Fall Food...Football...Bears...And More!

 

That's what I'm talking about!!!!

 And Grandpa's Chili...Cornbread and Ham & Beans...Fried Potatoes with Onion & Bacon...and so much more.

Fall Foods.

Football...and snacks...and late nights of 

"Did you see that TD...or run...or throw???"

"It was amazing!" 

And way too late...but sooooooooooooooooooo worth it!!!!

Cheese and crackers...chips and dip...chocolate.

...and sometimes a can of Fancy Feast for Tux....

                                                   ...I, too, like SNACKS...

The guy is back to biking, and the bike trail is getting nicer and nicer!

He just attended his high-school class reunion...which they have yearly now.

Austin went night fishing at the Conservation Club and caught a monster catfish!

And turned the old man loose.

James and Jess have set their wedding date and invited us!

...of course we will be there...can't wait...

John and I, are getting ready for our Fall Adventure, soon.

Angie got Cash...just after BB passed away.

...we call him Cash because he is the man in black...

Chris, Tina and Lachlan are fine...and he will be 4 months next week.

Lennon is doing good and we have been watching Helene whip into a Cat. 3...but landfall looks to be far north of him.

Enjoyed brunch at Monicals this week with Kayleb!

Two new offerings for the season.

Both, of which, we are going to have to try!

Politics...are well...politics.

Harris and Walz seem to be doing well.

As for Trump and Vance...they're just unhinged and weird at this point.

And No...

Nobody is eating the cats, dogs, pets...or geese!

Zelenskyy is in PA at an ammunition plant...

 where he signed some of the shells he will use later against the Russian Invasion.

And it is that time of the year again.

Time for the Fat Bear Contest!

The falls and bears in the mist are beautiful.

It has been hard this year...as it is nearly time for denning, we have started to acknowledge/make our peace with the fact that Otis will not be back and last year was his last season.

Bittersweet.

He was the oldest bear there.

~sigh~

I have selected a favorite picture of him to paint.

The bears have been bulking up for the contest.

151 Walker is enormous....

as is 747 and 856.

But Chunk #32 has taken the Alpha position this year and is an absolute unit!

 ...Chunky Dunking...

 Today, Grazer -128 and Biggie (128 Jr.) have returned from walkabout looking very healthy as well. 

Fat Bear Junior (Chubby Cubby) will be voted for Thursday!

 

More soon.

Love,

Carla

Fall...Football...Food and Politics

 

...are going to be the death of me.

To understand...you really have to go back to last Thursday night...and the first real game of the season. 

Kansas and The Ravens.

Lamar & Mahomes.

Both teams looked very good.

The Ravens have Derrick "KING" Henry, now...and he is a force to be reckoned with...

We have Xavier Worthy...who is a beast.

Kansas looks tight...exceptional!

...as long as they keep Wentz benched, I'm good...

It was neck and neck all night...but We Won!!!

It was a late night game and by the time John and I finished dissecting it...well...it was almost 12:30 AM.

And the snacks were gone.

 

Then Sunday rolled around with The Colts and Houston.

Fall Food accompanied the Sunday game and the table was full of cornbread, ham and beans, apple butter and cole slaw!

Sweet tea to wash it down with...

Once again the teams were well matched and although Houston bested us, it was anyone's game until the last possession.

And the huge mid-day meal was gone.

 

Tuesday night...snacks replenished...we had The Presidential Debate.

The best lines will forever be

 

"They are EATING the pets!!!"

 

and

 

"81 million voters fired you."

 

It was amazing...and she handed him his ass.

It was also a late late late night.

And, once again, the snacks were gone.

 

 Chris dropped by with Lachlan who is now 3 months old, and smiley!

 

When he isn't snoring and sleeping.

Last night we had another late night game with The Dolphins and The Bills.

Josh Allen is The Boss...and they handily "squished the fish" but sadly Tua sustained another concussion (his 4th or 5th in as many seasons) and had to be helped off the field.

And, again, the snacks are gone. 

...at this point I'm blaming the cat...

Today, all of the late nights have caught up with me...and I'm fairly useless!

Food delivery is the only option.

