I was thinking...

Lately I have been posting about the things I have been doing. Not that this blog isn't suppose to be about that but when I first started this my intentions were to show off or share what I have done in the crafty sense. Life has taken me into a different direction of late. So all the camping, bike riding, painting etc have been on the forefront. I love every minute of it too. 

But I think it is time to share a little bit of what I have done in the way of craftiness. My granddaughters are coming here for a much anticipated week next week. I have looked forward to this time of just Arianna, the girls and me. I have four granddaughters now. HoseAA (for explanations on these nicknames go here) is 12 now, HoseAB is 5 (she came with us to WDW in March), HoseAC will be 4 on the 6th and our very last precious girl HoseAD is just about 7 months. I am not bringing home HoseAD because I don't have the room in the truck for her nor do I have a crib. I am not sure that I could handle all the girls at once either. 

So for one of the crafts that I thought I would do with the girls was to make some chipboard books with them. Name books to be more precise. Now I am thinking that I am being over ambitious. I might do this with the two older ones though. That would be HoseAA and Arianna.

Once I have figured out how to share these files I will start to post them on here. I have made up a few SVG files on my own. It was a fun process too.The program I have is called SureCutsALot2 other wise known as SCAL2. You can't get this version any longer. Mine works with my Cricut Expression. Today you can't use SCAL (the newer versions) with Cricut and I think it is one of cutter. But if you have a cutter check out SCAL3. It is pretty easy to find but go to SCAL3. This site has a lot of cute cut files for sale and daily freebies. I highly recommend them. There is a list of what cutting machines you can use with SCAL3. Another fantastic place to get some SVGs is here. Penny is a very talented woman. She is such a sweet person too.

Now off to see if any bloggers out there will share how to post them :-) I know quite a few have them up on some sharing places like 4 share etc. So will see how that goes.

For those British Columbians have a great long weekend and for the rest of the world a good weekend.

Joanne

Motorcycles and friends

This past week we have spent a lot of time with friends and motorcycling. 

Last weekend Arianna and I went down to Spokane with our friends Brian, Joanne and family. Brian towed the trailer down, Gwen drove the motor home and I drove our little Vitara with Arianna and Alex in the back seat.

We stayed at an RV resort and took little trips into Spokane.  Brian and Joanne went to the local Harley shop and test drove one bike (much to their dissatisfaction! Only one used one could be test driven)

It was a quick trip and we were home again by Sunday night.

Joanne, my bestest buddy went into the local MVB and wrote her class 8 passing with flying colours!! It was a few days before she get onto a bike. But alas finally on Monday Jim was able to take her out to the college for some learning. She has ridden a dirt bike for many years and was familiar with a bike. Only this is a road bike and they handle a bit differently. But she adjusted pretty quickly and off they went onto the road. 

Tuesday was a big day for us all. We went for a very nice bike ride for the day. Left at about 9:30 am and returned at 5 pm! It was an amazing day for the road. Joanne did very well and no accidents were to be had. 

Brian and Joanne ... Jim and Joanne ready for a days ride.

The Joannes at the end of a fantastic day.

I think that is about it for now. 

More riding to come with these friends this coming weekend. 

Have a great rest of the week and onto the weekend.

Joanne

Down south of the border

Good morning. 

I wish I can say I have been really busy but that is not the case. I took a couple of days to just do little things like laundry and babysitting kids while their parents went out for a much needed day on their motorcycle. A big highlight though was our nephew Jeremy came for a visit. We were very excited to see him. He will be 19 next month. He is so much like his father, Jim's brother Fred. 

Jeremy probably from last summer.

I few days ago I said I would post our little trip down to Kellogg/Wallace Idaho.

After a week of camping at Syringa we left for Kellogg Idaho. It is about a 5 hour drive or so but when you are towing a 30 foot trailer behind you ... lets just say it takes longer. Not to mention stopping for lunch in North Port, some Walmart shopping in Colville and a little shopping at Cabella's in Ceour D'Alene. (they have some delicious fudge there)

We called home for those 5 days at the Crystal Gold Mine RV park in Kellogg Idaho. This is adjacent to the mine tour. It is quite the operation. Got there on Thursday night. 

