Yarn pizzazz and family time

Wednesday you would have found us up in the hills nearby Idaho City exploring our most wonderful state.  Just a hop, skip and jump from our house we have the most beautiful country to see and explore.

Gorgeous  wildflowers in the most beautiful colors.  The lupines haven't even bloomed this high up yet.

After some hiking, I was content on just sitting in a small meadow, watching the clouds go by, having some snacks and seeing the rain fall in the distance.

We had to check out a huge boulder to see what it was balanced on.  We think it is part of the rock it is on top of.  From one side it even looked like a creatures head.

The creeks, streams and rivers are all running fast and deep from all the snow melt that is still going on.  Yes, I plopped my self down beside the river and just listened to the water rushing down over rocks and logs.  I just lose myself doing that.  And the water is FREEZING!!  Took forever for our hands to warm up after testing it.

We went on one of the trails in the area to explore some different areas where mining use to take place.  Em and Brenna were sad to see the little bridge was burned from the fires that happened last year.  Good thing it was only scorched.

We saw the areas where rocks were thrown when all the mining was taking place in the area in the 1800's.  That must have been rough digging through all of that.

Down the trail a bit, along the river there was some rock hunting to be done.  You know what happened after that.  Just the right rock had to be found so that it could be tossed in the water to see who could make the biggest splash.  It just cracks me up.

I found another spot to sit and listen to the river and enjoy all the beauty that surrounded us.  Have I ever said how much I love living in this state.  Wasn't sure.  :)

Then after an entire day of enjoy all the wonderful peaceful wilderness we headed home, dreaming of how wonderful it would be to live up in this area.  I would love the solitude.  We are making more plans for the next few weeks to go back up to the same area.  Just this morning I found info on the net for another quick trip area to go to maybe this weekend.  Cross your fingers for nice weather.  Even with the clouds it was a wonderful day for our hike around Idaho City.  I'm so glad we are making an honest to goodness effort of getting out and seeing everything we can in the state we call home.  It's awesome!

So I'm giving everyone a bit of a tease (even Kim) of what I've finished so far with the baby blanket.  I think I've revealed too much but isn't it just so yummy!  The colors are so bright and cheery.  What baby wouldn't want to have this wrapped around them to keep them warm?  I can't think of any.  Well, I must plug on in order to get it done.  It's a tough job but someone has to do it.  :)

Well, the cake mix cookies aren't going to make themselves so I better get off this computer and get my tail in the kitchen.  Looks like rain again.  We had a heck of a down pour earlier and I just sat in the living room with the window open a bit listening to it.  I nearly fell asleep!  I have to say this is the most pleasant start to summer we have had in many years around here.  And I'm liking it extremely!  It's so nice not having the A/C going all day long.   Windows were made to be open with the fresh breezes blowing through them.  :)

Find something to smile about everyone!  Your face will like you for it!

Toodles!

Yarn love

Okay, I'm weak.  I'll admit it.  I'm not perfect.  I had to put the wristies down and just had to get out the new yarn I bought last week.  I just couldn't stand walking by that bag any longer and staring at all the yummy colors that will be going into the baby blankie for my sister Kim.  Sorry Kim, and all my readers, this may be the only picture that I will be sharing about the blankie until I finish it.  I do want it to be somewhat of a surprise for Kim.  I know I'm awful for teasing, but sometimes it just happens.  :)  Sister love.

I was scouring pictures to get ideas for the above mentioned baby blanket and I came across these pics on Flickr.  I was taken by all the cheery, bright, beautiful colors that I had to explore all of Carina's pics and her blog.  Very nice.  I have been inspired by all the wonderful color that she uses in all her projects.  It just means more "trouble" for me with all the ideas I have running about upstairs in my little head now.  :)

Wouldn't you just love to have this wonderful, colorful stack of blankies sitting around your place, staring at you every time you walked into the room?  I would!  One can never have too many blankies laying around.  Who knows when the next ice age will hit.  You must be prepared!  :)

Things have been a wee bit stressful around here the past few days when it comes to dealing with my son and the "not so smart" decisions he is making in life.  Trust me, he has eaten the whole entire "dumb" cake.  I love him to pieces, but I'm drawing a line in the sand with what I'm going to put up with for now on with him.  Way too much so far.  Anyhoo, I'm so looking forward to drowning myself in this new project, with all the new colors and having Em help me with it.  She's very excited in learning granny squares and I'm quite confident she will do a grand job.  She is very picky about how her crochet looks and wants to make sure it looks just right.  She's just too cute.

