Random updates

Time got away from me, and somehow I haven't posted any updates for the past month! Usually when that happens it means I've been incredibly busy, but this past month I've actually been super busy RELAXING. What a treat it has been. I've done a ton of baking, read a boatload of books, gone on several walks/hikes, and spent lots of quality time with Mike and Rose.  It's been wonderful! I am definitely counting my blessings as we enter a new year.

Rose has loved all the presents she got during the month and especially on Christmas:

Mike and Rose spent St Nick's day putting together two gingerbread kits - reindeer and a treehouse!

Rose actually opted to accompany me on several walks! I love having her company, even if we go slower and shorter than I would have otherwise chosen :)

We have all been enjoying our cats. One morning I woke up with Ivy and Emily both laying on my outstretched arm. Awwww...

We were blown away by the generosity of family this year. The huge stacks of presents certainly increased our anticipation for Christmas morning, and we have been busy playing with our toys ever since.

 Our chickens started producing fancy eggs ;)

Yesterday (New Year's Eve) I started painting the bathroom. I've been wanting to paint over the wainscotting for a long time, and I finally tackled the project!  It looks so much better now, in my opinion. The only drawback was that I ran out of paint and couldn't also finish my bedroom, so that project will have to wait for another weekend.

Before/during

 

 

 

After! :)

I had a "helper" for this painting project.

Mike and Rose have been busy doing legos ever since about noon on Christmas day.

I got them "school uniforms" for Christmas :)

(Thanks again, Ben and Heather!!)

I love my beautiful, smart and kind daughter so much!

And one of the best gifts of all was that I got my first dose of the covid vaccine!! Hopefully this horrible pandemic will be behind us soon.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2021!!!!

52 hike challenge 2020 COMPLETE!

 I did it!

Mike and Rose (and Doug) even came with me to celebrate :)

52 hike challenge 2020

1. 1/1/20 - 2 mi - out and back
2. 1/5/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
3. 1/11/20 - 2 mi - out and back
4. 1/19/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
5. 1/26/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
6. 2/1/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
7. 2/2/20 - 2 mi - out and back
8. 2/9/20 - 2 mi? - sledding, and to/from the neighbors
9. 2/15/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
10. 2/22/20 - 1 mi? -  Lincoln Sculpture in the Wild
(there were at least a few more in here that I, alas, forgot to record)
11. 4/5/20 - 2 mi? - up to the highest peak in our neighborhood
12.  4/10/20 - 2 mi? - down a new drainage next door and back around by the gardens
13. 4/12/20 - 2.5 mi - out and back 

14. 4/18/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up
15. 4/22/20 - 1 mi? - down to the parking lot to pick up my car
16. 4/26/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock" 

17. 5/1/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock"

18. 5/2/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop

19. 5/3/20 - 1.5 mi - to the neighbors' horse pen and back

20. 5/10/20 - 2 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

21. 5/16/20 - 3 mi - Mount Helena (prairie trail up, powerline trail down)

22. 5/30/20 -  1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

23. 6/7/20 - 2 mi - out and back

24. 6/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

25. 6/14/20 - 2 mi - out and back 

26. 6/28/20 - 2 mi - out and back

27. 7/4/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

28. 7/12/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

29. 7/25/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

30. 7/26/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

31. 7/26/20 - 1 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

32. 7/27/20 - 1 mi - over to "Pride rock"

33. 8/15/20 - 6 mi - Crow Creek Falls

34. 9/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

35. 9/26/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

36. 9/27/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

37. 10/3/20 - 2.5 mi - top of Rogers Pass

38. 10/3/20 - 2 mi - Swan River path (in Bigfork, MT)

39. 10/4/20 - 1.5 mi - around Whitefish, MT

40. 10/4/20 - 2 mi - Lion Trail (near Whitefish)

41. 10/4/20 - 1.5 mi - around Bigfork, MT

42. 10/5/20 - 2 mi - Kootenai Falls

43. 10/5/20 - 1.5 mi - around Bigfork, MT

44. 10/6/20 - 2 mi - out and back

45. 10/21/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

46. 10/21/20 - 1 mi? - over to "Pride rock"

47. 10/22/20 - 2 mi - out and back

48. 10/25/20 - 2 mi - out and back

49. 11/14/20 - 2 mi - out and back

50. 11/15/20 - 2 mi - out and back

51. 11/22/20 - 2 mi - out and back

52. 11/27/20 - 2 mi - out and back

52 hike challenge #51

 I still can't believe I'm actually about to finish this challenge this year! I know I haven't gone on any super long hikes, nor have I ventured to many trails outside my neighborhood, but I have made a point of getting out there and I'm proud of myself for that!

