On Friday the 13th. of July, 2018, I posted this piece. Time passes, moments are fleeting, but these thoughts hang around while the wind blows a winter’s chill that moves the tall naked sticks that once were trees outside my window this afternoon. I needed a bit of fun, a bit of cheer. Maybe you do, too. Return with me now to those thrilling days of yesteryear when Pretty and I were just a couple of cowpokes in the Wyoming summer...

Alas, Pretty and Number One Son Drew are winging their way toward Las Vegas on this Friday the 13th. and all of us at Casita de Cardinal will be happy to know they have landed safely tonight. Charly, Spike and I were quite the forlorn threesome when Pretty and her suitcase rolled out of the house this morning. Luckily, I have had an epic Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Semifinal match that lasted over 6 hours to keep my mind occupied today, but tennis has not been a source of comfort for Charly and Spike, I’m afraid. Sigh. Oh, well, it is Friday the 13th.

In times like these, I often resort to pictures of previous places I have been that make me happy to revisit. One such place was on a trip Pretty and I took 9 years ago with two of our favorite friends, Linda and Beth, to a dude ranch called the Hideout in Shell, Wyoming. Yeehaw. We cowboy.

Beth (l.) gets credit for planning the adventures

Pretty embraced the concept…

Linda (l.) and a wannabe cowgirl Kristi the Kid from Scotland

another wannabe cowgirl (me) on the left with

real cowgirl Linda and guide Stewart on the trail

my horse the oversized Wapiti who was wonderful,

but oh, so very WIDE…ouch, my aching butt

this cowgirl needed lots of breaks

this cowgirl didn’t ever need a break

the views on the trail were almost as gorgeous as the smiles

BUT as fate would have it, I was happiest when I was playing Scrabble…

…and Wapiti was in the pasture having fun with the other horses

I hope all of my friends in cyberspace have a safe Friday the 13th., a great weekend and wonderful memories of your own Hideouts when you need them.

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Slava Ukraini. For the children.