It's difficult to get ready for Christmas with a puppy around!  Our tree this year is unusually short - and on top of a chest just to keep it out of Djuke's reach. Although none of the special ornaments made it out of the tub this year, it didn't stop me from adding the traditional new ones.  

Djuke

 

Over the years, our yard has been a bustling crossroads for local wildlife.  We've hosted an array of visitors: moose, elk herds, countless deer, a curious weasel, a variety of bird species, and, in the early days, plenty of foxes.  However, we recently had our very own bear visitor.  This cub decided to stay for nearly an hour.  We never did spot mama bear.  

Emily switched flight schools and is now with Glass Cockpit Aviation out of the Twin Falls airport.  She likes her new instructor, Anthony, more than the one on Jerome but acknowledges the Cessna is not as nice.  

On her second lesson there she had to share the airspace with a squadron of F15s from Mountain Home that we in the area for some training.  

 

Final Day In Curacao

 Travel to and from Curacao was an adventure - both ways we had a 12 hour layover between the three planes it took. We departed in the late afternoon so we were able to go see more of the island before leaving. 

This parrot was at the resort near our room

The snails were big!

Fort Beekenburg was built in 1703.  

Day 4 and 5 DAA Challenge Curacao

 

I'm not sure what this thorny plant was called - but the most dangerous thing on this gun range! The thorns could go through the soles of your shoes or cause a tire leak if you weren't careful!