I haven't officially checked the temperature BUT.....

It’s here. It’s finally here. Today I have not checked the thermometer but my guess is, it’s nearly 60 degrees, at least in the mid-50’s. I slept in this Sunday morning for the first time in a long time. Now that the nights are warmer the batteries last longer. I am utterly savoring not having to get up to flip the generator on periodically throughout the night.

I was pleasantly surprised this morning when I went outside for the first time. Everything was vibrant and springing with life. Don’t get me wrong there is still a LOT of snow up here but something changed overnight. My conclusion is that spring is finally here.

The dogs and I immediately celebrated with a hike/photo tour (later they celebrated with tuna in their food). I have never in my life appreciated the sun as much as I did this afternoon. I suppose I’m being soft, as the truth is, I am always cold. But it’s been a long, cold winter and as much as I loved my union suit I am ready for some tank tops and shorts!

I have been attempting to put enough time aside to sit out by the “bird tree” in hopes of all of the critters that come around grow comfortable and familiar with me. The small ones seem more trusting whereas the camp robbers are very skittish yet. I can understand why they might be skittish if they live up to their name. What they don’t know is, they are welcome here. All of those food scraps I actually poured out for them. In time, they will know. There are also a few squirrels and a large and beautiful black/blue bird that come around now around the same time every morning.

It has been awhile since I’ve updated this blog! I don’t know where time goes sometimes. My sweetheart and I celebrated Valentines Day by taking a really fun scenic drive which ended up in Garnett Ghost Town. I had never been up there, let alone in winter but that jeep is tough and somehow made it to a place where only snowmobile tracks lead to. Many of the buildings were completely immersed in snow yet we managed just to float along top. This was amusing to us as long as we didn’t fall through and get stuck up there until July LOL. Garnett Ghost Town is awesome. Many of the buildings you can sort of climb down into. There are awesome antiques and many places to explore. This will definitely be a summer stop to take full advantage of this jewel in history.

The rest of the month held a couple small cold snaps, broken down furnace, busted regulator, and cracked hot water tank. The motels were great for about 3 days. Long, hot showers and baths, cable TV. It was actually perfect timing for the furnace to go out as that week was brutally cold. I’ve sort of emotionally blocked it out but if I recollect correctly it was nearly -35!  On top of the hurricane force winds the dogs and I became stir crazy and began to miss our trees and solitude. It was nice to get back home. Everything is up and running again (except for the water heater tank). I hate to admit but it is sort of nice to take a break from hauling water! J

Ahh Spring is here. Home building plans are underway for this summer and it will feel INCREDIBLE to make progress on Operation Homestead.

Also, for my family who reads this! I have officially committed to attending our annual family reunion in August so the rumors are true and I am super excited to see you all. I’ll probably be full of Beggers Pizza and Gyros by the time I get there but aside from my onion breath it will be a great time!

This afternoon on our hike I felt this certain sense of pride. As I looked around and noticed how much snow has melted already and as we tromped through fresh mud puddles up and down this dirt road I remembered the excitement and anticipation I felt when I was first watching this snow fall. The unknowns, the excitement, the change, the challenge, the goal….my heart filled instantly with gratitude and I smiled as we headed back to the camper.

Until next time – keep soaking up that sunshine, I know I will. J



Valentines Day, 2011 Garnett Ghost Town



The Gentle Tease of Spring



From a peak in Breckenridge, Colorado

I’m not really sure where to begin after the past few weeks! It doesn’t seem too often when I can’t find a topic worth mentioning but in this case I could go on for hours. No worries, I won’t put you through that but let me tell you this has been a pretty awesome month. Though, I’ll admit – I think we are both beginning to be eager for springtime temperatures & maybe some more sunshine.

It seems like just yesterday we made the transition to living out here on the land. Before we knew it winter would be showing us signs of new life beginning to spring forth all around us. Don’t get me wrong – I know that winter is not even near over but things are changing. Slowly the forest is showing an interest in waking from its winters nap. The birds have become more abundant. They are not afraid of us at all. They treat us as if we are part of their family. The moose have become plentiful again as well. They have become curiously strong in their desire to no longer avoid us and our little area here. However, we do have yet to see them walking around outside the kitchen window although their hoof prints have shown that they have already done so a few times without our noticing.

I am proud to report that we have finally grown acquainted with this new life and for the first time can step back and see some of the areas we have grown in because of this decision to “learn to do things the hard(er) way).

In the beginning it was pretty intense. Who knew what would become of us. Human popsicles to say the least and that’s not even mentioning the mechanics involved in (as the Bee Gee’s would say) stayin’ alive which did not prove to be the easy way out of throwing your money into some landlords pocket.  (sorry for the run on but you get the point)

It was busy. Very, very, verrryyy busy. There was never a full nights rest. There was a little withdrawal associated with unlimited use of H2o. There were semi-scary unknowns. But it was so refreshing. Inspiring. Calming. Awakening....but mostly Beautiful.

Now we have come to a place where we rest more, play more, worry less, focus better, and to be blunt we just have this whole thing down pat. So its nice! Its nice for the breather.

The snow is getting deep around us. The little path we clear to get up here has quite abruptly grown to  at least 4 feet on each side of the drive. Not much more room to push the snow to so we keep our fingers crossed that some will melt off before more dumps down ;)

Last week we were able to winterize the camper for the first time to go to Colorado for a short but wonderful road trip. Brandon returned around 11 pm the night before we left and like a champ drained the tanks while I loaded up the jeep. We did our first anti freeze flush (and the other winterizing fixins) and it went surprisingly smooth convincing us that from now on when we feel like going somewhere for a day we just will! Yes folks, it was THAT easy. So easy we wondered why people would pay to have it done.

We locked everything up and headed south the next morning. We were both pretty tired but also very excited which fueled us. (I later found out that I actually drove the first shift)…so yes a little tuckered out but so ready for a few days away!  We drove straight through, experienced an amazing real gourmet sub sandwich from a little place in Idaho (ruined us on subway for.ever.) and by dark we were in the beautiful state of Colorado. It was amazing. My first real shower since earlier last year was AMAZING! I actually almost passed out from the steam. It would have been a wonderful faint. The next morning we made our way to Breckenridge where I resided for a short time along with some very dear friends of mine nearly a decade ago. I loved seeing Brandons excitement as he, for the first time, saw the incredible Rockies of Colorado.



