Project 52: Week 12

Some of my favorite photos of the week. 

Spring must be super near because I have seen a lot of this little guy the last week. 

Perhaps I should name him? 

Any ideas?

I don't want to get too attached because we are moving in less than 3 weeks and this fat little guy is going to have to say hi to the other neighbors every morning. 

He did let me sneak up on him a little this week though. 

Glacier National Park (part 1)

For the first time since our Honeymoon in 2006 Paul and I went on a real overnight vacation. We've had lots of stay-cations and day-cations, we've road-tripped for work and to see family. But we've never had our own trip where the destination was our choice, family fun, no goals, no "just drive, so we can just get there". We decided we are long overdue. 

Another really nice thing about this trip was we didn't really have much phone service the whole time, so it really was just the two of us. 

I am going to break this up into a couple posts so we don't go into picture overload all at once. 

First Family Vacation

The first night we drove up to East Glacier. We stayed in a cute little motel (Mountain Pine Motel) that had a very retro feel, but it was very clean. Not a lot of amenities, our room had two beds an old TV, towels and bar soap (and of course I forgot shampoo) But considering we are right outside the park, for the price, I was very pleased. Most of our neighbors were hikers, after we arrived and they dwindled back in most of them sat outside and drank a beer while they took their hiking boots off and unloaded their gear from their cars.

If you ever go to Glacier I highly recommend Mountain Pine, It was clean, the grounds were beautiful, lots of grass and trees. I think they are pet friendly, I saw people with dogs, but we didn't bring our monsters.

The hotel manager (Cute little old man) gave us a really nice map and basically outlined our trip for us. I am so glad he did, because we had no intention on going to Two Medicine (blue arrow) or Many Glacier (pink arrow). 

Today I'll share with you those two places. 

Running Eagle Falls Trailhead

Two Medicine Lake

Drove down to the shore of Lower Two Medicine

On our way in Lower Two medicine was very calm and the Mountains reflected perfectly off the lake, so on our way out we decided to explore and drove down a washed out dirt road to try to get a picture. We got down and it wasn't calm anymore, but it was still beautiful. 

On our way back up the washed out dirt road though we almost didn't make it back to the main road. I was really upset because I thought we were about to ruin our vacation and it had just started, we had literally only been out of bed maybe 2 hours max. Lesson learned, don't take your Jeep, no matter how BA it is, off-roading, with crappy road tires. After about 10 minutes of trying we got up the hill and back onto the highway. 

rain coming in looking in to Lower Two Medicine from the main highway headed North.

obligatory selfie

lower two medicine panorama

Lower Two Medicine panorama 2

after we got back on our way a storm started to roll in, lots of rain and lightening on our drive from Two Medicine up to Many Glacier. 

Family Fun! 

Look at all those Glaciers! 

Once we got to the end of the road at Many glacier we noticed the clouds were parting and the sun was peeking through, it would be a good day, the rain would eventually stop and the sun would come out! 

Many Glacier view from the Swiftcurrent Lodge parking lot

Stay tuned for more Glacier National Park coming soon! 

Free Annual National Park passes for AD military

photo credit: Okinawa Navy MWR

From Whitehouse.gov :

Starting on Armed Forces Day, this Saturday, May 19, we will be offering all active duty military a free annual pass that will grant access to service members and their dependents, to more than 2,000 sites across the country, including National Parks. 

The annual pass will be accepted at all public land sites that charge entrance or standard amenity fees, including those managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps.

you can figure out where to get yours here

Hope to see you at the parks this year!



Have a lovely day, and remember to find me on Facebook!

-Alana

Seasons Changing

I don't make it much of a secret that I don't like living in Montana very much. 

One thing I have learned while living here is that Summer is my season. Winter is my enemy. 

I just can't handle winter, I hate being cold. I hate being so cold that my bones hurt. This last winter was mild and for that I am grateful. Paul and I have one more full winter left in Montana, then we will hopefully leave in early winter 2013. 

The last few weeks it's been warming up here though. I really like Montana summer. 

Besides the wind, I just can't handle the wind, but whatever. 

So today it's supposed to be 87 and I am so excited. I have to go to the chiropractor but I plan on spending the rest of the day outside with the dogs (and doing laundry)

Proof that winter is a distant memory:

The doggies sure do love playing outside 

Taco loves outside too, but he mostly has to stay indoors because he has a habit of making a run for it.

