Happy New Year!

We stayed home tonight, soaking up the warmth and peace of our home on College Street. 

Our New Year's Eve treat was a Papa Murphy's pizza (our favorite, bacon, chicken & artichoke), some cheesecake (from Charles' birthday), and a delightful 2004 pinot noir we got during a stop in Lichtenstein in 2005.

2014 has been an amazing year for us - look out, 2015, here we come!

Today in the Valley

Bitterroot River @ Hamilton

Wild turkey moves towards the flock @ Lee Metcalf NWR

Tracks across the frozen lake at Lee Metcalf NWR

Ducks working the last open water @ Lee Metcalf NWR

Winter sun @ Lee Metcalf NWR

We had a full day of it from one end of the Bitterroot Valley to the other! 

Belinda was hard at work in Hamilton trying to finish those end-of-year tasks in the office.  Charles meantime had an appointment in Missoula and a hospital visit in Hamilton to tend to.  A nice surprise was when we both pulled into the parking lot of the Subway seconds apart!  It was nice to be able to enjoy a relaxing lunch together, it happens so rarely!

Charles took advantage of the winter sun and braved the bone-chilling temps to take a few pictures including some at the nearby Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge.  What a great place to call home!

A wild time on College Street

Charles had a surprise waiting for him as he left the church this afternoon - two white-tail deers enjoying some corn left on the ground by our neighbor.  

We've seen tracks each morning and Belinda has seen some at night, but this was only 4:30 so it was a treat to wrap-up the day!

Seen today on US 93

As Charles was returning from Missoula this afternoon he spotted a herd of elk in a field just south of Lolo. The herds come down from the mountains during the winter to forage where the snow is not as deep.

Last Sunday of 2014

Wesley sums up the weekend's theme

Charles is sporting the new stole his mother made for him

Belinda helps out on the refreshment table

Our post-Christmas weekend has been just what we needed - relaxing!

On Friday, we braved the post-Christmas shoppers in Missoula with some errands in the 'big' city.  Lunch at Cracker Barrel, a hospital visit, and making some purchases for Charles' next semester were the order of the day.

Saturday was for the most part a "do nothing" day until the evening came when we enjoyed a lovely dinner party at the home of dear friends from church.  

Sunday began with a light snow during the night and a few flakes falling during the morning.  It was a low attendance Sunday but there was a lot of energy none-the-less!  During the fellowship time, we enjoyed "leftover" Sunday where folk brought in the broken cookies, leftover cakes and so on to share.  

Merry Christmas from Stevensville, pt. 4

Welcome to Corvallis UMC

Clay Freeman plays before lunch

Our Christmas tradition, now in its second year, is to enjoy the potluck lunch at the Corvallis UMC.  It is so nice not being in charge, when we're done we can leave!  We sat with Trudy & Clay (from our church) and with another couple from Corvallis. Nice to be able to share good food with some nice people!

Merry Christmas from Stevensville, pt. 3

Ready to get going!

Favorite gift?  Wrapping paper!

Sporting his new beret and painter's smock

Popping good time!

Cheese!

What a wonderful morning, thoughtful gifts and a few surprises made for an enjoyable time with Christmas music playing and "fireplace" lit up!

Merry Christmas from Stevensville, pt. 2

Ho-ho-ho kitty claws

Wesley is not amused with his hat

Belinda loves her dolls made
by Charles' mom

Charles loves his new stole made by his mom

We enjoyed a delightful morning, opening gifts and sharing stories of Christmas' past!

By the way, this is our 1,800th blog entry!!!

Merry Christmas from Stevensville, pt. 1

A Merry white Christmas from Stevensville!  

When we went to bed it was still in the mid-30s and the possibility of a white Christmas seemed rather remote.  During the wee hours of the night the snow finally made an arrival, coating College Street with about an inch of soft snow.

Christmas Eve in Stevensville

Christmas Eve eve

Christmas Eve @ SUMC

What a difference a year makes!  Last December we were in frigid temps every day and shoveling snow on a regular basis. This Christmas Eve was almost tropical by comparison, it's just past midnight and it's still 34° without a drop of snow to be seen on College Street.

Last night we enjoyed a wonderful second Christmas with our church here in Stevensville. Tomorrow we'll be enjoying Christmas morning with Wesley and then enjoying an afternoon potluck at the UM church in Corvallis.  Who knows, maybe the weather folk's call for some snow might actually come true!

A wet Sunday in Stevensville

Ready for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

Belinda gets ready for an evening of caroling

Charles went with the outdoor caroling group

Belinda sang with the indoor carolers

Today was a damp day from beginning to end with a light rain falling off and on all day.  Fortunately it didn't get cold enough to freeze, that is coming later in the week!

After a typical morning for us with the church activities we took up on an offer for a luncheon at a church member's home with six others from the church family.  What a delightful time and the food, yum!

A all-too-brief rest and then it was back to the church to help put together bags of goodies that will be delivered to area workers who are working on Christmas Eve.  Our congregation is trying to connect with people who might not otherwise have much Christmas to celebrate.

This evening we joined thirteen others for a caroling experience!  Charles went door-to-door with one group of carolers while Belinda was with another group who caroled via phone.  It was such fun sharing with the community like this.  We're already talking about how to make it even better next year!

Wednesday in Stevensville

St. Mary's Peak glistens in the December sun

Betty announces the next winner

December birthday treats

Another Wednesday has come and gone in Stevensville and with it another amazing day in the Valley.  With a full range of church and work activities it is now time to rest!

Charles had two study groups today and sandwiched in between was the monthly birthday lunch at the senior center.  This being Charles' birthday month he was one of those presented with a birthday cupcake! 

Belinda's workmates had their holiday party today, complete with a playing of several carols on brightly colored hand-bells!  She loves the people she works with!

Today on the range

Near Moise, MT

A lot of elk and deer have passed through here

A pair of elk near Mission Creek

Charles drove back this morning from Mission Valley (where he'd conducted a charge conference last night) and took the opportunity to drive through the National Bison Range.  

This is open year-round but sadly not completely.  The majority of the facility is closed during the winter so the only wildlife spotted today were a few stray white-tail deer and four elk.  It would seem that the bison had other more pressing engagements and were nowhere to be seen on Charles' drive through the open areas. Perhaps in the spring there will be better luck!

Tonight at Mission Valley UMC

The Mission Mountains emerging from the fog

The beauty of nature is everywhere!

Mission Valley UMC is ready for Christmas!

Some mighty fine vittals!

Pastor Derf Bergman speaks to the gathering

Tonight Charles had his first experience as a presiding elder tonight when he led the charge conference at the Mission Valley UMC.  It was a wonderful example of a church that is leaning into its future and of course it started the gathering with a wonderful potluck!