Yellowstone - First Week

After arriving at Fishing Bridge on Monday evening, Tuesday was my day off.  It gave me time to get every thing unpacked and adjust to the altitude.   Wednesday morning was my first day of work!  There have been lots of training sessions this week – POS register training, selling alcohol training, and other sessions required by DNC.  My first day alone on the register was Friday!  I passed with just a few hiccups.

We've had road closures because of snow!

Its supposed to snow through Memorial Day!

My roommate, Rose, is almost 23 and just graduated from college.  We get along great and share a huge room.  I was more worried about her and the age difference than she seems to be.  Even though she hangs out with her age group she likes some quiet time.   The food in the EDR (employee dining room) is way too good.  Scratch any thoughts of losing weight this summer.  Not only is the food great I don’t have to cook or do dishes.  My co-workers are from all across the US plus some students from the Dominican Republic.  Really a nice group of people!  I have had a great first week.

The store through the trees.

Fishing Bridge General Store is much larger than I thought it would be.  The dorm is on the second story and the EDR is in the same building.  My commute to work is to walk down the stairs.

This week we have had lots of snow in Yellowstone.  I’ll try to post pictures BUT the internet out here is slow-slow-slow.  It reminds me of the old days of dial up service.  To use my cell phone I have to drive five miles east toward Cody.

The Visitor Center is across the street.  I had to walk over and get my
parking permit this morning.  Beautiful view of the lake out the back windows.

Headed West!

After two weeks in Houston, I headed for West Yellowstone on Wednesday, May 16th.  I spent Wednesday and Thursday in Denton, TX with my childhood friend, Ann Hughes Nolen.  We had a great time!!!  I got to see her new house and we went to some great little restaurants, looked at small RVs, visited her new grandson, looked at more RVs, and ate some more!!!  Ann and another former neighbor have a vacation planned to Yellowstone in July.  What we didn't do was take pictures:)

Kay and Ned

From Denton I drove north through Oklahoma and across Kansas.  No wonder Dorothy and Toto were blown away!!!  The wind was really blowing in Kansas but I got great gas mileage.  The first day I drove 615 miles and spent the night in Kansas.  Saturday I drove a little over 700 miles and spent the night in Cody, WY.  I checked into the same hotel where Kay and Ned (Kay is co-owner of the Quilting Squares in Franklin) were staying.  They drove me around Cody and then we went to eat at Irma's.  Irma's sold Alaskan Amber so I had to have one!  My daughter Sarah works for Alaskan Brewing Company!

Sarah had a hand in this one!!

 Great town and I'll go back and explore while I am here.  Cody is the closest town to my location at Yellowstone.

Between Cody and Yellowston

Sunday morning I had to make a Walmart run before heading to West Yellowstone, MT.  My watch died!  I can't complain since I had it for over 20 years.  Replaced it with a Timex:)  It was a beautiful drive from Cody to Fishing Bridge where I'll be working.  I stopped to check it out and have lunch.   West Yellowstone was another 1.5-2 hours through the park.  Beautiful!!!  After checking into The Grey Wolf Inn, I walked across the street and went to the Imax to see "Yellowstone" and then to the Grizzly and Wolf Center to see the exhibits and animals.  Monday morning I woke up to the howling of the wolves.  Way cool!!!

I'm definitely in Wyoming!  Lots of Bison in YNP

Monday was check-in and orientation day.  After all of that was finished, I drove back to Fishing Bridge.

Packing Up!!

What can I say?  Packing was a nightmare as it always seems to be.  Amazing how much stuff one person can accumulate.  I started early so had time to cull some stuff, etc.  Everything was going into storage so it really needs to be boxed up.  Two Men and a Truck did a great job of fitting everything into my storage unit.  After the stuff was out of the townhouse, I spent some time getting it ready for the next tenant.  My deposit was refunded in full.  Yeah!!!

There were also goodbyes to be said to friends in Franklin - meals to be shared and lots of hugs, etc.

I left Franklin on Sunday, April 29th and drove to Huntsville to see Janet and Nick.  Janet and Sarah were THIRTY on May 1!!  How can that be?  Janet, Nick and I went out to eat to celebrate the big day.  I arrived in Houston on May 1 thinking I could take Doug and Leigh Anne out to celebrate Doug's 28th birthday.  He worked late but we did celebrate with some treats when he got home around 9:00.  Sarah had to make due with a phone call.

The next two weeks were spent in Houston having fun.  Saw lots of old friends - from high school buddies, former neighbors, sewing buddies, siblings, etc.  It was great.  My grandson has definitely stole my heart.  So much fun to spend time with him and watch all the changes that took place in those two weeks.

(pictures later)

My last couple of months in Franklin have been super busy.  My sister, Barbara, came for a surprise visit. We had a great time!   Everything was blooming on the Natchez Trace so we went to see on our way to the Loveless Cafe.

