Take a Gander at that!

 

Part of the renovation required that a few bushes needed to be moved.  While we had the backhoe seemed the best time to move them.  

Bushes and trees are not something I'm willing to waste.  So.  We transplanted them.  

We opted to plant them around the goose pond.

While we were transplanting them, we decided that the geese would like an expanded and deeper pond. 

Instead of the two weeks of digging by shovel that it took Duncan last year, it was twenty  minutes by backhoe.  

Now it is a daily task to keep the bushes alive.  This first year after transplanting is crucial to their survival.

The new and expanded pond was refilled and the boys decided to enjoy it before the geese soiled it.

It may have been a good idea to keep the geese in the corral until the boys were through.  

The boys didn't seem to mind though.

In fact they all seemed to enjoy their water play.

I believe it's because the bushes added a delightful and irresistible ambiance to the pond.

The geese gave their inspection and seal of approval on the pond and left in search of a snack.

The boys lingered in the pond.

Just another Boring Sunday

Way back in February, which seems like years ago, we heard of a buffalo farm near our house.  We had already found the one near the Post Office, but this was the other direction and... it had 'WHITE BUFFALO'.  I didn't even know there was such a thing.   I realize that in Utah we had been part of the Boy Scouts White Buffalo district, but I thought that was just a name or a distinction such as the green, the yellow, the red buffalo districts.. frankly I'd never questioned it nor thought much about it.  Until NOW.    

We lived within a 30 minute drive of white buffalo.  A definite field trip.  Winter makes exploring complicated so we took down the directions and waited for spring.  But Covid came before spring and we stopped thinking of outings.  Our friends called us one morning and asked if we wanted to join them.  They had been in on the conversation about the white buffalo and had decided they needed an excursion also.  So... we said yes.  We could social distance in our own heated cars as we drove to the buffalo. 

We knew we were close when we saw these guys.  Then we discussed the idea that perhaps they weren't white in the winter, but that would be the opposite of the arctic fox and rabbit.  Plus, they wouldn't be called the white buffalo if they were only part time white buffalo.

We continued along.  Chatting with our friends on the cell phones.  It was fun to get out and explore with friends, (sort of).  

It was another mile or two and then we saw them... How to describe the moment.  We just sat and stared.  We rolled down the windows and listened.  We heard faint grunting, the calling of Canada geese, a few other bird sounds but mostly intense silence.  They didn't do much.  We gazed for a while longer and then we remembered it was only 20 degrees outside and boys needed a potty.  We waved to our friends and we headed for home.  But then I told Pat to stop.  "I'm tired of having odd photos of animals, we need to be in the photos.  So the boys obligingly hopped out and braved the cold for a photo.  But you can barely see buffalo in that shot.  Oh well.

We returned home... our white car now also a beige colour... Perhaps the buffalo have a similar winter fate.  

April, May, June and July... Jim moved in, Covid hunkered in to stay but the snow finally left and the temperatures lifted.  Somehow the conversation in July turned to white buffalo.  With our recent dilemma of Whittaker finding Sundays, "boring", we decided a Sunday drive to see how white the buffalo are in the summer would help to 'unborify' our next Sunday.  

I had a few zoom meetings for stake callings so we scheduled our Sacrament, Zoom meetings, Come Follow Me Study time and meals carefully so we would still have a two hour window for our Sunday Buffalo quest drive. 

These brown fellows greeted us first just as they had the previous visit.  I think they appreciated that we stopped to enjoy their grandeur.  I'm sure it must be frustrating to be overlooked just because they aren't the rare variety.  They are still quite an impressive beast.  Jim and the boys attempted to gain their attention by making 'buffalo noises', but they preferred to lounge in their grassy field.  

Quest completed.

They are indeed whiter now than they were in winter.  The white herd is substantially smaller than the brown.  We don't understand the brown calves being among them but they were rather tight lipped when it came to answering our questions. 

Again the boys attempted to get their attention.  After many attempts at strange noises, we're convinced they were looking at us and not just in our direction.  

We could hear the delightful sounds of the river, the birds and the light breeze.  Once again the boys needed to potty.  (What is it about visiting buffalo?)  While the boys found an accommodating bush, I turned the car around.  They returned with a bouquet of wildflowers.

How's that for unborifying!

Easter Egg Hunting

As Easter approaches, the ladies have outdone themselves.

I refuse to think that they are unappreciative of their lovely nesting boxes.

I refuse to believe that they are purposely being obtuse and uncooperative.  Instead I will believe that they are creating the best ever Easter egg hunt for us. 

The boys job is to collect the eggs each day... However.  sometimes the eggs are out of reach.

This wall is ten feet high.  It doesn't meet the ceiling so there is a 4" ledge... Just the spot to lay an egg apparently!

How about this egg...

Oh... Can't find it?  I can't believe the boys spotted it!

