Field Trip to West Yellowstone

One day this fall, while reading Thoreau's ardent opinions about architecture in his book, Walden, we all remembered Old Faithful Inn.  Unfortunately Thoreau never saw Old Faithful inn but we knew  how it has the most awesome architecture of any building around. 

 Just like that, we decided to go to Yellowstone for the day.  I could read to the boys just as well in a car as I could in the house.

First, though, we stopped in West Yellowstone.  I wanted to show the boys some cute things in a shop.  You cannot imagine how little they cared about cute things.

Prairie Spy perked up a bit while imagining himself with a great slicker out riding on the range.

And Nova Spy was quite happy when we got our traditional ice cream cone.

And we were all happy at how pristine, warm and PERFECT! everything was.  And! NO TOURISTS!

Just imagine:  this room entertains thousands and thousands of people from all over the world during the summer.  And then, as winter approaches it gets tucked in and put to bed.  It's slumbering peacefully right now. 

Hi Granny!  I don't think it's erupting for awhile yet!

Hunting - Then and Now

Once upon a time (3 or 4 years ago) the boys went hunting and actually got something.  Yeah!  I was so grateful to have good venison and jerky all winter.  I despair of ever getting an elk again, though.  Growing up we would have an elk roast every sunday.  My brothers would get an elk each fall.  But then they introduced wolves, and all the elk vanished mysteriously, and now it seems unlikely that i'll ever get super healthy, grass fed, beyond organic elk meat again :)

This is why Mr. Bechtel likes to go hunting anyway.  Hiking quietly in the woods is very therapeutic.

Especially when it's all misty and surreal like a shot from Lord of the Rings.

The Mission Call!!!

Golden Delicious got her mission call!!!!

There was much drama involved.  First she was getting her call that week, and then she wasn't, and then miraculously, Mr. Bechtel and I came to Provo for his work and she called screaming, "It's here!!  It came!!"

We gathered with her friends and cronies in her apartment to open her call....

Japan, Tokyo mission!!!!

Now, why didn't we think of that!

She is, after all, still her daddy's little girl.

She heads off to the land of the rising sun (via the MTC) at the end of February.

Mr. Bechtel's Pictures-

Mr. Bechtel downloaded all his pictures from the year and I was reminded again of how wonderful pictures are.

We think we'll remember everything, but we just don't.

It started raining on us while we were floating.  It didn't get very bad.

But then Nova passed us in his canoe, and I figured he was ready for whatever the weather threw at him. 

The water at Big Springs was perfect as usual - such crystal clear perfection!

Andy Dent Schedules a Demonstration

The Spy Twins went down and helped Dave Hicken in Heber City for a week before the Ricky Quinn clinic.  John and Amy were nice enough to let them stay at their house.

Andy Dent arranged a demonstration for Ricky with an un started colt.  John brought his kids, Daniel and Jayne.

This was Braeburn's first chance to meet Ricky.  He didn't know what to think.  Prairie Spy talked him through everything.

Hey Ricky - 

And then here we are at Kneaders.  We ate there 3 times in 2 days and personally, I will be pleased if we never go there again. (at least for a year :))

NaNoWriMo

Golden Delicious and I had such great expectations to do an epic month of writing... But it did not happen!!

I am just chronicling that 2014 was not a good year for novels or creative writing.

We will try again.

Sunlight

Granny is making a levi quilt.  He took a break to paint something on the easel.

Nova Spy reading "Eagle of the Ninth" by Rosemary Sutcliff.  It was a good book.

All in all, a mellow homeschool day.