Canyons and Rocks

Last weekend we took a drive toward the mountains to collect some rocks for a pathway in the backyard.

Looking West over Bighorn Lake

It was cool and windy, a typical fall day.

Heart Mountain (near Cody and Powell) and the white towers are the sugar beet factory in Lovell.
You really can see for miles.

Found a canyon to explore

Everyone became a rock climber--these little canyon walls were fun to climb up and down

Tyler found a fencepost and decided to drag it out.

"Ohio rock"

My new office, downtown Lovell!

Buddies, Sugar, Pumpkins, and Dress-up

I was finally able to organize a play afternoon with some of Tyler's pals from school.  Declan and Payton came over and I was a little nervous--when other kids are here my boys become wild men. And I usually can't deal with all the ruckus.

Frosting sugar cookies

Little did I know that having two sweet kids visit would make all the difference!  They played "family" for hours; taking turns being the mom and dad.  

I laughed endlessly at their arguments, where do they get this stuff???  "Mom" and "Dad" bickered continually about whose turn it was to go to work, and who had to stay home and take care of the "baby."  There was a lot of hand-holding as they walked from room to room.  At one point Payton had on a cowboy hat, Tyler had a wig on, and Declan had a fake mustache on. 

Their completed pumpkins.  Payton's (far right) had lots of dots poked into it because she said it was crying.

Pre-carving.  They were drawing pictures on the pumpkins so that I could carve them.

Declan put as many mini-marshmallows on his cookie as possible.

This is not Cash's Halloween costume.  He normally wears very colorful outfits.

Lessons From the Garden

1.  Just because carrots are huge on top doesn't mean they are longer than 3".
Everything we have picked so far has been fat and short, most likely due to the heavy soil.

2.  Just because I work at a greenhouse and he gives me extra tomatillo and tomato plants doesn't mean I need to plant them.
I had way too many tomatillos and cherry tomatoes.
2a.  Don't plant "Orange Wellington" tomatoes near beefsteaks and neglect to label them.  You will never remember what is supposed to get orange, and what is supposed to ripen to red. 

3.  Brussels sprouts are worth the wait

4.  The less you tidy up during the summer, the more you have to clean up after the growing season is done.

5.  The $0.75 lady figurine that you buy in June with the intent to paint with retro-whacked-out-cool colors may eventually be dwarfed by squash and pumpkins.  She will still have the same ice blue eyes in October.  Maybe next year... 

6.  Take caution when planting something labeled "prolific."
I had quite a few giant snake gourds.  And many little decorative gourds that took over.  They kept the onions and cabbages from getting very big.

7. It doesn't matter what it is, chickens will mess it up.

Finally painted my mailbox.

This was a volunteer plant of "jack be nimble" pumpkins.  Tyler and I counted after all were harvest and we were up to 93.  This wasn't counting all the ones I gave away or put inside the house.

A Night Away

Friday afternoon we drove to Billings to stay the night at hotel.  We found one with a waterpark inside, and decided that was just what the family needed.

Ready to swim

Cash has a great sense of style

It was a little chilly in there until you started to move around.
Cash was overwhelmed with all the water and noise.

The next day we swam again, and went to a Corn Maze.  Some friends met us there so we had a group of kiddos to follow around.  There were other activities at the maze, which was good because at $9 a person it was kind of pricey.  I would have enjoyed it more if it was dry, warmer, and not so hard (but it was still fun).

Riley, Kyla, and Tyler

It was very muddy, and everyone was slipping and sliding and falling.

Yes, we were lost.  We only made it halfway and then bailed.  Shawn would have liked to do the whole thing but the kids were getting annoyed (maybe I was, too).

"Why is she crying?"

Fishing Boys

Truckin'

I returned home from the store to see the front door open, the chickens sitting on the doormat, and Shawn's truck gone.
Since he's been furloughed, Shawn had plans to do a lot of different things--fishing, cleaning up around the yard, organizing things, etc.  I thought maybe he was out fishing again.
But then when I hauled the groceries inside, I found this note >>>

They were helping haul chopped corn for our neighbors, who are scrambling to get 1,000 things done before the next storm rolls in (predicted for tomorrow!)

I thought it was hilarious; no rest for the weary and the neighbors will keep him busy!

Cash looked like a big cheese riding in the truck.