Friday morning we just had to walk to the mine tour. It was a good tour and I learned a lot about mining in the late 1800's

The group of us at the Crystal Gold Mine tour.

 At the end of the tour we got to pan for gold in some baths. It was fun, I was bound and determined to get some gold. I did find a few flakes too. 

I found some gold in them thar tubs.

Our friends the Craigs, which I am sure you are getting to know by now are celebrating their 13 year of marriage! Thirteen years ago they came to Wallace for part of their honeymoon. The doorway you see them standing in front of in the picture below is the where they went up some stairs to a small hotel. The Ryan Hotel. It is quite old and the furnishings are from the late 1800's or maybe the early 1900's. You wouldn't know it from looking at it from the outside door! After 13 years of marriage this is the family they have now.

Brian, Alex, Joanne, Elizabeth and Stephanie Craig

After a bit of touring in Wallace we decided it was time to eat lunch. Stephanie really wanted to go where there was a spaceship. Jim had done some net touring finding this restaurant "Red Light Garage" Both were in the place! How fortunate. The restaurant has a huckleberry shake (among other huckleberry delights actually the whole town has huckleberry stuff). The restaurant is full of antiques and other things of interest. I am sure there was at least a license plate from every year and every State!

Alex, Arianna, Elizabeth and Stephanie in the spaceship

 Just to show you a sampling of the interesting things in the Red Light Garage here are the kids making funny faces. They are seated in the tub sofa. There is a little painting at the back of the tub. What fun and such interesting things. Can you see the wall in the back ground. This place could keep you busy looking at all the walls and ceiling.

Arianna, Alex and Elizabeth in the tub/sofa

The following day we went on the Sierra Silver Mine tour. It is in Wallace but on the outskirts of town. We took a trolley to the mine.  Most of the section of the mine that we toured was a class room. They showed you how they worked a mine. The machinery works and Bob demonstrated it. One part showed you how the explosives work. But it was only red lights that would demonstrate the sequence. The last part of the tour actually went into real mine.

Our little group just shortly before entering the mine.

 While we waited for the tour to begin and Bob our guide did his introduction we got to watch many chipmunks hoard the seeds laid out for them. Not only were there adult chipmunks we saw many little ones too.

Can you see how full his cheeks are?

Another place we went to was in Kellogg. Silver Mountain are gondolas that go up to the skiing mountain. The gondola ride is about 20 minutes up the mountain. It is gorgeous at the top. We brought a picnic lunch. Sitting outside near the restaurant/cafeteria we ate our food and enjoyed the scenery. There was even a little playground for the kids to enjoy.

Silver Mountain

At the bottom near the end of the day (about 4 in the afternoon) we stopped to have our picture taken, Our aim was to get the picture with one of the gondolas over our heads as it came in. Not successful at all. But here we are ready to be on our way to the next stop.

At the entrance to the Silver Mountain gondolas

Between Wallace and Kellogg there is monument that was erected after a disaster in 1972. The Sunshine mine had a fire in it. Smoke and carbon monoxide killed 91 men. 

Monument of a miner

That was pretty much our trip south. We did get to do some shopping. 

On our way home we stopped in Ceour D'Alene at Costco. Loaded up the trailer and away home we went.

Three are  a few sites you can look up what is in Kellogg and Wallace. Look and you will find interesting things especially in Wallace.

Joanne

Summer is a very busy time!

After Arianna is out of school I find that I am spun into a busy vortex.

Don't get me wrong, I love this time of year. In fact it is my favorite time of year.

Every year we have our annual camping at Syringa Provincial campground.

Not as many families this year but it was still a lot of fun. How does a week of camping go by in the blink of an eye? 

Last year for the first 4 or 5 days it poured rain. 

Not this year. I am so thankful for that.

Families started to arrive Thursday afternoon. We were surprised with one family we didn't know were going to be there. So happy that Keri and her boys were there even though it was just one day of our stay.

Keri packing up her camp while I visited.

