Do you live in a household that celebrates the Christmas season starting around the first of November? That’s the way it is in our house. Connie has always been fond of holiday music and has it playing constantly. Usually it’s an annoyance, but today when I entered the kitchen and watched her preparing our Christmas meal it really warmed my heart. I remembered the many such meals that she has prepared for family. She was always one that went all out for a holiday meal. She didn’t care how much if any help she had in the kitchen, she was intent on providing the Christmas experience. The smells of pies baking, meats cooking, and fresh buns surround the house, and the person responsible is in her glory just relishing the joys of providing for her family. It doesn’t matter that all this work will be devoured in a matter of minutes, she stands in her kitchen and toils for the ones she loves. This is not a dramatic production that she is looking for recognition and appreciation, her work is strictly low key, done for the people she cares about. My wish for you this Christmas is that you have someone that puts the holiday joy into your house and life. God bless those that bring the spirit to us all.

Merry Christmas!

For our anniversary this year we took a horseback ride to Bowman Lake in Glacier National Park. Through the tourist season this area sees heavy public use so we seldom get up here. In late fall/early winter the road is closed to vehicle traffic and is a perfect time to visit this beautiful area. It’s a 12 mile round trip from the Polebridge ranger station.

We didn’t get an early start so it was mid afternoon when we arrived at the lake. With 20 degree temps and the sun already hitting its downward trend, it was a little brisk in the shadows

It is awesome to get to enjoy this beauty all to yourself. Later in the winter this trip is popular with skiers, but with marginal snow conditions we had no one else in the area.

If we had arrived earlier we would have built a fire and relaxed for awhile, but Connie wasn’t enthused with riding out in the dark. We ate a quick lunch and hit the trail.