Happy Thanksgiving!

Used my new mixer to make a family tradition - cinnamon rolls. I'm trying to help out for our Thanksgiving and not burden the girls with everything we insist is necessary for the dinner - since it will be at Heather's (a three yr tradition) I know you all have equally draw a line in the sand traditions, so no laughing over my baking, freezing, and then packing those darn rolls in my suitcase. Mark just rolled his eyes - yes it will happen.

Snow still on the ground here, although not in Gunnison but definitely in CB. We zipped up to have lunch (Mark's idea - who was even going to be open ?) But he was right and Ginger Cafe was it. People coming in, mountain shuttle bouncing through the streets with skis in the outside storage!, and an uptick of tourists arriving for the holiday weekend time. CB mountain opened today, don't know how good that was, not much snow has fallen (Mark says 20 inch base and mostly only green runs open).

And we have a XMAS TREE! And it was totally legal this time (not explaining that.)Yes it's early but the tree is outside roped to our deck until time to pull it in. Up Carbon Creek to find the tree before the snow makes the road impassable. Smarter this time.

We are traveling back east for Thanksgiving and then I'm staying to help out with Penny. I'll have my computer this time to post. Wishes for a wonderful holiday for everyone. Don't eat too much (of course I will).

White stuff and holidays a coming

Brrr, it's cold over here. No more snow has fallen but not much has melted. Ski resort opens day before Thanksgiving. They're celebrating 50 years and the first day is free for everyone. Nice! My only question is how did it get to be mid-November?

Much has been accomplished this week. Badly needed hair cut, overdue mammogram, plumbing repairs (paid for that, didn't do it)and a big trip to the nearest city (Montrose) that actually has some chain stores - Target being the target (ha, ha) - a nearly two hour drive. Boy, do we live in the sticks...

Walking for exercise is a tad difficult right now. Snow's not melting, but there's not been enough to start snowshoeing - just slippy slidey on the icy road. I walked down Ohio Creek today (which is dry) and visited our neighbor ranch. As I came close, the cows started running towards me and bellowing -wanting food? Totally flipped from the summer when they run away. Sorry, no food on me.

Finished another book - The Other Family by Joanna Trollope. I think I've read almost all of hers, which is saying a lot since she's written over 20. She never disappoints - all about the inner workings of families.
I'm excited about the holidays. I may, just may even put up some Christmas stuff before we leave for Thanksgiving back east. Never ever do that. But, I'm not back until mid Dec. since I'm helping out with Penny for a couple of weeks. And, everyone will come back here for Christmas - baby Penny's first! Yes, I'm excited...

Snow, eggs, and cleaning out

Snow is here - not a huge storm or anything - 6 inches, as a matter of fact in town (Gunnison) there's no snow at all. Crested Butte has what we have and more. Once again Star Mt. does its own thing. I really think someone from one of the weather services should put up a station up where we are.

And we have broken in the new snowblower on the deck. The snow starts to build up in a hurry as it falls off the roof. This could be a losing battle, but we're ready for the fight.

Good news at the farm. After weeks of only able to pick up a half dozen eggs instead of the full dozen, they have acquired some new young chickens.The others are getting old? And these are clearly a different breed - the eggs are mostly all green. Love those green eggs and ham - Dr Seuss anyone?

Doing a little organizing around the house. Totally cleaned out and revamped Mark's closet. Hard as it was, he even filled some bags of giveaway shoes and clothes. Just a little control over a bit of life - yes, yes I know - reality is we have no control over anything. Let me pretend for a moment okay...
Mark off to Arizona this week for work and a little golf thrown in at the end. Weather should be great.
 Penny report continues to be good. Eating better and sleeping longer at night. Very nice for sleep deprived parents.
Finished another book - next in the series by Louise Penny - A Rule Against Murder. Consistently good and entertaining. And lastly, just saw Bridesmaids. If you haven't seen it and want just a silly funny movie - this is the one. Not just a chick flick - we both liked it a lot.

Precious Penny, snow, cows, and home again

I'm back! My one week trip to see Penny turned into 2 1/2 weeks, and I didn't pack my computer. So sorry  - no postings. My darling grandbaby unexpectedly had to have nasal surgery so I stayed to help. She is doing wonderfully well and it should be clear sailing now. Can't say enough about the doctor and the hospital (Children's National Medical Center in DC) - they were fabulous! I think most of us would agree that being able to breath clearly is kind of a necessity...

Mark was finally able to visit Penny and, of course, she has him already wrapped around her little finger. This grandchild thing is pretty amazing. A special miracle.

So backtracking a bit - took these photos on my trek out of town to start the Penny trip. Once again, we do not have traffic as in cars, it's cows... I followed these cowboys for 3 miles at cow speed. No going around - there were about 2,000 of them. And, I had to make a detour once past them to the nearest car wash. A LOT of manure all over everywhere. Quite different from all of you in the big cities...

Ladybug and her dad

Bored?

Had all kinds of weather while in VA. Snow (first time in 30 years), rain (of course - been a big pattern for awhile now) and gorgeous sun with pretty fall leaves. Got to celebrate Halloween with Tiffany and Chris - Penny's first! And I celebrated my birthday there as well. Tiffany made me Shrimp Paesano - one of our special family meals. Yummy! Lemon, butter, garlic heaven -it's to die for, and the recipe comes from a restaurant in San Antonio. Used to be a big secret but it's all over the internet now if you're curious.

blessed sleep

one of my more fun activities at home - the scale

look at those eyelashes!

Finished one book only in all that time. Penny keeps everybody hopping! Very entertaining book - Ree Drummond ( made famous by her blog www.ThePioneerWoman.com) The Pioneer Woman - Black Heels to Tractor Wheels - a love story. It's not a guy book - just warning you, very romantic story of her meeting her rancher husband.

