the wyoming woman magazine

MAG A Z I N EW y o m i n g W o m a nThe

$3.50

Winter 2012

Sisters of San BenitoA monastery making a difference

Nellie Tayloe RossFirst female governor

A Conversation with Cynthia Lummis

Pump It UpBreastfeeding in the workplace

Cozy Sweater BagsTo dress up your winter

The Wyoming Woman Magazine i Ideas, Information, Inspiration2

Come celebrate with us! 100th Anniversary Bash March 30–31 in Billings, MTJoin Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming as we celebrate 100 years of Girl Scouting. Take part in inspiring and exciting activities for girls and their families, GSMW’s annual meeting, and special events for Girl Scout alumnae.

Visit gsmw.org/100 for more information

Enroll as a Girl Scout alumna at gsmw.org/100th-anniversary/connect

Since 1912, more than 50 million girls have been Girl Scouts.

In the past 100 years, Girl Scouts have blazed trails in countless ways—from doing charity work during wartime to spearheading earth-friendly initiatives to creating the largest girl-led business in the world.Our founder, Juliette Gordon Low, believed girls deserved the same opportunities as boys to develop physically, mentally and spiritually, and her ideas have succeeded. Although only 10% of girls are Girl Scouts,

80% of women business owners were Girl Scouts 70% of US congress women were Girl Scouts 100% of female astronauts were Girl Scouts

Imagine what a generation of girls can do, given the tools to lead. Join us in supporting the next century of growing girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.

Follow us online and get involved at www.facebook.com/GSMWcouncil

(800) 736-5243 | gswm.orgGirl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming

girlscouts_1211_fp.indd 1 12/6/2011 4:08:32 PM

Come celebrate with us! 100th Anniversary Bash March 30–31 in Billings, MTJoin Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming as we celebrate 100 years of Girl Scouting. Take part in inspiring and exciting activities for girls and their families, GSMW’s annual meeting, and special events for Girl Scout alumnae.

Visit gsmw.org/100 for more information

Enroll as a Girl Scout alumna at gsmw.org/100th-anniversary/connect

Since 1912, more than 50 million girls have been Girl Scouts.

In the past 100 years, Girl Scouts have blazed trails in countless ways—from doing charity work during wartime to spearheading earth-friendly initiatives to creating the largest girl-led business in the world.Our founder, Juliette Gordon Low, believed girls deserved the same opportunities as boys to develop physically, mentally and spiritually, and her ideas have succeeded. Although only 10% of girls are Girl Scouts,

80% of women business owners were Girl Scouts 70% of US congress women were Girl Scouts 100% of female astronauts were Girl Scouts

Imagine what a generation of girls can do, given the tools to lead. Join us in supporting the next century of growing girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.

Follow us online and get involved at www.facebook.com/GSMWcouncil

(800) 736-5243 | gswm.orgGirl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming

girlscouts_1211_fp.indd 1 12/6/2011 4:08:32 PM

The Wyoming Woman MagazineA Quarterly Publication * Winter 2012

Editor: Nettie H. [email protected]

Assistant Editor:Katie Chambers

Graphic Design/Layout: Alicia [email protected]

Advertising: Peg Novotny708-997-2071

[email protected]

Marketing: Amanda [email protected]

Contributing Writers:Peg Novotny, Cathy Holman, Liz

Norcross, Shari Otteman, DeeAnn Price, Dianna Renz, Joey Sheeley, Deborah Shugart, Lori Van Pelt, Beth Worthen

Please visit our website for submission guidelines.

Send stories and comments to:[email protected]

Subscribe on our website: www.TheWyomingWoman.com

Or send a check for $12 to:The Wyoming Woman Magazine

535 Round Up RoadEvansville, WY 82636

The Wyoming Woman MagazineIs published by

Meadowlark Media, LLC307-315-2327

©2012 Meadowlark Media, LLC

Front cover photo by Jen Hebert

Back cover photo courtesy Robert Birkby

Mountaineers Jetya Rai, Robert Birkby and Mingma Sherpa enjoy reading The Wyoming Woman Magazine near Mt.

Everest Base Camp.

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a Note FromNettie... 2012 marks the beginning of my 4th year as a Wyoming Wom-an. I’ve said it before, and I must say it again, I love living in Wyoming! Although it’s been a full three years since I lived in a big city, I am still in awe when the grocery store clerk is friendly, when I pull up at the auto repair garage and only wait a few minutes for service, when I walk into the post office and don’t stand in line. In addition to the conveniences of living in a state with a low population, I have also come to appreciate the great political benefits. On several occasions during the past three years I have met each of our Wyoming U.S. Senators and their wives, as well as Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis and her husband. Being so close to our representa-tives is a unique opportunity for Wyoming women to be involved and raise our voices. Winter marks the political season in Wyoming. State sena-tors and representatives will gather in Cheyenne to debate and vote. As a Wyoming woman, a mother and an interested citizen, I particularly appreciate this season when we can affect change and let our voices be heard. I believe that Nellie Tayloe Ross, first female governor in Wyoming and in the United States, would echo my sentiment about the need to be involved. We’re pleased to include her historical story in this issue. In addition, U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis shares her vision of the power of Wyoming Woman. Other stories include The Sisters of San Benito Monastery, the first Wyoming Girl Scout Eaglet, and of course, our regular features—Cooking and Craft Corners, All in a Wyoming Weekend, and a Motherhood Moment to make you smile. And, as you can see from our back cover photo, The Wyoming Woman Magazine is enjoyed everywhere…even on top of the world…and by more than women. A song by composer Janeen Brady states:Half the world is female, half the world is male;Though the other half is fine, there’s one thing I can tell, I’d be a woman again! As we begin 2012, I whole-heartedly echo that sentiment. It’s a great time to be a woman, it’s a great time to be involved, and it’s a great time to live in Wyoming. Let’s celebrate!

NettieEditorPhoto by Peg Novotny


CONTENTS6 The Healer’s Art9 First Wyoming Golden Eaglet

Girl Scout Virginia Shugart12 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle...

With Style!15 Both Sides:

Hospital Birth vs. HomeBirth16 Cooking Corner:

Cozy Crockpots18 A Conversation With

U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis

21 Book Nook22 The Feminine Frontier28 Women at Work30 Motherhood Moments

Thank you for the Media Sponsorship of Race for the Cure. The Wyoming Woman Magazine’s support is very important to us!

Sara J. WilsonSusie McMurry

I enjoy your magazine very much! Keep up the good work.

~Ramona Bowdish, Bar Nunn

I really enjoy your magazine. Thank you.

~Jan Taylor, Cheyenne(Thanks for renewing, Jan, and for three gift

subscriptions!)

We have loved your maga-zine, and certainly want to continue subscribing.

~Mary Taylor, St. George, Utah

Thanks to you! All of you! Great Job!

~Mickey Babcock, Jackson

Great mag! ~Bill Sniffin, Lander

Thank you for your generous donation to our 2011 Nurse of the Year silent auction. Our chapter is truly thankful to you and for you.

~Anne McDermott, March of Dimes, Casper

I’m am renewing my sub-scription to The Wyoming Woman Magazine as my birthday gift to myself. The best one yet!

