A Tale of an Old Man -- and Two Young Chicks

In Early August 2012; At Grumpy's Castle --

It might be expected that, after losing one's partner, companion and wife of over 63 years, that an Old Man would seek company to share his lonely life. But what Grumpy undertook may be considered by some to be beyond the pale [Irrevocably unacceptable or unreasonable: e.g., behavior that was quite beyond the pale.]: Two (2) young chicks!!

Cheep (front) and Cheeper (rear)

Now lest any of you females in the Z-clan begin to get any of the wrong idea(s), let me see if this photograph of these two young charmers can clear things up a bit.

As a pair, these two [whom I have, for obvious reasons, named "Cheep" and "Cheeper"] have been perfect companions -- for each other. I could leave them outside in the front yard and go back every fifteen or twenty minutes, and find them partially-hidden back under the plants next to the house. When I called them [by "clucking" like a mother hen] they would "cheep" back to me and move a little bit so I could detect them by their motion. If I kept "clucking", they would come to me and would allow me to pick them up to take them into the house and put them in their box [for the night, or to take with me in the car].

When I was invited to go up to Granite Falls Friday afternoon to enjoy a family "Camp-out" with Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren, I took Cheep and Cheeper with me. They were perfectly happy when released from their box and left to roam free; after all, the Red Rocket was there, a familiar sight, under which for them to hide and to find shade during the heat of the day. When night fell, I simply called them to me, placed them back in their box and placed it in the car.

Poor little Cheep [Andalusian] the day before she disappeared.

On Sunday, when I went to visit Demetria and not wanting to leave them in the car in the shadeless parking lot, I thought to leave them in my front yard where everything was familiar and where they had been happy before -- as a pair. Sadly when I returned, only Cheeper's plaintive cry could be heard in response to my call; Cheep was nowhere to be found -- not a sound or even a sign. I agonized over what could have happened -- and still do not know for sure.

Cheeper -- My friend for life!

Subsequent to the disappearance of Cheep, her buddy Cheeper has become inconsolably attached to me. She even prefers my company to eating and drinking. And I have become more attached to her, and more protective of her than I ever thought possible. She still has to stay in her box -- alone -- at night so we can both get some sleep. But I go out in the front yard occasionally to stand next to her so she will eat and drink water. Otherwise she either roosts on the ledge of the storm-screen door, or she flies up to roost on top of the tool shed or on the utility trailer. [When she starts roosting on top of the Rocket, I will have to find another solution!]

Ward's July Wandering, Last Half [Part Two]

8 July to 16 July; The Return Trip West --

SUNDAY, Day Eleven; We visit Cousins Harry and Edythe: I met Cousin Bill at the AMTRAK station in Osceola IA. The return trip West would include places that Bill and I both wanted to go and people to visit, as well as some that he particularly wanted to visit and/or see, and one long-time friend, Dyllis in WY whose husband died earlier this year, and whom I had promised I would stop to visit on my way West.

Our first two stops were still in Iowa, to visit Cousin Harry, who was in the Veteran's hospital near Des Moines; then on the Lohrville to visit Cousin Edythe [96 this year and still very agile!]. This brother and sister pair were some of the dear people that Mother and I had been visiting each of the past several years on our annual Midwest Auto Tours. We were happy to learn that Cousin Harry is nearly recovered and should be discharged from the hospital as this is being written. 

After getting confused by hearing two different sets of directions; one from my passenger and the other from "Greta" my trusty Garmin GPS, and thus getting temporarily lost in Sioux City, we drove on to Mitchell SD for the night. TOTAL MILES FOR TODAY: 179.5

MONDAY, Day Twelve; Finding Sweet-Clover Honey and Exploring Old Places:  Our first stop for today was in Belvedere, a near-ghost town along I-90 just East of Kadoka SD. Here Bill had made contacts with some people who harvest what Grumpy thinks is the best-tasting honey in the whole world: that made in Western SD from Yellow Sweet Clover. I brought home a gallon of pure, never-heated, unfiltered Yellow Sweet Clover Honey. [I was told that one disadvantage of this raw honey is that it tends to crystallize more quickly than "pasteurized" honey. [Now why would anyone need to "pasteurize" honey? Pure honey is antiseptic -- nothing harmful to man can live in it!!] And further, Grumpy considers "sugared" honey to be more flavorful than the liquid variety!! So I figured I won both ways with my gallon of honey.

