Wednesday in Wyoming - November 13, 2024

 

Did you ever wonder how the pioneers knew how far they'd traveled each day? 

When I visited the Mormon Handcart Museum a few years ago, I discovered one answer: an ingenious invention that several members of Brigham Young's company developed to make the process easier. 

Wednesday in Wyoming - November 6, 2024

 

When you think of Thomas Edison, you probably remember his laboratory in New Jersey, but did you know that he also did some experiments in Wyoming?

He did, which is why the Carbon County museum in Rawlins has a room dedicated to him. 

Isn't this phonograph beautiful?

Wednesday in Wyoming - October 30, 2024

 

The dinosaur might seem serious, but I smiled when I looked up and saw it perched near the ceiling at the Tate Geological Museum in Casper. 

Although it's a relatively small museum, the Tate is filled with exhibits of everything from over 3,000 fossils and minerals to the skeleton of Dee the wooly mammoth as well as this recreation of a dinosaur.

If you're in the Casper area and have even the slightest interest in dinosaurs, be sure to visit the Tate.

Wednesday in Wyoming - October 23, 2024

 

How would you like to cook all your meals over an open fire for months and months? That's what the pioneers did on their journey west.

As you probably guessed, this picture came from the Historic Trails Museum in Casper, which is one of my favorite Wyoming museums.

Wednesday in Wyoming - October 16, 2024

 

One of the sadder aspects of the second World War was the internment of Japanese American citizens in camps like Heart Mountain. Can you imagine being forced to abandon your home and in many cases your business and be forced to live in cramped quarters behind barbed wire in a place vastly different from your home, even though you were a citizen of the United States? 

Wednesday in Wyoming - October 9, 2024

 

The JC Penney Mother Store that I featured in last week's post isn't a full-fledged museum, but the Fossil Country Frontier Museum, also located in Kemmerer, is.

It's a small but intriguing museum with exhibits ranging from a replica coal mine and a lamb with one head but two bodies to this button attaching machine. 

You'll note that it's only a pair of short boots that has buttons. I can't imagine how long it would have taken to put on those women's shoes if they'd had buttons rather than laces. 

Wednesday in Wyoming - October 2, 2024

 

Where do you find a store that's half store/ half museum? In Kemmerer, Wyoming, that's where. The JC Penney "mother store" still sells the merchandise you'd expect from Penney's, but it also has a number of historic items on display including old cash registers, sewing machines, lunch pails, and -- my favorite -- the pulley system that moved money from the main floor to the cashiers on the mezzanine.

 Definitely a fun place to visit!

Wednesday in Wyoming - September 25, 2024

 

Can you guess which fort this is? If you guessed Fort Laramie, you were correct. That's the fort that intrigued me so much when I first visited it that I knew it had to be the setting for a book. And it was.

A major stop on the Oregon Trail, Fort Laramie was far different from my mental image of a western fort. No stockade. No buildings constructed of logs. Instead, during its later years it resembled a New England village with sidewalks, birdbaths, and ladies carrying parasols. Not quite the Hollywood version of a western fort.

If you're ever in eastern Wyoming, I encourage you to visit Fort Laramie and the surrounding wagon trail sites, including Register Cliff and the wagon ruts. For more information about Fort Laramie, click here.

One Special Christmas - The Making of a Cover

 Do you ever wonder what's involved in creating a book cover? The answer is, it depends. My own experience has varied from having no involvement to being asked to choose costumes for the model, but rarely have I had the pleasure of watching the artist develop the cover and providing feedback each step of the way.

That's what happened with the cover for One Special Christmas. I was extremely fortunate to have gifted artist L.A. Sartor creating my cover.

It started with a brainstorming session in which we decided that rather than have my heroine in an exterior scene like the ones you see on most of my covers, since Greta was the manager of the tearoom in Sweetwater Crossing, we'd feature her in a tearoom.

At that point, all I told L.A. was that Greta was a blonde and that I thought a green gown would be good. After our discussion, I sent her this picture from the Christmas celebration at Fort Laramie, thinking she could incorporate it into her design. 

While there's nothing wrong with this picture, it's a bit shall we say bland? L.A. recognized that and took a different approach. To say that I was overwhelmed when I saw her first design is an understatement. 