-Pat Frolander, Sundance

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Photo: Kim Gasson

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Winter 2012 i www.TheWyomingWoman.com5


AAt first glance, San Benito Monastery looks nothing like the monasteries that our imaginations - and Holly-wood - dictate they should. Instead of a medieval castle in Europe, far removed from modern civilization and urban sprawl, San Benito is a cozy home at the edge of the tiny

The Healer’s ArtSan Benito Monastery

Dayton, Wyoming

By Joey Sheeley

rural town of Dayton in north-ern rural Wyoming. The idyl-lic setting has remained large-ly unchanged over the years. Before being purchased by the Order, it was part of a large area ranch. Horses graze in a nearby pasture, wildlife abounds and Annie, the mon-astery mascot, greets visitors


The Healer’s Art

like dozens of ranch dogs before her. Instead of monks in brown-hooded robes, this monastic community is in-habited by just a few Bene-dictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration who came to Wyoming from the moth-erhouse, the founding mon-astery and headquarters, located in Clyde, Missouri. The sisters are contempla-tive, called to a ministry of prayer and healing. But even a monastery can’t survive on prayer alone. Their spirits were well-fed, but their bod-ies required nourishment as well. When the sisters first settled in Dayton in 1989, they supported them-selves by distributing com-munion breads and wafers to area churches. But that was only meant to be a short-term solution and in 2003, the sisters decided to devel-op their own business. A fa-vorite phrase from the Rule of Saint Benedict, “Ora et labora,” (work and prayer), became their product signa-ture. It accurately reflects the principles and values of the community: a contemplative life of prayer coupled with a healing ministry in the spirit of Saint Hildegard. Devising a plan and putting it into action fell, quite naturally, to Sis-ter Hope Rodenborn. The daughter of a traveling sales-man, she had the business acumen that, combined with her love of people and her outgoing personality, made her the obvious choice. With the support of the other sis-ters - and more than a little divine guidance and inspira-tion - she quickly discovered

an affinity for soap mak-ing. Monastery Creations came to life as Sister Hope scoured books, networked with established soap mak-ers and simply got her hands dirty, perfecting her product through old-fashioned trial-and-error. Sister Josetta Grant has been in the Order since 1954. She has served at all of the Order houses, in nearly all capacities; as a portress in hospitality, in the altar bread department, as Prioress in Tucson, and, most recently, as the Supe-rior at San Benito. Along with her duties as Superior, Sr. Josetta developed an im-pressive line of lotions and candles. Both Sisters then began experimenting with creams, lip balms, and even a burn salve made from a 100-year-old recipe handed down from Sr. Hope’s fam-ily. For the sisters, having healthy skin is part of their healing ministry and the saints weren’t their only in-fluences. Hippocrates sug-gested that medical prac-titioners “do good or do no harm.” The sisters ex-tended this gentle counsel to include the environment, taking great pride in their commitment to environ-mental sustainability. They do their re-search; the products are made from all-natural in-gredients including glyc-erin, shea butter, plant oils, and soy and palm waxes. They grow many of the herbs used in their prod-ucts and carefully scrutinize those they obtain from oth-er sources. Although they can’t make claims about ef-fectiveness, the ingredients

History of the Benedictines

The Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adora-tion came to the United States in 1874, when 5 sisters, including Mother Mary Anselma, left their community in Maria Rickenback, Swit-zerland in response to God’s call. This small

community is devoted to serving Jesus Christ through work and a rigorous prayer schedule. Today, there are 91 sisters living and serving in monasteries in Arizona, Wyoming, and the

motherhouse in Clyde, Missouri. The first three years of formation (the process of becoming a Sister) take place at the Mother House. Clyde

also houses the central administration and the health care facility where many of the retired

Sisters live.


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in their products are widely acknowledged for their heal-ing and soothing properties. These benefits and their com-mitment to easing the burden on the environment aside, the sisters add a divine touch. During the production pro-cess, they pray for the user’s health and bless every product with holy water. In the years since its inception, Monastery Cre-ations has grown to include a wider variety of products designed around the healthy body/healthy mind concept. Peppermint foot lotions and soaks, kitchen soap, and a se-ries of lavender products in-cluding sheet spray, air fresh-ener, and a stress stick are all now part of the regular inven-tory. The sisters have a loyal following of repeat custom-ers all over the country and, in May of this year, received recognition for their soaps at the 14th Annual Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild Confer-ence. Sr. Hope was acknowl-edged for “Best Show” and won the “Best Packaging” category as well. But Srs. Josetta and Hope aren’t the only contrib-utors to Monastery Creations. Sister Regina Arnold, who entered the community when she was sixteen and will soon be celebrating her 62nd year as a Benedictine Sister, has been creating counted cross-stitch designs for years. Her gorgeous bookmarks take at least 18 hours each to finish and the love interwoven into their creation is evident. Sister Benita Lu-etkemeyer contributes em-broidery and Sister Sarah Schwartzberg started Monas-tery Creations’ baby boutique by crocheting newborn sets

(hat, jacket, booties). Last year, Monastery Creations added rosary beads lovingly created by retired sisters liv-ing at the healthcare facility at the motherhouse. And Sis-ter Gladys Noreen, although not directly involved with the day-to-day production and the shop operations, keeps the whole place running as the head of maintenance and, of-ten, the cook. Monastery Creations and the sisters are thriving in their Wyoming environment. The contemplative prayer life of a Benedictine is the cor-nerstone of their lives; their work is the backbone. They work around their prayer schedules and, in turn, pray over and bless their products to the good of the user. For the sisters, “ora et labora” is who they are and how they minister. They invite any to join they prayer sessions and offer San Benito as a retreat for those who desire a more centered and focused spiritual journey. ~Joey Sheeley is a freelance writer and amateur photographer living in

Dayton, Wyoming. She supports her ‘habits’ by working as a regulatory planner for an environmental consulting company in Sheridan. She and her husband also

own a convenience store and gas station in Dayton.

For more information contact

San Benito MonasteryP.O. Box 510

Dayton, WY 82836-0510Tel: 307-655-9013

Email: [email protected]

Annie, San Benito’s Loveable Mascot

Sister Josetta adopted Annie, a beautiful golden red Lab/border collie mix, from the

local animal shelter when she was just over a year old. She was a wild child, constantly escaping her pen, tearing up the rugs, and jumping up to greet visitors like they were

all long lost family. A few weeks in obedience school and Annie was a new dog. Eight years

later, she still lets her inner crazy out from time to time, but manages to contain that to beating the occasional plastic milk jug into submission and keeping the property clear of squirrels. And as she settles into canine

middle-age, she has started leading visiting retreat participants on long walks through

the woods on the property.

V

Virginia Irene Patterson Shugart was born July 23, 1915 in Midwest, Wyoming. She was the fourth child of Henry and Irene Patterson. Virginia’s father, Henry Patterson, was an en-gineer who was a pioneer of the Midwest oil field and numerous public works projects. Her mother, Irene Diedrich Patterson, practiced nursing early in her career, and then went on to help establish the Casper Red Cross. The Patterson family was active in both the Mid-west and Casper communities and charitable endeavors. Patterson-Zonta Park located at the corner of Collins and Wyoming Blvd in Casper Wyoming is named in part for Irene Diedrich Patterson. Virginia graduated from Natrona County High School where she was active in women’s athletics, including basketball. Virginia was the recipient of numerous educational acknowledgements and awards. In addition to her many accomplishments, she was an active Girl Scout who was the first Golden Eaglet recipi-ent in the State of Wyoming. The Golden Eaglet was the first highest award in Girl Scouting, 1918-1938. (Currently, the

highest Girl Scout award is the Gold Award.) She received the award on August 5, 1932. Four years later, on December 5, 1936, Virginia’s younger sister, Priscilla Jane (“PJ”), was the sixth Girl Scout to receive the award. After high school, Virginia attended the University of Wyoming where she obtained the necessary requirements to teach. She later received her education degree. She first taught in a single room school at Brooks Ranch in the Red

