Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Where I've Been

Those of you who check in regularly know I've been gone for a few weeks. The Wifey and I went to southern Montana for what was supposed to be about a week for our son's wedding but then ended up a visit with my sister in northern Montana and turned into almost three weeks. While were in Kalispell we attended the Fourth of July Parade down Main Street. Here's some of the "floats":


There were actually TWO cement trucks...and the Flathead Lake Rollerderby Queens team.

This was the front-loader with a bucket full of rocks.  I thought they should have taken the time to at least paint the rocks red, white and blue or stick a flag in them or something...


This was the "marching band".


The kid wasn't a bad drummer for sitting in the bed of a moving pickup truck. I'm sure he was tired after two blocks of wailing away on the drum set.  I didn't get a picture of the random Toyota Minivan that took a wrong turn and got stuck in the parade.  The occupants looked a bit embarrassed.

The wedding was held at the bride's uncle's ranch.  Here is my son and grandson with a fawn that they had found abandoned by its mother.  Not something you get to see in the big city.


The Wifey made me wear my suit and tie for the wedding. The last time I wore it was at the daughter's wedding about 8 years and 20 pounds before. Ouch.

This is Mom pinning the boutonniere on the groom


This is the bride and groom in a "private moment".

The reception was held outdoors. A friend of the family has a BBQ restaurant and catered the reception.
After the reception, a sparkling send off to the bride and groom....


A double blessing of the wedding was we got to meet our new grand daughter.

After the wedding we got to travel some of Montana and Yellowstone National Park. We drove the Beartooth Highway, deemed the most beautiful drive in America. I can't argue with that.


One of the things I discovered on the way home is a "biker bar" used to be a place where scary Hell's Angels hung out.  Now it is an upscale watering hole at a trendy destination where middle aged men with 25,000.00 toy Harley Davidsons and Goldwings go for vacations.

All in all, a nice break. I was in 78 degrees and on a pontoon boat trout fishing when it hit 118 in Phoenix.  It was hard to come home.  But in the end, there's no place like home.

11 comments:

Elizabeth @ The Garden Window said...

Fab photos ! I'm so glad you ahd a womderful time.

Many Years to the newly married couple, and to your new grandchild :-)

Anonymous said...

I can't believe that scenery. It's beautiful. So is the picture of you with the grandchild... there is something heavenly about cuddling a kid as tiny as that.

I'm enjoying catching up on your posts :)

Gold
(used to blog as Marigold on 'Pickled Apple')

Steve Robinson said...

Hi Marigold, Wow, good to hear from you. I've always wondered how you were doing.

elizabeth said...

welcome back home; man 118 degrees! wow. happy for the beauty you saw and documented here. :)

Matushka Anna said...

Nice to have you back!

The photos and description of the parade were adorable! I wish you'd gotten a picture of the minivan.

What a beautiful backdrop for a wedding party. I love the mountains. I also love the picture of you with your grandchild. It's other-worldly.

Anonymous said...

I'm doing pretty well thanks s-p. I got coaxed back into the blogosphere. Since the Pickled Apple I've switched jobs and am in the final months of paying loans etc. before I can get me to a nunnery. I have to say I missed reading your posts, it's good to be back :)

ladydame said...

Your son with that fawn is about the cutest thing I've ever seen! And you look so happy with the baby. :-) As my parents say, grandkids are the best! And last, you married a redhead - in my humble, red-headed opinion, AWESOME choice! ;-) Love all the pictures!

Anonymous said...

Ladydame, thank you for the compliment. Actually, he married a dishwater blonde whose hair has since started to go gray, who swore she'd NEVER dye it...oh well.

-wifey

frd+ said...

We just got back from Maui: 85 with warm ocean breezes every day and came home to 50's and rain. There's no place like home... no place like home. No place lie... "Honey, I just booked a return flight to Lahaina."
frd+

amy said...

Lovely photos! I've tucked, "travel the Beartooth Highway" in that mental list of things I must do..Thanks for sharing your holiday with us...and congratulations to you on several accounts.

Chocolatesa said...

Wow! Beautiful pictures! And congratulations!