 

But wait...we have games coming up on Sunday.

~sigh!

Love,

Carla

                                     "Wait...did somebody say SNACKS???"

September...Football and Fall

 

Woke to 69 degrees...a hint of wood-smoke in the air...a few already yellowing and falling leaves...and Fall, right around the corner.

John and I will be celebrating Labor Day together, tomorrow, with BBQ and potato  salad and the last of the Summer treats...enjoying the much cooler temps!

We had to reschedule our August Getaway last week (his hip...my back...aren't we a pair???)

This aging business is not for sissies!

Beats the hell out of the alternative, though.

The regular season for both our teams starts this week!!!!!

Taking a short break, here...then it is back to cleaning up the mess that being out of commission for a week leaves you with...a Cinderella Evening!

Have a Wonderful Labor Day!

love,

Carla, John, Gadget and Tux

Beyond Exhausted...

 

Four days of past-midnight for the DNC Convention...plus the third and last pre-season football games...

Yeah..Tux and I are sleeping on and off all weekend!

And how about that convention!!!

4 days of happiness, music, joy and positivity!

So different than the doom and gloom politics of the GOP...which repeatedly call America a failing nation.

No.

America is fine.

It is the GOP and the politics of fear, doom and gloom that are failing.

(...we will show you in November...)

I've decided to hold on to the feelings of hope and happiness and joy that I found with our party M-Thurs. 

And ignore MAGA, Vance, JFK JR....and especially Trump.

Not only do they have NOTHING I care to hear...but they add NOTHING to the national conversation.

They are irrelevant.

So...Yeah...my focus is on getting Kamala Harris (and Gus' dad) elected.

As an aside...wasn't the Walz's family reaction to his nomination one off the most genuine and wholesome moments in politics you've ever seen???

Recovering from the week!

Love,

Carla & Tux

 

Football...Tale of Two Carsons...FIVE...Walz...and Bears

 Yeah...football is BACK!!!!

Only three pre-season games...with one left. 18 regular games this season!!!

John and I have been focused on our teams (Kansas and Colts).

It has been pretty entertaining.

The Colts have showcased FIVE different QBs.

(IKR???)

I have no idea who  our starter is going to be.

Then there are The Chiefs.

(...Swiftless, for now...)

Until my guy says

"You know they signed Carson Wentz?"

(...this is a joke, right???)

"You mean Carson Steele?"

(...rookie RB...)

"Yeah...him, too."

OMFG!!!

I have no idea who thought bring Wentz aboard was a good idea...but

...Maybe we can bring Taylor Swift back...

Steele looks good, and will be a nice addition.

And Mahomes is still...well...HIM.

Last night he pulled off a behind-the-back pass to Kelce that will be shown repeatedly this season.

The Bears (...real ones...not football...) are beginning to fatten up for hibernation and the up-coming Fat Bear Contest.

#747 (Colbert...aka Bear Force One)

 
 

And #151 (Walker) seem to be the top contenders at this time...but it is early.

In political news...Tim Walz (pronounced Walls...not Waltz) received The Rose...and is Harris' VP candidate.

And it is going really really well!!!

This guy is like everyone's Grandpa/Dad.

 

You know he is going to call you kiddo or sport...and pop out of your garage letting you know he rotated your tires and fixed that loose screen door while he was at it.

The two of them have remarkable...positive energy!

Meanwhile...the circus is leaving town.

And taking their clowns with them.

...and it is about damned time...

Can't wait for the DNC Convention to start Monday!

So...we lived through the flooding when the water-heater rusted through spilling its entire contents into the hallway, and creating a pond worthy of bluegill.

Industrial strength shop-vac and blowers and a brand new water heater...and it is finally clean and dry.

(...thankfully...)

Had an amazing lunch from Hogg Wild BBQ this week!

Enjoyed pictures of Lachlan.

Who will be 3 months old at the end of August!

And played with the cats.

And lots of football!!!

Love,

Carla, John, Tux and Gadget 

 

 

Lachlan...Lunch With Kayleb...Loss...And Politics

 

So...we lost Itsy Bitsy this week.

