Bat Alley...

On the side of the house we have what we call "Bat Alley". At dusk they never fail to be swooping down around our heads to catch bugs. Good family fun for sure. I have the hardest time getting a good picture, but will keep trying...

There He Goes...

There he goes again, yet another week in WY. Lance is off to save the planet. His theme song..."Saving the Planet! Saving the Planet!" Yep...he really does sing this. In fact, we all do. Lance out of town so much can be hard at times, but the greater end product is what it's all about. The kids are used to it and I have to say, so am I. For those who do not know, Lance works for an awesome company called CSR- Conservation, Seeding and Restoration. (check out their web site through my web roll at right) This is a very "feel good" job for us as a family. We love what he is doing and what we are teaching our family as a whole. We live..."Saving the planet, Saving the Planet!" (In Wyoming he is working on BP land, restoring and maintaining native landscape after and during oil drilling)

This is a cell phone pix, taken by Lance last winter while in WY. As you can tell, it is cold there.

Your Life...

"Appreciate this and every moment no matter how imperfect, for this moment is your life." (Taro Gold)

Photo from Mimi

Sambo...

Happy 27th Birthday Sam...We love you!

Snake River...

Never been kayaking, but I have been down the river. Last summer my husband and I were invited to ride the Murtaugh stretch of the Snake River. We had a blast! Thanks to our excellent guide, Jason, we never swam. Can't wait to go again.

A little info on the Murtaugh...
The Murtaugh Section, 20 miles upstream from town and 2 miles below the Cauldron Linn (Star Falls), is know as one of the premiere day trips in the country. When the water flows in the spring it is a strong CLASS 4 +/5- section of river. With 16 major rapids in 14 miles, the Snake drops an impressive 25 ft. per mile in this deep Basalt canyon. Waterfowl and birds of prey abound as does significant archaeological sites of Native people and more recently Chinese, whose mining sites are numerous in this part of the Snake.

"Whitewater of the highest degree and caliber", "Awesome!", "Has to be seen to be believed", "Compares to the Grand Canyon only better"- All of these and more have been used to describe this 14 mile section of the Snake River known as "The Murtaugh". Idaho Guide Service pioneered trips down this section of the river in 1982, and were the first outfitting company in the country to be licensed and permitted to conduct commercial float trips on "The Murtaugh". This is a one day float trip that compares to none other in the country for big water. Sixteen major rapids block our course on our decent downstream to the Twin Falls (at over 100 feet high) on the Snake River.

Info found @ Idahoguideservice.com

Friday Night Fun...

My husband and I were lucky enough to grow up in a town where there is still a drive-in movie theater. Actually, we have two! The theater we usually go to also has the city cemetery behind it. You can imagine all the fun, teenage mischief with that!

We are keeping the tradition of the drive-in theater alive with our children. Last night, sitting by the car in our camp chairs, we saw Ratatouille and Meet the Robinson's (Ratatouille is a great movie). I love the old intermission refreshment screen. The hot dog does flips and then jumps into the bun... too funny! A few pictures to share, perhaps they will bring back fond memories of time's past.

A little history of the Drive-in theater for you...

On June 7, 1933, the world's first drive-in movie theatre opened in Camden, USA. Within twelve years the number of Drive-In's increased from 100 to 2,200 locations. Australia followed suit (the first one in Australia opening in the Melbourne suburb of Burwood), and Drive-In Cinemas appeared everywhere. People enjoyed being able to go out without having to dress up.

Drive-in's did have some problems early on, including obstructed views and poor audio. These were remedied by tiering and spacing the grounds and placing individual speakers on each car window (and later, attaching a cable to the radio antennae of the car).

Few other countries were exposed to the Drive-In phenomena because of their climate -Britain certainly never got one and they were very rare in Continental Europe.
Television and its mass popularisation by the mid-1960s took its toll on the trade of Drive-In theatres, which led the Drive-Ins to what many consider their darkest hour in the mid 70s - The time when they ran regular dusk-to-dawn programs of sex and/or violence to get the crowds in.

It worked at the time but the Drive-Ins soon realized that by running these programs they were alienating their traditional audiences - Families who would take their kids to the Drive-In in their pyjamas and dressing gowns.
Sadly for many Drive-In theatres, this realization came too late and many of them were sold to be redeveloped as shopping centres or car parks, or worse still, just closed and left to rot.

