Travel Tuesday: Devil's Tower

Tucked in the mountains of northern Wyoming off the main roads is a towering formation called Devil's Tower. When I was a little girl I heard stories of the Native American Folklore surrounding this awe-inspiring formation.

A group of little girls were out playing and were chased by bears. They ran to a big rock, dropped to their knees, and prayed fervently for deliverance. In answer, the Great Spirit caused the rock to rise up to the sky. As it rose, the bears clawed at the rock, causing the deep grooves in the tower. When the girls reached the sky, they were turned into star formation Pleiades. Something about that story has captured my imagination for decades. Upon seeing Devil's Tower in June, I could imagine people gathered around a fire or sitting on a rock at night and looking at the stars and the tower.

On our final day of traveling from New York to Wyoming, we stopped at Devil's Tower. My sister met us there and we walked around the base. It's an easy walk. My older boys decided to run instead of walk and finished very quickly.

The views are pretty spectacular and there are great boulders off the trail for curious kids to climb and explore.

The views from the base out to the surrounding countryside are also pretty spectacular. The countryside is ranching country and it makes my inner cowgirl heart go pitter-patter.

© 2007-2016 TIFFANY WACASER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Wondering Wednesday: Homeland

For so long, pieces of my heart have been scattered around and I have felt divided and rootless. Our first few years in New York stripped us bare and laid out flaws and strengths apparent for all to see. At times, living in NY felt like a prison I couldn't escape. Where Sweden had adventure and interest around every corner, NY presented relentless and prosaic challenges. Going back to the homeland, to the high, cold desert plains and mountains of Wyoming felt like an escape and respite from the beat and humidity that seemed to represent all the things I couldn't overcome.

Then, things changed. Riyadh reset my perspective and gave us the freedom to overcome the restrictions we fought against. Keys to our new home that came with mortgage payments and property taxes meant new opportunities and settling down.

Now my trips to the homeland aren't so much an escape as they are a chance for my children to build relationships with extended family. We are the outliers-the exotic family far away from everyone.

I am excited but I am not running there to escape. I leave from a place of contentment. Home, home in NY, calls to me. My bedroom with its airy, white, and cool curtains and comfortable bed is a refuge. Each room in my home serves its purpose in a comfortable manner that reflects the needs of our family.

My garden and yard intrigue me with all their surprises. Walking around my home always yields secret delights. I eagerly anticipate the blooming of different shrubs and plants, each one bringing beauty to the landscape.

We are settled with friends and responsibilities. People depend on us... And we depend on them.

We have summer traditions we eagerly await: lazy days swimming at the lake, watching a double feature until the early hours of the morning at a drive-in movie theater,   exploring the Dutchess county fair, eating outside on the deck under the canopy, swimming lessons, and trips up north to the Adirondacks.

The more pleasures and delights I discover, the harder it is to leave. The pull for the homeland becomes more about the people than the place. I feel more and more rooted to a new home, connected to the place, as much as the people.

© 2007-2016 TIFFANY WACASER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Throwback Thursday: The 1990 Wyoming Centennial Wagon Train

In 1990, the great state of Wyoming celebrated 100 years of statehood and I entered my teen years. In order to celebrate Wyoming's centennial, the state organized a grand wagon train in June--that went across the state diagonally ending up in Cody.

My maternal grandfather had a team of burros--obstinate, and cranky little burros. He really wanted to be a part of this wagon train adventure. The wagon train rules were pretty loose. People could join for a few days at any point during the month long trek. My grandpa invited a few grandchildren along to help and enjoy the experience. I was one of the kids who got to go. Just from my recollection--which is a bit dim on some of the details--and I can't remember where my journal from that period is stashed, my cousins, Shane, Travis, Glen, and Lee all went for some part of the adventure. Travis, Lee, and I were pretty close as kids so we were all pretty excited to hang out together for a few days.

In packing for the trip, my parents were a little paranoid and over-conscious about what I would need. They made me pack snowgear, including a big snowsuit and heavy snowboots. Turns out none of that was necessary because it was hot as heck that summer. Some nice person allowed me to stash all that crap in their trailer. Good thing because those burros couldn't pull more than the wagon because they were THAT stubborn and THAT lazy.

