The Septic System is in...

The boo boo on the grade of the slope is now fixed and the septic system is in.  We've been approved for the loan and we should have a building permit in about 10 days.  It's all going so smooth that Ival is pretty sure that Pam got together with dad "up there" and said, "Let's get this going!"

These extra mounds of dirt will be used for pasture.  Aren't they beautiful!

 

I can't believe we may be building our new home on Jacob Springs within 2 weeks.  I haven't been this excited in a very long time.  I feel like a kid again!

Caught in the Act of Doing Good...

A few days ago I got a call from the Regional Conservation Officer in Twin Falls, telling me about a project he's hoping to start in their Region called "Caught in the Act of Doing Good."  He explained that they wanted to have a coin made that the officers could carry and give out to individuals and groups who are doing good things for the wildlife of Idaho.

For the artwork on the coin, they wanted to use dad's print of the Cowboy and the Bird.  I called mom to ask her about it and we both agreed that we couldn't think of a better way to use dad's artwork.

Today, Gary sent me a copy of what the coin will look like.  My first thought was how proud dad would be to know his artwork was being used for such a positive program.  I hope the Department gives them the go-ahead to purchase the coins and that it eventually goes statewide as people aren't often enough recognized for the good they do.

So, here it is.  Pretty awesome isn't it!

From Boys to Men...

18 years ago, at about the age of 4 months, still buckled in his carseat, we dropped Adam off at his first, and only daycare.  Chris Pierce had a waiting list but we finally got him in.  She was awesome.  That very day, as Ival went to pick him up, he saw an old friend from high school that he hadn't seen in years.  As it turned out, her son, just a few months older than Adam, also went to Chris' daycare.  Though the boys started out together too young to play, or talk, or walk, as they grew older, they became fast and best friends.

Over the years, Ben and Adam were inseparable.  Ben spent most weekends at our house.  He was like another son to us.  Today, at age 18, they are still best friends and spend a lot of time together.

Tonight, I looked outside and there they were - almost like little kids again, jumping on the trampoline and being boys.  I can't describe the feeling that came over me.  So many wonderful memories - trick or treating in their costumes, coming to our house for the 4th of July every year, growing up together to become wonderful young men.

They now spend their time together going to cross-fit training to prepare themselves for the military and hanging out.  Ben has joined the Marines and will be leaving for boot camp in July.  Adam is getting ready to join the Army.  They've come so far. 

I knew they'd have a fit if I went out and took pictures - pictures that I felt I needed to have.  So, being a mother, I snuck upstairs and watched for a long time as they enjoyed being boys, and managed to sneak a few pictures through the window at the boys who have been such good friends for such a long time.

Then Adam came upstairs and caught me.  So I skulked downstairs and told them I needed a picture of the muscles they've gotten while doing cross-fit.  After a lot of talking, I finally got a few...

What a wonderful night this was...

Like Having Disneyland in Our Backyard!

When we first bought Jacob Springs, I looked and looked for a tractor for Elmer.  I knew how much fun he would have if he were able to start the things he wanted to.  Unfortunately, even a 1942 John Deere in running condition was more than we could afford at the time.

Well, we could be in big trouble.  Elmer's niece's husband informed him last night that he has a tractor in Portland that he wants to bring to Boise and offered to let Elmer use it on Jacob Springs. 










Kidding!  This is going to be like having Disneyland in the backyard for Elmer this spring.  He can put the pasture in himself instead of us hiring someone else to do it, maybe he can do some work on the pond, who knows!  I think we'll save ourselves a bunch on money.  I know we won't be seeing much of him once the tractor gets here. 

Thanks Steve.  You've just put the kid in the candy store!

Happy Trails...

Today we said a final goodbye to Ival's sister Pam.  She fought a long, hard battle for 6 years trying to beat cancer.  She was something.

 

Even going through chemo, she always smiled, and somehow, miraculously never aged.  She remained the beautiful person she had always been.

Several years ago, Pam decided that we needed to have monthly family dinners.  We will continue that tradition in her honor - as a way to remember that life is often too short and we have to remember how important it is that no matter how busy we may be, we need to take time for those we love.

Happy trails dear Pam.  You were an inspiration, a friend to many, and a teacher of how life should be lived.

