The circus is in town!!

    We have arrived.  About 5:24pm last night the city lights came into view and our traveling circus pulled into town!  Thor and son headed up the caravan with the elephants and big top tent while Little Sissy and Baby Gusto and I hauled the large winged fowl and the wild cats.  Big Papa and Barbie were at the tail to make sure we took all the correct turns as we made our way over the frozen white tundra for what seemed like days! 
    Two hours southwest of Minot we started on Hwy 200...a long, windy two-lane road (I think it was blacktop) that curved in and out through hills and valleys so smooth and without vegetation that I often wondered...where did all the trees go??  Where there are no trees....there are gale force winds!!!  That's fun when you're driving over a dam that stretches a mile across a frozen body of water, not to mention the 2 in. of frozen water underneath your car tires!!  I will say though, that looking at crystal blue skies without a single cloud over miles of the whitest sparkling snow I've ever seen does take your mind off the fact that you are in the middle of nowhere and praying you don't get a flat tire because it's -30 degrees outside, without the windchill factor.  Thank you Lord for not bringing me to life when covered wagons were the thing.
    So here we are!!  I really am so 'beside myself happy'.  We are home.  For a long time, I hope.  I am anxious to explore our new city.  There's a ton of history in this area and I love history.  We aren't far from Bismarck/Mandan where we camped last summer with my family and visited Custer's home and the grounds of the 7th cavalry whom he died with at the Battle of Little Big Horn in eastern Montana in 1876.  We are planning on going again this summer.
    Today we find out if we can move into our home yet.  It may be tomorrow.  If we can't move in we can find something fun to do, I'm sure!  Indoors.  It is -9 this morning.  Now, to everyone at home in Minnesota I know that doesn't seem very cold considering it's been -35 recently in Park Rapids, but you have to remember I have been in Helena for 5 months!!  For the last month the kids and I have been running around in a sweatshirt, no coat, boots, hats etc...and a week ago I was sunbathing!!  With that in mind...it's ------- cold!!
    Before I wrap this thing up this morning I wanted to share a little info. about Minot.  I am learning as well.  I like facts and history and all that fun stuff, so I found a few to share.

Minot, North Dakota: a.k.a. The Magic City; for 'magically' growing from a tent city to a town of 5000 in only 5 months during the construction of The Great Northern Railway
Founded: 1886
Population:  (2000)  36, 567
Tidbit:  During Prohibition Minot was called "Little Chicago" because it was a supply hub for
Al Capone's liquor smuggling operation

Well, Prohibition is over, thank you God, and there are lots of different pubs and dives to visit around here...and LOTS of restaurants!!!  My butt is never going to be small again. :(