After buying our "year's-worth" of honey, Bill and I drove up to Midland, and the Nowlin cemetery where Mother's parents' graves are, and where the graves of the Kunkle Grandparents of Bill's and hers are located. Later we stopped at the Philip cemetery where my parents' graves are located. TOTAL MILES FOR TODAY: 493.9

TUESDAY, Day Thirteen, More Exploring: We stayed in Philip for a couple of nights; my hometown for my Senior year in High School, and where Bill was headquartered for a few years when he was a SD State Highway Patrolman. During one of my morning walks around town, I spied this "wagon train" each loaded with various kinds of flowers -- but mostly "Moss Rose" [Portulaca Grandiflora]. TOTAL MILES FOR TODAY: 2.2

WEDNESDAY, Day Fourteen; Two Nephews and a Grand Nephew:  On the way to Rapid City, Bill and I had to challenge the Wall Drug on their advertised "VETERANS!! Free Cup of Coffee and Doughnut". We also enjoyed the western motif in the cafeteria area where memorabilia and numerous West River brands were displayed on the walls.

When I had been in Rapid over the 4th, I hadn't been too concerned about having missed seeing my Nephew Larry, as I knew that I would be returning when Bill was with me. Sure enough, we were able to have lunch with Larry and his Mother Frances, then Larry arranged for his Son Cory (our Grand Nephew) to show us the 911 Dispatch Center where he works.

Later when Gary got off work, we were able to have an early dinner with him before we left for our night's lodging in Hot Springs. TOTAL MILES FOR TODAY: 172.0

THURSDAY, Day Fifteen; Consoling an Old Friend:  Mother and I have known the Goses since we lived as neighbors in Belle Fourche SD in 195o-51. Neil was the equipment maintenance repairman for Peter Kiewit & Sons, a large construction company then doing a major road-building project in Spearfish Canyon; their older daughter, charming, blonde and brown-eyed Adele, was the inspiration for the middle name of our first daughter. Unfortunately, Adele contracted some kind of cancer and passed away at a fairly young age several years ago.

When I returned from viewing the Sandhill Cranes this past Spring, I heard the message on my phone machine that Neil had passed away; I called Dyllis right away and promised I would stop to see her this Summer -- just as Mother and I had been visiting them each of the past several years. Dyllis is virtually blind but is still as cheerful and hospitable as ever; their younger daughter and husband are living with her and helping her with her needs. TOTAL MILES FOR TODAY:  350.2

FRIDAY, Day Sixteen; Through the Tetons and into Idaho:   As we entered Grand Teton National Park, we were treated to this panorama of the Tetons, with Le Grande Teton standing tall among the tall. Uncle Bob and I flew into this valley (Jackson's Hole) a few years ago, and then defying the advice of a Cessna pilot who landed at almost the same time as we had, we took off heading North (toward "high" country) and, relishing in the excellent performance of the Mooney M-20, were able to climb above these peaks and then turn Westward toward our ultimate destination Seattle.

After going through Pocatello and along the Snake River, we reached Burley ID where we snacked on a beans and rice burrito and slept the night. TOTAL MILES FOR TODAY: 382.5

SATURDAY, Day Seventeen; Into and across Oregon -- Bill is Home!:  After a complementary breakfast at the nearby Perkins restaurant in Burley, we ventured forth crossing the Snake River for the seventh time (since entering Idaho) into Oregon. [Bill seemed to be especially happy to be back in Oregon as he took this photo of the "Welcome to Oregon" sign.] We held off our lunch appetites until we arrived in Burns OR [this town might well have earned its name by how hot it can get on a mid-July day!].

This day we had planned to stay the night in Bend or Sisters OR. However Grumpy neglected to "plan ahead" and phone for reservations. That might have made a difference, but maybe not; both towns were teeming with weekend visitors when we got there about five in the afternoon, many of whom probably came up to escape the hot weather "down in the lowlands". At any rate, after stopping at four or five motels and getting the same answer, "No Vacancy", the driver finally made the decision to go another two or two and a half hours to get to Bill's home.  TOTAL MILES FOR TODAY: 612.4

SUNDAY, Day Eighteen; Another Visit at Fort Bale:   What Grumpy expected to be another Great visit with two Great Grandsons turned out to be another Great visit including a Lemon Meringue Pie -- and a Certain Great Grandson (A.) who will still not share "his" Lemon Meringue Pie recipe with his Great Grandpa Z.

[And maybe he is even becoming unwilling to share the "other pie" with his Great Grandpa!!

 Oh well, the food seemed to be cooked with the same care and deliciousness as if Swedish royalty had been there, so Grumpy didn't suffer too much. [Except for the now-mandatory Swedish teasing, that is!]

