Halloween 2012

Yes, the Halloween festivities have started. It's a fun time of year but it can be exhausting and honestly, I exhale a sigh of relief when it's over.... Haha. But, we enjoy the ride in the moment.
*Thank you Audrey for taking all these photos!*

Audrey and I went to an adult Halloween bonfire over at a friends house last Friday. I got home from working in Ely that night and we were already late for the party. But, we threw some color on our heads and made an appearance "fashionably" late ;)

Our friends Kevin and Rachel have a vintage apparel and accessories store in their house! I was highly impressed. Audrey found some bell bottoms and top and tried it on. She looked like she stepped right out of the 70's show! lol ........Looking fabulous, of course.
I ended up picking out some items that Rachel is holding for me :)

Then, there is the annual party at the Border Inn. It is always neat to see what people dress up as. My friend Karla and I ironically ordered the same outfit, so we went as twin Dragonfly Fairies. Isaac was a Train Conductor and Ava was a Princess-Fairy-Zombie. Halfway through the evening she rubbed off the makeup ring around one eye so it looked like she was sporting one black eye all night. Haha

Emma and Isaac were waiting for a song........ lol
Eventually the band started playing ~ then they really got their boogie on!

Bryan was absent in the photos because he was attending and speaking in a conference in Las Vegas all week.
Tommorrow is the Halloween Hayride!

First Snow in Baker

Someone shook the snow globe! Old Man Winter has officially made his appearance on October 24th. It's the first snow of the season; at least down here in the valley. We are supposed to get 1-3 inches. The kids were excited this morning when we got up at 6:30 am and looked out the window. At that time it was still relatively dark but we could still identify the white snow. lol
They showed even more enthusiasm walking to the bus stop (post office) in their winter boots, gloves, and hats. It wasn't bitter cold either, so the walk was pleasant and pretty. Ava & Isaac enjoyed catching the flying flakes with their tongues. The biggest thrill however, was meeting up with their friends while waiting for the bus and throwing snowballs at each other. Let the winter games began........   ;)

These photos were taken with my Itouch so the quality is not the best :) 

I just hope that it is not too cold for the Halloween hayride next week!

Sonnet for the Pronghorn

Home, home on the range.............. the Basin & Range ;)

Where in one of many life zones ~ the pronghorn play. Or they just sit there and look at you looking at them. I wonder what they are thinking. On this particular day, they weren't frightened. On other ocassions when I tried to photograph pronghorn, they would bolt. But, not this time. Their feet moved slowly through the brush. They kept me in their peripheral vision; aware of my moves. They would take turns doing "predator checks" while the others grazed. I love spontaneous wildlife viewing opportunities!

 

Then, they formed a uniform line; like they agreed to pose for a picture :)
Maybe to get it over with and get rid of me...... lol


 

Sonnet for the Pronghorn
~ Jill O'Brien

Hale the Prince of western sage

Hale the Princess too

Imagine them not inside a cage

Or prisoners inside a zoo

Imagine the world seen through their eyes

Their gaze, like a sailor’s stare

Of distance and birds and endless skies

Of cheetah and elk and bear

Think of a link between eagle and you

With feet on the ground but speed

Lodged between Earth and endless blue

Stuck between knowledge and need

Blend your colors of tawny and white

With background and foreground and fade out of sight

 

 Beautiful Creatures!

 

"What Did the Jack o'Lantern Say to the Pumpkin?"

"Cut it Out!!!"

That's exactly what Bryan and the kids did the other day. They gutted the pumpkins and now we have a couple of Jack o'Lanterns (along with smaller pumpkins from Grandpa's garden) keeping watch of our porch. Well, at least one is keeping watch while the other is busy preying on another pumpkin;
Bryan's cool idea :)
Anyway, it's looking a little like Halloween at the Hamiltons.........

 

 

The beautiful pumpkins we watched grow in our garden this year :)

Then, they took out the pens and the carving knife. The transformation began, as I fished out the seeds to keep............

Did I mention the fabulous weather?

 

 

Bryan's creation ....... lol :D

 

We illuminated them that night, eager to see what they looked like. One pumpkin was dropped on its head. It suffered a little damage. Trick-or-treaters will have something to look forward to when they make their way to our porch  ;) 

 

 

 



Grandma and Grandpa Hamilton sent the kids these adorable shirts. Ava wanted to wear hers to school and show it off to everyone. Since she was in the mood to showcase, I did what any other mother would do ~ I made her pose. lol



 

 

 

 

 

Apparently Zeek wanted to be part of the picture :) 

 

 

 

 

 

Duty Calls

With this season comes the call of duty..........of getting firewood. I like how I just described it as "getting wood" as if it were that easy ;) 
The job is much more fun when you can get a group together. Team work is essential and a lot less hard on the back bones. We've gone out twice so far. The first time with John, Anita, Audrey, Adam, and Mom. The next time with Ben. So, these photos represent both days.

"Git 'er Done!"

Can you sense the excitement? :)     lol

 

 

Work is always a lot more fun when Aunt Audrey is around!

 

We still have a couple more cords to go.
*Sigh*
It's all worth it to see those flames dancing in our home and warming our bones on those long, cold winter days.........