To Our Wonderful Friends, Families, and Neighbors...

We hope that 2012 brings you peace and comfort and the love of friends and family...

The Turners

Christmas Day, 2011 - Part Deux...

I mentioned it was a quiet day for Christmas.  About 1:00, Ival decided to go up to the property to "work."  Not long after he left, he called to tell me he had found something hanging on the gate.  It was a beautiful red stocking filled with homemade jam, homemade candy, and a tin full of nuts.

Tucked inside was a wonderful Christmas card with the following:
Dear Guardian of the Foothills.

Merry Christmas!  During this route daily to and from work it was quite intriguing to see your tent go up.

We've spent many a family discussion speculating on your choice of locations.  First,  we thought sheepherders, then moved on to some type of science study, etc.  Whatever your reason, we hope you are having a peaceful Christmas.  Know that we bless you each time we drive by.

By the way, the blue Christmas lights are a nice touch. 

Just as you have provided our imaginations with a lot of material, we hope you will have equal fun guessing about us!

Warmest Holiday wishes to you,

Santa's Elves,
Your Mystery Friends

So we left the following:



I'm sure they think someone lives there full time.  But to me, it was just such a cute thing to find on Christmas day.  I will save the card and frame it for our house when we build it.  It will always remind us of how people have had such a fun time keeping an eye on the tent and what we've done.  I imagine we will wonder for quite some time, possibly forever, who our mystery friends are - unless they stop by sometime and let us know.  Until then, thanks for making for a wonderful memory for our new home...

Christmas Day, 2011

Today started out like any other.  Everyone sleeping late on the weekend - except me.  Mom came over and we opened presents and had a humble breakfast (I cooked).  It was a very nice morning and I'm so glad mom lives so nearby.

Then something happened that made for a day I'll never forget.  As a mother, we're weird that way.

Adam was always such an adorable boy.  He had those round glasses and cute little face.  But, he always had a mind of his own.   He's certainly not perfect, but today, I think I was more proud of him than I've ever been. 

He came downstairs a while ago and said he was going for a walk.

"Are you ok?"
"I'll talk to you later.  See ya."

I could tell he'd been crying.  Oh crap, did his girlfriend break up with him on Christmas?  Was one of his friends in trouble?  I watched peeked out the window as he walked up the hill from the house.  My heart was breaking thinking of what could be wrong.  After all, it was Christmas, no one should hurt on Christmas.

Adam came home and sat in the chair.  He started telling me how he had gotten text messages from 5 of his friends.  Each one told him how much he meant to them.  He went on to tell me that his friend Ben had called him from his vacation in California to tell him that he "loved him."  He said they both broke down and cried while they were talking. 

Ben and Adam went to daycare together and have know each other since they were crawling.  They've been such good friends for so many years.  Ben has signed up with the Marines to become Special Forces and will be leaving in June for boot camp.

Jake and Adam have been friends for over 10 years.  They went to grade school together and Jake lives up here.  Jake is such a quiet boy and has had some hard times over the years. 

The twins went to grade school with Adam as well.  They've since moved to Emmett but they have stayed in contact and come over often.  As 18-year-old boys, they've discovered that it's hard to get along with their dad.  They've been living in their car off and on for the last several months and evidently, Adam has been trying to help them however he can.

Luke is a fairly new friend, but spends most weekends here.

So, this morning, all these boys either called or texted Adam telling him what a great friend he's been and how much he's helped them get through some tough times.  Ben is probably beginning, as they all are, to realize that their lives are about to change.  It's hard to know that the friends you've become so close to will all be going their separate ways and things won't be the same.

I told Adam how proud I am of him - to know that he's kept his friends for so long and that he means so much to them that they would all take this day to remind him. 

I know this post won't mean much to my few readers, but it's something that I want to remember.  Things like this are exactly why I write a blog.  As a mom, I'm weird like that.

And then, Ival called me with a surprise he found hanging on the gate of the property (and no, it wasn't something dead).  I can't tell you about that until I get a new camera (tomorrow) so that the picture can accompany the post.   It made what had just happened with Adam, even better.  You know, I have a good feeling that we're going to sell the house this spring...

