This Land Is His

It only snowed heavily for a few minutes on the outskirts of town yesterday.

But it snowed a lot in the mountains.

I did not realize just how much it had snowed until we walked out of the rental cottage early into the evening yesterday.

As we were walking to the truck I looked towards the mountains that can be seen at the end of the road, something that is quickly becoming a habit, and I was stunned to see this...........

The next morning we took yet one more cruise - first to the dead end road close to the hospital, the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Buffalo Bill statue, a view of Heart Mountain and other mountains that circle the town of Cody........

This Land Is His

It’s easiest to recognize the beauties of this land

When ridin’ solo in the hills ‘mid tumbleweeds and sand.

A cowboy’s view from top his saddle stretches far and wide;

Vast panoramic sights of splendor span from side to side.

There’s time to think, and time to plan, and time to dream a dream.

‘Tis on such rides a tiny seed becomes a full-blown scheme.

Most cowhands think of what could be and this man was the same;

He hoped to one day buy some ground, yes, own it in his name.

He recognized the majesty, the grandeur of the land,

Acknowledgin’ the glory of the Master’s mighty hand.

He knew the form of Indian Butte and rode its highest crest;

And he could find the tallest pine, knew where the eagles nest.

He knew the trails and where they led, each path he knew by heart;

He knew where streams ran cool and clear, and where they split apart.

He’d rise up early just to catch the sun’s first rays of light;

He’d listen for the sound of geese that sang while in mid flight.

He heard the music nature played—the gentle fall of rain,

The Mournin’ Dove, the gustin’ wind o’er rocky desert plain.

This land was his! He worked for it and paid with sweat and tears.

He plowed the soil and planted crops—improved it o’er the years.

He raised some cattle on that ground and built a cabin there,

And hoped that someday down the line he’d leave it to his heir.

But urban sprawl has pushed him out and changed life in the wild;

What legacy will there remain to pass on to his child?

Yes, times have changed, and progress says he can’t go back again.

Now he is left with nuthin’ more than tales of “Way back when…”

Folks see him as an oddity; his dreams all went astray—

The way he lives, the things he loves, they have no place today.

He can’t forsake his hopes and dreams as long as he has breath;

No, nuthin’ can deter his dream except the stroke of death.

It seems his time is comin’ fast; the end is drawin’ nigh—

He recollects far distant times and breathes a heavy sigh.

‘Twas diff’rent than he thought it’d be when night came closin’ in;

A pocket watch and old guitar, that’s all he left his kin.

He loved the land with all his heart ‘though his had dwindled down.

And what remained? A rented shack, there on the edge of town.

But they can’t take away the land he’ll use for his last sleep;

A bit of God’s own precious earth—three wide and six feet deep.

That land is his; he worked for it, and paid with sweat and tears—

A narrow plot is all he owns, but his throughout the years......
                                           Bobbie Hunter©2009

And then we again traveled out towards South Fork that is quickly becoming a favorite area of ours....... 

Buffalo Bill Reservoir is also becoming a favorite.

It is quiet and very beautiful, and has views of the mountains and water that inspire and calm.

I can easily see me kayaking in this place while LC is fishing.

We realized today that this may be a bird hatching area.  We saw many geese and many ducks on the small islands in the lake.

Once in a great while we have seen people fishing here, but more often than not the place provides beautiful and quiet solitude.

At least at this time of year.............

I am ready for more color.

I am ready for everything that is brown to become green.

Soon...........

A few pictures inside the restaurant of the historic Irma Hotel in downtown Cody.

The entire hotel has the air of old, plush and well-to-do.

It is a beautiful place, filled with antler chandeliers and animal heads and burgundy carpeting and chairs and dark wooden furniture and elegant crystal chandeliers and huge local oil paintings and old photographs of Buffalo Bill Cody.

We decided to eat lunch there this afternoon and I was surprised to be able to enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet for $7.99.

After the initial sticker shock and then resignation of expense in Juneau, I was delighted at the novelty of paying so little for so much..........

One last quiet picture at the lake............