Saturday, September 24, 2016

SnapShots: Back Roads Idaho


explored,

Bannock Ghost town




learned,


Yankee Fork Gold Dredge



intersected
with
the Lewis and Clark Trail,



rode through beautiful 
solitary
countryside,








 
met up with
current friends,



made many new
friends,


Hanging garlands of wild hop vines


Participants in the IDBDR video (Seattle, WA)




Stefan and Jayne (Forest Grove, OR)

and graciously
accepted
the kindness and hospitality of 
fellow travelers.


BBQ Chicken with Richard and Terri (Longmont, CO)

Who left this on my picnic table?

Surprise! from the C. Family (Missoula, MO)


August 20, 2016 - September 4, 2016





Sunday, September 18, 2016

Back Roads Idaho: Something Else

In the middle of August, The Man headed out of town for a two-week motorcycle adventure. On an early Saturday morning, three motorcycles were loaded up, gear was stored, and after a hearty breakfast the four riders were on their way.








A few hours after they left, a bald eagle flew over the barn. An astounding sight, it was a very good omen for the four riders.




Three riders were planning to traverse the Idaho Backcountry Discovery Route (IDBDR). "The IDBDR is a south-to-north route across the state of Idaho covering over 1,250 miles of mostly non-paved track".  It begins in Jarbidge, Nevada, across the Idaho Rocky Mountains, and ends at the Canadian Border. The DVD and maps purchased from the BDR organization cited the businesses servicing the route for lodging, food, and fuel.

 
Backcountry Discovery Route


The fourth rider, The Man, had a different adventure in mind. His plan was to have no plans; a day-by-day journey along the scenic back country roads of Idaho.

The Man dropped off the three riders in Jarbidge, Nevada, then headed to Boise, Idaho. He had made arrangements (Park & Fly) to keep his truck and the U-Haul trailer at the Extended Stay Hotel for 14 days. (On the last day, Arrin, one of the riders would meet him in Boise for the return trip home. The other two riders, J. and X. (husband and wife) - would continue on their travels for another two weeks.)




Before he left home The Man had carefully packed his KLR motorcycle with everything he thought he would need for camping in the Idaho back country: water, backpacking food (just add boiling water and eat right out of the bag!), a small cook stove, and as much tools as he could carry. In addition, he carried bear deterrent spray and a small PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) - just in case.












 

As suspected cellphone coverage was spotty or nonexistent. When he could The Man called home and reported his current location, where he might camp for the night, and what direction he was heading.

Thataway I would know his last known whereabouts, you know, just in case.

It was a memorable trip, along the way he . . .  to be continued. . . . 

~ ~ ~

NPR Fresh Air Interview with Terry Gross and Tom Hanks 8/29/16

Gross: What were your favorite TV shows that made a lasting impression on you?
Hanks: "Then Came Bronson." It was on for one year. It starred Michael Parks as a iconoclastic reporter who gives up everything and rides across the country on a motorcycle. It was like a one-man version of "Route 66." It was...
Gross: (Laughter).
Hanks: ... It was a very odd television show that was on for one season on NBC, and I just thought it was the hippest thing in the world because sometimes there'd be no dialogue in one of the shows. It was not like an episode of "Mannix" or "Medical Center" or "Gunsmoke." It was something else.



Taking a trip?
Yeah.
Where to?
Oh, I don't know. Wherever I end up, I guess. 

Jim Bronson
Then Came Bronson 9/17/69

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Three Bags Full



Baa baa black sheep 
have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir,
three bags full.


One for the Master, one for the Dame,
and one for the little boy that lives down the lane.
Baa baa black sheep have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir,
three bags full.
 
Baa baa white sheep
have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir,
three needles full.


One to mend a jumper, one to mend a frock,
and one for the little girl with holes in her socks.
Baa baa white sheep have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir, 
three bags full.

Baa baa grey sheep
have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir,
three bags full.


One for the kitten, one for the cats,
and one for the guinea pig to knit some woolly hats.


Baa baa grey sheep have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir,
three bags full.

YouTube gank: Baa Baa Black Sheep with Lyrics
Kids Songs and Nursery Rhymes by EFlashApps


Cleaning and Reorganizing Craft Room, August 2016

First, I moved everything out of the Craft Room and yarn closet. (Lets just say it's a good thing we have two spare bedrooms and a spare bathroom.)




I added a chair from downstairs and made a Sit-N-Knit corner and moved the Schacht Cricket 10" and Flip 20" to make a Loom-Along wall.






All the yarn was inspected, inventoried, and - gasp - placed back in the closet.
Yowzer! It's SABLE.




I'm very pleased with the results. Even The Man comes in to sit for a bit.

At the end of the day, it's a nice place to be.




Saturday, September 3, 2016

When Good Veggies Go Bad

Sometimes I get behind using up our weekly CSA produce box. That is, I can't keep up with all the fresh goodness and the happy vegetables starts looking a little less happy.

Recently I gathered up a few neglected items tucked away in the back of the refrigerator: leeks, fennel, cauliflower, and red potatoes. Discarded the brown bits and saved the not-too-icky parts for the critters.




Sauteed the leeks and fennel in olive oil for a few minutes.




Added in the potatoes, cauliflower, two cans of chicken broth, salt and pepper.




Closed the lid on my Instant Pot* and set it to Manual for 10 minutes.  (*My, my, my, I have not even talked about my wonderful new Instant Pot. . . . )

A few swipes with the Immersion Hand Blender, a sprinkling of fresh corn, and we've got soup.




Though, you know, not much goes to waste around here. It's all good.