100 Blog Posts!

I can't believe this is my 100th-blog post. Thank you for joining us on our journey across America. We left North Dakota Saturday and headed to Montana. So, as you are reading this, we are currently in the Mountain Time Zone. I love when hubby works in Mountain Time, he gets off work at 2:00 and we have more time to explore. Before, I get into what is happening in Montana, I will finish with our second week in North Dakota.

We had a really nice time at the Mandan Rodeo. It rained earlier that day but was nice weather while we were there. It was their 143rd Mandan Rodeo Days and the  last time it will be held at the Speedway. They are building their own arena for the next years to come.

Believe it or not, but the rodeo was sold out. 

We just got there early to get the "lay of the land".

North Dakota has been named the happiest state. Key factors for this ranking, include income growth, open spaces, work-life balance and number of national parks. One thing we noticed when we went out to eat is that they bring popcorn, not bread or chips to eat before you order, but in fact popcorn. In trying to research the reason, I found that popcorn is the happiest snack food. I would have argued that because chocolate makes me happy, but the reasons why popcorn is the happiest is because of the smell, the way it pops and of course the taste. One never knows what other states hold unless you go to other states.

It was very tasty. 

I had to stop at this restaurant just because I have never seen or heard of anything like this one. Space Aliens Grill and Bar. The name too funny to me. It reminded us of Chuck E Cheese, except alien themed. They even had a person dressed up as an alien for the kids. Not bad food either.

So happy Earthlings were welcome.

We also spent the week walking on the grounds of the State Capitol. It is the tallest building in North Dakota. Fun fact: the capitol is a 21-story Art Deco tower and opened its doors in 1934.

Pioneer family representing the past 

history of those who came to North Dakota.

Pioneer family representing 

the future of North Dakota.

State Library

War Memorial beginning with WWI and ending with Vietnam.

This box car was a gift from France after WWI. It contained gifts 

and letters to the North Dakotans who fought alongside the French.

No, not snow, more Cottonwood seeds.

We also had the opportunity to walk through the North Dakota Heritage Museum. It was fun to see and read about North Dakota, past and present. 

Lawrence Welk was from Strasburg, North Dakota. 

He was an American accordionist, bandleader and 

hosted the tv program "The Lawrence Welk Show" from 1951-1982.

Peggy Lee was from Jamestown, North Dakota.

Her birth name was Norma Deloris Egstrom and 

she was a singer, songwriter and actress for seven decades.

The town Mandan, was named after the Mandan Tribe.

Beautiful Head Dresses.

Different styles of Native American clothes.

Tipis were used on the Northern Great Plains for 

thousands of years. They are a movable dwelling and 

depending upon the material could weigh up to 450 lbs.

Native American Women Warriors Jingle dress, worn by a North Dakota 

Native American veteran, Mitchelene BigMan. Jingle dresses 

are worn while the women dance performing a healing rite.

Bull Boat. A bull boat is a useful small boat, usually made by 

American Indians and frontiersmen, made by covering 

a skeletal wooden frame with buffalo (bison) hide. 

It was used for traveling and fishing.

Capote Coat circa 1890-1900 worn by A.C.J. (Red Bear), a trader to 

the Turtle Mountain Chippewa. Capote coats were worn by the 

Chippewa, Cree, Dakota and Métis in Canada and the northern United States.

Angora Chaps circa 1900-1909

The two weeks we were in Menoken, North Dakota, the weather gave us sunshine, rain, cool temperatures and some pretty warm days. You just never knew how the day would turn out; but I did love the clouds and sunsets.

Love the clouds.

Sunset at 10:00pm.

Our last night in North Dakota and we went out to eat at a Mexican Restaurant. It was recommended to us and you know we are leery of eating Mexican food outside of the state of Texas, but we went. Oh, man, so glad it was our last night, I could have eaten there 4 or 5 days of our two week stay. It was good!

I'm with the band.

On Saturday we drove to Montana, but before we were out of North Dakota, we made a quick stop at a rest stop in Medora, this is not your typical rest stop. It is the site of the Painted Canyon Visitor Center in the South Unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It was beautiful.

"The mountains are calling, and I must go" John Muir. "How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news. who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" 

Isaiah 52:7 (NASB)

If there is something special you would like me to take a picture of, please let me know!
 
Drop a comment for me and let me know your thoughts on the blog.

God, the RV & me...