The winter has crept by and now hobbles toward spring. We've not spent as much time outdoors this snowy season as in the past; Glenn's leg troubles have kept us a bit housebound as no skiing or snowshoeing and limited walking coerced us indoors. Fortunately, Glenn's a lit major and avid reader; he's been plowing through novels like an aggressive snow removal. I've been content at home and why not? I've got a beautiful new house, fabulous views and lots of inside interests. Now that my new computer is up and running, I'm working to catch up on genealogy and clear my little corner office of so many bits and scraps of paper. With the HP LaserJet Pro I'm also scanning photos into Family Tree Maker for hopefully safe preservation (technology woes not to be ignored, I'm putting all paper prints into albums as well).
Our activities have been limited, but not completely. We're still getting out ice fishing on the weekends and when weather permits. As we do so, we learn and observe more about our adoptive home.
En route to our favorite ice fishing locale, Chesterfield Reservoir, we encountered these cowboys and cowgirls moving a herd. The bovines were quite suspicious of our vehicle, so Glenn pulled to the side of the road and turned off the engine. We sat for perhaps ten minutes while the cows checked us out, the cowboys and girls called to them and eventually they moved past us. It created just another moment for us that said "We ain't in Michigan any more!"
Ice fishing in Idaho, as I probably reported last year, is so much different than in Michigan. One thing we've noticed is that once March starts, Idahoans tear the "fishing season" page off their outdoor calendars. Yesterday, we were two of five total people on the ice at Chesterfield. Arriving mid-afternoon, we toughed it out for a couple of hours with all the action coming between 5:00pm and 5:45pm.
Fishing in very shallow water with wax worms, I pulled these two rainbows through the ice within fifteen minutes of each other. The smaller weighed 2 lbs, 12 oz. and the larger 3 lbs, 4 oz. tieing my record last season. They're now fileted and frozen, waiting to be tasty meals sometime in the future.
Even the slow time in the afternoon was interesting. At one point, a pair of bald eagles flew slowly over our heads, close enough we could hear their wings beating against the air. A bit later, they returned and one did slow circles near us, moving progressively lower, perhaps looking for an angler's leftovers on the ice. I feared he might make a run at another fish we had laying nearby, but our presence proved too much of a risk.
On the way back from Chesterfield, we popped into a local joint in Lava Hot Springs, the Royal Hotel, for hand-tossed pizza and draft beers. I chose "Mighty Arrow" -- a label I'd not tasted before. Nice, red/amber color and hoppy flavor. Yum!
As part of my personal attempt at learning more about Idaho and meeting a few new folks, friend Dixie and I participate in a program, New Knowledge Adventures through Continuing Education at Idaho State University. One class included snow shoeing a different trail each of four Friday mornings. Last week, we trekked up an area called the West Fork of Mink Creek. It's fun to explore new spots and talk to a few new people.
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(February, 2011) One February snowshoe took us up near Scout Mountain, the place where Meg and Josh became engaged. Spectacular scenery, especially with the snow in place. Pictured with me is friend Dixie Smith, also a transplanted retired teacher from Payson, Arizona. |
The week coming up will find Meghan making the last of her business trips until after Baby Girl Jurgen arrives. She'll be in downtown Chicago for a conference related to Process Safety. We'll have Miles-Guy four days then, as Josh works Monday.
Our winter weather hasn't been particularly bad this season, it just seems that it is so in such untimely fashion. We've been restricted on getting Miles outdoors. So often, we'll talk about going outside in the afternoon, when the temps rise a bit . . . but then the wind kicks up and funnels through the valley making outside fun not so much. We continue to take him each Thursday to Marshall Library in Pocatello . . . he graduated from Book Babies to Terrific Twos. This past week, we made a big day of it taking him to a local feed store where they operate a small zoo and to McDonalds for lunch and Playland.
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(03/11/2011) Miles goes eye-to-eye with a Canada goose. We visited the McKee's feed store where owners operate a small, free zoo for kids. Miles was especially interested in the many baby goats, most standing not more than a foot tall, which frolicked and kicked as they ran about. He was also enamored of the fish tanks. |
In the week coming, we also hope to have a consultation with Glenn's surgeon scheduled. He underwent a chemically-induced stress test on Monday, March 8 (the damage to the leg prevented him from the standard test on a treadmill). During the consult we will find out what options may be available to Glenn and pending that he chooses surgery, when that can occur. He's hoping for the soonest possible as on our horizon exist many things he hopes to enjoy: a weekend away to celebrate our 37th anniversary in mid-April, an early-June fishing trip on the Firehole River in Yellowstone, a visit from his mom commencing June 18, a mini-family reunion for his family over July 4th weekend . . . but trumping all of those. . . the arrival of Grandbaby Girl Jurgen expected in early May . . . perhaps even on is birthday!
So, winter marches to spring while Glenn hobbles (sorry, honey) toward leg surgery (sigh). We'll get through this cloudy health-issue and emerge on the sunny side, I'm sure. In the meantime, we continue to enjoy the proximity to Meg, Josh and Miles and learn to appreciate our new home and home state.
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