It's Been a While...

since my last post.  Ugh.  My daughter-in-law and son bought me an Ipad!  I haven't figured out yet how to access being able to post on my blog yet so I'm on my laptop which is hit and miss at best.

We discovered something about a month after moving to Jacob Springs.  Well water (or the pipes) stink.  Once the water had been running through the pipes for a while, nasty crap seems to build up and so our hot water smells like boiled eggs.  Nasty I know.  So today we have someone coming to put a filter on and hopefully that will take care of the problem.  If not, it could cost about $6,000 to fix it.  We may learn to love the smell of boiled eggs!

In other news, 2 nights ago Elmer took the buggy up near the pond and came back walking.  Last year it wasn't until March that he started getting vehicles stuck on the property, but this year we're starting early.  He was happy to exclaim, "I found a new spring!"  Oh shit.

We're absolutely loving it here.  We both can't wait until spring.  We're ready to start setting fence posts and put in pasture for some critters.  Grace wants to raise a 4-H animal so that will be our first priority and I'm ready to start putting in some beautiful flowers and scattering poppy seeds on the hillside.  Oh spring, hurry!

I'm missing Jake terribly.  I think about him every single day.  He's close to half way done with this job and should be home early October.  They're going to take a 2 week family vacation to Disney World when he gets back.  I'm so glad they have something fun planned.

I've been trying not to think about it, but Adam leaves for boot camp in a month.  I hope I don't spend 2 weeks crying about it like I did with Jake.  You know I don't cry.  I think he's ready for it, but not so sure about me.

I'm heading out to Rendezvous Reclamation today.  I'll take pictures and post what I find.  Wish I had won the lottery last night...

Jacob Springs Bird Life...

He often sits on top of the chimney to keep warm...

He hit the window and is gathering his senses before he flies.

It's a Beautiful Day at Jacob Springs...

32 Years...

Sorry dad, I always write a warm fuzzy to remember you on this day.  I've tried for the last 3 days to do one and everything I wrote was either venting frustration or mean spirited.  Guess I've hit a rough patch and mom always taught us, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

I love and miss you!

Sleeping Mouse...

We sold our gas dryer last night and finally got it moved off the back porch.  Look what I found...

The cute little bugger must be comfortable, he hasn't moved since I saw him last night!

Great Start to a New Year, 2013!

This is how I spent my New Year's Eve...

It doesn't get any better than that.

2012, My Year in Review...

Every year I end my blog with my favorite posts of the year.  If you didn't read last year's - well, shame on you!

I started off my year with a post I wish I hadn't had to make.  My son had just returned home from Iraq.  It breaks my heart how our government treats our soldiers.

We listed our house again.

My wonderful, dear husband offered to take me on a date - to Chester's Chicken.  What a guy.

We sold our house!  Finally, we could build on Jacob Springs.

I posted the 25 Things you may not know about me.  Probably 25 things you never cared to know but now you do anyway.

My dear, sweet sister-in-law died after fighting for so long with cancer.  She was truly one-of-a-kind and we miss her terribly.

I took a minute to remember when Adam and his best friend Ben were young.  Now both in the military.  I think this was one of my favorite posts last year.

We started construction on the house at Jacob Springs!

I won a few bucks in Wendover to help pay for some things for the house!  I also won $5,000 on a lottery scratch ticket.

Nothing but problems with US Bank on building (or TRYING to) the house.  Just FYI, we've been trying to get the final appraisal for over 4 weeks now so that we can close on our loan.  Yes, we finished construction in early October - still no appraisal.  Everybody at this bank blames everybody else.  My opinion, I would NEVER recommend US Bank for a mortgage.  Losers!

Adam and Ben went to Costa Rica for graduation.

Another Elmer story.  They are, by far, my favorites.  He sure keeps life interesting!  and in the end, we had to call in the big equipment.

On June 15th, we started actual construction on the house.  What a ride it's been, but so incredibly worth it.

Days 19-36.

Day 43.

I'm pretty sure I saw a UFO.  It was definitely something I couldn't explain.

Day 65.

