Merry Christmas from our big happy family.

We had a really nice Christmas 'vacation' although it went by WAY too fast. Maybe that is because at least 25 hours of it were spent in the plow truck. Gotta love the wind. We had xmas eve dinner at my moms and we got our traditional xmas eve gift....pjs. Everyone but G; he got a remote control airplane. We spent xmas morning with my bro and sis at the ranch and had a great time eating, opening gifts and laughing our asses off. Then we were headed back to the 'other' valley to open more presies and eat more food. G got me an amazingly luxurious couch blankie from Italy to replace the old raggy one that is pretend; you have to pretend that it is keeping you warm. Three beautiful scarves and some other fun things. He got (from me) a new rock tumbler. We will be famous in no time with all of our rocks!! My mom got engaged!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We spent Friday in Big Sky at Gs project working and Saturday doing returns/exchanges and getting more drift fence which seems to be a lost cause. Sunday was clean up day and the evening was spent up Cokedale at a post winter solstice holiday party with friends. All in all a good time... I am ready for another long weekend!

Holidays are for parties.

Christmas can not pass us by without a little bowling action. Tradition at G's firm is an afternoon of bowling extravaganza followed by dinner and dancing. Bowling trophies, white elephant gifts and now bowling shirts are also included. I always look forward to this evening....great food+great friends=tons of fun

The CMA bowling team. All dressed to impress.

At Treasure Lanes showing off my bowling skillz. Good thing I took bowling in College.

Cheers

The men looking dapper.

At LBG for CMA Holiday bash.

Trav got a Quesadilla maker. If anyone needs a machine to make quesadillas it would be him.The awards ceremony.

Love at first sight.

I have been waiting and waiting for 6 weeks to be exact to be able to meet Karmella. She is beautiful and I am in love with her.

I mean really....who could resist this sweetness.

I am really excited to spend some time with Karmella and of course Ashley while they are here and even more excited to get to spend a whole week with them in Vegas next month.

20 below

This is what 20 below looks like for all who have not had the pleasure to really take it in...for days and days and days. What do you do when it is 20 below you ask. First, you pray that the cars will start, when they do you let them run for a looooong time before you try to drive. Head into town with a list of EVERYTHING that you might want or need for the next few days. This will be the only trip into town until work on Monday morning. Eat lunch at a warm restaurant by a fire. Pick up movies and the projector. Stop at the grocery store to fill the kitchen with food. The hardware store for a pipe heater for the horses water, a new kitchen faucet and plastic covering for the old ranch house windows. Remember to keep the truck running the entire time and head back to the ranch. Cut enough firewood to last for many days and get into the house where you catch up on cleaning, laundry and inside chores that have been put off during nice weather and hunting season, watch plenty of movies and cook good hearty food. All in all it is not so back. Makes for a pretty fun weekend.

We should have won!

Friends gathered from house to house around good ole Livingston to judge; yes judge everyones' Xmas spirit. That's what it is all about right? Being the best and having the most? LOL Anyway, there were 3 categories... 1) Tree 2)Decorations 3)Drink. We had short notice and had to buy our tree, decorate and clean in two days when we were both working and tied up until late each evening. But I H-E-A-R-T our tree and I learned from Martha Stewart how to tie big bows out of pretty ribbon for the wreaths. Spiked Wassail and yummy snacks were prepared and the house was clean for our guests on Fri night. We did not win but I am pretty sure that is because we were first on the list and people forgot about the booze factor that was discussed in the beginning as the winner was our last stop and I am pretty sure that my candied pecans and pumpkin apple dip (thanks Brooke) beat out the grilled cheeses. I will admit that the hot buttered rum was tasty tho. So congrats Trav, Molly and Kurt. Maybe we did just save the best for last.
Notice George pouring his hot buttered rum on his wifes head.....

She was SUPER pissed. Can't blame her.

I H-E-A-R-T horses.

An outfitter who lives in the creek bottom near the ranch is doing sleigh rides this winter and needs to keep some of his horses around rather than ship them out of town to graze for the winter. He is grazing 2o horses in one of the fields. I saw them this morning as I drove by coming into town. It was really fun to see a group of such amazing animals in the morning light....way better than a bunch of cows. We take care of only 2 horses. It is nice to have more beautiful animals around. And I am really hoping to go on a sleigh ride this winter.

i want i want i want

I want a subscription to The Sun magazine...for all of you wondering what to get me for xmas. Oh, and also The Food Network mag.
Thanx

....this just in....

