Joyful Motoring

For several weeks Layne has been asking me what I'd like in an "around town" car.  For quite awhile I've mentioned that it would be a good idea to have a little car that takes much less fuel for short errands and such.  But it seemed along way off since we have two cars in our garage already.  And then...Layne invited me to check out a car he found on Craig's List.  So on Monday we drove into Boise to see the car.  It turned out to be a cute little convertible sports car; a Miata.  It was old, red and so fun to drive!  It was also pretty cheap.  So we bought it!  I drove it home with the top down.  I've gotta say that there is something magical about driving a stick shift red convertible, with the wind blowing through my hair.  I loved it! 

I went to bed that night thinking about the car and awoke with the same thoughts.  Tuesday I cleaned out the inside and we checked out the various workings of the car.  Layne took it to a mechanic to have it inspected.  They said it is in unusually good working order for its age.  All's well with its "innards."  It needs the windows fixed and some body work.  Layne says we will do both of those things.  And then it will be perfect!  I'm excited to have this little treasure.  I think it will serve us well and will be tons of fun!  I'm so grateful!

Now that Layne and I are missionaries I've been looking for more ways to "minister".  This week brought plenty of opportunities.  I found myself tending to someone every day.  It was rewarding and meaningful for me.  Things do seem to come in bunches, and this week has brought news of struggles for more than normal the amount of people that I know and love.  I did my best to do right by them all.  These experiences, and getting the Miata have made this a rewarding week.  

Our vegetable garden is bursting forth.  Layne has planted more than the usual amount as he asked me to get seeds for the plants I wanted.  And I found quite a few.  Angelica helped me so the pile grew.  Layne did his best to plant representatives of all of them.  But there are critters just waiting to help themselves to our harvest.  There are the pheasants next door, the various birds, the bugs and, this morning exposed us to a new arrival.  See if you can spot him in the picture below.

This little fellow brazenly appeared and checked out the grass and my growing herbs.  Hum.  I wonder what we can expect of him in future days.  And does he have friends.

There is a bird nest on our front porch.  It rests high in the corner.  The most obvious sign that it is being used is all the bird poop that is piling up below the nest.  When we are sitting in the swing, the nest owners fly in and out of the area as if to say, "get out, this is my space!"  As I was sitting there, one of the nesters sat atop our flag, bobbing its head back and forth and looking at me.  But I was not intimidated!

And so begins another week.  I plan to cruise though it in my little red car.

Memorial Day and Beyond

Spring in Idaho is a little piece of heaven.  Life is sprouting everywhere.  The temperature is perfect.  Into this wonderful time of year comes Memorial Day.  That begins our home flag display; one for Layne and one for my Dad, in memory of their military service.  Memorial Day also offers a holiday to celebrate.  Daughter Jessica and her family decided to spend it with us.  Then Audrey and her family joined them.  So for the weekend we had 8 guests.  It was a lovely time!  It is a joy to me to be able to spend time with family.

Rayne's new husband, Dom, is a planner.  He came with all sorts of ideas for ways to spend our long weekend.  Add to that Layne's ideas and our time together rushed by.  We took Audrey and family to Idaho City on Friday.  It was once the largest city in Idaho and the center of the Idaho Gold Rush. That was in the 1860s.  There isn't much of Idaho City left, but remnants of western life make it a fun place to visit.  We ended it with lunch at Trudy's, a local cafe with excellent food.  Here we all are outside of Trudy's, with full lunch bellies.  Dom, having the longest arms among us, took a selfie of us.  Here is Dom, Rayne, me, Allegra, Audrey and Layne.

It turned cool on Saturday.  So Dom and Rayne's water plans were dashed.  We headed to Horseshoe Bend to treat the kids to lunch at a nearby restaurant; one of Layne's favorites because of their steaks.  For the non-steak eaters however, it was only OK.  Or in Rayne's case, a great disappointment.  As it turns out, the Triangle Restaurant does a very poor job of toasted cheese sandwiches. 

Jessica and kids arrived Saturday evening.  One of the activities Dom hoped for was roasting smores over a fire in the back yard.  Trouble was, we didn't have a fire pit.  We covered our old one over with flagstone and built a gazebo over it.  I tried talking Layne into buying a portable one but he resisted.  Until Dom came.  Once he knew what Dom wanted, he went right down and bought one.  So Saturday night, we had roasted hot dogs and smores!  

Here's Miles, Dom, Allegra, Seth and Gemma, gathered around the fire.

I was really looking forward to taking the family to a nearby park on Sunday, to see the display of flags meant to honor our local military.  I find it so inspiring.  It was at this park that I bought  flags for Layne and Dad a couple of years ago.  We walked among the flags for awhile, feeling the spirit of the soldiers that the flags represented.  

Here we all are.  Back:  Gemma, Audrey, Miles, Seth, Dom, Layne, Jessica.  Front:  Angelica, Rayne, Peyton and me.

Here are my lovely girls, Jessica and Audrey.

Sunday night we talked the kids into cooking us dinner, Chinese style.  Angelica directed with the girls following orders and the boys mostly looking on.  

Audrey and gang left early Monday morning.  We spent that day taking Jessica and family to Idaho City...again.  We toured the town and showed them the oldest home, once owned by a Galbraith family.  And, just like last time, we ended with lunch at Trudy's.  It was just as good!  Here we are in front of the Galbraith House:  Jessica, Peyton, Miles, Gemma, Angelica and Seth.  Layne and I were there too, somewhere out of sight.

Miles is fascinated with panning for gold.  He decided that, since gold was once found near Idaho City, it would be fun to pan for some in the river that kept us company on the drive back home.  So here he is panning, while Seth observes.

I truly love this family of ours.  I like every single person!  Everyone gets along.  The kids are all bright and beautiful.  Oh, do I sound a bit biased?  Well, I guess that is my happy privilege!

Jessica and family left Tuesday morning.  Then we were left with lots of last minute activities to finish up school for Seth and Angelica and get them ready to return home.  School ended on Friday and they flew home on Saturday.  Last night.  Happily, they arrived safely today.  They will spend the summer at home in Taiwan and return to us in August, in time for school to start again.  

So we are empty nesters once again...for a few weeks.  Here is Seth and Angelica at the airport, just before leaving for home.