Wall Country. In this small country school Virginia taught four students in grades one through four. While teaching, she met William Gaither “Sid” Shugart from the Willow Creek, Wyoming area. Sid, a cowboy and sheep man, was born in Jonesville, North Carolina. They married in 1936 in Douglas, Wyoming. Later, she and her husband moved to Natrona, where they were employed by the Coffman Ranch (Beck Place). They had two children, Thomas H. and Jack I. Shugart. Her husband, William Gaither “Sid” Shugart, died unexpectedly of acute appendicitis in 1948. After her husband’s death, Virginia moved to Mid-west where she taught first grade. In Midwest, she married Dwight “Chub” Corn (deceased) in 1949. In 1953, they moved to Casper where Virginia taught first grade at Mills School for four years. She transferred to Jefferson School in 1958 where she taught first grade for 23 years. Virginia retired from teaching in 1977. After she retired, Virginia

FirstWyoming Golden Eaglet Girl ScoutVirginia Shugart

ByJack and Dee Shugart and Deborah Shugart

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remained active in local and state historical societ-ies. She also enjoyed keeping up with her former students. Virginia was a devoted and caring daugh-ter, sister, mother, grandmother and teacher who lived a full life dedicated to helping others. Her Girl Scout legacy now continues in her great-grand daughters. Hannah (Brownie) and Sybellah (Daisy) serve in a Girl Scout troop in Casper, Wyo-ming. Next year, their little sister, Olivia (Future Daisy), will join them in following in their great-grandmother’s inspiring footsteps.

~Jack and Dee Shugart met at Natrona County High School, and currently live in Kansas City, Missouri. Their

daughter-in-law, Deborah Shugart, is an attorney and founder of Platte River Legal in Casper.

According to the Girl Scout National Historic Preservation Center in New York City, the Golden Eaglet Award was re-ceived by the following outstanding young ladies in Wyoming:1. Virginia Irene Patterson Midwest 1932 2. Anna Veile Worland 1933 3. Elsa Veile Worland 1933 4. Betty Daiber Cheyenne 1935 5. Ruth Smith Midwest 1936 6. Priscilla Patterson Casper 1936 7. Grace Gorley Midwest 1937 8. Nellie Mowrey Midwest 1937 9. Ida Devlin Cheyenne 1937 10. Mary Ann McLaughlin Riverton 1937 11. Margaret Louise Griggs Buffalo 1937 12. Katherine Jean Val Vleck Jackson 1937 13. Marie Mercer Midwest 1938 14. Rosemary Stephens Cheyenne 1938 15. Elizabeth Ann Leeper Cheyenne 1938 16. Frances Canary Midwest 1938 17. Sophie Pryich Rock Springs 1938 18. Dena Sheiamanna Rock Spring 1938 19. Phyllis Jean Watson Rock Springs 1938 20. Barbara Connors Midwest 1938 21. Ursula Manewal Cheyenne 1938 22. Frances Back Casper 1938 23. Elizabeth Ann Jones Casper 1938 24. Sarah Marie Rayor Cheyenne 1939

In the nearly 100 years since Juliette Gordon Low began the Girl Scout movement by gathering togeth-er a small group of girls in Savannah, Georgia, Girl Scouts has grown into an organization with 3.2 million members and 50 million alumnae. Through the years, Girl Scouting has shown remark-able resilience in meeting the changing needs of girls while remaining faithful to Low’s vision of a safe and supportive environment in which girls can develop the courage, confidence, and character to become leaders today as well as to-morrow. In developing the Girl Scouting in the United States, Juliette brought girls of all backgrounds into the out-doors, giving them the opportunity to develop self-reliance and resourceful-ness. She encouraged girls to prepare not only for traditional homemaking,

but also for possible future roles as pro-fessional women—in the arts, sciences and business—and for active citizen-ship outside the home. Girl Scouting welcomed girls with disabilities at a time when they were excluded from many other activities. In the first Girl Scout hand-book, How Girls Can Help Their Coun-try (1913), girls learned how to start fires, rescue someone from drowning, communicate with Morse code, fire a gun, and tie up a burglar with eight inches of cord. Today’s Girl Scout, through the use of Journeys—a nationally re-searched and developed curriculum aligned with national education stan-dards—learns comparison shopping, mediation skills, handling online fraud, and other 21st century skills.

Girl Scouting in Wyoming can be traced back to 1922, when the first troop in the state was formed in Casper. The movement spread to Evan-ston in 1923, followed by Greybull and Worland. Throughout the 1920s Scouting spread across the state. Camp Sacajawea, located on Casper Moun-tain, was christened in 1936, and is still used today by Girl Scouts from across Montana and Wyoming. Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming is planning several exciting anniversary events that will shine the light on Girl Scouts as the voice of and for girls. Throughout the council, local and statewide anniversary events and activities are taking place. For more information on Girl Scouting or the 100th Anniversary cel-ebrations, call the council at 800-736-5243 or visit gsmw.org/100.

Girl Scouting: A Centennial Celebration

Sybellah (Daisy), Hannah (Brownie), Olivia (Future Daisy)

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Directions

1. Felt sweater by washing it in the washing machine with hot water and drying with high heat. “Felting” the wool will give it a soft, matted appear-ance as well as make it more durable.

2. Lay sweater flat on a table and cut horizontally begin-ning under one armpit and ending under the other armpit. You should end with a roughly square piece of fabric. Set aside the neck and sleeve piece for steps 6 and 7.

Reduce, Reuse,

Recycle With Style!

Submitted by Liz Norcross

3. Turn the wool square inside out and zigzag or straight stitch across the bottom edge.4. To make the bag sturdier, add an optional lin-ing. a. Cut two pieces of fabric slightly smaller than the wool “square”. Place fabric pieces right sides together and sew around 3 sides leaving the top open. b. With the fabric liner turned right side out and the wool bag turned inside out, place the liner in

1.

2.

4.

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the bag (right sides should be touching). Pin top edge and sew liner to bag leaving about 5 inches open.c. Turn bag right side out with the liner on the inside by pulling through opening. Hand stitch opening closed. Tack in place to prevent edge from rolling.

5. If you do not make a lining, turn down the top edge of the bag and hem for a more finished look, or embellish with a decorative stitch us-ing embroidery thread or yarn.

6. Straps Option 1 – Belt Strap*Using an old fabric belt (leather belts are difficult to sew through), cut a shoulder strap to the desired length and sew ends to bag at seams.Option 2 – Wool Strap*Cut two 2.5 inch wide strips from the sleeve of the sweater. Sew two pieces together end to end to create the length of strap desired. *To reinforce strap, cut a strip of fabric the same size as the strap. Pin to wool strap with right sides together and sew along long edges leav-ing short sides open.*Turn strap right side out.*Attach strap to bag at seams.

7. Embellish as desired.*Cut a “pocket” square from the reserved sweater neckline and sew to the out-side of bag.

*Embellish with an oversized loop and button closure, magnetic snap, silk flowers, beads, buttons, tassels, etc.

6.

7.

7b.

