Fall is in the air Whitefish Montana

We are leaving Hampton Inn which was located in Missoula Montana and driving to Whitefish MT.  We have rented a condo up on the mountain.  This drive was only 2 1/2 hours.  Stopped at an overlook and the view was awesome. The lake with the mountains in the background was beautiful.  The temperature this morning is 45F degrees.

We have arrived in Whitefish MT early so we parked downtown Whitefish and walked around the area mostly shopping.  The leaves are really starting to turn beautiful fall colors. This put a smile on my face. Check out this video of the aspen leaves dancing on this tree.  Totally was mesmerized by it.

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It is time for some afternoon coffee.  We found this quint little shop and had a seat by the windows.  Marlon got up coffee and some huckleberry macaroons.  

After our coffee, we were ready to finish walking around the area and find a spot for lunch.  We ended up eating at a pizza place and ordered a Reuben pizza.  Very good as neither of us has ever had this kind of pizza.

Well, it is finally 3pm and we can start our way up Big Mountain Rd. to find the condo we have rented for the week. The journey is 4.9 miles to the top.

We are at the top of Big Mountain and located our condo which is the Edelweiss condo 217.  We will be renting this condo from Sept. 4-11, 2021.  We are the closest units to the ski lifts and have a fantastic view of Glacier Park and the Flathead valley and lakes right from our living room window. We love the balcony to sit outside and enjoy a drink and the view.

I made some chili soup and a peanut butter sandwich for dinner.  It's nice we have a condo so we can eat at home.

Nothing like Homemade Chili and an Art Show on a cold wet day. - Utsunomiyia Museum

Yuji Kashawamuri is the director of the Tochigi Prefecture Museum.  It's great to be staying there as he knows many people and we get to see what goes on behind the scenes at a museum.

There is an Art Show at the museum today, featuring things that are made in Tochigi Prefecture.  I enjoyed looking at everything.  

 Click the link to see the short video of this guy making bamboo fishing poles.

https://youtu.be/Ec52Y1nbVYk

Click this link to see this guy make bamboo rings that hold together a scarf.  I totally love it.  I also was taught how to make one.  

https://youtu.be/23JML0sHpNk

 

This is the bamboo ring I made for my scarves.

 I bought a necklace from this gentleman who made the wood ring on my necklace as well as the wooden items in the pics. 

Yuji had to do a speech at the school for history of Utsunomiyia.  We are now headed to school early so we can look around at all the exhibits.  Marlon and I were chosen to be dressed in a kimono for me and Kimono for men for Marlon.  We felt very honored.  After we were dressed we were to walk around the school for others to see how people used to dress in Japan on a daily basis. 

Made chili tonight for the host family.  We shopped with Keiko so she could read the cans to make sure I was getting the correct supplies for chili.  I started by browning the pork and beef mixture and while that was cooking I cut green pepper and onion to add to the meat mixture.  Keiko is paying close attention to what I'm doing and writing down instructions.

 Keiko noticed I didn't have an apron on and went and got me one and put it on me. :-)

 It's about 40 degrees F outside so Yuji made a fire.  Nothing better on a cold wet day than a fire in the fireplace and some homemade chili.

 Dipping out the soup and garnishing it with sour cream, cheese, and onion.

I also made some peanut butter sandwiches to eat with the soup.  They loved it!!  Keiko is going to make some for a small dinner group that is coming to her house next Saturday.   I hope they enjoy it as much as we did!