New Year Junk Removal

There is something about the beginning of the new year. First trying to get your brain to write 2010 instead 2009. Realizing your not getting any younger. This last year I turned 60 in August and celebrated my 40 wedding anniversary in December. Those are some pretty big numbers. The years are zooming by.

With the new year its time to clean out the house and de junk. Each new year is a deciding factor of what stuff you haven't used in a long time and whether you will use it in the future. From clothing, to craft items, to general household items. I remember when I was first married and Scott said if you haven't used it in 3 months get rid of it. Well you can't do that with alot of seasonal things.

A few years ago I gave Avry all my tole painting, paints and cabinet that Scott had made me. Most of the paints were dried out and needed to be thrown out. Haven't missed them either. So this week I gave all my sucker molds and chocolate molds to my niece. I couldn't even begin to tell you the last time I used either one. Now do I get rid of the stamps? I did lend them out to the Merrie Miss for an activity this last year. How about the scrap booking stuff. I find it easier to put the pictures in albums and now I have all the recent ones on the computer.

I am even to the point I think about what my kids will think when I am dead and gone and they are going through everything and they are saying "Why on Earth did MOM keep this". As I remember going through Grandma's stuff after she died there really wasn't anything that I wanted really bad. I took very little of her stuff and I am finding I am slowly getting rid of some of it. I have officially given all of her yarn away now except 3 skeins I have kept to tie quilts with.

Well back to going through things and seeing what else I can get rid of.

What happened in Oct, Nov, Dec?

I kept thinking of things to blog about, but then decided who really cares? So the months have slipped by. Now I am trying to remember what has gone on in my life. So here I am back will make a quick over view of the last 3 months. Of course I have to have the calendar to refer back to so I can throw it away in a day. I can honestly say the older you get the faster the days, weeks, months and years go.

SEPTEMBER: we started out with our annual AIA golf Tournment at Rigby then to Utah for Sam's baptism. Bowling started on the 10th, which I thought was too early. I wish it was like skiing 10 weeks. A trip to Buhl to golf with the Latin's. Then on to Sun Valley for 4 days. Took the RZR over Trail Creek Pass which I freaked out and made Scott drive over 100 miles up to Challis over to Stanley and back to SV. We did have a nice ride around the Mackey mines. The next day we went up to Boulder City. It was only a 6 mile ride but most of it was up the creek bed, beautiful country and lots of mining artifacts. Home for a few days and then drove the green pickup over to Oregon as Joe and Jeralee bought it. Yes Scott got a newer one, 4 wheel drive and loaded with options. I flew back to Idaho Falls. We also got called to work in the temple as temple workers and started the first week in October.

OCTOBER: Bowling every Thursday morning then to the Temple by 4 pm. Took the new Scouts on a hike along the river. Went with 3 other couples to St. George to go RZR riding. Had some awesome rides, Huricane Sand Dunes, Mesquite, and then to Elephant Rock by the Coral Pink Sand Dunes. Had a good time. On the 23rd went to Eagle Mountain, Utah for Halloween and Jason's birthday. Had a good time with all the kids, got chicken noodle spilled in the back of the Tahoe going around the corner. Can laugh about that for years to come. Went to BYUI Halloween concert to see Cheryl play and then Halloween night we went with 4 other couples out to the desert RZR riding, bon fire, tin foil dinners and tell ghost stories. Lots of fun. I had a spark fly up and hit me in the forhead. Have a little scar now.

NOVEMBER: Just bowling and Temple on Thursday. Of course I work at the office usally about 10 hours a week. Thanksgiving found us in Syracuse with Avry, Geoff & Jason. Tiffany was up to Idaho. We did the black friday and got a good start on Christmas. Avry had us all help wrap her gifts. I took Sam & Sav to see "New Moon". We played lots of games, ate lots of food waiting for Clints family to fly in on Sunday night. We all met him at the airport. We helped Clint get settled and then headed home Monday afternoon.

Maeli in the midst of our Black Friday purchases

DECEMBER: We were saddened when our niece Brook's little baby boy died shortly after birth on the 4th. Spents days decorating for Christmas and fighting with lights to work. Headed to SV on the 13th after Church. Skied on Monday and Tuesday on mostly man made snow. Came home on Wednesday, Friday we had office party at Stockman's then back to our house for dessert and storage gift exchange. Sam and Savanna came on the 20th, Tiffany and family the 21, Avry, Justin, Clint on the 23, Lia, mom and girls, Jason & Mark on the 24th. Maeli and Kaden the 25th. Then sprinkle Geoff and Cheryl popping in through out the week. Plus almost all of us got the flu at one time or another. Not very much snow, Scott did hook up sleds to the RZR and pull the kids around the yard. They started leaving on Christmas and by Saturday afternoon our house was quiet once again.

My good husband cleaning light fixtures.

I got three grandchildren's Christmas lap quilts done but didn't get Justin's levi quilt done. Will finish that up in a few weeks.

