2nd Place

 Bridger getting ready to advance to 2nd.

 Bridger getting a aviation history lesson.

Shooting some stick after hockey.

Bridger's baseball season is over.  The team took 2nd place.  Bridger did not get to play due to illness.  He got a stomach bug and threw up 2 times during the night and then 4 times throughout the day.  At game time I was trying to talk him into going and he made another dash to the bathroom and had a fever.  We stayed home and Ginni went to watch after she got off work.

Today he is feeling better.  I might try to get him out golfing if he is up for it.  The forecast has high 90's again.  So maybe we will just set up his water slide and soak.

We have burn bans across the state.  I was supprised to see Sublette county did not have any yet.  Down in Colorado I heard some adults talking about fireworks being banned and then they said I guess 4th of July will be cancelled.  I guess they do not know why we celebrate the 4th of July if they think is just because of fireworks.

Try to find some shade today.

"Fat man, you shoot a great game of pool.
So do you, Fast Eddie."

 We had company Saturday evening.  The Parkers from Billings.  They have been friends with us since we lived there.  Deb is a realtor who worked with me when I was looking for a house before moving to Billings, way back in 1997.  They have two daughters, Stevie, born in 2000 and Maddee, born in 2005.  Bridger did some quick calculating his age difference from Stevie's after he asked us how far in age we are.  When we were teasing him about it, he walked off.

This the sun photo I took on Tuesday evening.  Sure glad to get out of Colorado.  I slept poorly Tuesday night waiting for the hotel to pull the fire alarm to evacuate us.  We really weren't too far from mandatory evacuation line.  There was so much smoke this morning you couldn't see the damage.  We had clear skies once we got away from COS, but hazy again once we were into Wyoming. The Academy had to evacuate which caused the hockey camp to be cancelled for Wed, the last day.

Bridger got to play in the his teams' game tonight since we made it home in time.  Everyone was happy to see him.  They won 9-7.  Several parents commented how much Bridger was missed for the Tuesday night game, they lost 14-4.

They have to play that team tomorrow night.  If they manage to beat them they will have to play a double header as it is double elimination.  Right now in this point in the season, 1st or 2nd doesn't matter the team had a wonderful season.  The team is going to have a celebration at the coach's house Friday night.  Then Saturday we are heading to Jackson for a wedding.


"Man that ball got outta here in a hurry. I mean anything travels that far oughta have a stewardess on it, don't you think?

Hockey Day 2

 This plane is at the entrance of the Academy.  Bridger is trying to get a better look at the bomb doors.

 This is the Falcons football field with the fire in the background.

 The fire blew up today.  The homes seen are in evacuation.  Ginni also got the helicopter.

This is a zoomed out photo of the fire.  It only shows 1/4th of what is burning.

The fire blew up here today.  There are a lot of mandatory evacuations.  The smoke is terrible. The atrium in our hotel has a haze to it from the smoke.  The cause of this one ... unattended campfire.

Bridger had a good day at hockey again.  We stayed and watched his on ice time.  I should have been counting how many kids he knocked down from aggressive play. (no cheap shots)  One kid was skating full out and hit Bridger square in the chest.  The kid flew back landing sprawled out on the ice.  Bridger just looked at him, took the puck and headed towards the goal.

One more day and we head home.  I hope everyone is getting ready for the fourth even though there might not be fireworks.

"You can learn to punch in the barn, but you gotta learn to survive on the ice."

Hockey and Fire

 This our view of Pike's Peak in the morning.  In the late afternoon we can't see the mountains.  Garden of the Gods is on the lower left.

 This was late morning.

 This is early afternoon from our hotel.

 Bridger warming up for his first session.

 He impressed the coaches with his puck control skating backwards.

One of Ginni's flowers before we left.

The fires are bad down here.  There are two fires in the same area, the one is 0% contained.  I am glad we did not plan on doing Pike's Peak this year.  There are a lot of closures and evacuations.  The Garden of the Gods is even closed.  One of the hotels Ginni was looking at was in that area,  glad she picked here.

