Chess

After a good day of fishing, we went and stuffed ourselves at Nap's for lunch (see http://www.americatop10.com/montana/top10/best-burgers). Art and Christin warned us, and led by example ordering one burger to share.  Did we listen?  Nooooooooo.  It was an amazing quantity of food, so much so we retired for an afternoon nap.  Once we woke up (hour later), we headed to the Higher Ground Brewhouse http://highergroundbrewing.com/ for salads and beer for dinner.  It was a very cool place, a great open space with beer on one side and food on the other, and a very friendly atmosphere. Once the kids finished their food, we found them playing chess. Not sure what rules they were playing by, but there was a method.. and a request to stay till they were finished.  Montana air makes you smart!!

 

Yee haw!

We decided to go shopping in Hamilton, as we were in need of a hat for Jaffa.  What better hat than a cowboy hat? We had to find just the right one.

 

Trying them on with Grammie..

 

 

Perfect!

Two beautiful ladies in their perfect hats!!

Got eggs?

We love learning about Christin's chickens.. and going to collect their eggs.

 

They are quite beautiful.

Our favorite story was about the chicken who has been laying eggs for 6 years, and has suddenly decided to start crowing at the sun.  You go girl!!

Granola bars for dogs?

We made a trip to the stuff-for-animals store, and among the horse brushes and sheep feed and horse shoes (and giant dog statues) was peanut butter and blueberry flavored dog granola bars for $4.   We're crazy about our dogs, but I'm not sure that I would buy these.  Even if we were going for a long, long hike.

Gone fishin'

 

One morning, we decided that it would be great to go fishing.  So, Zeric and Art went and bought kid rods, and off we went.  It was a fantastic day!!

 

We got to the river, and everyone tried..

Then the boys went up the river and kept fishing, and the girls caught minnows, made seaweed balls.. and talked with the chipmunks.

The next morning, Zeric and Art went off and tried again - SUCCESS!!

Raptor rescue

Christin brought us to her friend Kate's house, who rescues raptors.  It was amazing to see the birds up close.. and to hear all about Mary's experience working with them and photographing them in nature. 

 

She has eagles..

..and owls.  When we commented about how they look so wise, she replied, "yeah, but there's nothing upstairs". Who knew?

These birds are so beautiful!

The pygmies are so cute!

Thanks to Art and Christin, Jaffa and Eben adopted a bird each.  And, we got t-shirts and two books as well. It was a wonderful visit, and we have lots to remember it by!!

Pizza and jam

Art made pizza one night--all from scratch!!  His toppings were AWESOME!!  Quoting Jaffa, "it was the best pizza EVER!!!"

 

 

Pizza night was the same day that Art helped Jaffa and Eben pick berries.  Gooseberries and choke cherries, I think.  Jaffa and Eben spent quite awhile pitting the berries and using rocks (washed in the bathroom sink!) to make jam.  Christin then cooked it on the stove with cornstarch.. and it was perfect for ice cream!

 

 

yum!!!