Those burros were such nuisances. They mostly did fine walking on dirt, gravel roads, or through the brush. But when they got onto paved roads, those darn things would lay down on the ground. Talk about mortifying! Since they were stubborn little things (kind of like my grandpa) my cousins and I would walk beside the wagon, hitch a ride with someone else, or if we were lucky find a horse we could ride. 

When my cousins and I joined the train, one of the wagon masters gave us a bunch of centennial pins. Our job was to go around and sell as many as possible. I wanted a pin really bad and he told us if we sold enough, we could get our own pins as commission. We had so much fun going around to the different companies and selling those pins. People were friendly and we explored as much as we could.

We made a lot of friends quickly. I have never had trouble talking to people or meeting them. Some of the friends I made were adults. In particular, Edie and Olen Tackitt from Arkansas and a man who had a carriage and some pretty horses. I exchanged letter with Edie Tackitt for several years after the wagon train ended. Olen was a singer and after the days travel was over and camp all set up, he would get his guitar and harmonica out and play practically the whole night. I sang a lot myself. Those campfire music sessions are some of my happiest memories of all. I also made friends with an older man who had a pair of Morgans (I think). He was all by himself so sometimes I would ride with him to keep him company--meaning I talked his ear off. He also let me ride his horse sometimes-which was a real treat. I was a pretty decent rider in those days. We had horses and I rode often. 

I remember being free and being allowed to just roam where I wanted. We had to be careful about rattlesnakes and cactus. But that is pretty normal for the area. Growing up, I always knew how to watch out for snakes--especially rattlesnakes. 

My parents also got to go on the wagon train for a bit. Earlier that year, my dad had bought a team of clydesdales that he trained and worked with. He sold the team to a man who wanted to do the whole wagon train from Cheyenne to Cody. He got tired for a bit and asked my parents if they wanted to drive the team for a bit so that his wagon would stay in the train the whole trek. My parents jumped at the chance. At some point though, either my mom or sisters got sick, so she left. My sisters, Lori and Trisha, stayed with me and Dad. We were there the day a man came and took a panoramic picture of the entire wagon train and by happenstance, we ended up being smack dab in the middle of the picture. That picture currently hangs in my parents' office at their house.

A couple of memorable and funny moments from the trek with my dad: the wagon masters always put us in the worst spots to camp for the night because the camps were right in the middle of the worst cactus. I wore cowboy boots and sturdy jeans to protect me from the cactus needles. One time though, I fell right into one bad patch. My backside was just covered in cactus needles--which really hurts. My poor dad had to pick the cactus spikes out of my butt and we were both so embarrassed. 

The other hilarious thing that happened was when my dad's team escaped their enclosure one night and stampeded through the camp. Listening to my dad tell that story is probably one of the funniest things I have ever heard. I hope to someday get that on video. 

Going on the wagon train was one of my favorite adventures of all time. I'm so happy I got to relive it today on my blog.

Here are some great articles about the wagon train from 1990.

Hundreds Set Out for 260-Mile Trek

Boy Learns Life is Rough on the Trail--yup cactus sucks! 

Wagon Train Experiences Old, New Along the Trail

Wyoming Centennial Lapel Pins

Trio Pulling Handcart 

Wagons Across Wyoming

Wyoming's Centennial Party

Wagon Train Medallions--I am pretty sure this is what my cousins and I were selling.

© 2007-2016 TIFFANY WACASER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

        

August 2015 Review

August was an intense month. I spent the bulk of the month with my nieces and nephews. Our family enjoyed some adventures in the west. I drove across the country from Wyoming to New York by myself with five of the six kids, which was nerve-wracking for me.

A Family Baptism

Brent's nephew, Toby, was baptized in Montana Brent and Walter's last day out west. Toby's baptism was really great. I played the piano for the service. Toby's older brother baptized him. It was nice to be together with Brent's family. He has great parents and really nice siblings. Even though we don't get to see them often, it is always a treat to spend time with them. The boys (all sizes) got into a huge nerf gun fight.