The snow finally came....the roads were really shitty last night...can't wait for enough snow in the fields for xcountry skiing....i am done with ALL of my holiday shopping....i know, i'm strange that way....i want to go to the xmas stroll....i am thinking about going a little dark with my hair....i CAN NOT wait to see Ashley and Karmella....i also CAN NOT wait until i go to Vegas for a week of nothingness in Jan....i finished my online course today....YAY me....i am getting better at my job....i had fun hunting this year....i missed my sister on thanksgiving....holiday girls lunch will be fun....secret santa and gift exchange games are strange to shop for....i heart my studded tires!

No matter what the outcome......

No matter what the outcome, daffodils will bloom in the spring. Men and Women will fall in love, and, sadly, out of love. Inconsolable grief will still be inconsolable. A broken heart will nonetheless keep beating one hundred thousand times a day. No matter what the outcome, writers will write. Painters will paint. Three in the morning will still be three in the morning. The door in our psyche we don't want to walk through will still be down the hall. No matter what the outcome wife will hand us invisible thread that connects us all; love will hand us the needle.

I love it when I have a weekend free from work!

I love watching Food Network while relaxing on the couch on a Fri night, G cutting me enough firewood for the weekend, eating leftovers and falling asleep to a movie, no alarms, quick trip to Boz for shopping and soup shack, a long wandering hike on BMR, the sweet pea trail, Rosa's Pizza and Oliver at the FireHouse5 Playhouse, coffee and rice crispy treats, no alarms, snuggling, chores, grocery shopping, cleaning, snacking, laundry, cooking, baking, warm fire all day, eating, watching shows and waking up Monday morning feeling good about the house, the ranch and my week to come.

My Bestie is a Mommy!!!!!!

That is right. Karmella Jade Saylor was born at 5:01 PM on November 5th, 2008. A beautiful 8lb 7oz baby girl with tons of dark hair. At least that is what I hear; and imagine. I am So very proud of Ashley, and Austin of course. I am also a little sad that I don't get to see them until x-mas. Ashley and Austin are great parents already and will be the most beautiful little family. I laugh thinking about how Jayda (first born Jack Russell) is going to handle not being the center of everything. CONGRATULATIONS ASHLEY AND AUSTIN!!!! I love and miss you and I can't wait to see all of you.

Did I mention that I am GREAT at building a fire!

Halloween

Suzie is nto a Palin Fan...YAY Suzie!!

I am not a huge fan of dressing up for Halloween. But as it landed on a Friday this year....we celebrated a bit. I threw on some black clothes, some ears and a tail.............poooooof............black cat!! I enjoyed the company of a welder....sparklers and all, and well...Dan had a coyote on his head and carried a real sword that they took with them hunting the next day.

Odd morning

It is now pretty dark when I leave for work in the morning. It was a strange drive to town today. I was about 1 cm from taking out a German Shepard that lives down the road. He came tearing down a neighbors long angled driveway that is lined with tall grass and pretty much attacked my car just as I was passing. We both came to a skidding stop. Enough to put me in a bad mood for the day. As I carried on down to East River Road I did my best to get over my annoyance of those who have pets that run wild and out of control. You know if I had hit that dog it would have been my fault even though I had no control over over it's behavior. Just less than a mile before I hit Carters Bridge I saw more animals. For a second I thought they were deer; pretty typical sight. But they were much larger and darker. A group of cow elk who I am guessing had just crossed the road after a night of grazing a huge hay field and enjoying the crisp clean water in the river. They were on their way back into the high country for the day. I have NEVER seen elk down there that close to town before. I am taking it as a sign that even though that dog tried to ruin my day all will be alright.

Winter Firsts

Today is the first SNOW of the year. It will not likely stick and we will have few more nice days before the months covered in white. Yesterday was my first day this year with my studded snow tires on.........just in time. Last night we built the first fire of the season in the fireplace. Just can't beat the heat of a wood burning stove. There are many places where the changing of the seasons is not a real huge deal. Around here it means swapping out your entire wardrobe, changing the tires on your car and never leaving the house without your favorite hat and gloves. The snow shovels come out and the gardening tools take their place in the shed. I am mentally and physically preparing. Bring on the winter.

Keep Calm and Carry On

Another thing that I couldn't wait to put up in my office when I first moved into it was this Keep Calm and Carry On poster. I stole the Idea from Brooke who has it up in her house. I know that there is also a story as to where she got hers. Bottom Line is that I LOVE it and really feel that it is perfect for my office. I read it myself every day and try to keep that thought in my mind. There is something about it that is very soothing for me in my life.
Anyway, I have had it up for about 4 months and NO ONE has ever commented on it before which is surprising to me. Well the poster is ignored no longer. I had the sweetest little 8 year old girl in my office yesterday.....little sis of a client. As she sat in my over sized black leather chair (which she also loved) she read the poster out loud to herself and said......'That is a really nice song, I mean, not song, words'. Such kindness and innocence. It spoke to her just as it speaks to me each day. She made my world yesterday.
She also said that for helping her bro she was going to give my wealth greater than money and 1,000 dollars when she becomes a rich model. Gotta love that!

gold fishies

When I started my Internship I moved into a new office. I decided to decorate it since I would now have people other than myself and my boss in there. My clients would need a calming serene space that they would feel safe enough in to spill their guts.

