A little red wagon

There is something so nostalgic and sweet about a boy and his little red wagon.  

So sweet that when Caleb was visiting and he offered to go collect the lunches from the cooler at the end of the driveway so the boys could finish their schoolwork and I saw him grab the handle of the wagon as I stepped off the porch, I ran to get my camera.  

A boy never outgrows the need for a little red wagon... 

even when he has his own little red truck.

Plus as it turns out, it was almost the only photographic proof that I had that he came for a three day visit.

I did have this photo though.  They tore down the remains of the old trailer/shed.  Then, they played his new board game that he brought with him, Dominion, and they rode the four-wheeler.  I took 20 hours of online classes and I ended up with a migraine and spent 24 hours in my bed. 

Jam sessions

Some of our laid back days of autumn.

While Jill was visiting we had many a musical jam session.  

She also taught us to make pepper jelly.  mmmm...we're all hooked.  We sent Miles to get crackers but he couldn't find any in the store... as in he couldn't find them.. not that they didn't have any.  We did eventually procure some crackers however these days we discovered that they're really yummy on cucumber slices!  We also mixed a softened cream cheese and a jar of jelly together and it was a great veggie dip. 

Something to remember you by..

It was ever so thoughtful of the girls to leave something to remember them by.

However I'm sure the cello music and their shoes were missed.

Caleb's courier service was employed to return them the following week.

Thankfully, after Caleb left and I began the task of stripping beds and putting the house to rights for school to begin, I found a few odd socks that could only belong to the girls.  So we once again have something to remember them by.  Even Caleb left an odd sock.  Perhaps I shall make an 'odd' collage of memories.... or not.

Til next time ladies!  Keep practicing and remember... the deer and the antelope do play...

...just not together!

She crashed the party

Overlapping guests became a common occurrence this summer. 

The girls still had two days left of their visit when the next crew arrived!

Channa, Kenzie, Derek and Jill. (and her camera, truth be told)

They arrived in the early evening.  

We had supper ready.  The house smelled divine.

There was music playing beautifully in the background.

There were now 12 people all chatting and laughing at once in our small abode... 

When...

CRASH!

I will be honest with you.

I didn't register what the noise was for a millisecond.

There was a lot going on.

I've become accustomed to extreme jenga games crashing down.

I've become accustomed to honking geese and cackling hens and large group noises.

I was concerned to be honest that Signore Russo had met an untimely end!

But all these thoughts raced through my mind like a racing antelope in an open field.

The CRASH was quickly followed by panicked yells and shouts of DON'T MOVE HER!

Within a blink of a slow eyelid we had determined the cause of the crash and the real concern became instantly... 

Mackenzie!

She had casually leaned back on the day bed and kept going... going... and went all the way through the window behind her! 

Not shown in this photo of  her giving us the thumbs up that she was unscathed from the ordeal, was the hooded sweatshirt she was wearing at the time of the crash.  It protected her completely from all the shards of glass and her impending doom.

I will be finalizing the new window box seat plans soon.

Winter is arriving with a vengeance and the white styrofoam insulation window replacement is not only trashy looking, unsightly and not what I envision for this area... it is also extremely difficult to see through when the antelope are prancing by.

With that... their visit truly began!

(maybe on her next visit I can push her through the laundry room wall... I'd love an actual laundry space and maybe a second bathroom?)

Lounging around

Not every moment was filled with business or even silliness. 

Oft times it was nice to simply lounge about.  

Recuperate.

Take a moment with our thoughts.

Or as Whittaker once so eloquently put it... (5 or 6 years ago)  I think I'll just close my eyes... think about Jesus.. .maybe snore a little.

A movie in the afternoon was a nice change of pace.  Until the rain on the ole tin playhouse roof made it next to impossible to hear.  Nevertheless, an enjoyable afternoon lounging was had by all.

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.

Signore Russo

Once a name settles upon an instrument it is customary to let the name sink in... swirl around in the minds for a time.  Let it become one and infiltrate the lives around it. 

This happened with Signore Russo.

His essence became intrinsically embedded into our hearts and souls.

Then we became friends.

As friends... we decided to have a makeover party.

We began with some subtle, but still debonair ensembles.

Then we moved onto to some character, flair pieces.  Every wardrobe should consist of that gem that shows off a little personality.

Obviously, we had to be prepared for outdoor endeavors.  Both summer and winter gear protection is vital.

But then...

He was unstoppable!

He went rogue!

Who knew he had such a wild side!  Gangsta Russo!

I could tell he had a great time.

Signore Russo, you were delightful.  Come again!

