Hey Dad-
Been a bit, but I wanted to catch you up. I know you know all this already, but this is for me...and it's helpful.
We bought a Jeep! Not a cool, Jeepy-Jeep...just a 2007 Grand Cherokee, but it's a 4wd. We needed it. When we bought that Mercedes from you, we had intended to sell the Aspen after getting Ashley her Armada, but the kids didn't want to sell the Aspen...and the gas mileage was almost a wash because of putting the 91 Octane fuel in the Mercedes. Plus...the room was really nice. So, we sold the Mercedes instead. Still needed a 4wd.
Anyway - the Jeep's a diesel! 3-litre diesel. I get 20mpg driving around up here!...so that's awesome! It's also "full-time four-wheel-drive", and it has a turbo! I really wish you could drive it! It's really neat! You would really like it! It makes that cool diesel sound (Hud and I love that!), has the cool diesel smell, and can haul like...well...a diesel! We hauled a 25', dual axle, heavy steel trailer full of chests and dressers up the mountain with that thing, and I will say that I've never had an easier time towing a trailer! According to the manual, this little engine will tow as much as the Grand Cherokee with the 5.7 Hemi!
I've been watching Monk on the Peacock app. I know you always liked that show and the books as well. It's a shame you didn't get to enjoy nonstop Monk. I think you would have really liked that.
Well, all three of the kids love their new school(s). All three are enrolled in the Blue Ridge district and they are all doing really well! Baylor really likes his new teacher and he's making new friends. He never has trouble with that. Huddy likes his teachers as well...and they all seem to like him as well. He's making all As and Bs right now and seems to be enjoying keeping up with the work. As always...he's had no trouble making friends. Gracie was the surprise! She is having a wonderful time! Making friends, getting her usual great grades, helping with the yearbook...and it's only been a couple of weeks. God has really done a wonderous thing for this little family.
The best part of The Lazy Trout is that I get to work with my family all the time. Now my days are spent at about 80/20 family:other. I love it! We watch shows together, eat together, cook together, and even when I go to work, I am with Ashley or Gracie, or Hud, or Bay, or all of them, or...whatever! It's what I always wanted, but I never knew I wanted it...and I CERTAINLY didn't know I could ever achieve it! Thank you for that! The way you lived your life made this life for my family possible. I intend to carry that on.
We sell a few different fire starters at The Trout. One particular type comes in a big, square, plastic bucket with a snap-on lid and a bail. We use the bucket to display the fire starters and throw the other one away. I said to Ashley the other day as I was throwing one away, "I know of a nice, old guy who sure would love to have these buckets when we don't need them any more! He could store all sorts of things in them! Nuts and bolts, rags, snacks...or just nothing. Just have them in case he WANTED to store something!" You always loved things like that.
Fishing is slow. Days are cold, but the ice isn't safe everywhere. The road into Big Lake is closed...though some still make it in. Silver Creek is where I send people right now.
The people in town worry about us right now. Business is slow (though, not as slow as they think and certainly much busier than I had planned). I've had enough busy days. I really enjoy the slow days...and I know that May through October will be hectic, so I am savoring these slow days...treasuring them. Just a little 40s music and we're just fine.
I love you, Dad. I miss you so much. I like connecting with you in pipe tobacco, Monk, and anything else...as you know, I find connection daily.
Love you so much! We're all so happy! Thank you for that!
I'll write again soon-
-Joel