Flew home to Star Mt. (well, flew to Denver, then drove 4 1/2 hrs to Star Mt.) Saw a herd of yak, a herd (gathering?) of llamas, and avoided a small rock slide on the way in. Whew, glad to be back...

Last leaves falling off, snow coming, and off to see Penny

I am leaving - again. :Yes, back to Penny, big surprise, and Mark is leaving too, back to Detroit.(coming to see Penny on the weekend - hurray). Crazy, crazy life we've been leading. It's okay, except now the winter kicks in. Yes, I know, for most of you winter is a distant thought - not so here. Denver is supposed to be hit in a fairly big way late Tues/Wed. Of course I was scheduled to fly Wed morning to Virginia, happily Mark was already going out Monday - not an issue, but it's his BIRTHDAY as well. Some years the celebration does not connect...
Soo, changed my reservation and now out Tuesday, before the storm. Wow, we have much travel scheduled in the next few months - oh, dear - cause for thought and patience....

Day in the life - going to town passed the one room school house setting up for a wedding. went to the pre-season ski sale at local store, bought a couple things, including little boots for Penny - absolutely needed (did they see Nana coming - possibly). Stopped by the rather antiquated recycle center in town  and then by the fairgrounds. To see the after rodeo work out - what workout you ask? The practice round up the cow workout. Very normal here...

Hunters  everywhere. We went to dinner at Soupcon for the last time until their reopening in December. On the short way over on Ohio Pass, saw a hunter right by the road. gun in hand, fluorescent orange vest and  no deer/elk in sight. Wow, watch out everybody.

Went on probably a last fishing trip/painting/picnic trip to upper Taylor and upper Spring Creek. Sooo quiet except for hunters (previously mentioned) and Mark fished but not much luck. Gorgeous day, and we enjoyed the ambiance anyway, and a little plein air painting as well.

Fly report - they are much diminished in number- much happiness here, although, the week we're gone should be a good test on the remainder. Oh, please let us have a fairly pest/rodent free winter....

Shots, off season, and last deer

More preparedness going on, this time in the health department. We've gotten flu shots, and I'm on my way to get a pertussis booster shot (this to protect baby Penny - you can't immunize babies for whooping cough under 6 months) and I'll be back to Virginia a couple more times in the next couple months to be with her - don't want to do anything to jeopardize her health!

We got photo ids for our ski passes too. No one in line at this time of year. Boy, are CB and Mt. CB quiet! It's deep in off season, with half the restaurants closed until Thanksgiving. One of our favorites, Ryce, is still open until the end of Oct. Thank goodness, popped in to get our Asian fix...

Flap napping, twins there too just out of frame

deer in the woods courtesy of Mark

Sweet deer are still around, although the numbers dwindle by the day. That's Flap having a nap in our yard by one of my aspen/flower beds.

Fishing is still going on and Mark spent a little time on the Taylor over the weekend. Caught quite a few but all small he said.Fishing doesn't stop here even in the dead of winter and -20. Just a tad too cold for me (of course I don't fish ever, so doesn't count).
Books read - I'm zipping through quite a few. Read the last two of a series that I had missed somehow. Dorothy Gilman - Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha, and Mrs. Pollifax and the Golden Triangle. Very entertaining series about an older woman recruited as a spy in exotic countries. This author has written a ton of books in addition to this series and she's 88! The other book is a new author for me - Martin Walker. Read his first fiction book,  (there are 3 more in the series - I'll be right on that) Bruno, Chief of Police, the start of a series. It's fantastic. They're set in France, small town policeman and yes, a murder mystery (again), but so well written, and very food centric as well. Martin Walker, who I wasn't familiar with, was an international reporter for many years and is editor in chief emeritus of UPI, active in world events still, and written a lot of non fiction books about politics etc. His foray into fiction writing is terrific in my opinion.

Winter a coming, pests, and full moon

Preparedness for winter:
2 cords of wood delivered and stacked - check
extra firestarters purchased - check
new snowblower started - check
hauling the logs from the dead trees Mark cut down with his new chainsaw - um, not yet
outdoor furniture moved inside - well, mostly check
fence repaired - another mostly, our guy never showed up and Mark's had to fill in
find all gloves, hats, boots, and coats - definitely check
Well, we're sort of ready. And it would be easy to be fooled right now since the last few days have been gorgeous and high 60's. It can change in a flash...

We've also had a pest control guy out. Anyone remember our horror movie called "the Flies"of last year? They started appearing again, and along with the prospect of rodents trying to get in and something chewing holes in our siding: time for a professional. Spraying has been done, we'll see, there are still flies I have to sweep up everyday, but I think there are less.

big boy - photo courtesy of Mark

fleeing elk - photo courtesy of Mark

After believing the deer were gone, quite a few have shown back up, including Flap and twins. A big buck spent a couple hours in our yard eating and then resting this morning. Pretty sure it was scared out of it's normal area by all the guns blaring. The hunters are out in full force. 5 elk tore across the hills in front of the house with tongues hanging out yesterday. Same, same.
I really, really don't have a problem with the hunting, especially since we (the humans) have disturbed the natural order of things - the elk are overpopulated due to man wiping out their natural enemies as an example- but, I feel for the animals and don't actually want to do this myself... Oh, yes hypocrite am I.

full moon - camera Mark's, photo mine

An important purchase today - this time a new tv for the living room. For those of you who saw our tv sporadically missing part of its picture this summer, it died finally last night. Not bad really - 8 years old. Now, of course, we paid 1/3 the price for a slightly bigger one, plus it weighs considerably less too, Our local WalMart - good job.