Z is for Zane Beadles

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

Zane Beadles was born in Casper, Wyoming in 1986. He played football for the University of Utah and received All-American honors. He was considered one of the best offensive lineman available for the NFL Draft in 2010 and was picked up by the Denver Broncos. Here in Cheyenne, we love the Broncos. It's considered our home team. In 2014, Zane left Denver to play for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Are you a football fan?

Y is for Yellowstone

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

My first and only trip to Yellowstone was in the summer of 1976. I was 19 and traveled with Hubby and his parents (who were visiting from Pennsylvania). We stayed in a rustic cabin, caught trout at Yellowstone Lake and saw the magnificent water falls. We checked out Old Faithful and the hotsprings. We saw bears, moose and deer. One of these days I will return. It's my destiny.

Have you ever been to Yellowstone?

X is for boX

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

As a Wyoming writer myself, I'm embarrassed to say I've never read C. J. Box. I have repented and am now reading my first Box novel "Nowhere to Run." WOW --- I can't put it down. Living in Wyoming, I'm pretty excited about the familiar places in Wyoming where his stories are set. "Nowhere to Run" is part of Box's Joe Pickett series. Joe is a game warden in Wyoming and the stories are mystery/crime dramas with a western flair.

Have you ever read a C.J. Box novel?

W is for Wolves

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

The Gray Wolf is a controversial subject in Wyoming. In 2012, they were removed from the listed of Threatened or Endangered Species. However, in 2014, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service restored protections of the wolves, even though they are no longer listed as "threatened or endangered." Some Wyomingites are against the wolves because they kill farm animals and pets. Others are for the protection and preservation of the species.

What are recent controversies in your state?

V is for Van Tassell

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

Van Tassell holds the distinction of being the least populous town in the least populous county of the least populous state in the United States. Located in Niobrara County Wyoming, Van Tassell was named for cattleman R.S. Van Tassell and a post office was established in the town in 1910. As of the 2013 census, the population of Van Tassell, Wyoming is 15.

Have you ever been to Van Tassell?

U is for Unfinished Life

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

"An Unfinished Life," is one of our favorite films. It is set in Wyoming and is the story of a man's grief, a woman's regret and a child's desire for stability. The movie was based on the novel by Wyoming author Mark Spragg, who hails from Cody. As a writer and a movie buff, I look for motifs and metaphors in films and novels; they add depth to the the characters and the story. In "An Unfinished Life," the motif is a bear. The bear represents danger, fear, loneliness and freedom.

Do you have a favorite movie?

T is for Tetons

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

Located ten miles south of Yellowstone in northwestern Wyoming, the Grand Tetons are one of Wyoming's most beautiful mountain ranges. People visit here from all over the world to climb the mountains, hike the backcountry, float the Snake River and enjoy the beautiful landscape. The mountain is 13,775 feet in elevation. Pretty inspiring!

What is one your state's most inspiring sites?

S is for Sage

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

Sage is everywhere in Wyoming. It has a strong, distinctive aroma and has been used by Native Americans for purification and protection. It is said to cleanse the body and mind of negative spirits and is a remedy for physical, emotional, spiritual or mental imbalances. Sage is also used for cooking. My mom makes the best gravy in the world. Her secret ingredient is a dash of sage.

What's your favorite herb?

R is for Railroad

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

The city of Cheyenne was first established in 1867 when the Union Pacific railroad was built. The Cheyenne Depot has a railroad museum and also houses offices for the Chamber of Commerce and other government entities. The beautiful plaza in front of the Depot has farmer's markets, live music, and other events during the year. It's also where the famous pancake breakfast is held during Cheyenne Frontier Days. My favorite part of the Depot is the magnificent clock tower. It reminds me of the movie "Back to the Future."

Does your town have a clock tower?

