunting season, Jason didn't take any video. He was lucky enough to be home before game time! Instead, here are a few pictures from the final tournament. We won this game 3 - 0. Going for a goal!

Defending. We had an amazing goalie this year. Eve was able to deflect many shots and keep us in the lead!
Defending
Almost scored!

Go Fire Monkeys!!! Next year we'll aim for 2nd place and no injuries. The last game, three of our guys were out with torn muscles or bad knees! Keep in mind this is only rec league but some people take it very seriously!

To my teammates: thanks for the great year! To our fans (yes, we had a few people in the stadium this go around): thanks for cheering!

Speed Up, Slow Down!

2009-12-07T18:30:00.002-07:00

It’s been a quiet week in Laramie… yes, we are reading Garrison Keillor! It has been cold all week. The high is predicted at 14, with snow. In the five years I’ve lived in Wyoming, I’ve never seen a cold snap like this one (or I block them out). Thus, I’ve been staying in and keeping warm. Crafting, reading, cooking… avoiding cleaning. My downstairs table is covered with feathers and beads. Our bedroom is covered with frames and photographs and I don’t even want to look in the guest room/gift wrapping room!

The class I was co-teaching, Intro to Public History, ended last week. I was sad to say goodbye to the students. It was a wonderful opportunity and made me realize that life as a professor wouldn’t be all bad. It was uplifting to see the students get into “history”, boring ol’ history, and actually think critically about its role in museums and non-profits. Needless to say, it was a very rewarding experience. Now I need something new to do!
This morning I volunteered at the Laramie Plains Museum and helped decorate. This Sat. they are having a free open house for the community. I’ll be a greeter in one of the decorated rooms this Sat. from 3 to 6 if anyone wants to stop by and say “hi”.
Last night was our last broomball game of the regular season. We started early this year. Going into the game, we were in a three way tie for first place. After much huffing and puffing, falling on the ice and possibly a bruised rib, we lost the game 0 – 1. Bummer! Because our games overlapped with hunting season, we didn’t get any video this year. I’m hearing rumors of a tournament game next Sunday so I’ll be sure to snap some pictures.

The rest of the week will be filled with holiday activities: the Game & Fish Christmas party, a baby shower, confirmation class, cookie baking party, entering sweepstakes, and hopefully some new volunteer opportunities.

Jason is on his way home so I’m going to work on getting dinner on the table. Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving

2009-11-28T17:31:00.006-07:00

Decorations in the new kitchen.Finger licking good!Enough room for everyone!We put the kitchen to the test and it passed with flying colors! What a Thanksgiving! Jason’s parents and grandparents came in so we could host our first Thanksgiving with the new kitchen. Things ran so smoothly. Between the new appliances, roomy floor plan and extra hands in the kitchen, Thanksgiving was a breeze! (I don’t know why I was nervous!)

We had fried turkey injected with jalapeno butter – spicy!!! Stuffing, rolls, garlic green bean casserole, and scalloped sweet potatoes (a new recipe from my Wyoming cookbook). And of course what is Thanksgiving without dessert? Thanks to Dee we had Jason’s favorite, apple pie. Grandma added some sugar-free apple cobbler, too!

I’m thankful for a wonderful husband with hidden design skills, for a wonderful set of in-laws and extended grandparents, for a warm home, cuddly pets, a cell phone to call home (never mind that it dies randomly), a soft bed to rest my head, good books (we are reading Garrison Keillor’s Life Among the Lutherans) and wonderful friends.

We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and moving into the holiday season, time to stop and smell the pine trees. Grandma & Grandpa Sherwood, visiting from Wheatland.

Trey in the kitchen, taking credit for everyone's hard work!Bill slices and dices the turkey to perfection!Jason fights to prep the turkey!Men folk gathering in the kitchen.The dogs enjoyed licking the snow where flavors from the turkey frier must have dripped!

Happy Thanksgiving!

On the Trail

2009-11-28T17:16:00.005-07:00

Last week I had a board meeting in Douglas then traveled to Casper to visit my good friends Erin and Alex. Most the visit revolved around food, conversation, crafts and movies. Erin, usually not credited for her abilities in the kitchen, slaved over a hot stove not once, not twice, but three times to make me some amazing meals! Way to go Erin! Grill cheese on rosemary bread, pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, tasty oatmeal with honey all paired with great wine and good company.

Alex also worked his magic in the kitchen and made us a WONDERFUL steak salad. Very tasty! Not to mention his talented ability to build a warm, crackling fire. I felt right at home.

Thanks guys for a wonderful weekend! Erin in her new hat. She finished it while I was in town. So cute!!!

A Thank You Letter to Our Church

2009-11-03T17:13:00.003-07:00

Back in August Jason and I finished an oral history project for our church's 125th anniversary celebration. The link to the video is below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKshsZuIZ2Q
I'm glad I married such a talented videographer!

In recent news, our church hosted a volunteer week for the local soup kitchen. I helped out for a few hours yesterday and have a shift this Sat. It was a very rewarding experience and I was able to make new friends and learn something about cooking for 40 in a big kitchen. I've got ideas for Thanksgiving! Plus, I was excited to learn that they take donations of game meat.

Tomorrow night I'm filling in for Pastor and teaching the 7th/8th grade confirmation class. Each week is a different experience depending on which students show up and how much candy they've had! I think I learn more from them than they do from me.

What blessings! Even in this time of transition, I'm feeling very warm and fuzzy with so many opportunities for personal growth. I'm thankful to have this time "unemployed" so I can give back and learn more about my community.

Closing with a big AMEN!

Movies Worthy of Oscar Buzz

2009-10-26T15:13:00.000-06:00

Everyone who knows me knows that I love MOVIES! Especially movies that win Oscars. Oscar night is like the Super Bowl to me. It is a good excuse to throw a party and get together with the girls. I love the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. The great costumes, lines, and shots. I love cinematography and how little details can make or break a movie. While I haven’t seen anything in the theater in a while, blame it on my economy and the fact that very few indie style films come to Laramie, I still keep my ear to the ground for Oscar buzz. Below is an early list of movies I’m keeping an eye on. Oscar season is right around the corner!

Nine, a musical/romance directed by Rob Marshall, starting a long list of Hollywood royalty including: Daniel Day Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren, Kate Hudson, and Fergie. Release date is December 25. If you liked Chicago and Moulin Rouge, go see it in the theater! Expect Oscar buzz for acting, costume design, art direction, cinematography, makeup, and music. Watch the preview here: http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3263365657/

The Brothers Bloom. This came out in May but I totally missed it. Found it on Netflix and watched it this week. THIS IS WHAT MOVIE MAGIC IS ALL ABOUT. It gave me the chills, in a good way! It is well written and beautifully acted. I loved the costumes, the set, the sound – everything is perfect! I could watch this over and over again. The perfect con movie, full of action, adventure, and romance and the script is AMAZING! If this movie doesn’t win an Oscar, I’ll be very, very sad. Learn more about the Brothers at: http://www.brothersbloom.com/

Amelia. I watched the making of this movie on HBO this week and it looks like Hillary Swank could generate some Oscar buzz based on her full embodiment of this character. An uplifting movie to see with your girlfriends or the man who believes in you! Oct. 23. http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2446393881/

Since the Coen brothers always seem to have success up their sleeves, I had to include A Serious Man in this early list. If you laughed at Burn After Reading, go see this movie.
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1681064473/

For more movies with Oscar buzz potential, check out this list generated by MovieFone: http://www.moviefone.com/oscars-academy-awards/features/oscar-predictions

What have you seen lately that rocked your world?

What I'm Reading

2009-10-14T22:46:00.002-06:00

I just finished The Historian which is about a family of historians and their search for the real life Dracula. It is a HUGE book and took me four weeks, reading a few chapters every night, to digest it all. I can’t say it was worth it but I’m proud of myself for finishing.

My librarian friend just recommended People of the Book. So far it is really good. It is about a conservator who gets to work with the unique Sarajevo Haggadah. She finds some objects in the book's binding and the story follows how each artifact connects with the history of the book. (Alana, I think you’d really like it).

I’m not sure what I’ll pick up next. I have a whole stack of books on my shelf that I haven’t gotten to, including Team of Rivals, but I’m also really interested in Garrison Keillor’s latest book about Lutherans. Oh my, so many choices!

Volunteer Hours

2009-09-28T13:29:00.000-06:00

This weekend a friend pointed out that I’m like a retired person who spends more hours volunteering than I did working. Not sure if that is true but when my pastor asked me yesterday how many hours I’m putting in I had to sit down and calculate it.

This week:
CWAM (museum stuff), 16 hours (pictures to come)
Church, 2 hours
Laramie Plains Museum, 2 hours
MPMA (more museum stuff), 2 hours

22 hours. So, I’m a part time volunteer. What else am I doing with my time!?!? I don’t make a very good housewife but I did do two loads of laundry yesterday and when I’m in the mood, I’m a really good cook! Today I’ll get groceries, pay bills, walk the dogs, pick up the backyard, trim Rocky’s nails, plan a birthday party for a friend, renew my library books, watch a movie and wonder what to make for dinner. Jason is gone for a week and cooking for one stinks. Ho hum…

Hunting Season

2009-09-24T12:37:00.003-06:00

So it is hunting season and Jason is working 12 to 14 hour days, seven days a week. I spend a lot of time alone at the house with our black lab Shelby. Once and awhile I ride along with Jason on his adventures.
Otherwise, I’m keeping busy volunteering with the local museums, historical society and co-teaching a Public History class at the University of Wyoming. This weekend I’m off to Leadville, CO for a CWAM (CO WY Ass. of Museums) meeting. I’m Local Arrangements Chair for the 2010 annual meeting in Laramie.

Next week Jason will be on the other side of the state and I’ll be helping with MPMA’s (Mt. Plains Museum Ass.) annual meeting in Cheyenne. His birthday is right around the corner (Oct. 2) but I’ll have to wait for him to have a day off before we celebrate. So far he only has one day off in Oct. and he is planning to go hunting that day. Got to have food on the table!

