Showing posts with label bozeman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bozeman. Show all posts
Howdy! I'm back with part two of what my iPhone has been up to for the last four weeks. My Eye-Fi is currently downloading all the pictures from my camera. It has been going for hours... any tips on speeding up your Eye-Fi downloads? Anyway, I look forward to posting some of the photos from specific places we visited. There were so many cool things to see and do.

This post is more of a hodge podge. Glimpses into what we encountered in various places. Here goes...


This first set was taken in the Vancouver-Portland area. 1// Portland's Rose Test Garden. More roses than one could ever imagine and a beautiful view of the city below. Divine.  2// Fruit Loops on froyo. Why am I just now trying this?  3// My new friend Lucy. She has a funny little personality and the sweetest face.  4// Our friend took us to a place called McMenamins-Edgfield. It is so hard to describe. It's an old estate that has been converted into a winery, restaurant, bars, inn... the list goes on. There was even a hobbit hole with a bar in it. The art inside the buildings is funky and amazing. I could move there just to visit this place. This was my favorite piece of art... I waaaant it.


We really love Bozeman. For being a relatively small town, there are a million things to do and see. 1// Kiddo at the new park. It's huge! Jared and our niece spent hours there one afternoon.  2// Italian ice on Main Street. These cousins are so great together. Despite the age difference, they play together seamlessly and never seem to be at odds.  3// The view from my sister-in-law's house. Are you kidding me? We stayed with her several times and each morning I would tiptoe out of bed and enjoy my coffee and the view before the kiddos woke up.  4// Even the trash cans are awesome.


1// I've never met a tree this kid didn't want to climb. Bozeman is full of good climbing trees.  2// Only in Montana do you get a bottle of ranch on the table with the other condiments. Good, homemade diner ranch. Montanans dip everything in ranch... Mario and I actually had a discussion about whether Montana uses the most ranch per capita every year.  3// So much luggage. We were suffering from a serious case of excess baggage on the way home. This is what work, play, and a week at camp looks like. And having a husband who is a serious over-packer.  4// Jared's newest obsession: the jackalope. He knows they are not actual animals, but he wanted one so bad. He begged. He pleaded. We didn't want to pay $100 for a fictional antlered rabbit taxidermy, but promised to keep our eyes open for one. 5// You really can do CrossFit moves anywhere. Even if the other moms at the park look at you like you're crazy.  6// Oh, the pink sunsets. Dreamy.  7// You are never too old for sidewalk chalk. I love that kid.


1// My frizzy, finicky hair loved the dry climate and behaved like I was bribing it with packets of Pop Rocks. I am now looking back on that fondly between wild strands of pouf.  2// Post-manicure ice cream with my niece. Baskin Robbins had an ice tea sorbet that was surprisingly yum.  3// Vacation calls for sparkly teenybopper nails, right? I thought so. Please disregard the abysmal state of my man hands.  4// My sister-in-law's pup Blaze. He would lay in my lap while I enjoyed my morning joe. What a buddy.  5// Do you remember those huge jawbreakers? When I was growing up in the 90s they were all the rage. Kids would keep them in baggies and lick them for weeks. Now I realize how unsanitary that is. They must have been little bacterial cesspools. Ah, to be a kid again. 6// Teenybopper nails call for teenybopper toes. Boy did I shimmer.  7// A "pucker sucker". Never heard of it? Neither had we. They were selling them at an art festival and they were nothing more than a peppermint stick candy in a lemon. It was surprisingly good. Interesting, but good.

1// Mario's parents have a house and three cabins on Flathead Lake in northwest Montana. The boys and I always stay in this little cutie while we are up there. I'm pretty sure I could live in it.  2// A martini on the lake. At sunset, of course.  3// More lakeside sunset.  4// If there was any confusion over our location... cowboy boots. Of every shape and color. We were definitely out west.  5// Montana really is Big Sky Country. There is a complete 360 degree view of the horizon. It's really amazing. After living in other places for the past 9 years, I can appreciate the views so much more.

That's all she wrote from the iPhone front. As the photos from my camera pop up one by one in the corner of my screen, I grow more excited to share more of our travels. Especially my new favorite town in the whole world.

Until then, my friends...

My iPhone was also in Oregon and Montana

Thursday, August 8, 2013

 and returns home to find it.

George Augustus Moore

I intended to blog more during this trip. Every day almost. Several times a day I think I have to write about this! Unfortunately, rural Montana is not known for its internet service. As in, good luck getting it or cell reception. And because we've been busy enjoying family, friends and country life, I haven't been able to frequent WiFi-enabled establishments long enough to write an actual post. 

So although it has been a bit quiet around these here parts, I have loads to share. The scenery... the food. Love.

Shall we start with a double rainbow? Oh my god!









One place that is a must-visit for me is Dave's Sushi. Amazing. Original. I can't get enough. We decided to eat there for lunch and had a lovely meal dining on the patio. The day was beautiful and the food didn't disappoint.







The Roost has quickly become a new favorite. It is hands-down the best fried chicken I've ever had in my life. Judging by the guttural noises Mario made while eating it, I'm guessing this meal was life-changing for him. Kiddo love it, too. That's saying something.








While on the hunt for a sweet treat, we stumbled upon this amazing goodie shop called La Chatelaine. They create each little piece of edible art by hand. We struck up a conversation with the lady working that day (aka the nicest person in the whole world) and enjoyed what may have been the best ice cream. Ever. I mustered up the courage to ask if I could shoot some quick pics for my blog and was met with a yes, of course. I could have spent the day in this wonderful place.

Mario and I have had several discussions about moving back to Bozeman over the last couple weeks. Every family member also has an opinion on the matter. I love the town, but can't finish my education in the area.  Establishing a rewarding career is important, and I don't want to lose momentum, but it means spending a few more years away from family. My sister-in-law joined me this last week for a exploratory road trip to Pocatello, Idaho. It is definitely not the town for us, and I felt bad eliminating a prospective school, but I feel hopeful we will find a place we love that also has a grad school for me. Once I get established in a career, Bozeman will likely be in our future.

There is something about it that is unlike any other place I've ever been.

A man travels the world over in search of what he needs...

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Bozeman, Montana is such a funky, unique town. I can't think of much I don't like about it, in fact. The food, the atmosphere, the people... we will likely call it home again one day. 

In the meantime, I soak up all the town has to offer during our visits. A place that we must grace with our presence at least once during our stay is the Cateye Cafe. So. Good.

Mario has been working all week, so Kiddo and I got up, packed our suitcases in the car (for the umpteenth time) and ventured out for a breakfast date.





A pensive moment captured by Kiddo.

So many chachkies to look at.


"The Fishbowl": A scramble with salmon, tomatoes, and spinach. My favorite.

This was declared to be the best bacon this kid has ever had.


 After an amazing meal, we walked a couple blogs to a local coffee shop with WiFi and read, downloaded an audiobook for the upcoming drive, and edited photos. The best kind of morning.


Kiddo and I have definitely entered vacation mode. It's a great feeling. No pressures. Just us... enjoying each others company. Swoon.


Good Eats.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Instagram