Linda, Jake and I took all the grandkids camping at Bruneau Dunes.  What a hoot.  It's definitely going to be an annual event, even if it's just here in the wall tent.

Day 83 at Jacob Springs and Adam was having fun.  I loved these pictures.

I wrote a letter to my son Jake before he left for Afghanistan.  I miss him so much.

Day 112 - almost there!

We branded the front door and had a party to thank everyone who helped make this home a reality.

We hosted the dessert portion of a progressive dinner for our friends, the Fanters.  What a wonderful night.

On 12/21/12 we had a big bonfire and waited for the Mother Ship.  Now THAT was fun!

It was a sad year - having Jake leave again.  It was a frustrating year with the bank.  It was a wonderful year watching as our home was built.

Thank you to all our friends and family for making our lives so enriched.  Tad, you built our dream home - and you're still our best friends despite me being on-site practically every day.  Mom, you are such a special person - what would our lives be like without you?  Adam, you keep me entertained every. single. day.  I'll miss you so much when you leave for boot camp.  Ival, we've made it 26 years.  How we've managed I know we both wonder sometimes - but we are so incredibly blessed with 3 wonderful kids and family and friends that anyone would be lucky to have.

Thank you all for sharing my life.

Pioneer Woman's Cauliflower Soup...

Today was a good day for homemade soup and I knew I could count on PW to help me make something yummy.  I LOve, loVe, LovE cream-based soup - and I also love cauliflower/  If you want the recipe, here it is.

I could tell mine was going to be a bit too thin at the end, so I added a few more tablespoons of flour to a bit more 1/2 and 1/2.  Perfect.

Oh. my. gawd.  Best soup ever.

Thank you PW!

Finding Old Friends and Making New...

Tomorrow I'll write my annual "Year in Review" post and it started me thinking about some of the old and new friends I've found this year - thanks to Facebook. 

Last spring I got an email from a wonderful young man who was asking permission to restore an old Dodge Powerwagon as a tribute to dad and Conley Elms.

Missouri Chuck Larsen/Chev is a police officer in Missouri.  My dad's family was from Missouri.  He chose a Dodge Powerwagon.  My dad bought a Dodge Powerwagon in the 70s.  He has 2 sons, Jake and Adam. I have 2 sons, Jake and Adam.  Chev loves the Denver Broncos.  I love the Denver Broncos.  He goes to watch their spring training every year with his family.  Ok, I've never done that.  Chev and his wife Meg and the boys are planning to come to Idaho to visit us next summer.  I hope it happens, I feel like they're family now!

My dad's cousin Valyrie Gillespie also found me on Facebook.  She sent me several pictures of dad when he was little.  How fun is that!

Randy Lish, Vicki Haskins Campbell, and Lew Pollizi, all found me on Facebook and sent me wonderful stories or messages about dad.  

I've kept up with an old friend's wife who I've never met in person but I'd love to someday.  Rick Dewey was an old friend from high school that also found me on Facebook but died last year.  I still think of him often but love hearing what his wife Eileen is doing.  She's one of the most generous people on earth, I swear.  Here's a post I wrote about Rick.  I still think of him often and wish he were still here.

I got back in touch with Linda's best friend from high school, Nancy Berlin.  It's great to have her back as part of the family after losing touch for so long!

I also just found Steve Copple and his beautiful wife Susan on Facebook.  When we lived in grama's old house Steve and Susan were some of our best buddies.  Gosh that was a long time ago, but I can't wait to have them over and find out what's been happening in their lives over the last 20 years!

It's been a great year and I'm so grateful for all the wonderful people in my life.  I am one lucky gal.

Merry Christmas, 2012...

Today is Christmas.  I tend to spend the day thinking about my family and friends, hoping those not nearby are having a wonderful day and missing our son Jake.  Last night we held our annual "Turner Family Christmas."  We usually rent the clubhouse at Hidden Springs because the family has grown so big, but this year we were able to host it because our main room is as big as the clubhouse.  It was a wonderful evening.

My wonderful mothers

We had a fox released at Jacob Springs the day before Christmas...

and today, the deer were down close...

Merry Christmas to all

and to all, a good night! 

I hope your day, whatever you celebrate, was beautiful...