Stephanie likes to sleep in her tent. She has been doing this for years. Last year she bought herself a nice sized tent.

Stephanie and Hammah setting up the tent

Jaime talked about making fire starters last year. We never did get around to making them over the winter. So she took it upon herself to make each camp a set of them. Thank you Jaime!

Jaime and Joanne with the fire starters.

 Our second annual progressive dinner at Jaime, Janet and Gordon's campsite to have delicious salads (rice and Caesar)Not a huge group but a lot more manageable. And what fun we had!

The whole gang for the 2nd Annual Progressive Dinner

Jaime, Janet and Gordon the hostess' for the first course

 I don't have a picture of the next stop which was our site with seafood skewers (course #2)

Course #3 Shana serving up vegetable skewers

 The following stop was at Joanne and Brian's site for course #4 with delicious steak bites and garlic bread. 

I did take pictures but not a good one of Joanne serving up the delectable food.

Our next and last stop was at Darlene and Dave's for desserts. Darlene is an amazing baker and she didn't disappoint. She served ice cream with all the fixings you could have wanted and then some.

Course #5 Desserts at Darlene and Dave's site.

The finally of the night was our campfire get together.

Shana and Myles popping popcorn over the fire. No smores needed this night.

One of the dogs that comes camping every year is Buster. He is a rottie/lab cross. Buster loves the water. You can tell he has lab in him because he loves to retrieve kids, logs, sticks etc. But his very favorite are logs ... big ones! 

Buster retrieving a log with the kids on it. They just have to come ashore!

One of my favorite things while camping is watching all the butterflies.

Here one landed on my foot as I watched the kids and dog play in the water. Joanne my ever faithful friend was there too.

Small butterfly on my Keen

Last year we walked to the beach and saw about 20 butterflies on the sand drinking the water (I think that is what they are doing).

This year we didn't see as many but here are a few that did come to entertain us.

I wonder if these are monarchs as well?

A few days after we started camping Jim had to go in and have a wisdom tooth extracted. An oral surgeon had to come in for this procedure. After the tooth was extracted Jim needed to rest a lot. Here Jim and Arianna lay in the new hammock we gave him for father's day. He really appreciates this mode of relaxing.

Taking it easy after surgery.

Every night we have a fire with roasting marshmallows and making smores, Texas smores that it.

Janet and Jaime roasting their Texas smores over the fire and a few of the other campers.

Of course what would camping be without the beach and playing in the sand.

Myles, Elizabeth and Arianna making hot tubs in the sand. It was a lot of work

Another fun thing we get to do thanks to Brian. BOATING!

The kids all wanted to go for tubing time. I think Elizabeth was the first lucky person to go out on the tube.

Brian with his boat & Elizabeth ready to be swept away on the tube.

Boris is the smaller member of our canine group. He is probably not much more than a couple of pounds. Jaime is his owner and she got him a life jacket. The life jacket even has a handle on it.

Jaime has seen a dog drown and never wants this to happen to her beloved Boris. So he may not like the jacket but he will be a live unhappy puppy.

Boris' new life jacket.

Darlene had suggested we all make stepping stones. Here are all 12 decorated stepping stones.

Stepping stones

One of Joanne's bucket list items for this summer was to get a ride with Jim on his bike. He has a Mustang seat which is very comfortable.

One more thing crossed off Joanne's summer bucket list.

This was the first part of our camping adventures. One whole week. 

Tomorrow I will share our trip down south of the border.

Stay tuned for adventures in Kellogg and Wallace Idaho!

Joanne

I Love to Paint!

Former deck

This is our back deck two years ago before the reno. It was really rotting!

Posts before the added colour

 This is our new deck minus the protective coat on the wood. It is not finished yet because we had our front deck taken down for the same reason the back deck went. We need to save the money so that not only do we get the deck built but to put some vinyl or what ever we decided on to cover the flooring/deck. 