Later that day, we Brent and Walter to the airport. They both needed to get back to their jobs. I hate saying goodbye to Brent. I have a hard time being away from him. He mopes terribly and is sad the whole time I am away. Neither of us sleep well at all.

Also, the day before Brooke had thrown a small toy at me and it clocked me right in the chin. I had the worst bruise on my chin.

Caring for My Sister and Her Family

My parents flew to Kentucky to help my sister, Nicole, following her c-section delivery of Baby V. My sister, Lori, had a really tough delivery with baby Jack. Her husband was trying to get their family settled in a new town for his new job as a teacher. She was on strict orders to rest to recuperate from the very tough delivery. So I was on duty with 8 kids. My personal parenting/babysitting philosophy is to keep kids busy and active to prevent fighting and to keep my sanity. While my parents were gone, I took the kids to the park, to the Buffalo Bill Cody Dam, miniature golfing, to the drive-in in Powell, to a library picnic, and other fun activities. It worked and I kept the kids very busy and out of the way so my sister could rest.

Brooke Turns 9!

Brooke turned 9 in August. The meal she requested for her special birthday dinner was macaroni and cheese. She also loved her special cake. 

Grandpa's Horses

A big favorite when we visit Grandpa is riding horses and experiencing country life. My dad's horses are getting pretty old. He just can't bear to get rid of them. So they lead lives of comfort and hardly get ridden, which is as it should be for an old horse. While my folks were gone, Trent and Josef took care of the horses every morning and night,

Extended Family

I got to spend time with Aunt Betty and Uncle Joe. Aunt Betty is my Grandpa's sister. She is our family historian and has a treasure trove of stories and pictures. She is also one of my favorite people. She and Uncle Joe hired me for my first job when I was 14, cleaning hotel rooms at their small hotel and RV park. I was slow, but thorough and they liked that.

My Uncle Bud and cousin Jay drove from Rawlins to spend a couple of hours with me. I haven't seen my Uncle Bud in years. He is 92 years old and still manages to be peppy and active. During Bud's visit, I found out that he served in WWII in the army corp of Engineers. He landed on Omaha beach and marched across Europe, including a stop in Poland at Auschvitz. Even with his service, he just wanted to be home with his family and live in peace. My cousin Jay has been fighting cancer. He was also in the military. It was nice to see both of them.

I was also lucky to attend a reunion for the Melvin Christler family. Melvin was my Grandpa's brother. I met relatives I had never met before. I had a great time visiting with family and making new friends. One fun thing is that my cousin Sterling married an acquaintance from my high school. We had so much fun catching up. I also got to spend time with two of my Aunt Betty's children: Don and Dorie.

Yellowstone and Macks Inn

Fortunately, my visit west corresponded with my beloved friend, Laurel's bi-annual pilgrimage to Idaho. I brought Trent, Josef, Jonathan, Seth, and Winter. Brooke wanted to stay home with her cousin, Hallie. The park was beautiful. I love seeing the herds of buffalo.

After we got through the park, we stopped West Yellowstone for hot dogs and candy. The kids went crazy at the candy shop and I ended up dropping a wad of cash on a few pieces of candy.

We met the Dougall clan at the Earthquake Visitor Center. Seeing my friend and her family just made my day.

We drove back to her family cabin at Mack's Inn. We spent the afternoon floating down the river and catching up.

The Long Drive Home to New York

After a few more precious days with my parents, in-laws, sister, and nieces and nephews, I drove home with the five kids. It was hard. The kids were great, but driving long distances has never been my forte and I get sleepy. We hit some really awful weather across Illinois--so bad that I couldn't see the road at all.

We went through Kentucky to see my sister, Nicole, and her new baby. That was absolutely wonderful.

Romantic Getaway

We finally made it home and it was so nice! I love sleeping in my own bed. I love being with my husband at home. Brent arranged a wonderful getaway so we could reconnect. He found a gorgeous old hotel near the botanical gardens in New Jersey.

Summer's Last Hurrah

I squeezed in every bit of fun by going to the lake and ocean almost everyday.

Man, this might count as the post with the most pictures ever. What can I say? August was packed!


© 2007-2016 TIFFANY WACASER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED