Family Mellmann

Now that we are getting settled and things are starting to calm down, we are starting to take in some of the local culture. In November, we went to a Jeff Dunham show in Billings at the stadium, and on Friday we went to the Columbus Christmas Parade. The theme was Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Some people understood the assignment and got really creative.  It was a well-attended event with tons of kids and families and many many "floats".  We even got to see lighted up horses!   On Saturday morning after breakfast (at our favorite breakfast spot), I went to the Absarokee Christmas Market. I found some fun things made by local "makers" and won a couple of prizes.  Just before I left, the live entertainment started, so I had to stick around. 

Twice each week, Katherine and I get together for a lunch date, to run errands or go to appointments (haircut tomorrow), and just "check-in".  Our last lunch date was at Rib & Chop in Livingston where she got her "usual" (salmon).  We really enjoy these get togethers.

When we started imagining what this house would look and what features it would have, we wanted to have a fireplace in the living room with a mantle and stone, something with visual "heft" to anchor the space.  We did it.  And now I get to decorate that fireplace for Christmas.  We really enjoy spending the evening by the fire reading or YouTubing or...whatever.  It's a cozy spot to knit the night away. :)  

I will start this post with a view of our sunrise.  Sometimes the sun just pops right out and lights up the sky and sometimes it announces its arrival with a colorful horizon.  With the sun coming up, it's time to work on the project room.  At the end of the garage, we added a "bonus room" which serve as an exercise space on one end and a crafting/sewing space on the other.  I built shelves and a work desk this week and unpacked all my knitting, sewing and embroidery, and general craft supplies.  Everything fits nicely into boxes with lids which tuck neatly into these white shelves.  Jörg came out and anchored the shelves to the walls to make them more stable...in case I should overload them or something.  Meeeee?  Put too much stuff on the shelves?  Not possible.  Then again... The exercise end of the room still has boxes in it.  These are boxes for the office which we have not yet built out.  Once we do, the items in these bo...

It is that time of year when the temperatures are dropping and we start to anticipate snow.  But before things get truly wintery, our excavator came back to run drain lines and do a little earth moving.  The drain lines were needed so our builder could come back and install the downspouts on the gutters.  Both of these things are now done so we are ready for snow...and the spring thaw. Before Thanksgiving, Patrick flew in from Arizona to join us for an early celebration.  We enjoyed a great meal, some music, a few laughs, and then he returned to Tempe in order to work over the holiday.  Such is the life of a young first officer.   While he was here, however, Joerg put him to work and they brought the motorcycles from the trailer into the garage.  NOW, this garage is looking like home.  And when we get some warmer days this winter, the bikes will be accessible for a little maintenance (since they have been in storage and unused for three seaso...

While I was preparing dinner this evening, the sunset gave me a show.  Beautiful lighting and stunning colors.  

And another milestone is in the books.  Katherine celebrated her 21st birthday this year. We enjoyed hibachi for dinner as we have pretty much every October since she was old enough to have a vote, and she chose Apple Crisp for dessert which I dutifully packed with 21 flaming candles.  After this we'll have to switch to two candles per year lest we upset the Fire Marshal. It was a lovely meal, many good laughs, a few presents, and a realization that we don't have anymore "kids"...they're all adults now.   

Sunrise on Plenty Coups Road revealed fresh snow on the Beartooth mountains.  And yet, here at the house it was sunny and (almost) warm.  And then in the evening, as it cools off outside, we can be cozy in the living room with a fire.  It took a long time to get here, but we are definitely enjoying it now.  

Now that we live here full time (no more visiting while work is being done) we get to experience the many moods of the mountains throughout the days and throughout the weather changes.  On this overcast afternoon we watched the clouds dance around the mountains leaving behind fresh snow.  With the big windows, it's like having one of those photo frames where the pictures constantly change.  

 Saturday morning we enjoyed a full rainbow and a hint of a double rainbow.  By the afternoon, it was just clouds but somehow the clouds just look more spectacular over the mountains.   While the weather was giving us a show outside, Jörg was hanging out in the crawl space helping the geothermal system release air bubbles.  Upstairs, our builder came by to install the mounting bars for holding my knives and some other kitchen tools.  Now I can find whatever knife I need AND have paper towel close by in case I cut myself!  (only kidding...the worst cut I've had so far was from a cardboard box, not my knives)   And this morning, winter made a brief appearance in our neighborhood.  Fortunately, it didn't stick around because I don't get my snow tires until Wednesday!  Note to self; schedule snow tires in September next year.