THE 75TH BIRTHDAY PARTY

Connie and I celebrated my 75th birthday with some old friends from the Salt Lake City days when I was stationed at Hill AFB.  Three of us all turned 75 this year and have celebrated our birthdays  together for many years.   We did our 70th down in Rico, Colorado and it was great fun.  And the 75th was great fun also.  We gathered at the home of Gary and Georgine in Liberty, UT.  Did some great hiking at the ski resorts of Snowbasin and Powder Mountain.  We all skied those areas back in the day.  It was great seeing what the resorts looked like now compared to the 1970's.  I did not recognize much I will admit.  The fall colors were certainly out and enhanced our hiking.  A lot of ping pong was played at  Gary and Georgine's in the evenings and well into the night.  

Below are some pictures but not always in the correct order.  

These are paintings on the walls of an outhouse near Salmon, Idaho along the Salmon River.  Connie and I stop in this area all the time when driving through the area.  Great art and what a great idea.  Thank You Blm.

The fall colors just out of Ogden, UT just before you drop over to Liberty, UT.

Had to walk a little bit to get to the trailheads from the parking area at Snowbasin.

The group.

 

The group part way up.  As you can see, the fall colors were full on.

Connie at the parking lot at Powder Mountain.

Lots of ping pong.

EAST FORK OF THE BITTERROOT - UP MEADOW CREEK, DOWN MINK CREEK

 Connie and I did our Sunday drive up the East Fork of the Bitterroot.  We went up Meadow Creek and up over the mountains and down Mink Creek drainage back to the main road.  The fall flowers were at their peak it seemed or very near it.  We also got to see a couple of Big Horn sheep rams which was a treat.  We see the females a lot but the rams very seldom.  The roads were in good shape and the sky was blue but we are still dealing with a lot of smoke some days so it was a bit hazy.  We are sure glad we bought this jeep a few years ago.  Great to take along when we go south and handy to take on these Sunday drives in the mountains.  

A very fat big horn sheep!

A full curl!

The trees were really in full fall color!

Great views even if there was some haze and smoke.

The top where we start to drop down.

Connie getting her selfie stick ready.

Our begging dog!

We do have fun!!

CONNIE COMPETING AT REBECCA FARM

We went up to the Kalispell area to Rebecca Farm where Connie competed in the Hunter jumping class with her horse Blu.  It was something that she has wanted to do for a long time and has been taking lessons and practicing for a few years to accomplish this goal or dream.  And she finally did it and won a ribbon to boot!  I am certainly proud of her.  And what a pretty venue this place is and is well known in the horse jumping world.  And she could not have done it without the ability of her horse Blu.  What a sweetheart she is.  This is not the first time she has competed here.  Her previous owner competed here a number of years ago. It was almost as if she said: "HANG ON CONNIE - I GOT THIS" She is a wonderful horse and one I enjoy riding also.  Not the jumping part mind you!  

This is Connie's instructor Malika kneeling and her other students who competed. 

Warming up.

Waiting to go into the ring for their ride.

Just a very pretty place and so well kept up.

Blu just loves the jumping almost as much as Connie.

Going out to the practice arena to warm up.

Up early in the morning of the competition and horses getting baths and all prettied up!

Blu in her stall.

People just hanging out with their horses.

And we had great weather and NO smoke which was great.

Blu tied to our trailer.

Early morning baths are a little cool.

And it takes a lot of gear!

Connie all dressed up.

And the tail has to be braided.

And Connie does a very good job.