Friends lunch, no shows and eek!

Where do I begin? We took a trek down from the mountains to have lunch with friends on Friday. That was fun and really good food. If you ever go to Tooele for anything-- eat at Sostanza. Great food and great service, reasonably priced.

Saturday we cleaned like crazy because we were planning to show the house to at least two or three interested buyers who had called and said they would like to come by on Saturday. All were no shows. :( So we have a nice, clean house still for sale.

We visited with Mom on the way back to the mountains on Sunday and got in pretty late, but it sure was nice to be home.

First thing this morning as I came up stairs to get to work, I stopped in the bathroom to wash my face, etc. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something small and dark, dart across the floor, run around the room and run out the door. EEK!!! It was a mouse. I guess the little critters have finally found their way in from the out doors. Dammit. Want to lend me your cat?

All in all though today was a beautiful day in the mountains. The thermometer got up to 39 degrees today and the sun was out all day.

We could use some snow though, otherwise the ground will be bare in no time.

Wine, bubbles and candles

Day two as full timers was another day in paradise. Ray and I met in the kitchen for lunch and then after work we took our walk down to collect the mail. We're always excited to receive mail from friends and family.

After our walk I took a nice bath with the candles lit and the bubbles up to my chin. Ray brought me a glass of wine and I was in heaven.

Full timers

I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays. We sure did. It was great having Wil visit from school for a few weeks. I sure have missed having him around. He provides so much entertainment and I just love his sense of humor.

Ray and I are now full time mountain dwellers. Yesterday was my first day working from my mountain home and it was delightful.

After I got off work Ray and I went for a walk and made an event out of retrieving the mail.

Some friends and family have been concerned that we'll feel isolated up here in the mountains.

I'll keep you posted on that.

Brrrrr

It snowed a bit yesterday and this morning-- the sun is out and the sky is blue . . . AND the thermometer is reading 1.4 degrees F. I'm thankful for a reliable power source and a nice warm fireplace and lots of wood to burn.

Friday Ray took me with him to the new SnoTel site at Burts-Miller Ranch. That was fun and interesting. I've been passing the ranch all these years and seeing it from the road always wondered what it was like. I imagine it is a haven for the Moose. Ray had to point the antenna toward the new master station at Dugway. If you're interested in what the snow situation is in the mountains of Utah, you should visit the Utah Snow Survey web page:

http://www.ut.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/

Oh and on the way in to our place we saw a herd of elk! No pictures this time.

Fall is in the air

The drive through the mountains today was beautiful. There is a skiff of snow on the ground and frosting the trees. There is still some yellow and orange on the quakies and the willows are a deep maroon. I love the smell of autumn. I got out of the car to check the mailbox and there was that smell in the air. I got back in the car and asked Ray how he would describe that smell of autumn. "It's kind of sweet", he said. That's true, it is kind of sweet. Is it the leaves on the ground that have begun to rot? It seems like that would be stinky doesn't it?

We arrived at our Little Sweden to find a beautiful bull moose sauntering through the yard. It's hunting season, so I imagine there will be a lot of critters taking refuge in and around our place for the next few weeks. They sure welcome here.

five bucks a doe and a spotted fawn

Friday we saw a spotted fawn and a doe wandering around our place and then this morning they were down by the pond along with five small bucks. I always thought bucks traveled alone, but these five were all hanging out together, no fighting, just easting the green leaves on the small aspen. They're young and still have velvet on their antlers, so maybe that's why they're still hanging out together. I had to take the pictures through the window and the screen on the back porch because I didn't want to go outside and scare them away. The pics turned out pretty good considering. Ray first spotted the bucks while I was getting my second cup of coffee. I grabbed my camera and shot some pictures through the window looking down at them. Then we went out the back door and on to the screened porch where I took a few more.

We've had a busy weekend. Ray cut down a couple dozen trees yesterday and then he cut them to length and we stacked them. The smaller ones are now on the porch ready for fall and winter and the rest will need to be split. It's a good start though on the winter supply. It is sad to see so many dead trees, but I guess that's life. The beetle kill is still raging and before you know it all of the larger pines will be dead. There are a lot of little ones sprouting up to take their place, but it takes time for them to grow. The aspen are thriving though with out the pines around to steel the sun.

Midsummer

Midsommar brings the summer solstice. It is the time of year when Swedes move out-of-doors. The symbolic, family coffee table finds its place in the shade of a tree outdoors and it is time to celebrate nature. Doorways and hearths are decorated with freshly cut birch branches. May poles are erected and decorated with birch branches and freshly cut wild flowers and often with the Swedish flag.

We celebrated Midsummer on two different visits to Sweden and loved every minute so now we make an attempt to celebrate every year at our own Little Sweden.