More from the latest road trip.......

I'm slowly, but surely getting our latest road trip (b)logged here. It's spotty at best, but hey, who wants to read 21 sequential posts about our road trip?
So, one cool thing that we discovered on this last was that antiques are CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP on the route we traveled. I threatened several times to rent a Uhaul trailer and fill it up with antiques. I'm seriously considering a future road trip where we make a similar loop and rent a trailer when we get back there, fill it up and haul it home.
Some of the things we found back there were just amazing to me! I've been searching for an old fashioned panel door for a few years now. I come across them every now and then, but I simply refuse to pay $50+ dollars for one. We stopped at one antique store in S. Dakota and they must have had a half dozen of them for $5 a piece!!!! FIVE DOLLARS!!!! I wanted one so bad I could hardly stand it. Unfortunately, they had windows in them (which made them even more perfect for my purpose) and I was afraid I'd never get them home without breaking the glass. This was on the 3rd day of our trip and I threatened to strap it to the roof rack on the Yukon, but I was afraid I'd break the glass on some of the rough roads we planned to travel in Colorado. I still should have done it. I should have at least tried.....if I broke the glass, oh well. It was FIVE DOLLARS!!!! What was I thinking leaving it there!!!! I've been kicking myself ever since I got home.
I did find an antique tricycle (probably from the 50's) on the way home in Kansas. I bought it for $25. It's absolutely adorable and will make a great prop. I also bought 2 dolls, a hat box, a few dishes, an antique leather suitcase (for $10) and a few more odds and ends in S. Dakota. Oh yeah, I also finally found the antique tractor seat I've been looking for. I've found many of these here in the Northwest, but again, you're looking at anywhere from $50 - $100. I picked this gem up for $5!!!!! I almost felt dishonest!!!
So, if you love antiques and you're traveling east, take I-90 across S. Dakota and I-80 back through Kansas. Don't forget your trailer!!!!! We are seriously considering doing such a thing on our next trip out to see family. We had a great time in these antique stores and the prices were absolutely unbelievable!!!!

Just for Fun.....

My friend Denise and I got together over the weekend for a "just for fun" photo day. Her daughter and daughter's friend were gracious enough to model for us. They're such good sports. :) We had a great time. It's always fun to shoot with a friend. Here are a few from our "just for fun" photo excursion..... :)

Tagged!

I was tagged by Heather...... Gee thanks.... :) So.... 6 "unspectacular" things about myself.......
Here we go!

1. I always mush the pulp out of my tomotoes because otherwise it gags me. It's kind of snotty, really.

2. I have 2 tattoos and 11 piercings. Tattoos are actually kind of addictive and I've had to restrain myself from getting more.

3. I hate holidays. Yes, all of them.

4. I hate being the passenger in an automobile. I get bored and restless.

5. I love the Lord, but I hate religion. It's about the relationship, not the religionship.

6. When I shop, I always get a push cart instead of a little hand basket....even if I'm only getting one or two things. My theory is that if someone sees you barreling toward them with a big ol' push cart, they're more likely to get the h-e-double hockey sticks out of your way. A hand basket just isn't very intimidating......

So, there you have it!
Now, I don't have 6 people to tag so I'll just add a couple.... I tag Phil, Jen and Rodd.

Smile....... It's contagious.

The Big Butts

On our recent trip we thought we'd stop in at Devil's Tower in Wyoming. It sounded like an interesting place. I thought maybe it would be photo worthy. I was wrong....... :) While somewhat interesting from a geological standpoint, it was a little drab photographically.

So, instead we took some pictures of these little prairie dog things. I think that's what they were..... There were literally hundreds of them on the drive up to the tower. They have these enormous rear ends and we affectionately dubbed them "the Big Butts". None of the images are works of art, but they're cute..... :)

Ashcroft, Colorado

If I remember correctly, this is the window of the saloon in Ashcroft, Colorado. Ashcroft is a little ghost town easily accessible from Aspen. It has probably a dozen old buildings and cute little wooden boardwalks. If you're in the area, it's a fun stop.

Montana Relic

I love this old car....... We discovered it a few years ago on our way home from Yellowstone NP. It's on Hwy 287 around Harrison, MT. I have to stop and shoot it now every time we get into the area. I'm hoping to someday do a series with it, but I have several years worth of images to gather of it first. My luck, someone will move it next year..... :) It's one of my favorite "roadside finds".

Chapel of Transfiguration - Grand Teton NP

This tiny little chapel is found just about a mile from Moose, Wy. It's not a spectacular photo..... I just liked the way the cross was silhouetted in the window......

Solo....

Bushong Piano

This old schoolhouse is found in Bushong, Kansas. There's isn't much left of the auditorium but this old stage. The coolest thing about the place was the old piano left there. The keys are frozen in place, the ceiling has crumbled down upon it, the foot pedals are rusty and broken, the strings are now silent......... Honestly, the place was a little bit eerie, but very cool nonetheless.

One of the Many Reasons I Love Colorado

This is one of the many reasons I love Colorado. This was probably the most awesome display of color we have seen on treks through the Rockies. It was just phenomenal and we were so fortunate to catch it at peak this year. It was such a perfect mix of color....... I couldn't have asked for better. This was taken at Kebler Pass.......one of my favorite places in Colorado.

Home at Last....

My, my...... Has it really been over a month since I've posted anything? I'm such a slacker! I've now been sufficiently chastised by friends and family for my slackerdom......(I don't think that's a word....). I've also been shamed by my older sister who is a wife and mother of 5 and she manages a small novelette on her blog nearly every day. I guess I'd better share a bit about our 3 1/2 week long road trip!!!

Let me just start by saying that 3 1/2 weeks is waaaaaaaaaaaay too long to be stuck in a car, on the road, sleeping in saggy hotel beds and eating swill from fast food joints and restaurants that charge a small fortune for some artery clogging, blood pressure jacking, flavorless lump of sawdust. Have I told you I'm glad to be home???? It really wasn't JUST the vacation, but after a week at home I had to go to San Antonio for a conference.

So anyway, we won't be taking anymore near month long journeys. We had an awesome time and got to visit friends and family (which we normally don't get a chance to see) so that was a bonus.

The route took us through Montana, South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and back through Montana and Idaho. Rodd had never seen South Dakota, Kansas, Missouri or much of Iowa. We saw the Badlands in South Dakota but didn't shoot anything while there. I guess it just wasn't that impressive. I suppose it was interesting, just not really photo worthy. We skipped Mt. Rushmore. I've seen it a couple of times and Rodd wasn't dying to see it so we passed. Due to time it really came down to a choice between the Badlands and that. We'd always rather see some natural as manmade. We did stay at this completely disgusting camp ground at the east entrance to Badlands NP. It was called the Circle 10 Campground and Motel. It was one of those instances where it's pouring buckets with plenty of lightning, it's dark, it's late, you're tired and you tell yourself "How bad can it be?" Well, it can be that bad!!! We pulled in and saw that it was a "Good Sam" park. Now, I have no idea what that means, but I see it on lots of fancy RV bumpers, so I figured it might be safe. WRONG!!!! The trick here is that those huge, fancy RV's have their own bathroom facilities. In that case, it might have been ok. However, the "bath-house" at this place had enough mildew to keep Lysol in business for at least the next 5 years. And that was just what was on the shower curtain!!! Locks of Love should stop by this place and scoop up the hair that was on the floor of the shower stalls. I'm serious, they could have made at least 2 or 3 full wigs with this stuff. Ew!

Here are some choice images from the Circle 10. Perhaps over the weekend I'll post something more interesting and less disgusting! :)