Monday, September 23, 2013

Bear Camping
















This year we were able to make the trip up to Bear, Idaho to go camping.  Some friends of ours bought some property up there a few years ago and we have gone up almost yearly to help them get their 'camp' set up and just to simply enjoy the beauty of this area of Idaho. Well, last year, another piece of property came up for sale and my dad jumped on it!!  So, now we made the trip to help him get things set up-his eventual goal to have the place livable almost year round but in the mean time, we'll make trips for a week or 2 at a time.  Its beautiful up here.


   On our way up, we stopped in Rome, Oregon for lunch by the river and to let everyone stretch their legs. The total trip takes about 8 hours so its good to break it up, especially with little ones.  I think its actually good for the 'big' ones too!!
  Nathan and Melody are each others shadows and were almost the entire time we were gone.  This age is so much fun, watching them explore and learn and discover new things-things that we usually take for granted.  A good reminder not to take anything for granted but to always be thankful!
  Here is the camper that my parents put up here and the snow roof that he's constructing.  The roof was the main task at hand to get done on this trip as winter will come earlier up here then it does in other places and hopefully there will be a snow load to put the roof to the test.  Last year there was only a couple feet-not good.
 Since obviously, we were not going to all fit in the camper, we had the tent area for 8 of us among 3 tents.
 Nathan out exploring.
 Grandpa working hard-as usual  :)  Eventually, he is planning on building a cabin up here but that is down the road a bit. There used to be a cabin on the place from back in the 20's-there is a little bit of it left but not much.
  Becky and Dan having..................a toothbrush/water battle
 Time to play 'inside' for a bit while the rest of us get ready for the day
 Sara the 'flap jack' maker!
 She's a messy 'flap-jack' maker too.
 Grandma relaxing enjoying the mountain air and no yellow jackets for the moment.
  Marisa-paused long enough to get the photo
 Jessie-having to 'pause' for a moment too.  The trip up there was very relaxing despite the work that we all worked on. Lots of progress was made in cleaning up dead brush and trees and the roof was finished.  My parents stay up a few days longer then the rest of us and got the joy of having to deal with a bear that helped himself to the coolers one night. He enjoyed the berries and coffee creamer-can't say that I blame him.  We're looking forward to having a place to be able to 'get away' for  a while in the future-the out door activities are endless-hunting, hiking, trail riding-yes, I plan on taking horses up one of these years-, etc......

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Speed Fun!






Yep, its been a while since I last posted on here...again.  As, many of you know, we keep busy, and maybe too busy at times but we have also had a lot of trouble with our Internet service this year so I haven't had the patience to try and  post things especially when I have a couple times, the computer freezes halfway through or completely boots me off but I think things are working better-here's hopin!!
Jessie and I have had a very busy and fun year so far with her competing in the Nevada bandits club in Elko and she has competed in one Junior rodeo to which she has now decided that she needs to learn how to tie goats and rope cattle!!!
   She has one more show at the end of October.  After her first 3 shows she was placed in a division so that she can compete against those with similar times and then collect points for year end awards-she far she has been high point at the last 2 shows!! 
  Nina was my first horse and has proven to be a good all around type horse but seems to have a knack for barrels, poles, etc.....She's not a 'spring chicken' anymore but at 18 she is showing that she definitely has some get-up and go and really seems to enjoy it.

   Jessie had had a lot of fun getting herself and Nina all 'dolled' for the shows-can't blame her  :)


  This was just a week ago the morning of her first Junior rodeo-have to have the hat for rodeo's-its the rules. My hat looks good on her though, kinda like my horse looks good under her  ;)

   The best part about the Nevada Bandit Club are the people that you get to hang out with and the very relaxed, fun atmosphere!
 In between events, Nina gets to be the babysitter.
 She's getting faster all the time

Nina's favorite part of the day is at the end-she's spoiled, but its a good kind.