Happy Halloween!

Halloween on a weekend is 

nice!    We are ready

for trick-or-treaters!

Smarty Witches are made along

with a "fun stuff" bag and

of course, more candy!

Putting Away Summer

The last two weeks we have been

putting away summer ~ we went from

nice fall weather to cool then to frost

and then this week some much needed

rain.

Our rain gauge was broken by the

handsome husband on the zero turn 

mower but we hear that we got over an inch.

Garden work is now done ~ we will

till it up in the spring.

The rhubarb, peonies and strawberries are

covered for the winter.   The deer were

in the garden eating strawberry leaves

up until I covered them (funny since

they didn't bother them all summer long).

Some of the daylilies (no a lot of the

daylilies were removed around the Hoefs

Rock).   It will give some of the other

plants a better chance to grow.

Last week we had a couple of nights

of a hard frost... finally the flowers

for the most part are done and the

pots were empted out.   Some of 

them will reappear in the grass cuttings

pile and maybe even flower next summer.
 

Bird bathing is done for 2021!

The horses are ready for colder weather ~ the

automatic waterer was changed out and the

pumphouse area ready for winter (only

need to plug some cords in when it

gets cold). 

We have learned a lot over the years ~ it

has gotten much easier getting ready

for winter.

And with the cooler early dark evenings, I have

started on the projects list.

Always Learning

 Always learning ~ I was accepted into

a development program which lasts four

 months with several sessions,

a self assessment, a book club and

several meetings with a team.

I am surprised how much homework

I have ~ added to my list  1) making

time and being prepared.

We had two days of meetings "a kickoff 

of sorts" in Baxter (not too far away)

the beginning of October.

The hotel was woodsy and rustic 

and each room had a woodsy

cabin name.  The hotel was

quiet for my one night getaway.

Our meetings were interesting and

I met the individuals who will be my

team for the next few months.

Because of the times we are in, the

restaurant at the hotel wasn't open

(they have shortened hours) although

they did serve us lunch each day.

The new covid guidelines actually started

the following week but we were under

strict instructions = masks on at all 

times except when eating and we had

to wear plastic gloves when going

through the food line.

After two days of meetings, I was

back on the road heading home.

There were employees there from

all over the state.  I mostly will get to

know my team of 6 but there were

over 40 people that attended.

Now back to my homework.   :)

Spearfish Canyon Hike

Spearfish Canyon has several trails for

hiking (last summer we did a couple) and

the Roughlock Falls is a popular one that

we do almost every time we are there 

(yes in the winter).

Late afternoon and after all of the

sitting we had been doing, I decided

to head out on a little hike.   The trail

started right over the bridge from

the lodge (hubby decided to stay

behind and rest).

This trail was very popular with the

lodge guests and families trying to burn

some energy off of the little ones :) 

There were several signs with maps and

information - there is no way you could 

get lost.

What a beautiful area ~ at times there

was only the sound of the running

water of the creek.  The Roughlock

Falls were beautiful.  This was a 

good 4 mile hike ~ 

On the way back I took the dirt road.  The

sun was starting to set in the

canyon.

This was the only hike I got in this trip ~

but we will be back.

Spearfish Canyon ~ Savoy, SD

 Day #3

We left Hill City and headed towards Spearfish

Canyon.  On the way we stopped at the

Pactola Lake area to check out the trails there.

Pactola Lake is the largest reservoir in the Black

Hills, it dates back to November 25, 1952.

(we drive by road over this area and it

is spectacular).

 We parked at a day use area which was a

marina.   I would have checked things out

more but there were many signs with

restrictions and it appeared that this day

was the last day they were open.   It appears

that in the peak time it is very busy and they

have a check-in and pay booth.

We hit the trails ~ some of the trail was a

powerline trail (it always amazes us  how those

powerlines are) and sometimes the area is so 

rugged.  We did see some workers out in

some of the area.

 

We ended up in Nemo, the little town with

camping, a convenience store, fire department,

post office and little quaint homes usually

with horses in their pastures.

