82717 December/January 2019 by Outliers Creative

Gilletteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lifestyle Magazine

DECEMBER / JANUARY 2019

82717 Features

Life: Refocus • Refresh • Restore From changing your style to achieving balance, re-align your mind and space for the new year with Megan Huber of Huber Farms.

Editor’s Note: Merry Everything

Art Scene: Harnessing the Spirit

Dusty Trails: A Hank Wells Wedding Story

Christmas breeds joy and merriment, and New Year’s new possibilities. From our editorial family to yours, Happy Holidays!

Local painter, Tricia Scheele, channels her love of horses and open spaces in her impeccable work featured this month at AVA.

Hank took Emma’s hand in his and spoke the words she’d been longing to hear. A fictional love story by Lisa.

DECEMBER / JANUARY 2019

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82717 Features

Home: Behind the Scenes with the Builder Infinity Builders’ top designer welcomes you inside posh, new custom construct, 4338 Quarter Horse Ave.

Life: Don’t Set Yourself Up for Failure

Culture: Million Dollar Gamer

Lisa’s Thoughts: When You Start Dating Later in Life... Oy!

Introducing the anti-New Year’s resolution. Charity tells us how not to be so dang hard on ourselves this year.

An inside look at video game culture. Ryan challenges the norm to argue in favor of competitive gaming for profit.

Let’s face it, dating is tough. Our senior contributor tells all and invites you to help shape next month’s issue.

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More 82717 online at 82717Life.com Though 82717 Magazine may only be published once a month, don’t forget to go online to 82717Life.com to keep up with our local community. You can re-read our print stories, find a full calendar of local events, additional features from our team of reporters and community mavens, and video discussions about the stories you see here in print.

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Contributors

Q: What’s your RESOLUTION? Charity Stewart

Adam Ritterbush

Charity’s calendar won’t dictate her life choices. “I swore off New Year’s resolutions years ago,” she says. “It’s just too much pressure on the turning of the page. If I’m going to make a change, it will more likely happen on some random Tuesday, after I’ve gotten tired of putting it off.” Anti-resolutions can open doors. See “New Year’s Resolutions” (page 13).

Adam’s bringing about positivity in 2019, and has systematic behavioral science—an innovators’ go-to—in his corner. “I’m working to remove passive phrases like ‘I wish’ and ‘I want to’ from my vocabulary and opting, instead, for a more proactive alternative: ‘I will.’”

Jennifer Kocher

Adriana McCauslin

Newbie Jen says, “I’m big on newness and fresh starts. I’m one of those weirdos who jump out of bed at the crack of dawn ready to face the day, and for me New Year’s is that times 20. It’s not about resolutions for me because I never do what I say I’m going to do anyway, so why bother grandstanding. I just like the possibility of do-overs and do-betters and living life with no regrets. And of course, big parties with glitter and fancy dresses.

Resident photog Adriana takes a more laid-back approach to the question at hand. This year’s resolution? “I never even thought of it before,” she says. “I think something along the lines of trying to better myself by completing a book each month.” For bestselling top pics avail. locally, see Refocus, Refresh, Restore by Meg (page 33).

WRITER

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PHOTOGRAPHER

Editorial CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Erika C. Christensen MARKETING DIRECTOR Stephanie L. Scarcliff CHIEF OF STAFF Lisa A. Shrefler SALES Jessica L. Pierce Felicity A. Sjostrom CONTRIBUTORS Charity D. Stewart Jennifer C. Kocher Kevin M. Knapp Megan K. Huber Ryan R. Lewallen T. J. Parks ART DIRECTOR Richard W. Massman DESIGNER Candice E. Schlautmann PHOTOGRAPHER Adam D. Ritterbush Adriana J. McCauslin

Inquiries & Customer Service Outliers Creative, LLC P.O. Box 3825 • Gillette, WY 307.686.5121 • 82717@mcllc.net 82717 is a publication of Outliers Creative, LLC © 2018, all rights reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or part, without written permission is prohibited. This magazine accepts freelance contributions. 82717 is not responsible for loss, damage, or any other injury to unsolicited manuscript, unsolicited artwork (including but not limited to drawings, photographs, or transparencies) or any other unsolicited materials. Outliers Creative, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The MC Family of Companies, LLC.

Merry Everything sychology experts say putting up your Christmas tree and decorations early can make you feel happier. It has something to do with the holidays reminding your inner child of happier, less stressful times. (This year, I had mine up before Thanksgiving weekend ended, thanks to some nudging by my favorite little people). Maybe it’s the bright, twinkly lights; the sentimental, handmade ornaments from years past; or those sweet, holiday-scented sachets that take an otherwise ordinary living room over the top for the season. Whatever it is, it’s undeniable there’s something innately wonderous about the sights and sounds of Christmas. Don’t believe me? I challenge you to drive through the Festival of Lights at Cam-Plex Park without smiling or singing along. It’s pretty impossible, people. There’s also something almost magical about the beginning of the calendar year. It holds a whimsical promise of newness and clean slates—of the opportunity to do things differently and with more attention to detail and purpose. I just love that. It’s a call to take a breath and remember what it is we’re doing, and why. Here, at OC, we come from many different fields and traditions, and this issue's

contents reflect that fact. You’ll find timely stories of the people and places that make this city tick, including art by a local train conductor whose work has been featured in top galleries across the states, and an expose into gaming for the moneymotivated gamer. (We love you nerds.)

Our contributors share their New Year’s resolutions (and anti-resolutions!), talk about finding love in Gillette, and take you behind the scenes with one of the best builders in town to uncover the bones that make a house a lifelong home. This holiday season, as we ready ourselves to dive headfirst into 2019, I want to send you all hearty Merry Christmas and Happy New Year’s wishes from everyone here at Outliers Creative, LLC, and 82717 Life Magazine. I hope you enjoyed the last 12 months of the publication. We love this industry and I pray that it shows through our work— on the pages of our magazine, on our website, and across our social platforms. Look for even more—and better—from us in the upcoming year. Have a great 2019! ‘Tis the season. Happy Always,

DECEMBER / JANUARY 2019

Stephanie L. Scarcliff, Production Editor 82717Life.com

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New Year’s Resolutions

Don’t Set Yourself up for Failure don’t know about you, but by the time the new year comes around, I’m exhausted. The traditional holiday season runs from Thanksgiving to New Year’s. However, if you have children, or have never grown up, like me, you may as well throw Halloween in the mix, too. That essentially crams four major holidays into the last two months of the calendar year. It’s no wonder the holiday season seems so stressful; it is. The main stressors include lack of time, financial worries, giving and receiving gifts, and staying productive at work. Oh, and don’t forget all the baking, cleaning, and entertaining that validates the lack of time aggravation.

