Arizona Farm

Grand Canyon

Bryce Canyon

Cannonville Homestead

Roosevelt Lake

Tonto National Park

Down South

Papa, Keith and Kay Johnson on road overlooking Bisbee and copper mine.

19" of new powder

After watching a long awaited snow storm trickle into Logan on Tuesday, I decided that Thomas and I needed to take a 'mental health' day to relieve some stress. (you'd be amazed at how similar 7th grade and a Ph.D. program can be) We packed the skis and headed up the canyon this morning for some fresh air. As we pulled into the parking lot, there was Bret, putting some of his vacation time to good use. Little did we realize... the snow machine was busy at Beaver Mountain last night, dropping 19 inches in under 24 hours.

It made us think of our fine sister in Sandpoint. We feel your powder pain! However, there were no moose spotted in the area. Thomas and I did ski (over?) the top of some birds, chukars I think. They exploded from the snow when Thomas skied near. One came up between my skiis as I went over it. Kind of a weird sensation skiing through deep powder, the serenity of the trees and snowfall, only to be surprised by a bird exploding through the snow. As if my adrenalin was not running fast enough.

Our biggest challenge... finding slopes steep enough to maintain plowing through powder up to our thighs. There was one slope that Thomas found himself skiing in powder up to his chest.

Thomas' comment at the end of the day... "I'm going to feel this tomorrow!" Our response... "Yeah, but every time your muscles wince in pain, you'll have a smile on your face."

All photos are available on my Flikr page.

Only for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day Food
in Verse

Our hearts may be weighed down
with guilt,
Clouded by
nutritional facts
and scientific medical advice.
But when we ask ourselves

"Can I have another piece of white chocolate raspberry cheesecake"

The spirit within us responds,

"Yes, I can"


When our children cry out
because their stomachs yearn
for more than
broccoli and whole-grain pasta
and in a final cry of desperation they sob

"Can't I have more red Jello?"

We comfort them and say

"Yes, you can"

And when we find
chocolate-covered bacon
for sale at the farmer's market,
and cynicism and doubt begin to
tell us that we can't do this,

Without any hesitation we can
lay down a few dollars and say
These three simple words


"Yes, we can"

"Yes, we can"

"Yes, we can"

Moose on the Loose

Yesterday was filled with excitement after Hannah happened upon two moose as she was walking to a friends house. Two young moose have been hanging around our neighborhood for the past few months. Yesterday they decided to stick close to our house. They spent the afternoon eating our trees and pooping in our yard and entertaining the girls. The girls had a hard time getting homework and chores done because they were too busy going from window to window giving moose updates. Only in North Idaho!

p.s. this photo was taken as I leaned out our bedroom window just after the moose walked past. You can't get much closer than that.

Liquid water

Not a big deal, just wanted to make a little announcement. For the first time in about 3 weeks, liquid water was spotted out of doors in Rochester. We'll finally have to bring in the extra food that we've been keeping on our deck because there wasn't room in the freezer.