Signs of Spring~

It's finally warming up! The weekend was beautiful, if very warm, at least for us! We worked outside most of both days. Butch dug an old rose bush out of Clara's yard & in return Lloyd gave us three tomato starts! They went right into the ground when we got home. He also planted three zucchini plants - I'm pretty sure I'll have plenty of produce to make Zucchini relish!
We were sitting out on the back deck later than usual last evening - it was cooling down - dusk was upon us & suddenly I saw what I thought was a flash light - on the far side of the creek? Just a second later it had moved faster than anyone on foot could have! Was I seeing things? I asked Butch if he saw something & yes he did! Lightning Bugs! I was so excited - it was like a gift that you never expect to get - but appears as if by magic!

Iowa Firefly~

Even Nika saw them & of course - started barking! She was running from one side of the yard to the other - trying to figure out what was going on :-) After doing a lot more reading on the subject - I'm sending a letter to our power company - to ask what they can do about the street light that is oh so much brighter than we need. To actually still have this colony living here at the edge of town is so wonderful. It would help if that light could be dimmed - giving the Firefly's a better chance of communicating. The light show lasted most of an hour - one coming within a few feet of our deck!

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

This morning & went out for my usual walk along the creek & noticed these large leaves, actually similar to a Trillium. Closer inspection revealed it to be one of the wildflowers that I tried for years to establish in the Homestead Woods, Jack-in-the-Pulpit! There were two areas where they seem to be flourishing in the dappled shade.

A true beauty~

Butch weed-whacked the whole area along our side of the creek & I've been knocking things down, such as the Stinging Nettles that you can see coming up around the wildflower. I think that getting all the grasses down, gave the flowers a chance to really flourish! Now, I'm going to get little flags to mark their location - so we won't disturb the bulbs.

The part of Twinkle Creek that we border has been missed by the usual burning, trashing, dumping etc., that I've seen has happened so many other places.  Not that I don't pick up at least a couple pieces of trash on every walk.  Gradually though - I hope to enhance as much a much of the area, as I can~

2016 - Movin' On~

I didn't even think to do my usual yearly wrap up until this month - almost a year later!  Looking back - I realize my last one was at the Homestead in 2015.   2016 was so full of change - none expected or planned - but each in it's own way moved us forward on the path of life.  We've been very blessed to have our family to love, friends to support us & opportunities to experience the beautiful places we have.

January 14th, 2016 - Three Fingers from the Homestead~

The year started out normal enough.  A New Year's Day ride with our Traildusters Chapter of BCHW.  The mild, but wet winter & spring gave me plenty of nice days of riding.  Below - a photo of the first of the Trilliums.

4-11-16 Trillium~

By April, as usual, Farah & I had covered a whole lot of miles.  Butch was working what by now had become his usual routine.  Long hours on his job sites & even longer hours on the freeway commuting. 
A friend wanted me to show her the way up to Stimson Hill & I never had to be asked to make that ride.

4-11-16 Whitehorse Mountain from Stimson Hill

A trip to Quincy & visit to the Cave B winery with friends, was a highlight.  We left camp in pouring rain - but it was so eerily beautiful it made memories I'll never forget.  As Scott said;  "Farah tried to kill you three times." He wasn't kidding - she'd even reared & struck out at him & his horse when he was holding her reins.  It wasn't her weekend...

4-29-16 On our way~

May, my mare redeemed herself & made us proud by accomplishing my other competitive goal, the  Best Condition award at the Mt. Adams endurance ride.  Even with the shank, Butch had his hands full trotting her out at the Vet-in.  She was ready & knew the name of this game!

5-21-16 Butch has his hands full, at the Vet-in~

As June rolled around, little did we know it would be our last annual trip to Nehalem, OR.  A week of bliss riding on the beach. Sandy & I had such fun!  It was probably the last time Farah & her sire Ody will be together.

6-9-16 Connie & Farah, Sandy & Ody~

By late July, change seemed to be happening daily.  Getting the Homestead ready to sell, had us both working long hours.  Butch would come home, load the truck & haul the boxes I'd packed to storage.

8-1-16 Grandson Ben & Butch on the construction site~

My trails were wiped out.  No more riding from home.  I was doing what so many horse people now do, trailering to ride.  It seems we never appreciate anything enough - until it's gone...

8-7-16 Butch views the destruction ~

By September, with the Homestead sold, packing, sorting, hauling, donating etc. was in full swing.  We were constantly looking at the sales ads on-line, searching for a place to live, in the town we thought would suit us best.

9-25-16 Mason, Grammy & Cassidy, under the arch on the Centennial Trail~

As I've written before, the very hardest part was leaving the Grand-kids...  Something we never though we'd ever do.  Both the girls & their families visited & helped sort through everything as we downsized.  After so many years on an acreage -  we filled two U-Haul trucks.

10-14-16 In Sheridan, WY

Early October, we were on the road to Iowa.  The trip couldn't have gone any better, we stopped to visit family in Sheridan & arrived in Glenwood right on schedule.

10-21-16 The Home Place

With such a short time to find anything, we were very lucky.  Our search resulted in a place we felt comfortable calling home.  Two-weeks later I lost my Mother...  We locked up & drove to Boulder,  where we spent a week, before returning to Greenfield for services.

11-11-16 At the Greenfield Cemetery~

It was a sad time - but at least Mom lived long enough to know we'd arrived safely.  She loved hearing all about the house & town.  She was so happy to know we were in Iowa.

12-10-16 Our Tree~

December came, our first Christmas - at the Home Place.  As I write this, almost a year over-due, those months flew by.  So many changes, in such a short time.  It seems especially so, after many years of the seasonal routines in Washington.  No wonder it's taken me a while to assimilate.

The last few years, were mostly about saddle time.  This year riding took a backseat to everything else.  It had only taken Farah a short while to settle into her new surroundings.  It wasn't long before the two of us were back to enjoying our time on the trail & the beauty of the SW Iowa landscapes.

Past Year - 2015~