MADE IN WYOMING: G and S Outdoor Living

 

LJD-2014-block (4)wyofirst_profile_imageWe are thrilled to team with the Wyoming Business Council to feature a Wyoming First business every week on our blog! Wyoming First is a program that promotes Wyoming member businesses. Visit their website (click here) to learn more about this service — and if you are a Wyoming business who’s not a member, be sure to inquire about membership! There are many benefits!

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This week we are featuring G and S Outdoor Living of Cheyenne, WY

Gail & Sherry Salmon, G and S Outdoor Living  4069 Butch Cassidy Trail  Cheyenne, WY 82009  (307) 634-7811

Gslamon58@live.com  www.gandsoutdoorliving.com

Woodworking has been a hobby of Gail’s for years.  He had been researching different opportunities for quite some time before he retired.  Once he did retire he had more time to devote to his craft and thus, the business was born.

For Gail, inspiration comes from the simple love of working with his hands and building something that is as comfortable and useful as it is beautiful. G and S Outdoor Living products are built by hand one at a time with the highest quality.  They personally stand behind each piece with a guarantee, and will correct any issues and continue to provide support to their customers.

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G and S Outdoor Living is right here in Cheyenne and they make all their products here.  In addition to the furniture grade wood G and S also uses only stainless steel hardware, an all-weather glue and a high quality oil based finish.  Western Red Cedar comes from Washington state and allows the furniture to be temperature neutral which means it won’t burn your legs in the summer or freeze them on a cold day.  One of their favorite sights and sounds is the “ahhhh” factor.   This is when someone sits on a G and S chair for the first time and that look of utter comfort followed by the “ahhh” that escapes.

G and S Outdoor Living products can be found on the web site at gandsoutdoorliving.com, or call them at 307.634.7811.  Look for them under the grandstands at Frontier Park during Frontier Days;  Riverbend Nursery on North Yellowstone, Wyoming Home on Lincolnway,  and Global Spas on Del Range in Cheyenne.

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There are a wide range of products, from custom signs starting around $30 to chairs, tables and gliders at about $450.  They are always in the process of creating new products.

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kids picnic table

ON THE CALENDAR: Lander Brew Fest!

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Lander, WY — The Lander Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its annual Fremont Toyota Lander Brew Festival on June 13-14, 2014. For $30 (each day, or $50 both days) visitors are welcome to taste a wide variety of beer samples. Tickets are available at the Chamber of Commerce or at the festival.

The Brew Fest will be held Friday, June 13, 5-9 p.m. (adults only on Friday night), and Saturday, June 14, 2-7 p.m., at the soccer fields next door to Lander Valley High School, 150 Baldwin Creek Road. The Lander Brew Festival features “20+ brewers, local vendors, rockin’ music, and all-around great folks for a two-day brew tasting and epic taste-bud hop-dueling competition.”

There will be whiskey and wine tasting on Friday night only. Whiskey tasting cards will be for sale, 4 samples for $10. The wine tasting will be included in the cost of admission. There will also be non-alcoholic drinks available. Contact info@landerchamber.org www.landerchamber.org

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And be sure to bring your appetite because there’ll be pizza, mexican and and lots more to keep your energy up for both days! Live music both days! Pets will not be allowed, so please keep your pet at home.

Saturday, June 14, an additional event this year includes the 1st Annual Brewers Golf Tournament beginning at 9 am at the Lander Golf and Country Club (1 Golf Course Drive). This 9-hole scramble is open for public entry ($21) and is your chance meet the festival brewers from all around the country who will be pouring beers later in the day.
The Fremont Area Road Tour (FART) will hold their ride on Saturday, June 14, and participants in the ride can get a discounted ticket into Brew Fest.  This is a Recreational Road Ride with routes from 3.5-100 miles, fully supported. Proceeds go to Injury Prevention resources to provide Bike Helmets to Kids. www.landercycling.com
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Also, the Central Wyoming Speedgoat Rugby Club will compete in a match on Saturday, 1:30 p.m. at the high school soccer field, 150 Baldwin Creek Road. Come watch this exciting event and then cool down with a nice cold beer at the Lander Brew Fest!For more information about event schedules and activities, call the Lander Area Chamber of Commerce 307-332-3892, info@landerchamber.org www.landerchamber.org,  www.landerbrewfest.com

For a complete calendar of events go to www.windriver.org/calendar, or to request a vacation packet, please visit us at Wind River Country or call 800-645-6233.

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ART IN WYOMING: Plein Air Elk Refuge, The Culture Trip Visits Cheyenne, GTNP Art, Laramie Mural Project

Click the image at left for tickets, info, schedule & more for our Food & Photo Festival, May 30 & 31 in Laramie!

 

Plein Air Painters at Natl Elk Refuge Visitor Center May 13

A group of painters will use the backdrop of the National Elk Refuge as artistic inspiration on Tuesday, May 13, giving visitors an opportunity to watch and ask questions as the artists create their works.

The artists are part of the Teton Plein Air Painters, a group of artists who meet once a week from May – October in the Teton environs. Starting with two people during the summer of 2012, the group now has a communication list of over seventy. Typically, three to ten people are onsite to paint, referencing the landscape for motifs. Art mediums include oil, acrylic, watercolor, and pen and ink.

The group will spread out in the area of the visitor center, located at 532 N. Cache Street in Jackson. Weather permitting, likely locations will include the visitor center lawn, the covered upper deck of the facility, and the remote viewing deck across the lawn next to the wetlands area. Current visitor center hours are from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, but visitors are welcome to stroll through the grounds after hours to enjoy the art session.