But it is time to put a coat of pain on the posts for the rails (the ones that are there are temps). This is what we started off with. Just pressure treated colour.(above)

Now painted with deep purple (eggplant)

This is the colour we have decided to go with. Benjamin Moore calls this colour 'deep purple' We are purple fans as you can tell. (can you guess what colour our bedroom is?) It is kind of an eggplant purple which looks very nice with the house colour and doesn't clash with our gutters and downspouts. They are brown. Can you see that from this picture.

I have painted down the stairs and working on the underside of the deck. It is a lot of work but I love it. Love the look and outcome as well. Now to get this deck cleared off and looking as nice as the fresh coat of paint! 

'Till next time

Joanne

Summer is here

I love summer. It is my favorite time of year.

I also love to work outside and clean things up. I work hard out there. This year I decided to clear and level off an area in our yard to park our motorcycles. It has been a lot of work, with moving some larger rocks. I am sure that Jim dreads when I get a new idea into my head.

Well our spot is close to being completed. Yipee!

I'll have to post a picture later on when it isn't so dark out nor raining.

A couple of weekends ago I was folding laundry in my room. We have the window open at this time of year from which I could hear some rustling out in the trees. I went to look what it could be. I thought maybe it was our cat Callie but the noise was from something larger maybe a deer or bear. I watched for a bit. Out came a little bear between some of the trees. I managed to quietly call Arianna over to have a look too. We watched the little guy for a bit. I thought it would be a good idea to get a picture of it. I didn't get one that I was happy with but at least I got one.

Can you see the little cub in the center? 

He had a white nose. I was kind of surprised with that. He was rummaging around but slowly went up into the trees and disappeared

While out working in the yard (yes the bike parking space again) my cat came out of the forest looking around where I was working. I saw something out of the corner of my eye go under the pail.  The reason I noticed it was because it's tail is this amazing colour. I will have to show you a picture of the little creature so you will understand. Quite amazing really. I have seen them around, or rather I thought it was a very beautifully coloured snake. I usually just see the tail move very quickly. This is the first I caught one and could get a picture of it. If anyone knows what kind they are I would love to know.

A blue tailed lizard. About 6 inches or so. Quite tiny really.

July 2nd ... I have since found out this little lizard is known as a western skink. They are kind of rare . I have filled out a report saying that it is a juvenile kink, where it was located, the kind of vegetation around etc. Was informative to read up on them.

A friend of mine was over last week. I was showing her some of the flowers that are starting to grow on my banks. She is quite the gardener too. She offered me one of her plants saying it would be a wonderful addition to my yellow coreopsis. I think the variety is the Sunburst. Beautiful and colourful. Any how she dug up a few Rose Campion for me. I got to dig up a couple of holes for the new additions. I have a lot of grass on that bank! But it is looking so much better with a touch of colour on there. 

Coreopsis ~ maybe Sunburst.

Rose Campion that a friend gave to me.

Close to one of the Rose Campion I found another field flower. Not sure what it is. the stems and leaves are very fragile and dainty. The flowers are a beautiful blue. Wish I knew what this one is too.

Beautiful and delicate blue flower.

Today we got our first load of firewood just as the rain started. But it gives me another project to get started on. If it is nice out or at least not raining I'll have to get started on splitting it. That is about a cord and a quarter to be done. Yes I get to play outside some more and keep warm during the colder winter months. 

What have you been doing for the beginning of summer? I would love to hear all about it. 

Joanne

Father's Day

A time set aside to verbalize how much we appreciate DAD.

As I sit here thinking about Father's Day I remember the most precious time I had with my dad. My dad is of the old school mentality. He felt that his responsiblity was to put a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs and healthy food in the home. Which he did all of this very well. He was and still is a hard worker. Dad's career was as an outboard motor mechanic. He did everything honestly and with a great deal of pride. Of course he passed this along to all of us children, me Joanne, Mike, Nicole, Richard and Paulette. 

So onto the memory I have that I will treasure for the rest of my life. One day in the summer my dad went for a ride in the convertable. I am not sure if I asked to go along or if he suggested it. I got to go with him up to Stave Falls. It was a gorgeous day with the sun shining in on us. I am not sure if we talked or went along in silence. Once we got up near the falls he took me for a walk along the path. There were some other teens (which I was a teen at the time) playing in the water fall, sliding down some rocks into the pool. It was so nice. I felt very special to be spending this time with my dad one on one. I think that this is the only time I had like this. No wonder it is such a special memory for me. 

