Drive North~

Our first day back in WA state was a typical December day, mid-30's, gray & frost.  We spent it enjoying family time with two of our favorite Grand-kids.  Friday was warmer & still gray.  Borrowing the kids car - we took a drive up north.  We both wanted to see our old Homestead.  Of course with all the trees we'd planted over the years for privacy from the road - there wasn't much to see.

Up our old road~

There were changes, it didn't seem like home anymore.  Strangely enough - we were both happy about that!  The forest looked just fine!  Since the creek runs through & with the on-going water rights issues in the County, I hope that it will never get cut.

Signage still here~

It was nice to see that the signs were still on the fence.  We stopped to see Pat, Donnie & Kayla - so good to reminisce about the old days & hear news about how the on-going development will affect the neighborhood as we used to know it.

Seattle Galvanizing

Arlington too, had changed.  We checked out the last small property that Butch was building when we left.  An attractive little commercial building, now complete & occupied.  There was a new Condo/Apartment building just across from the Safeway & more traffic than we remembered.

Whitehorse Mountain~

We had just enough time to drive to Darrington, where we walked through 4" of fresh powder snow to check out our youngest daughters old property along the Sauk River.  The erosion was continuing, with huge chunks of the bank still falling into the current.

At the Ranch~

Dinner at Rhodes River was the plan & it was as beautiful as ever to see the Christmas lights as we pulled in.  

Gate Decorations~

Our friends were waiting, dinner was as good as ever & we spent the evening catching up on everything that had happened in the year we'd been away.  

Barb, Scott, Linda, Butch & Connie

It wasn't as hard this time - to say good-by.  We're in the planning stages for a horse camping trip next summer & looking forward to saddle time.

The drive back to Duvall seemed long!  We almost didn't recognize our old turn onto SR 92 off SR9!  A new storage building was on the corner - harbinger of future residential construction.

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~