As if all the hustle and bustle of the most wonderful time of the year isn’t enough, tradition dictates we cap it off by declaring a New Year’s resolution, usually centered on self-improvement. On one hand, it’s a noble idea to admit there are things in our lives that we’d like to improve upon. On the other hand, are we setting ourselves up for more stress and unavoidable failure?

LAYING THE FOUNDATION Like many enduring traditions, the custom of making New Year’s resolutions has evolved over centuries and, in this case, millennia. According to History.com, the first evidence of New Year’s resolutions can be found in ancient Babylonia around 4,000 years ago.

At that time, the new year was not celebrated in January, but in mid-March, when crops were planted. The Babylonians called it Akitu. During the 12-day religious festival, people not only reaffirmed their loyalty to the current king or queen, but they also repaid debts, and made promises to their pagan gods, possibly a precursor to our modern-day resolutions. By keeping their promises to the gods throughout the new year, the Babylonians stayed in their gods’ good graces. Fast forward a few years to the time of the ancient Romans. The calendar no longer lined up with the phases of the moon. So, after consulting with astronomers and mathematicians, Julius Caesar came up with the new year we’re more familiar with around 46 B.C. DECEMBER / JANUARY 2019

year’s failed resolutions, just before the ball drops on New Year’s Eve. Is that any way to declare a major, life-changing goal? Although the resolutions listed above are positive, in reality, they’re extremely broad and almost impossible to measure. The most successful resolutions should merely lay the foundation for a lifestyle change you would like to work toward. Any goal, including New Year’s resolutions, should be SMART—specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

Tips on making an achievable New Year’s resolution It’s believed January is named for the twofaced god, Janus, who dwelt in doorways and arches. Janus looked back over last year and forward into the next year. Ancient Romans made sacrifices to Janus and promised to be good in the coming year. Early Christians also adapted the tradition to reflect on past misgivings and resolve to do better in the future. History.com states that in 1740, Methodist founder John Wesley created the Covenant Renewal Service to be celebrated on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. With societal evolution, the tradition has moved away from making sacrifices and promises to gods to making promises to ourselves, usually, centering on self-improvement.

ARE WE SETTING OURSELVES UP TO FAIL? It’s estimated that each year around 40 percent of Americans make New Year’s resolutions. And of that number, only around 9 percent will stick

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to their resolution. With such good intentions, how can so many fail? Here are the top five resolutions from last year, according to Reader’s Digest: _______________________________________ 1. GET IN SHAPE 2. LOSE WEIGHT 3. ENJOY LIFE TO THE FULLEST 4. SPEND LESS, SAVE MORE 5. SPEND MORE TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS _______________________________________ All of these typical resolutions begin with good intentions, but fall short of the mark for a lot of the same reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with willpower or lack of effort. When do you choose your New Year’s resolution? Given the chaotic nature of the holiday season, odds are it’s not a choice you’ve pondered and given some deep thought. Most likely, it’s hastily regurgitated from the list of the previous

In 2016, Forbes Magazine contributor Kevin Kruse sat down with Dr. Paul Marciano to get a few tips on making an achievable New Year’s resolution. _______________________________________ 1. CLEARLY DEFINE YOUR GOALS 2. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS 3. HAVE PATIENCE 4. PUBLICIZE YOUR GOALS TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS 5. PUT IT ON YOUR SCHEDULE 6. STOP “ALL OR NOTHING” THINKING 7. GET UP WHEN YOU SLIP UP _______________________________________ Think about a past resolution that fell by the wayside mere weeks into the new year. What, if any, consequence does that failure have on your life today? For the majority of us, the answer is none. If you’re dead-set on making a New Year’s resolution, here’s an idea. At the stroke of midnight Jan. 1, 2019, resolve to take one month to decide on a goal and outline a plan of action to make it happen. Break your major goal down into smaller chunks with deadlines. Celebrate the small successes, but also understand there will be stumbles along the way. After laying out your resolution roadmap, start to implement those changes Feb. 1. Hey, if Julius Caesar can change the date, so can you. Here’s an even bolder idea. In 2019, resolve to be nicer to yourself. Make a resolution to accept yourself just the way you are. Don’t beat yourself up about things that won’t matter a month or even a year from now. If you want to make a change, do it because you want to, not because someone, even yourself, thinks you should. By: Charity D. Stewart for 82717

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Harnessing the Spirit:

Love of Horses and Op hen she was a little girl, Tricia Scheele’s parents refused to buy her a pony, so she had to draw her own. Where this passion for horses came from is anyone’s guess, given that Scheele grew up in suburban Boise, Idaho, miles away from the nearest ranch. Nonetheless, she can’t remember a time when horses haven’t been a part of her life, both as an artist and professional rider. “There was never a choice,” Scheele said. “When a passion is so ingrained in your soul, you have no choice.” She remembers being 2 years old and hounding her aunt to take her horseback riding. Her aunt, who found the pesky toddler’s relentless request annoying, decided she would break her young niece of the passion by scaring the daylights out of her. So, with Scheele on the saddle behind her, her aunt set off in broke-neck speed and proceeded to jump every hay bale in sight with the hopes of deterring her. It didn’t work. “I just screamed and told her to go faster,” Scheele laughed. “That kinda just sealed the deal.” From that point forward, nobody questioned Scheele’s passion for horses. Movies like “Dances with Wolves” had a great impact on her back then, which she literally took to heart. “I was like a wild Indian child riding through the foothills of Boise,” she laughed, pointing to her love of beadwork and embracing her distant Native American roots. In high school, she started professionally as an exercise rider at a horse racing track in Boise, where a family friend finally broke down and bought Scheele her first thoroughbred for her

Ava Community Art Center Executive Director Grace Torres admires “Aurora Ridge” by featured artist, Tricia Scheele. A Gillette-based painter and ceramicist with work in eight galleries across the country and world, Scheele’s work will hang in the gallery through December, with a public reception on Thursday, Dec. 13 from 6 – 8 p.m.

