Carnivals and BBQs

Billings, MT  Same

The kids threw a big BBQ in their big back yard for family and friends. There was lots of water fun included. Elias definitely had a fantastic time. Loved having all the kids around and especially the getting wet. 

More pictures

 Michaela also had a very good time

 

Elias and crew also got to go to the carnival at the fairgrounds.

Michaela, Mary Beth, Elias, and Jerin a good friend

Grandma Mary Beth and the star of the show

 
I stayed home and kept the animals company. But the crew had a great time and one tired Elias.

 

At Last - Family

 Billings, MT  Highs in the 90s but cools off nicely at night into the 50s and 60s. 

I cannot believe I have already been in Billings for almost two weeks. My time has been spent being with family and friends. So this post is going to contain a lot of pictures. Not much to read.

Elias James

He loves moving to the music

Lola

 

 

More Elias

For some reason Elias just really likes lugging my purse around.

 

You can see Michaela's mom (Mary Beth) in the background. We call her the fun Grandma.  She can get down on the floor to play with Elias. If I got down on the floor we'd have to send for the paramedics to get me up again. She loves playing outside with him and I am not good in the outdoors on uneven ground. So I'm Grandma Sandie.

Mary Beth and Lola

 

Lots more fun to come.


 

Great Falls Tour - Post 2

Same as yesterday

When many people think of the Great Falls of the Missouri River, they imagine one large waterfall. However,there are five separate falls,extending approximately 10 miles that drop the water level a total of 612 feet.

I especially liked this picture of the train rolling over the dam.

With the construction of the dams and the installation of electric street lights, Great Falls became known as "The Electric City." This Electric City was home to the largest Opera House between Minneapolis and Spokane. 

 

 

When we visited the Falls, there was very little water running over the dams. I hope to someday see them when they are running at full capacity.

 

 

 

 

Great Falls has many firsts in the state of Montana.

• Fire Bell 1887
  
• Elected African American - Geraldine Travis elected to the Montana Legislature in 1974
  
• Female Newspaper Editor - Martha Rolfe in 1895. She was the daughter of the first territorial governor of Montana and was also the first white woman to live in Great Falls.
  
• Motorized Firefighting Apparatus - 1910
  
• African American Public Library Director - Alma Jacobs - 1954 - 1973
  
• Female Firefighter - Kathy Taylor - 1982
  

Next Stop on the tour is Gibson Park named for the founder of Great Falls, Paris Gibson in 1903. 

This cabin was the first home built in Great Falls and was owned by Vinegar Jones. "He built and operated a vinegar factory. Some say his nickname "Vinegar" came from the vinegar plant; others insist the name really captured his acerbic personality."

Great Falls has a copy of the Statue of Liberty in Gibson Park. It was placed there as a part of the Boy Scouts of America's 40th Anniversary and the Crusade to Strengthen Liberty.

 Other buildings of interest

 The Masonic Temple - 1914

 Saint Anne's Cathedral

 

There are a couple of pictures missing because I can't find them on my phone. Nothing new for me. So they will just have to wait til my next visit. 

After our day of sight seeing, I was exhausted so we called it a day. Tomorrow I head for Billings and family. Thank you Wendi and I'll see you next summer.

(Blogger is giving me fits today so if this post looks funny, I apologize.)

Great Falls, Montana Tour Post 1

Great Falls, MT  - I wore a sweatshirt and was comfortable, but my friend Wendi definitely thought I was overdressed. And that is why she lives in Montana and I live in Arizona.

I stopped at a rest area and the wind was whipping those flags. I didn't get a very good picture of them but that wind affected Daisy's gas mileage. 

  Meet my friend, Wendi. 

 

I got checked into the hotel and got hold of Wendi. To save me from getting lost in the big city, she came to the hotel and picked me up. We went back to her house to do a lot of catching up. Wendi and I worked together at the IRS for several years. I am "older" but we really hit it off as good friends. 

After visiting for awhile, we decided it was time for dinner. Locals always know the best restaurants and we ended up at Tracy's Family Restaurant.  I had a pork chop sandwich that was just incredible. Way too much food, of course, so I'm sure glad the hotel room has a fridge and microwave. If you're ever in Great Falls, give Tracy's a try.

By this time it was definitely bed time for me. So we made plans for doing the tour guide thing the next day. So wonderful to have a tour guide at my beck and call.

We started our exploration of Great Falls at Giant Springs State Park. Giant Springs State Park was discovered by the Lewis & Clark Expedition in 1805. The spring flows at a rate of 156 million gallons of crystal clear water from the Madison Aquifer per day, the water originates from the Little Belt Mountains and takes approximately 26 years to reach the springs. Amazingly the water is a constant 54 degrees year round.

The park, which is along the Missouri River, is so lush and green. Very different from our Arizona desert. So many pictures. I had a terrible time picking the ones I wanted to post.

 

 School children have projects dealing with the bird houses as to what birds build nests and watching the babies get fed and venture out as they get older.

The water is so clear and beautiful.

This is the Roe River which runs from Giant Springs to the Missouri River.  It is only 201 feet long and  is 6-8 feet deep. It was named by Guinness as the World's Shortest River at one time. Guinness did away with this category after some disputes.  

The Park also has a fish hatchery - mainly trout. The dog had so much fun watching the fish swimming around and around. His owner had bought some fish food and was throwing out the food so his dog could watch the fish eat.

We took a break for lunch and went to Maria's Mexican Restaurant. Maria is married to Wendi's brother and the food was authentic and really, really good.  So much still to see in Great Falls so I am going to make a second post.