Charlise's


Savanna's


Samatha's

Win $50 and help Tiffany

Tiffany has this awesome website for over a year doing product review. Mostly things to do with kids, but I have found there is alot of things of interest to everyone. She gives tips also and tells you what you can save on. She is trying to win a washer and dryer and need people to comment on her website and when you do you get put into possibly win a $50 gift certificate to Amazon. Go to www.babesandkidsreview and look for the help me win.

Dirt and more Dirt

Oh what fun we are having with our new RZR. Your just never to old to try new things. We are just like kids come home from playing, covered in dirt. There is a group from Rigby that started ATV riding side by side last year. Almost every Saturday during the summer & fall someone picks a place to go. Phone calls our made and who ever can go shows up at a designated place and were off. I understand sometimes you never know who is going to show up. Definately a new way to meet new people and explore the back country. So far its been people we have known.

Our 2nd trip out was last Monday we went with two other couples who are seasoned ATV riders. One has a RZR like ours and the other has a Rhino. We left at 3:30 and went to a place going toward Salmon called Skull Canyon. A new place for us to explore. We hit the trail around 5:30 in the evening and since we were the NEWBIES or RZR Virgins they put us in the middle.

We started up the canyon which had rock cliffs and then up through the trees. Our first stop was looking down on an old mining area


Scott checking the gps.

We got above the tree line and the view was fabulous. Because it was open you could see the trail and I thought we are going where. It looked steep from the distance but when you started up it wasn't as steep as I thought. But there was some steep places I was white knuckling the handle bar in front of me. We went up a rocky wash and was amazed how well we did. Just following the leader. I don't think we would of tried it on our own.


We are headed where? Oh, over there.

We had just come up this hill, you can't see the trail, but there is one.

At the top. To the east we could see Mud Lake.


We drove down half way and watched the sunset. Heard an elk bugeling. We went up around a mining area and into the trees and made a camp fire, roasted hot dogs,marshmallows and visited. Headed down the rest of the way in the dark and got home around midnight.


Our third trip was on Saturday. There was 5 of us and we went up to Alpine, Wyoming to the Greys River area. Another new place we have never been. WOW! sums it up. The country was gorgeous. We drove down the main road which follows the Greys River and took side canyons to explore. Our first was called Cabin creek


Our group, 4 RZR and a Rhino. The Flinstones




Cabin Creek

We would try different trails, one we had to back up and turn around as the road was washed out and it was on a steep hillside. Another ended in this open area, decided to see if we could reach the trail below us. Went a ways and decided we had better go back up and find the trail. You are suppose to stay on the trails.

Barstow Lake

This was an interesting trail. We went through some narrow trees, water, over a narrow bridge and had to back up alot. We had to hike up the last 1/2 mile to see the lake.

Having lunch, Gay Rofle brings her little table.

Two in our group had to leave. The rest of us went for a few more hours. Went up McDougal Pass and Blind Bowl. We have a soft top and I would tell Scott to look and he couldn't see. So we took the top off and that was nice.



McDougal Falls

On our way back to the vehicles we got into some rain. Stopped in Alpine on our way home for hamburgers. It was definately a very excellent day.

Our New Buggy

You take a big deep breath and before you know it all the pressures have past.

We had our fast trip to Oregon and wish we could of spent more time with Jeralee and family. Miss Idaho Falls went really well. Our trip to Detroit started out with a very bumpy airplane ride. The Green family were very gracious and the open house for Geoff and Cheryl was very nice. We did get to see a few things. We went to Henry Ford plant and saw how Truck F150 were made. The area remind me alot of Ohio. Scott wanted to have his picture taken in front of Auburn Hills Palace home of the Piston's.



I turned 60 on my way back home. That sounds really old. But I don't feel older except for the few aches and pains. I know I want to keep going like the engerize bunny. So how do I do that? How about getting a new toy!



We bought this Polaris RZR three weeks ago and haven't been able to get out and use it. One reason all of the above things that were going on and second our trailer was 4" to short for it to go in. Sold our trailer and they had to special order a new one. It was suppose to get here on Friday but won't be here till next Friday. So we put it on the snowmobile trailer and headed up to Big Springs. We drove up to Two Top. It sure looks different in the summer then winter. Then down into West for lunch and we missed seeing the President. Then back up over two top as we didn't have a map and some of the trail is different then the snowmobile trails. There was one place I didn't think we were going to make it up, but we did.

It was cold and glad I took extra clothing. One thing is you get very dirty. But we had a ball. Oh the things we do to stay young!

Summer Time and the Livin is not easy

Summer heat has finally arrived and here it is the middle of July already. Summer always seems to fly by. This summer is no different from any other, we seem to keep it filled with so many things. So the livin isn't easy. I don't want to hurry my summer away but when you get involved in a few things its like you can't wait till its over. Mainly right now Miss IF which is on August 6. I only need to go to Oregon on the 1st of August for my granddaughter Charlise's baptism (sad that we will miss the Lewis reunion in Logan) and then hurry back. Then on August 7 we fly to Detroit for an open house for Geoff and Cheryl.

