I don't have anything terribly noteworthy to report these days, hence, the lack of posts and pictures.
The weather has been quite cold (7 below the other morning!) and not snowy. The result is not conducive to getting out. Poor Tiika is getting a little bit stir crazy. I'll be taking her out to play ball here in a little bit so it ought to relieve her of some of her pent up energy.
We have been cleaning like crazy the last two weekends. My Mom is coming out this weekend for a visit so we want our place looking as good as it can. We really ought to do this more often for ourselves, too. If there's not a guest looming on the horizon though, it just doesn't happen.
Well, like I said at the beginning, not much to talk about right now so that'll be all for now. Just wanted y'all to know we are still alive out here. Ciao.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Montana High Tea
What you see is what we have decided to call Montana High Tea. Salami, olives, special cheese and dry roasted almonds. Yum! (As you can see, we're not the only ones to enjoy the spread. Tiika's drooling in anticipation, salami being a personal favorite. If we choose to share, of course.)Yesterday I dug out the tea pot that's been hiding in a cupboard so we could enjoy a pot of tea together. I think it's going to become a new weekend ritual for us, tea in the afternoon.
[Oh, Rob wanted me to post a reminder that anytime a picture seems too small or you're missing a detail you'd like to see better, just click on the picture. It will open up in a larger size for your viewing pleasure. When you're done with the inspection, simply click the Back arrow in your browser to return to the blog.]
Monday, January 5, 2009
bird tree
Whew! The holidays are finally over...we created our last event celebrating ChriSolstiNew Year yesterday afternoon with a snowshoe into the woods.
It used to be the tradition in this household when going out to find a Christmas tree, to decorate a tree for the birds. We weren't prepared to do it on that day and decided to pick another day to so instead. That day turned out to be Sunday.
Rob purchased a suet brick, a nut block and a seed bell and I popped some popcorn to string. Sunday morning we spent time stringing said popcorn with only some mild cursing from me while I got the hang of it. (I hear Gretchen used to be a pro at this particular task...)
Once we felt like we'd strung enough, we packed up the truck with our shoes, the feeding supplies and the tree. Tree? I forgot to mention that the other reason for heading out into the woods was to return our tree to it's home in the forest. (It's the one standing next to Tiika in the picture above.)
You can't really see the goodies from a distance, so here's a closer shot. Yum for the birdies! Hopefully the squirrels won't be able to get to them.
The air was pretty frigid so we didn't stay out too much longer. All in all, it was a good trek. (Teal and Gretchen were missed though...family traditions may change over time but heartfelt memories never do.) We'll head back out at some point to retrieve whatever skeletons might be left behind. We certainly don't want to be litterbugs!
It used to be the tradition in this household when going out to find a Christmas tree, to decorate a tree for the birds. We weren't prepared to do it on that day and decided to pick another day to so instead. That day turned out to be Sunday.Rob purchased a suet brick, a nut block and a seed bell and I popped some popcorn to string. Sunday morning we spent time stringing said popcorn with only some mild cursing from me while I got the hang of it. (I hear Gretchen used to be a pro at this particular task...)
Once we felt like we'd strung enough, we packed up the truck with our shoes, the feeding supplies and the tree. Tree? I forgot to mention that the other reason for heading out into the woods was to return our tree to it's home in the forest. (It's the one standing next to Tiika in the picture above.)
You can't really see the goodies from a distance, so here's a closer shot. Yum for the birdies! Hopefully the squirrels won't be able to get to them.The air was pretty frigid so we didn't stay out too much longer. All in all, it was a good trek. (Teal and Gretchen were missed though...family traditions may change over time but heartfelt memories never do.) We'll head back out at some point to retrieve whatever skeletons might be left behind. We certainly don't want to be litterbugs!
Friday, December 26, 2008
snowshoeing = fun!!
Oh. my. goodness. I had no idea that snowshoeing would be so much fun! After the opening of presents, feasting and talking with family, we headed out the door to enjoy the warm spell - about 25 degrees and gently snowing - trying out our gift to each other, MSR Denali Snowshoes (purchased on a heck of a sale about a month ago). Rob snapped several pictures to commemorate the event.
Tiika was getting a little bit antsy as we prepared to don the shoes. She hasn't been out much lately due to the extreme cold so was rarin' to go, more than usual if you can imagine that!
I was a little bit more anxious but mostly attempting to not have any expectations. Cross country skiing has turned out to not be my cup of tea so I was looking for something that would help me get outside in the winter.
Ballet anyone? I was amazed at how short the learning curve was for these things. After I got my boots buckled in, it was a breeze to just GO. Love, love, love it!
And thus we began our trek through the woods...
We went this way up the hill.
While skiers would have to take this less adventurous looking trail.
I haven't had so much pure fun out of doors in winter for a long time. By the time we made it back to the truck an hour and a half later, the only thing that hurt was my face from smiling. I can't wait to get back out there. We're making a plan for a trek down south on Saturday, weather willing.
Tiika was getting a little bit antsy as we prepared to don the shoes. She hasn't been out much lately due to the extreme cold so was rarin' to go, more than usual if you can imagine that!
I was a little bit more anxious but mostly attempting to not have any expectations. Cross country skiing has turned out to not be my cup of tea so I was looking for something that would help me get outside in the winter.
Ballet anyone? I was amazed at how short the learning curve was for these things. After I got my boots buckled in, it was a breeze to just GO. Love, love, love it!
And thus we began our trek through the woods...We went this way up the hill.
While skiers would have to take this less adventurous looking trail.
