Lessons to be Learned from Trees

Besides putting in sod and distributing one third of a million pounds of rocks around the yard, Steven planted 75 trees and 20 lilac bushes so far this year. Consequently, we have learned a lot about the care of growing stuff. Here is what we learned:

1. Quaking Aspen are not called "deer snacks for nothing.

2. Irish Spring hand soap may or may not repel a hungry deer.

3. Guests are not shy about asking why the bars of soap amongst the trees.









4. When it's dead, it's dead and no amount of praying will bring it back.

5. Backing over a tree is a bad thing.

6. So is letting Leslie give you directions for backing up.

7. No amount of praying will bring it back.

I'm sure that in the future there will be other lessons to learn about tree care which I may or may not own up to.

Steve and Roberto Gato

This one is for Blaine who has been refuting my claim that Steven had been over doing it when he should have been getting his rest. This is definitely Steve Bauer working his little fingers to the bone (notice the leather gloves) scooping up rocks (132 cubic yards or 171.6 tons to be exact) and gently dumping them in the desired areas so that he can shovel them around and around and around to my satisfaction. What a guy! Such undying dedication to domestic harmony! A man doing too much, as usual.

Stay tuned. My next entry will be all about tree care. You'll love it.

Pictures of Independence Day with Bess and Micah's Family

Unfortunately, my flash was not working. Otherwise, there would be a whole lot more pictures posted.


The first is of Grandpa, Micah, and Henri watching the parade.

These are Harriett, a Shriner, and a fire engine.

This shot is of Harriett's new tooth as of July 3, 2008. She insisted that I take this picture.

These are Steven (aka Grandpa; left, wearing the burp cloth) and Hazel (aka Hazie; right, wearing the hat) on the shore of Yellowstone Lake.

Here you see the Bauers, Jr. standing in front of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center (BBHC), being blinded by the sun.

Finally, here is Micah holding Henri as Henri pets what might be one of the Dansie horses. We'll never know for sure because my stupid flash wouldn't work. The biggest bummer is that it was the only picture that turned out of our visit to the Dansie Farm. The kids got to ride a grand champion fox-trotter named Mark. Steven and I don't think we will ever be able to top that one. Does this mean that the kids will be disappointed from now on when they visit?

A Gathering of Grizzlies

Cody is crawling with culture. Last weekend, the public library presented A Gathering of Grizzlies for which local artists decorated 25 fiberglass models of grizzlies for display and for auction as a fund-raiser. This is not a new concept to Steven and me.

Several years ago, while visiting Leah, Steven and I saw San Luis Obispo's Trout About Town, which we loved. The differences between the two events are 1) these are bears not trout, 2) our bears were sculpted by a member of Cody 3rd Ward (this is a big deal because trout and other such objects are generic and are used all over the country, where our grizz is unique to Cody, which of course is morally superior), and 3) our bears were not as imaginative as the trout in SLO. To see the trout, go to: http://www.pbase.com/neovolatile/slo_trout

Nevertheless, they are ours and we love them. Come to Cody and see them for yourselves.

The Sod and the Stone

For those of you who have not been paying attention, we now have sod! And we also have stones--or more accurately, Steven had one in his kidney. After a three-week ordeal, which prohibited us from attending our nephew's wedding in Salt Lake and visiting Micah's family, Steven is now doing much better. (IMPORTANT TIP FOR WIVES: If your husband refuses to lay down and get better, just steal his pants and he'll stay home.)

We are thinking that the stone thing is just water under the bridge now, but the lawn is a joy forever. Note the before, during (yes, that IS Steve laying sod during his invalid period, ergo pants theft), and after shots. You got to love him.

The Dansie Horses

This entry is for the grandkids.

Bessie-Mae, please hold Hazy up to the screen andspeak in a clear, calm tone of voice, "Look, Hazy! Horsies! See the pretty horsies? Horsies go 'Whinny, whinny, whinny!' Horsies, Hazy, horsies! Horsies are so fun! Can you say horsie? Grandma has horsies by her house."

Repeat as necessary.

Henri and Harriett can make up their own scripts.

The Dansies live about about a mile from us. These horses are world (repeat world) champion fox trotters. Grandpa is the Dansies' home teacher. We are going to care for their horses while the Dansies are at a horse show in Missouri.

I love Cody!

2008 Cody Migration

I got home Friday evening at about 10:00. My day had been understandably hectic, what with closing up the house, a worrisome trip to Fresno and plane travel to Cody. Special note to anyone who may be fuzzy on the proper use of the oil gage: If it does ANYTHING FUNNY, ANYTHING AT ALL, PULL OVER AND DEAL WITH IT. As a post script to the oil episode, it's entirely possible that my jeep will be summering at Blackstone Tire.

Kristi Lawrence shuttled me to the airport in time for me to wait an extra 30 minutes as the plane was inspected for bird-collision-damage. That was unfortunate because I only had a 30 min. layover between flights. The people at the Fresno airport wanted me to reschedule for the next day and spend the night in Fresno, just in case. (Oh yeah, like I'm going to do that.)

When we were finally airborne, a few of the people seated near me had heard that I needed to hurry if I was going to make my next flight. The guy in front of me offered to block the rest of the passengers while I jogged for the door. (It worked.) As I rushed off, one man said, "Go right, then right again." That was all I needed to find the terminal at which my next flight was boarding. An airport employee said, "Gate 73," to my question as I sprinted past. I flashed the gate attendant my ticket and, as I rushed onto the tarmac, he yelled after me which plane was going to Cody.

I made it. I was happy. And, as I put my carry-on in the overhead, I spotted our Cody friend, Steve Danforth. We spent a very nice hour and three quarters visiting as we flew to Cody. Being a professional pilot himself, he explained to me why our landing was a little more bumpy than necessary. It had to do with something in the tail asslembly, with which he was personally familiar.

BAUER GUYS TAKE NOTE: When I got home, your father had my favorite night gown ready for me and served me a bowl of ice cream with my favorite topping. He had also cleaned the house top to bottom, the jacuzzi was ready for me and all my favorite foods were stocked so I could cook to both of our hearts' delight.

Wow! Way to treat a wife! Sometimes I think he treats me better than I treat him. Of course now, four days later, things are back to normal.