He must have had much more complicated internal injuries from the biting and shaking.

Poor little guy never had a chance.

128jr. (Biggie) is fine.

 And fishing The Office with Mom last night.

Many of the bear folk are still pretty inconsolable. 

Although the salmon are plentiful...roving bands of pirates are now taking the opportunity to steal others catches.

The 482 gang have been particularly egregious. 

All of us still wait for Otis...

Kayleb and I enjoyed Chinese and chat on Monday!

He is doing well.

Chris came over with Lachlan, yesterday!

 

He is getting so big.

Happy and totally smitten with Dad!

Melissa and Eric are up and John has been running everywhere.

Micro-Center, Trader Joe's, The Casino, Applebee's, and The State Fair!

But today they are gone...and he has landed...and we are both taking a relaxing Sunday.

Tomorrow, real life begins again, with him getting an estimate on the plumbing repair again...and me (finally) getting relief from ANOTHER water leak here.

And then there are POLITICS...

OMG!!!!

I can't be the only person suffering from Trump Fatigued Syndrome.

 Now they are flailing, attacking each other, Kamala's husband and gearing up for whoever she decides to pick for her VP.

...and don't even get me started about JD Vance...okay???

We find out Tuesday who has been presented The Rose for VP.

Seriously...I am ready for November...voting...President Harris...and for him to just get the hell out of our lives.

Is that too much to ask???

love,

Carla, John, Tux and Gadget

 

The End of July...Lachlan is 2 Months Old...Summer Adventure...Decade of Politics in One Week...And Bears

Here it is...

The end of July.

Lachlan turns two months old tomorrow!
 

He smiles, now...and likes to growl at Dad while gumming on his finger.

And he snores!

John and I just returned home after our Summer Adventure...including (new to me) a trip to Cheddar's.  How have I never been to one of these???

Amazing place...lovely decor....perfect service and ohmigod the food!!!!

Next time we will dine al fresco by the waterfall, honey!

Planning our August Getaway together..and going to see the new Deadpool/Wolverine.

And politics...

Anyone else suffering from whiplash from the past week?

SERIOUSLY!

On Sunday, President Biden informed us he would not be accepting the nomination...and we were all

...ohshitohshitohshit....

Then Monday, Kamala decided to toss her hat into the ring and we were

...itmightbeokay...

 

Now she has been endorsed by...well...pretty much everyone and has already secured the delegates for nomination and we are awestruck!!!

...last count over 200 million in funds...

I think we've got this.

 

I haven't seen an outpouring of support across party lines like this since Obama!!!

On the 7th she announced her choice for VP...but all of the short list looks good and bring their special something to the table.

I'd like to see Mayor Pete...but any of them are outstanding.

And the salmon...and bears have taken over The Falls!

With always fun to watch Scuba Steve (#27) back with his flying leap fishing style.

And Grazer's cubs...

Which have been dubbed Biggie (the female) and Smalls (The tiny male...who I call Itty Bitty)

And most of the cubs this year are 1.5 to 3 years old...these two are the only tiny Spring Cubs seen at The Falls, this year so far.

Creating a panic when live on camera the littlest floated right over the falls and directly into Chunk (#32) who has been flaunting his dominance all summer.

It was horrific.

Grazer immediately dove off the falls and onto Chunk...open mouth...teeth bared and claws flying.

Chunk had the cub in his mouth and was shaking it.

He immediately dropped it...and it floated downstream injured.

Mother Grazer was pissed.

So pissed off that she kicked his ass...turned around and beat the hell out of him again!

...poor Chunk is an absolute mess today...torn up...

Then she ran downstream and caught up with the tiny screaming injured cub.

It appears he bit him through at least one of his shoulder blades.

To be honest, I fully anticipated Itty Bitty not to survive the night.

He seemed shocky and laid on his side motionless.

But it seems the little guy is scrappy and wants to survive. Unable to use his front legs today...a situation which may resolve itself as he heals...he is walking around human-like on his hind legs...nursing...down to the water...it has been amazing.

I cried when I saw he had made it through the night.

So now...we wait.

It has been a week!

Love,

Carla and Tux