A Snowy Day at the Missoula KOA

 I'd been waiting for a day with lots of snow and good photographic conditions. This was the day! It looked like about eight inches of lovely snow. Mr. Keith and I strapped on our high boots, put on warm coats, grabbed our trekking poles and set out. And, oh yes, the camera! We started  slogging through the tenting area of the KOA. I love this old cabin, part of the original homestead on these grounds before Elmer and Marge Frame purchased the land and established the campground back in the early 1960s. The story is that there was a large, white farmhouse which they decided to tear down. Imagine their surprise when they found that this small cabin was enclosed within  the larger house. They wisely decided to leave it as it was.

 The tenting area is strangely empty. Where are the brave souls with their arctic tents?

 No children were playing on Elmer's Playground today. This area once had a pond and a petting zoo, taken out when the neighborhood began growing and streets were put in to accommodate the increasing population. Very soon the KOA was no longer out in the country!

 This willow tree must stand alone. I can't imagine its age, but it is an awesome tree, especially with its beautiful coating of snow. The willow invites a climber, so much so that there needs to be a sign at the bottom prohibiting climbing, in order to keep it safe from damage. At the base there is a large, stone fire ring and picnic tables for group use.

At the KOA there are nineteen camping cabins. These four are particularly picturesque in the snow. Many characteristics of this campground make it an especially inviting place to stay, none more so than the large number of old, tall trees of many varieties. That's not surprising in a campground over fifty years old.

Our rig is shadowed by another striking willow tree.

Our feet were getting cold, but we trekked down another row in the open section of the park. There are usually one or two rigs camping overnight even in the winter. They have full service except for water at the site, which is closed off to prevent freezing. This keeps the crew busy plowing and cleaning to give the campers a pleasant experience.

Home again! We are snug in our little home for the winter.

Farewell to Bozeman

 It has been a wonderful summer working at the KOA in Bozeman Montana. We are sad to leave. I'm sharing a few pictures of local scenes we've looked at on our frequent trips into town. The first picture is looking south as we leave the entrance to the KOA. The fields went from the tan color of last years' crops to a lush green with crops growing, and finally, to this golden stubble, the remains of an important farming industry.

 Downtown Bozeman is beautiful, a tourists paradise. There are no abandoned or empty buildings here, just a plethora of gift stores, restaurants, clothing stores and other businesses, all inviting. We especially loved going to the used book store, where we found some treasures to give to our managers' children who were frequently seen sitting outside the KOA office reading their books.

 The Bozeman Deaconess Hospital sits in the midst of wheat fields. This place is wonderful! All the staff we met were friendly, cheerful, and always spent as much time with us as we needed. They became friends! I especially liked that they brought therapy dogs into the waiting rooms occasionally. We will miss coming here! The attitude of the nurses and doctors here is as good as the medical treatments, maybe better!

We had planned a day to leave, the 26th of September, but were up and down on that as we watched the weather report. An early snowstorm was to arrive in the mountains west of Bozeman. Should we go or should we wait one more day when the sun was predicted to shine again? This scene convinced us. We are leaving on Friday, the 27th! We figured that if there is snow in Bozeman, the Homestake Pass just east of Butte, at 7000 feet, would definitely be a dangerous drive in our 5th wheel. So...good-bye Bozeman. We have loved getting to know you, and even more, your people. We hope to return someday!

A Little Fun!

Here are some of our winter guests making the best of a cold, snowy day! This family has 3 small children. They are here for a temporary job in the Denver area, as are most of our monthly RVers. Mr. Keith had fun snapping several photos as he enjoyed their delight in their macho snowman! He, the snowman, will probably last quite awhile since the cold weather will be with us for days. We are getting lots of exercise tromping to work every day!

Quiet Times

 Since Mr. Keith hurt his back and had surgery, we've stuck very close to home and led the quiet life. There have been no days off to take sight-seeing trips in our beautiful surroundings, so I've snapped photos where I can. Here is our itty bitty Christmas tree, complete with nativity scene, gifts from daughters, a snowman, and a festive bear.

 The workamping lifestyle is one of great fun and adventure for us, the only down-side being so far away from family. God has blessed us in this place with the nicest people in the world, it seems. There is a close knit country concern for neighbors and folks in need, which we are during the holidays! A co-worker invited us to join her family for a Christmas Eve dinner, a true blessing for two old coots without our own family nearby. On the way there, a 12 mile drive out on the prairie, we came across these buffalo foraging for food in the snow. I had to stop and get photos! These critters are raised on a ranch near Byers, Colorado. We'd seen them before, but not up close, and not posing so picturesquely in the snow.

 These new friends were our wonderful hosts for Christmas Eve dinner, the Gates, a caring couple with big hearts and an open home. They made us feel so included.

 Part of the afternoon's fun, props for funny photos!

 Christmas Day, another quiet time at home. I took a walk around the campground in the snow, and was intrigued by these semi-symetrical tracks, seeming to point towards the two trees in the background. Gotta take pleasure in small things!

I let myself into the closed office-store to check on our campground pet, Callie. (How many calico cats have you seen who are named Callie?) She wanted to go outside but wasn't so sure when she felt the cold air. I'll go back later to let her in again.

So passes another calm day while Mr. Keith recuperates a little more. Back to work tomorrow for me!

A Pretty Blonde!

Here at Bear Country we have several raccoons, but I had never seen a blonde one like "Steve", in the first photo. He is beautiful! In the second photo he and "Stubby" are asking for treats from us. They are good at standing on their hind legs and looking like they are starving. Actually, they are quite plump. We give them little chunks of what looks like dog food but is really a healthy mix made for them. We'll be sad to leave all our animal friends for the fall and winter. I always wonder how they do in the cold and snow. Their keepers will give them warm shelter; some will be in their same enclosures, and some will be moved to a more protected building. The bears, of course, will be hibernating!