Beth

but when it comes to baking, Cheryll’s in charge. Dolly as-sists and is happy to have Cheryll managing the details. They’ll also be the first ones to tell you that volun-teering does a lot of good for them too. They’ve come to re-alize that “those who have little, are so thankful,” but “those who have much, value little,” a great lesson for all of us. Joyce and Harriet volunteer at the Wyoming Medi-cal Center. Jan and Marilyn are the “snowbirds” of the group and have already flown from the Casper coop. Come next spring, they’ll happily rejoin the nest. All the ladies agree, friendship is a great way to sus-

tain the morning walk. It’s much easier to walk every day if you know someone is waiting or wondering why you’re not there. If someone doesn’t show up for the walk, Dolly will call during the coffee hour to find out why they’re MIA. Also keeping an eye out for the ladies is a masculine admirer. He frequently stops by for coffee. Dolly said that he’s the only male amongst all the ‘Cougars.’ It’s obvious that he holds a special place with the ladies. He is always doing something for them. Not only is he the official ‘taster’ of baked goods, he has been known to chauffer some ladies to the annual neighborhood picnics. Linda and the staff at Loaf ‘n Jug are also consid-ered part of the group. Linda makes the ladies feel quite at home. She has been known to decorate their special table with holiday decorations throughout the year. When asked, what makes a good recipe for a long lasting friendship? The ladies replied: patience, compassion, understanding, respect and an ounce of truth gently folded in with humor. Top that with a sprinkling of ‘putting-your-friends first’ and you have a winning recipe for a long-lasting friendship. Sounds like a great dish. From now on, that’s what I’ll share with my students.

TThe other day, I had a 3rd grade student crying in my class because she was sure her BFF wasn’t going to be her friend anymore. She was inconsolable. I could only think of one thing to tell her: We will all have many friends during our lives. Some we’ll meet when we are very young and some as we get older. But regardless of when we meet, we have to cherish them for who they are and when we have them in our lives. If we’re really lucky, we’ll have some friends our entire lives. For the past thirteen years, the “Walkee-Coffee Chicks” have been meeting in Casper six days a week at 6

am to get some exercise. They are: Linda Bechtel, Joyce Bell, Char Boner, Chuck Burd, Marilyn Hogan, Skeater Kel-ly, Margaret Bordewick, Marcia Reinhardt, Mickie Riley, Dolly Rolle, Jan Schicketanz, Harriet West, Cheryll West-cott, and Jan Chicketanz. They meet for a 2 -3 mile walk at the east side shopping mall and enjoy each other’s company over coffee at the local Loaf n’ Jug. Their stories are as varied in how they met as to what keeps these good friends together. Marcia, Char, Cheryll and Jan met as teachers with the Natrona County School system and have known each other for years. Though each has a very busy retirement, they make time to talk, laugh and vol-unteer together. Skeater and Dolly have known each other for forty years. Long ago, they discovered their husbands both worked in insurance industry and that’s all it took to begin their life-long friendship. Originally meeting as neighbors, Jan Schicketanz and Linda Bechtel have been friends for more than 60 years. Jan is a retired teacher from the Natrona County School Sys-tem and Linda is an administrator at the Child Development Center. Chuck Burd and Char Boner have been friends for twen-ty years. They began their friend-ships by walking the neighbor-hood. For the past five years, Skeater, Dolly and Cheryll have been baking desserts for the Res-cue Mission in Casper. Dolly is a teaching assistant and Cheryll, a retired teacher, still substitutes when her busy schedule allows

By

Peg Novotny

Walkee-Coffee Chicks

Photo by Peg Novotny

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Beth Nettie

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What advice would you give to a mother making a birth

decision?Choosing where to birth a baby is a very personal deci-

sion, and depends in part on the health of the moth-

er and baby. However, for many mothers, homebirth

opens up many options not available under hospitals

policies. Some of these options include: water birth,

little or no intervention, and ability of the mother to move

and eat during labor and delivery.

Why did you choose a hospital birth?

I chose a traditional hospital birth for my 3 children be-

cause Wyoming has had limited options in the past. I’ve

also been extremely comfortable with the skills and abili-

ties of my obstetricians.

What resources do obstetricians and Wyoming hospitals

offer mothers?Obstetricians and hospitals can provide for both high

and low risk pregnancies, regardless of complica-

tions. Hospitals have the ability to meet the varied

needs of a mother with their staff resources. If moth-

ers have problems with nursing, they can receive help

from the lactation consultant. If they have a reaction

to anesthesia, there are resources for dealing with it.

One hospital where I gave birth even provided a free

massage to birth mothers from a massage therapist in

their rehabilitation unit. It was wonderful!

What are some specific advantages to hospital births?I take great comfort in the safety measures that an ob-stetrician and hospital can provide. The birth of my first child was a little “dicey” toward the end, and I was grate-ful that the I was grateful that the medical team support was there to make sure we had a safe and healthy birth. I also appreciated the care given to me following my births. It was nice to be pampered by the hospital staff and have help with the baby that first night!

What are some specific advantages to homebirth?Midwives are trained to assist expectant mothers throughout

pregnancy and delivery. The care provided by midwives, both

Certified Nurse Midwives and Certified Professional Midwives,

is personalized to each client. During my prenatal care, each

visit lasted an hour, with the midwife making certain any ques-

tions or concerns I had were fully answered. I felt as if she

truly knew me and my family. Whenever I needed assistance

during the pregnancy, I could call the midwife directly, without

an answering service between us. A midwife was open to

many options of birth, and provided knowledge and choices

in every aspect.

SidesBothHospital Birth vs. Homebirth

The recent legalization of midwives in Wyoming has provided new birthing options to expectant mothers. Choosing where to deliver a baby is a very personal decision, and we hope to share some of the options now available in our state.

What specific opportunities do homebirth mothers enjoy in Wyoming?Midwives were recently legalized again in Wyoming and expectant mothers now have a viable homebirth option. Midwives generally bring a plethora of birth experience with them, as well as oxygen, birthing equipment, IV’s, medication, and other tools which may be needed during a birth. Aside from an operating room, many home-births allow the same medical options as hospital births.

Why did you choose homebirth?Homebirth is a very natural, peaceful way to deliver a baby. Many mothers find it more comfortable to labor and deliver at home, unhindered by strangers or people they don’t know well. During my own homebirths, my husband and I were amazed at the simplicity of birth, and the very special feeling which accompanied our baby’s arrival.

What advice would you give to a mother making a birth decision?Research your care options and don’t be afraid to ask ques-tions. While unexpected conditions and complications may arise, women still have the ability to make choices in their prenatal care and birth experience, regardless of whether they choose an obstetrician or midwife. Also, because there are still a limited number of certified midwives in Wyo-ming, a traditional hospital birth may still be the only option for many Wyoming mothers.WW

Winter weather is the perfect invitation to slow down and curl up with something warm. Try these crockpot recipes from our readers, sure to fill your homes with something delicious on a cold day. WW

Cozy Crockpots

Minestrone Soup

2 carrots, diced2 ribs celery, sliced1 large onion, chopped or dried onion2 or 3 cloves minced garlic5 cups water5 chicken bouillon cubes

1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes with liquid½ tsp salt¼ tsp pepper1 tsp Italian seasoning1 cup small shell pasta or macaroni1 cup shredded zucchini1 15.5 oz can white beans, drainedgrated Parmesan cheese Combine carrots, celery, onion, garlic and bouil-lon cubes in crockpot. Pour in water and stir in tomatoes, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Cover and cook on low 4 to 6 hours. Add shredded zucchini approximately halfway through cooking. Thirty minutes before serving, stir in pasta and beans. Cover and increase heat to high and cook until pasta is tender, about 30 minutes. Serve hot with Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top!

~Submitted by Emily Simmons, Cawley

Creamy Crockpot Hot Cocoa

3/4 cup heavy cream1 can sweetened con-densed milk (14 oz)2 cups milk chocolate chips6 3/4 cups milk 1 tsp vanilla extract

Stir all ingredients together in your crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours ~ coming back to whisk occa-sionally. Garnish with marshmallows or whipped cream if desired. Enjoy on a cold winter day!