Herr Otto was with us in spirit, since Miles' dear friend, Johnny Daniels was already here for Esther to utilize.  

Perhaps next visit we will have the opportunity to become more intimately acquainted with Herr Otto as well.  

Come again!.. have I said that already?  

Well it bears repeating.

Cellowen

Traveling with Elowen means traveling with a cello.

They are rather inseparable.

Along the journey we discussed the need for a name for the cello rather than simply 'the cello'. 

Esther decided that her violin would also like a moniker.

We had our work cut out for us.  I have no qualms naming things... but the perfect name can take time to manifest itself. 

In the mean time since they were inseparable they became the duo known as 'Cellowen'.

At Costco, he (the cello is a man), required his own cart.

As I said... they were inseparable.  When Elowen tired due to her fatigue inducing, lingering illness; Cellowen shared a cart.

Loading the van for the long journey required careful planning so that Cellowen could travel in comfort.  Items were strategically placed so that nothing would shift or place any undo weight upon 'the cello'.

However....

Had I known that the most common thing that 'Cellowen' would do once they settled into their routine at my house was to play... the creepy music... I may not have been as gentle or considerate in my accommodating.  'Cellowen' referred to it as two tone vibrato exercises.  I googled it to know if it was just to annoy me or if it was truly a cello exercise.  The youtube I found concurred.  It is a vibrato exercise.. but the instructor on youtube referred to it as 'vomit exercises.'  (I feel vindicated)

Apparently Cellowen's music teacher said that if you begin to drive someone completely bonkers and make them want to crawl out of their skin and slither away... then you are doing it correctly.

They were definitely doing it correctly.

Esther did not torture me in this manner.... until after her lesson on the Friday of her visit.  Then, from both ends of the house at the same time, the eerie sounds of .... 'creeepy music', came from both the Cello and the Violin.

  

Cellovino Nightmare.  

It's the official name!

To be honest, both Esther and Elowen had a few of the same songs that they practiced... however they practiced in opposite ends of the house.. at the same time... but they did not coordinate their efforts and often one began while the other was half way through the same song.  I'm certain it was just another effort to make me lose my sanity.  (I do not need assistance. Thank you very much!)

Miles serenades us ALL the time so it was a treat to have a variety of serenading.  Elowen and Miles clashed a bit when they discussed music.  One is a self taught, play by ear, ad libber and the other a classically trained, well disciplined musician.  They compromised and it resulted in this lovely number.

In truth, I could have listened to the violin and cello all day.  I attempted to assist in the practice one afternoon.  Elowen was needing a reprieve.  It's more tiring than it looks!  I was a dismal failure; unable to move my fingers and maneuver the bow at the same time with any finesse.

I was equally impressed with the level of classical music knowledge that they shared with us.  We added Dvorak's Humoresque, and Boccherini's Minuet to our relaxing morning playlist.  

We are all more lively of step with such lovely refrains.  Patrick still insists you didn't practice enough... he wasn't here during the hours each day that we were serenaded.  Come again ladies.  I need more music in my life... not more creepy stuff though... that really did undo me.

Something fishy here...

After living here for a year, Whittaker still says that his favourite place to visit is the fish hatchery.  He wishes we had taken all our visitors to see the fish.

However.. only select visitors make the fish hatchery tour.

It's the closest thing to our house.  It's even closer than the gas station which is 11 miles from our house.  It's the simplest field trip.  Just drop by.  We are always the only ones there.. except the Fish and Wildlife ranger.. but he just does his own thing unless we pester him for some fish food... then he gives us a bucket and leaves us be again.

Whittaker wishes we would feed the fish every week.

Feeding the fish is indescribable.

It's one of those things that just has to be experienced.

We spent a crazy amount of time trying to capture the awesomeness of the jumping fish in slow motion video.  It's difficult to capture.  Oddly.. the slow mo wasn't a great way to capture it... so.. this was the best we caught.

It was a rainy day.  On the way home from the fish hatchery it was a wet and dreary... one might say it was a 'fowl day.'  In fact the hawks along the lane (across from the resting antelope) allowed us to get pretty close.  Once home the chickens and geese were eager to show how much they enjoyed the rainy day.  

Tea and Cakes and unexpected guests

Along with twice daily shots of orange mango juice to wash down the terrible tasting goldenseal/echinacea cough medicine, I also made ginger, orange cinnamon, honey tea to sooth sore throats and prepared some Vitamin C boosting beverages.  We felt like we were constantly drinking something... perhaps we were since we also indulged in hot apple cider and hot cocoa on cold moments. 

