Another Out and About

We found out that Nampa has some

 great bicycles trails.

Yippee!

So we got up early, well, somewhat early.

(Now that we are retired, early has a new meaning,)

We checked our bike tires, 

put on our helmets

 and took off.

The trail starts just two blocks 

 from our garage. (big smile)

This is the beginning of the trail.

It is so beautiful.

The trail follows the irrigation "river".

There are all kinds of beautiful homes,

 farms, open fields,

birds and animals, that we rode by.

We rode to the end of this particular

path. There are several others. 

But that's for another day. 

Oh LOOK!

A Starbucks!!

On our way back home we just had to stop.

A reminder of Redmond and time to reflect

about our move to Idaho.

Almost home...

We planned our bike trip last night.

We  were concerned that we wouldn't
be able to ride in the morning

because of the storm.

There was a lightening storm like we have 

NEVER seen before!

For about two hours, 

God put on a fireworks show for us!

These two pictures are from our backyard.

Some of the flashes would light up our whole yard!

It looks like the middle of the day 

but it's really 11 o'clock at night.

"And his appearance was like lightening,

and his clothes as white as snow."

~Matthew 23-3~ 

1  I spent the night at McCall, Idaho, 

    visiting my girlfriend, Didi.

    It's about a two hour drive

    and they live right on Lake Payette!

2. We hiked around Pondarosa State Park.

    Here we are looking down on Lake Payette,

3. Todd, our son, gave me a gift certificate for

    Mother's Day to a local nursery.

    What a great place to roam around.

    He wanted me to have flowers for our 

    gardens. 

    I've been busy playing in the dirt.

    

4. During our daily walk, 

    Lucy met some of our neighbors.

"Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,

God shines forth".

Psalm 50:2

Boise to Bogus and Back

We've been "tripping" again.

This time it was up to the mountain,

Bogus Basin Mountain,

 to see the ski area.

~click for info. here~

It's a short trip from downtown Boise 

to the top.

But OH!, what a ride!!!!

Switchbacks, hairpins turns, and a looping road.

The views were breathtaking.

There wasn't any snow-pack. 

Not even a trace of snow at the top. 

Just my reflection, 

as proof we made it to the top.

There wasn't much to do at the top of the mountain, 

so we headed back down.

This is when it got pretty interesting!

Towards the bottom of the mountain

 we saw a HUGE American flag.

This flag really caught our eye

because it's the biggest flag

 I have EVER seen.

Then we saw the estate.

Let's back up a bit.

Boise is located in the high desert.

Everyone is on an irrigation system.

That's why we have green lawns.

We are even on an irrigation system!

(But that's another whole different story

 for sometime later)

So, when we saw this massive hill, 

full of green grass,

we knew something is going on! 

It's the Simplot  Estate.

JR Simplot was the billionaire 

who founded the company

that supplies all the McDonald's their french fries.

JR Simplot was in the potato business.

~click for more info here~

OK... back to this huge, green lawn.

Tom and I were kind a
joking around about who mows 

this massive lawn.

When all of a sudden....

here were several guys mowing this estate!

Two of the guys were mowing by HAND!

You can see them off to the right,

 on the hill. 

Those two specks.

Those are the guys mowing the lawn, by hand!

Here's some more information about this mansion.

Very interesting!

~click here~

~~~~***~~~~

"My Father's house has many rooms,

if that weren't so, would I have told you

that I'm going there

to prepare a place for you?"

John 14:2

Out and About

 Tom and I went out exploring our new

surroundings, the other evening.

The nearest town is Melba, about 14 miles south of us.

It's pretty much farm country and wine country.

Lots of open fields.

Absolutely beautiful!

The sunset was breath taking!

We were snapping pictures right and left.

Then both of us saw something in the road,

up ahead.

Tom, like a good blogging husband, 

said, "Get your camera ready!"

Our 3 pound, Yorkie, 

  was on my lap and she was ready to
take on this BIG dog.

But hey, we're not in Redmond anymore...

Ooops!
It's a cow!

I think Lucy scared the cow!

Tom and I have a few things to learn

about our new home and surrounding area.

Yup, we're not in Redmond anymore!

~~~~***~~~~

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the works of his hands."

Psalm 19:1

The After Party

Silas' 2nd Birthday Party

Kimmy saved the cake-topper from the celebration, the day before.

These are a series of pictures

that depicts this celebration.

 We gave Silas a hat. 

It's a bit big but he loved it.

We also gave him a silver,
Hersey Kiss, candy dish.
It plays different songs 

 when you lift the top part.

 It was so much fun to watch them 

dance, laugh and giggle.

Silas is my Little Hershey Kiss

 Oh, and with chocolate all over his face!

Pass the hat!

Happy 2nd Birthday Silas!

Celebrating 1 Year for a 2 Year Old

Silas turned 2 years old.

Last year, at this time he had 

Open Heart Surgery!

To CELEBRATE both miracles,

Kimmy and Mark

had a special Thank You party for all who

were involved and participated in this blessing.

A very special cake was ordered.

If you look closely, 

you can see the journey, up to the top of the hill.

Silas is waving and thanking everyone!

*Mema (Silas' other grandmother) 

and I went shopping for flowers at the

 Nampa Farmers Market.

*Mema and Lulu putting the flowers in vases.

*Tables were set up outside. 

With weather in the 80's, it was perfect.

I want to take the time to

 THANK ALL OF YOU, too!

Your prayers meant so much to 

our family!

Kimmy and Mark invited 82 people 

to celebrate this glorious day

.

Music, food, Thanksgiving Prayers, food, games,

food, singing, and more food!

Plus, a short video for all to watch Silas' journey

.https://vimeo.com/126461234
(The beginning show Kimmy and Silas going to the hospital right after his birth because of his breathing.)

 This is the Cardiologist

who treated Silas, in Idaho.

God placed him at the hospital that night. 

He was out on a date with his wife and

got the call and turned around. 

He was the one who found the heart defect

 and ordered the surgery.

It was a great celebration.

Many of us were thankful and overwhelmed.

The Great White Wall

 One really big, blank wall.

 These are my blue dishes that I had displayed 

in the China hutch when we lived in

the Cottage.

There wasn't a place for the hutch

 in our new house.

 So, I created a design on the table,

traced each plate onto newspaper,
cut them out and

taped the paper cutouts to the wall.

 Then I pounded nails where the hooks 

were on the back of each plate,

took down the newspaper,

and 

hung each plate.

Now I can enjoy my plates

and no more white wall.

 

Before

After

Holly House - Kitchen

This tour is pretty self-explanatory 

(Look! I have a dishwasher!)

(Look! I have a pantry!)

Again, I am blessed to have such a nice kitchen,

with a pantry and 

DISHWASHER!

~~~~***~~~~

"For I know the plans I have for you, 

declares the Lord, plans for welfare and
 not for evil,

 to give you a future and a hope."

Jeremiah 29: 11

Holly House - Living Room

Front room - Stain glass window 

Before

After

I am so blessed to be living with new carpet, 

 in such a light, filled home

 and so much more room than we 

are use to!

~~~~***~~~~

"Praise the Lord!

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, 

for his steadfast love endures forever!"

Psalm 106:1