Friday, July 27, 2012

Zucc pictures and poetry!




The western sun hotter than blazes,
everyone looking for relief
from the rippling rays,
so evening comes as quick as a thief.


Western view from our house


We travel north to escape our plight,
from the endless hot days of summer,
and find a few high mountains 
that are cooler.

Grand Tetons


Living in the Tetons of the west
is really for tough hombres,
but for tourist like us
the beauty of this place will bring future memories.

Clouds over Teton Village


On the way to Jackson
old abandoned structures adorn the way,
in towns and along roads
they make our day.

A house near Bear Lake


Little house on the prairie
not for me,
Inside plumbing nowadays has thrones
pioneers never did see.

Somewhere in Wyoming


Paris and London, small towns
along the road,
have a variety of structures
and stories mostly untold.

A ghost house?


Even this old church house
whose bricks look pretty good,
needs repair, perhaps a new door
and some sturdy new wood.

Old church
               
                                                                                   
                                                              Well, this gargoyle pictured below, 
                                             must have been placed there to keep an eye on the people.  
                                                             Why the wire is tied to its left hand, 
                                                                            I'll never know.  

Jackson Hole Gargoyle





Tuesday, July 24, 2012

This night was special!


Every tourist that visit Jackson Hole, WY ends up under one of the elk horn gates to have a picture taken.  So it was with me and Grandma Zucc.  



We traveled north to this wonderful little town for a weekend get-a-way, with our friends Mike and Debbie.
We went to see the Bar J Wranglers perform.  The second night we saw The Ballad of Cat Ballou at the Jackson Hole playhouse.  Both were excellent, with the Wranglers being exceptional.  We arrived home in the mid-afternoon, got a little nap, then traveled to the Conference Center to see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform – guest star was Kathrine Jenkins.  So we had a busy but entertaining long weekend.  Good friends, Good food, Good entertainment!  What can be better?

Mike and Debbie

Believe it or not, the character pictured below is called Very Strange.  I suppose his nose patch makes him that way, but really his stage character really set him apart from the others.      

Very Strange, indeed

We had seen the Bar J Wrangles perform several times in past years, but this night was special.  We were seated the forth table from the stage, dead center in the middle of the hall.  

Wranglers perform


The performers in the mellow drama also serve at the tables, take tickets etc.  They made the experience really fun.  Oh, they also put on the 6 pm "Shootout" at the town square, only a block away from the playhouse.

Our servers

Speaking of the "Shootout!"  It was really fun.  They do this every day during the summer season.  It is amazing they are still alive, but of course, they use blanks.  Ha ha.  

A real tough cowboy

Notice the water glass shaped like a cowboy boot.


Mike poses with cigar store Indian.


One thing I enjoy in Jackson is the boardwalks that line the streets in downtown.  Within walking distance of the Saloon, I notice a fence that had been repaired with skies.  The person that owns the property must have  a very interesting and resourceful imagination.  

  

If you know me, you know that I have a curiosity, so I held my camera over this fence, and luckily got a pic of the back yard.  If this guy ever goes skiing, he will never have to rent them.  Ha ha.






Sunday, July 22, 2012

We all thought it was beautiful



One evening last week, Jenna gave Rachel a new hairdo.  It was awesome, and Rachel knew it!

Rachel poses with her new hairdo





We all though it was beautiful.





Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Pioneer day, hey hey!


Last Saturday evening, Grandma and I traveled downtown with Mike, Katie and their cute family.  The occasion was the Days of '47 Pops Concert at Abravanel Hall.  We found good parking at the new City Creek Center.  Before the concert, I took some pics of our little group.

Grandma & Grandpa


Rachel & Mike


Katie, Jenna, Erin, Matt, and Grandma


The three tiers of balcony are lined with pure gold leaf.  


After the concert, Erin agreed to have her pic taken in front of the Dale Chihuly glass sculpture, which was bought for $625,000.  Wow!  "Don't sneeze, Erin!!!!!"

Erin in front of the Chihuly.


In Nordstroms, Jenna poses with some faceless mannequins.

At least Jenna has both a face and also legs.

Before the concert we walked through the new center.  It was my first time inside, and I must say, I was impressed to no end.  The glass top of the mall was closed, and this whole place was air conditioned.

Inside City Creek Center



Jenna, Matty, & Rachel



Rachel, Jenna, Erin, Matthew & Grandpa


Pretty nice kids

Earlier in the day Mike's family were all in the Days of 47 children's parade.  Now we are all prepared, at least mentally, for the big event on the 24th.

"Pioneer day, hey hey.  It will soon be Pioneer day.  Pioneer day, de dum.  It's pioneers we came from."





Friday, July 6, 2012

"Oh yes, they still rock!"


The Stadium of Fire concert and fireworks display was awesome!  Perhaps this was the best fireworks I have ever seen.  It was set to the music of 007, and the finale was powerful, insomuch that I felt that I was to be knocked backwards, right out of my seat.  Ha ha.

The program started with an F-16 flyover.  As those magnificent aircraft passed, I felt a deep since of patriotism, but the really cool thing that happened was that the captain of the jets actually talked to us, wishing us a great 4th of July celebration, and guess what?  This was done by real-time TV on the screens you see in the pic below.       

Scotty McCreery

Scotty McCreery did a great job.  He was first on the program.  He is now a real professional, with a great country voice (I like him because he sings in tune).  He was followed by a great performance by the Beach Boys.  Grandma Z and I had great seats in the north end zone.  We were even stomping our feet and clapping our hands during the singing.

People of all ages were dancing in the stands and up and down the aisles.  It was awesome!  "Yes," they are old men, and "Oh yes, they still rock!"


The Beach Boys