Anyway, I decided to get a plant. I have no windows in my office so I knew this might be a challenge for me. The only plants that we have at the house are Jade plants. They do very well but only because they are sitting right in the windows. I have not had much luck with anything else. I went to the local flower shop to ask for some advise in what would live without any real light and was directed to this Goldfish plant. Which I was told would do fine in my office environment and have small little orange (gold) fish shaped blooms. The plant was super lush and healthy so I decided to give it a shot.

It soon began to die and loosing all of it's leaves. I was advised by my boss to put it out front by the window to see if it would revive. It is now doing better and even has some GOLDFISH!!! But, I am now afraid to bring it back into my office. At this point half of the plant is dead but I also don't want to disturb the roots that are still alive by pulling out what seems to be dead. To say the least it is not the best looking plant. Pretty bummed.

As you can see the middle of the plant is very much dead but I'm not sure how to deal with that so I am leaving it be?

burrrrrr

It looks like we are starting to prepare for winter around here. I was instructed to park on the far side of the driveway for a few days just to be sure that nothing is going to fall. I was glad to see this when I got home last night. I HATE being cold and nothing cuts through the Montana cold that penetrates your bones like a nice warm comforting fire.

Slaving my life away.

I had the day off yesterday (monday) because I had worked all weekend. I decided to try making my mom's coveted salsa. Something that she has done every year for as long as I can remember. It ended up taking me all day.....I mean all day. I started chopping onions at 8am and was finally done cleaning up my mess around 4pm. But it turned out fabulous and I am so happy that I did it. Not sure how long it will last us because last year when my mom gave us a jar it was gone in 2 days and I am pretty sure that I didn't eat it that fast. I know that it is a once a year deal and that it has to be savored. I guess not everyone realized that. ;) At least now I don't have to go begging my mom for more.

celebrate

THE BRIDE AND GROOM DOING WEDDING STUFF

My dear friend Sarah got married in Hawaii on Sept. 22, 2008. Her reception was last Saturday so that everyone who was not there with her and Force could celebrate with them. The party was full of great people, great food, an authentic Hawaiian hula dancer and of course all of our amazing dance moves.

Sarah and I

Me and my handsome man.

My mama and her man Bruce.

Lisa, Sarah and I.

The things we do.

Oh, the things women do in MT during the fall to spend a little time with their man. It is very much worth it!

In Good Company

Grif's mom is here visiting for awhile. She is here to look for something to buy in MT. She is keeping an open mind for now in deciding between a home in Livingston and land in Paradise Valley. She arrived a week ago now and will be her until the middle of October. It has been fun to have another woman around the house. It is hunting season and G is gone a lot of the time. We have been having a great time together. We all enjoyed a fabulous meal at the Livingston Bar and Grille, and we have gone house hunting together. Aside from that G has been in the mountains so Brenda and I have taken in a girlie movie (The Women), eaten at fun spots, I have been shoeing her may favorite spots to shop here and we hit the last Farmers Market of the year last night. When G got home from hunting last night and we told him what we had been up to his reply was.........'You are getting to spend more time with my mom than I am'. Not really true because he is on a week of vacation so they see each other during the day between his hunting expeditions. But we are getting plenty of time to bond and get to know each other pretty well. I am really hoping that she can find a place that suites her so that she can spend more time up here. She is super fun and full of energy. It is nice to be in such good company.

MEN

It is starting to feel like the Isaly clan is being over run my males. My cuz Ruby and her man Derrik (Butch) just found out today that their little bun in the oven is a BOY!!! What will it take to get a little GIRL around here?? Just kidding. I couldn't be happier for Ruby and Butch.....But were sure are getting quite a large collection of little BOYZ!

Here Elkie Elkie

I was able to join in all the hunting fun yesterday. I was both excited and not so excited remembering back to last season the one time that I went out and we saw nothing, froze to death and I had to sit under a bush for a long time with out any talking. That is the hardest part for me. The no talking and being sneaky. It seems that I am not so sly in the woods.

Glassing the countryside in my real tree camo pants.