Before Grumpy could relax after such sumptuous feasting however, J. brought out the geode which he and Great Grandpa had been slowly chipping away at to open it up and reveal its hidden jewelry. Success at last! J.'s patience paid off!! The geode broke open exactly along the line along which he and his Great Grandpa had been chipping.

Later, J. innovated with some back-lighting to show this scene on the left. TOTAL MILES TODAY:  142.4

MONDAY, Day Nineteen: After a short trip up to Centralia and back to pick up a Cousin who would be staying after Grumpy left Fort Bale, he made his way on North; And so Grumpy's Auto Tour 2012 came to an end with his safe arrival back at home. TOTAL MILES TODAY:  316.0

TOTAL MILES ON THIS LAST HALF:  2,651.1
TOTAL MILES ON THIS SUMMER AUTO TOUR: 4873.4

More adventures are sure to follow. Also, please check Grumpy's Grumblings for information on this trip about gas mileage, motel shortcomings and such.

Wonder Where Ward is Wandering this Week?

27 June - 7 July 2012; My Annual Midwest Auto Tour, First Half --
Wednesday, Day Zero; Seattle to Deerlodge MT: As usual, I got up early and started out. I took a picture of the Eastern sky -- Venus was visible, but I apparently shook the camera too hard [Actually, that is about how my bleary eyes saw things, too!], so it will not be included.

I crested Snoqualmie Pass at about 0500 and was in Montana by noon. I arrived in Deerlodge with the gas-trip Odometer reading 566 miles (yes, as this photo of the "A" odometer -- the one I reset when I get fuel -- taken a ways out of Missoula shows, setting the cruise control at 65 really pays off in high mileage per tankful!)  TOTAL MILES FOR THE DAY: 565.1

Thursday, Day One; Deerlodge to Wyoming: I found my Uncle Leonard Zierlein and his ex-wife, my Aunt Carol, in north-central WY. They live across the County Road (lane 39) from each other and seem to get along pretty well. We went to lunch in Greybull WY, where I had to buy a new tire; also reserved a room for the night.

 Their oldest, son Louis, was at Uncle Leonard's and I was happy to get to see him and Leonard's oldest daughter, Glenda again. [I first met him when he drove his Dad and two sisters to IA for Grandma Nettie's memorial.]

I also got to meet, for the first time, their youngest son August ("Augie" -- named after our Great Grandfather Zierlein). TOTAL MILES FOR DAY: 506.2

FRIDAY, Day Two; Greybull to Big Horn Range in WY: I had wanted to go over Powder River Pass (on the South end of the Big Horns), but I didn't remember its proper name, and wound up going US 14 over Granite Pass (into Sheridan WY) instead. As it turns out, there is a lot of spectacular scenery over this more-Northern pass. One of the most interesting was this, the Shell Creek Falls.

After going over Granite Pass down into Sheridan, I continued on South to Buffalo and then re-ascended the Big Horns toward Powder River Pass. I wanted to get Sunset and Sunrise photos from this area, because I had remembered that it looked easterly with the Black Hills on the horizon in the distance. To get the Sunrise view, I had to sleep up there -- in the cold (45 degr F!) -- and I thought I was going to freeze to death!  TOTAL MILES FOR THE DAY: 188.3

SATURDAY, Day Three; 8500-foot level of Big Horns to Spearfish Creek Cabins: Arising at about 0300 -- mainly because I was cold, but also so I could capture the first glimpse of the Sun as it arose -- I realized that I had not the slightest idea where the Sun would make its appearance! I made an educated guess and turned out to have it in the lower right corner of my view; rather artistic if I do say so myself.

After getting my Sunrise shot, I dropped down out of the altitude, basking in the warmth from the car heater, and drove the short distance into Spearfish for an early breakfast at the Cedar House restaurant. Then I checked into my motel (Spearfish Creek Cabins) where I would headquarter for the next three days.  TOTAL MILES FOR THE DAY: 102.1

SUNDAY, Day Four; In and Around Spearfish: After a "visiting" breakfast with Cousin Joan (Bitsy), I joined her at her church service. Then I dropped in to see Cousin Jimmy Eddy and his wife, Shirley, who still live on the old dairy farm where Uncle John and Aunt Laura brought up about six of the eight Eddy kids. TOTAL MILES FOR THE DAY: 5.9

MONDAY, Day Five; A Pilgrimage back to our Roots:  With Bitsy driving and two more girl cousins (Kay and Lorraine) joining us, we first went down South of Dupree, to the site of my birth where a covey of grouse spooked from the remains of the cellar that was under the frame part of the house. A few pieces of rotted logs from the log cabin part was also in evidence to the East of where the house used to sit.