~Submitted by Emily Simmons, Cawley

Calico Beans1 31oz can baked beans, not drained1 15oz can pinto beans, drained1 15oz can white beans, drained1 15 oz can kidney or black beans, drained1 ½ lb ground beef1 onion1 lb bacon½ c brown sugar¼ c ketchup1 tsp mustard powder Cook bacon and set aside. Brown ground beef with onion. Combine all ingredients in crockpot. Cook on low heat 3 – 4 hours. Especially yummy served with cornbread!

~Submitted by Nettie Francis, Casper

Grammy’s White Chicken Chili3 cans of navy beans, undrained1 can Stokes Green Chili Sauce1-2 pieces cooked and diced chicken breast (or 1-2 cans chicken, undrained)1 tsp cumin1/4 tsp oregano1 can green chiles (optional)chicken broth Combine all ingredients in the crockpot except the broth. Then add broth until the chili is the consistency that you prefer. Cook on low 6 hours. Serve with sour cream, cheese and tortilla chips.

~Submitted by Sharon Fisher, Casper

Photo by Emily Simmons

Photo by Jen HebertWW

Yummy Refried Beans3 cups pinto beans (washed)10 cups water1 medium onion1 pkg. taco seasoning2 tsp salt3 cups grated cheddar cheese1/2 cup butter or margarine1 1/3 cup salsa1 can chopped green chiles1 small can chopped black olives Put beans, water, and onion in crockpot for 6 hours. Blend 1/2 to 3/4 of the cooked beans in blender. Stir in the remaining whole beans for texture. Stir in all other ingredients except olives and 1 cup cheese. Put beans back into crockpot and warm. Top with cheese and olives.

~Submitted by Jennifer Jones, Cawley

Crockpot Potato Soup

5 cups of potatoes, diced1/3 cup chopped onion3 cups chicken broth1 can cream of chicken soup1/8 tsp pepper Combine in crock pot. Cook on low for 8-10

hours or until potatoes are tender. Then add:8 oz. cream cheesebacon pieces Stir until blended. (May take a few minutes for cream cheese to melt and mix.) Add fresh or dried chives to the top of soup and serve. *We had this for St. Patrick’s Day and made it green.

~Submitted by Michelle Banks, Cawley

Apple Cider Beef Stew2 lbs. stew meat6 carrots, sliced6 potatoes or sweet potatoes, sliced 2 apples, chopped2 tsp. salt1/2 cup chopped onion2 cups apple cider Place apples and vegetables in crockpot. Add meat lightly sprinkled with salt and pepper. Pour cider over meat. Cook on low for 8 hours. (Add flour for a thicker sauce. I also added a little brown sugar with my sweet potatoes!)

~Submitted by MaryKate Traeden, Utah

Mexican Vegetarian Chili1 large onion, quartered2 cups potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch chunks (use red, Yukon or firm potatoes with thin skin)2 cups yams peeled and cut into 1/2-inch chunks4 large cloves garlic, peeled 8-10 tomatillos husked, rinsed and cut in half2 large poblano chiles stemmed, seeded and cut in half1-2 jalapeno, cut in half and seeded 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 T Mexican oregano 1 T flour 1 T ground cumin2 28-ounce cans white hominy with juices 4 cups vegetable broth 3 4-ounce cans diced mild green chiles Garnishes: Mexican Creama (recipe follows), radishes, cilantro, lime wedge. In 400’ oven on a heavy baking sheet place onions, garlic, jalapeno, tomatillos and poblanos. Toss with ¼ cup olive oil and salt and pepper. Bake for about 20 minutes stirring once or twice. In the meantime, place potatoes, yams, zucchini and hominy with juices in crockpot and start on high. Mix together flour, oregano, cumin, 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp pepper, set aside. After 20 minutes of baking, put onion mixture in blender or food processor adding green chilies and flour mixture. Blend just until smooth. Scrape the chile sauce into the crockpot. Add enough vegetable broth to cover the veggies by an inch or so. Stir well. Turn to low and cook 5-6 hours until potatoes and yams are tender. Season with more salt and pepper if desired. Mexican Creama1 cup heavy cream1cup sour cream1 teaspoon saltCombine and whisk until smooth, let sit at room tempera-ture for 3 hours. Refrigerate.

~Submitted by Sylvia Harber, Pinedale

Photo by Michelle Banks

Photo by Sylvia Harber

18

T

Representative Lummis is greeted by Wyoming’s U.S. Senators John Barrasso (left) and Mike Enzi (right)

A Conversation With U. S. Representative

Cynthia Lummis


The Wyoming Woman Magazine: What first inspired you to run for office?Representative Cynthia Lummis: I studied Animal Science at the Univer-sity of Wyoming and interned for the Wyoming Senate Agriculture, Public Lands and Water Committee, and got the bug! Just two years later, I was the youngest woman that’s been elected to the Wyoming State Legislature. We need somebody to break that record be-cause people of all ages are important to policy making, especially women!

WWM: Who are some of the wom-en who have influenced your life?Cynthia: Ellen Crowley was the chair-man of the House Judiciary Committee in the Wyoming State Legislature when I was first elected. She took me under her wing. I was a ranch girl with an animal science and biology degree and didn’t know anything about judiciary issues. Through that committee work I developed an interest in a variety of is-sues. Four years after I was first elected I laid out a term to go to law school, and then ran again and served 10 more years. I served a total of 14 years.

WWM: Tell us about your typical day in Washington D.C.Cynthia: My days are long. I usually start with meetings with other Republi-can members of Congress and then go into House Appropriations Committee meetings. Those last into the early af-ternoon when we go over to the Capi-tol Building to vote. Later, I meet with constituents from Wyoming for about 15 minute intervals. We usually go into the late afternoon with those appoint-ments. I have many evening responsi-bilities as well, so my days are typically 12 hours.

WWM: What do you do when you just need a break?

T Cynthia: I have an apartment in Washington D.C., so I can get away from Capitol Hill and relax sometimes. Around 70 members of the U.S. House live in their offices and can’t afford to raise their children or have a place in D.C. as well as maintain their home district. I have a self-sufficient hus-band practicing law in Cheyenne and an adult daughter in Albuquerque, so I have a little more financial flexibility than when we were first married.

WWM: Is there a particular com-fort food you like to eat?Cynthia: I prefer eating salty things rather than sweets when I’m stressed out.

WWM: Have you faced any par-ticular challenges as a congresswoman in Washington?Cynthia: Right now I am chairman of the Women’s Caucus. It’s a bipartisan group. That has been tough because I’m also a very fiscally conservative person and have been voting against a lot of social programs including WIC (Women, Infants and Children). I sup-ported cuts to that program. Mostly be-cause there has been a dramatic decline in utilization, but for people who have never seen a social program they didn’t like, it’s quizzical that the chairman of the House Women’s Caucus would vote to support cuts.

WWM: What specific opportuni-ties do women in Wyoming have?Cynthia: We have the opportunity to improve the job market here for women. Wyoming has the largest gap in pay between men and women of any state in the nation, and women are at a tremendous disadvantage in our state workforce. There is much room for im-provement in that area. Also, Wyoming has a very proud history of being the “Equality State” with the first woman

voter, the first female statewide elected official, the first woman governor. The problem is that since we accomplished and earned the “Equality State” nick-name, we really haven’t lived up to that name at all. I hope we’ll have an op-portunity to pick up some of the sup-port and enthusiasm for women’s rights that Wyoming had in the 19th century.

