Would You Say I Have A Plethora of Pumpkins?

I had so much fun with my pumpkin patch this year!

It started off as a good way to keep weeds from growing on my West facing hillside, and it worked well. The real bonus was watching the chickens hunt for bugs in it, watching them grow, and giving them away.

I had so many pumpkins this year, I decorated the gym at the Stake center for a dance with them. The best part was the clean-up, after the dance I had the kids all take one or more home with them! Neighbors got pumpkins, all my Beehive girls got pumpkins, family got pumpkins, and even the FedEx lady got pumpkins for her and her grand kids!

I had some help from Lydia and her family. They came over and helped me clip and move some of the pumpkins off the hill. Later Lydia and mom helped me clean all the vines and chuck them over to the goat pen.( I'ts a huge bonus having goats, they eat all the garden scraps that the chickens aren't interested in!)

 Owen and Lylian picked out their favorites.

It was a lot of work moving all these pumpkins! I later used the 4 wheeler and trailer to get them all off the hillside. It made the work go quick, it still took several trailers full to move them all.

Since we had the whole Lawson family together...why not get a few family shots?

Pretty cute! I love how Olive just worked her way in there. Such a good lookin' family! I LOVE that they live so close to us now. We have lots of good times in store.

Sisters

I only have one sister and one daughter, so

we really make a point to see each other.

When we do, boy do we have a riot!

We spent the larger part of this day just riding to the Villa. Then out to lunch at the burger joint in town.

Lydia got a bit wiggly on the back seat while she took these fun shots of us on the move.

Looks like she's enjoying herself doesn't it.

I love this one where I'm trying to look at the camera
and the road.

We always include Laiken when we get together, even when she doesn't want to join us

we make her come along,

this wasn't one of those times.

I love riding around the lake. It's so pretty and the mint fields smell so good. Here is a side shot of Lizard Butte. From the Villa window we can only see the back of it "Lizard butt"

When we got home Arron took us all to the National Old Time Fiddlers Contest. After living here for 15 years we finally made it to Weiser to see it.
I thought about how much mom would have enjoyed it.

Maybe next year!

 I couldn't end this post without adding a few pictures of Stacey and Sicily.

We went antiquing at this great shop in Boise.

 There was just so much to look at, but Stacey kept us focused. Two hours later Lydia did find a beautiful silver ring. We will have to go back when we have more time. 

 I admit I can be a bit selfish with Lydia when she comes to see me.

But hey, she's my only sister!

Roughing' It With My Chicas

I love to go camping with the family, but I really love our annual "all girls camp-out".  We like to go to Garden Valley and see the outdoor plays at Starlight MountainTheatre. This year we were able to spend three full days there. We watched Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and The Wizard of Oz! Of course we also do all those camping things one does when one goes camping.
We really rough it...not.

We camped right next to this field of daisies.
It was almost as beautiful as the weather.

We walked into town and did a little window shopping. I think Laiken found something she liked.

Little towns have little stores with little aisles.

Found a cute boutique with a sweet nursery in back.
I will be planting geraniums this week!

We had to cool off with an ice cream before heading back to camp.

 We thought it would be fun to try painting this old barn. Laiken and I have been planning to get our oils out and paint en plein air. Maybe next year we will come prepared to paint. Lucky for us there's always beautiful landscapes to paint at the Villa.

Laiken made us dinner the last night.

 (she actually enjoyed this, the look is "I'm not awake yet" because we stayed up all night watching movies)

 MMM... six hours later...pork roast with potatoes and carrots.

Spinach salad with dried cranberries, candied walnuts and feta.
It was totally worth Laiken getting up at the crack of noon for.

We love camping with hook-ups!

It makes it easier to watch movies all night too!

 On the last day we ventured out to Kirkham Hot Springs.  It was already hot, so we spent most of our time in the nice cold river.

 The water was too high for us to swim across like we usually do.

A little time to kill before OZ.

Early, with our blankets, waiting for the Green Show.

 Next year I think I'll say "no" to the Emerald City popcorn and "yes" to bug spray!

Just Us Girls

Lydia has been here since Friday of last week and it's been great with just us girls. The boys all left to go camping on Friday so we've had the house all to ourselves.

 We had a fun day shopping in Boise at the Farmers Market. Lunch at Cafe' Paris. Movie matinee with Amy. Bike rides with Maggie and Italian sodas at the Villa!

 I think we only average 5 hours asleep a night because we stay up so late watching chick flicks and talking, but we are just getting started, tomorrow we leave for our three day camp-out.
 Just us girls.

Lets get together, yeah yeah yeah...

We've been anticipating our close on Villa Pura Vida for weeks now, only to have our close date pushed out, until when we don't know. We were foretold that this is rather common on "short sales" so no big surprise there, but still disappointing. 

The best thing to do when you are anxiously awaiting something is to distract yourself. Lydia and the kids have been a wonderful distraction for me the last ten days. They've been like baking before Christmas, or like Novocaine before a root canal, or something like that. Anyway the time has flown by as it always does when we get together.

Owen loves trains!

Our midnight fudge fiasco, looks like I need to calibrate my candy thermometer.

"Eating out" Shore style

Giving a few pre-ride pointers. I love that Lydia was totally up for this. It was very brave of her, especially when it got dark and her bike was the only one without a headlight! You Rock Sis!

Arron took the first shift watching the kiddos

Owen didn't need much coaxing from Uncle Arron for a ride, we're still working on Lylian.