Blue Bell

Years ago, while living in Dallas, we began eating Blue Bell ice cream, made in Brenham, Texas.  Blue Bell was a staple in our freezer.  Blue Bell was served in our home not just on special occasions, but rather often as dessert.  When we moved to Sarasota in 1992, we were very disappointed that Blue Bell wasn't sold in Florida.  Within 5-6 years, Blue Bell arrived in Florida and we were back to having a constant supply of Blue Bell.  Now in Arizona, we keep several half gallons of Blue Bell (up to 7) in the freezer of our Tucson home.  Our favorite flavors are Southern Hospitality, Pralines and Cream, Homemade Vanilla, Strawberry, and Summer Berries. 

Art Class

Papa and I signed up for an art class in May.  We attended our first class last week and learned art terms and techniques that we had never heard of.  Our teacher, Karina, has a degree in art and is an excellent teacher.  We did our first homework assignment last night.  Both of us have significant room for improvement but it's great fun learning something completely new.

National Parks

Papa and I spent a week in June in Montana, Wyoming, and an afternoon driving through eastern Idaho.  We visited Glacier, Yellowstone, and Teton National Parks.  We stayed in historic hotels every night but one.  We saw moose, bears, bison, elk, pronghorn antelope, mountain goats, and trumpeter swans.  The variety and abundance of wildlife was a daily treat.  We hiked at least 2-3 miles every day, to places like Avalanche Lake in Glacier NP, through Norris Basin in Yellowstone, and on the boardwalk at Old Faithful where Giant Geyser was higher and more impressive than Old Faithful!  We toured the state capitol building in Helena, walked the almost deserted streets of Butte, and visited the ghost town of Virginia City.

We saw more cattle grazing in Montana than we've ever seen before!  Yellowstone NP was memorable for having 60% of the worlds thermal water features.  It was fun to imagine the first settlers coming upon steam spewing out of the ground and believing they were on "holy ground."   The Tetons were breathtakingly beautiful!  The drive along Jackson Lake south to Jackson was particularly  memorable and a place we will return.  An unforgettable trip!