The "Hawk" is back and he caught up with me in McPherson, KS. Burrrr!!!!

Hello!  I'd like to report a missing season.  Where did it go?  Has anyone see the Fall?

I'm sitting here in McPherson  KS.  You know KS.  "I don't think we're in KS anymore Toto", KS.

Just yesterday it was 50 degrees and now it's 19?  Oh well, it's gotta be something. Hello ccccold. It's nice to see you again.

McPherson, KS  From the site: McPherson.org. We like to think of McPherson as the hometown you've always wanted.

We drove into McPherson on a sleepy, Sunday.  Here comes that "May-berry feeling again!!
At some point in time, we all yearn for the feeling of Simplicity.  Loving the feel you get when you walk down a street and you feel it coming...  Your shoulders relax and your chest can as Ms. Toni Morrison so eloquently put it "EXHALE".

As Woody and I drive through downtown McPherson, this Sunday afternoon, many places are closed but there was a quiet splendor taking in 

Hello Oklahoma City, OK

With a weekend off, we are headed to Oklahoma City.  Even though we belong to a local credit union at home.  Support local.  With being on the road, we have to "Big Bank It."  Small towns normally don't have the big banks so off to OKC we go.  But, since we're headed to the big city, we figured we would see what they have to offer in the way of sight seeing.  The last time we worked in OKC, we toured the Oklahoma National Memorial.  This time, with only having a day to tool around, we figured we would head downtown to Bricktown.

I got this photo from the web.  Looks pretty hustly bustly.

Well it's fall and this is what welcomed us.  Still pretty but, it had started to rain.

So, before we walked around a bit, we wanted to get a bite to eat.  Not having had breakfast, we asked the little lady at the parking lot where was the best place for brunch.? No, I don't want Mexican or italian for brunch, I want American.  So, she suggested...Nonna's Euro-American Ristorante & Bar

I like an experience when I "go" to eat.  It's one thing to grab a quick bite, but today, I wanted an experience.  Let's start with the wait staff.  "Hello, my name is Michael, I will be taking care of you today,welcome to Nonna's."  Is this your first time here?" 

 Yes, customer service at it's finest.  the menu was fab-u-lous.  I could not make up my mind.  Did I want the Salmon Croquettes or the Chicken Pot Pie.  Woody couldn't decide between the Avis Pot Roast or the Beef Stroganoff.  Michael, liking the wow affect suggests the Avis' Pot Roast to Woody and for you, he said, "I think you'd like something pretty, I suggest the Chicken Pot Pie."  Pot Pie it is.  

Michael explained to us that everything at Nonna's is locally grown or bought. That I loved. Started with the house salad with ranch dressing.  The dressing was dreamy, creamy homemade.  

Because it was our first time, Michael surprised us with homemade (cannot stress the homemade enough) Mozzarella sticks.  These were not your run of the mill Mozzarella sticks.  They were very crunchy, melt in your mouth ooey, gooey.  My mouth was so excited, my hand dropped it into the marinara sauce, which of course splattered everywhere.  We work construction, we don't get out much to fancy, dancy places.  But when we do, it better be good.  And oh man, was it ever.

Before I could finish my last bit of salad, here comes Michael with the entree's.  He did not stretch the truth one bit. Voila,  the Chicken Pot Pie.

Cluck Cluck.  Look at that little rooster on top.  Crispy and flaky.  When I sliced it open, Pot Pie juices oozed out.  Yummy.  Then was Mr. Wood's Avis Pot Roast 

I couldn't eat it, beef you know, but he said it was soo tender and it smelled soo good.  I did sneak a potato and an onion.  Again, yum.  Oh yeah, for drinks their house iced tea is sort of a berry, maybe a black currant.  

Dessert.  Hello.  We were too full.  But, I found another type of dessert.  Right next to Nonna's is Painted Door.  Can you say Super Shop?  When I walked in she complimented my shoes.  I was impressed.  Then she told me that they gift wrapped.  I was sold.  Within 30 minutes I found, well let's just say I found a few things.  I can't tell you, it would ruin the surprise.