Was it a out of this world activity? Nope. But for me it was extra special out of this world time. 

Thank you DAD for this memory. 

Hank Chaput My DAD

Another man in my life is my other half Jim. He is not my father but the father of five special girls. He is the father of two of these five girls but has taken on the other three (my first litter as he calls them) He went from having a quiet and very easy going girl, Karina, to having another three teenaged girls with all the hormones, dramas that goes along with them. I was pregnant with our child, it would seem we have a yours, mine and ours sort of family.

 My oldest daughter was a mother to our very special granddaughter Paige. Yes that is a lot to take on isn't it? 

 This reminds of a little story. Jim's mom Ann had a dream many years ago. She was looking out the window and saw a van drive into her driveway. The door opened and a whole pile of children came out. Well I guess those children would be our girls and granddaughters. 

So to my hubby Happy Father's Day. You are a wonderful and loving man to all those girls.

One more thing. Jim has a wonderful sense of humor. He loves to tell groaner jokes. 

(this is a condensed version)

One is of a woman that gave birth to their first child. She told him that during the night she thought of a nice name for their newborn. Hosea would the name. The new father said that is a wonderful name. So we won't have to work at chosing names for our future children. They will be Hosea, Hoseb, Hosec etc.

He now affectionatly calls the girls Hose A, Hose B, Hose C, Hose D and Hose E. 

He also has loving names for the granddaughters! Hose AA, Hose AB, Hose AC and Hose AD! 

Hope this shows you a bit of the fun with have. 

Jim with Hose E and Hose AB

The females in my family. One precious girl is missing Hose AD Pciture to follow.

Our newest Hose "D"

Yes I have wonderful men in my life. Thank you both Dad and Jim for being great fathers. I admire and appreciate all that you do.

Joanne

 

A short jaunt up a logging road

Last night Arianna asked to go for a walk along the river in a nearby park. I was game for it. Arianna managed to get her dad to agree to come along with us. It was a beautiful evening. The moosquitoes (as Jim calls them) thought so too. That could have made him walk a bit quicker though.

As we walked over this bridge we got to see a fish going after the insects on the river's surface. Unfortunately we didn't see the fish just the ripples he caused.

 

 Jim took Arianna and I on a little drive afterwards. He used to do this all the time and I love that he decided to give it another go.

This time he took us up this old logging road. I didn't know this but there is a hiking trail that is kept up with signage. We didn't go for a walk on the trail but he did keep going up the rough, dirt road past that. 8 km up. There is a lot of firewood to be found up there. All sorts of evidence that a lot of people go up there to get their winter's supply. Some even left chunks of good fallen trees up on the road! What are they thinking?

I have a slight fear of heights. This road put my adrenalin surging through my veins. I was scared that I was going to start hyperventilating. I kept my calm (as much as I could) and took deep, slow breaths. But oh the views were out of this world.

I asked Jim to take a picture from this drop off of the road. Here is the remarkable view but I have to admit that the picture just doesn't give it justice.

But oh what a view this is!

Jim was actually trying to see our house from this mountain. Anywhere we could have seen our house was blocked by forest. So needless to say we didn't see our home.

Jim loves mushrooms. He used to go with his mom to pick them in the fall. So he knows what he is looking for. I on the other hand don't. As we drove down the road he stopped suddenly exclaiming Shaggy Manes! I knew what that was. I have tried one or two. 

 They were on both sides of the road, we hit the jack pot! But as we began to pick them Jim noticed that they were past the tender non inky stage. How sad. But we did manage to get 4 of them.

One lone shaggy mane.

It was getting late by this point so off we went the rest of the way down the road 4km or so. It was almost dark by the time we got home. I had such a lovely time (other than the height thing). Does anyone else hunt wild mushrooms? I would love to hear about them.

Joanne

Finishing our trip to Florida

Our time in Florida was a wonderful 2 weeks. We rented once again the same villa in a private gated community. 

