Wednesday in Wyoming -- September 25, 2013

Now that it's officially autumn, I couldn't resist including one of my favorite pictures.  As you probably guessed, those are the Tetons in the background.  Aren't the trees beautiful?  And the mountains are always awe-inspiring.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- September 18, 2013

Doesn't this just say "old west" to you?  I can't imagine that it was comfortable riding in one of these wagons -- no rubber tires or shock absorbers -- but they appear to be practically indestructible. 

Although I enjoy reading (and writing) about the old west, I'm glad that I live in the twenty-first century.  How about you?  If you could live in any time period, what would it be?

Who Reads Amanda Cabot's Books? The Kersey Bookbuddies Do

This month I'm delighted to feature the Kersey Bookbuddies from northern Colorado.  As you can see, the members dressed for the holidays as they read Christmas Roses.  Let's learn a bit more bout them.

When was your bookclub formed?
     Around 1998.
I'm impressed that you've been meeting for fifteen years.  That says a lot about the group ... and the books you've been reading.

Where do you meet and how frequently?
     We meet in the homes of members once a month.
That sounds like it's a lot of fun -- more personal than meeting in a bookstore or other commercial venue.

How many members do you have?
     Twelve at present.
And almost all of them were present for the photo.  How nice to see a variety of ages represented!

Are you looking for new members?
     If someone cares to join us, they are welcome.

Do you read fiction, non-fiction or a mixture?
     A mixture.
No wonder your club has lasted so long.  Your choice of books ensures that no one becomes bored.

How do you choose the books for your discussions?
     Members recommend ones they think would be interesting or relevant.
That sounds like a much better approach than just picking books off the bestseller list.

What was the first Amanda Cabot book that you read?
     Christmas Roses

How did you choose that?
     It was a suggestion of members who'd read it. 
Since I know that one of your members is, like me, part of Front Range Christian Fiction Writers, I can guess which one was responsible for the recommendation.  Thanks, Inez!

Is there any other information about your club that you'd like to share with other readers?
     We are an eating group that discusses books. We try to have foods that have been mentioned or relate to the book we are discussing. We truly like one another and have a great time sharing, laughing, fellowshipping and having lively discussions on the book of choice.
What a terrific idea!  I wonder if you had Swedish pound cake when you discussed Christmas Roses.

The more I learn, the more I know I'd enjoy being one of the Kersey Bookbuddies.  Thanks so much for sharing your story with us.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- September 11, 2013

If you're looking for a unique and historic way to tour Yellowstone, this might be for you.  A few years ago, the park reintroduced its iconic buses.  They weren't the first form of public transportation. That honor goes to horse-drawn carriages, also yellow.  These vehicles, which are now called the Historic Yellow Buses, take visitors on tours of various parts of the park.

As you probably guessed from the shape, the buses are definitely historic.  They were built between 1936 and 1938.  Fortunately you don't have to worry about cracked leather or any of the other problems you might associate with vehicles of that age.  They've been restored, and unlike school or commercial buses, they have multiple doors, making it easier for riders to get on and off.  To add to the fun, there's a soft top that rolls back so riders can get better views of wildlife and geysers and everything that makes Yellowstone so special.

I have to admit that I haven't ridden in one, but it's time for me to schedule another trip to Yellowstone, and this time I just might ride in one of the yellow buses.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- September 4, 2013

Though it was only in existence for about a year and a half (April 1860 to October 1861), the Pony Express continues to be one of the iconic emblems of the American West. 

I knew about the riders and their frequent change of horses (approximately every ten miles, in case you were wondering) and the fact that the Pony Express was established to provide faster mail delivery to California, but until I visited the Historic Trails Museum in Casper, I didn't know how the mail was carried.  I had envisioned ordinary saddle bags, but instead each rider had a mochila (Spanish for pouch or backpack), which functioned a bit like a saddle blanket.  I don't know if all the mochilas were orange like this one, but I do know that they were critical to the success of the Pony Express.  Up to twenty pounds of mail were carried in the four locked corner pockets.

What caused the demise of the Pony Express?  A faster form of communication -- the telegraph.