Ahhhhh, Christmas

I just realized it's been a while since I've written anything here.  I guess I haven't really had much to say. 

It's just a few days until Christmas but it's going to be a busy few days.  Tonight, all the kids and grandkids are coming over.  We've gotten to where we just buy for the grandkids, at least for now.  Things are probably tighter this year than they're ever been for Christmas but I tried to get things for the grandkids that either really meant something, or something that I knew they would really like and might enjoy for more than just the next few days.  Just having them all over means so much to us - we are so grateful for our family.

Tomorrow we celebrate with Ival's side of the family.  It's grown so big (we also have our kids and my mom because the Turners are just awesome) that we have it at the clubhouse here in Hidden Springs.  We usually end up with close to 50 of us but it's a lot of fun to get everyone together.

Sunday will be quiet.  Just us and mom.  It will probably be nice to have some quiet time!

I'm so incredibly grateful for my friends, my family, and another year of having my wonderful sister-in-law Pam in our lives.  I have to mention her here because she's such a blessing to everyone who knows her.  She is truly the strength and class that I wish I could be.  Thank you Pam, for reminding us every day how precious life is, and how truly minor our problems are.  While I don't see you as often as I'd like, I think of you every single day.

I hope you all have a wonderful whatever-it-is you celebrate.  Thanks for being my friends and family!

What the Fractal?????

Ok, the fractal cross stitch didn't work out - for now.  I put the pattern together and it was almost 4x5 ft.  I don't have room for that right now.  So, this is what I'm working on.  It's been years and I'm really enjoying doing it again.

I love the old pin-up girls.  Don't you think this will be cute in our new kitchen - when we have one?  All I have done is the fire and the pot.  But that was the hard part. 

I love her.

We Got Trouble Folks, Right Here in River City! That's T-R-O-U-B-L-E!

I'm a small-town gal. I've never liked cities. That's the reason that I love Hidden Springs and the lifestyle that goes with living here.  I knew this was the place for me when I was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time, just a few months after moving here.  My neighbors, who I didn't really know at the time brought dinner to our house for the next 7 weeks.  Every night.  Everyone in town participated - how could you not love people who were willing to do that?  It was something I'll never forget.  And the people are still like that. 

I love the fact that Boise is just a few short, beautiful miles away, yet I have the small-town atmosphere of Hidden Springs. I hear coyotes instead of sirens at night.  I've always said that it's as close to living back in Garden Valley as I can get and still be close to town so that hubby can work. I love that Hidden Springs is so diverse. We have young people, retired people, Jews, Christians, Mormons, atheists, blacks, whites, Asians, lesbians, and hell, maybe even swingers living here - and we all get along!

Tonight, we have an "informational" meeting to ask questions of those who are running for Town Council. It's never been something I felt like I needed to get involved in because frankly, we have wonderful people who have always run and been elected that live here and want to be involved for the same reasons that make me love it. They love the Merc, knowing their neighbors, keeping the charm of the homes and streets, keeping the clubhouse, pools, common areas, farm, and community barn beautiful and functional, and making sure it stays a peaceful, beautiful place to live.

However, this year, we have "The Slate of 4." They're a scary group. About 2 weeks ago, they went door-to-door with fliers talking about their "platform" and all the changes they want to make to our little town and the Town Council. I've been laughing ever since. They're obviously all from big cities and had no idea the firestorm they were igniting by riling the neighbors - the Hidden Springs Facebook page (and personal email inboxes) have lit up! When they don't like the tone of the FB page they post comments about "slander, libel, and lies." They really should have done their homework on moving to a small community from a big city and how to get along with the folks that live there and love their community!

One thing they want to do (I know this is insignificant but I hate the thought of it) is make sure that our TC meetings are now done using "Roberts Rule of Order." Have you ever been to a meeting that follows Roberts Rule of Order"? ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. One of our Board of Directors insisted we follow that format for the Peace Officers' Memorial meetings a few years ago. There's even a book you're supposed to buy and read so you will know, and can follow, the proper format. I got mine free, but never even opened the cover. I hate it - and I make it obvious at our meetings that I ignore it. I won't call Rich Wills "Mr. Chairman." I won't, I won't, I won't!

