Armadillo's Ice Cream Means Spring?

Two years ago this week, I wrote a post I called "Spring Means Armadillo's Ice Cream." (you can find that post here.) But this year...well, spring seems to be lost.

We're still in the middle of an arctic freeze, with high temperatures hovering around zero over the weekend. You'd think that would mean that we would forego celebrating the opening of our favorite local ice cream shop, but no way.

Those of us who live in the North don't let little things like snow and sub-zero temperatures stop us!

The flavor of the day was Strawberry Butter (YUM!!!), but you could also choose the standards - chocolate or vanilla.

And of course all of the delicious sundaes, shakes, and malts were available, along with the usual menu of soups, sandwiches and their signature steamburgers.

My favorite sundae creation -
the Salty Dog

But if the calendar says it's March, and Armadillo's is serving ice cream, doesn't that mean spring should be here?

This...

...instead of this?

This...

...instead of this?

This...

...and this...

...instead of this?

You would think so.

But after our cold weekend, we have a high temperature of 13° today, with blustery winds and a wind chill of -40°. That's Fahrenheit. That's cold.

I think I'll stay in and write.

Yes, there's a silver lining to every gray cloud!

Jan Drexler lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota with her husband and growing family. When she isn't writing, she loves hiking in the Hills or satisfying her cross stitch addiction.

You can find Jan on Facebook, Jan Drexler, author, or her website, Jan Drexler.com.

Spring Means Armadillos Ice Cream!

Spring comes slowly in the North.

The skies may be blue, but there's still snow hanging around, even after a few days of temperatures in the 70's!

My dear husband and I spent Saturday morning indulging in one of our favorite hobbies...driving around in the Hills.

While we were out, we walked this 5 acre parcel that's for sale (with the owner's permission). I say walked, but it was a pretty steep climb. Even though this particular spot was level enough for a house, getting up there was nearly impossible - a 50 foot climb in a very short distance. We can't imagine putting a driveway in there!

So even though the setting is lovely, we'll keep looking. We're not in a big hurry.

From there, we drove the Iron Mountain Highway. It's a beautiful drive, especially in the winter. This is the view of Mt. Rushmore from the Norbeck Overlook. It's about two miles from us to the boys on the hill as the crow flies.

But no crows were flying on Saturday. The wind was too strong! Spring is coming in 50-60 mile per hour gusts!

Of course, we never know when we'll be surprised by a spring snow storm, like this one in April of 2013, so we enjoy the sunny days whenever we can get them.

But regardless of wind, snow, or ice, spring is definitely coming.

How do I know?

Because Rapid City's Armadillo's Ice Cream Shop opened on March 1st! A new building, a new location, but the same great ice cream, and the customers flocked in. Huge crowds! Record breaking crowds!

Since you might not be familiar with this iconic place, you can learn more about it on their website: Armadillo's Ice Cream.

It's near and dear to my heart because it's owned by good friends. Plus, daughter Carrie works here. Best job ever, right?

Isn't this the greatest bouquet for an
ice cream store opening?

And since some of you may never be able to stop by to try my favorite Armadillo's Ice Cream treat, I'm including my version of it here today.

I shared this a couple years ago, but my love affair with this sundae is still going strong!

The Salty Dog

This is an ice cream sundae, so of course you need to start with ice cream.

If you live near Armadillo's, pick up a quart of their chocolate or vanilla. Otherwise, you'll have to be content with ice cream from your local grocery store.

Scoop a reasonable amount of ice cream into your bowl.

Top with hot caramel, marshmallow cream, and salted peanuts.

Eat it immediately! You don't want it to melt!!!


Now it's your turn: When the weather isn't cooperating, what are the sure signs of spring where you live?



And don't forget! A Mother for His Children has been re-released from Love Inspired and is available now!

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Jan Drexler loves her family, her home, cooking and just about anything made by hand. But she loves her Lord most of all.