WWM: How can Wyoming wom-en make the biggest difference in our state?Cynthia: The most important thing literally that Wyoming women can do is to be good family members. Take care of the members of their family and guide them and nurture them. Teach them a strong work ethic and be part of a strong family that appreciates and shares the appreciation for the wonder-ful culture of Wyoming.

WWM: Is there a particular issue facing Wyoming women right now that you are especially interested in?Cynthia: Wyoming was an early adopter of the Equal Rights Amend-ment. The Amendment only failed by two states. In Congress this year there is a renewal of the effort to amend the U.S. Constitution for women. I am in support of that primarily because na-tionally and in Wyoming we saw wom-en’s ability to close the pay gap pro-gressing until about 10 years ago when the gap started widening again. Across the nation and in Wyoming, it’s very evident that the progress we were mak-ing without the Equal Rights Amend-ment has stopped. It’s time to renew that effort.

WWM: You have two great, young female interns working for you right now. How can older generations of women mentor and inspire the younger generation of women?Cynthia: I was an intern myself and

Representative Lummis is sworn in by the then-Speaker of the U.S. House of Repre-sentatives, Nancy Pelosi, while Rep. Lummis’ husband, Alvin Wiederspahn, holds the

Bible.

jen hebertphotography

[email protected]

{760}579-1525

family portraits seniors events weddings

the experience really developed my en-thusiasm for public policy and public service. I believe the interns that we’ve had in our office are exactly the kind of people that I would like to see succeed-ing. There are others as well as myself in our state providing opportunities for them to be exposed to the public ser-

vice environment. It’s important for them and I want to make their experi-ences rich. Jessie Berry was an outstand-ing intern, and she has become the executive director of Wyoming “Ag-riculture in the Classroom,” which is a program to support teaching materi-als and curricula for Wyoming public schools. I’ve had many outstanding in-terns. Wyoming kids are exceptional, they really are exceptional.

WWM: What has been a highlight of your service thus far?Cynthia: When I put my voting card in the slot and vote, I always think about the people who elected me. I’m voting on their behalf. That simple act of placing a voting card in a slot and

voting “aye” or “nay” on a piece of legislation is the most fulfilling part of the job. It’s also been very fulfilling to be on committees of significance: the Budget Committee, the Natural Resources Committee, and now the Appropriations Committee. I can use those assignments to advance or pro-tect those interests in very specific ways. We no longer do earmarks and bring home financial goodies, but we can protect our states and constituents from the overreach of the federal gov-ernment.

WWM: What message would you like to send to Wyoming women?Cynthia: Our country is at a cross-roads, an economic, cultural and politi-cal crossroads. Every single person in this country has to step up and make a difference. Wyoming women under-stand that and are potentially an enor-mously powerful force in this country. We can bring about a positive eco-nomic change to help protect a strong but limited federal government and a highly capable state government. The power of one is more obvious in Wyo-ming than in any other state because of our small population. This fact should drive us to become very involved in our communities. One person in a commu-nity can really make a huge difference. In our country at this time the power of one was never more important. WW


Natrona CountyThe Place We Call Home

How much do you know about Natrona County, Wyoming? Natrona County: The Place We Call

Home, was written specifically to assist 3rd grade students in learning about the history of their community and meeting social studies

curriculum requirements. However, individuals of all ages will enjoy this concise history,

complete with photos, maps, charts, and a glossary.

Local historians, librarians, and teachers contributed to this extraordinary project which will be available in February. The book will be sold in local museums and bookstores, as well

as at the Natrona County Public Library. Proceeds will benefit library programs and

services funded by the Natrona County Public Library Foundation.

For more information, call the NCPLF at 237-4935 ext. 104

BookNook

WW

During the 1960s the Collier fam-ily embarked on a cross-country

move that would eventually lead to the family living

in a primitive cabin

west of Laramie, just beyond the community of

Harmony, Wyoming. The

cabin had a telephone and rudimentary electricity, but the family of six

learned to live without running water and television. Wood chopping chores filled their days as the cook stove and heating stove were always

hungry. The humorous antics of their children and pets provided comic relief to their daily chores,

and the community provided them with friendship and a sense of belonging. Author Gaydell Collier recently unearthed diaries and letters that inspired her to write about these cabin years. She tells of

the struggles, hope, and humor of living a simpler lifestyle.

To order your copy, contact High Plains Press

[email protected]

Just Beyond HarmonyBY GAYDELL COLLIER


Nellie Tayloe RossThe Nation’s First Woman Governor

By Lori Van Pelt

THE FEMININE FRONTIERGovernor

*Nov. 29, 1876 Born near St. Joseph, Missouri

*1902 Marries attorney William Bradford Ross and comes to Cheyenne, Wyo-ming, as a new bride. The couple eventually welcome three sons: twins George and Ambrose and Bradford.

*Oct. 2, 1924 William, serving as Governor of Wyoming, dies of com-plications from appendicitis just one month prior to the general election. Soon after, officials from the Democratic Party approach Nellie to ask if she will run for the position to fill William’s unexpired term.

*Nov. 4, 1924 Nellie defeats Republican Eugene Sullivan by a margin of 8,048 votes. Because she was still in mourning, Nellie did not campaign for the office.

*Jan. 5, 1925 Nellie is inaugurated and becomes the nation’s first woman governor. Her public speaking skills were limited to the kindergarten classes she taught before her marriage and a few addresses given to a local women’s club. Her political background consisted of discussions with William about his experiences while he held office.

*1926

~During her gubernatorial term, Nellie was a sought-after speaker. An honorary Girl Scout, she spoke in April to Scouts gathered in Rock Springs. She said, “I’m old-fashioned enough…to believe that no career for women is as glorious or as satisfying as that which wifehood and motherhood offer, and it is there [a woman] fulfills her highest destiny.”

~In May, Nellie told members of the Business and Professional Women’s Club in Casper: “Practically every vocation now is open to a woman, and she has proved she can fulfill her position with absolute success.” *Nov. 2, 1926 Nellie is defeated for a second term by Republican Frank C. Emerson. She lost by only 1,365 votes out of 70,041 cast. This time, she was nationally recognized as the first female governor and had campaigned widely throughout Wyoming. One campaign poster hailed her as “The Woman Who Made Good.”

* 1927

~Nellie accepts prestigious 10-week speaking contract with Swarthmore Chautauqua Circuit. The salary is esti-mated to far exceed her $12,000 annual pay as Wyoming’s governor. She also writes a series of articles about her experiences for “Good Housekeeping” magazine.


~Nellie becomes one of five vice-chairmen for the Democratic National Committee; she heads the women’s divi-sion.

~Nellie’s name is placed in nomination for vice president as a proposed running mate for New York Governor Al Smith at the Democratic National Convention. Although Nellie, who campaigned for Smith, was flattered by this honor, she supported U. S. Senator Joseph Taylor Robinson for the position instead.

*April 1933 President Franklin D. Roosevelt appoints Nellie as Director of the U. S. Mint. She is the first woman to hold this job.

*1953 Nellie retires from the Mint. She served throughout the terms of presidents Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman.

*Nov. 29, 1976 Wyoming Governor Ed Herschler proclaims Nellie Tayloe Ross Day to celebrate her 100th birthday. Students throughout the state sent cards and letters to her. *Dec. 19, 1977 Nellie Tayloe Ross dies in Washington, D. C. Her body lay in state in Wyoming’s Capitol, and she was buried next to her husband, William Bradford Ross, in Cheyenne’s Lakeview Cemetery.

