Cold Fish Construction

Posted on October 19, 2012 by TheJessicaness

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This morning was great – yogurt with strawberries and raisins for breakfast. The girls lay on the couch together with Harry on top and learned about amoebas. We said our goodbyes as soon as Jake got home. Then we went by Robert’s and then Jessi’s work – both hoping we will come back soon. Glacier National Park is three hours away and we arrive at 1:00 pm.

Part of Going To The Sun Road is closed due to construction – Avalanche to Logan’s Pass. There is no snow on the ground and no glaciers in sight, but their streams can be seen coming down the mountains. Dogs are not allowed on the trails so we go on without them. There is so much to see here and this place is nothing like I expected. We hike a few trails but will see no bears today.

We are camped at Apgar’s winter sight for the night. We are by the lake and the view is spectacular. There are fish eating and I see a small bird fishing. Mac-n-cheese with olives for dinner. The temp is 49 and I have my gloves on. We are prepared for the cold night ahead. Perhaps some star-gazing and then breakfast on the beach while we watch the sunrise.

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An Ox Does Yoga

Posted on October 18, 2012 by TheJessicaness

Caleb watched the girls this morning while I went back to sleep for a while. Then we took turns taking showers. We had a slow morning and when Jake got home we went to the store for dog food and the Staggering Ox for sandwiches – a Rabbit Habit and a Broken Heart, and brought back bread guts for the girls.

I dropped Caleb off at his dad’s at 4:30 pm, picked up Jessi from work, and we went to a yoga class together. Brian, the instructor, directed his 12 students in our breathing and positioning. I listened to his voice, the music he selected, the music from the gym below – we were on the second floor, and my thoughts.The stretches were great and different poses available for the newbie to expert level. The class was 75 minutes long – long enough to make us both hungry.

Back at home we made chicken salad with the chicken on the side and had rice chips with jalapeño hummus. Tonight’s drink of choice was lemon shandy and a peach lager – I knocked mine over. I helped with dishes, got the baby dragons dressed for bed, and then read Sammi four bedtime stories. One book had a puzzle on every other page and another had a poster with one million stars.

The dogs had another long day of playing with the girls – they got pet, dressed, chased, and fed. Sparky played fetch with lots of toys and gave the kitty his space. Both dogs behaved so well with all the opportunities not to and earned some peanut butter-cheese biscuits. We talked for a while longer not wanting the night to end knowing that we are leaving in the morning – after we watch the girls because grandpa is feeling sick.

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Squawko’s Tuesday

Posted on October 17, 2012 by TheJessicaness

Sammi burying Lyra in the dinosaur fossil site at the children’s museum

Sparky woke me at five this morning to greet the cat, Harry, at the front door and pee in the rain. Then he woke me up at six to greet the cat, Tibu, at the back door. Robert, my father in law, showed up at 6:30. He is usually the babysitter of the grandkids between their parents’ work shifts. We had pumpkin muffins and grapes for breakfast at 8:30. We got the girls dressed and waited for Jake to get home so we could take the car with child seats.

We took the girls to the Children’s Museum two miles from the house. We paid for two hours on the parking meter and lost track of time. We played grocery store, dug for dinosaur bones, went fishing, painted, made Play-Doh shapes, and played in the water area. The girls got cherries painted on their cheeks. After four hours at the museum we went to the playground behind the museum where we ran around for a bit until Lyra got her pants wet from a puddle on the slide. Lyra fell asleep on the ride home.

Lyra and Sammi painting at the children’s museum

It’s quiet time now – nap for Lyra and a possible one for Sammi – she gets alone time to read and write. Jessi, my sister-in-law, comes in the back door. She will drive Caleb and I to the store where we get chocolate mole sauce to go with squash and chard tacos, some pumpkin lager and gluten-free raspberry beer, and dessert from Dairy Queen. Sammi and Jake stayed home and made cookies while Lyra napped.

Caleb picked up his dad, Robert, for dinner and then drove him back home around 10:30 pm. Jake works an early shift and went to bed. Sammi had fallen asleep on the couch so Lyra and Jessi kept me company until Caleb got back. We had a long day and had no problem falling asleep.

