Snow in Yellowstone

Road to Cody, WY -Sylvan Pass was closed.  This is right across
the street front he store.

On Sunday, I woke up to a winter wonderland.  We have had a lot of snow the last few days.  I started work late on Sunday so walked over to the Visitor Center to get my parking permit and took some pictures.  Most of this was melted by late afternoon but roads throughout Yellowstone were closed off and on throughout the weekend.

Behind the dorm

From Fishing Bridge - awesome in person!

After my walk, I worked a split shift from 11:30-3:15 and then from 5:45-9:30.  Monday will be my day off.  The store is very short on cashiers so we are all working an extra day while they get some more trained.

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!!