March 17,18, 2015 Snow in Bigfork, Rain in Houston

On our last morning it started to snow. On our little mountain the snow had melted around the house in the last week. In about 45 minutes everything was covered again.It was nice seeing it snow as we don't get to see that often. While its pretty here in the winter with all the snow I much prefer the summertime. There are just more places and things to do.It snowed on us all the way to the airport. Down in Kalispeil it really wasn't sticking as the temperatures were a little warmer.Our plane was on time and off to Salt Lake City.  We had a six hour layover there. We checked to see if Delta had any earlier planes but they didn't. We ate lunch and then I watched the first basketball game of the NCAA tournament. We finally got on our plane and were in Houston at 11.36 pm.  By the time we got our luggage and then used UBBER ( a kind of taxi service) to get to Kristi's it was 1:00 am. That's a late night for me. Of course it was raining when we got there and was raining when we got up the next morning. We headed home about 8:30. We went by Moms and picked Maggie up.   Finally we made it to our house. Everything has sure greened up since we have been gone.The yard really needed mowing. I managed to mow most it even though it was wet,  It feels good to be home for awhile.

Snow is starting to cover the ground

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City Airport

March 16,2015 Our Last Day In Montana

This was our last full day here. The weather was better to day but a little chilly. We carried Carol to the airport about noon. After dropping her off we went to the Echo Lake Cafe to have one more lunch there..We went back to the cabin and made a dump run.We the headed back to Kalispeil to the UPS store to ship Susan's sewing machine home.We made another stop at Murdoch's for Susan to pick up a vest she wanted. Next stop was an RV place. They had two Artic Fox fifth wheels on the lot. We have never been in one so we wanted so see it. It was nice and  we liked it though it was kind of pricey. The length was right for me and Susan loved the floor plan. Oh well, we are always looking.  Tomorrow we fly home.

March 15,2015 A Cool Rainy Day

We woke up to a misting rain this morning. The clouds were low and at times you couldn't see the mountains. It never rained  hard but it was steady all day. Around 11 we headed to one of my favorite stores here called Murdoch's. Its a feed store/hardware store/western clothing store. I really wasn't planning on buying anything but they had some good sales. Its a good thing we are flying as we might have bought much more than we did.We went back to the house and just chilled the rest of the day. We watched a couple of college basketball games and Susan did some sewing. It wasn't really cold as much as damp so I kept a small fire in the fireplace.We did do a little cleaning on the house and washing things as we prepare to leave on Tuesday.

A light mist all day

The deer come out to feed

Cleared up a little

March 14, 2015 The Kids Have Gone

Today the kids fly back home. They got all packed up and headed to the airport by noon. It sure was quiet after they left. We decided to go to Whitefish. Susan and Carol went to quilt shops and other stores. I went to a gun shop and then to the "Great Northern Brewing Company". They had a nice little fire going and I checked out sevaral different brews till Susan and Carol showed up. We left there and went to a small Cabelas Outpost. After that we headed home for the evening.  

Getting ready to leave

Mackenna 

Nice acessories

Great Northern Brewing Company

 .

March 13, 2015 A Good Day

This was the kids last day here. They didn't go skiing today. Everyone but me and Sammi slept in. Mike and Kristi went into town for a massage. Susan,Carol,Kenna, and Ashley went to Kalispiel shopping. Sammi and I stayed home. They  all met up at Norms News for lunch. Sammi and I built a fire outside.  We threw corn out for the deer. We went bear and lion hunting, though we didn't see any. We climbed rocks and then had lunch. Sammi took a nap after that. She woke up about the time everyone got home. That night we went to eat supper at an Italian restaurant. It was exceptional. Tomorrow the kids fly home

Ashley

Susan  Mackenna

Sammi

Sammi and I on top of the rock

Sammi

Sammi Mackenna Ashley 

March 12,.2015 Swan Lake

It was the kids last day to ski here. They got off a little later than usual, the girls weren't going to ski school today but were going to ski together. They had a really good time. We just piddled around and I decided to head up to Swan Lake and maybe eat lunch there. We were surprised to see Swan Lake still frozen. There was still lots of snow in that area. The Trading Post we were going to eat at was closed till May. Looks like everything is seasonal here.Still it was a nice drive. We ended up going back to the Echo Lake Cafe for a la lunch. We headed back to the house and I took a nap.When the kids got back we built a fire outside and just chilled the rest of the evening.

March 11, 2015 A lazy day for us

The kids all left to go skiing early this morning. It wasn't quite as cold as it had been. We didn't do much today just chilled out. We ran to the store and got stuff for fajitas. I did the chicken and pork on the grill and Susan sauteed the veggies in a skillet. We combined it all in a crock pot and added fajita seasoning. I have never tried this before but it turned out good. It stayed gray and overcast all day.I had a nice outside fire for awhile. After about an hour it started misting so I went in. The kids all got in about 6 and we had a rather quiet evening.

March 10,2015 Ice Skating Day

Today was a more laid back day. No skiing on the mountain. I think they all needed a little rest. It was 7:20 before even Sammi got up. Around 10 we headed to the ice skating rink in Whitefish. None of the old folks skated but we watched all the kids. They did have a lot of fun. We headed to Kalispiel to have a late lunch at Norms News. The girls loved the place. They had lunch, ice cream, and then got to pick candy from the bins.They all thought it was a great place to eat. That evening we built an outside fire and chilled out.

Just chilling

Sammi

Sammi  Mackenna

Ashley

at the soda fountain

picking out candy

March 9, 2015 Big Mountain, Montana

None of the girls got up early with me this morning, they were wore out from skiing yesterday. It wasn't quite as hectic a day to start with as yesterday. They were on there way about 7:45 am.  Sammi is in an all day class and she loves it. Both Kenna and Ashley have ski instructors most of the day. The big kids Mike & Kristi have the slopes to themselves.We met them all for lunch at the Base Lodge. We then watched the girls ski awhile. Susan got us free lift tickets and we rode to the summit. Big Mountain is 6800 feet. We met Mike and Kristi up there and had a drink in the bar area. The views are fabulous.We got home about 4:40 and chilled till the kids got home. It was leftover night with Taco Soup, Spaghetti, and hamburgers. It was time to clean the fridge out. I am wore out and will sleep good tonight.

Ashley

Base Lodge

Kenna

Ashley

Kenna

Sammi

Sammi

Susan

Susan

View from summit of Big Mountain

View from the summit of Big Mountain

March 8, 2015 Glacier National Park

 The kids all got up at 7 and headed out to ski. They were all excited. We just chilled out for awhile. I thought we might drive up to Polebridge so I could go to the bakery there. I had planned to go there from West Glacier but we found the road closed. We then drove on up to Macdonald Lodge . We had decided to eat lunch there. Well, it seems like the lodge is closed in the winter. Its still a pretty drive and we had a good time. We went back to Hungry Horse and stopped at a shop/grill to eat. Guess what, their grill is not open till the summer.  Luckily just down the street was the Elk Grill. Even better it was !:40 pm and the grill closed at 2:00 pm. Seems like winter time is the slow time. The winter is pretty but I like the summer better. We headed back to the house and I took a nice nap. We had a little fire outside for the evening and it was nice. The kids got in around 6:30 and they had had a good time.

MacDonald Lake

Going to the Sun Road

MacDonald Lodge

Flathead river

The road entering Glaicer

Macdonald Lake

We had deer feeding when we got back