New Pets

2009-09-24T12:26:00.002-06:00

Blue, someday will be known as "Old Blue" Cheeta and Orange Fish (Unofficial)

Not pictured, "Little P"

What we’ve been up to…

2009-08-03T10:32:00.003-06:00

The kitchen is 90% done so we decided to take some long weekends this summer and visit family and friends. Our big adventure was a road trip to Minnesota for my cousin's wedding. Along the way, we played tourist in Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. Here are a few pictures from that trip, in no particular order.
Crazy Horse memorial, SD

Corn Palace, Mitchell, NE

Cafe Teresa in Mitchell, NE

Beyer Haus B&B in New Ulm, MN (We found it by accident but it was to late in the day to get reservations. Can't wait to go back!) Jason relaxing on our private porch at the B&B outside of Rapid City, SD A visit to a local nature conservation museum in MN ... Jason is measuring his wing spand!Road trip... driving through the Badlands in SD. It was 110 so we stayed in the car for most of the scenic loop. Visiting Beyer Field in Blue Earth, MN. Named after my grandfather. Here I am texting a picture of me next to the sign to my friends on FB. Treysons at the Badlands, SD

A few weekends ago we visited Elk Mountain and helped Jason's parents celebrate the town's 100th birthday! There was a free steak dinner, volleyball tournament, vendors in the park, living history demonstrations, evening dance, luncheon with cowboy music, and the best strawberry rhubarb pie I've ever had! We had a really good time with Dee and Bill and even had time to visit our horse while we were in town.

Bill and Dee on one of the town's original mail wagons.

This past weekend we went camping in La Bonte Canyon. Jason and I both caught fish (catch & release) but my camera battery died so no pictures of those beauties! The dogs went with us and were very well behaved. We managed to squeeze everyone (2 people, 2 dogs) in a three person tent with our overnight bag and slept comfortably.Jason is on the road this weekend for work and I'm off to Georgia to visit family. We hope everyone is well and enjoying the last few weeks of summer.

Almost done!

2009-04-26T22:45:00.003-06:00

We're gaining. It doesn't look like a warehouse anymore, but also isn't quite useable yet, either. Hopefully the countertop guy will finish tomorrow. . . Anyway, we figured we'd better take a minute to catch everyone up.

Friends Bill and Kelly help race to get the drywall up before the inspector comes. (Nothing provides incentive to work over the weekend like scheduling a Monday inspection!)

Jason mudding the drywall. Lesson #1: Finishing drywall is a vile, misleadingly-time-consuming job worth every penny a contractor would charge.

Finally, taping, mudding, and texturing done--Trey gets to paint!

Painting your hair: optional. (or done unwittingly as you paint the ceiling from the almost-too-tall step on the ladder)

Grandpa comes to visit and gets put to work hanging cabinets. Cabinets that suddenly seem way too heavy and awkward for two tired guys to hang by themselves.

Dad shows up to help. Dad brings coffee. Coffee distracts other help. Jason works on leveling cabinet by himself.

The oven and microwave will live here. Someday. (Did I mention I've gone back to my real job?) The hole was 7/8 of an inch too narrow for it--and its still about 6" too short right now.

Proof. Jabbering on the phone while I should be installing the oven. Or is it the countertop guy telling me to uninstall the oven cabinet so he can get the counter to fit. Since it was oh, so much fun the first time. . .

At least he did good work on the island. Looking at it and the tile almost makes me forget having to reinstall the biggest cabinet.

Trey must be getting antsy. The first piece of counter goes in and "accent pieces" come out of hiding. Okay, I'm antsy too. Hopefully there's a final inspection (and party) next month. . .

NCPH

2009-04-10T12:27:00.004-06:00

In between working on the kitchen and 40 plus hours at work, I’ve managed to find time to go through my pictures from Providence, RI. My best girlfriend from graduate school (Erin) and I traveled there last week to attend the National Council on Public History’s annual conference. The experience was wonderful, learned a lot, made new friends, squeezed in some sight-seeing, met a Rockefeller, and made it back to Wyoming despite the winter storms (thanks to my brave husband). Oh, deep breath… I’m looking for moments of calm today as we head into Easter.

For your viewing enjoyment, some artistically blurry pictures from our trip: Mr. Rockefeller bought a mill... restored it for multi-use, artist space, workshops on original equipment, office space, etc. He was nice enough to give some of the conference participants a tour of his project. (Rocky would have been excited to meet him.) Walkway at the Chicago airport:Only picture of me and Erin from the trip. (Yes, it felt a little rushed but so worth it. Next year the conference is in Portland.)The kitchen is calling...

Kitchen Remodel in Progress

2009-03-18T21:57:00.010-06:00

We started to rip apart our old kitchen on Sunday. Here are some pictures of the progress so far.

Weekly Update

2009-03-10T20:11:00.000-06:00

The way I’m going lately, you’ll never see another photograph on this blog! Ok, so I’m still behind – with work, email, home repairs, class, etc. But I’m plugging along!

This week I attended a board retreat for work, packed artifacts for storage (including some moldy 120 year old shoes), went to the chiropractor, had lunch with the advisor from UW’s History Dept., worked on a Power Point presentation for Leadership Wyoming, went to the rodeo with Jason (date night), and conducted the first of many oral histories for our church.

The oral histories went really well and I learned a lot about the history/culture of our beloved church. But the highlight of the week was the rodeo; esp. the rodeo clown who dressed up as a sumo wrestler, inflatable suit and all! It was so funny to see him dodging bulls in his costume! (No, I didn’t take pictures. I wanted to enjoy the rodeo from the stands instead of glued behind a lens.) The local bull riders were fun to watch and the DJ was really good. She had the crowd dancing in their seats!

This week I’ve been fighting an awful headache and have been in-and-out of work. Tomorrow is a big day – trip to Cheyenne to meet with the WY State Museum staff – so I have to at least pretend I’m feeling better! I have an eye exam Friday so maybe some new glasses will help?

This weekend is the second round of oral histories and, and… (we’ve been waiting for this…) we are finally starting the kitchen remodel!!! Friday night I’m going to pull out the dishes and utensils we’ll need in the make shift kitchen, Sat. I’m packing the rest of the dishes, pots, pans, etc. and Sunday Jason is starting the demolition process. Anyone in town with an urge to wield a sledge hammer, please stop by!

While I haven’t been good about taking pictures lately, I promise to take before and after of the kitchen. As I’ve said before… check back (don’t give up on me!) In the meantime, have a WONDERFUL week!!! - T

Weekend Update

2009-03-02T22:05:00.001-07:00

So I misplaced my camera so its storytelling with text…
Friday night we learned a close friend was admitted to the hospital in Fort Collins for an infection after having her wisdom teeth removed. Jason drove down with her husband and two young girls at one a.m. and then the next day at 3 p.m. Turns out he is a pretty good “baby-sitter” as he did a good job of entertaining the girls and brought home a half a ream of paper with tiny little drawings. (I’m thinking of making a mobile out of them.) Unfortunately I had to be up bright and early for class the next morning so I didn’t go down. We are wishing her a speedy recovery and healthy return to Laramie. (C&B – can the girls come over to play sometime this week?)
Full day Sat. as I attended a nifty conservation class for 2D artwork. We learned “ideal” storage, care, tactics and “realistic” ones for small museums. It was super practical and a ton of fun. I got to meet some new people from Laramie and the Front Range (southern border btw WY and CO). It was fun to see the various items from the local museum including hand tinted photographs, 4H scrapbooks, original artwork by a local painter, and early maps of Laramie. I brought one of our prisoner made frames with an oil painting to work on.
Sat. night I spent a few hours scanning photographs and documents from our church. Trinity Lutheran is celebrating its 125th anniversary in August. Jason and I are both on the committee. He has been working on t-shirt orders and I’ve been attempting to put up an exhibit. Starting this coming Sunday we’ll both be involved in an oral history project to create a “Love Letter” to the church. The idea is to gather fun stories from various church members and weave them into a narrative video discussing “firsts” at the church; wedding, baptism, confirmation memories along with some historical tidbits and folklore.
Wish us luck!
Sunday after church we visited with some friends, Jason painted and reinstalled trim in the hallway and I continued to scan documents.
Sunday evening we won our broomball game and will continue on to the championship game. I think we are currently ranked 3rd. A big improvement from last year! For those of you who don’t know, we are the Fire Monkeys. We played the Ice Toads. They always bring a slew of stuffed frogs so we started collecting screaming monkey. A friendly banter typically occurs during halftime but this game they broke out a squeaky plastic banana on a rope! One of our more expressive teammates was out on the ice, chasing it like a chimp. Despite his antics and maybe pulling a muscle during this routine, we went on to win the game.
Late to bed and early to rise. We have a busy week ahead of us including a board retreat, visit to the chiropractor, unwrapping our new cabinets, recruitment party for Leadership Wyoming, Lent service (I love the Holden Evening prayer book), hopefully babysitting for friends, visiting landowners, completing contracts, and oral histories.
I’ll be back in touch next week. Hopefully with photos to share!

Busy Bee

2009-02-25T16:56:00.003-07:00

Just a quick note to say that I grant I was working on all last year got funded by IMLS! Here is the press release:

Wyoming
Buffalo Bill Memorial Association - Cody, WY Award Amount: $39,943
Contact: Ms. Beverly Perkins Conservator(307)578-4029; beverlyp@bbhc.org
Project Title: "Connecting to Collections Statewide Planning Grant"The Buffalo Bill Historical Center and five partners will identify and address the most pressing preservation needs for Wyoming's cultural institutions. This process will include identifying the state's collecting institutions and assessing their stewardship concerns; holding regional conferences for networking, collections care training, and disaster response; developing and maintaining a statewide database of all collecting institutions; and organizing workshops that address Heritage Health Index concerns. The partners are Colorado-Wyoming Association of Museums, Wyoming State Library, Sheridan County Historical Society Museum, Western Wyoming Community College, and Nicolaysen Art Museum.

I'm the workshop chair for Colorado Wyoming Association of Museums so that is how I got involved.

In other news, Leadership Wyoming is going well! I'll have pictures to post soon of our last session in Cheyenne. I got to ride on a black hawk helicopter, tour the National Guard, train like a solider, have lunch with a Federal Judge, meet with the director of Wyoming's Dept. of Corrections, and through silence and solitude, listen to my voice within.

This weekend I'm taking a class on preserving 2D artwork. I'm going to take a painting from the prison's collection and see if I can't make it look and feel a little better!

Next week our new kitchen cabinets arrive and we'll start demo. sometime after March 8th. I'm trying to figure out what I can make in bulk and freeze for easy access while the kitchen is torn apart.

I'll do my best to take before, after and during photos and post them here so check back soon for pictures! - Trey

Its been awhile, but. . .

2009-02-16T20:57:00.009-07:00

We've been travelling some more. We made our "Christmas" trip to Georgia to visit Trey's side of the family and some friends we haven't seen in quite a while.

We started with a trip to the "mountains" of north Georgia and the home of our friends, Nikki & Nathan. The mountains were a bit shorter than what we're used to, but very pretty nonetheless. We suggested a little geocaching to get some exercise and explore some more country. To Nikki's dismay, we may have signed up another 'cacher in Nathan. Hopefully the search for a GPS doesn't interfere too much with his work and school! Jason & Nathan try to get into the first geocache at Ellijay, GA. Aside from the graffiti, the view was great.

Nikki and Nathan were troopers and hiked more than half a mile with us to find this one near Cherry Log. It made us late for lunch at the apple house, but we worked up an appetite for the homestyle southern cooking (and sweet tea!).

Lets just say the scenery was the 'cache at this location. Between hurrying because of the chilly weather (yep, it followed us--they closed school the next day when they called for snow) and the trees (ALL the trees!) messing with the GPS, we didn't find this one. Very cool creek, though.

After our too-quick stay in Ellijay, we hooked up with Trey's parents closer to Atlanta. After a "family day" with Grandpa and Grandma (and a visit to Lenny's sub-shop!), we took a road trip with Trey's parents. This time we went south of Atlanta to the Griffin area.

We used the gift certificate my parents got us for a bed and breakfast there (yeah, for our anniversary almost a year ago) and Terry and Linda were good enough to chauffer and join us for the adventure.

Besides the 150+ year-old plantation houses and history of the area (of course) Trey was quite excited to find a Dwarf House--one of the original "Chick-Fillet" restaurants. I was quite excited to feel so tall (for once) at their main entrance.

We knocked off another geocache in a confederate cemetery before leaving Griffin. This one was marking the lone "yankee" buried there. I found the interpretive signs quite interesting--Seems as though folks in the South are big on the details of their valliant fight with the North, but the signs don't say much about how the Civil War turned out.

After a "quick" stop at an outlet mall for the gals to do a little shopping, we headed back to start preparing for Trey's big birthday party.

Okay, so it wasn't all work. Terry got his Harley out and I scored the bike for a quick ride in between our draining a tank of helium and most of guests arriving. Most surprisingly, I didn't notice Terry breathing the gas or drinking anything before he offered me the keys!

Between the owner of the mexican restaurant donning a set of Groucho Marx glasses (complete with giant eyebrows and matching nose) and singing to her, all the visitors, and the trip, Trey had to have had a happy birthday. I was too busy listening to all the stories and eating to notice for sure, though!

Of course it all went too fast. Then, we had to rush from the airport to our house, change clothes and hit the ice for our last regular-season broomball game. Despite the jet lag (and all the sweet tea), our team held the veteran team to a 0-0 tie. On to the tournament. . . . and still trying to catch up at work, get the final details in order for the kitchen remodel, travel for Leadership Wyoming, teach a Hunter Education class, and . . . . .

Dysfunctional Dogs

2009-01-21T20:46:00.007-07:00

This afternoon I arrived home to find Tillie leaving little splatters of blood all over the floor, abstract art style. I can only assume the girls had a spat this morning and Tillie’s bloody ear is the result. I put them both outside, hoping Tillie would stop bleeding before I had to go back to work. Things seem to calm down but I checked in with Super Dad, aka Bill Sherwood and asked for his opinion. “Should I take Tillie to the vet?” She was wagging her tail when I left so I know she isn’t going to die.

Bill was good enough to check on Tillie and she was still dripping. He bandaged her up with some heavy duty paper towels, band aids and duck tape. Yes, our dog is a ghetto princess.

If her ear doesn’t look better by tomorrow morning, I’m taking her to the vet. Jason is in Casper tonight and won’t be home until tomorrow sometime so I’m on my own. I feel like a bad mother. Shelby looking sheepish:On a lighter note, Jason and I went geocashing over the weekend. We explored some new areas in Vedauvoo, a nifty rock formation outside of Laramie, in the Med. Bow National Forest.

Here are some pictures of Jason and the girls looking for hidden treasures: Tillie with both ears in tack. We took the scenic way home:

Superwoman succumbs to her “To Do” list!

2009-01-12T20:05:00.005-07:00

I know you all think I’m Superwoman when it comes to museum stuff but I need your help: Does anyone have a set of 1890s household furniture and accessories they’d like to pawn off on me? I’ve been tasked to furnish, head to toe an 1890s home at the historic site. Simple, middle class, functional two bedrooms, parlor, kitchen, office, no bath. Here is the thing, there is no Walmart for 1890s antiques. No one-stop-shopping for collections, but I’ve got a deadline! This house has to be done by May 1. I’ve hit all the antique stores, flea markets, ebay, Craigslist, garage sales in WY and northern CO, you name it, and I still can’t find everything I’m looking for. So, if you know of a great collection of antiques in your grandma’s attic or grandpa’s basement, please let me know!!!

Samples of 1890s interiors in the West:

Can you say wicker (center chair). Not my favorite style of furniture but those crazy Victorians loved it.

Looking for a pitcher and basin like the one on the dresser. Don't mind the crazy looking cutout of a man (?) to the left of the dresser.

Lots and lots of framed photo and artwork (far left of wall).

Colorful, heavy woven rugs. Don't worry, they don't have to match by our color/taste standards!

Great dresser! Wish I had one, make that two. One for me, one for work. Except I'd get fired for that. Where are my ethics?

Framed cow portrait?

Deadhead on the wall (center). I know, that one should be easy, being married to a Game Warden and all!

Photos courtesy of the Denver Public Library’s Western History Photos collection online at: http://history.denverlibrary.org/images/index.html

Broom Factory makes the news!

2008-12-31T12:20:00.002-07:00

Teresa Sherwood, site curator at the Wyoming Territorial Prison, demonstrates a piece of equipment that wraps wire to attach broom corn to a broom handle at the prison's newly restored Laramie Broom Factory in Laramie, Wyo., on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008. . The state this month completed a restoration of the timeworn wooden building, which sits next to the stone prison that famously housed the outlaw Butch Cassidy. Officials say they're building a hands-on exhibit inside the building where visitors can make brooms using replicas of the original tools that the prisoners toiled over. They're aiming to debut the exhibit when the park opens for its summer season. (AP Photo/Matt Joyce)

By Matt Joyce (AP)Published: 2008-12-29 02:30:05 Location: LARAMIE, Wyo.
The days were long, the work repetitive and the conditions rough. But for prisoners, the opportunity to work in the Wyoming Territorial Prison's broom factory was probably better than passing time in a cell.
Now the operators of the historic site want visitors to get a taste of old-fashioned prison labor. The state recently completed a two-year restoration of the wooden building, which sits next to the stone prison that housed Butch Cassidy.
Officials are building a hands-on exhibit inside the building, where visitors can make brooms using replicas of the original tools the prisoners toiled over. They hope to debut the exhibit when the park opens for its summer season.
"This was a very functional building so we wanted to have that feel in here," site curator Teresa Sherwood said as she pointed out pieces of original equipment and recently purchased bales of broom corn.
Site superintendent Tom Lindmier said the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources spent $1.1 million on the project.
The prison held convicts from across the Wyoming territory from 1872 until 1903. After it closed, the University of Wyoming used the 190-acre grounds as a stock farm, with the broom factory as a sheep barn, until 1989.
Without photos of the original factory's interior, historians relied on inventories of prison equipment taken in 1891 and 1897, as well as records and photos of other broom factories to get an idea of how the Laramie Broom Company operated, Sherwood said.
She said the factory was run by a lessee, who bid for a state contract to operate the prison's industries. Revenues went toward operating the factory and helping to cover other prison expenses, but the inmates were not paid.
Restoring the building proved to be a challenge because additional barn space tacked on during the livestock years had to be carefully removed without knocking over the original structure, Lindmier said. The project's directors wrestled with keeping the building's original materials and structure while following modern safety and access codes.
The exhibit will display pieces of the wood and metal broom-making tools believed to be part of the original factory. The tools were dropped off more than 20 years ago at the Fort Bridger State Historic Site near Evanston, about 280 miles west of here, by a man who said his father bought them at a prison auction in Rawlins at an unknown time, Lindmier said.
"I just love the idea that this is the real piece _ a prisoner worked on it every day," Sherwood said.
Records indicate the broom factory churned out up to 720 brooms per day in 1900, she said. They were shipped by boxcar to stores as far as away as San Francisco. Original labels discovered on site show that the brooms were labeled for specific retailers, such as the Wheatland Cash Store.
"It doesn't say the Laramie Broom Company or anything about prison so there wouldn't be any guilt in the consumer's mind about supporting prison labor," Sherwood said. "(The prisoners) weren't being paid, so their brooms would be much cheaper than a family business."
The Territorial Prison's new exhibit will also highlight other industries that took place inside the stockade walls. Among them are taxidermy, cigar-making, furniture-making, leather goods, farming and baking.
"As an individual entered the prison, one of the things they were screened for was their talent: `What can you do?'" Sherwood said.
Starting next summer, visitors will get to try their hand at a little prison industry. And then, thankfully, continue on with their tour.

New Orleans!

2008-12-20T17:08:00.022-07:00

As was much anticipated by our dedicated readers (okay, so mostly just by Trey and I), we are back from the "Big Easy" and finally putting up some photos. (FAQ: Yes, Katrina damage is still visible. No, they have most things up and running again. No, it didn't flood while we were there. Yep, the food is good!)

So, a few months ago, Trey suggested we might need to "reconnect" after the bulk of hunting season was over (I think she put it something like, "You know I've only seen you six hours this month!"), so we decided to get out for some time together. Airplane tickets were on sale and New Orleans looked warmer than San Francisco, so our decision was made--and no, we didn't have a "real" reason to specifically visit "Nawlins". To seal the deal, Trey even found a nice bed and breakfast with terrific rates!

We had a great flight, despite Southwest Airlines' method of seating ("Everyone, go"). We found a cab right off the bat, and traffic was light enough to get us to our accomodations in much less than the hour we were told to expect (the airport is quite a ways from downtown).

Wondering how Lua Kelly (an old-time rancher from Elk Mtn) knew to advise us against visiting Bourbon Street, we went directly there to investigate for ourselves. All we could find was spectacular people watching (lots of VERY intoxicated people from all walks of life), some goofy shops (anyone need a cannon?), and "slushie" machines full of $11 mint juleps, martinis, and every flavor of margarita ever invented (we stayed sober-note price, above). Of course, we had to mosey back again the second night to take some pictures AND try some barbequed shrimp, alligator-sausage gumbo (the bird-eater seen here was not harmed in the making of our gumbo), fresh seafood, and make another stop at the cafe for more BEIGNETS (the French answer to donuts/AKA: death by powdered sugar).

