Oregon Trail

We've lived within a few miles of  trails that go alongside the old Oregon Trail route for years, and have been barely aware of it's existence. Michael and I found the trails this spring and this fall we finally loaded up the children who were willing to come and explored the scenery and wagon wheel ruts.

Posing like the sexy beasts they are. Manly, manly men.

I kept pointed out how gorgeous the changing leaves in the valley were. I tried rhapsodizing to the boys, but alas their color blindness is not conducive to fall leaf gazing. Then I had to wander off and find Libby to oohh and ahhh with me. She was annoyed with Ethan, so that also fell flat. At least I enjoyed the leaves.

At the interpretive center.

Most of  the kids.

They enjoyed climbing much more than reading the signs.

A word about the signs. Only take teenagers on the trails if you have the patience of Job. Ethan found the sign that told about the Natural Rim Opening that was the original site of Beaver Dick's Ferry. Yep. Ethan could not let pass unnoticed. Nor could he drop it. This made Libby (as aforementioned) short on patience. Sam at first was trying to figure out what was so funny, and then decided that he really didn't need to know. It was a long walk back to the van.

McCall With Mom

We all needed a little break. Mom especially. Mom, my oldest sister Krys, and I loaded up and went to McCall at the beginning of September. We needed a low key, adult only break. McCall, as it always seems to, delivered.

We hiked, we drove, we walked, we played card games, and mom tried to gather every edible plant and non-edible rock that she saw. Krys and I even attempted to complete a Junior Ranger Badge. Alas, it has moved to a digital platform that was a buggy disaster. We were disappointed, but still managed a lovely hike. McCall gave us a place to pause and rest for awhile in our lives. 

This gorgeous guy posed for us on one of our walks. 

I introduced Krys to a sundial that uses a human shadow. It was accurate and she was amused.

A view from one of our drives. We stopped here for a brief picnic.

 The water was too cold for swimming, but Krys and I enjoyed the sunset over the lake. A storm was coming in and whipping the usually calm lake surface into crashing waves. We enjoyed the roaring storm for a few minutes and then scurried back to the cabin to avoid a downpour.

We were only able to stay for a couple nights, but by the time we had to leave, we all felt a little more stable and ready to face life again. 

Hobbit Hole

I still really miss Heidi. So I decided to do something I knew would have tickled her fancy. I started painting my side gate. I am not naturally artistic, so this was quite the endeavor. 

At this stage Ethan asked, "Are you overestimating your abilities, mama?" I managed not to call him a ratfink to his face.

First layers of paint. As I said, I'm not naturally talented. I knew it was just a blue dot. It took me awhile to figure out how to fix it.

After thinking about it for 24 hours and a trip to Second Chance Building Supply, it started to come together. My side gate is now a hobbit door. A proud blue eyesore leading to my backyard. I think it is perfect.

Side note - my friend lost her brother in June. We were discussing our lives and I mentioned my hobbit door. She told me she had made her back patio a tiki bar for many of the same reasons. We figure this level of weirdness is completely acceptable. We have no regrets.

McCall - Sans Children

Michael was asked to help with virtual broadcast support for a pediatric conference in McCall this year. He drug me along. I wasn't sure I even wanted to go, but I have no regrets.

We were put in a cute little room at Shore Lodge. There was the lake, there was pools and a hot tub, there were marshmallow roasts in the evening. There was a game room and bicycles to lend.

 

Michael and I hopped on a tandem and headed to Charlie's Garden, about four miles away.  We always miss the turn, as it is poorly marked, and we drive right on past. On a bike, well, we did the exact same thing. We did find the garden, though, and it was, as always, gorgeous.

After our nature adventure, we headed back to the hotel and switched out the tandem for two separate bikes. I was tired of staring at Michael's back and he was tired of feeling like he was hauling us both around, even though I swear I was pedaling as hard as possible.

We biked into town so Michael could spend too much money at the thrift store. And then we met up with some friends for dinner. Sitting on the patio, with the lake view and good company was exactly what I needed.

We spent two nights in our lovely little cocoon, but alas we had to go home at the end.

We just needed one more helping of the shore before we left.

Ba-oon!

This little monkey loves, loves, loves balloons. So on a chilly Saturday morning we wandered down to Ann Morrison Park to see the launch. He was in ba-oon heaven.

I thought this frog was pretty awesome. The dragon head next to it is also pretty rad, although we never saw it actually lift off.

I love this time of year! Watching the balloons float up into the sky makes me feel peaceful, every time. Someday I should probably go up in one.