Catching up

Greetings from the Forest

This week has been busy.  Wait, what week isn't?  Anyway, I have lots of photos to share so let me get started.

They guys (Rick, Rich and Paul) worked on my deck rebuild this week.  They will be back next week to finish but I have to say I got so lucky with the color.  It matches the trim on the house perfectly.  Did I plan that?  Some would say yes, others would know the honest answer is no, I just got lucky again!

I decided to send the guys (and their wives) home with dinner on Friday the 12th.  I made baked ziti for the group and then some.  Reviews came in that it was good.  Whew.  Always worry when I try to make something different.

On the 11th I went to dinner with a friend (thank you Marilyn) and although she had no idea it was the anniversary of Mom's death (April 11, 2008), it was a pleasant way to end the day.  Seems like only yesterday and yet it was 5 years.  As I was driving home at dusk, I wondered to myself what Mom would think of this new environment I live in.  I reflected about Mom's love of trees and I figure she'd love it here.  Probably would worry about the bears as most of my family do, but all in all she'd love it.  And Dad, well he'd be very happy also.  With the lake so close and the wild life so abundant I can just picture him smiling.  So, with these thoughts in my head I was gifted with a plethora of joys on my way home that eve.  Elk, deer and turkey.  Thanks Mom!!

 No pictures of the turkeys as they scampered (is that what turkeys do?) up the hill.  Maybe next time.

We had another spring snow storm last week.  We got about 12+ inches.  It was a very wet snow so we were happy to have it as the forest is so dry due to the drought.  Not to mention all the animals get thirsty.  Here are a couple (ok more than a couple) of pictures:

Why yes Max loves the snow!

Wonder where his face has been.

Sometimes you just have to sit in the snow???

This is a bird bath!

Sunrise

When it snows there are these little birds that come out.  Funny little things.  I haven't noticed them when its not snowing but I'm sure they're out there.  I call them snow birds.  (Diane B. maybe you know what kind of birdies they are?)

Well of course you watch the birdies with your bone in your mouth

Right outside the door, teasing Max

They flit around and they drive Max crazy.  He begs to go out and chase them.  Of course they're long gone by the time he gets to where they were but Max is ever the optimist.

He will sit for hours waiting for me to let him out

The forecast calls for another storm Tuesday with, yup, more snow.  Spring will arrive eventually!  I hope you're not sick of the snow pictures.

Every day is different here in the forest.  Every day is a joy.  Every day a gift.

Love from the forest,
Lanae

Spring storm has come and gone

Its true, we had another blizzard yesterday.  We got maybe 6 inches.  But, that's ok as our forest is so very dry.

The first bear sighting was on Monday and the that posted the photo neighbor noted to be careful as the bears are bold due to lack of food and the drought.  Guess we will be careful.

Sit and rest anyone?

Max loves the snow and the snow birds

this is what Oliver does on a snowy day

So remember the Granny feed box thing that had the Trinidad Creamery metal label inside?  There is picture to remind you -

I did some research and the first article that came up was from a court case on November 26, 1921 where Trinidad Creamery misbranded a shipment because the package said "one pound" of butter and it was actually 15.24 ounces. The fine was $25.00 and was paid by the Creamery.

The other really interesting thing is that last year I began looking at a building on Cedar and Commercial Streets in downtown Trinidad that was for sale.  I found a picture of the "old creamery building"  (in the picture it was a bookstore) and it was located right next door to the building I have been looking at.  The creamery building was apparently torn down when Cedar Street was widened.  Such a coincidence!  Now I'm going to keep researching to see what else I can find.

I made the trip to Payson the week before Easter to pack the cabin.  The new renter wanted it unfurnished.  Thank you to sister Linda who drove over from Prescott and helped me pack.  It was a short but fun girls time.  I made pasta salad (one of Linda's favorites) for both Linda and sister Deb who was watching the dogs.  It was yummy.

I need to give a special thank you shout out to Barbara my neighbor in Payson who was instrumental in the house getting emptied.  She also found the renter so needless to say I don't know what I do without her!  Thank you Barb.

Easter was quiet. Breakfast with Deb, waffles on Mom's old waffle iron from the cabin along with blueberry sauce and later in the day my friend Marilyn came over to celebrate her birthday (well we pretended it wasn't her birthday but it was).  Dinner was crab and shrimp cannelloni with an Alfredo / béchamel sauce.  Yea, it was good!  Thank you Giada (Everyday Italian) for the recipe.

On the animal report - there are a group of 8 or so deer, all female, that I see frequently.  The other day Max saw them through the door.  Oh my.  The exited quickly as it was just toooooo noisy to eat.  There is one baby that is just a hoot.  It has the biggest ears and its fur is fuzzy out of control looking.  Too cute!

Nosey!

That's it from the forest.  Thanks for reading! Sending love and warm hugs.

Lanae