Holiday Action

For some reason no photos of the actual present-opening, etc, but I think it may have been because we were Hustling to get out of town. Ida, Miki & I flew straight to SLC on 12/25, and found this snow:

Huge icicles from the garage:

Girls were very well-behaved and helped each other out, too.

And by 12/27 Ella herself was on the scene!  Which was good because everyone's hair was so Snarled.  Whoa.  And also Ella had to help Jim and Grambee clear out a bunch of tools and hazardous waste so they can move out of 2016 Laird.

And my best old friend Andy and his dog Tahg--summoned by Ida--came by to play in the snow, too.

This move, which filled Ida's coat with dog hair, caused many problems that I will not here relate.

Saw much of the Rock cousins!  Whoa

Hopefully more photos or even videos of Grambee, soon.  It was a sweet visit.  So hard to think that the childhood home will be sold after almost fifty years...

Fortunately, we looted the place and got much cool stuff.  Like "Bruce," Sara's Cabbage Patch doll.  Here he is on the plane.

And then we got back to Portland only to meet this fine fellow!

Christmas is Coming!

Had a fantastic time up in a little cabin outside of Rhododendron, on the Flanks of Mt. Hood. Maggie won it in a raffle or auction. There she is, making us eggs!

It was quite, quite cold, but this did not stop the girls from building a fairy house and collecting moss.

Later we went on a brutal hike all the way up to mirror lake!  Arthur ate Ella's lunch and then acted like it didn't get packed...

Up top we found some snow and the girls made a snowman named Captain Shmeck!

A mighty hawk + the tip of Mt. Hood.

Once Ida had a reading buddy, now she is a reading buddy

HALLOW

Capitol Reef

Whoa! That was a trip. Rented this nice house...

Cassidy Arch!

Jon Leafmaker Sabala!  Hadn't seen him in 25 years...

The girls went out onto this treacherous arch with Jon and no one fell off.

Can you see them?  Here I am.  Often there are few pictures of me.  Miki took this one.

This one, too.

This river ate up a lot of time.  Mud vs. Puma.

This sunrise looked much more amazing in person...

Much fort building...