On The Scenic Loop


It was so fun that we decided to keep driving that day and did an additional 5 hour scenic loop on the most BEAUTIFUL road we have ever traveled.



Brandon on top of the mountain



Over the next couple of days we snowboarded (at elevations over 12,000 which was awesome).
We lost our entire change jar plus some at the local gambling town of Central City (and not in between the seats of the car either we were going for that jackpot), and on our final night in Colorado we stayed at the elusive Stanley Hotel. I’ve always been a fan of the Stanley and part of my birthday present was to stay there. Upon arrival to our room I mentioned to Brandon that it had taken me 15 years to find a person who would stay there with me, his respond, “I don’t blame them!”  This place is said to be one of Americas most haunted hotels and definitely had a very eerie “feeling” throughout. Especially in two rooms -  one of which we slept in - Room 1209 of the Manor House.


We explored the old establishment like crazy that night, taking hundreds of photos and covering every inch we could find. We returned to our room, ordered room service and passed out. I think being awake for 48 hours (thanks central city) was actually a lifeline for getting at least a semi-decent nights rest.
 


Not to say it was without its scare though. TOTALLY creepy place! Lots of bangs all night, lots of heavy stomping up and down the hall allllll night (very loud) until the second our alarm went off at 4am.  We never seen a soul! But again, thanks to Central City we were able to sleep through most of the construction in paranormal’ville until it was time to head home! Stanley was awesome by the way. We both said, “Coolest hotel we’ve ever stayed in!” and we will definitely go back next time we are in the area.

It was a long drive home of almost, dare I say, “Not so excited to come home” mood floating around the jeep. We both agreed we had not wanted that time to end. It was priceless.

De-winterizing the camper upon return was a breeze. We poured some water through, lit the pilot and hit the sack. Before we knew it we were back to the daily grind!

Things have become hectic around the homestead. With springtime lurking I know there is not much time left to solidify building plans! Construction loan is one of the biggest things on the list this month & I realized right away that this would be no walk in the park but will be well worth it in the end.  Then we get to design our home! And I think we all know what happens next and it doesn’t include a summer of nothing but swimming, snorkeling, & camping! ;) We’ve braced ourselves and are eager to get the project underway. It has been a dream of ours and will be nice to have accomplished.

Well, in short (or not so short) that is the update on what we’ve been up to! Hopefully this finds you well, prosperous, and having a great winter!

From a chilly little camper home in the mountains of Montana,

Peace out!

Mental Note worth mentioning of the week: Never leave light on, not even accidently, when leaving your camper for 4 days. :)

                                                  

The Birds, The Wolf & The Bearded Man in the Rubicon Jeep

It has been quite the eventful week here at camp. In mostly…. The most wonderful of ways.

We started out with some camper difficulties. As mentioned earlier, the fridge wasn’t working so we had some coolers buried in the snow outside to store fridge goods. We never claimed to be experts in the camping world. In fact, when this project first came about both of us would agree, this thing was an alien to us! But we pulled out the old manual and tried to trouble shoot this beast. Took about a hour before I was on the horn with any and every camper place in the state explaining over and over again the series of things that have been going on with the camper.  Some I sensed may have had some good points, others seemed stuck in which method we should use to charge our battery pack (lol which wasn’t really a question or concern but whatevs)

Anyway, after a week of tweaking to no prevail the furnace began  to act up. When the lights go out at night and until morning we run on battery power only. During the night I was noticing increasingly how the fan seemed to be on constantly & it was freezing inside. So I would get up, reset the furnace until the heat started blowing in. After  a few nights of dead batteries at 3am, being up 10 times an hour and temperatures constantly plummeting by the minute I realized we had an issue that would quickly need to be dealt with.

So we (especially me who was holding down the fort during this time) were a little bit worried about the situation. I sat down one afternoon trying to figure out what would cause this. Being in the middle of January we probably wouldn’t want to fuss around with this for too long. Then something awesome happened! After a lengthy conversation with a camper place out of Missoula and just as I was convinced we would be alone on fixing this skirted sanctuary the heavens opened and I heard some incredible words. “You know…there is a place that travels to fix campers”

Sold! The next day a bearded man in a sweet Rubicon jeep hauled down from Missoula to service our home on wheels. He was great. Within 2 hours the furnace & fridge were back in gear. A few inexpensive parts had gone out & a loose wire.  So for those of you perma-boondockers who do not have the option of taking their take their rebellious rigs in – There ARE camper repair men! Ah! Life is good. I’m not nearly as nervous about this thing breaking down as I was before these little gems of men popped their little heads up in our world this last week!

So perhaps a little long winded but well worth the appreciation of the situation.

A few weeks ago my sweetheart let me supervise as he hung a bunch of suet balls which we had purchased in hopes of drawing in birds. On our walks we can’t help but notice how many different beautiful species we have around here. Even last summer, the sounds of the birds were unbelievable out here in this valley.  It was like a spa cd playing in your ear, so nice.  So anyway, I decided to try to get them used to being around, so these suet balls are dangling in the trees surrounding the camper. After a couple weeks with no sign Brandon began to wonder if we had done enough. I said we did, that they would come, but deep down I just kind of hoped!

A few days ago as I was having a coffee at the kitchen table (which is a slide out so it’s  surrounded by windows) I began to hear the most incredible bird sounds. I looked out the window and watched dozens of new friends totally freak out over the seeds hanging in the trees. I was all smiles sitting here with the dogs and couldn’t wait to introduce Brandon to our new friends. Basin was pretty excited too and Kaycee just wanted to have a thanksgiving I think. The little guys scrambled here and there in a symphony of chaos.  Brandon now calls me the bird lady which I think he, for some reason, finds incredibly amusing.

