Oops. Sorry about the zigzap thing.

Retired Mountain Man reminded me that there will actually be three switchbacks.  Ugh!

Switchback. A zigzag road, trail or railroad track for climbing a steep hill or mountainside.

 When I moved to Montana and then Idaho 35 years ago, I had never heard of a switchback.  What the heck is that?  I'm from Nebraska and the terrain is pretty much flat. Nebraskans' can claim a few hills, but there's no need for a switchback.  Over the years I have become very familiar with them.  They are very helpful when you are hiking up a mountain.  You definitely know you are "going up" and you are glad to see a switchback to help you hike up the trail.

A couple of days ago as Retired Mountain Man and I walked down to the bench to set up the game camera, I made the comment that we really should put a switchback in the steepest part of the trail.  Retired Mountain Man built the original trail six years ago and it's a very nice trail except for that steep part towards the end, in the middle and at the beginning.

We have actually decided we will do it.  We have a few days of sunshine ahead of us and we can't really work in the yard yet because it's still pretty wet.  Plus, we haven't really done anything very physical for six months and we want to hurt ourselves.  Therefore, we have talked ourselves into doing this project.  On Monday Retired Mtn, Man spent the afternoon flagging  what turned out to be three switchbacks. 

We will begin the real work on it today.  I have no idea how long two old duffers will last standing on the steep hillside, sawing out trees and brush and then using the Pulaski to dig out the trail.  If I can still stand up, I will report back tomorrow.

(Thirty-five years ago?  What the heck is a crick?  Where I came from, it's a creek.)

Who came up with this idea?

Spring flowers soon.

Maggie gets a cold drink

Finally, we have some sunshine.  Retired Mountain Man and I took a hike down the trail to setup the game camera again.

On the way back I took a side trip up to Gail and John's house.

The snow is disappearing fast!  Hooray!

The Easter Duck was here!

Happy Easter everyone.  What a beautiful weekend we had in Hope.  We had some serious egg dying going on here.

The Easter Duck showed up and left lots of eggs and very nice treats. 

Happy Birthday to Mollie and Maggie.

Mollie and Maggie just had a birthday on April 1st.   Remember when Maggie first came to Cougar Creek?

I certainly remember the first time we had to leave her for more than a couple hours.  We painstakingly cleared everything out of our bathroom and put her cage, food and water in the bathroom.  We only missed removing one item, the roll of toilet paper.  When we came home and opened the bathroom door, the entire floor (5 x 10') of the bathroom was covered with torn up tissue.  It turns out she was quite a chewer.

She chewed up everything.  Every toy, every ball, flower pots, rugs, towels, blankets........  Here she is chewing up a wine bottle box.

Meanwhile, Mollie spent her days tolerating the little thing.  One year later she still wishes it would go away.  "What a nuisance that other dog is," says Mollie. 

Today, while it was snowing outside,, both dogs got their Easter bath.  They are getting ready for the Easter Bunny and the grandkids to visit and wanted to look their best.  Tomorrow after they are both brushed and beautiful, I will take their birthday/Easter photo for 2012.

Regarding the fresh snow, it amounted to about three inches today.  The snow is also to welcome the Easter Bunny.  We always have snow for the Easter Bunny.  That is why you color the eggs those bright colors to that you can find them in the snow.