En plein air is a French expression which means “in the open air” and is used to describe painting done in an outdoor setting. The artists paint natural light, using color to define form. Depending on the light and weather, plein air paintings are generally done in one session. Artists may add final touches to their work once back in the studio. For additional information on the Teton Plein Air Painters and Tuesday’s session, contact Bobbi Miller, Facilitator, at 307 / 543 2910.

Artful Hand Gallery

Cheyenne’s 10 Contemporary Art Galleries: Wyoming Art Guide on The Culture Trip

Click the title above to connect with The Culture Trip and their review of contemporary art galleries in Cheyenne. They write, “Though Wyoming is known for its rural landscapes and cowboy character, its capital, Cheyenne, named for the Native American people of the Great Plains, is culturally diverse and heavily populated. We examine the budding cultural scene of this Western state with a look at the top ten galleries in its largest city.”

Grand Teton National Park: American Indian Guest Artists 2014 Program in Grand Teton National Park

Provided by Grand Teton National Park

MOOSE, WY —For the past 39 years, artisans from diverse American Indian tribes have demonstrated their traditional and contemporary art forms in Grand Teton National Park. This annual program provides visitors a chance to gain greater appreciation and understanding of Indian cultures that are still alive and active today.

Participating artists demonstrate and share the cultural traditions of their tribes through art forms such as painting, weaving, pottery, beadwork, and musical instruments. Guest artists exhibit daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Colter Bay Visitor Center. Artists also offer their finished items for purchase.

May 11 – 26 Debbie & Willy LaMere Shoshone Beadwork & Flint Knapping
May 27 – June 2 Amanda Coby Shoshone Beadwork & Weaving
June 3 – 9 Kelly Looking Horse Lakota Sioux Drums, Antler & Hide Items
June 10 – 16 Guillermo Martinez Tarascan-Apache Handmade Flutes & Drums
June 17 – 23 Kelly Looking Horse Lakota Sioux Drums, Antler & Hide items
June 24 – 30 Ted Moran S’Klallam Northwest Coastal Carving
July 1 – 7 DG House Cherokee Painting & Printmaking
July 8 – 14 Andrea Two Bulls Oglala Sioux Beadwork & Painting
July 15 – 21 Monte Yellowbird Arikara/ Hidatsa Ledger Art
July 22 – 28 Gale Self Choctaw Silver & Turquoise Jewelry
July 29 – August 4 Lovey Two Bulls Oglala Sioux Beadwork, Jewelry & Art Work
August 5 – 11 Debbie & Willy LaMere Shoshone Beadwork & Flint Knapping
August 12 – 18 Paul Hacker Choctaw Ledger Art, Knives & Flutes
August 19 – 25 Jola LaBeau Eastern Shoshone Beadwork & Other Crafts
August 26 – Sept.  1 Josie Broncho Shoshone/Paiute Beadwork
September 2 – 8 Nancy Nacki & Clyde Hall Shoshone Beadwork, Silver & Pottery
September 9 – 15 Maynard White Owl Nez Perce/ Cayuse Beadwork
September 16 – 22 DG House Cherokee Painting & Printmaking
September 23 – 29 Guillermo Martinez  Tarascan-Apache  Handmade Flutes & Drums
Sept. 30 – Oct. 13 Debbie and Willy LaMere Shoshone Beadwork & Flint Knapping

Laramie Main Street Alliances Downtown Mural Project Naming Contest

Join the Laramie Main Street Alliance in celebrating the fourth year of the Laramie Mural Project!

Now through the end of June, take a selfie with your favorite mural and post it to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using hashtag #laramiemural for a chance to win mural themed merchandise!

Then, visit the artists painting behind Altitude (starting next week) and suggest a name for our new mural! You can post your suggestions to our Facebook page, “Downtown Laramie” or email them to downtownlaramie@gmail.com.

Suggestions will be compiled by the artists and the top three will be posted the first week of June with voting opened up to the public. The name will be announced at our dedication party for the mural on Friday, June 13th from 5 to 7 p.m. behind Altitude Chophouse, 320 S. 2nd Street.

For more information about the Laramie Mural Project, visit: www.laramiemuralproject.org or call 307-760-3355.

Beauty & the Beast Rodeo in Ten Sleep + Special Beauty & Beast Gear from Outlaw Rodeo Wear!

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Click the Food & Photo Festival image to be connected with our festival schedule & ticket sales!

UPDATES ON THE BEAUTY & THE BEAST RODEO!!  Check out the update from the Beauty & the Beast Rodeo held in Ten Sleep over Memorial Day Weekend on Saturday, May 24, 2014! Call 307.366.2311 for more info – and visit their website at www.tensleeprodeo.com

Bulls and bareback are full! Barrel racing still open: prizes to 6th place and $1000 added money! Kids events: barrel racing and mutton bustin’. WILD HORSE RACE!!

AND!!! Outlaw Rodeo Wear is offering a limited edition Beauty & the Beast hoodie for $35. Know anyone that might like to have one? Check out this special & lots more cute western wear for the whole family at www.outlawrodeowear.com!

Visit our shopping listing to learn more about Outlaw Rodeo Wear & to see more samples of their work!

 

MADE IN WYOMING – Rawhide Studio

We are thrilled to team with the Wyoming Business Council to feature a Wyoming First business every week on our blog! Wyoming First is a program that promotes Wyoming member businesses. Visit their website (click here) to learn more about this service — and if you are a Wyoming business who’s not a member, be sure to inquire about membership! There are many benefits!