Had another new wildlife encounter this week that was rather beautiful (some would disagree). On a warm brisk morning after I turned the dogs out for a while I was inside the camper  & exercising  - sweating profusely. So I had opened the door. The cool temperatures blowing in felt great. I noticed Basin was acting weird, like he acts when he sees a predator. He sat there in full alert squeaking his nervous but  “can’t stay quiet”  mini-Basin alarms. So I walk out to him and look up the valley. I didn’t see a thing but when I crouched down to Basins level and looked I watched a red coat walking through a cluster of trees which are about 100’ from the camper. At first I thought it was a fox but as it calmly walked up the far part of the driveway I was able to see its tremendous size and BEAUTIFUL red coat. It looked like a red Alaskan Malamute. It was calm, I was calm, Kaycee was oblivious and focused on finding food, Basin was a nervous wreck. Anyway, it sat for a moment so I tried to move a little closer (but still did not stray far from the front door) as it it calmly trotted away.



Add caption



A lot of people out west are fairly outraged by the wolf population. They kill their livestock; take out the elk, etc. Personally, I think hunters over hunt the elk population more than the wolves feed on it and that humans are the ones to blame. But that’s another day. It was my first encounter with a wolf and was simply amazing. Nature is beginning to accept us out here. Momma and baby moose poked around the front yard and sniffed the dogs dishes as well this week. The wild in the area are accepting us as non-threats and we are beginning to really reap the peace and solace that comes from truly getting away from the fog, drama and regular hustle and bustle of average everyday life.

We have enjoyed making time to do one of our favorite things: snowboarding! For the past couple of weeks we have really been focusing on taking time for “us” instead of focusing on lesser priorities all of the time. It has been wonderful and there have been many smiles! Last winter we did quite a bit of traveling for snowboarding but with the camper we are more home bound than normal. However, we have a great ski mountain within 10 minutes where we have had great times getting back into shape for the season and semi-bracing ourselves for the awesome time on the slopes in Colorado coming up. 

Had over a foot of new powder this week so we were up there a couple days ago. Brandon was weaving through the trees as I stayed on the side of the run. I looked over to see him flying mach 2 into a tree. After he fell from hitting the tree he looks up with this enormous smile (like he does when something happens to him that would usually put an average person in the hospital). So I stop and am speechless, this was a big tree & it made a lot of noise! I know to ignore Brandons cheesy smile while I inspect him for injuries and/or concussions. He seemed fine and denied all together that this collision caused any pain in any way. Luckily for him the tree was dead and mostly rotted. When he moved away the sucker fell over. Moral of the story: If you have to hit a tree make it a dead one. If you’ve got that daredevil, thrill seeker loved one diving through the trees on the side of a double black diamond on the slopes, make him wear a helmet! (Which fortunately he agrees to do now)



And folks. That just might be the longest post yet. So if you are still reading – thanks for sticking with me. Sometimes I wish I could record moments out here and send them to all of you. This one of the next best things I suppose.

I hope everyone has a great week & is doing well.

Sincerely, from a camper in the mountains of Montana,

The Bird Lady & Brandon



This is me trying to climb on 4' of powder to that tree per his request. It was tough! LOL



On the side of a steep mountain on my bum



Brandon  having a red bull growing his wings in the lodge



Corn Beef Hash, Large Snow Flakes, Good Coffee - life is GOOD!

I hope this finds you all well and enjoying 2011 so far!

Once again, I have slacked over the past couple weeks on keeping up on our blog. Nothing too major to report and to be honest we have been spending so much of our time just running around keeping up on the camper and making sure everything stays going smoothly. In fact, it has seemed like we are insanely hectic now that I think about. For the first time in our relationship we have had to force find time for our weekly date which after a few months we realized we had been missing! So this week we started up again on remembering that taking care of “us” is as much of a priority as staying alive in the camper. Of course, staying alive is nice too so as things have transpired out here we are beginning to come up with a system that gives us more spare time.

Cold temperatures are always a little more of a challenge. Inside stays cozy enough if you wear enough layers.  We do go through an extra lot of propane (around what I had budgeted for our coldest month) so it’s nothing too shocking. If the temperatures are above zero we always are below budget. We have had quite a few cold snaps over the past couple of months and usually the bath tub faucet doesn’t work for a day. Again, nothing major. Just little things that make you go “hmm”.

For any camper/rv  savvy people out there we do have a refrigerator issue this week. I’ve googled it and apparently it is very common – there were many posts but so many contrasting opinions and we still haven’t quite figured it out even after hours in the manual and tweaking it. The fridge has gone on strike! However, when it is on A/C (when the generator is running) it works fine. The propane is the issue – the pilot does light. It is a combo of a blue/orange flame but it only stays lit for about 10 seconds then it shuts off. We conclude that this must obviously be the problem but again this is foreign material to us! So if ANY of you have any ideas or advice it would be much appreciated! Until it is repaired we have some holes dug in the snow outside where coolers are set it. It works very well (thanks to my sweetie for making sure I had a place to store cold food). We don’t have any animal problems with them. The bears are hibernating, if it was warm out they would be having a smorgasbord!

I am sitting near the window at the dining room table as I write this. There is a snow so thick and heavy falling outside that it literally is forming a blanket around me in this camper. It reminds me of my younger years, back on the farm. Sitting in the kitchen looking out towards the horses as this heavy, thick snow coated the earth.  Or maybe it’s the smell of the corn beef hash. One of dads specialties. Something I’ve acquired a taste for over the years and recently on our many camping escapades it is something we've grown very fond of.  Either way, it is a beautiful morning.

As far as what we’ve been up to besides just “living”  as mentioned earlier,  date days/nights  are once again a priority and boy have we enjoyed this so far!! Even if its just a hike through the woods or a drive/photo tour in the jeep. This week we kind of splurged and went to our favorite restaurant which is located right in town called, “The Silver Mill”. Lets just say we ate so much that we couldn’t shove an ounce of food down our throats for two days! I think our waitresses eyes bulged out of her head everytime she came to remove a new stack of empty plates! AND dessert to die for – this candy’ish coated whipped frozen raspberry trifle thing. We never did figure out what it was but it was the first time Brandon has EVER devoured my dessert then when he ordered his own the favor was returned, it was SO good!!  And we had such a wonderful time, sooo many laughs that our stomachs hurt for hours.  I’ve never experienced a relationship that literally gets better and better as time goes on. Not just a little better but every day we grow closer and stronger in leaps and bounds. We are so blessed. We both agree that whatever this is that we’ve found in one another is beyond anything we’ve ever imaged even being possible.

