Holiday Bits and Pieces

What happened? When I was a child, it seemed to take forever to get to Christmas each year. Now - "Snap" - year gone by. Is it retirement that does that? Weeks are no longer split up into Work days and Weekends. I'm glad I have a watch that tells me what day it is. Lots of days seem like Friday. 😆 

Thanksgiving at the Archers, Foxes, and more!

Entertaining the kiddos at Thanksgiving

We alternate holidays with our children/spouses and gkids with the other side of their families. It was our turn for Thanksgiving this year. 🦃  

Thanks to Niece Barb and her husband Mike for hosting the eight of us at their lovely home in Norwalk for Thanksgiving. We celebrated with them and their children Greyson and Mandy, Barb's mom (Paul's sis) Carol. Members of the Fox family - Jean Fox (Paul's sis), her husband Dave, their daughter Annette, and her husband Jeremy with kids Megan and Caleb were there from Webster City and Minnesota. A good time was had by all!

Prime Rib time!

So 

On Black Friday, we had our 🎄Christmas Celebration! All eight of us - we added Baby Reece a month past Christmas last year. We planned around naptimes (grandkids and grandfather) to avoid crabbiness. The meal - with centerpieces of Paul's Prime Rib, and Pat Bullock's Scalloped Corn. Yum!

Pookie saves the day - note Nell has Amy's beloved Pookie stuffy after forgetting hers at home! 

Next, we opened presents that were stacked under the small but festive Christmas Tree. This year I put it up downstairs - to protect it from our little crawler and seeker, Reece. Corey played Santa. Nell enjoyed helping everyone open gifts. That evening we played with new toys - it took a team to assemble the light-up race track. It was a big hit! 

Amy and Corey flew back to NYC early Saturday morning. They had arrived on Monday evening, and we enjoyed hanging with them for a couple of days before the STL Goldsmiths arrived. A highlight was lunch at the Angry Goldfish and visiting the MacRae Park lookout - with a view of the city. 

Nell and Reece had fun with Amy and Jud's old toys

Jud, Kara, Nell, and Reece stayed through Sunday. We went to the Science Center in downtown DSM on Saturday (we loved it) with lunch at Big Grove Brewery in Sherman Hill. That night we celebrated an excellent Cyclone Football win. 

Science Center Fun

On Sunday, Jud and Kara gathered up the considerable gear it takes to travel with two young children and two doggos. A trip to St Louis takes us just over 5 hours. It takes them more like seven with stops to eat and stretch their legs - tending to a three-year-old and a little guy who will be one in January. 

Archie and Charlie

Paul and I will head west to Colorado for Christmas - Denver and Vail to "group up" with our family there. We feel so fortunate to be included in that gathering. 

This time of year is not easy - for many of us. It's set up to be a special time for families and friends. It's hard not to think of those who are no longer with us. I don't know about you but I breathe a sigh of relief when we get beyond the holiday frenzy. Be kind to yourself! 

Our "not fam" family! 

Speaking of kindness, we were invited to our longtime friends' Christmas family gathering last weekend in Minnesota where they all live (we prefer living in the south...of the frozen tundra 🥰). We wish our kids/gkids could have joined - alas they live too far away. It's like an ongoing present to have a group like this - including all generations. Merry Christmas! 

  

Autumn Leaves

Autumn Leaves song - partial lyrics - Google song title for various versions of the song

"The falling leaves drift by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold"

The song, partially quoted above, always pops into my brain this time of year. I believe I learned it in Miss Delma Wright's Freshman Choir class. We didn't sound anything like Nat King Cole or Doris Day. The lyrics seem a little racier than I remember singing at that tender young age. 😁

Summer is my favorite season. I used to pretend to enjoy Autumn the most. Paul loves Fall! Football and hunting impact those feelings, of course. But summer! I like to be warm. And going outdoors not dressed to the hilt with various layers of gear to ward off the chill. 

This year is different. I love the gorgeous low-wind days we have enjoyed thus far. Most leaves have fallen by now, yet the sun's angle and portrait painting sunrises and sunsets have awed me.

 

I think back to Autumns of my youth. Our home in Atlantic was on an Elm tree-lined street (until Dutch Elm Disease felled them) complete with bushels of leaves each fall. Raking was an annual chore and opportunity! We'd rake them into piles and jump in them. 

With neighbors, the Reinertson girls, we'd rake the leaves into thin lines which became walls for our pretend horse barn. We would take turns being the horses - using those rubbery jump ropes as halters around our waists. I loved picking my horse name and describing my horsy appearance. I was partial to black with white socks and a big white blaze on my nose. 

I think our neighbor Harley Baxter eventually managed the leaves - probably composting or burning in his backyard across the street. Later, at our first home in Creston, Paul and I managed leaves the same way. He found out the hard way that one should not burn on the patio close to the vinyl siding! Now I know how bad leaf burning is for air quality - especially for those with lung disorders. Composting is a great way to return organic material to the soil. 

