Just in time for the holidays...

more honeymoon pictures!!!
We call this our "church" day. Here I am playing tour guide (and eating a handmade tortilla). Get ready for your history lesson!

Mission San Xavier del Bac (southwest of Tucson, AZ)
"Built in the 1700s by Spanish missionaries, this oldest Catholic church in the United States still serves the community for which it was built - the Tohono O'ooham Indians. Called the 'White Dove of the Desert' the mission was founded in 1692 by Father Eusebio Franciso Kino, who established 22 missions in northern Mexico and southern Arizona. The current structure was constructed out of native materials by Francisan missionaries between 1777 and 1797 and is one of the finest examples of mission architecture in the United States. Mass is still celebrated at 8:30 a.m. daily." - Fodor's The Old West, Travel Historic America
Preservation is always ongoing. Professional historians and artists train the local Tohono O'ooham Indians so they can be involved in the process.

Jason ordered some fry bread for us to try at a small lunch "shack" right outside San Xavier. Mine was covered with honey and cinnamon and his had a variety of melted cheese. Very tasty.
Further southwest of Tucson you come to Tubac where we visited Tumacacori National Historic Park
"Father Eusebio Franciso Kino founded this mission in 1691, but the Jesuits didn't build a church here until 1751. You can still see some ruins of the simple early structure, but the main attraction is the mission of San Jose de Tumacacori, built by the Franciscans around 1799-1803. A combination of circumstances - Apache attacks, a bad winter, and Mexico's withdrawl of funds and priests - caused the inhabitants to flee in 1848 to San Javier de Bac. Persistent rumors of wealth left behind by both the Franciscans and the Jesuits led treasure seekers to pillage the site unceccessfully. The ruined mission still bears those scars. It was finally protected in 1908, when it became a national monument." - Fodor's The Old West, Travel Historic America

Trey below, taking the picture, above.Jason, the camera man!

Christmas Spirit

One of my dear friends, a sister really, wrote me and asked “Please email me some of your beautiful pictures of snowy scenes to get me into the Christmas spirit!!! Thanks!!!!”. They’re not all from this year, but I hope they do the job. For you Jessica…

Trey playing in the snow by Bill Wise.

A Real Weekend

Sat. and Sunday actually felt like a weekend! I went Christmas shopping in downtown Laramie, got my hair cut, went to a fundraiser for the Geology Museum, participated in a Thanksgiving potluck at church, and attended Touchstone, an art show at the Ramada Inn featuring local artists. (15 to 20 artists rented out rooms, removed the furniture and hung their art. It sounds strange but it was really unique and well done).

You can tell the holidays are right around the corner, everyone was so cheerful and friendly. Maybe it’s a by product of living in a small town? Regardless, it was very relaxing.

This evening I rode along with Jason. I haven’t done that in awhile. We saw more wildlife than people. Now we are settling in for a quite night in front of the TV. Jason is downstairs making chili with game meat and I’m going to post pictures for your enjoyment!

Happy Holidays!

Rose Wedding

I spent a wonderful weekend in the North Carolina mountains, near Cold Mountain for my friends Erin and Alex's wedding. It was the most layed back wedding I've ever been to! Even though the minister was an hour and a half late, everything was perfect - just beautiful. Congrats to you both. When we are old and grey, I'll enjoy visiting you in your mountain cabin with a flock of sheep in the front and a tasty garden outback.

Here are some informal photographs of the event:

Nikki, Erin, and TreyBride drinking peach moonshine

The night before, bride with her sister and another drink??? Erin celebrating her last night of freedom (actually, I think she was glad to see it go!)
Nikki and Nathan performing a magic act with the table decorations

Nikki with her third favorite man (after Nathan and Elvis).

Nikki and Nathan discover they own a resturant in Waynesville, N.C.

You can find more pictures from the Rose wedding at: www.wyomingphotographer.blogspot.com

On the way to N.C. we drove through my old stomping grounds, Piedmont College. Had to stop and see the art department where I learned the fine art of photography. Here is a picture of me in the darkroom. Hasn't changed much.

I also got to spend some time at home. Here is a picture of my dad and our dog Shelby.
Last but not least, a stunning image of the very yummy tomato and grilled eggplant salad I had at the Wildfire Cafe in Waynesville. (Jason is chiding me because we have pictures of food on our blog but none from our honeymoon. Go figure?)

Boring Blog

OH MAN, I’m getting worse about posting. It is snowing here today. A high of 28. My parents are coming this weekend to visit. They are going to FREEZE!!! I’m putting the heating blanket on their bed.

The pets are well, my man is busy… he says he’ll be free again Dec. 15th.

This week, my big project is pricing interpretive programs for WY historic sites. Things like speakers for galleries, exhibit cases, wallpaper reproduction, barriers, security systems, interactive kiosks, scent machines, living history programs, etc. All I can say is WOW. 1.Expensive. 2. Specialized. 3. Hope it gets funded?!?

Oh ya, I’m officially published! You can find a copy of the Oral History Review and my article at: http://caliber.ucpress.net/doi/pdf/10.1525/ohr.2006.33.2.toc?cookieSet=1

I need a vacation…
Trey

Happy Birthday

Jason celebrates his 5th birthday
Jason cleaning up after his 5th birthday party. (J/K, Dee, don't kill me!)

Today Jason turns 29. He is on the other side of the state :( so we won't celebrate till later in the week. Tonight I will attempt to make him a Coca-Cola cake from scratch and pretend like the kitchen isn't half-painted and a mess. I like to play the "hidding" game. It is simple, just push whatever clutter is on the counter or table into the nearest drawer. This game doesn't work well with paint brushes, rollers, drop cloths or paint cans. Bummer!

Happy Birthday My Love! Life holds many surprises, challenges, disapointments & great joy. I'm glad I get to share them all with you.

65 Years

My Grandparents (Chuck and June Beyer) celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this week. They met in Minnesota, you could say they were high school sweethearts, and married while he was in the Navy. Eloped, actually! They spent most of their lives in MN, raising three boys, before “retiring” to California. The last few years they have spent in Georgia where they live close to my parents (Terry and Linda). (One day I’ll get that oral history transcribed so my descriptions will be more vivid!)

Chuck and June at June's parent's home

Christmas, 2004

Jason and I are keeping very busy, too busy if you ask me. I just got back from the American Association of State and Local History conference in Phoenix. The weather was beautiful! I got to catch up with some old friends and network with new ones. I attended many helpful sessions and hope to put what I learned into practice at the prison/historic site.

Its hunting season so Jason is out and about. He was up at 4:45 this morning and I don’t expect to see him till seven or after. This will probably continue until mid Dec.

It snowed today … all day off and on even though most of it didn’t stick! I talked to my brother today. He and his wife, Kat, live in Texas where it is in the high 90s! I’m staying inside, cleaning house to keep warm. The laundry is calling…

Trey

Home Improvements

Some before and after pictures of the living room:













View from the opposite end:

Our purple accent wall. . .

and brand new, new to us, bill payers desk.

Above: Jason's Cozy Corner
Below: A Nook with Tillie:
Mom, Dad, Grandma, and Grandpa - THANKS for all your help!