Bridger enjoyed his first day of hockey.  We watched for a while and he did really well.  He was a lot more agressive going after the puck and trying to make plays.  During game time I could see he was a little frustrated.  He would work his butt of to get the puck and work it into his zone and then pass ahead and the other kids would just let it bounce of their sticks.  He kept playing though.

I hope everyone is staying cool, is has been triple digits here.

"Old time hockey coach."

Cooling Off

 Bridger got this water toy for his birthday.

 Warming up on the rocks.

 Just took a plunge in the pool.

This was his first attempt.

This is what he meant to do.

It was 97 today so I thought it would be a good day to get out his new water slide.  Jason spent the night and then ended up spending he whole day with us as well.  They had a blast with the water slide.  I even gave it a try and the kids did laugh at me.

Bridger had a great game tonight.  He hit two to the fence.  His second one was a double 1 run RBI which sent it into extra innings.  They ended up winning.  They are going to miss him next week in the semis.  The other coaches and kids were trying to get him to skip hockey camp to play.  It made Bridger feel good that he is an important member of the team.

As you can tell I am still here.  They kept the crew that is out and it is just wait to see if I get called.  Bridger told me tonight he is glad that I got to stay home.

I hope everyone is enjoying the BBQ season.

"I would have liked to have had that chance. Just once. To stare down a big league pitcher. To stare him down, and just as he goes into his windup, wink. Make him think you know something he doesn't. That's what I wish for. Chance to squint at a sky so blue that it hurts your eyes just to look at it. To feel the tingling in your arm as you connect with the ball. To run the bases - stretch a double into a triple, and flop face-first into third, wrap your arms around the bag."



Summer Fun

 Bridger's team picture.

 Bridger invited Jason over for a sleepover.  Nerf gun war on.

 It progressed to water balloons.

Monster water balloons.

Bridger invited Jason from across the street for a sleep over.  They called about 3:30 and asked if he could come over early because he was bugging them so much.  They have been running non stop ever since.

I have been trying to get stuff done around the house just in case I get called tomorrow.  Bridger wanted to stay up with me last night to spend time.  The movie he picked to watch was snakes on a plane.  I hate snakes.  He enjoyed it.

I hope everyone had a happy solstice.

"Now he said, "Sic'em, boy!" But what I heard was, "Chopper! Sic balls!"" 

Baseball, Boating and Snakes

 He hit the ball really well for the team he subbed for last night

 Running the bases.

 We took a ride up the canyon today.

 Captain Bridger.

This is a sign on our golf course.  I do not look for my ball in the rough.

Bridger and I got the boat ready and took it down to Alcova.  Bridger wanted to go for a ride so we headed up the canyon.  It was nice, only one other boat in the canyon.  We then got it on the lift and enjoyed lunch at the lake.

Bridger had his first playoff game tonight. (With his team)  He did great.  He fielded the ball like a pro and he hit the ball hard.  His second at bat he hit it to the fence and got a triple.  His team won.

It is suppose to get in the high 90's for the weekend.  Stay cool.

"why does the floor move?
Give me your torch.
Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?"

Tennis Baseball

 Ready for the pitch.

 It is a long fly ball into center field.

 A home run for the big red head from Wyoming.

 Quit watching and get the ball.

 Making a throw to home.

A micro burst took out two tennis courts and 20 + car windows.

Bridger had a fun day at tennis.  Luckily the winds stayed calm in the morning.  Ginni met us out at the club and we enjoyed a nice lunch.

Bridger had golf yesterday.  After lessons I took him and the girl twins out for a round again.  They were really excited to get to go.  I found out from the mom that last week with me was the most golf they have ever played.  The did ask me why I talked to myself.  I asked them what they meant.  They said every time I hit a shot I say, "Darin, why did you hit it like that."  The girls quit early due to the wind but Bridger wanted to keep going.

I got a call from Casper baseball today and a team is short of players for tournament and requested Bridger to play with them also.  Bridger said he would play so he has a game tonight and then again tomorrow for his team.