But we didn't just eat and people watch. Trey also hooked us up with Dave, Nawlins resident expert, who toured us around an OLD cemetery at the edge of the French Quarter (yes, that's Marie Leveau's tomb with all the vandalism) and helped us understand quite a bit about the city's history, a few notable folks from the French Quarter, music, Katrina, and voodoo. After the tour (and supper, of course) we were so excited we decided to go see THE haunted mortuary up the street from our B&B. The trolley we caught turned the wrong way, so we hiked the 12 blocks up to the mortuary and back (While Nawlins HAS figured out tourists like the historic trolley cars and parking is an issue in the French Quarter, the city HAS NOT figured out how to put them or the busses on SCHEDULES or make the routes understandable to the tourists). Anyway, we made it there and back safely, and, even though the supposed "24/7" haunted house was closed, Trey had a grand time taking photos of their back yard while I took a minute to reflect on the fact that I was not carrying a gun and take notice of the area's residents (financially challenged people who had just lost what little they had in a major natural catastrophe, muggers, murderers, voodoo/hoodoo practicioners, ghosts. . . ) and encouraged my artistic wife with comments such as, "hurry up", "lets go back to the area with the street lights", and such. As they say, life is all the more meaningful with a little excitement! (The guys touching the bull in "Wild Hogs" comes to mind)

(Note: the lights and trolleys shown below were nowhere to be found at 4800 Canal St around 11pm on December 13th!)

On the last day, we toured several homes in the "Garden District" (snob hill) on a "Preservation Resource Center" fundraiser and got to peek into some large mansions that were decorated for the holidays, got to meet the French Consulate to New Orleans, sampled some pralines at a church flea market, and had some extra time to walk through the park and visit Audubon Zoo (named after some local guy who liked to collect and make scientific drawings of birds, maybe you've heard of him?)

Anyway, it was a very worthwhile trip I'd recommend to most anyone. Just remember to not have a schedule, 'cause the trolley car operator may well need to take her coffee break in the middle of your ride; take plenty of cash, 'cause restaurants in the Big Easy won't take plastic (but the street vendors will?); take your appetite, 'cause the bread pudding is pretty filling after having that bowl of turtle soup, the fried oysters, and the "Gulf Fish Platter"; and have fun, 'cause New Orleans is apparently where all the Santas go to rest up before their big day!

Ups and Downs/Education Forum

2008-12-09T10:58:00.005-07:00

What a week!!! And it is ONLY TUESDAY!!!

Life is full of ups and downs, like yesterday morning when a pipe burst in the historic prison. What a mess. All four employees were over there mopping, pumping, documenting, freezing… I took a ton of photos to document the mess then got down on my hands and knees and scooped water with a bucket away from the original foundation. Meanwhile, it was snowing outside!!!

Prison yard:

Original kitchen and pantry in the prison. Now used for exhibits and the A/C unit. Original foundation in the north cellblock:Elevator shaft:Original cellar with mud:

Ups: Last night Jason and I decorated not one, not two, but three Christmas trees. One is real and displayed in the living room. We have a fake one for the guest bed with new ornaments that match the colorful bedspread (pink, lime green, and mauve). The little one with built in lights is in our bedroom. When I get home tonight I’ll take pictures and post them here. (I’m on my 15 min. “break” from work right now).

This past weekend I was in Evanston, WY with Leadership Wyoming. Our topic was Education. What an eye opener. Since I didn’t attend school in Wyoming and don’t have any little ones doing so, all the information presented was new and amazing to me! We had a number of guest speakers from Teacher of the Year, to school board administrators to legislators come and talk to us about education in Wyoming. One random fact: Wyoming spends more per student for education than any other state in the union!!!

The highlight of the trip was visiting the local middle school and observing some amazing teachers in action (the science teacher dressed up as a WWII vet) as well as sitting with the school’s 8th grade council during lunch. It was really interesting to talk with the students about education. We were surprised at the number of students who said they wanted to leave Wyoming when they graduate. L Hey, everyone needs to spread their wings but we hope some of these bright students will become Wyoming’s future leaders.

The school I visited was very high tech, Smart Boards and Macs in all the classrooms and labs. We assume this generation will be so high tech that text shortcuts, LOL, will become common in every day speech, so I was pleasantly surprised when I had this conversation with a group of 8th graders:

Student (to Trey): So why are you here today? What is this group and what are you doing?

Trey: I’m part of Leadership Wyoming. We are a diverse group of professionals from all over Wyoming learning about the state and specific issues, like education. Let me ask you a question, one that has been asked of us.

“How can all kinds of people, with varied backgrounds and interests, best participate in conversations about the purpose of schooling?”

How do we get students, teachers, parents, community members, school council, etc., to communicate about education?

Students: Long Pause…

Boy: WOW!?! (Pause) I don’t know, how would you do that?

Trey: Well, how does your school council communicate?

Girl: We meet twice a week with an agenda and the President leads us through discussions.

Trey: So you meet face-to-face? Do you feel that is the most productive method or would you prefer email, web conferences, etc.?

Girl: No. It is way to easy to misread email. Face-to-face is best.

Conversation continues… we decide as a group that a good old-fashioned town hall meeting at the city levels would work nicely. Representatives then could be sent to Cheyenne and the legislators.

I was very impressed by the students’ insight about communication. There is this assumption that the next generation, and generations to follow, will forgo face-to-face meetings for high tech communication forums and the nature of how we interact as humans will change drastically. Perhaps it still will but I found hope in that young lady’s answer.

Ups: Tonight I’m meeting with my local girlfriends for dessert at our favorite restaurant and Jason’s parents are coming to visit! Tomorrow I’m having lunch with my museum friends. Wed. night I’m teaching confirmation class at church. FRIDAY WE LEAVE FOR NEW ORLEANS!

I think I’ll focus on the UPS and let the floodwaters wash away the DOWNS.
Trey

Museums Get Good PR

2008-11-25T16:50:00.002-07:00

Museums in the 21st Century, NPR
and
The Next Big Blockbuster: Night at the Museum 2: Battle for the Smithsonian.
As soon as I find a trailer, I'll post it!

VACATION!!!

2008-11-13T16:55:00.002-07:00

Jason came home the other day and said "It is time for a vacation". But not just any vacation - no! We are celebrating the end of HUNTING SEASON (almost over). So, we are headed to... New Orleans the second weekend of Dec. I'm so excited!!!

We found the cutiest B&B to stay in:
http://www.blockkellerhouse.com/

And really low airfare.

A nice little get away, just for the two of us!

Game Warden News

2008-11-03T10:32:00.001-07:00

My handsome husband made the local news:
http://www.laramieboomerang.com/articles/2008/10/30/features/outdoors/doc490a89c080f05059973644.txt

Hair Cut

2008-10-27T13:43:00.005-06:00

I finally decided it was time for a change. After only 1 hair cut in 2.5 years, this was a long time coming!

Before:

After:

It is dinosaur big!

2008-10-18T19:34:00.005-06:00

Have you every seen a brontosaurs? Wonder what it would feel like? Visit an above ground coal mine in Gillette, WY and ask to see the drag line - it will blow your mind! This thing is HUGE! Our tour guide shared the stats with us but I was too busy staring up with my mouth open to retain much of that information. I do know that everything at this mine seemed to cost millions - from the drag line, Caterpillars, drills, staplers... J/K. But in all reality, this is an expensive operation. The small brown circle to the left of the beast is a crew member.Inner workings of the beast.
Tools to repair the beast.

The hole the beast helped dig... sorry this is dark but at the bottom is a seam of coal.
Leadership Wyoming classmates and tour guide standing on the deck of the beast. It was moving dirt away from the coal seam. The bucket was huge and as it gathered dirt, I imagine the sound it was making was similar to that of a brontosaurs tearing leaves and limbs off a tall tree. That's me, far right. Like the hard hat?When it stopped so we could get on board, I was so intimidated! Once in stow, the driver started the engine and went back to work. I got a little sea sick and felt like a sailor on a submarine. It was quite daunting but my classmates were there for support! What a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Wyoming's coal mining industries.

Wyoming in the News

2008-10-18T18:35:00.002-06:00

My friend Randy was interviewed for this article with CNN on the natural gas industry in WY:
http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/18/news/economy/wyoming_drilling/index.htm

Alana sent me this link about the revitalization of the Northern Arapaho language on the Wind River Reservation. My former intern Matt has his Master's Degree in Native American Studies and is learning to speak Arapaho.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/us/17arapaho.html?pagewanted=1&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

San Francisco de Asis Church and the Scary Bridge!

2008-09-26T13:49:00.006-06:00

“The Spanish Mission-style San Francisco de Asis Church was erected in the 18th century as a spiritual and physical refuge from raiding Apache, Ute, and Comanche. The earthy, clean lines of the exterior walls and supporting bulwarks have inspired generations of painters and photographers.” – Fodor’s The Old West: Travel Historic America.

The scary bridge:

Our visit to this bridge outside of town was the first time I understood vertigo! Wow, it felt so wobbly. So while Meg was brave and took photos from the middle of the bridge, I wondered around on solid ground and took took these landscapes:

I would highly recommend Taos for its beautiful sunsets, good food and friendly people. More Taos photos below...

Cooking Demo at La Hacienda de los Martinez

2008-09-26T13:23:00.004-06:00

The day we visited the Hacienda there was a community Trade Fair with local artisians. Meg and I met Susan and Pearl who are part of the Red Willow Tribe. They live at Taos Pueblo (see post below for photos). They were cooking bread, pies and cookies in the adobe oven called an horno. Meg, master chief that she is, jumped right in and asked for a cooking lesson! The bread was REALLY good!We were so intriqued with the cooking demo that I forgot to take pictures of the hacienda! We did make friends with some of the locals. The community historian swore up and down that he'd meet me before and then hand painted each of us beautifully images of San Francisco de Asis Church to bring home! Susan, Pearl, Meg and I exchanged addresses and hope to stay in touch. Needless to say, we found everyone very welcoming and warm.

Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

2008-09-26T13:03:00.006-06:00

This past weekend a girlfriend and I traveled to Taos, New Mexico for some warm weather, sightseeing and good food. It was my first trip to Taos and I found the area beautiful and the people warm and inviting. Here are some pictures from the Taos Pueblo:“For nearly 1,000 years the mud-and-straw adobe walls of Taos Pueblo have sheltered Tiwa-speaking Native Americans. The pueblo today appears much as it did when the first Spanish explorers arrived in New Mexico in 1540. The adobe walls glistening with mica caused the conquistadores to believe they had discovered one of the fabled Seven Cities of Gold. Even after 400 years of Spanish and Anglo presence in Taos, inside the pueblo the traditional Native American way of life has endured. Tribal custom allows no electricity or running water in the two main buildings, where varying numbers (usually fewer than 100) of Taos Native Americans live full-time. The pueblo Church of San Geronimo, or St. Jerome, the patron saint of Taos Pueblo, was completed in 1850 to replace the one destroyed by the U.S. Army in 1847 during the Mexican-American War.” – Fodor’s The Old West: Travel Historic America.Taos Pueblo is the only living Native American community designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. The multi-storied adobe buildings have been continuously inhabited for over 1000 years. We welcome you to visit our village when you travel to northern New Mexico.
For more information, visit: http://www.taospueblo.com/

Jackson Retreat

2008-09-18T23:05:00.005-06:00

I spent most of last week in Jackson, WY, Grand Teton National Park to be exact, at my Leadership WY (class of 2009) Retreat. It was an AMAZING experience. Something I got to share with 43 other AMAZING individuals. It was VERY positive, uplifting, thoughtful, FUNny, relaxing, insightful, exercise inducing (thanks to Jake and Doreen)... A good time was had by all.

