Grandpa Gus and the train robber

Googled my Grandpa Gus, and look what I found!

Always knew Grandpa was a Sheriff in Cheyenne, Wyoming. As a child, I was told he was involved with the arrest of a train robber. My Wisconsin relatives always said this was an embellishment. Well, it's not - and I have the proof!

Click here, or read below the Times article, dated December 9, 1929. My dad would have been just 4 years old.

"For Wife & Kids"

Monday, Dec. 09, 1929

In the old West train robbers embellished their felonies with quixotic gestures, fantastic flourishes. Last of the old school was Bill Carlisle who, after he had wrecked a train, would hold up the passengers with a candy-filled glass pistol. A train robbery in Wyoming last week showed how the old tradition has degenerated.

Near Cheyenne, the Union Pacific's Portland Limited struck a loosened rail, went careening into an embankment. Then the bandit appeared. He was a little fellow with a wizened face and pale blond hair. He wore the shabby blue overalls of a section hand.

The .38 automatic in his hand shook nervously as he asked the passengers to "fork over." "I've got a wife and two kids at home and the railroad won't give me a job," he apologized to his victims.

"Gimme your wallet damn quick." he swore feebly at Dr. Frederick James Kelly, president of the University of Idaho. Dr. Kelly handed over a billfold containing $74.

The bandit took no jewelry or other valuables. With a loot of no more than $800 he fled. He did not even look into the express car, where the dining car steward was hiding with $300 in cash. Out into the hills to catch the bandit "dead or alive" rode hundreds of searchers—sheriffs, deputies, policemen, railroad detectives, cowboys. Six suspects were rounded up, questioned, released. Then the hunt was abandoned.

At Pawnee. Okla., two officers arrested Tom Vernon, alias Tom Brennan. Deputy Sheriff Thomas J. Higgins of Los Angeles, who had stalked Vernon across six states, charged him with wrecking and robbing a Southern Pacific train near Saugus, Cal. last month. Sheriff Gus Romsa of Cheyenne was on hand to charge him also with last week's Wyoming job.

The California officer said that Vernon, onetime rodeo roughrider, horse thief, forger, had recently been released from Folsom Prison, Cal. He is unmarried, childless.

Gazpacho

Started out with these ingredients: a huge Hmong cucumber, six red and yellow tomatoes, three red and yellow peppers, a couple cloves of garlic, one medium purple onion, small bunch of cilantro and good sea salt (to taste). Peeled, seeded and chopped the cuke, peeled and chopped the tomatoes, chopped the onion, peppers, cilantro, and the garlic was - well, smashed and all were put into the food processor.


And here's what came out - a most wonderful glass of gazpacho for lunch


















And a whole 'nother quart for the weekend to share with friends--it's always better the next day.

A lovely weekend at the beach

It's been an extremely lovely weekend at the beach. The annual kite festival brought 20,000+ folks to town to view two days and one night of kite flying. Food, food, food, ice cream, kites, kites and more kites, an evening bon fire, lighted kite fly and friends, friends, friends. The whole town turns out to put on the incredible event, the brain child of local super-kiter Chow of UFO.

That's Chow in the photo below. Here's a link to more Kite photos on Jeff's Flik'r site. And for more Kite photos, check out Nate's Flik'r site.

I feel like I'm 10 years old.........

I took a bit of a spin on my friend's new cruiser bike - I love it! What a charm to ride. Aluminum frame, and those great cruiser brakes - pedal backward my dear and bear down. I want a bike like that, yes I do.

I told my friend I love to ride my bike - a vintage 1965 English-made Raleigh sport, 3 speed. I absolutely love it! A back rack and front basket have been added, along with a ding-ding-ding thumb bell, front and rear lamps and plenty of spoke reflectors.

I'm figuring out that it's a good deal to bike early in the day when there are few cars on the streets. I can cruise down to the beach and back, wind blowing through my hair. And I imagine I'm 10 years old again. Pedaling my cruiser bike at top speed down the gravel roads of my childhood - with the wind blowing through my hair. There's nothing quite like it.

It's Hot in here........

Oh yah, summer's here and the temps are climbing. If it's cooler near the lake right here, I wonder what the hades it's like in the next town over, where they can't say it's cooler near the lake - we won't let them, and besides it's not true for them. Just true for us.

I'm so wanting oven roasted beets, drizzled with some good olive oil and fresh herbs. My mouth is beggin' for beets. Maybe if I get the fan cranked on high, we could blow the hot air out of the window by the oven - that might work.

I don't know. I had scrambled eggs - yummy farm fresh eggs - with sauteed baby yellow zucchini, sweet Hungarian peppers and onions. Ohhhhhhh that was so good for lunch. But I want them beets for supper. Probably should roast them at like midnight - when it's good and cooled off outside, and the winds blowing inland from the lake, nice cool evening breeze.

Sleeping in cool water in the bath tub tonight.

I'll be eating good this week

I'll be eating good this week! Just got back from a bike trip to the farmers' market. Viewed Eunice's Apron Show and bought an Asparagus to Zucchini recipe book from her. Just love that recipe book, it's so packed full of great recipes. I buy this book at second hand sales and pass along to my friends.

Picked up fresh, redddddd, riiiiiiiiiiiiiipe strawberries, baby dill, lemon balm, and spring onions for fresh salads this week. I'll be tearing into one for lunch today! And Monica's spearmint lip balm made with bees wax is just dreamy........ Deb showed up with her baked goods - oooooooooohhhhh how incredible! I was able to limit myself to just two little snack cakes, even though that huge banana bread was calling my name. Maybe next week....

Great day for a slow bike ride and visiting with friends at the market.

What do you do for the fourth?

