My Blog in a Book...

Well I did it. Last night, after hours of working on my blog, I finally ordered the first two years of posts as a book. My niece Kelly had suggested I use Blog2Print and so I started there. As I downloaded my blog, the price started at $158. So, I worked for hours taking out the posts I didn't want in the book and removing all those pesky spam comments in Chinese. After removing all that, the price was down to $134. I still thought that was a bit much, but I was willing to pay it. Then, I got an email from a new division of Blog2Print called Everything2Print and they have a special right now where extra pages are .25 instead of .35! Well, I had a LOT of extra pages so I knew I could save some money.

I downloaded my blog to the new site and started again, taking out the posts I didn't want and deleting the Chinese spam comments. After I was all done, the cost was a mere $98! Woo hoo! I can't wait to get my book!

Several years ago, I posted about a dream I've had of setting up a wall tent "motel". Maybe a couple of times a year, have camp for some kids in foster care where they could come and spend a week and have fun. I had even found the perfect property. We talked to my brother-in-law about the price (we felt it was too high) and he promptly agreed. At the time, the 25 acres (just across Dry Creek) was priced at $700,000. A bit much!



I'm a patient person (no I'm not) so I figured I could wait her out. I drove by probably 20 times over the last 2 years. Keeping an eye on it. I knew the owner wanted to move to Florida to be near her family. So guess what, I drove down the dirt road about 2 weeks ago and noticed it was no longer for sale by owner but had a realtor's sign and fliers. I grabbed a flyer to see what she was down to and I'll be damned, the price was now $299,000. WOO HOO! Our dream of having land with horses, goats, chickens and other critters could come true!

So, I got right on the phone and called the realtor. There was an offer on it and it was closing in 3 days. I just wanted to cry. So, I started door knocking. Haven't found anything yet, but I'm a patient person - no I'm not...

Grama's Violets...

When my grandmother died, I bought her house. It was a home I was comfortable in and had so many wonderful memories about. At the time I bought it, it was about 100 years old. It had so much history and was such a wonderful home, originally built by her husband for Julia Davis who now has a wonderful park named after her here in Boise. My grandmother had the most beautiful violets that seemed to almost grow wild in her flower beds. I loved them so much that when we sold the old home, I dug some up and they have moved with me to every home I've owned. I often wonder if my grandmother planted these or were they original to the property? Do I have violets from the 1800s that I've been carting around? It really doesn't matter. I love them because they remind me of my grandmother...




Also, I need your help. I've redone my birdhouse. I still have a bit to do but I'm thinking about putting it on this "grass" covered wood which I'll then bolt to a wooden post. Elmer thinks it's overkill and he likes it better with just the birdhouse on a post like the pictures I posted below. It really looks much better in person, I'm not too crazy about the pictures. What's your preference? Plain, or peanut?

The Birdhouse...

I make these birdhouses that look like vintage trailers. I have 2 in my yard. After about 4 years, they start looking a little pitiful, but until I can replace them, I don't want to take them down because the birds love them and we usually end up with 2 sets of babies out of each one every year.

This one has even lost it's wheels...



Both have nests in them already this year...


I made this one for the Hillbilly auction but I just don't like it. It's too plain. Should I add a lightning bolt down the side like the green and white one has? Any ideas on how I can make it more appealing? I think I've been looking at it too long and now I don't know what else to do.



I'm going to take the wings off and re-do them. I don't like the shape. I'm thinking maybe I'll just tear off some of the stuff and re-paint it. Any ideas?

The Back Road...

I drove out the back road of Hidden Springs last evening to take pictures of a location where I'm thinking of holding another event. I just can't express how much I love living up here. There are 3 roads out of Hidden Springs - all about 4 miles to town, but the drives are so beautiful.

I feel so peaceful as I pass the beautiful fields, meadows and trees.


I could pitch a tent right here and be happy forever.


I was tempted to knock on the door of the old farmhouse and ask if I could walk up the creek and just sit. This is what makes me appreciate our world...




I love spring...

Road Trip!!!!!

I'm seriously needing to do a flea market trip. It may have something to do with the fact that I daily follow 14 blogs, all of who have recently been posting wonderful photos of their great trips to flea markets. Here's the most recent from Junk Sophisticate.

Several years ago, my mom and my sisters and I attended the Farm Chicks Show in Spokane and I was amazed. SO. MUCH. COOL. STUFF.

I've also been wanting to bike the Route of the Hiawatha - it's all downhill on an old railroad track from the early 1900s that's been paved over. You go through one of the longest tunnels in the US - and it's only 90 miles from the Farm Chicks show! I actually asked my 16 year old son if he'd like to do that - what kids wouldn't love that? Well, my son wouldn't. His response "Let's save our money for a GOOD vacation."