We learned a lot about ourselves and each other, about Brain Maping, cultural phrases (How are the Children?), new perspectives, issues facing Wyoming, and reflected on our personal time lines. (I tracked my not so much by year but by what state I was living in!)

I can't really find the words to express how helpful this has all been to my personal journey. I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone better and sharing this experience with family and friends.

Now, some pictures...

My Hero the Game Warden

2008-09-15T15:59:00.001-06:00

Remembering Scott

2008-09-15T14:39:00.001-06:00

Found new software to make videos... wanted to try it out with pictures from the ride!

Cowboys in Action

2008-08-11T17:59:00.002-06:00

Opps! Meant to put pictures from the rodeo on this blog, but in a blond moment, they ended up in my online "portfolio". Oh well! Enjoy!

http://wyomingphotographer.blogspot.com/2008/08/cowboys-in-action.html

Three Mile Hike, And Then Some!

2008-07-19T22:28:00.009-06:00

Right before Jason left for Montana, we had an adventure date! Jason planned the entire day! We got up bright and early and traveled from Laramie to Centennial for breakfast at the historic Mountain View Lodge. We had a yummy meal on the porch overlooking the mountains. Then we took the scenic drive through the Snowy Range and over to Saratoga where we stopped at the Ranger’s Station and did some Christmas shopping! They had a great array of Wyoming products. After getting our fire wood permit (winter is right around the corner?) we headed out of town on a dirt road into the Sierra Madres. After about a 20 – 30 minute drive we found ourselves at Jack’s Creek. We were looking for the cabin of a former Nazi poacher from WWII. Ok, I realize that doesn’t sound romantic but if you are up for it, read the story here and come back. Sad, huh? The Game Warden’s Association is looking into putting up a marker to commemorate the event.

We hiked for about 3.5 miles looking for the location but we either missed it (wrong trail) or it is so overgrown, we walked right past it. Regardless, it was a BEAUTIFUL hike. The wildflowers were blooming and there was a soft breeze in the air. State flower: Indian PaintbrushAfter the hike we squeezed in a little fishing. I didn’t catch anything… take that back, I got one tree and two twigs! Good thing I wore my new water proof rain boots! I had to wade into the stream just to get my line untangled. At the end of the day the dogs were tuckered out and D-U-S-T-Y! We walked the 3.5 but they ran the entire way, then some. Here Tilley is taking a break. She usually isn’t affectionate so I was surprised when she came and sat beside me. Jason said I was providing the only shade on the trail thus she was mooching! At least I got paid for it: As we were heading out of the forest, Jason noticed we had a flat tire! Not the highlight of the day but I got to see my handy husband in action. He was quick and we were back on the road in no time. It was a memorable day and I’m so thankful we had that time to spend before he left. I miss him! – T

Upcoming Game Warden Documentary

2008-07-19T10:11:00.001-06:00

Wardens, Wardens Everywhere!

2008-07-17T10:23:00.001-06:00

The red shirts are from Wyoming! (Jason is far right)http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080717/NEWS01/807170301&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

Be cool, stay in school! Adventures of Marty, the drop out moose…

2008-07-11T17:50:00.006-06:00

A few weeks ago Jason rescued a moose from a middle school in Cheyenne. We all remember how scary middle school was! Thankfully he had some help and was able to borrow a trailer to transport the drugged moose outside of town. Unfortunately, before Jason was able to get into proper moose habitat, the "I'm to big for this horse trailer" moose broke free. Perhaps he’ll join the circus? Regardless of his lack of education, we wish him the best in all his future endeavours.P.S. Jason's version of the story is WAY better than mine!

My Next Car?

2008-07-02T17:53:00.001-06:00

2009 Honda hybrid. Will it be available in Wyoming?
I'll be saving my pennies...

Day Three: Spot the Mountain Pine Beetles

2008-06-25T20:21:00.008-06:00

Sunday morning we awoke in beautiful Saratoga. About 9 we moseyed down to the local breakfast joint for waffles and eggs benedict. After some confusion over who ordered what and mom and dad eating another tables waffles (good, weren’t they!) we made our way back to the bikes and started over the Snowy Range. Enjoying the scenery, we made a few short stops at camps, mountain lakes, and overlooks. By the time we made it to Centennial, it was almost time for the group to part ways (insert sad face here). We made it back to Laramie a little after 2 and each headed our own way. Some to the airport and some back to Minnesota. It was a beautiful day and very memorable, especially lake Marie. (I told you there’d be snow!)

Playing in the snow and spiritual journeys up the mountain. A great place for family photos! I heard many in the group proclaim, “Scott would be proud of us”! I agree totally. I also heard a few planning for next years ride. Who is up for Tennessee June 2009? Rahn and Terry volunteered to plan out the route. Then how ‘bout Minnesota? Ya, sure, you bet cha! Then South Dakota or Route 66? Which one would Scott have liked best?
Sounds like we’ll be doing this again next June. Looking forward to it!

Day Two: Wyoming Great Plains

2008-06-22T22:27:00.005-06:00

What a day! We started off in Laramie and headed in a northerly direction to the semi-abandoned town of Bosler; on west to the oldest structure in the world, found in Como Bluffs; thoroughly enjoyed lunch at the folk art inspired, hand painted, wood carved Dip; made a quick stop at the Hanna mine disaster monument; got gas in Walcott; and went south to Saratoga for steak, cake, and a soak in the Hobo Pool before bed! (Was that a run on sentence or what?!?)

Kelly and Jason pose with their ride-inspired tattoos before hitting the highway with fresh fuel.
When you ride with Terry...
Dad and Rahn check to see if this prize will fit on the airplane to go back home.The ride "family"
When these two are involved, I'd recommend the "or not".

Fossil Cabin at Como Bluffs (built from very old dinosaur bones). A stagecoach on display at the "Dip" in Medicine Bow. The artist carved this whole thing out of a single block of wood--then opened his diner "specially" for us, cooked the whole group a terrific lunch, waited the table by himself (despite Dad's best efforts to help), and served up the homemade pie and heaping piles of ice cream--all while telling wonderful stories and explaining how he had been forced to hand-make the indian artifacts found elsewhere in the diner (because all the indians from these parts were apparently killed off a long time ago). We all had to pose in front of the Virginian Hotel for a quick photo before a quick jaunt through the local museum and a couple of pauses to read the historical signs. Rahn B. tries the locally popular "post lean" as a form of R&R before heading back out to the open road. Of course we made friends wherever we went. These guys were traveling coast to coast on the Lincoln Highway as a promotional stunt for the Piaggio MP3, A three wheeled motor vehicle. They interviewed me with a camcorder on the side of the road in Medicine Bow and pictures of our bikes made it to their website: http://www.piaggiousa.com/Today was also Rahn B.’s 27th birthday! Thanks to Dee and Bill for bringing the "official" cake. Kudos to Kathy Williams, the Elk Mtn cake chef/decorator! Rahn also scored "birthday" brownie pie from the owner of the Dip.Rahn also scored "birthday" cheesecake from the Wolf Hotel.

AND, Rahn also convinced some members of the group to buy him "birthday" drinks for two evenings in a row (you'll have to ask him to explain his "time zone theory").

Don't look Grandma, but Dee even got to take a spin on a Harley.

No pictures from the Hobo pool but it was interesting--and suprisingly HOT, despite the relaxed look on Rahn G's face as he submersed himself and tested his theory on "mind over matter". (Good news, the doctor says Dad's feet should have skin again in a few short months!)

Memorial Ride for Scott

2008-06-21T00:25:00.005-06:00

Butt Busting!Day One: Laramie to Sybille. After an uplifting prayer and sharing memories about Scott at the church, we headed into the canyon. Jason gave us a tour of the Sybille Wildlife Research Center, where he used to work. After fear of chronic wasting disease gripped us, we were all afraid of picking our noses or touching anything, we headed on to the Shamrock to hang out with the locals. Thanks to Crile and Laora for their warm welcome and letting me try out the new camera! (Sorry these pics aren't from that camera...)
Some from Kelly's and Trey's:

Kelly's first ride:

Rahn B., the bandit:

Jason giving an educational and entertaining tour at Sybille:The Gang at the Shamrock Saloon:

Rahn G. (MN) lassoing the locals:Brother (TN) and Sister (WY) on the Road:The Coolest Mom & Dad (GA):

Mike (MN) on the yellow beast:Matt (MN), looking way cool:

Our friend James (WY), thanks for joining us!What a FOX!

Seinfeld, Superman & Oh, YES Wyoming!

2008-06-13T11:08:00.000-06:00

Thanks Alana!

Moisture...

2008-06-11T17:39:00.004-06:00

A few weeks ago there was a tornado in town. I kinda zoned out since I was playing hookie from work. Shelby let me know something was going on when she climbed in our tub. Then I heard the sirens go off. We sat in the bathroom together until it past. (I called to Tillie and Rocky but they weren't interested in hiding. If they were people, they'd be the ones outside watching it go by!)

I mention this because with the tornado, we had lots and lots and lots of rain. More than is usual in Wyoming. The river flooded and a friend of a friend's basement flooded.

Then today it snowed...

But, I digress. I simply state all of the above just to have some text to go with these photos I took last Sat. from the fire dept. bucket truck. They were giving demos in our parking lot. Not until I was WAYYyyyyyyyyy up in the air did I realize the amount of standing water around the historic site and into west Laramie.

The Amazing Shelby and the Fishing Pond

2008-06-09T13:53:00.005-06:00

A few weeks I rode along with Jason as he patrolled one of his very secluded hunting/fishing management areas. The dogs has such a good time exploring all the smells and water. Shelby even fell in (not on purpose)! I didn't get a picture of that, she was pretty embarrassed. But, I did get this great shot of her leaping over the stream. She hates the camera so I was glad she was distracted and enjoying herself. I'm working on the house today. Mom and Dad arrive on Friday and I want to make sure everything is in order. More to come...