What do you do for the fourth? I attend the best bash in this part of the world! Friends E & B host a varied lot of their friends in a back yard barbeque and food fest. After hours of eating, we stroll down to an overlook on the lake and watch fireworks shot off from the harbor.

Quite incredible - we get to see two sets of aerial pyrotechnics. First is the fireworks display from a town six miles down coast. Actually, that's where I live - out on a peninsula. Thus, the clear view from the town six miles up coast. When the grand finale is done six miles down coast, then the fire works six miles up coast kick in - WOW!

We all lie down on blankets and watch in wonder - just like the tykes sitting next to us. Oohhhhhhhh, ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, ooooooooohhhhhhhhhh.

And when it's all over, we stroll back to E & B's back yard to polish off what's left and meander on home - all tired. And this year, we're really glad that tomorrow is Saturday and most of us don't have to get up too early to go to work, but must still get up early enough to get the best buys and freshest stuff at the local farmers markets. Strawberries are in season!

It's a ..cultural event

Wow! What an incredible day at the local farmers and artisans market - just imagine one of the largest farmers markets in the area coupled with a car show! Two dynamite events.

My friend J, a Hmong man who came to this area as a teenaged refugee over 20 years ago, sells egg rolls in the booth next to ours. He was surprised to see the turn out at the car show and asked me if I knew the anticipated attendance. I was surprised to hear him use the word "anticipated". I was unaware he knew the word - obviously his english skills have improved greatly in the past few years. So, we chatted about the anticipated attendance, and then he asked what is the purpose of this "car show" gathering?

I stumbled around just a bit trying to explain just what is a car show. J wanted to know if there was a money prize for the best car. At Hmong festivals there is frequently a cash prize for the best soccer team, or badminton team or dance team. He seemed puzzled when I told him no cash prize at this event.

Well, I thought I'd try to explain why the car show was such a big deal that hundreds of classic cars would show up along with thousands of admirers. So I pointed out a 60-something year-old lady who was dressed as a bobby soxer - hair in a pony tail held in place by the folded scarf, white shirt - untucked, of course, blue jeans rolled up into big cuffs, white socks and tennies. I said - that's how she would have dressed as a teenager in 1957 - and that car she's standing next to would have been a popular car in 1957. Ah, J said, nodding that now I get it head-nod. He said, "This is a cultural event - you are showing your children how you used to live."

Ah, yes. Although I've never quite heard of a car show referred to in that manner, J did indeed get it right - it's a .....cultural event.

Art and Bikes

An invitation just came from The Flying Pig to attend an event with Terry Cannon. I'm just caught by his work - Assembled Bike is my favorite (well, so far). I love this type of artwork, have been fascinated with it since childhood and have returned to it myself - too many years after being told it was worthless. Thanks Terry.

Cool breezes

I’m so happy with my little nest – a cool breeze from the river is rolling through the windows and keeping me cool. I can tell from the skimpy dress of the pedestrians on the sidewalk below that it must be rather warm outside today. And I am all so cool as a cucumber, up here in the little second story perch.

I'm thinking a slow bike ride to the beach to fly the kite might be a good thing today. Our beach is ideal for kite flying - there's always a breeze coming off the water. I'll put my kite up as a signal to my friends that it's time to gather on the beach. We'll all fly kites today.

Good friends

Met my good friends S and J at the Washington House for ice cream. Rode down there on my retro 1964 Raleigh Sport. There's nothing like a bike ride and ice cream with good friends on a hot night to cap off the perfect weekend.

I just love my Raleigh bike, especially the white panel on the rear fender. People notice that little feature - yah!

And tonight's ice cream - marvelous, as usual. J had his usual half caramel half hot fudge sundae, and S and I had our usual - a Washington House. A scoop each of blue moon, vanilla and strawberry, topped with chocolate, pineapple and strawberry sauce, whipped cream, nuts and a cherry. yum, yum . . . . Especially yummy as the ice cream is created just 8 miles or so down the road from the Washington House. There is nothing like good, local ice cream.

Worked off part of that treat by biking to the grocery for a few items. I love that ride. It's a spectacular ride over the river where one can gaze downstream at fishing boats, gulls, ducks and just the beauty of the river flowing to Lake Michigan.

Ohhhhhhhhh, I do live in a little piece of paradise.

Friends make me happy

Meeting my friend D for coffee and a chat today! We haven't seen much of each other for the past couple months. I just love being around her, she's so positive and upbeat no matter what's going on in her life.

She wants to start a shared use kitchen in our area. What an idea - and we need one! D loves food and she's a great chef.

I'm hoping they have the really good cookies at the coffee house today. There's nothing like organic tea and a yummy cookie to start off the day - it's like eating sunshine.

Art makes me happy

It's Art & About's Spring Gallery Tour weekend. Come on out for really cool art by really cool artisans. This is an incredible group of talented folks who work really hard to make their art and promote art in our communities. They even have a booth at a local farmers' market. Check 'em out!

Bike riding weather, kite flying breezes, fresh produce from the backyard garden or farmers' market makes me happy.

Spring Cleaning

I'm in the throes of it -- spring cleaning. My teeny-tiny home is turned upside down right now. Stuff is everywhere. I'm so happy to be packing away the winter togs - boy, did we have a long winter! The wash machine is going and I'm washing floors and windows.

We have the perfect day for spring cleaning - the temps must be in the 60's with a breeze off the lake. I can smell the lake - I've missed that this winter. I love the fresh smell of the lake.

My reward for finishing spring cleaning is to head off to Vinny's for some cool stuff--I always find such cool stuff there. And if I don't, I can always go a block over to see Kim at Persimmons - she has the really absolutely cool stuff!

Doing my part on Earth Day - upcycling cool stuff into funky art.

I'm New at This

Well, here I go. I'm new at this. So many of my friends blog, I thought why not? I'm sure I can figure this out -- with help from the blogger friends.