We had so much fun that we couldn’t stop there so the next day we headed up to Discovery ski mountain to strap our snowboards on for the first time this year (finally!!!)! Another spectacular day and now that our snowboard fever has kicked in we are especially excited about our upcoming snowboard trip in a few weeks to Colorado. This will be the first time we actually winterize the camper before we go so any input on that is also appreciated!

 This trip is also my 30^th birthday present,  planned by Mr. Romantic himself and I am just so excited to see his face as we ride a lift to 12,500 feet above sea level just to ride our boards back down. Montana has some GREAT snowboarding but I am still convinced that Colorado is the best if you want to experience above timberline and great powder. We will also be staying a night at the notorious Stanley Hotel (where The Shining) was filmed and Brandon insists we stay in their most haunted room -  I think its 412? I am willing to place money on us not sleeping a wink, but it should be quite the experience!

We are also planning another event. One we are more excited about then anyother. Last week Brandon eagerly hiked me up the hill to a boulder where we had spent many summer afternoons and near where we found out the property was ours. I looked around thinking about trees that needed to be cleaned up and where the house was going to be when I realized my sweetest of sweets was on one knee in 3 feet of snow, ring in hand, and with wide eyes he asked me to be his wife. I do not know how to explain what we have or how special & unique it is. In fact, I never knew something like this could exist. It is beyond love, beyond compatibility. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever experienced or even witnessed. A love full of nothing but complete and utter adoration, loyalty, respect, and so much more even.

We are excited to announce that we will officially be husband and wife! Plans are still up in the air but we are really stuck on the idea of having a very informal ceremony on the island of Kauai, Hawaii and possibly this June. We are so very excited about what the future holds for us as we reflect back upon the past couple of years as being the best of our lives. Everyone is invited of course and if you can’t make it, we understand  but if you can it would mean the world to us!

So that is about it! I have a lot to do today. Trying to get my new web page up and going, working on home building plans & loans, and this afternoon a little Kauai leg work! Also, our little big dog has officially been diagnosed with an auto immune disease. The vet thinks he will gradually get to be in very rough shape over the next 5 years. We refuse to believe this is the fate of our loved furry man so we are going to try to get a university of veterinary medicine to look at him. Perhaps it’s snow nose or something else. Or perhaps there is something they can do to help him. At any rate, the power of positive thinking has proved to be one of the most valuable assets we can have.

                                            Until next time, take care & happy camping!

Winter Solstice

Brandon took this beautiful photograph around 10 pm on Winter Solstice

It's been one of those weeks. Or maybe even a couple of "those" weeks straight. Don't get me wrong. We are loving life just as much as ever and nothing major has happened to dampen our spirits but the past days have been a tiny bit of a struggle in their own way. I can't even say why exactly. It seems every spare moment has been spent running around like chickens with our heads cut off just trying to stay on top of the ever growing to do list. Ah welcome to homesteading, right?! :)

We still find ourselves laughing our heads off and of course taking a few minutes here and there to just "breath" but I still yearn for an afternoon to just "be".  This week definitely is starting out a little more bright. It seemed last week every single thing I tried to do would backfire. Again, nothing major - but have you ever had one of those days when you couldn't seem to walk to your car without slipping on ice and cracking your back? I think the dogs are taking full advantage of the situation. Basin is going through his 4th round of "Terrible Twos" testing us on EVERYTHING we do! Thank God for that vibration collar that keeps him in line. Especially thankful for the little button that says "Nick" which I haven't tried personally but I have a feeling it gives him a little more then a vibrate (sorry to the PETA people out there who take offense to this but you probably would understand if you knew the danger he puts himself in while frolicking across the wilderness paying no mind to the head of the pack putting himself in imminent danger because he refuses to listen).  And Kaycee, amidst her senility has found it ever so satisfying to get into the trash (in the camper AND in the shed) every chance she gets). I think I can literally hear her say, "What are you going to do? I'm 15 years old! You can't teach an old dog new tricks" ((insert Kaycee voice which is very lofty & soft with lots of huffs)). And she pretty much has a point...that is, if I can really hear her speaking which if that is the case I might need a day to just "be" more then I know. lol

I was so eager for Brandon to arrive home from work last week. Someone to laugh with me as we struggle to defrost one of the many pieces of machinery that seemed to have frozen solid during the 40 degree drop in 2 hours which took us from rain, to sleet, to pure blown blizzard. I realized abruptly once again how ever so fortunate I am to have a man to support me through these moments. No laughs, no condescending nature at all in fact, just full support. And by now,  I feel enough fuel from the love of my best of friends to turn my frown upside down.

The camper is staying cozy and warm. We did have a couple of nights which reminded me of the good ole, not so good ole winters days in the midwest. Humidity to beat the beans filled the frost bitten air. I'll never forget how quickly it goes straight through your bones, and every other operating piece of equipment you might happen to need to survive. It sure does make me appreciate days like today. A beautiful afternoon, 30 degrees, full sun and no moisture in the air. I can stay outside all day on days like today. However, I've decided to cut it short as it's winter solstice! From here on out we can look forward to more and more sunshine which is especially exciting given the fact we are perched on a south face!

Our hike today was wonderful. Sun all the way along the snowy road we decided to tour which if you stay on for long enough, you will end up in town. We made it about as far as what I like to refer to as "Moose Alley". I think you've heard me mention before the abundance of moose in this neck of the woods. With just me and the dogs we try to stay away from them while on foot. It could mean life or death if we cross paths with an angry Bullwinkle who is unpleasantly surprised by our presence.

Things are seeming to turn around. I said to Brandon last week, "It's almost as if the universe is trying to prepare us for something!" We just chuckled and my thinker of a man decides to not dwell on feelings as much as I do and points out the abundant beauty that surrounds us. I stop to take it in for a minute and admit that this is one of the most incredible places I have ever experienced in my life. And with that, life is good. So good.

It was 2am this morning when we warmed up the jeep to drive Brandon to meet his partner as they begin their 3 hour commute to work. Our hearts are always heavy as we part and every week it seems we miss each other more and long for the day work can be closer to home. Before I say goodbye I realize how eager I am to see him again and he hasn't even left the jeep. But I know that in the days to come much will be accomplished on both ends and much needs to be accomplished to make progress on this adventure of a life.