Then we drove the 2 or 3 miles over to where the Eddy girls grew up. The present owner is the son of the first guy I beat up (a third grader) when I started 2nd grade at Sunnybrook, the little country school.

Next we meandered cross-country up to where our Zimmerman Grandparents lived; also where their graves are. Lorraine (and my sister Donagene) were born in my Grandparents' house, in a room upstairs where that little window is, above Lorraine's head.

After a long day, we returned to Spearfish. TOTAL MILES FOR THE DAY: None for me!

TUESDAY, Day Six; Visiting Cousins and Old Friends:  My first stop in Rapid City was to have coffee with my Cousin Ann and her husband Jack. I presented him with the usual "Care Package" brought from Seattle; but also, I had found a delicacy along the road called "Moose Drool", which I gingerly passed over to him, telling him that my curiosity had led me to want to share a taste of it with him. We split a bottle, both declaring it "not bad" for something put together in Missoula, Montana originally as a joke! [Kind of reminded me of a certain "Zeta Brew" cooked up by none other than two of my Grandsons.]

I met Cousin Ethel for lunch, as Mother and I had done the year before. However, this time Ethel insisted that she buy me lunch and to enjoy it with her son and his wife who would be there visiting soon. [And, of course, I can't remember the son's name!! Or his lovely wife's either!]

On the way back for the night in Spearfish, I met my old school classmate, Roy, in Sturgis. He and I had played basketball in Dupree as teammates, then when I was a Senior at Philip, we were adversaries in a non-league game played in Dupree. Roy took me to a "biker's bar and grill" where we both ordered the "Kiddie's Sirloin Bits", a filling meal for each of us! TOTAL MILES FOR THE DAY: 117.5

WEDNESDAY, Day Seven; Fourth of July Backyard Barbecue and Water Fight:  Last year, when Mother and I attended this event-to-end-all-events, a young Great Nephew named Brandon "somehow" got me wet during the afternoon's "wet"-stive goings-on. As I left that day, I committed to Brandon that "next year" I would bring a "machine water gun".

But when I arrived this year and Brandon asked to see my "machine water gun", I explained that "as long as (he) didn't cause any trouble, I would not bring it out." Well, he found where I had stashed it and later challenged me to a water gun duel. Of course I had to accept [didn't I??!], so at twenty paces, we turned and "watered" our weapons. Since mine was capable of short, repeated blasts of water and his emitted a single, long [and with great volume!], my water gun outlasted his and he began to run. These kinds of things are half the fun of going to this event each year.

Gary and Cindy put this on mostly by themselves, but other relatives and friends pitch in with some of the goodies. Larry was ill this day and did not make it this year; Kay and Bob stayed in Colorado in case their home was endangered by the forest fires. Aunt Frances was the Belle of the Ball as usual; she will be 92 this December [if I am not mistaken]. TOTAL MILES FOR THE DAY: 68.4

THURSDAY, Day Eight; Travel to Aunt Hazel's:  Arising from my bed before dark, and after an earlier than usual complimentary breakfast with my complimentary Day's Inn room, I ventured forth toward Iowa; the Sunrise occurred as I was speeding [at 65 miles per hour, thank you!] over the flat country of Eastern South Dakota.

In the "Olden Days", this would have been a push-over for me. But this day I wisely took a couple of respites along the way, spending half hour or so each, at the Chamberlain rest-stop, and at the Sgt Floyd Memorial rest-stop in Iowa. Even then, I was exhausted by the time I got to my reserved motel in Indianola. TOTAL MILES FOR THE DAY: 649.5

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, Days Nine & Ten; Visiting Aunt Hazel:  Hazel and I had spent a few days together in late March, witnessing the spectacle of the Sandhill Cranes in their annual migration to the Platte River valley in Central NE. We had previously confirmed that we are still of opposite politics and religious beliefs, so we were able to get serious about visiting -- and picking peaches.

Ex-brother-in-law, Tom, has a peach tree that tempted even this Old Man to stand on the top of the six-foot step ladder to try to reach the most luscious looking peaches that had benefited the most and longest in the Iowa sunshine. TOTAL MILES FOR THESE TWO DAYS: 21.9
TOTAL MILES FOR THIS HALF OF THE TRIP: 2,222.3

Stay tuned, after I pick up Cousin Bill, for the last half of this Auto Tour; the return trip West.