I was thrilled! This was so much more detailed, so much more interesting than I'd expected. There were a few things that had to be fixed on this, but the overall design was more beautiful than I'd dared hope.

Next came the choice of fonts for the title and my name as well as positioning of both. That took a few iterations, but we finally had a finished front cover.

Next came the back cover. When L.A. asked me what I wanted, I suggested a green background with the back cover copy in a cream colored box. She probably knew that wasn't a good idea, but she let me see the flaws for myself.

There were many things wrong with this. Besides the fact that the teaser line is almost illegible, the back cover itself is too plain. There's nothing on it to make a reader want to buy the book. I'm famous for saying that back covers should be pretty. This one wasn't.

Fortunately, once again L.A. knew how to fix the problem. She created a tapestry for the background, and when we had an interactive meeting to finalize the design, we changed the spine color to rose. 

What a difference! We now had a full cover that I loved. The back cover is more than pretty. It's beautiful, just as the front cover is. 

I'm thrilled with the way it turned out and hope you agree with me that this is an outstanding cover.

If you'd like more information about One Special Christmas, you can find that as well as an excerpt on my website.

And if you enjoy cozy mysteries, you won't want to miss L.A.'s Tick Tock Dead. Yes, L.A. Sartor is not only a gifted artist, she's also an author. Here's a link to her website.

Wednesday in Wyoming - September 18, 2024

 

If you've read my books, you know that a number of my characters -- heroes, heroines, and even villains -- are involved in the medical profession. That's one of the reasons I was drawn to this exhibit at Fort Fetterman. 

I was a little surprised that there wasn't a saw. After all, doctors were often referred to as Saw Bones, even though they did much more than that. What else would you have expected to see here?

Wednesday in Wyoming - September 11, 2024

 

Before I moved to Wyoming, if you'd asked me to describe a western fort, this  would have been my answer: buildings made of logs, all surrounded by a stockade fence.

I soon discovered that not all forts were like that, but some were, including this one. Fort Caspar near the town of Casper -- notice the different spellings -- is a reconstructed 1865 military post. 

In addition to the buildings, which include barracks, officers' quarters, a stable, and much more, there's a small museum, all of which make it worth a visit if you're in the area.

If you'd like more information, you might find this link helpful.

Wednesday in Wyoming - September 4, 2024

Since forts were essential parts of the Old West, or what some might call the Wild West, this month's Wednesday in Wyoming blog posts will highlight some of the state's most interesting forts.

Located in the western part of the state, Fort Bridger includes a wide variety of buildings ranging from a reconstruction of trapper Jim Bridger's cabin to the commanding officer's Victorian home to "auto camping" cabins developed during the early years of auto travel. 

Their website provides more information. And if you're able to visit, you might even take a tour with a guide like the one pictured above.

Wednesday in Wyoming - August 28, 2024

 

Can you imagine being able to carry all your personal belongings in a handcart and then pulling it along the Oregon Trail? I can't, but that's what thousands of Mormon emigrants did.

Their journey is commemorated at the Mormon Handcart Visitors at Martin's Cove, site of a deadly blizzard in 1856.

For more information, click here.

Wednesday in Wyoming - August 21, 2024

 

If you've seen one rock, you've seen them all. Some might say that, but that wasn't  the pioneers' sentiment. They celebrated reaching this milestone on the Oregon Trail by carving or painting their names on the side of the granite outcropping.

Were they thinking about the rest of the journey, knowing that it was the most difficult?  I imagine they were, but at least for a few hours, they could relax and enjoy being here.

If you'd like more information about Independence Rock, you might enjoy this link.

Wednesday in Wyoming - August 14, 2024

 

This month marks twenty years since I first saw these ruts carved into the limestone by the thousands of covered wagons that traveled the Oregon Trail. I was impressed then, and I still am. 

What courageous people those pioneers were, to leave their homes and everything familiar in search of a better life.

Wednesday Near Wyoming - August 7, 2024

 

As someone who's always been fascinated by the stories of the pioneers, I thought I'd feature the Oregon Trail this month. 

If you noticed, the title says Wednesday NEAR Wyoming, not Wednesday IN Wyoming. That's because this site is in Nebraska.

