TALES OF THE TRAVELING TOTE #44

Happy Labor Day weekend!

We found snow at Glacier National Park! 

Happy September, and welcome to the Summer edition of the Tales of the Traveling Tote. 

The squirrels are gathering acorns…Pumpkin spice is plotting its comeback. This edition of the Tales of the Traveling Tote has taken me to New York City, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Tetons, Glacier National Park, Alberta Canada and Vermont. 

I am captivated by the National Parks in general but mesmerized by the wildlife that we got to encounter in Yellowstone and the Tetons. I absolutely fell in love with the bison.

The bison were very shaggy in June as they were working on their summer bod :-) Can you see the birds on the back of the bison that are helping to remove the shaggy fur for their nest?

We had four travelers in our Yellowstone and Grand Teton group, and hired a guide for three of our excursions. My friends and I enjoyed this trip very much.

We traveled in "the big yellow Ford" off and on while we were exploring Yellowstone.  I'd like to experience Yellowstone in the winter as well. 

Some places don't feel real until you're standing there - Grand Teton is one of them.
The Tetons have been uplifting for less than 10 million years (Rockies 50-80 million years). There are two small chapels in the Grand Tetons, and couples book them for weddings two years in advance. Love that mountain backdrop for wedding photos! The flowers and plants growing in the Tetons have been growing since the Jurassic times. So cool :-)

We traveled to New York City in June for a family getaway, and came across this "stoop" that a young couple with three children decorate differently each month. They have an account on IG, and said they love seeing all the smiles of visitors on their camera. The Mackenzie Childs urns received a lot of attention.    

Welcome to Alberta, Canada. I loved Waterton Lake where we took a lake cruise.

If you'd like your photo taken with this cutie, you'll want to visit the iconic Prince of Wales Hotel :-) I think he must get asked for a photo often as he had his pose perfected.   

The iconic Prince of Wales Hotel is so lovely and reminds me of our trip to Switzerland.

Here we are at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls which is the third most populous city in the state of Montana. It's referred to as the Western Art Capital of the World, and is a cultural and financial center in the central part of the state. 

I purchased this "Hug Me Toy" SEAMAN, Jr. - The Newfoundland Dog of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Seaman accompanied Meriwether Lewis to the Pacific ocean through the interior of the continent of North America. Seaman served as a hunter, retriever, early warning system against grizzly bears, guard dog and faithful companion to Lewis and Clark and the other members and even saved the captains' lives. 

Requisite photo at Glacier National Park entrance :-)

We stayed at the Glacier Park Lodge (the Amtrak train will drop you off near the door if you wish) and did a tour in this vintage red bus on the  Going-To-The-Sun Road which is one of the most scenic drives in the United States. It stretches 50 miles, and we were hoping to spot mountain goats and bighorn sheep. 

St. Mary's Lake

The Miracle of America museum in Polson, MT was amazing, and we were in awe of what the 80+ year old owner has accumulated over the last 50 years. You've probably seen "American Pickers" reality TV show about antique hunting?  Well this place has it beat! The "American Pickers" have visited several times and have begged the owner to sell some of the items but he won't. We met his granddaughter and she will be taking over the business some day.  

I spent time with the gals in Vermont, and finally got to visit King Arthur Flour after all these years of buying their products. All the classes were full with a waiting list of 25 people, but they did see us peering in through the window watching the baguette class and invited us in as spectators. Top notch class and they used a lightly dusted couche (baker's linen) to rise before baking. 

If you ever visit Vermont and enjoy farm animals, I highly recommend a farm tour where you get to feed the newborn calves and milk a cow. We chose the farm tour at Liberty Hill Farm in Rochester, Vermont. 

We visited a lovely "Sunflower House" in Woodstock, VT that was created by the Woodstock Inn and Resort. The Rockefellers had a significant impact on Woodstock, VT and founded the Woodstock Foundation to oversee the Woodstock Inn and Billings Farm where we saw the sunflowers.  

Thank you God for this summer! I've been retired for three years, and have enjoyed traveling in the United States and Canada this year. 

Here are the details for the GIVEWAY.  

The links below will take you to my Traveling Totes friends.

Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch

Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda

 Patti with Miss Kenzie @ Pandora's Box

Rita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply 

Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul

Jackie and Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home

Ricki Jill and Countess De Monet @ The Bookish Dilettante

Thanks so much for stopping by!

xo

Deb