Girls Day - Custer State Park

 What a beautiful day to drive in the hills!!   Sally and I decided to take the wildlife loop - and boy did we see critters!   LOTS of bison (sorry Kim and Richard!), pronghorns, prairie dogs, and burros.

 

 

We stopped at the new Bison Center by the corrals.  It's a really nice display and just opened last fall.

There was a mama burro and her baby in the parking lot. Awwww

Such a great time!!  We had a nice lunch in Custer, and then headed home. Great day!!

Hart Ranch 2023

It was weird coming through the gate on Saturday alone. It was weird not coming in an RV and checking into a cabin.

I'm thankful Bill and Jan are here. 

It's so wonderful to see so many good friends,  and to be able to see how much they loved Mike. I think it's hard for all of them.

Last night  we met Sally and Lyle for burgers and beer at Joe's,  a favorite place we all used to meet. 

Today we went hiking at Pactola...Sally (the lab) loved it. She fetched the ball for the longest time, and didn't want to quit when it was time to leave!!

We went to the rodeo, that was fun!

Bill and Jan left Thursday morning,  it was sad to see them go, I'm so thankful they were here for me. 

Marita,  Kevin, Jim Neilsen and I played in the golf scramble together.  We sprinkled a bit of Mike's ashes on each tee on the front 9, reminisced,  and cried a little.  Then Eddie and Tim joined us on 16 to toast Mike and sprinkle him on the green. It was a very emotional day, I think for all of us. 

Sally and I had a girls day with the top down in her new convertible.  On the road between Keystone and Hill City an eagle flew over us and screamed just as he was above us. I'm sure that was Mike.🤗

Tonight Teresa and Brad, and Anne and Tim and I went out for supper at Shipwrecks. 

Fun evening with Dotty and Roger.  They took me to the Fort Hays dinner show.  Dotty went to school with the owner. Great entertainment!!

Today Tim, Anne and I played on the pasture golf course.  I sprinkled the rest of Mike's ashes.  I put some by the tree they planted in his memory,  and some in the area where he used to hit balls from the back of the camper.

Last golf scramble with Marita, Kevin and Jim.😊

August 1 - 13 2023

I'm calling this the Jirka Rocky Mountain Widow's Retreat. It's been so therapeutic 😌 

 I drove to Claudia and Chuck's in Salida on the 1st, and it's SO GREAT to see them!  Claudia made rack of lamb (complete with mint jelly - Mike would be happy!), and then we sat out by a fire on the deck and looked at the big supermoon.

8/2: This morning we got up early, and drove to Leadville for an 8:30 tee time.  The golf course is at 10,000 feet; Chuck says it's the highest golf course in the country.  It's so beautiful!  We played 9 holes, and I hit pretty well, using Mike's clubs and my new Sunday bag.  We had lunch, came back home, and now relaxing.  The altitude really takes it out of you!!  Even Salida is 7200 feet.

View of #1 fairway

Cute of Claudia and Chuck, I'm concentrating too hard to take the selfie!

 

 8/3:  Today they took me to the springs for a soak. It was so nice, with no sulphur smell!

8/4:  Today Claudia and I took a 5 mile hike at Twin Lakes.  It was a beautiful day, with a cool breeze coming off the lake, so it was very pleasant hiking.

Claudia and I went to the Salida farmer's market on Saturday.  Hana was so cute sitting in her stroller with the beets!

Sunday night they took me to dinner at the Twin Lakes Saloon. Cute place and great food! Such good friends ❤️ 

I'm heading to Laramie today. Claudia wants me to stop by in September on my way to Dallas.  We'll see...

8/8: Today is 4 months without Mike. It's really unbelievable.  I miss him so much.

I'm staying in Laramie for a couple of days.

I took the Snowy Range Scenic Byway. It was beautiful. 

8/11:  Today in Riverton I spent the afternoon with dear friend Bobbee. We worked together at Hart Ranch, and it's been 6 years since we saw each other. SO WONDERFUL  to be able to spend time together. 💕