i'm going to jackson

Actually, I just got back, from Jackson Hole. It was the annual trip for A's family. Only about half of us were there, but it was still great. Usually we go in June, and it is almost always cold an rainy. September in Jackson is beautiful. My only complaint is that there were multiple fires going on, which sometimes made it hard to see the Tetons, and made the air smell and taste yucky in the mornings.

The weather was perfect, cool in the mornings, toasty in the afternoon, and chilly at night. The leaves were changing color, and it was just all-around blissful. We always stay at this place called Moulton Ranch, about twenty minutes out of Jackson Hole, and next door the the most photographed barn in the world. It was amazing to wake up, look out the window, and see nothing but golden wheat, sometimes a few buffalo, and the Tetons. Marshmallows by the fire, hikes to secluded lakes, stunning views... I almost wish I lived there. Then I think about the insanely high cost of living.

I just thought of another complaint: mice. We caught three mice while staying at the Moulton Ranch. The first day, a mouse got into our bag of food we had just brought in, and ate through a bag of chips. I was up all night to the sound of mice, or maybe just one mouse. It was bad. The second day we set three traps, baited with chocolate. We promptly caught a mouse, or at least A did, reset the trap, and caught another. We found the last one this morning. It was tiny, and very sad.

On a side note, we got some fresh Idaho potatoes (for free!) in Jackson. Right when we got home, I chopped some up and made some delicious oven fries, complete with fry sauce. Here's how I did it:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees,
Wash and cut 4 medium potatoes,
Soak them in water for 10 minutes or so,
Meanwhile, mix some mayo, ketchup, and barbecue sauce,
Pat the potatoes dry, and toss with some crushed garlic, olive oil, sea salt, and pepper,
Spread on a baking sheet with a silicone mat, I used a Silpat, and try not to overlap the potatoes,
Bake for 15 minutes, then give them a turn, then bake for another 10 minutes.
Dip in your fry sauce, and enjoy eating your delicious and almost guilt-free fries. Yum.

Comments

Valerie said…
I know, from personal experience, that it's best not to give too much thought to the mice.
You know, what kind of personalities they have, or their families waiting for them to come home. It complicates things.
Just remember, they are how people got the plague. The Plague, Marta.
Marta Nielsen said…
Yes, I have to work hard to balance my thoughts of Gus Gus on Cinderella, the mice in The Witches, The Mouse and the Motorcycle, Remy from Ratatouille and other adorable mousey characters with thoughts of germs and poop and the plague.

It is especially hard for A, since he is the one who has to put them out of their misery if they are still half alive, and also dispose of the little corpses. I'll remind him of the plague.

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