I drive back toward the end of the valley in the brightest full moon light I have ever seen in my life. It was so bright the valley looked as if there had been a giant street lamp brightening the winding road as I traveled down it. I pull up to the camper, still in my blue suit pajamas with nothing but a winter coat and snow boots pulled over and suddenly darkness surrounds me. I can't help but notice how suddenly our giant street lamp has been turned off. We had photographed the area the night before amazed at it's brightness. (See photo on the top of this post).

Instead of heading straight inside I take a stroll and look around a little bit amazed by the abrupt change. I see the moon it's its partial eclipse and delight in the gift of actually being awake to see it! I can't remember the last time I experienced this! Fortunately Brandon has a phone that works now so I call him immediately and we share a moment from miles apart watching this awe inspiring performance of the universe. I smile and stumble inside as I realize how close I was to missing one of my newest favorite moments.

I remember how fortunate we are and once again my gratitude is renewed. A little ice, a little humidity, a little struggle never hurts. I am thankful for this opportunity to grow larger, stronger, and gain more pronounced character.

We are really tossed up on home building plans as of late. Whoever said we are good at making major decisions was wrong (actually I don't think anyone has ever said that lol I think everyone knows better). When it comes to where we should go on our next road trip we are golden but what home to build?! That's a toughie! I won't speak too soon as these things seem to change daily but I think we have more solidly decided on what would be best and what we should do. Update on that once we are tied in, I am afraid to speak too soon. :D

Everything with the actual living out here is going really well. As mentioned previously, we haven't had as much play time as two mountain gypsies would like but we find our bond and our love for each other and this life growing like corn in the early summer. We couldn't ask for more. We are blessed.

Funny Brandon mentioned last night before heading out that the wildlife sure doesn't come too near to us. I agreed (with the exception of the coyotes)  then on the hike today I found such an abundance of moose, elk, and deer tracks surrounding camp so much that I couldn't believe my eyes! I guess the full moon prompted them to be out and about which has prompted me to sit up the next time the valley is so clearly and vibrantly lit up.

Mental Note Worth mentioning for the week? I suppose it's as simple as this. Sometimes when the light disappears and darkness evades don't assume the worst. You just might have the best front row seat for one of the most spectacular shows of your life.

Thanks for reading and until next time, Happy Camping!

My Boys - can't figure out how to get this right side up before my battery dies lol

Brandon and his plow partner!

Winter Wonderland!

Perhaps I've been overusing the term "winter wonderland" but I can't really think of any other way to put it. Even the photos do it no justice. This is by far the most beautiful winter I have ever experienced & has opened my eyes and heart to an appreciation that I thought dissipated when I was about 12 years old.

Yes, 12 years old was when I last felt it except now with this renewed interest and bigger muscles the  snow balls are rolled much larger. In fact, I used to think I knew how to play in the snow but now realize I had no idea how to roll a snowball until we waited for a semi warm winters day with gigantic white pieces of fluff gently falling all around us to the ground which already had a couple feet of white accumulation. What I am trying to say is, it's fun. A lot of fun.

You know, when we first talked about moving out here and into a camper we really felt that the world thought we were crazy. We did have a few supporters but overall it would have been extremely discouraging if we would have listened.  We never privately discussed these reactions from people. It's not of our nature to really dig into negativities like that. When we decide to do something, we do it. We enjoy the rush you get from the unknowns. The challenges of living off the land. But were we REALLY going to be freezing our bums off like they said. Was this REALLY going to be a horrible experience that we would never forgive ourselves for? We didn't know but we were doing this and we've loved the adventure so far.

Last week finally all of those discouragements were brought up during a lovely afternoon stroll down a path along the side of the creek. It sure is working out beautifully. And for the first time we openly admitted that we didn't know if it would. It's so cool when you can set your mind to something, do it, and actually succeed. I shouldn't speak too soon. There is a lot of winter ahead of us but seriously, is this the coolest place I've EVER lived? Um let me think, yes.

This has been a very snowy winter. The plow works wonderfully on the road and has become a favorite pastime worth fighting over who gets to do it. The dogs are in love with their new home. I am so glad my old girl Kaycee was able to experience this in her last days. She loves the peace and solace. No neighbor dogs to tear into, no traffic to bark at to warn mom. The nearest neighbors whom are still quite a distance away are all gone now so here we are, in this magnificent valley, all to ourselves.

And as far as staying warm goes, on our coldest nights which were near -40 the camper stayed plenty warm. Not throw a leg out from the covers warm but plenty cozy in some long johns and warm slippers. Right now I am gasping for air as this tiny space heater is aiming towards the bedroom where I am writing from blasting heat unlike anything I've felt since August. And for those of you who know me personally know I love it!

I turned 30 years old last week. I couldn't think of any other place I would want to be. For my 30th birthday we snowshoed to the top of the mountain and rode sleds down. In between my little emotional breakdowns from my first official life crisis the air was filled with nothing but laughter and gasps of excitement as we flew off the sides of boulders that we didn't know were underneath us. I couldn't ask for more then to have spent this day with the sweetest man in the world. Rewind a little, I also woke up to breakfast, coffee from Hawaii & all morning chores done while I slept in! I have to say, this was the best I've ever been treated on a birthday and I felt like a princess by the time evening came.

We also learned this week that one should never leave the black tank open on a cold night. I am SO glad Brandon has worked with medical waste in the past or he would never be able to do this job. And mind you, he put a new use to the words "Slush Puppies". I have never smelled such a foul odor as what comes out of this thing but he keeps on keeping on! Thank God cuz I would be gagging from here to Missoula if I had to do that job! Anyway, no major problems from that. Had to get a little messy & take a little time after dark on a cold night but everything was up and going again within the hour. Brandon comes in with his hands held out asking me to turn the pump on and spray some soap on his fingers. I had the bright idea of pouring vinegar over the soap  to help with some of the horrible odor that seeped into his palms. Awhile after dinner during a leisurely video game he turns to me and says, (excuse my language) "My hands smell like piss and vinegar I must really be full of it!" haa! Ahh I love this guy.

Have been able to take some fun photographs. Someday when I get a little antenna to stick on top of this beast I will hopefully have better internet service (which I'm surprised I have any!) and be able to attach more pictures to these posts. It's so beautiful.