To counteract all this healthy bombarding  we also had homemade ice cream concoctions and cookies from all new recipes and what has become the favourite treat around here... lava cakes.  We are definitely improving on their execution. Esther said that it passed inspection and she would suffer through eating it again if she had to.

The geese as always wish to be included in everything we do.  And now are capable of walking up the front stairs and tapping on the front door.  They have not mastered going down the stairs and are affronted at no longer being allowed inside.  Despite their noisy protests with arguments regarding having been raised in the mudroom all spring, we offered them orange peels, lettuce leaves and old tea leaves but did not allow them entrance. 

Uncle Waldo has recovered well from his recent attack.. The kink in his neck is barely noticeable.  Only a few ruffled feathers mark the area where he was swung around in the dogs mouth.  We keep a much closer watch on them and put them in their house when the neighbour with the offending dog comes. (He doesn't live there.. rather only visits a few weekends during the summer)

Expeditionees.

We hadn't moved in more than a week when I dubbed the hill in the distance as 'Picnic Hill.'

(if you look closely at the crest of Gopher Hill you can see some photo bombing antelope)

I simply began calling it that.

When questioned, I replied, "One day we are going to pack a great picnic and hike to the top and have a grand adventure!"

That 'one day' FINALLY arrived!

Without even realizing it as we began, we officially named the excursion our 'Expedition to Picnic Hill'.

We even gave ourselves a group name.  The Expeditionees!  

We had Elowen, Esther, Emerson.... Emily, Elliot and Edward... some names may have needed to be changed to .. begin with E for admission into the Expeditioneeeee's association. 

Each expeditioner had an important role to play!

Emerson had the binoculars... He was the lookout.

He looked out for holes in the ground.

He looked out for poop and other signs of animal activity.  

He looked out for wildlife... like cows and birds.  (It was a rather uneventful wildlife excursion.)

He looked out for tripping hazard sage bushes.

Elliot (a.k.a. Whittaker) had the compass. He was in charge of directions.

He gave directions on what to sing.

He gave directions on which rocks to step on when crossing the water.

He gave directions on the order we should line up in.

He gave directions on when we needed a water break.

He gave directions on where we should mark the fence for crossing on the return.

He gave directions on how to make his sandwich.

He gave directions on our current position in relation to the destination and our starting point....

(The only thing between our house and the top of picnic hill is... a little elevation... a creek to cross... a few cows and some fences.  We never really lost sight of either destination nor starting point at any point along the trek.)

Elowen had the cough. She set the pace.

She did exceptionally well at keeping us from becoming too winded.

She was an expert at resting.

She also reminded us that we forgot to bring tissues.

She made the trek with grace and poise.

She also made it to the top!!  

Edward (a.k.a. Duncan) He had the picnic blanket, fingerless gloves, a flashight built into his hat and a pocket knife. He was the gentlemanly security division.

He secured safe passage across the waters.

He secured unscathing methods of fence travel.

He secured a less pokey picnic area for us to sit.

He led the way.

He left no one behind.

He carried other's loads when they became too much to bear.

  

Esther had the Swedish fish.  She was in charge of morale!

She kept smiling the whole time.

She looked forward to the picnic the most.

She named things, like the cows bed.

She pointed out things of great interest... the dead mouse and the animal bones in the creek.

She told uplifting stories about friends who step in cow pies.

She pestered for hints of how the Anne movie was going to end to help pass the time as we hiked.

Emily (a.k.a. me.. Nova) had the phone.  She was the historian.  

She documented the journey.

She told stories along the way.. mostly embarrassing ones about herself.

She talked on the phone... (how absolutely obnoxious...) Unfortunately there was excellent reception at the top of Picnic Hill and multiple important calls came through.  

She communicated with Miles as we saw him leave the house and drive along the dirt road to go to work.  

She made him stop and take a photo of us on the top of the hill!.... He had a difficult time locating us... we were just specks he said.

She felt so accomplished when it was all over!

She wants to go again. 

She wants Patrick to build her a gazebo at the top.  She wants to build a house there.  She doesn't want to think about winter access or difficulties involved in actually carrying out the idea. 

The expedition was fraught with dangers!

Barbed wire fence fiascoes... nearly touching electrical fencing... potential creek hazards.  Not to mention the real threat of elevation illness, becoming overcome with fatigue, and the slight chance that it took longer than anticipated and we returned too late for the cello lesson.

Fence crossings

There were three fences between our home and the Picnic Hill destination.  

I have a deep fear of fences.  

I come by it honestly with ... second hand experiences.

