Cheyenne

There is a park in Cheyenne where Scarlett and Aurelia live.  This park is full of things that other parks don't have like water you can get in, and a bridge that moves by the force of little hands pulling it back and forth, a cool fort with benches and tables in it, tipis with drums, a windmill that runs water from the pond up a hill and out spouts down the rocks and back into the pond...
We made it there once while we were there this summer.  We spent three weeks in Cheyenne playing, working, sewing, sweating, running, screaming, sleeping, reading, walking, dancing...

Cannot get over the cuteness of this picture!

Sorry for the 4 pictures of basically the same thing, but really I couldn't decide which one I liked the best (ignore the finger in the corner)

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the reason I have spent the last 7 months without the Rooster here, the fact that we can fly this flag and walk (or ride horses) up and down the street flying this flag! 

This one is for Grandpa, 2 tractors! Yes, you saw that right, 2 tractors in 1

The pink shoes? Really? Who doesn't want to eat this little girl for lunch?!

This one basically sums it up! Cheyenne! In the state of Wyoming! The state The Rooster and I have fallen in love with and hope to get back to some day

...but mostly what we did was relax, drink coffee, and enjoy each other's company! 

Love ya Aunt Elizabeth, Uncle Todd, Scarlett and Aurelia! 

Ash Hollow

If you have never climbed this hill you may think it is as easy as pie. You would be mistaken! 

Grandpa has more energy than all of us combined.

You can see for miiiiiles

From the top looking down

For those of us where grew up in this area of Colorado/Nebraska we most likely know about Ash Hollow and if we were in the 5th Grade Class we got to go to Ash Hollow and make a day of it.  My kids (as much as they have seen and as many places as they have been) have never been here or even knew something like this exist.  So for those of you who don't know what Ash Hollow is here is a little lesson for you:

When settlers were moving from East to West they had traveled for days and many miles to get to this point.  This was a place where they could stop and rest and replenish supplies and fix wagons and whatever else needed to be done before they headed out again to face the Rocky Mountains as they got closer to their destination.  However, there was this big hill they needed to descend before they could go on their way.  Many many many wagons came through here leaving ruts in the ground where they descended down the side of the hill. Over many years of wind and rain and natural erosion those ruts became even larger and this has become a national historical site.  There is a trail you can walk up to the top with just a couple benches along the way for those who need a break (up or down) and it is a doozy (up and down)!

Now I am sure there is more to the story than that but 5th grade was a long time ago.

Watermelon Creek Winery

Last weekend my neighbor and I and a friend went on a trip through Leisure Travel/MWR and went for a visit of this little winery just up the road a bit.  I've never been to a winery before and learned all sorts of things.  The owner was very knowledgeable and a fount of information! I learned all about legs and dry vs sweet and red versus white and smell, ate some really good food with some rather good company and drank some really good wine.  The owner talked about his family; he can trace his family back all the way to 1819 to a mother and her illegitimate son, 9 generation before him.  They had moved out to that area and settled it and if I remember correctly her son started the first Baptist church in the area that is still up and running.  The land he lives on is the land that was settle by his ancestors and has been passed from generation to generation until it reached him and his wife.  He has spent his time restoring and rebuilding and turning the place into a beautiful quiet place to enjoy yourself.  Then he started growing grapes and making wine.  He has 6 wines ranging from very dry to very sweet, 5 of which are medal winners.  My personal favorite is the Mill Pond Blush, a rather sweet wine but very tasty.

So if your ever in the Coastal Georgia area and feel like a wine tasting full of history off a back country highway head on over to Watermelon Creek Winery and enjoy the quiet and the beauty and the good wine.