This week we are featuring Rawhide Studio of Cheyenne

David & Georgia Rowswell, Rawhide Studio @ Artful Hand Gallery, 301 E 1st Ave, Cheyenne, WY  82001

(307) 229-5183 rhsjewelry@gmail.com  www.rawhidestudio.com

David and Georgia Rowswell are the owners and designers behind Rawhide Studio, which began as a way to use small scraps of rawhide left from some of Dave Rowswell’s sculpture and chair webbing projects. Dave experimented with a few designs, made a piece for his wife Georgia and began showing his jewelry to several friends who encouraged him to keep at it. That was just last year! The designs and business has really taken off since then!

Dave and Georgia are both artists and have collaborated on many projects. Rawhide Studio is no different. Dave makes the jewelry and does most of the designing. Georgia wears many hats as the studio manager, photographer, online store developer and bookkeeper!

They welcome custom orders and will work with each customer to make their ideas a reality.

Rawhide Studio jewelry can be purchased locally at Wyoming Home, online at www.rawhidestudio.com, and by appointment at the studio, Artful Hand Gallery. On the website is also a listing of stores and galleries around the state and region. Their jewelry is handmade one at a time but still priced right at $19 to $48 dollars.

Rawhide Studio focuses on contemporary Western design, using a traditional material in a new way. Rawhide is very lightweight, durable, and translucent. Because it is a natural material, no two pieces are exactly alike! Own a piece and you’ll be ”Ahead of the Herd in Jewelry Style.”

 

 

 

Photography Opportunities in Wyoming!

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PURCHASE TICKETS HERE!

Our 2014 Food & Photo Fest hits Laramie May 30 & 31! Check our website for tickets to any of our wide variety of events…plus, our photography competition deadline has been extended to Sunday, May 4 at midnight! Guidelines online – and email editor@wyolifestyle.com with any questions!

Proceeds benefit Black Dog Animal Rescue of Southeast Wyoming!

Schedule of Events:

Friday, May 30

6:30:  Winemaker’s Dinner, Altitude Chophouse & BreweryFeaturing a special menu designed by Altitude & Table Mountain Vineyards and TMV wine — limit 50 tickets $45/ticket

7 – 10 PM:  Decadent Desserts Night, Alice Hardie Stevens CenterEnjoy yummy desserts and view our photography competition entries! $25/ticket, $15/ticket for children 10 & younger

Saturday, May 31

9 – 11 AM:  Outdoor Photography Workshop with Cliff Cox & Dana Gage Utilizing structures found throughout Downtown Laramie, with and without models. Focusing on composition, lighting and the uses of depth of field. Hands on course for all levels of experience. Limit 20 students. $25/ticket — or participate in all 3 photography classes for $60

10 AM -12 PM:  Historical Photography of Svenson, Ludwig & Brande families, Ludwig Photography Studio — FREEExperience the history & beauty of Wyoming – featuring over a century of work by generations of the Svenson, Ludwig & Brande families.

 

10 AM – 12 PM:  Edible Art with Sweets Cakes & Pastry — Learn how to create visually appealing desserts & edible art through hands-on instruction led by the lovely & talented ladies at Sweets Cakes & Pastry! Students also bring home something delicious to enjoy. Class limit 10. $45/ticket

 

11 AM -12 PM: Wine Tasting, Pairing & More Priceless Knowledge with Table Mountain Vineyards’ Patrick Zimmerer — FREE! Want to learn more about wine from the Wyoming wine expert? Learn the nuances of wine production, tasting and pairing with your favorite foods. Please RSVP at no charge on our website for this event to help us plan facility needs!

1 – 3 PM:  Beauty & Fashion Photography with Ken Stoecklin of Beartooth Photography — Beauty/Fashion/ Hi Key lighting & shooting for the composite; all done with speedlights and quick but effective retouching; with student participation. $25/ticket — or participate in all 3 photography classes for $60

2 – 3 PM:  What Makes a Great Beer Local – and Amazing? with Altitude Chophouse & Brewery’s Brew Master — Love a great beer – but unsure how it becomes so awesome? Learn about the ingredients of beer, how ingredients are resourced, and what makes Altitude’s great beer local. Impress all your fellow party-goers at the next dinner party or beer fest. And of course…tasting is included. Class limit 20. $15/ticket

2 – 4 PM:  Centerpiece Arranging 101 with Fresh Flower Fantasy — Learn the art of creating a beautiful centerpiece for your next dinner party! Hands on instruction & a beautiful arrangement of your creation to take home led by Fresh Flower Fantasy. Class limit 15. $35/ticket

3 – 5 PM:  Post Processing Photography Course with Chuck Egnaczak — Chuck is a regular to teaching and photography, with an expertise in post processing. Max class size of 20 students. $25/ticket or $60 for all 3 photography courses

Dinner is Served – in Laramie! Enjoy dinner at Laramie establishments — we’ve invited Laramie restaurants to provide a special deal for our Wine & Photo Gala ticket holders on May 31… Eat out before you come & party with us! Keep checking our website festival page for updates on restaurants providing specials across Laramie!

7 – 10 PM:  Wine & Photography Gala — Sample delicious wines, hors d’oeuvres & desserts. Silent auction will be held to benefit Black Dog Animal Rescue of Southeast Wyoming. $45/ticket or $80/couple.

Beau Johnston presents Lightroom Workflow Overview Workshop – Casper

We were thrilled to brag on the talented Beau Johnston in our current Sprinter 2014 issue of Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine! His upcoming event is definitely one to check out if you’re in the Casper area…

Monday, May 5, 7:30 – 8 :30 PM
Wyoming Oil & Gas Conservation — 2211 King Blvd, Casper
FREE event

Beau will be presenting the workflow he uses when editing photographs to the Casper Photography Association. This will cover how he imports images into Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, utilize metadata, organize and rank his photographs, edit photographs in the Develop module, and export images for printing and online use.

