Caribbean Cruise, Day 1...

Ival earned a cruise through work and boy, were we excited.  January is a great time to leave Idaho for the sunny skies and warm temperatures of the Caribbean!  We were scheduled to take a flight from Boise to Las Vegas, then to Phoenix where we were meeting a chartered plane to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Our Southwest flight from Boise was great as always.  We arrived in Phoenix to find that our charter plane was waiting for us.  The plane held passengers from California and surrounding states that had flown in and we were going to board there.  The plane arrived and we waited, and waited and waited while the passengers already on the plane waited, and waited, and waited.  After 2 hours, we finally got on the plane and never got an explanation for why we left late.  We did discover that the poor folks who were stuck on the plane were never offered anything to drink and 2 of the bathrooms didn't work.  Not a great way to treat a customer who has chartered one of your huge planes to take their best customers on vacation.

But, we finally landed in San Juan and got on the ship.  As we drove to the ship, we noticed big, beautiful yachts docked at the harbor.  This one was sooooo huge I had to take a picture and Google the name to see if I could find out who owned it.


FYI, this picture doesn't do it justice.  But below, is what I discovered about the boat and it's owner.

 

 

One of the biggest yachts in the world, The Serene, is a $330 million, 440-foot private yacht belonging to a wealthy Russian vodka distributor
.
The yacht’s owner, Yuri Scheffler, controls SPI Group, which distributes Stolichnaya vodka internationally.

The 2-year-old yacht, made in Italy by Fincantieri, has a 52-person crew. The Serene flies the flag of the Grand Cayman Islands and illuminates the water with bright-green lighting at night. It is the ninth-largest privately owned yacht in the world, according to Boat International magazine.

How big? We’re talking massive.

The Serene has two helicopter-landing platforms and a hangar, along with a storage area for a submarine that can dive to 300 feet. It’s longer than a football field and has more than 48,000 square feet of covered space on its seven decks.

The Serene was a finalist in last year’s World Superyacht Awards, and a description on CharterWorld.com called it a “floating palace” with few equals in the world.

The yacht accommodates 24 guests in its 12 staterooms. It has large indoor and outdoor swimming pools, several hot tubs, a steam room and a JetStream exercise pool.

Elevators and a spiral staircase link the seven decks. The ship also features children’s playrooms, where they can scale a climbing wall, slide down from deck to deck, or even play video games. A “Nemo” room gives guests a peek under the sea through a thick glass panel. And to top it all off, the Serene has an outdoor cinema.

The above information and the picture below is taken from an article in the Seattle Times when the yacht, which was the largest that ever docked there, entered Seattle.

Fascinating, isn't it!?

 

 

Who doesn't love the fact that you really can find anything on Google!?

 

 

Tomorrow, day 2.  And, this is what we came home to...

 





January 5, 2014 - 33 Years...

I was rummaging through the buffet a few weeks ago and came across an envelope filled with pictures of dad that I had never seen before.  Evidently mom gave it to me at some point and I never opened it.

So, as I do every year on this day, I will share some memories of dad, this year in pictures. 

 

Most of these are pictures of dad as a Marine when he was in Korea.

 

Mom and Abbey (she was the wife of dad's best friend)

Dad making the rank of Corporal

 Dad and Stan.

 

We miss you and as every year, will remember you and Conley with a toast.  Mom is coming over to watch the football game and we'll keep eachother company.  Adam decided to remember today by going duck hunting.  We love and miss you.

Last Post of 2013 and Some Pictures From My Camera...

2013 is almost over.  All in all, it's been a great year.  Adam enlisted and completed basic training for the National Guard and he still has his wonderful girlfriend Lorry.  We love her.

Jake got home from Afghanistan and what a relief that is!  It's so comforting to know that he's home with his family where he belongs.  They are so happy to have him back.

Jacki is happy and healthy along with her wonderful husband Tim and their 4 beautiful kids.  I feel so blessed to have 7 of the most wonderful grandkids in the world and 1 more on the way.  I also consider Lisa's kids to be like my own grandkids so we can actually add 2 more!