I regaled the Expeditionees with the horrors of barbed wire from my 11 year old memory of Eden getting her hand caught on a barb in Oregon.  Duncan kindly held the fence while we all shimmied under... Elowen attempted going over one of them..  It wasn't much easier. 

The second experience was of an electrical fence.  Kenzie was the experiencer that time.  I shared that horror story also... just after I suggested that since we had a slight hill to descend they should get closer to the fence and hold the top wire since it had no barbs.  THANKFULLY.. Security officer Edward (Duncan) stopped us.  "NO!!" he yelled.  "It's an electric fence mum." We took our chances with the hill without the aid of fence railings.  

Water crossings

Edward (Duncan) proved exceptionally helpful in our water crossings.

He was the most experienced.  He crossed almost twenty times.  Some just because he could and for a time he hiked along on the other side of the water but he found a suitable location for all of us to cross.  He assisted us all and none of us took any plunges.

Marking the way

Cairns : a stack of rocks to mark an unidentified trail. 

I could not for the life of me remember the term, 'cairn' while we were hiking, but I did remember the general idea of stacking rocks to mark our way.  It was extremely  useful on our journey since we could EASILY see the beginning and the end of our trek at all times!  But I take my role of imparting wisdom to others seriously, so we marked the trail.  Plus Whittaker thought it a wise idea to remember where we crossed the water since other areas may not have been as hospitable... well they may have been an inch or two deeper.  

Over the course of the last 12 weeks, visitors have come and gone, almost all have commented at some point on the clouds and the grand sky views here.  So we paused to appreciate the clouds and the incredibly blue skies. 

The view from the top!

It was worth the climb.  We enjoyed seeing the house from the hilltop.  We even recognized Neal's house and other landmarks that we were familiar with. 

But what was on the other side ??!!!

More rolling hills.

More adventures for another day... we had other obligations (a cello lesson) later that day.

Emerson found a place to wait and gaze at the grand sights.

A few of the Expeditionees... wondering where the others were.

How could we become parted... we could see clearly for literally miles.

Our ever faithful security division, Edward (Duncan) had turned back to discover where our missing member was.  

Apparently we hadn't taken one of the pace maker (Elowen's) recommended resting breaks in our excitement to reach the top.

Edward patiently rested with her and after a few minutes he recommended a nicer spot to sit.... at the top.

Elowen's rescue!

Removing her jacket and Edward carrying her bag, she successfully ascended to the top of Picnic Hill.  We all knew she could do it!

A lovely discovery at the top.  A heart shaped pink quartz rock!

Other discoveries were some strangely mossy rocks. 

Lots of sage brush... some large boulders... and not much else.

Oh... exceptional silence.  An incredibly, peacefully, tranquil spot.

Although we wouldn't claim it was a hot day it wasn't cold.  It was still surprising as I attempted to take a photo, that I was able to capture heat waves.  We wondered momentarily if we were dehydrated and were witnessing a mirage but since the camera caught it... we sipped our water and continued. 

As part of Elliot's (Whittaker) requirements for scouting, he needed to plan a hike, and report any signs of wildlife.  We were more than happy to oblige.  We had high hopes of encountering herds of antelope.. a wild bull or an angry badger... and of course since we are in the wild's of Wyoming.. perhaps a Bison or a Moose.  We had instead the honor of finding an abandoned badger hole, some evidence of antelope (droppings), some carcass bones along the waters edge covered in algae, a partially digested mouse and many instances of domestic cow pies. 

While taking in the view from the top we noticed a puff of dust moving along the road below.  It only took a moment to deduct that the van was not in front of our house and the time indicated that Miles was likely off to work.  So we called him and told him to stop.  Notice the car in the coloured circle of the above photo.

He obliged.  He took a ridiculous amount of time trying to locate us.  We requested he take our photo.  We all stood together and waved our arms.

You can see us in the photo below.

That's us... in the circle!

All six of us!

It really puts it into perspective how far we had hiked!

Just a speck!... Miles wasn't positive it was us.  We were unimpressed with his eyesight!

The expedition would not have been successful to hike Picnic Hill without enjoying a leisurely picnic atop the conquered hilltop. 

We were in no hurry... except that Edward (Duncan) had school assignments to do and Elowen had a cello lesson, and Esther was eager to finish the Anne movie that was so abruptly interrupted the night before with the power outage... but other than that, we relaxed and enjoyed the views, the tranquility and the adrenaline rush of accomplishment!

Then we hiked down and watched the conclusion of the first part of Anne of Green Gables before the cello lesson (via the internet) time arrived.

We also spent time removing burrs from our socks.  (just a small price to pay for such an adventure)