Q is for Quentin Tarantino

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

Wyoming was one of the locations in Quentin Tarantino's film "Django Unchained." The winter scenes were shot at Grand Teton National Park near Jackson Hole. In the movie, you can see breathtaking shots of the elk refuge and the magnificent Grand Tetons. Unfortunately, the Wyoming Film Commission doesn't offer the best incentives for filmmakers so they go to New Mexico or Canada. Some films set in Wyoming but not shot in Wyoming include "An Unfinished Life," "Unforgiven," "Brokeback Mountain" and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" - just to name a few.

Do you like Western movies?

P is for Population

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

Wyoming has the lowest population of all 50 states with a total population of 584,153. Our largest city is Cheyenne with 62,448. The second largest is Casper with 59,628. The smallest town in Wyoming is Lost Springs in Converse County. Total inhabitants? Four. In 1976, both the state of Wyoming and the U.S. Bicentennial Commission designated Lost Springs as the smallest incorporated town in America.

Have you ever lived in a small town?

O is for Owen

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

Hubby and I have been fishing and camping at Lake Owen in the Medicine Bow National Forest for many years. There is nothing like eating fresh trout on a campfire and watching the majestic mountain near the lake, listening to the birds and, once in a while, watching a bear or elk wander into the campsite. Sadly, the notorious pine beetle has killed many of the lodgepole pines in the area. What was once a scenic paradise, is now in danger of being a desolate wasteland.

What is your favorite place in nature?

N is for Native Americans

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

I am a Cherokee descendant and my ancestors came to Oklahoma Territory in the 1830s on the Trail of Tears. Most of my family on my mother's side still live in Oklahoma. I've lived in Wyoming since 1972. I was 15 at the time and not really interested in Native America culture. Since then, I've had a desire to learn about my family history. I am proud to be from the Cherokee tribe. Here in Wyoming, the Wind River Indian Reservation is shared by the Northern Arapaho and the Eastern Shoshone.

Who are your descendants?

M is for Meadowlark

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

The Western Meadowlark is Wyoming's State Bird. I see these pretty little songbirds in the open country here in southeastern Wyoming. You can't help but smile at these charming chirpers. Their yellow bellies and black collars are distinctive, but they don't really look that much different than the Eastern Meadowlark.

What is your State Bird?

L is for Longmire

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

Wyoming's own Craig Johnson is the best-selling author of the Longmire novels, set in fictional Absaroka County, Wyoming. Walt Longmire is the Sheriff in this modern-day Western crime drama. The TV series stars Robert Taylor as Longmire and Lou Diamond Phillips as Henry Standing Bear. Henry owns the local saloon.

"It's another beautiful day at the Red Pony Saloon and continual soiree."

Have you read or watched Longmire?

K is for Keyhole State Park

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

Keyhole State Park is between Sundance and Moorcroft on the edge of the Black Hills. Back in the summer of 1976, Hubby, my brother and I drove up for a weekend. I was eight months pregnant at the time. Didn't realize it would be an issue until the men went off fishing and I was alone in the tent. While they were gone, it began to rain and the wind blew the tent poles down. I was standing in the middle of the tent, holding it up, until they returned, hours later. I was not a happy camper. 

What was your worst camping trip?

J is for Jackalope

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

Legend has it that this rare Wyoming creature is a cross between a pygmy-deer and a species of killer rabbit. They weigh between three and five pounds, and move with lighting speeds of up to 90 miles per hour. They are vicious when attacked and use their antlers to fight, thus they are sometimes called the "warrior rabbit." At least that's what they say.

Do you know of any legends or tall tales in your home state?

I is for Indian Paintbrush

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

Indian Paintbrush is the Wyoming State Flower. Did you know that these flowers are edible and were eaten by Native American tribes? So if you want to jazz up your salad, pick up a passel of Indian Paintbrush. These wildflowers bloom from April to September and are found in mountain meadows, stream banks, open woods and along the side of the road.

What's your state flower?

H is for Horse

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

Horses are to Wyoming as stars are to space. Abundant and beautiful. When you cross the state line, it won't take long until you spy a horse - running through a field, standing in a barn, feeding in a pasture, or saddled up for a trail ride. Wyoming has wild horses, too. They are found in various locations in the state. Get your camera ready.

Have you ever ridden a horse?