Today was another short one - just the 2ish mile out and back, again with my hiking buddy (Doug).

While he is a great hiking buddy, he still hasn't mastered the art of the selfie yet!

52 hike challenge 2020

1. 1/1/20 - 2 mi - out and back
2. 1/5/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
3. 1/11/20 - 2 mi - out and back
4. 1/19/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
5. 1/26/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
6. 2/1/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
7. 2/2/20 - 2 mi - out and back
8. 2/9/20 - 2 mi? - sledding, and to/from the neighbors
9. 2/15/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
10. 2/22/20 - 1 mi? -  Lincoln Sculpture in the Wild
(there were at least a few more in here that I, alas, forgot to record)
11. 4/5/20 - 2 mi? - up to the highest peak in our neighborhood
12.  4/10/20 - 2 mi? - down a new drainage next door and back around by the gardens
13. 4/12/20 - 2.5 mi - out and back 

14. 4/18/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up
15. 4/22/20 - 1 mi? - down to the parking lot to pick up my car
16. 4/26/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock" 

17. 5/1/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock"

18. 5/2/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop

19. 5/3/20 - 1.5 mi - to the neighbors' horse pen and back

20. 5/10/20 - 2 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

21. 5/16/20 - 3 mi - Mount Helena (prairie trail up, powerline trail down)

22. 5/30/20 -  1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

23. 6/7/20 - 2 mi - out and back

24. 6/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

25. 6/14/20 - 2 mi - out and back 

26. 6/28/20 - 2 mi - out and back

27. 7/4/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

28. 7/12/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

29. 7/25/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

30. 7/26/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

31. 7/26/20 - 1 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

32. 7/27/20 - 1 mi - over to "Pride rock"

33. 8/15/20 - 6 mi - Crow Creek Falls

34. 9/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

35. 9/26/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

36. 9/27/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

37. 10/3/20 - 2.5 mi - top of Rogers Pass

38. 10/3/20 - 2 mi - Swan River path (in Bigfork, MT)

39. 10/4/20 - 1.5 mi - around Whitefish, MT

40. 10/4/20 - 2 mi - Lion Trail (near Whitefish)

41. 10/4/20 - 1.5 mi - around Bigfork, MT

42. 10/5/20 - 2 mi - Kootenai Falls

43. 10/5/20 - 1.5 mi - around Bigfork, MT

44. 10/6/20 - 2 mi - out and back

45. 10/21/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

46. 10/21/20 - 1 mi? - over to "Pride rock"

47. 10/22/20 - 2 mi - out and back

48. 10/25/20 - 2 mi - out and back

49. 11/14/20 - 2 mi - out and back

50. 11/15/20 - 2 mi - out and back

51. 11/22/20 - 2 mi - out and back

Snow, snow, snooooowww

Last weekend we got a second huge snowstorm. And it's only November!! They said it's supposed to be a La Nina winter (cold and wet) and that certainly seems to be true so far.  We got well over a foot, maybe even 18-20" inches. Blech.

The weather was definitely good for baking:

On Monday I took a snow day. With the sun it was actually kind of pretty, although it was definitely a lot of work (mostly for Mike) to be shoveling and snowblowing for the third day in a row. 

The worst part of any storm up here at the top of the mountain is the drifting. The snow had stopped falling overnight into Monday morning, but every day the rest of the week I came home to fresh drifting, even despite Mike's multiple plowing passes. This one was on Thursday night - it's kind of hard to see, but that drift is actually almost as tall as the hood of the truck!

This month I'm thankful for Mike's hard work and for his 4-wheeler that plows us out!  He's definitely a keeper. 

52 hike challenge #49 and #50

 I'm almost there! Can't believe that I'm only two hikes away from reaching my 52 hike challenge goal this year. Amazing!!

