2010 - 2020, The Decade ~

I've been looking through my photos from the last ten-years...  It seems like yesterday!  Ben, our first Grandchild, was born in 2000, Mason in 2001 & Cassidy in 2003!  Busy years!

1-29-2010 Cassidy, Mason & Ben

2010 - Our favorite three Grandkids visited Papa in Redmond, at his construction site.  Visiting job sites was one of the field trips that the kids enjoyed most!

4-10-2011 Jentry & Skyla Jean

 2011 - After ten-years, Jentry & Joe presented us with another beautiful Granddaughter!

7-27-2012 Papa with Josie Lynn~

2012 - About eighteen months later - another bundle of beauty!  We call the girls our second generation of Grandkids!

7-27-2013 - Josie & Grammy

2013 - Our youngest, turned one!  We had a wonderful party at the Wright's on the river.  It was a year filled with good family times.  (Farah & I traveled over 1,400 miles.)

1-14-2014 Moon over Three Fingers Peak, from behind the barn~

2014 - The above photo had over 5,000 likes on the Seattle KOMO 4 News web site.  A "Wolf" moon.  Another busy year at work for Butch.  Working in Ballard, building a high-rise storage facility.  Long hours - with longer commutes - leaving me with plenty of ride time.

11-27-2015 Cassidy, Connie, Nika, Butch, Ben, Rascal & Mason~

2015 - We made time for some three-day camping trips & felt so lucky to have two of the grandkids 35-miles south of us & the other three about the same distance north!

10-11-2016 Courtney, Connie & Butch - Duvall, WA

2016 - In October, we packed up the Homestead & moved 1,732 miles - to the Home Place!

8-21-2017 Eclipse, Indian Caves State Park, NE

2017 - Our oldest daughter Courtney, brought Mason & Cassidy to Iowa for visit!  We enjoyed every day they were here.  Besides two days at the Zoo & stopping by Sugar Makery for the grand opening, we drove to Indian Cave State Park in Nebraska to view the solar eclipse!

9-16-2018 Venice, Italy

2018 - Daughter Courtney & I take a trip to Italy!

2-14-2019 Cassidy, Connie, Courtney, Mason & David -
Leaving Children's in Seattle~

2019 - Grandson Mason beats Cancer!  Our Superhero!

2-16-2019 Skyla, Connie, Ben & Josie - Fort. Stevens ~

Even our youngest two - are growing so fast!  How long will it take for them to be taller than I am?  Ben is grown!

A new year & a new decade!  For couple who book-ended the 50's - we've marked the passing of the years - watching as our five Grandchildren grow.  I know they're going to do more of that!  We're loving every minute!

Here's to 2020!  

Happy New Year!

2019 - In Review~

The end of another year!  Our third - in Iowa!  More changes made, many of my ever lengthening list of to-do's completed!  I made three trips to Washington - the first in January & again in February, to support our Grandson Mason & the Peters family.  The third, late in September, to move Farah.

1-24-19 Insulation~

Butch worked on the insulation in the cabin while I was in WA.  By the end of February, the paneling was going up & inside window trim done.  People stopped by, when they saw us out, to ask about what they thought was a Tiny House!

2-19-19 Mason Beats Cancer!

Grandson Mason is our Super Hero!  Mason exhibited such strength, resolve & determination!  With the support of his family, friends, school & community, he persevered!  His Doctors & the nursing staff were so impressed with his bravery & get-it-done positive attitude!

3-13-19 Tinkle Branch Creek 

The terrible Missouri River Valley flooding started in March.  Tinkle Branch was running bank to bank & kept right on flowing to Keg Creek!  Other homeowners weren't so lucky.

4-10-19 Marking the corners of the two lots~

My priority, was to continue clearing the timbered lots & marsh.  (With Farah in WA) I needed something to keep me busy.  May, Butch bought me a reciprocating saw, making the job both faster & easier!

5-6-19 The Marsh~

It was an incredibly wet, lush, green spring.  The marsh was full of water & I met my first big snapping turtle!

7-7-19 The Explorer & the Bronco

After twenty-years of driving a Bronco, I caved & came home with a Ford Explorer!  So easy to drive, smooth & comfortable.  The Bronco will stay - it will be a classic in 2020!