Visit the event page on Facebook to RSVP and ask questions

From Wyoming Author Bill Sniffin:  New book features Wyoming’s favorite places – here is your chance to participate

Your area along with other places all over Wyoming will be featured prominently in a new book planned for distribution this fall.

The coffee table book  MyWyoming: Stories and Photos of 101 Fascinating Places is by Bill Sniffin.  It is the followup to the very successful book published in 2012 called Wyoming’s 7 Greatest Natural Wonders. Format for the new book will be similar to the old book including 30-plus photographers and 14 foldout photos that are 13”x30” in size.

Sniffin is soliciting stories and photos from people all over the state for inclusion in the new book. Persons should send stories about their favorite places to mystory@mywyomingbook.com or send to PO Box 900, Lander, WY 82520. Editors will try to match up the stories with beautiful photos of that area. Stories will be 150 to 500 words in length.

Persons with outstanding photos of Wyoming are encouraged to submit them, too. They will be paid for the use of their photos.

Top-notch Wyoming photographers like Dewey Vanderhoff, Woody Wooden, Randy Wagner, Dan Hayward and Scott Copeland were included in the last book and will be featured again in the new book.

The earlier book sold 14,000 copies over a 15-month period, making it one of the best-selling books in Wyoming.

 

EXPLORE WY: Wind River Country Dances & Pow Wows 2014

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Make Your Mother’s Day Special with gifts from Tom Balding Bits & Spurs – in addition to their bits & spurs, they offer jewelry, clothing, scarves, keychains and much more! Click the image for their website!

Photo credit – Jennie Hutchinson

Wyoming’s Wind River Country has released the summer 2014 Native American Dances & Pow Wows schedule! Read on for dates, locations & more – and for the TBA events, stay tuned to their Facebook page and website, www.windriver.org.

May 2014

2 Riverton – United Tribes Club Spring Social Powwow. 1 p.m. Gourd Dancing (Veterans) 6 p.m. Grand Entry – Central Wyoming College gymnasium, 2660 Peck Ave., 855-2285, www.cwc.edu
3 Riverton – Native American Day – Dance Competition 2-7 p.m., $10,000 in cash prizes, 10269 HWY 789, 856-1472, windriverhotelcasino.com
16-17 Ethete – 7 p.m., Wind River Tribal College Powwow, Blue Sky Hall, 506 Ethete Rd., 335-8243

June 2014

3, 10, 17, 24 Riverton – (every Tues.) 6 p.m. Northern Arapaho Cultural Experience, Wind River Casino 10269 HWY 789

18, 25 Lander – (every Wed.) 7 p.m., “Eagle Spirit Dancers,” Museum of The American West, 1445 Main St., 335-8778

TBA Ethete – Yellow Calf Memorial Powwow, Blue Sky Hall, 506 Ethete Rd.

27-29 Ft. Washakie – 55th Eastern Shoshone Indian Days and Powwow – & Rodeo, Wind River Indian Reservation, Old Wind River Hwy Road

July 2014

1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Riverton – (every Tues.) 6 p.m. Northern Arapaho Cultural Experience, Wind River Casino 10269 HWY 789
2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Lander – (every Wed.) 7 p.m., “Eagle Spirit Dancers,” Museum of The American West, 1445 Main St., 335-8778

2 Riverton – 7 p.m. Powwow Dancers, 1838 Rendezvous Site, E. Monroe Ave. 856-0706

TBA Ethete – 7 p.m. Ethete – Annual Ethete Celebration, Ethete Road
TBA Arapahoe – Annual Northern Arapaho Celebration, Wind River Indian Reservation

August 2014

1-2 Thermopolis – 7 p.m. Gift of the Waters Pageant, Hot Springs State Park at the big spring.
5, 12, 19, 26 Riverton – (every Tues.) 6 p.m. Northern Arapaho Cultural Experience, Wind River Casino 10269 HWY 789, 856-1472,
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6, 13, 20 Lander – (every Wed.) 7 p.m., “Eagle Spirit Dancers,” Museum of The American West, 1445 Main St., 335-8778

TBA Crowheart – Traditional Community Powwow, (Eastern Shoshone) Wind River Indian Reservation, Old Yellowstone Hwy

September 2014

19 Lander – 71st One Shot Antelope Hunt Powwow, 332-8190

 

C.J. Box, SHOTS FIRED: Stories from Joe Pickett Country

We’re always excited to see a new book from C.J. Box arrive in our mail! We announced the debut of Box’s newest Joe Pickett novel, STONE COLD, in March, and now there is a new book of short stories from Box heading to stores in July 2014! Read on for more info from Putnam, Box’s publisher…

 

From New York Times-bestselling author C.J.Box comes SHOTS FIRED:  Stories from Joe Pickett Country, a memorable collection of crime and suspense stories about the Wyoming Box knows so well – and the dark deeds and impulses that can be found there.

Over fourteen Joe Pickett novels and four stand-alone books, C.J. Box has been consistently hailed for his brilliant storytelling and his extraordinary skills at creating character, suspense, and a deep sense of place. All of those strengths can be found in the ten riveting stories – three of them written especially for this book and never before published – that make up SHOTS FIRED, which Putnam will publish on July 15 ($26.95).