So, the neighbors right here in River City have called each other out to attend the meeting tonight. The preschool is even open and has offered free child care so that everyone can go. The "Slate of 4" have no idea what they're in for. But, it's going to be SO MUCH FUN to watch them find out!

Garden Valley Bigfoot?

Right before Thanksgiving, my husband's "anonymous friend" emailed him some pictures.  They have a cabin at Terrace Lakes and he had gone up a small dirt road off the Middle Fork of the Payette to scout for deer.  He took these pictures and explained that the tracks had come off a ridge, onto the road and he had followed them for about a half a mile.

The prints were about 6 inches across - not huge, and the stride was about 4 feet.  Ok, maybe could have been a runner in those weird barefoot shoes, but why would they come off the mountain, go along the road for 1/2 a mile, then off the road and down into the brush?  He's sure he saw the tracks of a bigfoot.

I looked at the BFRO site and found several sightings in the same general area. You know how fascinated I am with Bigfoot.  What do you think?  Jaci, can't wait to hear your thoughts!

It Was a Wonderful Week...

We got our son back.  Even though we missed him a lot, the best part was knowing that his wife and kids got their husband and daddy back.  He came home the day before Thanksgiving and I feel like a hundred pounds have been lifted off my shoulders.  Being a mama is hard!

On another note, Jacki and Tim went to Seattle for the week and asked Adam to house sit.  Not a problem - except they adopted 2 golden retrievers last summer.  The male, Cooper, is a typical golden.  Happy all the time, loves everyone, and just grateful to be alive.  The female Ginger, however, is a different story.  A very sad story.  When Jacki and Tim got the 2 dogs, they had been together for several years and the owners didn't want to separate them.  The only problem was that when she was young, Ginger had been abused - obviously by a male.  She's terrified of everyone except Jacki and her family.

Adam had a terrible time getting Ginger to come in the house at night and it was too cold for her to stay outside.  The first several nights Adam managed to trick her into the house.  By the last 2 nights he couldn't get her to come in.  She was wise to his tricks.

So, Friday night about 8pm, Adam called me to say he couldn't get her inside.  He came home and I went to Jacki's.  I thought I could get her in because she's not as afraid of females as she is of males.  I tried for over an hour and 15 minutes to get her to come in.  I hid behind the door hoping I could slam it shut behind her if she snuck in.  I got canned dog food and let her lick it off my fingers.  I threw dog treats inside the door hoping she'd sneak in.  Nothing worked.

It was cold enough outside that I knew there was no way I was going to give up and let her sleep outside.  So, being a female and thinking outside the box, I went into the garage and got an extension cord.  I opened the back door, tied one end of the cord to the doorknob and draped it across the doorway over the couch.  I put canned dog food in her bowl and put it far enough inside that she had to actually come in to snatch a bite.  I then sat on the couch with the other end of the cord in my hand and pretended like I was watching tv and didn't pay any attention to her.  After another 15 minutes, I saw her out of the corner of my eye as she snuck through the door.  BAM!  I pulled the cord and slammed the door.  Success!

I had to do the same thing last night.  It's a good thing the kids are coming home tonight, I think she was on to me after the second time.  So it was a great and interesting week.  Hope yours was too, and that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family.

2012 Dutch Oven Clinic and Hillbilly Gatherin'...

Well, the opportunity was just too good to pass up.  Our friends Butch (Cee Dub) and his wife Penny will be in town in April and May and asked me to reserve the Hidden Springs Barn for them to do a couple of 2-day Dutch Oven cooking clinics.  My brain started going and so I called Butch this morning and first, told them happy Thanksgiving, then asked if I could encroach on one of their Saturday nights to hold the Hillbilly Gatherin'. 

We'll be raising money for Wish Granters - they grant wishes to local area adults who are terminally ill.  Doug was my old boss at Wishing Star and started this organization just last year.  Being a fledgling non-profit, they really need a boost and we're going to give it to them.  Penny is also a breast cancer survivor and thought this was a great opportunity for she and Butch as well.