Stop by Jan's website to learn more about her books: www.JanDrexler.com

Goodbye to the Best of Summer - The Salty Dog

We're having a super autumn around here. Cool nights, warm days, plenty of sunshine, and we're enjoying it while it lasts!

But even though summer-style weather is hanging around, the calendar is marching on toward October 31st, one of my least favorite days of the year.

Why? Because that's when my favorite ice cream shop closes for the season.

From November 1st through March 1st, our town has to make do with lesser forms of our favorite treats. Everyone goes into a kind of withdrawal!

Armadillos is owned by some friends of ours. Mike and Mel, Dave and Sandi started the shop almost twenty years ago as a business venture with a purpose.

Their favorite employees are high schoolers who are looking for their first job. The goal is to teach the kids to enjoy their job, learn to work, deal with customers and, at the end of their time at Armadillos, have a great work history to add to their resumes. All before they're eighteen years old.

But the restaurant also has goals when it comes to their customers: Quality, Service, and Cleanliness.

At least that's what is listed on their website - I'm going to add one more: fabulous ice cream!!!

As the older generation of Armadillos owners move toward retirement, the next generation is picking up the reins.

Austin, Mel and Joey

Mike and Mel's son, Austin, and his wife, Meg, are taking on more of the bulk of the day-to-day operations. Joey and her soon-to-be-born baby brother are the next generation-in-training.

To learn more about this Rapid City icon, jump over to their website. But be sure to come back!

You might ask what my favorite Armadillos treat is. Well, I'm partial to the chocolate ice cream, and normally I get a small cone like the one my husband is holding in the picture above.

If I'm stopping by for lunch, I'll choose a bowl of Cheesy Tortilla soup (if the weather is cool enough!), or the "When Chickens Fly South" Panini.

But my favorite treat, hands down, is the Salty Dog.

Now, don't tell Austin and Meg, but I'm going to let you in on the Salty Dog secret recipe. After all, how else am I going to splurge on my favorite treat between now and March 1st?

The Salty Dog

This is an ice cream sundae, so of course you need to start with ice cream.

I'm planning to stock up on a few quarts of Armadillo's famous chocolate to keep in the freezer to get me through the winter, but if you don't live near the Black Hills, you can buy your favorite chocolate ice cream at your local store. Or if you want to be picky, use vanilla like in the original menu.

Scoop a reasonable amount of ice cream into your bowl.

Top with hot caramel, marshmallow cream, and salted peanuts.

Eat it immediately! You don't want it to melt!!!

Of course, your homemade sundae won't be as good as the real thing, freshly prepared by one of Armadillo's stellar employees, but it will do until spring.

Like I said earlier, our weather has been picture perfect. Over the weekend we headed down to Custer State Park. You know that's one of my favorite places in the world.

We saw plenty of wildlife:

Magpies were stocking up on food for the great migration. The rest of the flock was pretty shy, but this guy stuck around long enough to get his picture taken.

Just to the right of this aspen tree was a herd of Pronghorns - the biggest male I've even seen with his harem.

The does are so graceful.

This is what the trophy hunters are looking for! But he's
safe in the park. Do you see the black patch under his ear?
That's his scent gland. It's mating season.

A bit farther down the road we ran into this rattler sunning himself. He didn't move as we drove by. And no, I didn't get out of the car!

He had recently molted, that's why he has that
greenish tinge.

The prairie dogs were busy, busy, busy harvesting grass and storing it in their burrows.

And even though we kept looking, we only saw a few female bison with half-grown calves. They were too far away to get a good picture, though.

But we saw signs of the bulls. They rub against trees when they're in rut. 

We saw plenty of other...um...signs along the way, too.

But it was getting late, so we started making our way out of the park. The French Creek crossing on Lame Johnny Road is always a highlight.

But then, a few miles later...

A couple huge bulls, just hangin' out in the buffalo wallow.

They didn't even blink as we drove by.

I can't describe how big these guys are. This one's head has to be at least four feet from his chin to the top of his noggin.

But then we were out of the park. We gave Crazy Horse a quick wave on our way by, though.

Happy Autumn, everyone!