In “One-Car Bridge,” one of four Joe Pickett stories, Joe goes up against a “just plain mean” landowner, with disastrous consequences. In “Shots Fired,” his investigation into the radio call of the title nearly ends up being the last thing he ever does. In “Pirates of Yellowstone,” two Eastern Europeans, strangers in a strange land, hear that American tough guys can be ruthless — but it’s not till they try strong-arming one that they discover the real truth of the statement. And in “Le Sauvage Noble,” the stranger is Jimmy Two Bulls, a Lakota who takes a job in the Wild West Show at Disneyland Paris and finds its perks to be pleasant – good wages, decent food and French women who find his “noble savage” act to be pretty exotic. That is, until he meets Sophie. Then Jimmy finds out what “savage” really means.

Together these ten stories prove again what BookPage recently remarked about the Joe Pickett novels:  “I would say that he is at the top of his form, but the top just keeps moving ever upward.”

C.J. Box is the author of fourteen Joe PIckett novels, including the March 2014 entry STONE COLD, along with four stand-alone thrillers (for St. Martin’s). He has won the Anthony, Macavity, Gumshoe and Barry awards, as well as the French Prix Calibre .38, and has been an Edgar Award and Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist, all for the Pickett novels. Box has also won the Edgar Award for best novel for his first stand-alone, Blue Heaven. His books have been translated into 25 languages.

A Wyoming native, C.J. Box has worked on a ranch and as a small-town newspaper reporter and editor. He lives outside Cheyenne with his wife Laurie and their four horses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

MADE IN WYOMING: Last Loop Rope Art

 

We are thrilled to team with the Wyoming Business Council to feature a Wyoming First business every week on our blog! Wyoming First is a program that promotes Wyoming member businesses. Visit their website (click here) to learn more about this service — and if you are a Wyoming business who’s not a member, be sure to inquire about membership! There are many benefits!

This week we are featuring Chele Needens Last Loop Rope Art

209 Klondike Road Buffalo, WY 82834

307-684-7843   twoeyedbaker@hotmail.com   lastloopropeart.com   On Facebook — Last Loop Rope Art

 

Last Loop Rope Art was started in 2000, when a very dear friend of Chele’s that made rope items passed away. His wife asked her if she would like to give it a try, and handed over all her husband’s supplies. Chele began, as many do, making pieces for her friends and family – and has turned that small beginning into a business.

Last Loop Rope Art has come a long way from that first Rope Basket. Chele is the creator and sole owner, and does everything from start to finish. That includes actually roping with the ropes that are later turned into a piece of art! Chele is a rancher and loves to barrel race and pole bend. While at rodeos she likes to see if any of the cowboys are willing to part with their ropes. Her rope activities and the ropes the cowboys use give each of the pieces a unique story and are a piece of Wyoming’s way of life. In 2010 Country Women Magazine came out and did a story on Last Loop Rope Art. They spent two days with Chele learning how to rope and how to make a rope bowl. The story came out in the spring of 2011, the April/May magazine.

Chele’s rope art is a little different from others. There is no glue; the work is burned together and then power washed. Although these rustic, one-of-a-kind pieces are sturdy, they are still a piece of art and can break.

Chele enjoys taking a customer’s idea and creating a beautiful piece of art, so custom orders are welcomed. Pieces include: baskets, bowls, candle holders, bathroom soap bottle holders, wastebaskets, lamp bases, business card holders, bird houses, welcome signs, wreaths, crosses and ribbons, mirror frames, clocks, footstools…..the possibilities are endless. Depending on the product, rope used and embellishment, prices start at about $17.50.

Chele also produces WildRags. WildRags are usually as 36” x 36” piece of cloth in various colors, patterns and fabric type that cowboys have worn for decades. They were traditionally used to keep the cowboy’s neck and face warm, cool by wetting in cold water, or to keep the dust out of their face, and other practical uses. Chele makes Wyo-Skies Wildrags, which are made from 100% silk, in a variety of sizes and dimensions. She dyes them herself and no two scarves are the same. These are great for anyone, in any type of weather (silk allows your skin to breath). Wyo-Skies Wildrags can be used as headbands, belts, wraps…and just about any way a person could image. Pricing starts at about $15 (8” x 54”) to $45 for a 44” x 44”. Most of Last Loop Rope Art pieces are feature on their Facebook page, Last Loop Rope Art & Wyo. Skies Wildrags, and the website, lastloopropeart.com. Pieces can be found at the Flying Eagle Gallery in Thermopolis, as well as the Jim Gatchell Museum and Frontier Toppings in Buffalo.

NEWS FROM THE PARKS: Junior Ranger Day April 26

National Park Week begins Saturday, April 19, making this a wonderful time for an early season getaway to experience the wonders of Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. Visitors can participate in special National Junior Ranger Day programs on Saturday, April 26. Join us for fun and free activities for the whole family, starting this weekend.

The theme for this year’s National Park Week invites visitors to Go Wild! for history, nature, culture, wildlife, and fun in America’s national parks. “National Park Week is a great time to discover the diverse wildlife, iconic landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history found in our national parks,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “Every park offers a different experience so I invite everyone to join the celebration and get to know a park.”

The entry fee for a private, non-commercial vehicle to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks normally costs $25 for seven days.

National Park Week wraps up with a celebration of National Junior Ranger Day on Saturday, April 26. Free events will take place at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center (CTDVC) in Moose and children who participate in at least three of the activities will earn a Junior Ranger badge or patch. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., families can explore rescue vehicles and equipment used in park operations including fire engines, ranger patrol cars and snowplows. Visitors are also invited to:  participate in physical games testing their skills in an obstacle course; compete against the natural abilities of wildlife in Animal Olympic Games; listen to tales about Grand Teton in the story corner; touch animal furs, feathers and bones or dress up in a real ranger uniform; and spring into fitness with St. John’s Medical Center Wellness Services staff.  Bird handlers from the Teton Raptor Center will be present from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to provide information and demonstrations with live birds of prey.