Heard a woman screaming outside my window a couple weeks ago at the top of her lungs. I paused for a moment before panicking and hiding in the commode when it dawned on me that obviously there wasn't a woman screaming outside my window! I thrilled at the idea that a pack of coyotes had come so close that I almost felt like I was in the middle of them, they yelped all the way past and were on their way. The moose have also become abundant & there is a particular mom and baby that seems to always be around. For over 7 months now we have watched the baby grow into a young bull. She is getting used to our vehicle (we wouldn't dare approach her on foot) so we stop when she is near the trail and she just watches us. We don't push our luck in hopes of not chasing her off, she has become quite the popular model in front of the camera as well!

Haven't been on the mountain snowboarding yet but we are eager to do so. Eager to get out onto the lake and kite a bit. Eager to do many things. Perhaps this lifestyle has us a bit more tied down but I cannot say I feel like I am living any less the life. In fact, most days it feels like more.

Pumping water from the creek, filtering it twice, then pumping into the camper deemed unsuccessful. Our first use was great. Second one everything froze up almost instantly. I may have mentioned this in another post. I apologize for any redundancy you might notice. I digress, we've converted to hauling all of our water in 6 gallon containers. They are easy enough to poor into the camper & extremely convenient to fill. No longer do we go to town or friends house or even the laundry mat to fill them, silly us forgot there an awesome mountain spring with the BEST water where locals often go to, to fill up! It's PERFECT! So a bath a day it is & lots of delicious crisp, cool artesian well water from the Mountains of Montana.

It's a neat place and one where I have found my heart & soul. Today as I drove toward a neighboring town near I-90 I came upon about 800 head of cattle on the highway. I weaved in and out of them as I passed mile by mile of red and black angus. It confirmed to me that I've finally found home. I even used to jeep to push a few back to the main 3 mile long herd. Wanted to make my farmer friends back home proud. The ranchers in the truck in front smiled these incredible smiles and waved their arms off as I passed by. I smiled & was glad that I didn't live in a place with bumper to bumper traffic. I'd much rather deal with bumper to bumper cattle :)

That's about all for now folks. Thanks for reading! I try to get on here once a week. Last week I missed due to my turning 30 crisis but I'm over it now and back in action!


Mental Note worth mentioning - of the week:

Do not panic when the gas tester goes off continuously if you're dogs bum is right next to it.

Until next time from the happy campers,

Take care!

Momma Moose and Baby Bullwinkle

The moose are cool animals. They are highly respected by all in the animal kingdom and seem to carry a fearlessness with them wherever they go.

They are enormous critters with a fierce reputation. If one decides to attack you, there really isn't that good of a chance you'll get out without being seriously injured.

There are a lot of moose around here. In particular these two which have acted interestingly over the past 7 months. The photo to the right was taken on a cheap camera phone around the end of May. What an exciting thing to watch them jet across the road up ahead! Seeing in person is really incredible.

Over the next few weeks there were more encounters with these two. Momma was so skittish. We would spot her from a very comfortable distance and instantly she would make a run for it taking this little leggy nob back behind her with.

After awhile she would watch us a little longer each visit and finally a couple of weeks ago we were able to drive up to a safe but close distance and grab some great photos!

These beautiful animals are almost mystic. I can watch them for hours!

Brrr!

I woke this morning and was a bit chilly! The coldest has yet to arrive. Either my eyes played a bad trick on me or the forecast stated that there would be temperatures in the negatives within the next few days! Brr! I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that it was near 70 just a few weeks ago! But I must not complain. After all, it is nearly the end of November already! Where does time go? 


It has not stopped snowing for over a week now. It seems the old timers were right when they said we would see a very white winter (and cold for that matter). We've only accumulated around 5 inches at the homestead, town has less. I believe there is around a 1,000 foot or more difference in elevation from here to there. It's not supposed to stop though, so yesterday was spent assembling the new plow on the floor of the camper. The instructions initially looked a bit intense. We probably spent about an hour prepping to tackle the project but after beginning it things went surprisingly smooth! Or perhaps we just make a great team :) At any rate, we got it done! It was pretty fun to plow for the first time. Aside from the terribly torn up road thanks to easement rights and a construction company that didn't seem to care that WE would still have to get in and out of here all year...ahhh digression. Anyway, it works really well & is a very large piece of mind to know it can snow, Snow SNOW as much as it wants because this plow girl is up for the challenge! 


Anyway, our batteries are struggling to hold a charge. This morning was especially chilly after they went dead somewhere around 3am. I was in a bit of a daze stumbling out to flip the generator on but it definitely heated it up again in here fast enough to take an early morning nap until it was light outside! Next week we will have to figure something out with this though. We do have 2 extra now that have yet to be added on to the current pack. That should definitely be added to the To Do list! :D


Other then that we have just been continuously prepping for winter! Going good so far! 


We are also especially excited about a new prospect that has come up! Our FAVORITE rustic log cabin company  that we never thought we could afford has a shell for a full sized log cabin which they are offering for sale for right in our price range!! It's SO beautiful!  It has draw knifed logs, extra large instead of the milled look & is plenty large enough to make it a permanent residence! We would be under budget which would leave so much room for other things within the construction of this home! Yeah!! We are hoping to have the purchase for this log shell secured asap so construction can begin first thing in the spring. This is especially exciting since what seems the biggest decision (which home) might be answered now so the focus can go back into all of the seemingly minor (yet incredibly major) details! I'll get some pictures up soon! 


I guess that's all for now! The local ski mountain is getting dumped on so we are pretty excited to get our boards out! Some play time will be much appreciated after the chaotic preparations which have seemed to rule our lives for the past couple of months!


Until next time - keep your toes warm & always have water! ;)

Simplicity

With the time change I have found the days to be drastically shorter. I don't know what it is exactly that makes this new place so cozy. Perhaps its the stillness of the night. Maybe it's just being back in my right element. We both agree, that this is definitely one cozy spot.

After the whirlwind of craziness over the past 2 months things are FINALLY settling down. Not a whole lot but something is better then nothing, right? Last week we had the most beautiful of days. Fair weather - I think it reached 70 around the middle of the week. Just when I tossed my hoodie back in the closet we had a lovely gust of a high around 30 the next day blow in. I do love that about winters out west. It seems they give you a break. It's never consistently freezing for months on end. At least not since I've been here. You get little breaks. Though I must admit I do pay close attention to the rumors as they continue to fly...this is supposed to be one bad winter. Lots of snow and lots of cold.

