The Elk Hunt of 2025
Lon and Laron took off on Monday the 1st to fish at CJ Strike. They had a successful day. As they were heading home, Ron Bloxham called and said, "the elk are in the field, get up here". They got home, packed, and headed for Challis at 4am on Tuesday morning. They arrived in Challis around 8am. The elk herd had moved! When they finally found them, they were in a field that the owner won't allow any hunting in. The hunters, Lon, Laron and Ron, kept watch until dark hoping that the herd would move back into the other side of the field, but nothing happened. After a nice dinner with Ron and Jane, Lon and Laron headed back home, arriving about 11pm. A very long day for them. We served our Wednesday PM shift at the temple. Thursday morning, Ron called again and said that he had just shot his, the elk were in the right place and get up here NOW! So, off they went, arriving about 1pm. Ron had stayed right with the herd, and they were right where they needed to be.
It was a huge herd
Just needed to pick which one
The three of them crept up on the herd, and they could have just drove up as this herd was not spooked and didn't move as they approached. Lon missed on the first shot, and says he shot 4 more times before she went down. 😜
A nice dry cow
The weather was predicting snow, so they hurried and dressed the elk, quartered her, loaded her, helped Ron hang his and headed for home. They arrived home about 8pm and got the elk hung in our shed. A very successful elk hunt with no mountains to climb or snow drifts to wallow through.
On Friday morning, we started at 10am and thankfully Chandler came over to help us butcher and bag the elk.
Chandler cutting the meat off the elk carcass
Lon
Laron used to be a butcher, so he was the instructor teaching Chandler and Lon what to do. I washed the meat and got it ready to bag and freeze
Lon vacuum sealed the meat
Chandler put the meat through the meat grinder
We didn't get finished until 7:30pm. So thankful that Chandler was there to help. Laron took a hind quarter, backstrap and tenderloin. We ended up with 160 pounds of hamburger, about 15-16 roasts and some steaks. The meat looks good, hopefully it tastes good cause we have a freezer full!!!
Saturday morning, we worked on getting everything cleaned up and put away. THE MEAT IS WONDERFUL!! We went to Gooding to stroll through the flea market where George had another booth set up. This one went better than his last one. It was huge and well-advertised. We enjoyed walking through it and even picked up a couple of things for Christmas gifts.
He sold most of the toys and a few birdhouses this time.
We had our final dress rehearsals for the Messiah on Wednesday and Thursday. It's been 4 months of rehearsals, and I think we are as ready as we will ever be. We were able to get off early on Wednesday so we could attend the rehearsal. We substituted on Thursday AM shift, got a nap in and went to the Thursday night rehearsal. Friday morning, Lon and Laron met Scottie and three of his kids at CJ Strike to fish.
Laron, Lon, Owen, Tessa, Cole, Scottie
The kids had a ball and caught a bunch of fish. Cold day but good.
Lon got home for the first evening of the Messiah performance. We had a good crowd, and all went well. Saturday morning, we again substituted on the AM shift then the evening performance of the Messiah. This evening even went better than last night. We are glad that we participated but are definitely tired. It was a wonderful way to welcome in the Christmas season. Our hearts are full.
Fishing continues to be good but rather cold as you can see.
Christmas packages are wrapped, mailed, and tree is up. Our first snow storm of the year happened on the 18th.
It is always so pretty. This snow didn't last very long and the roads were clear by the next day.
On Saturday the 20th, we served on the AM shift then came home to prepare for our Christmas party with Shayla and Justin's family. We had a Mexican dinner of enchilada's, beef and chicken, cheese dip, tortilla soup and cookie salad with peach cobbler for dessert.
Grandma Janice also came but didn't get her in the photo😕
Mason, Justin holding Halen, Shayla, Aydan, Kyleigh, Hendryx, Braxton, Riley, Adam
Because it is a Saturday and they work in restaurants, the husbands, Tyler and Josh couldn't come, and Dillon and Jasmine eloped and have moved to northern Idaho for school.
Grandma Shayla with Halen
These two really enjoy the vintage toys. Fisher Price is on its third generation.
We had a wonderful evening.
Sunday the 21st was our ward Christmas Sacrament Program. I played "Oh Holy Night" for Brother Robertson, Sue Miller played a beautiful piano solo and our choir sang. Derek Thompson, Russell Howell and Bishop Bingham spoke. Then we visited with our ministering families and left treats at each home. We finished off the day with a Christmas movie. Great day!
Ken Thompson, Lon's oldest brother passed away at about 3am on the 24th.
The funeral is going to be in January. He was 90 years old.
Christmas Eve, Tracy, Sarah, Eisley, Ashton and Abby (Ashton's friend? or girlfriend?) came to dinner. Chandler was with Kinley's family. We had a traditional turkey feast with all the trimmings. And I didn't take one picture😝We played games and watched football. Fun to get to know Abby.
Merry Christmas 2025 and Happy 76th Birthday Lon
We had a quiet morning opening our gifts then went to Tracy's at 10 to be with them. Chandler and Kinley were there with the rest of them. We had snack foods and enjoyed watching the kids open their gifts. Abby is definitely a girlfriend! Talked to everyone!
Tracy had deer in his back yard.
We served on the AM shifts at the temple on Friday and Saturday and attended a sealing session with Tracy and Sarah on Saturday evening, then out to dinner for our monthly date with them.
Barb and I went to lunch on the 30th while Lon and Laron repaired John Coleman's single wide. The wind had blown a couple of pieces of siding off. Suddenly it is the 31st and 2025 is coming to an end. Lon spent the 31st watching football and I got our Christmas decorations put away. We will start the new year tomorrow with the house clean and looking forward to whatever adventures awaits us. Welcome 2026!
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