It's In The Air

No, I'm not talking about Fall, even though we woke up yesterday to a low of 27. What I'm talking about is smoke!! The New Fork Fire, about 20 miles north of Pinedale, started a month ago. We had several fire crews here working and with the help of some rainy weather they got the fire pretty well contained. It wasn't ever put out, but it was not threatening any structures and was under control, so they sent the crews home. Well, this weekend it got blazing again and hasn't really stopped since. These new blazes have brought back the hazy horizon and smokey smells each morning.

View from our yard.

Early morning sunrise.

They say the fire probably won't really be completely out until we get snow. Who knows...the way our weather is going right now, it may be in just a few weeks!!!

A Few Days Left

Summer here in Pinedale is coming to an end. The days are getting cooler and we are waking up to a chilly 37 degrees in the mornings. Since it is still August, we are trying to enjoy every little bit of summer that is left for us. Last week we went to the park with some friends and then headed over the bridge to play a little in the river. Here's a shot of the last bits of summer.

Derby

This weekend our ward hosted a Mother/Son Fishing Derby. We didn't do much fishing, but we enjoyed the sandy beach and icy water of Willow lake and I have to admit that I really had a great time! Our ward is so diverse, we have SO many young families moving in. I look at these young moms as the "mothers" in our ward. But it was really fun to see the other "mothers" of the ward bring their sons, who are grown, and enjoy a day with their big boys. It made me hope that one day I can do this again with my Bridger, and he can be the big boy taking care of me. It also helped me realize I need to enjoy these days that I have left with him as a little boy, for they only come once.

Finally

We finally made it camping this summer. We've been so busy with house projects and then the fire that we haven't really been out to enjoy one of our favorite summer activities. We had a great time eating tin foil dinners and banana boats, seeing some wildlife, catching a couple fish, and sitting around the campfire despite the rain.






The best part of the weekend was berry picking. The raspberries were in full bloom and we couldn't resist stopping at every bush we saw to pick some delicious little treats. I was amazed at how many berries there were. Here's a shot of just one of the bushes.



We picked and picked and picked and came home with so many berries I had to freeze some because we couldn't use them all.





We had a great time this weekend and Sunday afternoon we reaped the benefits of all our picking with delicious raspberry shakes!!

Catch a fish

That's what B says when he wants to go to a lake and have Rusty catch a fish. Well, we entertained his little wish last Saturday and took the boat out.

Bridger loves everything about fishing; the fishing poles, the tackle, the net, the boat, but the fish...not so much. He was so scared when Rusty caught a fish I was worried he was going to jump out of the boat! I guess he'll learn the slimy little things can't really do much harm.

This little guys is so lucky to have a daddy to take him out and enjoy the outdoors. They are going to have some big adventure together!!

Shrooms

This is one of the times of the year that Rusty lives for...mushroom season. Here in sage brush hills of Pinedale, there is a 2-3 week time frame when wild mushrooms sprout up in bunches and bunches. Now these aren't the wild mushrooms that you may be thinking of...giving you some psychedelic high or killing you dead on the spot...these are mushrooms that are fresh, healthy, and delicious (if you are a mushroom lover).










When I first met Rusty and we went looking for mushrooms the very first time, I remember thinking of the toadstools that would come up in the grass of my front yard growing up. Mom warned me and warned me not to touch or eat those things. They were always fascinating to me, how they would sprout up over night...but nothing I would go searching the yard for. Well, now here I am, married to the MOST OUTDOORSY MAN IN THE WORLD, and I'm walking the hills looking for the special shine of his beloved mushrooms.








Saturday we hit the mushrooms in full bloom, (or whatever you call it) and we hit the jackpot. We probably collected between 50-60 mushrooms and filled 2 grocery bags!! Rusty was thrilled and couldn't wait to get home. We washed, chopped, and sauteed the mushrooms; freezing them for later. Now Rusty can have mushrooms on everything he eats; hamburgers, steaks, pizza, spaghetti, etc, etc.








Now, many of you are going to read this, and think we're crazy, you would never do that!! But when you marry someone like Rusty you learn there is a whole new world out there just waiting for you to discover it, and that's the beauty of life, now isn't it!!

Messy, Messy

Last week I had playgroup at my house. We like to have a little activity for the kids so I decided to use a Preschool favorite...playing in shaving cream. It was a hit with the kids and the mom's too. Here are some shots of the happy kiddos.

These are some of the nicest girls here in Pinedale. I'm so lucky to have met good ladies, who have great testimonies, and are wonderful mommies. It's good to know that Bridger will have good friends to grow up with. Thanks Mindy, Heather, and Michelle!!

Slush

Isn't slush just about one of the dirtiest, yuckiest things in the world? I mean, think of all the gross things in it; dirt, oil, gas, and who knows what else!! But I have to admit that I am THRILLED to see slush the past few days. January and early February were nasty in Wyoming. There were days that Pinedale didn't get into the double digits, and to make things worse it was -30 at night...whoa!! Then on top of the cold is the wind, it just drifts the snow and makes it near impossible to drive. So, when I saw 32 degrees on the bank's billboard the other day...I was in heaven. I walked through inches of slush into the grocery store with only a long sleeve shirt on, and was HAPPY!! So for all of you out there trudging through the slush today, just remember we are one day closer to spring!!

life

isn't life just a funny thing. it seems that my life has been ups and downs for the past few weeks; and most of those ups and downs have been out of my control. it's hard to find the nice peaceful middle ground when the roller coaster you are riding just won't stop. but it's good to know that someone else is really in charge of our ride, and that all the craziness is for my good. there is a plan for me, and although it definitely isn't MY plan it is His plan and it is better than i could ever imagine, IF i can just endure. here are just a couple of things that have gotten me through the past few weeks, and have reminded me that the blessings are always there, you just have to be aware of them.

spending time with my boys

the sunrise that i see each morning from my kitchen table

Trout, Trout, Trout

That is the name of Bridger's new favorite book, "Trout, Trout, Trout (A Fish Chant)" We were given this book by some friends last Christmas, but Bridger has only recently taken to the book. It seems like he could read it over and over and over every day. It's been really fun because he has caught onto some of the words and can fill in when I am reading to him. He has also learned a few new words, including the most important, trout.

