"More equipment than a telephone lineman..."

"There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process."
~ Paul O'Neil

From the road, our house looks almost like any other on the block, BUT...

once you get on the front porch, you are reassured that you are at the Barefield household.

One night when Bare returned from an afternoon out on the water,

I found myself smiling at the items on our front porch.

Inside, I was greeted by his tying vise set up in front of the TV

and his tackle close by in case he needs to take inventory.

Two things I know for certain, my husband is a good fly-fisherman,

and he looks dang good doing it too.

"There's a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore like an idiot."
~ Steven Wright

"My biggest worry is that my wife (when I'm dead) will sell my
fishing gear for what I said I paid for it."

~Koos Brandt

Let it Snow

We fled Butte this weekend as the snow came down, headed on last minute trip to Seattle. It has apparently snowed all weekend while we enjoyed the sunshine. These pics are from March, but I'm pretty sure this is what our front yard looked like over Memorial Day.

I wish...

...that my family were about to land in Big Sky country again.

I snapped this while driving to airport to pick them up in March.

But, I will be landing in less than 2 months at DHN!!

A Few of Our Favorite Kids

What is a home without children? Quiet. ~Henny Youngman

Lucy in Sept in Sandy when we visited the Joneses

William in October when we visited the Yarbroughs

I finally got to meet the Carson girls in November!!

Bare is smiling...I think he is thinking about what the future holds for Adam & Ashley!

My Mama Jean with her great-grandkids.

Give Thanks

Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day. ~Robert Caspar Lintner

I am so far behind with some of these posts, but I LOVE these trampoline pictures so I wanted to share our Thanksgiving in Alabama!

Bare and I drove from Montana...left this.

And came to this...my sister's beautiful house!

Desserts!!!

What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of
November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving? 
~Erma Bombeck, "No One Diets on Thanksgiving," 26 November 1981

Relaxing by the pool :)

Sawyer telling Bare all about something

Love the way Bryson is looking at Bare

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. No rushing around, just good food with good company!

6 Months Later

At twenty years of age, the will reigns; at thirty, the wit; and at forty, the judgement.
Benjamin Franklin
Time and Tide wait for no man, but time always stands still for a woman of thirty.
Robert Frost

I celebrated my 30th birthday (yes, in November) with four special ladies.

Even though our time was short, I loved every minute of it.

Joanna, Bragan, Brett---thanks so much for meeting Tara and I in Destin

for a night of laughter, good conversation, and good music.

I love yall lots!!

The Family Comes West

"No man needs a vacation so much as a man who has just had one."

Elbert Hubbard, Philistine: A Periodical of Protest, 1905

I'm pretty sure this is how my family felt (And I must admit, I did too!) after their vacation to Montana. We packed a lot into 5 days, and it was so much fun!

Hoping I can talk them into coming back next winter!

After a long morning of flying, Emmaline got really nervous when her bag was the last one!

We took a scenic drive through Ennis and Virgina City to Twin Bridges to eat dinner at our favorite restaurant, The Old Hotel.

First snow we found at top of mountain pass.

My folks

Sis and her family

Next morning, we were up early for lessons and a day in lots of snow.

Makes me smile everytime I see it!!

Before Lessons!!

Jody & Tara

Giving Bryson a little help.

My parents with all grandkids

She sees me taking her picture, and stops and poses :)

End of Day 1...got this down now!!

Stopped at Georgetown Lake on the way out.

Ice Fishing

Day #2

Colder so we had to put on the layers!!

She LOVES to pose!!

She's going to be such a mess as a teenager!!

After Bryson's first big fall! He loved it!!

And he loved telling us about it even more!

Emmaline just laughs at him!

Whoops! We forgot to buckle him back in!!

Jody getting a ride down. Nope, didn't hurt himself.
But he did break BOTH skis!

My daddy!! Did pretty good for a 5? year old! I won't give away his age!!

Bare multitasking

Last time up. Started snowing really hard.

Hanging out at the house.

Emmaline and Bare Just Dancing

Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone

Ended our time together in Big Sky. Jody and Bare spent the day skiing while we went to see the bears and wolves. Then we all ended the day tubing in the snow.

Jody

Sawyer didn't want to go down the big slide, but she did let Bare pull her around. Spoiled!!