Back from Fall in Iowa Just in Time for Winter in Montana

Well, folks, it's been another long blogging hiatus.  Two weeks, to be exact. What's my excuse this time? Jeff, Harvey, and I were on VACATION!!! WAHOO!   For me, vacation means spending less time on the computer. So, even though there probably would have been time on our relaxing trip to post something on the blog, I didn't. Because I was on vacation.

We took some time to drive to Iowa to see some of my family and friends. Harvey came, too.  We drove from Montana.  It's about 20 hours to drive from the farm to my parents house in Ames-- usually we break up the drive into two long days.

Here's some of the best photos from the trip-

There were fall colors aplenty in Iowa. Drought conditions in the state forced trees to change and drop their leaves a little earlier than normal, but some trees were nevertheless ablaze.  

This maple leaf is bigger than my face! This photo, as well as the above and below photos, were taken at Ledges State Park, near Boone, IA.  I hadn't been there in probably fifteen years.  We spent a few hours walking along the creekbed with my parents and brother.  It was a weekday and a little cool outside, so we mainly had the park to ourselves. 

Harvey and Jeff having a moment together on the stone bridge at Ledges. 

Later in the week, Jeff and I took Harvey on a bird hunting extravaganza.  We booked our hunt through Safari Iowa, which was great and worth the money.  Harvey did really, really well.  In this above photo, Harvey is "pointing" at a bird. 

Jeff displaying a pheasant shot over Harvey. On the day, Jeff shot six pheasants (our limit for the day) and 3 chukar partridge. We hiked A LOT over the hills and tallgrass prairie of southeastern Iowa.  At the end of the day, we were two tired people and one very tired Vizsla dog.  

We really had a great trip. I enjoyed seeing spending time with family and friends, and I think Jeff did, too.  Now that we are back, it is back to the grind stone.  We got back on Monday evening (in time to watch the Bears take on the Lions in Monday Night Football).  It snowed overnight a couple inches.  The next day, Tuesday, our power was out periodically throughout the day, as well, and it was a cool 30 degrees for a high.  We arrived back in Montana just in time for winter. 

This was the view out my front door on Tuesday afternoon.  Looks a lot like a frozen tundra, doesn't it?