Pam Parker - May 12, 1951 - March 12, 2012

 

Pam Parker, wife, mother, grandmother, artist, inspiration and champion for the Boise Community died on Monday, March 12, 2012 at her home in Boise, Idaho.

Pam’s career started in 1972 as the bookkeeper for the Boise YMCA’s Executive Director and by the time she retired from the Y in 2003, she had directed a $13.5 million Capital Campaign used to build the National award winning West Family YMCA & Boise City Aquatic Center, acted as their Executive Director and as their Philanthropy and Communications Officer. She moved on to work with the Nature Conservancy as the Director of Philanthropy and finally to the Bogus Basin Mountain and Recreation Area as their Vice President of Development. With only a High School diploma, she developed this impressive career by working hard, seeing a need, and filling it – she achieved any goal set before her. The Idaho Business Review interviewed Pam and quoted her as saying, “I always felt like if somebody had expectations of me, then I must be able to do it – they wouldn’t ask me to do something I couldn’t do.” She continued by adding, “I’m very motivated to be creative and get the job done because I really care about it and have cared for all the people I have worked for and with.”

Pam was often recognized for her achievements and contributions. Some of the awards she received included Outstanding Development Executive Award by the Idaho Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the WCA Joyce Stein Award for Pioneering Impact on Growth and Advancement of Women and the Association of Fundraising Professionals - Outstanding Development Executive Award.

Of all her achievements, Pam was most proud of her marriage of 42 years, her daughters, the home she built and the marathon she ran at age 50. Of all of her passions, cooking an elegant meal for her friends and family and being in the outdoors were the things she loved the most. Pam enjoyed backpacking, running in the foothills, sailing the San Juan’s and serving as co-pilot while flying in the Idaho backcountry with her husband.

She made every day count. If Pam wasn’t volunteering for community services, which included positions as an acting member of the Boise Art Museum Board of Trustees, Boise Metro Rotary Club and the American Cancer Society State Public Information Chair, she was giving to her friends and neighbors with her creative talents in cooking, sewing, gardening and the arts.

Pam had cancer and lived the last six years with incredible courage and grace. Her strength and positive outlook were always an inspiration to others.

She is loved and will be terribly missed.

Pam is survived by her husband, Bruce Parker; daughters, Kelli Parker and Abbie Parker and, their husbands Olivier Chatel and Steve Korol; her granddaughter, Elsinore Korol; sister-in-law, Le Kelleher; her parents, Marvin and JoAnn Turner; as well as her siblings, Joe Turner, Ival Turner, Pat Petrie, and all of their children and grandchildren.

A memorial service to remember Pam and the beautiful life she led will be held at 10:00 am on Sunday, March 18, 2012 at the West Family YMCA, 5959 N. Discovery Way, Boise, ID 83713. A celebration will follow. Details about the reception will be coming soon and will be on Pam’s blog at http://pamspipeline.blogspot.com/ , and to share memories with the family please visit Pam’s memorial webpage at www.cloverdalefuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial donations be made to Bogus Basin Mountain and Recreation Area or the Boise Family YMCA.

Oh Yes He Did...

We need 3 ceiling fans for Jacob Springs.  I've looked at them all, I swear.  I saw this in the first store I went in and it is by far my favorite.  If I can shave enough money off other things, I may get one of these for the main room.  It's about $1,800.  That's ridiculous!

So, my brother and his wife needed a ceiling fan in their bedroom and they didn't want to pay the cost for a ceiling fan from a store.  So, my sister-in-law came home from work one day and my brother took her into the bedroom to show her that he had installed a ceiling fan for her...

This isn't theirs.  But he did indeed put a box fan on the ceiling.  You know how you can find thousands of pictures on the Internet of just about anything you're looking for?  Well, believe it or not, this is the only picture I could find of anyone else having put a box fan on their ceiling.  I know, hard to believe.

So, knowing my brother, I'm sure it's either strung up there with fishing line or duct tape.  God I love him!



I guess he's going to have to add Interior Designer to his business cards...

A Field of Poppies...

I love poppies, especially red poppies.  I'm going to plant a field of poppies at Jacob Springs - and put the tent in the middle of them.   Not this big...

 

Have you ever seen a more beautiful picture?