~Lori Van Pelt received a 2002 Lola Homsher Grant from the Wyoming State Historical Society for her research and writing on Nellie Tayloe Ross. The three articles referenced here also all won WSHS Publications Awards. Van Pelt is the author of three nonfiction books and a collec-

tion of short fiction. She is also the assistant editor of WyoHistory.org

SOURCES:

Roberts, Phil, David L. and Steven L., eds. Wyoming Almanac, 5th edition. Lara-mie: Skyline West Publishing, 2001.

Trenholm, Virginia Cole, ed. Wyoming Blue Book, Vol. II. Cheyenne: Wyoming State Archives and Historical Department, 1974.

Van Pelt, Lori. “Discovering Her Strength: The Remarkable Transformation of Nel-lie Tayloe Ross,” Annals of Wyoming, Winter 2002, Vol. 74, No. 1.

-----. “Nellie Tayloe Ross: Nation’s First Woman Governor Proves Her Mettle in Wyoming,” Wyoming Rural Electric News Magazine, August 2006.

-----. “Pardons and Petticoats: The First Two Women Governors Tackle Justice and Mercy,” WOLA Journal, Spring 2001. Wyoming Eagle, April-May 1926.

The American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming in Laramie houses a large Nellie Tayloe Ross collection, which contains correspondence, newspaper and magazine clippings, photographs and other items.

Nellie Tayloe Ross photo file, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

WW


Pioneer TrailsAll in a Wyoming WeekendBy Shari Otteman

C

The view of Devil’s Gate from the southwest

C“Chooo Chooo… All aboard?” My 4-year-old in the back seat of the van, offered the official cue that our family trip was underway. My children had dubbed our silver family van the “Otteman Crazy Train.” This particular weekend, the OCT was scheduled for a short trip to a trio of historical landmarks just west of Casper.

First stop: Martin’s Cove Visitors’ Center We had wanted to visit this pioneer era museum on the historic Tom Sun Ranch since the first time we drove by. What we most wanted was to pull the handcarts just like the Lat-ter-day Saint pioneers did on their emigration. We en-joyed an educational film, a trip through the museum and a hike from the center

towards the actual Martin’s Cove. It was the cove that prom-ised some small shelter for the already dwindling numbers of Martin’s Handcart Company of Mormon travelers caught along the banks of the North Platte in Wyoming in October, 1856. Approximately 145 people died between the red cliffs of Bessemer Bend and Martin’s Cove. According to BLM literature this disaster “… resulted in the greatest loss of life from any single event during the entire Westward migration period.” Not a cheery subject, but one carefully researched and preserved. At the center, the kids had a great time meeting

the resident dog, Oscar, and running down the trail. The center offers a unique opportunity to experience just how dif-ficult it must have been to pull your own belong-ings behind you. I only desire a small dose of the experience though – about half a day. The months it took for the Latter-day Saints to go from Iowa to Salt Lake City indicate a core of perseverance I can only marvel at.

Next Stop: Devil’s Gate Visible from the Martin’s Cove Visitors’ Center was Devil’s Gate. Although the narrow canyon carved by the Sweetwater River made wagon travel through it impossible, it was a well known and often visited site along the Ore-gon and Mormon trails. It is a stunning geological feature,

and it is easy enough to un-derstand the emigrants’ fas-cination. Many names were carved in the rocks surround-ing the narrow cleft and rumors about murders, ambushes, and Native American mythology occurring at Devil’s Gate kept interest piqued.

Last stop: Independence Rock The most well-known of the historical landmarks on our journey was Independence Rock. It was difficult to ex-plain to the kiddos just what was so special about the names carved into the rock. “Did they get in trouble, Mom?” Asked our four-year-old. But there was no need to explain why it was a good idea to climb to the top – these ideas come naturally to the young. Almost as rewarding as the view was my three-year-old son’s declaration, “I didn’t think I could do it Mom – but I did!” Independence Rock was so dubbed by the westward pioneers because it was necessary to arrive at the rock by the 4th of July in order to avoid mountain snows. Reading this information only underscored the tragedy of the Martin Company struggling through an October blizzard just down the road. We tried to explain the timing of this to the kids, but they really just wanted to climb on the rocks some more – and so did we. Family vacations have the potential to be more ex-hausting than illuminating. In my experience the most effec-tive way to enjoy family excursions is to keep them short and close to home…and to include plenty of running and rock climbing! The best thing about visiting nearby locations is that you can always return to learn and play more. Sooner than later, I expect the OCT will be westward bound again.

~ Shari Otteman is a ministry leader in Casper. She has written

for a newspaper, a technical company, and just about anyone who asks.

Her family of adventure seekers are always ready to get out of the house

and explore.

The author and her family atop Independence Rock

Joey and Cullen next to a handcart display at the Martin’s Cove Visitors’

Center

WW


II’ll never forget the first few weeks in my new role as a mother. I was 30 years old, had celebrated five years of marriage, and had enjoyed seven years teaching high school. I assumed that if I could handle a classroom of 37 teenagers, I could handle a newborn. Boy, was I wrong! At five o’clock in the morning, I sat on the couch holding a screaming baby and crying right along with her. Labor and delivery had been the easy part—this breastfeeding thing was a whole different story. I chose to try breastfeeding because of the many benefits to both mother and newborn. According to BabyCenter.com, babies who are breastfed are better protected from illnesses, allergies, obesity, and SIDS. Breastfeeding moms have lower levels of stress and postpartum depression, and may have a reduced risk for some types of cancer. During my third tri-mester, I read up on breastfeeding. It hadn’t looked difficult, so why was I having so much trouble? That day, I made contact with La Leche League in my town, and attended a breastfeeding support class.

Pump It Up!A Proposed Solution for New Moms in the Workplace

By Dianna Renz

Photo by Jen Hebert


(You can find a group in your area by calling 1-877-4-LA-LECHE.) One of those women opened my eyes: nursing is a learned skill for both mother and baby. Over the course of the next few months, I realized my unique situation: my left breast had an inverted nipple. Because the nipple was tucked inside itself, it never dried out after feeding and began to grow yeast. When I tried to nurse on both sides, the baby’s mouth transferred the yeast from my left nipple to her mouth, and then to the right nipple as well. No wonder nursing my baby was frustrating and painful! Once I un-derstood the situation, I learned that many wom-en can feed from just one breast. With my second baby, I simply fed her on the right side every time. I pumped the left side for a while, and then allowed it to dry up. When I had my third baby, I started pumping that first night in the hospital. Since I already knew the left side would be problematic for nursing, I used that breast exclu-sively for pumping from day one. By pumping at regular in-tervals, I tricked my body into thinking there were two babies to feed—my sweet-pea on the right, and her “electric twin” on the left. Soon I had a freezer full of breastmilk to sustain my daughter when I returned to work. Lactation Spe-cialist Janet Talmadge explains that the body will continue to produce “as long as adequate and frequent milk removal continues.” Skipping feeding or pumping ses-sions quickly leads to a decrease in milk supply, so it’s important to make adjustments gradually, allowing the body to re-establish the supply after a change in routine. I’ve kept this in mind as I adjust my schedule week-by-week. In the first week postpartum, I pumped in the middle of the night, but over the course of the next two months, I slowly transitioned to pumping just twice a day. After sev-eral more weeks, I cut out the evening pump as well. Down

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures website, “Wyo. House Joint Resolution 5 (2003) encourages breastfeed-ing and recognizes the importance of breast-feeding to maternal and child health. The resolution also commends employers, both in the public and private sectors, who provide accommodations for breastfeeding moth-ers.” Some states even require employers to provide a pumping-friendly environment, as not everyone has a private office like I do. It’s unsanitary to pump in a restroom and dehumanizing to pump in a custodial closet!