Junior Ranger Day is made possible in part with funding by the park’s long-time partner Grand Teton Association (GTA), who will offer a 15 percent discount in the CTDVC bookstore. Participants can buy educational materials, books and other merchandise like videos, posters, and plush animals by using this special discount.

Thanks to the GTA, free shuttles will also be available to transport families from Jackson to the CTDVC for the Junior Ranger Day events. Space on the shuttles will be limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information about Junior Ranger Day activities or about the free shuttle service, please call the CTDVC at 307.739.3399.

Additional information about National Park Week, including a list of nationwide events can be found online at www.nationalparkweek.org.

Opening dates for seasonally operated facilities and roads in Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway are as follows: 

Roads

 

Teton Park Road May 1
Moose-Wilson After snow melt—date to be determined (TBD)
Grassy Lake Road June 1; remaining snow drifts may limit access
Signal Mountain Summit TBD

 

Paved multi-use pathways will be fully accessible for use once the snow melts naturally.

 

Visitor Centers & Ranger Stations

 

Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Ctr. Open
Colter Bay Visitor Center May 10
Jenny Lake Visitor Center May 16
Laurance S. Rockefeller (LSR) Preserve Center May 31
Flagg Ranch Information Station June 2
Jenny Lake Ranger Station June 6

 

Campgrounds

 

Gros Ventre May 2
Signal Mountain May 9
Jenny Lake May 9
Colter Bay May 22
Colter Bay RV Park May 22
Headwaters Campground & RV Sites June 1
Lizard Creek June 13

 

All backcountry camping permits cost $25, whether advanced reservation or walk-in. Backcountry reservations may be made until May 15 with an additional $10 fee for advanced booking. Reservations can be made online at Recreation.gov. After May 15, all backcountry site permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

Lodging

 

Signal Mountain Lodge May 9
Jackson Lake Lodge May 19
Colter Bay Cabins May 22
Triangle X Ranch May 25
Jenny Lake Lodge June 1
Headwaters Lodge at Flagg Ranch June 1

Entrance Stations

 

The Moose, Moran and Granite Canyon entrance stations are open. Fee options include:
$ 12 for a 7-day permit to enter by foot/bicycle into Grand Teton & Yellowstone national parks

$20 for a 7-day permit to enter by motorcycle into Grand Teton & Yellowstone national parks

$25 for a 7-day permit to enter by vehicle into Grand Teton & Yellowstone national parks

$50 for a Grand Teton/Yellowstone Annual Pass valid for one-year entry into both parks

$80 for an Interagency Annual Pass valid for one year entry to

all fee areas on federal lands

 

Bicyclists are reminded that they must stop and show an entry pass before proceeding through the gates, just as vehicles are required to do.  An automated self-serve machine is located on the multi-use pathway adjacent to the Moose Entrance Station. People traveling on the pathway by foot, bike, or rollerblade will be required to stop and pay $12 for a 7-day entry permit, or have a valid pass in possession.

 

Personal identification is required with any pass that requires a signature.

 

For additional information about activities and services within Grand Teton National Park or the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, please visit the park’s website www.nps.gov/grte, stop by any visitor center, or call 307.739.3300.

 

Sara Pinson, RD, LD: Can Do Weekly Resolutions

 

We’re thrilled to add another guest blogger – Sara Pinson, RD, LD, who will provide us with tips on eating & staying healthy. Certainly something that is applicable to everyone!

 

Sara Pinson is a Registered Dietitian, Wellness Coach and Type I Diabetic.  As the owner of Sustainable Wellness, she works with individuals and organizations to help people make health changes simple, not hard.  Sara Pinson, RD, LD  foodladytalks@gmail.com

How do you want your 2014 to “taste”?

Build Your Base by Practicing “You Can Do” Weekly Resolutions

Compliments of Sara Pinson, RD, LD

Sustainable Wellness:  One Bite @ a Time!

 

“The little train went roaring on, so fast, it seemed to fly
Until it reached a mountain rising almost to the sky
The little engine moaned and groaned and huffed and puffed away
But halfway to the top it just gave up and seemed to say

I can’t go on, I can’t go on, I’m weary as can be
I can’t go on, I can’t go on, this job is not for me…

I think I can, I think I can, I think I have a plan
And I can do ‘most anything if I only think I can”

The 1930’s child’s book titled The Little Engine That Could originally authored by Platt & Munk CO., Inc. told a sweet and simple, yet meaningful story.  A story that can easily be applicable to so many aspects of our life.  Change, such a hard thing to do.  Takes willpower.  If only it could be as easy as the characters tell us in The Little Engine That Could.  News alert…it CAN.  Take a step back and consider what it would look like if your New Year’s resolutions could actually turn into habits that don’t fly away in the Wyoming wind?  What if you woke up and made the following promise to yourself… “Each day of the week, I will do just one thing to make a better me.”  Up for it? Below you will find a suggested daily “to-do” list.  Read on…and THINK you can…because you “can do most anything” if “only” you think you can.
Monday- Identify your motivation level.  Your motivation drives your commitment, your sustainability and ultimately your success.  Choose your number TODAY.  Are you a 1 and not really into this change for the better type of thing?  Are you a 5 and somewhere in the middle and not really sure which direction you want to head in or are you a 10 and just can’t wait to begin your journey towards a healthier YOU, no matter how challenging it may be?  Stay true to your number and recognize what increases, decreases, or holds you motivation steady.