This is from a few years ago  I didn't see the need to take picture of the same place again. But it looks pretty much the same except the bushes and trees were a bit bigger. This villa is grand! Five bedrooms and one game room that we doubled up as a bedroom. We had use of the fully stocked kitchen, laundry room and a private pool that looked out over a lake with a island that doubled as an aviary. It is really a place we loved to come home to at the end of the day.

 

Our first day we went to Epcot. I loved it here as there are all these topiaries.

Here are Jim, Arianna and Payton (in the stroller we bought to get her around)

 

 

 For Joanne's birthday we all went to The Crown & Rose in Epcot. We had wonderful seats to see the nightly fireworks. They were amazing!

 

 

 Here is part of the show. Spectacular really and the seats we had were out of this world.

After our meal and the fireworks we headed off to enjoy some of the rides. Here are all of our group minus moi of course (always taking the pictures) It is the big release year for Oz.

 While in Animal Kingdom the girls had their faces painted. Arianna chose the tiger face ...

 And Payton chose Goofy! We were very surprised by this choice.

This was just a few high lights of our first week. The second week my Mom and second daughter Holly joined us for a wonderful time. 

We  went once again on the Boggy Creek Airboat Ride.

 Here is Joanne taking some pictures while making our way in the Everglades 

 Payton loved any moving craft. The airboat was not exception. Jim held onto her so she didn't land in the water with the alligators that would love her for a snack. And there were lots of them.

After the airboat ride we were all very hungry. Someone recommended the  

Catfish Place. 

They had all sort of interesting food there. Here is Jim with one of his food items. Frog leg but there was also alligator, turtle, catfish and probably something else. 

 That evening we went into 

Magic Kingdom 

to watch the fireworks above Cinderella's Castle and the Electric Parade. We waited on the sidewalk for the parade in the picture. 

 Mom, Holly,Arianna and I walked along the Tree of Life in Animal Kingdom to see It's Tough To Be A Bug. Payton didn't like it before so Jim stayed with her while we did this. Can you see the amazing animals in the tree?

 

 Payton I think loved this ride the best. It is in 

Animal Kingdom

Kali River Rapids was fun. We were soaked by the end of it all except Payton who chose to wear a poncho! She laughed at us and wanted to go "Again!". Jim humored her  5 more times!

 Another two people that joined our group at the villa were Jaime and her mom Janet (not in this picture) Jaime is the one in front on the left. We went to a restaurant called

Steak and Shake.

This is a place really worth going to for some good old fashioned meals but not the healthiest. I highly recommend this place if you are a meat and potato kind of person or love burgers.

   I was trying out my new camera and so I am pretty sure this picture was meant to be 3D. Cool effect really. Anyhow here are my mom (l) me and Holly (r) while we waited for the Nemo show. It is so worth seeing more than once. I believe this was in Animal Kingdom as well.

 Payton's absolute favorite is Tinkerbell. We waiting in line for 45 minutes to visit her. 

She was very happy to have another visit with this fairy. Her first visit was on the Fantasy.

Hollywood Studios

 While in Hollywood Studios we all went in to Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground. Arianna loved the ant that moved it's head a little and made some noise. Payton is terrified of insects of all kinds so we were so lucky to capture this picture of her there as well. She was very hesitant to near it at all.

 

In another part of the H.I.S.T.K. playground we found this huge dog nose that actually makes dog sniffing noises. Holly laughed with this one as much as I did.

Last day we went to Magic Kingdom

 Before we got on the ferry to the MK I got a picture of all three wearing their Mike t-shirts. Jim got his a few years ago and then my mom bought one for Payton and Arianna. Don't they look like a fun bunch?

On our way back home. In the airport we stopped for lunch. Payton was so sick. I had to carry her everywhere. While I sat she just slept. Poor girl. But this was the end of our trip.

Hope you enjoyed the little bit of our vacation because I know we surely did! 

It is late here tonight. We had such a long but wonderful day today. I will share that with you tomorrow. Stay tuned! More to come from my life.

 Joanne