Autumn on the Farm......

On Saturday I woke up to the most beautiful day so I took this picture to capture the moment. 

This is Autumn at the Farm...  

It was nice and warm and sunny. Sandals and Capri wearing weather! (I almost took a photo of me wearing my sandals, but I didn't).

And these are our Babies..... (Two of them anyway)

Meet Cinnamon and Baby Cakes

And this is Cesar

sunning in the pasture

I am so happy to say that it is December 1st (Already?) and I am still wearing my Sandals and Capri's... and I am not missing the snow at all!  

It is supposed to be cold and rainy over the weekend and into next week so I will enjoy this while it lasts!

Christmas is around the corner and soon there will be a ground breaking on our new home.  Can't wait to get started!  And.... my parents are coming for a visit!  They will be here on Sunday (if the weather and roads are decent).  

Lots to look forward to!  

Now I just need to finish the Christmas shopping and start the baking and the candy making.  

What are you looking forward to?  

Is it really spring???

It is finally beginning to feel like spring here.  That is if you consider rainy weather spring.  That is what's happening so far this week.  Which is much better than the snow we had last week.  The temps are getting to be so nice also!  Right now I am sitting by the open window, listening to the patter of the rain, enjoying the cool breeze while I watch Army Wives and write this post.

Between storms on Saturday we took our brand new canoe out for a spin row around a small area of Ennis lake.  It was a good time.  Our doxie even loved it!  She also loved having her life vest on which really surprised me.  I was worried that she would be afraid of the boat and the water but she wasn't.  She really loves her adventures!  Here are a few pictures.

Even though there are no pictures of me (the camera lady), I assure you I also joined in the fun.  It was a wonderful afternoon followed by a nice dinner on our way home at a small town restaurant built in a historical schoolhouse. Great food, great atmosphere, excellent company!

I am just really happy that it is finally beginning to look and feel like spring.  I am happy about the warmer temps and the trees and flowers beginning to bloom.  I am looking forward to upcoming hikes, geocaching, camping, fishing, more canoeing and getting out to use our hovercraft that my DH just got finished rebuilding. We also have a trip to Texas in June that I am excited about.  There are a lot of things to look forward to now that spring is here and summer is just around the corner.  I can't wait!

What are your spring and summer plans?

Maybe... Just.... Maybe

I just completed my final papers for school and now I have a two week break. So maybe just maybe I will get some time to update this blog of mine.  I feel so behind! 

I am looking forward to my two week break from school so I can actually clean and organize my house.  Outside of work and school there is no time left for much else.  So this break will be used as a nice catch up. 

I am also very excited because I am taking a 4 day weekend at the first of April to drive to Cedar City, Utah so I can spend some time with my kids.  I can't wait! 

Little by little and gradually day by day I am beginning to see signs of Spring so maybe just maybe Spring is around the corner?  I hope so!  However, the snow that we are expecting to get tonight and tomorrow may delay it a while longer.  I am so done with winter!

I'll be back shortly with a real blog post... stay tuned! I've missed you all!

What I wish for.... And.... What I get!

I know its been a while since I have posted anything of real significance, I wish I had something significant to say.  But alas, I think all my used up brain cells are being put into my English Composition II class.  I only have just this one class this session, but it is kicking my butt.  It takes up practically every non-working, non-sleeping hour of my days.  Learning how to write proper essays, in APA style citations, including all the research involved is just so time consuming.  Thank goodness I just have the one class! 

Yes oh Yes, how I wish I could think of something really witty, clever and fun to write about. Unfortunately, I just can't think, plain and simple!  Or maybe it's just that I have absolutely no creativity?  Hmmmm...

Anyway, back to what I wish for...

Right now I am wishing for more time.  More time at home, more time with my husband, more time to do homework, more time to blog, oh and lets not forget more time to sleep.  Guess its not in the cards right now!  So I do the best I can.