Tuesday-Try a new and unfamiliar fruit.  Variety is so important when trying to sustain your wellness.  Often we get tired of the same types of foods.  Keep it new, fresh and exciting by putting yourself out there and trying an unfamiliar fruit. Have you ever heard of blood oranges or dragon fruits? Take a few minutes today and read up on a fruit you have never tried before. You may surprise yourself and like it!

Wednesday- Try a new and unfamiliar vegetable.  We tend to turn to the usual, carrots, broccoli and greens beans. But what about eggplant, radish, kale, brussel sprouts or spaghetti squash?  The list goes on when it comes to veggies you may have never heard of before.  Spearhead a family challenge, try to find vegetables that begin with the letter A, then B, then C and so forth.  What an innovative way to get your kids to try a new food and add some spunk to your usual choices!

Thursday-Take 5 minutes out of your day, increase the volume on your I-Phone and bust a move.  Getting your heart huffing and puffing gives you an energy burst that is priceless.  Taking just a few minutes out of your day and allowing yourself to be a little “silly” goes a long way in the day’s productivity and sets the stage for a happy mood and decreases stress level. Grab a friend, a co-worker or a family member and combine fun with fitness!

Thursday: Look at a food label of a food or drink that you have in your house.   You may just surprise yourself and recognize what REALLY is in some of your household staples.  If you find that it’s loaded with sugar and fat, this doesn’t mean you CAN’T have it.  Raise your awareness.  Saving those indulgences as a “sometime” food grants you the permission to enjoy it but with portion and frequency control in mind.

Friday: Use measuring utensils to measure out your cereal, rice or pasta.  Get ready for a wakeup call!  It accumulates quickly.  Adding perspective to what and how much you are eating goes a long way in promoting appropriate serving sizes. You won’t know until you do it, so grab that utensil, measure up and resonate on where improvement may be necessary.

Saturday:  Take 15 minutes to eat your meal.  We call this “mindful eating”.  Take home message, the slower you eat, the less you will eat and the faster you will get full.  Mealtime should be a relaxing family centered activity, so take your time, engage in conversation (without food in your mouth) and enjoy each other’s company. The hustle and bustle of the day deserves a dinner meal that is free from distraction and simply…peaceful. 

Sunday: Share with 1 person, 1 change you have made this week.  Two huge aspects of sustaining wellness is holding yourself accountable and being proud of YOU.  If you made a goal and stuck with it…celebrate!  Change is hard and should be recognized.  Even if it was as simple as going to the gym once in the last 5 days, great work and spread the word.  Remember living a healthy life is contagious so you are it and pass it on!

 

MADE IN WYOMING: High Country Horse

We are thrilled to team with the Wyoming Business Council to feature a Wyoming First business every week on our blog! Wyoming First is a program that promotes Wyoming member businesses. Visit their website (click here) to learn more about this service — and if you are a Wyoming business who’s not a member, be sure to inquire about membership! There are many benefits!

This week we are featuring High Country Horse of Laramie, WY

Oliver “Ollie” Hill, High Country Horse Laramie, WY 307-745-4553  Ollie_wy@hotmail.com  www.highcountryhorse.net

Ollie Hill got started because of his love for horses and hunting and fishing trips in the back country of Colorado and Wyoming.  His first high country experience was during a high school graduation fishing trip with his brother.  Ollie’s will to take a horse on this trip out weighed his knowledge on how to do so.

Ollie participated in Al Richardson’s noted Packing and Outfitting course during graduate school.  He became inspired to teach others how to enjoy riding, packing, cooking and learning survival skills for high country adventures.  This is when he became interested in sharing this experience and information with others to help them learn.  Packing schools and demonstrations are very much hands-on, with a custom arrangement with tack and saddle shops and with universities and colleges.

Ollie began authoring books and teaching credit courses, as well as teaching one day packing courses and demonstrations.  There are now five “how to” books that are on the market in over 40 states and over 20 countries.   These “how to” books provide information on animal packing and outfitting:

  • Packing and Outfitting Field Manual
  • Dot It Yourself Plans for Rawhide Panniers
  • Do It Yourself Plans for Mini-Pack Horse
  • A Do-It-Yourself Guild to Improvements, Repairs and Complete Rigging of Crossbuck and Decker Pack Saddles
  • Do It Yourself Plans for Deluxe Portable Camp Table

The newest product is an educational game for kids and their horses–”Kid’s Arena Horse Play Game.”  This game was created to provide a fun learning experience for kids and their horses.  Kids complete the arena course by successfully answering horsemanship questions and performing riding skills required to move on to each station.  The questions address both Western and English riding and cover a wide range of horse health, anatomy, tack and equine knowledge.  The game is for three age groups.

To order any of High Country House books or the game, visit their web site: www.highcountryhorse.net.   Customers can also order by phone or mail.

 

NEWS FROM THE PARKS: Teton Park Road Now Open for Non-Motorized Spring Season Activities

Teton Park Road Now Open for Non-Motorized Spring Season Activities

images by Grand Teton National Park — taken from the Mount Moran scenic turnout on the Teton Park Road in GTNP — April 2, 2014

Grand Teton National Park road crews cut through the deep snowpack on the Teton Park Road between the Taggart Lake parking area and Signal Mountain Lodge—a distance of 15 miles— and completed this portion of the annual spring plowing on Friday, April 4. The Teton Park Road has now melted down to pavement and is currently open to non-motorized recreation such as walking, roller-blading, and biking. However, road crews are still in the process of clearing the Jenny Lake scenic loop road, as well as other auxiliary roads and wayside areas.

