Picture this...

We are getting a lot more snow this winter!

Go Gavin Go!

Finished...almost!

All done but the baseboard. I'm very lucky to have a husband who is a skilled carpenter AND patient. After a sore back, neck, and one smashed finger, he persevered!

Stiff neck and all...

Today's the day we have been waiting anxiously for. Only problem Gavin woke up with a severe crick in his neck. As the day wore on I started to get a crick in my neck too. Now we both are in sever neck pain but hey, we got some of the floor down! Okay, Jim did most of the work.

We figure we will be laying floor down the rest of the week after work and into the weekend. It's a two man job or a one man job and half a wife and son job!

Warming up the Pergo

We got our first real blast of winter Friday night. It started to snow lightly as the three of us made a chain and moved the Pergo into the kitchen to "warm up". It had been sitting on the back carport. Today the real fun begins!

Out with the Old

It's been awhile since Jim and I tackled a project this big. This is what we do and we've been here before. We buy a house then slowly but surely rip out the old carpet, counters, etc. and turn it into what we like better. So far this winter we've painted the inside, replaced the blinds, and now we are tearing out the carpet (it has seem much better days). We are older now so the work feels harder and takes a bit longer but hopefully it will be more rewarding once we are done!

Snowboard Ready!

Well, almost. "Go check your gear and make sure everything still fits." That's how this picture came to be. I couldn't resist...he looks like a big bug. Gavin has gotten new snowpants and gloves since this picture was taken. Now all they need is more snow on the mountain.

Happy Thanksgiving!

For the first time in a long time (or maybe ever), it is just the three of us for Thanksgiving. My guys are sleeping in and I'm baking a pumkin pie this morning. Gavin had a buddy spend the night. I surprised them with king crab legs last night for dinner. Forgot to take a picture but they didn't last long.

The plan for today is to eat a hearty breakfast (sausage and eggs), go to the IMAX and see Beowulf in 3-D, then come home and have dinner (spiraled ham, sweet potatoes and green beans). And maybe throw a nap in there somewhere :)

My favorite yoga pose

I had my third yoga class last night. Soon I will look like Mr Iyengar in the photo. Just kidding. It is the hardest sport I've ever tried to do. We are doing just the basic poses and I find myself shaky and dripping with sweat! The instructor is very patient and ends the evening with us laying down in a relaxed pose which almost always puts me to sleep.

Two broken buddies

Well, we knew it was a matter of time before Gav took the big fall and he did this past Monday evening at the skate park and broke a bone in his wrist. His good friend Fred fell rollerblading in PE and broke both his tibia and fibula, ouch!

Chili in the house

I made a pot of my sister Kathy's famous chili yesterday. We watched some football, munched on chips and salsa and waited for the chili to be done. Yum! Today I painted the laundry room. I'm slowly getting each room painted and the house is starting to feel a little more like home.

A yoga story...

I took my second yoga class last night out of a series of six. I was feeling great on the way home from my class when my cell phone rang. Is this Mary? Yes. This is Doctor So and So. I just got the results back from your blood work you had done today and your blood sugar is extemely low. Are you feeling okay? Yeah, I just got out of my yoga class. Really?? Well I'm glad you are feeling good. You might go home and have some Halloween candy to get your blood sugar to go up. Okay, no problem there. I love candy. I never thought I would be advised by a doctor to eat it!

I stole this from my sister-in-laws blog....thanks Fish Taxi!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!

Plum Wore Out!

I guess all that driving back and forth from Boise to Vegas finally caught up with Mom and Dave. I can't resist a good blog photo when I see one!

Move it or lose it!

Fall is here and I've started my new routine of working out every morning in the shop which houses my eliptical machine, treadmill, and inversion table. I alternate every other day on the treadmill and eliptical but climb aboard the inversion table every morning and hang for as long as I can stand it. Call me crazy but after two weeks of this, I feel like a new person...more energy, and I think a little taller!

Kettle Corn

For the BEST Kettle Corn ever!

1/4 cup butter flavored shortening

1/2 cup unpopped popcorn

1/4 cup sugar

Melt shortening in a large pot (med to med hight temp) with three test kernals to start.

Once the three kernals pop add the rest of the popcorn and sprinkle the sugar on top. Once this gets to poppin, shake covered pot over heat until all popcorn is popped.

Try not to eat the entire batch by yourself!

Eight Point Buck!

Sunday evening Jim and I took the dogs for a walk in a field not far from our house. We let them go and they run around like wild dogs. The past couple of nights we've been flushing out deer and they usually bolt the minute we get near. But this night as you can see by the picture, this huge buck just layed there and stared back at us. It was on the other side of a barracade so the dogs couldn't get to him. Jim counted the horns and was amazed that there were eight. We both went to work the next day excited to tell what we had seen. "Wait a minute, wait a minute...you saw a what?? No, no, no! A four point buck is what you saw." Basically we were both reprimanded (or educated) that here in the west you only count one side of the rack, not both. We thought it was hilarious that we both got the exact same lecture on how to count horns on a deer. Oh well, never too old to learn!

Working Hard for da Money

This worked out well. Jim needed help planting grass and Gavin needed money. My boss offered me some sod we had left over from a job, so that is how the island is going to end up. It is looking great and I will post another picture when it is completed.

Gavin and Grandma

Here is a nice picture of Jims mom with Gavin. Shortly after this picture Gavin took off camping with some friends and Jim and I have been here relaxing with his parents for the weekend. Gavin started eighth grade and is taking piano lessons which was offered for the first time at his school. So far he really likes it, a lot more fun than math.

One hundred and over days

There have been a lot of wild fires here in Idaho. This plane flew over our house the other evening when I was out watering. It returned again after dumping its load. Occasionally and unfortunately we can smell the smoke in the air. My boss and his family were forced to evacuate thier home and the fire came right up to thier property but thier home was spared. It's been a dry hot summer (104 right now as I type this). It will make Fall all that more enjoyable, is what I say!

Hot but Happy

Gosh I've been busy! Floated the Boise River on the Fourth of July with my neighbors. There was a total of nine of us on three rafts. It was a blast and only two people fell out of thier rafts (no, not me, I'm too old for that!)

As you have probably been reading on the news, Boise has been above 100 for a few days in a row now. I've had a few people from out of town call me to make sure we are coping okay. As long as the AC works I can cope just fine. Today I ventured out and found a local public pool to swim in. It was heaven.

Here are some pictures I took this past week of a job that my boss is working on. I'm developing a web site for him and will use these.

Happy Solstice!

Jim had a nine oclock game last night. It was a beautiful night with the sun setting against the mountains. Mid game a fox ran across the field amazing everyone. Who cares that they didn't win. It was just wonderful to be outdoors on a warm summer night.

Mom and Dave are in town. Gavin is out of town on a friends sailboat in McCall. Lucky him and lucky us! We get to eat meat (without feeling guilty). These are pictures of grilled brats with peppers and onions, pea salad, homemade Sangria, and Daves reaction to the homemade Sangria. We are having a lot of fun hangin out with them this holiday weekend.

Fort Boise

I'm not sure who was having more fun, the kids playing in the dirt, or the guys playing ball. The game was at nine last night clear across town at Fort Boise. It was a beautiful night though and the guys ended up winning thier game, despite some bad calls.

Kristy and I explored some new trails today. They seem to go on forever and the views were awesome. I can't wait to go back with my bike.