This year though, I'm going to try to find help.  If I'm going to do an event to raise money, I want to make sure I raise lots of money.  I'm going to put together some "committees."  Reallly, you can never have too many committees can you?

So, save the date - Saturday night April 14th.  And, if you'd like to sign up for one of Cee Dub's clinics, go here and then click on appearances and clinics.  Down at the bottom of the page are the dates for the Hidden Springs clinics. (Be sure to take a long look at those rolls on his home page - can't you just smell them!)  

YUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

Fractals...

I used to love to do cross stitch and I might add, I was pretty darn good.  At the time, I was doing mostly Victorian style angels.  I'm ready to try my hand again, but couldn't stomach doing an angel so I started looking for something different and found "fractals."  They're done with mathematical equations from what I understand and some require up to 122 colors.  The only thing easy about them is that there are no 1/2 stitches.  If you click on the picture you can see them better.  Here's a few I'm loving...

 But, I think this is the one I'm going to do.  I love how it looks like feathers.  This one has 99 colors.  The only thing I hate is the thought of doing this on black.  It's almost impossible to see the holes on black.  I may pick another color...



I'm Such a Proud Mama...

My beautiful granddaughter Hannah, is turning 1.  In lieu of the typical first birthday party, my daughter has decided that Hannah is so fortunate to have a home, a loving family, clothes, toys, and food to eat, that her first birthday will be in honor of City Light Home for Women and Children.  It's a wonderful program for our city's most vulnerable citizens - homeless women and their children.

I'm really excited!  I've bought some socks, hats and gloves, toys and a few other things for the kids.  I'm going through my pantry today to pick out some food to take and will soon hit my closet to see if there may be a few things in there that I can take (I know how laughable this thought is to some of you!).  I'm also going to see if my boss will let me set a cash donation box up at the Merc to help out.

What a great way to spend a day, and what a great feeling everyone will have for having done something good for those who need a hand up in these hard times.  Thanks Jack, for doing something so wonderful to help so many.  You always make me proud.

Happy first birthday Hannah Dee!

OK, Enough of This...

I love my daughter.  She's always got my back and knows me better than anyone except my mom.  I got a call from her this morning basically telling me that I haven't been myself lately and reminding me that we really have great lives.  Whenever I find myself worrying about things, I always try to tell myself that there are so many people out there who are so much worse off than I am.  However, I've had a dark cloud following me the last several months but didn't realize how bad it was until my daughter's call this morning.

I started rattling off things I'd been thinking about (I evidently needed to get it off my chest!):

Wanting so badly to sell our house but not being able to
Wondering if we were going to need to move all the kids up the the property into a commune because of the horrible economy.
Not being able to come up with a good plan for a much-needed family get-together.
Not having Jake home.
blah, blah, blah

Then she reminded me of what I always say. "Life is good."

It was a gentle butt-kicking I needed.  Life really is good you know, and here's what I have to be so grateful for and will now focus on:

A husband who loves me - even though we're much like Al and Peg Bundy!
A family I can always trust and talk to.
3 wonderful kids who have turned out to be more than I could ever have hoped for - despite some of the things I've done.
A daughter-in-law and son-in-law that I love and feel so lucky to have. You're extremely fortunate if your children marry someone who loves them (almost) as much as you do.  Thank you Heather and Tim for loving my kids.
Jake will be home - where he belongs - soon.
A mother who is so special to me (and everyone in our family) that I can't imagine not having her as my best buddy.
A beautiful home.
A beautiful piece of property that we'll someday live on.
A few friends that I think the world of and would do anything for and I know would do anything for me. (I'm basically quite anti-social - not that I choose that, but because I'm just not the life of the party like my sisters are so people have a hard time getting close to me).  Jaci, Denise, Casey - I love you!
5 WONDERFUL grandkids that I think love me almost as much as I love them - and it's the best feeling in the world.

So, thanks Jacki, for giving me the lift I needed and the gentle butt-kicking to remind myself of how wonderful my life really is.  You are my sunshine...

About the Death Penalty...

