Colbert in February

 We drove over to Colbert on Wednesday to spend some time with the Oergel Grandkids.  Their parents had tickets to a concert on Thursday night.  Grami and Poppi were in charge of homework, dinner and getting the kids to bed on time.  We did pretty good - it helps that Marcus, Olivia and Emma are great kids.  Here is Marcus working on his homework.

 Olivia showing me her journal - the art on the cover was very impressive. 

 Emma was setting up some writing on the chalk board.  The girls really did have a ton of homework - math, reading and spelling.  I thought the words were pretty darn challenging for 1st graders.  They both did a great job on their weekly spelling test!

Marcus helped Grami make pancakes on Friday. 

 Saturday morning there was finally some playtime - dress-up.  Marcus does love his suit and Emma her princess dress.

 

Grami and Poppi with the grandkids.  It was hard to leave we had so much fun. 

Snow on the sunroof of the car. 

It is still winter in Colbert - snowing all day Thursday and Friday with a gorgeous blue sky on Saturday.  The back roads were pretty icy but it was clear sailing as soon as we hit the highway. 

I think it might be spring in the Kittitas valley and the wind is howling!   

Out and about

On Sunday we took a drive over to Potholes State Park near Moses Lake.  Poppi checked out the playground.  The park is really nice - we plan to camp there this summer for sure. 

These guys were out on the water shooting fish with bows and arrows.  Interesting.... we did see there is a competition coming up.  Maybe these guys were trying to get a jump on things.  I could hear a lot of giggling from the guys.  There was still ice on the lake so I'm not sure how active the carp were.

 We drove back home over the Columbia - picture perfect day. 

Today we took a drive down to Naches and the Oak Creek Elk Feeding Station. This is the visitors center in Naches - I remember when it was a gas station out on the highway. 

We arrived at the feeding station in time for the daily hay toss.  I told Bruce I wanted to ask to see if we could ride the truck and get a birds-eye view of the feeding.   

 

Bruce wasn't too excited about asking to ride the truck - he thought I meant the hay truck.

 Bruce felt a little better when he saw the tourist truck was an old army rig.  We hopped aboard and were entertained by an old Ag Teacher for about 1 1/2 hours.  The tour guide had a captured audience of about 15 people.  He was very knowledgeable and a big hunter so he had lots say.  At times I was a little worried where his stories were going - from Santa's reindeer to laxatives.  All in good fun and no children were damaged with his stories. 

 We drove out to the middle of the station and parked, waiting for the hay trucks to start their feeding.

 The elk were unconcerned by the people. 

 I think this guy was sticking his tongue out at Bruce - ha ha you can't get me! 

 Elk everywhere

 Bulls everywhere.

Such a beautiful sight - about 700 elk came down for food today.   

The guide told us the feeding is mostly to keep the elk from damaging all of the crops.  The hay along with a 7 foot fence keep them corralled.  The entire herd is about 3,000. 

 The Oak Creek wildlife center is 94,718 acres - elk as far as the eye can see. 

This spike was one of three in the herd.  He's standing on a scale.

 This big bull just weighed in at 859 pounds.  He didn't care as long as he was served a bucket of grain. 

These cows will be calving in April and May.  

Bruce took a different route home going cross-country from Naches to Yakima.  We stopped at a pull out along the way to check out the view.  This gorgeous ranch was just to pretty not to take a picture.  Nice place! 

C'est fini

This week I made some new pillows using the mill end pieces I bought at the Pendleton Woolen Mill last October.  I love the tepee side - the other side is a buffalo.  I'm anxious to go back to the remnant department with fresh ideas now that I have the time to sew. 

The new pillows really add some color to the room we just completed. We replaced our bed with a king-sized bed and painted the walls.  The wall color was called Biscotti - the last color I painted was called Herb Wreath.  Love those names for tan and green!  I also painted the tops of the nightstands black to go with the bed.  The bed frame was a find on the Internet buy, sale, trade site.  Our three day project took about a week - nice to have the time to wait. 

Bond, James Bond

 The first 007 movie I saw was Goldfinger.  Goldfinger was released in 1964, we were living in France at the time.  I went to the show with another family - my folks were not happy when they heard I saw such a racy movie.  Of course, I was hooked.  Lucky for me Bruce also loves James Bond! 

Through the years I've bought the movies on VHS and now on DVD.  Bruce surprised me with Skyfall for Valentine's Day.  He knows what I like!  Skyfall was the 23rd movie in the series spanning 50 years and my very favorite. 

 Part of the reason I love the movies is the exotic location shoots - this is MI6 home of the British Secret Service.

Skyfall Lodge where James Bond grew up. 

I hope you get the Valentine you want today!  Happy Valentine's Day to everyone. 

Early Spring?

 

After much thought and debate we are now the proud owners of a cabin on wheels!  We shopped around and finally chose this model - my criteria was a bathroom and a bed.  Bruce wanted the trailer to be small enough to fit into the garage.  After we both had to stoop to walk into the smaller RV's we compromised and bought a trailer we can stand up in with a cover.  It also has a bathroom and a bed. 

The Tundra pulled the travel trailer home with ease.  We are pretty excited to plan a trip - looks like the first adventure will be to Grays Harbor for clam digging.  

We've had some wonderful sunrises and beautiful skies for the past couple of weeks.  Mother Nature is more than making up for the ugly gray January. 

 This is the blue sky in the Yakima Canyon.  I thought this rock formation looked like an old castle.

Bruce and Lloyd went to George to pick up a car body.  Lloyd is planning to built a rat-rod out of it.  It is in pretty darn rough shape with at least a couple of hundred bullet holes.  No wonder the names Bonnie and Clyde are painted onto the back. 

I tried a new cake mix today - 2 Thumbs Up!  The cupcakes and the frosting were in the box - super easy and delicious too.  We are enjoying the weather with lots of blue sky and 50 degree temperatures.  Hope you are enjoying the late winter too. 

Retirement cleaning.....

 I found an unlabeled disk today with some interesting pictures on it!  Auntie Kimmie, Sophie and Ceci.

 Brand new baby!

Father Grizzly Bear - don't touch my babies! 

 Olivia with Mommy and Emma with Daddy. 

 Olivia with her Godmother and Auntie - Tracy.

 Ceci

 Standing in the kitchen window of the "new house"

 The little mule in front of the "new house".  Funny how small it looks. 

 Kimmie and Colby

 Tracy, Wes, Sophie and Ceci. 

 Sophie - so little!

 Olivia talking to Auntie Kimmie.

 Tracie with Emma and Olivia

Grami and Poppi playing baseball with Sophie.  My, how the time has flown!