Saturday, October 31, 2009

Vacation Flu

...What will Scout remember about this family vacation - probably only this...

Friday, October 30, 2009

Cabin Fever - literally...

We're still stuck in the cabin nursing our aches and pains......these sweet visitors keep coming by outside...
...there was a flock of turkeys too - but apparently no one felt like taking a picture...
Scout and the Man are both well on their way to recovery - after about 3 days of fever - their temps began to moderate...
...mine - not so much...
...we did find a very nice doctor here who confirmed that we have the H1N1 variety of flu - the boys are recovering and I'm being treated for pneumonia....

...I've given up all hope of any hiking/sightseeing - the Man says he's well enough to drive home tomorrow (and if not we'll stop in Bismarck)...

Thursday, October 29, 2009

The Claim Shack

That's the name of our cabin...
...and home sweet home for right now...
...it really is a lovely new little cabin...
...Scout was so excited about the loft bedroom - but he's been stationed on the sofa since our arrival - we can't have feverish boys climbing up and down...
...the Man has now succumbed - you see - we've fallen like dominoes and were unable to keep our germs to ourselves...
...we do have a nice little kitchenette in case anyone wants a bowl of soup - mostly we're just surviving on juice right now...
...I know illness can make for some pretty boring blog posts - so hopefully this won't last too long...

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

...on the way to Hill City

We drove through the Black Hills down to Hill City......the scenery is very pretty - lots of pine trees and rock outcrops...

...even a small tunnel cut through the rock......Our first glimpse of Mt. Rushmore...

...Unfortunately - I now have a temp of 102 as well - Scout and I are nestled in the cabin and the Man went for some groceries - I'll show you the cabin soon...

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

More Deadwood...

Deadwood is built in a gulch - they even had to route the stream under the city to keep it from washing everything away...
...so the houses line the hillside around the town - and it's a really small town too - about 1300 people...

...apparently their main claim to fame is the fact that a notorious gunman was himself gunned down there - pretty gruesome...

...and then his assassin was also captured...
...we wandered around 'downtown' on a gorgeous fall day - snapping pictures like good tourists should - this building played the most amazing chimes at noon...
...this was just a neat old hotel...
...looking back up the street...
...you can see how the buildings are built right on the side of the hill...
...then we went into the Old Saloon #10 - where the deed was accomplished - they have an interpretive center that explains the history...
...Aces and Eights - the Dead Man's Hand...
...The Local Train Club has an amazing (free) train exhibit as well...

...Scout has a temp of 102 - Oh MY!!!

Monday, October 26, 2009

Deadwood

Scout had a couple of days off so we decided to take him out of school the other 3 days for a family vacation.

...we headed to Deadwood, SD - It is named for the standing deadwood - I tried to find out what killed the trees but couldn't find out anything...
...we stayed in the historic Hotel Franklin...
...it was all very posh and well - historic - there was lots of old woodwork...
...big windows...
...old timey panel doors...
...and ornate hardware...
...real beds (not those platform things with the headboard mounted to the wall)...
...really old light fixtures...
...even on the ceiling - you can see where the electricity was added...
...a comfy rocker...
...a writing desk...
...we couldn't figure out what the little spring was used for...
...we had a lot of fun with the old push button light switches...
...of course Scout had to keep up with his school work...

...more to follow...

Sunday, October 25, 2009

The Santa Fe Room

...I stayed in the Sante Fe room this trip and I loved it...
...It was done by a group of 4 sisters from our parrish...
...and I'm constantly amazed by how much time and energy and thought they put into the rooms they do...
...this little hand quilted strip in the curtain...
...the verdi gris coat hooks....
...the switchplate...
...and the outlet cover were adorable...
...a black velvet painting...
...and another set of hooks...
...all the little things on the bureau...
...some cute little clay pots hanging in a corner...
...a cactus garden by the window...
...the simple bed...
...even an embroidered pillow case...
...the front of the dresser...
...a little bit of stenciling on the trash bin...
...and of course a comfy chair to knit in...