I'll zoom in.

This egg didn't survive retrieval.

I'm bewildered.  Why won't they use their lovely nesting boxes?  Are they not high enough.. Not precarious enough?  Not strange enough?  Do they not realize that they have the Taj Mahal of coops?  They are treated to fabulous table scraps that could be denied them in favour of garden composting.  They are played with daily.  I've been looking forward to warm weather so I can paint their quarters in cheery colours and give it charm and style!  They have more space per chicken than we have per person in our house!  Beautiful mountain views from their courtyard.  Solar lighting.  Indoor pond.  Vaulted ceilings.  Multiple roosting options.  

And yet... the egg hunts continue.

Sub zero Field Trip

Valentines day in Wyoming.

The temperature never made it over 11*f, (or -11*c)

What a great day to drive through the canyon, grateful for an avalanche free drive!

What a great day to wear SIX layers and wrap in big blankets and go for a winter sleigh ride.

What a great day to stay down wind of thousands of wintering elk just minutes outside of Jackson Hole.

I learned a lot!  I, hopefully, won't sound so citified in local conversations.

I found it interesting that Patrick asked a lot of questions... I assumed he already knew all about the wildlife. 

The elk were rather quiet and subdued for our visit.  A few put on a sparring show for us but mostly they were content to relax.  Apparently their mating season ended and now they're recuperating.

Even with six layers and a blanket... my toes were cold and my cheeks.

Patrick only had on two layers.  He warmed my feet when we returned inside the visitors center. 

I suggested a stop for some hot cocoa but was outvoted.  We stopped at Dairy Queen and all the silly boys ordered blizzards!  I had hot chicken strips!

I already failed to sound educated on the way home... I casually said we should do the trip again in the summer when we could enjoy the view without freezing..... 

Our friend kindly said, we could.. but the elk won't be there, since the name of this place in the Elk's WINTER refuge site.  

Drifters

Drifters usually get a bad rap.

However, I have been looking forward to the day when these drifters would come through town. 

I was in such a hurry this day, but stopped briefly to capture a photo.

Even more to my delight was to see the cowboy bringing up the rear.

We even shared the road for a moment.

After being in town for three hours, they were still drifting along.  I had traveled the 26 miles to town and back, but they had managed to travel 8 miles.  They're not a hurried bunch.

 Although it appears they follow an orderly, single file path, it is not the case.  

At times some even turn and go the wrong direction.  Still others take to wandering off the well worn path.  Some even lay down and take a nap.

It is delightful (when I'm not in any rush)  to have them cross my paths. 

The slow pace of drifters along the road of our lives under the same clear blue skies is a peaceful reminder of times gone by and the steady plodding of time going on.

Just moments of a visit

The night we arrived home we had a cub scout campfire evening to attend.  Just believe me... I didn't take any photos.  We made s'mores and played a game of reverse hide and seek/ sardines in the trees by the lake and Miles gave a demonstration of Native American Hoop dancing.  It ended early because we were tired from our long day of traveling and unloading the van at home and hurrying to the event... and also, because it began to rain.

The geese missed us.   The next morning after our travels they greeted us at the window.  'Come out to play...' 

They even tried to come in to coax us out. 

We spent some delightfully leisure filled days.

The kids played Legos, played games and we listened to Cello and Violin practice sessions.  I did laundry. and dishes... and cleaned the floors.

We watched the antelope play.  And the chickens eat.

We drank herbal tea and did whatever we could to build our immune systems so we wouldn't become ill.  Emerson was better but still coughing.  Elowen insisted on having a lingering cough and fatigue.  

We all learned proper tea drinking etiquette. 

We talked about needing haircuts... but never quite made it happen. 

 Each morning, the wake up song began the day with a happy note.

We thought we would be going for a loads of firewood but Patrick kept being called into work.  So we stayed home and played, and tidied and generally ran amuck. We felt busy.  I think we finished unpacking and putting things away and then began the steady stream of showers and baths to clean ourselves up.  Cooking, eating and dishes.  And we did our daily exercises. (most of the time... there were a few days that our adventures prohibited routine)

We had Liam and Colt for an afternoon and they spent the night in the tin house with the other boys.

We stayed up late stargazing... 

We had a relaxing Sunday.  Patrick was once again called into work.  We made no bake cookies and fajitas.  Elowen took a nap... and then played the cello with Miles on his guitar.

We had more herbal teas and played games.

Haircuts!!  Three out of four boys had a much needed trim.  Duncan eluded the scissors... He needed it the most!

Miles taught Esther Hoop dancing. .. sort of.

Esther was often found reading to the little boys and they also did lots of colouring.

There was a LOT.. . A LOT.. of trampoline time!

We attended the ward party at the ranch and devoured delicious brisket!  We were also eaten by bugs and began to freeze as the weather took a turn for the colder.  We attempted to do our daily stretches outside but the ground was foreboding so we did them standing up... not as effective. 

