Sometimes, just
sending folks a piece of Wyoming can suffice, even if it is a small one.
In Riverton,
Sandy Barton likes to give fresh sagebrush wreaths.
In this vein, up
in Buffalo, Jim Hicks tells this story: “At the start of WWII my folks had
moved to California (dad was working at a US Army Air Corps Pacific Supply
facility). Nobody in our family had any money.
“I recall one of
the relatives from Gillette sent along a Christmas greeting and the gift inside
was a small sprig of Wyoming sagebrush. It was a wonderful gift from home
as I recall. It stayed in a small vase on the table so we could
sniff it from time to time until the smell of Wyoming finally faded away.
“I guess the
moral is that sometimes the best gifts from Wyoming can be those little items
which bring part of the state back to the people who have had to move away to
make a living.”
Former Wyomingite Sharon Roadifer
Farquhar says we should offer our friends “a Wyoming dinner menu with stuffed
mushrooms from the Winds, watercress salad from Sand Creek, Wyoming winter
wheat biscuits with Crabapple jam, Shirley Basin antelope haunch with Wyoming
Whiskey glaze, Shoshoni Raspberry farm sauce over Wyoming dairy ice cream,
followed by Meeteetse chocolates.” Sounds yummy.
Another former Wyomingite with a
wistfulness for the Cowboy State is Publisher Mark Raymond from Carson City, NV
who writes: “Let`s
see Wyoming oriented gifts. Hmm. Blue skies, mountains, sagebrush, can`t forget
the Popo Agie and the Pinnacles. Jackson, the Tetons, elk, mule deer, trout,
Red Canyon, the Sinks, Muddy Gap, South Pass, the old-timers living and dead
who are about the most interesting people anywhere, antelope, Chinook winds and
sunshine and finally, the smell of lilacs in the spring.”
He also reminds he has a sister Jill
Hendrix in Upton who sells western art on her website. She sells lots of
Wyoming-oriented stuff and is easily accessible on the Internet.
Former Wyomingite Whitney Fisher thinks
a Jackalope is the perfect gift from the Cowboy State, especially for someone
who has moved away.
“Put the critter in a box with some
jerky, post cards from all over the state and bunch of other trinkets and you
have your gift giving problems solved.” Ron Lytle agrees.
Barbara Parsons
recommends binoculars or a trail camera so better enjoy our Wyoming wildlife.
Filmmaker Alan O’Hashi
suggests a coffee table made by Jeff Tish and then adds, perhaps it could be
used “to hold a Bill Sniffin coffee table book?” Thanks for the plug, Al.
Kimberly Anne
King suggests a lighted tumbleweed centerpiece, Geode bookends, silver belt
buckles and Wyoming jade jewelry. Taa Daa, you are done.
Over in Pinedale
photographer Dave Bell suggests a cowboy wreath made of safe, barbed wire, old
boots and a beat up cowboy hat. I would suggest people buy copies of his
prints. Amazing images.
Other great
Wyoming photographers who would love to sell you their photos this time of year
include Scott Copeland of Lander, Randy Wagner of Cheyenne, Fred Pflughoft of
Pinedale, Daryl Hunter and Mark Gocke of Jackson, Dewey Vanderhoff of Cody, Dan
Hayward of Laramie and lots of other folks including Beartooth Photography of
Casper.
In Riverton, Cody
Beers suggests Wyoming honey and raspberry jams. “Also a full belly and lots of
hugs,” he concludes.
Following on
that theme, Bob Coe at Pahaska Teepee west of Cody suggests a load of firewood,
plowing driveways and a load of groceries for the needy.
This is also a
time for me to plug all those groups who are raising money this time of year
for the needy. My wife Nancy has spearheaded the annual Christmas Food Basket
drive here for decades. Over 300 teeming baskets of food are delivered by the
Elks Club. Folks running the program are
Deanna Trumble, Kevin Green, and Dick and Julie Lefevre.
Check out your
town for local food banks, Salvation Army efforts and food pantries. Also toy
and coat drives for the needy.
In Sheridan,
Brooke Barney suggests a King Ropes hat.
Monica Taylor-Lee of Cheyenne likes
pottery from using Wyoming license plates by Maura Jacobsen. Jonathan Downing
touts Baer’s all natural home made jellies in Carpenter.
Other authors I like include Cat
Urbigkit, Mary Billiter, Barb Townsend, Steven Horn, Gayle Irwin and there is a
great book out of Casper illustrated by Zac Pullen and written by C. G. Meloy
called Life & Spectrum. Read it.
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