As I age, I continue to look for ways to get exercise. My goal this year is to walk outdoors early - regardless of weather. It's been warm and very dry for the most part - making for gorgeous views. The sad part of that is we need rain badly to fill up streams, rivers, and ponds. The City of Osceola just south of DSM is in an emergency stage as their water supply lake is drying up. Scary! 

I hope you're enjoying Autumn wherever you are. 

This leaf spoke to me - in a crabby voice!

Cyclones Westward Part 2

The whole gang (Moraine Lake) - we survived 2 weeks and are still pals! 

I can't believe it's been several weeks since we returned from our trip with Behrs and Wilts to Glacier, Banff, Canada, and points in between. Social media and news feed algorithms have kept me supplied with news about National Parks and that area of Canada since we returned. Wildlife, lodging, and other news from those areas have become more interesting since we visited there. Travel opens up my eyes and ears to the world. 

Last we spoke (I blogged, you read) Ruby the Jeep was transporting us north across the border to Canada. We crossed into British Columbia and headed back a bit north and east into Alberta to our destination of Canmore, a handsome town just south of the more famous and historical town of Banff and the national park of the same name. 

View from our Canmore Condo

-We arrived in Canmore on a Monday. Our lodging there was a townhome VRBO with parking underneath. The place, like many in that town, was fairly new. Cable TV, a gas fireplace, and plenty of seating for our party of six. The trip to Safeway for groceries was a cluster - we weren't the only ones stocking up that night. The only ground beef left for our spaghetti was grass-fed, organic $10 a pound. 👀

-Worried about crowds, we took a bus from the town of Banff to Lake Louise in Banff National Park. From there we took a shuttle to Moraine Lake. Despite the chilly weather (I wore all of my layers - was still cold) this day was one of my favorites. The best view of the lake meant climbing a rocky hill in altitude, but we all made it! The view was like a vivid painting come to life. The gorgeous aqua-blue water is courtesy of glacier runoff. I appreciated the informational signage throughout all parks. -  

We (and lots of other people from around the world) loved Moraine. Staff was pulling canoes out for the end of the season. We got a short hike in. 

Back at Lake Louise, we chowed our sandwich lunches in the covered bus stop area. Then we hiked in cold mist a couple of miles on the lake trail. Louise is bigger than Moraine, but not quite as dramatic. The beautiful and famous Fairmount Chateau sits on the banks of the lake. It was out of our price range $$$, but fun to see. I was glad to sit by the fire at our condo that night!

Cave and Basin National Historic Site

The next day was forecast to be rainy and cold. We decided to stay closer to home and check out the Cave and Basin National Historic Site on the outskirts of the town of Banff. I'd not expected this type of experience on this trip - history, a HOT thermal spring, and marshy terrain. This site was used as an Internment during the First World War. We had a nice hike on a boardwalk with lovely views and more springs along the way. 

View from Bow Falls viewpoint in Banff of the Fairmont Springs Banff Hotel 

We decided to head into the town of Banff that afternoon, which had turned out to be a bit sunny and warmer. People shopped the many gift, clothing, and jewelry stores on the main drag. We all scored tee shirts. With several brewery options to choose from for lunch, we went with Three Bears for a lovely lunch. As we headed back to our condo the promised rain began to fall. 

On Day 3 Canada we drove north past Lake Louise on the Icefields Parkway. It's a nice divided highway with fab views of waterfalls and glaciers. The area is so very vast it's overwhelming! 

A stop at Bow Lake - we walked around a bit to see the falls at one end

I was happy to have a nice hot cocoa in the sun with Moose

Delish cocoa and Red Chair - a Canadian tradition in parks

Hiked a steep but paved trail for this Peyto Lake Overlook - with glacier

Moose is a good picnic location spotter. He pulled into a campground (Columbia Falls Tent Campground) where we found a table out of the wind. Same 'ol sandwiches, chips, and apples though! 😆 

Tourists can pay to ride a special vehicle up onto the glacier - we decided we drive on ice enough 

From there we drove into Jasper National Park and Columbia Icefield (6 glaciers). We stopped at Athabasca Glacier and walked a steep rocky path to get a closer look at the receding icy chunk. Signs along the way made it clear how fast it's melting.  We drove a bit farther into the park before turning around. We also chose not to stand in line to scare the crap out of ourselves by going on the Columbia Icefield Skywalk and turned Ruby the Jeep back towards our temp home.

Fred in Photographer mode

On the trip back we stopped at Mistaya Canyon for a short hike down an old roadbed to see the deeply cut canyon with a bridge overlook. No matter how many stops we made, we continued to be awed by this beautiful land. There was one more surprise on the trip home. We saw a big black bear feeding in the road ditch. Lots of morons stopped and got out to get closer pics - Kay snapped this out of Ruby's window. 

