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Ayers Natural Bridge in WY

We stopped to finally see what the natural bridge was all about. It was very pretty, pets arent alllowed and there was a natural rattlesnake on the path to the bridge so our sightseeing lasted a total of 2 minutes. Just long enough for me to video a redneck throwing a rock at the snake.

Quick Trip to Kalispell

Kristian and I took a quick trip to Kalispell for work this week. It was fast and furious but we had a chance to have a little fun too. Did I mention we got pulled over on the home? Later...

Anyway, I took a few pictures from the side of road and wanted to share them. The first is really pretty. The sun was hitting the snow covered trees just right and it was divine.

The second is a little strange. I was coming around a corner and saw something I just had to stop and go back to take a picture of. I can't explain it but now I have a photo so no one can say I am making it up when I tell them the story.

So, about getting pulled over... We were on the shortcut through Valier, headed back to I-15 and the sun had just set. Off in the distance we saw some flashing red lights. Then we saw more of them. Then we saw even more. It looked like there were about 100 of them and they were spaced kind of strange. Then they were moving. I thought maybe it was a train. Needless to say, I was fascinated by them and kepting trying to figure out what they were and all the time not realizing that I was driving WAY too fast. We crested a hill and I died inside when I saw a cop sitting on the side of the road and I looked down to see the speedomoter read 85.



Back in the good ol' days of "reasonable and prudent" this would have been no big deal. I could go on and on about how and why that got taken away from us poor Montanans but then I might write something nasty and we wouldn't want that.

So the good cop flips his lights on, pulls a little Starsky and Hutch tire spin out of the pull-out he is sitting in and proceeds to pull me over. "Excuse me Ma'am, do you know how fast you were going?" *Why do they always ask this? Does it make a difference? If I didn't know could I play stupid?*

"No sir, I do now because I looked down but I was really freaked out by all of those red flashing lights. I thought it was alien invasion!" I didn't really say that last part but I did ask what they were. Turns out they are about 100 gigantic wind towers. Huh. I felt stupid but at least I didn't get a ticket. "I'll let you off with a warning this time Ma'am". I love the Montana Highway Patrol!

My Grandma, Anne with an "e"

My Grandma, Anne Viola (Peters) Schroeder, passed away one year ago last week. She is greatly missed by us all. Although it's been a full year, its' still hard to imagine she is gone. It's hard not to think of calling her when I see a rodeo on the TV or think "I know what Grandma is doing!" when I see Lawrence Welk on Sunday nights. My Mom often mentions that she'll see something red or pink in a store and instinctively reach out to buy it for her but then realizes Grandma's not here to enjoy the little gifts anymore. It's especially difficult during the holiday season. One of Grandma's favorite times of year, second only to her birthday in June.

My Grandma was a strong woman, often called the "Queen of Sheba" by family and friends. She was the last surviving member of her brothers and sisters and was treated as royalty by all her family, friends and neighbors. She was born in 1916 and before she died she was able to witness almost an entire century of incredible change. From the horse and buggy she road as a child to watching the Rover land on Mars. She got to see and experience it all.

I miss you Grandma.

Thanksgiving 2008

This was my first year EVER of doing Thanksgiving dinner at my house. It was also my first time ever roasting a turkey. Ever. Did I mention EVER?

I was freaked and kept thinking I would ruin it and my family and friends would have to eat bologna on the special day. I implored my mother to by a "backup turkey" but she said she had "faith" in me. I was SICK. 

So, I did what any normal professional computer loving geek would do.  I Googled it. I ended up using a combined version of the brining and roasting instructions of Alton Brown and Martha Stewart. I boiled the brine ingredients and soaked the bird overnight and I decided to brown the turkey first instead of waiting until the end of the roasting schedule. 

I had my plans and I felt prepared. The brining went great and then it was time to get the bird in the oven. Great, I'll just tie the bird up with this big of twine that comes with every succulent ButterBall right? Wrong, there was a tiny piece of rope maybe 2 inches long on the packet with the bird. Now what? Well, don't laugh but I used minty fresh tooth floss. :-)  It worked great!

The bird came out moist and lovely. There were a lot of compliments but the most shocking was from my brother,the person who never eats white meat.  He had a helping and then seconds and then thirds!

I tried to make my living room inviting with a Thanksgiving-ey tablescape. Eat your heart out Martha.

Videos From The Edge...of the continent

I have some videos I will be uploading from our trip to WA and the coast.  Sorry for the delay. I'm slow and that's how I roll.

This one is of KDO trying to fit in all the "cargo" that Lewis & Clark had to stow and float with on their trip to the ocean. What he didn't realize until the end of the video is that the little canoe didn't only rock side to side, but also back and forth. Mission Impossible.

This video is of the first "wild" starfish we ever saw or touched. This was taken at Ruby Beach, one of our favorite stops while touring the Olympic National Park area. 

Chicks Dig Scars - Part 2

Apparently KDO has decided to add stitches to the list of things he believes chicks dig. Just kidding...

He and my Mom ran into some black ice a while back on their way to Helena and spun out on the bridge coming up to the Zieben off-ramp. They are OK now. The car has been fixed and KDO's stitches are out. (I pulled them which was a weird feeling)

The whole event actually was an eye opener for KDO. We had some pretty deep discussions about life and death. It also helped cool his heels about getting his driver's license which he has been bugging me about non-stop since he turned 14.

All in all, I am just glad they are both OK. That's all that matters in my little world.