UPDATE 25 APRIL 2019

Had a great Easter weekend.  We went over to Carl's house that he has rented out to an old family friend until they can start the remodel.  Everyone brought food and it was a great meal and we had a great time.  Carl showed us how they are going to remodel the home before they move in.  It is going to be very nice.  While we were there we got to see quite a few elk that went by the house.  The neighbor was running them out of his hay field  and they split up into 2 groups.  One went up by Gary's house and the other right by Carl's.

Spring is here although it is taking it's time getting here.  The grass is growing and we are a little behind in getting our spring things done.  I still don't have our irrigation ditches burned of old grass yet but hope to get to that soon.  Connie and I have been doing some riding which is always good and Connie just loves her horses.  She has already been jumping so has a smile on her face.

The biggest bunch crossed the road and went by Gary's and our place to the west of Carl's.

The smaller bunch crossed the road and came right up by Carl's house.

This was the young bull that was leading the pack.  He has an unusual horn sticking straight out from his head.  The black things behind him are cattle.

More of the heard - mostly cows.

This is the finished area for the shop.

The ladies who cooked up the great meal.

L to R: Carl, his mom Margaret, me, Connie, Deb, Elaina, and Andrew.

That is Nancy on the right who hosted us and she is such a great host.

Andrew helping his grandma get her phone off selfie so she can take a picture! 

It is warming up and the garter snakes are coming up out of their holes.

Mowed the lawn for the first time this year.

Connie and her new horse Blue. 

BACK IN MONTANA

We are back in Montana and have been for nearly 2 weeks.  Lots to do and we have been busy that is for sure.  The snow slid off the barn/house and pulled the rain gutters away from it.  So we are in contact with the insurance company trying to get that fixed.  There was still snow on the north sides of buildings and some under trees.  The elk had gotten into our haystack made a pretty big mess before Gary was able to put up panels and keep them out.  Cat was really glad to see us that is for sure!  She would not let us and Zeph alone for days.  The horses were all doing good just needed brushed to get some of the winter hair off and of course needed trimming. 

Carl has started working on his shop over at his new place.  Everyone seems to be doing well that we have seen. 

With all the snow we had, the deer were really hungry.  Never saw them eat the juniper like they did this year.  They also ate our yucca plant down pretty bad. 

Jack needed a lot of brushing as you can see all the winter hair still on him.

That is the trail of winter hair off Jack when we brushed him.

A couple of elk wondering where we came from.

We think this fox has den in the rocks in the corral.  The little male is a lot darker red and drives Zeph nuts.

Still a lot of snow in the mountains but the valley is pretty well bare.

Carl's new shop location has quite of few rocks so getting it down deep enough to pour the slab is taking a lot of big backhoe time. 

This is Kevin who is a longtime family friend.  He went to school with my nieces and nephews.

Carl on the tractor and Gary moving stumps and trees out to the burn pile.

Kevin is just about down deep enough to make grade.

HIKING IN SOUTHERN UTAH NEAR APPLE VALLEY

We stopped in Apple Valley to visit our friends Gary and Pam.  Didn't stay but a couple of days but sure had a good visit with them.  We go back a long way.  Pam took us out to Little Creek Mesa which is a big mountain biking area just south of them.  Mountain biking is a big thing around this area.  Anyway, we had great time while there and then left and drove to Jackpot, NV and spent the night.  Up early the next morning and drove home.  Glad to be home but lots of work to do.

A couple of old trees growing out of the red rock.

Some of Zion National Park across the way.

Some bikers coming up out of the bottom.

This group was having a great time.

Lots of water this year.

Water and wind make some interesting designs in the rock.

Taking a break.

A father and his two kids seemed to be having a good time also.

Ducks were on this pond when we got there. 

MORE PICTURES FROM LEE'S FERRY AREA

Here are some more pictures taken in the Lee's Ferry area.

Connie and I hiked up an unnamed slot canyon to get away from everyone. 

There was no trail and it was a bit of boulder hopping sometimes.

Zeph thinks we are crazy sometimes.

It took me a few minutes to get up and around this boulder.

You can see another boulder up above the white area. 

Looking out the canyon.

Connie and Zeph waiting for me.

We went up another canyon and this time Connie led.

Zeph was not impressed.

Some weird rocks up this canyon.