Thursday, July 30, 2009

Dearborn Bike-Hiking

Tuesday was a fantastic day! I remember hiking up this trail when I was in middle school or high school. Fortunately biking through part of the trail makes the going a bit quicker so we could cover more ground. It was beautiful. These pictures can't adequately show how beautiful this hike was. We crossed the Dearborn River, two streams, and Milky Creek, so we were able to enjoy plenty of water, plus mud since it rained the night before. We changed into our swim attire and splashed around Milky Creek for about an hour, then it started raining pretty heavily and we were still soaked through, so we didn't bother changing back into our dry clothes. The rain just added to the adventure, with all those dark threatening-looking storm clouds swirling in around us.
We saw the largest herd of elk I've ever seen as we were driving towards the trailhead. This little one was having a hard time making it over the fence...I hope he got through eventually, I'm sure he had an anxious mama waiting for him.

The Bridge crosses over the Dearborn. This picture is much more flattering than the one we took on the way back...we were sopping wet and covered in mud.

This picture doesn't do justice to the gobs of mud that covered the both of us and our bikes

The entire bed of this creek was a smooth stone rock and it had the neatest little pools to wade through.

More Pictures of the Gorgeous Dearborn River.

This is Milky Creek. It is by far one of the coolest places I have ever been. These pictures, again, just can't do justice to how awesome this place is. There were little areas along the river bed that are completely smooth stone, and we were actually able to slide down them like you would a water slide. There were also little cascades all around us, the water was warmer than the other creeks and clay collected all around the edges of the river. There were also these funny looking dried flowers everywhere that were curled around into a spiral point. I think everyone needs to plan a trip up to Milky Creek. It's just before the Bob Marshall Wilderness, so of course the rest of the landscape is stunning, too.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Victorious!

Dad: "After all the money we spent on her college education, this is how she repays us...beating us at Scrabble!

"Maybe we should kick her out of the house."

And so at the end of the week I will leave having experienced such tender remarks filled with feelings of warmth and love. But you know, after consistently losing for the last fifteen years I think it's about time I won a game every now and then.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Montana Plates

I don't know why, but it feels like something of a right of passage to have Montana plates back on my vehicle, once more loudly proclaiming that I AM in fact a Montana resident. I was so excited that I tore off the Utah plates and put on the Montana ones as soon as I possibly could.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

When you get a life will you...?

A short while ago, I visited Prudence. While I was there, her oldest daughter asked me if I was going to stay. I replied that I was taking a vacation but soon I would need to get on with my life and get a job and find a new place to live. Several days later, she surprised me by saying, "When you get a life, will you have a husband?" Through out the course of my visit these questions persisted: "When you get a life, will you have a dog?" "When you get a life will you live with Grandma?" "When you get a life, will you have children?"

I returned to Montana and tearfully left my sister and her family behind in Japan. I was delighted, though, when I found out that they had opted to vacation at my parents house and I would still be here. I had forgotten those questions, until my sweet niece came up to me and asked conversationally, "Do you have a life yet?"

My answer to her today would be: Well, my dear, I'm definitely making strides! Two weeks ago I was offered a job in Thompson Falls, MT and I've accepted the position. I can't tell you how excited I am! On Thursday Mom and I took the 3 1/2 hour trip over there, admired the scenery, explored a little tourist shop, and went apartment hunting. I've found myself the nicest little apartment there.

Here it is, as Lisa said when I showed her this picture, "It looks like the outside of an apartment building."

Here's my front room. I've got a little propane fireplace in the corner there.

Behold my kitchen, huge isn't it?

I've got the nicest little porch in the back. I don't have to do any of the yard maintenance, so I can just sit back and admire the view. I can't wait to get my swing from Mexico set up out there!

It comes with a washer & dryer. Hurray!

That's the Clark Fork River. Pretty, huh?

The church is just a couple of blocks down from my apartment.

Thompson Falls is one of five towns I'll be working in.

Here's the Jeep that I'll be driving around in.

And here's the view from the Elementary School.

It's beautiful isn't it? I feel so fortunate to be living in such a beautiful place with a comfortable home, and family that's not too far away! Thanks for accompanying me on this little tour of my soon to be new home. :)

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Spring Time = Park Time

First we went to a Horse Park.

It had an awesome slide! There were little metal rollers on it that made you go down really fast.

We used kick boards to slide down it.

Weeeee! It was so fun.




Next we spent sometime monkeying around at a park with "The World's Largest Statue of Liberty in Japan".



One of the greatest activities they have is a zipline. FUN!!





...and finally we all posed majestically in imitation of the statue of liberty:


I took a lot of fun videos, too, but I don't know the secret of getting them to download quickly. Hopefully I'll be able to post them another day.

A Trip to the Beach


We went to Momoishi Beach on Monday and had a great time! The weather was beautiful (other than a little bit of wind) and the kids enjoyed collecting sea shells (I think we came away with at least 50!). They also had a ton of fun playing in the sand. It was really unique, too because the sand was really black and there was neat volcanic rock strewn throughout the beach.

There were these really neat steps that ascended up from the parking area to the beach walkway and to the beach itself.

Don't you think pink is the color to wear when playing at the beach?



Why is dumping sand on your hair so much fun?




This was your basic run o' the mill sea shell that the kiddos collected.


Headin' home after a great time at the beach!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

I Have the Luck of the Irish!


I bet you didn't know that leprechauns live in Japan. I've been having a delightful time amongst them. They're a hard bunch to keep up with, being so little and quick and all, but running at a full sprint all day long is definitely worth it:

On St. Patty's Day I got to play with cute green leprechauns.


We danced and ran and were and were very very silly just as every leprechaun should be, and we made a great mess all over Prudence's table.


I tried and tried to capture a picture of this leprechaun standing still, but he was WAY too fast for me!

It's a little known fact that leprechauns are addicted to popcorn...sometimes they'll actually stand still for a minute to enjoy it.

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Wherever I may roam, Montana is my home.