I'm not too worried though, there is always a way. We did experience some serious freezing of the hoses already which was a little inconvenient. Especially since living like this involves a whole lot of pumping fluids into this beast. We've found some great back up plans for these times even if they involve multiple trips to the laundry mat to move enough water for a shower & teeth brushing. Luckily for Brandon, he is with a Wisconsin girl and we know how to defrost things like no other! So I've already stepped into action on the defrosting department & would make you Wisconsin girls proud.

Over the past couple of weeks there has been a lot of monitoring & creating new and innovative ways of doing things. Every night it feels a little more like home as well as every night I am more and more glad to be out of town!

We've arranged for some loggers to come in next month to remove some beetle kill. We still need to get a larger propane tank but for now these smaller ones work very well.

The dogs are getting settled in. We always double check outside after dark before we let them out. It shouldn't be too long before a moose or bear is standing out there poking around the "yard".  Would hate to have an incident. The trauma from it alone would force me to pull this sucker by hand back to civilization.

We've renewed our love for playing the game Mario Brothers and have spent endless hours into the dark night up here in the hills trying to beat Bowser after Bowser. We have fun like kids, feeling young & full of life. We've found that this move has renewed a sense of youth in us. We don't really know why we feel that way but we definitely are enjoying it.

The snow is falling & this week we hope to get a plow out here or it's just a short matter of time before we're snowed in this snow cave (which wouldn't be so bad mind you).

I write this with flakes slowly fumbling their ways to the ground outside my windows. The dogs and I just returned from a walk that was cut short because of an apparent starving old Akita who insisted on running full force back to the camper for her bone without waiting for us.

We hiked along a trail with about an inch of fresh snow. All so fresh, no tracks aside from our own. Birds screech out their sirens as we pass by, informing the entire forest of our presence. To my left I noticed a beautiful wide area in the creek with a crystal clear sheet of ice covering it. Basin was so excited - his first experience with ice! He was a typical malamute - extremely cautious, innately tapping the ice with just the tip of his toe nail before even thinking about putting a foot on it!  It was beautiful. I had to slack for a moment and actually admit how freaking beautiful winter can be and maybe even admit that I can learn to love it.

A family of beavers swam by beneath the crystal layer. I watched in unbelief trying to make sense of these enormous blobs who were on a mission below the waters surface.  They didn't mind that I was there. They knew I meant them no harm. I smiled as Basin and I returned to Kaycee & her gigantic bone. The beauty in the simplest of things is so often the best.

Until  next time - from the camper in the mountains of Montana, take care!

Back to the Basics.

Meanwhile...back on the homestead things have been very well. You know, when you grow up with things such as power, plumbing, an abundant source of water, plenty of heat in the winter, etc. you really can't know what to expect when suddenly you are living off grid.


Well, speaking for myself - I can honestly say - I had only a little idea of what to expect. I knew only these things. Showers would be short. Using the restroom would be chilly. Sometimes being indoors might be chilly (though we haven't even touched down into our coldest months out here in Montana so stay posted on that.) And I HOPED the change of pace would be an eye opener. I hoped it would be a refreshing change of pace. A way to abruptly learn to really appreciate things that had so soon are taken for granted. I also hoped these changes would be a source of inspiration. A way to get Back to the Basics. 


So far, that's exactly what it has been. Though the past few weeks have been SO busy I think both of our heads are still wildly spinning out of control and I am SO anxious to have a day just to hang out and enjoy this new world. That day will come I am sure but not quite yet.


This week was an important one. The transition has been made. No more town. No more 30 minute hot showers every morning. The use of energy is now widely conserved. The priceless lessons of how to live outside of society are now underway. But all is good. Actually, quite wonderful. The stressors of "not knowing" are slowly diminishing and enjoyment of being in this new place is quickly taking hold. 


Both of us have always known we would love to learn to live completely off grid. Being independent, headstrong, and at times quite the "loners", we had always talked about Not Needing Anyone to exist in this world. You know you will miss certain things (though at the moment I can't say I miss ANYTHING about depending on people to live!) but you also know you are undertaking something that not many people can. That's a pretty cool &  what an opportunity in this day & age!


An endless supply of water is underway, I am now permitted to #1 indoors which is WONDERFUL! We have purchased 2 more batteries to add to the pack. The current batteries are doing the trick and keeping everything charged enough until morning, however their charge is dwindling so fast that it is alarming (and dramatically reduces the life expectancy of the batteries) so two more might just do the trick. 


Next week will be another busy one. A "front" porch area will be constructed & a larger propane tank which can be filled in bulk will hopefully be purchased. So far we are going through about 7 pounds of propane in 4 days - mind you I probably have it a LITTLE warmer in here then it actually needs to be but still not bad! But apparently propane is much more pricey when purchased in small quantities. Also, along with the front porch we will be using a heavy duty tarp of some sort to protect the slide out from acquiring large amounts of snow...any ideas welcome before that is underway. :) 


I awoke this morning to a beautiful frost filled valley. The sun comes up a little later in this nestled area. Everything is is so pure. So untouched. I am especially grateful to #1 inside on mornings like this. The views are so much more enjoyable through a window pane first thing upon rising. But the beauty I cannot quite express. It is also very good to know when & where the sun is hitting throughout the seasons in regards to future home sites!


As I type this I watch the sun slowly making it's way to where I sit. I have very limited cell & internet service here which I am inquiring on how to boost the signal a little bit. But for now it works! 


Haven't spotted any moose, bears, mountain lions, etc. passing by the windows yet but have noticed an enormous abundance of tracks, scat, and beds within 100 feet of MY bed in the mornings. Which prompted the purchase of a good spot light. I can hardly wait to see my neighbors now!  


We also discovered a fairly large beaver dam not far from the camper. I am excited to try to catch some good photos of them! Apparently they are nocturnal so I am hoping that if I wake up before the sun rises and prop myself on a rock with a good view I might be able to catch some action!


Time to get the day started - lots to do! Until next time -  from the mountains of Montana,


Take care!

Something white is on the ground???