Well, off to start the day.  A wee bit of laundry, breakfast with the girls, enjoying the gorgeous weather outside and yes, by all means, some baby blanket work.  It's rough but someone has to endure it.  I will do my best to struggle through this tedious list today!  I know I'm just a wee bit "touched".  Someone has to be and it might as well be me.

Have a great day and find something to smile about.  Your face needs the daily excercise!

Toodles!

Wristies, bikes, veggies and much more

The past few days have been busy.  Way too much for me.  I've gotten up to the point of making the hole for the thumb, so they are about 3/4 of the way done.  I just realized this morning that I haven't started on a quick little project that I have to mail out by Monday.  So the wristies will  be put on hold until that is finished.  I really need to get my "list" organized to stay on top of things.  The girls and I made it to the fabric store to buy some denim for skorts and a couple of pieces of patriotic fabric for the 4th of July.  If I don't make them now, they will never get done.  We even picked out the yarn for the baby blankie for my sister.  Sorry can't show right now because she reads all I type.  :)  It's going to be FAB!  Em is going to help me with it.  Even more FAB!

Last night Glenn and I went and bought bikes for ourselves.  They are early birthday presents for us.  A couple of weeks early.  :)  Who cares though.  We want to go on bike rides with the girls around the area we live and maybe we will venture out to the greenbelt along the Boise River, once the water level goes down.  I think we will be getting a small trailer for one of us to pull for Brenna because I just can't see her trying to keep up right now on the greenbelt.  Especially when some of the other people that use it are rude and don't watch for kids at all.  It will be nice to bring picnicy things with along so we can have lunch and snacks, etc. while riding.  The girls and I went on a test ride earlier and it was fun.  I have been on a bike in years.  Glenn and I bought mountains bikes many years ago while in the AF but I never really liked my bike.  Too many gears, the frame was all wrong for me, etc.  So I never really used it.  I think I might donate it to the charity in the area that refurb's bikes to give to kids.  Better than it sitting around gathering dust anymore.  Glenn is keeping his to fix up.  Never know when he might want to go riding up in the hills to try to kill himself.  Just as long as I'm not there to see it.  All I need now is a basket for the front and I will be peeing my pants with excitement.  Give me a simple old fashion style bike any day.  And the best part is they cost under $100 each.  Can't see paying the $400 or more for something similar.  Waste of money.  Glenn and the girls have been ribbing me that my bike doesn't have training wheels.  Comedians.  I told Glenn not to quit his day job.  We would starve.  :)

I made a trip out to the garden to check to see if anything is budging out of the ground.  Well, things are starting to make a move.

Here is some lovely swiss chard making an enterance.

Next we have some kale with their cute little sprouts.  They look so cute to me.  Don't ask.

Nearby there was some spinach.  Love it!

Then there are the cucumbers.  Mine and Brenna's favorite!  Besides the tomatoes of course!  :)  There were a few little okras making their debut.  I was getting a wee bit giddy while out in the garden.  You should have seen me doing a little jig.  I'm glad the neighbors can't see me in the garden.  They would surely wonder about me.

And my sunflowers that Julie gave me are sprouting too!  I can't wait to see it all growing back there.  I'm hoping this year the garden will turn out to be great.  At least we aren't going anywhere for a long period of time.  I will be able to keep on eye on things and make sure things are growing like they should.  Last year was a disappointment with being away for nearly 3wks.  I just about died when I got home.  This year will be better!  Cross your fingers.

At least I got the beds washed today and quite a bit of straightening up done being the girls and I will be over at a friends house for a birthday party.  It will be fun.  I just hope it won't rain during the party.  We are suppose to be tie-dying.  It may have to happen in the garage.  Oh well, at least we will be around the nicest of friends.  

Well, off the finish a couple of little things before Glenn gets home.  The girls already have a bike ride planned the minute he hits the door.  Poor guy!  Oh well, things could be worse.  :)

Have fun and don't forget to find something to smile about!  There's plenty out there.

Toodles!