THANKSGIVING

We drove over to Mill Creek, WA to spend Thanksgiving with Rob, Heather, and Maisy.  Also Christian and his girlfriend Nicolette were there.  We were going to leave on Monday, but the weather was not very good so delayed one day and left Tuesday.  Roads were not that good, but one lane on the interstate was generally bare.  The passes of course were all snow packed and icy in spots, and we were sure glad we had studded snow tires all the way around.  We made it after many hours of driving.  Long day.  It was great spending a little time with the Ferraris.  Been years since we have been over there.  Of course ate way to much on turkey day, but that is what it is all about.  Also visited with Rob's aunt and uncle over on Widbey Island.  Drove back on Sunday and the roads were pretty good, but drove in the fog most of the day.  Another long day driving.  Some photos below.  Click on them to enlarge.

Down at Pike's Market.

The ORIGINAL Starbucks is down there so we had to have tea and coffee.

Getting the turkey day feast ready.

Rob and Heather's neighbors Todd and Tory also were there for the feast.

Maisy does like her whipped cream.

We helped them put up their Christmas Tree. 

The swing set at Rob's uncle and aunt's place.  And what a nice place they have. 

FIRST MAJOR SNOW

We have received our first major snow down here in the valley.  And the temperatures are pretty cool.  This morning it was 8 degrees when I got up.  Yesterday we had a lot of wind and the chill factor was below zero.  The big football rivalry game between Montana and Montana State was played in Missoula with those winds and snow.  Montana State Bobcats won for the first time in 5 years.  A few of us in the family were really excited as that is our Alma Mater.  Some of  the family was not. 

We are packing up today to head over to Washington and spend Thanksgiving with Rob and Heather.  Sounds like we will be driving in snow tomorrow though.  Will keep checking the weather.  Right now we are planning on only going part way as we are stopping and visiting old air force friends near Spokane.  And we have Ross and Brenda from Washington staying in the cabin doing some elk and deer hunting.  So that is pretty well what is happening around here.

Catmay watching the snow come down from her warm perch by the fire.

The lawn.  This was taken yesterday and we have more snow now.

CONNIE UPDATE

Connie is really doing well. She had a bit of a set back with her medicine making her sick, but we got another prescription for motion sickness patches and now is doing much better.  She is walking pretty well although still with a limp which is to be expected. 

Still have elk running around the area.  A few were just west of our hay shed this morning, and I could not get our horses to eat on that side of the manger.  They are so funny sometimes.  The weather continues to be really nice.  It was a pretty good frost this morning, but the afternoon high was in the high 50's.

The incision.  The line above her knee is where I have to measure her leg circumference twice a day.  There is also a line below her knee where I do the same. 

LOTS OF ELK AROUND

We have had a lot of elk around our place in the past week.  There have been about 40 head moving back and forth through our place.  They were right below our corrals for a while and sure had the horses watching them and a little spooked right at first.  It is not like they have never seen elk!!!!  But horses being horses - they are all panicaholics!!  Nephew Travis shot one of the bulls with his shotgun this morning.  Not a real big bull, but will give him and his family a lot of meat for the winter.

Connie is doing well.  She had kind of a rough day today.  The pain killers are making her a little queasy.  She had a motion sickness patch on until yesterday so might have to get another one prescribed.  The movement in her knee just keeps getting better.

Click to enlarge and you can see the elk that Jack is watching.

We are glad to see a lot of calves with this bunch of cows.

Travis with his bull.