Jason and Cooter

2008-06-07T15:22:00.004-06:00

I'm waaaaaaaaaaay behind in posting photos! Yes, we are alive and well. I'm at work today, enjoying my "15 min." break.

We've had Cooter for about a month now and he is shaping up to be a good Game Warden horse. Feisty at times, brave and stubborn, just like Jason!

Cooter and Jason at Game Warden horse boot camp in Douglas, Wyoming. The drills teach the horses not to be afraid of things that eat them, like tarp, tents, tires, camp fires, bridges, etc.

Jason and Cooter in the pasture, bonding. Doesn't Cooter have a great view of the mountains?

Accepted!

2008-05-17T15:22:00.000-06:00

I just got my acceptance letter and scholarship notification to attend Leadership Wyoming! I’m pumped! You can read more about the program here: http://www.wba.vcn.com/leadership_wyoming.htm

Today I’m hosting a reception for “Community Art, Western Art”, the prison’s first art show. I got to curate it all by myself!

Tomorrow Jason leaves for horse boot camp with Cooter. I keep forgetting to take my camera out when we visit him. He (the horse) has a great view of the mountains.

Just wanted to share the good news!

CWAM

2008-05-12T13:06:00.004-06:00

I just got back from the Colorado Wyoming Association of Museums annual conference in beautiful Sheridan, Wyoming. We (Jason, Erin and I) were lucky enough to stay with our friends Sharie and Todd along with Todd's mom and his two wonderful, super smart son's, Colton and Lane. They just moved into a new mansion! Well, it feels like a mansion. It is a 1911 apartment building. They have 5 bedrooms and three floors of original fixtures including a butler's pantry and built in china hutch in the living room. Plus, the hardwood floors are in great shape. It was magical. I forgot to take more pictures inside the house!

We really enjoyed spending some quality time with our friends and it was so good to see the boys. Lane cooked for us the first night in Sheridan. He is going to be a chef and surgeon when he grows up. Last I heard, Colton was going to be an archaeologist.

Sharie's cat, Penelope and I bonded:

Thursday I co-taught/co-created a helping hands workshop at a very small museum outside of Sheridan. It was a wonderful experience. With the help of about 20 volunteers we rehoused the museum's entire textile collection in acid free boxes, made padded hangers, learned about museum pests, and brainstormed some new ideas for labels. It was a lot of fun.

Friday and Sat. I attended or helped with sessions. I learned about museum expansion (big projects), exhibit design, community based exhibits, educational programs with traveling trunks, fundraising, and collection concerns.

One evening we went to the popular and historic Mint bar in downtown Sheridan. Here are some pictures:

Todd, Sharie, Jason and Erin

Me and the Girls!Jason spend Friday through Sunday in Gillette, WY getting his motorcycle licence. He was the best student in the class, only missing one point on his riding exam! He had a big smile on his face when we meet up again in Casper. He says he is ready for a Harley and a tattoo!

We HEART New York: Visiting Alana & Alex

2008-05-06T22:44:00.016-06:00

Here they are, posted in the order we took 'em. We'd offer witty bylines and explanations, but it is already two hours past bedtime and we are off to Sheridan, WY tomorrow for a museum conference. So I leave you with an unfinished "exhibit" - w/o labels!

Call about an audio tour.More updates to come... news about our newest family member (its a horse!) and adventures in refinishing old furniture. (What was I thinking?)
- Treysons

Alcoholism Strikes!

2008-04-07T21:22:00.010-06:00

We just returned from a very nice trip to Casper. We went up for a retirement party for Dave Avey, West Casper Game Warden (with G&F since 1971). We shared an office while I was in Casper. He showed me several new "warden" tricks--including the sounds a bowling ball will make when tucked into the toolbox of your patrol pickup--and I poached a few "easy ones" (what he jokingly referred to violations HE didn't find) out of his district. Afterwards, we spent the rest of the weekend enjoying Erin & Alex's conversation, home, cooking, and fly tying instruction.

But I digress. The shocking part of the weekend reared its ugly head Sunday night. With the number of "drunks" I have taken off the water (and a few more off the land), I knew Wyomingites were prone to alcoholism. Certainly, with a particularly long, cold winter coming to an end, it is no surprise many have turned to alcohol as a crutch. Nevertheless, it is disappointing to have the disease appear in someone you've tried so hard to protect for so long. Despite the tiring hours spent protecting the deer from poachers, a certain number have obviously succumbed to their own vices.

As we drove through Medicine Bow, a fuzzy doe staggered across the highway to join her friends as Bill, the owner of the "Diplodocus" Bar, apparently grew tired of their drunken shenanigans and shut them off.

Of particular concern to me was the condition they were in--even before the sun had fully set! I guess they'd listened to a Jimmy Buffet and Alan Jackson sing about it being "5 O'clock Somewhere" a few too many times.Even more troubling was the lackadaisacal attitudes they were showing to the law! Despite the clearly posted sign on the drive-through window stating "no one under 21 years of age allowed", an obviously underage deer nonchalantly sought service as we watched AND PHOTOGRAPHED. As you can see, only a casual attempt at anonymity was displayed. For our own safety, we left before these delinquents chose to jump in their pickup and try to drive home!

As we headed out of town, Trey noticed how this one had the "tired" look and stringy hair so typical of methamphetamine addicts. Hopefully this one just had a long day.

Anyway, be careful when you go through Medicine Bow. You never know what will happen when the deer start hitting the bottle--or worse!

Easter: A Portrait of People and Pets

2008-03-26T20:30:00.012-06:00

You know this guy!Cousin Kaylea and ShinzyKaylea, Shinzy & Slick

Tristany teaching Grandma how to text.Aunt Lisa and her daughter, Aspen.Uncle Steve and Slick (the dog that "never" sits still!)Dee and cousin Roger

Group shot:

Where in Wyoming?

2008-03-26T20:13:00.009-06:00

Take a guess… Hint: A town between Lander and Laramie. Hint: There is only one restaurant in town and it serves authentic Mexican. Hint: This little guy lives there. Guess or see the ANSWER.

2008 Broomball Video Preview Now Available!

2008-03-12T09:04:00.002-06:00

One win under our belts. The tournament continues this Sunday at 7:45 (Laramie Ice Arena if you're in the area). Hopefully this will stir up another win!!!

Just a short note

2008-03-11T14:39:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I spoke about local initiatives in public history at the American Heritage Center. My co-presenters were GREAT. Mary from the Laramie Plains Museum and Mike from the Old West Museum in Cheyenne can be seen in the photo. Thanks to Carol for inviting us.
http://www.uwyo.edu/news/

It has warmed up a bit here in the last few days. In the 50s, nice enough to take the dogs on a long walk to the park.

Suppose to snow later in the week!

This week I’m working on planning a community art show of western 2D original work from Laramie artists. My favorite piece, so far, can be found at: http://laramieartguild.blogspot.com/2007/10/fighting-bull-elk.html Alberto is an artist in the winter and a very isolated sheepherder for six months during the summer. His work makes me happy!

I’m also working on a statewide grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Our first group-planning meeting is next week. Wish me luck!

We are off to Lander this weekend for the annual Game Warden’s Association meeting. I’m looking forward to a change of pace and visiting the local museums.

Hope everyone is well!

Our Dogs, Making Out

2008-03-09T13:30:00.001-06:00

J/K - Just Kissing!

I feel like an American!

2008-03-09T13:02:00.004-06:00

A more involved American...

So last week, in preparation for Wyoming’s caucus, Senator Hillary Clinton, President Clinton and Senator Barak Obama were in town! We haven’t had a presidential candidate come to Wyoming since 2000 when Ralph Nader came. Since I don’t think that counts, the last time we had a president visit was JFK in 1963, just two weeks before he was assassinated.

There was a TON of excitement generated from both Clintons and Obama’s visits. On Thursday night my former intern, Tiffany, and one of her friends, 7 year old Gerald and I went to see Clinton. We stood in line for more than an hour in the freezing cold only to be turned away when we could finally see the front door to the auditorium. (We were about 15 people back). I bet there were another 1,000 behind us. For some reason, whether it was the University of Wyoming or Clinton’s campaign manager, they choose a venue that only sat 1,200. This seemed strange to be when earlier in the day he had been in Riverton, Wyoming (a town with a much smaller population than Laramie) and 2,000 plus came out. Somebody wasn’t planning ahead.

As a side note, I’ve heard various conspiracy theories floating about town about this. Some think the Obama camp booked the larger venue, which seats 15,000, two nights to block Clinton. Some think the UW is taking sides, offering the larger venue to Obama the next night. Some think it would look bad on TV if there were empty seats, so rather than try to fill a large venue, they went small.

Anywaz, we were “re-directed” to an adjacent auditorium, the UW field house. Only about 60 to 80 sat in there and listened to the speech. There was no live feed TV, just his voice. It was still very exciting. He made a great comment about, “Wouldn’t it be great if Wyoming, the Equality State, would help elect the first woman president?!?” He went on to say, it would be just as cool to see the first African American president, Hispanic president, and in his lifetime, first Native American president.

Oh, I should tell you about Gerald. He is this super smart kid that knows a lot about the US President and wants to be one himself when he grows up. He stood in line with us, with his hunter orange jacket and cowboy boots, and didn’t even fuss when we got turned away. But he did want to stay and listen. He was so good. Half way through Bill’s speech, Tiffany took him back to the front door where the line had ended. There was a policy officer there and when Tiffany explained Gerald really wanted to see the President, he let him inside! He only stayed for a few minutes, long enough to tell us what color tie the President was wearing!

When we took Gerald home we read to him from the newspaper that JFK (his mother’s favorite President) had come to Laramie in 1963 and spoke to a crowd in the UW Field House. The same building we were sitting in. I think this boosted his spirits because he responded, “Wouldn’t it be cool if Clinton and Kennedy ran together?”

The next night Jason and I, and about 12,000 other Wyoming Democrats filled the basketball arena to hear Obama speak. I took the photos with my cell phone so no, they aren’t great, but hopefully you can see/feel the excitement that filled the room. He made jokes about UW mascot, Pistol Pete saying his security guards took away Pete’s pistol so tonight, he was just Pete. He made fun of being related to Dick Cheney, saying something like; you hope when someone does your genealogy, they will find you are related to someone cool. With him that wasn’t the case, he was disappointed to learn he was related to Cheney. This statement could have been risky in Wyoming, where Cheney calls home, but the crowd roared with laughter.

He spoke about a lot of the same things Clinton did, the need for better health care, improved education, lower tuition, rewards for teachers, the war in Iraq and alternative energy production. I think most would agree, both Hillary and Obama stand for a lot of the same things.

