2026, September 7-13

With the heavy rain over the weekend, we got some water in the basement. Fortunately, we didn't get too many things wet. We could consider it a benefit of renting that it's a problem we can call on the landlords to resolve, which they did, at least temporarily. We so do love living in an old house. 

Later in the day, Eliza took Mike over to the pedestrian bridge to show him a pigeon nest she found while diving off the bridge into the Clark Fork.  

We scared the mom off and saw her clutch of eggs. 

Hallie got her nails done in Griz colors. Check out the maroon grizzly bear paw! 

Eliza went riding at Drue's, and Mom and Dad got to watch. Meet Lux. We are hoping to lease for a bit.

Eliza caught her study buddy in repose. 

¡ǝɹǝɥʇ 'ollǝH

We haven't seen the local deer in several days, but they seem to have migrated back our way. Mike saw does and fawns in the morning on his walk to campus . . .

. . . and young bucks later in the day in our backyard (this after Mike spooked them into running there from the front yard). 

On Thursday and Friday, Mike had internship visits up in the northwestern part of Montana known as the upper Flathead due to the reservation, the river, and the lake endemic to the area. Along the way, he got to see the Mission Mountains, Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, the entry to Glacier National Park, and other local communities and sights. Here are some views of the lake from the appropriately-named Lakeside Community Park. 

Looking east

Looking southeast

Looking northeast

Fergus has long been a fan of Eliza's rubber band hair ties. We did not realize he also likes Eliza's emery board. Time for a manicure there, boyo? 

The annual Montana Grizzlies Military Appreciation Game took place on Saturday. We forgot about the theme, but as Hallie and Mike walked back home from Starbucks, they saw a bunch of people gathering on the Oval. Within a few minutes, we heard then saw an army chopper preparing to land. We didn't realize it, but we ended up right under its flightpath as it landed. 

Eliza joined us a little later and asked questions of the crew. 

We even got to sit inside.

Eliza showed quite a bit of enthusiasm about the whole experience. 

We've continued documenting the bear paws we've seen while walking around campus. 

After the game, the deer ventured back out to graze across the street. 

We've ventured to a few local restaurants thanks to suggestions made by our real estate agent Stacy Rye. Earlier in the week we got an acai bowl and a smoothie from The Local Berry, and on Sunday we got beverages (and a compliment on Mike's new Bees ballcap) at Funk It Coffee and Thrift. Mike and Eliza also played chess. He won the first game rather quickly, but she came back to beat him in the second game. 

We also did a little shopping at the local Barnes and Noble and found some more hippers! 

Such an adorable collection! 

Katara continues teaching her mom and dad all about the world of being a newborn.  

Landon is no longer working at the sales job he had prior to going down to Cedar City last weekend. This may be a mixed bag, and we figure he will come up with another plan soon. 

Hallie ended her job on Friday at Missoula's Best. Eliza came with as Mike was out of town and Hallie wasn't sure leaving her at home for 6 hours alone was a great idea. Hopefully, something good will come next for Hallie too.