This years baby cows were born a bit ago

 And last years babies are getting bigger.

We've been playing outside a lot

And the horses and mules from the back pasture have returned

I drove out to Hauser Lake a few days ago, it's about 20 minutes from the house

Renji

Aiko

Mixed Emotions

I sort of lied when I said I don't have much going on right now. I actually have my mind running like crazy, but I don't know where to begin.

I've gone back to brown, I don't know if I mentioned that.... 

I am really homesick.
I really feel stupid missing Okinawa as much as I do. I think because life was just so simple there, and that it was rarely cold. I am having a hard time adjusting to the exact opposite.

April 7th, 2010

That picture was two years ago, and I'm sweating my balls off. Today, here in Montana, I am cold, and it's about 39 outside  with a possibility of sleet and snow for the next two days. 

Also Tuesday I met a girl downdown, who had seen my "I (heart) Okinawa" bumper sticker and stopped, the girl had lived in Okinawa last summer through a program in her highschool. It made my day. She was heading to the library for free japanese lessons. I am going to try to go next week. 

Also I am trying to get my shit together and get back into school. I submitted all the paperwork for financial aid in January, hoping to get into spring classes and I never heard back. Of course it's my own fault for not following up. So now I am hoping for summer. I finally got our taxes done and I am really hoping to get into at least one class this summer term. I am so close yet so far from finishing my degree, I think I can get through the rest of my core classes at least by Fall session 2 so I can focus on my major. 

I've been trying to get my fitness on with Zumba and I've been walking. Trying to eat responsibly, and take better care of myself, Paul and I both need to re-evaluate our diets. 

Prairie dogs from my walk yesterday.  

Work is going well, for both of us, although it doesn't leave much time for activities. Most of our ventures out of the house consist of going out to dinner. Which is part of the aforementioned problem.

I think this weekend I need to plan something for us to do that gets us out of the house, but takes in to account the possible shitty weather. I need a touristy guide book for Helena. 

The dogs are good too, not to jinx it, but we haven't been to the vet for an urgent care, or emergency visit in MONTHS!  I am so proud of my little boogers for being so good. 

I just can't decide how I feel, I certainly have the winter blues, and I am horribly homesick, but I am overall pleased with the way our lives have been lately. I just can't wait until Recruiting Duty is over and we can have our lives back. I'm ready to move on from here.

Pinterest

not really so lazy here, as I just got back from shopping and now am about to clean house, but.. 




So, here we are, in the beginning of winter. And I am already planning my spring gardening. 
I'm gonna go big this year I think. 

I'm planning a raised bed garden on the right side of the yard, closer to the house so It will get evening shade from the porch. 

Source: sunset.com via Alana on Pinterest

planting ideas: 

Source: gypsymagicspells.blogspot.com via Alana on Pinterest

Source: chickensintheroad.com via Alana on Pinterest

I'd like to start composting again. 

Source: planetgreen.discovery.com via Alana on Pinterest

I want to go over to the junk yard down the street and ask him for old tires and hang 5-6 along the fence and put flowers in them, or maybe herbs that need full sun. 

Source: myhangingbaskets.com via Alana on Pinterest

I want to put in a small patio area at the bottom of the stairs from the deck. and put something like this down there. 

Source: home-solutions.hsn.com via Alana on Pinterest

I'd also like to do an in-ground fire pit. 

Source: google.com via Alana on Pinterest

First Snow

First snow of the year last night. It was just a dusting, thankfully. Because I am not ready for this. 

I still want to wear my tank tops and  flip flops. 

The snow stopped almost as suddenly as it began, and the clouds blew out and the temperatures just plummeted. I think the low last night was 21, right now (at 10 am) it's 27. Brrrrr! I think I'll work out then take a long hot shower. 

Mt Helena Hiking (again)

Thursday I went for a early afternoon hike. 

I decided to go up Mt Helena again. 

Helena:

 

Looking into the valley: 

I really like this one, even though it's blurry.  

looking up the limestone cliffs. 

View from the top. 

All the dead trees. Thanks Pine Beetles. 

This tree looks really cool, sad that it also looks like it's dying. 

Some Deer on the drive home: 

Took me about 2 hours, and I hiked about 2 miles. I really was proud of myself, but I was desperate to be done when I got to the bottom.