2025, November 10-16

As fall continues moving along, we continue riding the wave.

Kai Puppy is always such a love. Hallie took him back to Brittany's late in the week, but he'll be back. 

Hallie donned the Christmas apron at Starbucks this week. She loves seeing her friends behind and in front of the counter. 

The herd is most active in Mike's neighborhood in the afternoon. 

They tend to head to campus at dusk.

A local squirrel seems to have taken enough of a liking to Mike to not immediately run when he approaches or pauses to grab a photo.  

Like most of the country, we could (kind of ) see the aurora borealis on Monday and Tuesday night. Mike would have liked to get these views, . . .

. . . but he had to settle for this. 

He spends evenings chit chatting with Hallie, watching DVDs, and wielding scissors (both real and virtual). Sometimes ideas that start in real life . . .  

. . . get pulled into the online world . . .

. . . and returned modified back into reality.  

Unseasonably warm weather in Springville means time outside. 

Ferg has his own way of making nice with Kai. 

Hallie and the cat have a complicated relationship. She likes to show Mike when Ferg is being friendly. She also likes to tell Mike when Ferg is being an ugly alarm clock. 

The young bucks might actually be getting used to seeing Mike around on his evening strolls around the Oval. Hard to say. 

Eliza came home from the residential hospital on Friday. Eliza spent about eight days at Aspen Grove. Upon leaving the facility, Eliza wanted In-N-Out, so that is where the girls headed. 

Hallie went to the Hobble Creek Barn Boutique. Hallie would like this ornament when Kai doesn’t come with us to Montana. If you know of a doodle that will need a new home, let us know. 

Mike spent a quiet weekend mostly on campus. 

He volunteered at the UM food pantry and even got to teach his coworker how to make some of their own. They hung a few up to add to the decor. 

He surprised and got surprised by the ladies relaxing in his backyard. 

View through the bedroom window on a Sunday morning before doing some chores and heading out. 

It's some 15 degrees above normal in Missoula, which means that somehow these California golden poppies Mike sees on his treks over to the library have continued to survive. 

Hallie and Eliza went to the property of her nice old customer who has a menagerie out by Utah Lake. 

These ponies followed Hallie around. 

Like it or not, Ferg may be warming up to Hallie. 

When he's not taking in the fresh air or otherwise occupied, Mike finds uses for his time. 

Those in Utah are counting down the days until Mike comes home for Thanksgiving, as is he. 

2025, November 3-9

We are facing new challenges as the month moves along. But we get by with a little help from our friends. 

Monday dawned relatively warm and sunny in Springville but about 10 degrees colder and gray in Missoula. 

Mike hung snowflakes cut last week and from years past in his office window. Technically, they're seasonal decorations, not Christmas ones. 

Eliza wrote a haiku and shared it with Mike. 

On Tuesday, we voted. It was a municipal election, and it was Landon's first election. 

Now Mike can tell which office is his from the courtyard. 

Spooky vibes from the Oval. 

Plus an encounter with a night visitor. 

Eliza saw these chickens in a tree on one of her walks. 

Here she is on the road on the way to Springville High School where Jocie got honored with other seniors in the marching band. 

Turns out Landon and three other Springville were honored honored by the Springville City Public Safety Department with the inaugural Art City Spirit Award for their actions related to the accident in which they provided assistance last month. He seems to have forgotten getting the invitation to attend the award ceremony, so we didn't get to attend, and we don't have a picture. 

Hallie, Mike, and Eliza have been doing family therapy while Eliza is at Summit. On Thursday, Eliza didn't go to school there stating that she wasn't feeling well, which meant she wouldn't be able to go to help out and practice at Leslie's or participate in the equestrian event on Saturday. During therapy, Eliza was feeling salty, and after some conversation with our therapist, we decided to have her go to a behavioral hospital for a few days. This is a really hard situation, and there's no sugarcoating it. 

Between his mom's passing and everything going on with Eliza, Mike has had to deal with not being able to be there or do much more than be a listening ear while up in Missoula. He goes walking a lot, occasionally seeing members of the local herd in some of the oddest places off campus.    

Lots of podcasts, audiobooks, and old TV shows while cutting paper snowflakes. Beats fretting over situations that are out of his control or influence. 

He has some of Eliza's handiwork, lots of pictures, and phone and video chats to keep everyone connected. 

Hallie's friends in Springville have been really supportive. Ty made her this Starbucks drink with all the fancy add-ins and toppings.

Fergus has had a hard time adjusting to people feeding him late now that we're back to standard time. Plus, now two of his people are missing from the house. 

Somehow, he manages to find Hallie's warm lap. 

Cristy took Hallie out to play Bingo on Saturday night over at Last Call. She even got Bingo and won a prize! 

Hallie worked at Starbucks on Sunday and got to see customers she doesn't normally see when she goes for her own drinks during the week. Always nice to know there are people who brighten our days. This customer said Hallie made his drink perfect. Hallie made sure to brag to her coworkers.

Up in Missoula, Mike made friends with the local ladies . . . 

. . . and this friendly feline on his neighborhood walk.  

Landon took some time to cuddle with the kitty, and we got some goofy photos to boot.