Snow Fish

This is what’s left of the berm formed by snow falling from the roof onto the spot on the deck with the least amount of sun.

It looks like a prehistoric Snow Fish slithering across the deck. The steady rain today should finally kill off this last vestige of Winter…

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Trinity

Baby girl Trinity dropped by the house today, accompanied by parents J.J. and Mandy…

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Irrigation Snow

The creek that flows at the north edge of our yard is owned by a ranchers co-op. The water comes off of Teton Creek, which is fed by the Grand Tetons, and is delivered here to the sprawling ranches of the east valley at the foot of the Big Hole mountains.

For perspective, our place is across the valley to the right of that blue pump cap. When the snow dries up from this irrigation ditch and the water starts to flow again I could probably float a message in a bottle over here.

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The Teton Turn

There’s a certain driving maneuver that occurs so frequently here in the Valley, that I’ve given it a name. When a vehicle in front of me starts slowing down and begins drifting gradually to the right, I know a Teton Turn is underway, especially if it’s an old Subaru.

There is never an initial turn signal, but it ultimately occurs. These are good people here and they know they need to signal their intentions. Unfortunately, the signal never gets activated until the very last second, just as they’re turning into their destination. It’s like “Oh yea, turn signal!

Subaru’s are the most popular cars in the Valley and as a result many Teton Turns occur here every day. It’s like these granola head girls and guys have their heads in the cloud dreaming about fresh powder and bike trails, and driving is just a means to get there…

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Sign Mountain

This is a stack of signs sitting in the back forty at our base. I have no idea why they’re here or where they came from. The oddness and symmetry just caught my eye…

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Mouse Nest

Steph uncovered a mouse nest under the melting snow yesterday. Piper knew it was there, she’s been stalking it for a couple of days.

I ran the water hose on it for a bit and drowning baby mice began to surface. Steph scoped them up with a shovel, dumped them on the ground, and murdered them with a strong smack. She then proceeded to shovel the snow around the nest, looking for more.

Suddenly, the momma mouse bolted out and ran to the garage. Steph handed me the shovel and screamed “I’ll roust her out and you Kill Her“!

Sadly to say, that’s what happened. I guess it has to be, mice are natures creatures but they love to come in your house, and mess with it.

Where was Piper? Sleeping on bed number one, of course…

SlideShow (Mouse Nest)

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Cache Bridge

I was sitting next to the Teton River at Cache Bridge this morning, waiting to pick up my little old lady going to the hairdresser. Her place is right around the corner.

I’ve been enjoying the melt off going on here in the Valley, a few warm days this time of year can burn the snow down quickly. It’s happening out here on Packsaddle road as well as my yard. I call it pre-Spring.

It’s the time of year you start thinking about the joys of summer here in the Valley, the Victor 4th of July Parade, the Huntsman event, the Hot Air Balloons… But, I’ve lived here long enough to know that pre-Spring is just one deceptively evil pimp job.

All the snow in the Valley will melt, the road crews start working on the pot-holes, we call the lawn guy to get our sprinkler system going, and then a major storm dumps a foot of snow on us! Maybe two or three dumps before Real Spring arrives.

Such is our life in the Rockies…

SlideShow (Cache Bridge)

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Pipers Beds

I really don’t know how Piper has managed to pull this one off. She has three main beds around the house now, to satisfy whatever mood she’s in. The latest has appeared on the new couch in the living room (below).

This was formally her main bed in the Family Room.

This lap blanket was a Christmas gift from Steph which has now been confiscated by the princess cat here in my office.

And then of course there is the lower bunk bed in Steph’s craft room, the foot of our bed, up against my back, and on the other side between Steph and the floor heater.

SlideShow (Pipers Beds)

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Meet Mack

Who’s the oldest person you know? Well, this here is my buddy Mack and he is the oldest person I know. His mind is sharp, he’s still walking, and he lives in his own home.

He was born in April, 1913 and yes, he turns 100 years old this month.

I’ve known a few women in their 90’s but I’ve never known someone this old, much less a guy, and he’s still a ruggedly handsome man!

So Rock On Mack, and Happy Birthday!

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