First Freeze

We have picked all of the pumpkins and pulled out the winter clothes (though Robert is still wearing shorts).  Ardell doesn't mind shoes and coats, just as long as he gets to go outside.  Our little garden did produce about 10 pumpkins and lots of crook-neck squash and zuchini (per David Chaffee - they are weeds - noctous weeds). We have felt it was worth the effort this year, though we definately couldn't live off our produce, it did help.

We have also gotten over the first cold of the season and hope to avoid the swine flu that is plaguing the area.  The only other hiccup to the beginning of school is that Robert was rear ended on September 11, 2009 and has not returned to work because of equilibirum issues.

As we have traveled out of town, we have been taking pictures to us for a landscape quilt.  It has been a beautiful reminder of fall harvest and our need to be greatfull at all times.  May you all feel the love around you as you approach the season ahead.

August 2009 - family vacation

This year our family reunion was in Island Park, ID. So Robert and I decided to leave on Friday night and get a few extra days in. First we went to Art on The Green in Coeur d'Alene and walked along the beach with Ardell. He liked the water. And like cool parents - no camera - no pictures.

Saturday morning we headed to Whitehall, Montana. (Super 8 has lousy beds). We made a pit stop in St. Regi, visited an antique store, had lunch and I lost the sippy cup. Then I slept through Missoula, so we didn't stop. We got off on the downtown business loop in Butte, MT and bought fuel for the car and got back on the highway to Whitehall. After finding dinner in Whitehall, we found the local elementary school and Ardell got to play on the playground. It is a smaller version of Fort Sherman Playground in Coeur d'Alene. Still no pictures.

Sunday morning we headed to West Yellowstone. We made a detour at Lewis and Clark Caverns and made the 2 mile hike. (Yes, I made the hike!)

Ardell was carried for most of the hike. There are several placed that were very small and others that were wet, it made for an interesting 2 hours. There is a 3/4 of a mile hike to the entrance and then you hike down about 400 stairs. My legs felt like jello by that time. The nice ranger told us that this was the last point of return. I pressed on, there was no way I could hike back up those steps.

We got to see some bats with there new young. The babies were only about 2-4 oz in weight. Very small bats. A colony of about 50 bats was a ball the size of a dinner plate.