Not much happening here.

Not much has been happening here this week. The kids have had a sore throat and slight congestion, but have not really been sick. Kristi and I have been doing well. The Lord has blessed us with good health.

The weather has been about the same. Cold and snowy. On Monday, when I left for work it was about -2o degrees. You know my thoughts on that. Even though the sun has come out the last couple of days, it is still cold. The sun makes everything beautiful as it reflects off the snow while the snow makes everything look fresh and pure.

It snowed a lot on Monday and Tuesday and is piling up in our yard. Part of the berm along our driveway is taller than our vehicles. The kids are using the hills for sledding which they are enjoying. The snow in the yard is pretty deep and according to Brendan it is up to his hips. I have not tried to walk through it.

Once again we went to Jackson yesterday. Along the way we saw the usual wildlife. This time I was able to stop and take pictures of the Mountain Goats. We saw two. I have pretty good pictures of one of them, but the second was hidden behind it. It was awesome watching the one I was able to see digging in the deep snow to get a morsel of food. Enjoy the pictures!!!

Later for now. T...

It's snowing again...

Well, so much for the good weather we were having the last couple of weeks. It was a nice break from all the snow, so I can't complain. We had almost three weeks without new snow.

Not now. It has been snowing, off and on, since Thursday. We have received a lot of new snow. The best kind, wet and heavy. "It puts muscles on your arms and hair on your chest." The snow has been coming down in large, wet, and heavy snow flakes which piles up fast. At times it has been mixed with rain and smaller icy flakes. Either way it piles up and is difficult to shovel.

Yesterday we had to go to the Vet's to get Chai our 3.5 pound Chihuahua her special "diet" food. On the way out we got stuck in a snow bank about 150 yards from our driveway. The town had not plowed our streets and we were in our Saturn. The snow in the street was deep and it was hard to tell where the sides of the streets ended and the snow banks began. I found out though, when the snow pulled me into the snow bank. What joy!

Brendan ran to the house and got two snow shovels for Kristi and I to start digging the car out. We were unable to get it out. A neighbor finally came out and helped pull the car out with his truck. Kristi was soaked by this time. She had been trying to get the snow from under the car while I was shoveling from the front and side.

We decided to take the four wheel drive after this. Normally, I don't have a problem with driving the Saturn in the snow. But, "some days you get the snow and some days the snow gets you!!" Kiarra and Kristofer have added, asking Jesus "to help us not to get stuck again," to their nightly prayers.

Oh, the joys of living in snow country. Later for now, T...

We took a drive...

The last couple of weeks have been pretty nice. Weather wise that is. We are doing great as a family, as well. The weather has been clear the last couple of weeks. The snow seems to have disappeared for the time being. At least the snow from the sky. Last week the temperatures were in the upper thirties and lower forties during the day. It still got pretty cold at night. This week it was colder in the day with a little more sun. The temperatures were in the mid to upper twenties, but still nice in the sun. There is still plenty of snow on the ground, but at least the roads are clearing up. Makes for a nice drive to work.

We decided to take a ride, this weekend, to Grand Teton National Park to take pictures of the Tetons at sunset. We like to do things like this every now and again. During the winter we don't get many opportunities to do this, so we seized the day and took a drive.


We saw a lot of wildlife along the way. Well, at least Kristi, Brendan, Kiarra, and Kristofer did. While entering the Snake River Canyon, Kristi saw several Mountain Goats along the mountainside. Of course, I was unable to see them due to being distracted by driving. It is amazing to watch Mountain Goats walk along rocky edges. They are bigger than you think and yet can still stand on small ledges of rock. Kiarra spotted a Bald Eagle, confirmed by Brendan. Kristofer spotted an Osprey in the canyon.

We saw lots of Elk, a Coyote (spotted by Kiarra), a cow Moose and her baby. We were able to stop and take pictures of the Moose.

Last weekend we took pictures of the Salt River Pass at sunset. The Salt River Pass is just south of us about 20 miles. Sunsets are so beautiful there. Especially with the snow covering the mountains. The sunsets there are nice in the summer as well. Pictures do not do justice to the way sunsets look here. The upper pictures are sunset pictures at the Tetons, a picture of the Moose, and a few pictures of the Salt River Pass from last weekend are below.

Enjoy! Later for now... T.

First write for the new year!

Happy New Year!! Wow, it's the new year. Already nine days into it. Wild! Not a lot has been happening here. The kids are doing well in school. It has been snowing and really piling up. Earlier this week, the temperature was -25 degrees in Jackson Hole. Good thing I was not at work at the time. On Monday when I left for work at 6:20am it was -9 degrees. Cold enough to put "hair on your chest!"

The wildlife is moving back into town. Supposedly there is a Bobcat running around our neighborhood. I have yet to see it. We keep an eye on the kids though. I doubt it would do anything to them. Bobcats are not the biggest creatures in the woods. Daisy our lab-golden mix (dog) would protect the kids. She is very protective, especially with Kiarra and Kristofer. She thinks the rest of us are big enough to fend for ourselves.

Yesterday, while at work, I responded to a dog complaint. The neighbor was concerned about the dog in his neighbors yard. I took a couple of pictures to show you.

Kidding!! I was patrolling a neighborhood in Jackson and saw this Bull Moose lying in a yard just relaxing. He was pretty neat. Moose are such cool creatures. I would have moved closer, but I was not in the mood to get stomped on. Besides he did not look too happy with me disturbing his quiet time. No matter how many moose (or other wildlife) I see, I still love it. Moose are so majestic.

It is getting closer to the time of year the animals start coming down from the higher elevations. With the snow it is harder for them to find food, so they come into town in search of a meal. It is fun getting calls for "wild moose on the loose." The moose stop traffic and pose for all the tourists to take pictures. I try to get a few in as well. Occasionally, in the past there have been people wanting to pet the animals only to find out this is not a good idea. We try to keep people from doing such things. This is not a petting zoo here.

Later for now...