Oh yeah, we did say we'd go for a walk, if not to sight see, to walk off the pounds.  

 This was the coolest statue.  It is called "Inclined, by David Phelps. It is derived from the history of the Bricktown area and it's surroundings.  

This is the Devon Bridge. That's me.  Hi!

It was a quite, floaty day. Nothing out but us and the ducks. Quack, Quack.

It's Mickey Mantle at the 

Chickasaw Bricktown BallPark.

Well it started to rain again, and we were full and beat.  But, we enjoyed our trip to Bricktown in Downtown Oklahoma City, OK.  If we get another weekend off, I would love to come back.  We enjoyed you so much.  Thank you Bricktown!  

See, I told you, there's always something to do, in your own backyard.  Vagabondlady063 Out!

We are in historic Elk City OK. Home of the National Route 66 Museum.

Hello from Elk City OK.

We're working a few more hours now, so, I'm not getting out as much but, a day in the life can be just as sweet.  So, to coin a phrase "LG", Life's Good."

When we started traveling for work in 1996, we had two kids, a dog and me and Woody.  I honestly don't know how I did all that I did and worked outside of the home too.  Now, the kids are grown, we lost our little Regis and there's only Woody and myself on the road.  For all that I did back then, I ask myself, "where did my energy go?"

One of my biggest pet peeves is scraps of paper with little notes written on them.  You know the notes, toilet paper, need sugar, pick up paper towels.  Ugh! Who's got time for that?  I am not a little paper note carrier and my mantra, "I will keep a clean purse", doesn't seem to be working.  Between receipts I vow to ditch, little notes everywhere; and trying to remember to put the reusable grocery bags in the truck when we're headed to do the grocery shopping, this "bear" can be a little overwhelming.  The list is never complete, we never seem to have enough bags and no one has a clue as to what they want to eat this week.  So, on a wing and a prayer, we head to the grocery store, with the "look."  You know the "look" that say's, OMG, why are we not rich and can afford someone to not only make these decisions as to what to buy, bring it home and put it away.  They also need to cook it and have it hot and ready when we get home.  But we are not, so we go.

So, we're standing in the kitchen one day last week and I say to Woody "wouldn't it be nice if Siri could make me a grocery list"?  He say's, "poof, you're a grocery list."  So, not funny!  Anyway.  I push my little button and Siri say's, "How can I help you?"  I ask her to make me a grocery list, and she does.  Ha ha.  There was dancing in the streets.  Ok, in my head, there was dancing and merriment, corks a poppin.  Easy, peasy!

Now there are no little notes.  I ask Siri to add something whenever I see that I'm out.  I carry my phone, not  a notebook everywhere I go.  Strange?  So what?  I'm a mom, awaiting for the few and far between phone calls I might get from my kids.  I know they are men but a mom can dream.

Siri also keeps my weekly menu.  You know, "what do you want to eat tonight, I don't know, what do you want to eat?  Hate it.

Okay, so a little 411 about pretty little Elk City.  Best places I have found for eating out in Elk City.  Breakfast made to order:  The Cowboy Cafe. I had a potato veggie scramble.  No eggs,  hash brown potatoes, every vegetable on the menu, with cheese, salsa, sour cream and a side of wheat toast.  Sorry no pics.  I ate it before I thought of the pictures.
Dinner Romas Italian Restaurant.  Start with a tossed salad and the fresh baked rolls, heavenly brushed with butter and garlic.  Yum!  Again, sorry no pictures.  I will do better next time. A veggie pizza (best crust ever) with, spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions and extra cheese.  I love, love, love cheese.  You know it's a drug.

When you have a combination of good food and good customer service in a place, you will not go wrong and they have both.

I'll keep you posted on my visit in Elk City.  what I find to eat or do, I'll update you.

