Pretty in Pink

The first shooting stars are blooming on the Hill. It's so nice to see a color other than white for a change.

More of Sedona

The 3 D's and Cali resting in the shade before we head to lunch. 

Of course, the whole purpose of our trip, besides meeting up with our friends in Sedona, was to check out Prescott. Cali spent 3 days in daycare at the Doggie Dude Ranch while we were looking at real estate, playing golf, and shopping. She was given a bath by the groomer while she was there and she looked duded out when she came home.

Cali's trip to Sedona, AZ

Cathedral Rock with Oak Creek in front. Debara and I hiked around this park and then brought the hubbies back so they could see it as well. An absolutely beautiful setting.

This was taken at a Scenic View Pullout. I'd say it is very scenic.

More gorgeous red rocks.

Hubby and Cali playing in Oak Creek. This was just behind the RV park. 

 

Back at camp enjoying a snack. This was a nice RV park, but very crowded. To add to the noise, a great blue heron pair were nesting in the cottonwoods that were growing in the RV park. Their young were close to fledging and they kept up a racket all day and night. We thought it was something mechanical at first because it was so constant. One morning I saw one of the adult birds fly over with a twig in it's bill and it landed in the trees. I walked over and saw the babies and both adults and finally realized they were the source of all the racket.

We've only just begun...

... to bloom. 

(Wait, that's not how the song goes.)

I'm channeling my inner Carpenter.

Spring projects

The ice is finally off the garden beds and hubby was able to rototill this week. I've since planted one bed with potatoes and another with peas, spinach, arugula, cress and sorrel.

Our neighbors, Jim and Lauren, have started work on their gazebo. They are getting married up here in July. Here they are with hubby enjoying a cookie break. I think Cali would like a bite.

Back to work.

Finders, keepers

Another shed for the dog. This is her "just try and take it from me" face.

Beautiful day

It's a gorgeous day in western Montana. This will be the warmest day of the year so far. We went for a little hike in the logged area to soak up some of the sunshine. Cali got stuck amongst the logs. We were searching for antlers and hubby said Cali will find any that were around and sure enough she did!

This morning

At least 6 more inches of white. The plow is off the Mule and my friend Katie is supposed to pick me up in an hour for a "fun-run" 5K in Missoula. Ugh!

Cold diggity-dog

We've had a lot of snow as of late. All week it's been like winter instead of spring. One of us has been overcome with snow rage and it isn't me or the dog. Cali heard something under the snow this morning and was determined to get it even though it meant digging to China. I never saw what it was, but she had a good time.

All fixed

According to the water line expert, it's not a break. He thinks the sinkhole and road collapse is due to runoff. We've had a lot of frickin' white stuff up here and then it turns 50 degrees and we have a river running down the road. So, good news. No digging up and repairing the line, thank goodness. Our neighbors, Jim and Lauren, came early this morning and helped dump some road material on the collapsed part of the road and it seems to be fine for now. Cali supervised the job.

It took 6 scoopfuls to fix the damage. Jim took the material off the side of the hill. It helps to have neighbors with a backhoe and the knowledge to fix things. I guess that's country living for you. Mucho thanks to Jim & Lauren. Sorry about the flat tire, Jim.

Sinkhole

It seems the water line from the well to the cistern is broken and leaking somewhere under the road bed. This hole is smack in the middle of the road. The soil is caving in all along the buried water line. Bummer. We now have the well pump turned off and are relying on our 1500 gallon cistern until the water guy can assess the situation. This does not make for happy campers on Nuthatch Hill. 

On top of that, last night our driveway alarm went off at 12:30 a.m. and then all the smoke detectors screamed at 2:30 a.m. and continued doing so until 3:00 a.m. No fire or other reason they went off except maybe a spider crawled into one of them. Needless to say, it was not a good 24 hours up on the Hill.

Spring snow

More white stuff. Cali is busy crunching deer bones she found on our morning walk.

Rhubarb crisp

I think I'll have to wait at least 2 months, but this is the first year I get to harvest from the 5 plants we have in the garden. 

Gobble, gobble

One tom and 3 hens. Unfortunately, this is as close as they came to the house. They went right up the path behind the shed and into the forest. We haven't seen any from the flock of 33 for 2 years, so it's nice to know a few are still around.