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Local Painter Channels en Spaces in Her Work

16th birthday. And though she thought maybe she’d go on to become a jockey, Scheele ultimately walked away from that lifestyle when a jockey friend died while racing. “It’s a rough field,” Scheele said. “Most of the riders have broken all their bones and a lot of them die.” Instead, she decided to leave that competitive life behind when she went off to

college at Utah State, where she studied art and kept riding, bringing her horse with her. Part of her passion for drawing and painting horses comes from seeing the work of other painters who don’t seem to get horses quite right. “When I looked at other drawings and paintings of horses, I’d think that they were all wrong,” she said. “I think you just have to know horses. So many artists out there are really good,

but they don’t have the knowledge of horses to draw them correctly. You need to understand the animal’s movements and what it feels like to ride one.” For Ava Community Art Center Executive Director Grace Torres, it’s this quality in Scheele’s work that stands out the most, particularly in her horse paintings. “There’s such movement in her horses,” Torres said. “She has a wonderful spirit or energy in her work.” DECEMBER / JANUARY 2019

This holds true for not only her horses but also for her moody acrylic and ink landscapes that exude that same energy and movement, as if watching it slowly unfold throughout the day in different lights and seasons. “You can’t really pin any of them down,” Torres said as she stood back to take a look at “Aurora Ridge,” Scheele’s showpiece painting in her current exhibit at the gallery. “There’s this energetic value to it and also a wonderful depth,” Torres said, like the artist herself. “It’s her free-spirit at work.” There’s a lot of truth to that statement as one looks back on the past few decades of Scheele’s life. Along with making a career as an art teacher and professional artist with work in eight galleries throughout the country and world, including Paris, France, Scheele has also worked as a professional ranch hand in Logan, Utah, and currently works as a conductor on the BNSF Railroad, a job that in many ways appeals to her restless spirit.

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“I’m always on the go,” she said, “and get to see a lot of places, including hours of just staring out the window at the passing scenery.” She also continues to be active in English riding and horse shows while staying busy as a professional artist, including her ink and acrylic paintings and ceramics. And though she has traded in her thoroughbreds for “kid ponies,” that unlike the horses in her earlier years are much tamer and quieter, she’s content with her current life in Gillette, where she’s lived for nearly a decade. Recently, along with her passion for painting horses, she’s delved out into capturing abstract landscapes, which she figures has a lot to do with her new job on the railroad. But given her unfettered spirit, she doesn’t paint them straight on but rather renders her own interpretation straight from her imagination. She recounts the abandoned homestead she happened upon while out helping a friend move cows and her newfound love of Wyoming and its history. “It was just a one-room shack, broken down building out in the middle of nowhere,” she said. “I started imagining the people who lived out here and what their lives must have been like way back then, living out here among all this wild space.” This is where her art begins, at the juncture of imagination, color and space.

“I started imagining the people who lived out here and what their lives must have been like way back then, living out here among all this wild space.”

By: Jennifer C. Kocher for 82717

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Million Dollar Gamer he world is definitely changing, particularly when it comes to what constitutes making a living and what does not. When I was growing up in the 90s, the rules laid down by my parents were inescapably clear. I was expected to graduate from high school, either go to work or pay my own way through college if that’s what I wanted to do, and then find a job and go to work. Additionally, my parents required me to complete a daily set of chores—usually washing dishes or mowing the lawn—before I could indulge in my personal hobbies. While I’ve always loved to

read a good book, my childhood and teenage years were focused on one thing outside the realm of responsibility–video games. I couldn’t get enough of them. I played racing games, role-playing games (RPG), adventure games, and even old-school, arcade-style games. I was hooked. Nonetheless, growing up, my parents reminded me every day that when I fired up that old PlayStation, it was a fun hobby but certainly wouldn’t pay the bills. Naturally, as I matured (slightly) and grew up (a lot), video games took a back seat to what I eventually felt was a lifestyle befitting of a well-

mannered, contributing member of society. In short, I joined the U.S. Air Force. After serving my country for six years, I received an honorable discharge, then returned to Gillette and went straight to work. But, no matter what I did during the day, whether plumbing together oil locations as a roustabout or standing on top of the world as a derrick hand, I always looked forward to coming home and indulging in a good gaming session. Now, about 20 years after I played my first video game, I find myself disappointed that I believed what my parents had told me when I was a child. DECEMBER / JANUARY 2019

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Just last week, I stumbled across a video on social media where parents are berating their children and telling them that they’ll never make anything of themselves by playing video games. I’m sure this would pain my parents, and other parents out there to hear, but it’s almost 2019. It’s a new world with new possibilities. One of those new possibilities is professional video gaming, where there are 18-year-old kids, who have already made more money than the average working adult will make in an entire lifetime, and they show no signs of stopping. Don’t believe me? Well, the proof is in the pudding, if you know where to look. E-Sports Earnings contains a detailed list of what becomes possible once someone crosses the threshold into the world of professional gaming, which attracts players all over the world. At this moment, Kuro “KuroKy” Takhasomi, a 26-year-old resident of Germany, is the number one player in the world. From 91 professional tournaments, Takhasomi has brought home a whopping $4.1 million just in winnings alone. This does not include any sponsorships or other revenue sources, which could easily rake in a few more hundred thousand dollars. His success is not an anomaly; there are many others like him. Take Saaguk “UNiVeRsE” Arora, 29, from

the United States, who has earned just over $3 million from 84 tournaments. Peter “ppd” Dager, 27, also from the United States, has brought in around $2.9 million from 72 tournaments. Need I go on? The point is, there are hundreds of video gamers out there who are, if not already, well on their way to becoming millionaires by doing what they love–playing video games. Perhaps it’s time that parents all over the world accept that the old-school approach to life—going to school, working, paying bills, retiring—isn’t going to be around forever. Today, it’s video games and bloggers, photographers, van-dwelling adventurists, artists, and authors, who are making the world into what they want it to be, one step at a time. But, tomorrow, it could be something else entirely, something that even we millennials might have a hard time accepting. Nobody really knows what the world is going to look like in 50 years, or even in a dozen. Play that game, write that book, act in your own production, start a business, and eat the bloody cake. We could all be space-dust tomorrow, so we might as well enjoy the lives we lead as much as we can, while we can. By: Ryan R. Lewallen for 82717