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Thank goodness I am finally feeling better. I wish that I had not been sick for the past 4 weeks.  I can't say I felt really sick except that I have been battling dizziness. Besides that, I had some headaches and extreme tiredness once in a while.  I tried going the natural way first and DH did some ear candling on me in hopes to remove any fluid that was in my ears. After all, it's worked before.  This is what was found.....

Ummm yeah thats Ear Wax!  Gross Huh?

I wasn't going to even post this picture but you know.... I just had too.  After all it does make a more interesting post right?  Besides, it's Halloween.  Ha!

Anyway... a week after the candling and I was still dizzy and it was getting worse so I went to the doctor.  I hate going to the doctor! However, as a driver for work it was really unsafe for me to continue driving like that.  Well I learned that I had a double ear infection AND a sinus infection!  The doctor prescribed a Z-pac, some nasal spray and some motion sickness medicine that I couldn't take anyway because it would knock me out.  The Z-pac is a 5 day antibiotic and I did feel slightly better after that except that I still had dizzy spells once in a while.  So another week passes by and one day I wake up and my head is spinning continually.  It's the worse dizziness that I have ever experienced.  So I called in sick for work and went back to the doctor.  Doctor prescribes another antibiotic, this time penicillin based Augmentin.  Why didn't they prescribe this the first time?  Also he told me to take Mucinex D.  

So after new meds, a priesthood blessing, and 7 days later I am finally feeling like myself again.  The dizziness is gone thank goodness! 

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Now on to better news....  I AM GOING TO BE A GRANDMA!!! 

Kyle and Domonique are expecting a baby in May.  We are so excited!  She is doing ok so far.  Luckily she hasn't had the whole morning sickness thing, but she is very tired and slightly moody once in a while.  All to be expected.  We are just really glad they are both here with us where we can take care of them and provide a safe and loving home for the baby. 

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How have you been enjoying your Fall weather?  We have been having such a really lovely Fall and I have been thoroughly enjoying all the pretty colors of the trees as they prepare for dormancy.  We have taken a few drives through the canyons recently and it has just been beautiful.  I took very few pictures unfortunately but here are a couple...

However, as of today, the weather seems to be changing into colder, wetter weather.  We even woke up to snow on the tops of the mountains. We could get a little dusting of snow in town by morning, but I am hoping not.  I am just not ready for the snow.  Let me rephrase that... I am not ready "mentally" for the snow.  I am ready for the snow as far as the warm boots, gloves, coats, hats and all that a person needs to stay dry and warm.  Thanks to my DH he took me shopping this weekend to get me set up for what I will need for working out in the elements. 

I know it's inevitable, but can't I wish for a little more of the nice, warm Fall weather we have had so far? 

 

B - O - R - E - D - O - M

Let me just say that my life right now is so dull and boring that I can hardly stand it.  My husband asks me today what I have posted on my blog lately and I tell him "nothing because I don't have anything to write about".  His response?  "Well you haven't done anything lately TO write about".   He's right!  I haven't... we haven't.  Like a bear I have been in hibernation.   The weather has kept us mostly in doors.  Lack of money and little vacation time has also kept us mostly in doors.  And I seriously need a vacation about now.  I often dream of being in someplace warm like Hawaii.   Heck, I would even be happy with going to the "The Happiest Place on Earth". Disneyland.  Anywhere, where it is not cold and there is no snow!  I can dream can't I? 

Ahhhhhh!

Very Happy!

I spend the majority of my day(s) doing "something" in trying to find a job.  And let me tell you... that is getting REALLY BORING.  When I am not doing that I am studying for the sunday lesson I teach, practicing the piano, goofing off on facebook, reading your blogs, watching TV, and spending whatever time I can with my husband in the evening before he goes to work.   I have also been learning the art of Couponing (that can take up some serious time). 