Still, Living it up in Gillette WY!!

The midwest is still beautiful!  I thank God everytime I see a sunrise, a sunset, a cluster of some of the most beautiful  cloud formations, I have ever seen.  Well, I just thank God.   It's been a while and I have to say, I haven't been following my own advice.  Getting out and soaking up the local color.  But in my defense, the reason I get to do all of the traveling that I do is because of my job.  So, I do take in the sights, when I can.   So, I know I'm a little late but I still wanted to say "Happy 4th of July. Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!  A a very love filled thank you to everyone who serves this great nation and any way or fashion that you choose.   I also wanted to share my pictures with you because I did soak up some of what Gillette, WY had to offer on the 4th.   Woody and I started our day our favorite local coffee shop City Brew Coffee-Gillette WY. They make a mean WY Morning Latte. Then it was off to the parade.  Here are some of my favorite shots.  I think everyone in Gillette was there.   

You know I love free & entrepreneurship. These young people coverd both bases. 

Look, it's a Willenda.  No, she's just Gotta Dance.

 And what would a WY parade in WY be without horses

or, The Coal Miner's Daughters.  No, I did not see Loretta.

Video from Gillette WY 4th of July 2013

After the parade, the town was invited to the park for free food, fun and games. 

Also, crowded but fun. We sat under a tree and listened to the bands play.

Later on that night, there was a beautiful fireworks display.  The fireworks were held at what's called the Camplex. the West's Largest Events Facility.  There was a thunderstorm and I was not exactly sure of what holding a camera would do in a lightning storm so. I  did find a link from brave soul Taylor Primm via Youtube. July 4, 2013 Gillette WY.

Well. That's how I spent my 4t of July 2013.  Hope you enjoyed yours. Blog at you later.

Still Here, Living it up in Wyoming. Well, not quite.

Westward Ho!!!

A Cattle Drive

Wow!  Look what I saw today. A Cattle Drive.  No, cows don't drive.  A cattle drive is when cowboys on horsback "drive" or move a large number of cattle across the wide open spaces.  In 1866 this was a common sight but today February 23, 2013, to this East Coast girl was a sight for sore eyes. 

The cowboy is a character of movies, legends, tall tales and love stories.  The image makes a man, puff out his chest with pride and get a little swag in his step.  The sight can make a woman swoon and cause her knees to bend.  The American West is still quite enchanting, even if the view is from a 2004 Chevy pickup. 

Look, new babies can be seen everywhere.  Just a few weeks ago, he wasn't even in the world.  Now, here he is and momma is keeping him close. 

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Vagabondlady063 Out!!!

What did I do today?

It's Thursday morning in Gillette, WY and the snow is blowing like crazy.  I enjoy the snow, I would enjoy it more, in front of a fireplace snuggled up under a blanket with a cup of coffee and a good book. But, alas, no fireplace and I get to go to work.

Going in a little late today because Hwy 59 between Gillette, WY and the MT state line is like a sheet of ice.  Much better to drive it in the daylight, especially going up and down the roller coaster of mountains.  Pretty to look at but no guard rails.  I suppose, guard rails would mar  the beautiful, ranch and wildlife country side view that is Hwy 59. 

It's Valentines day and we have dinner reservations at the Chophouse Gillette WY, so I'm packing a bag with a change of clothes, grabbing a cup of coffee at the City Brew FB Gillette WY and over the Powder River  and through the mountains we go.

The job I am working now is in the middle of an oil field and I have to travel at 5 a.m. and drive approximately 1.5 hours  to Broadus, MT.  Not much to see that time of morning.  But, we are going in at 7 so I am taking full advantage of being able to see the scenery. 

I have a break to share with you what I saw.  Enjoy the pics.

Pretty Ponies

Majestic Mountains

Free Range Cattle

 Even if it's just riding in a car and looking at the sights," there's always something to do."
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VAGABONDLADY063 OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!