G is for Grouse

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

Wyoming is home to more sage grouse than any other state. If you want to see sage grouse in Wyoming, you have to get up while it's still dark, drive out to grouse country, and wait for first light. That's when grouse are on the move. Like most bird species, the grouse hen has plain plumage that serves as camouflage to protect her young. The males are the Preeners and the Prancers.I call them Dancers of the Dawn.

What would inspire you to rise at the crack of dawn?

F is for Flaming Gorge

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

We've made a couple of trips to Flaming Gorge over the years. We don't go often because it's quite a drive from Cheyenne. But it's on my radar now that Hubby is retired. I can guarantee we will be taking this trip very soon. Flaming Gorge is named for its flaming red rocks and sandstone cliffs. The terrain is breathtaking. There is no place else like Flaming Gorge. It's a great place for boating, camping, hiking and exploring. But Hubby and I go for the fishing. The lake is home to most trout species like lake, rainbow, brown, as well as Kokanee salmon, bass, carp and channel catfish. I'm hoping to hook a trophy fish and see a photo of me with my prize fish on the wall of one of the Flaming Gorge tackle shops.

What's the most beautiful place in nature you've ever seen?

E is for Elk

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

One summer, Hubby and I were hiking at Trail Creek, just a couple of hours from Cheyenne. We'd never been there before, so we donned our "explorer" hats, ready for anything. As we followed the creek up the mountain, I looked toward the south, down into a valley. There below us was a herd of elk - about about 20 of them - females and their young, along with a huge buck. They were gathered by a placid stream near green grasses and lush trees, just having a good old time. We were up high and down-wind from them so they didn't smell our scent.  We watched them for several minutes and finally moved on. They never did notice us. I've lived in Wyoming most of my life and I've seen lone elk in the woods and in the mountains more times than I can count. But I'd never seen anything like this. It was magical.

What's the most breathtaking thing you've seen in nature?

D is for Devils Tower

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

The first time I saw Devils Tower was on the movie "Close Encounter of the Third Kind." Many years later, Hubby and I decided to make the four-hour drive to Devils Tower for a long weekend. My first sight of the monument from the highway was mesmerizing. I thought about the people over the centuries who had seen this tower and how it is still standing, making its mark in history. As we neared the tower, my excitement grew. Hubby and I hiked around the base of the mountain, which looked so much more massive up close. Eagles circled the peak, watching over their young nested in the crevices. Of all the sites I've seen in Wyoming, Devils Tower is the most captivating. Now I know why Richard Dreyfuss was obsessed with Devils Tower to the point of recreating it in his mashed potatoes.

Has a movie ever inspired you to do something?

C is for Cowboy

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

When people think of Wyoming, they almost always picture rugged cowboys roping steers, branding cattle or riding into the sunset. I'm here to tell you, this is true. In Cheyenne, the one time of the year you see more cowboys than you can shake a stick at is during Cheyenne Frontier Days. For ten days in late July, there's a cowboy on every corner. They're getting ready for ten days of rodeo insanity. The rodeo is called "The Daddy of 'Em All." The Sunday before opening day, cowboys herd the steers that will be used in the rodeo. They start north of town and drive the herd to Frontier Park where the steers will be housed during the rodeo. Cowboys come to Cheyenne from all over America to ride bucking broncs and bulls. It's a dangerous job but somebody's got to do it.

Have you ever done something dangerous?

B is for Buffalo

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

In Wyoming, the buffalo (American Bison) is highly revered and is a proud symbol on the Wyoming State Flag:

  

Here in Cheyenne, Terry Bison Ranch is home to a small herd. The ranch provides a train ride through the prairie where you can see these majestic creatures in their natural habitat.  I discovered an interesting fact about buffalo. When a winter storm comes, they travel toward the wind, facing the storm head on. I think we can learn a lesson from the buffalo. When the storms of life come, we are tempted to seek shelter, protect ourselves and play it safe. But maybe we should face life's difficulties head on, with courage and perseverance, like the buffalo.

Have you ever learned anything from an animal?