We began our colder mornings with hot cocoa and herbal teas... just to warm ourselves from the inside out while we sat around the heater.  

We introduced the ladies to "that Anne Girl"!  Almost 11 hours of delightfulness.

We definitely were tuckered out each night.

Foxy Kitty Tails

While visiting in Manti an extra guest arrived on the doorstep.

A foxy, furry kitty.

He and the resident cat, Frisby, got on surprisingly.  Whittaker was quite taken with the fluffy  tailed feline.  He and Emerson spent a lot of time observing the antics of the kitties.

In fact... Whittaker insisted on a photo with the temporary furry guest before we left for SLC once again... so he wouldn't forget about him.  

I took very few photos while in Manti...  and most were accidental photos I wasn't even aware had occurred.  

These odd photos I came across on my phone afterwards were of nothing exceptional... 

This one was taken on purpose.  Elowen is talented on both the piano and the cello and you can tell that she enjoys playing music.  I enjoyed listening.   I thought I was taking a video of her playing a song I liked... apparently it was a photo.  I'll just hum the song when I look at the photo. 

Other adventures, that I didn't take any photos of... because when I relax I don't think to snap pics of .... relaxing.... in Manti included;

• a trip to the library in the historic building on main street... as many books in a bag for a dollar.. can't resist!
• a trip to a used book store... I'm not a reading addict... I don't think.
• a trip for Mummy and Amber to the Manti Temple
• lots of visiting and thoroughly relaxing
• keeping tabs on Jill and Duncan's travels... or non-travels as they were

While at the used bookstore, I became engrossed in looking at lots of books... odd that.

Elowen had been feeling under the weather the week before our arrival but was beginning to perk up.  So it was perplexing to discover Emerson -- not sleeping and not feeling sick (his slurred and sleepy words-- on the floor in one of the book aisles.   It couldn't have been from Elowen... we'd barely arrived the day before but he definitely looked sick suddenly.  He was warm and couldn't keep his eyes open.  So we left.  By the time we returned to the house he was feeling better and was hungry.  After eating he was content to go to sleep.  He never became worse as the week went on but he had a lingering cough and sniffles.  

We learned the next day that Miles also had felt under the weather... so Elowen was absolved of spreading the germs.

I was so glad to see the Manti temple... going in and seeing the beautiful architecture and the furnishings, it was like stepping back in time and I couldn't help but consider the pioneers who must have toiled after long days on their own fledging farms to build such an enormous testament to their faith.  Giving time, resources and energy to build this lovely temple.  I am told it will soon be shut down for renovations and retrofitting.  I hope the character is not lost in updates. 

Goosey, goosey, gander

Down in the gulch between our 'yard' and Gopher Hill, water collects after a looooong winter and spring rains.  

The geese discovered water play.

The boys loved taking them for a walk to the water. 

I followed them one morning and was delighted to watch them frolicking in the water.

I knew they needed a pond, post haste!

I also knew I wanted to be able to see said pond from the house.

We attempted to fill a small kiddie pool and interest them in it.  

Just not quite the same.

So project pond began.

While I did not personally dig the pond, I spent much time in contemplation on its location and angle.  I directed the project.

All the boys assisted, although Duncan really ought to have the credit for sticking with it the most. It has a gradual entrance into a deeper section for diving and general water frolicking.

They are so appreciative. 

Now I'd like to surround it with some plants, trees, a bench... maybe a gazebo...

Escargot

It is said that people can make a difference one small action at a time.  

I'm going to save this snail from imminent danger of being stepped on.  He lived at an elementary school park.  Being stepped on was inevitable. 

Snails communicate with their antennae.  He's telling me thanks and I think he likes going for a ride in the van.  He's moving his head.  He is my friend.

See how excited he is now.  He has stretched out his long neck and is trying to look around.  This will be the grandest adventure of his entire life.  He's never traveled so far or so quickly before. 

Snails are very appreciative.  They leave a trail of their emotions to show their gratitude.

Snail kisses are slimy.

Hey everyone!  I'm so glad you stopped by.  I know you'll be excited to meet my new friend.  I rescued him from certainly being stepped on at the park.  

This has been a grand adventure Mr. Snail.  I'm home now and you've made my hand kind of sticky.  My mother won't let you live inside my house and no one else is interested in holding you.  I'll introduce you to our other friends who live in our backyard.  

The chickens.....

This is how it actually went down.

Then at home he lived for the afternoon in a box filled with grass... 

Then he was introduced to the chickens. 

We haven't heard from him since.  

Maybe snails aren't as good at communicating their appreciation as we thought. 

I guess I'll have to be happy just with knowing that I rescued him from being stepped on. 

I should rescue a snail every time we go to the park.  I'm just so generous.