The Skiing Has Been Opulent - Vol. 3

Howdy,

Today we are under a blanket of clouds, and oscillating between snow, rain and sleet. I told myself this morning to relax, Spring is coming, so no reason to get excited. This mud season that comes every year always does this to me. So for now, I will show you some wintery photos that document a short ski in which we explored the Clearwater National Forest.

Jess and Dan

Jess and Scott gearing up.

Post ski:

Scott, myself, Dan, Jess and Jon

With a little attitude:

Scott's back hurt, can you tell?

Homebound:

broken windshield in Montana = the usual.

Have a great humpday,

KLF

The Skiing Has Been Lush - Vol. 2

Happy Monday to you.

As I said I would, here is the next installation of our skiing photos. While others are enjoying spring, with blossoms blooming and bulbs pushing upward, we are still under a good cover of snow in the mountains. We have started to melt in the valley and it is a sloppy, muddy mess where ever you go. The time change has made a marked difference in extending the amount of daylight we have, a welcomed switch. I have to keep telling myself that we have probably 6 more weeks of winterly-like weather; sleet, rain, slop, mud, and repeat. So I can't quite get excited for warmer weather yet. We are still skiing our pants off.

Several weekends ago, Fletch and I skipped out of town and travelled to Lost Trail, MT for a we-need-to-get-out-of-dodge quick trip. The skiing was delightful and we were lucky enough to stay at Shaw's family cabin very near the ski hill, in Idaho. Montana is such a dreamy place. Lost Trail Ski Hill takes me back to when skiing at small resorts as a child was what I lived for, my roots. Really this hasn't changed :)

On the road.

Montana at its BEST.

Dan, Scott, Jess, Alida, Jon, Qui, Shaw, and myself.

Nice "action snow throwing", Fletch!

Thanks Shaw!!!!!

Holding Tight for Spring,

Biz

The Annual Fletcher Soiree

Well hello there blog readers and friends alike, nice to visit again.

The Fletchers, et al, visited us in early August joining us in Bozeman, and I am now just getting to posting the pics of our time together. They were here for 5 days, all 9 of them, and I assure you, there was never a dull moment.

There visit included, but was not limited to:

BBQing with friends and family

a stay at the cabin (including an orchestral snore off of great proportions)

schlepping several hundred pounds of rock (thanks to Steph, Bren and the girls)

a visit to Chico Hot Springs

driving lessons for Charlee in Uncle Scott's truck

cocktail and beer consumption, usually by lunch

belly laughs

hugs

relaxing chill time,

and so much more.

Brin and Kaden

Bryce and Kaden

(our family and our friend's kids

gelled like jello)

Sam (father-in-law) obliged

me with the dorky jump pics.

Gosh I love these,

they make me giggle.

Steve (brother-in-law) and Kirstin

Our nieces,

Charlee and Kiley,

my are they pretty girls!

Stephanie (sister-in-law)

in a kid sandwich.

Dinner at the cabin.

Brenda

(mother-in-law)

Brin loves bugs.

She's a princess that likes to get dirty,

this girl is after my heart.

Thanks so much for coming, we had a blast! You are coming next year too, right?

Bye for now,

f-l-etcher

In Case You Were Wondering.....

Yep, it's true.

But I wouldn't necessarily put

a GIANT sticker stating so

on my truck.

This does make me

proud and gives me belly laughs,

all at once.

I couldn't resist snapping a picture

of this on my way to work this morning.

Bye for now friends,

Bizcochito

Thankful, We Are

Well, good day to you all. We just returned from our maiden voyage to north eastern Montana for some Thanksgiving Day bird hunting. I hope you all had a splendid Turkey Day and I would like to send out hugs and kisses to family and friends, we miss you all!

Scott and I took another road trip seeking open spaces, birds, grass, doggies, and our Colorado friends. By now, we know this route intimately, as we have driven it 3 times since October. You must drive to get places in Montana, it is just the way it is....and drive far sometimes.

Cheese!

Double POINT!

Bella backing Hank

It doesn't look hilly, but let me tell you.

The cover was amazing.

Pheasant numbers are extremely low in this area.

So we hunted Sharptail Grouse and Huns (aka Grey Partridge) until

the sun went down.

We did scrap up a handfull of roosters.

Brittany Spaniels are starting to take over....

Bella and Cooper

French Brit and American Brit

They were smitten for each other.

Eric w/ Frick and Frack, which they were

referred to, oh so affectionately.

(Hank and Cooper)

American Brits

Eric, Andy, Adrienne, Bisquit, Scott

Today I am thankful for:

1. Jim Buckley, a new friend and generous man...who let us hunt on his land, gave us his maps to use and who went out of his way to help us.

2. Our great friends who drove all the way from Colorado for a visit.

3. That I actually managed to plan a trip, make arrangements for accomodations, score private land access...I am notoriously rotten at this. Yay!

4. When Bella goes on point now, 90% of the time THERE IS A BIRD.

5. My superb husband who is now a gunner and hit all his shots dead on, NICE WORK!

6. My family and friends near and far.

7. That we are busier than a one legged man in a butt kickin' contest.

8. That we can hunt behing a dog that works so hard for birds.

9. That I live in Montana.

10. That hubby gave me my Browning Citori Over/Under shotgun and I love to shoot it.

11. With winter here, our freezer is brimming full of meat that we have harvested or bought locally, that makes me very happy.

There you have it,

and it is in no way a complete list.

So for now, I will retire.

Because tomorrow the excitement happens all over again.

Crack, crack...that's the metalsmithing whip,

I have a bunch of jewels to forge.

Sweet Dreams,

Kristin Kristerson McGillicutty