Did you recognize it as Chimney Rock? It does look like a chimney, doesn't it? This was one of the more recognizable landmarks on the journey west.

Wednesday in Wyoming - July 31, 2024

 

Simply beautiful -- wildflowers nestled close to a rustic fence.

Wednesday in Wyoming - July 24, 2024

 

At least from my perspective, this is a quintessential western scene -- a tree shaped by the wind and a glorious blue sky with cumulus clouds.

Wednesday in Wyoming - July 17, 2024

 

With views like this, is it any wonder people enjoy hiking at Pole Mountain?

Wednesday in Wyoming - July 10, 2024

 

Even though I do my best to remove thistles from my yard at home, I still find them beautiful. This one was spotted at Pole Mountain. And, yes, as you've probably guessed, this month's pictures feature a hike near the summit of Interstate 80.

Wednesday in Wyoming - July 3, 2024

 

It's summer -- the perfect time for a hike in the woods at Pole Mountain, near the summit of Interstate 80. 

Wednesday in Wyoming - June 26, 2024

 

The animals I've featured for the previous three weeks were ones I'd spotted in the wild. Today's post shows some of the most unwelcome visitors to my yard: badgers.

They're relatively attractive animals, but -- and this is a huge but -- they're destructive. Badgers dig deep holes for themselves, leaving large piles of dirt around them. Worst of all, they don't stay in those burrows for very long. Instead, they move on to wreak havoc on another part of the yard. They're also ferocious and can run faster than a human, so there's no chasing them away. 

I'm convinced that badgers are one of the reasons to own a telephoto lens. 

Wednesday in Wyoming - June 19, 2024

 

At least in my opinion, pronghorn, which some call antelope, are among the most beautiful of the animals I've seen in Wyoming. 

Did you know that both male and female pronghorn have horns? And did you know that they're the fastest land mammal in North America? They can run up to 60 mph. Do you suppose that's why Wyoming's highway speed limits are so high -- so we can outrun the pronghorn? 

Wednesday in Wyoming - June 12, 2024

 

I've always found prairie dogs to be cute critters, but look at those claws. Is it any wonder they're so good at digging holes?

This one was part of a colony living near Devils Tower.

(And if you're wondering why the picture is smaller than normal, it's because something has changed in Blogger, and the resizing feature doesn't work. Sorry.)

Wednesday in Wyoming - June 5, 2024

 

For the last two weeks, I showed you two different sides of a bison statue. This week I'm featuring the real thing. These bison are part of a herd at the Terry Bison Ranch, just south of Cheyenne on I-25.

If you're in the mood for a meal, the Senators Steakhouse serves ... yes, you guessed it, bison. 

Wednesday in Wyoming - May 29, 2024

 

Remember the bison statue in last week's post? This is the opposite side of it, depicting a very different aspect of life in Wyoming.

Which do you prefer?

Wednesday in Wyoming - May 22, 2024

Did you know that the bison is Wyoming's state mammal? It appears on our flag and, as you can see, is also featured in the Historic Trails Museum in Casper. 

I particularly liked this side of the statue, because it depicts the Native Americans who depended on the bison for food, shelter, and clothing, not wasting any portion of the animal.

Wednesday in Wyoming - May 15, 2024

 

And here we have our young, wiry, willing to risk death Pony Express rider on his horse, ready to spend up to twenty hours a day to ensure that the mail was delivered on time.

Notice the pouches on both ends of the saddle. These held mail and other goods and were padlocked. They were, at least according to legend, considered more valuable than either the rider or the horse.

Wednesday in Wyoming - May 8, 2024

 

Last week we saw what the Pony Express required of its riders, but the young men were only part of the equation. Equally important were the horses. They had to be fast, reliable, and able to carry not only the rider (who could weigh no more than 125 pounds) and forty pounds of mail and other materials in the specially designed saddles.

Wednesday in Wyoming _ May 1, 2024

 

There were so many interesting exhibits at the Historic Trails Museum in Casper that I decided to feature it again this month.

Although it was only in operation for 18 months, the Pony Express earned a spot in American  history, often being romanticized. 

The advertisement for riders makes the job sound anything but romantic. In case you can't read the fine print, here's what it says:

Wanted young, skinny, wiry fellows not over eighteen. Must be expert riders, willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred. 

