Christmas in a One Room School House

 The Grasshopper Valley School was established in 1892, so it has been in operation for over 100 years!  For two years we had no children in the school which was the maximum time before permanent closure, but this year we now have four children enrolled, so the school is once again open for business.  Those of us who live here are very thankful for this turn of events.

 Last night was the Annual Christmas Play and the students presented "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

 Linus (Noah) told about the birth of Jesus and why we celebrate Christmas.

 The kids got the "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree decorated and sang some songs

 and then they took several bows.  (They were so cute!)  We thoroughly enjoyed their presentation but about this time there was a whole lot of noise outside - and who should appear at the school house door?

 You guessed it!!!  Santa himself!

 Our teacher, Amanda, and her little girl who still has a couple years before she will be part of the class.

 Santa was digging around in his bag looking for just the right gift for this little gal.  (Another potential student!)

 These two didn't know it, but it was actually their daddy holding them!  Tyler Tash.  He was a student in this school when we moved here. . . .

 Even some of the big girls wanted to tell Santa what they are hoping he will bring.

Now it's time for treats!

A Photo-Op Kind of Day

I had to go to Jackson this morning in about 4 inches of new snow - the road had not yet been plowed - a long, slow drive, but I made it.  I think I'm getting used to winter driving.  On the way home about noon the sun had come out and I saw some perfect photo-ops as I drove along.  Love this country!

 These two shots are of the Tash calving sheds and pasture.  There are similar stacks of bales on three sides of the pasture.  Lots of cows to feed in February and March when they are calving.

 Our little one-room school house is still open and teaching children.  It's almost like home schooling with a certified teacher.  These children are very fortunate.  We will attend their annual Christmas Show tonight.  Our three Zack granddaughters attended this school for about six months.  They loved the school and Fran.

 
 Some of the horses at the Zimdars ranch.  And a few cows.

Another Day in Winter Wonderland

It snowed most of the morning and then late in the afternoon the sun came out and gave me some good light and wonderful shadows to photograph.  Always beautiful!

 This a view from our house of the nearby ski hill.  If you click on it, you can see how skied up it is!  Everybody is really enjoying the good snow this year.  You can also see my red chairs on our hill.  Great place to sit up there and enjoy the wrap-around view and on the back side of this hill is our sledding hill.  Great fun!  (When we have snow.)

This is a fun picture taken of the sign on the road to our house.  The fun thing about it - which is very difficult to see even when enlarged - are the moose tracks in the snow just behind it!!!

My Birthday Present

 When I left Katie in Germany in November she gave me a bag that she said I could open for my birthday.  There were several occasions when curiosity almost overcame my determination to wait for my big day, but I held out.  Finally.  What I found in that mystery bag was a collection of decorations that she had been gathering as she did her Christmas shopping.  She knows how much I love to set a table and her intent was that I would use these items for my Christmas table.  Finally this morning I dug it all out, added a few of my own things and set my table.  I LOVE IT!!!   Turned out so beautiful.  Thanks, Katie.  What a delightful gift.

(Remember, you can click on the images to see them full size.)  Love my table!

Walt is Home! Winter Work Begins!

 First item of business - load up the porch with firewood - since I had used it all up!

 And then the snow blower is for cleaning out the road to the toy shed.  Lots of work, but Walt likes it compared to the jungle!

 Good old shovel is the only thing that works on the decks.

 More work, but it was a beautiful sunny day.

 Next the plow comes out to clean out the driveway.  Lots of snow this year!  We're not complaining - yet!

 Work is done, so now it's time for some fun on the snowmobile.  Yup.  Gotta dress warm - really warm!

 Bootsie and Chico are becoming best buds.  Yeah, I know.  COATS FOR DOGS?!!  Puppies won't last long in sub-zero temps - seriously!

Bootsie's best bud, Sugar, was probably coyote bait a few weeks ago (he's kind of disappeared), so Bootsie thinks Chico should be his new best bud.  Chico loves it!

Country Christmas Decorations!