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#InGoodTaste: We’ve scoured the town to bring you the best

GET JAZZED

LAYERS ON LAYERS

BEST OF TWO WORLDS

Jazzy’s Coffeehouse, formally Coffee Friends, in the Village Square Mall downtown, is open for business! New owner Heidi Knight serves up veteran’s-made Black Rifle Coffee, specialty Red Bull-infused drinks, and delicious daily specials incl. homemade soups and too-cute pastries. Friendly service, excellent coffee (starting at $1.80). @JazzysCoffeehouse

Have you had lunch at Alla Lala Cupcakes & Sweet Things yet? If not, you’re missing out. Try this gem: the Pig & Cheese panini. Prosciutto, baby swiss, and raspberry jam grilled to perfection on sough dough ($7.50). alla-lala.com

Armando’s Taco & Pasta Shop. Locally owned and operated, offering Mexican-Italian fusion, like the Street Taco Pizza. A cheese pizza with your choice of four street tacos on top. Big enough to share, you’ll get the best of two worlds on one pizza ($12.99).

TRY ME: HERE’S OUR CURATED LIST OF THE TOP SIX 24

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Everything You Need to Know

(and tastiest) things to tr y this fall in Gillette.

ALOE YOU

WRAP IT UP

CAKE, CAKE, CAKE

Want a nutritious boost? Aloe vera juice at Bliss Nutrition is jam-packed with nutrients for the entire family to enjoy! It contains important vitamins and minerals like B, C, E, and folic acid. Hey kids, drink your vitamins ($2.00)!

Jumbo pan-seared scallops served atop refreshing lemon caper cream sauce with delectable rice pilaf and grilled asparagus ($29.50). Pairs well with an OCD Sauvignon Blanc ($7.00). railyardgillette.com

Gourmet, custom order cakes and cupcakes by Jessie Rennick of J-Cakes in Gillette prove itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s okay to impress everyone this holiday. Eight-inch three-layer round Red Velvet Cake ($50.00). @simply.jcakes

PICKS FOR DECEMBER / JANUARY IN THE 82717. ENJOY IT. Check out addtional #InGoodTaste at 82717life.com DECEMBER / JANUARY 2019

Behind the Scenes WITH THE BUILDER by Jen Kocher | photography by Adriana McClausin and Adam Ritterbush | design by Infinity Builders

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illette designer Erika Christensen knows every good house begins with good bones. As a former forensic archeologist, the Infinity Builders CEO can tell a lot about a house by what’s underneath its surface. Standing in the kitchen of her most recent project, a comfy five-bedroom on a quiet lot on the south edge of town within walking distance from the Rec Center, Erika points out the solid hickory cabinets and floors, granite countertops, and copper tile backsplash. A crate of wine sits on the counter next to a double oven and gas cooktop, and to the right, a dining table looks out onto a sprawling green lawn enclosed by a privacy fence. All of the rooms and furnishings have been well thought out by Erika, who imagines the future owners of the house–maybe a young professional couple with small children or a couple of pre-retirement empty nesters looking for a little luxury before selling everything off and moving South.

In her mind, Erika can almost imagine the pair lounging on one of the sofas in the sunken living room, watching the snow fall from underneath the warmth of a cashmere throw, the flickering flames from the nearby gas fireplace casting shadows on the wall. These aren’t just houses that she and her company design and build; these are personal spaces and refuges that she–and people like her–will appreciate and enjoy. Everything in them–from the maintenance-free exterior siding, triple-pane PELLA windows and R-55 insulated walls, high-tech bells whistles to

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The gourmet kitchen is outfitted with double ovens, gas cooktop, a large pantry and plenty of storage space with quality-grade materials like the hickory oak flooring and cabinetry, granite countertops and unique copper tile backsplash.

the wooden tray and tea set–are chosen with quality and longevity in mind. For her, it’s the personal connection that makes all the difference when it comes to developing land and building houses. Many out-of-state developers blow through town content to throw up structures and cash out on the short-term profits, but Erika and her husband Mark take their time and have pride in everything they build. Both Wyoming natives, the Christensens have deep- roots in Gillette and the ranching community. This is their home and their future buyers are their neighbors and

friends. This is a big deal to Erika. “I want to be able to look the homebuyer in the eye when I run into them in the store or at school functions and the pool,” she said. “We live in this community and we have a stake in what happens here, both now and in the future.” And though, admittedly, their highend luxury houses are not for everyone given their higher price point, each and every one of their designs is uniquely crafted with the homeowner in mind. “We don’t do cookie cutter,” Erika said, nor do they follow trends. Their houses are timeless DECEMBER / JANUARY 2019

and built to last, from the foundation up. Erika also takes pride in the unique features that people might not necessarily think about until they see a home, like their recently completed project on Quarter House Avenue. Touches like the enormous his-andher walk-in closets in the master bedroom and the extra sitting room outside of the master bath, complete with an ornate wall mirror sandwiched by comfy lounge chairs that look out onto the covered second-floor balcony that wraps the length of the massive bedroom, make the space unique. All of their houses are designed for comfort with luxury and quality materials that extend beyond the walls. Erika will sit down and design a house based on each customer’s budget and taste, and will also help the owner find the best land on which to build. They offer a full-range of services, she noted, including design and furnishings, with an emphasis on quality. They’ll not only find the land for you, they’ll design a house based

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on the customer’s specifications and budget.

