sunday - 'welcome home' dinner

moving day + blizzard = major stress

MOVING DAY FOR WHIT & SCHUY & BODIN -

It's sad when the weather man hits the forecast 'dead-on' when it's moving day! Schuy headed south with a rental truck and hauling their vehicle behind. The weather was no problem once he left the state of Montana and arrived at Heather and Brian's last night at 9:30 p.m. I'm sure it was a long, long day for him and early this morning was up early and ready to head to the 'basin' to their new home. Whit stayed behind to clean and was leaving early in the morning. The storm that was forecast did arrive in all it's fury and the fastest she could drive was 30-35 mph - almost the entire drive.

We headed to the 'basin' this morning and met Schuy to show him the way to his new home. He and Whit only saw pics of their place - we actually got lost as the snow changed the look of our surroundings - but we finally found it and got a call from Heather (and the boys) and we met them and showed them the way. Together we got the truck unpacked in record time! Schuy kept saying, "Whit's gonna love this!" - I think Schuy was excited especially when he saw his new shop! The place is perfect for their little family. Bob drove the U-haul back to Sugar and I followed him. Whit finally showed up at 6 p.m. and Schuy had Bodin's room all setup and also their bed for a little R&R.

It was so weird when I talked to Whit on the phone and said, "Come for dinner Sunday!" - I've been waiting for this moment for over 10 years! Sweet - and welcome home, you guys!

***Brandy & Jessica, Whit is your new neighbor!***

moon on earth

Just a few photos of "Craters of the Moon" national monument in Idaho.
A few snippets of what the moon looks like! Astronauts trained here before actually heading to the moon. The environment is so similar to that of the moon's surface (all except the Toyota and the guy without the space suit! ! ! ) "Grown in Idaho"!

More journaling and highlighted photos to follow!

grunge day

Took this photo on our way home from Sun Valley. It's entitled, "Tree of LIfe"!


Shhhhhhhh, listen! Silence - only the hummm of the old-clunker computer in the background. It's been busy around here today - noisy, kids running and wrestling, dogs barking with lots of company on this cold (almost winter) day. It was one of those days when you don't bother brushing your hair or putting on makeup - GRUNGE DAY, least that's the way I looked (and still do). There's something refreshing about being a SLOB-FOR-A-DAY - I must make a memo 'to self' to do this more often.

I pulled out the crock pot and rice cooker and cooked in bulk today and put things in the freezer for quick n' easy meals for this week! I did that several weeks ago and when it got busy around here well, it was a life-saver. I'm trying really hard to ban sugar (the slimy-sweet-stuff) from my life. In the past, I've tried to come to terms with the #*%* stuff but slowly it creeps back into my mouth and onto my butt, stomach and thunder thighs - not to mention my triple chin and bulbous nose (yes, you heard it - my nose is growing)! When I'm doing this, all I think can think about is Jonna's blogspot with all of her ridiculously delicious treats - I believe they call this with-drawls! I do believe sugar addiction is worse than cocaine, alcohol, meth - sugar is everywhere, in everything - you can't get away from it.

I'm pretty excited as there will be another little soul joining our family in a week from Tuesday - that would be Cortney and Ashley's little guy - I know his name but not sure I've been given permission to divulge it? I'll check - if it's okay I'll come back here __________ and fill it in for you. Let me tell you, it's darn cute! We're going down to help for three days - can't wait. This will be #13 grandkid (who me?) - I'm way too young (haha) - that excuse is no longer legit, Berta-babe!

Well, since my chin is dragging on the computer key board, think I'll hit the hay for now - if I think of something I missed, I'll fill in the blanks tomorrow. Chow and sweet dreams, fellow/sister bloggers in blog land. Sweet dreams.

welcome to sun valley

***click individual photos for a closer look and journaling***

sun valley - the artsy side

Bald Mountain is the main ski hill in Sun Valley. This is a view of it coming down the canyon - love the fall colors.


Bald Mountain again, further up the canyon, as a snow cloud passes through and softens the scene.


Driving up the canyon I found an area that had been blackened by fire - it had an artistic touch to it - so I stopped and enjoyed the fall colors underneath the chard remains of the trees.


There was so many colors and textures - healthy pine trees, dying pine trees and chard pine trees all in a row - ah, the circle of life!


The hillsides in Sun Valley have the coolest golden color. A storm cloud passed overhead and sent horizontal snow sailing past the camera! I thought, for sure, the picture was ruined!


When looking at the remains of a forest fire, you always think, 'all is lost' - but there is always good that comes from disaster and nature adapts and flourishes. Kind-of-like US!

h.a.p.p.y. b.d.a.y. g.u.b.s.t.e.r.

It's the hardest thing, for me to know a birthday is rolling around and not be with the one I love and adore! Our kids are my world - and when birthdays roll around and they live hundreds of miles away . . . well, it makes me miss them even more. SO, here's to you Grif aka: gubster, gub, gubbles and, oh yeah, Griffin (as it appears on your birth certificate)!