Cathy's Longarm Machine

 It was a little late and we missed the peak but it was still gorgeous.  We also went to some of the historical sites - Carnton House and the Loetz House.  She then spent a day with my friend, Cathy, learning about long-arm machines.

My bag's smaller:)

Jeannine and Jim

A few days after Barbara went home, Jeannine and Jim came to visit for several days.  Jeannine and I hadn't seen each other in a couple of years.  Lots of changes in both of our lives so we had lots of catching up to do.  They kept busy seeing the sites and spent one day in Nashville.  Tuesday we had breakfast at Merridee's, shopped and then headed to the Opryland Hotel and the Grand Ole Opry.  Great fun!!!


I even squeezed in a day to go to the Huntsville Botanical Gardens with Janet and two of her friends.  Gorgeous!  I loved the peonies!!

A grandson!!

Caden Chance Lionberger

 Caden Chance Lionberger was born to Leigh Anne and Doug at 12:52 a.m.  He is absolutely perfect and weighs 7 lbs 15 oz and is 21.5 inches long.  Leigh Anne and Doug drove to the hospital in pouring down rain early Saturday morning about 6 a.m. It was a long day but what a blessing they received.  A perfect little boy.  Leigh Anne and Doug both did great!!!  We are all in love!!!

Me (Gram), Doug, Caden and Leigh Anne

Me with my son, Doug, and new
grandson, Caden.
Caden is minutes old:)

Holding my new grandson for the first time!!!

Doug and Leigh Anne early
in the day.

My son, Douglas Chance Lionberger holding
his son, Caden Chance Lionberger.
I am so very lucky!!!

The proud mama!!!!

Adventure!!!

August, 2010

Its time for another adventure!!!!  Sarah found her first job in Alaska on www.coolworks.com.  They have a section for the "Older and Bolder" that I have had my eye on.  After filling out several applications, I got a call from Delaware North Companies and will be working in YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK this summer!!!  My job will be working at the retail store in Fishing Bridge Village on the east side of the park from May 21-October 1.  I feel like a college kid - I'll be living in a dorm with a meal plan - and a roommate:)  They hire lots of seasonal workers that are in my age group as well as college students so I should have lots of people to hike with, etc. on my days off.

Old Faithful, August 2010

If any of you have plans to go to Yellowstone, come see me!!  My dorm is "employee only" but there are lots of places to stay in and around Yellowstone.

I feel so lucky!!!!  Internet services aren't the greatest in the park but I hope to blog about my experiences.

. . . there is joy:)

Baby Showers!

Doug and Leigh Anne!  Don't they
look well rested:)

I've been lax on my blogging lately!  The weekend of January 13-15 I flew to Houston to attend two baby showers for Doug and Leigh Anne.  Saturday night my family had a baby shower for family and a couple of close family friends.    Cousins came in from Austin and Fort Worth and Janet flew in from Huntsville.  Such fun!  We were missing a few- Jeff, James and Jay - but we are so spread out that it is a real treat when we all get together.  Sunday afternoon Leigh Anne's family and friends had another shower.  Caden is a lucky baby!!  I think they have everything they need - and want!!!  My camera got left at Ardell's on Saturday night so I don't have pictures of the festivities on Sunday.

Unwrapping the "travel system".  Caden
will be riding in style!

Caden's First Quilt

Ardell "Nana" and Holly

Lily and Christie (Caden has two cousins
close to his age!!)

Leigh Anne is doing well and is getting great reports from her doctor.  Doug is super busy at work but will be able to take time off when Caden is born.  As for me, I'll drive over when Caden is born but am staying with Drue or Ardell (whoever will have me!!)  The new family needs time alone to bond!!!

Due date is February 18th.

Thanksgiving/Christmas

Janet setting the table.

We all gathered at Janet and Nick's in Huntsville for the holiday weekend.  My children are all so scattered it is a rare treat for us all to be together.  A couple of days before we met, we decided to celebrate Christmas as well.  So Thursday was Thanksgiving, Friday was Christmas Eve, and Saturday was Christmas!!!  We were busy.

Homemade rolls - this recipe
was handed down by my grandmother.
A family tradiiont!

Nick was in charge of the turkey.  He and Sarah did some kind of brine, etc.  It was delicious!!!  I've never done anything but the traditional method. The rest of us contributed various things and it was a great meal.

That night we had "game night", etc.

The family!!!!  Leigh Anne set up the timer:)

Friday we pretended it was Christmas Eve.  While Nick was at work, the rest of us baked cookies and more cookies!  Lots of our family favorites including, but not limited to, Chocolate Crinkles, Raspberry Jewels and Pecan Crispies.  We all went home with some:)  We also helped Janet with the Christmas decorating and got the tree set up.  There was even some last minute shopping during the day for stocking stuffers.