“You get what you pay for,” she said. “Our houses are not cheap but they’re worth every penny.”

Homes should be built to last, she added, and they need to have good bones. By: Jennifer C. Kocher for 82717 DECEMBER / JANUARY 2019

DECEMBER / JANUARY 2019

Refocus • Refresh • Restore Re-Aligning Our Spaces his winter, I am trying a different approach. Becoming proactive, I am determined to set myself up for a different kind of success. There is a saying that talks about how a flower does not bloom in every season. That it blooms but only after pushing up through the dirt to emerge from the darkness of the soil and battling the elements in order to form a bud. Wow. I taped it to my bathroom mirror where it looks me squarely in the eye and reminds me every morning that I am not a superhuman. There are seasons when we need to step back and recharge or focus more on one singular aspect of my life. It’s a hard concept for me to grasp.

I do not relax easily (type A right here, folks) and as the daughter raised by a single Mom, I learned how to hustle early on. My work is also my passion and a big part of who I am. As a creative, it is a complicated process to try and separate the two–so adhering to several design principles, I am going to give the run down on how they also can be incorporated into our daily life. After all, our homes should reflect who we are on the inside, as well as out.

REFRESH YOUR SPACE I can feel it coming. Every year is the same. After the holidays are over and the decorations are

neatly tucked away into their boxes, I start getting antsy. The house feels empty and boring. I get cabin fever and just. Want. Change. Then, I start to obsess over my gardening seed catalogs and all the home décor ideas on Pinterest and stalk the local Sherwin Williams store for the new color palettes for the upcoming season and plan our summer before winter is even over! I paint a room or move the furniture around. Anything to ease my seasonal distress until spring comes and I can get my hands in the dirt again and feel relief when I see the buds break through the soil. Rachel Hollis, author of New York Times bestseller Girl, Wash Your Face! lays it on the DECEMBER / JANUARY 2019

line and says it like it is. During one of Rachels’s morning shows awhile back, she was talking about balance. Specifically, how to balance your personal life with your work life. And, you know what was said? It is not possible. Yes, I will repeat that again. It doesn’t exist. Again, wow. Then she went on to say there are times in life where your focus will be more directed in one area or the other, but that a perfectly balanced work/home/ life is not something we should even strive to attain or have floating around in our heads. It got me thinking: What season should I be focused on right now? Or in the coming year? How do I put this mind-blowing advice into practice? Joanna Gaines new book, Home Body–A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave, is both visually stunning and thought provoking. Chip and Joanna Gaines are by far the greatest power couple I can think of. They are not only successful because of what they do, but they also give back, are trying to help their community and other entrepreneurs, and they put their focus on family first. Their décor style is to die for, and I catch

DECEMBER / JANUARY 2019

myself drooling over it every time I’m in Target, much to my family’s dismay. I hear, “Mom, stop petting the curtains” and other such embarrassing things I apparently do as the Mom to two pre-teen boys. So, I was thrilled when last month’s Magnolia Journal was also about stepping back, recharging, and shifting focus. She says, “We can all choose to be atmosphere changers.” I love that.

ACHIEVE BALANCE I hate winter. There, I said it. I know what you’re thinking. Yes, I live in Wyoming, which is one of the harshest states to spend your winter. The thing is, I love the people here. I often say it is the last best places to live. There is a freedom here. The open landscapes, and the highways we travel, and meeting only a handful of cars for hundreds of miles. If I am being totally honest, I love the challenge. Wyoming is one of the hardest places to grow anything. Since I’m a type A, this works out well for me because if someone says I can’t do it, you better know that I will do it just to prove the point. I think a lot of

Wyomingites can identify with that sentiment. In a sense, you could say I belong here.

Sometimes, you find yourself in the middle of nowhere; and sometimes, in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself. – Unknown Allowing ourselves to rest is not a weakness, but a strength. So, this winter, I am embracing it. Painting a room and moving around my couch are in the forecast, but I am going to do it with a different attitude. When it’s done, then I will rest. Reading some really great books that I don’t have time to read during the busy summer gardening months is also on the to-do list. Maybe I will even sign up for that local TRX Suspension training class at the Ignite Pilates Studio that I’ve been wanting to try, and really focus on building up my strength and my ability to sit in the stillness of my mind. It is in the quiet moments that the greatest ideas come. Away from TV, iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, work, and all the stress that comes with all of it, it becomes clearer what to focus on.

Letting go of all the stuff that isn’t being used and no longer serves a purpose in our homes and garages can be liberating. There is joy in seeing someone else excited to buy and take home and use an item that I felt guilty for keeping on my storage shelf. Donating items to your local donation center can be a great experience for the whole family. Giving that baby stuff to a new Mom in need can be a huge blessing. It took me over a decade to let all of that stuff go. It is freeing. Now I have space in my garage to actually build a much-needed workbench!

INTRODUCE NEW PATTERNS Personal growth happens when we challenge ourselves to learn something new or face a fear. Change doesn’t come naturally to me–or most of u–I would dare to say. The blessings come, though, when we dare to step out of our comfort zone and try something new. Einstein once said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” This past year or so I challenged myself to face at least a couple fears head on. One fear was flying in an airplane. What resulted in defeating the fear was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had at a time when I was creatively stuck and needed a big change. Flying to Texas and seeing the most amazing, vivid, colorful art inspired me. That experience has reflected in every aspect of my life, not only in my artwork. Facing fears has a big payoff. Sometimes we just need to choose a new pattern to refresh our perspective on our home and in our life.

STYLE CHANGE FIND YOUR WHITESPACE There is a term in the art world known as “whitespace”. It is defined in design as the space between columns, between lines of type or figures that provides visual breathing room for the eye. This is the founding principal of the modern style, esthetic. Less is more and in the modern style having only items you actually have a purpose for get to stay. Everything else goes.

Painfully, this last year I have been trying to clear away some of the clutter littering my home and mind. I have let go of a lot of the things both physically and mentally that have been bogging me down. Making room for new ideas in my life, new relationships, and new pathways of thinking was a much-needed change. Feeling steadier, calmer, I now have more energy. It wasn’t easy. It never is easy to let go. In fact, I think letting go is one of the most courageous things a person can do.