Our first full year in our house was wonderful.  Even though it's ccccccold outside, Ival spends every night out doing things even when it's dark.  We got one side of the pasture fenced thanks to help from some of our wonderful friends.  The best surprise of all was when our friend Rob brought his 2 horses to stay here when he doesn't need them and we bought Moose, the first horse Grace ever rode.  I can't believe the peace and calm I feel when I look out the front window and see those horses out there.  I was able to quit taking my anti-depressants about a month ago and I feel like the horses were a big contributor to that.

The chickens continue to lay well, giving us 7 eggs a day usually.  I think adding the heat lamp for the winter has helped.  We've been able to share eggs with our friends which, although simple, seems to make us all happy.  It's always nice to be able to share our bounty and we look forward to doing the same with the huge garden we plan this next spring.

The only thing that has really dampened my life is being without a vehicle.  At first I told myself I would pretend I was a pioneer.  That lasted a couple of months but I've been without transportation since June and I must admit I'm getting rather tired of it.  Ival called me from work last week and asked me to pick something up for him.  I asked him which horse I should ride to go get it...

It's been a while since I took the pictures off my camera, so here are a few...

 

3 very important women in my life...

 A flicker stopped by and found some grubs in the porch, poor thing was evidently hungry!

 

This icicle formed on a spider web!  It was so cool.

 

I hope everyone has a wonderful 2014 and  I look forward to seeing you all!

Moose...

I took Grace horseback riding in Garden Valley for her birthday.  She (and all my grandkids) love horses.  As we drove to Garden Valley, Grace reminded me of the horse she had ridden the year before and hoped she would be riding him again on this trip.  Unfortunately, she had a different horse and Moose was back in the pasture.

Mary Jo, the owner of Garden Valley Trail Rides told us that Moose would soon be retiring as he was getting too old for the daily, long, rides that a commercial trail ride horse is used to.  I told her we might be interested in purchasing him if that happened.

So, a few days ago Mary Jo posted on Facebook that Moose was for sale.  I got ahold of her and we discussed some details.  I think Moose is going to come and live with us and be a great horse for all the grandkids!  He's the brown one...

We have to get a shelter built and have asked Mary Jo if she can keep him until that happens.  If so, it looks like Moose will be ours!  I think our friend Rob is going to let us keep his two horses here as well so we may end up with 3 great horses for the kids (and me!) to ride.  I'm really looking forward to knowing that the grandkids will soon be able to experience the love and enjoyment of having horses like I did.

Now I have to start watching Craigslist for tack!

A Christmas Story...

Well, first I have to say that I'm a pathetic loser.  I only made it to day 4 of being thankful posts during November.  I should know better than to attempt something like that but hey, it was worth a try.  Not that I didn't have a months worth of things to be grateful for, just didn't have the time to post them.

Now, I have a nice story to tell you about a woman that I admire daily, love with everything I have, and hope to someday be more like her.  She's my mom.

A few days ago she took me to finish my Christmas shopping.  YES, I'M FINISHED!  We went to have lunch and were sitting at our booth vising when 3 men took the booth next to us.  We ended up kind of eavesdropping (can you believe I'd do such a thing?!) and heard one of the guys talking about making beds.

He was talking about how a friend had made a bed out of scrap lumber and listed it free on Craigslist to someone who "needed" it.  The response was so large that he and some friends got together and started making beds for people in the area who need them.

I suppose if you had watched us, it was obvious that we were eavesdropping.  We were quiet and our eyes darted around to see if anyone was watching us.  When we finished with our lunch, mom stood up and walked over to their table with the cash she had in her purse.

She handed him the money and said she wanted to help.  I wasn't surprised.  This is so much my mother.  She is an exceptional human, so giving, so willing to help.  I am so lucky to be able to call her my mom.

I hope someday I'll be able to do the same things.  Mom, you're an inspiration to your kids and we love and admire the wonderful woman you are.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 4...