It has been such a busy few weeks & though we are both pretty tuckered out, we are both incredibly relieved by the amount of tasks completed after this rush! Nonetheless, it is not quite time for rest. Next week will begin with a trip to Missoula to this great store we found to purchase just about anything for this (and many other) lifestyles! Until then, I will be getting settled in the new place with the dogs. Which brings us to....drum roll....so far this is pretty awesome! Last night a moose stood watching us from about 200 feet away. A beautiful female posed so elegantly as the snow gently fell around her. Of course, we both were quite disappointed in me for not having the camera handy! But I swear they hide when I bring the it! Well, they won't hide for long. Thanks to a number of people, circumstances, situations, and opportunities - we now get to live on their turf! It's pretty exciting for a couple of folks like us. Truth is, in the summer - we spend probably around 90% of our time together in the woods/mountains/jeep/tent. It's probably safe to call it an addiction. An addiction to the peace, solace and beauty you can find & experience only when you are apart from the drama & dysfunction that seems to be so prevalent in the world around us. But most of all, just to be hand in hand with nature is life changing in itself. Ahh. Yes, we love camping. In fact, last year when November arrived, we had such a great summer we decided to travel west to the coast. Now that was camping! But that's a whole other story for another time. What I am trying to say now is this. Week 1 in the camper has been quite fantastic. I was especially excited to get rid of satellite TV. Brandon on the other hand - was dreading it. After a few nights though I think we both can see how much of a distraction it was! The TV was ALWAYS on when we were in the house! I'll admit - I might miss American Pickers and maybe even (just between me and you) a little Dr. Phil but wow - my soul delights in the stillness and calmness that surrounds us now. On the other hand, with the generator running you can actually watch movies in here! The enormous TV in the entertainment portion of the camper with a movie playing on it makes this place feel like a real home! 

For a couple mornings we have been teased with light dustings of something white all over the place. This morning, all toasty in bed I wake to the most beautiful of pines arched so proudly out our windows. I cannot help but be incredibly thankful (maybe even a little excited) about how breath taking nature can be. I also take extra delight in how toasty I am! Perhaps it's these footed pajama's which are now known as the  "Blue Suit".  I'm not much for having stuff on my feet but in this situation I make the sacrifice of comfort for...well comfort! I do wish they had a butt flap - very difficult to go #1 outside in during a cold night. But they are WoNderFul! I digress, this place has SO far stayed so cozy and toasty!! The thermostat is usually set on 65 at night which is plenty warm with temps down in the teens! I think it could be turned down even lower and still be comfortable. 

Cooked the first meal last night here.   The stove top worked wonderfully. On the other hand - there is a very odd odor wreaking of sulfur or "rotten eggs"  that is coming from the water. It was filled upon pick up and in the owners manual I read that sometimes this is common when water sets in there for too long. Not sure where to go from there with that, feedback is definitely welcome!

Anyway, so yes. Snow, as they call it, has arrived. And we were ready just in time. The good news is, Brandon's brother Garrett and his wife Trina are going to let us borrow their ATV for the winter. I don't know if they have any idea how much this means to us! After looking into how pricey plows for pick ups are we abruptly realized that we wouldn't be able to afford one. Huge dilemma on that so this is such a HUGE help! SO the plow will be in later this week & then I become plow girl. I have my warm clothes ready & am stoked about my duty. Much better then shoveling off a  concrete driveway in town. This is more my flavor. If you knew where I grew up - you would understand why.

So, so far life as a boondocker is spectacular. I now understand what all the people who shared their experiences via blogs online were talking about. Winter camping might be one of the coolest things we've ever done. I am sure we will run into road blocks and have some challenges but so far so good. 

Next week we will upgrade to being able to #1 in the actual camper toilet which I am pretty stoked about, and we are considering still where we will get water. For now, showers in the rental until the end of the month. 

That is about all we've been up to. Late night guitar sessions, an occasional movie, moving everything over, cleaning the old rental and just getting settled in! Life is so good. I will try to get more pictures up over the next few days!

Toodles for now my friends & take care!

Amidst The Transformation

Wow this has been a busy & intense week! We've realized now that we could've never prepared for this move in time without help! The past 5 or 6 days have been a whirlwind. The storage shed from lowes is now fully constructed with a ply wood floor. It seems to be very stable and will be perfect for what we'll use it for.(a nightmare to assemble though). A mass quantity delivery of mothballs arrived (thanks mom!)- I have yet to spread them under the trailer but am in high hopes these will help with any rodent problems we encounter. 

The boys got off work & began immediately on moving the camper & skirting it. These guys are real troopers. After working an 11 hour nightshift they drove 3 and a half hours across the state to work on this thing until dark. Then everyday after for the rest of the week they were plugging away on it. They've built a great skirt with plywood and staples holding the insulation along the inside walls. We've also put down plastic underneath the whole thing to hopefully help with keeping moisture from seeping from the earth into the camper. It also serves as hopefully a spot for mass mothballs to last awhile.

We could not have done this without Rich. He's been our fuel & brains behind the operation and without him, simply put, we could not have done this! He was over here everyday off to help construct this thing. We are so grateful for him & all he has done! SOOO grateful! THANKS RICH!!!

After the skirting was up we tried the first of two methods to keep the skirting tight to the camper to prevent rain and snow from getting in there. The first was duct tape. Didn't work. Peeled off. Didn't stick. So now we are using the caulking method. which includes leaving a line of caulk along any of the spots that have a small gap.  Working well so far.

Also put plastic over the windows inside. Will report on how well that works. I am considering having some small wool blankets on hand for added insulation if necessary.

Also, thanks to Rich we were able to take most of our large items over to the new pad. So now all that is left is, finishing packing the house, cleaning it, and finding a water holding tank that won't freeze, propane tank, and a john.

In addition to everything that is going on here in Montana, this week I received a phone call from my mother informing me that my father has cancer.  I never quite knew how I would deal with news like this if it ever came.  In my worst nightmares I imagined it. Never once did I suspect my father had cancer. I am still in shock & have been for 3 days now. I know I must keep my head in the game, stay focused, and have hope. Still though, I feel like a cloud is following me. I'm looking out but it's all a blur. I am beyond afraid inside & though my hope & faith are strong, I feel somewhat detached from my surroundings, my mind is always on him. I stay as calm as possible & continue to believe in the things that we cannot see. So if anyone is reading this & believes in the things that we cannot see, please say a prayer for my daddy.