Hodgson Family: May 2009

Sunday, May 31, 2009

So this is the entire reason I went to billings was for this hat. They only handed out 100 of these hats at the grand opening of cabelas. I almost bought a new gun but Heather would not buy my old one and I could not convince my parents that I absolutely needed a new one. I did get to turn in my application for the U.S marshals and now I am hoping that I get a e-mail telling me that they want to interview me.

This is the archway you pass under at the north end of yellowstone it looks super old and I was kind of scared that a brick might fall onto my truck but I got lucky and nothing bad happened but from this point on I acted like a stupid tourist with a camcorder in one hand a camera in the other.but the park was amazing.

I am not sure what this is I just thought it was cool I am sure it has something to do with the geothermal activity going on in the park. Wow thanks geology I never thought I would use the word geothermal in a real situation.

Of course I took pictures of water I love water my only problem with this water is they wont let me jump into it something about not disturbing the scenery of the park shoot with my hot body all I would do is improve the beauty of the park.

This was a really cool picture so I like a dumb tourist had to fly off the side of the road jump out and start taking pictures. I hate stupid tourist they are so stupid sometimes but you have to admit its a good picture.

This is roaring mountain. not sure but maybe they should rename it smoking mountain I dont remember hearing any roaring coming from the mountain.

this is the first buffolo that I saw and at first he would not move so I had to throw a few rocks to get him mad enough to move then later on I saw a sign in the park that says no molesting the wildlife or animals. two thought came to my mind first who would want to molest that second are they talking about me when they refer to the wildlife.

at first I thought this was old faithful but then it would not do anything it just sat there and drooled water like one of them fancey french toilets except well this one is broke.

These are paintpots or boiling mud no this is not like a day spa and dont let the children play in it this mud is like superheated but its really cool to watch. I will try to upload some videos of it you will find all the videos at the bottom of this slideshow.

was not so upset that I could not jump from this waterfall looks like there are sharp rocks at the bottom but it was gorgeous.

This is a cool geothermal pool around old faithful and yes I did find old faithful.

some more paintpots the videos are more impressive.

The picture you have all been waiting for Old faithful or the redneck version of them fancy french toilets that spray you on the backside when you are done with the paperwork

me in front of one of the hot pools in the park and no the steam is coming from me because I am so dang hot

I think I am hot enough that I should be one of the parks attractions I mean look at me. I was hiking up to a overlook of old faithful water spout

see even the ice is melting around me. this is the west thumb of yellowstone lake

the west thumb with out me. its gorgeous
now for some videos

old faithful

well for some reason I cant get old faithfull to post sorry!!!!!!

Friday, May 29, 2009

More training!

I think I am going to start going to bed a lot earlier, and start my day a lot earlier. Today I got started about 7 ish this morning. I finished with the horses about 1:30. It was pretty hot when I finished in the round pen. Then it was off to Rockers (Diaz's old house) to help get the pasture up and running. We are using there pasture again this year.

I did not start a new colt today instead I went back to working with Jet. I put 2 inner tubes on the hitching post and tied him to the tubes. So when he pulled back, it did not take him long to give in and stop pulling. It is amazing how fast he learned. When I took him off the hitching post, he lead like an old pro. In fact I took him for a walk and as Jim put it "I wasn't sure who was leading who. " I know the distance we walked was only down to the old Diaz pasture, but how far we walked is very different. Jet kept trying to race on without me. So we did a LOT of circles to slow him down. Then we came back and he learned to drink out of a hose. And I spent time teaching him that water on his body is not all that bad. After that Mikaela got in on the action and we worked with Sunday Surprise.

Tonight after it cools down we are off to the Cemetery to take dead flowers of the graves and prepare for mowing tomorrow. After, maybe before mowing we need to go get a ton of hay, and hopefully some straw bales. I am growing part of my garden in the straw bales. I want to get some more and plant strawberries in them. The idea of planting off the ground is really appealing to me.

I suppose there are those who may think that I am nuts, planting a garden in straw bales. Well here is my proof.

