More elk, and a delicacy!

This hunt began December 1. The hunters were from Alaska. 

A nice 6 point bull. 

  The  first one was a 5 point. Just as George was taking the picture a big snowflake gob fell in front of Randy. Looks like snow on his nose!!

They said fresh elk tongue was a delicacy where they are from. The natives love it. 

So, we aim to please!!  Boiled it, cooled it, peeled it, sliced it!  It had the consistency of a rubber tire chunk. Some liked it. 

Nov 28

The men moved the cattle across the Platte River at the Overland Ranch Savage lease. It is starting to freeze up today.

 George went down and started feeding down there. 

Interstate 80 and 30 are both closed today. This is the way it looks when they let the traffic go after being closed for hours. Wall to wall trucks and cars trying to make up for lost time. 

The windmill aereator that George installed at the Miller Lake a couple of weeks ago, is working. It kept a large area open to the air. This will keep the ice from freezing over and shutting the oxygen off to the newly planted fish. 

The windmill pumps air into a hose that makes bubbles and inhibits ice forming. 

This is taken Dec 29 after weeks of freezing weather, some below zero. It is keeping the lake open. 

Liz making gingerbread cookies with Grandma. Cracking eggs, stirring, and using the rolling pin "by myself" is so interesting. Brothers are all in school. 

We sent some home to the boys. The frosting and features are all askew. They seem to be kicking their legs up in the air as they got manhandled onto the cookie sheet before baking. Then we had to go read the Gingerbread Man story and sing the song!!  Fun times for both of us. 

Playing monopoly. Random moves with money being paid indiscriminately. That's the way 3 3/4 year olds play. Very stress free, no worries about buying or selling property!!  Roll the dice and ask the other person for a "purple money". 

The next day we made a cake for Grandpa G. 

Mom is keeping busy at the quilt store cutting out and making up apron panels. One lady saw what she was doing and bought 5 to make for gifts. 

Thanksgiving

So fun to have kids and grandkids visiting. 

At Chris and Kate's house Wednesday night. 

Sleepover at Grandma's house 

Goose hunting in the snow. 

We got a snowstorm in the night. Started out early, kept checking the road report on the phone. Interstate 80 and highway 30 both closed. It stopped snowing both here and Cheyenne, but the roads are still closed!  So we have lots of food here. We had hoped to go to Cheyenne and take family pictures with Pres and Nelda. 

Shooting some clay pigeons, Thanksgiving afternoon. 

Big boys and littles all enjoying it. 

For our warm weather friends, note how Wyoming kids dress when watching goings on in the snow!!

Hunter-opoly seems to be a hit. 

Another set of monopoly players. 

Pizza and soda, lots of laughs, fun times. 

Grand dogs outside wanting inside to join the fun. 

Nov 21

There were 3 trumpeter swans on the lake when they got there to set up the windmill. 

George is getting so many projects done this fall with the beautiful weather. He built an aereator to keep the lake from freezing and killing the fish this winter. 

Heading out to Laramie this morning. George is taking Kate and me. November 22.  Highways closed Laramie to Cheyenne because of wrecks. Very slick roads. 

The digital speed limit signs are 40 or 50 on this bad stretch. They had freezing fog earlier. 

November 15

There is a bald eagle sitting in this tree. This in an Indian encampment area on the North Platte River. Many Indian fire rings and arrowhead chips. I wanted to record the "no snow" landscape. It is very unusual for this time of year. The lack of snow and warm temps are making records. 

I went with George today to drain cattle watering systems. It is supposed to snow this week. 

It was fun to see the various pastures. I hadn't been here for years. It was nice enough to take the open Ranger vehicle. 

I was ferrying trucks and horse trailers for Chris gathering cattle on the Overland lease. You can't see this completely, as it covers a big area. The Indians must have used this large circle of rocks for some kind of ceremony. There is a big rock in the center, and many big heavy rocks set in a circle around it. Chris found arrowheads in this circle area. 

Kate had to borrow Todds warm hat when we were feeding the men. It is November 17 and the snow is coming today. 

The interstate is closed Laramie to Cheyenne. 

November 18. Waiting for the men to come for lunch. 

Lunch in the greenhouse again. It was so nice and warm. Pretty chilly outside. 

Fun with Dad

We are preg checking tomorrow, so the men are getting 700 cows in tonight. 

Liz has been waiting for her turn to ride. 

Such a beautiful November day. Unseasonably warm, 58 degrees or so. The kids didn't want to wear coats. 

Nov 11

We bought a new trailer to replace the older one. George is putting this one "out to pasture". He will dig a hole, burn it, and bury it. 

Moving on down the road!

Pulling it with the CAT dozer. 

Hard to believe this cowboy weighed 2.5 pounds about 10 years ago. Now he is about as tall as Grandma!

Grandpa decided to put another layer of plastic on the greenhouse. Quite a job!  It is 60' x 28' long. Had a couple ladders and the tractor loader. 

Way up there to get the plastic over the top, then to unroll it evenly. 

Holly took this picture of Will Page.