The Great Flood of 2011

Montana got huge amounts of snow this winter.  As a result, we also saw a lot of flooding.  I have never been so happy to live up in the hills away from the rivers.  With every larger rain, our Little Porcupine Creek did flood a little bit.  Normally it is a small creek, just a few feet across.  Our crossing on our cut-across road to the fields washed out early on, and is still pretty rough to cross after Warren has worked on it.  One of those projects for when there is more time.  :)

May 30 - Little Porcupine Creek bridge on the Lustre School Road

There was a lot of flooding from the Milk River in the areas from Saco to Glasgow, Nashua, etc. in April with the snow melt, and then again in May and June from mountain snow melts and rain.  There was so much damage to homes and property. 

the west edge of Nashua, June 9

coming down the hill on the east end of Glasgow.  The water should be in the riverbank, the other side of the trees on the right edge of the photo.

 

one of the farms between Nashua and Glasgow taken from hiway 2 looking south, with the railroad tracks in between.

Our hearts go out to the people who were affected by the flooding. 



Exersaucer Fun

Tony & Amy have an Exersaucer toy that the girls have both spent many fun hours in.  Its a long way from the walker with a tray and a couple of hanging toys our boys had as babies.  Bright, colorful toys that make animal sounds, honks, beeps, rattles and more surround them as they can either stand of sit while they play. 

Natalie at 4 1/2 months, Easter 2010

Aleah at 4 months

Now Aleah loves to spend a lot of time playing in the saucer.  Its one of her favorite things to do. 

Natalie thought it looked like fun and thought she would try it too.  Both of these were taken May 11.

The last couple of times that Aleah has visited Nana & Papa's house, the saucer came too.  Aleah likes that much better than just laying on the floor to play!  July 22, 2011



Chef Natalie

I have so many great memories of being in the kitchen with my grandmothers, that I want to share those fun times with my granddaughters as well.  The girls are a little young to be baking cookies yet, but Natalie is a good helper and loves to wash dishes.  One of her favorite things to do is play with her toy cookware.  She usually points to her apron and wants to wear that as she prepares her goodies.   I got the apron at Schmeckfest and it was made by Cori Toews.  Natalie loves it and is just too cute in it.

Stirring up something good to eat.  

It's gonna be great - I promise!

Taste tested and approved!

Would you like some?

Seeding Time!

The snow finally melted and the guys were able to get in the field on April 25 to test the equipment before starting seeding peas a couple of days later.  They got a different air seeder this year.  They tried one like it on Tony's farm last year.  Tony's rental farm up north has a lot of big hills, and this seeder handles the hills better than the old one.  This one is called a precision drill and the shanks on it move individually instead of in sections, so they are able to follow the contour of the ground better.

Easter 2011

We hosted the Fast Easter dinner this year.  Usually we do Thanksgiving, and Duane & Shirley do Easter.  Last Thanksgiving so many of the family were going away for the day that we ended up going to Glasgow to Warren's parents house.  Duane & Shirley are doing some remodeling in their house, so we offered to host Easter.   Harvey & Gladys,  Duane & Shirley, Keith & Joan and Tony, Amy, Natalie & Aleah joined us.  Thank you, Duane & Shirley, for the beautiful tulips centerpiece.  We enjoyed it for days!

After dinner we had an Easter egg hunt for Natalie. 

this is serious business!

Papa & Daddy giving some hints while Jake looks on.

can you believe how big the snow drifts still were?

the basket is full.

time for a quick picture with us while enjoying candy from the eggs.

Back inside, it was time for Easter baskets from Nana & Papa.

Amy & Aleah with Aleah's basket.

Tony, Amy, Natalie & Aleah

Easter Basket Swap

Some friends and I had a great time the afternoon of Good Friday.  We all gathered together at the Sherman in Wolf Point and exchanged Easter baskets, had a great time visiting, and a delicious dinner. Most of us in the swap were able to be there, but not everyone.  We missed those who couldn't come.

L-R: Connie, Lynn, Tiffany, DeeDee, Amy, Suzy & Myra

Love this picture of Suzy!  She was pretty happy with some Green Bay Packers things in her basket.  :)

I had a fun basket from Amy, including some scrapbooking items, coffee, chocolates, a bunny figurine, a notepad & pen and this cute spring sign that welcomes visitors to our home.

Lynn checking out her goodies.

Connie shows her prayer rock from her garden themed basket.

Tiffany reading a quote from a candy filled egg in her basket.

Amy with her garden themed basket.

Myra's basket included a mailbox with lots of letters to open, along with some goodies.

The food was really good. 

The chef made us a special dessert - Red Velvet Cheesecake - Soooo good!

I enjoyed the get-together so much - great friends, fun and food.  Life is good.

Back-Tracking to April

I have gotten so far behind in my blog.  I will try to catch up on some highlights of our spring and summer so far.  In April Tony and Amy were getting ready to close on their home in Fort Peck.  We kept Natalie overnight so that they could get an early start on clearing out the last of their things at the house before closing. 

Making breakfast is serious business!

It's just right, Papa!  Pour it in the pan!

How is it, Papa?

Are you sure its good?

Ooooo, bacon!

What fun to be able to have times like this with our granddaughter!  Something so small and everyday, but precious all the same.