Farmhouse is big right now. Don’t get me wrong: I like it, but it lacks color. White, black, and neutrals dominate the color palette. I have just never been able to get on board with that completely. I love color. I crave color. Which begs the question: why stick to one style? Why not experiment with several? I have found a way to marry farmhouse with my vintage collections which adds some color, but also uses the natural elements found in a more traditional farmhouse scheme. Styles are changing and are DECEMBER / JANUARY 2019

WHC W Y O. COM 36

DECEMBER / JANUARY 2019

So, as this year begins, I am challenging purpose. It draws the eye in and creates a moving in the direction of richly saturated jewel myself to open my mind to a new level of statement. Giving a hint about the personality tones. I am seeing new tones of neutrals, which thinking. I am choosing a new color palette and of the owner and in a home, the focal point is are muted shades of green and blue. Check out rearranging both my house and my mind. I will usually a very specific style, color, or material the Pantone Color Forecast for a complete list of be adopting a new way of approaching life and that is repeated throughout the rest of the upcoming 2019 colors. Our style should change all the stress and problems that are inevitable. home. So, how do we go about creating a focal over time. If not, we become stagnant. I choose to let go of the small stuff, both point for our everyday? An artist challenges themselves to find their physically and mentally, to open the doors for Lezly Delgado, makeup artist and owner authentic self through artistic expression. new possibilities to come in. For me, it is about of Bonita Beauty Makeup, recently introduced I have been studying Georgia O’Keefe and repeating pleasing patterns in nature, in the me to a new planner called, The Happy Planner, learned so much about expressing emotion through color and shape. She once said, “I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way-things-I had no words for.” Abstract art never was an attraction for me. Ironically, it opened myself up to a new way of painting and I learned so much about myself. For example, I don’t like to paint with brushes. It occurred to me, why should I be like everyone else? I have been notorious for using butter knives for everything from opening paint can lids, to using them as a screwdriver, and we never have any butter knives in our kitchen drawer. Guess what? I love painting with a butter knife! It “My planner helps me stay focused, motivated, and inspired so that I can reach my personal and business goals. was like it was meant All you need is a stack of magazines, scissors, and glue. Everyone should do one! - Lezly Delgado to be, and everything flowed easier when I gave up the perception and expectation I had placed on rooms of our home, and in the relationships, that allows space for creating a vision board for myself to be like everyone else and just did what felt I value. I will continue to challenge myself to every month of the year. What a fabulous idea! authentic. Unorthodox? Yes. But, hey, that’s me. I grow, painfully, and beautifully. I encourage She says it allows her to stick to what her vision have never done anything in the same order or in the you to try it, too. Happy New Year everyone! for that month is and to intentionally put down same way as society as a whole. Our homes should her ideas she wants to execute within her life. By: Megan K. Huber for 82717 be decorated in that authentic fashion as well. With room for a vision collage every month, she Photos by Megan K. Huber of Huber Farms is able to carry it around with her and look at it when she feels the need for inspiration. It is also CREATE A FOCAL POINT fun to look back on and see how many of the *The books mentioned in this article can be found locally including Heaven to Earth, Joann’s Fabric, and Rapport. ideas come to life. Creating a focal point in a room gives it DECEMBER / JANUARY 2019

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When You Start Dating Later in Life … Oy! et’s face it. Dating when you’re, well, not young, is tough. Seriously! I mean, where do you even start? Online dating, bars, blind dates, the produce aisle at the grocery store. (Heavy sigh). It’s all pretty much a crap shoot. Still, I’ve tried most of it at one point or another in my life … except the produce aisle thing … I mean, who really wants to date someone that can’t pick a decent stalk of celery! For example, in my 20’s I was set up on two blind dates, including one by my mom. Really, mom?! The guy didn’t even speak English very well! Blind dating was not for me. I also tried the bar scene. Dating sloppy drunks was also not for me.

I even tried dating men I worked with. Married one. Dating guys I had worked with (for LOTS of reasons) was not for me either. After my divorce in 2000, I knew I wouldn’t be hitting the bar scene, or letting anyone set me up on blind dates (ever). I also knew I wouldn’t be dating anyone I worked with again. So, what did that leave me with? You guessed it. Online dating! I started actively online dating about seven years ago, and, in spite of some freakouts by friends, I wasn’t the least bit nervous about it. I was in my early 50’s when I got really serious about finding my Mr. Right. But, let me tell you, finding a great partner later in life is not easy. I’m talking about a serious relationship, that is. I’ll tell you what I mean.

First, you must go into it with your eyes wide open. You’ve got to accept that, while your profile may be an honest representation of who you are, theirs may not. After all, you can be anyone you want online. You should ask questions that test their knowledge of what they wrote in their own profile. For example, one guy I connected with said he liked to ride motorcycles but didn’t have any photos of him on or near one. Since I love to ride, I asked what kind he had. Turns out he sold it in his 20s and hadn’t had one since. Swipe left! Second, you need to take it slow if you want to find the right person. By this I mean don’t agree to meet up with them after one online message exchange. Have some self-respect and be discerning. If you want to be sure you aren’t about to meet up DECEMBER / JANUARY 2019

profile. I can’t tell you how many I’ve come across that just provide the very basics of age, height, build, marital status, religion, and so on. If they aren’t putting time into solid answers for the ‘who are you looking for in a partner’ type questions, they aren’t willing to give you a good glimpse into their personality. Swipe left! Fifth, don’t be in a rush to give out your personal phone number and/or email address. I have one friend who signed up for an online phone number. She could still chat with the guys she wanted to, but in relative anonymity until she was ready to make a stronger commitment. Of the three men she

Tell me what’s going on with you. 82717Life.com

with an axe murderer, spend some time chatting in the dating site first. Don’t be desperate and feel you have to ‘settle.’ If you’re unsure, swipe left! Third, and this maybe should be first, don’t try to connect with someone who doesn’t have a photo posted. In fact, I strongly recommend you only review profiles of people with several photos. In my experience, they are the ones who are looking for a genuine relationship versus a one-night stand. If they only have one, how do you know it’s really them? Unsure? Swipe left! Fourth, don’t try to connect with someone who hasn’t provided answers to the questions in the