We went to find Elk following a tip off on a spot from my bro. The spot was BEAUTIFUL! We could see 360 views of all of the surrounding mountain ranges and it wasn't too terribly cold. We could see a group of Elk grazing and hanging out in an alfalfa field quite a ways off and knew that those Elk were not going anywhere but Keegan had said that Elk move across the spot where we were every evening to feed on fields that were on the other side of the hill that we were set up on. So we watched the Elk that we could see and waited. Just after the sun went down we were standing around getting ready to go and I started to hear a very faint cow calling. (Elk cow; not mooo cow) Sure enough 20-30 elk started filing over the top of the hillside on their way to eat. They were just under 300 yards away and of course across the boundary onto private land. The cows were talking and the bulls were bugling. VERY EXCITING! I have spent all of my life in MT/WY and aside from seeing herds on hillsides from the road or seeing the Elk in YNP I have never seen Elk being Elk. It was pretty amazing. G called back and forth with them for awhile and just as quickly as they had come they were gone. We stood and talked for a few minutes more and I spotted two satellite bulls just east of us coming up the hillside. I am pretty sure that they spotted us too and changed their direction. The bull is pretty much right in the center of the shot to the right of 2 pine trees.
As we walked back to the truck it was dark out but we had a bright full moon shining down on us so we didn't use flashlights. As we walked we could hear the bulls still bugling. We couldn't see them and they couldn't see us but we could hear them moving.

All in all....totally worth it!

Almost married.

My friend Sarah is getting married one week from today in HAWAII!! I headed over the hill for a little bridal shower/bachlorette party celebration.

Sarah and I post shower/pre party. On our way out. Wendy (Sarah's mom) had a very flattering hat for Sarah to wear.

Wendy, Sarah and Annie at 317.
Paula and I at 317.....self portrait.
Sarah and her mama.


Just me at 317. My drink looks huge....It probably was.

Sarah and I had a slumber party at Wendy and Terry's house because Wendy was wonderful enough to be our driver for the night. It seems I am a lightweight these days as is Sarah and we were not so bright eyed and bushy tailed in the morning. But Wendy made us a yummy breakfast and Terry whipped me up an Americano.........Just what I was needing.

Stupid Frost!

So, as you can see. The frost that I awoke to on Monday morning did some significant damage to the tops of my tomato plants. I am hoping that the fruits that are still on the plants will go ahead and ripen even though the top half of all of the plants are dead. Stupid short growing season!

Slowly but Surely

I just sent in my sixth and final home study course exam. Now if I can just get through a semester long online group counseling course and 600 more hours of being an intern I will be eligible to take the licensing exam and be a real life LAC!

BOOO Frost

I am afraid that my garden may have froze last night. It got pretty cold and there was frost on the yard this morning. The garden in really big and I don't really have anything sufficient to cover it. Plus when I saw the weather report a 33 degree low last night I was already tucked into bed. No way was I going to get back up and try to figure out a solution. Yup, I'm lazy.

Fall is in the air. YIPES!

I sure feels as if fall is upon us. We didn't get a very long summer here this year. I am hoping that it will warm up again for a bit and the forecast says that it will but I tend not to count much on the forecast. They don't seem to be all the wonderful at predicting what it is going to do around here.
I made 2 trips to Wyoming to be with my family in the past month. The first time to celebrate how awesome we all are and how much fun we all have together. The second to celebrate a family members life...........A life lived well.
I am slowly chipping away at my home study courses for getting my LAC. I am working on my last of six courses. I also had to really become a student again. blah. I am taking an online course through UNR for the fall semester............Individual and Group Counseling. Can anyone tell my how I will learn to run run groups online? I guess I will find out.
It seems that many of my friends and family are experiencing BIG changes in their lives.....
*Cousin Ruby is prego...Due in March
*Friend Sarah gets married in HI this month
*Friends Ashley & Austin are prego...Due in Nov & engaged....getting married July 09
*Friends Joe & Darcy had sweet Walker a few weeks ago
There are other happenings that I am not sure I am at liberty to disclose just yet.
Fall in MT brings HUNTING SEASON.
My brother's big dream is to become a hunting guide. He got hooked up with an outfitter and went into camp for the first time yesterday up Hell Roaring. Pretty exciting. I hope that he loves it all as much as he thinks that he will.
Tomorrow is opening day for bow season. Which means I have spent evenings scouting and went to sleep watching a video about processing an animal to get into the spirit. Gotta love being a Montana girl this time of year.

Ruby and I climbing down into the Natural Bridge in WYO
The crew at Grams setting out the hike the Natural Bridge

A stop at Jackson Lake for boating on the way back to MT

The caravan crew at Yellowstone Lake on our way to WYO

Look closely......The big bucks are out there.