Slobber

We visited the kids recently over the 4th of July weekend. We took the furry kids along (see earlier blog about their doggie wash experience) and they were so excited. During the trip over, they were both in the backseat - except when they would try to sneak into the front seat. Like that was possible. They were driving me crazy(ier) and I was just about ready to put them out or tie them to the back bumper.

We decided to do things differently on the way home before they finally succeeded in me losing the last of my sanity. We originally put B.J. in the front passenger seat, with Joe and Blaze in the back. Unfortunately it didn't work having her back there. She still lunged at passing trucks. So we did a doggie swap and she wound up in the front seat and peace prevailed - FINALLY!!! She basically paid the trucks no heed at all, but she was very intent on watching them come towards us and evidenced below.

During the 8+ hour drive home, she even managed to try and nap - for about six seconds before going on guard again. This was the most comfortable she could get as she was a lot of dog on a not so big or wide seat.

The only real problem of her being in the front seat was her slobbering...her drooling. She would hang her tongue out for so long and it would turn into a water faucet. She was slobbering on the dash of the car (note the darker spots on the dash. She was good about wiping some of the dust off the dash though). She slobbered so much, I had to stop the car, find an old towel from the drunk and put it under her front paws to prevent the seat from becoming some nasty mess of dog drool. Yuk!

But because of the dog/human exchange, I was able to arrive home with my mental faculties still intact.

Derek and The Furry Kids

Playing With The Furry Kids

On Guard

This is a picture I took today of the furry kids through the blinds in the kitchen. They are on point waiting for one of the pesky, irritating BIG brown squirrels to hop into one of the trees or run along the power line.

You see how badly the snow and the cold bothers them...NOT!!!

It's A Walking Derek and The Furry Kids!

It was small walking child vs. big dogs and everyone turned out to be a winner...

March Visit To Grandma and Grandpa's House

The kids made an unexpected visit to come see us at the end of March. Though a short visit (there was a big storm heading our way), it was a nice visit. Not only did they bring our favorite grandson, but they also brought a truckload of wood to burn in our woodstove. This was the first time that Derek and the dogs had been up close and personal and in the beginning neither group really knew what to do with the other. But it didn't take long for everyone to get along with each other.

Derek taking his first real look at the furry kids and they at him.
A little closer inspection...

Something caught Derek's attention.

Finding some of Grandma's toys

Derek showing off some of his first steps.

Playing with Grandpa and Blaze and B.J.

Isn't he a cutie!!!

Our First Family Adventure in Wyoming

Yesterday was an absolutely beautiful day. One of the few absolutely beautiful days we've had on a weekend since our move. Yes, the wind was blowing, but not as ferociously as it does some (most) days. I had given the furry kids a bath the night before, so we loaded them into the car and off we went. Since Joe had not seen where I worked and I had not seen what it looked like to drive there during the daytime, that's where we headed to the oilfield.

The picture below is the parking lot of the Casper office where I park my car every day and carpool to the oilfield. My normal parking place is beside the light pole, but since I don't work on Fridays, someone decided to park in my spot!
This is some of the government trucks that go out to the field every day. The entire side of the parking lot is lined with the trucks.
This is the Casper Planetarium where many mornings a herd of pronghorn antelopes gather and watch us leave the parking lot. There have been times when I've been sitting in the parking lot and the herd has walked past my car.

This is the jumping on point at the interstate to head north towards Midwest, a small town with a population of 508 people, close to the oilfield.

This is looking back south towards Casper at this point on the interstate.

After driving on the interstate for about 20 miles, we drive on a two lane highway which eventually passes the famous "Teapot Dome" rock formation. It's located on a hill overlooking this family farm. Unfortunately, the "spout" has dropped off. (The wind probably did that. No more singing "I'm A Little Teapot" for the formation). I have been really surprised that there is no historical marker noting the formation and no explanation about the historic Teapot Dome Scandal.

The following pictures are some of the scenery going to the oilfield.

This is the first sign indicating where the oilfield is located.

You have to cross a cattle guard when entering the oilfield. (There are cattle guards at located at the each interstate exit also).

The "official" RMOTC and NPR #3 (Naval Petroleum Reserve) signs.

The main road leading up to the office. And, some of the wildlife I see every day.

While driving up to the office, we encountered a herd of sheep crossing the road in front of us. They belong to a neighboring rancher and there is some type of agreement that the sheep can graze here for a few weeks during this time of the year.

I turned off the car and we watched the sheep pass in front of us. The furry kids were quite fascinated be the sheep. Several times, some of the sheep would stop in the middle of the road and just stare at us. I guess they were wondering what we were doing sitting there watching them.

Eventually the herd split into two sections. One stream in front of us and one behind us. I took a couple of pictures of the furry kids as they discovered the sheep behind the car.

This is the "lower office" where the 6:30 a.m. meetings and town hall meetings are held and where several offices are located.

This is the "upper office" where my office and department members are housed.

This is one of the trucks that I drive. It sits up so high, it is really a wonderful thing to see me trying to get up into it (not)!

The front of our ritzy office...

More oilfield scenery...

We turned the furry kids loose to explore in the wide open spaces where the deer and the antelope play. However, they caught the scent of some antelope and both of them took off over hill and dale. We thought we'd lost them for a couple of minutes. After driving up the road and then coming back, we found Blaze, but still couldn't find B.J. He finally showed up waaaaaay down the road and we had to go rescue him.

After leaving the oilfield, we drove up to the little towns of Edgerton and Midwest. Edgerton had a population of 109 people, but these used to be very, very BIG towns during the 20's and the 50's when the oil business was booming. Even on the oilfield is remnants of where dormitories and barracks used to stand, as well as a swimming pool. There was even a school that had 1500 children attending. But alas, those days are gone.

Then it was home again, home again, jiggety jig.