Our Canmore condo had this cool map - Kay pokes a pin into their home. People across the world have stayed here! 

The next day we were headed home via North Dakota (one more state checked off my visited list). First, we had more Canadian territories to see - a stop in Calgary for breakfast, and another at a rest area for a picnic! We thrifty midwesterners do not like to waste food! That night we stayed at a hotel in Moose Jaw - thus this mandatory group photo. The town was cute and had several meal options. 

They fenced it so we wouldn't try to ride it

There are lots of oil rigs in this area. We crossed the border at Port of Fortuna, ND. We pulled into the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park mid-afternoon. Again I was surprised by a place I hadn't expected to be wowed by - after Glacier and Banff. The park ranger at the park entrance had to chew out people for approaching the grazing bison nearby. 😒

Check out those cannonball formations - ain't Earth amazing! 

Bison everywhere - if you go to the South route there are wild horses

Our trusty driver and steed

The vistas are breathtaking! Oxbow Overlook.

We stayed in Bismark that night - arriving in pouring rain and dark. Nice driving by Freddie B! We arrived in Northfield, MN, our starting place at 3:30 p.m. the next day. Ready for our own bed, Paul and I headed home after our required group hug at the end of the trip. Love these friends and our travels! 💖

Kay, now retired, is also a blogger. As I've said before - she's a great trip planner and note-taker. Her trip notes helped piece this together. Kay's blog: https://retiredinminnesota.blogspot.com/

So - last thoughts: I'm glad we took the "off the beaten path" trip. Meeting people everywhere is fun. And coming home to my own little corner of the world is nice too. 

I must give extra kudos to Canada Parks for having the cleanest, nicest public toilets (including port-a-potties) anywhere. Never out of toilet paper, always filled with hand sanitizer. 

Sorry about font changes. I'm retired and too lazy to figure out what happened! 😏

Cyclones Westward Ho!

There's nothing like traveling the country with longtime friends. We met 40+ years ago at Iowa State University - during our formative teen/early twenties years. Thus, we know each other so well - meeting before we were fully formed adults with opinions on many topics beyond college majors, when the next party was, and who was dating whom. Longtime friendship is a blessing that takes cultivation and nurturing. It's worth the effort!  

Our recent trip west was hatched a year ago with Vicki & Fred Behr and Steve (Moose) & Kay Wilt. We've experienced two other great adventures with this group - Alaska in 2019 and Utah in 2021. It was time to go again - especially since we're now ALL retired. This trip was based around driving to two main Rocky Mountain destinations, Glacier National Park in Montana and Banff in Alberta, Canada. There were also many worthwhile stops on the way there and back.  

A BIG thank you to Kay Wilt, who does much of the planning and guiding during our adventures, and she also takes notes. It would have taken me a lot more time to compile this blog without her succinct trip notes. 😍

-We began the Cyclones West trip in Northfield, MN on September 11. Here are some of my fave memories and thoughts on the trip:

The guys packing Ruby in Bozeman

-We rented a giant red Jeep Wagoneer as our partner in travel. We named her Ruby. Moose enjoys driving and is as trustworthy as my dad (high praise) in that role. Fred was fab at filling in as needed. I mostly situated myself as a far-back seat rider. I appreciated Ruby's leg-room and large windows. Vicki tried to smash me flat adjusting the seat that first morning - so the trip started with howling laughter! 

That's a lot of corn!

Chamberlain, SD rest area - Dignity of Earth and Sky - very cool!

This is where I learned my lesson on proper footwear whilst hiking

This Bison posed for us by the sign. We didn't get out of Ruby - we're no Tourons (that's what park rangers call tourist/morons)

-My first job after college was in Sioux Falls, SD. Dad used to travel to parts of SD on his Lorraine Lingerie sales rep route. He hinted that I was conceived there. 😆 I enjoyed seeing some attractions in that state - the Corn Palace, the Dignity Sculpture, and a drive through the Badlands. Note to self: put your hiking shoes on when attempting to climb to a scenic overlook. Birkenstocks are not good for climbing. South Dakota is not that far from Iowa, but boasts so many cool geological formations. 

view of George from the trail

The presidents are looking at us

Needle Eye Tunnel on the Needles Highway

My fave part of Deadwood

 

Excitement on Deadwood Mainstreet

-We started Day 2 at the giant president head park. I'd seen Mt Rushmore twice before, but it never gets old. This time we walked the Presidential Trail which allowed different viewpoints - plus exercise. There were a couple of guys climbing on George W's head with ropes. Crazy! 

He licked the window - we carried his kiss with us until it rained 

-Later that day, the drive to Deadwood from Rapid City was beautiful and cool - on the Needles Highway and a wildlife loop where in his excitement, Paul put his window down. He nearly got smooched by a wild burrow! We got a peek at the Crazyhorse Monument - crazy big.  