That doesn't sound like a good deal to me, but the $25 weekly pay was a definite lure ... if you lived to collect it.

Wednesday in Wyoming - April 24, 2024

 

You can probably guess why this is one of my favorite scenes in the Historic Trails Museum. While I doubt that I would have had the courage or stamina to travel the Oregon Trail, if I'd been part of the journey west, I have no doubt that I would have wanted to record my experiences in a journal ... perhaps with the hope of one day turning those experiences into a book.

Wednesday in Wyoming - April 17, 2024

 

One of the things that makes visits to the National Historic Trails Museum so enjoyable is that there are participative exhibits. In this one, visitors climb inside the covered wagon on the right for a simulated crossing of the Platte River. It's more dangerous than you might think.

Wednesday in Wyoming - April 10, 2024

 

One of the things that surprised me when I did research about the Oregon Trail was that the pioneers WALKED. I'd assumed they rode in the covered wagons, but that wasn't the case. Yes, they sometimes slept in the wagons, but for the most part they walked alongside the oxen.

Can you imagine doing that, especially given the hazards along the trail (hint: rattlesnakes)? I can't.

Wednesday in Wyoming - April 3, 2024

 

I know it's a statue, but can't you picture the pioneers traveling west looking at the hills in front of them and realizing that these were only the beginning of the most difficult part of the journey, that they'd soon be facing mountains?

If you wondered where I found this statue, here's the answer: 

I can't praise the National Historic Trails museum too highly. Its exhibits are excellent. Some even give you the opportunity to experience what the pioneers did. If you're in the Casper area, I suggest you spend some time at the museum.

Wednesday in Wyoming - March 27, 2024

 

A wise old owl and a western landscape. As you can see, there's a wide variety of art on display at this year's Glass Art Celebration. 

Wednesday in Wyoming - March 20, 2024

 

Since elephants are one of my favorite animals, I was delighted to see this piece at the Botanic Gardens' Glass Art Celebration.

Wednesday in Wyoming - March 13, 2024

 

When I saw this at this year's Glass Art Celebration, my first thought was that the name of the piece would be "Home on the Range." I was right.

Wednesday in Wyoming - March 6, 2024

 

The annual glass art show at the Grand Conservatory of the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens is one of my favorite events of the year.

When I saw this piece of art in January of 2020, it caught my eye because it reminded me of the thousands of miles my husband and I logged on our bikes. 

Wednesday in Wyoming - February 28, 2024

 

Not only did it take several hours, it took a good-sized crew to get the bust of Abraham Lincoln properly positioned and secured on the base.

But finally, the work was done. 

Once again, travelers can enjoy the beauty of the sixteenth president's likeness as they travel Interstate 80. 

Wednesday in Wyoming - February 21, 2024

 

This was a once-in-a-lifetime day, at least for me. Once the Lincoln bust was refurbished, it was transported back to the summit and lifted onto the pedestal. 

While that may sound like a relatively simple process, getting Abe properly positioned and secured on the base took a number of hours. Fortunately, it was a beautiful September day, the perfect time to be a sightseer. 

Wednesday in Wyoming - February 14, 2024

 

Imagine travelers' surprise when instead of the familiar Lincoln bust, they saw an empty pedestal during the summer of 2015. Where did Honest Abe go?

The monument was removed from the pedestal and transported to Lander, WY, where it was sandblasted and refinished by Eagle Bronze. Notice how much different the color is from its tarnished pre-restoration state.

Wednesday in Wyoming - February 7, 2024

 

For many years, travelers knew they'd reached the highest point on the road when they saw this landmark, a bust of Abraham Lincoln. It was first installed on U.S. 30, the appropriately named Lincoln Highway, in 1959, then was moved to Interstate 80 when it was completed in 1969. 

As you can see from this picture, which was taken in 2008, time and pollution darkened what had been a bronze-colored sculpture. That changed during the summer of 2015, 

Wednesday in Wyoming - January 31, 2024

 

For my final "winter in Wyoming" post, I've stayed close to home. I smiled when I saw that this obviously hungry cottontail had dug through fairly deep snow in my backyard to find a bit of grass. So cute!