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Moo Cow Monday

Posted on October 16, 2012 by TheJessicaness

Grant-Kohrs Ranch

A nice night in a heated room being half underground – out the window we saw a car bumper. PBJ for breakfast and two hours away from the hotel I realize I’m not wearing my wedding ring. I begin to freak out and am about to have a panic attack when Caleb pulls the car over going from 75 to 0 in five seconds and hands me my night bag from the trunk where I had put my ring this morning.

We near Missoula and see a sign for Grant-Kohrs Ranch near Deer Lodge where we have been to the car museum and old prison and decided to stop. A short walk under two bridges brought us to a bunch of buildings closed for inspection and repairs. We got somewhat close to some scared cows and the horses were out of reach.

Sammi wearing a pancake hat

We arrive in Missoula after 1:00 pm and enjoy rain for ten minutes. The temperature is warmer now than it was when we were here in May – I need no coat. We sit and talk with Jake and the girls – Sammi and Lyra. We were going to make pumpkin cookies, but Sammi wanted to play outside. I had fun watching her run laps around the house and I thought about joining her… But then Jessi walked up from work, reading a book, and we went inside.

Sammi had fun playing in the backyard with Sparky. She showed me her playhouse – big enough for three adults, two kids, and one dog. Lyra impressed me with how cute and smart she is. We had art time. Sammi drew pancakes, Lyra drew a dragon, Jake drew a pumpkin, and I took pictures. Jake and Caleb would make dinner – a Quiche frittata mix with beet soup – delicious! We had our choice of pineapple, figs, or tapioca pudding for dessert.

Caleb’s dinner photo

The dogs went to bed and Caleb read Sammi a bedtime story. He is now asleep himself. It has been a long day and we have more to look forward to tomorrow. It seems we might spend a few days here – cooking, eating, and talking. We also have plans for a children’s museum, a yoga class, and a corn maze. Then it will be off to Glacier NP and then west to Washington.

Lyra depetaling a flower

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Grouse Like

Posted on October 15, 2012 by TheJessicaness

last chance for potty between 1.5hr hike and 1hr cave tour at Timpanogos

Up at 6:00 am. It’s 30 degrees and still dark. We wait until 7:00 for the sun to touch the horizon and bring the temperature to 40 degrees before getting out of the car and walking around while the dogs stayed in the car in their coats and wrapped in blankets. The visitor center opened at 8:00 . It’s the parks 90th birthday and their last day of the season – lucky us. We buy the first tickets and make our way up over the 1,000 plus feet of elevation. The trail is paved, the birds chirping, and the sun lighting the tips of the surrounding peaks.

There is another couple behind us, but by the start time of our tour there will be four couples and a dad with his two sons on the tour with our ranger for a total of 12 people. The tour is an hour-long and goes through three caves with artificial tunnels connecting them. The ranger, Andy, was knowledgeable and didn’t rush me as I snapped many a photo and squeezed through some tight spots. The cave proved amazing as they all seem to do in their own special way – this one was no exception with a room full of helictites.

After the hike down we drive to American Fork for pancakes at IHOP and coffee from Starbucks. The pancakes were filling but the medium roast tasted like a dead cat had been left in the pot – worst $2 refill ever. On to the Golden Spike NHS to see where the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads met to connect the west with the other side of the nation. A golden spike was ceremoniously driven in, but only a plaque is left in its place today as the wood was repurposed into furniture and the steel used in WWII.

There was a mile and a half loop that we turned into a three and a half mile walk when we failed to read the numbered trail marker – and the next number in the trail guide. We left the parking lot in a hurry when I noticed mosquitoes and drove to the Rocket Display to see them and cook dinner there. Caleb made mac-n-cheese while I took pictures and then I had apple-pie-chocolate for dessert. It would’ve tasted better with dried apples instead of the brittle filling.

We drive to Idaho Falls before finding a bed and bath for the night. I was thinking we could see a potato museum in the morning but the weather looks dim with 40% chance of rain and we will be gone before the sun let alone before a museum opens. We wouldn’t have made it to Missoula until after midnight and now we should be there in time for lunch tomorrow.

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