8-30-19  The Camper Leaves~

Slightly sad & bittersweet, we sold our Arctic Fox.  It had served us well.  Camping with our kids & going to endurance rides.  Finally, our home-on-the-road when we made our move to IA.  We ended up staying in the camper while we remodeled the house.

9-5-19 Cabin 

September, the cabin had a gravel walkway & light post.  April - Butch built a split rail fence along the north property line.

9-10-19 Marsh clearing~

Clearing in the marsh, was well underway.  The piles of  Autumn Olives were stacking up.  Just the worst bush imaginable - with stickers!  I was covered with war wounds!

9-24-19 The Webster's~

Friends from WA drove out, for a visit that was too short!  Lynn & I had ridden many miles together over several years.  Jack had made it possible for us to ride point-to-point long distance rides.  He would drive the truck & trailer, drop us off at one end of our proposed route, then be there to pick us & the horses up at the other end!  We've missed them!

9-28-19 Connie & Farah~

The last of September, I was again in WA.  This time to move Farah from where she'd been down south, to an acquaintance's farm, north.  She's close enough to our daughter's now, I'll be able to visit & ride her when I'm in the state!

10-3-19 The F-350, totaled~

While I was still in WA, Butch's truck was totaled, where it was parked in front of the cabin.  A drunk driver living just up our street, missed the corner & went airborne...   He wasn't seriously injured.  It was a sad end - to a truck we'd enjoyed so much.  The truck pulled the horse trailer with Farah, out from WA & taken us on many adventures.

11-8-19 Butch's new Truck~

Insurance covered a rental truck, until Butch found new wheels.  Another Ford of course!

11-20-19 Agriland

November, Butch started work at Agriland in Malvern.  He kept his morning school bus route!

11-18-19 Clear Views!

As weather cooperated well into fall, I had all the Honeysuckle cut & stacked in the timber.  The Autumn Olive & remaining Honeysuckle in the marsh were down & stacked too!

Christmas morning~

December really impressed us with some spectacular days!  Christmas felt more like an early spring day - rather than early winter.

The end of our third-year & on to the fourth. The Home Place has taken shape.

Past year - 2018~

West Oak Forest ~

We'd driven by the sign that leads to the West Oak Forest parking area many times.  Butch took the day off & I wanted to get out & go for a hike!  There's something about the last days of one year & the beginning of the next...  I get antsy for open space & fresh air.

Butch & Nika~

The weather man gave us one more day of sunshine, with temperatures in the 40's. It's been dry, but rain is coming in tonight & supposed to last through the day tomorrow.

The first climb~

With the highest point over 1,100 feet above sea level, we knew we'd be doing some hill climbing to reach the crest of the hills & the views.

Indian Currant Coralberry~

I've seen the above berries in several of the parks.  Thank you to Jerad G. who provided the ID!  I want to buy some to plant along our back bank!

Butch & Nika, top of the first bluff~

Lucky for us, it's been dry.  There were many places where the trail was very slippery. The ground frozen, with a thin layer of melted soil on top. Hiking here - once we get moisture or in wet weather is just short of impossible. The mud clings to the bottom of your shoes. If you wear hiking boots, they soon become heavy with stuck on mud.

Old root cellar~

As we dropped to the bottom area, between two hills, we came upon this old cave. It was brick lined, with pieces falling from the ceiling. Probably five feet deep, I sure didn't want to go in! Neither did Nika!

The water below is from the March floods. Some of the fields have finally drained.  The smell of rotting plant material is horrible.  Pretty in pictures, but not if you live nearby.

Looking NW - toward Omaha~

The plant below is my nemesis! It's almost impossible to see when you're walking through any kind of grassy ground. I was first introduced to it when I walked Pierce Creek with the rangers, laying out a new trail. Another time - Farah's legs were covered & I had to scrape them off with my hands! Here at home I've found them too - pulling them & putting the entire plant in the trash.

Virginia Stickseed

Tomorrow is the winter open house at Pony Creek Conservation Center - we may stop by. I hope to ask Dessa - the Naturalist there - to help me identify the reddish berry.