Saturday I got up earlier than usual, 6:30 and made it to Laramie’s Civic Center by 7:15. There was already a line. Last time there was a Democrat caucus in Wyoming; only 300 showed up, this time, it was over a 1,000. There was a lot of enthusiasm for both candidates and everyone was generally very positive and hopefully about the possibilities. This morning I learned that Obama got the majority of delegates from Wyoming.

Yes, I am proud to be an American. Proud that the youth of this country are taking notice, that there is a general feeling of concern and a need to be involved. I was proud to see so many Democrats in Laramie come out and caucus. It was a wonderful experience. My friend Alana says, “Wyoming (who is traditionally a Republican state) just doesn’t know it yet”. We are all Democrats at heart!

- Trey

P.S. Jason is a Republican. With, I might add, some very good solutions to gun control and school shootings. We find away to meet in the middle and explore our common ground. He is a good man!

I made the news!

2008-03-07T10:23:00.000-07:00

This is Teresa Sherwood, and I approve this message:

http://wyoparks.state.wy.us/Sites/TerritorialPrison/video1.asp

See the moose?

2008-02-19T18:54:00.017-07:00

Monday Jason took me snow shoeing. My first time ever! He helped me put on my shoes and off we went… off the trail. “What are we doing”, I asked? “Going to find a moose” he said. As I began to waddle my way out into the snow, sinking several inches as we went, I wondered, “How the heck does he know where a moose is?”

Of course we saw a moose, less than 15 minutes into our walk. Here's a picture: Can you see her?

We sat very still watching her for a few minutes. At some point she noticed we were there and got up and wandered off. I couldn’t believe how BIG she was! It was my fourth moose sighting since moving to Wyoming.

We hiked for about an hour and a half. The best part, besides being with Jason? I didn’t have to use my inhaler! Hooray for my lungs!

Here I am “resting”. I fell down quite often. Here I am eating some snow. I couldn’t help myself! After our walk we got the dogs out of the car and let them play in the snow banks along the parking lot. Shelby didn’t know what to do with herself. She kept sinking into the snow. Tillie knew better. She ran for the groomed trail. Calling the dogs from the top of the snow bank: More pictures from our walk. Jason played photographer for the day.What a great day!

In the News...

2008-02-17T12:29:00.008-07:00

Yes it has been awhile…

Since we last posted, our friends Beth and Steve had a baby. Tyler is so cute and even has his own website: http://www.babysites.com/sites/beargale/ We helped throw a belated baby shower with our friends Bryce and Meg. Trey even made a diaper cake for Tyler. Bryce has baby envy and is seen here taking it out on the cat, Gato. Last weekend we traveled to Estes Park, CO for the Colorado Wyoming Association of Museums board meeting. Jason got to putz around town while Trey was in meetings all day. The dogs came with us and got an extra special treat: sleeping on the people bed!

Last night we had an impromptu dinner party for Erin and Alex but because of poor road conditions, E & A couldn’t make it! Tyler came over with his parents and caused quite a commotion with the dogs (we think it was over Tyler). In one 5 second increment, our two girls got in a fight and Tillie lost part of her ear! There were a few Mike Tyson jokes offered and some blood spilled, but today all is well. Shelby even offered to clean Tillie’s ear this morning.

Friday K12 news out of Casper, Wyoming did a story on the prison featuring Teresa. We unfortunately missed it because we get the news out of Denver. The station promised to send over a copy and it should be posted on our website by the end of the month. Check back: http://wyoparks.state.wy.us/Sites/TerritorialPrison/index.asp

Hope everyone enjoyed the three day weekend. Busy work week ahead followed by the yearly Oscar party on the 24th!

- The Treysons

P.S. Oh ya, Valentine's Day was great. We both took the day off work and spent quality time together. We even went shopping for a Harely. Just for the fun of it!

Year End Review

2008-01-05T18:29:00.000-07:00

This year was super busy, with a trip to Georgia and a long hunting season, we didn’t get out Christmas cards or even make jerky! Please pass along the link to our blog or tell those family members who forget to check – our “Christmas card” is here:

In January we visited Rahn and Kat in Corpus Christie, Texas. My parents met us there and we celebrated my dad’s birthday on the 10th. By Feb. 2008, Rahn and Kat will be relocating to Knoxville, TN.

In February I threw an Oscar party and am making plans to do the same this year on the 24th.

In March we took a trip to Cody, Wyoming for the annual Game Warden’s Association meeting. At the evening fundraiser, Jason won a new bow (for hunting). While he was in meetings, I took a drive towards Yellowstone and saw my first herd of big horn sheep.

In April we traveled to Grand Junction, CO to attend the annual Colorado Wyoming Association of Museums conference were I was the plenary speaker. While there we also celebrated our one year anniversary by taking a short day trip to the local wineries.

In May the historic site was officially awarded $10,000 from the History Channel as part of the Save Our History grant I wrote. We had a big celebration with over 100 of the student archeologists participating in the program.

May was also full of visitors as we saw my professor from Georgia, Dr. Goodson and his librarian wife Martha and amazingly tall and intelligent son, Sam. My grad school roommate, Nikki was also in town, doing some work for the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

In June we attended a family picnic and fishing trip with the Sherwood-Hoffman clan outside of Wheatland, Wyoming. We didn’t catch any fish that day but had fun just the same!

In July we attended the local rodeo and Cheyenne Frontier Days, the oldest outdoor rodeo in the United States.

August was filled with great joy and sadness. We visited the Beyer-Treptow family in Minnesota where my aunt threw us a bridal shower. Shortly after returning to Wyoming, we got a call that my godfather Scott had passed away. Only a few days after returning from Minnesota, and spending good quality time with him (an amazing gift from God), we took another flight back to MN for his funeral.

September kicked off hunting season and Shelby (our black lab) and I spent a lot of time by ourselves. Our other dog, Tillie, usually rides along with Jason while he patrols. Thankfully my very dear friend from New York, via Georgia, came to visit and we took a monumental trip to Yellowstone. Alana and I had so much fun exploring the geysers, canyon, wildlife and hiking trails and took TONS of photos which you can find else where on the blog. As soon as we returned, I immediately wanted to go back. It is so BEATUFUL! I would encourage you to make the trip, it is well worth it (and you can stop and see us on your way!)

In October Jason took me on my first hunting expedition. No luck that day either! My friend Erin from Nebraska, via Georgia, visited and successfully interviewed for a museum position in Casper, Wyoming. It is so good to have her close by.

In November we celebrated Thanksgiving with the Sherwood-Hoffman family and prepared for Christmas. We got another live tree and added to our Christmas village.

In December we visited my family in Georgia for Christmas. Rahn and Kat came over from Texas and we were able to bring Grandma home from the nursing facility for Christmas day. My mom was recovering from surgery so I made myself useful by cooking and driving her to her doctor appointment. Although, she did “mention” that I was driving too slow! We were there ten days and squeezed in a trip to Callaway Gardens to see the lights and had an open house for friends the Sunday before Christmas. Old neighbors and school mates stopped in to say hi, and although it was very quick, we were so happy to see everyone. On Christmas day it took us hours to open all the gifts, both for people and pets. With Rahn and Kat’s dogs, we had a total of three black lab mixes at the house. In the evenings we played Ono attack and watched movies. In between rainy days, my dad took me for a ride on his prized Harley. His bike made it in the 2008 Atlanta Harley calendar! The trip home was eventful as our plane was delayed and we didn’t leave the airport in Denver until midnight. Once we finally made it home, through windy, wintery conditions, we discovered our porch door had blown open and the bedroom was a crisp 20 degrees! Regardless of the very cold pillows, we were soon asleep and awaiting a visit from Bill and Dee, Jason’s parents. Because the roads had been closed, we had to wait and celebrate Christmas with them on New Years Day.

Lights at Callaway Gardens:Family Photos:

Dad practicing his "thinking" pose - Wait! I've got something in my teeth! Good to go, Mom & Rahn.A kiss between takes-Rahn & Kat -Rahn, Kat, Bailey & Lola -

Grandpa, all smiles!Grandma in her room at the nursing facility- Opening Gifts:What a year! We wish you health and happiness in 2008 and remind you our door is always open. We love company and promise to show you a good time in the great state of Wyoming!

-The Treysons

Caroling & Chili in Elk Mt.

2007-12-17T20:53:00.000-07:00

Sunday we spent with Jason's parents, Bill and Dee, in Elk Mountain. Jason made a huge pot of chili, which he entered in the fire department's annual chili cook-off. And the winner is...Are you suprised? Its a wonder what you can do with road kill! J/K Jason came in first out of 16 for his yummy elk chili.

Jason's chili is closest to the camera in the tan pot.

The drive to Elk Mt. was very pretty.

The roads were not bad but Shelby was holding on!I didn't get any pictures of us caroling because it was so COLD but I did take pictures of the new fire house. Bill is the chief! A lot of hard work, fundraising, and grant writing went into this building, and this is just his volunteer "job"! We are all very proud of him and the rest of the Elk Mt. fire crew.Bill & Dee in the fire house's new kitchen. Got to keep this short, Jason and I leave for Atlanta tomorrow!

'Twas Nearly Christmas.....The Annual Christmas Tree Adventure!

2007-12-14T16:15:00.000-07:00

Twas nearly Christmas....and yet again we were too busy chasing poachers and artifacts to find a tree! Then, when we were able to schedule a day for our annual adventure, the Mother Nature chose not to cooperate (however dreams of a white Christmas are looking like they might come true, finally). With bad roads all around and holiday travel plans coming quickly, the chances of us meeting with parents and friends to find a few trees were nearly gone.

Nearing desperation, the we decided to risk the wind and cold to find a tree on our own. Teresa, now being an experienced tree-hunter, quickly found a nice stand with some likely candidates. We were surprised no one had taken them home before us!

Unfortunately, we soon realized the tree was a little too large for our home. (Luckily, that observation came about before I got too much sawing done.)

Perserverance paid off, though, and we did find a very lovely tree to grace our house this Christmas season. Most surprisingly, we even ran into a nice man with a red apron and a chain saw who wanted to help us prepare it for the tree stand--an opportunity not often seen in the wilds of Wyoming!

Anyway, the tree is now nestled into the corner of the living room, adorned with the ornaments of the past few years' travels--and a few dozen S'mores ornaments (the ones appropriate for this holiday season and not in use decorating the mantle, the kitchen, the bathrooms, the. . . .).

Continuing with the "green" theme this Christmas season, and in no way related to the hectic schedules we have created for ourselves, we have decided to save paper and not send individual Christmas cards this year. We will still support our friends in the logging industry, though, and will continue to wrap Christmas gifts. Although, I wouldn't be surprised if the paper is recycled from a slightly used magazine. . . .

