UPDATE 5 JANUARY 2012

We are still waiting for La Nina to show up and shower us with her abundant snow.  So far this winter has turned out to be a little slack in that department.  We hope that changes.  If it doesn't, the blame will go directly to Connie and Brenda as they purchased new powder skis in anticipation of a another great powder year.  And it has been record breaking warm here in Montana.  It was 53 degrees this morning at 0300 according to my brother who was up at that time of day.  When I got up, it was 48 degrees which is way above normal for this time of year.  And it is melting up at the ski resort also.  Not good.

Been busy cutting down some bug killed trees for next year's firewood.  I have more trees dying from the bark beetle this year than in years past.  I found some of the larvae in one pretty good sized tree I cut down.  Some pictures of them below. 

These are the larvae between the bark and the wood on this one block.  It was the block cut just above the ground so that might be why there were so many on it.  A couple others where the bark came off only had 2 or 3.

A close ups of the eating apparatus of this larvae. (our new camera has a pretty good macro lens)

This is one laying among all the digested bark - lets see, what would that be called!

Some pictures of lichens/moss on the rocks.

Sunset over the Bitterroots from the fire pit - you don't see any snow clouds.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND THE BITTERROOTS ARE OUT.

Happy New Year to all.  I hope this year puts many smiles on your faces.

We had our "snowless" sledding party on New Years.  Two out of the last three years there has been no snow for our sledding party.  But we had a good time anyway as the kids always like to roast wieners over the fire.  Not as many people showed up this year as there is a flu bug going around and a couple of families were down with it.  Weather has been very warm for this time of year with some rain in the valley and snow in the mountains.  Avalanche danger is high in the mountains. 

On my walk this afternoon I spied a couple of Bitterroots just starting to break ground.  This is the earliest I have ever seen them out.  Last year it was the 16th of January.

A few pictures from the last few days - click on any picture to enlarge.

Carl even had a hot dog.

I think some of the wieners were smoked from the looks of this fire.

We had the large bunch of turkeys in the yard today.  These are a few of the Toms.

Such a handsome fellow.

The State flower the Bitterroot just coming through the ground.

Ice over some moss on the rocks.