Today, I'm grateful for those rare occasions where I find that I can keep my mouth shut and not say something that will get me into trouble or be hurtful to someone.  I don't try to be that way, but when common sense is thrown by the wayside, I find it so difficult to keep my thoughts to myself.  It's  been a life-long struggle but by golly, it does occasionally happen.  Good for me!

30 Days of Thanks, Day 3...

Today my friend Sue passed away from cancer.  She left so many people with so many wonderful memories and  I'm so incredibly grateful that my life led me to her.

Sue met and married Cliff who has been a family friend for many years.  He had been in a rather uncaring relationship for years and Sue brought him laughter and happiness and we all loved her for it.

She was one-of-a-kind.  I introduced Sue to some of my friends over the years at parties we had.  She never, ever, knew a stranger.  I was fascinated to watch her as she'd sit next to someone she had just met and how she interacted with them.  She wanted to know everything.  How you met your husband, how many kids you had and what they did.  She would visit for hours getting to know someone and learn more about them in a short time than it took me months to find out.  She really, truly cared about people.

Sue was the person I would call when I needed an honest opinion, and she always gave it.  We all have family and friends that will sympathize with us when we need it.  But Sue would often tell me the reason someone was probably acting like an ass and how I needed to try and understand that.  She was awesome like that.  I'll miss having her to talk to.

We went on a couple of cruises with Cliff and Sue and had so much fun.  We talked about it a few weeks ago and Sue and I laughed about how we were always the first ones up in the morning.  She reminded me that she would call me about 5am and say, "Lets go get some coffee, I'll meet you up top."  We'd make our way to the top of the ship, surrounded by windows, and look out and visit while we drank our coffee.  It was our special time and I cherish those memories.

You fought a valiant fight dear friend and I miss you already.  Find us a good table, and I'll meet you up top...

My post from 2007....

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

There's Never Been A Better Song...

It's my all-time favorite song and Louis Armstrong does it best. It always makes me remember what a wonderful life I have...

 

 

I see trees of green,
red roses too
I see them bloom
for me and you
And I think to myself:
"What a wonderful world!"

I see skies of blue
and clouds of white
The bright blessed day,
the dark sacred night
And I think to my self:
"What a wonderful world!"

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
saying "How do you do."
They really say: "I love you!"

I hear babies crying
I watch them grow
They'll learn much more
than I'll ever know
And I think to myself:
"What a wonderful world!"
Yes, I think to myself: "What a wonderful world."

30 Days of Thanks, Day 2...

I know, this is silly, but I'm thankful that I live where I never (rarely) hear sirens.  Being raised in Garden Valley I never heard them.  I remember staying with my grandma in Boise when I was a kid and hearing sirens at night.  It terrified me because I knew that something bad was happening to someone.  When we moved to Hidden Springs I realized that the sirens were rare and usually meant a fire in the foothills.  I realized a few years ago that when folks would ask me what I like about living up here my first answer was always that you never hear sirens.

I must have been traumatized somewhere along the line as a child by a siren!  Our house now is so airtight that even when one does come along now, I don't hear it!

You may remember this...

We had decided a few weeks ago that if the world was going to end on 12/21/12, we surely wanted to go out with friends and family.  So we decided to build a big-ass bonfire and have some people over.

About 5:30 Ival started the bonfire.

About 6:15 Nancy, Butch and Penny had arrived.

At 6:30, so did the Fire Department...

We had invited people to come over about 6:30 so I was inside finishing up some cookies I had taken out of the box made when my sister came strolling in and said, "You might want to come outside.  The Fire Department is here."

"Ahahahahahahaha! Right."

"No really.  The Fire Department is HERE!"

I started to rush outside - Ival was out back getting more firewood - then ran back to get my camera.  If they really were here - I wanted pictures!

I got outside just in time to see the firetruck pull off Cartwright, turn off their lights and sirens and pull down the driveway.  COOL!

They came over to the fire and said they had received "numerous" calls about a fire.  In fact, they had 6 trucks en route.  Get outta here!  HOLY CRAP THIS IS GETTING BETTER BY THE MINUTE!

They asked what we were doing and we proceeded to tell them we were "Waiting for the Mother Ship."  DUH!   