I haven't had so much pure fun out of doors in winter for a long time. By the time we made it back to the truck an hour and a half later, the only thing that hurt was my face from smiling. I can't wait to get back out there. We're making a plan for a trek down south on Saturday, weather willing.
opening a present entertainment
Yesterday was a great day. We slept in (for us, 7 am is sleeping in!) and had a lovely breakfast of eggs and bacon, coffee with eggnog, all started with a couple of Mom's fabulous Christmas cookies. Then we opened some presents and made the first round of holiday phone calls.
We did very well in the gift giving department for each other, no question. The most extravagant purchase was decided on in advance - snowshoes! (More on those later.) We also received well-chosen gifts from my mom, a generous check from Rob's mom, a family history from Grandma O., breakfast foods from Jane, dinner via Omaha steaks from my dad and Virginia, and a passel of family photo Christmas cards.
I have to say the most entertaining portion of the morning was giving Tiika her gifts. She pretty much inhaled the twisty, meaty, chew-thing that was her first gift. The second gift, a tug-a-jug, gave her a few more challenges. This product was recommended by the owner of Go Fetch!, Tiika's favorite store in the whole world. Witness her opening skills:
She really gets into it doesn't she?
And then her investigation of "just how does this thing work?"
Due to the strategically placed holes at the "bottom", she is still convinced that there is some way in at the wrong end. She has had some success at getting treats out, enough so that she keeps coming back but not enough that she can gorge on the whole thing at once.
Though I missed seeing and hugging family throughout the day, it was good to connect on the phone. All in all, I think staying in Missoula was the right thing for us this year especially since the weather and roads were pretty yucky. There will be more Christmas Days.
I'll post more later on how we spent the rest of our day.
We did very well in the gift giving department for each other, no question. The most extravagant purchase was decided on in advance - snowshoes! (More on those later.) We also received well-chosen gifts from my mom, a generous check from Rob's mom, a family history from Grandma O., breakfast foods from Jane, dinner via Omaha steaks from my dad and Virginia, and a passel of family photo Christmas cards.
I have to say the most entertaining portion of the morning was giving Tiika her gifts. She pretty much inhaled the twisty, meaty, chew-thing that was her first gift. The second gift, a tug-a-jug, gave her a few more challenges. This product was recommended by the owner of Go Fetch!, Tiika's favorite store in the whole world. Witness her opening skills:
She really gets into it doesn't she?
And then her investigation of "just how does this thing work?"
Due to the strategically placed holes at the "bottom", she is still convinced that there is some way in at the wrong end. She has had some success at getting treats out, enough so that she keeps coming back but not enough that she can gorge on the whole thing at once.Though I missed seeing and hugging family throughout the day, it was good to connect on the phone. All in all, I think staying in Missoula was the right thing for us this year especially since the weather and roads were pretty yucky. There will be more Christmas Days.
I'll post more later on how we spent the rest of our day.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Evening music
Over the last few weeks we have talked of wanting to do something to mark the Winter Solstice. We didn't really know what and then this morning we saw an advertisement for a concert that intrigued us, A Musical Dreamtime Journey. It was put on by The Drum Brothers.
The Drum Brothers is a pair of brothers from the area who make music together for a living. It is mostly percussion but also world type instruments such as the didgeridoo. They also teach music and the creation of drums.
Tonight's event was with one brother and another person. They played an assortment of instruments from the Native American flute to drums to the harp to Tibetan bowls in surprising combinations. They also recited some poetry from Rumi and Wendell Berry about dark and light.
I wish I had brought the camera so you could see the elaborate set-up. You can kind of see it in the link to the concert above. The concert took place at the Downtown Dance Cooperative. (I thought they had a website but I can't find it right now.) The room was rectangular with one long wall almost all mirrors. The only lighting during the performance was probably two dozen candles. They reflected nicely off the mirrors, easily doubling their glow. Most people were sitting on the floor with blankets and pillows.
It was a great evening. We were both so glad we decided to make a night of it for ourselves on this Solstice which also happens to be the first night of Hanukkah. We hope you did something to commemorate this, the longest of nights. Time to plant some seeds in preparation for the light.
The Drum Brothers is a pair of brothers from the area who make music together for a living. It is mostly percussion but also world type instruments such as the didgeridoo. They also teach music and the creation of drums.
Tonight's event was with one brother and another person. They played an assortment of instruments from the Native American flute to drums to the harp to Tibetan bowls in surprising combinations. They also recited some poetry from Rumi and Wendell Berry about dark and light.
I wish I had brought the camera so you could see the elaborate set-up. You can kind of see it in the link to the concert above. The concert took place at the Downtown Dance Cooperative. (I thought they had a website but I can't find it right now.) The room was rectangular with one long wall almost all mirrors. The only lighting during the performance was probably two dozen candles. They reflected nicely off the mirrors, easily doubling their glow. Most people were sitting on the floor with blankets and pillows.
It was a great evening. We were both so glad we decided to make a night of it for ourselves on this Solstice which also happens to be the first night of Hanukkah. We hope you did something to commemorate this, the longest of nights. Time to plant some seeds in preparation for the light.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
decorated tree!
Ho! Ho! Ho! The tree is all decked out and twinkling. We think it turned out pretty well. I wish the picture did it better justice. It's way brighter than I'd like it to be and you can't see the multi-colored lights. We just couldn't figure out how to get the camera to give us what we wanted. Oh well.Tiika doesn't seem to mind a bit having the tree over her head. We're not sure she even notices it. We've been calling her Queen of the Christmas Cave much to her bewilderment. =)
It's looking an awful lot like Christmas here...
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