A few special pictures

The house is very quiet now. I miss the kids a lot. They left at 4:15 this morning for their 16 hour drive home. We so appreciated the time they spent in the car to spend a week with us at Christmas time.

I remember driving many hours from Michigan to Iowa when our children were small, to visit our parents at the holidays. Actually, only tried coming at Christmas once. Weather was always too tricky. Instead, we would always spent Easter and Thanksgiving with our parents. Twice a year, the kids got to know their grandparents. Now, I can understand a little better how our parents felt at this time. They got to hug and love the grandchildren for a short time and then it was only by phone calls the remaining time of the year. Now, I understand the feeling. The only thing that could have made our Christmas a little better would have been having our other daughter and her family join us for this week. Maybe next year.

Josiah with one of his fish

Noah looks quite proud of his catch also

The boys proudly announced at the end of the week that they had caught 43 fish in our back pond and some of the other ponds around where we live. All were placed back into the water to grow bigger until the next time they visit. I thought I heard a large sigh from the pond this morning. The fish are looking forward to some rest.



And then a rare picture. This is my daughter, Angie, and myself. For some reason, we just don't have pictures taken together much and that is something I need to remedy. I realized this when I didn't find any pictures of me with my mother or father.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and a list of 'things to do' that can be accomplished in 2010.

Wowwie! A blog I absolutely love, Once Upon a Plate has just reached her 600,000 hit by visitors like you. Mari is a terrific cook and her photographic is totally professional. In honor of having so many hits on her blog, she is giving away a beautiful Johnson Bros. Blue Willow tea set that would look very nice in my home!! Please take a look at Once Upon a Plate and see what magic Mari produces in her kitchen.

ONE MORE TIME TO MONTANA

Old fishing buddy Bob "B" "Fishhog" Cyr suggested last summer that I join him for some late Fall trout fishing on tiny dry flies to big sipping fish in Montana, specifically on the Beaverhead River near Dillon and the Missouri River near Wolf Creek. He promised varied weather but we needed overcast cool days to bring out the bugs. Snow is even better to prompt a hatch!! He is stoically awaiting the hatch to come off on the Mo before taking his stance in the stream where he is damn good at "20-20" fishing i.e. size 20 dry flies to catch 20"+ trout - the ultimate in trout fishing!!

Bob and I have roamed many a trout stream over the last 20 years even though we are somewhat world's apart age and talent wise. We get along very well in search of the wily trout as well as enjoying a good gourmet meal with a fine wine!! Our wives are good friends as well!

We even ventured into Yellowstone Park for some fishing. The geysers were in full plume with the cold air aiding the steam. This is a good time of year to see the park as the wildlife is active and the crowds are diminished from the summer flow of gawkers who slow down the whole park!! This stream is too hot in the summer months due to the hot water coming into it from the geysers but the cold fall temps help cool it off for good hatches and active trout!

We had very manageable weather to enjoy fishing. The hatch was strong each day and the trout were actively feeding. Bob of course did much better than I number and size wise but I enjoyed my successes very much. This is a beautiful rainbow from the Missouri River!!

What's cool about Yellowstone is the abundance of buffalo and many other forms of wildlife. These old bulls are taking it easy with one enjoying a little dust bath. Life will not be so easy in a month or 2 as winter sets in!! We find many a pile of bones near the stream from those who gave up or were victims of wolves.

This Bull Elk does not appear to be that old or of great size but he really had a nice rack - a 6 pointer I would say and the goal of any elk hunter! I found it odd he was by himself and not in hot pursuit of the ladies with his bugling and raised lip! Disgusting!!

So this ends my Montana days for 2009! I wonder why we don't live in Montana at times to get out to fish even in cold days when the trout still are feeding. But I know we wouldn't find it so nice as Florida when the temps really drop and the snow flies!! Thank the Good Lord for both settings!!

TROUT

THE TROUT AGAIN

We heard about a possible rental on the way to Rock Creek that intrigued me so I went to check it out yesterday. Lovely setting and near the creek but a bit small and no cable TV so I guess we will pass on it. Montanans do have a sense of humor!!


Being close to the famous Rock Creek, I decided to have a look and maybe waggle the fly rod for an hour or two if conditions were right i.e. no other strokes hogging the stream!! This river is known for its big Stonefly hatch in June. These bugs climb out of the water on to rocks, etc and split out of their shells and fly off to dry and to get ready to make love and lay some eggs back into the stream for later hatches. Kind of cool!
Years ago my fishing buddy, B. "the fish hog" Cyr and I started up from a bridge to do some fishing. The river split and I decided to take the little left channel and leave the big water to B. To my delight, I found a few pot holes that held some dandy trout like the one below. This year there was less holding water as I think Mr. Beaver had gone upstream and done some of his handy work to divert some water for his use.
I was asleep at the switch on 2-3 dandy browns before to hook up with them but awake long to enough to see Mr. Big 18" Brown come out of the darker green water under the branches to suck up my enticing "Humpy" fly that resembles a grasshopper I guess. We had a lovely tussle for a few minutes before landing him, retrieving the fly and resuscitating him for the release back to his lair to strike again someday.
So ends another great day stalking the wily trout and enjoying beautiful Montana!!