We talked for a while, they asked if we had a permit - they obviously don't know us.  We talked some more about waiting for the Mother Ship and they talked about how they wished they could stay.  They told us it is illegal to burn construction waste and were sure we wouldn't be putting any more of that on the fire. Right-0.

 Luckily, we had our shovel and hose right there.  I think they enjoyed the ride out as they said they were "bored anyway."

They really were nice and it only made the night a lot more interesting!  Then, just like Santa, they disappeared as quickly as they had come.

As it turned out, we had a wonderful night with family and friends.  Telling stories, laughing, and just enjoying the evening.

Ric and Cheryl, I'm soooo glad you guys came!  It was great to see you and Cheryl I miss that laugh of yours.  Ric, I need those picutes of the Mother Ship!

I'm told that the Mother Ship did pass by, several people got pictures, but again, I was inside at the time.

I'm assuming none of us below were "worthy" as no one at the fire was taken up.

However, I'm wondering if I didn't catch an alien life form here...

30 Days of Thanks - Day 1...

My daughter Jacki (who hasn't blogged for many, many months) has decided that since November is the month of Thanksgiving, she's going to post 30 days of things she's thankful for.   I thought that was a great idea and will join her.

As I've watched my best friend over the last month, cancer has finally taken it's terrible toll.   I have to be extremely grateful that I am still here. I can't tell you how many times over the last month Sue has said to me, "aren't we lucky that we have husbands like Cliff and Ival?"

Yes Sue, we are.  Ival is such a loyal husband and even though was have a rather "different" relationship, he stands by me.   We often talk about how we have to stay together because no one else would have either of us!  But, we love each other and drive each other nuts at the same time.  There's no one like us - except Matt and Amy Roloff of Little People Big World.  If you watch that show, that's us -  to a T.

Ival and I met when he was 15 and I was 17.  We dated for a while, broke up, dated, broke up, dated, broke up and then dated and got married!  It's now been 26 years and it's been a lot of fun.  He entertains me daily and has taken such good care of me.

So, to Ival/Elmer (depending on what stunts he's pulled that day), thank you for loving me, putting up with me, and being willing to travel this road through life that has produced 3 wonderful children, 7 wonderful grandchildren, and a journey that we will always look back on and be able to laugh at.

Here's a quick reminder of life with Elmer...

So, our buyers don't want the chickens.  We have a community "hen house" down by the community barn.  So, while the hens were roosting last night, Elmer gathered them all up and seatbelted them into the truck.

 

Just kidding.  We stuffed them into a 24 x 12 Rubbermaid container and threw the container into the back of the truck, in the dark of night.

We pulled down near the barn and noticed a truck there.  The lights were on in the old farmhouse that's been restored so Elmer decided that the truck people must be in there.  Lights off, we pulled up near the fence, Elmer quietly go out, retrieved the Rubbermaid chickens, and tip-toed off into the dark.  Moments later, I see him tip-toeing back, container in arms - obviously still heavy with chickens.

"Oh shit, was there somebody out there?"
"Yeah, somebody was in the hen house with a flashlight."
"Now what are we going to do?"
"Let's go home and come back in 15 minutes."

So, the Rubbermaid chickens rode back home until we felt it was safe.  We drove back down just as the truck was leaving the farm.  Lights off, we pulled up next to the fence and repeated the process, this time however, Elmer came back with an empty container.

I guess we'll have to stop by the farmhouse today and see if the girls survived the night - out alone, with the owls and coyotes.  If they did, they'll have a great life living in that hen house with all the other girls.
 
Here's to another 26...


 

Moving The Sheep...

Twice a year, in April and then again in October, they run the sheep across the hill behind us.  They take them to summer pasture which is, I've heard, near Sun Valley and then bring them back in the fall.  What a  long trek!

A few minutes ago I looked out at the donkeys and saw them doing this...

Usually, that means there are deer up the draw and I always grab my binocs and have to take a look.  I looked where they usually are and nothing so I scanned the hillside, moving up the draw and saw this!

 

 

 

Thank you watch donkeys!  I probably wouldn't have noticed them!