A relatively small number of Drive-In theatres remain in the US and Australia (many of them now operating as 'twin' theatres with two screens and reduced car capacity). Most of the in-car speakers have been replaced by a 'Cine-Fi' system which runs directly through your car stereo.

But while many things have changed (not necessarily for the better) in the entertainment and film industry since the hey day of the Drive-In movies, some things have remained constant.

The snack bar menu is virtually unchanged at most Drive-Ins, kids still run around in their pyjamas, and young lovers still nestle up tight to one another in cars with steamed-up windows . . .

The Drive-In is possibly still the only place that provides both a family-oriented recreation opportunity and a place to drink with your mates and lose your virginity.
(Info found on nostalgiacentral.com... Fun site-check it out)

Thinking...

Kaziah found this dead butterfly, she still has it stowed away somewhere...

"Remember this- very little is needed for a joyful life. It is all in your way of thinking" -Marcus Aurelius

Photo taken by Ausha

Bailee Jane...

Have I mentioned our sweet Bailee Jane? She is our Rottweiler/cross girl. She is going on eight years old. When we brought Rogue home she was somewhat put off, but warmed up to him. She still keeps him in line, holds herself "above" him -but does play with him from time to time. It will be great fun to watch her boss him around when he is 100 plus lbs... She has proven to be an excellent teacher.

My Rogue Bear...

At 14 weeks old, Rogue is weighing in at close to 30 pounds! Two more weeks and we have done as much as we can to keep our little (big) boy safe. Then we are free to roam as we please...thank goodness, I need to hit the hills!

Licking Good...

Birthday fun...finger licking good!

Back Roads...

Back Roads. One of my favorite songs from Kate Wolf. If you haven't heard of Kate Wolf, check her out, that is if you like bluegrass-folksy music. The song goes something like... I'll take the back roads home through the open country side, letting things slip by in drawn out time. The shortest road isn't always the best. Back road's so easy, it just rambles on and on. Take it or leave it as it rolls along. Drifts through things it cannot change and doesn't even try. Wouldn't that be something for you and I? Any place you're bound you'll get there some day, you're the one who chooses what you see along the way. There's a back road winding everywhere. Sometime let a back road take you home.

This song keeps running through my mind. I am trying to slow down and enjoy all the imperfections in my life. I tend to try to "fix" things. I can't really fix all the clutter and chores...especially with three kids. With that said...I will do my best to allow just a small amount of clutter in my life. This is a lot harder than it sounds.

Deer Creek...

I am definitely having camping withdrawals. Remembering summer-04 camp trip to Deer Creek. Roxie was just a few months old, the girls played in the creek and Uncle Matt and Ausha found a great way to play- bouncing up and down on a tree branch (I insisted on her wearing her helmet). Traveling by sand-rail, we had fantastic views from the top of the ridge.
Just a few more weeks and we are camping bound...hopefully we will still be able to have a campfire. The fire restrictions are high right now, it is only a matter of time before there are no fires allowed at all.

Downtime.....

This is something my husband wants more of... Who does he think he is kidding?! He has torn my front yard apart and now he wants downtime?!?! Silly man...get to work!
Lance laying our back sidewalk 3 years ago. Love ya Lance...

Camp Corona...

I think I am having camping withdrawals...This morning I woke with "Camp Corona" on my mind. In 2005 my brother, Matt, took us to a fantastic camp site accessible only by boat. We had great fun being pulled on the "ski bob" and drinking cold beers under the umbrella. As you can see, the name "Camp Corona" fits well...perhaps someday he'll take us there again.

Make a Choice...

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world"
Anne Frank


(Image from web)

The Coke Man...

More Swim Lessons...

Ausha working on her breathing and Kaziah learning to dive.

Rain Rain Come Again...

Can you believe that from less than 10 minutes of downpour...thank the Gods...our rain barrel went from about 5 inches full...to overflowing!!! WOW, that's all I have to say. A tight fitting cover -that can still fill- is on the bill for tonight...Good luck with that Lance! Looking forward to watering my plants with collected...and free...water!

Water Conservation...

Seeing how we live in a desert, I laughed at my husband when he assembled our rain barrel. Don't get me wrong - I loved the idea and his enthusiasm. Last night we were blessed with a summer thunderstorm, which I absolutely love, and a bit of rain to boot. Lance was so excited when he came home, I barely saw him as he ran through the house to check out his rain barrel. Cool! It works!
Yah...I know, it's not that pretty- but, that's not what it's about! Plus I have some dark green paint to freshen it up.