Nemo is a stop for 4-wheelers, motorcycles

and there is also horse trail riding there.

This is a horse barn right next to the

convenience store.  I didn't see the

horses they must be in a pasture

behind the buildings.   Pretty nice looking!

We made it to the Nemo Flag ~ the trail

seems to have changed since we were

last here (it is a much nicer trail and

less rocky).

The convenience store and homes would

all be down there in the valley.  It is a

beautiful area and the real estate

prices represent that.   It seems that it is

getting much more touristy populated

since we first started coming here.

(signs outside at the store, prohibit you of

bringing your own beverages and food and

sitting outside to eat).

In looking at the pictures it appears that a pipe

is in the rock and the flag pole is bolted in

to that pipe.   

I have always been curious wondering how

difficult it may be to get well water out in

this area.

Leaving this area, we found this trail we

have never been on.  It was restricted to

certain size ATV's by rocks on each side.

And this particular trail had a wooden bridge

which was exactly for the sizes of machines

it was allowing.  We didn't have any 

wiggle room.

We ended the day with only 39 miles but

then we headed to Spearfish Canyon ~ one

of our favorite winter spots for snowmobiling.

This will be the first time that we have stayed

with no snow.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Spearfish Canyon Lodge - highly 

recommended, it is a beautiful area.

Our room away from home.

We have many memories coming here 

snowmobiling just the two us, sometimes

with Hubby's brother and Lineman Son.

Lineman Son has also returned in the

summer time ~ once here you

have to come back.

The creek runs right next to the lodge,

they have walking trails and 

benches so that you can enjoy

the area.

Celebrating a 1st Birthday!

Somebody turned 1 in September ~ 

Grand #5

Grand #5 is getting to be such a

big boy!

Homemade ice cream was

made and tasted!

Then there was cake and presents!

We made a weekend out of it ~ little

cousins

 

and the big cousins watched a movie.

Happy Birthday Grand #5, you

are getting so big! 

Have a great year being ONE!

We Love You!

Celebrating Birthdays!

Celebrating Birthdays ~ this

was the end of September.   Our world

is a bit different now so maybe summer

outside celebrations would be best, even

delayed as planned outside birthdays

work.

Grand #1 celebrates a September

birthday and Grand #3 celebrates

a November birthday.

This year a late / early combined

birthday party was planned.

Calling All Superheroes!

Us with Grand #1, Grand #3

and Grand #6.

Grand #6 was a little tuckered

out before the party got

really started.

Superhero cupcakes.

Blowing the number candles out. 

I don't think the boys minded the

combined party since it seems like

Grand #1 was celebrating his special

day all week and Grand #3 still has his

time coming up.

Little Superheroes!

We wish you the best of the 

best birthdays!   You each are growing

and learning so much.   Happy 

Birthday ~ we love you!

 

Fall - Getting Things Done

A week ago I finished staining the deck,

it took several days doing sections

at a time and the last parts being done

during my lunch hour since it gets

dark so early.

I would like to get one more coat

on the deck and steps but we

will see ~ the weather changed

it has been cool and rainy (I think

I may be done until next year).

The driveway grass looks pretty good.

Last spring we had trees taken down on

each side, removed the stumps and it was

 dusty dirt for the summer.   Late

summer in between rains Hubby planted

the grass.  It is look really good.

Last weekend it started raining, we made

a run up north.  We enjoyed our drive

with the fall colors (in the rain).

It is that time of the year, preparing

for deer hunting.

A new project this year ~ made a 

change to part of the sewer cover and the

pooper pumper came.    The tank has

served us well for many years ~ hopefully

a clean tank does as well.

The last couple of weeks it has been

getting dark so early ~ so we are

slowly adjusting to getting maybe

a couple of outside things done,

then something inside.   And a

couple of the shows I enjoy

watching are back on.    I have made

my crafting list, gathered fabric

for Christmas stockings ~ I have

two stockings to  make.