This afternoon after zoo camp, we went to the racquet club to go swimming. “Grandma! Take my picture when I …”
You’re about to see WAY too many pictures but there were so many good ones!
I am about to get soaked:
Then the camera went underwater.
When Avery saw this one, he said, “There’s that smile.” Sophia sometimes chooses this smile for pictures:
Back at home, Carson’s first words, “Old MacDonald’s Farm on Grandma’s iPad?” He loves watching different versions of this song on YouTube.
Dave and Phyl drove out from Montana a few days ago to pick up another load of their belongings. Dave is not exactly fond of my continuous picture-taking:
They left early Thursday morning. By the way, they still had to drive to their old house (now owned by their son) to attach an overloaded trailer.
North Natomas Transportation Management Association (NNTMA) brought Bike Doc to Heritage Westshore.
Four mechanics made small repairs or adjustments to 26 bicycles in our community.
Abbey Stumpf shared information about the services and programs provided by NNTMA.
We also collected some basic bicycling data from residents.
OMG, I misspelled the word “cautious.”
This week, Avery and Sophia have been at the Sacramento Zoo summer camp. Avery’s group, he’s in there somewhere:
Sophia’s group. Eventually I found both of them. Or rather they found me.
It’s always fun to get together with Ade & Linda:
Golf in the morning.
Justin and Thais came over to work on the flagstone.
Almost done!
By the end of the day:
I LOVE IT!! Huge thanks to Justin and Thais.
Friday: I was at home in Sacramento by 9:30 am! I love coming home. After work, Thais came over and we worked on the flagstone.
Today we visited with Phyl’s grandson Chris and his two kids,
went back to the quilt shop to buy one of their kits,
and shortened some curtains (yay, sewing!)
For dinner, we went the The Dinnerbell, a Thursday night all-you-can-eat family-style dinner served by a local Mennonite family in Gold Creek, Montana.
We got there early and shopped a bit
before sitting down at long tables.
Tonight: 70 pounds silky-smooth mashed potatoes, 120 pounds fried chicken, and about 30 pies, plus salad and fresh rolls.
At the end, a very nicely-sung hymn. What a wonderful Montana experience!
Phyl and I walked the paths of Arrow Stone Park.
It winds around all the way to the Old Montana Prison along the Clark Fork River.
We walked every path for a total of 2 miles.
There would be more walking at our afternoon stop: Grant Kohrs Ranch, a National Historic Site.The ranch tells the story of the transition from open-range cattle industry of the 1860s to a more scientific approach (and the beginning of barbed wire fencing and growing your own alfalfa) in the 1890s.
We toured the house, but couldn’t take any pictures. There are no reproductions in the house, only original artifacts (with many thousands more stored in a barn on the property).
We began our exploration just after 2 busloads of Australians and Canadians were almost ready to leave. A cowboy poses for a tourist:
In the garden at the back of the house:
We drove to Phillipsburg today, about 50 miles from Deer Lodge. Cute town with some really good shops.
At several shops, you can buy bags of dirt/gravel/rock and go “screening” – sifting and washing hoping to find precious stones like Montana sapphires.
A must stop is The Sweet Palace where you can find every imaginable candy you can think of and then some. Samples of their famous fudge – you choose the flavor – are given out at the register.
After we got back to Deer Lodge, Phyl and I went on a walk. The pond on their property, where ducks land and muskrats play:
Dee owns the 80 acres which surrounds Dave & Phyl’s place. She has 20 horses.
Walking back along the road toward their house:
Phyl made the best Lemon Drop Martinis …
well … maybe they could have used a bit more sugar:
arletelouise 