Because the annual snow removal operations are still underway, anyone using the Teton Park Road for springtime recreation must be alert for and be prepared for sharing the road with heavy equipment, large trucks, and other park vehicles that will regularly travel this roadway as the spring opening continues. As a safety precaution, visitors to this area must stay at least 500 feet back from the large rotary snow removal equipment at work.

The annual plowing of the Teton Park Road is a process that can take several weeks to complete, depending on the depth and consistency of the snowpack. Due to the exceptionally deep and dense snowpack this year, snow removal on just the principal Teton Park Road has taken the better part of two weeks. Still, springtime visitors can look forward to access on this park road for more than three weeks before it opens for the summer travel season.

The Teton Park Road will open again to private vehicle use on Thursday, May 1, 2014. Visitors are reminded that dogs are permitted on the Teton Park Road. Owners are required to keep pets on a leash no longer than six feet in length, and are required to use waste disposal bags to pick up after their dogs. Mutt Mitt stations are in place at the Taggart Lake parking area.

REMINDER: Bears are now out of hibernation and active again in Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. Consequently, park visitors need to be alert for bears and take appropriate precautions when using the Teton Park Road and other park areas. Visitors should exercise common sense and good judgment, stay alert, and follow these recommended safety tips while biking, hiking or spring skiing:

• Make noise

• Travel in a group of three or more

• Carry bear spray and know how to use it

• Maintain a 100-yard distance from bears at all times

• Never approach a bear under any circumstances People should also report any bear sightings or sign to the nearest visitor center or ranger station. Timely reporting will help park staff to provide important safety messages about bear activity to other visitors.

MADE IN WYOMING: Simple Joys Soap

visit our website & read the NEW Sprinter 2014 issue!

We are thrilled to team with the Wyoming Business Council to feature a Wyoming First business every week on our blog! Wyoming First is a program that promotes Wyoming member businesses. Visit their website (click here) to learn more about this service — and if you are a Wyoming business who’s not a member, be sure to inquire about membership! There are many benefits!

 

This week we are featuring Simple Joys Soap of Sheridan, Wyoming

Susan Flynn, Simple Joys Soap  PO Box 6461  Sheridan, WY 82801  307-672-2130  sflynn@wyoming.com  www.simplejoyssoap.com   

Simple Joys Soap began when Susan developed an obsession with soap-making! There were so many essential oil (scent) combinations to try out and so many recipes! As she was purchasing ingredients in a Good Health Emporium & Warehouse Market in Sheridan, both owners began asking her if she would like to sell soap to them. Of course, Susan said yes!  She was making so much more than she could use or give away, so it seemed to be the way to go — and with that, Simple Joys Soap was launched!

As a family business, Susan’s daughter and son-in-law help her with production and distribution.  In busy times, she has also had help from friends and other family members.  Simple Joys Soap is an entirely home-based business.

Although there are about 18 different scents, there are still many more possible combinations of essential oils and additives.  Susan enjoys trying new ideas for special projects, so custom orders are always welcome.  Also, for a nominal one-time fee, she offers custom soap labels to wholesale customers.  For example, Paradise Guest Ranch, The Ranch at Ucross, and others have their logo on the soap label.  In these businesses, Simple Joys Soap is available to the guests to use in their room and in the gift shops to buy as gifts.

For retail customers, Simple Joys Soap may be purchased by a phone, email, or the website:www.simplejoyssoap,com.  Wholesale customers can email Susan at sflynn@wyoming.com or simplejoyssoap@wyoming.com, or phone 307-672-2130.

There are three sizes of soap: Hospitality, Half-size, and Full-size bars. Retail prices range from $1.00 to $5.00. Simple Joys Soap is made from a vegetable-based product made with high-quality ingredients and scented with essential oils. The labels accurately describe the ingredients found in the soap. Whenever possible, Susan supports local businesses when purchasing ingredients such as honey, coffee, organic oatmeal, etc.  Extra soap is donated to local charities yearly.  Simple Joys Soap is passionate about recycling ingredient containers!

Liberty Lausterer: Hitch Your Wagon to the Stars

visit our website & read the new Sprinter 2014 issue!

Our guest blogger, Liberty Lausterer, is back with another introspective look at our square state. Liberty moved to Wyoming within this past year, and offers us her perspective at life in the Cowboy State from a new resident’s eyes.

 

HITCH YOUR WAGON TO THE STARS

Here’s a scary thought. According to Tyler Nordgren, author of Stars Above, Earth Below: Astronomy in the National Parks, 50% of children born this year will never see the Milky Way. I’m no astronomer, but I’d say that’s pretty tragic news.

At a recent talk Nordgren gave at UW, he shared how light pollution is quickly turning the night sky into a rare commodity. We have now entered the era in which families across the U.S. will have to pack their kiddos into a car and drive a lengthy distance to a national park (spending lots of money on gas and lodging and drive-through meals), all so their kids can see the stars. And in some cases (such as Great Smoky Mountains National Park) not even the parks are immune to the devastating effects of light pollution.

The good news is we in Wyoming don’t have many city lights. It’s one of the many things I love about living in a sparsely populated state! But what our children, and our children’s children, will see in the coming generations depends a lot on the choices we make today. From the lights we install in our yards to light up our walkways, to the street lights we approve as communities, the fate of Wyoming’s night sky rests in our hands.

image by Tyler Nordgren

John Muir, the naturalist, said “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.” My husband and I have stopped turning the front porch light on when we leave for the evening. I guess you could say it’s our small act of gratitude for the gift of this incredible Wyoming sky we share. So hitch your wagon to the stars!