Visiting Montana

In the fall of 1999, Christi and Rick went up to visit Christi's mom ("Amber-mom") and step father in Montana. We were all hoping for nice warm indian summer weather, but it was pretty nippy. Rick loved seeing all the horses; these were two pals. Not sure what those white eyeballs are all about; they really did like him!

We did have some nice weather, so we went for a ride across the river and up in the hills a bit. The trees were starting to turn; it was really pretty. Somewhere Christi has a picture of everyone saddled up in front of the house after we got back. Rick had a big grin on; I think he enjoyed it. We sure enjoyed having them.

Christi and Rick came up to visit for Thanksgiving, 2000, along with Ian and Trudy and friends Ruth and Charlie Needham. Here's everyone at Thanksgiving Dinner. From left to right: Charlie, Gary, Ruth, Ian Christi, Rick, Trudy, Amber.

We have a thing about jigsaw puzzles at Thanksgiving. Ruth custom makes them. The picture is always one from a trip someone in the group took, or from another Thanksgiving celebration we had in the past. All the pieces are weird, and there are pieces shaped like everyone's initials, and the year. Everyone seems a bit... puzzled ... by this one.

It was nice weather, but cold. But Rick wanted to ride again, so here he is again, this time on Amber's dressage horse Gus. Gus has some medical problems; those funny skin patches are where he got shaved so he could have the clips for an electrocardiogram attached. This is one of the few pictures of Rick I've seen where he's wearing somebody else's hat. This one is Amber's world war II flying ace bombadier hat, sheepskin lined and warm.