One of the best trips I ever took was when my mom and I flew down for the Rose Bowl Fleamarket about 7 years ago. I was in junk heaven. So, anyone interested in a girls weekend away for some fun, wine, and no kids????

On Being a Grama...

Last night, I became a "real" grama.

Tim, Jacki's husband was playing in a softball game last night so I went down to spend some time with Jacki and the kids. I was sitting in a chair and Allie climbed onto my lap. We were chatting and I noticed Allie had reached up and was gently stroking my neck just under my jawbone. All of a sudden it hit me - NO, not a foul ball - that I used to do the exact same thing to my grama. I suddenly had the most wonderul memory of how I loved to sit on her lap and gently touch the skin on her neck, it was so soft. I didn't think of her as old, just special. My mom didn't have that soft skin, only grama - and oh, how I loved her.

In all reality, I've known I had a "grama" neck for a couple of years now. But, for some reason, my grandkids have just noticed - and I really don't mind. I love being a grama and only hope that I can be as special to them and my grama was to me. Grandkids must be Gods way of not only making getting older so bearable but also so enjoyable...

I Never Thought it Would be so Hard to Find $800...

I've worked with non-profit agencies for many years. I started in 1993 raising money for the Idaho Peace Officers' Memorial. I worked for 5 years as Regional Director for The Wishing Star Foundation and was the primary fundraiser for Idaho, I worked to help raise money for the reward fund when dad was killed. NEVER have I had such a hard time finding $800.

That's what I figure it's going to cost a sponsor for our Hillbilly Games to cover the cost of the pig and food, paper goods, and a few miscellaneous things. I know the economy is bad for so many companies, but really, is it THAT bad that someone can't spit out $800???? I know that we'll bring in enough money to cover those costs, but it's $800 that I want to give to CFR, not pay for the event.

UGH!

Ok, I'm done now. No more bitching, now I'm just going to have fun getting ready for a GREAT party.

Mom...

The t-shirts for the Hillbilly Gathering are ready and I'm going to pick them up this afternoon after I get off work. My dear, sweet mother just called and told me that as "her contribution" she wants to pay for the cost of the shirts and printing. That means that EVERY. SINGLE. DIME. we make on the sales of the shirts will go to help pay for the 2010 Idaho Casting for Recovery Retreat in June.

Mom, you're awesome. How can I ever thank you for all you've done for so many people? I know, let's go to Reno in June!

I'll post a picture of the shirts tomorrow. Thanks mom...

Bye, Bye Lucy...

Lucy decided several days ago that "her" place was going to be under the hood of one of our vehicles. Not only was she chewing the wires and insulation, but we were also terrified we'd start one of the trucks and she'd be near the fan blade, and well, we all know what that would do.

The other day I ran down the hill to mom's house to take her on some errands (she's had surgery on her foot and can't drive). I parked my truck and we took her car and were gone for a few hours. When we pulled back up to her house, there, under the truck, sat Lucy. Yep, she'd hopped a ride down the hill and was too scared to leave from under the truck so she sat there for a few hours until I came back. Stupid squirrel.

So, today was the day that we set Lucy free. We took her down to the big trees by the barn. She peeked out from the safety of her bed with her fuzzy blanket...


then got all excited and ran to the nearest tree. Be free Lucy! You were a great little friend...

Various Stuff...

Not only have I been a lazy blogger lately, I haven't even been reading my favorite blogs every day like I normally do. Enough of that! So, here's a few pictures off my camera...

Yesterday, I went and picked up the most gorgeous sterling silver bracelet that's been donated by Mike at Precious Metal Arts as an auction item for our Hillbilly Gathering. Special thanks to my blog friend Kristin at Boise Comma Idaho for hooking me up with Mike. He's such an awesome guy and I discovered that he also make my niece Kelly's wedding ring for her!



Lucy is loving being a squirrel. She and the cats spend hours peeking at each other through the windows. We have however, discovered a slight problem. She's discovered the warmth of Elmer's vehicle when he comes home and has taken to jumping up under his hood after he pulls into the driveway and has started chewing the insulation. Bad squirrel! We're hoping on the nights she doesn't come home to her warm and cozy bed on the porch, that she's not sleeping in his truck. Somehow, it just wouldn't be right after taking such good care of her to have her ground up when he starts his truck some morning...



And I just had to share this. Elmer is the cook in our family. He's really quite good. But the other night he made some french fries. Anybody hungry?