Thrift-Spinner Zorro

Finished another Thrift-Spinner project...black robe turned Zorro.
Read the story behind this costume by clicking here.

Bloomin' Beauty...

I waited all week, watching the bud loosen it's grip around the bloom...then, last Saturday morning...it bloomed into this beautiful jewel. To just sit and watch it open every morning...refreshing to the mind and a great way to start the day.

Sadly, the week following we had a big, fat summer rain storm. The pond filled past the bottom of the bloom, leaving it unable to open and now...rotting. My lily bud looks so sad and lonely...

The summer rain storm was rockin' with thunder though...and I love that!

Garden Front...

More recent photos of our backyard garden here...

Erosion...Stifled

The top photo is from a camping trip in '05....our spot in Stanley, ID. You can see in the photo there is no vegetation in the high traffic zone to the water. If you weren't careful, you could easily land in the water while making your way down. Lance saw the erosion and, of course, had to put a stop to it as best he could. That year, he dug in steps. In the years since, the path Lance created has become quite popular, as the evidence plainly shows in the last two photos above. During our camp trip this year to Stanley, Lance found much joy in the vegetation that had returned.

Lance, my man of action...never fails to amaze me.

Splash, Bubble and Kick

Back to the pool...swim lessons are one of the more important summer activities, I believe. Teaches our children to trust others and more importantly, themselves. How to stay afloat when everything else is pulling them down. I love to watch my children blossom as swimmers, love to watch their confidence grow and in turn...their love for the world and all the new adventures opening up to them.

Memorial Ride...

After a lovely memorial service for Bill Studebaker, the party really started...complete with Dickel balls, bonfires, Spill(Bill) stories and to top it off...Sunday included a trip down the Hagerman stretch. We were thrilled to take the girls on their first real "River Ride" ...Thanks Jason, they loved it!

Oh and, for those who don't know what a "Dickel Ball" is...simple as filling your mouth full of Dickel and blowing into the fire. Lance won the Dickel Ball "shoot-off" and has the burnt beard, eyelashes and eyebrows to prove it!

Ausha's Tribute...

Ausha's tribute to Bill Studebaker...in the form of oil pastels.

Mountain Goodness...

Saving our propane by using hot rocks from the fire to boil water for dish washing and toe soaking...So hot, in fact, I would have to let it cool. (you can see the boiling bubbles in the blue pot)



My laundry maids...using Earth friendly soap, of course...




Never tastes better than when brewed by the mountain sunshine...

The River Man...Never to be Forgotten

William Studebaker...a strong, courageous man whom I, among many others, will never forget. A man who always brought out the best in people and pushed them to new heights. A man who led by example and never stopped doing what he loved, influencing more people than he probably realized.

While he starts his next grand adventure, his spirit will continue to flow through the river and the hearts of those he left behind.

Read more of the story and a Tribute from Outdoor Idaho
Writings from Bill can be found here.
In Loving Memory...

Photo of Bill, June '07 when he presided over my brother's wedding.

Fun and Dirty...Just The Way We Like It!

Most camp trips are never long enough...not this time. I was actually ready to come home. Besides my garden calling me back, I was full of motivation for old and new projects and lots of ideas of moving forward in an earth friendly fashion, which made me long for home...in a good way. Feeling the wind off the lake and the sand in my toes was all very calming...which is just what I needed.

Lots more to share...including some extremely sad news from home, delivered at camp...

More photos...