Last Fling in Reno

Sunday was our last full day in Reno. Rob and Anna took me on a brilliant hike up Thomas Creek to Timberline. Rob had to return to take care of business, so Anna and I completed the hike with Bella and Piper, the Montez's little dog, in tow. That afternoon we went to the Mannheim Steamroller concert at The Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Reno. It was very enjoyable and brought back many memories of Christmas. We had a late supper of turkey stew with dumplings. This morning, Monday, we headed back to Utah. On recommendation from Rob and Anna, we stopped in Elko at B. J. Bull, makers of Cornish pasties. They were delicious and we bought some frozen ones to bring home. With podcasts playing, the miles from Reno to Provo just whizzed by.

Up the trail with Mount Rose looming in the distance 

 

 The temperatures have been COLD in Reno and the water has responded

 The sunshine felt good

 Our destination: Timberline Bridge on Thomas Creek

 These hikers got a little bit of sun

 Back down the trail with Bella and Piper

 The gang outside The Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts

 So many memories

 Great company

 Some of our favorite photo bombers

 Exciting!

 These were a treat

Beef and mushroom: I actually liked the filling better than some I

have eaten in the Motherland 

We are home now and I am feeling a bit melancholy. We had such a great time and are missing everyone. Thanks to Anna Rob for hosting. The inertia with a large group is crushing, but Anna kept things moving in a delightful way. We will be getting ready for Christmas and a visit from the Youngs now. It is always nice to have something to look forward to.

OXO

D.

Lake Tahoe

On Saturday, the Ensigns and Youngs headed back to Utah and Arizona and we moved from our digs at the Montez house into Rob and Anna's guest room. Rob, the boys, and Clara went skiing at Mount Rose, and we went in search of various things in the world of retail shopping. When everyone had returned home and eaten, we headed up the Mount Rose Highway again, and this time we made it to the lake. Sandy beaches were snow covered, but surprisingly, the snow was much deeper on the Reno side of the mountains. That evening we had a nice dinner at the Great Basin Brewing Company.

Dave and Shanon Montez were very kind to let us stay in their

pleasant home while they were in Utah
 

 These folks were headed to points east and south

 The local Kirkland Temple

 Sand Harbor

 The Sierra Nevada is always beautiful

 Rob captures Clara

 ATH and LJH

 The snow was not as thick here as on Mount Rose

 Snow covered the beach

 I hope there will be enough snow this year to raise the level of the lake

 A beautiful day

A fun place for supper, though some found it very cold inside

Yet another pleasant day in Northern Nevada.

OXO

D.

Friday in Reno

Friday we intended to go to Tahoe where LJ wanted to photograph the Ensign family. Anna and I scoped out the highway earlier in the day and found the chains-and-snow-tire sign was not on, so we assumed the roads were clear. It turns out that chains or snow tires were required when we got further up the hill, so we returned to Callahan Park where Lu had photographed the Youngs the day before. It is a great spot and it worked out well, although everyone was disappointed that the lake trip was aborted. After the photo shoot, some returned to the house and I went with the Hastings on a lovely hike up the Galena Creek Trail through Montreaux, a very posh development in an incredible setting. Late afternoon, we all went to the cinema where we enjoyed The Good Dinosaur before heading downtown for a delicious Thai dinner at Bangkok Cuisine.

 The aborted trip to Lake Tahoe on a sparkling day

 Lucy Jane photographed the Ensign family

 Callahan Park was a winter wonderland

 All the photography brought out the urge to pose

 Max, Madi, and the photographer strike a pose

 Anna got in the posing spirit

 And Maren took it home

 The real subjects

 And the whole group

 Headed up into Montreaux on our little hike

 An absolutely spectacular day

 Montreaux

 DAT and RWH3

 Up into the tall pines

 Anna captured the boys

 This was a heavenly walk

 Waiting to be seated

 Bangkok Cuisine

Everyone LOVED it: there were no leftovers

This was a great day, but we missed Katy and Daniel who headed to California that morning. 

OXO

D.

Thanksgiving 2015 in Reno

Thanksgiving was splendid with all the family (except for Phillip, Meags, and kids) gathered around. The food was great. The day was filled with good smells, anticipation, games to distract, and singing and dancing to a wide variety of tunes in the kitchen. By evening everyone was finally ready for dessert. The day ended with some stand-up comedy on Netflix.

 "This is as big as my foot!"

 Cautious interaction

 Quirkle

 Games kept the hunger at bay

 Marleborn and Grammy

 These two just put their backs into it...

While we waited
 

 Some of the girlies

 They were very fun tonight

 Some things just don't change

 Clara is very interested in baking, and helpful to boot

 Oh, Cadillac, blackjack, baby, meet me out back...

Mad table decoration skills


Those rolls are done and we are ready to go

 "Don't take more than you will eat -- you can always come back"

 Self-serve

 The binkers

 The tweeners

 These are the adults?

 Point taken!

 That's better

 No tryptophan effect here

Ready to cut into this girl's work

It was a fun day and Anna and Rob were kind to host such a rowdy bunch.

Thant's all for now.

OXO

D.