Sarah

Saturday morning it was Christmas:)  We had all decided we were just doing stocking stuffers this year and it was great fun!  Everyone's stocking was filled so we must have all been "good".

Leigh Anne's stocking is full!

Janet and I both got "live" wreaths for our doors!

After a great breakfast, we did some packing, etc. since we were all headed to our various homes after lunch.  Janet got busy in the kitchen and packed a picnic.  We all headed to the park in downtown Huntsville for one last adventure.

Another meal!!

Sarah, Nick, Janet

Leigh Anne and Doug

 It was a great weekend.  I have the best children!!!!

Wishing each of you a Merry Christmas and all the best in 2012.

Sarah's Visit!

Sarah arrived in Nashville the Saturday night before Thanksgiving.  Janet and I picked her up and the fun began:)  Cousin Jamie drove down from Kentucky on Sunday in time for lunch and a day of shopping.  They wore me out!!!!  Janet headed back to Huntsville Sunday night- she had to work on Monday and prepare for a houseful of company.  The rest of us headed to Franklin for dinner.

Monday morning Jamie, Sarah and I went to the Loveless Cafe by way of the Natchez Trace.  Had to make sure Sarah hit all the high spots and had some good Southern cooking!!!  Next up was Bass Pro Shop and the Gaylord Opryland Hotel to see all the Christmas lights.  Sarah scored at Bass Pro Shop and my Christmas shopping for her was done:)   Jamie has been to the Opryland Hotel several times and was an excellent tour guide.  Auntie P did show her where to park and save her $16:)

Sarah, Jamie and I at the hotel.

Late in the afternoon we headed to downtown Nashville and the Orchid Lounge for a brew and some live music.  One final meal and Jamie had to head back to Kentucky.  Sarah and I had tickets to see the Charlie Daniels Band at the Ryman Auditorium.   This was a charity performance he does every year and was great fun.  Full day!!!

While Sarah and I were doing some shopping Tuesday morning, we got a call from her aunt and uncle to ask if we could meet them for lunch when they drove through Nashville.  Of course!!  Sarah hadn't seen them for about five years so it was a real treat.  We also got to meet Barbara's sister and her husband.  After lunch, they all headed back to Kentucky.  Sarah and I headed back downtown to the Country Music Hall of Fame and a walk along Broadway.

Barbara, Peggy, Sarah, David

Jack Daniels Distillery was a "must see" for Sarah so we did that tour on Wednesday on the way to Huntsville.  It is always a fun tour and Lynchburg has some cute little shops.  Left my camera in the car so no picks that day.

Wednesday night we met the rest of the family for the holiday weekend.

Charleston, South Carolina

1807!!!  Texas wasn't even a state:)

Still traveling!  Saturday morning, October 22, I met my sister, Barbara,  and my good friend, Ann, in Charleston, South Carolina for a long weekend.  You have to love those Southwest Airline sales.

On the beach at Sullivan's Island

Barbara on the beach.

We had a great time seeing the city.  It is as beautiful as everyone says and steeped in history.  Saturday afternoon we ate seafood at Hymen's and then wandered through the market.  Later in the evening we drove out to Sullivan's Island.  We have all read several books by Dorothea Benton Frank so that was a "must do".    Drinks and appetizers followed at a restaurant on the island - Thyme ??

Beautiful ironwork.

Sunday we were 100% tourists and took a bus tour of the city, lunched in the market area, and then took a boat tour of Charleston Harbor.  It was a beautiful day.  Besides seeing the city we got a history lesson.  It is so amazing to see homes and churches that were built before the American Revolution!!  Lots of walking on this day.  We ended the day with dinner at a restaurant on Shem's Creek.

Gorgeous Bridge!  Next time I want to walk across.

Monday we headed out to see the gardens and home at Middleton Place.  The gardens are famous for being the oldest landscaped gardens in the United States.  The plantation house was burned during the last days of the Civil War.  We toured the "addition" that has been restored and saw the ruins of the main house.  We took the short garden tour and then wandered around on our own.  Ann is an avid gardener!!  We ended the day with dinner at another restaurant on Shem Cheek.

Middleton

City Home

Ann's flight left Tuesday morning.  After dropping her at the airport, Barbara and I headed to the local quilt store and then back to the battery area in downtown Charleston.  It was another beautiful day so we enjoyed walking the streets and toured one of the houses that had been built before the American Revolution.  Its a small world - we ran into a friend of our brother's on the tour.  After a quick lunch, we headed back to the airport to catch our flights.


Everyone raves about the food in Charleston, but we were disappointed.  Growing up on the Gulf Coast and eating fresh seafood (lots of it that we caught) has made us harsh critics.  Or maybe we didn't know which restaurants to try?  Did not disillusion me.  I loved Charleston and want to go again.