My own experience would not have been nearly this successful if a dear friend hadn’t loaned me her medical-grade electric breast pump. The hospital provided brand new tubing, funnels, and collection bottles. A sub-standard pump simply won’t maintain milk supply, so if you can’t borrow one, consider renting through your local hospital or other breastfeeding resource center.

to just one pumping a day, the milk supply began to dwindle, and so after a few more weeks I allowed the left side to dry up. Once I started pumping the dominant breast at work, I chose a time of day that was convenient on weekdays and also on the weekends. Pumping in the afternoons provided a meal for Baby to eat at a later date, and ensured that my

body continued to pro-duce milk in the daytime, so I could nurse her on Saturday afternoon, for example. When my little one turned six months old, I stopped pumping—it was just too much. Now, she drinks formula dur-ing the day, but I have continued to nurse her in the mornings before work, after returning home, and again before

her bedtime. Nursing allows us some needed bonding time after being apart all day, and she continues to receive health benefits from breastmilk. As long as I feed her every day at those times, my body continues to produce milk for those feedings.

Breastfeeding a newborn is a commit-ment. Even when we know the benefits, busy lives can make it a chal-lenge. The lactation system is designed to produce additional milk as the baby regularly demands it; so training your body to produce for that “electric twin” is not hard, but it’s es-sential to commit to a set time that’s convenient for you. Likewise, if you formula feed during the day but nurse your baby at home, stick to a gen-eral time frame for feed-

ings. The balance of work and home is a tough one; with a little planning, pumping can ease the transition for both mother and baby. ~Dianna Renz is a small town Oregon girl who currently lives in

Rock Springs. Family life with her husband and three daughters is the greatest blessing in her life.

WW

Photo by Jen Hebert


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Preserving Memories

Janette Jones~ 307.472.4776 y Let me show you how to make your memories last a lifetime. Close To My Heart

offers beautiful, exclusive scrapbooking and stamping products for preserving and celebrating your precious

memories. Quicker. Simpler. Easier.lllll

Jenn Whitehead~ 307.258.7829 y [email protected] Enjoy our monthly Crop-A-Thon and scrapbook with oth-

ers who share the same hobby. Earn scrapbooking supplies, workshops, and free products by hosting a gathering.

Call for more information.lllll

Karen Wilkinson~Need help with photos? Preserve your photos in storybooks and canvases with pre-designed templates and 50,000 pieces of artwork! Karen’s

Heritage Studio 307.277.2794 www.karensheritagestudio.com

Printing services

jones boys printers~ Professional design services, digital workflow, state of the art printing equipment and finishing.

Printing...it’s what we do. 307.733.5575 [email protected]

Resources

Cowboys In Your Community~ Christie Kroeger - President/Founder y 307.277.1119

[email protected]/Organizing, Snow removal/Yard work....you name it and the cowboys will do it. When you hire the

cowboys, you help your community!lllll

Becky Tennant~ Vault Denim is looking for Represen-tatives in your area. Start your career for $159. Designer denim up to 50% off retail~ sizes 0-24, girls, men's, and

maternity, too. www.vaultdenim.com/beckytennant, 307-660-0048, [email protected]

lllllBeth O’Neil~Thirty One Gifts, Providing products with a purpose that appeal to a variety of personal styles and an opportunity for women to find financial freedom owning

their own business. Call or email Beth O’Neal. 307.359.0667

www.mythirtyone.com/8987 1 [email protected]

Dana Curtis~ Discover the beauty and culture of the southern hemisphere on this Australia & NewZealand

twenty-two day tour in summer 2013. For more informa-tion call Dana Curtis at 307-277-5055

lllllInsight HR Solutions –With our “Ask HR’ service you have access to experienced Human Resource profession-als for any employment related question or issue. Policy manuals, pay plans, investigations, mediation and audits.

307.251.0862 www.insighthronline.comlllll

Jayne Jacobs-Pianist. Will play for receptions, banquets, or other events. Has had experience accompanying choirs. Repertoire includes approximately 1-2 hours of classical

music. Price negotiable. Call (307)-472-6067.lllll

Tooth Fairy Enterprises~ Registered Dental Hygienist, Cindy Bower, provides large and small group preventive dental health education classes, encouraging healthy mouths and bodies as well as financial savings.

307.266.3896. [email protected]

Tosca Ball Jones~Adult in-home parties. Are you look-ing for a bachelorette party, bridal shower or other ladies

night? Passion parties are the ultimate – tastefully done and lots of fun.

www.personalpleasures4you.com j307.797.0519


carton. Once filled with 18 eggs, it now held only two. My son, the groceries, the cart and the floor were covered in goo. The look on the cashier’s face can only be described as a cross between a rabid dog and a trout. I’m sure my face looked similar. My son faced me wide-eyed with fear and the world stopped as every-one waited to see what I would do. I of course sighed, comforted my son and spent the next 10 minutes apologizing profusely to everyone in the store. On our drive home we discussed what my son could and could not take out of the cart for me. A week passed and it was time to go to the store again. I ad-mit that I put serious thought into going to a different store but, I chose a different time instead, hoping to avoid any familiar faces. Shopping once again passed without incident and we began to unload the cart. My son was very careful and I kept a close eye on him, to no avail. He was just placing the carton of strawberries (I foolishly thought sealed plastic was safe) on the conveyer belt when it split open and straw-

berries began to roll everywhere. Luckily the damage was minimal and easily fixed. The cashier noticed my red face (matching the strawberries) and tried to soothe me. “Don’t worry,” he said with a smile. “We had a lady whose son dropped a whole car-ton of eggs last week. Now that was terrible!”

~Cathy Holman lives in Glenrock with her husband and three children. In her free time she

enjoys reading, writing, and napping.

Motherhood

Moments

WW

A few weeks after my family moved to Casper, I took my two-and-a-half-year-old son and four-month-old daughter to the local grocery store. Things were going along as normal: I was trying to navigate the 100lb cart (obviously designed by a man who has never grocery shopped) through the aisles while my son chatted away and my daughter slept peacefully in her car seat. My focus was on my list and not injuring any other customers, rather than on creating the educational experiences parenting magazines are so fond of telling us about. (I regretfully admit that my son learned his colors from coloring with crayons rather than fruits and vegetables at the store.) Despite my lack of attention, we made it quickly through the store and were unloading the cart at the cash register. My son insisted on helping unload groceries, and I felt this was a great time to slip in a teachable moment. We started counting yogurt. However, I became distracted by a magazine cover and disaster occurred. I heard a sick-ening noise and turned to see my son clutching a nearly empty egg

Cartons and Cashiers: A Cautionary TaleBy

Cathy Holman


Wyoming’s SongSing me a song, Wyoming!My heart is longing to hear.

Beckon me home to your waiting arms.Whisper soft in my ear.

Tell me of wildlife abundant,Antelope, cougar and bear;

Sage grouse booming their love song,Prairie dogs testing the air.

Croon me a ballad, Wyoming.

Cradle me to your breast.Show me prairie grasslands,

Snow covered mountain crests.

Give me space to be alone,To breathe the still pure air.

Let me drink from your mountain streams,And f ind a comfort there.

I was not born or nurtured

Under Wyoming’s azure sky;Y et Her song is the song that my heart must hear.

Y ou ’re Home, Wyoming! Y ou’re mine!

~DeeAnn Price, Daniel, Wyoming(This song will soon be available on CD [email protected])

Photo by Alicia Blevins


MAG A Z I N EW y o m i n g W o m a nThe

with

535 Roundup Road i Evansville, WY 82636

PRSRT STDUS Postage PD

Permit #81Jackson, WY

Over the top

With The Wyoming Woman Magazine.

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