DECEMBER / JANUARY 2019

dated after starting out this way, not one of them faulted her for doing so when she gave them her real phone number. If someone pressures you for personal information right off the bat, you know what to do. Sixth, when you agree to meet up for the first time with someone you’ve met online, always – and I mean ALWAYS – tell a friend where you’re going and when you expect to be home. Like I said, you can be anyone you want online. Even though you’ve done prior due diligence, the proof is in the pudding, as they say. And we all know that “they” are super smart about these things! I’ve even asked friends to call or text me about an hour into the evening so that, if needed, I can claim to have a family situation that needs immediate attention and duck out. Bottom line is this: For those of us who find ourselves back in the dating pool again later in life, we have to have patience. We have to trust our instincts and not allow ourselves to settle in order to avoid being lonely. And, we have to have faith that the right person will come along. Believe me when I say being single is far better than being with the wrong person. I have been able to fine tune my search for my Mr. Right. All the men I’ve dated in the past few years, including my ex-husband, have helped me understand what I do and don’t want in a man, plus what I will and won’t compromise on. Over the years, several of my friends have come to me for dating advice. I’ve been called a voice of reason, a force of love. In fact, I’ve even helped some friends work out stuff before getting married (and after, in a few situations). It’s become a passion of mine—helping others to sort through the muck, date purposefully, and find their own path toward happily ever after. Tell you what. I have an advice column on 82717Life.com. Pop over there and drop me a line. Tell me what’s going on with you. Are you back in the dating scene again? Having trouble with your current partner or need an objective ear as you figure what went wrong with the person you dated? Maybe I can give you some pointers or provide a fresh take on whatever it is. Maybe you have some dating advice to share with me and my followers (like don’t let your mom set you up on a blind date!). If nothing else, maybe I’ll make you chuckle with a life lesson of my own. Hope to hear from you soon! By: Lisa A. Shrefler for 82717

17th ANNUAL

K I S S A C K WAT E R & O I L

NEW YEAR’S EVE

BUCK & BALL along with

CINCH

December 31

7:00 pm • Cam-Plex Gillette, Wyoming

DEC. 30TH 12PM TISDALE CREEK RANCH BUCKING HORSE FUTURITY

Community Calendar

For Gillette, Wright & Northeast Wyoming DECEMBER December Chamber Mixer

Christmas Invite Gala Performance II

Uncorked with Irine Daly

Last Day of Shop Down to Christmas

PR Playhouse Presents “A Christmas Carol”

Christmas Eve Service

December Winter Market

Santa’s Rockcopter is Coming to Town

A.B.A.T.E. Toy Store

In the Nick of Time Holiday Trade Show

Fluid Art with Angie Lynch

Cirque du Santa

Christmas Invite Gala Performance I

Christmas Eve Service

Dec. 13 • 5 - 7 p.m. White’s Frontier Motors Contact: 307.682.3673

RFD TV American Qualifier

60 Cowboys

vs the Best Bucking Stock

Dec. 14 • 6 - 8 p.m. AVA Community Art Center Contact: 307.682.9133 Dec. 14 • 7 - 8:30 p.m. CAM-PLEX Heritage Center Theater Contact: 307.682.0552 Dec. 15 • 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Gillette College Tech Center Contact: 307.682.7281 Dec. 15 • 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Campco Federal C.U. Contact: 307.660.4478

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DECEMBER

Dec. 15 • 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. AVA Community Art Center Contact: 307.682.9133 Dec. 17 • 7 - 8:30 p.m. CAM-PLEX Heritage Center Theater Contact: 307.682.0552

Dec. 18 • 7 - 8:30 p.m. CAM-PLEX Heritage Center Theater Contact: 307.682.0552 Dec. 19 • 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Downtown Gillette Contact: 307. 682.3673 Dec. 19 • 7 - 8:30 p.m. New Life Gillette Church Contact: 307. 682.5642

Dec. 21 • 2 - 4 p.m. Campbell County Fire Department No. 1 Contact: 307.682.3673 Dec. 21 • 4 - 8 p.m. CAM-PLEX Energy Hall Contact: 307.682.0552

Dec. 22 • 2 - 4 p.m. CAM-PLEX Heritage Center Theater Contact: 307.682.0552 Dec. 24 • 3 - 4:30 p.m. New Life Gillette Church Contact: 307. 682.5642

#NYEbuckandball

DECEMBER / JANUARY 2019

Dusty Trails

Tales from the Old West: A Hank Wells Wedding Story

t was springtime and the Wells Ranch had never looked more beautiful. Outside, the herd had welcomed 27 new calves, the fields were awash in a vast array of colorful flowers and the river was running high with icy, clear water from the mountain range up north. Inside, the ranch house had undergone an amazing transformation. Hank and Emma were getting married today. They had been courting for several months when Hank asked Emma to be his wife. It happened while they were finishing the last cattle drive. Emma had asked to go on the drive because she wanted to prove to Hank how capable a woman she was. Hank had said no at first, but Emma quickly changed his mind by pointing out that she could more than just cook and keep a nice

DECEMBER / JANUARY 2019

home. She said she wanted to be show him she could take on any aspect of a ranching life. When Emma set her mind to something, there really wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t any point in telling her no, because she usually found a way to make it happen. So, there they were. Hank, Emma and nine ranch hands driving 100 head of their best cattle from the ranch to the railyard for sale and shipment. Emma handled every job that was thrown at her during that trip. She helped the cook prepare meals, she helped round up strays each morning along the drive and, on more than one occasion, she used her trusty rifle to kill a few rattlers that threatened the herd. She even helped replace a wagon wheel that splintered apart when they passed through a rather deep river, and the fully loaded supply wagon dropped into an

Community Calendar

For Gillette, Wright & Northeast Wyoming DECEMBER

New Patients Welcome!