I am still planting in barrels. I will be planting mostly root crops and herbs in the barrels. In fact my radishes are already up. The herbs, I cheated and bought them. We are then putting some tomatoes and cucmbers in buckets (out the sides) and hanging them up. As you can see I planted cucumbers in my straw bales. They will grow up the trellis and then I am putting heavy duty magnets on the conex box to give the vines something to cling to. We will see how that goes.

I am so excited with summer finally arriving. This summer I am outside!!!!

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Time in the round pen. Think I am going to be sore:-O

Today was a very busy day. I spent my day mainly in the round pen. After 4 hours of following Jazzy's colt, Jet. I was finally able to get a halter on him. But I wasn't just following him, while I was following him. I beat on the feed (metal), I banged on the round pen, I kicked cans toward jet. I shook the tree limbs, I beat on the building, I through ropes at him. All the time trying to get him used to strange noises. And by the time I was done, not much upset him.

Then later this afternoon Heather informed me that Jet had managed to get his halter off. So then I spent another 2 hours putting a different halter on him. This time it was much easier.

I went to town get buy food and pick up grain. While I was at the feed store I bought a different halter. As the first two did not fit very well. By the time I got home Jet had managed to slip out of the second halter. This time he was a pretty easy catch to change halters.

Somewhere in my day Mikaela and I did do school work.

Here are some pictures for Brett. They called during the second training session.

Tomorrow I get to work with a different colt. Wish me luck, as I only have this week and half next to get them all halter broke and leading. There is only 5 horses.

Brett these are horses and ducks on Grandma and Granpa's farm.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Our Wonderful Family!

Just a quick note, before going to bed.

I just wanted to tell all my Family how much I love and appreciate you!

We have worked hard as a family in the Cemetery for years. And I have not expressed how much you have contributed to our success there. We have been sung praises by the community for 8 years. Yet, I have felt that we all benefited from working there and, did not feel a need to say Thank You.

Well, I am here to say Thank You! Without you, we would not be, we could not have done all that we have accomplished.

This year we were down to just 4 1/2 of us. Sky, with still a bum foot, helped where there was wheels. The job wasn't to bad. But then most of the major work was done when everyone was still living at home. Thank You, for being ours!

FYI- Our loan has been approved and we are buying Jim place. Hopefully, Heather is moving in to Jim's. So there is going to be a major painting, carpeting, etc. party going on over there. Any volunteers?

Our Love to all
Mom

Not as exciting as the baby news

well my news is not as exciting as the news about garrett having a kid which I might add is kind of scary but exciting as well. So this last week I went to Montana for the opening of cabelas (mom and dad thought I went for a job) and got a cool hat that was free oh and I spent like sixty bucks on gun ammo (dont tell mom or dad) yeah that was fun while I was in billings I decided to drop in on the U.S marshals informations session (I think thats what they called it) I turned in an application along with my resume and a bunch of other paper work they fingerprinted me(I am pretty sure they want to see what kind of crime I have been involved in) then I left to go back to rexburg. On my way back home I went to yellowstone and drove around looking at the amazing sights and acting like a stupid tourist everytime I saw a animal (no joke I took pictures of everything even boiling mud) after spending five hours in yellowstone I decided it was time to put down the camera and head for home. I had only been home for fifteen minutes when I managed to convince my roommates that we really should go back to yellowstone. So on monday we all piled in to my truck and headed towards yellowstone on the way there I was pulled over for speeding. I guess 64 in a 45 and tailgating a sherrif is uh a bad idea!!!! Heres the good new she thought I was pretty hot so she let me off with a warning :) I will admit I was really freaking out because I had just turned in my application to the U.S marshals and here I am getting pulled over so thats been my memorial day weekend now I am babysitting a empty pool.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Starlynn, BEAUTIFUL!

Here is one of the much awaited for pictures. It is one of those cases where a picture does indeed speak a thousand words. Just imagine at age 3, what this little gal will be able to do with her Dad.
Mikaela says, "she is Amazing!"

Thursday, May 14, 2009

A Star is born!!!!!

A Yea!!! She is here!

Starlynn Grace 6 lbs. 8 oz. 18 1/2" Long. Dark hair, blue eye.

Grandpa and Grandma are running for Seattle. Oh and Auntie Mikae!

Stay tuned for future details.

Love toAll!