Take a really close look at this one - it is for real!!!  It's one very-long-dead cow that has been propped up against the fence and decked out in Christmas finery.   If you look closely, you can see the halo attached to his head along with the everygreen garland and ribbon tied to his tail.  And if you look even closer, you can see some of his bones!!!  This has been "posted" at the entry to our neighborhood from the highway.  It will be interesting to find out who did this???!!!  Never dull in Polaris!  Anything for some winter stimulation!

Welcome Winter!

I spent Thanksgiving with the Gang in Kansas (will post pics later now that Blogger is working again) and came home to about 8 to 10 inches of new snow as there was already about 8 inches when I left.  And it was snowing, snowing, snowing.  So beautiful.  I love it.

 The Sawtooth is magnificent when it is covered in snow with bright sunshine illuminating it.  This is the view out our front window.

 The aspen grove beside the house looking off to the north.

 When it looks like this outside this is one of my favorite places in the house - in my rocking chair beside the wood cookstove in the kitchen with a hot cuppa (of whatever!).  We do have a few cups!

 Eventually, I use the last of the wood stacked on the porch and then have to shovel a path down to the wood shed (if we have snow like we do this year - hooray for snow!) and load up the dining room porch with enough to keep me for a few more days.

 Please let this last till Walt gets home on Friday - he LOVES bringing up wood!!!  (Actually, I really don't mind - it's a good excuse to get outside.  And on glorious days like today any excuse is a good excuse.)

After the porch was restocked I decided to get started on the decks.  Seeing as how the decks wrap around the house, I fully expect there will still be some of this work also for Walt when he gets home on Friday.  Good thing he likes working around the house!!!

Snapshots from Germany

I have no clue how many pictures I took while we were in Germany, but it was a bunch.  A few of my favorites here.  I can never decide if I prefer landscape shooting or people shooting!  So here's some of both.

 Visit to the "Hangar" to see Roger and Sheila.

 We celebrated Thanksgiving while we were there - a little early, but we were very thankful to be together.

 What a cutie enjoying her new purse - PINK purse!

 Katie's pumpkin carving display.

 The village of Pottenstein.  Very interesting rock formations in this area.

 A mill in Pottenstein.

 Windows, reflections and flowers - some of my favorite things to photograph.

 And of course, I love to photograph doors - and this one is must unusual and unique.

 This is an abbey we visited while we were with Roger and Sheila.

 Taken at Sheila and Roger's.  Adorable outfit with her little shorts.  She's a natural.

 Luna and one of her "tutu" skirts.  She loves them!

 Grampa and Luna at play - they did a lot of that!  I think "spider" was their favorite game!

 And then we celebrated Walt's birthday - the big #65!  It was a few days late, but we didn't care - we were together!  And boy, was that a good spice cake - thanks, Katie!

 Luna on her "mommy" pony.  Katie was much like this at age three - some very unusual outfits!  Like mother, like daughter.

 Shopping in Nurnberg.

 Adorable.

 Mannequin covered in gummies!  Cool.

 Nothing is impossible with Legos.

 One of the cathedrals in Nurnberg.

 One of the altstadt towers in Nurnberg.

 Gramma with her favorite little lulu.

 Missing her a lot.  She is delightful.

 We went to Bamberg the day before I left.  Love this image.  Notice the blankets on the chairs.  It's rarely too cold to sit outside and drink espresso.  Cold espresso!!!

 Kathe Wohlfahrt is everywhere!  The original, of course, is in Rothenberg.

 Typical house front.

 Love this curved street.  That's Katie in the foreground - shopping!  No, actually she has a website for information for ex-pats living in Germany, so she's always checking new places to shop, things to do, places to visit, local events - that kind of thing.  It's excellent.  Keeps her busy.  Along with her three-year-old!

 The river flowing through Bamberg.  Love this shot.

 Look!  I'm standing on my head!

 Katie and Luna at play.  I got some great videos of them playing.

 Check out the ponytail!

 It was a game.  I won.  Well, sort of.  Katie did this to me.  I think she used waterproof mascara - it some real scrubbing to get it off!

Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris which was my transit airport on my way home.  Really beautiful!