I was think how nice it would be just to have everything done and just lay around. But my kids would tell you that is not my nature. Well I found out how it was just to lay around on Saturday. I had this headache that wouldn't go away and a queasy stomach all day. (Wonder if it was what Tiffany and boys had) I think I like feeling good and being busy. I did make it to my Quilt Guild Garden party at 10 but all afternoon I laid on the bed. Got up enough to go to a reception with Scott. He was hungry so we went to Perkins where I ordered mash potatoes and chicken soup and only ate the broth. It was like that all night long. This morning I felt better made it to church and since we are out by noon we had lunch and then went up to yellowstone for a ride. It was free to get into the park. Nice ride a lot of people up there watched Old Faithful go off and then headed home.

This last Tuesday I drove down to Tiffany's to help her get ready for her Cause Party. I got there during rush hour and had stand still traffic. Yuk! Tiffany and family got home just before I got there. We had dinner and then Tiffany and I ran to Walmart to get some things. Her boys had been sick the two nights before and so I had started helping her clean her house. We had plans to do something on Wednesday but that changed as she got sick in the night and most of the morning. She felt better in the evening and we headed to Jason's for a get together with Avry' family also. He has made a nice patio and furniture. I stayed with him Wednesday night and got up and walked/jogged liberty park. Then went and picked up Savanna at Avry's work. It was her birthday and she spent the day with Tiffany and I. We did some shopping for the cause party and then went home to get ready. It turned out really good. Check Tiffany's blog at www.babesandkidsreview.com. It will explain it better. Stayed till noon on Friday helping her with a few more things then headed back to IDAHO.

AHHHHHHHHHHH! There is no place like HOME!

More upgrades at 4082 E. 200 N.

Living in the same place for over 35 years has seen alot of changes. I don't think there is one thing in this house that we haven't changed. First of all Scott has been wanting to take over my garden for years. I gave in a few years ago and let him build a shed in the back half. This summer he wanted the other half put in cement so he could park our pickup and Tahoe, so he wasn't playing musical vehicle every time he needed one or the other.




Because I like to garden, he knew he had to come up with a new garden spot. He made me a garden box for mothers day. He will make me another one next year. I am experimenting with it this year. I absolutely love it. It is easy to weed and will probably produce better. It gets more sun then where it was before. If only it won't hail anymore and strip the plants down.


Our next project was the outside of the house. We replace the last 5 original windows, sided, rock work, pulled the entry out 8 feet. Here is what it looked like before. We pulled out trees and shrubs in the process



The new look


Scott is still designing a railing between the posts and we still have to get a new door. Eventually we will probably put a paver path out to the circle drive. The big equipment tore up my yard and we had to level and repair sprinkler system and resod. Notice our bedroom window is bigger. He still has to do the inside trim work. The siding is steel. The problem with not doing everything at once is product changes. We had to paint the bay window as it was a different color and the fascia on the roof was tough to match. But it all came out pretty good.




East side of house. Notice no shrubs.



Back of house.

I guess we are going to be here for awhile longer. This last Thursday I was ready to sell it tho. Scott had gone to Bozeman to check on a project and rode his bike up there and stayed the night. I took the irrigation water at 6 pm and then headed to my Miss IF meeting at 7:00. I got home at 10 and noticed the water was clear up by the pine trees. I thought oh no the neighbors didn't take the water. So I dashed into the house got on my rubber shoes and my head lamp and went out back to check.

No he had taken the water. So I went along the property line and out by the utility pole the water was coming over alot from the neighbors ditch. I thought oh I can't have this doing this all night. (Afraid if I left it running it would get into the well and follow the line into the basement of the house, been there done that. Alot easier to fix the water leak then to clean up water in my basement.) Scott had put some sod we had taken out in the remodel in the borrow pit across the road in front of our house. So I got a shovel and a bucket and proceeded across the road to find it. As I started picking up a piece of sod a water snake slithered out from under it and I screamed. I managed to pull it together and get some sod and back to the gaps. Well its behind my rose bush that has gone wild, there are over grown trees and the barb wire fence. If it wasn't the rose bush, then it was the barb wire fence that got my leg. (Oh I had knee length shorts on.) I realized it was going to take a lot of sod to stop it. So back again across the road only to scream again because of another snake. I was cussing Scott by that time why wasn't he home to help me. The next trip I poked with the shovel and stood way back. After half an hour and 5 buckets of sod, I got it stopped up. Went in and called Scott at 11 pm to get some sympathy. He picked up his phone where I said I am ready to move.

I have done the irrigating for the past 35 years as it falls at a time when Scott is working. I use to have the neighbors on both side whose wives would NOT do it. I wound up sometime doing it for them. Scott knows I am keeper in that respect.

Next day better and yeah I will stay here a little longer.