Yesterday Mike and I went for a walk around the neighborhood to look for deer:

Today, Mike and Rose both came with me! It's always a treat to go for a family hike. So much so that I completely neglected to take any photos during the walk, so here are some cute cat pictures instead:

52 hike challenge 2020

1. 1/1/20 - 2 mi - out and back
2. 1/5/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
3. 1/11/20 - 2 mi - out and back
4. 1/19/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
5. 1/26/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
6. 2/1/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
7. 2/2/20 - 2 mi - out and back
8. 2/9/20 - 2 mi? - sledding, and to/from the neighbors
9. 2/15/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
10. 2/22/20 - 1 mi? -  Lincoln Sculpture in the Wild
(there were at least a few more in here that I, alas, forgot to record)
11. 4/5/20 - 2 mi? - up to the highest peak in our neighborhood
12.  4/10/20 - 2 mi? - down a new drainage next door and back around by the gardens
13. 4/12/20 - 2.5 mi - out and back 

14. 4/18/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up
15. 4/22/20 - 1 mi? - down to the parking lot to pick up my car
16. 4/26/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock" 

17. 5/1/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock"

18. 5/2/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop

19. 5/3/20 - 1.5 mi - to the neighbors' horse pen and back

20. 5/10/20 - 2 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

21. 5/16/20 - 3 mi - Mount Helena (prairie trail up, powerline trail down)

22. 5/30/20 -  1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

23. 6/7/20 - 2 mi - out and back

24. 6/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

25. 6/14/20 - 2 mi - out and back 

26. 6/28/20 - 2 mi - out and back

27. 7/4/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

28. 7/12/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

29. 7/25/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

30. 7/26/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

31. 7/26/20 - 1 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

32. 7/27/20 - 1 mi - over to "Pride rock"

33. 8/15/20 - 6 mi - Crow Creek Falls

34. 9/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

35. 9/26/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

36. 9/27/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

37. 10/3/20 - 2.5 mi - top of Rogers Pass

38. 10/3/20 - 2 mi - Swan River path (in Bigfork, MT)

39. 10/4/20 - 1.5 mi - around Whitefish, MT

40. 10/4/20 - 2 mi - Lion Trail (near Whitefish)

41. 10/4/20 - 1.5 mi - around Bigfork, MT

42. 10/5/20 - 2 mi - Kootenai Falls

43. 10/5/20 - 1.5 mi - around Bigfork, MT

44. 10/6/20 - 2 mi - out and back

45. 10/21/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

46. 10/21/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock"

47. 10/22/20 - 2 mi - out and back

48. 10/25/20 - 2 mi - out and back

49. 11/14/20 - 2 mi - out and back

50. 11/15/20 - 2 mi - out and back

52 hike challenge #48

 We got SO. MUCH. SNOW. yesterday.  It was a lovely day to stay inside and do some cleaning, yoga and baking. Even though it was cold today (15F) I wanted to get out and move my body a bit, so Doug and I hiked to Red Roof Steve's and back.

Also, I can't believe I'm at hike #48 for the year! Technically I'm not following the rules of the real 52 hike challenge (who only count one hike per day), but I don't care. I decided a long time ago that I was going to count any hikes that I wouldn't have otherwise done except for the challenge, and several times I wouldn't have gone on a second hike that day except that I wanted to count the hikes toward my total. These are the rules that work for me, and I'm super proud that I'm so close to completing this year-long hiking journey!!

52 hike challenge 2020

1. 1/1/20 - 2 mi - out and back
2. 1/5/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
3. 1/11/20 - 2 mi - out and back
4. 1/19/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
5. 1/26/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
6. 2/1/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
7. 2/2/20 - 2 mi - out and back
8. 2/9/20 - 2 mi? - sledding, and to/from the neighbors
9. 2/15/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
10. 2/22/20 - 1 mi? -  Lincoln Sculpture in the Wild
(there were at least a few more in here that I, alas, forgot to record)
11. 4/5/20 - 2 mi? - up to the highest peak in our neighborhood
12.  4/10/20 - 2 mi? - down a new drainage next door and back around by the gardens
13. 4/12/20 - 2.5 mi - out and back 

14. 4/18/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up
15. 4/22/20 - 1 mi? - down to the parking lot to pick up my car
16. 4/26/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock" 

17. 5/1/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock"

18. 5/2/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop

19. 5/3/20 - 1.5 mi - to the neighbors' horse pen and back

20. 5/10/20 - 2 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

21. 5/16/20 - 3 mi - Mount Helena (prairie trail up, powerline trail down)