In just a few days, November 18th, Paul Ezra Rhoades is scheduled to die out at the Idaho Penitentiary.  As his death watch has gotten closer, he has decided to challenge Idaho's method of death as "inhumane."

Pffffffffffffftttt.

As I hear that, I can't help but think of the wonderful people in my life that I've watched die of cancer.  An old friend from Fish and Game who died from brain cancer.  It was a horrible death.  I had gone to see him once a week, every week when he was placed in a nursing home - something that was hard to see.  He was all man, a man's man.  A good Game Warden who loved his job.  I had seen him just the day before he died.  He had nothing left.  I'm sure if someone had offered him a lethal injection several months before he finally died, he would have gladly accepted it. 

The man Ival was named after.  He lived with us the last year of his life.  Thankfully, he didn't suffer like Don did, but I'm sure that he too, would have welcomed the opportunity to "just go to sleep" instead of the last few days he suffered.

And my old boss at Fish and Game.  She was so sick for so long. 

Paul Ezra Rhoades should be grateful he's getting a lethal injection instead of dying the way he killed the teacher in 1987 and the convenience store clerk in 1988.  Be grateful Mr. Rhoades, it could certainly be worse.

Adam's 18th Birthday Request...

Adam has decided what he wants for his 18th birthday.  It's a rather strange request.

As I've mentioned, he's planning on joining the military right after he graduates.  The other day we were sitting on the couch and he said, "I want a tattoo for my birthday." 

"Really?" 

"Yep, I think I want one of grampa's prints tattooed on my arm so that when I go into the Army, I'll be able to look down and see it and I'll always know that he's with me."

Well, damned if that didn't just make my heart melt!  He's not sure which print he wants done, but he's thinking right now about the Mountain Man, which is the print we used to raise reward fund money when dad was killed.

I'm thinking this one might be less painful!  But, it will be up to Adam.

We're going to have to find someone REALLY good to do such an intricate piece.  Anyone know someone really good locally?  Any idea how much this might cost?  I thought I was going to get away with giving him 50 bucks...

The Blame Game...

I recently read a post on my local Casting For Recovery Facebook page where someone asked if anyone had been off of Arimidex for long enough that they had noticed a change in their side effects from the medication.  They specifically named lack of emotion and energy and mood swings. 

WHAT?

I didn't know those were side effects of Arimidex!  I've been on it for 8 years and have 2 more to go, even though I asked Dr. Montgomery at my last appointment if I could stop taking it - he said no.

But, to get back to why I loved this question. 

I love it when I can come up with a good reason for my bad behavior.  Now, I feel completely comfortable in blaming it on the Arimidex.  Life really is good...

Woot!

Empty Nest...

Today something hit me.  In just 8 months I'll have an empty nest.  Wow.

Adam is planning on joining the Army and will probably ship out to boot camp as soon as he graduates from high school in May.  This of course, has made me wonder, what will Ival and I do?  I hope to be like that car commercial where the young girl has moved on and worries about what her parents are doing and says, "I'm an only child.  Except for my sister."

I hope we'll be off riding horses, taking care of critters, and spending some enjoyable time together.  But a family always seems to revolve around the kids. 

What did/will you do when you have an empty nest?

Our lives will definitely be different...

First Solo Hunting Trip - Could Have Turned Out Badly...

Adam and one of his best friends took their first solo deer hunting trip a few days ago.  They were both really excited but mom was a bit nervous.  I had to make sure they had enough food and water for 4 days, plus a lighter "just in case."  I'm such a boob!

They were only going outside of Horseshoe Bend - about an hour away.  They got up early and left in time to make it to their hunting spot by daylight.  They saw another vehicle parked where they wanted to hunt so they parked nearby and got out.

The minute they stepped out of their vehicle, they were verbally assaulted by 3 men in their 30s.  Calling them "anal assholes" and a bunch of other 4 letter words asking why they were hunting in the same area.  Adam finally said, "Before you get all nasty, why don't you ask us where we're hunting."  So, one guy asked where they were going and Adam pointed the direction.  The jerk said "Good, we're going that way." 

