RMAF Casper Wyoming

 This year, for the first time since I was 16 years old, I went to the Rocky Mountain Association of Fairs Convention as a guest instead of an entertainer.  It was enlightening to be on the other side of the great divide between performers and fair buyers.  I loved being able to visit friends and enjoy being "hosted" by them and see all their talents.  I hated that I couldn't hire all of them myself and bring them to our beautiful valley this year for my personal entertainment :-)  If wishes were fishes.  Anyway, we had a gorgeous drive, both ways despite the wind and weather that literally blew us home.  I have to say I felt so loved and welcomed and supported this year and it was so appreciated.  We love our RMAF family. 

 These photos are from Star Valley to Casper, mostly up Togwotee and on to Dubois. 

 We found a herd of Big Horn Sheep in Dubois and I was wishing for a long lens camera. 

 This ornery looking fellow didn't move when we stopped on the side of the road to get a good shot, again, lesson to me, bring the good camera next time. 

 This year there were some awesome new unusual entertainers.  Intricate balloon art anyone? 

 We love these dear friends.  Once a year is not enough. 

On the way home we ran across a Christmas tree in the wilderness, which is a perfect reminder of what Cal and Me are working on right now.  A new Christmas album and the Christmas with the Linfords concert November 30th. 

Proof of RMAF ~ Billings

We had a glorious time at RMAF, and aside from booking jobs, we go there to share music with some seriously incredible musicians. John Dunnigan being one of them. I seriously tear up at the thoughts of leaving without getting a sufficient dose of Dunnigan :-) We have so many great friends and my favorite thing is getting to see them all again. Amanda and I went vintage clothes shopping at the BEST little shop in Billings and ran into RMAF's Patsy Cline and Trick Roper. (we all share great taste in clothes and music) We played and sang with some amazing people and watched some great showcases. It was hard to leave in the end. The travels to and from are always an adventure. I always get some pics of the road and Cal and I actually travel well together. I know, who would have thunk it. We came up on this van and I said, "Cal, that looks like a dead animal strapped to the top of the mini-van." Cal thought, no, just a piece of furniture, but alas when we drew close, we saw it was indeed someones fall kill. Ironic for the butcher and jerky girl to encounter this on our way to sing. We did NOT offer to process it for them.

Our Great Uncle Avard Linford on my fathers side designed and built a bridge somewhere in the Big Sky area of Montana and after checking out every bridge from here to there, we came upon the most likely one and took a picture. I need to do some digging around in the family history and see if this really is "his" bridge.

From Idaho to Montana, the landscape gets more rugged and the rocks and boulders litter the landscape. I love the feel of Montana, just as I do Idaho and Wyoming.

The area of Idaho we drove through was windswept and full of blue skys on the way there, and dirt blown brownouts on the way back.