Check back before the New Year for the "end-of-the-year" review!

(No "wild" trees were harmed in this blog posting!)

Adventures of Blaky in Wyoming

2007-12-05T10:27:00.000-07:00

For Jacob & Mrs. Lisa Kopacek's class at West Wood Elementary:

My grand adventure started in Laramie, Wyoming with Teresa and Jason Sherwood. As soon as I arrived, they put me to work! I learned how to make pasta with game meat. It was ok, but I preferred the peppermint ice cream we had for dessert. The second day in Wyoming I helped decorate their Christmas tree and tended to the Sherwood’s indoor winter garden. You see Laramie, Wyoming is 7,200 feet above sea level so it can get very, very cold and the growing season is super short. The Sherwood’s are growing fresh herbs to use in their pasta recipes.

While I as in Laramie I patrolled with Jason who is a Game Warden with Wyoming Game and Fish. He enforces the hunting laws and protects wildlife, like me! There are a lot of black and grizzly bears in Wyoming. Most of them live in Yellowstone. Because I did such a good job watching for poachers and checking ice fishermen, Jason dubbed me a Junior Game Warden. I even got a badge! I got to play with the siren and lights!

My last day in Laramie I spent locked in the Wyoming Territorial Prison. Just kidding! The old prison is now a state historic site where people can visit and learn all about the men and women who were incarcerated there between 1872 and 1903. Teresa is the curator of the prison. She takes care of the old artifacts, designs exhibits and gives tours to local school children. Teresa introduced me to Bertha Ward who is a volunteer at the prison and descendent of one of the inmates. Bertha’s grandfather was Clark Pelton. Clark spent time in the Minnesota prison at Stillwater in 1878 for robbing stagecoaches. He also was incarcerated in the Wyoming Territorial Prison for murder.
Before I left Wyoming I said goodbye to the Sherwood’s dogs, Tilley and Shelby. They were nice but they kept trying to eat me. Next I’m off to the Big Apple, New York City!

Running on Back Log

2007-11-28T10:30:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile!
Starting with the more recent…
Yesterday I installed two new text panels for the women inmate exhibit I’ve been working on for months! In May, when I thought everything was ready to be installed, my computer crashed and I lost all my designs. I wasn’t able to start working on this project again until about two weeks ago. We finally found a printer in town who could handle the size we wanted, my intern helped me track down artifacts, and our two seasonals (hired to restore the windows on the old Broom Factory) helped with installation. It was an exciting moment!

Jason and I spent Thanksgiving in Wheatland with family. Erin and Alex came down from Casper to join us. On our way through Sybille Canyon, we stopped to say hit to Teddy the buffalo and saw two female big horn sheep. On the way home the roads were slick and we almost hit a deer! Thank goodness my husband drives like James Bond under stress!

Sheep butt!

The weekend before Thanksgiving Jason and I went to Sheridan to help decorate Trail End State Historic Site for Christmas. It is a mansion so you can only imagine! (I didn't take photos but the curator Sharie did... Sharie, can you send me photos?)

Here are the elk that hang out in this big fenced pasture in the middle of Sheridan. Jason was working (hunting season is ALMOST over) but for Halloween I decorated pumpkins with our friends Meg, Bryce, Steve & Beth. You can check out Steve & Beth's blog to the right.

Here is Meg and the pumpkins!I carved a moose for Jason.

It is finally getting C-O-L-D in Wyoming! We’ve had some snow and are enjoying our fireplace. Last weekend I started decorating for Christmas. We’ll post pictures when everything is up and in its place.

Until then,Happy Holidays!

Hiking and Hunting

2007-10-20T13:43:00.000-06:00

About a month ago, Shelby and I went to Lake Owen to hike the Rail to Rail trail in the Medicine Bow National Forest. It took us about 45 minutes to drive from Laramie. On the way, the wind was howling and it started to rain. Despite some hail and temperature drop, we persisted and had a nice hike along the lake and on the new trail.

Shelby hates to have her picture taken so I had to sneak up behind her! Wyoming Thistle:

We saw a Red Fox on the way home: The weekend after that, my good friend Erin came up (over?) from Nebraska to interview for the curator of education position at Fort Casper. (Of course she got the job!!!) Erin and I took a short hike at the north Crow reservoir at Curt Gowdy State Park between Laramie and Cheyenne. Both Tilley and Shelby came with us. We should have taken our fishing polls!

Yesterday, I went “hunting” with Jason. I didn’t know what to expect. We left early in the morning (early to me, late for Jason) and started off outside of Medicine Bow looking for pronghorn. I took my zoom lens but like any good hunter who practices with his weapon, I should have done the same with my lens! I’m a little rusty and wildlife photography is harder than I thought. We crawled around in the sage brush despite the 35 to 50 mph gust of wind. That’s right, it was WINDY!

Blurry pronghorn...

Jason aiming at blurry pronghorn...

Don't worry girls, he didn't take the shot!

After a morning hike with little success, we had lunch at the Dip in Medicine Bow. The owner is a folk artist who painted all the ceilings and tables in the joint. He is most well known for his hand carvings of cowboys, Indians and all things Western. He uses ONE piece of wood and NO glue for an entire carving. We were impressed.

After lunch we went towards Elk Mountain looking for, what else, elk! We hiked through the beautiful aspen stands but didn’t see any. Jason said he could smell them. We did however see a bald eagle, golden eagle, pronghorn, mule deer, a badger, a variety of ducks and a big green frog! I was most excited about the bald eagle. One of Jason's famous "short cuts"!Before it got to dark we went to Jason’s parents’ cabin for dinner. Yummy chicken curry. Too bad I couldn’t stop sneezing. I guess rolling around in greasewood and sage isn’t good for the sinuses. Oh well, it was worth it!

A lot of pictures from Yellowstone

2007-09-27T22:34:00.000-06:00

Surprise! I got up EARLY all of the days we were in Yellowstone and these pictures were my reward! Alana and I covered a lot of ground during our 5 day adventure. We put on over 1,500 miles! Here are some of the sites on the way to and from Yellowstone: We spent the night in Jackson and had dinner at a popular brewery and saw the Bourne Ultimatum at the local theater. There were only two other people there with us.

The Tetons

A very popular spot for photographers. On our way to South Pass City, we drove through the Red Canyon. South Pass City, one of my most favorite historic sites: I love the various geysers and hot pools we explored while in Yellowstone. Despite the strong smell of sulphur, they were very enjoyable.
Animals we saw:

BISON OSPRAYMOOSEELKAnd the wildest animals of all... Yellowstone Lake & River:

A day hike along the canyon rim:

I can't wait to go back!

A Tribute to Scott

2007-09-23T16:23:00.000-06:00

When we think of our Scott…

…We think of wildflowers and walking in the wheat fields of Montana.

…We think of the best story-teller, who could keep us on the edge of our seat and we would ask him to hurry up so he could get to the end.

…We think of long, long stories and 15 minute phone messages and second messages that would start off with him saying, “Part 2 of first message.”

…We think of short shorts, dirty fingernails, a bare chest and dirt from head to toe.

…We think of boating on Possum Kingdom Lake in Texas and snowmobiling on Cross Lake.

…We think of running through the airport and trying not to miss the plane or the time he ran ahead and kept the plane from leaving.

…We think of him as a teenager, taking the car (without permission), to visit best friends in La Crescent.

…We think of a perfectionist who numbered his socks so each was sure to wear out at the same time.

…We think of someone so full of love that he would have given anyone who asked, the shirt off his back.

…We think of brown signs along the highways of America where he would have to stop at each one and read THE WHOLE THING.

…We think of “Greimann-time” and that meant he would be very, very late.

…We think of him telling the story of doing a wheelie with his motorcycle trying to show off for friends and him scraping his rear all the way down 14^th street.

…We think of peace and a spirit that could calm the most raging soul.

…We think of Suzi, his beloved black lab, and how she would retreive every single ball that he ever threw.

…We think of him calling and saying “this is just your brother” and ending with “I love you.”

…We think of driving on Hwy. 1 in Oregon, listening to E-L-O, and all four tires squealing.

…We think of six week old food in the refrigerator that he would actually eat and say, “Just scrape the green stuff off cuz it was good underneath.”

…We think of how spontaneous he was, showing up on our doorsteps with out any notice or giving gifts for no special reason.

…We think of him tying a slip knot in a rope and fishing for pigs from the hayloft.

…We think of over a hundred speeding tickets and a boat and trailer coming unhooked and passing the pickup going down the hill in Montana.

…We think of Corpus Christie and how he loved running with Suzi on the beach.

…We think of the adventures he had hunting up north with friends and family and staying in the old broken down shack.

…We think of eating ice cream and how he would say, “It’ll make you smart!”

…We think of white water rafting, hiking the Grand Canyon and losing your camera.

…We think of funny t-shirts that would say, “Good to go” or “Stick a fork in me…I’m done.”

…We think of oatmeal and brown rice mixed together with a side of coffee for breakfast.

…We think of the tarantulas, spiders and snakes he would sneak home from his travels and give to the kids.

…We think of all the countries he visited and the people he touched there.

…We think of him flying with Bruce Iverson in the rainbows and clouds.

…We think of a black hole and how he would spiral out and in.

…We think of him laughing and saying, “I’m so funny!”

…We think of immense love for his mother, his sisters, his brother and all his farmer friends throughout the United States.

…We think of how he was a Christian, believed in his Savior and prayed every morning, “Please God, save me.”

When we think of our Scott and all the lives he touched, we feel sad because although he loved everyone, he could never figure out why they loved him. We are here today to honor that love.

Scottie, we hope you are free, feeling no pain and basking in the glory of the Lord you prayed to every morning. We hope you have a parts trailer to organize, some grain to dry and at the end of the day, you feel good enough to take your boat and ride into the sunset.

We love you and will miss you until our dying days.

– Kelly Ann and your loving family and friends.

Thanks to Kelly and Makenzie for sharing this tribute. I'm still looking for old pictures of Scott. Most of them were before the digital age so it might take me awhile to get them posted.

Anyone interested in participating in the summer 2008 tribute ride for Scott through WY, please contact Terry at: tlbeyer@bellsouth.net
Jason and I will be organizing the event from this end.

Yellowstone

2007-09-19T13:26:00.000-06:00

Alana and I got back from Yellowstone Monday evening. I've been at work since and haven't had time to upload photos. I'll get to it... in the meantime, check out Alana's blog at: http://colefaber.blogspot.com/

Alana the fab photographer:

Tonight is my first volleyball game with the rec. center league. Wish me luck! Jason is keeping BUSY with hunting season so we see each other sporadically.

Check back soon!