And they all parted ways.  I keep thinking that this could have turned out really badly.  I wish Adam had gotten a license number.  This grizzly mama would have run down the jerk and told him that he could have ruined my son's first solo hunting trip if Adam had allowed it to happen.  As it turned out, the boys saw a doe but no bucks and had a great time.  Why would 3 30-year-old men talk like that to 2 teenagers? 

Jerks.

Kitty in the Garbage Can...

My mother, bless her heart.  She feeds the birds and loves them.  She has one problem however, and that's neighborhood cats that tend to "sneak" on her birds and have often killed them.  She hates that.

A few years ago, she watched as a neighborhood cat caught and killed one of her tweety birds.  She was having none of that.  She ended up catching the cat, set it into her big plastic garbage can,  shut the lid, found a BIG stick and spent the next few minutes banging the garbage can.  KAPOW!  KAPOW!  KAPOW! Needless to say, neighborhood kitty was scared shitless and when mom finally opened the lid, said cat flew out of that garbage can never to return.

Well, this spring mom kept seeing a cat out laying under one of her bushes.  She was sure the kitty was stalking her tweety birds.  This cat however, was very friendly and would run up to her as soon as she opened her door.  After watching kitty lay under her bushes for several days, she finally scooped kitty up and gave her "the trash can treatment."  Yep, my sweet 80-year-old mother.

This time however, she noticed that kitty kept coming back.  Only it was getting thinner and obviously wasn't eating - not even her birds.  It was instead, eating her bird seed.  Poor kitty, somebody had obviously moved and abandoned her.  So, trash can kitty stole mom's heart and she started feeding her.  As time has passed, mom felt so sorry for her that she now lives inside mom's house.  On mom's wonderful bedspread, on her beautiful furniture - wherever she wants to sleep.

Trash can kitty now has a home, although she tends to sit and stare at mom sometimes - like she'd like to scratch her eyes out.  I wonder if she's having flashbacks...

Pinterest

My sister sent an invite to Pinterest a few weeks ago.  I went to the link and set up an account but had no idea what I was supposed to do with it.  I went to websites I like but couldn't figure out how to copy the pictures to my page.  I then discovered that they have to be linked to the site in order to do so.  So, I started going just through the Pinterest website and starting finding all kinds of things that I love!  They have lots of categories and it's a great way to keep track of ideas that I love for our barnhouse. 

If you have a Pinterest account, send me the link, I'd love to see what you've pinned.  Or, if you don't have one and would like one, let me know and I'll send you an invite.

You can look at my page by clicking on the Pinterest logo on the right hand side of my page here.  It's great fun when you have nothing better to do.  I haven't pinned too much yet but I'm working on it.

Well Shoot!

I tend to find that life is much easier to deal with if I ignore anything/anyone that bothers me.  I didn't say it was a healthy solution, but it generally works for me.  However, I don't usually ignore a medical condition.

After my second time with chemo, I noticed that my hands and especially my feet, were always tingling.  Kind of like when your feet fall asleep and then tingle as they come back to life.  Except it was constant.  My hands aren't so bad but my feet have always been quite noticeable.  Lately, they seem to be getting worse with hardly any feeling (yet I can definitely feel the constant tingling).  It's the hardest thing to describe.  They feel numb, yet I can feel almost constant pain in the balls of both feet and the constant tingle.  I was told it was called neuropathy.  I'd just as soon not know what it's called 'cause the less I know about it the better I like it.

Today I bought new slippers and when I tried them on, I scared myself.  I kept trying to cram my foot into a size that I know I always wear, trying to get them all the way on.  I suddenly realized they were on, I just couldn't tell.  I couldn't feel my toes.

Luckily, I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow.  I started doing some checking and found that quite a few people have what is called Chemo-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN).  I had no idea that neuropathy could get worse over the years, in fact, I expected it to get better.

And as for the slippers, I bought them, but I still can't tell if they fit.  I can't tell if they're too tight or too loose.  I wonder why this is happening all of a sudden. 

The doctor had better come up with a solution for this tomorrow as this is totally unacceptable.  I won't tolerate it!

Happy First Day of Fall!

Yes, it's my favorite post every year.  Welcome, first day of fall!

and, I just had to add this picture because, damn, that had to hurt!