- Our stay in Deadwood was enjoyable. So much Western history. Folk Hero Wild Bill Hickok was shot there in Saloon #10 - the result of a fight over cards. The town reminded me of all the Western movies and television shows I was raised on. We wandered the main street in search of a restaurant. They roll up the sidewalks early there - lots of closed places. I was delighted to find an establishment called the Bullock Hotel - named after the town's first sheriff Seth Bullock(not a relative). 

Devil's Tower - before hike around it

A closer look

- The next day we visited the Devil's Tower in Wyoming. Couldn't see it without getting the "Close Encounters" movie theme in my head. It was worth a bit of slow traffic into the park and sharing the trail around it with lots of other people. There were several climbers on the tower up high above us. I was glad to be viewing it from the ground. 

-There's not much between there and our overnight in the cool college town of Bozeman, Montana. We did manage to hunt down a nifty place - Powder River Lanes - for lunch in the tiny town of Broadus, MT. The cafe serves as a restaurant, the Senior Meal Site, a bowling alley, and a one-room casino. The owner was delighted to get a late lunch crowd of six. Local gems like are why the six of us love to drive off of the beaten path. 

-Bozeman is a university town and looks it. I'd like to go back to someday - when I have time to look around more. Kay booked a VRBO (Vacation Rental By Owner) for one night - huge price savings over three motel rooms. We had breakfast at a great place and then we were off to our first ultimate destination - Glacier National Park! 

Strawberry Rhubarb alamode. Not as good as the one Paul makes

I could have hung out for hours in this place - Seeley Lake

Paul is introducing himself to Gus the Larch

-The drive to our Glacier area lodging took us through some remote areas too. We discovered Pop's Place in Seeley, MT for lunch with pie! The waitress suggested we visit Gus the Giant Larch Tree on our way out of town. Okay, she didn't volunteer the information. Our favorite sleuth pal, Vicki, used her wily ways to ply all sorts of information out of her (and many other unwitting people) along our way. Challenge accepted! Google Maps wasn't great at finding Gus, but we eventually spied him. Worth a visit! I'm having a retirement romance with trees. I love and appreciate them so much. 💓

Arrival in the Glacier area is worth celebrating! 

Our VRBO - outside of the small town

-We stopped in Kalispell to stock up on food and beverages for our 4-night stay in the area. The VRBO, in Martin City, MT, was in a lovely location and was set up well for our group. Making picnic lunches daily and cooking a few basic evening meals works well for us - and saves $. Restaurant food gets tiring. We all share chores - great travel partners.

-The next day we entered Glacier National Park through the west entrance - on Going to the Sun Road. We're lucky that Moose worked here summers as an ISU Forestry student eons ago. So he knows stuff.

First glacier view

 

-Two of the people on the right side of Ruby the Jeep were very leery of looking out of the windows to the sheer drops way below on our way into the park. We were separated from plunging by low fences and Moose's driving skills. 

Horses are important in the park - this underpass allows passage for riders

Our usual picnic fare - with fab views

St Mary's Lake - gorgeous

-There are small parking and pullout areas to take in the fabulous vistas, and use portapotties. The weather gods were good! Nothing like a picnic lunch overlooking beautiful St. Mary's Lake. Bodies of water throughout this trip were gorgeous. I can't get over the various hues of blue and aquamarine blue/green. We snagged a parking place at Logan Pass in the afternoon. Vic and Kay made it to Hidden Lake and saw mountain goats. The stairs on that hike did me in. 

The boardwalk and steps are nice (and killer) Logan Pass

-The next day we drove two hours to another Glacier Entrance - Many Glaciers on the East side. We stopped at some cool lodges in the Park - they were closed or closing soon. Snow comes early in these altitudes. I'm glad we got to see these grand historical resorts, most built with huge native timbers. 

The Lodges at Glacier were worth a stop - such history

Hiked the Swiftcurrent Lake Trail by the Many Glaciers Hotel

Many Glaciers Hotel - closed for the season

-Glacier Day 3 took us back up Going to the Sun. Destination that day was St. Mary's Falls, which requires a hike with beautiful terrain. The falls are gorgeous. The leaves were just starting to turn. Seeing places like this fills me with awe. 

McDonalds Falls - awesome

McDonalds Falls hike

McDonalds Lodge

-Goodbye Glacier NP. Thanks for the views and memz!  Kay's notes include much more information on all of our stops throughout the days - food, groceries, lodging, tips. Reading back through them makes me smile. I'm a lucky gal to have friends like this who put up with me! 

The next day took us north through Customs. We each took our passports and it was a breeze. This is getting long dear reader, so I'll split the trip up. Canada and NoDak deserve their own blog.