Paige came to visit!

 Such a fun week!  Paige flew in on 8/25, and only left yesterday, 9/2.  We had a fun week, and we spent a couple of days driving through the hills.  I hadn't done any exploring yet this summer, so it was really nice to be able to show her around.  

We did Mt. Rushmore, Iron Mountain Road, the Wildlife Loop, Needles Highway, Deadwood, Lead, Spearfish Canyon - and even had lunch at Guadalahara in Spearfish.  

I'm so glad she was here, I really think it was good for both of us.  She even put up with sleeping on the horrible jackknife sofa - I got a mattress topper but I think she was only being polite when she said it was ok to sleep on.

 

We saw a ton of Bison, some Pronghorns, wild Burros, and some prairie dogs

She said she got chills as we were walking toward Mt. Rushmore

Miscellaneous August

Scott and Angie thought it was amusing that so many people get me and Anne mixed up - so they bought us caps.  Mine says "Not Anne" and hers says "Not Sue".  What a hoot!!

 

And, Debbie and Mark Helgeson were here for the weekend.  They stayed on a sales stay in a Colt2.  They were able to tour the hills on Saturday, and we had dinner together Friday and Saturday nights.  It was fun to see them, even if for a short visit.

 

Girl's Trip to Medora

 What a fun weekend Sally and I had!!   We left right after work on Monday, checked in to the lovely Rough Riders Hotel, and headed to our Teddy Roosevelt dinner show.  The dinner was superb - even for a buffet.  Prime rib!!  And the show was great.  Joe Wiegand IS Teddy Roosevelt.  We really enjoyed it!!

Tuesday we drove around Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and found three separate groups of wild horses, along with Bison.  Very exciting - it was a beautiful day, and green from all the rain. 

Tuesday night we had the Medora Musical - what a great and very entertaining show!!  And of course, the Pitchfork Steak Fondue - dinner was really good.

We also toured the Chateau de Mores while waiting for the fondue dinner to start.  Mike and I had toured it before - it's very interesting and Sally enjoyed it.

Wednesday morning we decided to go to the Gospel Brunch.  Good food, and yet ANOTHER great show!!  We drove home via the Enchanted Highway - and I learned a lot about wheat farmers hiring "Wheaties" to come and harvest their crops.  It's a thing!!!

We had so much fun! 

The new TR Presidential Library is being build and will open July 4th, 2026 in time for the 250th US Birthday!

Oh Sally, I can't take you anywhere 😏

My favorite president.  Turns out I'm a "Ted Head"!!

TR in the flesh!!

Steaks ready to go into the pot!

 

Sturgis 85th Anniversary

 Angie, Scott, Neil, Pam and Jake were here!!  The Gaines' were here for a week - I'm so glad they finally made it!!   Angie and Scott only for a few nights because they had to be back in Georgia - Angie starts teaching this week!

They packed a lot of rides in - I worked all weekend, but Scott led the way through the Hills.  Jake drove the truck.

On Monday, Neil and Pam went into Sturgis, Jake and I golfed at the HR Golf Club - so that he could play the course that Mike loved.

Yesterday we went to the Badlands.

I think they loved all the riding through the Hills, and I'm so happy everyone was here and got to experience the Sturgis Rally.

Rodeo on the first night.  We didn't stay long, they were whipped after their trip

They all made it to Mt Rushmore!

Eating at Mike's favorite - The Loud American

Main Street Sturgis

 We got pictures at Mike's sign for the Pasture Golf Course, and in front of his tree.

 

Neil took me for a spin around the park

Golfing PawPaw's favorite course

A great day at the Badlands

July - Angie and Scott Visit

 Angie and Scott stopped at Hart Ranch for a week on their way to meet Nate and Mila in Yellowstone.  We had fun. We went off road one day to Rochford - and I was able to get a picture of them in front of the Moonshine Gulch Saloon.  

We went to the rodeo - with my friend Vicky Palser

I believe he is flipping me off!!!

Raining the day they left

See you for Sturgis!!!

70th birthday😭

 

Melrose - Visiting Aunt Lorraine

I took a quick trip to Melrose to see Aunt Lorraine - she fell and fractured her pelvis 😟 

It was so good to see her - and all the girls - and Butch and Al and Shawn.  Lorraine looked great, we had a wonderful visit.

I'll stop by again on my way to Annapolis after I leave Hart Ranch at the end of September.

We met in the Bistro and celebrated Butch's 89th birthday!!

She has a really nice room at the Care center.

 

 

Taylor's Graduation

 Whoo, what a whirlwind trip.  I left Hart Ranch on Monday the 19th with my aim to get to Dawsonville mid-day on the 21st.  The weather had other plans!

I hit a wicked hail storm between Mitchell and Sioux Falls.  I thought I had waited long enough in Mitchell.  I was following the car ahead of me with his flashers on, praying that the hail wouldn't break any windows.  At that point, I didn't care about dents - I just didn't want to get stuck waiting for glass repair!

Thankfully, I got through that, and no visible damage.  The rest of the way to Waterloo, IA was hard rain, sometimes with visibility about zero.

I stayed in Waterloo, with the intent to drive to Paducah, KY on Tuesday - but cancelled those plans because of the level 4 out of 5 risk of severe weather.  I went WAAAAAY out of the way to Fort Wayne, IN to avoid the weather.  There was still a lot of rain, but luckily nothing bad.

So, Wednesday turned out to be a very long day to Dawsonville, and I made it home about 8pm. At least there wasn't any rain! Whew.

Thursday I met Katie at her house at noon, and she, Barb and I picked up Livie and headed to graduation.  HE DID IT!!!

First and last day of school!💖

Katie and Mike with Taylor and Abby

We all went out for supper after, and then I drove back to Dawsonville and crashed!

Friday, Pam and I had lunch at Senior Fiesta and toasted Kathy.  Then I headed over to Katie's to help her get ready for the party.  It was a joint party for Taylor, Abby, and their friend Addy.  The venue was at Reunion Country Club, and Katie did a great job of planning and decorating.  The party was a huge success!

 

A table inviting guests to make bouquets

The kids each had a table with their favorite pictures

The photo spot

I left mid morning on Saturday after closing down the Voltage, and got back to Hart Ranch on Tuesday afternoon.  Luckily, no bad weather to speak of on the way home!!