The weather hasn't made it possible for us to go anywhere new, fun, or interesting.  The most exciting times I have are taking a walk, going to the grocery store, and on Monday's when my husband has the day off, we try to do something like thrift or antique shopping (more like browsing), or to the movies.  Today we went to the bookstore where I purchased a new book, and we went to the movies and saw Edge of Darkness  (BTW - good "action filled" movie, but a little gory in parts).

I need to get more yarn so I can start another aphgan. I need to work on some photography, but I can't seem to find anything of interest to photo when there is nothing but snow and ice and I have already taken all those kinds of photos that I want right now.  I should catch up on scrapbooking but I just don't have an interest in that right now either.  I will probably start working on our taxes this week even though whatever refund there is will be paying back taxes from previous years.  I will be making Valentine Cookies tomorrow so I can send them off to my kids.  And I will also do my visiting teaching sometime this week.  Other than that, there is nothing to look forward to anytime soon.  Summer can't come soon enough. 

I can't wait for the snow to melt so we can go hiking, fishing, camping, paragliding, visit Ghost Towns and Yellowstone, white water rafting and horse back riding, exploring the Lewis & Clark Caverns, and maybe even head over to Mt. Rushmore.  THEN I will have something to write about.  And I can't wait!  But first.... Old Man Winter needs to give us a break and go on his own vacation so I can start mine. 

THE DAY AFTER.......

On the day After 24 inches of snow fell

There is beauty all around

The Gallatin River

The beauty of horses!  This is my favorite picture.  Aren't they beautiful?

Pristine

The snow can make beautiful pictures

Steam off the pond

A view of the steamy pond

The air is cool and crisp

Snow clinging to everything

Steam coming off of the highway

The snow pile after plowing the parking lot

Yesterday I posted pictures of the snow as it was falling.  It was cold and yucky.  It made for miserable driving on very icy roads roads.  Today, while it is still cold, the sun is out, the sky is blue and there is a pristine beauty all around.  I love the beauty of snow especially on days like today. 

Yesterday we got 24 inches of snow and there is another storm coming in tonight that is supposed to drop several more inches in our valley.  I think we will be having a very long winter! 

I am thankful for the beauty that is all around.  Whether it is the newness of spring, the flowers of summer, the changing leaves of fall, or the snowy winter wonderland.  God created this beautiful world just for you and me and I am going to enjoy it!

SNOWFLAKES

This morning we woke up to 9 inches of snow and right now at 12:45 it is STILL snowing.  I am guessing we probably have about a foot of snow .  And they said we should only get 3-6 inches.  Ha! 

I can't say that I like snow necessarily... I should, because I have lived with it and in it all my life.    I don't enjoy any of the winter sports except maybe sledding and playing in it and throwing snowballs... No skiing or snowboarding for me.   It's very beautiful to look at and watch, but not so fun to drive in.  I think that's why I don't like it.  I have had some pretty scary experiences.  And because Bill has to drive 500 miles every night, the snow can cause a lot of stress and delays.  But from the comfort of my own home, it sure is beautiful!   Don't you agree?

So... Here's to all my friends and family who live in Arizona, Texas, California, Florida.... EAT YOUR HEART OUT!! 

WINTERY WONDERLAND

This is what it looks like here today in Bozeman, MT after is snowed yesterday.  The valley snow has melted but the mountains are still a beautiful wintery wonderland. 

In these pictures you will notice below the snow levels, fields of wheat.  There are literally wheat fields every where.  Thousands of acres of wheat fields. 

Anyway, I thought these pictures were beautiful as it shows the contrast from snow to wheat fields to green trees that still have not changed colors. 

I am not real excited to see snow this early in the year even though it does make nice pictures.  Come on!  September 30th?  What happened to fall?  Two days ago we were at 86 degrees, yesterday we didn't get above 45, and today we are not much over 50 degrees.  Tonight its supposed to drop down to 26 degrees!!!   You think I would be used to it by now after living in Utah all my life, but I will be honest, winter is not my favorite season except for Christmas.   And lets not even go there yet!