Heading back~

With about 3-miles of trails, we ended up doing a loop at the top. We also took a spur trail, but it ended at a private home. Horses are allowed here when the ground is dry. (It would have been tough to get even my horse trailer in the parking area.)

Southwest~

Coming back, the sun was lower in the sky & clouds were starting to move in.  We hadn't eaten since a morning piece of pie...  I was thinking about an early dinner for over an hour of our two-hour hike!   My months on the elliptical have paid off.  I do wish I'd brought my trekking poles for the downhills.

The truck waits~

We spent a few minutes scraping mud off our shoes, on the edge of a rough concrete pad, before getting back to the truck. Dinner in Council Bluffs hit the spot!

Christmas~

I'm sure we broke the record for warmth on this day.  The thermometer topped out at 60 degrees about 2 p.m. this afternoon.  It was such a quiet morning, no planes, trains, or even the little bit of traffic we usually hear.  The birds were singing as though it were spring!

A perfect morning to sit out with our Latte's~

We didn't need to sit in the Cabin to keep warm!  It was beautiful!  I even had a little present outside!  Yesterday, Butch installed an automatic starter on the Explorer for me!  I couldn't unwrap it, but I'll sure enjoy pushing that button on the frosty mornings we're still sure to get!

Nika was Very bad!  Butch let her out last night & she refused to come in.  Without her bark collar, she decided to bark off & on all night long.  I tried each time she woke me, to get her to come in.  No luck - at least not until about 5 a.m. when Butch rattled the dog food container!

In the proverbial "dog house" :-)

I had to take time to admire the view from the front porch, west.  Now, I can see all the way through the timber, almost to the far end of our property.  I can't wait to see what grows this spring!

View west from the front porch~

Daughter Jentry called us through face time.  They've been spending Christmas at Mt. Hood.  Skyla was riding her new hover board like a pro & Josie had already been thrown from her new riding horse, Snowflake!  Time for more training :-)  Ben injured a knee on the slopes - but was walking!

We spent the day with our friends Kay & Linus.  Butch probably broke a record for two Farkle wins!  Kay took the 3rd.  We all ate way too much & enjoyed a day of fun, fellowship, good times & good stories.

Merry Christmas !

Ode to December~

December - an unexpected gift & departure from our usual winter weather.  I've walked out the door, admired the scene & grabbed the camera.

12-11 Sunrise~

Spectacular sunrise on a frosty morning~ (I've had this windsock since living in Redmond, WA - mid-80's.)

12-23 Stunning day~

Perfect days, light breezes, warmth & sunshine. Impossible not to be outside~

12-19 Warbler - which variety?

Quite a variety of birds visiting our feeder!

12-23 Cabin & Timber~

The Cabin, against the Timber~

Merry Christmas to all & to all a Good Night!

December at the Cabin~

December has surprised me again - it's been beautiful!  After last year's weather, it was easy to forget the year before also boasted a mild twelfth month.  I've spent my free afternoons working outside, enjoying the sun.  The very first & largest pile of honeysuckle slash is gone!

The 6th~

 Most of our days, though still getting shorter, have been full of the most amazing light.  A rich, reddish glow from late afternoon - to sunset.  The Serviceberry we planted to the north of the Cabin all did great this year.  After trying evergreen shrubs, boxwood & grasses, I've given up on keeping live plants in pots outside during the winter months.

A new Christmas sign~  Piles of Honeysuckle in the background.

 I found the new little sign - perfect for the Cabin - on a shopping trip with friends to Omaha.  Prairie in Bloom will be a must stop - stop during my excursions to Omaha!

View south from the Porch~

This view, is now twice as wide as it once was with the honeysuckle down.  

Toward the creek~

 Looking back at photos I took earlier in the season, it's almost like a different place.  Now, the sun can shine through the trees, without honeysuckle blocking the light.  

Little tree up!

 The little tree spent so many December's brightening up the Cottage, now does the same in the Cabin!  

Door & widows trimmed out & painted~

With all the insulation & paneling done - it's amazing the difference it's made in the warmth of the Cabin. Butch did the trim around both doors & all the windows. 

Night Lights~

The Cabin is looking very festive this season & we're enjoying it!  Santa could pull up in his sleigh at any time!