Wednesday in Wyoming - December 26, 2018

Although many of us have elaborate Christmas decorations in our home, this picture reminds me that life was quite different for soldiers in the nineteenth century. This very simple -- some would say sparse -- tree is inside the cavalry barracks at Fort Laramie.

Wednesday in Wyoming - December 19, 2018

Although there are many symbols of the Christmas season, none captures the true reason for the season better than the nativity scene. I saw this one in the current governors' mansion in Cheyenne soon after we moved to Wyoming and thought it was particularly beautiful.

Wednesday in Wyoming - December 12, 2018

One time when I was at Walt Disney World, I overheard a young boy horrify his younger sister by whispering rather loudly, "There's more than one Mickey."

There may indeed be more than one Mickey at Disney World, but they're careful that you can see only one at a time. Not so at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens' Children's Village. They're proud to present the Thousand Faces of Santa.

Are there really a thousand? I don't know, but as you can see, there are quite a few.

Wednesday in Wyoming - December 5, 2018

For many of us, a decorated tree is one of the most enduring symbols of the Christmas season. Fortunately, those of us who live in or near Cheyenne can enjoy many beautifully decorated trees as part of the Historic Governors' Mansion's Tinsel Through Time exhibit.

I particularly like this one, since (1)it has plenty of tinsel and (2) I didn't have to decorate it.

Wednesday in Wyoming - November 28, 2018

In contrast to the rather simple buildings that we saw in the Carter compound last week, this one shows its Victorian origins. What is it? The commanding officer's home at Fort Bridger.

Can't you picture women with parasols strolling the walks and then sitting on the porch to sip lemonade? I can.

There are still many more things to share about Fort Bridger, but we'll take a break for a month or so. What's coming for December? How about Christmas decorations?

A Few of my Favorite Recipes

If you've read my Texas Crossroads books, you know that I enjoy sharing recipes with readers. Over the years, I've also shared recipes on other authors' blogs.  Kathy F suggested that I assemble all of those links in one place, so here they are.

Are you a chocoholic? I certainly am, which is why I love the Almost Healthy Brownies that you see pictured above.
Almost Healthy Brownies

Here's another chocolate favorite. (If you're not fond of mocha, simply eliminate the coffee.) This easy-to-make and refreshing dessert is one that I recommend for those hot days of summer, but if you live in a hot climate, you might enjoy it now.
Frosty Mocha Freeze

We've reached the time of the year where cranberries are easy to find. If you'd like a dessert that's remarkably easy to make as well as being delicious, I recommend Cranberry Torte.

I buy several bags of cranberries each year and freeze them so I can make this dessert year-round.  Oh, all right, I'll admit that I've been known to have a dozen bags of those tart but healthy fruits in the freezer. That's how much I like this and several other dishes that feature fresh cranberries.
Cranberry Torte

Who doesn't like cheesecake, especially when it's a single-serving size? I've been making these mini-cheesecakes for more years than I'm going to admit, but they've never lost their appeal.
Mini Cheesecakes

And, lest you think I eat only dessert, here's a main course recipe to round out today's post.

If you're looking for a cold main dish, you might enjoy my Summer Pasta Salad. I find the pinkish color as refreshing as the salad itself and have been known to take it to potluck meals even in the midst of winter.
Summer Pasta Salad

Bon appetit!

Wednesday in Wyoming - November 21, 2018

One of the most influential men at Fort Bridger during the period the Army occupied it was Judge William Carter. Not only did he serve as the fort's sutler, but in 1860 he was responsible for the establishment of Wyoming's first school.

The teachers he hired from the East were so competent and the education they provided to Carter's children and others from the fort so good that the graduates of the Carter school were allowed to enter eastern colleges without any additional education. Now, that's a good school.

As you can see, there was no consistent architectural style at the Carter compound. The school house is the white building with vertical siding. The stone building attached to it is the milk house. The large dark brown building in the background is the ice house.