SHEsaysWITHaSMILE.blogspot.com: "Like, We Were JUST! there..." (sexy! & tops!) butte, ennis & virginia city Montana #IWA #butteamerica @writeousmom

Sunday, August 01, 2021

"Like, We Were JUST! there..." (sexy! & tops!) butte, ennis & virginia city Montana #IWA #butteamerica @writeousmom

and no sooner, did we return, and... CBS sunday morning featured the very place

we just visited:

-only, in their 6+ minute segment, they forgot to mention a few things

like,

oh my goodness! you do not -DO NOT- need to be a passenger on a former school bus,

and drive on hairpin turns, up, up, up and up the rocky mountain, praying you'll make it back alive, to see and fully appreciate

OUR LADY OF THE ROCKIES

/that's write up there with driving to James Lick Observatory... never again!

what YOU SHOULD! YOU ABSOLUTELY SHOULD DO

is head over on flat land to the butte plaza mall. visit the "Our Lady of the Rockies" gift store

ask the beautiful, kind person behind the counter at the register

if you could please watch the 20+ minute documentary video ~about~ the inspiration for; and making of... Our Lady of the Rockies

this gorgeous, against all odds, amazing and inspiring sculpture

which you can see during your visit to butte, montana -from so many different angles

always looking over; calming..anchoring you in; blessing the residents and tourists below

and which is illuminated at night.

i may have mentioned in prior posts, "i feed on documentaries!" and i've seen this one

a couple times now.. moves me still.. and i delighted in getting to introduce it to my sexy

and i noticed when we glanced at her after watching, vs. before..

well, it just automatically increases your awe & appreciation.

****

and everything CBS Sunday Morning mentioned.. much of that and more, was covered by the fun and fabulous, very knowledgeable, Chris Fisk, a local historian, high school history/social studies teacher, and! butte history trolley tour guide

We highly recommend you take the trolley tour!

and! shame on you, if you visit butte, montana without dining at Mr Dogs

where you eat your giant, 4-course-meal of a delicious hot dog

on a plate, with a fork and knife.. in an intimate, romantic and eclectic ambiance which celebrates quite an array of seasons and cultures all at once; antiques, italian/americana, Christmas, vintage/modern.. real/silk... it's as visually entertaining as the meal is fulfilling

all a delightful and pleasant surprise when you consider the 'local hot dog stand'

appearance of the Mr Dogs building itself. and, bonus, if the 81 year old owner has time to visit and swap stories with you.. born and raised in butte, montana.. he is a genuine historian, and wonderful conversationalist

****

and, true.. originally we scheduled our visit so that we could attend butte's

annual folk festival.. but that was covid-canceled until next year

how could CBS Sunday not mention it though!?!

it is like, the coolest -most way awesome- wonderful friend and family~friendly event of the year!

and to see the head frames used as a stage for bands/musicians from all over the world

# butteamerica #itsabigdamndeal #headframespirits

fantastic! highly recommend scheduling your visit with the montana folk festival event in mind

and,

you have yellowstone national park only a couple hours away

and, glacier national park a half day drive away in the other direction..

but, "thank you!" here to my best brother ever..

our visit included a trip to ennis

where we are still talking about three major things:

1. "this is the best burger i've ever had.. period. hands-down..."

2. guns galore, out in the open in a retail store.. and yet.. zero issues here with mass shootings

-how different a criminal culture vs. hunter/sportsmen culture

3. "cheers! to our whiskey tasting experience.. great time!

and virginia city -history and charm in every direction.. old fashioned 'cousins' candy store.. ice creamery.. lots of gift shops.. and for every 1 modern day gift shop.. a dozen preserved buildings from the late 1800's; old post office, clothing store, kodak film/general store, museum-like tour..

and true, our views during the drive to and from virginia city, along/through the rocky mountains

-would have been spectacular, -had it not been for the multiple wild fires. prayers here.. californians appreciate what you're going through.. during our stay the skies were an opaque smoky white which seem to grow more dense by the hour...

***

all n' all, a wonderful, blessed, spend-quality-time-with-family vacation and visit

and an entire week of great meals & drinks!