Christmas Eve Service

Children’s Theater: Emporer’s New Clothes

Bucking Horse Futurity & Stock Sale

Master Classic 3D Archery Shoot

New Year’s Eve Buck & Ball

Rancher’s Round Up

Dec. 24 • 5 - 6:30 p.m. New Life Gillette Church Contact: 307. 682.5642 Dec. 30 • 12 - 10 p.m. CAM-PLEX Energy Hall & Facilities Contact: 605.545.7865

Dec. 31 • 7 p.m. - 1 a.m. CAM-PLEX Central Pavilion & Facilities Contact: 605.545.7865

JANUARY Eggs & Issues 2019

Jan. 3 • 6 - 8:30 a.m. Gillette College Tech Center Contact: 307.682.3673

Watercolor 101 with Dara Corkery Jan. 5 • 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. AVA Community Art Center Contact: 307.682.9133

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JANUARY

NE Wyoming Furniture Restorer’s Workshop Jan. 11 • 8 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. CAM-PLEX Central Pavilion Contact: 307.682.2124

Backcountry Film Festival-Sheridan Screening Jan. 11 • 6 - 8:30 p.m. Luminous Brewhouse Contact: 307.655.5658

Jan. 12 • 2 - 4 p.m. CAM-PLEX Heritage Center Theater Contact: 406.728.7529 Jan. 19 • 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. CAM-PLEX Barn 3 Contact: 307.680.5442

Jan. 19 • 6 - 9 p.m. CAM-PLEX Energy Hall Contact: 307.299.3907

Pro Jackpots Barrels & Pole Bending Jan. 20 • 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. CAM-PLEX East Pavilion Contact: 307.682.0552

Million Dollar Quartet

Jan 22 • 7 - 8:30 p.m. CAM-PLEX Heritage Center Theater Contact: 307.682.8802

Eastside RV’s Outdoor Fun Show Jan 25 • 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. CAM-PLEX Central Pavilion Contact: 307.686.1435

Heritage Christian School Benefit Dinner Jan. 25 • 4:30 - 9 p.m. CAM-PLEX Wyoming Center Equality Hall Contact: 307.686.1392

8th Annual Wedding & Event Expo

Jan. 12 • 1 - 4 p.m. CAM-PLEX Wyoming Center Frontier Hall Contact: 307.660.9771 DECEMBER / JANUARY 2019

unexpectedly deep hole. Instead of asking to sleep in the supply wagon, she slept under the stars just like everyone else, no matter what the weather was like. She got sunburned, covered in dust and mud, fended off a variety of bugs that no fancy “town girl” would … never once complaining. When they got to the railyard in Tuckerville, Emma helped herd the cattle onto the rail cars after the sale was complete. There wasn’t anything that woman didn’t take on with just as much fortitude and gusto as the men. Hank had taken notice of it, too, even though he never said anything to her or anyone else. In fact, he felt a sense of pride in this woman he’d fallen in love with. She was a strong woman and he knew he never wanted to let her go. The night after the drive was finished, all the hands checked into the hotel in town, eager to get cleaned up and head to the saloon for a drink and some gambling. After a nice dinner in the hotel restaurant, Hank paid each their wages for the trip. When they invited Hank to join them in cards at the saloon, he made his apologies, saying he had some important business in town to conduct. The men, and Emma, figured he was going to line up supplies they needed to take home with them and didn’t think any more about it. The men went to the saloon, and Emma sat in the lobby reading. About an hour later, Hank met up with Emma again and asked her to join him on a stroll. She later would recall how sweet the night air smelled, how clear the sky was and how a gentle breeze jostled that one loose curl of Hank’s hair when he took off his cowboy hat. During the walk, though, all she could think was how wonderful the cattle drive had been, how exhilarated and alive she felt and how much she wanted Hank to have noticed. She was very much in love with him and, while they had proclaimed their love for each other a few months earlier, he had yet to ask for her hand in marriage. She hoped that her performance on the cattle drive would show Hank that she could handle anything their life together might bring. As they approached a small park at the end of Tuckerville’s main street, Hank invited Emma to sit on the bench with him. Emma noticed Hank seemed unusually anxious during their walk and now, as they sat together, he had gotten very quiet. Then, Hank took Emma’s hand in his and spoke the words she’d been longing to hear.

DECEMBER / JANUARY 2019

“Emma,” Hank said with a slight crack in his voice. “Emma, I’m not one for fancy clothes or going to fancy parties. I’m just a simple cattle rancher and I always will be. It’s the life I love. It’s the life I want for my kids someday, too. It’s not an easy life, but it’s the life…” Hank stopped, took what felt like the deepest breath he’d ever taken in his life, took a small box out of his pocket, then continued. “It’s the life I want for us. Emma Campbell, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” To Hank, it seemed like an eternity waiting for Emma to answer as he sat there with the box open showing the beautiful diamond ring he purchased after dinner. It really only took a moment, though, for her reply in her soft voice, “Oh, Hank. Yes. Yes, I’ll be your wife.” Now, here they were, just a few short weeks later. Effie, Hank’s mother, had helped Emma with all the arrangements from flowers to the menu for the family and guests after the ceremony. She’d even found time to make a new dress for Little White Flower to wear as Emma’s maid of honor, as well as Emma’s wedding dress. The big expanse of lawn behind the ranch house was set up and ready. Guests had been arriving for about 20 minutes, the women all commenting on how lovely the decorations were, while the men stopped for a short glass of whiskey with Hank and his father, Grey, in the study. Setting his nerves aside, Hank, his father, Grey, and his oldest brother, Tyler, headed out of the study. As they took their positions under the pergola Hank’s father and brothers had built, he glanced off toward

the stables. He could see his trusty horse, Jack, staring back at him. It almost seemed that Jack was smiling at what was about to happen. As the string quartet started to play, Hank looked up toward the ranch house. There, walking slowing down the aisle in the company of her father, Thomas, was Emma. He’d never seen a more beautiful woman in his entire life. In that moment, Hank knew he had all he wanted and needed in this world. A loving family, the ranch,

Hank took Emma’s hand in his and spoke the words she’d been longing to hear.

and the woman he loved. With a smile on his face, he took Emma’s arm in his and turned toward the preacher to say “I do” to their future. By: Lisa Shrefler for 82717

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