Since Bridger has been infatuated with this book, Rusty really wanted to take him out fishing Saturday. Now as much as I say I love ice fishing, Saturday wasn't one of those days. It was freezing (barely 15 degrees) and I didn't want to be out in the cold, and I especially didn't want my little babe out there either. But I reluctantly loaded up the truck and headed for Dollar Lake with my boys. After a beautiful drive in the forest (and 3 poopy diapers) we got there and got bundled up for our trek out to the lake.

Luckily, the fish were biting and we were able to catch something right off for Bridger boy to see. He was excited to see the "trout" as well as the "water" and enjoyed saying "bye bye" to each fish we caught as we threw them back in the hole. He settled into the camp chair as we continued to fish and eventually he looked like this. What a good boy, he definitely has his father's blood in him...he's a true outdoorsman!!

Before and After

Don't you just love those before and after shots? It doesn't matter if it is someone who has lost weight, a makeover, prego pics, or whatever I just love that something changes into an amazing end product! Here are our before and after shots.

The land and the house!!

Unpacking and unpacked!!

I thought it was about time that you all finally get to see our new abode. You are all welcome to a visit here in Pinedale. We'd love your company!!

Tis' the Season...

So I thought I should finally make some sort of holiday post. My nativities are up, the house is decorated, the tree is up, lights are on the house, presents are wrapped, and there are even delicious chocolate chip cookies made, but I haven't felt like making a post lately, am I a Scrooge or what?!

Last Saturday we had the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. We loaded up the truck and headed to the Bridger-Teton National Forest. After driving to the forest and up and down the snow covered road, we decided to take a short hike to find THE ONE. To my dismay the hike was unsuccessful, we couldn't find anything good enough for my liking.

So we hopped in the truck again to make another drive, just in case we missed one. Well, I don't know how to explain it, but somehow while Rusty was driving he saw an amazing tree out of the corner of his eye. It was about 50 yards away, a lone pine tree in a bunch of Aspens, just waiting for someone to find it and fulfill it's Christmas tree dream. So we hiked up the hill, took a good look at it, and Rusty cut the masterpiece down. Here it is....

Bridger had a great time! He was in awe of all the trees and loved the snow.

So the story doesn't end as magical as it sounds. We put the tree up on Saturday night and wanted to decorate it on Sunday evening. Well, our plans quickly changed when Sunday morning we walked into the front room to find the tree laying on our loveseat and water all over my new carpet!! Oops! Needless to say, the tree spent Sunday and Monday on our porch until Rusty could fix our tree stand. But after all that, here is it, our PERFECT Christmas tree.

Just a minute

Well, I'm visiting the Kaiser's this week and have found just a minute to make a post. I'm going to give a quick Kaiser summer report. It has been crazy, fun, stressful, and everything else, but as I am looking back I'm happy to survived it!!

July ended with a bang! I was able to spend the last 10 days of the month with my mom in Salt Lake. July 24th is our "Annual Turk and Utahna Frantz Reunion" so I was able to visit with my brothers and sisters and their families. It was great to see them all, as well as my cousins and their families. I will admit that it gets a little crazy with all of them, but it is definitely worth it. Thanks to Rex who provided the cotton candy for the event...I think this will definitely have to become a regular treat at the event!!!







Early August was filled with days in Pinedale. Most of my days were spent at the trailer and at the beautiful Pinedale Library. Life in the camper trailer has not been as bad as expected. I think the only thing that I would really wish for out of trailer life is more than 3 minutes of hot water for a shower. Bridger, on the other hand, couldn't ask for anything more. He gets to run around outside as much as he wants and when he is inside he plays with toys or watches "Shrek 2" and "The Backyardigans". We have meet some really nice people, some really weird people, and a couple scary people while being camp host at the Warren Bridger Campsite. All in all it has been a great experience and a little bit inside of me is sad to leave that place. :)

Towards the end of August Rusty was called up for a 10-day wildfire duty with the Elko, Nevada Hot Shots crew. He and the Elko crew were called to the Castle Rock fire just north of Sun Valley Idaho. Rusty had a good time and learned a lot as he was "thrown to the wolves" on his very first wildfire. Rusty was helicoptered up the mountain where he stayed for a few days looking for hot spots and doing other crazy fire stuff. He said it was amazing to see those Hot Shots at work...they were animals packing chainsaws, gas, and other equipment up the mountain on their backs!!! After it was all said and done, Rusty came home with some fierce blisters and great connections for another fire duty next year.

September came and so has the cool weather. The temperature swings in Pinedale are just unreal...we go from high 20's at night to mid 70's in the day. It really has been beautiful and I have actually liked the cool off. Bridger and I are meeting some nice people at Storytime and playgroup, so that is helping with the loneliness. With the cold weather we have been getting really serious with house stuff. Our home arrived September 4th in Pinedale and things have been moving along since then. The house is now on it's foundation and electricity is ran to the house. Our septic system should be done soon as well as our garage/outbuilding. This means that we may be able to close on the house and MOVE IN some time the second week of October!!! All this is tentative, but I am very hopeful.


Thanks to the Kaiser's and my mom for being wonderful and patient with me and Bridger as we have been wanderers since July. Although our families have been great and taken care of us since July, I still can't wait for our own place. Hopefully soon I will be blogging from home, until then enjoy!!