Productive Weekend!

Great weekend with nephew Evan and his wonderful gal, Dani!  Mike and I rocked it for getting things done!! Especially Mike!!  My photo of us all enjoying beer and apps is on my phone; you will have to wait for that photo.  Here's what got accomplished.

First, five bluebird houses.  Three are up in Freedom, two are waiting to go up in Hoback.  These are made using the plans from Gilbertson Bluebird House design.  Supposed to be sparrow resistant.  I hate sparrows about as much as flies.....  You paint them to look like a birch/aspen tree.  Hopefully, the bluebirds will not judge their potential homes by the exterior artwork!!  They will, I am certain, be very impressed by the brand hanging off the pole!

New lights in the kitchen make this cook VERY happy.  The old lights buzzed.  I hated that!  These sleek low profile lights are a huge improvement!!

Next on to the sink faucet.  Getting rid of the low profile always-in-the-way, this faucet stands tall over the sink, giving more than ample room to wash dishes while enjoying the beautiful western view out of the window.

And then, the light over the sink.  It was about as bad as the other!! Mike found a nice piece of old barn wood (lots came with the place) and mounted this second hand store fixture.  The lights will be changed so they are all the same color.  HUGE improvement!! 

Other things that happened this weekend - new forks for the tractor!!  Very exciting!  The hot tub is fixed!!  Very, very exciting!!  This was the repair, actually, that started the weekend out right!!  

And lastly, when you have an airplane and a hanger, it's nice to have a giant door into your shop.  When you have no airplane and a hanger, it's nice to keep this insulated area closed up.  This beautiful door addition was completed a couple of weeks ago.  Great work, T!

Spring Was Here!

Seriously.  It really was here.  For two and a half days, we lavished in warm temperatures and marveled at the spring birds singing away.  Snow melted, rivers got muddy, and the sky was oh so blue. 

Today, it is gray and cold and threatening to rain/snow. 

So during this lovely time, I went for a walk up behind our house.  Here are some images.

Afternoon Radiance.

A Gift.

  The Hoback Place 

Melting Out.

What it feels like to be a member of the fire service family.....

This is what it feels like.  I was bummed there were very few (any?) women, but it still captures what it's all about to be a member of the fire family. 

Proud to be a Firefighter

Winter Beauty

Wintery Sunday

This weekend has been a good effort from the weather department to make sure we all feel we've gotten a bit of winter this year.  Cars line up to get to the ski hill, snow blowers relocate inches of snow from walkways and drives, and plow trucks run up and down the road.

We are reminded of the difference between a slick road and a dry road after Friday night's dramatic crash in the Snake River Canyon.  A truck with a single passenger flew off the edge of the canyon to a tragic final ending, upside down, in the Snake River.  A dad with two kids and a wife lost his life and icy roads certainly contributed.  In the blink of an eye.  This is a picture down to the edge of the river where the vehicle came to rest.

Mike and I have one day together in Freedom this week and anticipate a long week ahead.  Monday night fire department meeting, Wednesday night crew checks, Friday night banquet with our friends up north, and finally all day Saturday in another training.

Had to run an errand this morning and got some winter pictures from here to Etna and back.  I am guessing spring is near by......

Drive safe.