I just got called and it looks like I am getting deployed to Colorado Friday.  I am not sure which fire we will be going to.  It will be a 7 - 14 day assignment so it looks like I will be missing 4th of July with the fam and the trip to Pinedale after the Jackson wedding.

I hope everyone is enjoying summer.

"This crowd has gone deadly silent, a Cinderella story outta nowhere. Former greenskeeper and now about to become the masters champion."


Gardens

 My Garden.

 Ginni's Garden.

 Ginni's flowers.

 Bridger enjoying a nice day reading on the lounger.

Bridger was proud of this shot and wanted a picture.

We have had awful winds and high heat the last couple of days.  Yesterday I was at the fire department in the morning and then the county blew up in the afternoon.  We had two wildland fires on the county line, on up in Midwest (still Natrona), one in Mills with structures involved (we got called to that one, 4 houses lost), a water rescue at the rapids, a boat accident at Alcova plus all of the medical calls going on during the day.  I called Ginni and told her that we were BBQing for lunch at the station.  So I did get to have Father's day lunch with Bridger and Ginni.  I did make it home in the evening and we were able to go out for a late dinner. 

So happy late Father's day to all of the fathers in blogland.

Bridger starts baseball tournament on Wednesday.  His team got a first round bye.  I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying summer.  Be careful with campfires.

Here is an older firefighter movie.

"It's out of control, and it's coming your way. You got about fifteen minutes. Now, they wanna try somethin'. They wanna blow those water tanks two floors above you. They think it might kill the fire."


baseball

 What a wonderful night for baseball.  I like this picture because of the dirt.  I was minding my own business taking pictures during warm-up and one of the guys asked if I would do the official game book and run the scoreboard.  I did once before on my own.  I was also talking to a friend whose son was on the other team and asked her to join me.  Good thing!!  I had forgotten how to run the scoreboard and she knew how.

  I think it was 3rd inning and Bridger got to play catcher.  I was worried about him having to crouch down so much.  He did fine!!! He made some nice scoops. All the rest of the pictures are from being in the crow's nest while I was supposed to be keeping score.

 Bridger on first base.  Darin is coaching first base.

 Our little slugger...

 No spectacular hits out of him tonight.

The gathered around Coach Tim.  One kid from the opposing team chattered at our girl player up at bat that she had nice pony tail.  I wondered at the time if the kid thought she was a boy.

Regular season done.  They ended up 9-2-1 with the best record in our division.  #2 team is the team tied with.  Tournament schedule posted tomorrow.  It is double elimination.  They have a good chance of getting a bye, but we will see.  It would be great to have this done in a week, but will see.

boots, boat and peonies

 Chase, could Cadence fit in these?  They are size 12.  When I found them in the back of B's closet I pictured in my mind her clopping around in them this summer. 

 Yep!  This is in our yard.  It manages to grow back every year regardless of our inept green thumbs.  I do know it is a peony.

 The boat is home and has a new bottom coat.  Last year when we had someone pressure spray the bottom you could really tell it needed done.  It had the same bottom coat since back in Michigan when our gel coat bubbled because we left it in the water all summer.  HMMM!!  That one always made me laugh-isn't a boat supposed to get wet?  Live and Learn!!!

Hopefully can get the boat out to the Boat Club dock tomorrow or this weekend sometime.  We are anxious to see how the redesigned boat lift works.

Bridger has a game at 6pm tonight.  Since I got the camera out to take pictures this am maybe I will remember and take some pictures during his game.


We welcome our guests this weekend.  You know who you are....

I have been doing yoga lately.  I mentioned to Darin something funny that I did and that the instructor was named Patricia.  He said is it Pat Hout?  Like I knew who that was!!!  Anyway, I asked this am what her last name was-Hayden.  Darin had at least told me who her brother was.  So I asked if she knew the Myers in Pinedale and then asked if she would kick me out of class if I was married to one.  He-He!!!  Her daughter-in-law was also in the class, Elaine.  She knew my husband as well.   Small world....

I am sure you are all missing Mr. Blogger.....  Me too!!!  Send him a message and let him know!!!