22. 5/30/20 -  1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

23. 6/7/20 - 2 mi - out and back

24. 6/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

25. 6/14/20 - 2 mi - out and back 

26. 6/28/20 - 2 mi - out and back

27. 7/4/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

28. 7/12/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

29. 7/25/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

30. 7/26/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

31. 7/26/20 - 1 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

32. 7/27/20 - 1 mi - over to "Pride rock"

33. 8/15/20 - 6 mi - Crow Creek Falls

34. 9/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

35. 9/26/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

36. 9/27/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

37. 10/3/20 - 2.5 mi - top of Rogers Pass

38. 10/3/20 - 2 mi - Swan River path (in Bigfork, MT)

39. 10/4/20 - 1.5 mi - around Whitefish, MT

40. 10/4/20 - 2 mi - Lion Trail (near Whitefish)

41. 10/4/20 - 1.5 mi - around Bigfork, MT

42. 10/5/20 - 2 mi - Kootenai Falls

43. 10/5/20 - 1.5 mi - around Bigfork, MT

44. 10/6/20 - 2 mi - out and back

45. 10/21/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

46. 10/21/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock"

47. 10/22/20 - 2 mi - out and back

48. 10/25/20 - 2 mi - out and back

52 hike challenge #45 & #46 & #47

Trula came to visit!! It was so fun to see her and to meet her boyfriend, Steven. I still can't believe they made the 16-hour drive in only one day. I feel bad that I was sick in bed for their first two days here, but at least I felt human-like enough to go on a couple hikes with them on their third day. 

And we also went on a shorter hike together the next day too:

 

52 hike challenge 2020

1. 1/1/20 - 2 mi - out and back
2. 1/5/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
3. 1/11/20 - 2 mi - out and back
4. 1/19/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
5. 1/26/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop
6. 2/1/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
7. 2/2/20 - 2 mi - out and back
8. 2/9/20 - 2 mi? - sledding, and to/from the neighbors
9. 2/15/20 - 4.25 mi neighborhood loop
10. 2/22/20 - 1 mi? -  Lincoln Sculpture in the Wild
(there were at least a few more in here that I, alas, forgot to record)
11. 4/5/20 - 2 mi? - up to the highest peak in our neighborhood
12.  4/10/20 - 2 mi? - down a new drainage next door and back around by the gardens
13. 4/12/20 - 2.5 mi - out and back 

14. 4/18/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up
15. 4/22/20 - 1 mi? - down to the parking lot to pick up my car
16. 4/26/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock" 

17. 5/1/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock"

18. 5/2/20 - 4.25 mi - neighborhood loop

19. 5/3/20 - 1.5 mi - to the neighbors' horse pen and back

20. 5/10/20 - 2 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

21. 5/16/20 - 3 mi - Mount Helena (prairie trail up, powerline trail down)

22. 5/30/20 -  1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

23. 6/7/20 - 2 mi - out and back

24. 6/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

25. 6/14/20 - 2 mi - out and back 

26. 6/28/20 - 2 mi - out and back

27. 7/4/20 - 1 mi? - down an old creek bed and back up

28. 7/12/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

29. 7/25/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

30. 7/26/20 - 4.5 mi neighborhood loop

31. 7/26/20 - 1 mi? - Tower Rock State Park

32. 7/27/20 - 1 mi - over to "Pride rock"

33. 8/15/20 - 6 mi - Crow Creek Falls

34. 9/13/20 - 2 mi - out and back

35. 9/26/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

36. 9/27/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

37. 10/3/20 - 2.5 mi - top of Rogers Pass

38. 10/3/20 - 2 mi - Swan River path (in Bigfork, MT)

39. 10/4/20 - 1.5 mi - around Whitefish, MT

40. 10/4/20 - 2 mi - Lion Trail (near Whitefish)

41. 10/4/20 - 1.5 mi - around Bigfork, MT

42. 10/5/20 - 2 mi - Kootenai Falls

43. 10/5/20 - 1.5 mi - around Bigfork, MT

44. 10/6/20 - 2 mi - out and back

45. 10/21/20 - 2 mi - my favorite meditation spot

46. 10/21/20 - 2 mi? - over to "Pride rock"

47. 10/22/20 - 2 mi - out and back