Grown-Up Road Trips

By Helen Coronato
The Accidental Cowgirl

A few years ago when we were in Wyoming visiting family for the summer, I found myself at a seasonal festival browsing through crafts and homemade goods. As I did, I couldn’t help but notice a group of women doing the same. They were laughing and carrying on in the way that only true friends can. Their secret, insider language and fluid interactions made me long for my own girlfriends. When we decided to move West full time, saying goodbye to those same friends was one of the hardest things I had to do, as I was certain no one could ever replace them.

Of course, no one has. But was has happened, is that I have made new friends. And on a recent Wyoming road trip, those friendships were solidified. An event in Casper prompted the four of us to pack a bag and hit the road mini-van style. Casper seems to pop up almost expectantly. All of the sudden, after miles of quiet landscape, we are in a bustling town, complete with chain restaurants, hotels and shops. A series of humorous events caused us to miss our hotel exit, change our restaurant plans, rent a cot to preserve some personal space and get several cases of the grown-up giggles courtesy of lack of sleep. But it was completely worth it.

Our eight hour round trip was the perfect opportunity for getting to know one another better. While I considered us all friends before the trip, the shared experience has definitely made these women more special to me. And isn’t that we are all searching for? Intimate relationships were we get to be ourselves and really get to know someone else in the process?

Opening Day at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

By Dina Mishev

Although it wasn’t my first day of the seasons on skis — that was back on October 29 — I still mark the beginning of ski season with opening day at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. It was November 26 this year. This was the second year in a row it happened in November. Prior to the 2010–2011 season, JHMR always opened the first full weekend of December … at least it had since I moved to the valley in 1997.

I don’t think it’s a JHMR PR ploy when they’re saying this is looking like another la Nina year.

What does that mean? Lots of things. Most simply it means awesomeness. And awesomeness means more snow than usual. The 2010–2011 season was a la Nina one, too. It was one for the record books from opening day through closing day.

The 2011–2012 opening day wasn’t quite as unbelievable as last yes, on which the resort opened with pretty much 100 percent of its terrain ready to go. But this November there were still 3,000 feet of vertical, which is more than many resorts have even at the height of the season. 

As American as Apple Pie

By Helen Coronato

The Accidental Cowgirl

The Aladdin Homemakers are one of three remaining homemaking groups in the state of Wyoming. With a rich history that dates back to the 1930s, groups such as this have sought to be a source of support, education and creativity to area women and a resource for community members. Luckily for me, they also feel strongly about pie.

The yearly pie social is one of the fundraisers the Aladdin Homemakers host to raise funds and awareness for projects near and dear to their hearts. On average, 75 people visit the Aladdin Community Hall during this event to purchase and enjoy homemade pies with flavors ranging from lemon meringue to rhubarb to cheesecake. Supporters can buy a slice, an entire pie, or, as I was lucky enough to do, mix and match pie slices to create a dessert platter that made me the most popular person in the house when I came home that night.  There are no set prices as monies are raised by generous donations.

The organization started as a way to help socially connect young homemakers while offering advice on canning, child rearing and housekeeping. Today’s meeting are just as pertinent and educational, and may also include hobbies and interests such as stationary making. Interestingly though, homemaker groups such as these find that the members in attendance are predominantly of the grand-parenting age, with younger mothers opting for mailbox membership. Working, soccer schedules and numerous other obligations have made it more challenging to increase attendance.  After spending time with the knowledgeable, friendly “senior” members of the Aladdin homemakers, this seems most unfortunate.

Yes, you can learn to can, cook, clean and create stationary from two minutes of video on You Tube. Yes, it seems like we are busier than ever and taking time off to visit with friends and neighbors offer coffee, cookies and a guest speaker isn’t a priority. But I wonder how mush more satisfied we women would be if we took time to stop and smell the roses; or in this case, stop and bake some pies.

I for one am on a mission to find out and will be sending in my annual dues of $10 to officially become a “homemaker.” Not only will this be an excellent opportunity to connect with more women, it may also turn out to be my best pie-baking year yet.      

For more information about the Aladdin Homemakers, including membership and upcoming projects, please contact current President Susan Rice at ricenmor@gmail.com or 307-896-9131.