Monday, April 30, 2012

In Search Of...

 Winters are long here in Montana.  Especially in our little valley.  About the first of april I start longing to see buds of green and flowering trees - but it will be 4 more weeks before it begins.  The girls and I were still hopeful as we headed out Cottonwood Canyon. 
 The sun shine was wonderful, but we need to have a lot more of it if winter is ever going to let go !
 We couldn't get to where we were headed - the roads are still snow packed... So we just pulled over and hung out next to the river.
Except for M.  She wanted to cross.
 She tried doing it without getting wet...
 But then gave up and just walked through! That is straight mountain snow run-off - crazy girl!




 C is a bit wiser.  She wanted across too, but when she figured there wasn't a dry path...
She settled in on a sunny rock and soaked in the sunshine.
M explored the hillside, then waded back across.  
Totally NOT the way we had hoped to spend the afternoon,
But when the afternoon is spent under this sky, it's never a disappointment.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Catching up...

April has been a whirlwind.  A fabulous, sweet, zephyr type of whirlwind.  One that leaves me breathless and smiling as I tumble into a heap when it slows down for a moment.
It started with life-long friends coming to stay for a week.
Julie and I, and James and Julie were friends in highschool.  James and I weren't friends until 2 weeks before he left for Continentals, but we both had great taste in friends - obviously. 
It blessed our socks off that they came just to be with us.
 I wanted to spoil them!  Something always goes wrong when I want to totally ROCK a dinner.  Usually Frogmore is a no brainer and turns out amazing, but nope.  Not this time.  Not when I really want it to be Fabu.  The potatoes weren't done (which, in the end was fine, but still disappointing).
My favorite part of Frogmore is the easy clean up.  Roll up the paper and toss it! 
 We spent the next day wandering through town in fresh fallen snow.  Yes.  Snow.  In April.  So, we didn't wander long.  We came home and fixed soup and biscuits (GF of course).  Then curled up and chatted until dinner. 

 That night they taught us Hand & Foot.  Julie and I sipped Milbrandt wine.  We laughed late into the evening.

 My days are all jumbling together, so I'm just going to post photos and explain them... No particular order of days here.
Above was a trip to the antique store that Malinda adores.  I could swear I took a photo of Drake with the Duck decoys, but it isn't on my photo card, so I guess I didn't.  They 2 of them were like kids in a candy store.  It was so cute.
 iPhones are so great to whip out and snap memories.  Here's our sushi night at Dave's.  I was so happy Drake loves sushi. 
 Disappearing. . . 
 Every last bite!
Did I mention it was cold?  
I'm also noticing that 90% of my photos revolve around eating... we honestly did more than eat.  I did a photo shoot with Drake, Julie and I popped in and out of cute shops, we talked and laughed, played games, sipped wine, laughed some more. . . 
Yet, here we are back to eating - Naked Noodle.




 Drake bought a Bomba and Bombilla at Co-op, so Minda showed him ho to make Yerba Mate'. 
 We had played so much Hand and Foot, and Banana Grams that we opted for Balderdash!  What a great game to play with Drake!  That boy can make up lies with the best of 'em!  Minda was multi tasking as usual - lying & knitting :)
We said goodbye on Easter Morning after a GF pancake breakfast.  Hard to let them go.  They promised to come again, and we can't wait!!
I have more of April to post... A trip to see Tofer, a trip to California, a day trip out Cottonwood canyon... but I'm feelin' melancholy after rehashing the Johnsons' visit. I'll save those for another post or 2.   Life in Montana seems to be lived so far from friends and family. 
I'm thankful summer is coming and I'm hopeful there will be more visits and trips and food and laughter following closely on it's heals.